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BMC Immunology
Published in: BMC Immunology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

CXCL13 antibody for the treatment of autoimmune disorders

Authors: Ekaterina Klimatcheva, Tracy Pandina, Christine Reilly, Sebold Torno, Holm Bussler, Maria Scrivens, Alan Jonason, Crystal Mallow, Michael Doherty, Mark Paris, Ernest S Smith, Maurice Zauderer

Published in: BMC Immunology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Homeostatic B Cell-Attracting chemokine 1 (BCA-1) otherwise known as CXCL13 is constitutively expressed in secondary lymphoid organs by follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and macrophages. It is the only known ligand for the CXCR5 receptor, which is expressed on mature B cells, follicular helper T cells (Tfh), Th17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Aberrant expression of CXCL13 within ectopic germinal centers has been linked to the development of autoimmune disorders (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis). We, therefore, hypothesized that antibody-mediated disruption of the CXCL13 signaling pathway would interfere with the formation of ectopic lymphoid follicles in the target organs and inhibit autoimmune disease progression. This work describes pre-clinical development of human anti-CXCL13 antibody MAb 5261 and includes therapeutic efficacy data of its mouse counterpart in murine models of autoimmunity.

Results

We developed a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody, MAb 5261 that specifically binds to human, rodent and primate CXCL13 with an affinity of approximately 5 nM and is capable of neutralizing the activity of CXCL13 from these various species in in vitro functional assays. For in vivo studies we have engineered a chimeric antibody to contain the same human heavy and light chain variable genes along with mouse constant regions. Treatment with this antibody led to a reduction in the number of germinal centers in mice immunized with 4-Hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl hapten conjugated to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (NP-KLH) and, in adoptive transfer studies, interfered with the trafficking of B cells to the B cell areas of mouse spleen. Furthermore, this mouse anti-CXCL13 antibody demonstrated efficacy in a mouse model of Rheumatoid arthritis (Collagen-Induced Arthritis (CIA)) and Th17-mediated murine model of Multiple Sclerosis (passively-induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)).

Conclusions

We developed a novel therapeutic antibody targeting CXCL13-mediated signaling pathway for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.
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Metadata
Title
CXCL13 antibody for the treatment of autoimmune disorders
Authors
Ekaterina Klimatcheva
Tracy Pandina
Christine Reilly
Sebold Torno
Holm Bussler
Maria Scrivens
Alan Jonason
Crystal Mallow
Michael Doherty
Mark Paris
Ernest S Smith
Maurice Zauderer
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Immunology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2172
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12865-015-0068-1

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