A Blood-Brain-Barrier-Penetrating Anti-human Transferrin Receptor Antibody Fusion Protein for Neuronopathic Mucopolysaccharidosis II

Abstract

Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II) is an X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) gene. Since IDS catalyzes the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), deficiency in this enzyme leads to accumulation of GAGs in most cells in all tissues and organs, resulting in severe somatic and neurological disorders. Although enzyme replacement therapy with human IDS (hIDS) has been used for the treatment of MPS II, this therapy is not effective for defects in the CNS mainly because the enzyme cannot cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we developed a BBB-penetrating fusion protein, JR-141, which consists of an anti-human transferrin receptor (hTfR) antibody and intact hIDS. The TfR-mediated incorporation of JR-141 was confirmed by using human fibroblasts in vitro. When administrated intravenously to hTfR knockin mice or monkeys, JR-141, but not naked hIDS, was detected in the brain. In addition, the intravenous administration of JR-141 reduced the accumulation of GAGs both in the peripheral tissues and in the brain of hTfR knockin mice lacking Ids, an animal model of MPS II. These data provide a proof of concept for the translation of JR-141 to clinical study for the treatment of patients with MPS II with CNS disorders.

Keywords: blood-brain barrier; enzyme replacement therapy; glycosaminoglycans; iduronate-2-sulfatase; lysosomal storage disease; mucopolysaccharidosis II; transferrin receptor.