CBLB613: a TLR 2/6 agonist, natural lipopeptide of Mycoplasma arginini , as a novel radiation countermeasure

Radiat Res. 2012 May;177(5):628-42. doi: 10.1667/rr2657.1. Epub 2011 Dec 16.

Abstract

To date, there are no safe and effective drugs available for protection against ionizing radiation damage. Therefore, a great need exists to identify and develop non-toxic agents that will be useful as radioprotectors or postirradiation therapies under a variety of operational scenarios. We have developed a new pharmacological agent, CBLB613 (a naturally occurring Mycoplasma-derived lipopeptide ligand for Toll-like receptor 2/6), as a novel radiation countermeasure. Using CD2F1 mice, we investigated CBLB613 for toxicity, immunogenicity, radioprotection, radiomitigation and pharmacokinetics. We also evaluated CBLB613 for its effects on cytokine induction and radiation-induced cytopenia in unirradiated and irradiated mice. The no-observable-adverse-effect level of CBLB613 was 1.79 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg for single and repeated doses, respectively. CBLB613 significantly protected mice against a lethal dose of (60)Co γ radiation. The dose reduction factor of CBLB613 as a radioprotector was 1.25. CBLB613 also mitigated the effects of (60)Co γ radiation on survival in mice. In both irradiated and unirradiated mice, the drug stimulated induction of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-1α. CBLB613 also reduced radiation-induced cytopenia and increased bone marrow cellularity in irradiated mice. Our immunogenicity study demonstrated that CBLB613 is not immunogenic in mice, indicating that it could be developed as a radioprotector and radiomitigator for humans against the potentially lethal effects of radiation exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Bone Marrow / radiation effects
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / blood*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Gamma Rays / adverse effects*
  • HEK293 Cells / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides / immunology
  • Lipopeptides / pharmacokinetics
  • Lipopeptides / therapeutic use*
  • Lipopeptides / toxicity
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mycoplasma / chemistry*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Pancytopenia / blood
  • Pancytopenia / etiology
  • Pancytopenia / prevention & control*
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / blood
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Radiation Injuries, Experimental / prevention & control
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / toxicity
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Spleen / radiation effects
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / agonists*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6 / agonists*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Lipopeptides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • TLR2 protein, human
  • TLR6 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6