Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune inflammatory diseases are examples of imbalances within the immune system (disrupted homeostasis) that arise from the effects of an accumulation of environmental and habitual insults over a lifetime, combined with genetic predispositions. The Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System (LEAPS) therapies are capable of inhibiting ongoing disease progression in animal models. Whereas DMARDs ablate or inhibit specific proinflammatory cytokines or cells and JAK inhibitors (jakinibs) inhibit the receptor activation cascade for expression of proinflammatory cytokines, the LEAPS therapeutic vaccines specifically modulate the ongoing antigen-specific, disease-driving, proinflammatory T memory cell responses. This decreases disease presentation and changes the cytokine conversation to decrease the expression of inflammatory cytokines while increasing the expression of regulatory cytokines.
Type | Target | ↓/↑ Modulation | Regulated Immune Component, If Known [References] | Generic and Product name, Regulatory Status | Ref. |
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Therapeutic Vaccines | Th1 | ↓ | IL-1, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α [3][17][18] | CEL-4000 (preclinical) | [3][17][18] |
↑ | Treg (FOXP3+), IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β [3][17][18] | ||||
Th17 | ↓ | TNF-α, IL-17, IL-6, MCP-1, IL-12p40 [19] | CEL-2000 (preclinical) | [19] | |
↑ | IL-12p70, IL-10 [19] | ||||
DMARDs | TNF-α | ↓ | TNF-α [20] | Adalimumab (Humira®) | [20][21] |
TNF-α | ↓ | TNF-α [22] | Etanercept (Enbrel®) | [22] | |
IL-1Ra | ↓ | IL-1 [23] | Anakinra (Kineret®) | [23] | |
IL-6R msR | ↓ | MCP-1 [21], IL-6 [24] | Tocilizumab (Actemra®) | [21][24] | |
IL-17 | ↓ | MCP-1 [21], IL-17A [25] | Secukinumab (Cosentyx®) | [21][25] | |
CD20 | ↓ | B cells as APCs: CD4+IFN-γ+, CD4+IL-17+ [26] | Rituximab (Rituxan®) | [26][27] | |
Anti-CD6 | ↓ | IL-17 [28], IFN-γ [28][29], IL-6, TNF-α [29] | Itolizumab (Alzumab®) | [28][29][30] | |
Agonistic Anti-CD137 | ↑ | IFN-γ [31][32], IDO [32] | Utomilumab | [31][32] | |
Anti-CTLA4 | ↓ | IL-17, IFN-γ [33] | Abatacept (Orencia®) | [33][34][35] | |
↑ | IL-35, IFN-β [33] | ||||
Anti-CD40 | ↓ | IL-6, RANKL [36], TNF-α, NF-κβ, IL-6, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, VEGF [37] | Bi 655064 | [36][37] | |
CD24 | ↓ | TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1(CCL2), IL-1β [38] NF-κβ [39] | [38][40][41] | ||
Jakinibs | JAK3 > JAK1, JAK2 > TYK2 [42] | ↓ | Transcription: IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, IL-21, IL-6, IL-11, IL-13, IL-25, IL-27, IL-31, IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-10, IL-22, IFN-γ, > EPO, TPO, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, Leptin, IL-3, IL-5 > IL-12, IL-23, Type III IFNs [43] in vitro: IL-6 by B cells, [44] IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, IL-6, and IFN-γ in CD4+ T cells. IL-17 in Th17 cells polarized via IL-23. IL-21 and IL-22 in Th17 [45], IFN-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-15, IL-4, GM-CSF [43] MCP-1 [21] IL-17 in CD4+T cells from AS, PSA, RA, and HC [46] in vivo: IL-6 in human [47] |
Tofacitinib (Xeljanz®)FDA approved (2012) | [21][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] |
↑ | in vitro: IL-2 in Th1. IL-17, IL-2 in Th17 cells (polarized via TGF-β1, IL-6) [45] | ||||
JAK3 > JAK1, TYK2, JAK2 [42] | ↓ | Transcription: IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-10, IL-22, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, IL-2, IFN-γ > IL-6, IL-11, IL-13, IL-25, IL-27, IL-31, IL-12, IL-23, Type III IFNs, EPO, TPO, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, Leptin, IL-3, IL-5 in vitro: IL-4, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α in PBMC after TCR stimulation, IL-4, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17A, GM-CSF in PBMC after IL-2 stimulation [51] |
Peficitinib (Smyraf®) Japan Approved (2019) | [42][51] | |
JAK2, JAK1 > TYK2 > JAK3 [42] | ↓ | Transcription: IL-6, IL-11, IL-13, IL-25, IL-27, IL-31, IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-10, IL-22, IFN-γ > IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, IL-21 > IL-12, IL-23, Type III IFNs, EPO, TPO, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, Leptin, IL-3, IL-5 [43] in vitro: IL-6 in MoDCs, IFN-α secreted pDCs [44] MCP-1 [21] IL-17 in CD4+ T cells (AS, PSA, RA, and HC) [46] |
Baricitnib (Olumiant®) FDA approved (2018) | [21][42][43][44][46][48][49] | |
JAK2, JAK1 > TYK2 > JAK3 [42] | ↓ | Transcription: IFN-γ, EPO, TPO, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, Leptin, IL-3, IL-5 > IL-6, IL-11, IL-13, IL-25, IL-27, IL-31, IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-10, IL-22, IL-12, IL-23, Type III IFNs > IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, IL-21 in vitro: IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-13 [52] IL-17 in CD4+ (AS, PSA, RA, and HC) [46] in vivo: IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-6, G-CSF, IL-10, TNF-α [52] |
Ruxolitinib (Jakafi®) FDA approved (2011) (myelofibrosis) | [42][46][48][52][53] | |
↑ | in vitro: IL-2 [53] | ||||
JAK1 > JAK2 > TYK2 > JAK3 [42] | ↓ | Transcription: IL-6, IL-11, IL-13, IL-25, IL-27, IL-31 > IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-10, IL-22 > IFN-γ, > IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, IL-21 > EPO, TPO, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, Leptin, IL-3, IL-5, IL-12, IL-23, Type III IFNs [43] in vitro: IL-2, IL-4, IFN-αB2, IFN-γ [50] IFN-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-15, IL-4 [43] ex vivo: IL-6, GM-CSF [43] in vivo: IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-1β, RANKL, MMP-3, MMP-13, IP10, XCL1, MCP-1, MIP-1b, MCP-3, MCP-5, M-CSF1, MDC, SCF, KC/GRO, IL-1α [50] SAA, IL-6, IL-1β, GM-CSF, TNF-RI, Resistin, TNF-α, MMP-3, YKL40, VEGF, MMP-1, IL-12, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-5, IL-21, IL-23, IL-17A, IL-7, IL-10, CXCL10, CXCL13, MCP-1, VCAM-1, MIP-1a [54] |
Filgotinib (Jyseleca®) EMA & Japan approved (2020) | [42][43][48][50][54] | |
JAK1 > JAK2 > JAK3 > TYK2 [42] | ↓ | Transcription: IL-6, IL-11, IL-13, IL-25, IL-27, IL-31, IFN-α, IFN-β, IL-10, IL-22, IFN-γ EPO, TPO, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, Leptin, IL-3, IL-5 IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, IL-21 > IL-12, IL-23, Type III IFNs [43] in vitro: IFN-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-15, G-CSF [43] |
Upadacitinib (Rinvoq®) FDA approved (2019) | [42][43][49] | |
JAK2 > JAK1 > TYK2 > JAK3 [55] | ↓ | See main text in vitro: VCAM-1, IL-6 [53] |
Fedratinib (Inrebic®) (2019) (myelofibrosis) | [42][53][56][57][58] | |
↑ | in vitro: IL-2 [53] |
LEAPS vaccines are peptides that can be designed to elicit an antigen-directed Th1 or Th2/Treg cytokine conversation depending upon the LEAPS immune cell binding ligand peptide that is attached to a disease-related antigenic peptide [3][17][18][19][62]. The J-ICBL activates DCs which produce IL-12 to promote IFN-γ and Th1 cytokine conversations and responses whereas the DerG-ICBL acts on CD4 T cells to promote Th2 and Treg cytokine conversations and responses. By promoting the appropriate antigen-specific cytokine conversations, immunization with J-LEAPS vaccines elicit anti-viral and anti-tumor responses [63] and have the potential to modulate Th17 responses. The DerG-LEAPS vaccines elicit antibody responses [3][62] and have the potential to modulate Th1 responses.
Group II therapies focus on ablations of individual cytokine action by neutralizing the cytokine or blocking its receptor. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies or receptor antagonists prevent the action of individual acute phase cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 or mediators of Th17 responses, such as IL-23 or IL-17. Alternatively, antibodies to surface differentiation antigens (CDs) are used to eliminate or inhibit specific cells and their functions. Antibody to CD20 lessens the number of B cells to reduce these RA-promoting, antigen-presenting cells. These therapeutic products, monoclonal antibodies, soluble receptor antagonists, agonists, or modified soluble receptors are collectively referred to as Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). The first developed and therefore oldest of the group (II) cytokine-focused therapies are the biological response modifiers (BRM), such as neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, solubilized receptors (sR) and modified soluble receptors (msR) (e.g., for IL-2R: MR-IL-2). As monoclonal antibodies, they are highly specific for the antigenic epitopes present on the target molecules [64][65] and act extracellularly. However, it should be noted that some protein subunits are shared between several cytokines, such as IL-12p40 for both IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines, so that multiple cytokines and their consequences may be affected [66][67]. Similarly, monoclonal antibodies directed towards cell surface markers (e.g., CD20) (other than cytokine receptors), may affect several different types of cells expressing that marker [27][65]. The Group II agents are often administered by injection as an intravenous (IV) bolus or infusion over time because of their much larger sizes (e.g., about 150 kDa for monoclonal antibodies). Group III therapies focus on JAK inhibitors (abbreviated to jakinhib-1, -2 or -3, etc.) which target the JAK/STAT transduction of receptor signals, which activates the transcription and production of one or more cytokines, including not only the pro-inflammatory cytokines, but also potentially therapeutic anti-inflammatory cytokines, notably IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β [43][45][47][61][67][68][69][70].LEAPS peptide therapeutic vaccines are designed to have an immunomodulatory effect on the T cells driving the disease, as illustrated in Figure 2A,B. In so doing, the LEAPS peptides affect the entire cytokine conversation, increasing the expression of some and decreasing other cytokines to return immunobalance, rather than acting on a single cytokine [3][19][17][18][62].
The monoablative therapies (shown in Figure 2C,D) use a neutralizing monoclonal antibody or receptor-antagonist to specifically block the action of one of the disease-associated cytokines after secretion and not its synthesis. The targets for these therapies include IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-23, IL-12, and TNF-α and, under certain circumstances, IFN-γ. These monoablation therapies only indirectly affect other pro-inflammatory cytokines and do not upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines to rebalance the cytokine conversation.
Figure 2. Comparison of cytokine-targeting therapies to treat autoimmune conditions. LEAPS immunomodulating therapy: (3A) CEL-2000 J-LEAPS vaccine: Immunization of diseased animals activates dendritic cells to promote antigen-specific Th1 responses and IL-10 to modulate the disease driving Th17 and inflammatory cytokine responses and provide therapy. (3B) CEL-4000 and related DerG-LEAPS vaccines: CEL-4000 vaccination of diseased animals activates antigen-specific CD4 Th2 and Treg cells to modulate the disease driving Th1, Th17 and inflammatory cytokine responses. Treatment favors a ratio of increased anti-(IL-4, IL-10) vs. pro-(IFN-γ or IL-17) for cytokine secreting CD4 spleen T cells. Monoablation therapy for inflammatory cytokines (DMARDS): (3C) Neutralizing antibody to IL-1, TNFα, or IL-6 (not shown); (3D) Receptor antagonist inhibition of cytokine action: Neutralization or blocking of cytokine receptor by antibody can prevent systemic action of a specific inflammatory cytokine but also affects antimicrobial and other immune responses. Treatment has no effect on anti-inflammatory cytokines. Inhibition of JAK-tyrosine kinase cascade: (3E–3G) Inhibitors of of different JAKs: Small molecular inhibitors of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 or tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) block the signal transmission from associated cytokine receptors to block inflammatory and regulatory responses, depending upon the JAK(s) that are inhibited. These inhibitors downregulate transcription of one or more cytokine gene, as listed in Table 1.
The third group (III) of therapies (Table 1, Figure 2E–G) are the jakinibs, which act by inhibiting specific receptor-associated JAK/STAT tyrosine kinases, ultimately inhibiting the synthesis and secretion of multiple cytokines (multi-ablative therapy) that are activated by the specific JAK cascade. The jakinibs are small-molecule (~300Da) inhibitors acting on the Janus kinases JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 or TYK2 and have the major advantage of being taken orally [42]. The JAK enzymes most often work in pairs as homo- or heterocomplexes activating STAT molecules to create transcriptional activators and promote the expression of groups of cytokines and other genes. JAK activation or inhibition also influences the expression of different cell surface receptors, including CD4, CD80 and CD86 on T, B and other cells and their associated immune responses [44]. The expression of some JAK enzymes is more restricted to certain cell types than others, such as JAK3 for immune system cells such as B, T, and NK cells. This is a therapeutic advantage.
As can be seen in Table 1, there are at least five different jakinibs approved for RA treatment in the USA, Europe, or Japan and several others are under investigation, each unique in terms of the molecule’s binding preference for its particular cognate JAK or JAK-associated molecule. Different manifestations of treatment occur depending on the relative selectivity of binding and whether it is reversible or irreversible. The representative jakinibs are shown as different-colored (red, blue and orange) hexagonal shapes in Figure 2 for the three examples of jakinibs that downregulate inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Jakinib A (Figure 2E red hexagon) has activity which is JAK 3>1 and downregulates the expression of IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10. Jakinib B (Figure 2F blue hexagon) is a JAK 2>1 inhibitor downregulating IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10. Jakinib C (Figure 2G orange hexagon) is a JAK 1>2 inhibitor downregulating IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10. It should be noted that a jakinib specific for only JAK2 cannot be used since the inhibition of JAK2/STAT is associated with lethality early in life [42][56].
Although TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-17 are major targets for monoablation therapy, they are not directly affected by the jakinibs. However, they may be indirectly affected by the inhibition of expression of other cytokines that are supposedly not involved in the JAK signaling pathway; for example, IL-17 is affected indirectly by several of these jakinibs [45][46][56]. Similarly, an indirect effect of jakinibs may also promote the expression of some anti-inflammatory cytokines. The combination therapy targeting several cytokines, as possibly seen for the JAK inhibitors, may be effective, although this is still being debated and new clinical studies will be needed [2][71][72][73].
This entry is adapted from Markovics et al 2022 Restoring the Balance between Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: New Insights from Animal Models [74]. 10.3390/biomedicines10010044