A novel class of anti-IL-12p40 antibodies: potent neutralization via inhibition of IL-12-IL-12Rβ2 and IL-23-IL-23R

MAbs. 2010 Sep-Oct;2(5):539-49. doi: 10.4161/mabs.2.5.13081. Epub 2010 Sep 1.

Abstract

While current therapeutic antibodies bind to IL-12 and IL-23 and inhibit their binding to IL-12Rβ1, we describe a novel antibody, termed 6F6, that binds to IL-12 and IL-23 and inhibits the interaction of IL-12 and IL-23 with their cognate signalling receptors IL-12Rβ2 and IL23R. This antibody does not affect the natural inhibition of the IL-12/23 pathway by the antagonists monomeric IL-12p40 and IL-12p80, which suggests that a dual antagonist system is possible. We have mapped the epitope of 6F6 to domain 3 of the p40 chain common to IL-12 and IL-23 and demonstrate that an antibody bound to this epitope is sufficient to inhibit engagement of the signalling receptors. Antibodies with this unique mechanism of inhibition are potent inhibitors of IL-12 induced IFN-γ production and IL-23 induced IL-17 production in vitro, and in an in vivo model of psoriasis, treatment with a humanized variant of this antibody, h6F6, reduced the inflammatory response, resulting in decreased epidermal hyperplasia. We believe that this new class of IL-12/23 neutralising antibodies has the potential to provide improved potency and efficacy as anti-inflammatory agents, particularly in diseases characterized by an overproduction of IL-12.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hybridomas
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 / immunology
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-23 / immunology
  • Interleukin-23 / metabolism
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-12 / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p40
  • Interleukin-23
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Receptors, Interleukin-12
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma