Modulation of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) antibody secretion in mice immunized with TNF-α kinoid

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2012 May;19(5):699-703. doi: 10.1128/CVI.05649-11. Epub 2012 Mar 21.

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) blockade is an effective treatment for patients with TNF-α-dependent chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and psoriasis. TNF-α kinoid, a heterocomplex of human TNF-α and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) (TNF-K), is an active immunotherapy targeting TNF-α. Since the TNF-K approach is an active immunization, and patients receiving this therapy also receive immunosuppressant treatment, we evaluated the effect of some immunosuppressive drugs on the generation of anti-TNF-α antibodies produced during TNF-K treatment. BALB/c mice were injected intramuscularly with TNF-K in ISA 51 adjuvant. Mice were also injected intraperitoneally with one of the following: phosphate-buffered saline, cyclophosphamide, methylprednisolone, or methotrexate. Anti-TNF-α and anti-KLH antibody levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the anti-TNF-α neutralizing capacity of sera by L929 bioassay. Our results showed that current treatments used in rheumatoid arthritis, such as methylprednisolone and methotrexate, do not significantly alter anti-TNF-α antibody production after TNF-K immunization. In contrast, the administration of cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) after immunization significantly reduced anti-TNF-α antibody titers and their neutralizing capacity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Drug Incompatibility
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*
  • Vaccination / methods*
  • Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vaccines