HMG1 antibody for treating inflammatory conditions
There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for treating sepsis, including septic shock and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), comprising administering an effective amount of a HMG1 antagonist. There is further disclosed a diagnostic method for monitoring the severity or potential lethality of sepsis or septic shock, comprising measuring the serum concentration of HMG1 in a patient exhibiting or at risk of exhibiting sepsis or septic shock symptoms. Lastly, there is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for effecting weight loss or treating obesity, comprising administering an effective amount of HMG1 or a therapeutically active HMG1 fragment.
1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of an antagonist of high mobility group 1 (HMG1) protein, wherein the amount of the antagonist is effective to inhibit HMG1-mediated activation of the inflammatory cytokine cascade, and wherein the HMG1 antagonist is selected from an antibody that specifically binds to HMG1, an antigen-binding fragment of said antibody, or an HMG1 antisense sequence, wherein the HMG1 comprises an antigenic fragment of SEQ ID NO: 4.
2. The composition of claim 1 , which is in the form of a tablet, pill, capsule, liquid, gel, syrup, slurry, suspension, skin patch, topical cream, mucosal patch, mucosal liquid, mucosal gel, or is suitable for administration to the respiratory tract by inhaler.
3. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a solid excipient selected from a sugar, a cellulose preparation, a gelatin, a gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or a combination thereof.
4. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a disintegrating agent and/or stabilizer.
5. A method of treating a TNF-mediated, IL-1-mediated, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated activation of the inflammatory cytokine cascade, comprising administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 .
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the HMG1 antagonist is an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that inhibits HMG-1-mediated activation of the inflammatory cytokine cascade.