The Biologic IRL201805 Alters Immune Tolerance Leading to Prolonged Pharmacodynamics and Efficacy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

A homologue of binding immunoglobulin protein/BiP-IRL201805 alters the function of immune cells in pre-clinical in vivo and in vitro studies. The aim of the study was to select biomarkers that clearly delineate between RA patients who respond to IRL201805 and placebo patients and reveal the immunological mode of action of IRL201805 driving the extended pharmacodynamics observed in responding patients. Biomarkers that distinguished between responding patients and placebo patients included downregulation of serum interferon-γ and IL-1ß; upregulation of anti-inflammatory mediators, serum soluble CTLA-4, and intracellular monocyte expression of IDO; and sustained increased CD39 expression on CD3+CD4+CD25hi CD127lo regulatory T cells. In the responding patients, selected biomarkers verified that the therapeutic effect could be continuous for at least 12 weeks post-infusion. In secondary co-culture, pre-infusion PBMCs cultured 1:1 with autologous PBMCs, isolated at later time-points during the trial, showed significantly inhibited IL-6 and IL-1ß production upon anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation demonstrating IRL201805 alters the function of immune cells leading to prolonged pharmacodynamics confirmed by biomarker differences. IRL201805 may be the first of a new class of biologic drug providing long-term drug-free therapy in RA.

Innate immune pathways in afferent lymph following vaccination with poly(I:C)-containing liposomes.

Many modern vaccines use defined adjuvants to stimulate the innate immune system and shape the adaptive immune response. The exact nature of these innate signals and whether immune differentiation can originate within the periphery is not known. Here we used an ovine lymphatic cannulation model to characterise the cellular and transcriptomic profile of the afferent lymph following injection of a liposomal vaccine formulation incorporating diphtheria toxoid and the innate stimulator poly(I:C) over a 78-h period. The response to this vaccine featured an early activation of broad pro-inflammatory pathways (e.g. TLR signalling and inflammasome pathways) and the transient recruitment of granulocytes into the lymph. At 24 h a more monocytic cellular profile arose coinciding with a transition to a specific antiviral response characterised by the up-regulation of genes associated with the receptors typical for the viral mimic, poly(I:C) (e.g. TLR3, RIG-I and MDA5). At the latest time points the up-regulation of IL-17A and IL-17F suggested that Th17 cells may participate in the earliest adaptive response to this vaccine. These data provide the most comprehensive picture of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that link the periphery to the draining lymph node following vaccination, and indicate that the immune response is capable of specialising within the periphery.

Cell recruitment and antigen trafficking in afferent lymph after injection of antigen and poly(I:C) containing liposomes, in aqueous or oil-based formulations.

After vaccination, innate cell populations transport antigen from the tissue, via the afferent lymphatic vessels, into the local lymph node where they provide critical signals for the generation of an adaptive immune response. The present study uses a unique lymphatic cannulation model to examine, in real time, changes in afferent lymph after injection of a liposome-based delivery system, incorporating diptheria toxoid (DT) and the innate stimulator, poly(I:C). There was a dramatic but temporal recruitment of innate cell populations over time, with neutrophils and monocytes peaking at 6h and 28h post vaccination respectively. The number of dendritic cells (DC) did not increase over the 198h time period, while lymphocytes were slightly elevated at the latest times, indicating the start of an adaptive response. Monocytes and neutrophils were the predominant cell types transporting antigen at the early time points while DC were the most dominant antigen-carrying cells after 78h, predominantly the Sirp-α(high) DC subtype. Resuspending liposomes in oil instead of aqueous solutions has recently been shown to dramatically increase the level and persistence of an immune response and forms the basis of the novel adjuvant formulations, Vaccimax© and Depovax©. In the present study, formulation of the DT and poly(I:C) containing liposomes in an oil carrier dramatically reduced antigen transport to the draining lymph nodes. Examination of the injection site revealed the creation of an ectopic lymphoid tissue with prominent antigen foci and organized lymphoid cells, providing a possible mechanism for the persistence of an immune response in liposome-in-oil adjuvant formulation. Together, the present studies demonstrate the real-time innate in vivo response to vaccination of two novel liposome-based adjuvant systems and the dramatic effect of different carrier formulations.

The kinetics of local cytokine and galectin expression after challenge infection with the gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus.

Gastrointestinal nematode parasites undergo several developmental stages within their mammalian host, each presenting different antigenic challenges to the immune system. To examine the expression of different immune mediators over time, biopsy samples were collected from the cannulated abomasum (true stomach) of immune sheep at several times after a challenge infection with Haemonchus contortus L3s. IL-5 and IL-13 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased above saline-challenged control levels at 5 and 7 days post challenge, while IL-4 showed an earlier peak at day 2 post challenge. IL-5, IL-13 and IL-4, as well as IFN-γ mRNA levels, peaked at 7 days before decreasing to non-significant levels at 28 days post challenge. TNF-α followed a similar profile while there was a slight increase in TGF-ß in both control and challenged sheep. There was a significant increase in galectin-14 mRNA in the L3 challenged compared with the saline challenged group at 7 days while both galectin-11 protein and mRNA levels increased significantly by day 3 post challenge, peaking at 5-7 days post challenge. Distinct correlations were observed between these immune parameters at different times after L3 challenge. The galectin-14 protein level at day 2 post challenge was the only measured mediator significantly negatively correlated with worm burden. These studies highlight the dynamic nature of the immune response during parasite infection and the need to consider the different life cycle stages involved.

Innate and adaptive resistance of Indonesian Thin Tail sheep to liver fluke: a comparative analysis of Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica infection.

In the current study, three independent trials directly compared Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica infection of ITT sheep. In all trials, F. hepatica infection resulted in higher worm burden recoveries and greater physiological damage to ITT sheep. Developmental differences of the two Fasciola species were also observed during the first twelve weeks of a primary infection, where the migration and growth of F. hepatica was more rapid than F. gigantica. Various immunological blood parameters were measured and indicated similar kinetics in the humoral and cellular responses during the time course of infection with each Fasciola species. In contrast to F. hepatica infection, we demonstrate an innate and adaptive comparative ability of ITT sheep to resist the early stages of infection with F. gigantica infection. Unraveling the mechanisms leading to this differential resistance may potentially lead to new methods for the control of fasciolosis and other human liver flukes.

Peritoneal lavage cells of Indonesian thin-tail sheep mediate antibody-dependent superoxide radical cytotoxicity in vitro against newly excysted juvenile Fasciola gigantica but not juvenile Fasciola hepatica.

Indonesian thin-tail (ITT) sheep resist infection by Fasciola gigantica by an immunological mechanism within 2 to 4 weeks of infection yet are susceptible to F. hepatica infection. Studies of ITT sheep show that little liver damage occurs following F. gigantica infection, suggesting that the invading parasites are killed within the peritoneum or shortly after reaching the liver. We investigated whether cells isolated from the peritoneums of ITT sheep could kill newly excysted juvenile F. gigantica in vitro and act as a potential mechanism of resistance against F. gigantica infection. Peritoneal cells from F. gigantica-infected sheep, rich in macrophages and eosinophils, mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against juvenile F. gigantica in vitro. Cytotoxicity was dependent on contact between the parasite and effector cells. Isolated mammary gland eosinophils of F. gigantica-infected sheep, or resident peritoneal monocytes/macrophages from uninfected sheep, also killed the juvenile parasites in vitro. By using inhibitors, we show that the molecular mechanism of killing in these assays was dependent on the production of superoxide radicals by macrophages and eosinophils. In contrast, this cytotoxic mechanism was ineffective against juvenile F. hepatica parasites in vitro. Analysis of superoxide dismutase activity and mRNA levels showed that activity and gene expression were higher in F. hepatica than in F. gigantica, suggesting a possible role for this enzyme in the resistance of F. hepatica to superoxide-mediated killing. We suggest that ovine macrophages and eosinophils, acting in concert with a specific antibody, may be important effector cells involved in the resistance of ITT sheep to F. gigantica.

Bypassing luminal barriers, delivery to a gut addressin by parenteral targeting elicits local IgA responses.

Induction of mucosal immunity, particularly to subunit vaccines, has been problematic. The primary hurdle to successful mucosal vaccination is the effective delivery of vaccine antigen to the mucosal associated lymphoid tissue. Physical and chemical barriers restrict antigen access and, moreover, immune responses induced in the mucosa can be biased towards tolerance or non-reactivity. We proposed that these difficulties could be circumvented by targeting antigen to the gastrointestinal associated lymphoid tissue via systemic (parenteral) rather than alimentary routes, using antibodies specific for the mucosal addressin cellular adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM). After intravenous or intramuscular injection of such rat antibodies in mice, we found a greatly enhanced (up to 3 logs) anti-rat antibody response. MAdCAM targeting induces a rapid IgA antibody response in the gut and vastly improves the systemic antibody response. Targeting also enhanced T cell proliferation and cytokine responses. Parenteral targeting of mucosal addressins may represent a generic technique for bypassing mucosal barriers and eliminating the need for adjuvants in the induction of proximal and systemic immunity.