A Dual Target-directed Agent against Interleukin-6 Receptor and Tumor Necrosis Factor α ameliorates experimental arthritis

Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 4:6:20150. doi: 10.1038/srep20150.

Abstract

A considerable proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) do not respond to monospecific agents. The purpose of our study was to generate a hybrid form of biologics, targeting tumor-necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), and determine its anti-arthritic properties in vitro and in vivo. A novel dual target-directed agent (DTA(A7/sTNFR2)) was generated by conjugating soluble TNF receptor 2 (sTNFR2) to the Fc region of A7, a new anti-IL-6R antibody obtained by screening the phage display human antibody library. DTA(A7/sTNFR2) inhibited the proliferation and migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with RA (RA-FLS) more efficiently than single target-directed agents. DTA(A7/sTNFR2) also blocked osteoclastogenesis from bone marrow cells. The arthritis severity scores of the experimental arthritis mice with DTA(A7/sTNFR2) tended to be lower than those of mice with IgG, A7, or sTNFR2. Histological data suggested that DTA(A7/sTNFR2) is more efficient than single-target drugs in preventing joint destruction and bone loss. These results were confirmed in vivo using the minicircle system. Taken together, the results show that DTA(A7/sTNFR2) may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of RA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / genetics
  • Antibodies / metabolism*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Experimental / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Experimental / pathology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Peptide Library
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / immunology*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / chemistry
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / genetics
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Synoviocytes / cytology
  • Synoviocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Peptide Library
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins