ANTI HLA B27 ANTIBODIES AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention provides antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof that specifically bind HLA B27 (also called HLA B27). In certain embodiments the antibodies of the invention bind soluble and/or cell surface expressed forms of HLA B27. The antibodies of the present invention in certain embodiments inhibit HLA B27 mediated activation of T cells. Certain exemplary antibodies of the present invention exhibit enhanced binding to HLA B27 as compared to other HLA B allelic variants (e.g. HLA B07). The present invention also provides anti HLA B27 antibodies with pH dependent binding characteristics (e.g. higher affinity binding at neutral pH than at acidic pH). The antibodies of the invention are useful for the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with HLA B27 expression including ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies.