Spleen participation in partial MHC class II construct neuroprotection in stroke.

Pathological progression of stroke in the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS and CNS) is characterized by multiple converging signalling pathways that exacerbate neuroinflammation-mediated secondary cell death. This creates a need for a novel type of immunotherapy capable of simultaneously lowering the synergistic inflammatory responses in the PNS and CNS, specifically the spleen and brain. Previously, we demonstrated that partial major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II constructs can be administered subcutaneously to promote histological and behavioural effects that alleviate common symptoms found in a murine model of transient stroke. This MHC class II manipulates T cell cytokine expression in both PNS and CNS, resulting in dampened inflammation. In our long-standing efforts towards translational research, we recently demonstrated that a potent next generation mouse-based partial MHC class II construct named DRmQ (DRa1L50Q -mMOG-35-55) similarly induces neuroprotection in stroke rats, replicating the therapeutic effects of the human homolog as DRhQ (DRa1L50Q -human (h)MOG-35-55) in stroke mice. Our preclinical studies showed that DRmQ reduces motor deficits, infarct volume and peri-infarct cell loss by targeting inflammation in this second species. Moreover, we provided mechanistic support in both animal studies that partial MHC class II constructs effectively modulate the spleen, an organ which plays a critical role in modulating secondary cell death. Together, these preclinical studies satisfy testing the constructs in two stroke models, which is a major criterion of the Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) criteria and a key step in effectively translating this drug to the clinic. Additional translational studies, including dose-response and larger animal models may be warranted to bring MHC class II constructs closer to the clinic.

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral ischaemia is a leading cause of death in the world and remains the primary cause of long‐term disability in the United States. , , Ischaemic stroke accounts for 87% of stroke incidents, with nearly one‐third of the patients succumbing to death, while another 20% to 30% becoming severely and permanently disabled. , , Ischaemic stroke is characterized by an acute primary cell death response, followed by secondary cell death in the subacute and chronic phase. , , Several signalling pathways accompany secondary cell death in stroke, including exacerbated inflammation in both the central and peripheral nervous system (CNS and PNS). This inflammation is considered a primary culprit in secondary cell death.

Effective treatment of ischaemic stroke relies on a narrow timeline that disqualifies more than 90% of patients. , , Patients face a limited number of therapeutic options: tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), mechanical reperfusion, stroke unit care and rehabilitation. , , , Furthermore, for tPA, the current standard of care, treatment of ischaemic stroke must commence within 4.5 hours. Therefore, novel approaches that extend the therapeutic window of tPA are warranted. , , To this end, the subacute and chronic evolution of inflammation presents an opportunity to develop innovative stroke therapies. ,

Perturbed immune response represents a key underlying pathology of many neurovascular, autoimmune and traumatic injuries of the CNS including stroke. Secondary cell death involves multiple pathways, but a major process entails a feedback loop of neuroinflammation, resulting in hypoxic tissues, vascular damage and blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakage, expanding outward from the region of damage. , , The aberrant immune response‐associated secondary cell death in stroke manifests as an initial acute inflammatory response characterized by influx across the BBB of activated mononuclear cells subsequently evolving into chronic and often progressive deterioration of the neurovascular unit. Neutrophils stand as key cellular mediators of the immune response, acting as the first immune cell‐type recruited to the ischaemic area. During stroke progression, T cells are also activated, serving as a major inflammatory trigger to BBB extravasation. Accordingly, targeting any of these immune and inflammatory cells may attenuate the secondary cell death associated with stroke. , , , , While promising laboratory studies demonstrate effective pharmacological sequestration of stroke inflammatory cell death by mitigating intrusion of immune and inflammatory cells into the ischaemic penumbra during the acute phase, there exists no robust treatments against the progressive inflammation in the chronic phase. Partial MHC II constructs take advantage of the interplay between central and peripheral inflammatory responses, in which the spleen plays a critical role in modulating secondary cell death by manipulating T cell cytokine expression in both splenic and neurovascular inflammatory pathways. , , , , , In this review, we discuss preclinical evidence demonstrating that partial MHC II constructs pose as potent stroke therapeutics. In particular, that these constructs target both central and peripheral immune systems represents an innovative treatment strategy for stroke. The translational research challenges that warrant further investigations to bring partial MHC II constructs to clinical applications are also presented. The ultimate goal of this review paper is to offer a critical assessment of existing discovery‐ and mechanism‐based data and identify gaps in knowledge towards the advancement of safe and effective partial MHC II constructs as stroke therapeutics.

PARTIAL MHC II CONSTRUCTS SEQUESTER NEUROINFLAMMATION IN ANIMAL MODELS OF CNS DISORDERS

To address this gap in inflammation‐targeted treatment, a series of laboratory investigations examined the efficacy of partial major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II construct DRa1‐mMOG‐35‐55 (DRa1 domain covalently linked to mouse (m)MOG‐35‐55 peptide), which is an immune‐targeted therapeutic that significantly antagonizes the acute recruitment and activation of brain‐infiltrating T cells caused by CNS insults. , These partial MHC class II constructs successfully reduced inflammation, infarct volume and cognitive deficits in animal models of four separate neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory CNS conditions, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), methamphetamine addiction, traumatic brain injury and ischaemic injury.

Encouraged by positive efficacy readouts in animal models of neurological disorders, a second more potent generation of partial MHC II constructs, namely DRhQ (DRa1L50Q‐human (h)MOG‐35‐55), has been developed for clinical development , and DRmQ (DRa1L50Q‐mMOG‐35‐55) for preclinical testing. DRa1L50Q‐mMOG‐35‐55 is effective in treating EAE in mice, a model of multiple sclerosis. In parallel, the DRmQ precursor, DRa1‐mMOG‐35‐55, reduces stroke symptoms in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) stroke mice and in distal middle artery occlusion dMCAO stroke mice by shifting microglia/macrophages towards the antiinflammatory M2 phenotype. In EAE, DRmQ increases the binding affinity for the CD74 receptor, thereby enhancing the ability of DRa1‐mMOG‐35‐55 to competitively inhibit both macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and D‐dopachrome tautomerase (D‐DT) from binding CD74 and delivering downstream inflammatory effects. , , CD74, MIF and D‐DT are commonly elevated after CNS conditions, such as stroke and EAE. Since DRhQ is the human homolog of DRmQ, it can circumvent the need for class II tissue typing due to its conserved DRα1 moiety, making it ideal for translation to the clinic.

Following thromboembolic stroke, there is a significant increase in activated monocytes and neutrophils in the ischaemic cortex, as well as early activated T cells in the spleen. Previous studies in mice with stroke as well as traumatic brain injury have shown that partial MHC II inhibitors provide neuroprotection by significantly attenuating this aberrant immune response in both the central and peripheral nervous system. , We advanced the mechanisms by which DRmQ targets both central and peripheral inflammatory responses, including the attenuation of splenic inflammation, as effective means of conferring stroke neuroprotection. , Our recent study on DRmQ represents the first time that this promising therapeutic has been tested in a rat stroke model. Here, we review the preclinical evidence providing the basic science rationale and translational approach in nurturing the entry of partial MHC II constructs from the laboratory to clinical application.

TESTING DIFFERENT PARTIAL MHC II CONSTRUCTS: FROM DRα1‐hMOG‐35‐55 (DRhQ) To DRa1L50Q‐mMOG‐35‐55 (DRmQ)

The human homolog of partial MHC II construct is called DRhQ, while the mouse homolog is DRmQ (Figure 1). DRhQ demonstrated treatment efficacy by reducing neuroinflammation in multiple animal models of neurological disorders, including stroke and traumatic brain injury. Partial MHC II constructs work as recombinant T cell receptor ligands to competitively bind with CD74 in order to prevent it from binding with MIF, thus significantly reducing acute immune inflammation response following CNS conditions such as EAE. Both the MHC and peptide components on these human recombinant T cell receptor ligands (RTLs) are required for treatment efficacy of EAE. Partial MHC II constructs inhibit acute immune cell entry from the peripheral nervous system in stroke mice, and subsequently help promote polarization towards an M2 antiinflammation phenotype in the CNS. Building on this novel therapeutic pathway, a new generation of the compound named DRmQ (DRa1L50Q‐mMOG‐35‐55) was created, in which a single amino acid substitution (L50Q) in the DRα1 domain strengthens its binding affinity for CD74, and thus enhancing its antiinflammatory properties. Strong competitive inhibition is critical, since studies have shown in mice that stroke induces swift and massive activation of the PNS immune system that subsequently influences and harms the CNS. DRmQ and DRhQ effectively treat an EAE mouse model by binding to the cell surface receptor, CD74, that putatively blocks the binding of two inflammatory factors, MIF and D‐DT. Because of the robust inflammatory response seen in stroke secondary cell death, we embarked on testing the partial MHC II constructs in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models, initially testing Dra1‐mMOG‐35‐55 in the stroke mouse, , , , , , , and recently evaluating DRmQ in the stroke rat (Table 1). We focus the subsequent sections to DRmQ in our efforts to satisfy translational enabling criteria towards clinical application of partial MHC II constructs in stroke.

Figure 1

Partial MHC II Contructs, DRmQ and DRhQ. DR refers to one of the three human leucocyte antigen (HLA) isotypes along with DP and DQ. The Q refers to a glutamine for lysine amino acid substitution at residue 18 of the DRα1 domain in both constructs. The “h” and “m” refer to the origin of the antigenic MOG‐35‐55 peptide: “h” from human MOG and “m” from mouse origin. The C terminus of the antigenic peptide (in magenta) is covalently linked to the N‐terminus of the DRα1 domain through a flexible peptide linker (black). The human MOG peptide has a proline (P) at position 42, whereas the mouse peptide has a serine (S) at the same position. Structurally, in the DRhQ molecule, the antigenic peptide is bent due mostly to 2 adjoining proline residues. This might explain the difference in activity of the two constructs

Table 1

Milestone stroke studies utilizing DRhQ and DRmQ

Partial MHC II inhibitor	Study	Animal	Significance
DRα1‐MOG‐35‐55 (HLA‐DRα1 domain linked to MOG‐35‐55 peptide)	MCAO Stroke (Benedek et al, 22 2014)	Mice	Inhibited neuroantigen‐specific T cells Demonstrated binding to CD‐74 and inhibiting MIF. Reduced symptoms incurred from stroke. Reversed splenic atrophy after stroke
DRα1‐MOG‐35‐55 (HLA‐DRα1 domain linked to MOG‐35‐55 peptide)	dMCAO Stroke (Wang et al 23 , 2017)	Mice	Inhibited neuroantigen‐specific T cells Demonstrated binding to CD‐74 and inhibiting MIF. Reduced symptoms incurred from stroke.
DRα1‐MOG‐35‐55	Traumatic Brain Injury (Yang et al 24 , 2017)	Mice	Significantly reduced CNS inflammation and improved clinical and histological results after traumatic brain injury
DRmQ and DRhQ (DRa1L50Q‐mMOG‐35‐55) and (DRa1L50Q‐hMOG‐35‐55) More potent versions of partial MHC II constructs DRα1‐MOG‐35‐55 with single amino acid substitution (L50Q) in the DRα1 domain	EAE (Meza‐Romero et al 21 , 2019)	Mice	DRmQ and DRhQ provide stronger binding affinity for CD‐74 receptor. Better efficacy than DRα1‐MOG‐35‐55 due to greater inhibition of D‐DT and MIF from binding to CD74 receptor.
DRmQ (DRa1L50Q‐mMOG‐35‐55) A more potent version of partial MHC II constructs DRα1‐MOG‐35‐55 with single amino acid substitution (L50Q) in the DRα1 domain	MCAO Stroke (Lee et al, 26 2019)	Rats	Provides a second animal model utilizing the potent next generation partial MHC II construct inhibitor This helps fulfil translation into clinic

(Benedek et al, 2014)

(Wang et al , 2017)

(Yang et al , 2017)

(Meza‐Romero et al , 2019)

(Lee et al, 2019)

DRmQ TARGETS THE SPLEEN IN AMELIORATING IMMUNE RESPONSE IN STROKE MODELS

The PNS and CNS share neuroinflammatory pathways; therefore, it is critical to address both areas of inflammation. , Poststroke inflammation includes a rapid activation of microglia followed by the infiltration of peripheral inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, T cells, B cells and macrophages. The spleen harbours a number of immune cells, and in response to injury upregulates cytokines in the blood and subsequently the brain after stroke. In a rodent MCAo model of stroke, splenocytes are detected in the injured hemisphere of the brain at 48 and 96 hours. Removing the spleen in mice before stroke significantly reduces lesions, activated macrophages, microglia and neutrophils in the brain after stroke, thereby further reinforcing the presence of significant sharing and crosstalk between the PNS and CNS inflammatory pathways. , , , , , , Splenectomy may be particularly problematic for older patients where immune cells demonstrate a propensity to work aberrantly and disrupt critical homoeostatic pathways related to brain regeneration and repair. , That splenectomy may not work for aged patients solicits finding innovative pharmacologic approaches that equally sequester inflammation, which may prove more tolerable and effective than a surgical manoeuvre.

Treatment with DRmQ appears to achieve the therapeutic effects of splenectomy in that DRmQ reduced the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in the spleen. Moreover, DRmQ treated rats exhibit significantly increased spleen weights. This supports the hypothesis that DRmQ attenuates the inflammation response in both the PNS and CNS. More importantly, it demonstrates that attenuation of inflammation in the spleen is critical to the pathology and treatment of stroke. Preventing splenic atrophy following stroke has been shown to attenuate inflammation and damage in the central nervous system due to the spleen releasing fewer immune cells to the pathway of the brain. This also implies that DRmQ may be useful in chronic treatment of stroke, in concert with other strategies designed to sequester the deleterious splenic immune response. , That DRmQ affords both CNS and PNS antiinflammatory effect is uniquely important, because if a partial MHC II construct treats the brain, but has no effect on the spleen, then the inflammation incurred by the spleen may still cause significant damage. , DRmQ’s increased binding affinity for CD74 makes it vitally more potent in attenuating both CNS and PNS immune system. , Additionally, while our studies focused on the spleen, DRmQ may exert additional peripheral effects that ameliorate stroke‐induced impairments beyond dampening the spleen inflammatory response. Indeed, targeting the MHC may affect stem cells mobilizing them into the circulation or enhancing their differentiation and altering the gut microbiome, altogether potentially fostering therapeutic effects on stroke.

DRmQ DAMPENS NEUROINFLAMMATION IN THE STROKE BRAIN

The expression of Iba1‐activated microglia and proinflammatory cytokine TNF‐α are endemic to neuroinflammation in the CNS following cerebral ischaemia and may cause further damage when left untreated. DRa1‐mMOG‐35‐55 has been also shown to exert similar therapeutic benefits in the distal MCAo stroke model characterized by reducing infarct size, modulating microglia polarization towards antiinflammatory phenotype and decreasing proinflammatory cytokines such as IL‐1α and IL‐17. , , Microglia, which normally serve as the brain's local macrophages, may differentiate into a proinflammatory M1‐like phenotype or antiinflammatory M2‐like phenotype. , However, it should be noted these distinct M1‐versus‐M2 processes have been recently disputed and are more intricately viewed on a spectrum rather than a binary classification. , ,

Middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke rats treated with DRmQ display significantly reduced expression of TNF‐α cytokines and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule‐1 (Iba1)‐activated microglia and macrophages. This may explain the significant attenuation of secondary inflammation, reduction of infarct size, and increased cell survival demonstrated in this study. MCAo stroke rats treated with DRmQ also exhibit significantly improved motor and neurological performances.

As noted above, our preclinical studies implicate the potential of DRmQ to exert therapeutic effects in both the CNS and the PNS, but acknowledged that with construct's enhanced BBB penetration, CNS may be preferentially targeted. In determining the envisioned clinical dosing regimen, optimizing the timeline of drug administration and exploring the possibilities to advance DRmQ either as stand‐alone or adjunctive treatment to tPA are warranted. Evaluating its synergistic treatment with tPA and potentially expanding the therapeutic time window are interesting future translational studies.

THE FUTURE OF PARTIAL MHC CLASS II CONSTRUCTS: ENABLING STUDIES FOR TRANSLATION FROM THE LABORATORY TO THE CLINIC

DRmQ, DRhQ and other partial MHC II constructs have the potential to provide much needed alternative drug treatments that may extend the therapeutic window for ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury and similar neurodegenerative effects , , (Figure 2). The Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) criteria have been instituted to effectively translate this drug into the clinic. At least two different species of stroke model are necessary to fully assess the clinical relevance of partial MHC II constructs. The highlighted study represents the first treatment with partial MHC II construct DRmQ on rats for ischaemic stroke. This is now the second animal species in which DRmQ has demonstrated support for treatment efficacy. Previous studies provided evidence of DRmQ treatment efficacy in mice. , Partial MHC II constructs such as DRhQ do not require tissue typing due to the conserved DRα1 moiety of the drug shared between DRmQ and its human homolog DRhQ. , This MHC‐independent effect of partial MHC II constructs in conjunction with favourable preclinical treatment results in multiple CNS conditions in a variety of species should hasten bringing DRhQ to clinical trials. ,

Figure 2

Therapeutic effects of DRmQ in stroke. Subcutaneous DRmQ alleviates stroke‐induced behavioural deficits, reduces cerebral infarct volume and peri‐infarct cell loss, lowers stroke‐induced inflammatory response in the brain and attenuates the splenic inflammatory response

Our preclinical studies on DRhQ and DRmQ based on animal models of stroke provided solid evidence of safety and efficacy of these compounds in treating stoke, but more mechanism‐based and translational studies are warranted. While many neurological disorders are considered as “brain” pathological disorders, there is also a major peripheral component. , , , This would entail that a holistic approach addressing both the brain and periphery that will improve therapeutic outcomes, as opposed to merely targeting the brain. This would also support the notion that treating the periphery may promote robust central effects. With these principles in mind, treating splenic inflammation may prove to dampen neuroinflammation, since many of the circulating inflammatory cells and molecules originate from the spleen, and may likely be sequestered at that level, thereby reducing their influx into the brain. Utilizing partial MHC II constructs may also provide much needed synergistic effects with current treatments such as tPA, by adding an immune‐targeted therapeutic modality to attenuate the acute proinflammatory response incurred from cerebral ischaemia.

It will be essential to perform dose‐finding studies to identify the optimal dosage and potential side effects, as well different routes of administration and therapeutic window. , Furthermore, a longitudinal study will be helpful in ascertaining whether DRmQ has treatment benefits extending into the chronic phase of stroke. DRmQ appears to already have a longer time frame of use than current stroke therapies, but a longitudinal study is still needed to see how long that time frame may be extended. , We did not detect any significant harmful histological or behavioural side effects, but studies extending into the chronic phase may elucidate detrimental mechanisms or possibly even better therapeutic results. Since DRmQ was demonstrated to target the spleen, a study focused on infusing it directly into the spleen may yield beneficial results. Comparing DRmQ treated stroke rats with or without a splenectomy may further illuminate how much DRmQ attenuates the peripheral nervous system's immune response and whether manipulation of splenic T cells is a key mechanism to its attenuation. Splenectomy prior to injury has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation and provide neuroprotection in various brain injury models including stroke. Lastly, it may be helpful to pair DRmQ with other therapies known to decrease immune inflammation in the spleen and CNS. To this end, stem cell treatment by administration to the spleen has been shown to help reduce the immune system's inflammatory response. , Treatment with human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells that demonstrate homing and antiinflammatory effects promoted a 40 per cent downregulation of TNF‐α in the spleen. Similar antiinflammatory approaches have been tried in stroke models. , , , , Partial MHC II constructs either as stand‐alone or in combination with these antiinflammatory treatments may prove as robust stroke therapeutics.

The immune disturbance in stroke has been recognized as a major exacerbating factor in the secondary cell death in stroke. While the secondary cell death entails multiple degenerative processes, the aberrant immune and inflammatory response appears to produce the most devastating compromise to the BBB leading to ischaemic penumbra expansion , , The onset of the destructive proinflammatory response is detected as early as a few hours of stroke episode and remains upregulated even months after stroke onset, thereby providing a wider therapeutic window to test promising treatments. Recognizing the main cellular mediators of the immune response will be key in identifying potential therapeutic; for example, neutrophils are the earliest immune cell‐type recruited to an ischaemic injury. Over time, stroke induces prolonged T cell activation, which are cells that primarily contribute to inflammatory extravasation of the BBB. Targeting any of these immune and inflammatory mediators may be therapeutic for stroke. Unfortunately, to date, no effective treatments have been found in the clinic to sequester these stroke immune and inflammatory responses. Partial MHC II constructs specifically target these immune and inflammatory responses, both centrally and peripherally, thus they stand as potent stroke therapeutics.

CONCLUSION

Partial MHC II constructs are effective as stroke therapeutics. In addition to the CNS, DRmQ targets the PNS, in particular the spleen, in attenuating peripheral inflammation, as well as preventing weight loss of the spleen, which is typically incurred after stroke. , Additionally, DRmQ is effective in both stroke mice and rats, thereby fulfilling a critical STAIR criterion of demonstrating efficacy in a second species. Large animal models, such as gyrencephalic primates or cats, may be desirable additional second species for preclinical stroke therapeutic testing and may be warranted as the next critical step if additional translational questions cannot be answered in the rodent models. Other potential translational hurdles as we bring these compounds to the clinic include the need for longitudinal studies that extend into the chronic stage of stroke, as well as the incorporation of dosage and therapeutic window optimization, which will further build on the safety and efficacy profile of the DRmQ. The unique mechanistic action of partial MHC II constructs on the immune system may work synergistically with other stroke treatments, , such as tPA, thus advancing their use either as stand‐alone or adjunct therapeutics.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

Drs. Offner, Vandenbark, Meza‐Romero and OHSU have a significant financial interest in Artielle ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc, a company that may have a commercial interest in the results of this research and technology. This potential conflict of interest has been reviewed and managed by the OHSU and VA Portland Health Care System Conflict of Interest in Research Committees. All other authors declare no conflict of interests.