ARTICLE: Anti-TNF Therapy May Also Be Useful In Blocking Inflammation In Parkinson's

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Anti-TNF Therapy May Also Be Useful In Blocking Inflammation In Parkinson's

Public release date: 25-Sep-2003

Contact: Amy Shields
amy.shields@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
214-648-3404
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Novel proteins designed that block inflammation regulator associated with 
rheumatoid arthritis

DALLAS ? Sept. 26, 2003 ? Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at 
Dallas have tested and validated novel
proteins, created by California-based Xencor, that block activity of a major 
molecule involved in the onset of
inflammation, an innovation that may translate into new therapeutic options for 
people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers at both institutions report in today's issue of Science that 
blocking the activation of a regulator of
inflammation called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) decreased swelling by 25 
percent in a rodent model of the human disease
rheumatoid arthritis. Elevated TNF levels are associated with the onset of 
rheumatoid arthritis.

The uniqueness of the new inhibitors, the scientific team reports, lies in 
their design and mode of action. Unlike the
drugs that are currently available, the structure and sequence of these newly 
designed molecules are similar to
naturally produced proteins, making it less likely that the body will elicit an 
immune response to fight off foreign
agents.

"What we've engineered are variant proteins that are very similar to the 
protein that the body expresses on its own,
which makes it less likely that the body will see it as foreign," said Dr. Malú 
Tansey, a lead author of the study and
assistant professor of physiology at UT Southwestern, where some of the in vivo 
testing and validation was completed
and where work will continue on these TNF inhibitors.

"The inhibitors are actually modified versions of the TNF protein that is 
naturally found in the body, but with a few
mutations that prevent them from binding to receptors but still allow the 
proteins to bind TNF. The end result is
sequestration of active TNF away from the receptors that mediate inflammatory 
responses implicated in rheumatoid
arthritis and several other autoimmune diseases," said Dr. Tansey, former 
member of the Xencor team.

These findings provide a "promising new avenue" for physicians who treat the 
2.1 million Americans with rheumatoid
arthritis, said Dr. David Karp, chief of rheumatic diseases and associate 
director of the Harold C. Simmons Arthritis
Research Center.

"This is a very novel approach; one that has not been looked at by other 
investigators," he said. "This family of
proteins is not only implicated in the painful inflammation of rheumatoid 
arthritis, but also the joint destruction
that accompanies the disease. These proteins also may be critical for other 
autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis
and systemic lupus erythematosis."

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system 
attacks its own tissues, mistaking them
for foreign substances like bacteria or viruses. This disease is characterized 
by redness, swelling, loss of joint
function and deterioration of cartilage and bone in the joints.

There is no cure for the disease, but there are currently three drugs that 
specifically target TNF inhibition. Although
these drugs have been shown to be effective in decreasing the pain associated 
with the disease and in some cases joint
destruction, some patients develop antibodies against the drugs, which may 
require the administration of higher doses.

"This side effect may lower the effectiveness of these drugs," Dr. Tansey said. 
"Our prediction is that because these
TNF variants are virtually identical to native TNF, the body will not form 
antibodies against them, but this will have
to be tested."

The TNF variants are currently in preclinical development at Xencor.

Anti-TNF therapy may also be useful in blocking inflammation in 
neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's disease, Dr. Tansey said.

Dr. Tansey recently received a $200,000 grant from the Michael J. Fox 
Foundation to examine the role that elevated
levels of TNF play in the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, which lead to 
Parkinson's disease.

Other researchers who contributed to this study include Sabrina Martinez, a 
research technician II in physiology at UT
Southwestern.

The study was funded by Xencor, a private biotechnology company founded in 1997.

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SOURCE: EurekAlert, DC


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