Therapeutic administration of Tregitope-Human Albumin Fusion with Insulin Peptides to promote Antigen-Specific Adaptive Tolerance Induction

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 6;9(1):16103. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-52331-1.

Abstract

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that is associated with effector T cell (Teff) destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta-islet cells. Among the therapies being evaluated for T1D is the restoration of regulatory T cell (Treg) activity, specifically directed toward down-modulation of beta-islet antigen-specific T effector cells. This is also known as antigen-specific adaptive tolerance induction for T1D (T1D ASATI). Tregitopes (T regulatory cell epitopes) are natural T cell epitopes derived from immunoglobulin G (IgG) that were identified in 2008 and have been evaluated in several autoimmune disease models. In the T1D ASATI studies presented here, Tregitope peptides were administered to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice at the onset of diabetes within two clinically-relevant delivery systems (liposomes and in human serum albumin [HSA]-fusion products) in combination with preproinsulin (PPI) target antigen peptides. The combination of Tregitope-albumin fusions and PPI peptides reduced the incidence of severe diabetes and reversed mild diabetes, over 49 days of treatment and observation. Combining HSA-Tregitope fusions with PPI peptides is a promising ASATI approach for therapy of T1D.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / administration & dosage*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Insulin / administration & dosage*
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Peptides / administration & dosage*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / administration & dosage*
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Serum Albumin, Human / administration & dosage*
  • Serum Albumin, Human / genetics
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Insulin
  • Peptides
  • Protein Precursors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • preproinsulin
  • Serum Albumin, Human