Ctla4 Pdcd1 Mouse Model for Immune Checkpoint Adverse Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current animal models do not faithfully recapitulate the immune-related adverse events and autoimmunity associated with checkpoint blockade therapies, such as myocarditis and type I diabetes, making it difficult to screen for effective mitigating agents.

Innovation Solution

A mouse model with a heterozygous loss-of-function Ctla4 gene and a homozygous loss-of-function Pdcd1 gene is developed, which exhibits autoimmunity resembling the adverse events seen in human patients, allowing for the screening of candidate agents to mitigate these conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If checkpoint blockade therapy is used to treat cancer, then tumor response is improved, but immune-related adverse events and autoimmunity occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetumor responseVSAvoidimmune-related adverse events
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a mouse model that copies the genetic alterations caused by checkpoint blockade therapy (heterozygous Ctla4 loss and homozygous Pdcd1 loss) to reproduce the autoimmune pathology in a controlled system, enabling study of adverse events without exposing patients to harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If existing animal models are used, then basic immune function is maintained, but they do not faithfully recapitulate checkpoint blockade-induced autoimmunity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebasic immune functionVSAvoidrecapitulation of adverse events
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the genetic parameters of the mouse model by introducing specific loss-of-function alleles (heterozygous Ctla4 and homozygous Pdcd1) to change the immune regulation parameters, thereby enabling the model to faithfully recapitulate the specific autoimmunity caused by checkpoint blockade therapy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If no animal model exists for checkpoint blockade autoimmunity, then basic research is simplified, but screening for mitigating agents becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresearch simplicityVSAvoidscreening capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mouse model performs self-service by spontaneously developing the autoimmune pathology relevant to checkpoint blockade therapy, eliminating the need for complex experimental induction procedures while enabling direct screening of mitigating agents in a physiologically relevant context

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3849305B1A genetic mouse model of autoimmune adverse events and immune checkpoint blockade therapy
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST
  • EP3849305B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3849305B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3849305B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

Provided herein are mice that are heterozygous knock outs for Ctla4 and homozygous knockouts for Pdcd1 (Ctla4 +/- Pdcd1 -/- mice), which may suffer from autoimmunity, including myocarditis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Also provided are methods of using such mice to screen for therapeutic agents that mitigate immune-related adverse events.