Patent ID: 7498027

Claim:
A method of inhibiting B-cell proliferation in a patient having an autoimmune disease comprising administering an effective amount of an anti-TR17 antibody or fragment thereof to a patient in need thereof; wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of: (a) rheumatoid arthritis; (b) systemic lupus erythematosus; (c) multiple sclerosis; (d) Sjogren's syndome; (e) IgA nephropathy; (f) glomerulonephritis; (g) diabetes mellitus; and (h) myasthenia gravis; and wherein said anti-TR17 antibody or fragment thereof specifically binds a TR17 polypeptide consisting of amino acids 1 to 293 of SEQ ID NO:2, and wherein said anti-TR17 antibody inhibits B cell proliferation.