| abstract |
Monoclonal antibodies, including humanized antibodies, which preferentially bind acetylated human ghrelin with respect to unacylated human ghrelin are disclosed. These antibodies have high affinity for acylated human ghrelin, a slow off rate for acylated human ghrelin dissociation and neutralize an acylated human ghrelin activity. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antigen-binding portions, of the invention are useful for neutralizing ghrelin activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which ghrelin activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant anti-ghrelin antibodies are also encompassed by the invention. |