Patent ID: 7575873

Claim:
An isolated human or humanized monoclonal antibody (Mab), fragment antibody (Fab) or single chain fragment (scFv) antibody having the binding specificity of the IK17 antibody; wherein the human or humanized monoclonal antibody (Mab), fragment antibody (Fab) or single chain fragment (scFv) antibody comprises the variable light chain encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and the variable heavy chain encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; wherein the human or humanized monoclonal antibody, fragment antibody (Fab) or single chain fragment (scFv) is specific for oxidation specific epitopes found on copper-induced oidized low density lipoprotein (Cu—OxLDL) or malondialdehyde low density lipoportine (MDA-LDL); wherein the human or humanized monoclonal antibody, fragment antibody (Fab) or single chain fragment (scFv) does not bind to native LDL; wherein the human or humanized monoclonal antibody, fragment antibody (Fab) or single chain fragment (scFv) inhibits uptake of CuOxLDL by macrophages; and wherein the human or humanized monoclonal antibody, fragment antibody (Fab) or single chain fragment (scFv) binds the epitope in vivo at a detectably higher rate than the rate of binding to normal vasculature.