Neutralization of IL-1β and P-Selectin Inhibition Attenuate Organ Injury in Mice with Sickle Cell Disease (ASH 2023)
Continuous vaso-occlusive (VO) and inflammatory processes in the vasculature are most likely the principal cause of such lesions, and there is little evidence, to date, that long-term hydroxyurea therapy (the standard of care for SCD) reduces organ damage in SCD adults. Inhibition of P-selectin activity, using crizanlizumab, has shown some success for reducing VO crisis frequency in SCD. Furthermore, interleukin (IL)-1β blockade, in the form of canakinumab administration, was well tolerated in young patients with SCD and associated with inflammatory marker reduction...Combination treatments, however, especially in the kidney and liver, had more complex effects. We suggest that future preclinical and clinical studies should investigate the potential of anti-inflammatory/adhesion approaches (alone or in combination) for preventing damage to multiple organs, in addition to preventing VO events.