Anti-CD38 antibodies

1. A method of inhibiting the growth of the cell expressing a human CD38 protein (SEQ ID NO: 1) by contacting said cell with an antibody, wherein said antibody specifically binds human CD38 (SEQ ID NO:1) and cynomolgus CD38 SEQ ID NO:2) and comprises:

a) a heavy chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:3;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:4;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:5; and

b) a light chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:6;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:7;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:8.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said heavy chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:9.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said light chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:10.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said heavy chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:9 and said light chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:10.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NO:21 and the light chain comprises SEQ ID NO:22.

6. A method of depleting activated cell expressing a human CD 38 protein (SEQ ID NO: 1) by contacting said cell with an antibody, wherein said antibody specifically binds human CD38 (SEQ ID NO:1) and cynomolgus CD38 SEQ ID NO:2) and comprises:

a) a heavy chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:13;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:14;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:15; and

b) a light chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:16;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:17;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:18.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said heavy chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:11.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein said light chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:12.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein said heavy chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:19 and said light chain variable region comprises SEQ ID NO:20.

10. The method according to claim 6 wherein the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NO:34 and the light chain comprises SEQ ID NO:35.

11. A method of diagnosing an autoimmune disease which exhibits either increased expression of CD38 or increased numbers of CD38 expressing cells as a component of the disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an isolated antibody which specifically binds human CD38 (SEQ ID NO:1) and cynomolgus CD38 (SEQ ID NO:2) comprising:

a) a heavy chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:3;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:4;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:5; and

b) a light chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:6;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:7;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:8.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and graft-versus-host disease.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said autoimmune disease is rheumatoid arthritis.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein said autoimmune disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.

15. A method of treating an autoimmune disease, the method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an isolated antibody which specifically binds human CD38 (SEQ ID NO:1) and cynomolgus CD38 (SEQ ID NO:2) comprising:

a) a heavy chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:3;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:4;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:5; and

b) a light chain variable region comprising:

i) a first CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:6;

ii) a second CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:7;

iii) a third CDR comprising SEQ ID NO:8;

wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the autoimmune disease is rheumatoid arthritis.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the autoimmune disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.