Resolution of cutaneous inflammation after local elimination of macrophages

• Published in: Nature biotechnology 2000-01, Vol.18 (1), p.48-51
• Main Authors: Thepen, Theo, van Vuuren, A. J. Hanneke, Kiekens, Rebecca C. M, Damen, Cora A, Vooijs, Wim C, van de Winkel, Jan G. J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AFc receptors; Agriculture; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - metabolism; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antigens; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Body Temperature - drug effects; CD64 antigen; Chronic Disease; Cytotoxicity; Dermatitis - drug therapy; Dermatitis - immunology; Dermatitis - pathology; Dermatitis - physiopathology; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Fc receptors; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; Humans; immunoglobulin G receptors; Immunology; Immunotoxins; Immunotoxins - administration & dosage; Immunotoxins - immunology; Immunotoxins - metabolism; Immunotoxins - toxicity; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Inflammation; Injection; Injections, Intradermal; Interferon-gamma - pharmacology; Life Sciences; Macrophage Activation - drug effects; Macrophages - cytology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Miscellaneous; Receptors, Fc - metabolism; Receptors, IgG - immunology; Ricin - administration & dosage; Ricin - metabolism; Ricin - toxicity; ricin A; Skin; Skin - blood supply; Skin - drug effects; Skin - immunology; Skin - pathology; Sodium; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - pharmacology; Sulfates; Time Factors; U937 Cells; Vasodilation - drug effects
• ISSN: 1087-0156; 1546-1696
• DOI: 10.1038/71908

We constructed an immunotoxin, composed of an antibody directed against the high-affinity IgG receptor CD64 and Ricin-A, with the aim of resolving chronic inflammation through elimination of activated macrophages. In vitro, this immunotoxin proved very efficient in inducing apoptosis in activated macrophages, leaving resting and low CD64-expressing macrophages unaffected. We examined the activity of our immunotoxin in a sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced cutaneous inflammation model, using transgenic mice expressing human CD64. Upon intradermal injection of the immunotoxin (IT), cutaneous inflammation resolved in 24 h. This was demonstrated histologically by clearance of all CD64-expressing macrophages, followed by clearance of other inflammatory cells. Clinical parameters associated with inflammation, such as local skin temperature and vasodilation, also decreased.