Composition and method for the diagnosis and treatment of iron-related disorders

1. An isolated anti-human Repulsive Guidance Molecule c (“RGMc”) antibody comprising (a) a variable heavy chain region comprising a complementarity determining region (CDR)1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:16, (b) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:17, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:18, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:20, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:21, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:22, (c) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:23, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:27, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28, or (d) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:33, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:34.

2. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 , wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody is selected from the group consisting of an affinity matured antibody, a monoclonal antibody, and a humanized antibody.

3. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 , wherein the antibody further comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of an immunoadhesion molecule, an imaging agent, and a therapeutic agent, wherein the imaging agent is selected from the group consisting of a radiolabel, an enzyme, a fluorescent label, a luminescent label, a bioluminescent label, a magnetic label, and biotin, and wherein the radiolabel is selected from the group consisting of 3H, 14C, 35S, 90Y, 99Tc, 111In, 125I, 131I, 177Lu, 166Ho, and 153Sm.

4. An isolated nucleic acid encoding the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 .

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

6. A method of treating Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic kidney disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 .

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody is selected from the group consisting of a monoclonal antibody, an affinity matured antibody, and a humanized antibody.

8. A kit for assaying a test sample for human Repulsive Guidance Molecule c (“RGMc”), which kit comprises at least one component for assaying the test sample for RGMc and instructions for assaying the test sample for RGMc, wherein the at least one component includes at least one composition comprising an isolated anti-human RGMc antibody comprising (a) a variable heavy chain region comprising a complementarity determining region (CDR)1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:16, (b) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:17, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:18, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:20, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:21, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:22, (c) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:23, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ NO:25 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:27, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28, or (d) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:33, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:34, wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody is optionally detectably labeled.

9. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the human RGMc is membrane-associated RGMc or soluble RGMc.

10. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the kit further comprises at least one component for assaying a test sample for hepcidin and instructions for assaying the test sample for hepcidin.

11. A kit for assaying a test sample for human Repulsive Guidance Molecule c (“RGMc”), which kit comprises at least one component for assaying the test sample for RGMc and instructions for assaying the test sample for RGMc, wherein the at least one component includes at least one composition comprising an isolated anti-human RGMc antibody comprising (a) a variable heavy chain region comprising a complementarity determining region (CDR)1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:95, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:96, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:97 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:98, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:99, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:100, (b) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:119, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:120, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:121 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:122, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:123, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:124, (c) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:125, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:126, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:127 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:128, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:129, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:130, (d) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:137, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:138, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:139 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:140, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:141, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:142, or (e) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:173, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:174, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:175 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:176, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:177, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:178, wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody is optionally detectably labeled.

12. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the human RGMc is membrane-associated RGMc or soluble RGMc.

13. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the kit further comprises at least one component for assaying a test sample for hepcidin and instructions for assaying the test sample for hepcidin.

14. An isolated anti-human Repulsive Guidance Molecule c (“RGMc”) antibody comprising (a) a variable heavy chain region comprising a complementarity determining region (CDR)1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:95, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:96, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:97 and a variable light chain comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:98, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:99, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:100, (b) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:119, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:120, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:121 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:122, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:123, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:124, (c) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:125, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:126, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:127 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:128, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:129, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:130, (d) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:137, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:138, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:139 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:140, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:141, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:142, or (e) a variable heavy chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:173, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:174, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:175 and a variable light chain region comprising a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:176, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:177, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:178.

15. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises a complementarity determining region (CDR)1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 and the variable light chain region comprises a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:14, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:15, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:16.

16. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 15 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and the variable light chain region comprises the amino acid of sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.

17. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:23, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:24, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 and the variable light chain region comprises a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:26, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:27, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28.

18. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 17 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 and the variable light chain region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.

19. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 and the variable light chain region comprises a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:32, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:33, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:34.

20. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 19 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and the variable light chain region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10.

21. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 1 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:17, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:18, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 and the variable light chain region comprises a CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:20, a CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:21, and a CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:22.

22. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 21 , wherein the variable heavy chain region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 and the variable light chain region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.

23. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 22 , wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody comprises a heavy chain immunoglobulin constant domain which is a human IgG1 constant domain.

24. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 23 , wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

25. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 24 , wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody is a humanized antibody.

26. The isolated anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 25 , wherein the anti-human RGMc antibody is an affinity matured antibody.

27. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 21 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

28. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 22 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

29. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 23 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

30. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 24 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

31. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 25 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

32. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 26 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

33. A method of treating Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic kidney disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 21 .

34. A method of treating Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic kidney disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 22 .

35. A method of treating Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic kidney disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 23 .

36. A method of treating Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic kidney disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 24 .

37. A method of treating Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic kidney disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 25 .

38. A method of treating Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD), iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic kidney disease, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-human RGMc antibody of claim 26 .