Preparation and identification of TNF-α anti-idiotypic antibodies which can be used to detect and treat inflammatory-related diseases

Chen Chen, Sun Ning^1*, Qiu Yuan²

¹Department of laboratory, obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P. R. China - ²Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P. R. China

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) is mainly produced by macrophages and monocytes, it is a potent pro-inflammatory and pathological cytokines in inflammatory diseases. TNF-α is closely related to a series of diseases (such as inflammatory bowel diseases), therefore anti-TNF-α or anti-TNF-α receptor (TNFR) therapy strategy has been established as an efficacious therapeutic strategy in these diseases.

Methods: In the current research, we used anti-idiotypic antibody strategy to prepare a TNFR antagonist. A series of biological technologies (such as Western-blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay) were used to screen and identify TNF-α anti-idiotypic antibody (4G-89). 

Results: we found that the anti-idiotypic antibody 4G-89 can specifically compete with TNF-α binding to TNFR. 4G-89 also can be used to detect the expression level of TNFR. In addition, we also found that the anti-idiotypic antibody has the potential to treat the inflammatory-related disease induced by TNF-α.

Conclusions: The current study showed that anti-idiotypic antibody may be a potential strategy for the preparation of TNFR antagonists, which laid the foundation for development of TNFR antagonist in the future.