U.S. patent application number 13/973595 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-26 for biological marker for inflammation.
This patent application is currently assigned to CAN-FITE BIOPHARMA LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is CAN-FITE BIOPHARMA LTD.. Invention is credited to Sara BAR-YEHUDA, Pnina FISHMAN, Lea MADI.
Application Number | 20130345163 13/973595 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35708899 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130345163 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FISHMAN; Pnina ; et
al. |
December 26, 2013 |
BIOLOGICAL MARKER FOR INFLAMMATION
Abstract
Inflammatory state in a subject is assayed by determining the
level of expression of A.sub.3 adenosine receptor (A.sub.3AR) in
white blood cells (WBC), e.g. circulating WBCs, from the subject. A
high level of expression of A.sub.3AR is indicative of an
inflammatory state in the subject. This assay can be used for
determining whether a patient known to have an inflammatory state
should be treated with an A.sub.3AR agonist to reduce the
inflammatory state. The patient will be so treated only if the
level of A.sub.3AR in the WBC of the subject is above a predefined
threshold, which is about twice the level of A.sub.3AR in WBC of
healthy subjects. The inflammatory state may particularly be
rheumatoid arthritis or uveitis.
Inventors: |
FISHMAN; Pnina; (Herzliya,
IL) ; BAR-YEHUDA; Sara; (Rishon Le Zion, IL) ;
MADI; Lea; (Rishon Le Zion, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CAN-FITE BIOPHARMA LTD. |
Petach Tikva |
|
IL |
|
|
Assignee: |
CAN-FITE BIOPHARMA LTD.
Petach Tikva
IL
|
Family ID: |
35708899 |
Appl. No.: |
13/973595 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12819945 |
Jun 21, 2010 |
8541182 |
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13973595 |
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10565238 |
Jan 19, 2006 |
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PCT/IL05/01279 |
Nov 30, 2005 |
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12819945 |
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60632198 |
Dec 2, 2004 |
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60657718 |
Mar 3, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
514/46 ;
435/7.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 19/02 20180101;
G01N 33/6872 20130101; A61K 31/7076 20130101; A61P 29/00 20180101;
G01N 2800/52 20130101; G01N 33/564 20130101; A61P 43/00 20180101;
A61P 37/06 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/46 ;
435/7.24 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/68 20060101
G01N033/68; A61K 31/7076 20060101 A61K031/7076 |
Claims
1. A therapeutic method, comprising: a. determining the level of
A.sub.3 adenosine receptor (A.sub.3AR) in a sample of white blood
cells (WBCs) of a subject; and b. treating the subject only if said
level is above a predefined threshold which is about twice the
level of A.sub.3AR in WBC of healthy subjects; wherein (i) the
subject is one that is known to have an inflammatory state, (ii)
the treating comprises administering an anti-inflammatory agent to
the subject, and (iii) the anti-inflammatory agent is an A.sub.3AR
agonist; wherein the treating step comprises treating the subject
with an amount of A.sub.3AR agonist that is effective to reduce the
inflammatory state in said subject.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the A.sub.3AR is
N.sup.6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide
(IB-MECA).
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample of WBC is taken from a
subject before receiving the anti-inflammatory treatment.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflammatory state is the
result of an autoimmune disease.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflammatory state is the
result of rheumatoid arthritis or uveitis.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the A.sub.3AR is
N.sup.6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide
(IB-MECA).
7. A method for anti-inflammatory therapeutic treatment of a
subject known to have an inflammatory state, the method comprising:
a. determining the level of A.sub.3 adenosine receptor (A.sub.3AR)
in a sample of white blood cells (WBCs) of the subject; and b.
treating the subject with an anti-inflammatory agent only if the
level is above a predefined threshold which is about twice the
level of A.sub.3AR in WBC of healthy subjects; wherein the
anti-inflammatory agent is an A.sub.3AR agonist and the amount of
the A.sub.3AR agonist is effective to reduce the inflammatory state
in said subject.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the A.sub.3AR is
N.sup.6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide
(IB-MECA).
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sample of WBC is taken from
the subject before receiving the anti-inflammatory treatment.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the inflammatory state is the
result of an autoimmune disease.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the inflammatory state is the
result of rheumatoid arthritis or uveitis.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the A.sub.3AR is
N.sup.6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide
(IB-MECA).
13. In a method for anti-inflammatory therapeutic treatment of a
subject known to have an inflammatory state, the method comprising
treating the subject with an effective amount of an A3 adenosine
receptor (A.sub.3AR) agonist, wherein the improvement comprises
selecting the subject to receive the anti-inflammatory therapeutic
treatment if determined to have a level of A.sub.3 adenosine
receptor (A.sub.3AR), in a sample of white blood cells (WBCs) of
the subject, above a predefined threshold that is about twice the
level of A.sub.3AR in WBC of healthy subjects, and withholding said
treatment if determined to have a level of A.sub.3AR, in a sample
of WBCs of the subject, below the predefined threshold.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the A.sub.3AR is
N.sup.6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide
(IB-MECA).
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sample of WBCs is taken
from a subject before receiving the anti-inflammatory
treatment.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the inflammatory state is the
result of an autoimmune disease.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the inflammatory state is the
result of rheumatoid arthritis or uveitis.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the A.sub.3AR is
N.sup.6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is in the fields of diagnosis and determining
effectiveness of treatment of inflammation and in particular to use
therefore of biological markers associated with inflammatory
states.
PRIOR ART
[0002] The following is a list of prior art which is considered to
be pertinent for describing the state of the art in the field of
the invention. Acknowledgement of these references herein will at
times be made by indicating their number within brackets from the
list below. [0003] 1. Fishman P, Madi L, Bar-Yehuda S, Barer F, Del
Valle L, Khalili K. Evidence for involvement of Wnt signaling
pathway in IB-MECA mediated suppression of melanoma cells.
Oncogene., 21:4060-4064 (2002). [0004] 2. Fishman P, Bar-Yehuda S,
Rath-Wolfson L, Ardon E, Barrer F, Ochaion A, Madi L. Targeting the
A3 adenosine receptor for cancer therapy: inhibition of Prostate
carcinoma cell growth by A.sub.3AR agonist. Anticancer Res.,
23:2077-2083 (2003). [0005] 3. Madi L, Bar-Yehuda S, Barer F, Ardon
E, Ochaion A, Fishman P. A3 adenosine receptor activation in
melanoma cells: association between receptor fate and tumor growth
inhibition. J. Bio. Chem., 278:42121-42130 (2003). [0006] 4. Ohana
G, Bar-Yehuda S, Arich A, Madi L, Dreznick Z, Silberman D, Slosman
G, Volfsson-Rath L, Fishman P. Inhibition of primary colon
carcinoma growth and liver metastasis by the A3 adenosine receptor
agonist IB-MECA. British J. Cancer., 89:1552-1558 (2003). [0007] 5.
Fishman P, Bar-Yehuda S, Ohana G, Ochaion A, Engelberg A, Barer F,
Madi L. An agonist to the A3 adenosine receptor inhibits colon
carcinoma growth in mice via modulation of GSK-3.beta. and
NF-.kappa.B. Oncogene, 23:2465-2471 (2004). [0008] 6. US Patent
Application No. 2004016709 A1. [0009] 7. Szabo, C., et al.
Suppression of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1.alpha.
production and collagen-induced arthritis by adenosine receptor
agonists. British J. Pharmacology, 125:379-387 (1998). [0010] 8.
Mabley, J., et al. The adenosine A.sub.3 receptor agonist,
N.sup.6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine -5'-N-methyluronamide, is
protective in two murine models of colitis. Europ. J. Pharmacology,
466:323-329 (2003). [0011] 9. Baharav, E., et al. The effect of
adenosine and the A.sub.3 adenosine receptor agonist IB-MECA on
joint inflammation and autoimmune diseases models. Inter. J. Mol.
Med. 10(supplement 1) page 5104, abstract 499 (2002). [0012] 10.
PCT Application, publication No. WO2005/0063246, entitled "Method
for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis". [0013] 11. Montesinos, M.
Carmen, et al. Adenosine A.sub.2A or A.sub.3 receptors are required
for inhibition of inflammation by methotrexate and its analog
MX-68. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 48:240-247 (2003). [0014] 12.
Madi L, Ochaion A, Rath-Wolfson L, Bar-Yehuda S, Erlanger A, Ohana
G, Harish A, Merimski O, Barer F, Fishman P. The A3 Adenosine
Receptor is Highly Expressed in Tumor vs. Normal Cells: Potential
Target for Tumor Growth Inhibition. Clinical Cancer Research, 10:
4472-4479, 2004. [0015] 13. US Patent Application, publication No.
20040137477 A1, entitled "A3AR as a marker for a diseased state".
[0016] 14. Gessi, S. et al. Elevated expression of A.sub.3
adenosine receptors in human colorectal cancer is reflected in
peripheral blood cells Clinical Cancer Research 10:5895-5901,
2004
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The A.sub.3 adenosine receptor, a G.sub.i protein-associated
cell surface receptor, was proposed as a target to combat cancer
and inflammation. The receptor is highly expressed in various tumor
cell types while expression in adjacent normal tissues is
relatively low. Activation of the receptor by a specific synthetic
agonist induces modulation of downstream signal transduction
pathways which include the Wnt and the NF-kB, resulting in tumor
growth inhibition (1-5).
[0018] In vivo studies have shown that A.sub.3AR agonists inhibit
the development of colon, prostate and pancreatic carcinomas as
well as melanoma and hepatoma. A.sub.3AR agonists were also been
shown to act as anti-inflammatory agents by ameliorating the
inflammatory process in different experimental autoimmune models
such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and multiple
sclerosis (6-10). It was proposed also that the A.sub.2A and
A.sub.3 receptors mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of
methotrexate (11).
[0019] A.sub.3 adenosine receptor (A.sub.3AR) expression levels are
elevated in cancer cells as compared to normal cells (12). Thus,
the A.sub.3AR expression level has been described as a means for
the diagnosis of cancer (13). In addition, A.sub.3AR expression
levels have also been described to be elevated in peripheral blood
cells of patients with colorectal cancer (14).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] It is an object of the invention to provide a method for
determining an inflammatory state in a subject.
[0021] Another object of the invention to provide a method for
determining the severity of an inflammatory state in a subject.
[0022] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method
for determining the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory
therapeutic treatment of a subject.
[0023] It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a
method for selecting subjects to receive anti-inflammatory
therapeutic treatment.
[0024] The present invention is based on the surprising finding
that there is an increase in the level of A.sub.3 adenosine
receptor expression in the WBC of a subject who has an inflammatory
condition as compared to the WBC of a healthy subject. Furthermore,
it was found that in subjects who respond to anti-inflammatory drug
treatment, there is a reduction in the level of A.sub.3 adenosine
receptor expression in their WBC. This finding paves the way for
the use of the A.sub.3 adenosine receptor expression level as a
means for the diagnosis of an inflammatory state, as well as other
applications described below.
[0025] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of determining an inflammatory state in a subject that
comprises determining the level of expression of A.sub.3 adenosine
receptor (A.sub.3AR) in white blood cells (WBC), e.g. circulating
WBCs, from the subject. A high level of expression of A.sub.3AR is
indicative of an inflammatory state in the subject.
[0026] The sample comprising WBC may be whole blood or may be a
blood fraction that contains WBC. At times, it may be desired to
use a fraction that includes a specific population of WBC such as
mononuclear cells (MNC), sub-populations of MNC--monocytes or
lymphocytes, or a sub-population of lymphocytes, e.g. T-cells,
B-cell or their sub-populations. A WBC-comprising sample may also
at times be obtained from the lymphatic system, e.g. from lymph
nodes.
[0027] Determining the level of expression may be carried out
through determination of the level of A.sub.3AR mRNA as well or the
level of A.sub.3AR protein. The term "level of expression" as used
herein thus includes the level of A.sub.3AR mRNA as well as the
level of A.sub.3AR protein or A.sub.3AR protein fragments in the
sampled cells.
[0028] It was found that medication may influence the level of the
A.sub.3AR expression. Thus, past disease history including prior or
current treatment, may influence the A.sub.3AR expression level and
my need to be taken into account in the performance of the methods
of the invention.
[0029] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method for determining the severity of an inflammatory state in a
subject comprising determining the level of expression of A.sub.3AR
in WBC of the subject; and comparing the level of expression of
A.sub.3AR in the cells with the level of prior determined standards
that correlate A.sub.3AR expression level with severity of
infection. The prior determined standards may include, for example,
a set of values, which may be a list of discrete values or a
continuous curve, correlating results to a measure of severity of
inflammation; or it may be a set of descriptors, such as a
qualitative list of possible results and their meanings in respect
of severity of inflammation, e.g. if the outcome is manifested as a
color reaction, the descriptors may list the range of possible
color or color intensity outcomes and their meaning in respect of
severity of inflammation; or it may included graphical or pictorial
representations of expected assay outcomes for different severities
of inflammation or different inflammatory states; or a set of
reference standards, which may be run in parallel with the sample
for calibration and evaluation of the data. The standards may
typically be obtained by assaying expression level of A.sub.3AR in
a plurality of samples from each of a number of inflammatory
diseases states to obtain a statistical measure on the correlation
between expression level and the disease state. The classification
into disease states may for example be binary: light inflammation
and severe inflammation. The classification may also include a
plurality of different states, such as, for example, light,
moderate and severe inflammation. The classification may also be by
the use of a numerical value, according to the level of expression,
e.g. a number between 1 and 10, for corresponding light through
severe inflammation, etc. As will be appreciated, there may be many
types of classifications and the invention is not limited to
specific types of classifications.
[0030] In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method for determining the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory
therapeutic treatment of a subject, the treatment comprising
administering an A.sub.3AR agonist to the subject. The treatment
may be a monotherapy with an A.sub.3AR or a combination therapy of
an A.sub.3AR with another drug, such as a combination of an
A.sub.3AR with methotrexate. The method comprises determining the
expression level of A.sub.3AR in WBCs from the subject in two or
more successive time points, at least one of which is during an
anti-inflammatory treatment, wherein a difference in the level
being indicative of effectiveness of the drug treatment. The
successive time points may, for example be one or more taken before
an anti-inflammatory treatment and one or more during the
treatment, one or more taken during the treatment and one or more
taken during a treatment cessation.
[0031] The A.sub.3AR level of expression in WBC in accordance with
some embodiments of the invention may be used for determining the
state or severity of inflammation, e.g. for determining the
presence or absence of an inflammatory state. In accordance with
other embodiments of the invention, the A3AR level of expression
may be used for quantitative determination of the degree of
severity of the inflammatory state. Thus, the term "determining" or
"determination" as used herein encompasses both quantitative and
qualitative determination.
[0032] An "inflammatory state" includes any state of active or
sub-clinical inflammation. By a preferred embodiment the invention
is used for determining an inflammatory state in subjects suffering
from and autoimmune inflammatory disease. The inflammation may be
due to an inflammatory disease, or it may be a side effect of some
other type of disease or disorder. Examples of inflammatory
diseases include but are not limited to inflammatory bowel
diseases, inflammatory corpuscle, inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia,
inflammatory gallbladder disease, inflammatory papillary
hyperplasia and autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases may
include any of the following: rheumatoid arthritis, Myasthenia
Gravis (MG), Congenital myasthenia gravis, Multiple sclerosis (MS),
Stiff-man syndrome, Tropical spastic paraparesis, Rasmussen's
encephalitis, Acute motor axonal neuropathy, Acute sensory-motor
axonal neuropathy, Dorsal root ganglion neuritis, Acute
pan-autonomic neuropathy, Brachial neuritis, Acute necrotizing
hemorrhagic lekoencephalitis, Sporadic necrotizing myelopathy,
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, Guillain-Barre syndrome,
Limbic encephalitis, Opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia, Sensory
neuronitis, Autonomic neuropathy, Demyelinating neuropathy,
AIDS-dementia complex, Tourette's syndrome, Miller-Fisher syndrome,
Alzheimer's disease, Graves' Disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis,
Postpartum thyroiditis, Focal thyroiditis, Juvenile thyroiditis,
Idiopathic hypothyroidism, Type I (insulin dependent) diabetes
mellitus, Addison's disease, Hypophysitis, Autoimmune diabetes
insipidus, Hypoparathyroidism, Pemphigus Vulgaris, Pemphigus
Foliaceus, Bullous phemphigoid, Pemphigoid gestationis, Cicatrical
pemphigoid, Dermatitis herpetiformis, Epidermal bullosa acquisita,
Erythema multiforme, Herpes gestatonis, Vitiligo, Chronic
urticaria, Discoid lupus, Alopecia universalis/Areata, Psoriasis,
Autoimmune hepatitis, Primary biliary cirrhosis, Chronic active
hepatitis, Chronic active hepatitits/Primary biliary cirrhosis
overlap syndrome, Primary sclerosing cholangitis, Autoimmune
hemolytic anemia, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Evans
syndrome, Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, Primary autoimmune
neutropenia, Autoimmune (primary) neutropenia of infancy,
Autoimmune neutropenia following bone marrow transplant, Acquired
autoimmune hemophilia, Autoimmune gastritis and pernicious anemia,
Coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, Sialadenitis,
Autoimmune premature ovarian failure, Azoospermia, Hypogonadism,
Male infertility associated with sperm autoantibodies, Autoimmune
orchitis, Premature ovarian failure, Autoimmune oophoritis,
Uveitis, Retinitis, Sympathetic ophthalmia, Birdshot
retinochoroidopathy, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada granulomatous uveitis,
Retinal degeneration, Lens-induced uveitis, Optic neuritis,
Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss, Meniere's disease,
Autoimmune myocarditis, Congenital heart block (neonatal lupus),
Chagas' disease, Adriamycin cardiotoxicity, Dressler's myocarditis
syndrome, Bronchial asthma, Interstitial fibrosing lung disease,
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, Autoimmune
tubulointerstitial nephritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
Antiphospholipid syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, Juvenile
Rheumatoid arthritis, Felty's syndrome, Large granular
lymphocytosis (LGL), Sjogren's syndrome, Systemic sclerosis
(scleroderma), Crest syndrome, Mixed connective tissue disease,
Polymyositis/dermatomyositis, Goodpasture's Disease, Wegener's
granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Henoch-Schonlein purpura,
Microscopic polyangiatis, Periarteritis nodosa, Bechet's syndrome,
Atherosclerosis, Temporal (giant) cell arteritis, Takayasu
arteritis, Kawasaki disease, Ankylosing spondilitis, Reiter's
disease, Sneddons disease, Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy,
candidiasis-ectodermal dystropy, Essential cryoglobulinemic
vasculitis, Cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis, Lyme disease,
Rheumatic fever and heart disease, Eosinophilic fasciitis,
Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, Polymyalgia rheumatica,
Fibromyalgia, POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly,
endocrinopathy, M-spot and skin changes), Relapsing polychondritis,
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, TINU syndrome (acute
tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis), Common variable
immunodeficiency, TAP (transporter associated with antigen
presentation) deficiency, Omenn syndrome, HyperIgM syndrome, BTK
agammaglobulinemia, Human immunodeficiency virus and Post
bone-marrow-transplant.
[0033] The sample comprising WBC used in the methods of the
invention may include any of the known types of cells which make up
this group. In particular, the sample should preferably include
mononuclear cells (monocytes and/or lymphocytes). At times, the
sample may include in addition, or in the alternative, granulocytes
(neutrophils, eosinophils or basophils).
[0034] In a first embodiment, a high level of expression of
A.sub.3AR is employed as an indicator of an inflammatory state in
the subject. The term "high level" is to be understood as meaning a
significantly higher level of expression than in normal cells. For
example, the level of the A.sub.3AR expression in the WBC may be
compared to a control level, the control level being the level of
A.sub.3AR expression in normal WBC of a healthy subject. At times
it may be useful to determine the expression level by testing an
assayed sample from an individual in parallel to one or more
reference standards, e.g. one reference standard indicative of a
normal state and another indicative of an inflammatory state; or
one reference standard indicative of a normal state and two or more
of different disease states.
[0035] In a second embodiment, the determined expression level is
compared to standards. The standards may be based on previously
determined levels from healthy individuals and from individuals
with an inflammatory state or with different inflammatory states.
The standards may be provided, for example, in the form of discrete
numeric values or, in case the assay method is colorimetric, in the
form of a chart with different colors or shadings for healthy and
inflammatory states; or they may be provided in the form of a
comparative curve prepared on the basis of such standards.
[0036] Such standards may be prepared by determining the level of
A.sub.3AR expression (which may be the level of A.sub.3AR protein,
protein fragment, or mRNA level etc., as discussed above) present
in WBC cells obtained from a plurality of patients positively
diagnosed (by other means, for example by a physician, by
histological techniques etc.) as having inflammation at varying
levels of severity. The severity of the disease for the preparation
of the standards may also be determined by various conventional
methods such as by pathological techniques. In another embodiment,
the assay is carried out in parallel to a number of standards of
healthy subjects and subjects of different inflammatory states and
the level determined in the assayed sample is then compared to such
standards.
[0037] For example, a protein content level of between X.sub.1 to
X.sub.2 per 1,000,000 cells may be defined as being indicative of
grade 1 inflammation, a higher protein content of Y.sub.1 to
Y.sub.2 per 1,000,000 cells may be defined as being indicative of
grade 2 inflammation, etc. After such standards are prepared, it is
possible to compare the level of A3AR expression obtained from a
specific individual to the corresponding value of the standards,
and thus obtain an assessment of the severity of the disease.
[0038] The effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory therapeutic
treatment of a subject may be assessed by taking samples of WBC at
various time points before, during and after the treatment. For
example, a first sample may be taken at a time point prior to
initiation of the treatment and a second sample may be taken at a
time point during the treatment. A decrease in the level of the
A.sub.3AR expression in the second sample as compared to the first
sample would be indicative that the treatment is effective. The
degree of decrease could be indicative of the degree of
effectiveness of the treatment, i.e. the correlation would be
quantitative.
[0039] In another example, a first sample may be taken at a time
point during the treatment and a second sample may be taken at a
time point during the treatment subsequent to the time point of the
first sample. A decrease in the level of the A.sub.3AR expression
in the second sample as compared to the first sample would be
indicative that the treatment is effective.
[0040] In a third example, a first sample may be taken at a time
point during the treatment and a second sample may be taken at a
time point after the treatment has been discontinued. In this case,
an increase in the level of the A.sub.3AR expression in the second
sample as compared to the first sample would be indicative that the
treatment is effective.
[0041] Of course, various other combinations may be carried out, as
well as the taking of samples at more than two time points.
[0042] The invention also provided a method for selecting a subject
suffering from a certain inflammatory disease, to receive
anti-inflammatory therapeutic treatment that comprises
administering to the subject an A.sub.3 adenosine receptor
(A.sub.3AR) agonist, the method comprising determining the level of
expression of A.sub.3AR in the WBCs of the subject and selecting
the subject to receive said anti-inflammatory therapeutic treatment
if said level is above a predetermined level. Said predetermined
level may be a certain threshold level for all subjects. Said
predetermined level may also be a range of levels for different
patient groups, for example: for different age groups; for
different disease states; for different disease
histories--histories of past medication (for example, methotrexate
was found to induce an increase in the level of A.sub.3AR) number
of years having the disease, etc. Said predetermined level may be
determined through clinical studies that look for correlation
between receptor expression and a drug response according to one of
the acceptable response criteria, such as the ACR20, ACR50 and
ACR70 set by the American College of Rheumatology, or any other
acceptable efficacy criteria.
[0043] Selection of subjects suitable for anti-inflammatory
treatment may be executed by determining the level of expression of
A.sub.3AR in a sample of WBC withdrawn from said subject before
treatment. The subject is selected if the determined level of
A.sub.3AR is above a predefined threshold.
[0044] According to one embodiment, the threshold is a certain
multiple of the level of A.sub.3AR expression in WBC of a healthy
subject. According to another embodiment, the threshold is
determined on the basis of the average expression level in patients
having said certain inflammatory disease, and may be said average
or a certain multiple or fraction thereof. By a further embodiment,
the threshold is determined on the basis of clinical studies in
human patients that are designed to determine the correlation
between the level of expression and the response of the patients to
said therapeutic treatment. As will be appreciated, the threshold
may be different for different inflammatory diseases. As may also
be appreciated, by its nature such a selection criterion is based
on statistics and thus signifies a certain probability that a
selected patient may respond to a treatment. Thus, such a selection
criterion, as will no doubt be appreciated by a person versed in
the art, such selection criteria may not be completely predictive
as to response and there may also be a certain fraction of patients
selected in this was who will not respond to the treatment.
[0045] The selection method may also apply for selecting candidates
for participating in clinical studies to test the efficacy of
anti-inflammatory treatments comprising administering to patients
an A.sub.3AR agonist, either alone or in combination with other
drugs such as methotrexate. As appreciated by those versed in the
art, a clinical study (also known by the terms `clinical trial` or
`clinical protocol`), is a scientific study in human volunteers to
determine how a new medicine or treatment works in human subjects.
Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or
new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under
controlled environments. It is through clinical studies that
physicians find new and better ways to prevent, detect, diagnose,
control, and treat illnesses. The clinical studies for which
patients are selected, in accordance with the invention, based on
the A.sub.3AR level may be Phase I, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV
or any other type of clinical study.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0046] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be
described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0047] FIGS. 1A-1D depict exemplary Western blots and corresponding
bar graphs of average blot intensity and standard error showing
that A.sub.3AR is up-regulated in inflammatory and hematopoietic
tissues upon occurrence of inflammation.
[0048] FIG. 2 depicts a Western blot and the corresponding bar
graph of average blot intensity and standard error showing that the
level of expression of A.sub.3AR correlates with Disease Clinical
Score in AIA model. "0" indicates Naive animals (animals without
inflammation) and "6", "9" and "12" relate to inflamed animals and
the numbers indicate the inflammatory score in these animals.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the change in severity of
arthritis as a function of time in control animals and in AIA
animals treated with either methotrexate (MTX), CF101 (clinical
grade IB-MECA), a combination of MTX and CF101 or vehicle only
(control).
[0050] FIGS. 4A-4B depict exemplary Western blots and corresponding
bar graphs with standard errors showing A.sub.3AR protein
expression level in lymph node (FIG. 4A) and spleen (FIG. 4B) cells
in naive animals, in AIA animal and in AIA animals after CF 101
(clinical grade IB-MECA) treatment.
[0051] FIGS. 5A-5C depict an exemplary Western blots and the
corresponding bar graphs with standard errors showing A.sub.3AR
protein expression level in paw (FIG. 5A), synovial tissue (FIG.
5B) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (FIG. 5C) in AIA either
vehicle treated or treated with CF101.
[0052] FIG. 6 depicts a Western blot and the corresponding bar
graph showing A.sub.3AR protein expression level in lymph nodes in
naive animals, AIA animals and in AIA animals treated with MTX.
[0053] FIG. 7 depicts a Western blot and the corresponding bar
graph showing A.sub.3AR protein expression level in 7 healthy
subjects and in 7 RA patients.
[0054] FIG. 8 is a bar graph showing A.sub.3AR level in peripheral
blood mononuclear cells of RA patients before and after 3 months of
treatment with CF101. For each patient the response in % according
to ACR criteria (criteria for determining efficacy of drugs for
treating RA, set down by the American College of Rheumatology).
[0055] FIG. 9 shows Western blots of A.sub.3AR expression in PBMNCs
and corresponding bar graphs of expression intensity in 4 patients
before (dark columns) and after (grey columns) and during
methotrexate treatment, measured in arbitrary units.
EXAMPLES
Materials and Methods
Induction of Adjuvant Induced Arthritis (AIA) Model in Rats
[0056] Female Lewis rats, aged 8-12 weeks were obtained from Harlan
Laboratories (Jerusalem, Israel). Rats were maintained on a
standardized pelleted diet and supplied with tap water. Experiments
were performed in accordance with the guidelines established by the
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Can-Fite BioPharma,
Petah Tikva, Israel. The rats were injected subcutaneously (SC) at
the tail base with 100 .mu.l of suspension composed of incomplete
Freund's adjuvant (IFA) with 10 mg/ml heat killed Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, (Mt) H37Ra, (Difco, Detroit, USA). Each group
contained 10 animals.
[0057] Treatment with IB-MECA (10 .mu.g/kg) was initiated on day 14
after vaccination and was orally administered by gavage, twice
daily. Another group was treated with Methotrexate (MTX) (1.5
mg/kg) intraperitoneally every 3 days, starting on day 14th after
vaccination. The control group in each experiment received vehicle
only (DMSO in a dilution corresponding to that of the drugs).
[0058] Clinical Disease Activity Score was assessed as follows: the
animals were inspected every second day for clinical arthritis. The
scoring system ranged from 0-4 of each limb: 0--no arthritis;
1--redness or swelling of one toe/finger joint; 2--redness and
swelling of more than one toe/finger joints, 3--the ankle and
tarsal-metatarsal joints involvement. 4--entire paw redness or
swelling. The clinical score was calculated by adding the four
individual legs' score. The inflammatory intensity was also
determined in accordance with the increase in the rat hind paw's
diameter, measured by caliper (Mitotoyo, Tokyo, Japan).
Separation of Inflammatory and Hematopoietic Tissues and
Preparation of Protein Extracts
[0059] a. Inflammatory Tissues
[0060] The hind paws were dissected above the ankle joint. The bony
tissue was broken into pieces, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and
stored at -80.degree. C. until use. To prepare a protein extract,
RIPA buffer (containing 150 mM NaCl, 50 mM Tris, 1% NP40, 0.5%
Deoxycholate and 0.1% SDS) was added to the paw tissue (4 ml/gr of
tissue). The mixture was homogenized on ice with a polytron and
centrifuged.
[0061] Synovial tissue was removed and synovial cells were
separated by incubating the tissue in RPMI containing 1 mg/ml
Collagenase IV and 0.1 mg/ml DNase with a vigorous shaking (200
rpm) at 37.degree. C. for 30 min. The supernatant containing the
synovial cells was collected and the undigested tissue was
re-extracted. The supernatants from both extractions were combined
and cells were washed with PBS. Protein extracts were prepared.
b. Hemopoietic Tissues
[0062] Lymph nodes were removed and cells were separated by first
mincing the tissue and disaggregating it through a needle of 22 G
Spleens were removed and subjected to Lymphoprep (Nycomed AS, Oslo,
Norway) for mononuclear cell separation. Protein extracts were
prepared.
Separation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from RA Patients
and Healthy Subjects
[0063] Blood was withdrawn from healthy subjects or RA patients.
Mononuclear cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) were separated using
Ficoll-Hypaque gradient. Protein was extracted from the mononuclear
cells.
Clinical Study
[0064] Blood was withdrawn from RA patients who were enrolled in a
clinical study sponsored by Can-Fite BioPharma, in which the effect
of CF101, a clinical grade IB-MECA, on arthritic patients was
evaluated. The patients randomly received 0.1, 1.0 or 4.0 mg of
CF101 twice daily. Blood was withdrawn at 2 time points: (a) after
a washout period of 4-6 weeks from a previous treatment and before
CF101 treatment was initiated--this was considered as baseline
level; (b) after 3 months of treatment with CF101. Peripheral blood
mononuclear cells were separated and protein was extracted as
described above. In addition, C reactive protein (CRP) values, the
number of tender and swollen joints, the physicians global
assessment, the patient own assessment, the pain score and the
disability score were recorded and the ACR score was calculated for
each patient (ACR is a score that is calculated according to
criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology, based
on the aforementioned measures, to evaluate the effectiveness of
drugs for treatment of RA; ACR 20, ACR 50 and ACR 70 respectively
represent a 20%, 50% and 70% improvement in this score).
Analysis of A.sub.3AR Protein Expression Level by Western Blot
(WB)
[0065] Western blot analysis (WB) of synovial, paw, spleen and
lymph nodes were carried out according to the following protocol.
Samples were rinsed with ice-cold PBS and transferred to ice-cold
lysis buffer (TNN buffer, 50 mM Tris buffer pH=7.5, 150 mM NaCl, NP
40). Cell debris was removed by centrifugation for 10 min, at
7500.times.g. Protein concentrations were determined using the
Bio-Rad protein assay dye reagent. Equal amounts of the sample (50
.mu.g) were separated by SDS-PAGE, using 12% polyacrylamide gels.
The resolved proteins were then electro-blotted onto nitrocellulose
membranes (Schleicher & Schuell, Keene, N.H., USA). Membranes
were blocked with 1% BSA and incubated with the primary antibody
against A.sub.3AR (dilution 1:1000) for 24 h at 4.degree. C. Blots
were then washed and incubated with a secondary antibody for 1 h at
room temperature. Bands were recorded using BCIP/NBT color
development kit (Promega, Madison, Wis., USA).
Results
A3AR is Up-Regulated in Inflammatory and Hematopoietic Tissues
[0066] The level of expression of A.sub.3AR in AIA model was
determined by WB analysis. To this end, protein extracts from
inflamed tissue (paw) or from peripheral hematopoietic tissue
(peripheral blood mononuclear cells, lymph nodes and spleen) were
obtained and analyzed as described in the Materials and Methods.
FIGS. 1A-1D present WB analysis results, also presented in
corresponding bar graphs, which give average results and the
standard deviation. As shown, A.sub.3AR is up-regulated in inflamed
tissue (FIG. 1A) as well as in peripheral hematopoietic tissues
(FIGS. 1B-1D).
[0067] The level of expression of A.sub.3AR in AIA model correlated
also with Disease Clinical Score (FIG. 2) providing further
evidence for the correlation between inflammation and A.sub.3AR
expression.
CF101 Inhibits the Development of AIA
[0068] About 21 days after immunization, most of the vehicle
treated animals progressively developed arthritis. CF101 treatment
(10 .mu.g/kg, given orally twice daily, starting on day 14th after
immunization) and methotrexate (MTX) treatment resulted in a
significant decrease in disease severity, very similar for both
drugs, as was evaluated by the arthritis clinical score. Disease
peaked on days 21-28 and maximal effect of CF101 or MTX was seen on
these days (FIG. 3).
A3AR is Highly Expressed in Inflammatory Tissues and in Peripheral
Hematopoietic Tissues of AIA Rats
[0069] Low A.sub.3AR expression level was detected in the healthy
paw & synovial tissues. In the inflammatory tissues derived
from AIA rats, a marked increase in the A.sub.3AR protein
expression level was noted (FIGS. 4A-4B). Upon IB-MECA treatment
A.sub.3AR level was down-regulated (FIGS. 4A-4B). A similar pattern
was noted in the peripheral hematopoietic tissues, i.e., low
A.sub.3AR expression level was noted in the spleen and lymph node
(LN) derived from naive animals, high in the tissues from AIA and
low expression in the tissues of IB-MECA treated rats (FIGS.
5A-5C). In LN derived from AIA rats treated with MTX, a similar
A.sub.3AR expression profile was observed (FIG. 6).
High A3AR Expression is Found in MNC Derived from RA Vs. Low in
Healthy Subjects
[0070] Low A.sub.3AR expression level was found in MNC from healthy
subjects whereas high expression was detected in MNC derived from
RA patients (FIG. 7).
Correlation Between A3AR Expression and Clinical Efficacy
Parameters
[0071] Blood was withdrawn from 17 RA patients who participated in
a clinical study for testing the effect of CF101 on the
manifestation of disease in such patients. The blood was withdrawn
following a washout period from previous treatment and then after 3
months of treatment, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC)
were separated and the level of A.sub.3AR was determined in these
cells. As can be seen in FIG. 8, out of these 17 patients, 5 were
non-responders, namely these patients have not even achieved an ACR
20 response, while the other 13 patienst were responders as they
had at least an ACR 20 response (as can be seen in FIG. 8, 3 of the
responders had an ACR 70 response, 5 achieved an ACR 50 response
and another 4 an ACR 20 only response).
[0072] As can further be seen in FIG. 8, all ACR 50 and ACR 70
responders had an initial high level of A.sub.3AR, which was
reduced after 3 months treatment, while there was essentially no
change in the A.sub.3AR level in the non-responders. The patient
marked by an "*" (patient no. 1517), while having no ACR response
(in view of the fact that the change in the CRP level, one of the
parameters used for calculating the ACR score--see below, was below
0%), had a very significant improvement in other parameters,
particularly the number of swollen and tender joints.
[0073] These data clearly demonstrate the ability to use the A3AR
level in order to predict a response of patient to an
anti-inflammatory drug therapy, particularly such therapy which
makes use of an A.sub.3AR agonists as a disease modifying drug.
Up Regulation of A.sub.3AR Expression Level in Methotrexate Treated
RA Patients
[0074] Blood samples were taken from 4 RA patients prior to and
after onset of treatment with methotrexate. PBMNCs were separated
and the A.sub.3AR levels were assayed as described above. The
results that are shown in FIG. 9, demonstrate that treatment with
methotrexate induces an increase in the level of the A.sub.3AR.
[0075] These data show that past disease history, in particular
past medication, may influence the A.sub.3AR level in PBMNCs and
this history may need to be taken into account for the performance
of methods according to the invention.
* * * * *