SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Nov. 13, 2019, is named 200896-0015-00-US-592425_SL.txt and is 166,672 bytes in size.

FIELD

The disclosure provides antibodies that bind CD40. The antibody polypeptides bind CD40 and do not exhibit CD40 agonist activity. The antibodies may comprise a modified IgG1 Fc domain, and exhibit minimal activation of immature dendritic cells. Compositions comprising antibodies, methods of use for treatment of diseases involving CD40 activity, and use in the preparation of a medicament for treatment of a disease involving CD40 activity are provided.

BACKGROUND

CD40 is a co-stimulatory molecule belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily that is present on antigen presenting cells (APC), including dendritic cells, B cells, and macrophages. APCs are activated when CD40 binds its ligand, CD154 (CD40L), on TH cells. CD40-mediated APC activation is involved in a variety of immune responses, including cytokine production, up-regulation of co-stimulatory molecules (such as CD86), and enhanced antigen presentation and B cell proliferation. CD40 can also be expressed by endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells.

CD40 activation is also involved in a variety of undesired T cell responses related to autoimmunity, transplant rejection, or allergic responses, for example. One strategy for controlling undesirable T cell responses is to target CD40 with an antagonistic antibody. For example, monoclonal antibody HCD122 (Lucatumumab), formerly known as Chiron 1212, is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of certain CD40-mediated inflammatory diseases. See “Study of HCD122 (Lucatumumab) and Bendamustine Combination Therapy in CD40+Rituximab-Refractory Follicular Lymphoma,” Clinical Trials Feeds, on the Internet at hypertext transfer protocol: clinicaltrialsfeeds.org/clinical-trials/show/NCT01275209 (last updated Jan. 11, 2011). Monoclonal antibodies, however, can display agonist activity. For example, the usefulness of the anti-CD40 antibody, Chi220, is limited by its weak stimulatory potential. See Adams, et al., “Development of a chimeric anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody that synergizes with LEA29Y to prolong islet allograft survival,”J. Immunol.174: 542-50 (2005).

SUMMARY

In a first embodiment, the present invention provides an isolated antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, that specifically binds to human CD40, wherein the antibody comprises a first polypeptide portion comprising a heavy chain variable region, and a second polypeptide portion comprising a light chain variable region, wherein:

the heavy chain variable region comprises one of (i) a CDR1 comprising SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 1), a CDR2 comprising QINPTTGRSQYNEKFKT (SEQ ID NO: 2), a CDR3 comprising WGLQPFAY (SEQ ID NO: 3); and (ii) a CDR1 comprising SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 1), a CDR2 comprising QINPSQGRSQYNEKFKT (SEQ ID NO: 12), a CDR3 comprising WGLQPFAY (SEQ ID NO: 3); and

the light chain variable region comprises a CDR1 comprising KASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 7), a CDR2 comprising SASYRYT (SEQ ID NO: 8), and a CDR3 comprising QQHYSTPWT (SEQ ID NO: 9).

The present invention further provides an isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, that specifically binds to human CD40, wherein the antibody comprises a first polypeptide portion comprising a heavy chain variable region, and a second polypeptide portion comprising a light chain variable region, wherein:

the heavy chain variable region comprises one of (i) a CDR1 consisting of SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 1), a CDR2 consisting of QINPTTGRSQYNEKFKT (SEQ ID NO: 2), a CDR3 consisting of WGLQPFAY (SEQ ID NO: 3); and (ii) a CDR1 consisting of SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 1), a CDR2 consisting of QINPSQGRSQYNEKFKT (SEQ ID NO: 12), a CDR3 consisting of WGLQPFAY (SEQ ID NO: 3); and

the light chain variable region comprises a CDR1 consisting of KASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 7), a CDR2 consisting of SASYRYT (SEQ ID NO: 8), and a CDR3 consisting of QQHYSTPWT (SEQ ID NO: 9).

The present invention further provides an isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, that specifically binds to human CD40, wherein the antibody comprises a first polypeptide portion comprising a heavy chain variable region, and a second polypeptide portion comprising a light chain variable region, wherein:

the heavy chain variable region comprises a CDR1 consisting of SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 1), a CDR2 consisting QINPTTGRSQYNEKFKT (SEQ ID NO: 2), a CDR3 consisting of WGLQPFAY (SEQ ID NO: 3); and

the light chain variable region comprises a CDR1 consisting of KASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 7), a CDR2 consisting of SASYRYT (SEQ ID NO: 8), and a CDR3 consisting of QQHYSTPWT (SEQ ID NO: 9).

The present invention further provides an isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, that specifically binds to human CD40, wherein the antibody comprises a first polypeptide portion comprising a heavy chain variable region, and a second polypeptide portion comprising a light chain variable region, wherein:

the heavy chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of

(SEQ ID NO: 4)QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPTTGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSS,

and the light chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of

(SEQ ID NO: 10)DIQMTQSPSFLSASVGDRVTITCKASQDVSTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASYRYTGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYSTPWTFGGGTKVEIK.

The present invention further provides an isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, that specifically binds to human CD40, wherein the antibody comprises a first polypeptide portion comprising a heavy chain variable region, and a second polypeptide portion comprising a light chain variable region, wherein the heavy chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of

(SEQ ID NO: 13)QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPSQGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSS,
and the light chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of

(SEQ ID NO: 16)EIVMTQSPATLSVSPGERATLSCKASQDVSTAVAWYQQKPGQAPRLLIYSASYRYTGIPARFSGSGSGTEFTLTISSLQSEDFAVYYCQQHYSTPWTFGGGTKVEIK.

The present invention further provides an isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, that specifically binds to human CD40, wherein the antibody comprises a first polypeptide portion comprising a heavy chain variable region, and a second polypeptide portion comprising a light chain variable region, wherein the heavy chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of

(SEQ ID NO: 4)QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPTTGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSS,
and the light chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of

(SEQ ID NO: 16)EIVMTQSPATLSVSPGERATLSCKASQDVSTAVAWYQQKPGQAPRLLIYSASYRYTGIPARFSGSGSGTEFTLTISSLQSEDFAVYYCQQHYSTPWTFGGGTKVEIK.

In certain embodiments, the isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof comprises the first polypeptide portion comprising a human heavy chain constant region; and the second polypeptide portion comprising a human light chain constant region. The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein can comprise a human IgG1 Fc domain comprising either (1) a mutation at Kabat position 238 that reduces binding to Fc-gamma-receptors (FcγRs), wherein proline 238 (P238) is mutated to one of the residues selected from the group consisting of lysine, serine, alanine, arginine, and tryptophan, and wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof has reduced FcγR binding; or (2) an alanine substituted at Kabat position 297.

The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein can comprise a human IgG1 Fc domain comprising a mutation at Kabat position 238 that reduces binding to Fc-gamma-receptors (FcγRs), wherein proline 238 (P238) is mutated to one of the residues selected from the group consisting of lysine, serine, alanine, arginine, and tryptophan, and wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion has reduced FcγR binding. In certain embodiments, P238 is mutated to lysine.

The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein can comprise an Fc domain which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:

EPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG(SEQ ID NO: 22; IgG1-P238K (-C-term Lys)),EPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK(SEQ ID NO: 23; IgG1-P238K),ASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG(SEQ ID NO: 24; CH1-IgG1-P238K (-C-term Lys)),ASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK(SEQ ID NO: 25; CH1-IgG1-P238K),EPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG(SEQ ID NO: 26; IgG1f-P238K (-C-term Lys)),EPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK(SEQ ID NO: 27; IgG1f-P238K),ASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG(SEQ ID NO: 28; CH1-IgG1f-P238K (-C-term Lys)),orASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK(SEQ ID No: 29; CH1-IgG1f-P238K).

In certain embodiments, the isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein comprises a human IgG1 Fc domain comprising either (1) a mutation at Kabat position 238 that reduces binding to Fc-gamma-receptors (FcγRs), wherein proline 238 (P238) is mutated to one of the residues selected from the group consisting of lysine, serine, alanine, arginine, and tryptophan, and wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof has reduced FcγR binding; or (2) an alanine substituted at Kabat position 297, comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising a CDR1 comprising SYWMH (SEQ ID NO: 1), a CDR2 comprising QINPTTGRSQYNEKFKT (SEQ ID NO: 2), a CDR3 comprising WGLQPFAY (SEQ ID NO: 3); and a light chain variable region comprising a CDR1 comprising KASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 7), a CDR2 comprising SASYRYT (SEQ ID NO: 8), and a CDR3 comprising QQHYSTPWT (SEQ ID NO: 9).

The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof can comprise a human IgG1 Fc domain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22 or SEQ ID NO: 23.

In some embodiments of the isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein, the first polypeptide portion comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPTTGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG(SEQ ID NO: 5; HC_Y12XX-hz28-CH1-IgGl-P238K- noterminal lysine),QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPTTGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK(SEQ ID NO: 6; HC_Y12XX-hz28-CH1-IgG1-P238K- withterminal lysine),QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPTTGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG(SEQ ID NO: 30; HC_Y12XX-hz28-CH1-IgG1f-P238K- noterminal lysine),andQVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPTTGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK(SEQ ID NO: 31; HC_Y12XX-hz28-CH1-IgG1f-P238K-with terminal lysine);
and

the second polypeptide portion comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of

DIQMTQSPSFLSASVGDRVTITCKASQDVSTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASYRYTGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYSTPWTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC(SEQ ID NO: 11; LC_Y12XX-hz28-CL).

In some embodiments of the isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein, the first polypeptide portion comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence of

QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGSSVKVSCKASGYAFTSYWMHWVRQAPGQGLEWMGQINPTTGRSQYNEKFKTRVTITADKSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCARWGLQPFAYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGKSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG(SEQ ID NO: 5; HC_Y12XX-hz28-CH1-IgG1-P238K- noterminal lysine);
and

the second polypeptide portion comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of

DIQMTQSPSFLSASVGDRVTITCKASQDVSTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASYRYTGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQHYSTPWTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC(SEQ ID NO: 11; LC_Y12XX-hz28-CL).

In certain embodiments, the isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein comprises a human IgG1 Fc domain comprises a human IgG1 Fc domain comprising an alanine substituted at Kabat position 297.

The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof as described herein can antagonize activities of CD40. The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein can be a chimeric antibody. The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein can be a humanized antibody. The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof described herein can comprise a human heavy chain constant region and a human light chain constant region.

The antibody or antigen binding portion thereof disclosed herein, is an antigen binding portion selected from the group consisting of Fv, Fab, F(ab′)2, Fab′, dsFv, scFv, sc(Fv)2, diabodies, and scFv-Fc. The isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof as described herein is an scFv-Fc.

The antibody or antigen binding portion thereof disclosed herein can linked to a therapeutic agent.

The antibody or antigen binding portion thereof disclosed herein can be linked to a second functional moiety having a different binding specificity than said antibody or antigen binding portion thereof.

The antibody or antigen binding portion thereof disclosed herein can further comprise an additional moiety.

A nucleic acid molecule encoding an isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof is disclosed herein. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule is disclosed herein. Also contemplated is a cell transformed with the expression vector. Also disclosed is a method of preparing an anti-human CD40 antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, comprising:

a) expressing the antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, in the cell transformed with the expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule encoding an isolated antibody or antigen binding portion thereof disclosed herein; and

b) isolating the antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof, from the cell.

Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising: a) the antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof disclosed herein; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method is provided of treating or preventing an immune response in a subject comprising administering to the subject the antibody, or the antigen binding portion thereof, disclosed herein. Further provided is a method of treating or preventing an autoimmune or inflammatory disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject the antibody, or the antigen binding portion, disclosed herein. Optionally, the antibody, or the antigen binding portion thereof, is administered with an immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory and/or anti-inflammatory agent. Administration may be simultaneous or sequential. An exemplary agent is a CTLA4 mutant molecule, such as L104EA29Y-Ig (belatacept). In such method of treating or preventing an immune response in the subject, and in such method of treating or preventing an autoimmune or inflammatory disease in a subject, preferably the subject has a disease selected from the group consisting of: Addison's disease, allergies, anaphylaxis, ankylosing spondylitis, asthma, atherosclerosis, atopic allergy, autoimmune diseases of the ear, autoimmune diseases of the eye, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune parotitis, bronchial asthma, coronary heart disease, Crohn's disease, diabetes, epididymitis, glomerulonephritis, Graves' disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Hashimoto's disease, hemolytic anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, inflammatory bowel disease, immune response to recombinant drug products (e.g., Factor VII in hemophiliacs), lupus nephritis, lupus nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, pemphigus, psoriasis, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, spondyloarthropathies, thyroiditis, transplant rejection, vasculitis, and ulcerative colitis.

Also contemplated is an antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof as disclosed here, for use as a medicament. Further contemplated is an antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof as disclosed here, or a medicament comprising the same, for use to treat a subject in need thereof. Further contemplated is an antibody, or antigen binding portion thereof as disclosed herein in a therapeutically-effective amount, for use in treating or preventing an immune response, wherein the antibody or antigen binding portion thereof is for administering to a patient in need thereof.

