IL-6 functions in cynomolgus monkeys blocked by a humanized antibody to human IL-6 receptor.

A humanized antibody to the human interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), hPM-1, blocked the interleukin-6 (IL-6) functions in normal cynomolgus monkey lymphocytes in vitro. The binding activity of hPM-1 to non-human primate IL-6R was examined in peripheral blood lymphocytes by flow cytometry. PM-1 recognized the IL-6R on T lymphocytes of cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys, but did not on those of marmosets. The homology between human IL-6R and its cynomolgus monkey counterpart was 97.3% in the extracellular domain of the amino acid sequence, as determined by DNA sequencing of the PCR product from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. PM-1 inhibited two functional parameters in vitro in cynomolgus monkeys: (1), T-cell proliferation stimulated by phytohemaglutinin and human IL-6; (2), Immunoglobulin G-production evoked by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan-1- and human IL-6-stimulated B lymphocytes. These data show that hPM-1 binds to and functionally blocks the cynomolgus monkey IL-6 receptors.