E-cadherin activating antibodies limit barrier dysfunction and inflammation in mouse inflammatory bowel disease

Deficits in gastrointestinal (GI) paracellular permeability has been implicated in etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and E-cadherin, a key component of the epithelial junctional complex, has been implicated in both barrier function and IBD. We have previously described antibodies against E-cadherin that activate cell adhesion, and in this study, we show that they increase transepithelial electrical resistance in epithelial cell monolayers in vitro. We therefore tested the hypothesis that adhesion activating E-cadherin mAbs will enhance epithelial barrier function in vivo and limit progression of inflammation in IBD. Activating mAbs to mouse E-cadherin were tested in different mouse models of IBD including the IL10-/- and adoptive T cell transfer models of colitis. Previously established histological and biomarker measures of inflammation were evaluated to monitor disease progression. Mouse E-cadherin activating mAb treatment reduced total colitis score, individual histological measures of inflammation, and other hallmarks of inflammation compared to control treatment. Activating mAbs also reduced the fecal accumulation lipocalin2 and albumin content, consistent with enhanced barrier function. Therefore, E-cadherin activation could be a potential strategy for limiting inflammation in UC.