Higher rates of COVID-19 but less severe infections reported for patients on Dupilumab: a Big Data analysis of the World Health Organization VigiBase

OBJECTIVE

Dupilumab (Dupixent®) is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-4 and IL-13 signaling used for the treatment of allergic diseases. Whilst biologic therapy is traditionally regarded as immunosuppressive and capable to increase the infectious risk, Dupilumab does not display these characteristics and may be even protective in certain cases. We investigated the link between Dupilumab therapy and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a comprehensive data mining and disproportionality analysis of the WHO global pharmacovigilance database. One asymptomatic COVID-19 case, 106 cases of symptomatic COVID-19, and 2 cases of severe COVID-19 pneumonia were found.

RESULTS

Dupilumab treated patients were at higher risk of COVID-19 (with an IC0.25 of 3.05), even though infections were less severe (IC0.25 of -1.71). The risk of developing COVID-19 was significant both among males and females (with an IC0.25 of 0.24 and 0.58, respectively). The risk of developing COVID-19 was significant in the age-group of 45-64 years (with an IC0.25 of 0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Dupilumab use seems to reduce COVID-19 related severity. Further studies are needed to better understand the immunological mechanisms and clinical implications of these findings. Remarkably, the heterogenous nature of the reports and the database structure did not allow to establish a cause-effect link, but only an epidemiologically decreased risk in the patients subset treated with dupilumab.

Chest pain mimicking pulmonary embolism may be a common presentation of COVID-19 in ambulant patients without other typical features of infection

BACKGROUND

Radiological and pathological studies in severe COVID-19 pneumonia (SARS-CoV-2) have demonstrated extensive pulmonary immunovascular thrombosis and infarction. This study investigated whether these focal changes may present with chest pain mimicking pulmonary emoblism (PE) in ambulant patients.

METHODS

CTPAs from outpatients presenting with chest pain to Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust 1st March to 31 May 2020 (n = 146) and 2019 (n = 85) were compared. Regions of focal ground glass opacity (GGO), consolidation and/or atelectasis (parenchymal changes) were determined, and all scans were scored using British Society for Thoracic Imaging (BSTI) criteria for COVID-19, and the 2020 cohort was offered SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing.

RESULTS

Baseline demographic and clinical data were similar between groups with absence of fever, normal lymphocytes and marginally elevated CRP and D-Dimer values. Evidence of COVID-19 or parenchymal changes was observed in 32.9% (48/146) of cases in 2020 compared to 16.5% (14/85) in 2019 (P = 0.007). 11/146 (7.5%) patients met BSTI criteria for COVID-19 in 2020 compared with 0/14 in 2019 (P = 0.008). 3/39 patients tested had detectable COVID-19 antibodies (2 with parenchymal changes and 1 with normal parenchyma) however 0/6 patients whose CTPA met BSTI criteria "likely/suspicious for COVID-19" and attended antibody testing were SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive.

CONCLUSIONS

32.8% ambulatory patients with suspected PE in 2020 had parenchymal changes with 7.5% diagnosed as COVID-19 infection by imaging criteria, despite the absence of other COVID-19 symptoms. These findings suggest that localized COVID-19 pneumonitis with immunothrombosis occurs distal to the bronchiolar arteriolar circulation, causing pleural irritation and chest pain without viraemia, accounting for the lack of fever and systemic symptoms.

SAT0356 THE ROLE OF IL-36 AS A POTENTIAL NOVEL THERAPEUTIC TARGET IN SPONDYLARTHROPATHY ASSOCIATED PATHOLOGY DUE TO ITS UPSTREAM INDUCTION OF IL-23/IL-17 PATHWAY CYTOKINES AND STROMAL ACTIVATION IN AN IN VITRO ENTHESITIS MODEL

Background:

Enthesitis, defined as inflammation of anchorage points of tendons, ligaments and joint capsules to bones, is now understood to be the cardinal pathogenic lesion in spondyloarhtopathies (SpA). Evidence from genetic studies, animal models, and therapeutic studies firmly implicates the IL-23/IL-17 axis in the pathogenesis of SpA. We have recently confirmed the presence of IL-23 myeloid cells and IL-17 producing T cells populations in the human enthesis (McGonagle, ARD 2019). The upstream drivers of these key cytokines in the enthesis is, however, not defined. Emerging evidence suggests that IL-36 may be critical in regulating the IL-23/IL-17 axis in various organs. Also IL-38 SNPs have been associated with SpA which is of interest given that IL-38 is an IL-36 antagonist. Further, IL-36α is upregulated in the joints of psoriatic arthritis patients and deficiency of the IL-36 receptor antagonist (DITRA) results in generalized pustular psoriasis with comorbid arthritis in at least third of patients. Thus, we hypothesised that IL-36 could be an upstream regulator of the IL23/17 axis at the enthesis.

Objectives:

To confirm the induction of IL-36 at the human enthesis and to test the effect of IL-36 on resident innate and adaptive immune cell populations and enthesis stromal cells.

Methods:

Entheseal spinous processes from patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgeries was obtained and mechanically digested. Peri-entheseal bone (PEB), and entheseal soft tissue (EST) digests were stimulated with fungal and bacterial adjuvants and IL-36 measured by ELISA. Disease relevant compounds such as methotrexate and PDE4i were assessed for their ability to attenuate IL-36 secretion. IHC was used to confirm the presence of IL-36R+ cells in the enthesis. Digested PEB was stimulated with IL-36, and IL-6, IL-8, IL-23, and TNF-alpha were analysed by ELISA and Flow Cytometry. As the IL-36 cytokines require protease mediated post translational processing for full activation, these were measured in enthesis digests. Entheseal fibroblasts were isolated and stimulated with IL-36 and ICAM-1 measured by Flow Cytometry and genes by qPCR.

Results:

TLR ligands induced the production of IL-36 at the enthesis. Further cell sorting, revealed CD11+ myeloid cells were the predominant entheseal producer of IL-36. Induced IL-36 could be significantly attenuated by PDE4i but not by methotrexate. IHC confirmed the presence of IL-36R+ in the enthesis. Stimulation of enthesis digest with IL-36 significantly upregulated the production of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, and IL-23. Stimulation of enthesis fibroblasts with IL-36 upregulated surface ICAM-1 and secretion of IL-6, CCL2 and CCL20. Enthesis digests showed high basal expression of IL-36 activating protease including cathepsin S and G.

Conclusion:

IL-36 is inducible from enthesis myeloid cells and IL-36R+ cells are present at the enthesis. Enthesis stimulation with IL-36 results in the upregulation of several disease relevant mediators such as TNF, IL-23 and CCL20 in both immune and stromal lineage cells. This is the first demonstration of IL-36 production in human enthesis. Given its pleiotropic effect and relation to IL-23/IL-17 axis, IL-36 is a potential novel therapeutic target in SpA.

Figure 1.

Expression and role of IL-36 at the enthesis. (A). IL-36 is induced by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Mannan. (B) IL-36 is predominantly produced by CD11c+ cells. (C) IL-36 stimulation of PEB resulted in increased TNF-alpha production by CD14+ cells, and increased production of IL-23 (D) IL-36 stimulation of stromal cells increased ICAM-1 expression, and CCL2, CCL20, IL-6 and IL8 secretion

Figure 2.

Gene expression by qPCR following stromal cell stimulation by IL-36

Disclosure of Interests:

Kassem Sharif: None declared, Charlie Bridgewood: None declared, Tobias Russell Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Hannah Rowe Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Qaio Zhou: None declared, Abhay S Rao: None declared, Almas Khan: None declared, Robert Dunsmuir: None declared, Dennis McGonagle Grant/research support from: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

THU0028 AN EXPLANTION FOR HOW VIRAL INFECTION MAY TRIGGER SPONDYLOARTHROPATHY BASED ON TLR9 DRIVEN TNF RESPONSES FROM ENTHESEAL DERIVED PLASMACYTOID DENDRITIC CELLS

Background:

It is well known that viral infections may trigger psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a disease that typically has extensive pre-clinical entheseal abnormalites. Skin resident plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) produce IFNα that contribute to T cell expansion and the development of experimental psoriasis [1, 2]. IFN pathway SNPs have been reported in both PsA and psoriasis and we previously reported the presence of pDCs at the human enthesis [3].

Objectives:

To investigate whether the TLR9 agonist ODN that replicates viral infection activate a wide array of of entheseal derived pDCs molecular cascades including the TNF pathway that might provide a link between viral infection and PsA.

Methods:

pDCs were sorted from enthesis and blood and stimulated with ODN as previously described (n=16) [3, 4]. IFNα protein pre and post stimulation were detected by ELISA. Intracellular flow cytometry (IFC) of entheseal pDCs was used to detect TNF protein. RNA was extracted post-stimulation. The mRNA were hybridised and tagged by probes then measured on the nCounter platform. Data was analysed using nSolver 4.0. Log2 |fold change| >1 and P-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using DAVID. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was drawn by STRING.

Results:

Stimulated entheseal pDCs showed a strong DEGs pattern pointing towards increased TNF expression. There were 11 genes significantly upregulated including TNF. RIPK3 is involved in TNF signalling pathway. TNF, RIPK3 and ZBP1 are involved in necroptosis. TNF and ITGB2 are involved in IL-4 and IL-13 signaling pathway. TNF, HLA-DOA, ITGB2/TLR7 are involved in virus infection. Together it highlights extremely activated TNF pathway genes.

IFN protein was induced in sorted entheseal pDCs following stimulation (n=8). TNF protein was detected by IFC on stimulated entheseal pDCs (CD45+HLA-DR+CD123+CD303+ CD11c-) (n=3). We also compared entheseal and matched peripheral blood pDCs (n=8) following stimulation where no major differences in the TNF pathway were present between groups.

The KEGG analysis was mapped in Figure 1. GO analysis showed the most significant change in biological processes was enriched in the positive regulation of DNA binding transcription factor activity. The change in molecular function was mainly enriched in p53 binding.

Conclusion:

Entheseal pDCs, upon viral molecule stimulation, show several markers of activation. However, TNF pathway genes were highly activiated which provides a novel mechanistic link between viral infection and PsA as reported in epidemiological studies.

References:

[1]Nestle, F.O., et al.,Plasmacytoid predendritic cells initiate psoriasis through interferon-alpha production.J Exp Med, 2005.202(1): p. 135-43.

[2]Christophers, E., et al.,The risk of psoriatic arthritis remains constant following initial diagnosis of psoriasis among patients seen in European dermatology clinics.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2010.24(5): p. 548-54.

[3]Zhou, Q.,PLASMACYTOID DENDRITIC CELLS IN THE ENTHESIS: PHENOTYPING AND FUNCTION INVESTIGATION.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2019.78.

[4]Bridgewood, C., et al.,Identification of myeloid cells in the human enthesis as the main source of local IL-23 production.Ann Rheum Dis, 2019.78(7): p. 929-933.

Disclosure of Interests:

Qiao Zhou: None declared, Jayakumar Vadakekolathu: None declared, Kassem Sharif: None declared, Tobias Russell Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Hannah Rowe Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Peter Millner: None declared, Peter Loughenbury: None declared, Abhay S Rao: None declared, Robert Dunsmuir: None declared, Charlie Bridgewood: None declared, Yasser El-Sherbiny: None declared, Dennis McGonagle Grant/research support from: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

SAT0358 A ROLE FOR IL-4 AND IL-13 IN MODULATING THE IL-23/IL-17 AXIS IN ENTHESITIS

Background:

IL-4 and IL-13 are related Th2 cytokines, with documented roles in allergic inflammation such as atopic dermatitis (AD). Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is typically thought to be a result of Th1/Th17 driven response, and blockage of this pathway (IL-23, IL-17 and TNF) has proven successful. Despite this, there is a strong genetic risk association for IL-13 and PsA(1), however, the precise role of IL-13 in PsA is presently unknown. The enthesis is the region where tendons or ligaments attach to bone, and inflammation of this site (enthesitis) is thought to be the cardinal lesion of PsA, whereas as Rheumatoid Arthritis inflammation is more synovial centric. Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody that works by blocking the common receptor chain (IL-4α) shared by both IL-13 and IL-4. Recent studies have reported that AD patients receiving dupilumab have developed clinical enthesitis(2).

Objectives:

To investigate whether IL-4 and IL-13 could modulate IL-23production from entheseal myeloid cells and IL-17 production from enthseal T-cells.

Methods:

Healthy enthesis samples from patients undergoing surgery for non-inflammatory conditions such a lumbar decompression or scoliosis were obtained. Enthesis samples were digested and stimulated (Fig 1A) with LPS and anti-CD3 to induce IL-23 and IL-17 respectively. Samples were pre-treated with IL-4 and IL-13 to ascertain whether this modulated entheseal cytokine production.

Results:

Both IL-23 and IL-17 were readily induced from enthesis samples with IL-23 coming predominantly from entheseal myeloid resident cells (Fig 1B) and IL-17A from T-cells (Fig 1C). Pre-treatment of entheseal digested material with either IL-4 or IL-13 attenuated IL-23 secretion (Fig 1D). Neither IL-4 nor IL-13 was able to significantly attenuate IL-17 secretion from enthesis T-cells, however IL-13 trended downwards and IL-4 surprisingly trended upwards (Fig 1E).

Conclusion:

Our clinical and vitro data point towards a previously unknown role for IL-4 and IL-13 having a protective role in entheseal induction of IL23/17 axis cytokines. These findings point towards a novel explanation for IL-13 pathway SNPs in PsA and also a molecular explanation for why anti-IL4/13 therapy may induce entheseal pathology.

References:

[1]BOWES, J., S. EYRE, E. FLYNN, P. HO, S. SALAH, R.B. WARREN, H. MARZO-ORTEGA, L. COATES, R. MCMANUS, A.W. RYAN, D. KANE, E. KORENDOWYCH, N. MCHUGH, O. FITZGERALD, J. PACKHAM, A.W. MORGAN, C.E. GRIFFITHS, I.N. BRUCE, J. WORTHINGTON and A. BARTON. Evidence to support IL-13 as a risk locus for psoriatic arthritis but not psoriasis vulgaris.Ann Rheum Dis, 2011,70(6), pp.1016-9.

[2]WILLSMORE, Z.N., R.T. WOOLF, C. HUGHES, B. MENON, B. KIRKHAM, C. SMITH and A. PINK. Development of inflammatory arthritis and enthesitis in patients on dupilumab: a case series.British Journal of Dermatology, 2019,181(5), pp.1068-1070.

Disclosure of Interests:

Charlie Bridgewood: None declared, Kassem Sharif: None declared, Hannah Rowe Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Tobias Russell Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Dennis McGonagle Grant/research support from: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

SAT0361 HEALTHY HUMAN SPINAL PROCESSES PERI-ENTHESEAL T-CELLS EXHIBIT A TR1 RATHER THAN A FOXP3 REGULATORY PHENOTYPE

Background:

We have previously reported that the normal spinal enthesis has populations of conventional T-cells including CD4+ & CD8+ T-cells that could be induced to produce IL-17A and TNF following anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation. The biology of such cells in health including their normal function and antigen reactivity is completely unknown. The purpose of this work was to define the phenotype, functionality and TCR reactivity of such T-cells in health.

Objectives:

To investigate whether the T-cells at the normal enthesis were regulatory in nature and to determine the type of regulatory T-cell as Tr1 or FOXP3 regulatory T-cell and to determine T-cell reactivity.

Methods:

Healthy interspinous ligament and spinous process with matched peripheral blood were harvested from patients undergoing elective spinal surgery (n=20). Entheseal soft tissue (EST) & peri-entheseal bone (PEB) was enzymatically digested and then sorted. Tr1 and Treg phenotypes were investigated using flow cytometry. Analysis of cytokines, growth factors and chemokines was performed by qRT-PCR, ELISA and flow cytometry. TCR sequencing was performed and a search for putative T-cell reactivity was done using TCR3 database.

Results:

Pro-inflammatory cytokine transcripts including IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, IL-23 (p19) & TNF were very low or undetectable in the Enthesis T-cells (Fig 1). Flow cytometry confirmed entheseal T-cells had a Tr1 phenotype (CD4+ LAG3+ CD49b+). Intracellular flow cytometry showed enthesis T-cells had very low FOXP3 expression, when compared to their blood counterparts. Intracellular flow cytometry and gene expression showed high basal expression of growth factors and regulatory proteins such as IL-10 & TGFβ, when compared to blood T-cells. RNA-Seq data, showed 13 potential TCR clonal sequences the most common of which are predicted to be reactive viral infection was CMV present in 8 sequences and Influenza A virus present in 2 sequences.

Conclusion:

The healthy human enthesis has regulatory T-cells of a Tr1 phenotype rather than a FOXP3 Treg phenotype. Many clones have antigen specificity indicating reactivity to prior infection. These findings suggest that conventional entheseal T-cells have a role in enthesis immune homeostasis.

Disclosure of Interests:

Hannah Rowe Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Abdulla Watad: None declared, Tobias Russell Grant/research support from: Novartis UK Investigator Initiated non-clinical research funding support, Kassem Sharif: None declared, Darren Newton: None declared, Miriam Wittmann: None declared, Qiao Zhou Grant/research support from: Funded by the PARTNER fellowship program, Almas Khan: None declared, Peter Loughenbury: None declared, Robert Dunsmuir: None declared, Abhay S Rao: None declared, Peter Millner: None declared, Tony Kenna: None declared, Matthew Brown: None declared, Charlie Bridgewood: None declared, Dennis McGonagle Grant/research support from: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

POS0331 UPADACITINIB EFFECTIVELY LIMITS IL-23 DRIVEN INFLAMMATION AT THE ENTHESIS BY INHIBITING T CELL STAT1 PHOSPHORYLATION, IL-17A AND TNFα PRODUCTION

Background

Enthesitis or inflammation of the tendon/ligament anchorage points is the cardinal lesion in spondyloarthritis (SpA)[1]. Several key mediators have been shown to have a role in SpA including TNFα, IL-23, IL-17A and IL-17F [1]. There is a need for new therapeutic agents to treat SpA as current therapeutics fail to adequately target all its manifestations. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have shown promise as disease modifying drugs and by targeting signaling components shared amongst several inflammatory pathways may be advantageous in treating inflammatory diseases with complex overlapping pathological mechanisms, as seen in SpA[2]. Upadacitinib is an oral selective JAK inhibitor (JAK1 over JAK2/3) which in phase II/III trials has shown efficacy for both psoriatic arthropathy and ankylosing spondylitis, suggesting specific JAK1 targeting may be superior[3, 4]. The role of JAK/STAT signaling in enthesis has not been extensively explored and given the importance of the enthesis in the development of SpA it is crucial to gain a mechanistic understanding of how JAK inhibitors affect entheseal inflammation.

Objectives

To determine if upadacitinib could suppress innate and adaptive immune responses in an in vitro human enthesis model and elucidate mechanisms of suppression.

Methods

Normal spinous process enthesis was obtained from patients undergoing spinal decompression or surgery for scoliosis correction as previously described[5]. Enthesis cells were subsequently isolated by mechanical digestion. Entheseal cells were stimulated with IFNɣ (JAK1 activator) with and without upadacitinib and STAT 1 activation measured by phos-flow cyometry. Entheseal T-cells were stimulated with anti-CD3, anti-CD3 with IL-23 and anti-CD3 with IL-1β with and without upadacitinib. IL-17A and TNFα were quantified using intracellular flow cytometry and ELISA of supernatants. Entheseal cells were also stimulated with LPS with and without upadacitinib, and IL-23 and TNFα quantified by ELISA.

Results

Upadacitinib inhibited phosphorylation of STAT1 in entheseal cells, following IFNɣ stimulation (Figure 1-A). Following stimulation of entheseal T cells upadacitinib inhibited both TNFα and IL-17A production as assessed by both ELISA and intracellular flow cytometry (Figure 1-B, 1-C). Upadacitinib did not attenuate LPS induced IL-23 or TNFα from entheseal myeloid cells.

Conclusion

Upadacitinib inhibition of entheseal T cell derived TNFα and IL-17A, therefore interrupting the IL-23/IL-17/TNFα axis so prominent in SpA, may offer a mechanistic explanation for upadaticintib’s efficacy treating enthesitis.

References

[1]Watad, A., et al., Enthesitis: Much More Than Focal Insertion Point Inflammation. Current rheumatology reports, 2018. 20(7): p. 41-41.

[2]Schwartz, D.M., et al., JAK inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for immune and inflammatory diseases. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2017. 16(12): p. 843-862.

[3]van der Heijde, D., et al., Efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (SELECT-AXIS 1): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet, 2019. 394(10214): p. 2108-2117.

[4]McInnes, I.B., et al., Trial of Upadacitinib and Adalimumab for Psoriatic Arthritis. New England Journal of Medicine, 2021. 384(13): p. 1227-1239.

[5]Bridgewood, C., et al., Identification of myeloid cells in the human enthesis as the main source of local IL-23 production. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 2019. 78(7): p. 929-933.

Disclosure of Interests

Sami Giryes: None declared, Charlie Bridgewood: None declared, Chi Wong: None declared, Tom Macleod: None declared, Dennis McGonagle Grant/research support from: The study is funded by an Abbvie research grant.