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Liao B, Yang S, Geng L, Zong J, Zhang Z, Jiang M, Jiang X, Li S, Xu A, Chang J, Hoo RLC. Development of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody against circulating adipocyte fatty acid binding protein to treat ischaemic stroke. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:1238-1255. [PMID: 37949671 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) exacerbates cerebral ischaemia injury by disrupting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) through inducing expression of MMP-9. Circulating A-FABP levels positively correlate with infarct size in stroke patients. We hypothesized that targeting circulating A-FABP by a neutralizing antibody would alleviate ischaemic stroke outcome. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against A-FABP were generated using mouse hybridoma techniques. Binding affinities of a generated mAb named 6H2 towards various FABPs were determined using Biacore. Molecular docking studies were performed to characterize the 6H2-A-FABP complex structure and epitope. The therapeutic potential and safety of 6H2 were evaluated in mice with transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and healthy mice, respectively. KEY RESULTS Replenishment of recombinant A-FABP exaggerated the stroke outcome in A-FABP-deficient mice. 6H2 exhibited nanomolar to picomolar affinities to human and mouse A-FABP, respectively, with minimal cross-reactivities with heart and epidermal FABPs. 6H2 effectively neutralized JNK/c-Jun activation elicited by A-FABP and reduced MMP-9 production in macrophages. Molecular docking suggested that 6H2 interacts with the "lid" of the fatty acid binding pocket of A-FABP, thus likely hindering the binding of its substrates. In mice with transient MCAO, 6H2 significantly attenuated BBB disruption, cerebral oedema, infarction, neurological deficits, and decreased mortality associated with reduced cytokine and MMP-9 production. Chronic 6H2 treatment showed no obvious adverse effects in healthy mice. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS These results establish circulating A-FABP as a viable therapeutic target for ischaemic stroke, and provide a highly promising antibody drug candidate with high affinity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boya Liao
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shilun Yang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Leiluo Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiuyu Zong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mengxue Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Simeng Li
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Aimin Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Junlei Chang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ruby Lai Chong Hoo
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmacological Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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