P144 Modulation of Immunometabolism via NLRX1 or PLXDC2: Novel Bimodal Mechanisms for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Background Immunometabolism exerts a bimodal action at the interface of extracellular immune response and intracellular metabolism. It controls both intracellular processes and extracellular inflammatory responses by regulating both cellular energy supply & demands, factors that determine how a cell responds to the extracellular signals. Hence, immunometabolic pathways represent an attractive target as a gate of entry & checkpoint for the inflammatory cascade. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, Leucine Rich repeat containing X1 (NLRX1) & PLeXin Domain-Containing protein 2 (PLXDC2) have been identified in immunometabolic pathways for multiple cell types in immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)2,3. The goal of this analysis was to compare these two key immunometabolic pathways. Methods For both programs, in vitro murine T cell & macrophage differentiation & in vivo mouse dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis models, gene expression, metabolic profiles & cytokine expression were assessed. Results NX-13, a novel NLRX1 agonist, resulted in regulation of cellular metabolism: activation of mitochondrial genes such as mt-nd3 & odgh, and concomitant down-regulation of glucose uptake by murine T cells (Fig1A). Simultaneously, NLRX1 stabilization by NX-13 increased antioxidant enzyme expression & reduced reactive oxygen species in T cells. NX-13 specifically reduced effector T cell differentiation (Fig1B) & inflammatory cytokine expression, while Treg differentiation was increased. Ultimately, these bimodal effects converge to dampened colitis severity scores in acute DSS colitis (Fig1C). PLXDC2 activation by LABP-69 directly reduced glycolysis, reflected by decreased extracellular acidification & oxygen consumption in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, Fig1D). LABP-69 also reduced superoxide levels in BMDM. Of note, PLXDC2 activation downregulated cellular expression of the inflammatory cytokines TNFα & IFNγ by T cells (Fig1E). The PLXDC2 agonist PX-04 decreased inflammation in acute DSS colitis in mice as shown by disease activity score (Fig1F). Conclusion Agents targeting immunometabolism demonstrate a novel, innovative concept with potential therapeutic applicability in IBD & other IMID. NLRX1 & PLXDC2 represent distinct pathways that modulate the intracellular metabolic state simultaneously with extracellular inflammation and hence can be targeted to break the inflammatory cascade to stop chronic inflammation. These bimodal MOAs will be studied further to understand how they may synergistically address multiple aspects of chronic immune diseases such as IBD. 1Chi Cell Mol Immunol (19) 2Leber et al. J Immunol 203(12) 3Tubau-Juni et al. J Immunol 206(Supp)