Human lung tissue provides highly relevant data about efficacy of new anti-asthmatic drugs

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 30;13(11):e0207767. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207767. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Subgroups of patients with severe asthma are insensitive to inhaled corticosteroids and require novel therapies on top of standard medical care. IL-13 is considered one of the key cytokines in the asthma pathogenesis, however, the effect of IL-13 was mostly studied in rodents. This study aimed to assess IL-13 effect in human lung tissue for the development of targeted therapy approaches such as inhibition of soluble IL-13 or its receptor IL-4Rα subunit. Precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) were prepared from lungs of rodents, non-human primates (NHP) and humans. Direct effect of IL-13 on human lung tissue was observed on inflammation, induction of mucin5AC, and airway constriction induced by methacholine and visualized by videomicroscopy. Anti-inflammatory treatment was evaluated by co-incubation of IL-13 with increasing concentrations of IL-13/IL-13 receptor inhibitors. IL-13 induced a two-fold increase in mucin5AC secretion in human bronchial tissue. Additionally, IL-13 induced release of proinflammatory cytokines eotaxin-3 and TARC in human PCLS. Anti-inflammatory treatment with four different inhibitors acting either on the IL-13 ligand itself (anti-IL-13 antibody, similar to Lebrikizumab) or the IL-4Rα chain of the IL-13/IL-4 receptor complex (anti-IL-4Rα #1, similar to AMG 317, and #2, similar to REGN668) and #3 PRS-060 (a novel anticalin directed against this receptor) could significantly attenuate IL-13 induced inflammation. Contrary to this, IL-13 did not induce airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in human and NHP PCLS, although it was effective in rodent PCLS. Overall, this study demonstrates that IL-13 stimulation induces production of mucus and biomarkers of allergic inflammation in human lung tissue ex-vivo but no airway hyperresponsiveness. The results of this study show a more distinct efficacy than known from animals models and a clear discrepancy in AHR induction. Moreover, it allows a translational approach in inhibitor profiling in human lung tissue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bronchi / drug effects
  • Bronchi / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL17 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL26 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-13 / pharmacology*
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mucins / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13 / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Chemokine CCL17
  • Chemokine CCL26
  • Interleukin-13
  • Mucins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the national public funded German Centre for Lung Research (DZL). DZL provided support in the form of salaries for authors (OD, KS, AB, PB, DJ), but did not influence the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the 'author contributions' section. The commercial partner Pieris did not fund the performance of the study. They only provided financial support in the form of authors' salaries (GM, MF) and research materials. They did not play a role in the study design, data collection, analysis, and decision to publish. They contributed as authors to the preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the 'author contributions' section.