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Stathopoulos P, Dalakas MC. The role of complement and complement therapeutics in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2022; 18:933-945. [PMID: 35899480 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2022.2105205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are characterized in the majority of cases by the presence of IgG1 autoantibodies against aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), both capable of activating complement. AREAS COVERED We review evidence of complement involvement in NMOSD pathophysiology from pathological, in vitro, in vivo, human studies, and clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION In AQP4 NMOSD, complement deposition is a prominent pathological feature, while in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated complement-dependent pathogenicity of AQP4 antibodies. Consistent with these studies, the anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab was remarkably effective and safe in a phase 2/3 trial of AQP4-NMOSD patents leading to FDA-approved indication. Several other anti-complement agents, either approved or in trials for other neuro-autoimmunities, like myasthenia, CIDP, and GBS, are also relevant to NMOSD generating an exciting group of evolving immunotherapies. Limited but compelling in vivo and in vitro data suggest that anti-complement therapeutics may be also applicable to a subset of MOG NMOSD patients with severe disease. Overall, anticomplement agents, along with the already approved anti-IL6 and anti-CD19 monoclonal antibodies sartralizumab and inebilizumab, are rapidly changing the therapeutic algorithm in NMOSD, a previously difficult-to-treat autoimmune neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panos Stathopoulos
- Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marinos C Dalakas
- Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Neuroimmunology Unit, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Marignier R, Ruiz A, Cavagna S, Nicole A, Watrin C, Touret M, Parrot S, Malleret G, Peyron C, Benetollo C, Auvergnon N, Vukusic S, Giraudon P. Neuromyelitis optica study model based on chronic infusion of autoantibodies in rat cerebrospinal fluid. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:111. [PMID: 27193196 PMCID: PMC4872335 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0577-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Devic’s neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune astrocytopathy, associated with central nervous system inflammation, demyelination, and neuronal injury. Several studies confirmed that autoantibodies directed against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) are relevant in the pathogenesis of NMO, mainly through complement-dependent toxicity leading to astrocyte death. However, the effect of the autoantibody per se and the exact role of intrathecal AQP4-IgG are still controversial. Methods To explore the intrinsic effect of intrathecal AQP4-IgG, independent from additional inflammatory effector mechanisms, and to evaluate its clinical impact, we developed a new animal model, based on a prolonged infusion of purified immunoglobulins from NMO patient (IgGAQP4+, NMO-rat) and healthy individual as control (Control-rat) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of live rats. Results We showed that CSF infusion of purified immunoglobulins led to diffusion in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, the targeted structures in NMO. This was associated with astrocyte alteration in NMO-rats characterized by loss of aquaporin-4 expression in the spinal cord and the optic nerves compared to the Control-rats (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively). In addition, glutamate uptake tested on vigil rats was dramatically reduced in NMO-rats (p = 0.001) suggesting that astrocytopathy occurred in response to AQP4-IgG diffusion. In parallel, myelin was altered, as shown by the decrease of myelin basic protein staining by up to 46 and 22 % in the gray and white matter of the NMO-rats spinal cord, respectively (p = 0.03). Loss of neurofilament positive axons in NMO-rats (p = 0.003) revealed alteration of axonal integrity. Then, we investigated the clinical consequences of such alterations on the motor behavior of the NMO-rats. In a rotarod test, NMO-rats performance was lower compared to the controls (p = 0.0182). AQP4 expression, and myelin and axonal integrity were preserved in AQP4-IgG-depleted condition. We did not find a major immune cell infiltration and microglial activation nor complement deposition in the central nervous system, in our model. Conclusions We establish a link between motor-deficit, NMO-like lesions and astrocytopathy mediated by intrathecal AQP4-IgG. Our study validates the concept of the intrinsic effect of autoantibody against surface antigens and offers a model for testing antibody and astrocyte-targeted therapies in NMO. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0577-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Marignier
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France. .,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France. .,Service de Neurologie A, Eugène Devic EDMUS Foundation Against Multiple Sclerosis, Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69677, Lyon-Bron cedex, France.
| | - A Ruiz
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - S Cavagna
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - A Nicole
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - C Watrin
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - M Touret
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - S Parrot
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - G Malleret
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - C Peyron
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - C Benetollo
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - N Auvergnon
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - S Vukusic
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Service de Neurologie A, Eugène Devic EDMUS Foundation Against Multiple Sclerosis, Observatoire Français de la Sclérose en Plaques, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69677, Lyon-Bron cedex, France
| | - P Giraudon
- INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Center for Research in Neuroscience of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
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