Treatment of autoimmune disorders with immunoamplifiers

Abstract: Therapeutic methods for treatment of rheumatoid arthri­ tis, lupus, Type I diabetes, and other autoimmune disorders and preparations therefore are described wherein amplifiers of the immune system response are administered to the subject. Instead of further increasing (amplifying) the hyper­ active immune response, however, administering the ampli­ fiers has the effect of reducing the excessive immune responsiveness. Compositions for such administration are also described.

Description: One important aspect of the human and animal immune system is the negative regulation of the immune responses that occur in response to the apparent presence of antigens. If no brake were placed on immune response, antibody-producing cells, for one example, would continue producing antibodies indefinitely. When the immune system is not appropriately regulated, several systemic malfunctions can occur. Defects of the operation of the immune system such as these have been associated with certain autoimmune disorders, in which the body reacts against its own tissue as if the tissue were a foreign body. Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, lupus erythematosus, and insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1) are believed to be examples of such conditions. The negative regulation of the immune system is believed to be controlled in part by cells known as "suppressor cells." Human suppressor cells include T8 cells (which are also known as T8⁺ or Leu⁺² cells); there may be other human suppressor cells. Suppressor cells act in concert with other cells to bring about a normal immune response, what may be considered immune system homeostasis. Autoimmune defects of the type described above may result from insufficient production, potentiation, or operation (which are collectively referred to at times hereinafter as "activation") of suppressor cells. An abstract published in March 1985 (Sizemore, Farmer, and Gottlieb, "Enhancement of nonspecific suppressor T cell activity by immunomodulators derived from human leukocyte dialysates," Fed. Proceedings 947, No. 3133) refers in general terms to various aspects of the procedures described herein, but does not describe the invention with particularity. Useful background on amplifiers and suppressors is found in Gottlieb U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,379, and in copending Gottlieb EPO patent application No. 86 118 104.8, publication No. 0 230 052. These references in various respects distinguish immunomodulators, of which amplifiers and suppressors are each subsets, from the "transfer factor" of prior art. Transfer factor, for example, has a specific effect with regard to a particular antigen, for which it is said to transfer immune responses from donor to donee although the latter may never have been previously exposed to the antigen in question. Immunomodulators, however, are nonspecific and their administration generally affects immune response only with respect to antigens to which the donee has previously (or at least concurrently) been exposed. It has been observed that rheumatoid arthritis patients may display decreased production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and decreased natural killer (NK) cell activity. See Combe, Pope, Darnell, Kincaid, and Talal, 133 J. Immunol. 709 (1984); Combe, Pope, Fishbach, Darnell, Baron, and Talal, 59 Clin. Exp. Immunol. 520 (1985). These observations tend further to confirm the hypothesis that the disease has a significant immune system component, since production of IL-2 and NK cell activity are considered to reflect the state of the subject's immune system function. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION This invention relates to the use of an immunoamplifier in the preparation of a medicament for treating human or mammalian subjects for disorders characterized by hyperactive immune response, especially autoimmune disorders, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, and to an article of manufacture, comprising an effective biweekly dosage amount of immunoamplifier for the treatment of an autoimmune disorder. The inventor has discovered that it is possible to alleviate adverse symptoms of autoimmune, hyperactive cell-mediated immune system response by the administration of an effective dosage amount of an amplifier of the immune system. Rather than further amplifying the patient's immune response and thus worsening the severity of his or her autoimmune symptoms, as might be anticipated, appropriate dosage with amplifier alleviates the symptoms. The inventor hypothesizes that the amplifier acts to correct an imbalance of the immune system in these patients, which has caused the suppressor system of the patient not to be fully operative. The inventor has observed that, in an individual with a normal immune system, a very small dosage of amplifier produces a small amplifier effect (increase in immune response), and a larger dosage produces a larger effect. This effect continues until a point is reached at which further increases in the amount of amplifier administered to the subject do not produce an increase in amplifier effect, but instead produce a decrease. The dosage zone prior to this point may therefore be termed the "non-paradoxical dosage range," and the dosage zone beginning at this point may therefore be termed the "paradoxical dosage range," since after this point increases in dosage produce decreases in amplifier effect. A number of preferred embodiments of the invention is the subject of claims herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A group of active rheumatoid arthritis patients was selected. Each patient had on average at least 14 joints actively affected. The patients were each tested for immune response to the administration of the known mitogen phytohemoagglutin (PHA) (Wellcome Reagents HA 16), and each displayed a below normal proliferative response to the administration of PHA. Each patient was given a subcutaneous injection of Amplifier Beta of Example 5 of Gottlieb EPO patent application 85 110 104.8, Pub. No. 0 173 889, "Immunoamplifiers and processes for extraction thereof," which was equivalent to the amount of product derived from 400,000 leukocytes. The dose was repeated two weeks later and then another two weeks later. The patients were followed for another month. No side effects attributable to the use of Amplifier Beta were reported. (The inventor has observed that the appropriate biweekly dosage of Amplifier Beta for increasing a hypoimmune system response is approximately the amount derived from 400,000 leukocytes.) The appropriate biweekly dosage was determined by trial and error. However, several things may be noted about the appropriate dosage amount here. First, it is at least as great as that which the inventor has found appropriate for treating hypoimmune conditions, such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-Related Complex (ARC). Prior work of the inventor has established a rule of thumb for treating such hypoimmune conditions, which is that the appropriate therapeutic dosage is approximately 10⁵ to 10⁶ times the dosage that produces maximal dermal response in a test of delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to antigen (DH skin test), using 0.05 ml of tetanus toxoid (1/2 dilution of standard fluid tetanus toxoid, Squibb/Connaught). Second, the appropriate dosage amount is usually less than 1000 times the hypoimmune therapeutic dosage (e.g., for AIDS). This places the appropriate dosage here in the range of approximately 10⁵ to 10⁸ times the amount of amplifier administered intradermally in a skin test to secure maximal DH response against 0.05 ml tetanus toxoid (as above). In the inventor's opinion, the center of that 10⁵ to 10⁸ range (3 x 10⁶, logarithmically) is approximately optimal. If it is desired to give weekly dosage, the optimal amount may be somewhat less than half the optimal biweekly dosage amount. Similarly, the optimal monthly dosage may be somewhat more than twice (or more than twice 30/14) the optimal biweekly dosage, due in both cases to nonlinear effects. Various indices of immune response were monitored: delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to antigen, peripheral blood proliferative response to PHA and pokeweed mitogen, and NK cell activity. Typically, the administration of Amplifier Beta resulted in responses similar to those described in Gottlieb U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,379. There was clear evidence of temporary improvement in joint pain, as reported by the patients. After treatment with Amplifier Beta was discontinued, the patients reported worsening of their symptoms, and in particular an increase in joint pain over the level of pain experienced during treatment. Examples 1-4, below, are constructed from the data gathered in the foregoing tests and represent average data. Example 1 - Screening and PHA test Patient A has 14 joints actively affected by rheumatoid arthritis. A's proliferative response to administration of 125 nanograms (ng) of PHA (Wellcome Reagents HA 16) is measured by the standard methods well known to those experienced in the art. The result is 21,021 counts per minute (CPM), which is substantially below a normal response, which, typically, would be 33,384 CPM. (The time is designated as Week 0.) Example 2 - Administration of Beta Immediately after the PHA test of Example 1, Patient A is given a subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml of solution containing Amplifier Beta in sterile saline. The quantity of Amplifier Beta is equivalent to that derived from 400,000 leukocytes. (The time is still designated Week 0.) The injection is repeated in two weeks (Week 2), and then again in another two weeks (Week 4). Example 3 - Further PHA tests The PHA test of Example 1 is repeated every week for eight weeks (Weeks 1-8), using not only the 125 ng dosage of Example 1 but also 250, 500, and 1000 ng, except that data is lacking for Week 7. The results are tabulated below: Week Response (CPM) 125 ng 250 ng 500 ng 1000 ng 0 21012 57201 116054 137292 1 16338 45221 81442 103535 2 22579 35561 56817 76951 3 26163 34650 58790 82466 4 27565 56330 100588 128055 5 35957 84560 154923 182822 6 37579 82833 121322 144480 8 55087 121437 217471 237286 Tests of other immune system indices are consistent with the foregoing results. Example 4 - Clinical results Patient A reports decreased joint pain during Weeks 2-4, and increased joint pain after Week 5. The therapy for rheumatoid arthritis may be extended to other autoimmune conditions, such as those described in the first paragraph of this specification. If desired, the dosage of amplifier may be titrated to the patient's condition. Example 5 - Treatment of diabetes Patient B suffers from insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1). The patient's lymphocytes display diminished capacity to produce IL-2. Patient B is given the treatment described in Example 2, for 12 weeks. IL-2 production is screened and is found to rise to within 20% of normal and remain at approximately that level throughout the test period. After Week 2, the symptoms described in the first paragraph subside. After Week 14, the symptoms begin to return. The therapy may be used with other amplifiers than Amplifier Beta. Amplifier Zeta-2 of Example 5 of the 85 110 104.8 EPO application (EpA-0173889) may be so used, and so too may the tripeptide Tyr-Gly-Gly (TGG) and the dipeptide Tyr-Gly (TG), and their derivatives, described in the copending Gottlieb 86 118 104.8 EPO patent application, cited above. Example 6 - Use of Zeta-2 The procedure of Examples 1-4 is repeated, substituting Amplifier Zeta-2 for Amplifier Beta. The results are the same. The therapy described here may be extrapolated to mammalian veterinary use by known methods, taking due account of the differences in body weight of the subjects. In this connection, the use of TGG, TG, and their derivatives is preferred to Amplifiers Beta or Zeta-2. GENERAL CONCLUDING REMARKS As used in the claims, the term "the amount of said amplifier found to produce a maximal delayed type hypersensitivity response to antigen in a skin test" refers to the rule of thumb procedure discussed before Example 1. That is, the amount of said amplifier found to produce a maximal DH response to antigen in a skin test is established by making a series of DH skin tests with various dilutions of amplifier, against a suitable antigen to which the test subject is sensitive, such as tetanus toxoid (in the amount stated), or by using an equivalent kind of DH test to determine where the paradoxical range starts for DH reaction. While the inventor has found it most expedient to provide biweekly dosages, that is a matter of convenience and one for medical choice. In claims wherein a biweekly dosage is specified, it would be within the scope of the invention to multiply or divide the dosage, as suggested preceding Example 1, in order to provide less or more frequent administration of the dosage. Moreover, there appears to be nothing to prevent the use of a larger dosage, such as one well into the paradoxical dosage range. However, to do so would require more active ingredient and thus increase the cost of providing the medication, without apparent increase in benefit. (The inventor also considers it poor medical practice to administer any more of a drug than is needed to accomplish the therapeutic purpose, since the result may be to cause some other undesired effect.) Hence, it is considered that it would be within the scope of the invention and its teachings to use unnecessarily large dosages, when that is not done for a substantial reason other than to avoid the claims. Thus, "an effective dosage amount" is considered to include an amount in excess of what the specification teaches is effective, which is to say "at least an effective dosage amount."

Claims: Use of an immunoamplifier in the preparation of a medicament for treating human or mammalian subjects for disorders characterized by hyperactive immune response by the administration to said subject of an effective dosage amount of amplifier. Use of the immunoamplifier of claim 1, wherein said disorder is an autoimmune disorder. Use of the immunoamplifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said subject is human. Use of the immunoamplifier of claim 3, wherein said disorder is rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis or diabetes mellitus (type 1). Use of the immunoamplifier of one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein said dosage amount is titrated by assaying the subject's immune response. Use of the immunoamplifier of one or more of claims 3 to 5, wherein said dosage amount is one in the nonparadoxical dosage range. Use of the immunoamplifier of one or more of claims 3 to 5, wherein said dosage amount is approximately 10⁵ to 10⁸ times the amount of said immunoamplifier found to produce a maximal delayed type hypersensitivity response to antigen in a skin test and said treating is approximately biweekly. The use of the immunoamplifier of claim 7, wherein said dosage amount is approximately 3 x 10⁶ times the amount of said immunoamplifier found to produce a maximal delayed type hypersensitivity reponse to antigen in a skin test. The use of the immunomplifier of one or more of claims 1 to 8, wherein said immunoamplifier is a composition containing at least one of the following amplifiers: TGG, TG, a derivative of TGG or TG. The use of the immunoamplifier of one or more of claims 3 to 8, wherein said immunoamplifier is Amplifier Beta or Amplifier Zeta-2. Use of the immunoamplifier of claim 1 or 3, wherein the treating for rheumatoid arthritis comprises administering to said patient, biweekly, the quantity of Amplifier Beta derived from approximately 400,000 leucocytes. As an article of manufacture, an effective biweekly dosage amount of immunoamplifier for the treatment of an autoimmune disorder, said dosage amount being in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and said dosage amount being approximately 10⁵ to 10⁸ times the amount of said amplifier found to produce a maximal delayed type hypersensitivity response to antigen in a skin test using 0.05 ml tetanus toxoid (1/2 dilution of standard fluid tetanus toxoid, Squibb/Connaught). The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein said dosage amount is approximately 3 x 10⁶ times the amount of said amplifier found to produce a maximal delayed type hypersensitivity response to antigen in a skin test using 0.05 ml tetanus toxoid (1/2 dilution of standard fluid tetanus toxoid, Squibb/Connaught).

Inventors: GOTTLIEB A ARTHUR DR M D, GOTTLIEB, A. ARTHUR, DR. M.D.
Applicants: IMREG INC, IMREG, INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61K37
IPC codes: A61K35