Background GV1001 is a 16-mer peptide developed as a cancer vaccine to prime the immune system to recognize telomerase. Besides its role as a cancer vaccine, GV1001 has anti-inflammatory effects in in-vitro experiments using macrophage or monocyte.

Objectives We evaluated the effect of GV1001 to inhibit joint inflammation in animal model of RA.

Methods 7-9 week old BDA/1 mice (Harlan, Netherlands) were used to induce collagen induced arthritis (CIA). Mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen on day 1 and boosted on day 21. Treatments with GV1001 (0.2 nM, 1 nM, 2 nM, 5 nM, and 10 nM) or placebo were started on day 21, three times in alternative week (on day 21, 23, 25 and day 35, 37, 39). Weight and arthritis index of the mice using a standardized grading scale (0–3) were monitored from day 21. Observation finished on day 42, harvesting mouse serum for further analysis. The second experiment was proceeded with 0.2 nM GV1001 group, 0.2 nM control peptide and arthritis control without treatment in the same schedule to harvest splenocytes. Control peptide was one of the scrambled peptides of GV1001, consist of the same amino acids with a different sequence (PEP164; PKRPSFIEALTRPLR).

Results Mean arthritis index lower tendencies in 0.2 nM GV1001 group compared to placebo group without statistical significance (p=0.1). Serum IL-6 level was significantly lower in 1 nM and 0.2 nM GV1001 group (p<0.01, both) compared to placebo group. In-vitro T cell re-stimulation with collagen, the level of interferon-gamma in 0.2 nM GV1001 treated group was significantly lower than placebo group (p<0.001) and control peptide group (p<0.01).

Conclusions Protective effect of GV1001 was not dose dependent and suspected to be related with T cell immune reaction in animal models of RA. These results suggest that GV1001 can modulate immune response in RA patients and has a potential to be used as immunotherapy, such as an RA vaccine.

Acknowledgements KAEL-GemVax Co., Ltd provided GV1001 peptide and educational grant KAEL-GemVax had no role in the study design and conduct of the study; the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data.

Disclosure of Interest None declared