Immunogenicity, Inflammation, and Lipid Accumulation in Cynomolgus Monkeys Infused with a Lipidated Tetranectin-ApoA-I Fusion Protein

Abstract

High density lipoprotein (HDL)-targeted therapies, which promote cholesterol efflux from cells, are currently in development for reducing cardiovascular events in acute coronary syndrome. Human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major HDL protein, was fused to the trimerization domain of tetranectin (TN) and complexed with phospholipids to generate a HDL mimetic (lipidated TN-ApoA-I) with reduced renal clearance and enhanced efficacy. Cynomolgus monkeys received 24-h intravenous infusions of control, 100 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg lipidated TN-ApoA-I every 4 days for 3 weeks, followed by a 6-week recovery period. After multiple infusions of lipidated TN-ApoA-I, clinical condition deteriorated and was accompanied by changes indicative of a progressive inflammatory response; increased levels of cytokines, C-reactive protein and vascular/perivascular infiltrates in multiple tissues. Rapid formation of antidrug antibodies occurred in all animals receiving lipidated TN-ApoA-I. Enhanced drug clearance corresponding to a relative lack of high molecular weight immune complexes in blood, suggestive of preferred removal/clearance, was observed in some animals. Expected dose-dependent increases in serum lipids were accompanied by vacuolated monocytes/macrophages in multiple organs, which in the glomeruli were shown to be CD68-positive, contain lipid and co-localized with granular IgG deposits. Lipid accumulation may have been a direct result of a high drug load, possibly enhanced by immune complex formation, inflammation, and altered lipid metabolism. Noteworthy was the inter- individual inconsistency in the severity of clinical and histopathologic findings, drug clearance and inflammatory markers. In conclusion, multiple infusions of lipidated TN-ApoA-I resulted in high immunogenicity, lipid accumulation and were not well tolerated in nonhuman primates.