1
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mader S, Brimberg L, Vo A, Strohl JJ, Crawford JM, Bonnin A, Carrión J, Campbell D, Huerta TS, La Bella A, Berlin R, Dewey SL, Hellman M, Eidelberg D, Dujmovic I, Drulovic J, Bennett JL, Volpe BT, Huerta PT, Diamond B. In utero exposure to maternal anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies alters brain vasculature and neural dynamics in male mouse offspring. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabe9726. [PMID: 35442708 PMCID: PMC9973562 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abe9726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The fetal brain is constantly exposed to maternal IgG before the formation of an effective blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we studied the consequences of fetal brain exposure to an antibody to the astrocytic protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) in mice. AQP4-IgG was cloned from a patient with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), an autoimmune disease that can affect women of childbearing age. We found that embryonic radial glia cells in neocortex express AQP4. These cells are critical for blood vessel and BBB formation through modulation of the WNT signaling pathway. Male fetuses exposed to AQP4-IgG had abnormal cortical vasculature and lower expression of WNT signaling molecules Wnt5a and Wnt7a. Positron emission tomography of adult male mice exposed in utero to AQP4-IgG revealed increased blood flow and BBB leakiness in the entorhinal cortex. Adult male mice exposed in utero to AQP4-IgG had abnormal cortical vessels, fewer dendritic spines in pyramidal and stellate neurons, and more S100β+ astrocytes in the entorhinal cortex. Behaviorally, they showed impairments in the object-place memory task. Neural recordings indicated that their grid cell system, within the medial entorhinal cortex, did not map the local environment appropriately. Collectively, these data implicate in utero binding of AQP4-IgG to radial glia cells as a mechanism for alterations of the developing male brain and adds NMOSD to the conditions in which maternal IgG may cause persistent brain dysfunction in offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mader
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Biomedical Center of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich 82152, Germany
| | - Lior Brimberg
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - An Vo
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Joshua J. Strohl
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - James M. Crawford
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Alexandre Bonnin
- Department of Physiology and Neurosciences, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Joseph Carrión
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Delcora Campbell
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Tomás S. Huerta
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Andrea La Bella
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Roseann Berlin
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Stephen L. Dewey
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Matthew Hellman
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - David Eidelberg
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Irena Dujmovic
- Clinical Center of Serbia University School of Medicine, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA
| | - Jelena Drulovic
- Clinical Center of Serbia University School of Medicine, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
| | - Jeffrey L. Bennett
- Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Programs in Neuroscience and Immunology, University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80045, USA
| | - Bruce T. Volpe
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| | - Patricio T. Huerta
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA
| | - Betty Diamond
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset NY 11030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Soltys J, Liu Y, Ritchie A, Wemlinger S, Schaller K, Schumann H, Owens GP, Bennett JL. Membrane assembly of aquaporin-4 autoantibodies regulates classical complement activation in neuromyelitis optica. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:2000-2013. [PMID: 30958797 DOI: 10.1172/jci122942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune CNS disorder mediated by pathogenic aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel autoantibodies (AQP4-IgG). Although AQP4-IgG-driven complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) is critical for the formation of NMO lesions, the molecular mechanisms governing optimal classical pathway activation are unknown. We investigated the molecular determinants driving CDC in NMO using recombinant AQP4-specific autoantibodies (AQP4 rAbs) derived from affected patients. We identified a group of AQP4 rAbs targeting a distinct extracellular loop C epitope that demonstrated enhanced CDC on target cells. Targeted mutations of AQP4 rAb Fc domains that enhance or diminish C1q binding or antibody Fc-Fc interactions showed that optimal CDC was driven by the assembly of multimeric rAb platforms that increase multivalent C1q binding and facilitate C1q activation. A peptide that blocks antibody Fc-Fc interaction inhibited CDC induced by AQP4 rAbs and polyclonal NMO patient sera. Super-resolution microscopy revealed that AQP4 rAbs with enhanced CDC preferentially formed organized clusters on supramolecular AQP4 orthogonal arrays, linking epitope-dependent multimeric assembly with enhanced C1q binding and activation. The resulting model of AQP4-IgG CDC provides a framework for understanding classical complement activation in human autoantibody-mediated disorders and identifies a potential new therapeutic avenue for treating NMO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Soltys
- Neuroscience and Medical Scientist Training Programs
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jeffrey L Bennett
- Neuroscience and Medical Scientist Training Programs.,Department of Neurology, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado at Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kiskova T, Mytsko Y, Schepelmann M, Helmer H, Fuchs R, Miedl H, Wadsack C, Ellinger I. Expression of the neonatal Fc-receptor in placental-fetal endothelium and in cells of the placental immune system. Placenta 2019; 78:36-43. [PMID: 30955709 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Starting from the second trimester of pregnancy, passive immunity is provided to the human fetus by transplacental transfer of maternal IgG. IgG transfer depends on the neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn. While FcRn localization in the placental syncytiotrophoblast (STB) has been demonstrated unequivocally, FcRn expression in placental-fetal endothelial cells (pFECs), which are part of the materno-fetal barrier, is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the spatio-specific expression pattern of FcRn in placental tissue. METHODS FcRn expression was investigated by western blotting in term placentas and in isolated human placental arterial and venous endothelial cells (HPAEC, HPVEC) using a validated affinity-purified polyclonal anti-peptide antibody against the cytoplasmic tail of FcRn α-chain. In situ localization of FcRn and IgG was studied by immunofluorescence microscopy on tissue sections of healthy term placentas. RESULTS FcRn expression was demonstrated in placental vasculature particularly, in HPAEC, and HPVEC. FcRn was localized in cytokeratin 7+ STB and in CD31+ pFECs in terminal as well as stem villi in situ. Additionally, CD68+ placental macrophages exhibited FcRn expression in situ. Endogenous IgG partially co-localized with FcRn in STB, pFECs, and in placental macrophages. DISCUSSION Placental FcRn expression in endothelial cells and macrophages is analogous to the expression pattern in other organs. FcRn expression in pFECs suggests an involvement of FcRn in IgG transcytosis and/or participation in recycling/salvaging of maternal IgG present in the fetal circulation. FcRn expression in placental macrophages may account for recycling of monomeric IgG and/or processing and presentation of immune complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terezia Kiskova
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yuliya Mytsko
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Schepelmann
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanns Helmer
- Division of Obstetrics and Feto-Maternal Medicine, University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renate Fuchs
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heidi Miedl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christian Wadsack
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Isabella Ellinger
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|