P002 Inhibition of Axl signaling by BGB324 reduces fibrogenesis in human intestinal cells and human intestinal organoids

Abstract

Background: In Crohn's disease, fibrosis is the final common pathway to intestinal failure. Fibrostenotic disease is the primary cause of obstruction and reason for surgical intervention in these patients. Currently no medical therapies exist to treat intestinal fibrosis. We found that Axl is induced in both in vitro and in vivo models of intestinal fibrosis. Axl is a tyrosine kinase targeted in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Inhibition of Axl signaling has been shown to reverse epithelial-mesenchymal transition, sensitize cells to apoptosis, and reduce liver fibrosis via hepatic stellate cell inactivation. BGB324 is an orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is highly selective for Axl. We evaluated the effect of BGB324 on pro-fibrotic gene expression in three in vitro models. Method(s): We assessed Axl gene expression in strictured human intestine vs. unaffected margin from human Crohn's patients and in 5 models of Crohn's disease. These included the fibrotic vs. unaffected intestine in rat TNBS, mouse salmonella, CCD18Co substrate stiffness, CCD18Co TGF-beta (fibrogenic cytokine), and human intestinal organoid (HIO) TGF-beta models of fibrosis. We then treated our three in vitro models with BGB324, assessing for reduction in pro-fibrotic gene expression of collagen 1A1 (COL1A1), fibronectin 1 (FN1), myosin light chain kinase (MYLK), and smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) using real-time PCR. Result(s): In strictured intestine vs. unaffected margin from Crohn's patients, Axl expression was increased approximately 5 fold. Axl induction was also observed in the fibrogenic state in all 5 models of intestinal fibrosis. In rat TNBS and mouse salmonella models, Axl expression increased 1.8 and 2 fold respectively. In CCD18Co cell cultures, pathological substrate stiffness and TGF-beta models caused 1.4 and 1.7 fold increases, respectively. In HIO, TGF-beta increased Axl by 1.8 fold. BGB324 abrogated expression of COL1A1 in the CCD stiffness model as well as the CCD TGF-beta model. Similar results were obtained when analyzing FN1, MYLK, and ACTA2. In the TGF-beta HIO model, BGB324 reduced pro-fibrotic gene expression. Randomeffects meta-analysis of multiple biologic replicates demonstrated reduction in pro-fibrotic gene expression. Individual fold reductions and 95% CI for MYLK, FN1, COL1A1, and ACTA2 were 3.87 [1.58. 6.17], 3.17 [1.55, 4.79], 2.24 [0.91, 3.57], and 1.37 [0.27, 2.46], respectively. Conclusion(s): Axl signaling appears to be an important pathway in intestinal fibrosis. BGB324 is being actively investigated in clinical trials for AML, and thus far appears safe for human use. The use of potent Axl inhibitors including BGB324 represents a therapeutic avenue for the treatment of intestinal fibrosis that warrants further investigation. (Figure Presented).