Therapeutic potential of a monoclonal antibody blocking the Wnt pathway in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes. 2012 Nov;61(11):2948-57. doi: 10.2337/db11-0300. Epub 2012 Aug 13.

Abstract

Dysregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling contributes to the development of diabetic retinopathy by inducing retinal inflammation, vascular leakage, and neovascularization. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of a monoclonal antibody (Mab) specific for the E1E2 domain of Wnt coreceptor low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6, Mab2F1, on canonical Wnt signaling and its therapeutic potential for diabetic retinopathy. Mab2F1 displayed robust inhibition on Wnt signaling with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 20 μg/mL in retinal pigment epithelial cells. In addition, Mab2F1 also attenuated the accumulation of β-catenin and overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α induced by high-glucose medium in retinal endothelial cells. In vivo, an intravitreal injection of Mab2F1 significantly reduced retinal vascular leakage and decreased preretinal vascular cells in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) rats, demonstrating its inhibitory effects on ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization. Moreover, Mab2F1 blocked the overexpression of the inflammatory/angiogenic factors, attenuated leukostasis, and reduced retinal vascular leakage in both early and late stages of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. In conclusion, Mab2F1 inhibits canonical Wnt signaling, vascular leakage, and inflammation in the retina of diabetic retinopathy models, suggesting its potential to be used as a therapeutic agent in combination with other antiangiogenic compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects
  • Cattle
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / drug therapy*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / immunology
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / metabolism
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / pathology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / immunology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Genes, Reporter / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Leukostasis / prevention & control
  • Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6 / genetics
  • Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6 / metabolism
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred BN
  • Receptors, Wnt / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Wnt / genetics
  • Receptors, Wnt / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / drug effects
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / immunology
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / metabolism
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6
  • Receptors, Wnt
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • beta Catenin