title: CXCL13 antibody for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homeostatic B Cell-Attracting chemokine 1 (BCA-1) otherwise known as CXCL13 is constitutively expressed in secondary lymphoid organs by follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and macrophages. It is the only known ligand for the CXCR5 receptor, which is expressed on mature B cells, follicular helper T cells (Tfh), Th17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Aberrant expression of CXCL13 within ectopic germinal centers has been linked to the development of autoimmune disorders (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis). We, therefore, hypothesized that antibody-mediated disruption of the CXCL13 signaling pathway would interfere with the formation of ectopic lymphoid follicles in the target organs and inhibit autoimmune disease progression. This work describes pre-clinical development of human anti-CXCL13 antibody MAb 5261 and includes therapeutic efficacy data of its mouse counterpart in murine models of autoimmunity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We developed a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody, MAb 5261 that specifically binds to human, rodent and primate CXCL13 with an affinity of approximately 5 nM and is capable of neutralizing the activity of CXCL13 from these various species in in vitro functional assays. For in vivo studies we have engineered a chimeric antibody to contain the same human heavy and light chain variable genes along with mouse constant regions. Treatment with this antibody led to a reduction in the number of germinal centers in mice immunized with 4-Hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl hapten conjugated to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (NP-KLH) and, in adoptive transfer studies, interfered with the trafficking of B cells to the B cell areas of mouse spleen. Furthermore, this mouse anti-CXCL13 antibody demonstrated efficacy in a mouse model of Rheumatoid arthritis (Collagen-Induced Arthritis (CIA)) and Th17-mediated murine model of Multiple Sclerosis (passively-induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed a novel therapeutic antibody targeting CXCL13-mediated signaling pathway for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. kklimatcheva@vaccinex.com.
authors: Ekaterina
authors: E
authors: Klimatcheva
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. tpandina@vaccinex.com.
authors: Tracy
authors: T
authors: Pandina
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. creilly@vaccinex.com.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Reilly
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. storno@vaccinex.com.
authors: Sebold
authors: S
authors: Torno
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. hbussler@vaccinex.com.
authors: Holm
authors: H
authors: Bussler
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. mscrivens@vaccinex.com.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Scrivens
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. ajonason@vaccinex.com.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Jonason
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. cmallow@vaccinex.com.
authors: Crystal
authors: C
authors: Mallow
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. mdoherty@vaccinex.com.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Doherty
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. mparis@vaccinex.com.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Paris
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. esmith@vaccinex.com.
authors: Ernest S
authors: ES
authors: Smith
authors: Vaccinex, Inc, 1895 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA. mzauderer@vaccinex.com.
authors: Maurice
authors: M
authors: Zauderer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000187:drug effects; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5 / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; C095085:CXCR5 protein, human; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009596:Nitrophenols; D010648:Phenylacetates; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C026242:4-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl acetic acid; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin