A citrullinated histone H3 monoclonal antibody for immune modulation in sepsis

Abstract

Citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3), released from immune cells during early sepsis, drives a vicious cycle of inflammation through excessive NETosis and pyroptosis, causing immune dysfunction and tissue damage. To regulate this process, we develop a humanized CitH3 monoclonal antibody (hCitH3-mAb) with high affinity and specificity to target this process. In murine models, hCitH3-mAb reduces cytokine production, mortality and acute lung injury (ALI) caused by LPS and Pseudomonas aeruginosa while enhancing bacteria phagocytosis in the lungs, spleen, and liver. Using pre-equilibrium digital ELISA (PEdELISA), we identify an optimal therapeutic window for hCitH3-mAb in sepsis-induced ALI. In parallel, we explore the molecular mechanism underlying CitH3-driven inflammation. We find that in macrophages, CitH3 activates Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), triggering Ca2+-dependent PAD2 auto-citrullination and nuclear translocation, amplifying CitH3 production via a harmful feedback loop. The hCitH3-mAb treatment effectively disrupts this cycle and restores macrophage function under septic conditions. Together, these findings highlight both the therapeutic potential of hCitH3-mAb and provide a deep mechanistic insight into the CitH3–PAD2 axis in sepsis, supporting its further development for treating immune-mediated diseases. This study reports the development and preclinical evaluation of a humanized citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) monoclonal antibody that mitigates inflammation, restores macrophage function, and protects against sepsis-induced pulmonary injury.