Project description:Abstract Objective To discover a novel peptoid antagonist that targets the interleukin‐15 (IL‐15) receptor and to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of inflammation and arthritis. Methods A new compound (IFRA3, interleukin‐15 receptor antagonist 3) was discovered using a unique on‐bead two‐colour combinatorial cell screening of a peptoid library. The interaction of IFRA3 with IL‐15 receptor was assessed by in vitro pull‐down and thermal shift assays. The efficacy of IFRA3 in treating inflammation and arthritis was evaluated in mouse models. Results IFRA3Q1 (a tetrameric derivative of IFRA3) inhibited the activity of IL‐15 and suppressed CTLL‐2 cell proliferation (which depends on IL‐15 activity). IFRA3Q1 exhibited strong in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity in carrageenan‐induced inflammation in mice. Furthermore, IFRA3Q1 inhibited collagen‐induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice. Conclusion By binding to and inhibiting the function of IL‐15 receptor, IFRA3Q1 exhibited significant anti‐arthritis activity. Our findings suggest that IFRA3Q1 represents a new paradigm for arthritis therapy by targeting IL‐15 signalling. IL‐15 plays an important role in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Using a combinatorial screening of a chemical library, we discovered a novel peptoid compound (IFRA3Q1) that binds to the IL‐15 receptor and blocks its function. Furthermore, IFRA3Q1 inhibits carrageenan‐induced inflammation and collagen‐induced arthritis in mice. These findings present an alternative strategy for blocking IL‐15, using peptoids instead of antibodies.
Project description:Interleukin (IL)-25, which is a member of the IL-17 family of cytokines, induces production of such Th2 cytokines as IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and/or IL-13 by various types of cells, including Th2 cells, Th9 cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). On the other hand, IL-25 can suppress Th1- and Th17-associated immune responses by enhancing Th2-type immune responses. Supporting this, IL-25 is known to suppress development of experimental autoimmune encephalitis, which is an IL-17-mediated autoimmune disease in mice. However, the role of IL-25 in development of IL-17-mediated arthritis is not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated this using IL-1 receptor antagonist-deficient (IL-1Ra-/-) mice, which spontaneously develop IL-17-dependent arthritis. However, development of spontaneous arthritis (incidence rate, disease severity, proliferation of synovial cells, infiltration of PMNs, and bone erosion in joints) and differentiation of Th17 cells in draining lymph nodes in IL-25-/- IL-1Ra-/- mice were similar to in control IL-25+/+ IL-1Ra-/- mice. These observations indicate that IL-25 does not exert any inhibitory and/or pathogenic effect on development of IL-17-mediated spontaneous arthritis in IL-1Ra-/- mice.
Project description:Messenger RNA (mRNA) is an emerging drug modality for protein replacement therapy. As mRNA efficiently provides protein expression in post-mitotic cells without the risk of insertional mutagenesis, direct delivery of mRNA can be applied, not only as an alternative to gene therapy, but also for various common diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). In this study, using an mRNA-encoding interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), we attempted anti-inflammatory therapy in a rat model of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) OA, which causes long-lasting joint pain with chronic inflammation. For the intra-articular injection of mRNA, a polyplex nanomicelle, our original polymer-based carrier, was used to offer the advantage of excellent tissue penetration with few immunogenic responses. While the protein expression was transient, a single administration of IL-1Ra mRNA provided sustained pain relief and an inhibitory effect on OA progression for 4 weeks. The mRNA-loaded nanomicelles provided the encoded protein diffusely in the disc and articular cartilage without upregulation of the expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This proof-of-concept study demonstrates how anti-inflammatory proteins delivered by mRNA delivery using a polyplex nanomicelle could act to alleviate OA, stimulating the development of mRNA therapeutics.
Project description:ObjectiveInterleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) acts as an inhibitor of IL-1; which is one of the culprit cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although +2018 polymorphism of IL-1Ra has been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA, its importance remains poorly understood. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) +2018 polymorphism in RA.MethodsPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were used to determine the genotypes of the IL-1Ra +2018 for 77 RA patients and 18 healthy controls. All RA patients were assessed for the disease activity score that includes 28 joints (DAS28) and radiographic disease damage based on Modified Sharp Score (MSS).ResultsThe frequency of the T/T and C/T genotypes did not differ significantly (p = 0.893) between the RA patients and the controls. The C/T genotype had significantly higher mean disease activity (DAS 28) and disease damage (MSS) scores with p values of 0.017 and 0.004, respectively. Additionally, the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), CRP (C-reactive protein), the number of swollen and tender joints were higher for the C/T individuals. On multivariate analysis the CRP, swollen joint count and MSS remained significant with the following p values i.e. 0.045, 0.046 and less than 0.05.ConclusionsC/T genotype of IL-1Ra +2018 prognosticates more aggressive disease in RA.
Project description:ObjectiveTo determine whether systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) susceptibility loci that were identified by candidate gene studies demonstrate association with systemic JIA in the largest study population assembled to date.MethodsSingle-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 11 previously reported systemic JIA risk loci were examined for association in 9 populations, including 770 patients with systemic JIA and 6,947 controls. The effect of systemic JIA-associated SNPs on gene expression was evaluated in silico in paired whole genome and RNA sequencing data from the lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) of 373 European subjects from the 1000 Genomes Project. Responses of systemic JIA-associated SNPs to anakinra treatment were evaluated in 38 US patients for whom treatment response data were available.ResultsWe found no association between the previously reported 26 SNPs and systemic JIA. Expanded analysis of the regions containing the 26 SNPs revealed only 1 significant association: the promoter region of IL1RN (P < 1 × 10-4 ). Systemic JIA-associated SNPs correlated with IL1RN expression in LCLs, with an inverse correlation between systemic JIA risk and IL1RN expression. The presence of homozygous IL1RN high expression alleles correlated strongly with a lack of response to anakinra therapy (odds ratio 28.7 [95% confidence interval 3.2-255.8]).ConclusionIn our study, IL1RN was the only candidate locus associated with systemic JIA. The implicated SNPs are among the strongest known determinants of IL1RN and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels, linking low expression with increased systemic JIA risk. Homozygous high expression alleles predicted nonresponsiveness to anakinra therapy, making them ideal candidate biomarkers to guide systemic JIA treatment. This study is an important first step toward the personalized treatment of systemic JIA.
Project description:Branch points and flexures in the high pressure arterial system have long been recognized as sites of unusually high turbulence and consequent stress in humans are foci for atherosclerotic lesions. We show that mice that are homozygous for a null mutation in the gene encoding an endogenous antiinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), develop lethal arterial inflammation involving branch points and flexures of the aorta and its primary and secondary branches. We observe massive transmural infiltration of neutrophils, macrophages, and CD4(+) T cells. Animals appear to die from vessel wall collapse, stenosis, and organ infarction or from hemorrhage from ruptured aneurysms. Heterozygotes do not die from arteritis within a year of birth but do develop small lesions, which suggests that a reduced level of IL-1ra is insufficient to fully control inflammation in arteries. Our results demonstrate a surprisingly specific role for IL-1ra in the control of spontaneous inflammation in constitutively stressed artery walls, suggesting that expression of IL-1 is likely to have a significant role in signaling artery wall damage.
Project description:Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra)-deficient BALB/c mice develop spontaneous arthritis resembling human rheumatoid arthritis. We herein report that infection with Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan, is capable of ameliorating the spontaneous development of arthritis in IL-1Ra-deficient mice. The onset of arthritis development was delayed and the severity score of arthritis was significantly suppressed in T. gondii-infected mice. Expression of IL-12p40 mRNA from CD11c(+) cells of mesenteric lymph nodes (mLN) and spleen markedly increased at 1 week after peroral infection. While CD11c(+) cells also produced IL-10, IL-1β, and IL-6, CD4(+) T cells from T. gondii-infected mice expressed significantly high levels of T-bet and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) mRNA in both mLN and spleen. Levels of GATA-3/IL-4 mRNA or RORγt/IL-17 mRNA decreased in the infected mice, indicating Th1 cell polarization and the reduction of Th2 and Th17 cell polarization. The severity of arthritis was related to Th1 cell polarization accompanied by Th17 cell reduction, demonstrating the protective role of the T. gondii-derived Th1 response against Th17 cell-mediated arthritis in IL-1Ra-deficient mice.
Project description:DIRA (deficiency of the IL-1Ra) is a rare condition that usually presents in the neonatal period. Patients with DIRA present with systemic inflammation, respiratory distress, joint swelling, pustular rash, multifocal osteomyelitis, and periostitis. Previously, we reported a patient with a novel mutation in IL1RN with a healthy neonatal period, a late-onset of pustular dermatosis, inflammatory arthritis, and excellent response to canakinumab treatment. Herein, we are presenting a new case of late-onset DIRA syndrome, carrying a different mutation and showing different clinical findings. This patient is the first one in the literature with the inflammatory arthritis, nail psoriasis, and onychomycosis and with her remarkable response to monoclonal antibodies. The case responded well and fully recovered after treatment with adalimumab, but not with canakinumab. The DIRA disease can lead to death from multiple organ failures and if recognized early, the treatment with replacement of the deficient protein with biologic agents induces rapid and complete remission. Therefore, clinical symptoms should be learned exactly by the pediatricians, pediatric rheumatologists, and immunologists; and molecular analysis targeting this defect must be performed as early as possible.
Project description:ObjectivePlasma interleukin-1 beta may influence sepsis mortality, yet recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist did not reduce mortality in randomized trials. We tested for heterogeneity in the treatment effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist by baseline plasma interleukin-1 beta or interleukin-1 receptor antagonist concentration.DesignRetrospective subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trial.SettingMulticenter North American and European clinical trial.PatientsFive hundred twenty-nine subjects with sepsis and hypotension or hypoperfusion, representing 59% of the original trial population.InterventionsRandom assignment of placebo or recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist × 72 hours.Measurements and main resultsWe measured prerandomization plasma interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and tested for statistical interaction between recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment and baseline plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist or interleukin-1 beta concentration on 28-day mortality. There was significant heterogeneity in the effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment by plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist concentration whether plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was divided into deciles (interaction p = 0.046) or dichotomized (interaction p = 0.028). Interaction remained present across different predicted mortality levels. Among subjects with baseline plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist above 2,071 pg/mL (n = 283), recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist therapy reduced adjusted mortality from 45.4% to 34.3% (adjusted risk difference, -0.12; 95% CI, -0.23 to -0.01), p = 0.044. Mortality in subjects with plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist below 2,071 pg/mL was not reduced by recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (adjusted risk difference, +0.07; 95% CI, -0.04 to +0.17), p = 0.230. Interaction between plasma interleukin-1 beta concentration and recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment was not statistically significant.ConclusionsWe report a heterogeneous effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist on 28-day sepsis mortality that is potentially predictable by plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in one trial. A precision clinical trial of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist targeted to septic patients with high plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist may be worthy of consideration.
Project description:ObjectiveWe investigated the relationships between interleukin- (IL-) 1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene polymorphism and plasma levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).MethodsThe genotype and allele frequency distribution of IL-1β and IL-1Ra in 61 patients with DN and 48 healthy controls (HCs) were determined by kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP), and the plasma concentrations of IL-1β and IL-1Ra in DN patients and HCs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).ResultsSignificant differences were detected in the distribution of IL-1β (-511C/T) genotype and allele frequencies between the DN and HC groups (P < 0.05), with the T genotype being more frequent in DN patients than HCs (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.489-5.416). The IL-1β (+3953C/T) and IL-1Ra (+8006C/T) genotypes and allele frequencies were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The plasma IL-1β level was significantly higher (P < 0.01), while the plasma IL-1Ra concentration was significantly lower in the DN group than the HC group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the plasma IL-1β level was significantly different between IL-1β (-511C/T) locus variants (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe IL-1β (-511C/T) gene polymorphism was significantly associated with DN risk in the population of northern Guangxi, China, and the T allele maybe responsible for genetic susceptibility to DN.