Combined Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Interleukin‐17 As a Therapeutic Opportunity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Development and Characterization of a Novel Bispecific Antibody. Issue 1 (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fischer, Jens A. A.; Hueber, Axel J.; Wilson, Stacy; Galm, Margarete; Baum, Wolfgang; Kitson, Christopher; Auer, Johannes; Lorenz, Stefan H.; Moelleken, Jörg; Bader, Martin; Tissot, Alain C.; Tan, Seng‐Lai; Seeber, Stefan; Schett, Georg
• Is Part Of: Arthritis & rheumatology. Volume 67:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 51
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Arthritis -- Periodicals; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.72
• DOI: 10.1002/art.38896
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2326-5191

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="art38896-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Rheumatoid arthritis therapies that are based on inhibition of a single cytokine, e.g., tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) or interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), produce clinically meaningful responses in only about half of the treated patients. This study was undertaken to investigate whether combined inhibition of TNFα and IL‐17 has additive or synergistic effects in the suppression of mesenchymal cell activation in vitro and inflammation and tissue destruction in arthritis in vivo.</p> </sec> <sec id="art38896-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Cultures of human fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) were stimulated with TNFα, IL‐17, or a combination of both. Single/combined neutralizing antibodies against TNFα and IL‐17 were used to examine in vitro cytokine responses and in vivo development of arthritis and bone and cartilage destruction in TNFα‐transgenic mice. Bispecific anti–TNFα/IL‐17 antibodies were designed, and their potential to block cytokine responses in human FLS was tested.</p> </sec> <sec id="art38896-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>TNFα and IL‐17 had additive/synergistic effects in promoting production of IL‐6, IL‐8, and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor, as well as matrix metalloproteinases, in FLS. Bispecific anti–TNFα/IL‐17 antibodies showed superior efficacy in blocking cytokine and chemokine responses in vitro. Furthermore, dual versus single inhibition of both cytokines using neutralizing antibodies was more effective in inhibiting the development of inflammation and bone and cartilage destruction in arthritic mice.</p> </sec> <sec id="art38896-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Combined blockade of TNFα and IL‐17 was more effective than single blockade in inhibiting cytokine, chemokine, and matrix enzyme responses from human mesenchymal cells and in blocking tissue destruction associated with arthritis, and additionally showed a positive impact on rebalance of bone homeostasis. Bispecific anti–TNFα/IL‐17 antibodies may have superior efficacy in the treatment of arthritis and may overcome the limited therapeutic responses obtained with single cytokine neutralization.</p> </sec> </abstract>