Method of treating diabetes by administering an anti-NKp46 antibody
The invention relates to use of the natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp46 for preventing and treating diabetes, including type I diabetes (TID) and type 2 diabetes. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising a fragment of the extracellular region of NKp46 for preventing the onset and progression of diabetes.
1. A method for preventing or treating type 1 diabetes, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising at least one protein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the protein is an antibody specific for the extracellular region of natural killer (NK) p46, thereby preventing or treating type 1 diabetes in the subject.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the type 1 diabetes is immune-mediated diabetes.
3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising administering the composition at a stage of type 1 diabetes selected from the group consisting of pre-insulitis, early insulitis, pre-diabetes, overt diabetes and a combination thereof.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the NKp46 is human NKp46.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises an antibody specific for the extracellular region of NKp46 wherein the antibody is a non-depleting antibody.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the antibody is specific for the D2 domain.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of a monoclonal antibody, a bispecific antibody, a single chain antibody and a humanized antibody.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the administering is carried out by a route selected from the group consisting of parenteral, oral, transdermal and topical.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising administering at least one immunostimulatory agent in conjunction with administering the composition.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the type 1 diabetes is at the stage of pre-insulitis and early insulitis.