1
|
Diaz-Torne C, Ortiz MDA, Moya P, Hernandez MV, Reina D, Castellvi I, De Agustin JJ, Fuente DDL, Corominas H, Sanmarti R, Zamora C, Cantó E, Vidal S. The combination of IL-6 and its soluble receptor is associated with the response of rheumatoid arthritis patients to tocilizumab. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2017; 47:757-764. [PMID: 29157669 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2017.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND IL-6 contributes significantly to the chronic inflammatory process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tocilizumab, a humanized anti-human IL-6 receptor antibody that blocks the signaling originated by the IL-6/IL-6R complex, is an effective treatment. However, predictors of the response to tocilizumab are still required. We aimed to combine IL-6 and soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) levels to identify groups of responses. METHODS Heparinized blood and clinical data from 63 RA patients were collected before treatment and after 3 and 6 months. Two-step clustering (SPSS v.18) was used to establish the relationship between IL-6 and sIL-6R. Then, we compared European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria with remission achievement in the groups of patients. RESULTS Three statistical significant clusters of RA patients (i.e., g1, g2, and g3) were defined by serum concentrations of IL-6 and sIL-6R at baseline. All groups of RA patients had higher IL-6 and sIL-6R levels than healthy donors. The levels of IL-6 expressed as median (IQR) in g1 patients were 124(90-183)pg/ml, in g2 12.3(4.4-24)pg/ml, and in g3 60.1(30-146)pg/ml (p < 0.001). The levels of sIL-6R expressed as mean ± sd in g1 patients were 250.5 ± 72ng/ml, in g2 269.1 ± 125ng/ml, and in g3 732.7 ± 243ng/ml (p < 0.001). Disease activity score (DAS)28, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were comparable in the three groups at baseline. Disease duration in g3 was the longest (median(IQR) years: g1 = 11(5-15), g2 = 12(8-20), and g3 23(16-26); p = 0.006), with years of disease evolution being correlated with sIL-6R levels (R = 0.417, p < 0.001). Simple and Clinical Disease Activity Index (SDAI and CDAI) decreased significantly in the three groups. However, EULAR response criteria and remission achievement at 6m was different in the three groups (p = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). In all. 17 out of the 18 patients in g1 had a good or moderate response to tocilizumab. Conversely, the percentage of patients with no response to tocilizumab was higher in g3 than in g1 and g2. We also observed different changing patterns of IL-6 and sIL-6R levels among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS RA patients could be easily stratified prior to therapeutic intervention with two molecules related to the pathway blocked by tocilizumab. G1 patients, who had the best response to tocilizumab, had the highest level of IL-6 and the lowest level of sIL-6R.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Diaz-Torne
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Maria Dels Angels Ortiz
- Department of Immunology, Institut de Recerca, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Moya
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Delia Reina
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Moises Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Spain
| | - Ivan Castellvi
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Hector Corominas
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Moises Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Spain
| | - Raimon Sanmarti
- Unit of Rheumatology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Zamora
- Department of Immunology, Institut de Recerca, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Cantó
- Department of Immunology, Institut de Recerca, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Vidal
- Department of Immunology, Institut de Recerca, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hirata T, Shimazaki C, Sumikuma T, Ashihara E, Goto H, Inaba T, Koishihara Y, Nakagawa M. Humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody induced apoptosis of fresh and cloned human myeloma cells in vitro. Leuk Res 2003; 27:343-9. [PMID: 12531226 DOI: 10.1016/s0145-2126(02)00179-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody (hPM1) on the in vitro proliferation of cloned and freshly isolated myeloma cells from 20 patients with advanced stage multiple myeloma (MM). Humanized PM1 significantly inhibited the growth of a myeloma cell line in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited more than 30% of the proliferation of fresh myeloma cells in 10 of the 19 cases. Flow cytometric analysis using annexin V and 7AAD showed that hPM1 induced apoptosis of myeloma cells. These observations suggest the possibility of using hPM1 for treating some patients with MM whose growth depends on IL-6.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Hirata
- Second Department of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyoku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Van Zaanen HC, Lokhorst HM, Aarden LA, Rensink HJ, Warnaar SO, Van Oers MH. Blocking interleukin-6 activity with chimeric anti-IL6 monoclonal antibodies in multiple myeloma: effects on soluble IL6 receptor and soluble gp130. Leuk Lymphoma 1998; 31:551-8. [PMID: 9922045 DOI: 10.3109/10428199809057614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL6) plays a major role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma. In patients with monoclonal gammopathy serum levels of sIL6R have been found to be increased. The role of IL6 in the regulation of soluble receptors is still unclear. In a phase I/II study we treated 12 myeloma patients with high-affinity chimeric anti-IL6 monoclonal antibodies. This treatment resulted in a total in vivo blockage of IL6 activity and as a result we had an unique opportunity to gain insight into the possible regulation effects of IL6 on these soluble IL6 receptors. Pre-treatment sIL6R levels were elevated in 9 of the 12 patients; pre-treatment sgp130 levels were significantly increased in all patients. Total blockage of IL6 activity by the high-affinity cMab did not influence sIL6R in 10 of these 12 patients and sgp130 levels remained stable in all patients. Of the 2 patients whose sIL6R levels increased during therapy, one had progressive disease and the other developed an acute infection. We conclude that in most end-stage myeloma patients sIL6R and sgp130 serum levels are elevated, but that there is no relation between IL6 activity and sIL6R or sgp130 levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H C Van Zaanen
- Department of Hematology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Anthes JC, Zhan Z, Gilchrest H, Egan RW, Siegel MI, Billah MM. Interferon-alpha down-regulates the interleukin-6 receptor in a human multiple myeloma cell line, U266. Biochem J 1995; 309 ( Pt 1):175-80. [PMID: 7619053 PMCID: PMC1135816 DOI: 10.1042/bj3090175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor in a multiple myeloma cell line, U266, have been examined. IFN-alpha inhibits [3H]thymidine incorporation in U266 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, IFN-alpha inhibits the ability of IL-6 to induce increases in [3H]thymidine incorporation. While IFN-alpha suppresses the ability of 125I-IL-6 to bind to the IL-6 receptor on U266 cells, this effect is not due to competition of IFN-alpha with IL-6 for the IL-6 receptor. Although IFN-alpha induces IL-6 synthesis in the U266 cell, inhibition of IL-6 binding occurs when IL-6 synthesis is minimal. Furthermore, after pretreatment of U266 cells with neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibodies, IFN-alpha still inhibits 125I-IL-6 binding. These data suggest that IFN-alpha inhibition of 125I-IL-6 binding does not involve IL-6 synthesis. IFN-alpha reduces 125I-IL-6 binding without affecting its affinity, suggesting that IFN-alpha inhibits IL-6 receptor expression. Although pretreatment with cycloheximide inhibits 125I-IL-6 binding, IFN-alpha does not cause a selective decrease in the levels of gp130 or IL-6 receptor mRNA at times when 125I-IL-6 binding is inhibited. These observations indicate that IFN-alpha lowers IL-6 receptor density on U266 cells by mechanisms other than competitive binding or lowering IL-6 receptor mRNA production. Receptor down-regulation may be a mechanism of IFN-alpha-induced inhibition of growth in U266 cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J C Anthes
- Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Goto H, Shimazaki C, Tatsumi T, Yamagata N, Hirata T, Ashihara E, Oku N, Inaba T, Fujita N, Koishihara Y. Mouse anti-human interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody inhibits proliferation of fresh human myeloma cells in vitro. Jpn J Cancer Res 1994; 85:958-65. [PMID: 7961126 PMCID: PMC5919586 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1994.tb02975.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major growth factor in multiple myeloma. We investigated the effect of mouse anti-human IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody (anti-IL-6R mAb) on the in vitro proliferation of freshly isolated myeloma cells from 21 patients to evaluate the therapeutic potential. The addition of anti-IL-6R mAb inhibited more than 30% of the spontaneous proliferation of myeloma cells in 9 of 21 cases in a dose- (0.1 to 20 micrograms/ml) and time-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of anti-IL-6R mAb did not differ significantly from that of anti-IL-6 mAb, and were correlated with the extent of the response of myeloma cells to IL-6. Flow cytometric analysis showed that all myeloma cells expressed IL-6R, whose intensity was not correlated with either the extent of response of myeloma cells to IL-6 or the inhibitory effects of anti-IL-6R mAb on proliferation of myeloma cells. Although our study showed heterogeneity in the proliferative responses of myeloma cells to IL-6 and anti-IL-6R mAb, these observations suggest the possibility of using anti-IL-6R mAbs for treating some patients with multiple myeloma whose growth depends on IL-6.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Goto
- Second Department of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schoester M, Heinrich PC, Graeve L. Regulation of interleukin-6 receptor expression by interleukin-6 in human monocytes--a re-examination. FEBS Lett 1994; 345:131-4. [PMID: 8200444 DOI: 10.1016/0014-5793(94)00416-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
We have studied the expression and regulation of the interleukin-6 receptor (gp80) and its signal transducer gp130 in primary human blood monocytes. Here, we show that freshly isolated human monocytes express mRNAs for gp80 and gp130. In contrast to a previous report [(1989) FEBS Lett. 249, 27-30] we find that neither lipopolysaccharide nor interleukin-6 (IL-6) lead to a down-regulation of IL-6 receptor mRNA in monocytes. Also in the human monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 no effect of IL-6 on receptor mRNA levels was observed. For signal transducer gp130 mRNA in monocytes a small and transient up-regulation by IL-6 was found.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Schoester
- Institut für Biochemie, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
De Benedetti F, Massa M, Pignatti P, Albani S, Novick D, Martini A. Serum soluble interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor and IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor complex in systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. J Clin Invest 1994; 93:2114-9. [PMID: 8182142 PMCID: PMC294340 DOI: 10.1172/jci117206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
By using a sandwich ELISA, soluble human IL-6 receptor (sIL-6 R) levels were measured in the sera of 20 healthy children and of 25 patients with systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). In patients with systemic JRA, serum sIL-6 R levels (114.6 +/- 37.7 ng/ml) were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than those of healthy children (161.2 +/- 45.5 ng/ml). Serum sIL-6 R levels were negatively correlated (r = -0.610, P < 0.001) with serum IL-6 levels measured with the B9 cells. The serum IL-6/sIL-6 R complex was detected using an ELISA based on a monoclonal antibody to IL-6 for capture and on a monoclonal antibody to human sIL-6 R for detection. Healthy controls had little, if any, detectable serum IL-6/sIL-6 R complex (OD 0.024 +/- 0.027), while the majority of patients with systemic JRA presented measurable serum IL-6/sIL-6 R complex (OD 0.492 +/- 0.546). IL-6 levels estimated in the circulating IL-6/sIL-6 R complexes were in the range of nanograms per milliliter and approximately 20-fold higher than those measured by the B9 cells. Since serum C-reactive protein concentrations were much more correlated with serum levels of IL-6/sIL-6 R complexes (r = 0.713, r2 = 0.51, P < 0.0001) than with the serum IL-6 levels measured with the B9 cells (r = 0.435, r2 = 0.19, P = 0.05), the large quantities of serum IL-6 present in IL-6/sIL-6 R complexes appear to be biologically relevant in vivo, at least as far as the induction by IL-6 of acute phase protein production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F De Benedetti
- Clinica Pediatrica, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lasfar A, Wietzerbin J, Billard C. Differential regulation of interleukin-6 receptors by interleukin-6 and interferons in multiple myeloma cell lines. Eur J Immunol 1994; 24:124-30. [PMID: 8020547 DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830240119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) mediates pleiotropic functions through specific receptors (IL-6R) composed of an 80-kDa binding protein, associated with a non-ligand binding protein (gp130) which transduces the signal. Because IL-6 is the major tumor growth factor in multiple myeloma, we investigated the regulation of IL-6R in two human multiple myeloma cell lines. Binding experiments with 125I-labeled IL-6 showed that IL-6R were expressed at a high density on RPMI-8226 cells (15 000 receptors/cell), but no specific binding was detected on XG-1 cells, whose growth depends on the presence of exogenous IL-6. However, when IL-6 was removed from the culture medium, high-affinity IL-6R appeared on the surface of XG-1 cells (5300 sites/cell). Treatment of RPMI-8226 cells with IL-6 reduced the number of IL-6R without changing their affinity. This reduction was dose dependent and was not affected by acid treatment which dissociates ligand-receptor complexes. Cross-linking experiments showed that the formation of one IL-6/receptor complex of 160 kDa markedly decreased upon IL-6 treatment, while the other complex of 190 kDa became undetectable. These data provide evidence for ligand-induced down-regulation of membrane IL-6R expression in myeloma cells. Treatment of RPMI-8226 cells with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), which inhibits the growth of these cells, stimulated IL-6R expression and increased the formation of the 160-kDa IL-6/receptor complex. This stimulation was specific for IFN-alpha, since IFN-gamma reduced the number of IL-6R. These data indicate that, in myeloma cells, IL-6R are differentially regulated by IL-6 and IFN-alpha.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Lasfar
- Unité 365 INSERM Interférons et Cytokines Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gaillard JP, Bataille R, Brailly H, Zuber C, Yasukawa K, Attal M, Maruo N, Taga T, Kishimoto T, Klein B. Increased and highly stable levels of functional soluble interleukin-6 receptor in sera of patients with monoclonal gammopathy. Eur J Immunol 1993; 23:820-4. [PMID: 8458373 DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830230408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Soluble human interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) was measured in the serum of 30 healthy individuals, 32 individuals with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), 20 patients with early multiple myeloma (MM) and 54 patients with overt MM. The serum activity recognized by an immunoradiometric assay was determined to be sIL-6R, because of its binding capacity to IL-6 and its molecular mass of 55 kDa. All sera of healthy individuals contained sIL-6R (mean value: 89 ng/ml, range 17-300 ng/ml). Serum sIL-6R levels were increased by 51% in patients with MGUS (mean value: 135 ng/ml, p < 0.005), by 44% in patients with early myeloma (mean value: 128 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and by 116% in patients with overt MM (mean value: 193 ng/ml, p < 0.001). In patients with MM, a complete lack of correlation (p > 0.7) was found between serum sIL-6R levels and other previously recognized prognostic factors in this disease, particularly serum IL-6 levels and those factors related to tumor cell mass. The independence of serum sIL-6R levels on tumor cell mass was directly demonstrated by studying four patients with MM treated with autologous bone marrow transplantation for periods of between 320 and 760 days. These levels were found to be remarkably stable and constant, independent of whether patients relapsed or achieved complete remission. Finally, physiological concentrations of sIL-6R were found to increase by tenfold the sensitivity of human myeloma cell lines to IL-6. These observations suggest a high control of the sIL-6R level in vivo, and, possibly, an important functional role of this circulating protein in patients with monoclonal gammopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J P Gaillard
- Laboratory of Immunological and Hematological Oncology, Institut de Biologie, Nantes, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|