An immuno-blocking agent targeting IL-1β and IL-17A reduces the lesion of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

In recent decades when biological agents have flourished, a part of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have received the treatment of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or IL-1 antibodies. This study aims to investigate the anti-colitis effects of bispecific antibody (FL-BsAb1/17) targeting IL-1β and IL-17A comparing with TNF-α soluble receptor medicine etanercept. IBD model in mice was established by drinking 3% DSS (dextran sulfate sodium salt). On the first day of drinking DSS, treatments with etanercept (5 mg/kg) or different doses of FL-BsAb1/17 (1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg) were started by intraperitoneal injection every other day. The results demonstrated that FL-BsAb1/17 treatment was more effective than etanercept at the same dose (5 mg/kg) in relieving the typical symptom of ulcerative colitis induced by DSS (such as the severity score and intestinal shortening), and down-regulating the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-17A, IL-6, IL-12, IL-22, IL-1β, IL-23, TNF-α) in the serum and colon. FL-BsAb1/17 could also reduce the degree of intestinal fibrosis. The same dose of FL-BsAb1/17 (5 mg/kg) performed better than etanercept in down-regulating MDA and up-regulating SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), and T-AOC (total antioxidant capacity) in serum. Both FL-BsAb1/17 and etanercept could reduce the transcription of Bax and increase the transcription of Bcl-2 and slow down apoptosis in colitis colon tissue. We conclude that the blocking of IL-1β and IL-17A can inhibit DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and FL-BsAb1/17 may have potential to become a new dual-target candidate for colitis treatment.