Caninized human antibodies to human IL-4R alpha

Abstract

The present invention provides caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies that have specific sequences and a high binding affinity for canine IL-4R. The invention also relates to use of these antibodies in the treatment of dogs against atopic dermatitis.

Claims

1. A nucleic acid that encodes a canine kappa light chain of a caninized antibody that specifically binds interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4R); wherein the canine kappa light chain comprises three light chain complementary determining regions (CDRs): CDR light 1 (CDRL1), CDR light 2 (CDRL2), and CDR light 3 (CDRL3); and (a) wherein CDRL1 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43; (b) wherein CDRL2 comprises the amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 44; and (c) wherein CDRL3 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45.

2. The nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the kappa light chain comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 38.

3. The nucleic acid of claim 2, wherein the kappa light chain comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, and SEQ ID NO: 37.

4. A nucleic acid that encodes a canine IgG heavy chain of a caninized antibody that specifically binds interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4R); wherein the canine IgG heavy chain comprises three heavy chain CDRs: CDR heavy 1 (CDRH1), CDR heavy 2 (CDRH2) and CDR heavy 3 (CDRH3); and (a) wherein CDRH1 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 46; (b) wherein CDRH2 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47; and (c) wherein CDRH3 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48.

5. The nucleic acid of claim 4, wherein the canine IgG heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, and SEQ ID NO: 32.

6. The nucleic acid of claim 5, that comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, and SEQ ID NO: 31.

7. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 2.

8. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 1.

9. A host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 8.

10. A host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 7.

11. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 5.

12. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 4.

13. A host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 12.

14. A host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A depicts the binding affinity of human-canine chimera antibodies with cIL-4R determined by ELISA. The human portion of the human-canine chimeria was obtained from the following humanized antibodies: Abl (M1), Ab 12 (M12), and Ab 37 (M37) [U.S. Pat. No. 8,877,189]; 5A1, 12B5, 27A1, and Ab 63 (63) [U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,809]; and Dupi H-C [US 20150017176]. The Iso control (Iso Ctr) is a caninized murine antibody raised against a canine antigen that is unrelated to cIL-4R.

(2) FIG. 1B shows the dose-dependent binding reactivity of chimeric human-canine antibody (Dupi H-C) and caninized monoclonal antibody (Dupi H2-L2) against canine IL-4 receptor alpha chain determined by ELISA. A monoclonal antibody raised against a canine antigen that is unrelated to cIL-4R was used as the control (mAb Control).

(3) FIG. 2 provides the results of a FACS assay for testing the blocking activity of caninized Dupi monoclonal antibody against the interaction of canine IL-4 with the canine IL-4 receptor alpha expressed on CHO cells.

(4) FIG. 3 provides the results of a FACS assay for testing binding activity of caninized Dupi H2-L2 monoclonal antibody against the canine IL-4 receptor alpha expressed on BaF3 cells.

(5) FIG. 4 provides the results of a MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] cell-based assay for testing cell viability as a function of the neutralizing activity of chimeric human-canine monoclonal antibody (Dupi H-C) and caninized monoclonal antibody (Dupi H2-L2) versus a control non-neutralizing antibody on BaF3 cell proliferation.

(6) FIG. 5 depicts the peptide epitopes and specific amino acid residue contacts for the interaction between canine IL-4 receptor alpha chain and the caninized Dupi H2-L2 monoclonal antibody. Region 1 of the epitope was identified as being within the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39, whereas Region 2 of the epitope was identified as being within the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) There is only 66% amino acid identity between the canine IL-4 receptor alpha protein and the human IL-4 receptor alpha protein. Moreover, even comparing just the extracellular domains of these receptors, the amino acid identity is only 68%. Despite this fact, several humanized antibodies against human ECD of IL-4R were screened for their reactivity with canine IL-4R. Notably, it was surprisingly found that one of these humanized antibodies that had been previously identified for being specific for the extracellular domain of the human IL-4R protein, also binds to canine IL-4R chain with a high affinity. Even more surprisingly, it was found that this antibody could block the binding of canine IL-4 to its canine IL-4R chain. Accordingly, the caninization of this antibody, as disclosed below, has a therapeutic utility for dogs.

Abbreviations

(8) Throughout the detailed description and examples of the invention the following abbreviations will be used: ADCC Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity CDC Complement-dependent cytotoxicity CDR Complementarity determining region in the immunoglobulin variable regions, defined using the Kabat numbering system CHO Chinese hamster ovary EC50 concentration resulting in 50% efficacy or binding ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay FR Antibody framework region: the immunoglobulin variable regions excluding the CDR regions. HRP Horseradish peroxidase IFN interferon IC50 concentration resulting in 50% inhibition IgG Immunoglobulin G Kabat An immunoglobulin alignment and numbering system pioneered by Elvin A. Kabat [Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)] mAb Monoclonal antibody (also Mab or MAb) MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) MOA Mechanism of action NHS Normal human serum PCR Polymerase chain reaction PK Pharmacokinetics SEB Staphylococcus Enterotoxin B TT Tetanus toxoid V region The segment of IgG chains which is variable in sequence between different antibodies. It extends to Kabat residue 109 in the light chain and 113 in the heavy chain. VH Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region VK Immunoglobulin kappa light chain variable region

Definitions

(9) So that the invention may be more readily understood, certain technical and scientific terms are specifically defined below. Unless specifically defined elsewhere in this document, all other technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

(10) As used herein, including the appended claims, the singular forms of words such as a, an, and the, include their corresponding plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(11) Activation as it applies to cells or to receptors refers to the activation or treatment of a cell or receptor with a ligand, unless indicated otherwise by the context or explicitly. Ligand encompasses natural and synthetic ligands, e.g., cytokines, cytokine variants, analogues, muteins, and binding compounds derived from antibodies. Ligand also encompasses small molecules, e.g., peptide mimetics of cytokines and peptide mimetics of antibodies.

(12) Activation can refer to cell activation as regulated by internal mechanisms as well as by external or environmental factors.

(13) Activity of a molecule may describe or refer to the binding of the molecule to a ligand or to a receptor, to catalytic activity; to the ability to stimulate gene expression or cell signaling, differentiation, or maturation; to antigenic activity, to the modulation of activities of other molecules, and the like. Activity of a molecule may also refer to activity in modulating or maintaining cell-to-cell interactions, e.g., adhesion, or activity in maintaining a structure of a cell, e.g., cell membranes or cytoskeleton. Activity can also mean specific activity, e.g., [catalytic activity]/[mg protein], or [immunological activity]/[mg protein], concentration in a biological compartment, or the like. Activity may refer to modulation of components of the innate or the adaptive immune systems.

(14) Administration and treatment, as it applies to an animal, e.g., a canine subject, cell, tissue, organ, or biological fluid, refers to contact of an exogenous pharmaceutical, therapeutic, diagnostic agent, or composition to the animal e.g., a canine subject, cell, tissue, organ, or biological fluid. Treatment of a cell encompasses contact of a reagent to the cell, as well as contact of a reagent to a fluid, where the fluid is in contact with the cell. Administration and treatment also means in vitro and ex vivo treatments, e.g., of a cell, by a reagent, diagnostic, binding compound, or by another cell. The term subject includes any organism, preferably an animal, more preferably a mammal (e.g., canine, feline, or other non-human mammal) and most preferably a canine.

(15) As used herein, a substitution of an amino acid residue with another amino acid residue in an amino acid sequence of an antibody for example, is equivalent to replacing an amino acid residue with another amino acid residue and denotes that a particular amino acid residue at a specific position in the amino acid sequence has been replaced by (or substituted for) by a different amino acid residue. Such substitutions can be particularly designed i.e., purposefully replacing an alanine with a serine at a specific position in the amino acid sequence by e.g., recombinant DNA technology. Alternatively, a particular amino acid residue or string of amino acid residues of an antibody can be replaced by one or more amino acid residues through more natural selection processes e.g., based on the ability of the antibody produced by a cell to bind to a given region on that antigen, e.g., one containing an epitope or a portion thereof, and/or for the antibody to comprise a particular CDR that retains the same canonical structure as the CDR it is replacing. Such substitutions/replacements can lead to variant CDRs and/or variant antibodies.

(16) Treat or treating means to administer a therapeutic agent, such as a composition containing any of the antibodies or antigen binding fragments of the present invention, internally or externally to a canine subject or patient having one or more disease symptoms, or being suspected of having a disease, for which the agent has therapeutic activity.

(17) Typically, the agent is administered in an amount effective to alleviate and/or ameliorate one or more disease symptoms in the treated subject or population, whether by inducing the regression of or inhibiting the progression of such symptom(s) by any clinically measurable degree. The amount of a therapeutic agent that is effective to alleviate any particular disease symptom (also referred to as the therapeutically effective amount) may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, and weight of the patient (e.g., canine), and the ability of the pharmaceutical composition to elicit a desired response in the subject. Whether a disease symptom has been alleviated or ameliorated can be assessed by any clinical measurement typically used by veterinarians or other skilled healthcare providers to assess the severity or progression status of that symptom. While an embodiment of the present invention (e.g., a treatment method or article of manufacture) may not be effective in alleviating the target disease symptom(s) in every subject, it should alleviate the target disease symptom(s) in a statistically significant number of subjects as determined by any statistical test known in the art such as the Student's t-test, the chi.sup.2-test, the U-test according to Mann and Whitney, the Kruskal-Wallis test (H-test), Jonckheere-Terpstra-test and the Wilcoxon-test.

(18) Treatment, as it applies to a human, veterinary (e.g., canine) or research subject, refers to therapeutic treatment, as well as research and diagnostic applications. Treatment as it applies to a human, veterinary (e.g., canine), or research subject, or cell, tissue, or organ, encompasses contact of the antibodies or antigen binding fragments of the present invention to a canine or other animal subject, a cell, tissue, physiological compartment, or physiological fluid.

(19) As used herein, the term canine includes all domestic dogs, Canis lupus familiaris or Canis familiaris, unless otherwise indicated.

(20) As used herein, the term feline refers to any member of the Felidae family. Members of this family include wild, zoo, and domestic members, such as any member of the subfamilies Felinae, e.g., cats, lions, tigers, pumas, jaguars, leopards, snow leopards, panthers, North American mountain lions, cheetahs, lynx, bobcats, caracals or any cross breeds thereof. Cats also include domestic cats, pure-bred and/or mongrel companion cats, show cats, laboratory cats, cloned cats, and wild or feral cats.

(21) As used herein the term canine frame refers to the amino acid sequence of the heavy chain and light chain of a canine antibody other than the hypervariable region residues defined herein as CDR residues. With regard to a caninized antibody, in the majority of embodiments the amino acid sequences of the native canine CDRs are replaced with the corresponding foreign CDRs (e.g., those from a human anti-human IL-4R antibody) in both chains. Optionally the heavy and/or light chains of the canine antibody may be modified to contain some foreign non-CDR residues, e.g., so as to preserve the conformation of the foreign CDRs within the canine antibody, and/or to modify the Fc function, as discussed below. Accordingly, a caninized antibody that comprises a canine IgG heavy chain comprising CDRs from an antibody from another species (e.g., CDRs from a human antibody) and a canine kappa light chain comprising CDRs of an antibody from that other species indicates that the caninized antibody comprises a canine IgG heavy chain (or a modified canine IgG, e.g., as disclosed herein), which comprises the specified CDRs of the antibody from that other species in place of its CDRs and a canine kappa light chain (or a modified canine kappa light chain), which comprises the specified CDRs of the antibody from that other species in place of its CDRs.

(22) The term immune response refers to the action of, for example, lymphocytes, antigen presenting cells, phagocytic cells, granulocytes, and soluble macromolecules produced by the above cells or the liver (including antibodies, cytokines, and complement) that results in selective damage to, destruction of, or elimination from the mammalian body (e.g., canine body) of cancerous cells, cells or tissues infected with pathogens, or invading pathogens.

(23) Caninized Anti-Human IL-4R Antibodies

(24) The present invention provides isolated caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof that bind canine IL-4R and uses of such antibodies or fragments.

(25) As used herein, a caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody refers to a caninized antibody that specifically binds to mammalian IL-4R.

(26) An antibody that specifically binds to mammalian IL-4R, and in particular canine IL-4R, is an antibody that exhibits preferential binding to mammalian IL-4R as compared to other antigens, but this specificity does not require absolute binding specificity. A caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody is considered specific for canine IL-4R (or binding with specificity) if its binding is determinative of the presence of canine IL-4R in a biological sample obtained from a canine, or if it is capable of altering the activity of canine IL-4R without unduly interfering with the activity of other canine proteins in a canine sample, e.g. without producing undesired results such as false positives in a diagnostic context or side effects in a therapeutic context. The degree of specificity necessary for a caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody may depend on the intended use of the antibody, and at any rate is defined by its suitability for use for an intended purpose. The antibody, or binding compound derived from the antigen-binding site of an antibody, of the contemplated method binds to its antigen, or a variant or mutein thereof, with specificity, when it has an affinity that is at least two-fold greater, preferably at least ten-times greater, more preferably at least 20-times greater, and most preferably at least 100-times greater than the affinity with any other canine antigen.

(27) As used herein, an antibody is said to bind specifically to a polypeptide comprising a given sequence (in this case canine IL-4R) if it binds to polypeptides comprising the sequence of canine IL-4R, but does not bind to other canine proteins lacking the amino acid sequence of canine IL-4R. For example, an antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising canine IL-4R may bind to a FLAG-tagged form of canine IL-4R, but will not bind to other FLAG-tagged canine proteins.

(28) As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, antibody fragment or antigen binding fragment refers to antigen binding fragments of antibodies, i.e. antibody fragments that retain the ability to bind specifically to the antigen (e.g., canine IL-4R) bound by the full-length antibody, e.g. fragments that retain one or more CDR regions. Examples of antigen binding fragments include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab, F(ab).sub.2, and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules, e.g., sc-Fv; nanobodies and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

(29) Typically, a caninized antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of the invention retains at least 10% of its canine IL-4R binding activity (when compared to the corresponding parental antibody) when that activity is expressed on a molar basis. Preferably, an antibody or antigen binding fragment of the invention retains at least 20%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 100% or more of the canine IL-4R binding affinity as the parental antibody. It is also intended that an an antibody or antigen binding fragment of the invention can include conservative or non-conservative amino acid substitutions (referred to as conservative variants or function conserved variants of the antibody) that do not substantially alter its biologic activity.

(30) Isolated antibody refers to the purification status and in such context means the molecule is substantially free of other biological molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, or other material such as cellular debris and growth media. Generally, the term isolated is not intended to refer to a complete absence of such material or to an absence of water, buffers, or salts, unless they are present in amounts that substantially interfere with experimental or therapeutic use of the binding compound as described herein.

(31) The variable regions of each light/heavy chain pair form the antigen binding site of the antibody. Thus, in general, an intact antibody has two binding sites. Except in bifunctional or bispecific antibodies, the two binding sites are, in general, the same. Typically, the variable domains of both the heavy and light chains comprise three hypervariable regions, also called complementarity determining regions (CDRs), located within relatively conserved framework regions (FR). The CDRs are usually flanked by the framework regions, enabling binding to a specific epitope. In general, from N-terminal to C-terminal, both light and heavy chains variable domains comprise FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, and FR4. The assignment of amino acids to each domain is, generally, in accordance with the definitions of Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Kabat, et al.; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.; 5.sup.th ed.; NIH Publ. No. 91-3242 (1991); Kabat, Adv. Prot. Chem. 32:1-75 (1978); Kabat, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 252:6609-6616 (1977); Chothia, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987) or Chothia, et al., Nature 342:878-883 (1989)].

(32) As used herein, the term hypervariable region refers to the amino acid residues of an antibody that are responsible for antigen-binding. The hypervariable region comprises amino acid residues from a complementarity determining region or CDR (i.e. CDRL1, CDRL2 and CDRL3 in the light chain variable domain and CDRH1, CDRH2 and CDRH3 in the heavy chain variable domain). [See Kabat et al. Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991), defining the CDR regions of an antibody by sequence; see also Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196: 901-917 (1987) defining the CDR regions of an antibody by structure]. As used herein, the term framework or FR residues refers to those variable domain residues other than the hypervariable region residues defined herein as CDR residues.

(33) There are four known IgG heavy chain subtypes of dog IgG and they are referred to as IgG-A, IgG-B, IgG-C, and IgG-D. The two known light chain subtypes are referred to as lambda and kappa. In addition to modulating the development of the canine Th2 immune response, a canine or caninized antibody against IL-4R optimally has two attributes: 1. Lack of effector functions such as antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and 2. be readily purified on a large scale using industry standard technologies such as that based on protein A chromatography.

(34) As used herein, the term caninized antibody refers to an antibody that comprises the three heavy chain CDRs and the three light chain CDRS from a human anti-human IL-4R antibody together with a canine frame or a modified canine frame. A modified canine frame comprises one or more amino acids changes as exemplified herein that further optimize the effectiveness of the caninized antibody, e.g., to increase its binding to canine IL-4R and/or its ability to block the binding of canine IL-4R to canine IL-4.

(35) Homology refers to sequence similarity between two polynucleotide sequences or between two polypeptide sequences when they are optimally aligned. When a position in both of the two compared sequences is occupied by the same base or amino acid monomer subunit, e.g., if a position in each of two DNA molecules is occupied by adenine, then the molecules are homologous at that position. The percent of homology is the number of homologous positions shared by the two sequences divided by the total number of positions compared100. For example, if 6 of 10 of the positions in two sequences are matched or homologous when the sequences are optimally aligned then the two sequences are 60% homologous. Generally, the comparison is made when two sequences are aligned to give maximum percent homology.

(36) Isolated nucleic acid molecule means a DNA or RNA of genomic, mRNA, cDNA, or synthetic origin or some combination thereof which is not associated with all or a portion of a polynucleotide in which the isolated polynucleotide is found in nature, or is linked to a polynucleotide to which it is not linked in nature. For purposes of this disclosure, it should be understood that a nucleic acid molecule comprising a particular nucleotide sequence does not encompass intact chromosomes. Isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising specified nucleic acid sequences may include, in addition to the specified sequences, coding sequences for up to ten or even up to twenty or more other proteins or portions or fragments thereof, or may include operably linked regulatory sequences that control expression of the coding region of the recited nucleic acid sequences, and/or may include vector sequences.

(37) The phrase control sequences refers to DNA sequences necessary for the expression of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular host organism. The control sequences that are suitable for prokaryotes, for example, include a promoter, optionally an operator sequence, and a ribosome binding site. Eukaryotic cells are known to use promoters, polyadenylation signals, and enhancers.

(38) A nucleic acid is operably linked when it is placed into a functional relationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, DNA for a presequence or secretory leader is operably linked to DNA for a polypeptide if it is expressed as a preprotein that participates in the secretion of the polypeptide; a promoter or enhancer is operably linked to a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosome binding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as to facilitate translation. Generally, operably linked means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in the case of a secretory leader, contiguous and in reading phase. However, enhancers do not have to be contiguous. Linking is accomplished by ligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites do not exist, the synthetic oligonucleotide adaptors or linkers are used in accordance with conventional practice. It also should be readily understood that when a nucleic acid sequence is provided herein, it may include a stop codon. However, as stop codons are interchangeable the inclusion of a specific stop codon in a sequence should not be viewed as a necessary portion of that sequence.

(39) As used herein, the expressions cell, cell line, and cell culture are used interchangeably and all such designations include progeny. Thus, the words transformants and transformed cells include the primary subject cell and cultures derived therefrom without regard for the number of transfers. It is also understood that not all progeny will have precisely identical DNA content, due to deliberate or inadvertent mutations. Mutant progeny that have the same function or biological activity as screened for in the originally transformed cell are included. Where distinct designations are intended, it will be clear from the context.

(40) As used herein, germline sequence refers to a sequence of unrearranged immunoglobulin DNA sequences. Any suitable source of unrearranged immunoglobulin sequences may be used. Human germline sequences may be obtained, for example, from JOINSOLVER germline databases on the website for the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the United States National Institutes of Health. Mouse germline sequences may be obtained, for example, as described in Giudicelli et al. [Nucleic Acids Res. 33:D256-D261 (2005)].

Properties of Anti-Canine IL-4R Antibodies

(41) The present invention provides chimeric and caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies, methods of use of the antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof in the treatment of disease e.g., the treatment of atopic dermatitis in canines. In canine, there are four IgG heavy chains referred to as A, B, C, and D. These heavy chains represent four different subclasses of dog IgG, which are referred to as IgGA, IgGB, IgGC and IgGD. Each of the two heavy chains consists of one variable domain (VH) and three constant domains referred to as CH-1, CH-2, and CH-3. The CH-1 domain is connected to the CH-2 domain via an amino acid sequence referred to as the hinge or alternatively as the hinge region.

(42) The DNA and amino acid sequences of these four heavy chains were first identified by Tang et al. [Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 80: 259-270 (2001)]. The amino acid and DNA sequences for these heavy chains are also available from the GenBank data bases. For example, the amino acid sequence of IgGA heavy chain has accession number AAL35301.1, IgGB has accession number AAL35302.1, IgGC has accession number AAL35303.1, and IgGD has accession number (AAL35304.1). Canine antibodies also contain two types of light chains, kappa and lambda. The DNA and amino acid sequence of these light chains can be obtained from GenBank Databases. For example the kappa light chain amino acid sequence has accession number ABY 57289.1 and the lambda light chain has accession number ABY 55569.1.

(43) In the present invention, the amino acid sequence for each of the four canine IgG Fc fragments is based on the identified boundary of CH-1 and CH-2 domains as determined by Tang et al, supra. Caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies that bind canine IL-4R include, but are not limited to: antibodies that comprise canine IgG-A, IgG-B, and IgG-D heavy chains and/or canine kappa light chains together with human anti-human IL-4R CDRs.

(44) Accordingly, the present invention provides chimeric canine and human anti-human IL-4R antibodies (preferably isolated) and/or caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof that bind to canine IL-4R and block the binding of canine IL-4 and canine IL-13 to the type-I or type II IL-4 receptors.

(45) The present invention further provides full length canine heavy chains that can be matched with corresponding light chains to make a caninized antibody. Accordingly, the present invention further provides caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies (including isolated caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies) and methods of use of the antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof in the treatment of disease and/or conditions e.g., the treatment of atopic dematitis in canines.

(46) The present invention also provides caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies that comprise a canine fragment crystallizable region (cFc region) in which the cFc has been genetically modified to augment, decrease, or eliminate one or more effector functions. In one aspect of the present invention, the genetically modified cFc decreases or eliminates one or more effector functions. In another aspect of the invention the genetically modified cFc augments one or more effector function. In certain embodiments, the genetically modified cFc region is a genetically modified canine IgGB Fc region. In another such embodiment, the genetically modified cFc region is a genetically modified canine IgGC Fc region. In a particular embodiment the effector function is antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) that is augmented, decreased, or eliminated. In another embodiment the effector function is complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) that is augmented, decreased, or eliminated. In yet another embodiment, the cFc region has been genetically modified to augment, decrease, or eliminate both the ADCC and the CDC.

(47) In order to generate variants of canine IgG that lack effector functions, a number of mutant canine IgGB heavy chains were generated. These variants may include one or more of the following single or combined substitutions in the Fc portion of the heavy chain amino acid sequence: P4A, D31A, N63A, G64P, T65A, A93G, and P95A. Variant heavy chains (i.e., containing such amino acid substitutions) were cloned into expression plasmids and transfected into HEK 293 cells along with a plasmid containing the gene encoding a light chain. Intact antibodies expressed and purified from HEK 293 cells were evaluated for binding to Fc.sub.RI and C1q to assess their potential for mediation of immune effector functions [see, WO 2015091910 A2 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/105,211, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties].

(48) The present invention also employs modified canine IgGDs which in place of its natural IgGD hinge region they comprise a hinge region from:

(49) TABLE-US-00001 IgGA: SEQIDNO:61 FNECRCTDTPPCPVPEP,; IgGB: SEQIDNO:62 PKRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEM,; or IgGC: SEQIDNO:63 AKECECKCNCNNCPCPGCGL,.

(50) Alternatively, the IgGD hinge region can be genetically modified by replacing a serine residue with a proline residue, i.e., PKESTCKCIPPCPVPES, SEQ ID NO: 64 (with the proline residue (P) underlined and in bold substituting for the naturally occurring serine residue). Such modifications can lead to a canine IgGD lacking fab arm exchange. The modified canine IgGDs can be constructed using standard methods of recombinant DNA technology [e.g., Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (1982)]. In order to construct these variants, the nucleic acids encoding the amino acid sequence of canine IgGD can be modified so that it encodes the modified IgGDs. The modified nucleic acid sequences are then cloned into expression plasmids for protein expression.

(51) The antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that binds canine IL-4R can comprise one, two, three, four, five, or six of the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the human anti-human antibody as described herein. The one, two, three, four, five, or six CDRs may be independently selected from the CDR sequences of those provided below. In a further embodiment, the isolated antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds canine IL-4R comprises a canine antibody kappa light chain comprising a human light chain CDR-1, CDR-2, and/or CDR-3 and a canine antibody heavy chain IgG comprising a human heavy chain CDR-1, CDR-2, and/or CDR-3.

(52) In other embodiments, the invention provides antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof that specifically bind canine IL-4R and have canine antibody kappa light chains comprising CDRs comprising at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 43, 44, and/or 45 and canine antibody heavy chain IgG comprising CDRs comprising at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 46, 47, and/or 48, while still exhibiting the desired binding and functional properties. In still other embodiments, the invention provides antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof that specifically bind canine IL-4R and have canine antibody kappa light chains comprising CDRs comprising at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 49, 50, and/or 51 and canine antibody heavy chain IgG comprising CDRs comprising at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 52, 53, and/or 54, while still exhibiting the desired binding and functional properties. In yet other embodiments, the invention provides antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof that specifically bind canine IL-4R and have canine antibody kappa light chains comprising CDRs comprising at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 55, 56, and/or 57 and canine antibody heavy chain IgG comprising CDRs comprising at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 58, 59, and/or 60, while still exhibiting the desired binding and functional properties. In still another embodiment the antibody or antigen binding fragment of the present invention comprises a canine frame comprising a combination of IgG heavy chain sequence with a kappa light chain having one or more of the above-mentioned CDR amino acid sequences with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 conservative (or alternatively) non-conservative amino acid substitutions, while still exhibiting the desired binding and functional properties.

(53) Sequence identity refers to the degree to which the amino acids of two polypeptides are the same at equivalent positions when the two sequences are optimally aligned. As used herein one amino acid sequence is 100% identical to a second amino acid sequence when the amino acid residues of both sequences are identical. Accordingly, an amino acid sequence is 50% identical to a second amino acid sequence when 50% of the amino acid residues of the two amino acid sequences are identical. The sequence comparison is performed over a contiguous block of amino acid residues comprised by a given protein, e.g., a protein, or a portion of the polypeptide being compared. In a particular embodiment, selected deletions or insertions that could otherwise alter the correspondence between the two amino acid sequences are taken into account.

(54) Sequence similarity includes identical residues and nonidentical, biochemically related amino acids. Biochemically related amino acids that share similar properties and may be interchangeable are discussed.

(55) Conservatively modified variants or conservative substitution refers to substitutions of amino acids in a protein with other amino acids having similar characteristics (e.g. charge, side-chain size, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, backbone conformation and rigidity, etc.), such that the changes can frequently be made without altering the biological activity of the protein. Those of skill in this art recognize that, in general, single amino acid substitutions in non-essential regions of a polypeptide do not substantially alter biological activity [see, e.g., Watson et al., Molecular Biology of the Gene, The Benjamin/Cummings Pub. Co., p. 224 (4th Ed.; 1987)]. In addition, substitutions of structurally or functionally similar amino acids are less likely to disrupt biological activity. Exemplary conservative substitutions are set forth in Table 1 directly below.

(56) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Exemplary Conservative Amino Acid Substitutions Original Conservative residue substitution Ala (A) Gly; Ser Arg (R) Lys; His Asn (N) Gln; His Asp (D) Glu; Asn Cys (C) Ser; Ala Gln (Q) Asn Glu (E) Asp; Gln Gly (G) Ala His (H) Asn; Gln Ile (I) Leu; Val Leu (L) Ile; Val Lys (K) Arg; His Met (M) Leu; Ile; Tyr Phe (F) Tyr; Met; Leu Pro (P) Ala Ser (S) Thr Thr (T) Ser Trp (W) Tyr; Phe Tyr (Y) Trp; Phe Val (V) Ile; Leu

(57) Function-conservative variants of the antibodies of the invention are also contemplated by the present invention. Function-conservative variants, as used herein, refers to antibodies or fragments in which one or more amino acid residues have been changed without altering a desired property, such an antigen affinity and/or specificity. Such variants include, but are not limited to, replacement of an amino acid with one having similar properties, such as the conservative amino acid substitutions of Table 1.

(58) Nucleic Acids

(59) The present invention further comprises the nucleic acids encoding the immunoglobulin chains of caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof disclosed herein. For example, the present invention includes all of the novel nucleic acids listed in the Sequence Listing Table below, as well as nucleic acids encoding the peptides and proteins comprising the amino acid sequences provided therein.

(60) Also included in the present invention are nucleic acids that encode immunoglobulin polypeptides comprising amino acid sequences that are at least about 70% identical, preferably at least about 80% identical, more preferably at least about 90% identical and most preferably at least about 95% identical (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100%) to the amino acid sequences of the antibodies provided herein when the comparison is performed by a BLAST algorithm wherein the parameters of the algorithm are selected to give the largest match between the respective sequences over the entire length of the respective reference sequences. The present invention further provides nucleic acids that encode immunoglobulin polypeptides comprising amino acid sequences that are at least about 70% similar, preferably at least about 80% similar, more preferably at least about 90% similar and most preferably at least about 95% similar (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100%) to any of the reference amino acid sequences when the comparison is performed with a BLAST algorithm, wherein the parameters of the algorithm are selected to give the largest match between the respective sequences over the entire length of the respective reference sequences, are also included in the present invention.

(61) Sequence identity refers to the degree to which the amino acids of two polypeptides are the same at equivalent positions when the two sequences are optimally aligned. Sequence similarity includes identical residues and nonidentical, biochemically related amino acids. Biochemically related amino acids that share similar properties and may be interchangeable are discussed above.

(62) The following references relate to BLAST algorithms often used for sequence analysis: BLAST ALGORITHMS: Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990); Gish, W., et al., Nature Genet. 3:266-272 (1993); Madden, T. L., et al., Meth. Enzymol. 266:131-141(1996); Altschul, S. F., et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1997); Zhang, J., et al., Genome Res. 7:649-656 (1997); Wootton, J. C., et al., Comput. Chem. 17:149-163 (1993); Hancock, J. M. et al., Comput. Appl. Biosci. 10:67-70 (1994); ALIGNMENT SCORING SYSTEMS: Dayhoff, M. O., et al., A model of evolutionary change in proteins. in Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, vol. 5, suppl. 3. M. O. Dayhoff (ed.), pp. 345-352, (1978); Natl. Biomed. Res. Found, Washington, D.C.; Schwartz, R. M., et al., Matrices for detecting distant relationships. in Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, vol. 5, suppl. 3. (1978), M. O. Dayhoff (ed.), pp. 353-358 (1978), Natl. Biomed. Res. Found, Washington, D.C.; Altschul, S. F., J. Mol. Biol. 219:555-565 (1991); States, D. J., et al., Methods 3:66-70(1991); Henikoff, S., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915-10919 (1992); Altschul, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Evol. 36:290-300 (1993); ALIGNMENT STATISTICS: Karlin, S., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2264-2268 (1990); Karlin, S., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5877 (1993); Dembo, A., et al., Ann. Prob. 22:2022-2039 (1994); and Altschul, S. F. Evaluating the statistical significance of multiple distinct local alignments. in Theoretical and Computational Methods in Genome Research (S. Suhai, ed.), pp. 1-14, Plenum, New York (1997).

(63) This present invention also provides expression vectors comprising the isolated nucleic acids of the invention, wherein the nucleic acid is operably linked to control sequences that are recognized by a host cell when the host cell is transfected with the vector. Also provided are host cells comprising an expression vector of the present invention and methods for producing the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof disclosed herein comprising culturing a host cell harboring an expression vector encoding the antibody or antigen binding fragment in culture medium, and isolating the antigen or antigen binding fragment thereof from the host cell or culture medium.

(64) Epitope Binding and Binding Affinity

(65) The chimeric (human/canine) and caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof of the present invention are capable of inhibiting the binding of canine IL-4R to canine IL-4 and/or bind to an epitope comprising one or more amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 39 and/or 40 and/or 41, and/or 42.

(66) The caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody can be produced recombinantly as described below in the examples. Mammalian cell lines available as hosts for expression of the antibodies or fragments disclosed herein are well known in the art and include many immortalized cell lines available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). These include, inter alia, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, NSO, SP2 cells, HeLa cells, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, monkey kidney cells (COS), human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (e.g., Hep G2), A549 cells, 3T3 cells, HEK-293 cells and a number of other cell lines. Mammalian host cells include human, mouse, rat, dog, monkey, pig, goat, bovine, horse and hamster cells. Cell lines of particular preference are selected through determining which cell lines have high expression levels. Other cell lines that may be used are insect cell lines, such as Sf9 cells, amphibian cells, bacterial cells, plant cells and fungal cells. When recombinant expression vectors encoding the heavy chain or antigen-binding portion or fragment thereof, the light chain and/or antigen-binding fragment thereof are introduced into mammalian host cells, the antibodies are produced by culturing the host cells for a period of time sufficient to allow for expression of the antibody in the host cells or, more preferably, secretion of the antibody into the culture medium in which the host cells are grown.

(67) Antibodies can be recovered from the culture medium using standard protein purification methods. Further, expression of antibodies of the invention (or other moieties therefrom) from production cell lines can be enhanced using a number of known techniques. For example, the glutamine synthetase gene expression system (the GS system) is a common approach for enhancing expression under certain conditions. The GS system is discussed in whole or part in connection with European Patent Nos. 0 216 846, 0 256 055, and 0 323 997 and European Patent Application No. 89303964.4.

(68) In general, glycoproteins produced in a particular cell line or transgenic animal will have a glycosylation pattern that is characteristic for glycoproteins produced in the cell line or transgenic animal. Therefore, the particular glycosylation pattern of an antibody will depend on the particular cell line or transgenic animal used to produce the antibody. However, all antibodies encoded by the nucleic acid molecules provided herein, or comprising the amino acid sequences provided herein, are comprised by the present invention, independent of the glycosylation pattern that the antibodies may have. Similarly, in particular embodiments, antibodies with a glycosylation pattern comprising only non-fucosylated N-glycans may be advantageous, because these antibodies have been shown to typically exhibit more potent efficacy than their fucosylated counterparts both in vitro and in vivo [See for example, Shinkawa et al., J. Biol. Chem. 278: 3466-3473 (2003); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,946,292 and 7,214,775].

(69) The present invention further includes antibody fragments of the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies disclosed herein. The antibody fragments include F(ab).sub.2 fragments, which may be produced by enzymatic cleavage of an IgG by, for example, pepsin. Fab fragments may be produced by, for example, reduction of F(ab).sub.2 with dithiothreitol or mercaptoethylamine. A Fab fragment is a V.sub.L-C.sub.L chain appended to a V.sub.H-C.sub.H1 chain by a disulfide bridge. A F(ab).sub.2 fragment is two Fab fragments which, in turn, are appended by two disulfide bridges. The Fab portion of an F(ab).sub.2 molecule includes a portion of the F.sub.c region between which disulfide bridges are located. An Fv fragment is a V.sub.L or V.sub.H region.

(70) In one embodiment, the antibody or antigen binding fragment comprises a heavy chain constant region, e.g., a canine constant region, such as IgG-A, IgG-B, IgG-C and IgG-D canine heavy chain constant region or a variant thereof. In another embodiment, the antibody or antigen binding fragment comprises a light chain constant region, e.g., a canine light chain constant region, such as lambda or kappa canine light chain region or variant thereof. By way of example, and not limitation the canine heavy chain constant region can be from IgG-D and the canine light chain constant region can be from kappa.

(71) Antibody Engineering

(72) The caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies of the present invention have been engineered to include modifications to framework residues within the variable domains of a parental (i.e., canine) monoclonal antibody, e.g. to improve the properties of the antibody.

(73) Experimental and Diagnostic Uses

(74) Caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention may also be useful in diagnostic assays for canine IL-4R protein, e.g., detecting its expression in specific cells, tissues, or serum. Such diagnostic methods may be useful in various disease diagnoses. For example, such a method comprises the following steps: (a) coat a substrate (e.g., surface of a microtiter plate well, e.g., a plastic plate) with caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof (b) apply a sample to be tested for the presence of canine IL-4R to the substrate; (c) wash the plate, so that unbound material in the sample is removed; (d) apply detectably labeled antibodies (e.g., enzyme-linked antibodies) which are also specific to the IL-4R antigen; (e) wash the substrate, so that the unbound, labeled antibodies are removed; (f) if the labeled antibodies are enzyme linked, apply a chemical which is converted by the enzyme into a fluorescent signal; and (g) detect the presence of the labeled antibody.

(75) In a further embodiment, the labeled antibody is labeled with peroxidase which reacts with ABTS [e.g., 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] or 3,3,5,5-Tetramethylbenzidine to produce a color change which is detectable. Alternatively, the antibody is labeled with a detectable radioisotope (e.g., .sup.3H) which can be detected with a scintillation counter in the presence of a scintillant. Caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies of the invention may be used in a Western blot or immuno protein blot procedure.

(76) Such a procedure forms part of the present invention and includes for example: (i) contacting a membrane or other solid substrate to be tested for the presence of bound canine IL-4R or a fragment thereof with a caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention. Such a membrane may take the form of a nitrocellulose or vinyl-based [e.g., polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)] membrane to which the proteins to be tested for the presence of canine IL-4R in a non-denaturing PAGE (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) gel or SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) gel have been transferred (e.g., following electrophoretic separation in the gel). Before contact of membrane with the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, the membrane is optionally blocked, e.g., with non-fat dry milk or the like so as to bind non-specific protein binding sites on the membrane. (ii) washing the membrane one or more times to remove unbound caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof and other unbound substances; and (iii) detecting the bound caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

(77) Detection of the bound antibody or antigen-binding fragment may be by binding the antibody or antigen-binding fragment with a secondary antibody (an anti-immunoglobulin antibody) which is detectably labeled and, then, detecting the presence of the secondary antibody.

(78) The caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof disclosed herein may also be used for immunohistochemistry. Such a method forms part of the present invention and comprises, e.g., (1) contacting a cell to be tested for the presence of canine IL-4R with a caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of the present invention; and (2) detecting the antibody or fragment on or in the cell. If the antibody or antigen-binding fragment itself is detectably labeled, it can be detected directly. Alternatively, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment may be bound by a detectably labeled secondary antibody which is detected.

(79) Imaging techniques include SPECT imaging (single photon emission computed tomography) or PET imaging (positron emission tomography). Labels include e.g., iodine-123 (.sup.123I) and technetium-99m (.sup.99mTc), e.g., in conjunction with SPECT imaging or .sup.11C, .sup.13N, .sup.15O or .sup.18F, e.g., in conjunction with PET imaging or Indium-111 [See e.g., Gordon et al., International Rev. Neurobiol. 67:385-440 (2005)].

(80) Pharmaceutical Compositions and Administration

(81) To prepare pharmaceutical or sterile compositions of the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. [See, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences and U.S. Pharmacopeia: National Formulary, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa. (1984)].

(82) Formulations of therapeutic and diagnostic agents may be prepared by mixing with acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers in the form of, e.g., lyophilized powders, slurries, aqueous solutions or suspensions [see, e.g., Hardman, et al. (2001) Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y.; Gennaro (2000) Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, New York, N.Y.; Avis, et al. (eds.) (1993) Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Parenteral Medications, Marcel Dekker, NY; Lieberman, et al. (eds.) (1990) Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Tablets, Marcel Dekker, NY; Lieberman, et al. (eds.) (1990) Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Disperse Systems, Marcel Dekker, NY; Weiner and Kotkoskie (2000) Excipient Toxicity and Safety, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y.]. In one embodiment, anti-IL-4R antibodies of the present invention are diluted to an appropriate concentration in a sodium acetate solution pH 5-6, and NaCl or sucrose is added for tonicity. Additional agents, such as polysorbate 20 or polysorbate 80, may be added to enhance stability.

(83) Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of the antibody compositions, administered alone or in combination with another agent, can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., for determining the LD.sub.50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED.sub.50 (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index (LD.sub.50/ED.sub.50). In particular aspects, antibodies exhibiting high therapeutic indices are desirable. The data obtained from these cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosage for use in canines. The dosage of such compounds lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED.sub.50 with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration.

(84) The mode of administration can vary. Suitable routes of administration include oral, rectal, transmucosal, intestinal, parenteral; intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, intramedullary, intrathecal, direct intraventricular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, intraocular, inhalation, insufflation, topical, cutaneous, transdermal, or intra-arterial. In particular embodiments, the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof can be administered by an invasive route such as by injection. In further embodiments of the invention, a caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, or pharmaceutical composition thereof, is administered intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intraarterially, intratumorally, or by inhalation, aerosol delivery. Administration by non-invasive routes (e.g., orally; for example, in a pill, capsule or tablet) is also within the scope of the present invention.

(85) Compositions can be administered with medical devices known in the art. For example, a pharmaceutical composition of the invention can be administered by injection with a hypodermic needle, including, e.g., a prefilled syringe or autoinjector. The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein may also be administered with a needleless hypodermic injection device; such as the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,620,135; 6,096,002; 5,399,163; 5,383,851; 5,312,335; 5,064,413; 4,941,880; 4,790,824 or 4,596,556.

(86) The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein may also be administered by infusion. Examples of well-known implants and modules form administering pharmaceutical compositions include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,603, which discloses an implantable micro-infusion pump for dispensing medication at a controlled rate; U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,233, which discloses a medication infusion pump for delivering medication at a precise infusion rate; U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,224, which discloses a variable flow implantable infusion apparatus for continuous drug delivery; U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,196, which discloses an osmotic drug delivery system having multi-chamber compartments. Many other such implants, delivery systems, and modules are well known to those skilled in the art.

(87) Alternatively, one may administer the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody in a local rather than systemic manner, for example, via injection of the antibody directly into a joint or lesion, often in a depot or sustained release formulation. Furthermore, one may administer the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody in a targeted drug delivery system, for example, in a liposome coated with a tissue-specific antibody, targeting, for example, arthritic joint or pathogen-induced lesion characterized by immunopathology. The liposomes will be targeted to and taken up selectively by the afflicted tissue.

(88) The administration regimen depends on several factors, including the serum or tissue turnover rate of the therapeutic antibody, the level of symptoms, the immunogenicity of the therapeutic antibody, and the accessibility of the target cells in the biological matrix. Preferably, the administration regimen delivers sufficient therapeutic antibody to effect improvement in the target disease state, while simultaneously minimizing undesired side effects. Accordingly, the amount of biologic delivered depends in part on the particular therapeutic antibody and the severity of the condition being treated. Guidance in selecting appropriate doses of therapeutic antibodies is available [see, e.g., Wawrzynczak Antibody Therapy, Bios Scientific Pub. Ltd, Oxfordshire, U K (1996); Kresina (ed.) Monoclonal Antibodies, Cytokines and Arthritis, Marcel Dekker, New York, N.Y. (1991); Bach (ed.) Monoclonal Antibodies and Peptide Therapy in Autoimmune Diseases, Marcel Dekker, New York, N.Y. (1993); Baert, et al. New Engl. J. Med. 348:601-608 (2003); Milgrom et al. New Engl. J. Med. 341:1966-1973 (1999); Slamon et al. New Engl. J. Med. 344:783-792 (2001); Beniaminovitz et al. New Engl. J. Med. 342:613-619 (2000); Ghosh et al. New Engl. J. Med. 348:24-32 (2003); Lipsky et al. New Engl. J. Med. 343:1594-1602 (2000)].

(89) Determination of the appropriate dose is made by the veterinarian, e.g., using parameters or factors known or suspected in the art to affect treatment. Generally, the dose begins with an amount somewhat less than the optimum dose and it is increased by small increments thereafter until the desired or optimum effect is achieved relative to any negative side effects. Important diagnostic measures include those of symptoms of, e.g., the inflammation or level of inflammatory cytokines produced.

(90) Antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof disclosed herein may be provided by continuous infusion, or by doses administered, e.g., daily, 1-7 times per week, weekly, biweekly, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, semiannually, annually etc. Doses may be provided, e.g., intravenously, subcutaneously, topically, orally, nasally, rectally, intramuscular, intracerebrally, intraspinally, or by inhalation. A total weekly dose is generally at least 0.05 g/kg body weight, more generally at least 0.2 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, 1 g/kg, 10 g/kg, 100 g/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, 2.0 mg/kg, 5.0 mg/ml, 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg or more [see, e.g., Yang, et al. New Engl. J. Med. 349:427-434 (2003); Herold, et al. New Engl. J. Med. 346:1692-1698 (2002); Liu, et al. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psych. 67:451-456 (1999); Portielji, et al. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 52:133-144 (2003)]. Doses may also be provided to achieve a pre-determined target concentration of the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody in the subject's serum, such as 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300 g/ml or more. In other embodiments, a caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody of the present invention is administered subcutaneously or intravenously, on a weekly, biweekly, every 4 weeks, monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly basis at 10, 20, 50, 80, 100, 200, 500, 1000 or 2500 mg/subject.

(91) As used herein, inhibit or treat or treatment includes a postponement of development of the symptoms associated with a disorder and/or a reduction in the severity of the symptoms of such disorder. The terms further include ameliorating existing uncontrolled or unwanted symptoms, preventing additional symptoms, and ameliorating or preventing the underlying causes of such symptoms. Thus, the terms denote that a beneficial result has been conferred on a vertebrate subject with a disorder, disease or symptom, or with the potential to develop such a disorder, disease or symptom.

(92) As used herein, the terms therapeutically effective amount, therapeutically effective dose and effective amount refer to an amount of the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of the present invention that, when administered alone or in combination with an additional therapeutic agent to a cell, tissue, or subject, is effective to cause a measurable improvement in one or more symptoms of a disease or condition or the progression of such disease or condition. A therapeutically effective dose further refers to that amount of the binding compound sufficient to result in at least partial amelioration of symptoms, e.g., treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of the relevant medical condition, or an increase in rate of treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of such conditions. When applied to an individual active ingredient administered alone, a therapeutically effective dose refers to that ingredient alone. When applied to a combination, a therapeutically effective dose refers to combined amounts of the active ingredients that result in the therapeutic effect, whether administered in combination, serially or simultaneously. An effective amount of a therapeutic will result in an improvement of a diagnostic measure or parameter by at least 10%; usually by at least 20%; preferably at least about 30%; more preferably at least 40%, and most preferably by at least 50%. An effective amount can also result in an improvement in a subjective measure in cases where subjective measures are used to assess disease severity.

(93) Other Combination Therapies

(94) As previously described, the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may be coadministered with one or other more therapeutic agents (such as a pharmaceutical that is used to treat atopic dermatitis). The antibody may be linked to the agent (as an immunocomplex) or can be administered separately from the agent. In the latter case (separate administration), the antibody can be administered before, after or concurrently with the agent or can be co-administered with other known therapies.

(95) Kits

(96) Further provided are kits comprising one or more components that include, but are not limited to, an antibody or antigen binding fragment, as discussed herein, which specifically binds IL-4R (e.g., a caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of the present invention) in association with one or more additional components including, but not limited to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or a pharmaceutical that is used to treat atopic dermatitis, as discussed herein. The binding composition and/or the pharmaceutical that is used to treat atopic dermatitis can be formulated as a pure composition or in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, in a pharmaceutical composition.

(97) In one embodiment, the kit includes a binding composition of the invention the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody comprising a heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28, 30, and/or 32 together with the light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 34, 36, and/or 38, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof in one container (e.g., in a sterile glass or plastic vial) and a pharmaceutical composition thereof and/or the pharmaceutical that is used to treat atopic dermatitis in another container (e.g., in a sterile glass or plastic vial).

(98) In another embodiment, the kit comprises a combination of the invention, including a binding composition component, e.g., the caninized human anti-human IL-4R antibody comprising a heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28, 30, and/or 32 together with a light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 34, 36, and/or 38, along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, optionally in combination with one or more therapeutic agent component formulated together, optionally, in a pharmaceutical composition, in a single, common container.

(99) If the kit includes a pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration to a subject, the kit can include a device for performing such administration. For example, the kit can include one or more hypodermic needles or other injection devices as discussed above. The kit can also include a package insert including information concerning the pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms in the kit. Generally, such information aids pet owners and veterinarians in using the enclosed pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms effectively and safely. For example, the following information regarding a combination of the invention may be supplied in the insert: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical studies, efficacy parameters, indications and usage, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, overdosage, proper dosage and administration, how supplied, proper storage conditions, references, manufacturer/distributor information and/or patent information.

(100) As a matter of convenience, an antibody or specific binding agent disclosed herein can be provided in a kit, i.e., a packaged combination of reagents in predetermined amounts with instructions for performing the diagnostic or detection assay. Where the antibody is labeled with an enzyme, the kit will include substrates and cofactors required by the enzyme (e.g., a substrate precursor which provides the detectable chromophore or fluorophore). In addition, other additives may be included such as stabilizers, buffers (e.g., a block buffer or lysis buffer) and the like. The relative amounts of the various reagents may be varied widely to provide for concentrations in solution of the reagents which substantially optimize the sensitivity of the assay. Particularly, the reagents may be provided as dry powders, usually lyophilized, including excipients which on dissolution will provide a reagent solution having the appropriate concentration.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Identification and Cloning of Canine IL-4 Receptor Alpha Chain

(101) The cDNA encoding a predicted full length canine IL-4 receptor alpha chain (SEQ ID NO: 1) was identified through a search of the Genbank database (accession #XM_547077.4). This predicted cDNA encodes an 823 amino acids (SEQ ID NO: 2) including a 25 amino acid leader sequence and is identified as accession #XP_547077.3. The mature predicted canine IL-4 receptor chain protein (SEQ ID NO: 4) shares 65% identity with human IL-4 receptor chain (accession #NP_000409.1) and 70% identity with swine IL-4 receptor chain (accession #NP_999505.1). The mature predicted canine IL-4 receptor chain protein is encoded by the nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 3. Comparison of the predicted mature IL-4 receptor chain with the known sequences of human IL-4 receptor chain identified the extracellular domain (ECD) of the mature canine IL-4 receptor chain protein and is designated as SEQ ID NO: 6. The DNA sequence encoding the ECD of the mature canine IL-4 receptor chain is identified as SEQ ID NO: 5.

(102) TABLE-US-00003 CanineIL-4receptorchainfulllengthDNAwithsignalsequence (SEQIDNO:1): atgggcagactgtgcagcggcctgaccttccccgtgagctgcctggtgctggtgtgggtggccagcagcggcagcg tgaaggtgctgcacgagcccagctgcttcagcgactacatcagcaccagcgtgtgccagtggaagatggaccaccc caccaactgcagcgccgagctgagactgagctaccagctggacttcatgggcagcgagaaccacacctgcgtgccc gagaacagagaggacagcgtgtgcgtgtgcagcatgcccatcgacgacgccgtggaggccgacgtgtaccagctgg acctgtgggccggccagcagctgctgtggagcggcagcttccagcccagcaagcacgtgaagcccagaacccccgg caacctgaccgtgcaccccaacatcagccacacctggctgctgatgtggaccaacccctaccccaccgagaaccac ctgcacagcgagctgacctacatggtgaacgtgagcaacgacaacgaccccgaggacttcaaggtgtacaacgtga cctacatgggccccaccctgagactggccgccagcaccctgaagagcggcgccagctacagcgccagagtgagagc ctgggcccagacctacaacagcacctggagcgactggagccccagcaccacctggctgaactactacgagccctgg gagcagcacctgcccctgggcgtgagcatcagctgcctggtgatcctggccatctgcctgagctgctacttcagca tcatcaagatcaagaagggctggtgggaccagatccccaaccccgcccacagccccctggtggccatcgtgatcca ggacagccaggtgagcctgtggggcaagagaagcagaggccaggagcccgccaagtgcccccactggaagacctgc ctgaccaagctgctgccctgcctgctggagcacggcctgggcagagaggaggagagccccaagaccgccaagaacg gccccctgcagggccccggcaagcccgcctggtgccccgtggaggtgagcaagaccatcctgtggcccgagagcat cagcgtggtgcagtgcgtggagctgagcgaggcccccgtggacaacgaggaggaggaggaggtggaggaggacaag agaagcctgtgccccagcctggagggcagcggcggcagcttccaggagggcagagagggcatcgtggccagactga ccgagagcctgttcctggacctgctgggcggcgagaacggcggcttctgcccccagggcctggaggagagctgcct gcccccccccagcggcagcgtgggcgcccagatgccctgggcccagttccccagagccggccccagagccgccccc gagggccccgagcagcccagaagacccgagagcgccctgcaggccagccccacccagagcgccggcagcagcgcct tccccgagcccccccccgtggtgaccgacaaccccgcctacagaagcttcggcagcttcctgggccagagcagcga ccccggcgacggcgacagcgaccccgagctggccgacagacccggcgaggccgaccccggcatccccagcgccccc cagccccccgagccccccgccgccctgcagcccgagcccgagagctgggagcagatcctgagacagagcgtgctgc agcacagagccgcccccgcccccggccccggccccggcagcggctacagagagttcacctgcgccgtgaagcaggg cagcgcccccgacgccggcggccccggcttcggccccagcggcgaggccggctacaaggccttctgcagcctgctg cccggcggcgccacctgccccggcaccagcggcggcgaggccggcagcggcgagggcggctacaagcccttccaga gcctgacccccggctgccccggcgcccccacccccgtgcccgtgcccctgttcaccttcggcctggacaccgagcc ccccggcagcccccaggacagcctgggcgccggcagcagccccgagcacctgggcgtggagcccgccggcaaggag gaggacagcagaaagaccctgctggcccccgagcaggccaccgaccccctgagagacgacctggccagcagcatcg tgtacagcgccctgacctgccacctgtgcggccacctgaagcagtggcacgaccaggaggagagaggcaaggccca catcgtgcccagcccctgctgcggctgctgctgcggcgacagaagcagcctgctgctgagccccctgagagccccc aacgtgctgcccggcggcgtgctgctggaggccagcctgagccccgccagcctggtgcccagcggcgtgagcaagg agggcaagagcagccccttcagccagcccgccagcagcagcgcccagagcagcagccagacccccaagaagctggc cgtgctgagcaccgagcccacctgcatgagcgccagc CanineIL-4receptorfulllengthproteinwithsignalsequenceinboldfont (SEQIDNO:2). MGRLCSGLTFPVSCLVLVWVASSGSVKVLHEPSCFSDYISTSVCQWKMDHPTNCSAELRLSYQLDFMGSENHTCVP ENREDSVCVCSMPIDDAVEADVYQLDLWAGQQLLWSGSFQPSKHVKPRTPGNLTVHPNISHTWLLMWTNPYPTENH LHSELTYMVNVSNDNDPEDFKVYNVTYMGPTLRLAASTLKSGASYSARVRAWAQTYNSTWSDWSPSTTWLNYYEPW EQHLPLGVSISCLVILAICLSCYFSIIKIKKGWWDQIPNPAHSPLVAIVIQDSQVSLWGKRSRGQEPAKCPHWKTC LTKLLPCLLEHGLGREEESPKTAKNGPLQGPGKPAWCPVEVSKTILWPESISVVQCVELSEAPVDNEEEEEVEEDK RSLCPSLEGSGGSFQEGREGIVARLTESLFLDLLGGENGGFCPQGLEESCLPPPSGSVGAQMPWAQFPRAGPRAAP EGPEQPRRPESALQASPTQSAGSSAFPEPPPVVTDNPAYRSFGSFLGQSSDPGDGDSDPELADRPGEADPGIPSAP QPPEPPAALQPEPESWEQILRQSVLQHRAAPAPGPGPGSGYREFTCAVKQGSAPDAGGPGFGPSGEAGYKAFCSLL PGGATCPGTSGGEAGSGEGGYKPFQSLTPGCPGAPTPVPVPLFTFGLDTEPPGSPQDSLGAGSSPEHLGVEPAGKE EDSRKTLLAPEQATDPLRDDLASSIVYSALTCHLCGHLKQWHDQEERGKAHIVPSPCCGCCCGDRSSLLLSPLRAP NVLPGGVLLEASLSPASLVPSGVSKEGKSSPFSQPASSSAQSSSQTPKKLAVLSTEPTCMSAS CanineIL-4receptormaturefulllengthproteinwithoutsignalsequence (SEQIDNO:4) VKVLHEPSCFSDYISTSVCQWKMDHPTNCSAELRLSYQLDFMGSENHTCVPENREDSVCVCSMPIDDAVEADVYQL DLWAGQQLLWSGSFQPSKHVKPRTPGNLTVHPNISHTWLLMWTNPYPTENHLHSELTYMVNVSNDNDPEDFKVYNV TYMGPTLRLAASTLKSGASYSARVRAWAQTYNSTWSDWSPSTTWLNYYEPWEQHLPLGVSISCLVILAICLSCYFS IIKIKKGWWDQIPNPAHSPLVAIVIQDSQVSLWGKRSRGQEPAKCPHWKTCLTKLLPCLLEHGLGREEESPKTAKN GPLQGPGKPAWCPVEVSKTILWPESISVVQCVELSEAPVDNEEEEEVEEDKRSLCPSLEGSGGSFQEGREGIVARL TESLFLDLLGGENGGFCPQGLEESCLPPPSGSVGAQMPWAQFPRAGPRAAPEGPEQPRRPESALQASPTQSAGSSA FPEPPPVVTDNPAYRSFGSFLGQSSDPGDGDSDPELADRPGEADPGIPSAPQPPEPPAALQPEPESWEQILRQSVL QHRAAPAPGPGPGSGYREFTCAVKQGSAPDAGGPGFGPSGEAGYKAFCSLLPGGATCPGTSGGEAGSGEGGYKPFQ SLTPGCPGAPTPVPVPLFTFGLDTEPPGSPQDSLGAGSSPEHLGVEPAGKEEDSRKTLLAPEQATDPLRDDLASSI VYSALTCHLCGHLKQWHDQEERGKAHIVPSPCCGCCCGDRSSLLLSPLRAPNVLPGGVLLEASLSPASLVPSGVSK EGKSSPFSQPASSSAQSSSQTPKKLAVLSTEPTCMSAS CanineIL-4receptormaturefulllengthDNAwithoutsignalsequence (SEQIDNO:3) gtgaaggtgctgcacgagcccagctgcttcagcgactacatcagcaccagcgtgtgccagtggaagatggaccacc ccaccaactgcagcgccgagctgagactgagctaccagctggacttcatgggcagcgagaaccacacctgcgtgcc cgagaacagagaggacagcgtgtgcgtgtgcagcatgcccatcgacgacgccgtggaggccgacgtgtaccagctg gacctgtgggccggccagcagctgctgtggagcggcagcttccagcccagcaagcacgtgaagcccagaacccccg gcaacctgaccgtgcaccccaacatcagccacacctggctgctgatgtggaccaacccctaccccaccgagaacca cctgcacagcgagctgacctacatggtgaacgtgagcaacgacaacgaccccgaggacttcaaggtgtacaacgtg acctacatgggccccaccctgagactggccgccagcaccctgaagagcggcgccagctacagcgccagagtgagag cctgggcccagacctacaacagcacctggagcgactggagccccagcaccacctggctgaactactacgagccctg ggagcagcacctgcccctgggcgtgagcatcagctgcctggtgatcctggccatctgcctgagctgctacttcagc atcatcaagatcaagaagggctggtgggaccagatccccaaccccgcccacagccccctggtggccatcgtgatcc aggacagccaggtgagcctgtggggcaagagaagcagaggccaggagcccgccaagtgcccccactggaagacctg cctgaccaagctgctgccctgcctgctggagcacggcctgggcagagaggaggagagccccaagaccgccaagaac ggccccctgcagggccccggcaagcccgcctggtgccccgtggaggtgagcaagaccatcctgtggcccgagagca tcagcgtggtgcagtgcgtggagctgagcgaggcccccgtggacaacgaggaggaggaggaggtggaggaggacaa gagaagcctgtgccccagcctggagggcagcggcggcagcttccaggagggcagagagggcatcgtggccagactg accgagagcctgttcctggacctgctgggcggcgagaacggcggcttctgcccccagggcctggaggagagctgcc tgcccccccccagcggcagcgtgggcgcccagatgccctgggcccagttccccagagccggccccagagccgcccc cgagggccccgagcagcccagaagacccgagagcgccctgcaggccagccccacccagagcgccggcagcagcgcc ttccccgagcccccccccgtggtgaccgacaaccccgcctacagaagcttcggcagcttcctgggccagagcagcg accccggcgacggcgacagcgaccccgagctggccgacagacccggcgaggccgaccccggcatccccagcgcccc ccagccccccgagccccccgccgccctgcagcccgagcccgagagctgggagcagatcctgagacagagcgtgctg cagcacagagccgcccccgcccccggccccggccccggcagcggctacagagagttcacctgcgccgtgaagcagg gcagcgcccccgacgccggcggccccggcttcggccccagcggcgaggccggctacaaggccttctgcagcctgct gcccggcggcgccacctgccccggcaccagcggcggcgaggccggcagcggcgagggcggctacaagcccttccag agcctgacccccggctgccccggcgcccccacccccgtgcccgtgcccctgttcaccttcggcctggacaccgagc cccccggcagcccccaggacagcctgggcgccggcagcagccccgagcacctgggcgtggagcccgccggcaagga ggaggacagcagaaagaccctgctggcccccgagcaggccaccgaccccctgagagacgacctggccagcagcatc gtgtacagcgccctgacctgccacctgtgcggccacctgaagcagtggcacgaccaggaggagagaggcaaggccc acatcgtgcccagcccctgctgcggctgctgctgcggcgacagaagcagcctgctgctgagccccctgagagcccc caacgtgctgcccggcggcgtgctgctggaggccagcctgagccccgccagcctggtgcccagcggcgtgagcaag gagggcaagagcagccccttcagccagcccgccagcagcagcgcccagagcagcagccagacccccaagaagctgg ccgtgctgagcaccgagcccacctgcatgagcgccagc CanineIL-4receptorchainextracellularproteindomainwithoutthesignal sequence(SEQIDNO:6): VKVLHEPSCFSDYISTSVCQWKMDHPTNCSAELRLSYQLDFMGSENHTCVPENREDSVCVCSMPIDDAVEADVYQL DLWAGQQLLWSGSFQPSKHVKPRTPGNLTVHPNISHTWLLMWTNPYPTENHLHSELTYMVNVSNDNDPEDFKVYNV TYMGPTLRLAASTLKSGASYSARVRAWAQTYNSTWSDWSPSTTWLNYYEPWEQHLP CanineIL-4receptorchainextracellularDNAdomainwithoutthesignal sequence(SEQIDNO:5): gtgaaggtgctgcacgagcccagctgcttcagcgactacatcagcaccagcgtgtgccagtggaagatggaccacc ccaccaactgcagcgccgagctgagactgagctaccagctggacttcatgggcagcgagaaccacacctgcgtgcc cgagaacagagaggacagcgtgtgcgtgtgcagcatgcccatcgacgacgccgtggaggccgacgtgtaccagctg gacctgtgggccggccagcagctgctgtggagcggcagcttccagcccagcaagcacgtgaagcccagaacccccg gcaacctgaccgtgcaccccaacatcagccacacctggctgctgatgtggaccaacccctaccccaccgagaacca cctgcacagcgagctgacctacatggtgaacgtgagcaacgacaacgaccccgaggacttcaaggtgtacaacgtg acctacatgggccccaccctgagactggccgccagcaccctgaagagcggcgccagctacagcgccagagtgagag cctgggcccagacctacaacagcacctggagcgactggagccccagcaccacctggctgaactactacgagccctg ggagcagcacctgccc CanineIL-4receptorchainextracellulardomainwithac-terminal8HIS Tag(SEQIDNO:8): VKVLHEPSCFSDYISTSVCQWKMDHPTNCSAELRLSYQLDFMGSENHTCVPENREDSVCVCSMPIDDAVEADVYQL DLWAGQQLLWSGSFQPSKHVKPRTPGNLTVHPNISHTWLLMWTNPYPTENHLHSELTYMVNVSNDNDPEDFKVYNV TYMGPTLRLAASTLKSGASYSARVRAWAQTYNSTWSDWSPSTTWLNYYEPWEQHLPHHHHHHHH CanineIL-4receptorchainextracellularDNAdomainwithac-terminal8 HISTag(SEQIDNO:7): gtgaaggtgctgcacgagcccagctgcttcagcgactacatcagcaccagcgtgtgccagtggaagatggaccacc ccaccaactgcagcgccgagctgagactgagctaccagctggacttcatgggcagcgagaaccacacctgcgtgcc cgagaacagagaggacagcgtgtgcgtgtgcagcatgcccatcgacgacgccgtggaggccgacgtgtaccagctg gacctgtgggccggccagcagctgctgtggagcggcagcttccagcccagcaagcacgtgaagcccagaacccccg gcaacctgaccgtgcaccccaacatcagccacacctggctgctgatgtggaccaacccctaccccaccgagaacca cctgcacagcgagctgacctacatggtgaacgtgagcaacgacaacgaccccgaggacttcaaggtgtacaacgtg acctacatgggccccaccctgagactggccgccagcaccctgaagagcggcgccagctacagcgccagagtgagag cctgggcccagacctacaacagcacctggagcgactggagccccagcaccacctggctgaactactacgagccctg ggagcagcacctgccccaccaccaccaccaccaccaccac CanineIL-4receptorchainextracellulardomainplushumanIgG1Fc (SEQIDNO:10): VKVLHEPSCFSDYISTSVCQWKMDHPTNCSAELRLSYQLDFMGSENHTCVPENREDSVCVCSMPIDDAVEADVYQL DLWAGQQLLWSGSFQPSKHVKPRTPGNLTVHPNISHTWLLMWTNPYPTENHLHSELTYMVNVSNDNDPEDFKVYNV TYMGPTLRLAASTLKSGASYSARVRAWAQTYNSTWSDWSPSTTWLNYYEPWEQHLEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLG GPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQD WLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK CanineIL-4receptorchainextracellularDNAdomainplushumanIgG1Fc (SEQIDNO:9): gtgaaggtgctgcacgagcccagctgcttcagcgactacatcagcaccagcgtgtgccagtggaagatggaccacc ccaccaactgcagcgccgagctgagactgagctaccagctggacttcatgggcagcgagaaccacacctgcgtgcc cgagaacagagaggacagcgtgtgcgtgtgcagcatgcccatcgacgacgccgtggaggccgacgtgtaccagctg gacctgtgggccggccagcagctgctgtggagcggcagcttccagcccagcaagcacgtgaagcccagaacccccg gcaacctgaccgtgcaccccaacatcagccacacctggctgctgatgtggaccaacccctaccccaccgagaacca cctgcacagcgagctgacctacatggtgaacgtgagcaacgacaacgaccccgaggacttcaaggtgtacaacgtg acctacatgggccccaccctgagactggccgccagcaccctgaagagcggcgccagctacagcgccagagtgagag cctgggcccagacctacaacagcacctggagcgactggagccccagcaccacctggctgaactactacgagccctg ggagcagcacctggagcccaagagctgcgacaagacccacacctgccccccctgccccgcccccgagctgctgggc ggccccagcgtgttcctgttcccccccaagcccaaggacaccctgatgatcagcagaacccccgaggtgacctgcg tggtggtggacgtgagccacgaggaccccgaggtgaagttcaactggtacgtggacggcgtggaggtgcacaacgc caagaccaagcccagagaggagcagtacaacagcacctacagagtggtgagcgtgctgaccgtgctgcaccaggac tggctgaacggcaaggagtacaagtgcaaggtgagcaacaaggccctgcccgcccccatcgagaagaccatcagca aggccaagggccagcccagagagccccaggtgtacaccctgccccccagcagagacgagctgaccaagaaccaggt gagcctgacctgcctggtgaagggcttctaccccagcgacatcgccgtggagtgggagagcaacggccagcccgag aacaactacaagaccaccccccccgtgctggacagcgacggcagcttcttcctgtacagcaagctgaccgtggaca agagcagatggcagcagggcaacgtgttcagctgcagcgtgatgcacgaggccctgcacaaccactacacccagaa gagcctgagcctgagccccggcaag

Example 2

Chimeric and Caninized Human Anti-Human IL-4R Monoclonal Antibodies

(103) In an effort to develop a treatment for atopic dermatitis in canines, an investigation was undertaken to learn whether any of the known humanized antibodies to human IL-4 receptor alpha [see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,877,189, 7,186,809, and US 2015/0017176 A1], might also bind to canine IL-4R. It was found that several of these humanized monoclonal antibodies to the human IL-4 receptor alpha also bind to canine IL-4R.

(104) Accordingly, chimeric human-canine antibodies against the IL-4 receptor alpha were constructed using the CDR sequences previously disclosed [see, Table 2 below] and then tested against canine IL-4R. Briefly, the VH and VL of each of a selected group of antibodies were genetically combined (fused) with the canine IgGB heavy chain constant regions (CH1-CH3) and light chain (kappa) constant region, respectively [see below for greater detail]. The human-canine (H-C) chimeras were transiently expressed in HEK293 cells and then purified using a Protein A column. The binding activities of the individual chimeric antibodies were tested on ELISA plates coded with canine IL-4R (cIL-4R). As the ELISA results in FIG. 1A show, whereas most of the human-canine chimeric antibodies could bind with some affinity for canine IL-4R, surprisingly, one particular chimeric antibody, Dupi H-C, demonstrated a significantly stronger affinity for canine IL-4R than any of the others.

(105) Afterwards a caninized antibody was constructed using the same CDRs as that of the Dupi H-C [see below for greater detail]. The binding activity of the chimeric (Dupi H-C) and caninized antibody (Dupi H2-L2) to canine IL-4 receptor alpha was compared by ELISA. As depicted in FIG. 1B, both the chimeric antibody and the caninized antibody show a strong affinity for canine IL-4R. In direct contrast, a control caninized monoclonal antibody (with CDRs obtained from a murine antibody raised against a non-related canine antigen) did not bind at all.

(106) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE2 PRIORARTCDRSEQUENCES SEQ SEQ mAB CDR SEQUENCE ID CDR SEQUENCE ID Dupi L1 RSSQSLLYSIGYN 43 H1 DYAMT 46 YLD L2 LGSNRAS 44 H2 SISGSGGNTY 47 YADSVKG L3 MQALQTPYT 45 H3 DRLSITIRPR 48 YYGLDV M37 L1 SGGGSSIGQSYVS 49 H1 SYYMH 52 L2 DNNKRPS 50 H2 IINPRGGSTS 53 YAQKFQG L3 GTWDTSPVWEWP 51 H3 GKYWMYD 54 12B5 L1 RASQSVSSSYLA 55 H1 RNAMF 58 L2 GASSRAT 56 H2 LIGTGGATNY 59 ADSVKG L3 QQYGSSPPWT 57 H3 GRYYFDY 60 M1 L1 SGGSSNIGNSYVS 65 H1 SYYMH 68 L2 DNNKRPS 66 H2 IINPSGGSTS 69 YAQKFQG L3 GTWDTSLSANYV 67 H3 GKWWLDY 70 M12 L1 SGGSSNIGNSYVS 71 H1 SYYMH 74 L2 DNNKRPS 72 H2 IINPSGGSTS 75 YAQKFQG L3 GTWDTSTTMYPL 73 H3 GKWWFYD 76 5A1 L1 RASQSVSSYLA 77 H1 NFVMH 80 L2 HASNRAT 78 H2 AIGTGGGTYY 81 ADSVKG L3 QQRSNWPLT 79 H3 DRPMVRGVII 82 DYFDY 27A1 L1 RASQSVSSSYLA 83 H1 RYGMH 86 L2 GASSRAT 84 H2 IIWFEGNNQY 87 YADSVKG L3 QQYGSSPPWT 85 H3 GKYYFDY 88 63 L1 RASQGISTWLA 89 H1 SYAMS 92 L2 VASSLQS 90 H2 SITGSGGSTY 93 YADSVKG L3 QQANSFPFT 91 H3 DNRGFFHY 94

(107) For the caninization or chimerization process, a IgG heavy chain had to be selected. There are four known IgG heavy chain subtypes of dog IgG, referred to as IgG-A, IgG-B, IgG-C, and IgG-D respectively, to choose from. The two known light chain subtypes are referred to as lambda and kappa. However, besides modulating the development of the canine Th2 immune response, a canine or caninized antibody against IL-4R optimally has two attributes: 1. lack of effector functions such as antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and 2. be readily purified on a large scale using industry standard technologies such as that based on protein A chromatography.

(108) None of the naturally occurring canine IgG isotypes satisfy both criteria [but see, WO 2015091910 A2; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/105,211, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference]. For example, IgG-B can be purified using protein A, but has a high level of ADCC activity. IgG-C also has considerable ADCC activity. On the other hand, IgG-A binds weakly to protein A, but displays undesirable ADCC activity. Moreover, neither IgG-C nor IgG-D can be purified on protein A columns, although IgG-D displays no ADCC activity. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by providing mutant canine IgG-B antibodies specific to IL-4R; such antibodies lack effector functions such as ADCC and can be readily be purified using industry standard protein A chromatography.

(109) The IgG-B variants with reduced effector functions described encompass a first IgG-B variant in which an aspartic acid (D 277) and an asparagine (N 325) residue is each mutated to an alanine residue [cIgGB() ADCC], a second variant in which the hinge region of IgG-B is replaced by the hinge region of IgG-D [cIgGB(+) D-hinge], and a third variant in which the hinge region of IgG-B is replaced with the hinge region of IgG-A [cIgGB(+) A-hinge]. Additionally, the second and third variants also include replacement of the same aspartic acid and asparagine residues of the first variant with an alanine residue. The numbering of the aspartic acid and asparagine residues mutated in this invention is based on the numbering scheme described for canine IgG heavy chains in Tang et al., [Vet Immunol and Immunopathol, 80:259-270 (2001)].

(110) TABLE-US-00005 CanineIgGBwt SEQIDNO:11 SASTTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSGSTVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSG VHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKVDKPVP KRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKDTLLIARTPEVTCVV VDLDPEDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFNGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDW LKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTV SLTCLIKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLS VDKSRWQRGDTFICAVMHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK CanineIgGB(+)A-hinge SEQIDNO:12 SASTTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSGSTVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSG VHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKVDKPVF NECRCTDTPPCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKATLLIARTPEVTCVVVDLDP EDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWLKGKQ FTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTVSLTCL IKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSR WQRGDTFICAVMHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK CanineIgGB(+)D-hinge SEQIDNO:13 SASTTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSGSTVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSG VHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKVDKPVP KESTCKCISPCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKATLLIARTPEVTCVVVDLDP EDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWLKGKQ FTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTVSLTCL IKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSR WQRGDTFICAVMHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK CanineIgGB(-)ADCC SEQIDNO:14 SASTTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSGSTVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSG VHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKVDKPVP KRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKATLLIARTPEVTCVV VDLDPEDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDW LKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTV SLTCLIKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLS VDKSRWQRGDTFICAVMHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK
Construction of Chimeric Anti-IL-4 Receptor Alpha Antibodies:

(111) Once a modified canine constant heavy chain (CH1-CH3) was selected, a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain variable region of an anti-human IL-4 receptor alpha mAb [US 2015/0017176 A1] was fused to a DNA sequence of a modified canine constant heavy chain to produce a chimeric human-canine heavy chain DNA sequence, SEQ ID NO: 15. The encoded chimeric human-canine heavy chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16. Similarly, a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of a light chain variable region of an anti-human IL-4 receptor alpha mAb [US 2015/0017176 A1] was fused to a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of the constant canine kappa light chain to produce a chimeric human-canine light chain DNA sequence, SEQ ID NO: 17. The protein encoded by the chimeric human-canine light chain DNA sequence comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18.

(112) Analogous chimeric constructs were made with a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain variable region of an anti-human IL-4 receptor alpha mAb [U.S. Pat. No. 8,877,189 B2] fused to a DNA sequence of a modified canine constant heavy chain: with the resulting chimeric human-canine heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20, which is encoded by a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19; and the chimeric human-canine light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22, which is encoded by a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21.

(113) Similarly, chimeric constructs were made with a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of a heavy chain variable region of an anti-human IL-4 receptor alpha mAb [U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,809 B2] fused to a DNA sequence of a modified canine constant heavy chain: with the chimeric human-canine heavy chain encoded by a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, and the corresponding chimeric antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24; and the chimeric human-canine light chain encoded by a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, and the corresponding chimeric antibody comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26.

(114) The resulting chimeric human-canine heavy and light chains were cloned into separate expression plasmids using standard molecular biology techniques. Both plasmids were transfected into HEK 293 cells and the expressed antibody was purified from HEK 293 cell supernatant using protein A.

(115) Construction of Chimeric Human-Canine Anti-IL4 Receptor Alpha Antibodies:

(116) Without being bound by any specific approach, the process of producing variants of caninized anti-IL-4R mAbs with various contents of canine and human sequences involved the general following scheme: i) Determine the DNA sequence of VH and VL chains of human mabs. ii) Identify the H and L chain CDRs of human mabs. iii) Identify a suitable H and L chain of canine IgG. iv) Write down the DNA sequence of canine IgG H and L chains. v) Replace the DNA sequence encoding endogenous canine H and L chain CDRs with DNA sequences encoding the respective human CDRs. Optionally, also replace some canine frame residues with selected residues from the corresponding human frame regions. vi) Synthesize the DNA from step (v) and clone it into a suitable expression plasmid. vii) Transfect plasmids into HEK 293 cells. viii) Purify expressed antibody from HEK 293 supernatant. ix) Test the purified antibody for binding to canine IL-4R.

(117) The above outlined steps resulted in a set of variant antibodies with various contents of canine and human sequences.

(118) Confirmation of Anti-Human IL-4 Receptor Alpha Monoclonal Antibody Reactivity Against Canine IL-4 Receptor Alpha:

(119) The chimeric human-canine antibody encoded by SEQ ID NO: 16 and SEQ ID NO: 18 was tested for reactivity with the canine IL-4 receptor alpha as follows: 1. Coat 200 ng/well IL-4 receptor alpha in an immunoplate and incubate the plate at 4 C. overnight. 2. Wash the plate 3 times by PBS with 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST). 3. Block the plate by 0.5% BSA in PBS for 45-60 min at room temperature. 4. Wash the plate 3 times with PBST. 5. Three-fold dilute the chimeric antibody in each column or row of a dilution plate starting at 0.3 g/mL. 6. Transfer the diluted chimeric antibody into each column or row of the immunoplate, and incubate the plate for 45-60 min at room temperature. 7. Wash the plate 3 times by PBST. 8. Add 1:4000 diluted horseradish peroxidase labeled anti-canine IgG into each well of the plate, and incubate the plate for 45-60 min at room temperature. 9. Wash the plate 3 times by PBST. 10. Add TMB substrate into each well of the plate, and incubate the plate for 10 to 15 min at room temperature to develop color. 11. Add 100 L 1.5 M phosphoric acid into each well to stop the reaction. 12. Read the plate at 450 nm with 540 nm reference wavelength.

(120) The human-canine chimeric IL-4R.sub. (Dupi mAb) antibody was assayed for reactivity with canine IL-4R by ELISA as described above. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the chimeric human-canine chimeric IL-4R antibody binds tightly to canine IL-4R in a dose-dependent manner.

(121) TABLE-US-00006 ChimerichumancanineheavychainDNAsequence(Dupi) [SEQIDNO:15] GAGGTGCAGCTGGTGGAGTCCGGAGGAGGACTGGAGCAGCCCGGAGGAAGCCTGAGACTGAGC TGCGCTGGCAGCGGCTTCACCTTCAGGGACTACGCCATGACCTGGGTGAGACAGGCCCCTGGC AAGGGACTGGAGTGGGTGAGCAGCATCAGCGGCTCCGGCGGCAACACCTACTACGCCGACAGC GTGAAGGGCAGGTTCACCATCAGCAGGGACAACAGCAAGAACACCCTGTACCTGCAGATGAAC AGCCTGAGGGCCGAGGACACCGCCGTGTACTACTGCGCCAAGGACCGTTTATCTATCACCATC AGGCCCAGGTACTACGGACTGGACGTGTGGGGCCAGGGCACCACAGTGACCGTGAGCAGCGCT TCCACAACCGCGCCATCAGTCTTTCCGTTGGCCCCATCATGCGGGTCGACGAGCGGATCGACT GTGGCCCTGGCGTGCTTGGTGTCGGGATACTTTCCCGAACCCGTCACGGTCAGCTGGAACTCC GGATCGCTTACGAGCGGTGTGCATACGTTCCCCTCGGTCTTGCAATCATCAGGGCTCTACTCG CTGTCGAGCATGGTAACGGTGCCCTCATCGAGGTGGCCCTCCGAAACGTTCACATGTAACGTA GCACATCCAGCCTCCAAAACCAAGGTGGATAAACCCGTGCCGAAAAGAGAGAATGGGCGGGTG CCTCGACCCCCTGATTGCCCCAAGTGTCCGGCTCCGGAAATGCTCGGTGGACCCTCAGTGTTT ATCTTCCCTCCGAAGCCCAAGGACACTCTGCTGATCGCGCGCACTCCAGAAGTAACATGTGTA GTGGTGGCACTTGATCCCGAGGACCCCGAAGTCCAGATCTCCTGGTTTGTAGATGGGAAACAG ATGCAGACCGCAAAAACTCAACCCAGAGAGGAGCAGTTCGCAGGAACATACCGAGTGGTATCC GTCCTTCCGATTGGCCACCAGGACTGGTTGAAAGGGAAGCAGTTTACGTGTAAAGTCAACAAT AAGGCGTTGCCTAGCCCTATTGAGCGGACGATTTCGAAAGCTAGGGGACAGGCCCACCAGCCA TCGGTCTATGTCCTTCCGCCTTCCCGCGAGGAGCTCTCGAAGAATACAGTGAGCCTTACATGC CTCATTAAGGATTTCTTCCCGCCTGATATCGACGTAGAGTGGCAATCAAACGGTCAACAGGAG CCGGAATCCAAGTATAGAACCACTCCGCCCCAGCTTGACGAGGACGGATCATACTTTTTGTAT TCAAAACTGTCGGTGGATAAGAGCCGGTGGCAGAGAGGTGACACCTTCATCTGTGCGGTGATG CACGAAGCACTCCATAATCACTACACCCAAGAGAGCCTCTCGCATTCCCCCGGAAAG Chimerichumancanineheavychainaminoacidsequence(Dupi) [SEQIDNO:16] EVQLVESGGGLEQPGGSLRLSCAGSGFTFRDYAMTWVRQAPGKGLEWVSSISGSGGNTYYADS VKGRFTISRDNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKDRLSITIRPRYYGLDVWGQGTTVTVSSA STTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSGSTVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSGVHTFPSVLQSSGLYS LSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKVDKPVPKRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVF IFPPKPKDTLLIARTPEVTCVVVALDPEDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVS VLPIGHQDWLKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTVSLTC LIKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDTFICAVM HEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK Thehumanheavychainvariableregionisinbold. ChimerichumancaninelightchainDNAsequence(Dupi) [SEQIDNO:17] GACATCGTGATGACCCAGAGCCCCCTGAGCCTGCCTGTGACACCTGGCGAGCCTGCCAGCATC AGCTGCAGGTCCAGCCAGAGCCTGCTGTACAGCATCGGCTACAACTACCTGGACTGGTACCTG CAGAAGAGCGGCCAGAGCCCCCAGCTGCTGATCTACCTGGGCAGCAATAGAGCCAGCGGCGTG CCCGATAGATTTAGCGGCAGCGGCAGCGGCACAGACTTCACCCTGAAGATCAGCAGGGTGGAG GCCGAGGACGTGGGCTTCTACTACTGCATGCAGGCCCTGCAGACCCCCTACACCTTCGGCCAG GGCACCAAGCTGGAAATCAAGAGGAACGACGCTCAGCCAGCCGTGTACCTCTTCCAGCCTTCG CCGGACCAGCTTCATACGGGGTCAGCGTCGGTGGTGTGCCTGTTGAACTCGTTTTACCCCAAG GACATTAACGTGAAGTGGAAGGTAGACGGGGTAATTCAAGACACTGGCATTCAAGAGTCCGTC ACGGAACAAGACTCAAAAGACTCAACGTATTCACTGTCGTCAACCTTGACGATGTCAAGCACC GAGTATCTTAGCCATGAGCTGTATTCGTGCGAGATCACCCACAAGTCCCTCCCCTCCACTCTT ATCAAATCCTTTCAGCGGTCGGAATGTCAGCGGGTCGAT ChimerichumancaninelightchainaminoacidsequenceDupi) [SEQIDNO:18] DIVMTQSPLSLPVTPGEPASISCRSSQSLLYSIGYNYLDWYLQKSGQSPQLLIYLGSNRASGV PDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISRVEAEDVGFYYCMQALQTPYTFGQGTKLEIKRNDAQPAVYLFQPS PDQLHTGSASVVCLLNSFYPKDINVKWKVDGVIQDTGIQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTMSST EYLSHELYSCEITHKSLPSTLIKSFQRSECQRVD Thehumanlightchainvariableregionisinbold. ChimericcanineheavychainDNAsequence(M37): [SEQIDNO:19] CAGGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGAGCGGCGCCGAAGTGAAGAAGCCTGGCGCCAGCGTGAAGGTGAGC TGCAAGGCCAGCGGCTACGCCTTCACCAGCTACTACATGCACTGGGCCAGACAGGCCCCTGGA CAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGCATCATCAACCCTAGGGGCGGCAGCACCAGCTACGCCCAGAAG TTCCAGGGCAGGGTGGCCATGACCAGGGACACCAGCACCAGCACCGTGTACATGGAACTGAGC AGCCTGAGACCCGAGGACACCGCCGTGTACTACTGCGCCAGGGGCAAGTACTGGATGTACGAC TGGGGCAAGGGCACCCTCGTGACCGTGAGCAGCGCTTCCACAACCGCGCCATCAGTCTTTCCG TTGGCCCCATCATGCGGGTCGACGAGCGGATCGACTGTGGCCCTGGCGTGCTTGGTGTCGGGA TACTTTCCCGAACCCGTCACGGTCAGCTGGAACTCCGGATCGCTTACGAGCGGTGTGCATACG TTCCCCTCGGTCTTGCAATCATCAGGGCTCTACTCGCTGTCGAGCATGGTAACGGTGCCCTCA TCGAGGTGGCCCTCCGAAACGTTCACATGTAACGTAGCACATCCAGCCTCCAAAACCAAGGTG GATAAACCCGTGCCGAAAAGAGAGAATGGGCGGGTGCCTCGACCCCCTGATTGCCCCAAGTGT CCGGCTCCGGAAATGCTCGGTGGACCCTCAGTGTTTATCTTCCCTCCGAAGCCCAAGGACACT CTGCTGATCGCGCGCACTCCAGAAGTAACATGTGTAGTGGTGGCACTTGATCCCGAGGACCCC GAAGTCCAGATCTCCTGGTTTGTAGATGGGAAACAGATGCAGACCGCAAAAACTCAACCCAGA GAGGAGCAGTTCGCAGGAACATACCGAGTGGTATCCGTCCTTCCGATTGGCCACCAGGACTGG TTGAAAGGGAAGCAGTTTACGTGTAAAGTCAACAATAAGGCGTTGCCTAGCCCTATTGAGCGG ACGATTTCGAAAGCTAGGGGACAGGCCCACCAGCCATCGGTCTATGTCCTTCCGCCTTCCCGC GAGGAGCTCTCGAAGAATACAGTGAGCCTTACATGCCTCATTAAGGATTTCTTCCCGCCTGAT ATCGACGTAGAGTGGCAATCAAACGGTCAACAGGAGCCGGAATCCAAGTATAGAACCACTCCG CCCCAGCTTGACGAGGACGGATCATACTTTTTGTATTCAAAACTGTCGGTGGATAAGAGCCGG TGGCAGAGAGGTGACACCTTCATCTGTGCGGTGATGCACGAAGCACTCCATAATCACTACACC CAAGAGAGCCTCTCGCATTCCCCCGGAAAG Thehumanheavychainvariableregionisinbold. Chimericcanineheavychainaminoacidsequence(M37): [SEQIDNO:20] QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASGYAFTSYYMHWARQAPGQGLEWMGIINPRGGSTSYAQK FQGRVAMTRDTSTSTVYMELSSLRPEDTAVYYCARGKYWMYDWGKGTLVTVSSASTTAPSVFP LAPSCGSTSGSTVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSGVHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPS SRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKVDKPVPKRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKDT LLIARTPEVTCVVVALDPEDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDW LKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTVSLTCLIKDFFPPD IDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDTFICAVMHEALHNHYT QESLSHSPGK Thehumanheavychainvariableregionisinbold. ChimericcaninelightchainDNAsequence(M37): [SEQIDNO:21] CAGAGCGTGCTGACCCAGCCTCCTAGCGTGAGCGCCGCTCCCGGCCAGAAAGTGACCATCAGC TGCAGCGGCGGCGGAAGCAGCATCGGCAACAGCTACGTGTCCTGGTACCAGCAGCTGCCCGGA ACCGCCCCTAAGCTGCTGATCTACGACAACAACAAGAGGCCCTCCGGCGTGCCCGACAGATTT AGCGGCAGCAAGAGCGGCACCAGCGCCACACTGGCCATCACAGGCCTGCAGACCGGCGATGAG GCCGACTACTACTGCGGCACCTGGGACACAAGCCCTGTGTGGGAATGGCCCTTCGGCACCGGC ACCAAGCTGACCGTGCTGAGGAACGACGCTCAGCCAGCCGTGTACCTCTTCCAGCCTTCGCCG GACCAGCTTCATACGGGGTCAGCGTCGGTGGTGTGCCTGTTGAACTCGTTTTACCCCAAGGAC ATTAACGTGAAGTGGAAGGTAGACGGGGTAATTCAAGACACTGGCATTCAAGAGTCCGTCACG GAACAAGACTCAAAAGACTCAACGTATTCACTGTCGTCAACCTTGACGATGTCAAGCACCGAG TATCTTAGCCATGAGCTGTATTCGTGCGAGATCACCCACAAGTCCCTCCCCTCCACTCTTATC AAATCCTTTCAGCGGTCGGAATGTCAGCGGGTCGAT Thehumanlightchainvariableregionisinbold. Chimericcaninelightchainaminoacidsequence(M37): [SEQIDNO:22] QSVLTQPPSVSAAPGQKVTISCSGGGSSIGNSYVSWYQQLPGTAPKLLIYDNNKRPSGVPDRF SGSKSGTSATLAITGLQTGDEADYYCGTWDTSPVWEWPFGTGTKLTVLRNDAQPAVYLFQPSP DQLHTGSASVVCLLNSFYPKDINVKWKVDGVIQDTGIQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTMSSTE YLSHELYSCEITHKSLPSTLIKSFQRSECQRVD Thehumanlightchainvariableregionisinbold. ChimericcanineheavychainDNAsequence(12B5): [SEQIDNO:23] GAGGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGAGCGGAGGCGGACTGGTGCATCCCGGAGGAAGCCTGAGACTGTCC TGCGCCGGCAGCGGCTTCACCTTCAGCAGGAACGCCATGTTCTGGGTGAGACAGGCCCCCGGC AAGGGACTGGAATGGGTGAGCCTGATCGGAACCGGAGGCGCCACCAACTACGCCGACAGCGTG AAGGGCAGGTTCACCATCAGCAGGGACAACGCCAAGAACAGCCTGTACCTGCAGATGAACAGC CTGAGGGCCGAGGACATGGCCGTGTACTACTGCGCCAGGGGCAGGTACTACTTCGACTATTGG GGCCAGGGCACCCTCGTGACCGTGTCCAGCGCTTCCACAACCGCGCCATCAGTCTTTCCGTTG GCCCCATCATGCGGGTCGACGAGCGGATCGACTGTGGCCCTGGCGTGCTTGGTGTCGGGATAC TTTCCCGAACCCGTCACGGTCAGCTGGAACTCCGGATCGCTTACGAGCGGTGTGCATACGTTC CCCTCGGTCTTGCAATCATCAGGGCTCTACTCGCTGTCGAGCATGGTAACGGTGCCCTCATCG AGGTGGCCCTCCGAAACGTTCACATGTAACGTAGCACATCCAGCCTCCAAAACCAAGGTGGAT AAACCCGTGCCGAAAAGAGAGAATGGGCGGGTGCCTCGACCCCCTGATTGCCCCAAGTGTCCG GCTCCGGAAATGCTCGGTGGACCCTCAGTGTTTATCTTCCCTCCGAAGCCCAAGGACACTCTG CTGATCGCGCGCACTCCAGAAGTAACATGTGTAGTGGTGGCACTTGATCCCGAGGACCCCGAA GTCCAGATCTCCTGGTTTGTAGATGGGAAACAGATGCAGACCGCAAAAACTCAACCCAGAGAG GAGCAGTTCGCAGGAACATACCGAGTGGTATCCGTCCTTCCGATTGGCCACCAGGACTGGTTG AAAGGGAAGCAGTTTACGTGTAAAGTCAACAATAAGGCGTTGCCTAGCCCTATTGAGCGGACG AllTCGAAAGCTAGGGGACAGGCCCACCAGCCATCGGTCTATGTCCTTCCGCCTTCCCGCGAG GAGCTCTCGAAGAATACAGTGAGCCTTACATGCCTCATTAAGGATTTCTTCCCGCCTGATATC GACGTAGAGTGGCAATCAAACGGTCAACAGGAGCCGGAATCCAAGTATAGAACCACTCCGCCC CAGCTTGACGAGGACGGATCATACTTTTTGTATTCAAAACTGTCGGTGGATAAGAGCCGGTGG CAGAGAGGTGACACCTTCATCTGTGCGGTGATGCACGAAGCACTCCATAATCACTACACCCAA GAGAGCCTCTCGCATTCCCCCGGAAAG Thehumanheavychainvariableregionisinbold. Chimericcanineheavychainaminoacidsequence(12B5): [SEQIDNO:24] EVQLVQSGGGLVHPGGSLRLSCAGSGFTFSRNAMFWVRQAPGKGLEWVSLIGTGGATNYADSV KGRFTISRDNAKNSLYLQMNSLRAEDMAVYYCARGRYYFDYWGQGTLVTVSSASTTAPSVFPL APSCGSTSGSTVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSGVHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSS RWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKVDKPVPKRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKDTL LIARTPEVTCVVVALDPEDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWL KGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTVSLTCLIKDFFPPDI DVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDTFICAVMHEALHNHYTQ ESLSHSPGK Thehumanheavychainvariableregionisinbold. ChimericcaninelightchainDNAsequence(12B5): [SEQIDNO:25] GAGATCGTGCTGACCCAGAGCCCTGGCACACTGAGCCTGAGCCCCGGAGAGAGGGCTACCCTG AGCTGCAGGGCCAGCCAGAGCGTGAGCAGCAGCTACCTGGCCTGGTACCAGCAGAAACCCGGC CAGGCCCCCAGACTGCTGATCTTTGGCGCCAGCAGCAGAGCCACCGGCATCCCCGATAGATTT AGCGGCAGCGGCAGCGGCACCGACTTTACCCTGACCATCAGCAGGCTGGAGCCCGAGGACTTC GCCGTGTACTACTGCCAGCAGTACGGCAGCAGCCCTCCTTGGACCTTCGGCCAGGGCACCAAG GTGGAGATCAAGAGGAACGACGCTCAGCCAGCCGTGTACCTCTTCCAGCCTTCGCCGGACCAG CTTCATACGGGGTCAGCGTCGGTGGTGTGCCTGTTGAACTCGTTTTACCCCAAGGACATTAAC GTGAAGTGGAAGGTAGACGGGGTAATTCAAGACACTGGCATTCAAGAGTCCGTCACGGAACAA GACTCAAAAGACTCAACGTATTCACTGTCGTCAACCTTGACGATGTCAAGCACCGAGTATCTT AGCCATGAGCTGTATTCGTGCGAGATCACCCACAAGTCCCTCCCCTCCACTCTTATCAAATCC TTTCAGCGGTCGGAATGTCAGCGGGTCGAT Thehumanlightchainvariableregionisinbold. Chimericcaninelightchainaminoacidsequence(12B5): [SEQIDNO:26] EIVLTQSPGTLSLSPGERATLSCRASQSVSSSYLAWYQQKPGQAPRLLIFGASSRATGIPDRF SGSGSGTDFTLTISRLEPEDFAVYYCQQYGSSPPWTFGQGTKVEIKRNDAQPAVYLFQPSPDQ LHTGSASVVCLLNSFYPKDINVKWKVDGVIQDTGIQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTMSSTEYL SHELYSCEITHKSLPSTLIKSFQRSECQRVD Thehumanlightchainvariableregionisinbold

Example 3

Caninized Human Anti-Human IL-4R Monoclonal Antibodies

(122) Without being bound by any specific approach, the overall process of producing caninized heavy and light chains that can be mixed in different combinations to produce caninized anti-canine IL-4R mAbs can be accomplished with the following protocol: i) Identify the CDRs of Heavy (H) and Light (L) chains of a known anti-human IL-4R monal clonal antibody (mAb). Back translate the amino acid sequences of the CDRs into a suitable DNA sequence. ii) Identify a suitable DNA sequence for the H and L chain of canine IgG (e.g., a heavy chain of IgG-B and light kappa chain). iii) Identify the DNA sequences encoding the endogenous CDRs of canine IgG H and L chains DNA of the above sequence. iv) Replace the DNA sequence encoding endogenous canine H and L chain CDRs with DNA sequences encoding the desired anti-IL-4R CDRs. Optionally also replace the DNA encoding some canine framework amino acid residues with DNA encoding selected amino acid residues from the desired anti-IL-4R mAb framework regions. v) Synthesize the DNA from step (iv) and clone it into a suitable expression plasmid. vi) Transfect the plasmids containing the desired caninized H and L chains into HEK 293 cells. vii) Purify the expressed caninized antibody from the HEK 293 supernatant. viii) Test purified caninized antibody for binding to canine IL-4R.

(123) Three (3) caninized H and three (3) caninized L chain nucleotide and amino acid sequences were thus obtained and are provided below. The present invention provides caninized antibodies formed by the combination of one of the three caninized heavy chains with one of the three caninized light chains. In particular embodiments of this type, the resulting antibody is selected for the tightest binding with IL-4R.

(124) The Fc portion of the above caninized antibodies is based on a modified sequences of canine IgG-B in order to remove ADCC and CDC effector functions as indicated above, as well as in U.S. provisional application 62/310,250, filed Mar. 18, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference [see also, WO 2015091910 A2 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/105,211, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference]. In addition, the F.sub.c's of these caninized antibodies may be replaced with modified Fc from other canine IgG isotypes as disclosed above and in U.S. provisional application 62/310,250, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/105,211, and in WO 2015091910 A2.

(125) DNA and Protein Sequences for Caninized Anti-Canine IL-4 Receptor mAbs:

(126) TABLE-US-00007 CaninizedDupiheavychain(H1)nucleotidesequence SEQIDNO:27 GAGGTGCAGCTGGTGGAGAGCGGCGGAGACCTGGTGAAGCCTGGAGGCAGCCTGAGACTGAGCTGCGTG GCCAGCGGCTTCACCTTCAGGGACTACGCCATGACCTGGGTGAGGCAGGCTCCTGGAAAGGGCCTGCAGT GGGTGGCCTCCATTAGCGGCAGCGGCGGCAACACATACTACGCCGACAGCGTGAAGGGCAGGTTCACCA TCAGCAGGGACAACGCCAAGAACACCCTGTACCTGCAGATGAACAGCCTGAGGGCCGAGGACACCGCCG TGTACTACTGCACCAGGGACAGGCTGTCCATCACCATCAGGCCCAGGTACTACGGCCTGGATGTGTGGGG CCAGGGCACACTGGTGACCGTGAGCAGCGCTTCCACAACCGCGCCATCAGTCTTTCCGTTGGCCCCATCAT GCGGGTCGACGAGCGGATCGACTGTGGCCCTGGCGTGCTTGGTGTCGGGATACTTTCCCGAACCCGTCAC GGTCAGCTGGAACTCCGGATCGCTTACGAGCGGTGTGCATACGTTCCCCTCGGTCTTGCAATCATCAGGGC TCTACTCGCTGTCGAGCATGGTAACGGTGCCCTCATCGAGGTGGCCCTCCGAAACGTTCACATGTAACGTA GCACATCCAGCCTCCAAAACCAAGGTGGATAAACCCGTGCCGAAAAGAGAGAATGGGCGGGTGCCTCGA CCCCCTGATTGCCCCAAGTGTCCGGCTCCGGAAATGCTCGGTGGACCCTCAGTGTTTATCTTCCCTCCGAA GCCCAAGGACACTCTGCTGATCGCGCGCACTCCAGAAGTAACATGTGTAGTGGTGGCACTTGATCCCGAG GACCCCGAAGTCCAGATCTCCTGGTTTGTAGATGGGAAACAGATGCAGACCGCAAAAACTCAACCCAGAG AGGAGCAGTTCGCAGGAACATACCGAGTGGTATCCGTCCTTCCGATTGGCCACCAGGACTGGTTGAAAGG GAAGCAGTTTACGTGTAAAGTCAACAATAAGGCGTTGCCTAGCCCTATTGAGCGGACGATTTCGAAAGCT AGGGGACAGGCCCACCAGCCATCGGTCTATGTCCTTCCGCCTTCCCGCGAGGAGCTCTCGAAGAATACAG TGAGCCTTACATGCCTCATTAAGGATTTCTTCCCGCCTGATATCGACGTAGAGTGGCAATCAAACGGTCAA CAGGAGCCGGAATCCAAGTATAGAACCACTCCGCCCCAGCTTGACGAGGACGGATCATACTTTTTGTATT CAAAACTGTCGGTGGATAAGAGCCGGTGGCAGAGAGGTGACACCTTCATCTGTGCGGTGATGCACGAAGC ACTCCATAATCACTACACCCAAGAGAGCCTCTCGCATTCCCCCGGAAAG CaninizedDupiheavychain(H1)aminoacidsequence SEQIDNO:28 EVQLVESGGDLVKPGGSLRLSCVASGFTFRDYAMTWVRQAPGKGLQWVASISGSGGNTYYADSVKGRFTISR DNAKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCTRDRLSITIRPRYYGLDVWGQGTLVTVSSASTTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSG STVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSGVHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKV DKPVPKRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKDTLLIARTPEVTCVVVALDPEDPEVQISWFVDGK QMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWLKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSR EELSKNTVSLTCLIKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDTFICAV MHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK CaninizedDupiheavychain(H2)nucleotidesequence SEQIDNO:29 GAGGTGCAGCTGGTGGAGAGCGGCGGCGATCTGGTGAAGCCTGGAGGCAGCCTGAGACTGAGCTGCGCC GGAAGCGGCTTCACCTTCAGGGACTACGCCATGACCTGGGTGAGACAGGCCCCTGGAAAGGGCCTGCAGT GGGTGAGCAGCATCTCCGGCAGCGGCGGCAACACCTACTACGCCGACAGCGTGAAGGGCAGGTTCACCA TCAGCAGGGACAACGCCAAGAACACCCTGTACCTGCAGATGAACAGCCTGAGGGCCGAGGACACCGCCG TGTACTACTGCGCCAAGGACAGACTGAGCATCACCATCAGGCCCAGGTACTACGGCCTGGACGTGTGGGG ACAGGGCACACTGGTGACCGTGAGCAGCGCTTCCACAACCGCGCCATCAGTCTTTCCGTTGGCCCCATCA TGCGGGTCGACGAGCGGATCGACTGTGGCCCTGGCGTGCTTGGTGTCGGGATACTTTCCCGAACCCGTCA CGGTCAGCTGGAACTCCGGATCGCTTACGAGCGGTGTGCATACGTTCCCCTCGGTCTTGCAATCATCAGGG CTCTACTCGCTGTCGAGCATGGTAACGGTGCCCTCATCGAGGTGGCCCTCCGAAACGTTCACATGTAACGT AGCACATCCAGCCTCCAAAACCAAGGTGGATAAACCCGTGCCGAAAAGAGAGAATGGGCGGGTGCCTCG ACCCCCTGATTGCCCCAAGTGTCCGGCTCCGGAAATGCTCGGTGGACCCTCAGTGTTTATCTTCCCTCCGA AGCCCAAGGACACTCTGCTGATCGCGCGCACTCCAGAAGTAACATGTGTAGTGGTGGCACTTGATCCCGA GGACCCCGAAGTCCAGATCTCCTGGTTTGTAGATGGGAAACAGATGCAGACCGCAAAAACTCAACCCAGA GAGGAGCAGTTCGCAGGAACATACCGAGTGGTATCCGTCCTTCCGATTGGCCACCAGGACTGGTTGAAAG GGAAGCAGTTTACGTGTAAAGTCAACAATAAGGCGTTGCCTAGCCCTATTGAGCGGACGATTTCGAAAGC TAGGGGACAGGCCCACCAGCCATCGGTCTATGTCCTTCCGCCTTCCCGCGAGGAGCTCTCGAAGAATACA GTGAGCCTTACATGCCTCATTAAGGATTTCTTCCCGCCTGATATCGACGTAGAGTGGCAATCAAACGGTCA ACAGGAGCCGGAATCCAAGTATAGAACCACTCCGCCCCAGCTTGACGAGGACGGATCATACTTTTTGTAT TCAAAACTGTCGGTGGATAAGAGCCGGTGGCAGAGAGGTGACACCTTCATCTGTGCGGTGATGCACGAAG CACTCCATAATCACTACACCCAAGAGAGCCTCTCGCATTCCCCCGGAAAG CaninizedDupiheavychain(H2)aminoacidsequence SEQIDNO:30 EVQLVESGGDLVKPGGSLRLSCAGSGFTFRDYAMTWVRQAPGKGLQWVSSISGSGGNTYYADSVKGRFTISR DNAKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKDRLSITIRPRYYGLDVWGQGTLVTVSSASTTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSG STVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSGVHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKV DKPVPKRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKDTLLIARTPEVTCVVVALDPEDPEVQISWFVDGK QMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWLKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSR EELSKNTVSLTCLIKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDTFICAV MHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK CaninizedDupiheavychain(H3)nucleotidesequence SEQIDNO:31 GAGGTGCAGCTGGTGGAGAGCGGCGGCGATCTGGTGAAGCCTGGCGGAAGCCTGAGACTGAGCTGTGCC GGCAGCGGCTTCACCTTCAGGGACTACGCCATGACCTGGGTGAGACAGGCCCCTGGCAAAGGCCTGGAGT GGGTGAGCAGCATCAGCGGCAGCGGCGGCAACACCTACTACGCCGACAGCGTGAAGGGCAGGTTCACCA TCTCCAGGGACAACAGCAAGAACACCCTGTACCTGCAGATGAACAGCCTGAGGGCCGAGGATACCGCCG TGTACTACTGCGCCAAGGACAGACTGAGCATCACCATCAGGCCCAGGTACTACGGACTGGATGTGTGGGG CCAGGGCACCCTCGTGACCGTGTCCAGCGCTTCCACAACCGCGCCATCAGTCTTTCCGTTGGCCCCATCAT GCGGGTCGACGAGCGGATCGACTGTGGCCCTGGCGTGCTTGGTGTCGGGATACTTTCCCGAACCCGTCAC GGTCAGCTGGAACTCCGGATCGCTTACGAGCGGTGTGCATACGTTCCCCTCGGTCTTGCAATCATCAGGGC TCTACTCGCTGTCGAGCATGGTAACGGTGCCCTCATCGAGGTGGCCCTCCGAAACGTTCACATGTAACGTA GCACATCCAGCCTCCAAAACCAAGGTGGATAAACCCGTGCCGAAAAGAGAGAATGGGCGGGTGCCTCGA CCCCCTGATTGCCCCAAGTGTCCGGCTCCGGAAATGCTCGGTGGACCCTCAGTGTTTATCTTCCCTCCGAA GCCCAAGGACACTCTGCTGATCGCGCGCACTCCAGAAGTAACATGTGTAGTGGTGGCACTTGATCCCGAG GACCCCGAAGTCCAGATCTCCTGGTTTGTAGATGGGAAACAGATGCAGACCGCAAAAACTCAACCCAGAG AGGAGCAGTTCGCAGGAACATACCGAGTGGTATCCGTCCTTCCGATTGGCCACCAGGACTGGTTGAAAGG GAAGCAGTTTACGTGTAAAGTCAACAATAAGGCGTTGCCTAGCCCTATTGAGCGGACGATTTCGAAAGCT AGGGGACAGGCCCACCAGCCATCGGTCTATGTCCTTCCGCCTTCCCGCGAGGAGCTCTCGAAGAATACAG TGAGCCTTACATGCCTCATTAAGGATTTCTTCCCGCCTGATATCGACGTAGAGTGGCAATCAAACGGTCAA CAGGAGCCGGAATCCAAGTATAGAACCACTCCGCCCCAGCTTGACGAGGACGGATCATACTTTTTGTATT CAAAACTGTCGGTGGATAAGAGCCGGTGGCAGAGAGGTGACACCTTCATCTGTGCGGTGATGCACGAAGC ACTCCATAATCACTACACCCAAGAGAGCCTCTCGCATTCCCCCGGAAAG CaninizedDupiheavychain(H3)aminoacidsequence SEQIDNO:32 EVQLVESGGDLVKPGGSLRLSCAGSGFTFRDYAMTWVRQAPGKGLEWVSSISGSGGNTYYADSVKGRFTISR DNSKNTLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAKDRLSITIRPRYYGLDVWGQGTLVTVSSASTTAPSVFPLAPSCGSTSG STVALACLVSGYFPEPVTVSWNSGSLTSGVHTFPSVLQSSGLYSLSSMVTVPSSRWPSETFTCNVAHPASKTKV DKPVPKRENGRVPRPPDCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKDTLLIARTPEVTCVVVALDPEDPEVQISWFVDGK QMQTAKTQPREEQFAGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWLKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSR EELSKNTVSLTCLIKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDTFICAV MHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPGK CANINIZEDDUPIlightchain(L1)nucleotidesequence SEQIDNO:33 GACATTGTGATGACCCAGACCCCTCTGAGCCTGTCCGTGAGCCCTGGCGAGCCTGCTAGCATCAGCTGCA GGAGCAGCCAGAGCCTGCTGTACAGCATCGGCTACAACTACCTGGACTGGTTCAGGCAGAAGCCCGGCCA GAGCCCTCAGAGGCTGATCTACCTGGGAAGCAACAGGGCCAGCGGCGTGCCTGACAGGTTTAGCGGCAG CGGCAGCGGCACCGATTTCACCCTGAGGATCAGCAGAGTGGAGGCCGATGACGCCGGCGTGTACTACTGC ATGCAGGCCCTGCAGACCCCCTACACCTTCGGCCAGGGCACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAGAGGAACGACGCT CAGCCAGCCGTGTACCTCTTCCAGCCTTCGCCGGACCAGCTTCATACGGGGTCAGCGTCGGTGGTGTGCCT GTTGAACTCGTTTTACCCCAAGGACATTAACGTGAAGTGGAAGGTAGACGGGGTAATTCAAGACACTGGC ATTCAAGAGTCCGTCACGGAACAAGACTCAAAAGACTCAACGTATTCACTGTCGTCAACCTTGACGATGT CAAGCACCGAGTATCTTAGCCATGAGCTGTATTCGTGCGAGATCACCCACAAGTCCCTCCCCTCCACTCTT ATCAAATCCTTTCAGCGGTCGGAATGTCAGCGGGTCGAT CANINIZEDDUPIlightchain(L1)aminoacidsequence SEQIDNO:34 DIVMTQTPLSLSVSPGEPASISCRSSQSLLYSIGYNYLDWFRQKPGQSPQRLIYLGSNRASGVPDRFSGSGSGTDF TLRISRVEADDAGVYYCMQALQTPYTFGQGTKVEIKRNDAQPAVYLFQPSPDQLHTGSASVVCLLNSFYPKDI NVKWKVDGVIQDTGIQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTMSSTEYLSHELYSCEITHKSLPSTLIKSFQRSECQRVD CANINIZEDDUPIlightchain(L2)nucleotidesequence SEQIDNO:35 GACATCGTGATGACCCAGACCCCTCTGAGCCTGAGCGTGAGCCCTGGAGAGCCCGCCAGCATCTCCTGCA GAAGCAGCCAGAGCCTGCTGTACAGCATCGGCTACAACTACCTGGACTGGTACCTGCAGAAGCCCGGCCA GAGCCCTCAGCTGCTGATCTACCTGGGCAGCAACAGAGCCAGCGGCGTGCCTGACAGATTTAGCGGCAGC GGCAGCGGCACAGACTTCACCCTGAGGATCAGCAGAGTGGAGGCCGACGATGCCGGCGTGTACTACTGC ATGCAGGCCCTGCAGACCCCCTACACCTTCGGCCAGGGCACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAGAGGAACGACGCT CAGCCAGCCGTGTACCTCTTCCAGCCTTCGCCGGACCAGCTTCATACGGGGTCAGCGTCGGTGGTGTGCCT GTTGAACTCGTTTTACCCCAAGGACATTAACGTGAAGTGGAAGGTAGACGGGGTAATTCAAGACACTGGC ATTCAAGAGTCCGTCACGGAACAAGACTCAAAAGACTCAACGTATTCACTGTCGTCAACCTTGACGATGT CAAGCACCGAGTATCTTAGCCATGAGCTGTATTCGTGCGAGATCACCCACAAGTCCCTCCCCTCCACTCTT ATCAAATCCTTTCAGCGGTCGGAATGTCAGCGGGTCGAT CANINIZEDDUPIlightchain(L2)aminoacidsequence SEQIDNO:36 DIVMTQTPLSLSVSPGEPASISCRSSQSLLYSIGYNYLDWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYLGSNRASGVPDRFSGSGSGTDF TLRISRVEADDAGVYYCMQALQTPYTFGQGTKVEIKRNDAQPAVYLFQPSPDQLHTGSASVVCLLNSFYPKDI NVKWKVDGVIQDTGIQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTMSSTEYLSHELYSCEITHKSLPSTLIKSFQRSECQRVD CANINIZEDDUPIlightchain(L3)nucleotidesequence SEQIDNO:37 GACATCGTGATGACCCAGACACCCCTGAGCCTGAGCGTGAGCCCTGGCGAACCTGCCAGCATCAGCTGCA GGAGCTCCCAGAGCCTGCTGTACAGCATCGGCTACAACTACCTCGACTGGTACCTGCAGAAGCCCGGCCA GAGCCCTCAGCTGCTGATCTACCTGGGCTCCAACAGAGCCAGCGGCGTGCCTGACAGATTTAGCGGCAGC GGCAGCGGAACCGACTTCACCCTGAGGATCAGCAGAGTGGAGGCCGACGACGCCGGCTTCTACTACTGCA TGCAGGCCCTGCAGACCCCCTACACCTTCGGCCAGGGCACCAAGCTGGAGATCAAGAGGAACGACGCTC AGCCAGCCGTGTACCTCTTCCAGCCTTCGCCGGACCAGCTTCATACGGGGTCAGCGTCGGTGGTGTGCCTG TTGAACTCGTTTTACCCCAAGGACATTAACGTGAAGTGGAAGGTAGACGGGGTAATTCAAGACACTGGCA TTCAAGAGTCCGTCACGGAACAAGACTCAAAAGACTCAACGTATTCACTGTCGTCAACCTTGACGATGTC AAGCACCGAGTATCTTAGCCATGAGCTGTATTCGTGCGAGATCACCCACAAGTCCCTCCCCTCCACTCTTA TCAAATCCTTTCAGCGGTCGGAATGTCAGCGGGTCGAT CANINIZEDDUPIlightchain(L3)aminoacidsequence SEQIDNO:38 DIVMTQTPLSLSVSPGEPASISCRSSQSLLYSIGYNYLDWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYLGSNRASGVPDRFSGSGSGTDF TLRISRVEADDAGFYYCMQALQTPYTFGQGTKLEIKRNDAQPAVYLFQPSPDQLHTGSASVVCLLNSFYPKDI NVKWKVDGVIQDTGIQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTMSSTEYLSHELYSCEITHKSLPSTLIKSFQRSECQRVD

Example 4

Blocking Activity of Caninized Antibodies Against Canine IL-4 Receptor Alpha

(127) Testing for blocking activity of caninized antibodies against canine IL-4 receptor alpha was performed with a cell line, CHO-DG44 stable cell line expressing canine IL-4 receptor alpha.

(128) Construction of CHO Cell Line Expressing Canine IL-4 Receptor Alpha Chain and its Use in Ligand Blockade Assays:

(129) A nucleic acid encoding a full length canine IL-4 receptor alpha chain having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 was synthesized and sub-cloned into a mammalian expression vectors. The resulting plasmid was transfected into CHO DG44 cells. At 48 hours post-transfection, the cells were diluted into 96-well plates to generate single cell clones. About 130 clones were obtained after a 4-week incubation. All of the clones were screened for expression of the cloned Interleukin-4 receptor alpha [cIL-4R] by FACS using an anti-cIL-4R monoclonal antibody (6B2). Three clones were selected for stability evaluation, which was monitored for 20 passages by FACS.

(130) A ligand blockade assay was set up to assess the ability of the monoclonal antibodies specific for the canine IL-4 receptor alpha to block the binding of canine IL-4 to canine IL-4R alpha expressed on the surface of CHO cells:

(131) Reagent and Equipments:

(132) Cell growth medium: CD OptiCHO medium+8 mM L-Glutamine+0.018% F-68 FACS Buffer: BD Pharmingen Stain Buffer (BD cat #: 554657) R-phycoerythin conjugated Streptavidin (Life Technologies: SB66) Canine IL-4 (R&D system, cat #754-CL/CF) Lightning-Link Biotin Conjugation Kit Type A (Novus: 704-0010) used to biotinylate canine IL-4 as per manufacturer's recommendation Flow cytometer: BD FACSCanto II Cell line: The CHO-DG44 stable cell line expressing canine IL-4 receptor alpha.
Procedure: 1. The CHO-DG44-canIL-4R cells were grown to 2-410.sup.6 cells/mL with more than 96% viability. 2. The cells were spun down, the supernatant discarded, and the cells were suspended in FACS buffer to 210.sup.7 cells/mL. 3. The cells were distributed into a U-shape 96-well plate, 50 l each well. 4. The anti-canine IL-4R (Dupi H2-L2) mAbs in FACS buffer was diluted three-fold on a 96-well plate from top down to bottom well, starting at 50 g/mL. 5. 50 l of each diluted Ab was transferred into the cell plate and then incubated on ice for 30 min. 6. The cells were washed twice with FACS buffer. 7. The cells were resupended into 100 l of biotinylated canine IL-4 at 0.32 g/mL in FACS buffer and incubated on ice for 30 min. 8. The cells were washed twice with 250 L FACS buffer. 9. The cells were resupended into 100 l of R-phycoerythin conjugated Streptavidin (1:100 dilution) in FACS buffer and incubated on ice for 30 min. 10. The cells were washed twice with 250 L FACS buffer. 11. The cells were brought up to 300 l in FACS buffer. 12. 10,000 cells were read for each sample by BD FACSCanto II. 13. The resulting readout were analyzed by FlowJo to get the Mean Fluorescent Intensity (MFI).

(133) FIG. 2 depicts the results for a FACS assay for testing the blocking activity of caninized Dupi mAb against the interaction of canine IL-4 with IL-4 receptor alpha expressed on CHO cells. These results demonstrate a dose-dependent blocking activity of caninized Dupi H2-L2 antibody on the interaction of canine IL-4 with the IL-4 receptor alpha expressed on CHO cells.

Example 5

Testing the Neutralizing Activity of Caninized Dupi Antibodies Against Canine IL-4R

(134) Construction of BaF3 Cell Line Expressing IL-4 Receptor Alpha

(135) BaF3 is a murine progenitor B cell line and its cell proliferation is dependent on murine IL-3. It has been demonstrated that BaF3 cells expressing human IL-4 receptor alpha chain can proliferate with stimulation of IL-4. This protocol is for creating a BaF3 stable cell line expressing canine IL-4 receptor alpha chain, with the resulting cell line proliferating upon stimulation by canine IL-4.

(136) The BaF3 Growth Medium is RPMI 1640 with 10% FBS, 4 mM L-glutamine, 50 M 2-Mercaptoethanol, 0.5 ng/mL mouse IL-3, and Pen/Strep.

(137) Selection Medium: The Growth Medium with IL-3 Substituted by Canine IL-4.

(138) 1. A vial of BaF3 cells are thawed at 37 C. and the thawed cells are transferred into 30 mL of growth medium and incubated at 37 C., with 8% CO.sub.2 in a shaker at 125 rpm. 2. The cells are passaged 3 times before transfection. For transfection the resulting cells must be 96% viable. 3. 110.sup.7 viable cells are spun down and resuspended with 700 L RPMI 1640. 4. The cells are transfer into a 4 mm gap cuvette on ice, and then 40 g pTT5-cIL-4R plasmid DNA is added in 1004 RPMI 1640 into the cuvette and gently mixed. 5. The cells are transfected by electroporation at 200 v, 1000 F, and then transferred into selection medium that contains 25 ng/mL cIL-4. 6. The pooled cells are then incubated at 37 C. with 8% CO.sub.2 in a shaker at 125 rpm to recover the cells that can grow under cIL-4. 7. The pool cells are passaged continually in the medium with cIL-4 to stabilize the cell line for 7 passages. 8. Single cell clones are selected by limiting dilution analysis.

(139) FIG. 3 depicts the results of the FACS assay testing the binding activity of caninized Dupi H2-L2 antibody to the canine IL-4 receptor alpha expressed on the BaF3 cells prepared as indicated above.

(140) FACS Assay for Determining the Expression of Canine IL-4 Receptor Alpha by BaF3 Cells and Confirming the Binding Activity of the Caninized Dupi Antibody to that Receptor on the Cells.

(141) 1. Grow the above cells in the selection medium with canine IL-4 in 37 C., 8% CO.sub.2 shaker with 125 rpm. 2. Passage the cells 2-3 times in the growth medium with mouse IL-3 before the setup of the assay, and make sure the cell viability is 95%. 3. Spin down the cells, discard the supernatant, wash the cells twice with 250 L of FACS buffer and resuspend the cells into FACS buffer to 110.sup.7 viable cells/mL. 4. Add selected antibodies to three individual 100 L aliquots of the cells to 5 g/mL, respectively: to separate cell aliquots add the caninized DupiH2L2; a caninized murine antibody raised against canine IL-4R, as a positive control; and a caninized murine antibody raised against an unrelated antigen as a negative control. In addition, a fourth cell aliquot has no antibody added. 5. Incubate the cells on ice for 30 min. with gentle shaking, and then wash the cells twice with 250 L of FACS buffer. 6. Resuspend the cells into 100 l of rabbit anti-dog IgG FITC and incubate on ice for 30 min with gentle shaking. 7. Wash the cells with 2250 L of FACS buffer. 8. Bring up the cells to 300 l of FACS buffer. 9. Read 20,000 cells for each sample by BD FACSCanto II.

(142) The resulting FACS assay depicted in FIG. 3 shows four independent peaks, the first two peaks corresponding to: (a) the BaF3 cells alone, and (b) the BaF3 cells that had been incubated with a caninized murine antibody that had been raised against a non-related antigen (a negative control). In both cases the peaks are relatively narrow and the amount of dye (FITC-A) is equal to the background value (centered at just below 10.sup.3). This is consistent with the absence of bound canine antibody. The other two peaks in FIG. 3 correspond to: (c) the BaF3 cells that had been incubated with a caninized murine antibody raised against canine IL-4R (a positive control), and (d) the BaF3 cells that had been incubated with Dupi H2L2. In both of these cases the peaks are broad and the amount of dye (FITC-A) is substantially greater than the background value (centered at just above 10.sup.4). This increase in FITC-A is due to the BaF3 cells expressing canine IL-4R and the caninized Dupi H2L2 and the positive control binding to the expressed IL-4R, respectively. In short, FIG. 3 demonstrates that the BaF3 cells transfected by pTT5-cIL-4R plasmid can express canine IL-4 receptor alpha, and that the caninized Dupi antibody can bind to that expressed canine IL-4R.

(143) MTT Cell Proliferation Assay for Testing Neutralizing Activity of Caninized Dupi Antibodies Against Canine IL-4 Receptor Alpha:

(144) Cell line: The BaF3 stable cell line expressing canine IL-4 receptor alpha chain as described above. 1. The cells are grown in the selection medium with canine IL-4 at 37 C. with 8% CO.sub.2 in a shaker at 125 rpm. 2. The cells are passaged 2-3 times in the growth medium with mouse IL-3 before the setup of the assay. For the assay the resulting cells must be 96% viable. 3. The cells are spun down at 1250 rpm for 3 minutes, and resuspended in starvation medium (basic medium without serum, IL-3 and IL-4) to 410.sup.6 viable cells/mL. 4. The cells are dispensed into a 96 well plate, 50 L/well (about 0.210.sup.6 viable cells/well to avoid an edge effect, leaving the first and last column and row for 200 L medium per well.) 5. Antibody with a starting concentration of 1 mg/mL is two-fold diluted in the starvation medium in the 96 well plate. 6. 50 L of the diluted antibody is transferred into each well of the cell plate, and gently mixed. 7. For 1-2 hours the plate is incubated at 37 C. with 8% CO.sub.2 in a shaker at 125 rpm. 8. 110 ng/mL of canine IL-4 solution in the starvation medium is prepared and then dispensed into the cell plates with 10 L per well. 9. For 48 hours the plate is incubated at 37 C. with 8% CO.sub.2 in a shaker at 125 rpm. 10. 15 L of the MTT-based dye solution is added into each well, and for 2-4 hours the plate is incubated at 37 C. with 8% CO.sub.2 in a shaker at 125 rpm 2-4 hrs to develop color. 11. 100 L of stop solution is added into each well and the plate is incubated at room temperature for 1 hour (the plate can be stored at 4 C. overnight). 12. The plate is read at 570 nm with a 650 nm reference.

(145) FIG. 4 depicts the MTT cell-based assay for testing the neutralizing activity of the chimeric human-canine monoclonal antibody (Dupi H-C) and caninized monoclonal antibody (Dupi H2-L2) versus a control non-neutralizing antibody on BaF3 cell proliferation. A dose-dependent neutralizing activity of both the Dupi H-C and the Dupi H2-L2 resulted in an observed decrease in BaF3 cell proliferation, whereas the control non-neutralizing antibody did not have this effect on cell proliferation.

Example 6

Mapping of Canine IL-4R Epitopes

(146) Introduction

(147) The interaction of antibodies with their cognate protein antigens is mediated through the binding of specific amino acids (paratopes) of the antibodies with specific amino acids (epitopes) of their target antigens. An epitope is an antigenic determinant that causes a specific reaction by an immunoglobulin. It consists of a group of amino acids on the surface of the antigen.

(148) A protein of interest may contain several epitopes that are recognized by different antibodies. The epitopes recognized by antibodies are classified as linear or conformational epitopes. Linear epitopes are formed by a stretch of continuous sequence of amino acids in a protein, while conformational epitopes are composed of amino acids that are discontinuous (e.g, far apart) in the primary amino acid sequence, but are brought together upon three-dimensional protein folding.

(149) Epitope mapping refers to the process of identifying the amino acid sequences (i.e., epitopes) that are recognized by antibodies on their target antigens. Identification of epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) on target antigens has important applications. For example, it can aid in the development of new therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines. Epitope mapping can also aid in the selection of optimized therapeutic mAbs (e.g., to treat atopic dermatitis) and help elucidate their mechanisms of action.

(150) Mapping of IL-4 Receptor Alpha Epitopes Using Mass Spectroscopy:

(151) Epitope mapping of a discontinuous epitope is technically challenging and requires specialized techniques such as x-ray co-crystallography of a monoclonal antibody together with its target protein, Hydrogen-Deuterium (H/D) exchange, and/or Mass Spectroscopy coupled with enzymatic digestion. In order to identify the epitope(s) recognized by the anti-canine IL-4R mAb cDupi H2-L2, a method based on chemical cross-linking, High-Mass MALDI mass spectrometry and nLC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used (CovalX Instrument Incorporated). As depicted in FIG. 5 the application of this technology to epitope mapping of canine IL-4R led to localization of the epitope(s) to two regions in the extracellular domain (ECD) of canine IL-4R chain represented by SEQ ID NO: 39 (amino acid sequence: QWKMDHPTNCSAELRLSYQLD; Region 1) and SEQ ID No: 40 (amino acid sequence: RLAASTLKSGA; Region 2) with the contact amino acid residues in bold. The results also show that these two regions include the amino acids of IL-4R chain which are in contact with the cDupi H2-L2 antibody, and in particular, the threonine residue at amino acid position 27, the tyrosine residue at amino acid position 37, the serine residue at amino acid position 164, the threonine residue at amino acid position 165, and the lysine residue at amino acid position 167 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. The results indicate that the epitope is within the amino acid sequence of TNCSAELRLSY (SEQ ID NO: 41; Sub-Region 1) and/or the amino acid sequence of STLK (SEQ ID NO: 42; Sub-Region 2).

(152) Moreover, though certainly not predictable, the amino acid residues in the canine IL-4R chain sequence that were determined to be in contact with the caninized antibody (Dupi H2-L2) were found to be identical to the corresponding amino acid residues of the human IL-4R sequence. Although the epitope of the human IL-4R chain has not been disclosed, on the basis of the present findings that the contact amino acid residues in the canine IL-4R chain are identical to those in the corresponding human IL-4R sequence, along with the cross-reactivity reported herein, suggest that the epitope presently identified for this antibody in the canine IL-4R sequence is also likely to be the epitope in the human IL-4R sequence.

(153) TABLE-US-00008 SEQUENCE LISTING TABLE ID N.A. A.A. Description ID N.A. A.A. Description 1 Canine IL-4R 23 Chimeric 12B5 Full Length Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 2 Canine IL-4R 24 Chimeric 12B5 Full Length Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 3 Canine IL-4R 25 Chimeric 12B5 mature Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 4 Canine IL-4R 26 Chimeric 12B5 mature Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 5 Canine IL-4R 27 Caninized Dupi H1 ECD (w/o sig. seq.) Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 6 Canine IL-4R 28 Caninized Dupi H1 ECD (w/o sig. seq.) Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 7 Canine IL-4R 29 Caninized Dupi H2 extcell. dom. + His tag Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 8 Canine IL-4R 30 Caninized Dupi H2 extcell. dom. + His tag Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 9 Canine IL-4R 31 Caninized Dupi H3 extcell. dom. + hIgG1 Fc Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 10 Canine IL-4R 32 Caninized Dupi H3 extcell. dom. + hIgG1 Fc Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab 11 cIgGB wt 33 Caninized Dupi L1 Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 12 cIgGB(+)A-hinge 34 Caninized Dupi L1 Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 13 cIgGB(+)D-hinge 35 Caninized Dupi L2 Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 14 cIgGB()ADCC 36 Caninized Dupi L2 Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 15 Chimeric Dupi 37 Caninized Dupi L3 Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 16 Chimeric Dupi 38 Caninized Dupi L3 Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab 17 Chimeric Dupi 39 Region 1 Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab Epitope 18 Chimeric Dupi 40 Region 2 Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab Epitope 19 Chimeric M37 41 Sub-Region 1 Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab Epitope 20 Chimeric M37 42 Sub-Region 2 Heavy anti-IL-4R Ab Epitope 21 Chimeric M37 61 IgGA Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab Hinge Region 22 Chimeric M37 62 IgGB Kappa anti-IL-4R Ab Hinge Region 63 IgGC 64 IgGD Hinge Region Modified Hinge Region

(154) The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and the accompanying figures. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

(155) The foregoing written specification is considered to be sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and fall within the scope of the appended claims.