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Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North... Aug 2024Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) affects 0.5% to 1% of the general population and is often managed by allergy and immunology specialists. Guidelines have evolved over... (Review)
Review
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) affects 0.5% to 1% of the general population and is often managed by allergy and immunology specialists. Guidelines have evolved over the past several decades with an emphasis on decreasing extensive screening laboratory testing as they are of low-yield and cost-ineffective. The utility of biomarkers remains under investigation but total immunoglobulin E may be helpful in determining specific endotypes and response to omalizumab. Antihistamines and omalizumab remain the primary therapeutic options for CSU, but an expanding body of evidence supports the use of immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory medications in refractory cases.
Topics: Humans; Chronic Urticaria; Disease Management; Omalizumab; Biomarkers; Histamine Antagonists; Anti-Allergic Agents; Immunoglobulin E; Immunosuppressive Agents
PubMed: 38937012
DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2024.03.007 -
Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North... Aug 2024This study focuses on quality of life (QoL) assessment in chronic urticaria, delving into tools, disease-specific measures, and its profound impact. With expanding... (Review)
Review
This study focuses on quality of life (QoL) assessment in chronic urticaria, delving into tools, disease-specific measures, and its profound impact. With expanding therapeutic options, understanding QoL becomes crucial. QoL measures often involve comparisons of patient-reported outcomes in addition to quantitative measures of disease control. Emerging tools include the Urticaria Activity and Impact Measure, which may provide a balanced evaluation. In addition to discussions of the various QoL measures, the psychological impact of chronic urticaria are highlighted, covering emotional burden, stress, and psychiatric comorbidities. Finally, the economic impacts reveal escalating health care costs and cost-effectiveness considerations of therapies like omalizumab.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Chronic Urticaria; Cost of Illness; Health Care Costs; Omalizumab; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
PubMed: 38937009
DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2024.03.004 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Despite advancements in vaccinology, there is currently no effective anti-HIV vaccine. One strategy under investigation is based on the identification of epitopes...
Despite advancements in vaccinology, there is currently no effective anti-HIV vaccine. One strategy under investigation is based on the identification of epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies to include in vaccine preparation. Taking into account the benefits of anti-idiotype molecules and the diverse biological attributes of different antibody formats, our aim was to identify the most immunogenic antibody format. This format could serve as a foundational element for the development of an oligo-polyclonal anti-idiotype vaccine against HIV-1. For our investigation, we anchored our study on an established b12 anti-idiotype, referred to as P1, and proposed four distinct formats: two single chains and two minibodies, both in two different orientations. For a deeper characterization of these molecules, we used immunoinformatic tools and tested them on rabbits. Our studies have revealed that a particular minibody conformation, MbVHVL, emerges as the most promising candidate. It demonstrates a significant binding affinity with b12 and elicits a humoral anti-HIV-1 response in rabbits similar to the Fab format. This study marks the first instance where the minibody format has been shown to provoke a humoral response against a pathogen. Furthermore, this format presents biological advantages over the Fab format, including bivalency and being encoded by a monocistronic gene, making it better suited for the development of RNA-based vaccines.
Topics: Animals; Rabbits; HIV Antibodies; HIV-1; Immunity, Humoral; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; AIDS Vaccines; HIV Infections; Humans; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Computer Simulation; Epitopes
PubMed: 38891926
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115737 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024CAR-T cell therapy is at the forefront of next-generation multiple myeloma (MM) management, with two B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted products recently...
CAR-T cell therapy is at the forefront of next-generation multiple myeloma (MM) management, with two B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted products recently approved. However, these products are incapable of breaking the infamous pattern of patient relapse. Two contributing factors are the use of BCMA as a target molecule and the artificial scFv format that is responsible for antigen recognition. Tackling both points of improvement in the present study, we used previously characterized VHHs that specifically target the idiotype of murine 5T33 MM cells. This idiotype represents one of the most promising yet challenging MM target antigens, as it is highly cancer- but also patient-specific. These VHHs were incorporated into VHH-based CAR modules, the format of which has advantages compared to scFv-based CARs. This allowed a side-by-side comparison of the influence of the targeting domain on T cell activation. Surprisingly, VHHs previously selected as lead compounds for targeted MM radiotherapy are not the best (CAR-) T cell activators. Moreover, the majority of the evaluated VHHs are incapable of inducing any T cell activation. As such, we highlight the importance of specific VHH selection, depending on its intended use, and thereby raise an important shortcoming of current common CAR development approaches.
Topics: Multiple Myeloma; Humans; Animals; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Mice; T-Lymphocytes; Cell Line, Tumor; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Receptors, Chimeric Antigen; B-Cell Maturation Antigen; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; Single-Chain Antibodies; Single-Domain Antibodies; Lymphocyte Activation
PubMed: 38891821
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115634 -
Chemical Engineering Journal (Lausanne,... Jul 2024Immunoassays have been widely used to determine small-molecule compounds in food and the environment, meeting the challenge of obtaining false positive or negative...
Immunoassays have been widely used to determine small-molecule compounds in food and the environment, meeting the challenge of obtaining false positive or negative results because of the variance in the batches of antibodies and antigens. To resolve this problem, atrazine (ATR) was used as a target, and anti-idiotypic nanobodies for ATR (AI-Nbs) and a recombinant full-length antibody against ATR (ATR-rAb) were prepared for the development of a sustainable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AI-Nb-7, AI-Nb-58, and AI-Nb-66 were selected from an immune phage display library. ATR-rAb was produced in mammalian HEK293 (F) cells. Among the four detection methods explored, the assay using AI-Nb-66 as a coating antigen and ATR-rAb as a detection reagent yielded a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) of 1.66 ng mL for ATR and a linear range of 0.35-8.73 ng mL. The cross-reactivity of the assay to ametryn was 64.24%, whereas that to terbutylazine was 38.20%. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis illustrated that these cross-reactive triazine compounds can bind to ATR-rAb to varying degrees at high concentrations; however, the binding/dissociation kinetic curves and the response values at the same concentration are different, which results in differences in cross-reactivity. Homology modeling and molecular docking revealed that the triazine ring is vital in recognizing triazine compounds. The proposed immunoassay exhibited acceptable recoveries of 84.40-105.36% for detecting fruit, vegetables, and black tea. In conclusion, this study highlights a new strategy for developing sustainable immunoassays for detecting trace pesticide contaminants.
PubMed: 38882000
DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.152039 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024An appropriately designed pharmacokinetic (PK) assay that is sensitive for anti-drug antibody (ADA) impact on relevant exposure is an alternative strategy to understand...
An appropriately designed pharmacokinetic (PK) assay that is sensitive for anti-drug antibody (ADA) impact on relevant exposure is an alternative strategy to understand the neutralizing potential of ADAs. However, guidance on how to develop such PK assays and how to confirm the functional ADA impact on exposure is missing. Here, the PK assay of a T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody, cibisatamab, was developed based on its mechanism of action (MoA). Using critical monoclonal anti-idiotypic (anti-ID) antibody positive controls as ADA surrogates, the impact on exposure was evaluated pre-clinically. In a phase I clinical trial (NCT02324257), initial data suggest that the combination of ADA and PK assays for correlation of the ADA response with cibisatamab exposure. To understand the neutralizing potential of patient-derived ADAs on drug activity, advanced ADA characterization has been performed. Structural binding analysis of ADAs to antibody domains of the drug and its impact on targeting were assessed. For this purpose, relevant patient ADA binding features were identified and compared with the specific monoclonal anti-ID antibody-positive controls. Comparable results of target binding inhibition and similar impacts on exposure suggest that the observed reduction of Cmax and Ctrough levels in patients is caused by the neutralizing potential of ADAs and allows a correlation between ADA response and loss of exposure. Therefore, the described study provides important functional aspects for the development of an appropriately designed PK assay for bispecific antibodies as an alternative option towards understanding the neutralizing ADA impact on exposure.
Topics: Humans; Antibodies, Bispecific; T-Lymphocytes; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Neutralizing
PubMed: 38881900
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1406353 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024Mast cells are critically involved in IgE-mediated diseases, e.g., allergies and asthma. Human mast cells are heterogeneous, and mast cells from different anatomical...
BACKGROUND
Mast cells are critically involved in IgE-mediated diseases, e.g., allergies and asthma. Human mast cells are heterogeneous, and mast cells from different anatomical sites have been shown to respond differently to certain stimuli and drugs. The origin of the mast cells is therefore of importance when setting up a model system, and human lung mast cells are highly relevant cells to study in the context of asthma. We therefore set out to optimize a protocol of IgE-mediated activation of human lung mast cells.
METHODS
Human lung mast cells were extracted from lung tissue obtained from patients undergoing pulmonary resection by enzyme digestion and mechanical disruption followed by CD117 magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) enrichment. Different culturing media and conditions for the IgE-mediated degranulation were tested to obtain an optimized method.
RESULTS
IgE crosslinking of human lung mast cells cultured in serum-free media gave a stronger response compared to cells cultured with 10% serum. The addition of stem cell factor (SCF) did not enhance the degranulation. However, when the cells were put in fresh serum-free media 30 minutes prior to the addition of anti-IgE antibodies, the cells responded more vigorously. Maximum degranulation was reached 10 minutes after the addition of anti-IgE. Both CD63 and CD164 were identified as stable markers for the detection of degranulated mast cells over time, while the staining with anti-CD107a and avidin started to decline 10 minutes after activation. The levels of CD203c and CD13 did not change in activated cells and therefore cannot be used as degranulation markers of human lung mast cells.
CONCLUSIONS
For an optimal degranulation response, human lung mast cells should be cultured and activated in serum-free media. With this method, a very strong and consistent degranulation response with a low donor-to-donor variation is obtained. Therefore, this model is useful for further investigations of IgE-mediated mast cell activation and exploring drugs that target human lung mast cells, for instance, in the context of asthma.
Topics: Humans; Mast Cells; Cell Degranulation; Immunoglobulin E; Lung; Cells, Cultured; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; Culture Media, Serum-Free; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
PubMed: 38881896
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1393802 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024The VH6-1 class of antibodies includes some of the broadest and most potent antibodies that neutralize influenza A virus. Here, we elicit and isolate anti-idiotype...
The VH6-1 class of antibodies includes some of the broadest and most potent antibodies that neutralize influenza A virus. Here, we elicit and isolate anti-idiotype antibodies against germline versions of VH6-1 antibodies, use these to sort human leukocytes, and isolate a new VH6-1-class member, antibody L5A7, which potently neutralized diverse group 1 and group 2 influenza A strains. While its heavy chain derived from the canonical IGHV6-1 heavy chain gene used by the class, L5A7 utilized a light chain gene, IGKV1-9, which had not been previously observed in other VH6-1-class antibodies. The cryo-EM structure of L5A7 in complex with Indonesia 2005 hemagglutinin revealed a nearly identical binding mode to other VH6-1-class members. The structure of L5A7 bound to the isolating anti-idiotype antibody, 28H6E11, revealed a shared surface for binding anti-idiotype and hemagglutinin that included two critical L5A7 regions: an FG motif in the third heavy chain-complementary determining region (CDR H3) and the CDR L1 loop. Surprisingly, the chemistries of L5A7 interactions with hemagglutinin and with anti-idiotype were substantially different. Overall, we demonstrate anti-idiotype-based isolation of a broad and potent influenza A virus-neutralizing antibody, revealing that anti-idiotypic selection of antibodies can involve features other than chemical mimicry of the target antigen.
Topics: Humans; Influenza A virus; Antibodies, Viral; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; Influenza, Human; Animals; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
PubMed: 38873606
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1399960 -
Talanta Jun 2024We developed an aptamer-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay capable of recognizing therapeutic monoclonal antibody bevacizumab and rapidly...
We developed an aptamer-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay capable of recognizing therapeutic monoclonal antibody bevacizumab and rapidly quantifying its concentration with just one mixing step. In this assay, two fluorescent dyes (fluorescein and tetramethylrhodamine) labeled aptamers bind to two Fab regions on bevacizumab, and FRET fluorescence is observed when both dyes come into close proximity. We optimized this assay in three different formats, catering to a wide range of analytical needs. When applied to hybridoma culture samples in practical settings, this assay exhibited a signal response that was concentration-dependent, falling within the range of 50-2000 μg/mL. The coefficients of determination (r) ranged from 0.998 to 0.999, and bias and precision results were within ±24.0 % and 20.3 %, respectively. Additionally, during thermal and UV stress testing, this assay demonstrated the ability to detect denatured samples in a manner comparable to conventional Size Exclusion Chromatography. Notably, it offers the added advantage of detecting decreases in binding activity without changes in molecular weight. In contrast to many existing process analytical technology tools, this assay not only identifies bevacizumab but also directly measures the quality attributes related to mAb efficacy, such as the binding activity. As a result, this assay holds great potential as a valuable platform for providing highly reliable quality attribute information in real-time. We consider this will make a significant contribution to the worldwide distribution of high-quality therapeutic mAbs in various aspects of antibody manufacturing, including production monitoring, quality control, commercial lot release, and stability testing.
PubMed: 38852342
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126349 -
Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical... Aug 2024To acknowledge, the newly available treatments for food allergy described in the latest scientific literature, such as oral immunotherapy (OIT), biologics and the... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
To acknowledge, the newly available treatments for food allergy described in the latest scientific literature, such as oral immunotherapy (OIT), biologics and the combination of them in managing patients with IgE-mediated food allergies.
RECENT FINDINGS
Recent studies suggest that OIT and biologics, alone or together, can have a role as disease-modifying treatments for food allergies. The FDA has recently approved omalizumab as a treatment for food allergy. Other biologics are currently under evaluation and further studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of these therapies.
SUMMARY
The allergology scenario is rapidly evolving, the recent introduction and approval of new therapeutic strategies such as biotechnological drugs and allergen immunotherapy is changing the therapeutic paradigm: we are witnessing a shift from a strategy based on avoiding the trigger and reversing an allergic reaction already in progress, to one that aims to modify the natural history of the disease by acting on the immunological mechanisms that determine it. This approach is consistent with the modern perspective of a personalized patient-tailored medicine. In this opinion review, we will provide a brief analysis of current and future therapeutic options for IgE-mediated food allergy, focusing on OIT, biologics and their combination.
Topics: Humans; Food Hypersensitivity; Desensitization, Immunologic; Omalizumab; Immunoglobulin E; Biological Products; Allergens; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents; Administration, Oral; Precision Medicine
PubMed: 38814736
DOI: 10.1097/ACI.0000000000000999