US20190374610A1 - Medical use of interferon-lambda for the treatment of fibrosis - Google Patents

Medical use of interferon-lambda for the treatment of fibrosis Download PDF

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US20190374610A1
US20190374610A1 US16/469,236 US201716469236A US2019374610A1 US 20190374610 A1 US20190374610 A1 US 20190374610A1 US 201716469236 A US201716469236 A US 201716469236A US 2019374610 A1 US2019374610 A1 US 2019374610A1
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fibrosis
interferon
lambda
functional mimetic
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Timothy Scott Johnson
Breda Twomey
Janine Powers
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UCB Biopharma SRL
Five Prime Therapeutics Inc
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Five Prime Therapeutics Inc
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • A61K38/19—Cytokines; Lymphokines; Interferons
    • A61K38/21—Interferons [IFN]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K45/00—Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
    • A61K45/06—Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/56—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule
    • A61K47/59—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyureas or polyurethanes
    • A61K47/60—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyureas or polyurethanes the organic macromolecular compound being a polyoxyalkylene oligomer, polymer or dendrimer, e.g. PEG, PPG, PEO or polyglycerol
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
    • A61P1/16—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P13/00—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system
    • A61P13/12—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system of the kidneys
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P17/00—Drugs for dermatological disorders

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods for the treatment of fibrosis.
  • the invention discloses new research which demonstrates that interferon-lambda has directly acting anti-fibrotic effects both in vitro and in vivo and may be used to provide effective new therapies for the treatment of multiple types of fibrosis.
  • Fibrotic diseases are diseases which are characterised by an aberrant wound healing response in which excess fibrous connective tissue is formed in an organ or tissue.
  • ECM extracellular matrix
  • Wounding in solid organs typically starts with endothelial damage, platelet aggregation and activation initiating an inflammatory response with infiltration of neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils and lymphocytes to the wound site.
  • Infiltrating inflammatory cells and affected epithelial cells secrete a variety of growth factors and cytokines that serve to further amplify the inflammatory response.
  • Molecules such as TGF- ⁇ , PDGF and IL-13 activate macrophages and lead to the recruitment, proliferation and activation of fibroblasts at the wound site.
  • Activated fibroblasts or myofibroblasts are characterised by the expression of ⁇ -smooth muscle actin and secrete collagen and other ECM components to stabilise the cellular substratum. This allows proliferation and migration of epithelial and endothelial cells over the temporary matrix to regenerate the damaged tissue. Once complete, the inflammatory process shuts down while fibroblasts undergo apoptosis leading to resolution of the wound response.
  • Fibrotic diseases can affect any organ or tissue, for example kidney, lung, intestine, skin, or liver.
  • the cause of fibrotic disease can be dependent upon the organ or tissue involved and remains unknown in some diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In other types of interstitial lung disease the cause is recognised, such as exposure to environmental allergens which causes hypersensitive pneumonitis.
  • Liver fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis results from chronic liver damage sustained through exposure to a variety of factors including environmental and dietary factors or infectious agents. Sustained over consumption of alcohol or a high fat/sugar diet can also lead to cirrhosis of the liver.
  • autoimmune disease can damage the kidneys leading to fibrotic remodelling and loss of function.
  • Many types of inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or celiac sprue can lead to fibrotic remodelling causing strictures and/or malabsorption.
  • Treatment of progressive fibrosis is predominantly by treating the underlying disease. For example control of blood pressure, improved glucose management in diabetes, or removal of the damaging allergen or environmental cause.
  • control of blood pressure, improved glucose management in diabetes, or removal of the damaging allergen or environmental cause is predominantly by treating the underlying disease.
  • improved glucose management in diabetes or removal of the damaging allergen or environmental cause.
  • simple improved therapy of the initiating disease fails to halt the process.
  • Some fibrotic diseases can be treated with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents, but these are only effective in subsets of patients and slow, rather than stop the disease.
  • Pirfenidone is a small molecule drug that was approved for use in the treatment of IPF in Japan in 2008 and Europe in 2011 which is likely to work via multiple mechanisms of action that are not completely understood but may work in part through a down-regulation of TGF- ⁇ .
  • Nintedanib is a tri-angiokinase inhibitor blocking tyrosine kinase activity in VEGF, FGF and PDGF receptors. Both compounds slow the development of IPF, but likely only extending life by up to 2 years based on current studies. Further both are associated with significant side effects such that more than 30% of patients cannot tolerate their use long term. To date, no targeted therapies have been approved for fibrotic indications.
  • IFN- ⁇ interferon- ⁇
  • IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3 and IFN- ⁇ 4 proteins that are also known as interleukin-29 (IL-29), IL-28A, IL-28B and IFNL4, respectively.
  • IL-29 interleukin-29
  • IL-28A interleukin-28A
  • IL-28B interleukin-28B
  • IFNL4 interleukin-29
  • Collectively, these 4 cytokines comprise the type III subset of IFNs. They are distinct from both type I and type II IFNs for a number of reasons, including the fact that they signal through a heterodimeric receptor complex that is different from the receptors used by type I or type II IFNs.
  • type I IFNs IFN-a/b
  • type III IFNs IFN-I
  • IFN- ⁇ type III IFNs
  • IFN- ⁇ receptors unlike IFN- ⁇ receptors which are broadly expressed on most cell types, including leukocytes, IFN- ⁇ receptors are largely restricted to cells of epithelial origin. The potential clinical importance of IFN- ⁇ as a novel antiviral therapeutic agent is already apparent. In addition, preclinical studies by several groups indicate that IFN- ⁇ may also be useful as a potential therapeutic agent for certain types of cancer.
  • cytokines of the interferon-lambda family have directly acting anti-fibrotic effects both in vitro and in vivo, and that these proteins may be used to design effective new methods for the treatment of multiple types of fibrosis.
  • the present invention provides interferon-lambda for use in the treatment of fibrosis.
  • the invention also provides use of interferon-lambda for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of fibrosis.
  • the invention further provides a method for the treatment of fibrosis comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of interferon-lambda.
  • Interferons are an important class of cytokines with diverse roles in host protection from viral infection and immune response modulation. Three distinct types of interferons are recognized (type I, II and III) based on their structural features, receptor usage and biological activities and their roles in host defence vary between the different types.
  • IFN- ⁇ / ⁇ / ⁇ / ⁇ / ⁇ in humans possess strong anti-viral activity and are able to induce a potent anti-viral response in a wide variety of cell types (Huang et al 1993).
  • IFN- ⁇ / ⁇ binds a heterodimeric transmembrane receptor termed the IFN ⁇ R (composed of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits) which, upon engagement with ligand, triggers the activation of the kinases, JAK1 and TYK2, which then phosphorylate specific tyrosines in the intracellular domain of the receptor.
  • IFN ⁇ R heterodimeric transmembrane receptor
  • JAK1 and TYK2 subunits the kinases
  • JAK1 and TYK2 phosphorylate specific tyrosines in the intracellular domain of the receptor.
  • STAT1 and STAT2 signalling molecules leading to their recruitment and subsequent phosphorylation.
  • the phosphorylated STATs recruit IFN regulatory factor 9 (I
  • the type II class includes just IFN- ⁇ , which is classified as a Th1-type cytokine that stimulates cell-mediated immune responses that are important for host protection against pathogenic microorganisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Bach et al 1997), has a central role in tumour immunity, and amplifies the anti-viral activity of type I IFNs. Therefore, type I and type II IFNs work together to activate both innate and adaptive immune responses, with the purpose of protecting the host against both infection and tumour invasion (Biron et al 2001).
  • IFNs are part of the larger family of class II cytokines that includes six IL-10-related cytokines: IL-10, IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24 and IL-26 (Kotenko 2002) and are classed together because they signal via receptors that share common motifs in their extracellular domains.
  • These receptors comprise the class II cytokine receptor family (CRF2) and are typically heterodimers composed of 2 distinct receptor chains, ⁇ and ⁇ receptor subunits (Stahl et al 1993).
  • ⁇ subunits are the primary cytokine binding proteins, and the ⁇ subunits are required for formation of high affinity binding sites and for signal transduction.
  • the type III IFNs or IFN-2 s are the most recent addition to the CRF2 family. They demonstrate structural features of the IL-10-related cytokines and induce anti-viral activity in a more restricted cell population than the type I IFNs, namely epithelial cells and certain immune cells (Kotenko et al, 2003; Sheppard et al, 2003).
  • the type III IFN family is composed of 4 closely related proteins, IFN- ⁇ 1, - ⁇ 2, - ⁇ 3 and - ⁇ 4 (also known as IL-29, IL-28A, IL-28B and IFNL4, respectively) whereas the mouse only has IFN- ⁇ 2 and - ⁇ 3 (IL-28A and IL-28B, respectively).
  • IFN- ⁇ 2 and IFN- ⁇ 3 are highly homologous; the amino acid identity between IFN- ⁇ 2 and IFN- ⁇ 3 is ⁇ 96% and the identity between IFN- ⁇ 1 and IFN- ⁇ 2/ ⁇ 3 is ⁇ 81%.
  • IFN- ⁇ 4 most closely resembles IFN- ⁇ 3 but these proteins only share ⁇ 30% identity and IFN- ⁇ 4 is predominantly intracellular and very poorly secreted in humans (Hong et al 2016).
  • the IFN- ⁇ receptor complex is composed of the specific IFN- ⁇ receptor chain 1 (IFN- ⁇ R1 or IL-28RA) and the shared IL-10 receptor chain 2 (IL-10R2 or IL-10R ⁇ ). Engagement of the IFN- ⁇ receptor complex by any of the four ligands leads to activation of JAK1 and TYK2, activation of the transcription factors STAT1, STAT2 and IRF9 to form the IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3).
  • IFN- ⁇ R1 or IL-28RA the specific IFN- ⁇ receptor chain 1
  • IL-10R2 or IL-10R ⁇ shared IL-10 receptor chain 2
  • ISGF3 regulates gene transcription by binding to IFN-stimulated elements (ISRE) in the promoters of several hundred IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) which include a number of genes that are associated with the antiviral phenotype, including OAS1, MX1, EIF2AK2 (double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase) and IRF7.
  • IFN-stimulated elements ISGs
  • OAS1, MX1, EIF2AK2 double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase
  • IRF7 IRF7.
  • Comparative cDNA microarray analyses have shown that the repertoire of genes that are induced by type III IFNs (IFN- ⁇ ) is essentially the same as that induced by type I IFNs (IFN- ⁇ / ⁇ ) (Doyle et al 2006). In conclusion, despite using different receptors, both type I and III IFNs activate ISGF3 (Zhou et al 2007), and therefore induce similar transcriptional responses.
  • IFN- ⁇ The crystal structure of IFN- ⁇ reveals a four-helix bundle structure typical of class II cytokines, with the closest structural homolog of IFN- ⁇ being IL-22 (Gad et al 2009) and may suggest that IFN- ⁇ and IL-22 possess parallel functions, protecting epithelial tissue against viral and bacterial infections, respectively.
  • the binding site on the IFN- ⁇ R1 receptor chain is well conserved among all four IFN- ⁇ s, whereas the binding site on IL-10R2 is poorly defined (Miknis et al 2010).
  • IFN- ⁇ R1 consists of two distinct fibronectin type III domains of approximately 100 amino acids each.
  • the ligand-receptor interface includes helix A, loop AB and helix F on the IFN site, as well as loops primarily from the N-terminal domain and inter-domain hinge region of IFN- ⁇ R1.
  • the binding mode between the ligand and receptor support an initial long range ionic interaction mediated via hydrogen bonding, which is then followed by hydrophobic interactions to finalize the fit.
  • IFN- ⁇ s are expressed by a variety of hematopoietic cells and epithelial cells in response to viral infection. Pattern-recognition receptors that detect the invading virus on the mucosal epithelial surface initiate a transcriptional response through the transcription factors NF- ⁇ B, IRF3, IRF7 and Med23 (Osterlund et al 2007, Griffiths et al 2013). The role of type I and type III IFNs in mediating anti-viral defences at mucosal interfaces has been shown to be both redundant and unique, depending on the virus and the point of entry.
  • Gut epithelial cells respond exclusively to type III IFN which mediates control of epitheliotropic viruses, such as rotaviruses, in a non-redundant fashion (Pott et al 2011).
  • Reoviruses initiate their infection in the gut epithelia but can penetrate the gut epithelial layer to cause a systemic infection in mice; type III IFN restricts the initial replication in the gut epithelium but type I IFNs are indispensable for the prevention of systemic infection (Mahlakoiv et al 2015).
  • the compartmentalisation of type I and III IFNs is less clear in the respiratory tract where there is a degree of redundancy between the two IFN systems (Mordstein et al 2008).
  • airway epithelia express receptors for both IFN types whereas gut epithelia express only IFN- ⁇ receptors.
  • IFN- ⁇ R1 receptor expression is restricted mainly to epithelial cells and certain immune cell subsets such as monocyte-derived macrophages, plasmacytoid dendritic cells and NK cells in certain scenarios.
  • Activation of IFN- ⁇ R1 in NK cells is linked to maximal production of IFN- ⁇ and anti-tumour activity which may be an effect mediated synergistically with other stimuli or in combination with other cell types (Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes et al 2015).
  • the immunomodulatory effects of the type III IFNs are limited but are very effective anti-virals when a local mucosal response is sufficient to control the virus. This is in contrast to the ubiquitous activity of type I IFNs during responses to infection, and therefore more appropriate in the control of severe or systemic infection where widespread immune activation is necessary.
  • IFN- ⁇ s hepatitis C virus
  • viruses that can be targeted with IFN- ⁇ include but are not restricted to the following: influenza NB, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), coronavirus, H1N1, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), nororvirus, rotavirus and Ebola (Eslam and George 2015; Gresser 2015). All of these viruses target an epithelial point of entry and therapeutically could be targeted with IFN- ⁇ , which can activate the IFN- ⁇ R1 receptor complex at this access point.
  • IFN- ⁇ s have anti-tumour activity in a range of tumour types such as hepatoma, melanoma, oesophageal carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours, colorectal carcinoma, lung adenocarcimoma and Burkitt's lymphoma (Sato et al 2006, Zitzmann et al 2006, Steen et al 2010).
  • tumour types such as hepatoma, melanoma, oesophageal carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours, colorectal carcinoma, lung adenocarcimoma and Burkitt's lymphoma (Sato et al 2006, Zitzmann et al 2006, Steen et al 2010).
  • the anti-tumour mechanisms of IFN- ⁇ s are tumour cell induction of apoptosis and a direct effect on immune cells to boost both the innate and adaptive immune stimulatory activities.
  • IFN- ⁇ s are induced in the tumour microenvironment and signalling through the IFN- ⁇ R1 receptor has been shown to play an anti-tumour role in IFN- ⁇ R1 knockout mice which are more susceptible to sarcoma formation and death in transplanted tumour models.
  • IFN- ⁇ treatment delayed lethality and reduced sarcoma development (Numasaki et al 2007).
  • IFN- ⁇ s could be envisioned to complement current IFN- ⁇ therapy, immune check-point inhibitors or as adjunctives to traditional anti-cancer agents such as bortezomib, temozolomide, cisplatin or 5-FU (Guenterberg et al 2010, Li et al 2010).
  • IFN- ⁇ inflammatory diseases such as asthma, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • IFN- ⁇ minimized disease severity, reduced eosinophil infiltration and demonstrated a Th1 immune skewing effect away from Th2 and Th17 cytokines (Koltsida et al 2011).
  • IFN- ⁇ 2 treatment resulted in abrogation of disease by suppressing IL-1 and IL-17 responses, as well as neutrophil recruitment (Blazek et al 2015).
  • Th17 cells In psoriatic lesions, Th17 cells have been shown to be a source of IFN- ⁇ , where it can suppress the Th2 cytokine, IL-13 (Wolk et al 2013). The role of IFN- ⁇ s in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is still ambiguous.
  • SNPs single nucleotide polymorphisms in the IFN- ⁇ region are the strongest single predictor of both response to pegylated IFN- ⁇ 1/ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) therapy and spontaneous clearance of chronic HCV infection.
  • PEG-IFN/RBV pegylated IFN- ⁇ 1/ribavirin
  • SNPs map to the IFNL3/IFNL4 gene locus and have been shown to be effective for all HCV genotypes and in all geographical locations (Ge et al 2009, Suppiah et al 2009, Tanaka et al 2009).
  • IFNL3/IFNL4 genotype in predicting treatment outcomes to all anti-viral therapies (including both first and second generation direct-acting antiviral drugs) also extends to a wide list of other viral infections including CMV, HSV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and also to co-infection with HCV/HIV and HCV/HBV (Rallon et 2010, Guo et al 2013). Data are consistent with a primary role for IFN- ⁇ in controlling viral infections in different organs, particularly those of epithelial origin.
  • liver fibrosis There is evidence for the role of two SNPs in liver fibrosis, namely the rs12979860 and rs8099917 ‘responder’ genotypes, and the acceleration of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, in hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Bochud et al 2012, Eslam et al 2015).
  • the first SNP is ⁇ G/TT (r5368234815) that controls the production of IFN- ⁇ 4 and also predicts HCV clearance (Prokunina-Olsson et al 2013).
  • the ancestral ‘ ⁇ G’ allele encodes a functional IFN- ⁇ 4, which impairs HCV clearance and hence increases viral load, whereas the more recent (in evolutionary terms) ‘TT’ allele of rs368234815 disrupts the open reading frame of IFNL4 (disrupting protein expression) and is associated with improved viral clearance.
  • IFN- ⁇ s have been described to have antiviral and anti-tumour activity, immune-inflammatory functions and homeostatic effects.
  • IFN- ⁇ s unexpectedly have directly acting anti-fibrotic effects both in vitro and in vivo.
  • the Examples demonstrate that interferon-lambda proteins have anti-fibrotic effects in in vivo mouse chronic kidney disease models and in in vitro human fibrosis models with relevant primary cells from liver, small intestine, skin, kidney and lung organ systems. These proteins therefore have unexpected potential as anti-fibrotic agents in multiple types of fibrosis, and may be used to design effective new therapies for the treatment of fibrotic diseases.
  • interferon-lambda IFN- ⁇
  • interferon-lambdas IFN- ⁇ s
  • cytokines of the interferon-lambda family.
  • the interferon-lambda proteins and the interferon-lambda receptor are also known by a number of other synonyms as shown in Table 1.
  • interferon lambda-4 IFN- ⁇ 4 IFNL4 interferon-lambda receptor IFN-LR1 IL-28R1 IL-28RA IFN- ⁇ R1
  • the interferon-lambda is IFN- ⁇ 1.
  • the interferon-lambda is IFN- ⁇ 2.
  • the interferon-lambda is IFN- ⁇ 3.
  • the interferon-lambda is IFN- ⁇ 4.
  • Amino acid and DNA sequences for IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, and IFN- ⁇ 4, are shown in FIG. 18 .
  • the IFN- ⁇ may be used in the form of a fusion protein, such as an Fc fusion.
  • An Fc fusion protein is composed of an Fc domain of an antibody (e.g. an IgG) fused to the IFN- ⁇ .
  • Fc fusion proteins form dimers as a result of association of the Fc domains.
  • the IFN- ⁇ may thus be in dimeric form, as well as monomeric form.
  • the interferon-lambda is a functional mimetic of IFN- ⁇ 1.
  • the interferon-lambda is a functional mimetic of IFN- ⁇ 2.
  • the interferon-lambda is a functional mimetic of IFN- ⁇ 3.
  • the interferon-lambda is a functional mimetic of IFN- ⁇ 4.
  • the term “functional mimetic” means a molecule which has the same or similar biological effects as the wild-type protein.
  • an interferon-lambda functional mimetic may activate the interferon-lambda receptor and drive the transcription of IFN-stimulated genes.
  • the functional mimetic may reduce hydroxyproline levels in an in vivo model of fibrosis as described in Example 1. In one embodiment, the functional mimetic may inhibit fibronectin and/or collagen deposition in an in vitro model of fibrosis as described in Example 2.
  • the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a fragment of IFN- ⁇ 1. In one embodiment, the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a fragment of IFN- ⁇ 2. In one embodiment, the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a fragment of IFN- ⁇ 3. In one embodiment, the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a fragment of IFN- ⁇ 4.
  • the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a variant of IFN- ⁇ 1. In one embodiment, the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a variant of IFN- ⁇ 2. In one embodiment, the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a variant of IFN- ⁇ 3. In one embodiment, the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a variant of IFN- ⁇ 4.
  • a variant interferon-lambda may be or may comprise a variant of one of the specific sequences shown in FIG. 18 .
  • a variant may be a substitution, deletion or addition variant of any of the amino acid sequences in FIG. 18 .
  • a fragment of an IFN- ⁇ may, for example, have a size of greater than 50 amino acids, greater than 100 amino acids or greater than 150 amino acids.
  • a variant interferon-lambda may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, up to 10, up to 20 or more (typically up to a maximum of 50) amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or additions compared with the specific amino acid sequences in FIG. 18 .
  • “Deletion” variants may comprise the deletion of individual amino acids, deletion of small groups of amino acids such as 2, 3, 4 or 5 amino acids, or deletion of larger amino acid regions, such as the deletion of specific amino acid domains or other features.
  • “Substitution” variants typically involve the replacement of one or more amino acids with the same number of amino acids and making conservative amino acid substitutions.
  • an amino acid may be substituted with an alternative amino acid having similar properties, for example, another basic amino acid, another acidic amino acid, another neutral amino acid, another charged amino acid, another hydrophilic amino acid, another hydrophobic amino acid, another polar amino acid, another aromatic amino acid or another aliphatic amino acid.
  • Another basic amino acid for example, another acidic amino acid, another neutral amino acid, another charged amino acid, another hydrophilic amino acid, another hydrophobic amino acid, another polar amino acid, another aromatic amino acid or another aliphatic amino acid.
  • a variant interferon-lambda may have an amino acid sequence which has more than about 60%, or more than about 70%, e.g. 75 or 80%, typically more than about 85%, e.g. more than about 90 or 95% amino acid identity to the amino acid sequences in FIG. 18 .
  • Variants may retain at least about 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identity to the sequences in FIG. 18 .
  • Variants typically retain about 60%—about 99% identity, about 80%—about 99% identity, about 90%—about 99% identity or about 95%—about 99% identity. This level of amino acid identity may be seen across the full length of the relevant SEQ ID NO sequence or over a part of the sequence, such as across about 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 or more amino acids.
  • identity indicates that at any particular position in the aligned sequences, the amino acid residue is identical between the sequences.
  • similarity indicates that, at any particular position in the aligned sequences, the amino acid residue is of a similar type between the sequences.
  • leucine may be substituted for isoleucine or valine.
  • Other amino acids which can often be substituted for one another include but are not limited to:
  • the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a derivative of IFN- ⁇ 1.
  • the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a derivative of IFN- ⁇ 2.
  • the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a derivative of IFN- ⁇ 3.
  • the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is a derivative of IFN- ⁇ 4.
  • the interferon-lambda may be or may comprise a derivative of one of the specific sequences shown in FIG. 18 .
  • a derivative may include a structural analogue of a naturally occurring amino acid.
  • an amino acid may be modified, for example labelled.
  • the interferon-lambda of the invention is pegylated i.e. the interferon-lambda is covalently attached to poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG).
  • PEG poly(ethyleneglycol)
  • the pegylated interferon-lambda is Peginterferon Lambda-1a “Lambda”. (Andersen et al., 2013). “Lambda” is an investigational type III interferon therapeutic agent originally developed at ZymoGenetics (now a fully owned subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb). It was licensed to Eiger Biopharmaceuticals in 2016 and is currently in clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection.
  • HDV chronic hepatitis delta virus
  • the interferon-lambda functional mimetic is an antibody.
  • the antibody molecules of the present invention may comprise a complete antibody molecule having full length heavy and light chains or a fragment or antigen-binding portion thereof.
  • the term “antigen-binding portion” of an antibody refers to one or more fragments of an antibody that retain the ability to selectively bind to an antigen. It has been shown that the antigen-binding function of an antibody can be performed by fragments of a full-length antibody.
  • the antibodies and fragments and antigen binding portions thereof may be, but are not limited to Fab, modified Fab, Fab′, modified Fab′, F(ab′) 2 , Fv, single domain antibodies (e.g.
  • VH or VL or VHH VH or VL or VHH
  • scFv bi, tri or tetra-valent antibodies
  • Bis-scFv diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above
  • the methods for creating and manufacturing these antibody fragments are well known in the art (see for example Verma et al., 1998, Journal of Immunological Methods, 216, 165-181).
  • antibody fragments for use in the present invention include the Fab and Fab′ fragments described in International patent applications WO 2005/003169, WO 2005/003170 and WO 2005/003171 and Fab-dAb fragments described in International patent application WO2009/040562.
  • Multi-valent antibodies may comprise multiple specificities or may be monospecific (see for example WO 92/22853 and WO 05/113605). These antibody fragments may be obtained using conventional techniques known to those of skill in the art, and the fragments may be screened for utility in the same manner as intact antibodies.
  • the antibody of the invention is an interferon-lambda functional mimetic and elicits the same or similar biological effects as the wild-type protein.
  • the antibody may bind to an epitope on the interferon-lambda receptor, activating receptor signalling and driving the transcription of IFN-stimulated genes.
  • the interferon-lambda derivative is a small molecule chemical entity (such as a chemical entity with a molecular weight less than 900 Daltons).
  • a chemical library may be tested in a ligand-receptor binding assay, or in a cell culture model of organ fibrosis, as described in Example 2.
  • fibrotic diseases which may be treated using the interferon-lambda of the invention include, but are not limited to interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, silicosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, non-specific interstitial pneumonia, rheumatoid lung, scleroderma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis; renal fibrosis (including chronic glomeruonephritis, tubulointerstitial nephropathies and genetic diseases of the kidney) such as diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, IgA nephropathy, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous nephropathy, renovascular disease, polycystic kidney disease, chronic allograft nephropathy and Goodpastures disease; liver fibrosis and liver fibro
  • the fibrosis is kidney fibrosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is lung fibrosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is small intestine fibrosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is skin fibrosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is liver fibrosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is peritoneal fibrosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is pancreatic fibrosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is atherosclerosis (in which case the IFN- ⁇ may be IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2, IFN- ⁇ 3, or IFN- ⁇ 4).
  • the fibrosis is selected from the group consisting of kidney fibrosis, lung fibrosis, small intestine fibrosis, skin fibrosis, liver fibrosis, peritoneal fibrosis, pancreatic fibrosis and atherosclerosis.
  • the fibrosis is selected from the group consisting of kidney fibrosis, lung fibrosis, small intestine fibrosis, skin fibrosis, peritoneal fibrosis, pancreatic fibrosis and atherosclerosis.
  • the fibrosis is not associated with a microbial infection, for example a viral infection.
  • the subject treated in the invention may be one who does not have an infection such as a viral infection.
  • the subject may be one who does not have a viral infection that is known to be treatable by IFN-2
  • the subject may be one who is not infected by a hepatitis virus, such as hepatitis A, B or C; influenza virus; severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus; coronavirus; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2); cytomegalovirus (CMV); Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus; norovirus; rotavirus; or Ebola virus.
  • An interferon-lambda of the invention, or a functionally active fragment or derivative thereof, may be provided in a pharmaceutical composition.
  • the pharmaceutical composition will normally be sterile may additionally comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant and/or carrier.
  • “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like that are physiologically compatible.
  • the carrier may be suitable for parenteral, e.g. intravenous, intramuscular, intradermal, intraocular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, spinal or other parenteral routes of administration, for example by injection or infusion.
  • the carrier may be suitable for non-parenteral administration, such as a topical, epidermal or mucosal route of administration.
  • the carrier may be suitable for oral administration.
  • the interferon-lambda or functionally active fragment or derivative thereof may be coated in a material to protect it from the action of acids and other natural conditions that may inactivate it.
  • compositions of the invention may include one or more pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
  • a “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to a salt that retains the desired biological activity of the parent compound and does not impart any undesired toxicological effects. Examples of such salts include acid addition salts and base addition salts.
  • Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers comprise aqueous carriers or diluents.
  • suitable aqueous carriers that may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include water, buffered water and saline.
  • suitable aqueous carriers include water, buffered water and saline.
  • other carriers include ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate.
  • isotonic agents for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, or sodium chloride in the composition.
  • compositions typically must be sterile and stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage.
  • the composition can be formulated as a solution, microemulsion, liposome, or other ordered structure suitable to high drug concentration.
  • compositions of the invention may comprise additional active ingredients.
  • kits comprising an interferon-lambda of the invention and instructions for use.
  • the kit may further contain one or more additional reagents, such as an additional therapeutic or prophylactic agent as discussed above.
  • interferon-lambda of the invention or formulations or compositions thereof may be administered for prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a fibrotic disease.
  • the treatment of a fibrotic disease is a therapeutic treatment.
  • compounds are administered to a subject already suffering from a disorder or condition as described above, in an amount sufficient to cure, alleviate or partially arrest the condition or one or more of its symptoms.
  • Such therapeutic treatment may result in a decrease in severity of disease symptoms, or an increase in frequency or duration of symptom-free periods.
  • An amount adequate to accomplish this is defined as a “therapeutically effective amount”.
  • the treatment of a fibrotic disease is a prophylactic treatment.
  • formulations are administered to a subject at risk of a disorder or condition as described above, in an amount sufficient to prevent or reduce the subsequent effects of the condition or one or more of its symptoms.
  • An amount adequate to accomplish this is defined as a “prophylactically effective amount”.
  • Effective amounts for each purpose will depend on the severity of the disease or injury as well as the weight and general state of the subject.
  • a subject for administration may be a human or non-human animal.
  • non-human animal includes all vertebrates, e.g., mammals and non-mammals, such as non-human primates, sheep, dogs, cats, horses, cows, chickens, amphibians, reptiles, etc. Administration to humans is typical.
  • An antibody/modulator or pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be administered via one or more routes of administration using one or more of a variety of methods known in the art.
  • routes of administration for pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include intravenous, intramuscular, intradermal, intraocular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, spinal or other parenteral routes of administration, for example by injection or infusion.
  • parenteral administration as used herein means modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, usually by injection.
  • a pharmaceutical composition of the invention can be administered via a non-parenteral route, such as a topical, epidermal or mucosal route of administration.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be for oral administration.
  • a suitable dosage of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be determined by a skilled medical practitioner. Actual dosage levels of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient that is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient.
  • the selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of pharmacokinetic factors including the activity of the particular compositions of the present invention employed, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion of the particular compound being employed, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular compositions employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts.
  • a suitable dose may be, for example, in the range of from about 0.01 ⁇ g/kg to about 1000 mg/kg body weight, typically from about 0.1 ⁇ g/kg to about 100 mg/kg body weight, of the patient to be treated.
  • a suitable dosage may be from about 1 ⁇ g/kg to about 10 mg/kg body weight per day or from about 10 ⁇ g/kg to about 5 mg/kg body weight per day.
  • Dosage regimens may be adjusted to provide the optimum desired response (e.g., a therapeutic response). For example, a single dose may be administered, several divided doses may be administered over time or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation.
  • Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subjects to be treated; each unit contains a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier.
  • Administration may be in single or multiple doses. Multiple doses may be administered via the same or different routes and to the same or different locations. Alternatively, doses can be via a sustained release formulation, in which case less frequent administration is required. Dosage and frequency may vary depending on the half-life of the antagonist in the patient and the duration of treatment desired.
  • modulators/antibodies or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be co-administered with one or other more other therapeutic agents.
  • Combined administration of two or more agents may be achieved in a number of different ways. Both may be administered together in a single composition, or they may be administered in separate compositions as part of a combined therapy. For example, the one may be administered before, after or concurrently with the other.
  • interferon-lambda of the invention is administered in combination with another therapeutically active compound.
  • other therapeutically active compound is another anti-fibrotic therapeutic agent.
  • the interferon-lambda may be administered not in combination with another therapeutically active compound.
  • the patient treated with the interferon-lambda may be one who is not treated with an antiviral agent, such as another interferon (e.g. a type I interferon or a type II interferon such as interferon-gamma).
  • another interferon e.g. a type I interferon or a type II interferon such as interferon-gamma.
  • FIG. 1 Identification of IL-28A as an Anti-Fibrotic Hit in an Adriamycin Model of Kidney Disease
  • Control mice were transfected with just saline prior to Adriamycin injection. Mice were monitored up to 49 days and on termination kidney hydroxyproline levels ( FIGS. 1( a ) and ( b ) ) and serum creatinine levels ( FIG. 1( c ) ) were measured (there is no conditional survival data for the primary screen).
  • FIGS. 1-10 Figures for Hyroxyproline ( ⁇ g/mg Kidney) and Serum Creatinine ( ⁇ g/mL) are box and whisker plots.
  • the central horizontal line shows the median of the data and the box extends from the 25 th to the 75 th percentiles.
  • the ‘whiskers’ cover a typical range of the data.
  • Normalized Hydroxyproline (Kidney collagen) show the mean with an error bar of +SEM, **** p ⁇ 0.0001, *** p ⁇ 0.001, * p ⁇ 0.05.
  • FIG. 2 Confirmation of IL-28A as an Anti-Fibrotic Hit in an Adriamycin Model of Kidney Disease
  • FIGS. 1-10 Figures for Hyroxyproline ( ⁇ g/mg Kidney) and Serum Creatinine ( ⁇ g/mL) are box and whisker plots.
  • the central horizontal line shows the median of the data and the box extends from the 25 th to the 75 th percentiles.
  • the ‘whiskers’ cover a typical range of the data.
  • Normalized Hydroxyproline (Kidney collagen) show the mean with an error bar of +SEM, **** p ⁇ 0.0001, *** p ⁇ 0.001, * p ⁇ 0.05.
  • FIG. 3 Identification of IL-28B as an Anti-Fibrotic Hit in an Adriamycin Model of Kidney Disease
  • Hyroxyproline ⁇ g/mg Kidney
  • Serum Creatinine m/mL
  • the central horizontal line shows the median of the data and the box extends from the 25 th to the 75 th percentiles.
  • the ‘whiskers’ cover a typical range of the data.
  • Normalized Hydroxyproline Karl collagen
  • FIG. 4 Confirmation of IL-28B as an Anti-Fibrotic Hit in an Adriamycin Model of Kidney Disease
  • FIGS. 1-10 Figures for Hyroxyproline ( ⁇ g/mg Kidney) and Serum Creatinine ( ⁇ g/mL) are box and whisker plots.
  • the central horizontal line shows the median of the data and the box extends from the 25 th to the 75 th percentiles.
  • the ‘whiskers’ cover a typical range of the data.
  • Normalized Hydroxyproline (Kidney collagen) show the mean with an error bar of +SEM, **** p ⁇ 0.0001, *** p ⁇ 0.001, * p ⁇ 0.05.
  • FIG. 5 Histological Confirmation of IL-28B and IL-28A as Anti-Fibrotic in an Adriamycin Model of Kidney Disease
  • kidneys from the study described in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 were fixed in NBF, paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and stained with either Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), picro-sirius red (PSR) or masons trichrome (MT). The slides were then imaged with a Hamamatsu slide scanner. Representative images of the PSR-stained kidneys sections are shown for IL-28B in FIG. 5( a ) for 1 na ⁇ ve mouse, 3 saline Adriamycin-treated mice and 3 Adriamycin-treated mice that also received IL-28B and for IL-28A in FIG.
  • H&E Haematoxylin and Eosin
  • PSR picro-sirius red
  • MT masons trichrome
  • FIG. 6 Effect of IL-28A in a Liver In Vitro ECM Fibrosis Model
  • FIG. 6( a ) Human primary stellate cells ( FIG. 6( a ) ) (seeded at 1000 cells/well) or human primary stellate cells in co-culture with human primary hepatocytes ( FIG. 6( b ) ) (seeded at 1000 cells/well, 1:1 ratio) were treated with IL-28A in culture for 5 days. Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, Collagen I&III and Collagen IV were measured by immunofluorescent labelling with imaging and quantification on a Cellomics Arrayscan. Data represents Mean Total Intensity plotted as Mean+/ ⁇ SD of 4 separate wells.
  • FIG. 7 Effect of IL-28A and IL-28B in a Liver In Vitro ECM Fibrosis Model Plus TGF ⁇
  • Human primary stellate cells at 1000 cells/well) ( FIG. 7 a )) or human primary stellate cells in co-culture with human primary hepatocytes (at 1000 cells/well, 1:1 ratio) ( FIG. 7( b ) ) were treated with IL-28A or IL-28B in culture for 5 days in the presence of TGF ⁇ at 250 pg/ml.
  • Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, Collagen I&III and Collagen IV were measured by immunofluorescent labelling with imaging and quantification on a Cellomics Arrayscan. Data represents Mean Total Intensity plotted as Mean+/ ⁇ SD of 4 separate wells.
  • FIG. 8 High Content Images showing the Effect of IL-28A and IL-28B in TGF ⁇ 1-Stimulated Stellate Cell-Hepatocyte Co-Culture ECM
  • Human primary stellate cells in co-culture with primary hepatocytes (in a ratio of 1:1 with a final cell concentration of 1000 cells/well), stimulated with TGF ⁇ 1 (250 pg/ml) were cultured alone (TGF ⁇ 1 co-culture) or treated with IL-28A or IL-28B at 10000, 1000, 100 or 10 ng/ml for 5 days. Images shown are from 1 representative field out of 16 fields for each condition. Magnification was performed with a ⁇ 10 objective.
  • FIG. 9 Effect of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 in a TGF ⁇ 1-Stimulated Small Intestine Fibroblast ECM In Vitro Model
  • Human primary small intestinal fibroblasts (at 2000 cells/well) were treated with IL-28A, IL-28B or IL-29 (all at 10 ng/ml) in culture for 7 days in the presence of TGF ⁇ (10 ng/ml).
  • TGF ⁇ 10 ng/ml
  • Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, Collagen I&III and Collagen IV were measured by immunofluorescent labelling with imaging and quantification on a Cellomics Arrayscan.
  • Data represents Mean Total Intensity plotted as Mean+/ ⁇ SD of 4 separate wells.
  • FIG. 10 % Inhibition of IL-28A and IL-28B in a Skin Keratinocyte-Fibroblast Co-Culture ECM In Vitro Model
  • Human primary dermal fibroblasts from 3 individual batches were placed in co-culture with primary human keratinocytes (in a ratio of 9:1 with a final cell concentration of 1500 cells/well) and treated with increasing amounts of IL-28A or IL-28B for 7 days.
  • Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, Collagen I&III and Collagen IV were measured by immunofluorescent labelling with imaging and quantification on a Cellomics Arrayscan.
  • the normalized data from the 3 batches was calculated as % inhibition and plotted as Mean ⁇ SD.
  • Cell viability was measured with PrestoBlue, with the 3 fibroblast batches in co-culture with keratinocytes normalized to control co-culture and the data averaged to give the fold change.
  • FIG. 11 Effect of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 in a Skin Keratinocyte-Fibroblast Co-Culture ECM In Vitro Model
  • Human primary dermal fibroblasts in co-culture with primary human keratinocytes were treated with IL-29, IL-28A or IL-28B for 7 days in the concentration range of 1250-10000 ng/ml cytokine.
  • Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, Collagen I&III and Collagen IV were measured by immunofluorescent labelling, with imaging and quantification on a Cellomics Arrayscan. Data represents Mean Total Intensity plotted as Mean+/ ⁇ SD of 4 separate wells. Cell viability was measured with PrestoBlue.
  • FIG. 12 High Content Images showing the Effect of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 in a Skin Keratinocyte-Fibroblast Co-Culture ECM in Vitro Model
  • Human primary dermal fibroblasts from a representative donor in co-culture with primary keratinocytes were cultured alone (control) or treated with IL-29, IL-28A or IL-28B at 10000 or 1250 ng/ml for 7 days.
  • the images represent the combined signal from the Fibronectin, Col I&III and Col IV ECM matrix proteins and shows 1 representative field from a total of 16 fields per condition. Magnification was performed with a ⁇ 10 objective.
  • FIG. 13 Effect of IL-28A and IL-28B in a IL-1 ⁇ -Stimulated Skin Fibroblast ECM In Vitro Model
  • Human primary dermal fibroblasts (1500 cells/well), stimulated with IL-1 ⁇ (10 ng/ml) were treated with increasing amounts of IL-28A or IL-28B in culture for 7 days.
  • Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, Collagen I&III and Collagen IV were measured by immunofluorescent labelling with imaging and quantification on a Cellomics Arrayscan.
  • Data represents Mean Total Intensity plotted as Mean+/ ⁇ SD of 4 separate wells. Cell viability was measured with PrestoBlue. The data is representative of one out of two different fibroblast batches.
  • FIG. 14 Effect of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 in a Kidney RPTEC-Fibroblast Co-Culture ECM In Vitro Model
  • RPTECs Human primary renal proximal tubular epithelial cells
  • primary human kidney fibroblasts in a ratio of 1:1 with a final seeding cell concentration of 2000 cells/well
  • IL-29, IL-28A or IL-28B for 7 days.
  • Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, and Collagen I&III were measured by immunofluorescent labelling with imaging and quantification on a Cellomics Arrayscan. Data represents Mean Total Intensity plotted as Mean+/ ⁇ SD of 4 separate wells. Cell viability was measured with PrestoBlue.
  • IL-29, IL-28A or IL-28B were either added to the co-culture of RPTECs and fibroblasts at day 0 ( FIG. 14( a ) ), or added to the RPTECs for 24 hours before combination with the fibroblasts ( FIG. 14( b ) ) or added to the fibroblasts for 24 hours before combination with the RPTECs ( FIG. 14( c ) ).
  • FIG. 15 Comparison of Addition Formats on the Effect of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 in the Kidney RPTEC-Fibroblast Co-Culture ECM In Vitro Model
  • FIG. 14 The data presented in FIG. 14 was re-plotted showing the effect of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 in the kidney co-culture cell system using the 3 different addition protocols in the one graph, where IL-28A, IL-28B or IL-29 were added to the co-culture of RPTECs and HRFs together (termed Co-culture), to the RPTECs first and 24 hours later the HRFs were introduced (termed RPTEC added 1 st ) and to the HRFs first and 24 hours later the RPTECs were introduced (termed HRF added 1 st ) and the co-culture was continued for 7 days with fibronectin and collagens I&III data re-plotted in FIGS. 15 ( a ) and ( b ) , respectively.
  • the ECM markers were analysed, for each cytokine, using analysis of variance accounting for differences between order of addition (co-culture, RPTEC first and HRF first) and doses (0 to 10000 ng/ml). Post-analysis comparisons were performed and a Bonferroni correction used to adjust the reported p-values. All analyses were performed using SAS v9.4 (SAS Institute). The doses of cytokine reaching significance are marked on the graphs with **** p ⁇ 0.0001, *** p ⁇ 0.001, ** p ⁇ 0.01 and * p ⁇ 0.05.
  • FIG. 16 High Content Images showing the Effect of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 in the Kidney RPTEC-Fibroblast Co-Culture ECM
  • RPTECs Human primary renal proximal tubular cells in co-culture with primary human kidney fibroblasts (in a ratio of 1:1 with a final cell concentration of 2000 cells/well at seeding) were cultured alone (control) or treated with IL-29, IL-28A or IL-28B at 1000, 100 or 10 ng/ml for 7 days. Cytokines were added to the RPTECs 24 hours before the inclusion of the fibroblasts in the culture as depicted in FIG. 14( b ) . Images shown are from 1 representative field out of a total of 16 fields for each condition. Magnification was performed with a ⁇ 10 objective.
  • FIG. 17 Effect of IL-28A and IL-28B in a Lung SAEpithelial-Fibroblast Co-Culture ECM In Vitro Model
  • SAEpithelial Primary human small airway lung epithelial cells (SAEpithelial) in co-culture with human IPF primary lung fibroblasts (1:1 ratio at a final cell concentration of 2000 cells/well at seeding) were treated with IL-28A or IL-28B for 7 days.
  • Cells were removed & the ECM proteins, Fibronectin, Collagen I&III and Collagen IV were measured by immunofluorescent labelling while total ECM protein was identified by flamingo pink staining. Imaging and quantification was performed on a Cellomics Arrayscan. Data represents Mean Total Intensity plotted as Mean+/ ⁇ SD of 4 separate wells. Cell viability was measured with PrestoBlue with a read-out on fluorescence.
  • FIG. 18 Protein and DNA Sequences of IFNL1, IFNL2, IFNL3 and IFNL4
  • IFNL1, IFNL2, IFNL3 and IFNL4 were obtained from Uniprot database and DNA sequences of IFNL1, IFNL2, IFNL3 and IFNL4 were from GenBank.
  • FIG. 19 Effect of IL-28A and IL-29 in an In Vitro Human Liver Stellate and Epithelial Cell Co-Culture Model of Hepatic Fibrosis
  • FIG. 20 Effect of IL-28A on Podocyte Survival in an In Vitro 3D Glomerular Spheroid Model of Glomeruolosclerosis
  • 3D glomerular spheroids were constructed from an inner core of human glomerular endothelial cells surrounded by GFP-labelled human podocytes.
  • the spheroids were either grown in media or treated with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) patient plasma at a 15% final concentration plus or minus the presence of human IL-28A protein. In each experiment and for each condition, at least 5 spheroids were imaged.
  • FSGS focal segmental glomerular sclerosis
  • MIPs 2D maximum intensity projections
  • FIG. 21 Hydrodynamic Transfection of Mouse IL-28B protects against Fibrosis in the Mouse Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction (UUO) Kidney Fibrosis Model
  • SEAP secreted alkaline phosphatase control protein
  • FIG. 22 Effect of IL-29 in an In Vitro Human Kidney Renal Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cell Mono-Culture Model of Kidney Fibrosis
  • FIG. 23 Treatment with Human IL-29 by Hydrodynamic Transfection Protects against Tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the Mouse Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Model of Kidney Fibrosis
  • FIG. 23( a ) Sera samples were taken from the mice at day 0 (24 hours post transfection) and again at 19 days and analysed for human IL-29 protein. Human IL-29 levels were plotted comparing IL-29 levels in the Day 0 UUO IL-29 group, terminal D19 UUO SEAP group and the terminal UUO IL-29 group.
  • SEAP secreted alkaline phosphatase control protein
  • Cytokines of the interferon- ⁇ (IFN- ⁇ ) family known as IFN- ⁇ 1 (IL-29), IFN- ⁇ 2 (IL-28A) and IFN- ⁇ 3 (IL-28B), signal through a distinct receptor complex, composed of the IFN- ⁇ R1 (IL-28R1) and interleukin-10R2 (IL-10R2) receptor chains.
  • IFN- ⁇ 2 and IFN- ⁇ 3 were reported as hits.
  • a hit was called based on the level of kidney fibrosis as determined by a 40% reduction in renal hydroxyproline levels (renal collagen).
  • Both IFN- ⁇ 2 and IFN- ⁇ 3 also showed a corresponding preservation of renal function as measured by serum creatinine. This led conditional survival rates (ie.
  • UUO Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction
  • the anti-fibrotic effect of the IL-28R1 ligands has been confirmed in several human primary cell in vitro models of fibrosis that read out on mature accumulated extracellular matrix (ECM) protein.
  • ECM extracellular matrix
  • Recombinant human IFN- ⁇ 1, IFN- ⁇ 2 and IFN- ⁇ 3 each inhibited the accumulation of the fibrosis-associated ECM proteins (fibronectin and collagens I, III and IV) in primary human cell in vitro models of liver, lung, gut, skin and kidney fibrosis.
  • liver stellate cells liver stellate-hepatocyte co-cultures (both basal matrix and TGF ⁇ -induced)
  • liver stellate—epithelial cell co-cultures TGF ⁇ -induced small intestinal fibroblasts, IL-1 ⁇ -induced dermal fibroblasts, keratinocyte-dermal fibroblast co-cultures, renal proximal tubular epithelial cell-kidney fibroblast co- and mono-cultures and lung small airway epithelial-IPF lung fibroblast co-cultures.
  • the IL-28R1 ligands have been shown to have potent anti-fibrotic effects in both in vitro and in vivo fibrosis screens. Potent effects have been described in in vivo mouse models of renal fibrosis and in numerous in vitro human fibrosis models with relevant primary cells from liver, small intestine, skin, kidney and lung organ systems. These proteins therefore have unexpected potential as anti-fibrotic agents in multiple types of fibrosis.
  • mice Female Balb/c mice, at least 6 weeks old and a weight greater than 24 g, were subjected to an IV injection through the tail vein of cDNA (or pair of cDNA for paired studies) in an appropriate hydrodynamic transfection expression vector. After 7 days the mice were given adriamycin (doxorubicin) at 11 mg/kg IP and monitored for 49 days. Mice were monitored every day for weight and health; those mice that had lost greater than 40% of starting body weight or showing physical signs of end stage kidney failure were terminated and the data collected. At the end of the 49 day study period, all mice were terminated and kidneys and sera collected for analyses.
  • doxorubicin doxorubicin
  • Kidney hydroxyproline was measured using the QuickZyme assay method (QuickZyme Biosciences) and serum creatinine was measured using the three enzyme method and read out as ⁇ g/ml serum creatinine.
  • a DNA construct for hydrodynamic transfection was created by insertion of the DNA sequence (NM_172140.1) encoding the human IL29 precursor protein (NP_742152.1) into the pLive vector (Mir5420, Mirus Bio LLC, 545 Science Dr., Madison, Wis. 53711 USA) using NheI-XhoI restriction digestion followed by DNA ligation of homologous ends.
  • a gene (mRNA Ref Seq NM_177396) construct encoding mouse IFNL3 (NP_796370) was cloned into pLive (Mirus) using a BamHI-XhoI restriction digestion strategy of both vector and insert followed by ligation. Gene insertions into pLive were verified by DNA sequencing.
  • the gene was preceded by a CCACC sequence directly up steam of the ATG encoding the start methionine of the signal sequence.
  • This vector harbours a kanamycin resistance gene and a pUC origin that allow for DNA amplification in Escherichia coli . Furthermore, this vector harbours mouse minimal albumin promoter to transcribe the human IFNL-1 gene flanked by introns on either side. [The pLive vector allows for long term protein expression in the liver].
  • the DNA construct for hydrodynamic transfection was isolated from Escherichia coli culture harbouring this construct using a plasmid isolation kit that limits the amount of endotoxin in the solution (HiSpeed Plasmid Giga EF, Qiagen). Plasmid DNA was Sanger sequenced to verify the insert.
  • Kanefuji et al. and Liu et al. describe typical vectors for hydrodynamic transfection.
  • mice were hydrodynamically transfected with 50 ⁇ g of either the pLIVE-human IL-29, pLIVE-mouse IL-28B or pLIVE SEAP Vector (Mirus Bio, Cat # MIR 5320) in TransIT-EE vehicle.
  • the solution containing the vector was injected rapidly (less than 2.5 seconds) intravenously in a volume of 2 ml.
  • General anaesthesia with Isoflurane was induced prior to hydrodynamic injection and maintained for at least 1 minute post injection.
  • Mouse IL-28B was quantitated using a meso scale discovery (MSD) quantitation assay using commercial antibody pairs (RnD systems, cat# DY1598B) and mouse sera was diluted 1 in 100 to place on the linear standard curve.
  • Human IL-29 was quantitated using the MSD U-plex human IL-29 antibody set (cat# B21WD) and mouse sera was diluted 1 in 100 to place in the linear range.
  • mice On Day 19 or 21 mice were anaesthetised using Isoflurane, blood removed by cardiac puncture into serum tubes (Sarstedt) and the mice killed by cervical dislocation. The left kidney was removed and two quarters snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at ⁇ 80° C. The remaining half was placed into 10% neutral buffered formalin, dehydrated in a tissue processor and paraffin embedded for histological analysis. Paraffin blocks were sectioned at 4 ⁇ m on a microtome and mounted on glass slides. Slides were then de-waxed and hydrated, stained with picro-sirius red (PSR) before being washed with acidified water. Slides were then dehydrated, cleared and coverslipped. Slides were left to dry and then scanned using a Hamamatsu slide scanner.
  • PSR picro-sirius red
  • Histological assessment of the level of fibrosis was performed by blinded researchers with expertise in the field of renal fibrosis using a combination of Pico Sirius red, Masson's Trichrome and Haematoxylin and Eosin stained sections as preferred. A 10 point scale was used where 10 was very severe fibrosis equivalent to end stage renal failure and 1 normal. Parameters assessed in the score were tubular basement membrane expansion, epithelial cell flattening, brush border integrity, tubular atrophy and collapse, tubular lumen size, interstitial cell infiltrate, glomerular tuft structure, mesangial expansion, glomerular infiltrate, glomerular urinary space, glomerular basement membrane and mesangial matrix expansion.
  • ECM accumulation assays were performed in 384-well black clear-bottomed plates (Greiner cat#781090), where the media, cell number/well, incubation time and stimulus varied with the primary cell type used.
  • Human stellate cells (ScienCell) in mono-culture were seeded at 1000 cells/well in stellate cell media (ScienCell) and human stellate cells and hepatocytes (ScienCell) co-culture at 1000 cells/well (1:1 ratio) in the mixed culture media (ScienCell).
  • Human dermal skin fibroblasts were grown in fibroblast growth media and human keratinocytes were grown in keratinocyte media and seeded at 1500 cells/well.
  • the fibroblast-keratinocyte co-culture (9:1 ratio) was grown in a 1:1 mixture of media and seeded at 1500 cells/well.
  • RPTEC Human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells
  • HRF human renal fibroblasts
  • ATCC renal epithelial cell basal medium
  • FCS 0.5% FCS and supplements
  • ATCC Human small airway epithelial cells
  • ATCC bronchial epithelial growth kit supplements
  • IPF134 lung fibroblasts ATCC
  • Immunofluorescence plates were washed 3 times in Flowfusor water before being stained using FlamingoTM fluorescent gel stain reagent (BioRad) following the instructions of the manufacturer. Plates were scanned on the Arrayscan HC reader (Cellomics) using a 2-channel protocol under the “Cellomics CellHealth” profiling bioapplication and a 10 ⁇ objective (new X1 camera) with 2 ⁇ 2 binning (1 ⁇ 10 4 ⁇ 1 ⁇ 10 4 pixels/field).
  • Nano-shuttle-PL (Cat #657841) was added to T75 flasks of stably transfected GFP-tagged actin, conditionally immortalised SV40 infected podocytes and human glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) provided by the University of Bristol, grown in RPMI 1640 (10% FCS, 5ML L-glutamine and 1XITS, Gibco) and EBM-2 media, with supplement kit from Lonza (Cat # CC4147), respectively. GFP transfected podocytes were confirmed by FACS. All cells were harvested using TrypLE Express (Gibco) and magnetised HRGECs were seeded at 5000 cells/well in 96-well low adhesion Greiner plates (Cat #655976).
  • HRGECs human glomerular endothelial cells
  • a Greiner Spheroid Drive (Cat #655830) was placed beneath the 96-well plate for 6 h and spheroids were grown in EBM-2 media at 37° C./5% CO 2 /100% humidity. The Drive was removed, and magnetised GFP-podocytes were seeded at 5000 cells/well. The Drive was returned beneath overnight and spheroids were differentiated for 10 days feeding every 3 days using the Holding Drive. Spheroids were then treated with human FSGS plasma at 15% final concentration, plus or minus IL-28A (10,000 ng/mL), or media only for 7 days.
  • Spheroids were fixed and permeabilised for 3 hours at 4° C. in 10% formalin/1% Triton X-100/PBS. After 3 ⁇ 10 min PBS washes spheroids were dehydrated in ascending series of methanol at 4° C. in PBS: 25%, 50%, 75%, 95% for 30 mins each and left in 100% methanol overnight. Spheroids were rehydrated in the same descending series and washed as before in PBS before blocking in PBST (0.1% Triton X-100 in PBS) containing 3% BSA overnight at 4° C. After 4 ⁇ 30 min PBST washes, secondary antibodies (1:500/PBST: Alexa GAR-AF647 and GAM-AF555) were added.
  • anti-GFP-AF488 was added at 1:200 for 24 h.
  • Spheroids were washed (4 ⁇ 30 mins/PBST) before image capture using the YokoGawa confocal quantification 1 (CQ1) at ⁇ 20 magnification.
  • Conditional survival as measured by symptoms of end stage kidney failure increased from 50% in the saline treated Adriamycin group to 85% in those transfected with mouse IL-28A ( FIG. 2( d ) ).
  • MT masson's trichrome
  • PSR picosirius red
  • FIG. 5( f ) Exemplar and representative images of the PSR-stained kidneys for one na ⁇ ve, three untreated Adriamycin and three IL-28B-treated Adriamycin animals are shown in FIG. 5( f ) .
  • Adriamycin treatment has caused about 50% of the glomeruli to exhibit clear glomerulosclerosis with enhanced PSR staining predominently in the glomerular basement membrane, but also in the mesangial matrix.
  • the tubulonterstitium there is consistent tubular basement membrane expansion in greater than 70% of the cortex with a large number of tubules exhibiting flattened epithelia causing a significant loss of tubular architecture with huge distension of the tubule leading to large lumen with no brush border. These areas have mild to moderate cell infiltration.
  • IL-28A has almost completely prevented signs of glomerulosclerosis with little evidence of glomerular basement membrane thickening. Only 2 of the 22 animals showed notable signs of epithelial flattening and the lumen expansion characteristic of untreated animals. The remainder of the animals had a tubulointerstitium that appeared near normal in greater than 80% of the cortex with little effect of the tubular basement membrane.
  • the 47 mouse kidney samples that were stained with PSR were subjected to high content image analysis using Definiens software and the area of PSR staining measured in the three groups was plotted as percentage PSR stained area ( FIG. 5( g ) ).
  • the same 47 mouse kidney slides were subjected to a blinded pathological assessment of the degree of fibrosis by two individuals with renal pathology expertise.
  • a renal scientific expert scored the PSR-stained slides using a scoring range from 0-10 point scale (0 showing no fibrosis, and 10 the highest fibrosis).
  • IL-28A treatment showed a significant 47% reduction in the pathology score (p ⁇ 0.0001) compared to the untreated group ( FIG. 5( h ) ).
  • Conditional survival increased from ⁇ 50% in the untreated Adriamycin animals to 100% in those receiving IL-28 B ( FIG. 4( d ) ).
  • H&E haemotoxylin and eosin
  • PSR picosirius red
  • mice kidneys had extensive glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis with notable tubular basement membrane expansion, flattening of the tubular epithelium, extensive tubular dilation with loss of the brush border and tubular atrophy.
  • IL28B treated mice were largely protected from both types of fibrotic remodelling.
  • the 50 mouse kidney samples that were stained with PSR were subjected to high content image analysis using Definiens software and the area of PSR staining measured in the three groups was plotted as percentage PSR stained area ( FIG. 5( b ) ).
  • the IL-28B-treated group PSR stained area was normalised (p ⁇ 0.0001) relative to the 3 fold increase in untreated kidneys
  • the same 50 mouse kidney slides were subjected to a blinded pathological assessment of the degree of fibrosis by three individuals with renal pathology expertise.
  • a clinical pathologist scored the H&E stained slides using a scoring range from 0-4 point scale (0 showing no fibrosis, and 4 the highest fibrosis).
  • IL-28B treatment showed a significant 45% reduction in the pathology score (p ⁇ 0.01) compared to the untreated group ( FIG. 5( c ) ).
  • Two expert renal scientists manually scored the 50 PSR-stained slides using a 1-10 scale (1 showing no fibrosis and 10 the highest).
  • the IL-28B-treated group again demonstrated a clear improvement in the level of fibrotic remodelling (p ⁇ 0.0001) relative to the untreated group ( FIGS. 5( d ) and ( e ) ).
  • Human primary stellate cells grown on plastic are self-activating and accumulate a substantial basal level of extracellular matrix as measured by the levels of the ECM proteins fibronectin, collagen IV and collagen I&III. This ECM accumulation can be inhibited by treatment of the culture with recombinant IL-28A in a dose dependent manner ( FIG. 6( a ) ).
  • the co-culture of human primary stellate cells with primary human hepatocytes (1:1 ratio) leads to a basal extracellular matrix that can also be inhibited by treatment with recombinant human IL-28A in a dose dependant manner with fibronectin, collagen IV and collagen I&III reduced ( FIG. 6( b ) ).
  • TGF ⁇ 1 stimulation of both the stellate cell monoculture and the stellate-hepatocyte co-culture induced a further increase in the ECM proteins, fibronectin, collagen IV and collagen I&III.
  • Treatment of the TGF ⁇ 1-stimulated stellate cell mono-culture, or the stellate-hepatocyte co-culture with either IL-28A or IL-28B demonstrated a near complete inhibition of any increase in any ECM protein at the highest concentration of 10 ⁇ g/ml of IL-28A or B, with both inhibiting in a dose dependent manner.
  • IL-28A was more potent than IL-28B across all the ECM proteins in TGF ⁇ 1-stimulated liver cells ( FIGS.
  • fibronectin and collagen I&III Human small intestine fibroblasts stimulated with TGF ⁇ 1 (10 ng/ml) induce the extracellular matrix proteins, fibronectin and collagen I&III.
  • the fibronectin level was significantly inhibited by IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 (10 ng/ml), with inhibition of 76%, 73%, and 83%, respectively relative to the control TGF ⁇ 1 stimulation.
  • Collagen I&III was inhibited by IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 (10 ng/ml), by 48%, 33% and 35%, respectively.
  • Collagen IV was only significantly inhibited by IL-28A (37% inhibition at 10 ⁇ g/ml) relative to control TGF ⁇ 1 stimulation ( FIG. 9 ).
  • Both IL-28A and IL-28B showed a dose-dependent inhibition of the Col IV ECM marker between 10 and 10000 ng/ml. Cell viability was tested using the prestoblue assay, showing that neither IL-28A nor IL-28B were toxic at any concentration tested ( FIG. 10 ).
  • the dermal fibroblast-keratinocyte co-culture was treated with IL-29, IL-28A and IL-28B over a narrower concentration range of 1250-10000 ng/ml. This showed dose dependent inhibition of fibronectin, collagen I&III and collagen IV relative to the control co-culture ( FIG. 11 ). Collagen IV was the most inhibited by the IFNLs at all concentrations tested ( FIG. 11 ). Cell viability was not affected by treatment with IL-29, IL-28A or IL-28B as determined by the Presto Blue cell viability assay ( FIG. 11 ).
  • IL-1 ⁇ 10 ng/ml
  • IL-28A or IL-28B had no effect on cell viability as measured by prestoblue ( FIG. 13 ).
  • RPTEC Human primary renal proximal tubular epithelial cells placed in co-culture with human primary renal fibroblasts (seeded with 2000 cells/well at a 1:1 ratio) generate a robust ECM, high in fibronectin and collagen I&III.
  • This co-culture was treated with IL-29, IL-28A or IL-28B using 3 different protocols for addition of cytokines.
  • IL-29 IL-28A and IL-28B were added to the renal co-culture at day 0 and the culture incubated for 7 days. All 3 cytokines potently inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the accumulation of fibronectin and collagen I&III ( FIG. 14( a ) ). IL-29 demonstrated the most potent effects, with little difference between IL-28A and IL-28B. Cell viability was not compromised by cytokine treatment (( FIG. 14( a ) ).
  • IL-29, IL-28A and IL-28B were added to the RPTEC cells at day 0, the fibroblasts were added 24 hours later and then the culture was allowed to continue for a total of 7 days after which the ECM was measured.
  • IL-29, IL-28A and IL-28B all again inhibited in a dose dependent manner the accumulation of fibronectin and collagen I&III ( FIG. 14( b ) ).
  • the magnitude of the inhibition of the ECM proteins in the presence of the IFNLs was greater when the cytokines were added to the RPTECs 24 hours before the co-culture induction of ECM was initiated by the addition of the fibroblasts rather than to both cells simultaneously (Comparison of FIG. 14( a ) and FIG. 14( b ) ).
  • IL-29, IL-28 and IL-28B were added to the fibroblasts on day 0. Twenty four hours later the RPTECs were added and the co-culture was continued for a total of 7 days when fibronectin and collagen I&III were measured. Adding the IFNLs to the fibroblasts first also showed significant inhibition of the ECM proteins ( FIG. 14( c ) ), but reduced the efficacy of IL-29, IL-28A and IL-29B compared to both addition of the cytokines at day 0 to the co-culture and addition of the cytokines to the RPTEC 24 hours before the fibroblasts.
  • Representative images (one out of a total of 16 fields per treatment) of the untreated co-culture compared to the IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29 treated co-cultures show both the dose-dependent effects of IL-29, IL-28A and IL-28B and the near total inhibition observed in the presence of 1000 ng/ml IL-29 ( FIG. 16 ) confirming the image analysis data.
  • Renal proximal tubular tubular epithelial cells in mono-culture lay down basal ECM proteins by growing on plastic, albeit at low levels.
  • the low levels of ECM can still be inhibited in the presence of very low concentrations of IL-29 as shown for fibrobnectin, collagen IV and Collagen I&III in FIG. 22 .
  • Glomerular spheroids were constructed from an inner core of magnetised human primary glomerular endothelial cells with an outer core of temperature conditional human podocytes that can be maintained in stable culture for up to 3 weeks.
  • Treatment of the glomerular spheroids with 15% relapse plasma from patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) induced a loss of GFP-labelled podocytes from the outer core, which could be protected in the presence of IL-28A.
  • Plasma from healthy volunteers had no effect on podocytes. Quantitation of the green fluorescent podocyte cell marker area demonstrated a significant reduction in the presence of FSGS relapse plasma that was significantly increased on IL-28A treatment ( FIGS. 20( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) ).
  • Clinical progression of FSGS is characterised by effacement and loss of podocytes. This model recreates the effect on podocytes from circulating factor in FSGS plasma and suggests clinical translatability of IL-28 therapy to prevent associated nephrotic syndrome and glomerulosclerosis.
  • UUO kidneys in animals receiving the control SEAP vector by HDT demonstrated tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the cortex typical of this model at 21 days post surgery with widespread expansion of the tubular basement membrane, strong collagen staining with the basement membrane particularly strongly stained within the medullary ray, widespread loss of epithelial cell volume, tubular atrophy, loss of proximal tubular brush border and extensive tubulointerstitial infiltrate. Less than 15% of tubules had near normal architecture. The medulla was effectively destroyed and missing while the changes to the glomeruli were minimal ( FIG. 21( a ) ).
  • the picro-sirius red (PSR) stained collagen sections were quantitated using definiens image analyses algorithms, showing the statistically significant protective effect of mouse IL-28B delivered either at day-1 or at day 7 when plotted as either total collagen area ( FIG. 21( b ) ) or high intensity collagen area ( FIG. 21 ( c ) ) relative to the control plasmid treated mice. This is in agreement with the visual histological assessment of the stained sections as described above.
  • mice IL28B protein The serum levels of mouse IL28B protein achieved at day 21 post HDT in the mouse UUO model were measured by ELISA and were between 43 and 485 ng/ml across all the groups. No mouse IL28B protein could be measured in the control SEAP HDT mice so the levels were below 4 ng/ml which was the lower limit of quantitation (LLQ) of the assay used.
  • LLQ lower limit of quantitation
  • Human IL-29 delivered by HDT shows significant protein expression in all mice at both day 0 (24 hours post-transfection) and at day 19 when the model was terminated compared to the SEAP control plasmid treated group ( FIG. 23( a ) ). No human IL-29 could be detected in non-transfected or SEAP control mice sera.
  • the untreated 19 day UUO shows typical histological changes for this model.
  • the cortex displays a widespread expansion of the tubular basement membrane with significant interstitial collagen accumulation as shown by the increased picro-sirius red (PSR) staining.
  • PSR picro-sirius red
  • the tubular epithelium structure is significantly damaged.
  • the majority of epithelial cells have lost volume and generally appear flattened including a small number of tubules with a dilated lumen.
  • greater than 80% of tubules have undergone extensive atrophy and in many cases collapsed completely.
  • the lumen of the tubules are difficult to distinguish in most cases due to loss of patency, with epithelial cells clearly dislodged from the nephron tubular basement membrane and residing in what would have been the lumen.

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