National Institutes of Health, a Component of the US Dept. of Health & Human Services

Wyeth

Other

Harvard College

Genetics Institute, Inc.

The Government of the United States of America

Thomas A Wynn

Mary Collins

Clive R Wood

Debra D Donaldson

Matthew James Whitters

Lori J Fitz

Tamlyn Neben

Monica G Chiaramonte

Deborah A Young

Michael J Grusby

Lori Fitz

Matthew J Whitters

The present invention provides methods of screening for compositions useful for treating, ameliorating, or preventing fibrosis and/or fibrosis-associated conditions by measuring changes in the level(s) of IL-21 and/or IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) (e.g., the level of expression of IL-21 and/or IL-21R protein and/or mRNA, the level of activity of IL-21 and/or IL-21R, the level of interaction of IL-21 with IL-21R). The invention further provides antagonists of IL-21 or IL-21R for the treatment of fibrosis and/or fibrosis-associated conditions. Further provided herein are methods of diagnosing, prognosing, and monitoring the progress (e.g., the course of treatment) of fibrosis and/or fibrosis-associated conditions by measuring the level of IL-21 and/or IL-21R (i.e., the level of activity of IL-21 and/or IL-21R, the level of expression of IL-21 and/or IL-21R (e.g., the level of IL-21 and/or IL-21R gene products), and/or the level of interaction of IL-21 with IL-21R).

Methods for treating and preventing fibrosis

Methods are provided for treating or inhibiting the formation of tissue fibrosis using IL-13 antagonists, including without limitation soluble forms of the IL-13 receptor.

Treatment of fibrosis by antagonism of IL-13 and IL-13 receptor chains

Growing community of inventors

Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Thomas A Wynn