Classifications

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  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
  • C07K14/70503—Immunoglobulin superfamily
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K19/00—Hybrid peptides, i.e. peptides covalently bound to nucleic acids, or non-covalently bound protein-protein complexes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K39/395—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum
  • A61K39/39533—Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immune serum, e.g. antilymphocytic serum against materials from animals
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P19/00—Drugs for skeletal disorders
  • A61P19/02—Drugs for skeletal disorders for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P27/00—Drugs for disorders of the senses
  • A61P27/02—Ophthalmic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P29/00—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
  • A61P3/08—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis
  • A61P3/10—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
  • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
  • A61P37/06—Immunosuppressants, e.g. drugs for graft rejection
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
  • C07K2319/30—Non-immunoglobulin-derived peptide or protein having an immunoglobulin constant or Fc region, or a fragment thereof, attached thereto

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to advanced glycation end products
• AGE AGE
• RAGE receptor for advanced glycation end products
• Fusion proteins of the invention bind to AGE and other RAGE ligands (e.g., SlOO and HMGBl) and compositions comprising fusion proteins of the invention may be used for the treatment of diseases.
• AGE Advanced glycation end products
• AGE Advanced glycation end products
• AGE inhibitors such as aminoguanidine have been shown to prevent diabetic nephropathy in diabetic animal models and were recently shown to do the same in one clinical trial on diabetic patients. Also, AGE are a well validated therapeutic target for diabetic retinopathy. Extensive diabetic murine and rat studies have demonstrated the benefit of inhibiting AGE formation in treating this disease.
• Atherosclerosis is significantly accelerated in diabetic patients and is associated with greater risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality.
• Animal and human studies have suggested that AGE play a significant role in the formation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.
• Increased AGE accumulation in the diabetic vascular tissues has been associated with changes in endothelial cell, macrophage, and smooth muscle cell function.
• AGE interact with cell surface receptors on monocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells of the micro vasculature, smooth muscle cells, mesengial cells, and neurons.
• the receptor for advanced glycation end products is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface receptors.
• RAGE is made up of three extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain that is involved in signaling. RAGE binds multiple ligands in addition to AGE including SlOO/calgranulins, amphoterin/HMGB 1 , and amyloid fibrils. RAGE acts through a signal cascade involving NF- ⁇ B. RAGE expression is up-regulated in the presence of RAGE ligands and is elevated in joints of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• RA rheumatoid arthritis
• RAGE has a secreted isoform lacking a transmembrane domain called soluble
• RAGE RAGE
• Administration of sRAGE has been shown to restore wound healing (Goova, et al. (2001) Am. J. Pathol. 159, 513-525) and suppress diabetic atherosclerosis (Park, et al. ( 1998) Nat Med. 4(9): 1025-31 ).
• Fusion proteins consisting of a RAGE ligand binding element and an immunoglobulin element are discussed in WO 2004/016229 A2 (Wyeth, Madison, NJ) and US Patent App. Publication 2006/0057679 Al (O'Keefe, T. et al.).
• the present invention provides materials and methods for the treatment of diseases associated with an elevated amount of AGE.
• the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising at least one polypeptide comprising: (a) a first amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a mammalian receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) ligand binding domain, the first amino acid sequence capable of binding a RAGE ligand; and (b) a second amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a human heavy chain immunoglobulin IgG4 constant domain or a fragment thereof; wherein the first amino acid sequence comprises at least one mutation relative to a wild type RAGE ligand binding domain.
• RAGE advanced glycation end product
• a fusion protein of the invention may further comprise a linker sequence between the first amino acid sequence and the second amino acid sequence.
• the RAGE ligand binding domain may be from a mammalian RAGE, for example, a human RAGE.
• a suitable mammalian RAGE ligand binding domain may comprise amino acids 1-344 of SEQ ID NO: 6 or amino acids 24-344 of SEQ ID NO: 6.
• a fusion protein of the invention may comprise an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, and SEQ ID NO:8.
• an isolated fusion protein of the invention comprises SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO:8.
• an isolated fusion protein of the invention consists of SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO: 8.
• fusion proteins of the invention may further comprise a linker between the RAGE amino acid sequence and the IgG4 amino acid sequence.
• the present invention also contemplates nucleic acid molecules (e.g., DNA or RNA molecules) encoding the fusion proteins of the invention as well as host cells expressing the nucleic acid molecules encoding the fusion proteins of the invention.
• the present invention further provides for a pharmaceutical composition
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fusion protein of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or diluent.
• the present invention provides methods of treating diseases mediated by
• Such diseases include any disease characterized by an increased amount of AGE in a subject, for example, a mammal such as a human.
• Methods of treating an AGE-mediated disease comprise administering to a subject having an AGE-mediated disease a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fusion protein of the invention.
• diseases that can be treated by the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, diabetic nephropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune diseases such as dermatitis, glomerulonephritis, multiple sclerosis, uveitis ophthalmia, autoimmune pulmonary inflammation, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, autoimmune inflammatory eye, systemic lupus erythematosus, insulin resistance, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, and scleroderma.
• Any fusion protein of the invention may be used in the practice of the methods of the invention.
• methods of the invention may be practiced using a fusion protein comprising SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO: 8.
• methods of the invention may be practiced using a fusion protein that consists of SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO:8.
• the present invention provides methods of lowering the levels of ligand bound by RAGE in a mammal (e.g., a human) in need thereof. Such methods may comprise administering to the mammal a RAGE ligand-lowering amount of a fusion protein of the invention.
• the invention provides for a recombinant expression vector comprising the DNA sequences of the invention; a host cell transformed, transduced, or transfected with the vector; and a process for producing a fusion protein, which comprises culturing a host cell transformed, transduced or transfected with a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein of the invention under conditions suitable to effect expression of the fusion protein.
• the invention further provides compositions comprising the present fusion protein or fragments thereof.
• the invention includes compositions comprising the present fusion protein or fragments thereof to which a radioisotope, chelator, toxin, fluorochrome, biotin, peptide epitopes such as his-tags, myc-tags, or sugars are directly or indirectly attached.
• Other embodiments of the invention include the present fusion protein fused with another protein for the purposes of altering the biological half-life or function and glycosylation variants of the fusion protein.
• Figure 1 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on leukostasis in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model.
• Figures 2A-2D are bar graphs showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on retinal vascular permeability in various retinal layers in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model.
• Figure 3 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the nitration of retinal proteins in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model.
• Figure 4 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the retinal expression of ICAM in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model.
• Figure 5 A is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the number of acellular capillaries observed per square mm of retinal tissue in diabetic mice after 10 months of diabetes.
• Figure 5B is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the number of pericyte ghosts per 1000 capillary cells observed in diabetic mice after 10 months of diabetes.
• Figure 6 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the 50% response to touch threshold in diabetic mice after 10 months of diabetes.
• Figure 7 provides a flow chart showing the experimental protocol of Example
• Figure 8 is a line graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on test animal weights in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 9 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the incidence of arthritis in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 10 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the onset of arthritis in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 11 is a line graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on incidence of arthritis as a function of time in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 12 is a line graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the severity of arthritis as a function of time in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 13 is a line graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on the number of arthritic paws observed as a function of time in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figures 14A-14D are photomicrographs showing the effects of an exemplary
• Figure 15 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on synovitis (black bars) and pannus (grey bars) in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 16 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on marginal erosion (black bars) and architectural changes (grey bars) in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 17 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on overall histological arthritis score in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figure 18 is a bar graph showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on joint matrix protein loss in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• Figures 19A-19D are photomicrographs of toluidine blue stained sections showing the effects of an exemplary RAGE-Ig fusion protein on joint matrix protein loss in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model.
• RAGE refer to proteins having amino acid sequences that are substantially similar to the native mammalian RAGE amino acid sequences and function to bind one or more RAGE ligands in a ligand-receptor specific manner.
• the terms "advanced glycation end product” and “AGE” refer to a heterogeneous group of molecules formed from the nonenzymatic reaction of reducing sugars with free amino groups of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids as described above.
• a "RAGE ligand binding domain” or “RAGE-LBD” refers to any mammalian RAGE protein or any portion of a mammalian RAGE protein that retains the ability to bind a RAGE ligand in a ligand-receptor specific manner.
• a RAGE ligand binding domain includes a polypeptide having one or more extracellular domains of a transmembrane RAGE protein.
• a suitable RAGE-LBD may comprise at least amino acids 1-99, or amino acids 24-99, or amino acids 1-208, or amino acids 24-208, or amino acids 1-301, or amino acids 24-301, or amino acids 1-344, or amino acids 24-344 of SEQ IDNO:6.
• isolated means that the protein is substantially free of other proteins with which it is associated during production, including without limitation substantially free of other proteins present during expression of the fusion protein in a cell culture medium.
• an isolated protein of the invention may comprise 1- 25%, 20-25%, 15-20%, 10-15%, 5-10%, 1 -5% or less than about 2% by mass of protein contaminants residual of production processes.
• Compositions comprising isolated proteins of the invention can contain other proteins added as stabilizers, carriers, excipients or co-therapeutics.
• protein and “polypeptide” are interchangeable.
• treating refers to improving at least one sign or symptom of the subject's disease or disorder.
• nucleic acid refers to polynucleotides such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and, where appropriate, ribonucleic acid (RNA).
• DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
• RNA ribonucleic acid
• the term should also be understood to include, as equivalents, analogs of either RNA or DNA made from nucleotide analogs, and, as applicable to the embodiment being described, single (sense or antisense) and double-stranded polynucleotides.
• percent identical refers to sequence identity between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences. Percent identity can be determined by comparing a position in each sequence which may be aligned for purposes of comparison. Expression as a percentage of identity refers to a function of the number of identical amino acids or nucleic acids at positions shared by the compared sequences.
• Various alignment algorithms and/or programs may be used, including FASTA, BLAST, or ENTREZ.
• FASTA and BLAST are available as a part of the GCG sequence analysis package (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), and can be used with, e.g., default settings.
• the percent identity of two sequences can be determined by the GCG program with a gap weight of 1 , e.g., each amino acid gap is weighted as if it were a single amino acid or nucleotide mismatch between the two sequences.
• Sequence identity may be determined by comparing a reference sequence or a subsequence of the reference sequence to a test sequence (e.g., a nucleotide sequence, an amino acid sequence, etc.).
• the reference sequence and the test sequence are optimally aligned over an arbitrary number of residues termed a comparison window.
• additions or deletions, such as gaps may be introduced into the test sequence.
• the percent sequence identity is determined by determining the number of positions at which the same residue is present in both sequences and dividing the number of matching positions by the total length of the sequences in the comparison window and multiplying by 100 to give the percentage. In addition to the number of matching positions, the number and size of gaps is also considered in calculating the percentage sequence identity.
• Sequence identity is typically determined using computer programs.
• a representative program is the BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) program publicly accessible at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). This program compares segments in a test sequence to sequences in a database to determine the statistical significance of the matches, then identifies and reports only those matches that are more significant than a threshold level.
• a suitable version of the BLAST program is one that allows gaps, for example, version 2.X (Altschul, et al., Nucleic Acids Res 25(17):3389-402, 1997).
• Additional suitable programs for identifying proteins with sequence identity to the proteins of the invention include, but arc not limited to, PHI-BLAST (Pattern Hit Initiated BLAST, Zhang, et al., Nucleic Acids Res 26(17):3986-90, 1998) and PSI- BLAST (Position-Specific Iterated BLAST, Altschul, et al., Nucleic Acids Res 25(17):3389-402, 1997).
• the programs are publicly available at the NCBI web site listed above and may be used with the default settings in order to determine sequence identity according to the invention.
• the present invention provides an isolated fusion protein comprising at least one polypeptide comprising: (a) a first amino acid sequence at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to a mammalian receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) ligand binding domain, the first amino acid sequence capable of binding a RAGE ligand; and (b) a second amino acid sequence at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to a human heavy chain immunoglobulin IgG4 constant domain or a fragment thereof, wherein the first amino acid sequence comprises at least one mutation, or at least two mutations, or at least three mutations, or 1-4 mutations, or 1-10 mutations relative to a wild type RAGE ligand binding domain.
• RAGE advanced glycation end product
• mutations that may be made in the first amino acid sequence are those that increase the stability of the fusion protein, for example, by making the RAGE ligand binding domain more resistant to proteolytic degradation, such as those that make the fusion protein more resistant to furin-like proteases.
• Suitable fragments of the second amino acid sequence include fragments that retain the ability to increase the serum half-life of the fusion proteins of which they are part relative to the serum half life of the same first amino acid sequence alone.
• the first amino acid sequence and the second amino acid sequence arc derived from human RAGE ligand binding domain and human IgG4.
• Fusion proteins of the invention may comprise one or more amino acid sequences in addition to a RAGE ligand binding domain and an IgG4 constant domain or fragment thereof.
• a fusion protein of the invention may comprise a linker sequence which may be inserted between the RAGE ligand binding domain and the IgG sequence.
• Fusion proteins of the invention may comprise one or more tag sequences, for example, purification tag sequences such as 6-Histidines.
• Fusion proteins of the invention may comprise one or more epitopes recognized by commercially available antibodies, for example, c-myc (EQKLISEEDL, SEQ ID NO: 9) and hemagglutinin (YPYDVPDYA, SEQ ID NO: 10) derived from an epitope tag of the influenza hemagglutinin protein.
• c-myc EQKLISEEDL, SEQ ID NO: 9
• YPYDVPDYA hemagglutinin
• any mammalian RAGE protein known to those of skill in the art may be used in the practice of the present invention.
• the extracellular domain of the RAGE protein will be used to identify a ligand binding domain that can be mutated and used as the first amino acid sequence of the fusion protein.
• Suitable example of mammalian RAGE proteins include, but are not limited to, primate, human (e.g., GenBank accession no. NP OOl 127 and NP 751947), murine (e.g., GenBank accession no. NP 031451), canine (e.g., GenBank accession no. AAQ81297), rat (e.g., GenBank accession no. NP 445788), feline, bovine (e.g., GenBank accession no. AAI20128), ovine, equine and porcine (e.g., GenBank accession no. AAQ73283) RAGE domains.
• RAGE amino acid sequences comprising one or more changes or modifications with respect to the wild type sequence may be used in the present invention.
• changes or modifications include, but are not limited to, point mutations, deletions from the N-terminal, deletions from the C-terminal, internal deletions, and combinations thereof. Any change or modification may be introduced into a RAGE sequence for use in the present invention so long as the resulting protein retains biological activity, e.g., the ability to bind one or more RAGE ligands.
• the fusion proteins of the invention also include those with or without endogenous glycosylation patterns, including without limitation, fusion proteins in which the first amino acid sequence is derived from a mammalian RAGE ligand binding domain with or without associated native-pattern glycosylation of the binding domain.
• Any suitable IgG Fc region may be used in the practice of the invention, preferably, from an IgG4 molecule, for example, amino acid residues 149-473 of GenBank accession no. AAH25985.
• An IgG region for use in the present invention may be an IgG4 Fc region and may comprise one or more of the CH2 and CH3 regions of the IgG4 molecule.
• Table 1 provides the nucleotide sequence of a human RAGE-IgG4 Fc fusion protein gene sequence.
• Table 1 Human RAGE-lgG4 Fc Fusion Gene Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1 ).
• Bold text is the coding sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the coding sequence for human RAGE
• underlined text is the coding sequence for IgG4 Fc region.
• Table 2 Amino acid sequence of a human RAGE-IgG4Fc fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 1
• Bold text is the amino acid sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the amino acid sequence for human RAGE
• underlined text is the amino acid sequence for IgG4 Fc region.
• Bold text is the coding sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the coding sequence for human RAGE
• double underline text is the coding sequence for the peptide linker
• single underlined text is the coding sequence for IgG4 Fc region.
• Table 4 Amino acid sequence of a human RAGE-Linker-IgG4Fc fusion protein (SEQ ID NO:4).
• Bold text is the amino acid sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the amino acid sequence for human RAGE
• double underline text is the amino acid sequence for the peptide linker
• single underlined text is the amino acid sequence for IgG4 Fc region.
• Bold text is the coding sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the coding sequence for human RAGE variant
• bold wavy underline letters are sites of the point mutations introduced into the variant hRAGE sequence
• underlined text is the coding sequence for IgG4 Fc region.
• Table 6 Amino acid sequence of a human RAGE variant-IgG4Fc fusion protein (SEQ ID NO:6).
• Bold text is the amino acid sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the amino acid sequence for human RAGE variant
• bold wavy underline letters are sites of the point mutations introduced into the variant hRAGE
• underlined text is the amino acid sequence for lgG4 Fc region.
• Bold text is the coding sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the coding sequence for human RAGE variant
• bold wavy underline letters are sites of the point mutations introduced into the variant hRAGE sequence
• double underline text is the sequence encoding a peptide linker
• underlined text is the coding sequence for IgG4 Fc region.
• Table 8 Amino acid sequence of human RAGE variant- Linker- IgG4 Fc (SEQ
• Bold text is the amino acid sequence for the RAGE signal sequence
• normal text is the amino acid sequence for human RAGE variant
• bold wavy underline letters are sites of the point mutations introduced into the variant hRAGE
• double underline text is the amino acid sequence for the peptide linker
• underlined text is the amino acid sequence for IgG4 Fc region.
• Fusion proteins of the invention may be produced in any protein expression system known to those skilled in the art, for example, eukaryotic expression systems, bacterial expression systems, and viral expression systems.
• a variety of host- expression vector systems may be utilized to express the fusion protein of the invention.
• host systems represent vehicles in which the fusion proteins of the invention may be produced and from which they may be subsequently purified.
• Such systems include, but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, insect cells, or plant cells.
• RAGE expressed in yeast or mammalian expression systems, e.g., COS-7 cells may be similar or slightly different in molecular weight and glycosylation pattern than the native molecules, depending upon the expression system. Expression of RAGE DNAs in bacteria such as E.
• coli provides non- glycosylated molecules. Different glycosylation patterns may be obtained using baculoviral expression systems in insect cells. Functional mutant analogs of mammalian RAGE having inactivated N-glycosylation sites can be produced by oligonucleotide synthesis and ligation or by site-specific mutagenesis techniques. These analog proteins can be produced in a homogeneous, reduced-carbohydrate form in good yield using yeast expression systems.
• Nucleic acid molecules encoding fusion proteins of the invention may be obtained, and the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotides determined, by any method known in the art.
• nucleotide sequences encoding these polypeptides can be determined using methods well known in the art, i.e. the nucleotide codons known to encode the particular amino acids may be assembled in such a way to generate a nucleic acid that encodes the fusion protein of the invention.
• Nucleotide codons may be selected based upon the expression system used, for example, by selecting codons that correspond to more abundant tRNA molecules present in the expression system, a higher level of fusion protein may be expressed.
• Such a polynucleotide encoding the fusion protein may be assembled from chemically synthesized oligonucleotides (e.g. as described in Kutmeier et.
• Recombinant expression of a fusion protein of the invention may require construction of an expression vector(s) containing a polynucleotide that encodes the fusion protein. Once a polynucleotide encoding the fusion protein of the invention has been obtained, the vector(s) for the production of the fusion protein may be produced by recombinant DNA technology using techniques well known in the art.
• Such expression vectors containing RAGE-Fc coding sequences may also contain appropriate transcriptional and translational control signals/sequences, for example, ribosome binding sites (i.e., Kozak sequences), internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), and polyadenylation sites etc.
• Nucleic acid molecules encoding fusion proteins of the invention may be transferred to mammalian cells utilizing replication-defective retroviral vectors (e.g., vectors derived from Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV) or HIV) and pscudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV-G) to stably insert single copies of nucleic acid molecules encoding the fusion protein of the invention into dividing cells.
• Retroviral vectors deliver genes coded as RNA that, after entering the cell, are reverse transcribed to DNA and integrated stably into the genome of the host cell. Multiple gene insertions in a single cell may increase the expression and secretion of the fusion protein. Multiple rounds of infection may also increase the number of gene copies integrated and thus the amount of expressed fusion protein.
• the integrated gene(s) encoding the fusion protein are maintained in the cells through cell division by virtue of their presence in the genome.
• the present invention provides a stable cell line that expresses fusion proteins of the invention.
• One suitable method for the rapid generation of stable, high protein expressing mammalian cell lines is using the GPExTM expression system (Gala Biotech, a business unit of Catalent Pharma Solutions, Middleton, WL, Bleck, Gregory T., Bioprocessingjournal.com September/October 2005 pi -7).
• Such a method may entail producing a replication defective, pseudotyped retroviral vector based on MMLV and transducing mammalian cells (for example, CHO cells) with the vector.
• the vector may integrate into the genome of the cells thereby producing a stable cell line.
• Isolated fusion proteins of the invention may be prepared by culturing suitable host/Vector systems to express the recombinant translation products of the present DNA sequences, which are then purified from culture media or cell extracts using techniques well known in the art.
• supernatants from systems which secrete recombinant protein into culture media can be first concentrated using a commercially available protein concentration filter, for example, an Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultra filtration unit. Following the concentration step, the concentrate can be applied to a suitable purification matrix.
• a suitable affinity matrix can comprise, for example, an AGE or lectin or Protein A or Protein G or antibody molecule bound to a suitable support.
• an anion exchange resin can be employed, for example, a matrix or substrate having pendant diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) groups.
• the matrices can be acrylamide, agarose, dextran, cellulose or other types commonly employed in protein purification.
• a cation exchange step can be employed. Suitable cation exchangers include various insoluble matrices comprising sulfopropyl or carboxymethyl groups. Sulfopropyl groups are preferred.
• Recombinant protein produced in bacterial culture is usually isolated by initial extraction from cell pellets, followed by one or more concentration, salting-out, aqueous ion exchange or size exclusion chromatography steps. Finally, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for final purification steps.
• HPLC high performance liquid chromatography
• Microbial cells employed in expression of recombinant mammalian RAGE can be disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents.
• Fermentation of yeast which expresses the fusion protein of the invention as a secreted protein greatly simplifies purification.
• Secreted recombinant protein resulting from a large-scale fermentation can be purified by methods analogous to those disclosed by Urdal et al. (J. Chromatog. 296:171, 1984).
• This reference describes two sequential, reversed-phase HPLC steps for purification of recombinant human GMCSF on a preparative HPLC column.
• Fusion proteins of the invention may be formulated in a manner suitable for administration to a subject in need thereof, e.g., may be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions.
• Compositions of the invention may comprise one or more pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.
• 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 is suitable for parenteral administration.
• a carrier may be suitable for administration into the central nervous system (e.g., intraspinally or intracerebrally).
• the carrier can be suitable for intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular administration.
• the carrier is suitable for oral administration.
• Pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the fusion proteins of the invention, use thereof in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions.
• Suitable carriers are typically nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed.
• the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions of the invention entails combining the fusion protein of the invention with one or more of buffers, antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates including glucose, trehalose, sucrose or dextrins, chelating agents such as EDTA, glutathione and other stabilizers and excipients.
• buffers such as ascorbic acid, low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates including glucose, trehalose, sucrose or dextrins, chelating agents such as EDTA, glutathione and other stabilizers and excipients.
• antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates including glucose, trehalose, sucrose or dextrins
• the present invention contemplates the administration of the fusion proteins of the invention in the form of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the fusion protein of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier to a subject (e.g., a mammal particularly a human) in need thereof.
• a subject e.g., a mammal particularly a human
• the present invention also provides a method for treating human disease with such compositions.
• methods of the invention will comprise administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a fusion protein of the invention.
• the pharmaceutically effective amount employed may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual.
• a pharmaceutically effective amount of a fusion protein of the invention may be from about 1 ⁇ g fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject to about 500 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, or from about 10 ⁇ g fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject to about 500 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, or from about 100 ⁇ g fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject to about 500 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, or from about 1 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject to about 500 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, or from about 10 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject to about 500 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, or from about 100 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject to about 500 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, or from about 100 ⁇ g fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject to about 25 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, or from about 1 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject to about 25 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight
• a pharmaceutically effective amount of a fusion protein of the invention may be 0.5 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject, 1 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject, 2 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject, 3 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, 4 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, 5 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject, 6 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, 7 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject, 8 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject, 9 mg fusion protein/1 kg body weight of subject, or 10 mg fusion protein/ 1 kg body weight of subject.
• a unit dosage form refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the mammalian subjects to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of the fusion protein of the invention calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier.
• a unit dosage form of a fusion protein of the invention may be from about lmg to about 1000 mg, from about 25 mg to about 1000 mg, from about 50 mg to about 1000 mg, from about 100 mg to about 1000 mg, from about 250 mg to about 1000 mg, from about 500 mg to about 1000 mg, from about 100 mg to about 500 mg, from about 200 mg to about 500 mg, from about 300 to about 500 mg, or from about 400 mg to about 500 mg.
• a unit dose of a fusion protein of the invention may be about 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, 400 mg, 500 mg, 600 mg, or 700 mg.
• Compositions of the invention may comprise fusion proteins of the invention at a level of from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 18 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 16 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 14 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 12 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 8 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 6 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 4 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 2 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 1 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.9 wt%, from about
• compositions of the invention may comprise one or more fusion proteins of the invention at a level of from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 16 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 14 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 12 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 10 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 9 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 8 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 7 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 6 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 4 wt%, from about 1 wt% to about 3 wt%, or from about 1 wt% to about 2 wt% of the total weight of the composition.
• compositions of the invention may comprise one or more fusion proteins of the invention at a level of about 0.1 wt%, about 0.2 wt%, about 0.3 wt%, about 0.4 wt%, about 0.5 wt%, about 0.6 wt%, about 0.7 wt%, about 0.8 wt%, about 0.9 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 2 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 5 wt%, about 6 wt%, about 7 wt%, about 8 wt%, or about 9 wt% based on the total weight of the composition.
• compositions of the invention may be formulated and administered by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection. In some embodiments, compositions of the invention may be administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
• a dosage regimen may entail administering repeat doses, for example, administering a weekly dose.
• Treatment regimens may entail a weekly dose for one period of time (for example, for four weeks) followed by a less frequent "maintenance" dosage regimen (for example, one monthly or once bimonthly). Dosage regimens may be adjusted to achieve the desired therapeutic outcomes.
• Methods of the invention include methods for suppressing AGE-dependent inflammatory responses in humans comprising administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more fusion protein of the invention.
• Methods of the invention include methods of inhibiting AGE-mediated biological activity comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more fusion proteins of the invention.
• AGE has been implicated in a variety of diseases or conditions such as autoimmune diseases.
• Autoimmune disorders diseases or conditions that may be treated, ameliorated, detected, diagnosed, prognosed or monitored using the fusion protein of the invention include but are not limited to dermatitis, glomerulonephritis, multiple sclerosis, uveitis ophthalmia, autoimmune pulmonary inflammation, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, autoimmune inflammatory eye, systemic lupus erythematosus, insulin resistance, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, and scleroderma.
• disorders that may be treated or prevented with the methods of the invention may be characterized generally as including any disorder in which an affected cell exhibits elevated expression of RAGE or of one or more RAGE ligands, or any disorder that is treatable (i.e., one or more symptoms may be eliminated or ameliorated) by a decrease in RAGE function.
• RAGE function can be decreased by administration of an agent that disrupts the interaction between RAGE and a RAGE ligand.
• RAGE The increased expression of RAGE is associated with several pathological states, such as diabetic vasculopathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and other disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and immune/inflammatory reactions of blood vessel walls.
• RAGE ligands are produced in tissue affected with many inflammatory disorders, including arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Depositions of amyloid in tissues cause a variety of toxic effects on cells and are characteristic of diseases termed amyloidoses.
• RAGE binds to beta-sheet fibrillar material, such as that found in amyloid-beta peptide, Abeta, amylin, serum amyloid A and prion-derived peptides.
• RAGE is also expressed at increased levels in tissues having amyloid structures. Accordingly, RAGE is involved in amyloid disorders. The RAGE-amyloid interaction is thought to result in oxidative stress leading to neuronal degeneration.
• RAGE ligands A variety of RAGE ligands, and particularly those of the S 100/calgranulin and
• HMGB Amphoterin
• AGE are a therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
• the RAGE-related disorders that may be treated with an inventive compositions include, in addition to the autoimmune disorders discussed above: amyloidoses (such as Alzheimer's disease), Crohn's disease, acute inflammatory diseases (such as sepsis), shock (e.g., septic shock, hemorrhagic shock), cardiovascular diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis, stroke, fragile plaque disorder, angina and restenosis), diabetes (and particularly cardiovascular diseases in diabetics), complications of diabetes, prion-related disorders, cancers, vasculitis and other vasculitis syndromes such as necrotizing vasculitides, nephropathies, retinopathies, and neuropathies.
• amyloidoses such as Alzheimer's disease
• Crohn's disease such as Alzheimer's disease
• acute inflammatory diseases such as sepsis
• shock e.g., septic shock, hemorrhagic shock
• cardiovascular diseases e.g., atherosclerosis, stroke, fragile plaque disorder, angina and reste
• mice were performed with a fusion protein comprising extracellular domains of mouse RAGE (amino acid residues 1- 342) fused to the hinge, CH2 and CH3 domains of the mouse IgG2a heavy chain FC region.
• the construct was expressed in CHO cells using the GP ExTM expression system.
• the sequence of the mouse RAGE sequence used is provided in the following table.
• RAGE signal peptide plain underline
• RAGE extracellular domain no underline
• Mouse IgG2a hinge region double underline
• Mouse IgG2a CH2 region dash underline
• Mouse IgG2a CH3 region wavy underline.
• mice Streptozotocin induced diabetes in mice is an art recognized model for diabetes induced retinal changes (see Obrosova IG, Drel VR, Kumagai AK, Szabo C, Pacher P, Stevens MJ. Early diabetes-induced biochemical changes in the retina: comparison of rat and mouse models. Diabetologia. 2006 Oct: 49(10):2525-33.)
• the present experiment involved 5 treatment groups containing 15 C57BL/6 mice per group: 1) non-diabetic control; 2) diabetic control containing mice treated with streptozotocin at 45mg/kg on 5 consecutive days before the study starts to induce diabetes; 3) streptozotocin treated mice that also received 10 ⁇ g/day mRAGE- IgG2aFc injected IP, 3 injections/week; 4) streptozotocin treated mice that also received 100 ⁇ g/day mRAGE-IgG2aFc injected IP, 3 injections/week; and 5) streptozotocin treated mice that also received 300 ⁇ g/day mRAGE-IgG2aFc injected IP, 3 injections/week.
• mice were assessed for body weight, blood glucose, glycohemoglobin (GHb), albuminuria, and tactile sensitivity as measure of sensory nerve function.
• the mice were sacrificed at the end of the study and assessed for retinal vascular permeability using a fluorescent probe, leukocyte adherence to retinal capillaries, and NF- ⁇ B-regulated protein expression (COX-2, ICAM, iNOS).
• COX-2, ICAM, iNOS NF- ⁇ B-regulated protein expression
• Nonfasted blood glucose levels were 155 ⁇ 24 mg/dl (mean ⁇ SD), 358 ⁇ 38, 417 ⁇ 36, 376 ⁇ 36, and 370 ⁇ 55 in the Non-diabetic control, Diabetic control, Diabetic + 10 ⁇ g RAGE-Ig fusion protein, Diabetic + 100 ⁇ g RAGE-Ig fusion protein, and Diabetic + 300 ⁇ g RAGE-Ig fusion protein groups, respectively.
• Parameters related to retinopathy measured in the short-term studies were (1) leukostasis, (2) permeability of endogenous albumin from retinal vessels, (3) nitration of retinal proteins, and (4) expression of retinal ICAM and COX-2.
• Diabetes resulted in a significant increase in the fluorescence in the nonvascular retina (ie, due to albumin leaking out of the vessels) in each of the 4 retinal layers studied.
• the results are shown in Figure 2 (2A inner plexiform layer, 2B inner nuclear layer, 2C outer plexiform layer, 2D outer nuclear layer).
• Results are shown in Figure 3. Retinal homogenates from diabetic mice showed the expected increase in nitration of proteins. The therapy inhibited this post- translational modification in a dose-dependent manner. Nitration of proteins is regarded to be a parameter of both oxidative and nitrative stress.
• Results are shown in Figure 4. Since ICAM-I expression on endothelial cells plays a critical role in adhesion of white blood cells to the vessel wall (leukostasis), we measured the effect of diabetes and the therapy on expression of ICAM-I in retina. Two months of diabetes did result in a significant increase in expression of retinal ICAM- 1. Administration of the RAGE-Ig fusion protein resulted in a dose- dependent decrease in expression of the ICAM, and the highest dose significantly inhibited this expression.
• mice Streptozotocin induced diabetes in mice is an art recognized model for diabetes induced retinal changes (see Obrosova IG, Drel VR, Kumagai AK, Szabo C, Pacher P, Stevens MJ. Early diabetes-induced biochemical changes in the retina: comparison of rat and mouse models. Diabetol ⁇ gia, 2006 Oct: 49(10):2525-33.)
• mice were assessed for body weight, blood glucose, glycohemoglobin (GHb), albuminuria, and tactile sensitivity as measure of sensory nerve function. The mice were sacrificed at the end of the study and assessed for quantitative histopathology and neurodegeneration in the retina.
• GHb glycohemoglobin
• Parameters related to retinopathy measured in the long-term study were (1) acellular capillaries, (2) pericyte ghosts, and (3) ganglion cells. As a marker of peripheral neuropathy, sensitivity of the paw to light touch was also measured in the long-term study.
• Acellular capillaries were identified as capillary-sized vessel tubes having no nuclei anywhere along their length, and were reported per square millimeter of retinal area.
• Pericyte ghosts were estimated from the prevalence of protruding "bumps" in the capillary basement membranes from which pericytes had disappeared. At least 1,000 capillary cells (endothelial cells and pericytes) in 5 field areas in the mid-retina (400X magnification) in a masked manner were examined. Ghosts on any already acellular vessel were excluded.
• Patients with diabetic neuropathy may exhibit a variety of aberrant sensations including spontaneous pain, pain evoked by light touch and hyperalgesia. There is accumulating data that diabetic rodents reproduce this hyperalgesia, and develop a tactile allodynia. In rodents, this is measured as the paw tactile response threshold.
• Retinopathy The studies conducted using the RAGE-Ig fusion protein were conducted for 2 durations of diabetes: (1) long-term (10 mo) studies to assess the effect of the therapy on long-term histopathology of diabetic retinopathy that develops in mice, and (2) 2-3 mo studies to assess physiologic and molecular effects of the therapy that presumably underlie the effects on long-term histopathology.
• the physiologic and molecular endpoints studied with respect to effects of the RAGE-Ig fusion protein were selected because all have been found in other studies to be associated with (and likely causally related to) the development of the early (degenerative) stages of diabetic retinopathy.
• Immunological laboratory findings include high antibody levels to type II collagen, and hypergammaglobulinemia. This model is now well established for testing of immunotherapeutic approaches to joint disease (Staines et al. British Journal of Rheumatology 1994; 33(9):798-807), and has been successfully employed for the study of both biological and pharmacological agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Wooley et al. Arthritis Rheum 1993; 36: 1305-1314, and Wooley et al. Journal of Immunology 1993; 151 :6602-6607).
• RA rheumatoid arthritis
• Antagonism of the RAGE receptor is recognized as a potential therapeutic target in RA.
• Blockade of RAGE in mice with collagen-induced-arthritis resulted in the suppression of the clinical and histologic evidence of arthritis, and disease amelioration was associated with a reduction in the levels of TNF ⁇ , IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13 in arthritic paw tissue (Hofmann et al. Genes Immun 2002; 3(3):123-135). This indicates that the collagen induced arthritis is sensitive to RAGE targeted therapy.
• mice Three days after the initial dosing, all mice were injected with 100 ⁇ g bovine type II collagen in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) intradermally at the base of the tail. Mice were monitored by daily examination for the onset of disease, which was recorded. Mice were weighed weekly, and overall health status noted. Arthritis affected animals were clinically assessed five times per week until ten weeks after immunization, and paw measurements were made three times per week. Mice without signs of arthritis ten weeks after immunization were considered disease negative.
• FCA Freund's complete adjuvant
• Disease onset was typical in the control group, with a mean day with the first appearance of arthritis of 38.6. Disease onset in mice treated with either 10 ⁇ g or 100 ⁇ g RAGE was nominally delayed to 42.5, which did not achieved statistical significance. However, disease onset was significantly delayed (p ⁇ 0.05) in mice treated with RAGE at 300 ⁇ g. Therefore, although mice at the high dose did not exhibit a reduction in disease incidence, the time to the development of clinically overt arthritis was markedly increased.
• mice treated with RAGE at either 10 ⁇ g or 100 ⁇ g resulted in a delay of disease onset and a lower terminal incidence of arthritis.
• mice treated with 300 ⁇ g RAGE developed disease in a similar pattern, but a series of late arthritic animals resulted in a high disease incidence but delayed disease onset.
• Synovitis was judged by the thickness of the synovial membrane, and scored as follows: 0 for less than 3 cells thick; 1 for 3 - 5 cells thick; 2 for 6 - 10 cells thick; 3 for 10 - 20 cells thick; and 4 for 20 - 30 cells thick.
• Pannus formation was scored as follows: 0 for no pannus formation; 1 for microvillus present; 2 for clear pannus attachment; 3 for marked pannus attachment; and 4 for joint space filled by pannus.
• Marginal erosions were scored as follows: 0 for no erosions visible; 1 for minor indentation in area of capsular attachment; 2 for clear erosions of cartilage; 3 for erosions extend into subchondral bone; and 4 for major erosion of bone and cartilage.
• the overall score reflects: 0 for classical normal joint appearance; 1 for minor changes; consistent with remission; may be clinically normal; 2 for definite inflammatory arthritis; 3 major inflammatory, erosive disease; and 4 for destructive, erosive arthritis.
• RAGE-Ig fusion protein influenced the loss of matrix proteins from the arthritic joint.
• the data suggest that the RAGE-Ig fusion protein did protect against proteoglycan loss, but this effect was only statistically significant (p ⁇ 0.05) at the 100 ⁇ g/ml dose.
• the PBS control group exhibits major loss of cartilage matrix (proteoglycans and collagens), and a marked loss of staining at the proximal cartilage surface is seen in mice treated with the RAGE-Ig fusion protein at 300 ⁇ g/ml. In contrast, there is good preservation of the matrix protein with administration of the RAGE-Ig fusion protein at 10 ⁇ g/ml or 100 ⁇ g/ml.
• the histological findings confirm the clinical data that indicate that treatment of collagen-induced arthritis with the RAGE-Ig fusion protein resulted in an effect on the incidence and severity of the disease.
• the histological parameters reached high of levels statistical significance in mice treated with 100 ⁇ g/ml, and achieved statistical significance on the overall pathology in mice treated with 10 ⁇ g/ml.
• RAGE-Ig fusion protein at 100 ⁇ g/ml achieved good preservation of the joint structure, and a significant reduction of all the parameters of arthritis under evaluation.
• the overall impression is that the RAGE-Ig fusion protein blocked the erosive phase of arthritis, since the degree of inflammatory changes was less influenced than the secondary disease parameters.

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