# Recombinant IgG1 Fc-μTP-L309C Ameliorates Endogenous Rheumatoid Arthritis in the K/BxN Mouse Model by Decreasing Th1 and Th17 Cells in the Spleen, Lymph Nodes and Joint and Increasing T Regulatory Cells and IL-10 in the Joint

## TL;DR

A modified IgG1 protein reduces arthritis in mice by decreasing harmful immune cells and increasing anti-inflammatory cells.

## Contribution

The study shows that rFc-μTP-L309C reduces Th1/Th17 cells and increases Tregs and IL-10 in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis.

## Key findings

- Treatment with rFc-μTP-L309C decreases Th1 and Th17 cell activity in spleen, lymph nodes, and joints.
- The treatment increases T regulatory cells and IL-10 levels in the joints.
- Arthritis amelioration is linked to reduced GM-CSF production and cartilage damage.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Recombinant Fc proteins have been produced that have a protective effect in mouse models of arthritis, such as the K/BxN rheumatoid arthritis model. We have previously shown that a recombinant human IgG1 Fc with a point mutation at position 309, replacing a leucine with a cysteine, fused to the human IgM tailpiece to form a human IgG1 Fc hexamer, rFc-µTP-L309C, effectively prevents neutrophil infiltration into the joints and ameliorates arthritis in the K/BxN serum transfer model and in the endogenous chronic arthritis K/BxN model. We have now investigated the effect of rFc-µTP-L309C on T-cells in the K/BxN chronic arthritis mouse model. Methods: PBMCs were isolated from the spleen, lymph nodes and joint synovial fluid from K/BxN mice having severe chronic arthritis that had been treated with 200 mg/kg rFc-µTP-L309C or human serum albumin (HSA). Flow cytometry was used to isolate the activated CD4+CD44+ T-cells and T-regulatory cells (Tregs). Intracellular staining was used to identify Th1 and Th17 T-cell subsets, and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs. ELISA was used to measure levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in synovial fluid. Results: We find that amelioration of the arthritis occurs after treatment with rFc-µTP-L309C and results in a decrease in Th1 cells’ production of IFNγ and Th17 cells’ production of IL-17. Amelioration also results in decreased production of GM-CSF. Moreover, amelioration results in increased Tregs and IL-10 production in the synovial fluid. Conclusions: rFc-µTP-L309C reduces the inflammatory T-cells and increases the regulatory anti-inflammatory T-cells in the chronic arthritis K/BxN mouse model. This effect explains, in part, the ability of rFc-µTP-L309C to ameliorate the arthritis and reduce damage on the articular cartilage of K/BxN mice.