Abstract
Autoantibodies (AABs) against the second extracellular loop of the beta1-receptor (beta1(II)-AABs) are found as a pathogenic driver in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, Chagas cardiomyopathy, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and myocarditis, and have been increasingly seen as a treatment target. We recently identified an aptamer (single short DNA strand) that specifically binds and neutralizes beta1(II)-AABs. Via application of this aptamer, a new treatment strategy for diseases associated with the cardio-pathogenic beta1(II)-AABs could be developed. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) positive for beta1(II)-AABs were treated five times at weekly intervals (bolus application of 2 mg/kg body weight followed by an infusion of the same amount over 20 min). SHR responded to aptamer treatment with a strong reduction in the cardio-pathogenic beta1(II)-AABs. The AABs did not substantially return within the study period. No signs for aptamer toxicity were observed by visual examination of the heart, liver, and kidney, or by measurement of plasma CK, ALT, and creatinine. The aptamer’s potential for beta1(II)-AAB neutralization and consequently for cardiomyopathy treatment has been shown for the first time in vivo.
References
Xia Y, Kellems RE (2011) Receptor-activating autoantibodies and disease: preeclampsia and beyond. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 7:659–674
Wallukat G, Nissen E, Müller J, Brinkmann R, Schimke I, Kunze R (2003) The pathophysiological role of autoantibodies directed to G-protein coupled receptors and therapeutic strategies of antibody removal. In: Kunze R, Brinkmann R (eds) G-protein coupled receptors and autoantibodies. Pabst Science Publishers, Lengerich, pp 7–47
Wallukat G, Muñoz Saravia SG, Haberland A, Bartel S, Araujo R, Valda G, Duchen D, Diaz Ramirez I, Borges AC, Schimke I (2010) Distinct patterns of autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors in Chagas’ cardiomyopathy and megacolon: their potential impact for early risk assessment in asymptomatic Chagas’ patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 55:463–468
Matsui S, Fu ML, Hayase M, Katsuda S, Yamaguchi N, Teraoka K, Kurihara T, Takekoshi N (1999) Active immunization of combined beta1-adrenoceptor and M2-muscarinic receptor peptides induces cardiac hypertrophy in rabbits. J Card Fail 5:246–254
Jahns R, Boivin V, Hein L, Triebel S, Angermann CE, Ertl G, Lohse MJ (2004) Direct evidence for a beta 1-adrenergic receptor-directed autoimmune attack as a cause of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. J Clin Invest 113:1419–1429
Zuo L, Bao H, Tian J, Wang X, Zhang S, He Z, Yan L, Zhao R, Ma XL, Liu H (2011) Long-term active immunization with a synthetic peptide corresponding to the second extracellular loop of β1-adrenoceptor induces both morphological and functional cardiomyopathic changes in rats. Int J Cardiol 149:89–94
Schimke I, Haberland A, Kage A, Wallukat G, Dahmen C (2012) Aptamers that inhibit interaction between antibody and 2nd extracellular loop of human beta-1-adrenergic receptor. WO 2012000889, 05 Jan 2012
Haberland A, Wallukat G, Dahmen C, Kage A, Schimke I (2011) Aptamer neutralization of beta1-adrenoceptor autoantibodies isolated from patients with cardiomyopathies. Circ Res 109:986–992
Wallukat G, Haberland A, Berg S, Schulz A, Freyse EJ, Dahmen C, Kage A, Dandel M, Vetter R, Salzsieder E, Kreutz R, Schimke I (2012) The first aptamer-apheresis column specifically for clearing blood of β1-receptor autoantibodies. Circ J 76:2449–2455
Patel PA, Hernandez AF (2013) Targeting anti-beta-1-adrenergic receptor antibodies for dilated cardiomyopathy. Eur J Heart Fail 15:724–729
Keefe AD, Pai S, Ellington A (2010) Aptamers as therapeutics. Nat Rev Drug Discov 9:537–550
Wallukat G, Wollenberger A (1987) Effects of the serum gamma globulin fraction of patients with allergic asthma and dilated cardiomyopathy on chronotropic beta adrenoceptor function in cultured neonatal rat heart myocytes. Biomed Biochim Acta 46:S634–S639
Jahns R, Jahns V, Lohse M, Palm D (2006) Means for the inhibition of anti-beta1-adrenergic receptor antibodies. WO 2006103101 A2, 31 Mar 2006
Marquis JK, Grindel JM (2000) Toxicological evaluation of oligonucleotide therapeutics. Curr Opin Mol Ther 2:258–263
Dandel M, Wallukat G, Englert A, Lehmkuhl HB, Knosalla C, Hetzer R (2012) Long-term benefits of immunoadsorption in β(1)-adrenoceptor autoantibody-positive transplant candidates with dilated cardiomyopathy. Eur J Heart Fail 14:1374–1388
Mueller J, Wallukat G, Dandel M, Bieda H, Brandes K, Spiegelsberger S, Nissen E, Kunze R, Hetzer R (2000) Immunoglobulin adsorption in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Circulation 101:385–391
Schimke I, Haberland A, Wallukat G (2012) Use of aptamers in therapy and/or diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. WO 2012119938, 13 Sept 2012
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Jens Peter Teifke (Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Insel Riems, Germany) for providing the slide-scanning system and his support in morphometric measurements as well as to “European Regional Development Fund” (10141685), Berlin, Germany and “Stiftung Pathobiochemie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin” (105/2011, 128/2013), Bonn, Germany for financial support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
A. Haberland and G. Wallukat have contributed equally to this work.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haberland, A., Wallukat, G., Berg, S. et al. Neutralization of pathogenic beta1-receptor autoantibodies by aptamers in vivo: the first successful proof of principle in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Mol Cell Biochem 393, 177–180 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-014-2057-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-014-2057-8