The patent situation concerning the treatment of diseases associated with autoantibodies directed against G-protein-coupled receptors.
Agonist-like autoantibodies against receptors of the G-protein-coupled signal cascade have been identified as the pathogenic principle for a variety of diseases, especially those of the heart and vascular system. Consequently, the elimination or neutralization of such autoantibodies is an advised goal for causal therapeutic intervention. This article provides a short, noncomplete overview about remarkable developmental strategies and technical solutions for the therapy of diseases, associated with G-protein-coupled receptor autoantibodies. According to the immunoglobulin nature of the therapeutic target, several strategies are possible, such as the use of the autoantibody epitope sequences as competitors or binding molecules for specific autoantibody-elimination by apheresis. Complete immunoglobulin elimination, as is currently being tested in autoantibody-positive cardiomyopathy patients, would be a nonspecific solution as would the use of immunosuppressant agents. The use of autoantibody-binding molecules on an aptamer basis for neutralization or elimination is a newly developed specific therapeutic option.
Department of Medical Chemistry & Pathobiochemistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Annekathrin
A
Haberland
Gerd
G
Wallukat
Ingolf
I
Schimke
D000818:Animals; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010330:Patents as Topic; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000276:immunology*
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled