Unleashing the Potential of BND-22: Targeting ILT2 to Combat Tumor Growth and Enhance Immune Responses

Ig-like transcripts (ILTs) are a group of receptors that regulate the immune response and are found on various immune cells. ILT2, in particular, is an inhibitory receptor that can interact with MHC class I molecules, especially HLA-G, which is linked to tumor growth. The ILT2 pathway is considered a promising target for cancer immunotherapy.

BND-22 is a humanized IgG4 antibody designed to antagonize ILT2 for solid tumor treatment. Its binding affinity to ILT2 was assessed through several methods, including flow cytometry and ELISA. The study aimed to understand BND-22's impact on reversing ILT2's inhibitory effects on immune cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes.

In vitro and ex vivo experiments were conducted using various cancer cell lines and patient tumor tissues to evaluate the effector functions of macrophages and NK cells in the presence of BND-22. Additionally, animal models of melanoma and colorectal carcinoma were utilized to study the in vivo anti-tumor effects of the antibody.

The results showed that BND-22 specifically binds to ILT2 with high affinity and can block its interaction with HLA-G. This blockade led to increased phagocytosis of tumor cells by macrophages and enhanced cytotoxicity of NK cells. Furthermore, it was observed that blocking ILT2 and PD-1 simultaneously had a synergistic effect, increasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In animal models, BND-22 was found to boost the anti-tumor activity of immune cells, inhibit tumor growth, and extend survival.

BND-22 is a novel anti-ILT2 antibody that demonstrates a robust immune response against tumors in various experimental settings. It exhibits a unique mechanism of action by targeting multiple immune cell types. A clinical trial is planned to assess the safety, tolerability, and anti-tumor potential of BND-22 in cancer patients with tumors expressing HLA-G.