title: Monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-1 beta reduce biomarkers of atherosclerosis in vitro and inhibit atherosclerotic plaque formation in Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis is a condition that is increasingly contributing to worldwide mortality through complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction. IL-1β plays multiple direct, local roles in the formation and stability of the atheroma by eliciting the production of additional cytokines and proteolytic enzymes from macrophages, endothelial cells (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC). We therefore tested whether an anti-IL-1β antibody, XOMA 052, might inhibit the secretion of pro-atherogenic cytokines from macrophages in vitro and affect a positive outcome in the Apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse (ApoE(-/-)) model of atherosclerosis in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an in vitro co-culture model, XOMA 052 inhibited macrophage-induced secretion of key atherogenic cytokines from EC and SMC, including IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and TNFα. The release of degradative enzymes, such as the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-3 and MMP-9, was also decreased by XOMA 052. In addition, XOMA 052 inhibited the secretion of IL-7 from EC and IL-4 from SMC, cytokines not previously reported to be driven by IL-1β in this context. In vivo, XMA052 MG1K, a chimeric murine version of XOMA 052, inhibited the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in the ApoE(-/-) model at all three doses tested. This effect was comparable to that reported for complete genetic ablation of IL-1β or IL-1R1 on an ApoE(-/-) background and was associated with decreases in plasma non-HDL/HDL cholesterol ratio and plaque lipid content and macrophage infiltration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate for the first time that an antibody targeting IL-1β can inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis in vivo, highlighting the importance of this key cytokine in cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Preclinical Research, XOMA (US) LLC, 2910 Seventh Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA. bhaskar@xoma.com
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Amer M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanegas
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Issafras
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michelson
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Seema S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kantak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008055:Lipids