No abstract

A hallmark of autoimmunity and other chronic diseases is the overexpression of chemokines resulting in a detrimental local accumulation of proinflammatory immune cells. Chemokines play a pivotal role in cellular recruitment through interactions with both cell surface receptors and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Anti-inflammatory strategies aimed at neutralizing the chemokine system have to-date targeted inhibition of the receptor-ligand interaction with receptor antagonists. In this study, we describe a novel strategy to modulate the inflammatory process in vivo through mutation of the essential heparin-binding site of a proinflammatory chemokine, which abrogates the ability of the protein to form higher-order oligomers, but retains receptor activation. Using well-established protocols to induce inflammatory cell recruitment into the peritoneal cavity, bronchoalveolar air spaces, and CNS in mice, this non-GAG binding variant of RANTES/CCL5 designated [44AANA47]-RANTES demonstrated potent inhibitory capacity. Through a combination of techniques in vitro and in vivo, [44AANA47]-RANTES appears to act as a dominant-negative inhibitor for endogenous RANTES, thereby impairing cellular recruitment, not through a mechanism of desensitization. [44AANA47]-RANTES is unable to form higher-order oligomers (necessary for the biological activity of RANTES in vivo) and importantly forms nonfunctional heterodimers with the parent chemokine, RANTES. Therefore, although retaining receptor-binding capacity, altering the GAG-associated interactive site of a proinflammatory chemokine renders it a dominant-negative inhibitor, suggesting a powerful novel approach to generate disease-modifying anti-inflammatory reagents.

No abstract

Atacicept, a soluble recombinant fusion protein of the human immunoglobulin (Ig) G(1) Fc and the extracellular domain of the human transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophylin ligand interactor receptor, acts as an antagonist of both B lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferating-inducing ligand. Here we determined the nonclinical safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of atacicept in mice and cynomolgus monkeys. Subcutaneous atacicept treatment (twice weekly in cynomolgus monkeys, three times weekly in mice) was generally safe and well tolerated safe and well tolerated with dosing up to 10 mg/kg every other day for up to 39 weeks or up to 80 mg/kg when dosed for 4 weeks. At a dose of 1 mg/kg subcutaneous (sc) bioavailability of atacicept in mice and monkeys was 76 and 92%, with a mean serum t(1/2) of 44 and 179 h, respectively. In accord with its anticipated mechanism of action, repeated administration of atacicept decreased serum IgG concentrations up to 50%, IgM concentrations >99%, and circulating mature B-cell concentrations up to 60%. These effects were dose-related but reversible, as determined in a 25-week follow-up period. Microscopically, B cells numbers were reduced in the follicular marginal zone of the spleen and the mantle surrounding germinal centers of the lymph nodes. These data confirm the preclinical safety and the pharmacological activity of atacicept and support its clinical development.

No abstract

Abstract:The immunoreactivity of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 was compared among groups of male Wistar rats comprising those injected with lipopolysaccharide following pretreatment with either natural antioxidant from spinach or the antioxidant apocynin, with lipopolysaccharide without pretreatment with antioxidants, with each of the two antioxidants alone, and untreated controls. The grade of staining of both inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 increased with the severity of the inflammatory reaction in the lipopolysaccharide-treated animals, compared to the antioxidant-treated groups. Interpretation of the results of the immunostained tissues indicated that pretreatment with either antioxidant significantly (P∞0.05) attenuated the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase induction. Analysis of the cycloxygenase-2-stained liver samples indicated that the pretreatment with the natural antioxidant NAO significantly (P∞0.05) attenuated lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cycloxygenase-2 induction; whereas, in animals pretreated with apocynin, there was a trend of reduction in the cyclooxygenase-2 expression, but not statistically significant (P±0.05). The negative nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity of the lipopolysaccharide-related hepatic lesions may indicate that there was relatively low interaction between superoxide anions and nitric oxide to form peroxynitrite or that the expression levels of the nitrotyrosine were below the limit of detection. In all treatment groups a positive correlation (P∞0. 05, rΩ0.86) found between the inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 scores suggests a strong relationship between these two parameters. The results indicate the possible therapeutic efficacy of NAO and apocynin in the prevention of liver damage related to clinical endotoxemia known to be associated with oxidative stress.

The histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic characteristics of a spontaneous case of atriocaval mesothelioma are described in a 102-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rat. The immunohistochemical characteristics of the tumor are compared with those of a pericardial mesothelioma in a female Sprague-Dawley rat.

The objective of this study was to compare the prophylactic effects of the natural antioxidant from spinach (NAO) and apocynin, on the hepatic oxidative stress and liver damage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Male New Zealand rabbits were challenged with LPS with or without 8 days of antioxidant pretreatment. Pretreatment with NAO, but not apocynin, significantly (p<0.05) decreased the levels of hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver cytosolic fraction and the activity of NADPH oxidase-generated superoxide in the microsomal fraction, compared to LPS alone. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (G-POX) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the LPS-treated group, whereas treatment with NAO, but not apocynin, significantly (p< 0.05) decreased G-POX activity. Pretreatment with the same antioxidants had no significant effects on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, whereas an increased level of catalase (CAT) was obtained in all LPS-treated groups. TUNEL immunohistochemical staining in the LPS-treated animals indicated that there was no increase in apoptosis outside of necrotic foci. However, apoptotic hepatocytes were observed within areas of focal necrosis in animals exposed to LPS alone or LPS plus apocynin. Hepatocyte cell proliferation was tested by the proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) tool, which indicated a proliferative effect in the LPS group, whereas the effect disappeared in the antioxidant-treated groups. The prophylactic effect of NAO on liver pathology and the significant decreases in lipid peroxidation products and NADPH oxidase activity suggest the use of NAO as an efficient strategy for treatanent of endotoxemia.