MOR103, a human monoclonal antibody to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, in the treatment of patients with moderate rheumatoid arthritis: results of a phase Ib/IIa randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety, tolerability and signs of efficacy of MOR103, a human monoclonal antibody to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Patients with active, moderate RA were enrolled in a randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial of intravenous MOR103 (0.3, 1.0 or 1.5 mg/kg) once a week for 4 weeks, with follow-up to 16 weeks. The primary outcome was safety. RESULTS: Of the 96 randomised and treated subjects, 85 completed the trial (n=27, 24, 22 and 23 for pooled placebo and MOR103 0.3, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively). Treatment emergent adverse events (AEs) in the MOR103 groups were mild or moderate in intensity and generally reported at frequencies similar to those in the placebo group. The most common AE was nasopharyngitis. In two cases, AEs were classified as serious because of hospitalisation: paronychia in a placebo subject and pleurisy in a MOR103 0.3 mg/kg subject. Both patients recovered fully. In exploratory efficacy analyses, subjects in the MOR103 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg groups showed significant improvements in Disease Activity Score-28 scores and joint counts and significantly higher European League Against Rheumatism response rates than subjects receiving placebo. MOR103 1.0 mg/kg was associated with the largest reductions in disease activity parameters. CONCLUSIONS: MOR103 was well tolerated and showed preliminary evidence of efficacy in patients with active RA. The data support further investigation of this monoclonal antibody to GM-CSF in RA patients and potentially in those with other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01023256.

The role of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 in the p38/TNF-alpha pathway of systemic and cutaneous inflammation.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) is a downstream molecule of p38, involved in the production of TNF-alpha, a key cytokine, and an established drug target for many inflammatory diseases. We investigated the role of MK2 in skin inflammation to determine its drug target potential. MK2 deficiency significantly decreased plasma TNF-alpha levels after systemic endotoxin application. Deficient mice showed decreased skin edema formation in chronic 2-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced irritative dermatitis and in subacute 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact hypersensitivity. Surprisingly, MK2 deficiency did not inhibit edema formation in subacute 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced contact allergy and even increased TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels as well as granulocyte infiltration in diseased ears. Ear inflammation in this model, however, was inhibited by TNF-alpha neutralization as it was in the subacute DNFB model. MK2 deficiency also did not show anti-inflammatory effects in acute DNFB-induced contact hypersensitivity, whereas the p38 inhibitor, SB203580, ameliorated skin inflammation supporting a pathophysiological role of p38. When evaluating possible mechanisms, we found that TNF-alpha production in MK2-deficient spleen cells was strongly diminished after TLR stimulation but less affected after T-cell receptor stimulation. Our data suggest that MK2, in contrast to its downstream effector molecule, TNF-alpha, has a rather elusive role in T-cell-dependent cutaneous inflammation.

Cytokines, NF-kappaB, microenvironment, intestinal inflammation and cancer.

Inflammation and cancer have been viewed as closely linked for many years. This link is not merely a loose association but causative. In colorectal cancer (CRC), chronic inflammation as observed in inflammatory bowel (IBD) disease is a key predisposing factor and IBD-associated CRC comprises five percent of all CRCs. Although the molecular mechanisms linking IBD with CRC are not well understood, recent results obtained in preclinical models point to the transcription factor NF-kappaB as a central player. On the one hand, NF-kappaB regulates the expression of various cytokines and modulates the inflammatory processes in IBD. On the other, NF-kappaB stimulates the proliferation of tumor cells and enhances their survival through the regulation of anti-apoptotic genes. Furthermore, it has been clearly established that most carcinogens and tumor promoters activate NF-kappaB, while chemopreventive agents generally suppress this transcription factor. Actually, several lines of evidence suggest that activation of NF-kappaB may cause cancer. These include the finding that NF-kappaB genes can be oncogenes, and that this transcription factor controls apoptosis, cell-cycle progression and proliferation, and possibly also cell differentiation.

Novel 3-oxa lipoxin A4 analogues with enhanced chemical and metabolic stability have anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.

Lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) is a structurally and functionally distinct natural product called an eicosanoid, which displays immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity but is rapidly metabolized to inactive catabolites in vivo. A previously described analogue of LXA(4), methyl (5R,6R,7E,9E,11Z,13E,15S)-16-(4-fluorophenoxy)-5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-hexadecatetraenoate (2, ATLa), was shown to have a poor pharmacokinetic profile after both oral and intravenous administration, as well as sensitivity to acid and light. The chemical stability of the corresponding E,E,E-trien-11-yne analogue, 3, was improved over 2 without loss of efficacy in the mouse air pouch model of inflammation. Careful analysis of the plasma samples from the pharmacokinetic assays for both 2 and 3 identified a previously undetected metabolite, which is consistent with metabolism by beta-oxidation. The formation of the oxidative metabolites was eliminated with the corresponding 3-oxatetraene, 4, and the 3-oxatrien-11-yne, 5, analogues of 2. Evaluation of 3-oxa analogues 4 and 5 in calcium ionophore-induced acute skin inflammation model demonstrated similar topical potency and efficacy compared to 2. The 3-oxatrien-11-yne analogue, 5, is equipotent to 2 in an animal model of inflammation but has enhanced metabolic and chemical stability and a greatly improved pharmacokinetic profile.

Biology of tumor necrosis factor-alpha- implications for psoriasis.

Numerous recent investigations have pointed to a key role of the proinflammatory, pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in host defense and inflammatory processes. TNF overexpression has been found in lesional skin and in the circulation of psoriatic patients, and it was suggested that TNF-alpha is crucial in this and other immune diseases. Several approaches to inhibit TNF-alpha activity have been developed. These include three different neutralizing antibodies to TNF-alpha as well as three different soluble TNF-alpha receptors with characteristic properties designed to bind the 17-KDa soluble trimeric TNF-alpha and the 26-KDa membrane-bound form of TNF-alpha. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant antipsoriatic effects, and it is likely that blocking TNF-alpha will become an important therapeutic option. The data available from these trials contribute to further understanding of the disease by demonstrating the major role of TNF-alpha. An in-depth understanding of the regulation of TNF gene expression, protein production, receptor expression, and signaling pathways may lead to further, potentially important novel therapeutic strategies and antipsoriatic active small molecules, suitable for oral application in the future. Here we review the current knowledge of TNF biology, the approaches to inhibit TNF activity, and their clinical and immunological effects in psoriasis. In addition, the host-defense effects and chronic TNF-blocking activity are discussed.

An aspirin-triggered lipoxin A4 stable analog displays a unique topical anti-inflammatory profile.

Lipoxins and 15-epi-lipoxins are counter-regulatory lipid mediators that modulate leukocyte trafficking and promote the resolution of inflammation. To assess the potential of lipoxins as novel anti-inflammatory agents, a stable 15-epi-lipoxin A(4) analog, 15-epi-16-p-fluorophenoxy-lipoxin A(4) methyl ester (ATLa), was synthesized by total organic synthesis and examined for efficacy relative to a potent leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor antagonist (LTB(4)R-Ant) and the clinically used topical glucocorticoid methylprednisolone aceponate. In vitro, ATLa was 100-fold more potent than LTB(4)R-Ant for inhibiting neutrophil chemotaxis and trans-epithelial cell migration induced by fMLP, but was approximately 10-fold less potent than the LTB(4)R-Ant in blocking responses to LTB(4). A broad panel of cutaneous inflammation models that display pathological aspects of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis was used to directly compare the topical efficacy of ATLa with that of LTB(4)R-Ant and methylprednisolone aceponate. ATLa was efficacious in all models tested: LTB(4)/Iloprost-, calcium ionophore-, croton oil-, and mezerein-induced inflammation and trimellitic anhydride-induced allergic delayed-type hypersensitivity. ATLa was efficacious in mouse and guinea pig skin inflammation models, exhibiting dose-dependent effects on edema, neutrophil or eosinophil infiltration, and epidermal hyperproliferation. We conclude that the LXA(4) and aspirin-triggered LXA(4) pathways play key anti-inflammatory roles in vivo. Moreover, these results suggest that ATLa and related LXA(4) analogs may have broad therapeutic potential in inflammatory disorders and could provide an alternative to corticosteroids in certain clinical settings.