P40 Subunit Research Articles

Tregs-derived interleukin 35 attenuates endothelial proliferation through STAT1 in pulmonary hypertension.

BackgroundTo explore the source, the role and the specific mechanism of IL-35 and its downstream molecules in the development of pulmonary hypertension.Methods8–10 weeks male mice were undergoing hypoxia combined with SU5416 (HySu) to establish a pulmonary hypertension (PH) model. The phenotype of PH mice was measured by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of two subunits (EBI3 and p35 subunits) in lung tissue were measured by real-time PCR and western blotting. EBI3 monoclonal antibody was administrated as IL-35 neutralization to offset systemic IL-35 expression. Fludarabine, an inhibitor of STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) was used to clarify the role of STAT1 under IL-35 treatment.ResultsAfter pulmonary hypertension, the expression of IL-35 and its two subunits (EBI3 and p35 subunits) in lung tissue were significantly increased. And the two subunits of IL-35 are highly expressed in Treg cells. Compared with the controlled PH mice, the IL-35 neutralization PH mice showed aggravated pulmonary hypertension phenotype. The specific manifestations are the increase of right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), the growing proportion of right heart [RV/(LV+S)], and the remodeling of pulmonary blood vessels increases. The expression of pulmonary vascular endothelium (CD31) in PH mice increased, and the proliferation ability of vascular endothelium enhanced after IL-35 was inhibited. IL-35 phosphorylates STAT1 through the receptor GP130 on pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, which in turn inhibits endothelial cell proliferation. IL-35 recombinant protein can reduce the expression of CD31 in lung tissues of PH mice. But the administration of STAT1 inhibitor made it invalid from the IL-35 effect of reversing pulmonary hypertension.ConclusionsTregs-derived IL-35 can reverse the remodeling of pulmonary blood vessels and alleviate the progression of pulmonary hypertension by reducing the proliferation of endothelial cells.

The characterization of an interleukin-12 p35 homolog involved in the immune modulation of oyster Crassostrea gigas

Vertebrate interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine composing of two subunits (p35 and p40). In the present study, a p35-like subunit homolog of vertebrate IL-12 was identified from oyster Crassostrea gigas (designated as CgIL12p35L), with an open reading frame of 411 bp encoding a putative peptide of 136 amino acids. There was a long four-helix chain in CgIL12p35L, which was similar as that in vertebrate IL-12 p35. Comparative genomic analysis showed that there were conservative kinds of syntenic genes flanked CgIL12p35L. The mRNA transcripts of CgIL12p35L were constitutively expressed in various tissues and its mRNA expression level in haemocytes increased significantly after bacteria challenge. The activity of haemolymph to eliminate bacteria from the oysters treated with recombinant CgIL12p35L protein (rCgIL12p35L) in vivo increased significantly. The results collectively indicated that the homolog of vertebrate IL-12 p35 subunit existed in oysters, and it was involved in immune defense against bacteria challenge.

OP26 Risankizumab induces early clinical remission and response in patients with Moderate-to-Severe Crohn’s Disease: Results from the phase 3 ADVANCE and MOTIVATE studies

Abstract Background Present therapies leave an unmet need for early and effective treatment for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Risankizumab (RZB), a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against the p19 subunit of interleukin-23, was evaluated as an induction therapy to induce early clinical remission and response in patients with moderate-to-severe CD in two double-blind, randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled studies (ADVANCE [NCT03104413] and MOTIVATE [NCT03105128]). Methods Patients with moderate-to-severe CD (CD Activity Index [CDAI] of 220–450, Simple Endoscopic Score for CD [SES-CD] ≥ 6 [≥ 4 for isolated ileal disease] excluding the narrowing component, and average daily [liquid/very soft] stool frequency [SF] ≥ 4 and/or average daily abdominal pain [AP] score ≥ 2) who had inadequate response or intolerance to conventional and/or biologic treatment (ADVANCE), or biologic treatment only (MOTIVATE) were randomised 2:2:1 (ADVANCE) or 1:1:1 (MOTIVATE) to receive intravenous RZB 600 mg, RZB 1200 mg, or PBO as induction therapy at weeks 0, 4, and 8. Clinical remission (per either CDAI or a composite of SF and AP criteria), clinical response (per CDAI criterion), and enhanced clinical response (per a composite of SF and AP criteria) were evaluated at weeks 4, 8, and 12 (endpoints defined in Figure 1 footnotes). Safety was assessed throughout the studies. Results A total of 1419 patients from ADVANCE (N = 850) and MOTIVATE (N = 569) respectively, were randomised and included in the intention-to-treat population. In both studies, starting at week 4 (the first prespecified measurement), greater proportions of RZB 600 mg or RZB 1200 mg- vs PBO-treated patients achieved clinical remission per either CDAI (P = .01/P < .05) or SF/AP criteria (P < .01/P < .01), clinical response per CDAI criterion (P = .001/P < .01), and enhanced clinical response per SF/AP criteria (P < .01/P = .14) (Figure 1). For both RZB 600 mg and RZB 1200 mg, the efficacy and treatment effect increased through week 12 (P ≤ .001/P ≤ .001) (Figure 1). Treatment with RZB 600 mg or 1200 mg was well tolerated, and no new safety risks were identified.1,2 Conclusion Induction therapy with both RZB 600 mg and 1200 mg intravenous resulted in significantly greater clinical remission and response vs PBO as early as week 4 and sustained through week 12 in patients with moderate-to-severe CD who had inadequate response or intolerance to conventional and/or biologic treatment. References

OP36 Risankizumab therapy induces improvements in endoscopic endpoints in patients with Moderate-to-Severe Crohn’s Disease: Results from the phase 3 ADVANCE and MOTIVATE studies

Abstract Background Endoscopic healing has become a critical treatment target in Crohn’s disease (CD). Risankizumab (RZB), a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against the p19 subunit of interleukin 23, is being investigated as a treatment for moderate-to-severe CD. This analysis assessed different endoscopic endpoints in patients treated with RZB induction therapy in two double-blind, randomised, placebo (PBO)-controlled studies (ADVANCE [NCT03104413] and MOTIVATE [NCT03105128]). Methods Patients with moderate-to-severe CD (CD Activity Index [CDAI] of 220–450, Simple Endoscopic Score for CD [SES-CD] ≥ 6 [≥ 4 for isolated ileal disease] excluding the narrowing component, and average daily [liquid/very soft] stool frequency [SF] ≥ 4 and/or average daily abdominal pain [AP] score ≥ 2) who had demonstrated prior inadequate response or intolerance to conventional and/or biologic treatment (ADVANCE) or to biologic treatment (MOTIVATE) were randomised 2:2:1 (ADVANCE) or 1:1:1 (MOTIVATE) to receive intravenous (IV) RZB 600 mg, RZB 1200 mg, or PBO at weeks 0, 4, and 8. This analysis evaluated the proportion of patients who achieved endoscopic remission ulcer-free endoscopy (ie, absence of ulcers), and composite endpoints of CDAI clinical response and endoscopic response, and enhanced clinical response and endoscopic response at week 12 (endpoints defined in Figure 1 footnotes). All endoscopies were centrally read by a blinded reviewer. Safety was assessed throughout the studies. Results In ADVANCE and MOTIVATE, 850 and 569 patients, respectively, were randomised and included in the intent-to-treat population for this analysis. At week 12 greater proportions of RZB- vs PBO-treated patients in both studies achieved endoscopic remission (P ≤ .001), ulcer-free endoscopy (P ≤ .01), CDAI clinical response and endoscopic response (P ≤ .001), and enhanced clinical response and endoscopic response (P ≤ .001; Figure 1). Treatment with RZB 600 mg or 1200 mg was well tolerated, and no new safety risks were identified.1,2 Conclusion Induction therapy with IV RZB 600 mg or 1200 mg resulted in improved outcomes at week 12 compared with PBO as assessed by endoscopy and by composite endoscopic-clinical endpoints in patients with moderate-to-severe CD. References

Results of a phase 1 study of SRF388, a first-in-human, first-in-class, high-affinity anti-IL-27 antibody in advanced solid tumors.

2551 Background: IL-27 is an immunosuppressive cytokine, consisting of two subunits p28 and EBI3, that upregulates immune checkpoint receptors (eg, PD-L1, TIGIT) and downregulates proinflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ, TNFα, and IL-17. SRF388 is a first-in-class, fully human IgG1 antibody to IL-27 that blocks the interaction between IL-27 and its receptor, thereby promoting immune activation in the tumor microenvironment. The IL-27 pathway is activated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and high circulating levels of EBI3 are associated with inferior outcomes in both. Circulating EBI3 levels may serve as a predictive biomarker of SRF388 activity. Methods: Patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard therapy were enrolled in a phase 1 dose-escalation study (accelerated single patient followed by standard 3+3) to establish the preliminary safety of SRF388 as a monotherapy and to identify a dose suitable for expansion (NCT04374877). SRF388 was administered intravenously every 4 weeks. Tumor response was assessed by RECIST v1.1. SRF388 pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) [phospho-STAT (pSTAT) inhibition] analyses were performed. Results: As of January 26, 2021, 12 patients have received SRF388 at doses ranging from 0.003 to 10 mg/kg with 2 patients undergoing intra-patient dose escalation. Median age was 68 years, 67% were female, and ECOG PS was 0/1 (42%/58%). Median number of prior therapies was 2 (range 1–9), and 75% were anti-PD-(L)1 experienced (n = 9). The only treatment-related adverse events observed across dose levels were low-grade fatigue (n = 1, 8%), nausea (n = 1, 8%) and excess salivation (n = 1, 8%). No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) or ≥ Grade 3 related toxicity have occurred. Mean time on study is 12.5 weeks (range 4–40). One patient with RCC who received prior anti-PD-1 has prolonged stable disease for > 9 months. SRF388 PK are linear with estimated T1/2 ranging from 6–19 days. There is evidence of accumulation and no anti-drug antibody development to date. Maximal inhibition of the IL-27 signaling pathway as measured by > 90% pSTAT inhibition in whole blood was achieved starting at 0.3 mg/kg. Given combined evidence of near-complete pathway inhibition and preclinical human equivalent dose modeling projecting biologically active doses, additional slots were opened for RCC and HCC starting at 1 mg/kg. Conclusions: Preliminary results of IL-27 pathway blockade with a first-in-class therapeutic demonstrates that SRF388 is well tolerated at doses that achieve maximal inhibition of downstream pSTAT signaling through the dosing period. Expansions are planned in HCC and RCC. Updated data including the recommended phase 2 dose, clinical outcomes, PK/PD and correlative analyses will be presented. Clinical trial information: NCT04374877.

OP0228 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF RISANKIZUMAB FOR ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS, INCLUDING PATIENTS WITH INADEQUATE RESPONSE OR INTOLERANCE TO BIOLOGIC THERAPIES: 24-WEEK RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 3, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, KEEPSAKE 2 TRIAL

OP0228 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF RISANKIZUMAB FOR ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS, INCLUDING PATIENTS WITH INADEQUATE RESPONSE OR INTOLERANCE TO BIOLOGIC THERAPIES: 24-WEEK RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 3, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, KEEPSAKE 2 TRIAL

AB0559 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF RISANKIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AFTER INADEQUATE RESPONSE OR INTOLERANCE TO DMARDs: 24-WEEK RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 3, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND KEEPsAKE 1 TRIAL

AB0559 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF RISANKIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AFTER INADEQUATE RESPONSE OR INTOLERANCE TO DMARDs: 24-WEEK RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 3, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND KEEPsAKE 1 TRIAL

Treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with tildrakizumab in the real-life setting.

BackgroundTildrakizumab is a high-affinity, humanized IgG1κ monoclonal antibody targeting the p19 subunit of IL-23, which is a key regulatory cytokine in psoriasis. Based on evidence from clinical trials, tildrakizumab is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients eligible for systemic therapy.MethodsWe report our clinical experience with 26 patients followed up to 24 weeks.ResultsNo adverse event was observed and no patient discontinued tildrakizumab. Whilst no patient had a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of <5 at baseline, at week 4, 8 (32%) patients had a PASI score of <3 and 6 of these had a PASI score of 0. At week 12, 19 (79%) patients had a PASI score of <5 and, among these, 18 had a PASI score of <3 of whom 16 had a PASI score of 0. At week 24, 22 (96%) patients had a PASI score of <3 and 20 (87%) had a PASI score of 0. Quality of life was improved after 4 weeks and through the whole period of observation.ConclusionOur experience in the real-life setting confirms the efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab as demonstrated by clinical trials.

Precision Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

During the last decades, a better understanding of the mechanisms sustaining the pathogenic process in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has contributed to expand the therapeutic armamentarium for patients with these disorders. Alongside with traditional therapies, monoclonal antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-α, the interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 p40 subunit and the α4β7 integrin, and tofacitinib, a small molecule inhibiting intracellular pathways downstream to cytokine receptors, have entered into the clinic. However, these drugs are not effective in all patients and some responders can lose response over time. Such a therapeutic failure is, at least in part, dependent on the fact that, in IBD, the tissue damage is driven by simultaneous activation of multiple and distinct immune-inflammatory signals and the detrimental mucosal immune response changes over time even in the same patient. Therefore, personalized approaches aimed at identifying which patient should be treated with a specific drug at a precise time point are worth pursuing. A such approach has the advantage to improve efficacy of the drug and limit adverse reactions, thereby improving quality of the life of the patients and reducing costs. In this review, we summarize all the available evidence about the possible role of precision medicine in IBD.

Microglia-Derived Interleukin 23: A Crucial Cytokine in Alzheimer's Disease?

Neuronal cell death, amyloid β plaque formation and development of neurofibrillary tangles are among the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition to neurodegeneration, inflammatory processes such as activation of microglia and astrocytes are crucial in the pathogenesis and progression of AD. Cytokines are essential immune mediators of the immune response in AD. Recent data suggest a role of interleukin 23 (IL-23) and its p40 subunit in the pathogenesis of AD and corresponding animal models, in particular concerning microglia activation and amyloid β plaque formation. Moreover, in animal models, the injection of anti-p40 antibodies resulted in reduced amyloid β plaque formation and improved cognitive performance. Here, we discuss the pathomechanism of IL-23 mediated inflammation and its role in AD.

IL-23p19 and CD5 antigen-like form a possible novel heterodimeric cytokine and contribute to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development

Among various cytokines, interleukin (IL)-12 family cytokines have very unique characteristics in that they are composed of two distinct subunits and these subunits are shared with each other. IL-23, one of the IL-12 family cytokines, consists of p19 and p40 subunits, is mainly produced by antigen-presenting cells, and plays a critical role in the expansion and maintenance of pathogenic helper CD4+ T (Th)17 cells. Since we initially found that p19 is secreted in the culture supernatant of activated CD4+ T cells, we have further investigated the role of p19. p19 was revealed to associate with CD5 antigen-like (CD5L), which is a repressor of Th17 pathogenicity and is highly expressed in non-pathogenic Th17 cells, to form a composite p19/CD5L. This p19/CD5L was shown to activate STAT5 and enhance the differentiation into granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-producing CD4+ T cells. Both CD4+ T cell-specific conditional p19-deficient mice and complete CD5L-deficient mice showed significantly alleviated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with reduced frequency of GM-CSF+CD4+ T cells. During the course of EAE, the serum level of p19/CD5L, but not CD5L, correlated highly with the clinical symptoms. Thus, the composite p19/CD5L is a possible novel heterodimeric cytokine that contributes to EAE development with GM-CSF up-regulation.

Lack of CD34 delays bacterial endotoxin-induced lung inflammation

BackgroundCD34, a pan-selectin binding protein when glycosylated, has been shown to be involved in leukocyte migration to the site of inflammation. However, only one report is available on the expression and role of CD34 in neutrophil recruitment during acute lung inflammation.MethodsWe proceeded to study the role of CD34 in lung neutrophil migration using mouse model of endotoxin induced acute lung inflammation and studied over multiple time points, in generic CD34 knock-out (KO) strain.ResultsWhile there was no difference in BAL total or differential leukocyte counts, lung MPO content was lower in LPS exposed KO compared to WT group at 3 h time-point (p = 0.0308). The MPO levels in CD34 KO mice begin to rise at 9 h (p = 0.0021), as opposed to an early 3 h rise in WT mice (p = 0.0001), indicating that KO mice display delays in lung neutrophil recruitment kinetics. KO mice do not loose endotoxin induced lung vascular barrier properties as suggested by lower BAL total protein at 3 h (p = 0.0452) and 24 h (p = 0.0113) time-points. Several pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, KC, MIP-1α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 p70 sub-unit; p < 0.05) had higher levels in WT compared to KO group, at 3 h. Lung immunofluorescence in healthy WT mice reveals CD34 expression in the bronchiolar epithelium, in addition to alveolar septa.ConclusionThus, given CD34′s pan-selectin affinity, and expression in the bronchiolar epithelium as well as alveolar septa, our study points towards a role of CD34 in lung neutrophil recruitment but not alveolar migration, cytokine expression and lung inflammation.

Guselkumab: Mid-term effectiveness, drug survival, and safety in real clinical practice.

Guselkumab is a fully human immunoglobulin-G1-lambda (IgG1λ) monoclonal antibody that binds selectively to the p19 subunit of interleukin 23. Few series of real clinical practice that reflect the use of guselkumab have been published so far, including the measure of survival at more than 52 weeks. An observational, longitudinal, retrospective study of real clinical practice of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis receiving treatment with guselkumab 100 mg subcutaneous every 8 weeks in five tertiary hospitals in Andalusia (Spain) was carried out. A total of 87 patients were included in this study. Disease severity and treatment response was assessed by PASI, BSA, VAS pruritus, and DLQI at baseline and after 4, 12, 24, 36, 52, and 76 weeks. Data are presented as mean ± SD for continuous variables, and number and percentage for categorical variables. To determine the differences between visits in PASI, BSA, VAS pruritus, and DLQI a Wilcoxon matched-pairs test was performed. The survival of guselkumab was calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Our population presented with a mean age of 49.9 years, 60.9% of them were male, had a mean PSO evolution of 20.4 (9.5) years. A total of 79.3% were obese or presented with overweight and had several comorbidities (dyslipidemia 28.7%, arterial hypertension 23% and 20% diabetes among others). At baseline their disease parameters were: PASI = 14.6 (7.2), BSA = 22.3 (16.6), VAS pruritus = 6.0 (2), and DLQI = 15.8 (5). After 52 weeks their disease improved to PASI = 0.9 (1.1), BSA = 1.0 (1.8), VAS pruritus = 0.47 (0.88), and DLQI = 1.54 (2.50). The percentage of patients who achieved PASI 75, 90, and 100 at 52 weeks was 90.3%, 71%, and 51.6%, respectively. The patients evaluated at week 76 (n = 3) reached PASI 0, BSA 0, and DLQI 0. After 93.4 weeks (1 year, 9 months, and 14 days), the overall survival rate was 94% (4 events were reported). A total of four patients discontinue to AE or lack of efficacy after 76 weeks. Guselkumab showed excellent results in the control of psoriasis in the mid-term with an elevated number of patients maintaining treatment after 52 to 76 weeks and a good safety profile.

Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis

Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis

Concomitant use of an immunomodulator with ustekinumab as an induction therapy for Crohn's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ustekinumab (UST), a fully humanized monoclonal antibody against the p40 subunit of interleukin-12/23, is effective for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). The benefit of concomitant use of an immunomodulator (IM) with UST, however, is unclear. This study aimed to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of concomitant use of an IM with UST as an induction therapy for CD patients. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the Japana Centra Revuo Medicina from inception to October 31, 2019. The main outcome measure was achievement of clinical efficacy (remission, response, and clinical benefit) at 6-12weeks. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) tools. The fixed-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios. From 189 yielded articles, six including a total of 1507 patients were considered in this meta-analysis. Concomitant use of an IM with UST was significantly effective than UST monotherapy as an induction therapy (pooled odds ratio in the fixed-effects model: 1.35, 95% confidence interval [1.06-1.71], P=0.015). The heterogeneity among studies was low (I2 =2.6%). No statistical comparisons of the occurrence of adverse events between UST monotherapy and concomitant use of an IM with UST were performed. The efficacy of concomitant use of an IM with UST as an induction therapy for CD was significantly superior to that of monotherapy with UST.

Pharmacokinetic Comparability of Risankizumab Formulations in Prefilled Syringe and Auto-injector for Subcutaneous Injection

PurposeRisankizumab is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that inhibits the p19 subunit of interleukin 23 from interacting with its receptor for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The aim of this Phase I biopharmaceutics bridging study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic comparability, immunogenicity, and tolerability of the risankizumab 90 mg/mL prefilled syringe (PFS) and the risankizumab 150 mg/mL PFS and auto-injector (AI) in healthy subjects. MethodsHealthy subjects received one 150-mg dose of risankizumab in 1 of 3 ways (226 subjects randomized 3:3:1 to 3 treatment arms): 150 mg/mL by PFS × 1 SC injection, 90 mg/mL by PFS × 2 SC injections, or 150 mg/mL by AI × 1 SC injection, and were followed up for 140 days after dosing for the collection of pharmacokinetic, immunogenicity, and tolerability data. FindingsRisankizumab concentration–time profiles overlapped with comparable pharmacokinetic parameters across all treatment arms, indicating similar pharmacokinetic characteristics. The CIs with both formulations and forms of administration were within the bioequivalence range of 0.80–1.25 across all measures of exposure. The prevalence of treatment-emergent anti-drug antibodies and the percentages of subjects who reported at least 1 treatment-emergent adverse event were comparable across all treatment arms. ImplicationsBioequivalence was established between risankizumab 150 mg/mL PFS and 90 mg/mL PFS, and between 150 mg/mL PFS and AI, along with comparable immunogenicity profiles across all 3 treatment arms. Risankizumab 150 mg SC delivered by PFS or AI was well tolerated, with comparable safety profiles across all treatment arms, and no new safety risks were identified.

Structural basis for IL-12 and IL-23 receptor sharing reveals a gateway for shaping actions on T versus NK cells

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-23 are heterodimeric cytokines that are produced by antigen-presenting cells to regulate the activation and differentiation of lymphocytes, and they share IL-12Rβ1 as a receptor signaling subunit. We present a crystal structure of the quaternary IL-23 (IL-23p19/p40)/IL-23R/IL-12Rβ1 complex, together with cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps of the complete IL-12 (IL-12p35/p40)/IL-12Rβ2/IL-12Rβ1 and IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) complexes, which reveal "non-canonical" topologies where IL-12Rβ1 directly engages the common p40 subunit. We targeted the shared IL-12Rβ1/p40 interface to design a panel of IL-12 partial agonists that preserved interferon gamma (IFNγ) induction by CD8+ Tcells but impaired cytokine production from natural killer (NK) cells invitro. These cell-biased properties were recapitulated invivo, where IL-12 partial agonists elicited anti-tumor immunity to MC-38 murine adenocarcinoma absent the NK-cell-mediated toxicity seen with wild-type IL-12. Thus, the structural mechanism of receptor sharing used by IL-12 family cytokines provides a protein interface blueprint for tuning this cytokine axis for therapeutics.

How to Optimize Treatment With Ustekinumab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Lessons Learned From Clinical Trials and Real-World Data.

Ustekinumab is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that has been approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease, and more recently moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. It binds with high affinity to the p40 subunit of human interleukin-12 and 23. This mechanism of action prevents the bioactivity of both interleukins, thus precluding their interaction with the cell surface receptor protein. The pivotal clinical trials (UNITI-1, UNITI-2 and IM-UNITI) demonstrated its clinical efficacy and safety, in naïve patients and also in those previously exposed to immunosuppressants and/or biologics. There is now an extensive experience with its use worldwide, corroborating its favorable profile even in patients with refractory disease. However, the number of medical treatment options available in inflammatory bowel disease are still limited. Hence, we should prioritize the treatments that have a greater probability of response in an individual patient. Our aim was to review and summarize all the available literature regarding the potential predictors of response to ustekinumab that can increase the success rate with this therapy in clinical practice.

Susceptibility Analysis in Several Mouse Strains Reveals Robust T-Cell Responses After Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in DBA/2 Mice.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen responsible for human community-acquired pneumonia. The number of antibiotic-resistant Mp strains is increasing; therefore, to develop novel therapeutics, it is crucial to precisely understand the pathogenesis of mycoplasma pneumonia. Herein, we examined the susceptibility and response to Mp among eight inbred mouse strains. Following infection, the bacterial load in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from DBA/2 mice was higher than that in the other tested strains such as BALB/c mice, which are frequently used in Mp research. In contrast, the numbers of CD45+ immune cells and neutrophils in BALF were comparable between BALB/c and DBA/2 mice, with lower numbers observed in C57BL/6J and CBA/N mice than in BALB/c mice. Among the tested strains, the BALF level of interleukin 12 subunit p40 was highest in DBA/2 mice; however, significant differences in other cytokines levels were not observed between BALB/c and DBA/2 mice. After Mp infection, Mp-specific Th1 and Th17 responses were significantly enhanced in DBA/2 mice when compared with BALB/c mice. Furthermore, prior infection with Mp increased the number of neutrophils in BALF after the reinfection of DBA/2 mice through an Mp-specific CD4+ T cell-dependent mechanism. Thus, DBA/2 may be an appropriate strain for evaluating Mp infection. Moreover, a comparison of responses revealed by various inbred mouse strains could be useful for elucidating the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumonia.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of Guselkumab for the treatment of psoriasis: a 6-month prospective study in a series of psoriatic patients.

Guselkumab is a fully human monoclonal IgG1 antibody which, by selectively binding to the p19 subunit of IL-23, prevents it from binding to the IL-23 receptor on the cell surfaces. To date, no prospective data are available on the efficacy and safety of this drug in everyday clinical practice in patients with psoriasis (PSO). This is a longitudinal, single arm, real-world, prospective study to investigate the effect of Guselkumab on PSO and quality of life (DLQI) in 44 PSO patients. Outcomes were PASI, BSA, DLQI at 3 and 6 months. The longitudinal analysis showed that PASI improved from a median value of 24.1 at baseline to 2.0 at 6-months and this was also true for BSA (from 23.0 to 2.0) and DLQI (from 24.0 to 2.5) (all p<0.001). At 6-months, PASI75, PASI90 and PASI100 were 95.5%, 59.1% and 16%, respectively. The PSO improvement related with the increase of DLQI (∆PASI vs. ∆DLQI, r=0.77, p<0.001). No clinically relevant adverse events were observed. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of Guselkumab on PSO in real world and shows that the reduction of PSO severity due to the drug is directly related with the improvement of quality of life in this patient population.