Anti-CD154 antibodies

1. An antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that binds CD154 and that comprises a light chain variable region, which comprises light chain CDRs VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3, and a heavy chain variable region, which comprises heavy chain CDRs VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3, wherein

(i) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 or

(b) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Ser at position 26 substituted with Asp,

Gln at position 27 substituted with Glu, and

Thr at position 33 substituted with Trp;

and

(ii) VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 or

(b) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Thr at position 30 substituted with His,

Tyr at position 33 substituted with Trp, and

Ser at position 54 substituted with Asn;

wherein when the light chain CDR sequences have the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (i)(a) above, the heavy chain CDR sequences are not the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (ii)(a) above.

2. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 1 , wherein VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1.

3. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 1 , wherein VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4.

4. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 1 , wherein VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:20, or SEQ ID NO:32.

5. An antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 1 , wherein VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:50, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ ID NO:56, or SEQ ID NO:57.

6. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment binds to CD 154 with greater affinity than does an antibody or antigen binding fragment that is otherwise identical but has wild type 5c8 CDR sequences VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4.

7. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 6 , wherein the affinity is assessed using ELISA or a KinExA™ assay.

8. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment shows improved potency in inhibiting T cell-dependent B cell activation compared with an antibody, or antigen binding fragment, that that is otherwise identical but has wild type 5c8 CDR sequences VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4.

9. The antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 , which is selected from the group consisting of a single chain antibody (scFv), a F(ab′) 2 fragment, a Fab fragment, and an Fd fragment.

10. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 , labeled with a detectable marker.

11. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 , conjugated to a therapeutic agent or a bead.

12. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 , comprising at least one high molecular-weight polymer.

13. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 , wherein at least one amino acid of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is PEGylated or glycosylated.

14. A composition comprising the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 .

15. A kit comprising the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 .

16. A method of treating a human disease or disorder comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 to a human having the disease or disorder, such that the disease or disorder is diminished, wherein the disease or disorder is inflammation, Myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, hemolytic anemia, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, a drug-induced autoimmune disease, rejection of a transplanted organ, graft-vs-host disease, an allergic response, an autoimmune response, fibrosis, gastrointestinal disease, vascular disease, a T cell cancer, or viral infection of T cells by the HTLV I virus.

17. An antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that binds CD154 and that comprises a light chain variable domain comprising light chain CDRs VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3, and a heavy chain variable domain comprising heavy chain CDRs VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3, wherein

(i) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:48;

(ii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:49;

(iii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:50;

(iv) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:27 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4;

(v) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:13 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4;

(vi) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:14 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4;

(vii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:20 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4;

(viii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4;

(ix) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:20 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:48;

(x) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:49;

(xi) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:48;

(xii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:20 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:50;

(xiii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:50;

(xiv) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:20 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:55;

(xv) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:55;

(xvi) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:20 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:49;

(xvii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:20 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:54;

(xviii) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:54;

(ixx) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:56;

(xx) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:32 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:57;

(xxi) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:20 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:57.

18. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 17 , wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment binds to CD 154 with greater affinity than does an antibody or antigen binding fragment that is otherwise identical but has wild type 5c8 CDR sequences VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4.

19. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 18 , wherein the affinity is assessed using ELISA or a KinExA™ assay.

20. The antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 17 , wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment shows improved potency in inhibiting T cell-dependent B cell activation compared with an antibody, or antigen binding fragment, that that is otherwise identical but has wild type 5c8 CDR sequences VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 and VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 that respectively have the sequences of amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4.

21. The antigen-binding fragment of claim 17 , which is selected from the group consisting of a single chain antibody (scFv), a F(ab′) 2 fragment, a Fab fragment, and an Fd fragment.

22. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 17 , labeled with a detectable marker.

23. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 17 , conjugated to a therapeutic agent or a bead.

24. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 17 , comprising at least one high molecular-weight polymer.

25. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 17 , wherein at least one amino acid of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is PEGylated or glycosylated.

26. A composition comprising the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 17 .

27. A kit comprising the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 17 .

28. A method of treating a human disease or disorder comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 18 to a human having the disease or disorder, such that the disease or disorder is diminished, wherein the disease or disorder is inflammation, Myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, hemolytic anemia, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, a drug-induced autoimmune disease, rejection of a transplanted organ, graft-vs-host disease, an allergic response, an autoimmune response, fibrosis, gastrointestinal disease, vascular disease, a T cell cancer, or viral infection of T cells by the HTLV I virus.

29. A method of antagonizing CD154 activity in a subject having a disease or disorder associated with CD154, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 1 , such that the disease or disorder is diminished, wherein the disease or disorder is inflammation, Myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, hemolytic anemia, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, a drug-induced autoimmune disease, rejection of a transplanted organ, graft-vs-host disease, an allergic response, an autoimmune response, fibrosis, gastrointestinal disease, vascular disease, a T cell cancer, or viral infection of T cells by the HTLV I virus.

30. A method of antagonizing CD154 activity in a subject having a disease or disorder associated with CD154, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment of claim 28 , such that the disease or disorder is diminished, wherein the disease or disorder is inflammation, Myasthenia gravis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, hemolytic anemia, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, a drug-induced autoimmune disease, rejection of a transplanted organ, graft-vs-host disease, an allergic response, an autoimmune response, fibrosis, gastrointestinal disease, vascular disease, a T cell cancer, or viral infection of T cells by the HTLV I virus.

31. A method of inhibiting inflammation in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that binds CD154 and that comprises a light chain variable region, which comprises light chain CDRs VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3, and a heavy chain variable region, which comprises heavy chain CDRs VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3, wherein

(i) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 or

(b) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Ser at position 26 substituted with Asp,

Gln at position 27 substituted with Glu, and

Thr at position 33 substituted with Trp;

and

(ii) VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 or

(b) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Thr at position 30 substituted with His,

Tyr at position 33 substituted with Trp, and

Ser at position 54 substituted with Asn;

wherein when the light chain CDR sequences have the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (i)(a) above, the heavy chain CDR sequences are not the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (ii)(a) above,

thereby inhibiting inflammation in the subject.

32. A method of treating lupus in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that binds CD154 and that comprises a light chain variable region, which comprises light chain CDRs VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3, and a heavy chain variable region, which comprises heavy chain CDRs VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3, wherein

(i) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 or

(b) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Ser at position 26 substituted with Asp,

Gln at position 27 substituted with Glu, and

Thr at position 33 substituted with Trp;

and

(ii) VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 or

(b) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Thr at position 30 substituted with His,

Tyr at position 33 substituted with Trp, and

Ser at position 54 substituted with Asn;

wherein when the light chain CDR sequences have the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (i)(a) above, the heavy chain CDR sequences are not the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (ii)(a) above,

thereby treating lupus in the subject.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus.

34. The method of claim 32 , wherein the lupus is drug-induced lupus.

35. A method of treating an autoimmune response in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that binds CD154 and that comprises a light chain variable region, which comprises light chain CDRs VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3, and a heavy chain variable region, which comprises heavy chain CDRs VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3, wherein

(i) VL CDR1, VL CDR2, and VL CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 or

(b) amino acids 24-38, 54-60, and 93-101 of SEQ ID NO:1 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Ser at position 26 substituted with Asp,

Gln at position 27 substituted with Glu, and

Thr at position 33 substituted with Trp;

and

(ii) VH CDR1, VH CDR2, and VH CDR3 respectively have the sequences of

(a) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 or

(b) amino acids 26-35, 50-66, and 99-107 of SEQ ID NO:4 except that one or a combination of substitutions is present, wherein the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of

Thr at position 30 substituted with His,

Tyr at position 33 substituted with Trp, and

Ser at position 54 substituted with Asn;

wherein when the light chain CDR sequences have the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (i)(a) above, the heavy chain CDR sequences are not the wild type 5c8 CDR sequences according to (ii)(a) above

thereby treating the autoimmune response in the subject.