Update on emerging urate-lowering therapies

A new uricase from Bacillus cereus SKIII: Characterization, gene identification and genetic improvement

Twenty-five microbial isolates were investigated for uricase production on uric acid medium. All isolates were obtained from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The highest uricase producer was identified as Bacillus cereus SKIII. Using glucose peptone broth at pH 7.5, incubation temperature 30 °C for 3 days with shaking of 150 rpm were the best conditions for maximum enzyme production. Glucose and peptone were the best carbon and nitrogen sources. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was34.5 KDa, and isoelectric point was 7.9. The optimum pH and temperature were pH 8.0 and 35 °C, respectively. It was stable at 35 °C for 60 min, but thermally inactivated at 60 °C after 60 min Its enzymatic activity was enhanced by Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺,Fe²⁺, Mn^2+, Zn²⁺ions and inhibited by Co²⁺, Na⁺, Hg²⁺, Ag⁺ ions and EDTA at 1 mM. Uricase production was enhanced using UV mutation and the obtained mutant produced six times higher than the original isolate. An amplicon 900 bp of uricase gene (Pucl) was sequenced (accession number MF417635). No remarkable difference was noticed in B. cereus SKIII and SKm mutant nucleotide sequences. In conclusion, SKIII and SKm are promising strains in uricase production for biotechnological applications.

Pharmacologic inducers of the uric acid exporter ABCG2 as potential drugs for treatment of gouty arthritis

Uric acid is the end product of purine catabolism and its plasma levels are maintained below its maximum solubility in water (6–7 mg/dl). The plasma levels are tightly regulated as the balance between the rate of production and the rate of excretion, the latter occurring in urine (kidney), bile (liver) and feces (intestinal tract). Reabsorption in kidney is also an important component of this process. Both excretion and reabsorption are mediated by specific transporters. Disruption of the balance between production and excretion leads to hyperuricemia, which increases the risk of uric acid crystallization as monosodium urate with subsequent deposition of the crystals in joints causing gouty arthritis. Loss-of-function mutations in the transporters that mediate uric acid excretion are associated with gout. The ATP-Binding Cassette exporter ABCG2 is important in uric acid excretion at all three sites: kidney (urine), liver (bile), and intestine (feces). Mutations in this transporter cause gout and these mutations occur at significant prevalence in general population. However, mutations that are most prevalent result only in partial loss of transport function. Therefore, if the expression of these partially defective transporters could be induced, the increased number of the transporter molecules would compensate for the mutation-associated decrease in transport function and hence increase uric acid excretion. As such, pharmacologic agents with ability to induce the expression of ABCG2 represent potentially a novel class of drugs for treatment of gouty arthritis.

Risk factors of allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions in a Thai population

BACKGROUND

Allopurinol is one of the most common causes of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) including drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This study identified the risk factors associated with the development of allopurinol-induced SCARs in a Thai population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty-six allopurinol-induced SCARs (i.e. 19 DRESS and 67 SJS/TEN) and 182 allopurinol-tolerant patients were enrolled in the study. The HLA-B*58:01 allele was determined. Clinical and medicinal data were collected.

RESULTS

Results from multivariate analysis showed that only the HLA-B*58:01 and female sex were identified as risk factors of allopurinol-induced SCARs in this Thai population. Patients who carried the HLA-B*58:01 allele were at a higher risk of allopurinol-induced DRESS [odds ratio (OR)=149.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=24.0-∞, P<1.00×10]. Similar results were observed in allopurinol-induced SJS/TEN (OR=175.0, 95% CI=44.3-690.9, P=1.69×10). The risk of allopurinol-induced SCARs in women was higher than that in men (OR=4.6, 95% CI=1.4-15.6, P=1.44×10). The overall mortality rate of allopurinol-induced SCARs was 11.39% and a higher mortality rate was observed in elderly women.

CONCLUSION

Among the risk factors identified, the HLA-B*58:01 allele had the greatest impact on the development of both phenotypes of allopurinol-induced SCARs in this studied Thai population. In case HLA-B*58:01 genotyping cannot be accessed, close monitoring of allopurinol usage, especially in elderly women with impaired renal function, is necessary to reduce the mortality rate of these life-threatening SCARs.

Population Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Uric Acid-Lowering Effects of Febuxostat Based on Electronic Medical Records in Two Hospitals

The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacodynamic (PPD) model to describe uric acid (UA)-lowering effects in patients treated with febuxostat based on electronic medical records in 2 independent hospitals (university and city hospitals). Interhospital differences in the PPD model were also evaluated. We conducted the following 2 approaches to build the PPD models. A PPD model was developed separately using individual hospital data, and structural models and covariates between the two hospitals were compared (approach A). Another PPD model was developed using all available data from both hospitals, and differences between the 2 hospitals were evaluated by performing a covariate analysis on all PPD parameters (approach B). PPD analyses were performed by NONMEM using data from 358 patients. In both approaches, one indirect response model was established. In approach A, 2 diuretics (loops and thiazides) and renal function tests (Scr or BUN) were selected as covariates for the UA baseline level (serum UA levels just before the febuxostat treatment), whereas 2 diuretics and BUN were selected in approach B. A covariate analysis indicated that loops and thiazides increased UA baseline levels by 7%-14% and 6%-11%, respectively. In approach B, "hospital" was identified as a significant covariate for the UA baseline level; the baseline level was 7% higher in the city hospital. A PPD analysis may provide a precise description of the time course of the UA-lowering effects of febuxostat and quantitatively detect an interhospital difference in the UA baseline level.

Allopurinol for chronic gout

BACKGROUND

Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, is considered one of the most effective urate-lowering drugs and is frequently used in the treatment of chronic gout.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of allopurinol compared with placebo and other urate-lowering therapies for treating chronic gout.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE and EMBASE on 14 January 2014. We also handsearched the 2011 to 2012 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) abstracts, trial registers and regulatory agency drug safety databases.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-randomised controlled clinical trials (CCTs) that compared allopurinol with a placebo or an active therapy in adults with chronic gout.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We extracted and analysed data using standard methods for Cochrane reviews. The major outcomes of interest were frequency of acute gout attacks, serum urate normalisation, pain, function, tophus regression, study participant withdrawal due to adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE). We assessed the quality of the body of evidence for these outcomes using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 11 trials (4531 participants) that compared allopurinol (various doses) with placebo (two trials); febuxostat (four trials); benzbromarone (two trials); colchicine (one trial); probenecid (one trial); continuous versus intermittent allopurinol (one trial) and different doses of allopurinol (one trial). Only one trial was at low risk of bias in all domains. We deemed allopurinol versus placebo the main comparison, and allopurinol versus febuxostat and versus benzbromarone as the most clinically relevant active comparisons and restricted reporting to these comparisons here.Moderate-quality evidence from one trial (57 participants) indicated allopurinol 300 mg daily probably does not reduce the rate of gout attacks (2/26 with allopurinol versus 3/25 with placebo; risk ratio (RR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12 to 3.52) but increases the proportion of participants achieving a target serum urate over 30 days (25/26 with allopurinol versus 0/25 with placebo, RR 49.11, 95% CI 3.15 to 765.58; number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) 1). In two studies (453 participants), there was no significant increase in withdrawals due to AE (6% with allopurinol versus 4% with placebo, RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.61 to 3.08) or SAE (2% with allopurinol versus 1% with placebo, RR 1.93, 95% CI 0.48 to 7.80). One trial reported no difference in pain reduction or tophus regression, but did not report outcome data or measures of variance sufficiently and we could not calculate the differences between groups. Neither trial reported function.Low-quality evidence from three trials (1136 participants) indicated there may be no difference in the incidence of acute gout attacks with allopurinol up to 300 mg daily versus febuxostat 80 mg daily over eight to 24 weeks (21% with allopurinol versus 23% with febuxostat, RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.1); however more participants may achieve target serum urate level (four trials; 2618 participants) with febuxostat 80 mg daily versus allopurinol 300 mg daily (38% with allopurinol versus 70% with febuxostat, RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.65, NNTB with febuxostat 4). Two trials reported no difference in tophus regression between allopurinol and febuxostat over a 28- to 52-week period; but as the trialists did not provide variance, we could not calculate the mean difference between groups. The trials did not report pain reduction or function. Moderate-quality evidence from pooled data from three trials (2555 participants) comparing allopurinol up to 300 mg daily versus febuxostat 80 mg daily indicated no difference in the number of withdrawals due to AE (7% with allopurinol versus 8% with febuxostat, RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.26) or SAE (4% with allopurinol versus 4% with febuxostat, RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.82) over a 24- to 52-week period.Low-quality evidence from one trial (65 participants) indicated there may be no difference in the incidence of acute gout attacks with allopurinol up to 600 mg daily compared with benzbromarone up to 200 mg daily over a four-month period (0/30 with allopurinol versus 1/25 with benzbromarone, RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.01 to 6.58). Based on the pooled results of two trials (102 participants), there was moderate-quality evidence of no probable difference in the proportion of participants achieving a target serum urate level with allopurinol versus benzbromarone (58% with allopurinol versus 74% with benzbromarone, RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.11). Low-quality evidence from two studies indicated there may be no difference in the number of participants who withdrew due to AE with allopurinol versus benzbromarone over a four- to nine-month period (6% with allopurinol versus 7% with benzbromarone, pooled RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.18 to 3.58). There were no SAEs. They did not report tophi regression, pain and function.All other comparisons were supported by small, single studies only, limiting conclusions.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Our review found low- to moderate-quality evidence indicating similar effects on withdrawals due to AEs and SAEs and incidence of acute gout attacks when allopurinol (100 to 600 mg daily) was compared with placebo, benzbromarone (100 to 200 mg daily) or febuxostat (80 mg daily). There was moderate-quality evidence of little or no difference in the proportion of participants achieving target serum urate when allopurinol was compared with benzbromarone. However, allopurinol seemed more successful than placebo and may be less successful than febuxostat (80 mg daily) in achieving a target serum urate level (6 mg/dL or less; 0.36 mmol/L or less) based on moderate- to low-quality evidence. Single studies reported no difference in pain reduction when allopurinol (300 mg daily) was compared with placebo over 10 days, and no difference in tophus regression when allopurinol (200 to 300 mg daily) was compared with febuxostat (80 mg daily). None of the trials reported on function, health-related quality of life or participant global assessment of treatment success, where further research would be useful.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the safety and efficacy of febuxostat versus allopurinol in chronic gout

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of febuxostat compared to allopurinol for the treatment of chronic gout.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized controlled trials that compared oral febuxostat to oral allopurinol for treatment of chronic gout. Two reviewers independently selected studies, assessed study quality, and extracted data. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated with random effects and were reported with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

From 1076 potentially relevant citations, 7 studies and 25 associated publications met inclusion criteria; 5 studies were ultimately included in the analysis. Febuxostat did not reduce the risk of gout flares compared with allopurinol (RR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.03-1.30, I(2) = 44%). Overall, the risk of any adverse event was lower in febuxostat recipients compared to allopurinol (RR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90-0.99, I(2) = 13%). Patients receiving febuxostat were more likely to achieve a serum uric acid of <6 mg/dl than allopurinol recipients (RR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.22-2.00, I(2) = 92%). Subgroup analysis did not indicate any significant difference between high- and low-dose febuxostat on the risk of gout flares.

CONCLUSION

Although febuxostat was associated with higher likelihood of achieving a target serum uric acid level of <6 mg/dl, there was significant heterogeneity in the pooled results. There was no evidence that febuxostat is superior to allopurinol for clinically relevant outcomes. Given its higher cost, febuxostat should not be routinely used for chronic gout.

Chronic gout in the elderly

Gout is the most common cause of inflammatory arthritis in men over 40 years old; it is a debilitating disease and, if untreated, can result in a chronic progressive disease, including tophaceous gout. In the elderly it represents a special issue, with notable clinical and therapeutic differences from the classical form with a systemic involvement. The burden of the disease increases particularly in the very old people, in whom arthritis, impaired gait and eyesight problems may enhance the related disability. Chronic gout moreover could aggravate heart and kidney disease and increase overall mortality and organ-related damage. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important goals for the clinician that should to rely on the cooperation of specialists working together through the methodology of comprehensive geriatric assessment. The aim of the present review was to analyze chronic gout in old people in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical approach, and current treatment.

Thermal inactivation of uricase (urate oxidase): mechanism and effects of additives

Uricase (Urc) is an oxidoreductase enzyme of both general and commercial interest, the former because of its lack of a cofactor and the latter because of its use in the treatment of hyperuricemic disorders. Results of fluorometry and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy indicate that the main phase of thermal Urc inactivation follows an irreversible two-state mechanism, with loss of ~20% of the helical structure, loss of the majority of the tertiary structure, and partial exposure of tryptophan residues to solution being approximately concurrent with activity loss. Results of size exclusion chromatography and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate binding studies confirm that this process results in the formation of aggregated molten globules. In addition to this process, CD studies indicate the presence of a rapid reversible denaturation phase that is not completely coupled to the main phase. Urc inactivation is inhibited by the presence of glycerol and trimethylamine oxide, stabilizers of hydrophobic interactions and backbone structure respectively, confirming that loss of hydrophobic bonding and loss of helical structure are key events in the loss of Urc activity. NaCl, however, destabilizes the enzyme at elevated temperature, emphasizing the importance of ionic interactions to Urc stability. A model is developed in which interfacial disruption, involving local loss of hydrophobic interactions, ionic bonds, and helical structure, leads to Urc inactivation and aggregation. Additional studies of Urc inactivation at a more ambient temperature indicate that the inactivation process followed under such conditions is different from that followed at higher temperatures, highlighting the limitations of high-temperature enzyme stability studies.

Febuxostat for treating chronic gout

BACKGROUND

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in men over 40 years and has an increasing prevalence among postmenopausal women. Lowering serum uric acid levels remains one of the primary goals in the treatment of chronic gout. In clinical trials, febuxostat has been shown to be effective in lowering serum uric acid levels to < 6.0 mg/dL.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the benefits and harms of febuxostat for chronic gout.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts from inception to July 2011. The ClinicalTrials.gov website was searched for references to trials of febuxostat. Our search did not include any restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Two authors independently reviewed the search results and disagreements were resolved by discussion. We included any controlled clinical trial or open label trial (OLT) using febuxostat at any dose.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data and risk of bias were independently extracted by two authors and summarised in a meta-analysis. Continuous data were expressed as mean difference and dichotomous data as risk ratio (RR).

MAIN RESULTS

Four randomised trials and two OLTs with 3978 patients were included. Risk of bias differed by outcome, ranging from low to high risk of bias. Included studies failed to report on five to six of the nine outcome measures recommended by OMERACT. Patients taking febuxostat 120 mg and 240 mg reported more frequent gout flares than in the placebo group at 4 to 28 weeks (RR 1.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3, and RR 2.6; 95% CI 1.8 to 3.7 respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed at 40 mg and 80 mg. Compared to placebo, patients on febuxostat 40 mg were 40.1 times more likely to achieve serum uric acid levels < 6.0 mg/dL at 4 weeks (95% CI 2.5 to 639), with an absolute treatment benefit of 56% (95% CI 37% to 71%). For febuxostat 80 mg and 120 mg, patients were 68.9 and 80.7 times more likely to achieve serum uric acid levels < 6.0 mg/dL at their final visit compared to placebo (95% CI 13.8 to 343.9, 95% CI 16.0 to 405.5), respectively; with an absolute treatment benefit of 75% and 87% (95% CI 68 to 80% and 81 to 91%), respectively. Total discontinuation rates were significantly higher in the febuxostat 80 mg group compared to placebo (RR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0 to 2.0, absolute risk increase 11%; 95% CI 3 to 19%). No other differences were observed.When comparing allopurinol to febuxostat at 24 to 52 weeks, the number of gout flares was not significantly different between the two groups, except for febuxostat 240 mg (RR 2.3; 95% CI 1.7 to 3.0). Patients on febuxostat 40 mg showed no statistically significant differences in benefits or harms. Patients on febuxostat 80 mg and 120 mg were 1.8 and 2.2 times more likely to achieve serum uric acid levels < 6.0 mg/dL at their final visit (95% CI 1.6 to 2.2, 95% CI 1.9 to 2.5) with an absolute treatment benefit of 29% and 44% (95% CI 25% to 33%, 95% CI 38% to 50%), respectively, at 24 to 52 weeks. Total discontinuation rates were higher for febuxostat 80 mg and 120 mg compared to allopurinol (RR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.8, absolute risk increase 11%; 95% CI 6% to 16%; and RR 2.6; 95% CI 2.0 to 3.3, absolute risk increase 20%; 95% CI 3% to 14%, respectively). Discontinuations due to adverse events were similar across groups. Total adverse events were lower for febuxostat 80 mg and 120 mg compared with allopurinol (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.87 to 0.99, absolute risk increase 6%; 95% CI 0.7% to 11%; and RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96, absolute risk increase 8%; 95% CI 3% to 13%, respectively). No other relevant differences were noted.After 3 years of follow-up there were no statistically significant differences regarding effectiveness and harms between febuxostat 80 mg or 120 mg and allopurinol groups (adverse event rate per 100 patient-years 227, 216, and 246, respectively).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of gout flares requiring treatment may be increased in patients taking febuxostat compared to placebo or allopurinol during early treatment, no such increase in gout flares was observed in the long-term follow-up study when compared to allopurinol. Febuxostat at any dose was shown to be beneficial in achieving serum uric acid levels < 6.0 mg/dL and reducing serum uric acid levels in the period from baseline to final visit when compared to placebo and to allopurinol. However, the grade of evidence ranged from low to high, which indicates that further research is needed.

HLA-B*58:01 allele is associated with augmented risk for both mild and severe cutaneous adverse reactions induced by allopurinol in Han Chinese

Aim: Allopurinol is widely used as an effective urate-lowering drug and is one of the most frequent causes of cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs). Recently, a strong association of HLA-B*58:01 with allopurinol-induced severe cADRs was identified. This study investigated the predisposition to different types of allopurinol-cADRs conferred by HLA-B*5801 in a Han population from mainland China. Patients & methods:HLA-B genotyping was performed on 38 Chinese patients with different types of allopurinol-cADRs from 2008 to 2011. Results: All the allopurinol-cADR patients carried HLA-B*58:01, in contrast with only 11.11% (7/63) in the allopurinol-tolerant patients (odds ratio [OR] = 580.07; p < 0.0001) and 13.99% (80/572) in a Han Chinese population from the human MHC database (dbMHC; OR: 471.09; p < 0.0001) carried the genotype. Each type of allopurinol cADRs revealed a statistically significant association with HLA-B*58:01. In particular, the risk of allopurinol-induced maculopapular eruption was significantly higher in patients with HLA-B*58:01 (OR: 339.00; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The strong association of both the mild and severe types of allopurinol cADRs with the HLA-B*58:01 allele were observed. The results indicated that the prospective use of a genetic test of HLA-B*58:01 might reduce the prevalence of allopurinol-induced cADRs.

Original submitted 7 March 2012; Revision submitted 21 May 2012

Untargeted plasma metabolite profiling reveals the broad systemic consequences of xanthine oxidoreductase inactivation in mice

A major challenge in systems biology is integration of molecular findings for individual enzyme activities into a cohesive high-level understanding of cellular metabolism and physiology/pathophysiology. However, meaningful prediction for how a perturbed enzyme activity will globally impact metabolism in a cell, tissue or intact organisms is precluded by multiple unknowns, including in vivo enzymatic rates, subcellular distribution and pathway interactions. To address this challenge, metabolomics offers the potential to simultaneously survey changes in thousands of structurally diverse metabolites within complex biological matrices. The present study assessed the capability of untargeted plasma metabolite profiling to discover systemic changes arising from inactivation of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), an enzyme that catalyzes the final steps in purine degradation. Using LC-MS coupled with a multivariate statistical data analysis platform, we confidently surveyed >3,700 plasma metabolites (50-1,000 Da) for differential expression in XOR wildtype vs. mice with inactivated XOR, arising from gene deletion or pharmacological inhibition. Results confirmed the predicted derangements in purine metabolism, but also revealed unanticipated perturbations in metabolism of pyrimidines, nicotinamides, tryptophan, phospholipids, Krebs and urea cycles, and revealed kidney dysfunction biomarkers. Histochemical studies confirmed and characterized kidney failure in xor-nullizygous mice. These findings provide new insight into XOR functions and demonstrate the power of untargeted metabolite profiling for systemic discovery of direct and indirect consequences of gene mutations and drug treatments.

Uricases as therapeutic agents to treat refractory gout: Current states and future directions

Treatment of refractory gout remains a challenge on drug development. While pegloticase, a recombinant mammalian uricase modified with monomethoxyl-poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) is effective in treating refractory gout, after continued treatment for three months biweekly at a therapeutic dose of 0.14 mg/kg body weight, it elicits an immune response against mPEG in nearly 20% of patients. For continued treatment of refractory gout PEGylated uricases at monthly therapeutic doses below 4 μg/kg body weight have promise. To formulate uricases to achieve monthly therapeutic regimens requires pharmacodynamics simulation and experimentation including: (a) molecular engineering of uricases based on rational design and evolution biotechnology in combination to improve their inherent catalytic efficiency, thermostability and selectivity for urate over xanthine and; (b) optimization of the number and distribution of accessible reactive amino acid residues in native uricases for site-specific PEGylation with PEG derivatives with lower of immunogenicity than mPEG to retain activity, minimize immunogenicity and enhance the pharmacokinetics of the PEGylated uricase. These issues are briefly reviewed as a means to stimulate the development of safer uricase formulations for continued treatment of refractory gout.

Allopurinol pharmacogenetics: assessment of potential clinical usefulness

Use of pharmacogenetics to inform treatment decisions remains a priority for clinicians, patients and public health agencies. We previously developed a framework for systematically assessing whether pharmacogenetic test information would likely bring value to clinical decision-making and enjoy practical uptake. We applied this tool to allopurinol to determine potential usefulness of HLA genetic information in assessing risk for allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions. We quantified allopurinol use data and the magnitude of adverse event signals using US FDA databases, reviewed reported cases of allopurinol-associated severe cutaneous adverse reactions to assess whether clinical subtypes of patients could be identified, performed pooled analyses of associations between HLA variation and allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions and described considerations in clinical implementation of allopurinol pharmacogenetics.

Therapeutic enzyme deimmunization by combinatorial T-cell epitope removal using neutral drift

A number of heterologous enzymes have been investigated for cancer treatment and other therapeutic applications; however, immunogenicity issues have limited their clinical utility. Here, a new approach has been created for heterologous enzyme deimmunization whereby combinatorial saturation mutagenesis is coupled with a screening strategy that capitalizes on the evolutionary biology concept of neutral drift, and combined with iterative computational prediction of T-cell epitopes to achieve extensive reengineering of a protein sequence for reduced MHC-II binding propensity without affecting catalytic and pharmacological properties. Escherichia coli L-asparaginase II (EcAII), the only nonhuman enzyme approved for repeated administration, is critical in treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but elicits adverse antibody responses in a significant fraction of patients. The neutral drift screening of combinatorial saturation mutagenesis libraries at a total of 12 positions was used to isolate an EcAII variant containing eight amino acid substitutions within computationally predicted T-cell epitopes--of which four were nonconservative--while still exhibiting k(cat)/K(M) = 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) for L-Asn hydrolysis. Further, immunization of HLA-transgenic mice expressing the ALL-associated DRB1*0401 allele with the engineered variant resulted in significantly reduced T-cell responses and a 10-fold reduction in anti-EcAII IgG titers relative to the existing therapeutic. This significant reduction in the immunogenicity of EcAII may be clinically relevant for ALL treatment and illustrates the potential of employing neutral drift screens to achieve large jumps in sequence space as may be required for the deimmunization of heterologous proteins.

Current and future therapeutic options for the management of gout

The incidence of gout and the clinical manifestation of hyperuricemia continue to rise. In addition to painful acute attacks, chronic gout can lead to the development of crystal arthropathy, tophi, and renal lithiasis, coincidental with declines in quality of life. As a greater appreciation for the associations between hyperuricemia, gout, and certain comorbidities, such as renal impairment and cardiovascular diseases, grows, so does the search for new therapeutic options to both alleviate the painful symptoms of acute gout attacks and reduce the underlying hyperuricemia. This manuscript reviews the pathophysiology of hyperuricemia and gout, and associated comorbidities, and then discusses traditional therapeutic options, newly available agents, and future targets for pharmacologic management.

Urate-lowering therapy for gout: focus on febuxostat

Gout is a common, painful, and often debilitating rheumatologic disorder that remains one of the few arthritic conditions that can be diagnosed with certainty and cured with appropriate therapy. Allopurinol is the most frequently prescribed agent for gout in the United States. Unfortunately, most patients treated with allopurinol do not achieve target serum uric acid (sUA) levels, possibly due to a perceived intolerability to allopurinol in doses above 300 mg and the need for reduced doses in patients with renal insufficiency. Febuxostat, an orally administered, nonpurine inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration for chronic management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout. Patients treated with febuxostat achieve rapid and substantial reductions in sUA levels. Compared with allopurinol-treated patients, patients receiving febuxostat 80 mg/day were more likely to achieve sUA concentrations less than 6 mg/dl. In long-term studies (up to 5 yrs), febuxostat demonstrated sustained reductions in sUA levels, nearly complete elimination of gout flares, and a frequency of adverse effects comparable to allopurinol. The most commonly reported adverse effects were liver function abnormalities, rash, nausea, and arthralgias. The recommended starting dose of febuxostat is 40 mg/day, which may be increased to 80 mg/day after 2 weeks if patients do not achieve sUA levels less than 6 mg/dl. Dosage adjustment in mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency is unnecessary; however, data are lacking on the safety of febuxostat in patients with severe renal impairment. Although more costly than allopurinol, febuxostat appears to be an acceptable alternative for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia, and may be advantageous in patients with renal impairment, intolerance to allopurinol, or the inability to attain sUA levels less than 6 mg/dl despite adequate therapy with available agents.

Conversion of Th17-type into Th2-type inflammation by acetyl salicylic acid via the adenosine and uric acid pathway in the lung

BACKGROUND

Allergen-specific T-cell responses orchestrate airway inflammation, which is a characteristic of asthma. Recent evidence suggests that noneosinophilic asthma can be developed by mixed Th1 and Th17 cell responses when exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-containing allergens.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic or adverse effects of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) on the expression of Th1-type and Th17-type inflammation induced by airway exposure to LPS-containing allergens.

METHODS

Th1 + Th17 asthma and Th2 asthma mouse models were generated by intranasal sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) and LPS and intraperitoneal sensitization with OVA and alum, respectively. Therapeutic or adverse effects were evaluated after allergen challenge using pharmacologic and transgenic approaches.

RESULTS

Lung infiltration of eosinophils was enhanced in OVA/LPS-sensitized mice by ASA treatment, which was accompanied by the enhanced production of eotaxin. These changes were associated with the down-regulation of Th17 cell response, which was partly dependent on adenosine receptor A1 and A3 subtypes, but up-regulation of allergen-specific IL-13 production from T cells. Lung inflammation induced by LPS-containing allergen was markedly reduced in IL-13-deficient mice in the context of ASA treatment, but not without ASA. Meanwhile, adenosine levels in the lung were enhanced by ASA treatment. Moreover, lung infiltration of eosinophils induced by ASA treatment was reversed by co-treatment of a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that ASA changes Th17-type into Th2-type inflammation mainly via the adenosine and uric acid metabolic pathway in the lung.

Effects of modification of amino groups with poly(ethylene glycol) on a recombinant uricase from Bacillus fastidiosus

After modification with monomethoxyl-poly(ethylene glycol)-5000, a recombinant intracellular uricase from Bacillus fastidiosus ATCC 29604 showed residual activity of about 65%, a thermo-inactivation half-life >85 h, a circulating half-life about 20 h in rats in vivo, consistent effects of common cations, and consistent optima for reaction temperature and pH. Thus, this uricase can be formulated via modification with monomethoxyl-poly(ethylene glycol).

Pegloticase for chronic gout

BACKGROUND

Pegloticase is a potential new treatment option for patients with chronic gout intolerant to other urate-lowering therapies.

OBJECTIVES

To assess safety (adverse events, death) and efficacy (pain, function, frequency of flares, quality of life, uric acid level, radiographic damage) of pegloticase in various doses or as compared to placebo or other interventions for treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with chronic gout.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched six databases: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), via The Cochrane Library, OVID MEDLINE, CINAHL (via EBSCOHost), OVID SPORTdiscus, EMBASE and the Science Citation Index (Web of Science).

SELECTION CRITERIA

All published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials that compared various doses of pegloticase alone or pegloticase alone or in combination with other urate-lowering or anti-inflammatory medications to placebo alone or placebo in combination with these medications, in patients with gout.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors (AA, JS) independently extracted data from the included trials, including trial and population characteristics, primary and secondary outcomes. For dichotomous and continuous outcomes, we calculated the risk ratio and mean difference, respectively with 95% confidence interval. Major outcomes were: (a)

EFFICACY

frequency of gout flares and change in serum uric acid; and (b) safety: adverse events, serious adverse events, withdrawals and death. Minor/secondary outcomes were pain, patient/physician global assessment, tophus burden, health related quality of life, function and radiographic progression.

MAIN RESULTS

Only one open-label, phase-II RCT (n=41) met the selection criteria that compared various doses of pegloticase without comparison to placebo or another treatment. Patients were randomized to one of the four doses of pegloticase for 12 to 14 weeks - 4mg every 2 weeks, 8mg every 2 weeks, 8mg every 4 weeks and 12mg every 4 weeks. Percent responders (uric acid below 6 mg/dl 80% or more time) in the four dose groups were 56%, 88%, 52% and 62%. Percent time without hyperuricemia (uric acid below 6 mg/dl) was 78%, 92%, 76% and 76% respectively. No between dose differences were noted. Most common adverse events (10% or more patients) included nephrolithiasis, arthralgia, anemia, dyspnea, headache, muscle spasms, nausea and pyrexia. 89% reported one or more gout flares during the study. Pain, patient/physician global, function, quality of life, tophus size/regression and radiographic progression were not reported in this study.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There are no published double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs of pegloticase. More evidence is needed to assess risks/benefits of pegloticase in patients with chronic gout.

Cloning, purification, and partial characterization of Bacillus subtilis urate oxidase expressed in Escherichia coli

Urate oxidase (EC 1.7.3.3) is an enzyme involved in purine metabolism which is used in the treatment of gout and as diagnostic reagent for detection of uric acid. In order to produce this enzyme in large quantities for biotechnological purposes, the gene coding for the Bacillus subtilis urate oxidase was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Time course induction in E. coli showed an induced protein with an apparent molecular mass of ∼60 kDa. Soluble recombinant enzyme was purified in a single-step procedure using Ni-NTA column. The enzyme was purified 2.1-fold with a yield of 56% compared to the crude extract. MALDI-TOF analysis revealed an ion with a mass of 58675 Da which is in agreement with the expected mass of the recombinant protein. The purified enzyme showed an optimal pH and temperature of 8.0 and 37°C, respectively, and retained 90% of its activity after 72 hours of incubation at −20°C and 4°C.

Strong association between HLA-B*5801 and allopurinol-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in a Thai population

OBJECTIVES

Allopurinol, a uric acid lowering drug commonly used for hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis, has been reported as a common cause of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCAR) including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). A strong association between allopurinol-induced SCAR and HLA-B*5801 was observed in a Han Chinese population with high frequency of this allele, whereas only a moderate association was observed in populations with low frequency (i.e. European and Japanese). This study investigated the relationship between SJS/TEN and HLA-B*5801 in a Thai population that has a high allelic frequency of this allele.

METHODS

Twenty-seven allopurinol-induced SJS/TEN and 54 allopurinol-tolerant patients were enrolled in the study. The presence of HLA-B*5801 and HLA-B genotypes in these patients were analyzed using a PG5801 DNA detection kit and sequence-based typing, respectively.

RESULTS

All of the 27 (100%) allopurinol-induced SJS/TEN patients who were examined carried HLA-B*5801 whereas only seven (12.96%) of the control patients had this allele. The risk of allopurinol-induced SJS/TEN was significantly greater in patients with HLA-B*5801 when compared with those who did not carry this allele, with an odds ratio of 348.3 (95% confidence interval=19.2-6336.9, P = 1.6 x10). The sensitivity and specificity of the HLA-B*5801 allele for prediction of allopurinol-induced SJS/TEN were 100 and 87%, respectively. By assuming a 0.2% prevalence rate, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of the HLA-B*5801 allele was 1.52 and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A strong association of allopurinol-induced SJS/TEN with the HLA-B*5801 allele was observed in a Thai population. The results suggest that HLA-B*5801 is a valid genetic marker for screening Thai individuals who may be at risk for allopurinol-induced life-threatening SJS and TEN.