IL-31 monoclonal antibodies

1. A monoclonal antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 wherein the monoclonal antibody is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815;

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816;

c) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829;

d) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830;

e) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6831;

f) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871;

g) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872;

h) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875; and

i) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6873.

2. The antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment neutralizes the interaction of a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid 27 to amino acid 164 with a receptor polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:5.

3. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 1 , wherein the antibody comprises a radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, fluorescent marker, chemiluminescent marker, peptide tag, magnetic particle, or toxin.

4. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment comprises PEG.

5. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is a chimeric antibody.

6. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is humanized.

7. A monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment capable of competing with a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815;

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816;

c) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829;

d) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830;

e) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6831;

f) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871;

g) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872;

h) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875; and

i) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6873

for specifically binding to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

8. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815.

9. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816.

10. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829.

11. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830.

12. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6831.

13. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871.

14. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872.

15. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875.

16. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6873.

17. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein administration of the antibody to a mammal inhibits, reduces or blocks production of pro-inflammatory chemokines.

18. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 17 , wherein the pro-inflammatory chemokines are TARC or MDC.

19. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein administration of the antibody to a mammal inhibits, reduces or blocks scratching.

20. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein administration of the antibody to a mammal inhibits, reduces or blocks itch.

21. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein administration of the antibody to a mammal inhibits, reduces or blocks dermatitis.

22. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 21 , wherein the dermatitis is atopic dermatitis.

23. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein administration of the antibody to a mammal inhibits, reduces or blocks hairloss.

24. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 7 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment neutralizes the interaction of a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid 27 to amino acid 164 with a receptor polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:5.

25. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein the antibody comprises a radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, fluorescent marker, chemiluminescent marker, peptide tag, magnetic particle, or toxin.

26. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment comprises PEG.

27. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is a chimeric antibody.

28. The monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment of claim 7 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is humanized.

29. A hybridoma, wherein the hybridoma is deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815;

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816;

c) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829;

d) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830;

e) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6831;

f) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871;

g) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872;

h) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875; and

i) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6873.

30. A monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment capable of competing with a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815;

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816;

c) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871;

d) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829; and

e) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830

for specifically binding to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

31. A monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment capable of competing with a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815;

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816; and

c) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871

for specifically binding to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

32. monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment capable of competing with a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829; and

b)ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830

for specifically binding to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

33. A monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment capable of competing with a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872; and

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875

for specifically binding to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

34. A monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment capable of competing with a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872;

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6873;

c) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875; and

d) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6831

for specifically binding to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

35. A monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment capable of competing with a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation selected from the group consisting of:

a) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815;

b) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816;

c) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829;

d) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830;

e) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6831;

f) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871;

g) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872;

h) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875; and

i) ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6873

for inhibiting the binding of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 from residue 27 to residue 164 to a receptor polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5.

36. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment neutralizes the interaction of the polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid 27 to amino acid 164 with the receptor polypeptide.

37. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment comprises a radionuclide, enzyme, substrate, cofactor, fluorescent marker, chemiluminescent marker, peptide tag, magnetic particle, or toxin.

38. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment comprises PEG.

39. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein administration of the antibody or antibody fragment to a mammal inhibits, reduces or blocks production of pro-inflammatory chemokines.

40. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein administration of the antibody or antibody fragment to a mammal inhibits, reduces or blocks scratching, itch, dermatitis, or hairloss.

41. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 40 , wherein the dermatitis is atopic dermatitis.

42. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6815.

43. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6816.

44. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6829.

45. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6830.

46. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6831.

47. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6871.

48. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6872.

49. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6875.

50. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is produced by the hybridoma deposited with the American Type Culture Collection having the ATCC Patent Deposit Designation PTA-6873.

51. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is a chimeric antibody.

52. The antibody or antibody fragment of claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is humanized.

53. The antibody or antibody fragment according to claim 35 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment is a Fab molecule or a F(ab') 2 molecule.

54. The antigen-binding molecule according to claim 35 , wherein the antigen-binding molecule is a single-chain molecule.