Notch3^ECD immunotherapy improves cerebrovascular responses in CADASIL mice

CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy), caused by dominant mutations in the NOTCH3 receptor, is the most aggressive small vessel disease of the brain. A key feature of its pathogenesis is accumulation of the extracellular domain of NOTCH3 receptor (Notch3^ECD ) in small vessels, with formation of characteristic extracellular deposits termed granular osmiophilic material (GOM). Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of a mouse monoclonal antibody (5E1) that specifically recognizes Notch3^ECD .

The binding affinity of 5E1 toward purified NOTCH3 was assessed using Octet analysis. The ability of 5E1 to bind Notch3^ECD deposits in brain vessels and its effects on disease-related phenotypes were evaluated in the CADASIL mouse model, which overexpresses a mutant rat NOTCH3. Notch3^ECD and GOM deposition, white matter lesions, and cerebral blood flow deficits were assessed at treatment initiation (10 weeks) and study completion (30 weeks) using quantitative immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and laser-Doppler flowmetry.

5E1 antibody bound recombinant rat NOTCH3 with an average affinity of 317nM. A single peripheral injection of 5E1 robustly decorated Notch3^ECD deposits in the brain vasculature. Chronic administration of 5E1 did not attenuate Notch3^ECD or GOM deposition and was not associated with perivascular microglial activation. It also failed to halt the development of white matter lesions. Despite this, 5E1 treatment markedly protected against impaired cerebral blood flow responses to neural activity and topical application of vasodilators and normalized myogenic responses of cerebral arteries.

This study establishes immunotherapy targeting Notch3^ECD as a new avenue for disease-modifying treatment in CADASIL that warrants further development. Ann Neurol 2018;84:246-259.