Kinoids: A Family of Immunogens for Active Anticytokine Immunotherapy Applied to Autoimmune Diseases and Cancer

Abstract

The complex homeostasis of tissues is coordinated by the cytokine network and imbalances in this network may result in chronic immune disorders. Key specific cytokines, such as TNF-α, IFN-α, IL-4 or VEGF have been demonstrated to be overproduced or abnormally released in the microenvironment of pathologic tissues. These findings have opened up the way to passive immunotherapy with anticytokine monoclonal antibodies. Even though passive immunotherapy has proved to be efficient, it is hampered by specific limitations. The discovery of a family of immunogens, the kinoids, consisting of inactivated cytokine derivatives, has led some to propose them for active immunotherapy as an alternative to passive immunotherapy. This review focuses on kinoids – on their validation in experimental mouse models and ongoing clinical trials. The advantages offered by this active immune therapy in terms of efficacy, safety and patient compliance will be stressed.

KEYWORDS::

• anticytokine active immunotherapy
• cancer
• chronic disease
• cytokine
• immunogen
• pathogenesis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Arsène Burny and Marie-Christophe Boissier are members of the Scientific Advisory Board of Neovacs SA. Bernard Bizzini and Marie-Christophe Boissier are consultants for Neovacs SA. Béatrice Drouet is an employee of Neovacs SA. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

APC: Antigen producing cell; TRAIL: TNF-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.