Agents for suppressing damage to transplanted islets after islet transplantation
The present inventors investigated anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies for their effect in suppressing damage to transplanted islets after islet transplantation. As a result, they found that anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies reduced damage to transplanted islets, improved islet survival, and corrected hyperglycemia in recipients. Further, they revealed that administration of the anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies of the present invention suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines by infiltrating cells after transplantation. Specifically, the present inventors discovered for the first time that damage to transplanted islets after islet transplantation can be suppressed by using anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies according to the present invention.
1. A method for suppressing damage to a transplanted islet in an islet transplantation subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an antibody that recognizes an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, thereby suppressing damage to the transplanted islet in the subject.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the islet was isolated from a pancreas.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the islet was transplanted into the subject's liver.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is an anti-human IL-6 receptor antibody.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a recombinant antibody.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric, humanized, or human antibody.
8. A method for suppressing damage to a transplanted islet in an islet transplantation subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody that recognizes an IL-6 receptor, thereby suppressing damage to the transplanted islet in the subject.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the antigen-binding fragment is a Fab fragment or F(ab′)2 fragment.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the islet was isolated from a pancreas.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the islet was transplanted into the subject's liver.
12. A method for suppressing damage to a transplanted islet in an islet transplantation subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an anti-IL-6 receptor Fv or an anti-IL-6 receptor scFv, thereby suppressing damage to the transplanted islet in the subject.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the islet was isolated from a pancreas.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the islet was transplanted into the subject's liver.
15. A method for improving viability of an islet in an islet transplantation subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an antibody that recognizes an IL-6 receptor, thereby improving viability of the islet in the subject.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the islet was isolated from a pancreas.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the islet was transplanted into the subject's liver.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antibody is an anti-human IL-6 receptor antibody.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antibody is a recombinant antibody.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric, humanized, or human antibody.
22. A method for improving viability of an islet in an islet transplantation subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody that recognizes an IL-6 receptor, thereby improving viability of the islet in the subject.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the antigen-binding fragment is a Fab fragment or F(ab′)2 fragment.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the islet was isolated from a pancreas.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the islet was transplanted into the subject's liver.
26. A method for improving viability of an islet in an islet transplantation subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an anti-IL-6 receptor Fv or an anti-IL-6 receptor scFv, thereby improving viability of the islet in the subject.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the islet was isolated from a pancreas.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the islet was transplanted into the subject's liver.