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Sun T, Vander Heiden JA, Gao X, Yin J, Uttarwar S, Liang WC, Jia G, Yadav R, Huang Z, Mitra M, Halpern W, Bender HS, Brightbill HD, Wu Y, Lupardus P, Ramalingam T, Arron JR. Isoform-selective TGF-β3 inhibition for systemic sclerosis. MED 2024; 5:132-147.e7. [PMID: 38272035 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is implicated as a key mediator of pathological fibrosis, but its pleiotropic activity in a range of homeostatic functions presents challenges to its safe and effective therapeutic targeting. There are three isoforms of TGF-β, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3, which bind to a common receptor complex composed of TGF-βR1 and TGF-βR2 to induce similar intracellular signals in vitro. We have recently shown that the cellular expression patterns and activation thresholds of TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 are distinct from those of TGF-β1 and that selective short-term TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 inhibition can attenuate fibrosis in vivo without promoting excessive inflammation. Isoform-selective inhibition of TGF-β may therefore provide a therapeutic opportunity for patients with chronic fibrotic disorders. METHODS Transcriptomic profiling of skin biopsies from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) from multiple clinical trials was performed to evaluate the role of TGF-β3 in this disease. Antibody humanization, biochemical characterization, crystallization, and pre-clinical experiments were performed to further characterize an anti-TGF-β3 antibody. FINDINGS In the skin of patients with SSc, TGF-β3 expression is uniquely correlated with biomarkers of TGF-β signaling and disease severity. Crystallographic studies establish a structural basis for selective TGF-β3 inhibition with a potent and selective monoclonal antibody that attenuates fibrosis effectively in vivo at clinically translatable exposures. Toxicology studies suggest that, as opposed to pan-TGF-β inhibitors, this anti-TGF-β3 antibody has a favorable safety profile for chronic administration. CONCLUSION We establish a rationale for targeting TGF-β3 in SSc with a favorable therapeutic index. FUNDING This study was funded by Genentech, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhe Sun
- Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Jason A Vander Heiden
- Department of OMNI Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Xia Gao
- Department of Biomarker Discovery OMNI, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jianping Yin
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Salil Uttarwar
- Department of OMNI Bioinformatics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Wei-Ching Liang
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Guiquan Jia
- Department of Biomarker Discovery OMNI, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Rajbharan Yadav
- Department of Preclinical and Translational Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Zhiyu Huang
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Mayurranjan Mitra
- Department of DevSci Safety Assessment, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Wendy Halpern
- Department of DevSci SA Pathology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hannah S Bender
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hans D Brightbill
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Patrick Lupardus
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Thirumalai Ramalingam
- Department of Biomarker Discovery OMNI, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Joseph R Arron
- Department of Immunology, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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