1
|
Booler H, DeLise AM, Nimz E, Shefchek D, Luetjens CM. Intravitreal RTH258 (brolucizumab) demonstrates no effect on pregnancy, parturition, embryofetal or postnatal development in cynomolgus monkeys. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 121:108468. [PMID: 37666285 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108468] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
RTH258 (brolucizumab) is a humanized single chain antibody fragment, the smallest functional unit of an antibody designed to target vascular endothelial growth factor in angiogenic retinal disease. To further understand the safe use of RTH258, this study assessed the potential impact of intravitreal RTH258 on pre- and postnatal development in the offspring of cynomolgus monkeys following administration to the mother. Three groups of 16 pregnant females were included: a low dose group (RTH258 3 mg/50 µl [60 mg/ml]), a high dose group (RTH258 6 mg/50 µl [120 mg/ml]), and a control group. Maternal animals were administered a single injection of 50 µl in the right eye once every four weeks. Animals were observed daily and detailed observations were collected before and after the first dose, and then weekly thereafter. Following parturition, observations of infants included external, morphological, and ophthalmic examinations; neurobehavioral test battery; grip strength; and skeletal development. Blood samples for hematology, coagulation, and clinical chemistry were collected from non-fasted maternal and infant animals. No RTH258-related deaths occurred in maternal dams or infants. No RTH258-related clinical observations were noted in maternal animals or in surviving infants - there were no changes in gestation length; pregnancy loss; deaths; body weight/weight change; infant grip strength; infant external, morphological, or skeletal evaluations; ophthalmoscopy or neurobehavioral observations; or clinical pathology parameters. RTH258 had no impact on pregnancy or parturition; embryo-fetal development; or survival, growth, or postnatal development of offspring when administered via repeated intravitreal administration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erik Nimz
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li M, Brokaw A, Furuta AM, Coler B, Obregon-Perko V, Chahroudi A, Wang HY, Permar SR, Hotchkiss CE, Golos TG, Rajagopal L, Adams Waldorf KM. Non-human Primate Models to Investigate Mechanisms of Infection-Associated Fetal and Pediatric Injury, Teratogenesis and Stillbirth. Front Genet 2021; 12:680342. [PMID: 34290739 PMCID: PMC8287178 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.680342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide array of pathogens has the potential to injure the fetus and induce teratogenesis, the process by which mutations in fetal somatic cells lead to congenital malformations. Rubella virus was the first infectious disease to be linked to congenital malformations due to an infection in pregnancy, which can include congenital cataracts, microcephaly, hearing impairment and congenital heart disease. Currently, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital malformations globally, affecting 1 in every 200 infants. However, our knowledge of teratogenic viruses and pathogens is far from complete. New emerging infectious diseases may induce teratogenesis, similar to Zika virus (ZIKV) that caused a global pandemic in 2016-2017; thousands of neonates were born with congenital microcephaly due to ZIKV exposure in utero, which also included a spectrum of injuries to the brain, eyes and spinal cord. In addition to congenital anomalies, permanent injury to fetal and neonatal organs, preterm birth, stillbirth and spontaneous abortion are known consequences of a broader group of infectious diseases including group B streptococcus (GBS), Listeria monocytogenes, Influenza A virus (IAV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Animal models are crucial for determining the mechanism of how these various infectious diseases induce teratogenesis or organ injury, as well as testing novel therapeutics for fetal or neonatal protection. Other mammalian models differ in many respects from human pregnancy including placentation, labor physiology, reproductive tract anatomy, timeline of fetal development and reproductive toxicology. In contrast, non-human primates (NHP) most closely resemble human pregnancy and exhibit key similarities that make them ideal for research to discover the mechanisms of injury and for testing vaccines and therapeutics to prevent teratogenesis, fetal and neonatal injury and adverse pregnancy outcomes (e.g., stillbirth or spontaneous abortion). In this review, we emphasize key contributions of the NHP model pre-clinical research for ZIKV, HCMV, HIV, IAV, L. monocytogenes, Ureaplasma species, and GBS. This work represents the foundation for development and testing of preventative and therapeutic strategies to inhibit infectious injury of human fetuses and neonates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Li
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alyssa Brokaw
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anna M. Furuta
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Brahm Coler
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Veronica Obregon-Perko
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ann Chahroudi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Hsuan-Yuan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Charlotte E. Hotchkiss
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Thaddeus G. Golos
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Lakshmi Rajagopal
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kristina M. Adams Waldorf
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tantengco OAG, Richardson LS, Medina PMB, Han A, Menon R. Organ-on-chip of the cervical epithelial layer: A platform to study normal and pathological cellular remodeling of the cervix. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21463. [PMID: 33689188 PMCID: PMC8193817 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002590rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Damage to the cervical epithelial layer due to infection and inflammation is associated with preterm birth. However, the individual and/or collective roles of cervical epithelial layers in maintaining cervical integrity remain unclear during infection/inflammation. To determine the intercellular interactions, we developed an organ-on-chip of the cervical epithelial layer (CE-OOC) composed of two co-culture chambers connected by microchannels, recapitulating the ectocervical and endocervical epithelial layers. Further, we tested the interactions between cells from each distinct region and their contributions in maintaining cervical integrity in response to LPS and TNFα stimulations. The co-culture of ectocervical and endocervical cells facilitated cellular migration of both epithelial cells inside the microchannels. Compared to untreated controls, both LPS and TNFα increased apoptosis, necrosis, and senescence as well as increased pro-inflammatory cytokine productions by cervical epithelial cells. In summary, the CE-OOC established an in vitro model that can recapitulate the ectocervical and the endocervical epithelial regions of the cervix. The established CE-OOC may become a powerful tool in obstetrics and gynecology research such as in studying cervical remodeling during pregnancy and parturition and the dynamics of cervical epithelial cells in benign and malignant pathology in the cervix.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ourlad Alzeus G. Tantengco
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Lauren S. Richardson
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Paul Mark B. Medina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Perinatal Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|