ANTAGONISTS OF IL-20 FAMILY OF CYTOKINES AND THEIR USE
Methods for blocking the activity of the IL-20 family of cytokines in a mammal having a disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines consisting of IL-19, IL-20 and IL-24 are disclosed. The methods involve administering a therapeutically effective amount of either a soluble IL-20R2-IgG Fc fusion protein or a neutralizing monoclonal antibody to IL-20R2, both of which are able to block the biological functions of all three members of IL-20 family of cytokines.
1 . A method for blocking the activity of the IL-20 family of cytokines in a mammal having a disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines comprising the step of administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a soluble IL-20R2-IgG Fc fusion protein.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is an inflammatory disorder.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is an arthritis condition.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is psoriasis.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is atopic dermatitis.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is Cohn's disease.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is a heart disease.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is cancer.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is a wound healing disorder.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of administering is performed by intravenous injection.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of administering is performed by subcutaneous injection.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of administering is performed by a series of doses separated by intervals of days or weeks.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soluble IL-20R2 in IL-20R2-IgG Fc fusion is a human receptor subunit.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IgG Fc in the IL-20R2-IgG Fc fusion protein is human.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IgG Fc is human.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IgG Fc is from human IgG1.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-20R2-IgG Fc fusion protein is identified by Sequence ID No. 1.
18 . A method for blocking the activity of the IL-20 family of cytokines in a mammal having a disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines comprising the step of administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IL-20R2, wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody, upon binding to IL-20R2, is able to block the IL-19, IL-20 and IL-24 ligands of the IL-20 family from binding to their natural heterodimeric receptors comprising an IL-20R2 subunit, thereby inhibiting signal transduction by IL-19, IL-20, and IL-24.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is an inflammatory disorder.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is an arthritis condition.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is psoriasis.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is atopic dermatitis.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is Cohn's disease.
24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is a heart disease.
25 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is cancer.
26 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the disorder-mediated by one or more of the IL-20 family of cytokines is a wound healing disorder.
27 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of administering is performed by intravenous injection.
28 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of administering is performed by subcutaneous injection.
29 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of administering is performed by a series of doses separated by intervals of days or weeks.
30 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the IL-20R2 is a human receptor subunit.
31 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IL-20R2 is a fully human antibody.
32 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IL-20R2 is a humanized antibody.
33 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IL-20R2 is a chimeric antibody.
34 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IL-20R2 is a Fab.
35 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IL-20R2 is a single chain antibody.
36 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the neutralizing monoclonal antibody against IL-20R2 is part of a bi-specific antibody.