Heparin-binding motif mutations of human diamine oxidase allow the development of a first-in-class histamine-degrading biopharmaceutical
Abstract
Background: Excessive plasma histamine concentrations cause symptoms in mast cell activation syndrome, mastocytosis or anaphylaxis. Anti-histamines are often insufficiently efficacious. Human diamine oxidase (hDAO) can rapidly degrade histamine and therefore represents a promising new treatment strategy for conditions with pathological histamine concentrations.
Results: Recombinant hDAO is rapidly cleared from the circulation in rats and mice. After replacement of positively charged amino acids of the heparin-binding motif with polar serine or threonine residues binding to heparin and heparan sulfate was strongly reduced. The double mutant rhDAO-R568S/R571T showed minimal cellular uptake. The short α-distribution half-life of the wildtype protein was eliminated and the clearance was significantly reduced in rodents.
Conclusions: The successful decrease in plasma clearance of rhDAO by mutations of the heparin-binding motif with unchanged histamine-degrading activity represents the first step towards the development of rhDAO as a first-in-class biopharmaceutical to effectively treat diseases characterized by excessive histamine concentrations in plasma and tissues.
Funding: Austrian Science Fund (FWF) Hertha Firnberg program grant T1135 (EG); ADD funding Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Medicinska Understödsförening Liv och Hälsa rft (TAS and SeV).
Data availability
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in the manuscript and supporting files. Source data files have been provided for Figures 2 and 3.
Article and author information
Author details
Funding
Austrian Science Fund (T1135)
- Elisabeth Gludovacz
Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö
- Serhii Vakal
- Tiina A Salminen
Medicinska Understödsföreningen Liv och Hälsa
- Serhii Vakal
- Tiina A Salminen
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Ethics
Animal experimentation: The experimental protocols for the treatment of rats and mice were approved by the local Animal Welfare Committee and the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy (GZ 66.009/0152-WF/V/3b/2014) and conducted in full accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines.
Copyright
© 2021, Gludovacz et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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Further reading
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Background:
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is characterized by intense central inflammation, leading to substantial post-hemorrhagic complications such as vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia. Given the anti-inflammatory effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and its ability to promote brain plasticity, taVNS has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for SAH patients. However, the effects of taVNS on cardiovascular dynamics in critically ill patients, like those with SAH, have not yet been investigated. Given the association between cardiac complications and elevated risk of poor clinical outcomes after SAH, it is essential to characterize the cardiovascular effects of taVNS to ensure this approach is safe in this fragile population. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of both acute and repetitive taVNS on cardiovascular function.
Methods:
In this randomized clinical trial, 24 SAH patients were assigned to either a taVNS treatment or a sham treatment group. During their stay in the intensive care unit, we monitored patient electrocardiogram readings and vital signs. We compared long-term changes in heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), QT interval, and blood pressure between the two groups. Additionally, we assessed the effects of acute taVNS by comparing cardiovascular metrics before, during, and after the intervention. We also explored acute cardiovascular biomarkers in patients exhibiting clinical improvement.
Results:
We found that repetitive taVNS did not significantly alter heart rate, QT interval, blood pressure, or intracranial pressure (ICP). However, repetitive taVNS increased overall HRV and parasympathetic activity compared to the sham treatment. The increase in parasympathetic activity was most pronounced from 2 to 4 days after initial treatment (Cohen’s d = 0.50). Acutely, taVNS increased heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral perfusion index without affecting the corrected QT interval, ICP, or HRV. The acute post-treatment elevation in heart rate was more pronounced in patients who experienced a decrease of more than one point in their modified Rankin Score at the time of discharge.
Conclusions:
Our study found that taVNS treatment did not induce adverse cardiovascular effects, such as bradycardia or QT prolongation, supporting its development as a safe immunomodulatory treatment approach for SAH patients. The observed acute increase in heart rate after taVNS treatment may serve as a biomarker for SAH patients who could derive greater benefit from this treatment.
Funding:
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (ALH), The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation (ALH), The National Institutes of Health R01-EB026439, P41-EB018783, U24-NS109103, R21-NS128307 (ECL, PB), McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience (ECL, PB), and Fondazione Neurone (PB).
Clinical trial number: