Therapeutics: Integrin β3 (GPIIIa; CD61); integrin αvβ3 (CD51/CD61)

Mouse studies suggest inhibiting integrin β3 or integrin αvβ3 could help treat MS. In CNS T helper type 17 (Th17) cells or in lymph nodes of the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS, levels of integrin β3 were higher than in the CNS or lymph nodes of normal mice. In mice, adoptive transfer Th17 cells from integrin β3-knockout EAE mice decreased markers of EAE compared with cells from EAE mice with normal integrin β3 expression. Also in mice, adoptive transfer of Th17 cells from EAE mice with normal integrin β3 expression plus the integrin αvβ3 inhibitor Impetreve cilengitide decreased disease incidence compared with adoptive transfer alone. Next steps could include testing other inhibitors of integrin β3 or integrin αvβ3 in MS models.

Merck KGaA has Impetreve cilengitide, an inhibitor of integrin αvβ3 and integrin αvβ5, in Phase II testing for lung and head and neck cancers and preclinical testing for melanoma...