Anti-PAD4 antibody
Provided are anti-PAD4 antibodies having excellent properties and an excellent method for treatment of RA. Used are anti-PAD4 antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope containing positions 345, 347, and 348 of PAD4. These anti-PAD4 antibodies may inhibit the citrullination activity of PAD4. In addition, these anti-PAD4 antibodies may have a KD (M) of 9.0×10 −9 or less. Optionally, the anti-PAD4 antibody and a TNFα inhibitor are used in combination.
1. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or arthritis comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an anti-PAD4 (peptidylarginine deiminase 4) antibody in combination with a TNFα inhibitor, wherein the antibody specifically binds to positions 345, 347, and 348 of human PAD4.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the patient has already received the TNFα inhibitor.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is an anti-TNFα antibody, a TNF receptor-fusion protein, a dominant negative TNFα mutant, an RNAi molecule against TNFα, a miRNA molecule against TNFα, an antisense nucleic acid against TNFα, a polynucleotide encoding an RNAi molecule against TNFα, or a polynucleotide encoding an miRNA molecule against TNFα.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is an anti-TNFα antibody or a TNF receptor-fusion protein.
6. A method of treating arthritis, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an anti-PAD4 (peptidylarginine deiminase 4) antibody which specifically binds to an epitope containing positions 345, 347, and 348 of human PAD4.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the antibody inhibits citrullination activity of PAD4.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the antibody binds human PAD4 with a KD (M) of 9.0×10 −9 or less.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the epitope is identified by alanine scan in which a single amino acid is replaced.
10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
11. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.
12. An anti-human PAD4 antibody which binds to a peptide, the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, but cannot bind to a peptide, the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 32, 34, or 35.
13. The anti-human PAD4 antibody according to claim 12 , wherein the antibody inhibits citrullination activity of PAD4.
14. The anti-human PAD4 antibody according to claim 12 , wherein the antibody binds human PAD4 with a KD (M) of 9.0×10 −9 or less.
15. The anti-human PAD4 antibody according to claim 12 , wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.
16. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof the anti-human PAD4 antibody according to claim 12 .