Disrupting LILRB4/APOE interaction by an efficacious humanized antibody reverses T-cell suppression and blocks AML development

X Gui, M Deng, H Song, Y Chen, J Xie, Z Li, L He… - Cancer immunology …, 2019 - AACR
X Gui, M Deng, H Song, Y Chen, J Xie, Z Li, L He, F Huang, Y Xu, Y Anami, H Yu, C Yu, L Li…
Cancer immunology research, 2019AACR
Therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4), which suppresses T-cell activation
and supports tissue infiltration of AML cells, represents an attractive drug target for anti-AML
therapeutics. Here, we report the identification and development of an LILRB4-specific
humanized mAb that blocks LILRB4 activation. This mAb, h128-3, showed potent activity in
blocking the development of monocytic AML in various models including patient-derived …
Abstract
Therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4), which suppresses T-cell activation and supports tissue infiltration of AML cells, represents an attractive drug target for anti-AML therapeutics. Here, we report the identification and development of an LILRB4-specific humanized mAb that blocks LILRB4 activation. This mAb, h128-3, showed potent activity in blocking the development of monocytic AML in various models including patient-derived xenograft mice and syngeneic immunocompetent AML mice. MAb h128-3 enhanced the anti-AML efficacy of chemotherapy treatment by stimulating mobilization of leukemia cells. Mechanistic studies revealed four concordant modes of action for the anti-AML activity of h128-3: (i) reversal of T-cell suppression, (ii) inhibition of monocytic AML cell tissue infiltration, (iii) antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and (iv) antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. Therefore, targeting LILRB4 with antibody represents an effective therapeutic strategy for treating monocytic AML.
AACR