Frontiers in Immunology (Aug 2021)

The Dual Targeting of FcRn and FcγRs via Monomeric Fc Fragments Results in Strong Inhibition of IgG-Dependent Autoimmune Pathologies

  • Céline Monnet,
  • Emilie Jacque,
  • Christophe de Romeuf,
  • Alexandre Fontayne,
  • Toufik Abache,
  • Nathalie Fournier,
  • Gilles Dupont,
  • Delphine Derache,
  • Anais Engrand,
  • Aurélie Bauduin,
  • Aurélie Terrier,
  • Alexander Seifert,
  • Cécile Beghin,
  • Alain Longue,
  • Nicholas Masiello,
  • Laetitia Danino,
  • Michel Nogre,
  • Anais Raia,
  • Frederic Dhainaut,
  • Louis Fauconnier,
  • Dieudonnée Togbe,
  • Carmen Reitinger,
  • Falk Nimmerjahn,
  • Wil Stevens,
  • Sami Chtourou,
  • Philippe Mondon

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.728322
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Novel molecules that directly target the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and/or Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) are emerging as promising treatments for immunoglobulin G (IgG)-dependent autoimmune pathologies. Mutated Fc regions and monoclonal antibodies that target FcRn are currently in clinical development and hold promise for reducing the levels of circulating IgG. Additionally, engineered structures containing multimeric Fc regions allow the dual targeting of FcRn and FcγRs; however, their tolerance needs to first be validated in phase I clinical studies. Here, for the first time, we have developed a modified monomeric recombinant Fc optimized for binding to all FcRns and FcγRs without the drawback of possible tolerance associated with FcγR cross-linking. A rational approach using Fc engineering allowed the selection of LFBD192, an Fc with a combination of six mutations that exhibits improved binding to human FcRn and FcγR as well as mouse FcRn and FcγRIV. The potency of LFBD192 was compared with that of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), an FcRn blocker (Fc-MST-HN), and a trimeric Fc that blocks FcRn and/or immune complex-mediated cell activation through FcγR without triggering an immune reaction in several in vitro tests and validated in three mouse models of autoimmune disease.

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