Roberto Marzari

Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

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Publications (42)242.32 Total impact

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    Dataset: Martucciello et al JMM2012
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    Article: Prevention of arthritis by locally synthesized recombinant antibody neutralizing complement component c5.
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    ABSTRACT: Treatment of patients suffering from chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis with recombinant antibodies is time consuming and fairly expensive and can be associated with side effects due to generalized depletion of the target molecule. We have addressed these issues by developing an alternative approach consisting of the intraarticular injection of a DNA vector encoding for the anti-C5 neutralizing recombinant miniantibody MB12/22. This method allows local production of the antibody in sufficient amount to be effective in preventing joint inflammation in a rat model of antigen-induced arthritis. Injection of the DNA vector in a right knee of normal rats resulted in the production of the minibody detected in the synovial washes by western blot with a strong signal peaking at 3 days after administration. DNA encoding for the minibody was shown for 14 days in the synovial tissue and was undetectable in the controlateral knee and in other organs. The preventive effect of this approach was evaluated in rats receiving a single injection of the vector 3 days before the induction of antigen-induced arthritis and analyzed 3 days later. The treated rats exhibited a lower increase in swelling, associated with a lower number of PMN in the articular washes and reduced deposition of C9 in synovial tissue compared to control rats. These results suggest that treating the inflamed joints with a vector that induces a local production of a neutralizing anti-C5 antibody may represent a useful strategy to inhibit in situ complement activation and to treat patients with monoarthritis. Moreover, this approach may be adopted as a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent monoarthritis as an alternative to local treatment with antibodies commonly used in this form of arthritis, with the advantages of the lower cost and the longer persistence of antibody production.
    PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(3):e58696. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Erratum to: RhoB is associated with the anti-angiogenic effects of celiac patient transglutaminase 2-targeted autoantibodies.
    Journal of Molecular Medicine 03/2012; 90(3):343. · 4.67 Impact Factor
  • Article: Treatment of experimental arthritis by targeting synovial endothelium with a neutralizing recombinant antibody to C5.
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    ABSTRACT: To show that a new recombinant protein (MT07) obtained by fusing a synovial-homing peptide to a neutralizing antibody to C5 can be selectively delivered to inflamed synovium and can effectively control joint inflammation in experimental models of arthritis. Binding of MT07 to human, rat, and mouse synovial tissue was evaluated in vitro by immunofluorescence, and selective localization in the inflamed joints of rats was documented in vivo using time-domain optical imaging. The antiinflammatory effect of MT07 was tested in a rat model of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) and in a mouse model of collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA). MT07 was able to bind to samples of inflamed synovium from humans, mice, and rats while failing to recognize uninflamed synovium as well as inflamed mouse lung or rat kidney. In vivo analysis of the biodistribution of MT07 confirmed its preferential homing to inflamed joints, with negligible inhibition of circulating C5 levels. MT07 prevented and resolved established inflammation in a rat model of AIA, as demonstrated by changes in joint swelling, polymorphonuclear cell counts in synovial washes, release of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α, and tissue damage. A similar therapeutic effect was obtained testing MT07 in a CAIA model. Our findings show that the novel recombinant molecule MT07 has the unique ability to selectively target inflamed joints and to exert local control of the inflammatory process by neutralizing the complement system without interfering with circulating C5 levels. We believe that this approach can be extended to other antiinflammatory drugs currently used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
    Arthritis & Rheumatism 02/2012; 64(8):2559-67. · 7.87 Impact Factor
  • Article: In vivo anti-lymphoma activity of an agonistic human recombinant anti-TRAIL-R2 minibody.
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    ABSTRACT: A new single-chain fragment variable (scFv) to TRAIL-R2 receptor produced as minibody (MB2.23) was characterized for anti-lymphoma activity in vivo. For this purpose, a disseminated lymphoma model was generated by intraperitoneal inoculation of BJAB cells in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. Two weekly injections with MB2.23 (10 mg/kg) were able to significantly increase the median survival time of lymphoma-bearing animals with respect to the vehicle-treated control mice, providing a rationale for further investigating the use of MB2.23 in anticancer therapy.
    Investigational New Drugs 02/2012; 30(1):405-7. · 3.36 Impact Factor
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    Article: RhoB is associated with the anti-angiogenic effects of celiac patient transglutaminase 2-targeted autoantibodies.
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    ABSTRACT: Celiac patient-derived anti-transglutaminase 2 (TG2) antibodies disturb several steps in angiogenesis, but the detailed molecular basis is not known. Therefore, we here analyzed by microarray technology the expression of a set of genes related to angiogenesis and endothelial cell biology in order to identify factors that could explain our previous data related to vascular biology in the context of celiac disease. To this end, in vitro models using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) or in vivo models of angiogenesis were used. A total of 116 genes were analyzed after treatment with celiac patient autoantibodies against TG2. Compared to treatment with control IgA celiac patient, total IgA induced a consistent expression change of 10 genes, the up-regulation of four and down-regulation of six. Of these genes the up-regulated RhoB was selected for further studies. RhoB expression was found to be up-regulated at both messenger RNA and protein level in response to celiac patient total IgA as well as anti-TG2-specific antibody derived from a celiac patient. Interestingly, down-regulation of RhoB by specific small interfering RNA treatment in endothelial cells could rescue the deranged endothelial length and tubule formation caused by celiac disease autoantibodies. RhoB function is controlled by its post-translational modification by farnesylation. This modification of RhoB required for its correct function can be prevented by the cholesterol lowering drug simvastatin, which was also able to abolish the anti-angiogenic effects of celiac anti-TG2 autoantibodies. Taken together, our results would suggest that RhoB plays a key role in the response of endothelial cells to celiac disease-specific anti-TG2 autoantibodies.
    Journal of Molecular Medicine 01/2012; 90(7):817-26. · 4.67 Impact Factor
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    Article: Simple scale-up of recombinant antibody production using an UCOE containing vector.
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    ABSTRACT: Recombinant proteins, in particular antibodies, have become fundamental in biomedical research where they are used in numerous therapeutic and diagnostic applications. For this reason there is an increasing demand for quick and economical production systems for recombinant proteins in mammalian cells.
    New Biotechnology 12/2011; 29(4):477-84. · 2.76 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cryptic genetic gluten intolerance revealed by intestinal antitransglutaminase antibodies and response to gluten-free diet.
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    ABSTRACT: Antitransglutaminase (anti-TG2) antibodies are synthesised in the intestine and their presence seems predictive of future coeliac disease (CD). This study investigates whether mucosal antibodies represent an early stage of gluten intolerance even in the absence of intestinal damage and serum anti-TG2 antibodies. This study investigated 22 relatives of patients with CD genetically predisposed to gluten intolerance but negative for both serum anti-TG2 antibodies and intestinal abnormalities. Fifteen subjects were symptomatic and seven were asymptomatic. The presence of immunoglobulin A anti-TG2 antibodies in the intestine was studied by creating phage-antibody libraries against TG-2. The presence of intestinal anti-TG2 antibodies was compared with the serum concentration of the intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), a marker for early intestinal mucosal damage. The effects of a 12-month gluten-free diet on anti-TG2 antibody production and the subjects' clinical condition was monitored. Twelve subjects entered the study as controls. The intestinal mucosa appeared normal in 18/22; 4 had a slight increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes. Mucosal anti-TG2 antibodies were isolated in 15/22 subjects (68%); in particular symptomatic subjects were positive in 13/15 cases and asymptomatic subjects in 2/7 cases (p=0.01). No mucosal antibodies were selected from the controls' biopsies. There was significant correlation between the presence of intestinal anti-TG2 antibodies and positive concentrations of I-FABP (p=0.0008). After a gluten-free diet, 19/22 subjects underwent a second intestinal biopsy, which showed that anti-TG2 antibodies had disappeared in 12/15 (p=0.002), while I-FABP decreased significantly (p<0.0001). The diet resolved both extraintestinal and intestinal symptoms. A new form of genetic-dependent gluten intolerance has been described in which none of the usual diagnostic markers is present. Symptoms and intestinal anti-TG2 antibodies respond to a gluten free-diet. The detection of intestinal anti-TG2 antibodies by the phage-antibody libraries has an important diagnostic and therapeutic impact for the subjects with gluten-dependent intestinal or extraintestinal symptoms. Clinical trial number NCT00677495.
    Gut 04/2011; 60(11):1487-93. · 10.11 Impact Factor
  • Article: Inhibition of transglutaminase 2 enzymatic activity ameliorates the anti-angiogenic effects of coeliac disease autoantibodies.
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    ABSTRACT: Earlier work has demonstrated that serum autoantibodies from coeliac patients targeted against transglutaminase 2 (TG2) inhibit in vitro angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to establish whether coeliac patient-derived monoclonal TG2-targeted antibodies produced by recombination technology exert similar anti-angiogenic effects to serum-derived coeliac autoantibodies. In addition, we studied whether the monoclonal patient autoantibodies modulate endothelial cell TG2 activity and whether such modulation is related to the anti-angiogenic effects. The influence of coeliac patient-derived monoclonal TG2-targeted antibodies on endothelial cell tubule formation was studied using a three-dimensional angiogenic cell culture model. Endothelial cell TG2 enzymatic activity was determined by means of a live-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Coeliac patient-derived monoclonal TG2-targeted antibodies produced by recombination technology inhibited endothelial tubule formation and enhanced the crosslinking activity of TG2. When this enzymatic activity was inhibited using site-directed irreversible TG2 inhibitors in the presence of autoantibodies, in vitro angiogenesis reverted to the control level. Since we found a significant negative correlation between endothelial cell angiogenesis and TG2 activity, we suggest that the anti-angiogenic effects of coeliac patient-derived TG2-targeted autoantibodies are exerted by enhanced enzymatic activity of TG2.
    Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 04/2010; 45(4):421-7. · 2.08 Impact Factor
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    Article: Rapid interactome profiling by massive sequencing.
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    ABSTRACT: We have developed a high-throughput protein expression and interaction analysis platform that combines cDNA phage display library selection and massive gene sequencing using the 454 platform. A phage display library of open reading frame (ORF) fragments was created from mRNA derived from different tissues. This was used to study the interaction network of the enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2), a multifunctional enzyme involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis, associated with many different pathologies. After two rounds of panning with TG2 we assayed the frequency of ORFs within the selected phage population using 454 sequencing. Ranking and analysis of more than 120,000 sequences allowed us to identify several potential interactors, which were subsequently confirmed in functional assays. Within the identified clones, three had been previously described as interacting proteins (fibronectin, SMOC1 and GSTO2), while all the others were new. When compared with standard systems, such as microtiter enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, the method described here is dramatically faster and yields far more information about the interaction under study, allowing better characterization of complex systems. For example, in the case of fibronectin, it was possible to identify the specific domains involved in the interaction.
    Nucleic Acids Research 02/2010; 38(9):e110. · 8.03 Impact Factor
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    Article: Anti transglutaminase antibodies cause ataxia in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder characterized by the presence of anti-transglutaminase 2 (TG2) and anti-gliadin antibodies. Amongst the neurological dysfunctions associated with CD, ataxia represents the most common one. We analyzed by immunohistochemistry, the anti-neural reactivity of the serum from 20 CD patients. To determine the role of anti-TG2 antibodies in ataxia, two anti-TG2 single chain variable fragments (scFv), isolated from a phage-display IgA antibody library, were characterized by immunohistochemistry and ELISA, and injected in mice to study their effects on motor coordination. We found that 75% of the CD patient population without evidence of neurological involvement, has circulating anti-neural IgA and/or IgG antibodies. Two anti-TG2 scFvs, cloned from one CD patient, stained blood vessels but only one reacted with neurons. This anti-TG2 antibody showed cross reactivity with the transglutaminase isozymes TG3 and TG6. Intraventricular injection of the anti-TG2 or the anti-TG2/3/6 cross-reactive scFv provoked transient, equally intensive ataxia in mice. The serum from CD patients contains anti-TG2, TG3 and TG6 antibodies that may potentially cause ataxia.
    PLoS ONE 01/2010; 5(3):e9698. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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    Article: Majority of children with type 1 diabetes produce and deposit anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies in the small intestine.
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    ABSTRACT: Anti-tissue transglutaminase (TG2) antibodies are the serological marker of celiac disease. Given the close association between celiac disease and type 1 diabetes, we investigated the production and deposition of anti-TG2 antibodies in the jejunal mucosa of type 1 diabetic children. Intestinal biopsies were performed in 33 type 1 diabetic patients with a normal mucosal architecture: 14 had high levels (potential celiac disease patients) and 19 had normal levels of serum anti-TG2 antibodies. All biopsy specimens were investigated for intestinal deposits of IgA anti-TG2 antibodies by double immunofluorescence. In addition, an antibody analysis using the phage display technique was performed on the intestinal biopsy specimens from seven type 1 diabetic patients, of whom four had elevated and three had normal levels of serum anti-TG2 antibodies. Immunofluorescence studies showed that 11 of 14 type 1 diabetic children with elevated levels and 11 of 19 with normal serum levels of anti-TG2 antibodies presented with mucosal deposits of such autoantibodies. The phage display analysis technique confirmed the intestinal production of the anti-TG2 antibodies; however, whereas the serum-positive type 1 diabetic patients showed a preferential use of the VH5 antibody gene family, in the serum-negative patients the anti-TG2 antibodies belonged to the VH1 and VH3 families, with a preferential use of the latter. Our findings demonstrate that there is intestinal production and deposition of anti-TG2 antibodies in the jejunal mucosa of the majority of type 1 diabetic patients. However, only those with elevated serum levels of anti-TG2 antibodies showed the VH usage that is typical of the anti-TG2 antibodies that are produced in patients with celiac disease.
    Diabetes 05/2009; 58(7):1578-84. · 8.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Profiling the autoantibody repertoire by screening phage-displayed human cDNA libraries.
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    ABSTRACT: The advent of the serological identification of antigens by procedures such as cDNA cloning and recombinant protein expression has allowed the direct molecular definition of immunogenic proteins. The phage-display technology provides several advantages over conventional immunoscreening procedures based on plasmid or lambda-phage cDNA libraries. So far, attempts to display open reading frames, such as those encoded by cDNA fragments, on filamentous phages have not been very successful. We managed to develop a strategy based on "folding reporters" which allows filtering out open reading frames from DNA and displaying them on filamentous phages in such a way that they are amenable to subsequent selection or screening. Once the cDNA library of interest is created, phage-display technology is used for selection of novel putative antigens; these are then validated by printing isolated protein on microarray and screening with patients' sera.
    Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 02/2009; 570:353-69.
  • Chapter: Profiling the Autoantibody Repertoire by Screening Phage-Displayed Human cDNA Libraries
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    ABSTRACT: The advent of the serological identification of antigens by procedures such as cDNA cloning and recombinant protein expression has allowed the direct molecular definition of immunogenic proteins. The phage-display technology provides several advantages over conventional immunoscreening procedures based on plasmid or lambda-phage cDNA libraries. So far, attempts to display open reading frames, such as those encoded by cDNA fragments, on filamentous phages have not been very successful. We managed to develop a strategy based on “folding reporters” which allows filtering out open reading frames from DNA and displaying them on filamentous phages in such a way that they are amenable to subsequent selection or screening. Once the cDNA library of interest is created, phage-display technology is used for selection of novel putative antigens; these are then validated by printing isolated protein on microarray and screening with patients’ sera. Key wordsPhage display–antigens–autoimmunity–protein microarray–recombinant fusion protein–open reading frames–Cre-recombinase–high throughput–serum profiling
    12/2008: pages 353-369;
  • Article: Antibody library selection by the {beta}-lactamase protein fragment complementation assay.
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    ABSTRACT: Protein fragment complementation assay (PCA) is based on the interaction between two protein partners (e.g. target antigen and antibody), which are genetically fused to the two halves of a dissected marker protein. Binding of the two partners reassembles the marker protein and hence reconstitutes its activity. In this work we have developed the first application of beta-lactamase-based PCA for the isolation of single chain Fv fragments (scFvs) binding to the human receptor RON from a naïve library. Specific scFvs with the ability to immunoprecipitate could be isolated after a single round of PCA selection from an scFv repertoire previously pre-selected by phage display. Furthermore, the PCA was used to successfully map the epitopes recognized by the selected scFvs by screening them against a small library of random RON fragments.
    Protein Engineering Design and Selection 10/2008; 22(3):149-58. · 2.94 Impact Factor
  • Article: Anti-idiotypic response in mice expressing human autoantibodies.
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    ABSTRACT: Celiac disease is an autoimmune illness characterized by intestinal mucosal injury and malabsorption precipitated by dietary exposure to gluten of some cereals. The immune response is based on both cellular and humoral components, although the former seem to be more important in the pathogenesis. The autoantibody response is directed at the enzyme tissue transglutaminase, tTG or TG2, which possibly play a role in the onset of the disease. In this study we sought to develop an animal model in which to analyze the immunological regulation and significance of anti-TG2 antibodies, by expressing specific human single-chain antibody fragments in mice using adeno-associated virus vectors. Upon vector injection in the skeletal muscles, high and persistent systemic levels of anti-TG2 antibodies were obtained. Mice injected with vectors encoding antibodies also recognizing rodent TG2, also developed a strong anti-idiotypic response. This finding raises the question of whether an anti-idiotypic response to anti-TG2 antibodies is a factor associated with celiac disease.
    Molecular Immunology 04/2008; 45(6):1782-91. · 2.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: In vivo targeting of human neutralizing antibodies against CD55 and CD59 to lymphoma cells increases the antitumor activity of rituximab.
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    ABSTRACT: An in vivo model of human CD20+ B-lymphoma was established in severe combined immunodeficiency mice to test the ability of human neutralizing miniantibodies to CD55 and CD59 (MB55 and MB59) to enhance the therapeutic effect of rituximab. The miniantibodies contained single-chain fragment variables and the hinge-CH2-CH3 domains of human IgG(1). LCL2 cells were selected for the in vivo study among six B-lymphoma cell lines for their high susceptibility to rituximab-dependent complement-mediated killing enhanced by MB55 and MB59. The cells injected i.p. primarily colonized the liver and spleen, leading to the death of the animals within 30 to 40 days. Thirty percent of mice receiving biotin-labeled rituximab (25 microg) i.p. on days 4 and 11 after cell injection survived to 120 days. Administration of biotin-labeled rituximab, followed by avidin (40 microg) and biotin-labeled MB55-MB59 (100 microg) at 4-h intervals after each injection resulted in the survival of 70% of mice. Surprisingly, 40% of mice survived after the sole injection of avidin and biotin-labeled MB55-MB59, an observation consistent with the in vitro data showing that the miniantibodies induced killing of approximately 25% cells through antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity. In conclusion, MB55 and MB59 targeted to tumor cells represent a valuable tool to enhance the therapeutic effect of rituximab and other complement-fixing antitumor antibodies.
    Cancer Research 12/2007; 67(21):10556-63. · 7.86 Impact Factor
  • Article: Gluten Ataxia
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    ABSTRACT:  Gluten sensitivity is an autoimmune disease that usually causes intestinal atrophy resulting in a malabsorption syndrome known as celiac disease. However, gluten sensitivity may involve several organs and is often associated with extraintestinal manifestations. Typically, patients with celiac disease have circulating anti-tissue transglutaminase and anti-gliadin antibodies. When patients with gluten sensitivity are affected by other autoimmune diseases, other autoantibodies may arise like anti-epidermal transglutaminase in dermatitis herpetiformis, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies in thyroiditis, and anti-islet cells antibodies in type 1 diabetes. The most common neurological manifestation of gluten sensitivity is ataxia, the so-called gluten ataxia (GA). In patients with GA we have demonstrated that anti-gliadin and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies cross-react with neurons but that additional anti-neural antibodies are present. The aim of the present article is to review the knowledge on animal models of gluten sensitivity, as well as reviewing the role of anti-neural antibodies in GA.
    Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 08/2007; 1107(1):319 - 328. · 3.15 Impact Factor
  • Article: Gluten ataxia: passive transfer in a mouse model.
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    ABSTRACT: Gluten sensitivity is an autoimmune disease that usually causes intestinal atrophy resulting in a malabsorption syndrome known as celiac disease. However, gluten sensitivity may involve several organs and is often associated with extraintestinal manifestations. Typically, patients with celiac disease have circulating anti-tissue transglutaminase and anti-gliadin antibodies. When patients with gluten sensitivity are affected by other autoimmune diseases, other autoantibodies may arise like anti-epidermal transglutaminase in dermatitis herpetiformis, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies in thyroiditis, and anti-islet cells antibodies in type 1 diabetes. The most common neurological manifestation of gluten sensitivity is ataxia, the so-called gluten ataxia (GA). In patients with GA we have demonstrated that anti-gliadin and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies cross-react with neurons but that additional anti-neural antibodies are present. The aim of the present article is to review the knowledge on animal models of gluten sensitivity, as well as reviewing the role of anti-neural antibodies in GA.
    Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 07/2007; 1107:319-28. · 3.15 Impact Factor
  • Article: Selective therapeutic control of C5a and the terminal complement complex by anti-C5 single-chain Fv in an experimental model of antigen-induced arthritis in rats.
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    ABSTRACT: To determine the role of the terminal complement complex (TCC) in the development of experimental antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) and the therapeutic effects of human anti-C5 single-chain Fv (scFv). Two different anti-C5 scFv, one that inhibits both release of C5a and assembly of the TCC (TS-A 12/22) and another that selectively blocks formation of the TCC (TS-A 8), were injected at the onset of AIA. The effects of these scFv on disease severity were evaluated for up to 21 days and compared with the effects of injection of an unrelated scFv. AIA was also established in C6-deficient and C6-sufficient PVG rats to obtain further information on the role of the TCC in this model. TS-A 12/22 and TS-A 8 proved to be equally effective in reducing joint swelling, cell counts and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in synovial lavage fluids, and the degree of histomorphologic changes compared with the effects of the unrelated scFv. TS-A 12/22 and TS-A 8 prevented the deposition of C9 but not that of C3, confirming the ability of the 2 scFv to neutralize C5. Administration of the 2 anti-C5 scFv after AIA onset also reduced disease severity. In C6-deficient rats with AIA, disease activity was reduced markedly compared with that in C6-sufficient rats. These 2 human anti-C5 scFv could represent potential therapeutic reagents to be used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, the finding that TS-A 8 was as effective as TS-A 12/22 in reducing disease severity suggests that the TCC is mainly responsible for the joint inflammation and damage observed in AIA.
    Arthritis & Rheumatism 05/2007; 56(4):1187-97. · 7.87 Impact Factor