CHRONIC LOWER BACK PAIN

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Patent Application Nos.

62/562,642, filed September 25, 2017, and 62/572,027, filed October 13, 2017, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to methods for treating infection as well as the inflammatory state associated with degenerative disc disease and chronic lower back pain.

BACKGROUND

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a leading cause of disability and hospitalization. Although many conditions lead to CLBP, degenerative disc disease (DDD) is among the most common diagnoses. Because correlations among clinical symptoms, radiological signs of disc degeneration, and treatment outcomes are not satisfactory, a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of DDD and CLBP are needed to enable more effective treatment outcomes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various aspects and embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating degenerative disc disease or chronic lower back pain. The method comprises administering to a patient having degenerative disc disease or chronic lower back pain, and suspected of having a low-virulence infection (such as a P. acnes infection), an antibiotic and one or more of an IL-Ι β inhibitor and an inhibitor of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). In various embodiments, the method alleviates or ameliorates the infective and inflammatory state that causes or exacerbates the patient's condition.

In some embodiments, the patient has chronic low back pain, and which is consistent with structural intervertebral disc damage and/or consistent with a low- virulence infection. Patients that have a low-virulence infection may be at increased risk of developing CLBP and/or may become "failed back surgery" patients, unless diagnosed correctly and treated appropriately. In accordance with this disclosure, P. acnes is believed to significantly amplify etiological factors that contribute to degenerate disc disease (DDD) through the expression of virulence factors and promotion of IL-Ι β and NGF, among others.

In some embodiments, the methods comprise detection or quantification of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in patient samples, or other commensal bacteria associated with low-virulence infection. In some embodiments, the patient has intervertebral disc disease or CLBP and a fine needle biopsy is isolated for testing. In these embodiments, the invention involves analysis of disc tissue for the presence of one or more commensal pathogens (e.g., P. acnes) or associated virulence factors or metabolites. In some embodiments, the presence of infection is determined using disc tissue following discectomy.

In some embodiments, the invention involves detecting or quantifying commensal pathogen(s) (e.g., P acnes) in the disc tissue sample by microbiological cultivation and/or or by genetic, microbial-specific stain, immunochemical, or spectroscopic analysis. In some embodiments, the invention further comprises evaluating RNA from a disc tissue sample (e.g., mRNA or miRNA) to classify the profile as being indicative of low virulence infection, or not being indicative of a low virulence infection. In some embodiments, an RNA profile is evaluated independently to determine the presence of a low virulence infection, with or without the use of other techniques such as PCR, culture, or microscopy. In still other embodiments, the presence of the low-virulence infection is determined in a non-invasive manner, for example, by testing for an MR-spectroscopy signature. Non-invasive methods obviate the need for biopsy or disc tissue samples.

In still other embodiments, treatment is provided post-surgery to facilitate recovery and avoid recurrence. In such embodiments, disc tissue following discectomy is available for determining the likelihood that the patient is suffering from a chronic infection of the intervertebral disc. In cases where a low-virulence infection is not confirmed, the patient is not treated for a chronic infection.

Once infection has been established, therapeutic approaches combining appropriate antibiotic treatment with a therapy or therapies targeting IL 1 β and/or NGF and/or anti-angiogenic therapy (concomitantly or sequentially) are undertaken. Antibiotics can be administered locally to the intervertebral disc region, or administered systemically. In some embodiments, antibiotics (alone or with other therapies) are applied locally during a biopsy procedure. Exemplary antibiotics for P. acnes infection include clindamycin and erythromycin. In some embodiments, the antibiotic is a beta-lactam antibiotic, macrolide, or tetracycline. In some embodiments, a beta-lactam antibiotic is administered with a beta-lactamase inhibitor (e.g., clavulanate). The patient in some embodiments receives chronic antibiotic therapy, for example, for at least about 1 month, or at least about 2 months, or at least about 3 months (e.g., about 100 days or more). In various embodiments, the patient further receives therapy with an IL-Ιβ inhibitor. Exemplary IL-Ιβ inhibitors include monoclonal antibodies against IL-Ιβ antibody or fragment thereof, a recombinant protein with IL-Ιβ binding activity, or a small molecule inhibitor. In some embodiments, the IL-Ιβ inhibitor comprises a neutralizing or blocking antibody against IL-Ιβ, a rIL-IRA, or an extracellular portion of the human IL-1R1 and/or IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-lRAcP). In still other embodiments, the IL-Ιβ inhibitor is a caspase inhibitor (which prevents processing of proIL-Ιβ),

In some embodiments, the patient receives therapy with an inhibitor of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which can be provided with antibiotic treatment, or in combination with antibiotic treatment and IL-Ιβ inhibitor therapy. In some embodiments, the NGF inhibitor is selected from a monoclonal anti-NGF antibody or fragment thereof, small-peptide mimetics of NGF, small-molecule TrkA antagonist, TrkA immunoadhesion molecule, soluble binding domain of NGF receptor, or monoclonal antibody or monoclonal antibody fragment against TrkA. In some embodiments, the patient receives therapy with an anti-angiogenic therapy, such as a VEGF inhibitor, which can be provided with antibiotic treatment, or in combination with antibiotic treatment, IL-Ιβ inhibitor therapy, and/or NGF therapy. In some embodiments, the angiogenesis inhibitor is selected from a monoclonal anti- VEGF antibody or fragment thereof, small-peptide mimetics, small-molecule antagonist (e.g., tyrosine kinase inhibitor), or soluble binding domain of VEGF receptor. Various other anti-angiogenic treatments are well known. Dosage forms suitable for parenteral administration (e.g. intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and intra-articular injection and infusion) include, for example, solutions, suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, and the like. They may also be manufactured in the form of sterile solid compositions (e.g. lyophilized composition), which can be dissolved or suspended in sterile injectable medium immediately before use.

Embodiments of the invention will be further illustrated with the following non- limiting examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 illustrates a P. acwes-driven inflammatory state. P. acnes PAMPs bind to TLRs, which activate NF-κΒ, leading to the synthesis of pro-IL-Ιβ; P. acnes PAMPs also activate inflammasomes (NLRP3) and caspase-1, which convert pro-IL-Ιβ to IL- 1β; P. acnes proteases directly convert pro-IL-Ιβ to IL-Ιβ.

Figure 2 illustrates an IL-Ιβ driven degenerative state. IL-Ιβ stimulates production of CC-chemokines that recruit myeloid cells, neurotrophins NGF and BDNF that induce nerve ingrowth, and proteolytic enzymes (MMPs, ADAMTS4/5 aggrecanases) that degrade the ECM. Positive feedback loops arise when IL-Ιβ binds to IL-IR and when extracellular matrix degradation products (DAMPs; e.g. fragmented collagen, aggrecan, and hyaluronic acid) activate TLRs. Both binding events further stimulate IL-Ιβ production.

Figure 3 illustrates a P. acnes driven, pain generating state. P. acnes directly activates nociceptors through several distinct mechanisms: N-formylated peptides activate FPR on a subset of nociceptor neurons that mediate mechanical hyperalgesia; CAMPs and pore-forming hemolytic factors allow the entry of ions that lead to depolarization that induces mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia.

Abbreviations: ADAMTS-4/5, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4/5; AF, anullus fibrosus; BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; CAMP, Christie, Atkins and Munch-Petersen factors; CLBP, chronic low back pain; DAMPs, damage-associated molecular patterns; DDD, degenerative disc disease; ECM, extracellular matrix; PAMPs, pathogen-associated molecular patterns; FPR, N- formylated peptide receptor; IL-IR, interleukin-1 receptor; MMPs, matrix metalloproteinases; NF-κΒ, nuclear factor κΒ; NGF, nerve growth factor; NP, nucleus pulposus; TLRs, Toll-like receptors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various aspects and embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating degenerative disc disease or chronic lower back pain. The method comprises administering to a patient having degenerative disc disease or chronic lower back pain, and suspected of having a low- virulence infection, an antibiotic and one or more of an IL-Ι β inhibitor, an inhibitor of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), and an anti-angiogenic therapy. In various embodiments, the method alleviates or ameliorates the infective and inflammatory state that causes or exacerbates the patient's condition. In various embodiments, the method can be employed with or without surgical interventions to resolve both radicular pain and nociceptor pain that may be associated with the condition.

As the term is used herein, a low-virulence infection is a chronic, low-grade, infection that is associated with a commensal microorganism. Exemplary commensal microorganisms include without limitation, Propionibacterium sp. (P. acnes) Staphylococcus sp. (e.g., coagulase negative staphylococcus, or Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis), Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp. (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Enterococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. (e.g., S. pneumoniae), Bacillus sp. (e.g., Bacillus cereus), Citrobacter sp., E. coli, Moraxella sp., Haemophilus sp. , Neisseria sp., Clostridium sp., Enterobacter sp., and Klebsiella sp. In some embodiments, the microorganism has a biofilm forming phenotype.

In some embodiments, the patient has chronic low back pain, and which is consistent with structural intervertebral disc damage and/or a low-virulence infection. In some embodiments, the patient may be a candidate for, and may be scheduled for, intervertebral disc surgery. Patients that have a low-virulence infection may be at increased risk of developing CLBP and/or may become "failed back surgery" patients, unless diagnosed correctly and treated appropriately. For example, some patients that undergo disc surgery will also suffer from CLBP prior to the acute condition necessitating their surgery. Also, a certain proportion (around 5 to 10%) of patients undergoing disc surgery will develop CLBP in the follow-up, which are sometimes referred to as "failed back surgery" patients or "post-discectomy syndrome". These conditions are statistically associated with a low-virulence infection.

Stirling et al. (2001) published the first evidence of bacterial infection of the degenerated disc in 2001. Stirling et al. found that 19 of 36 (53%) sciatica patients who had undergone microdiscectomy tested positive for bacterial infection; 84% of these were Propionibacterium acnes P. acnes) infections. Subsequent research yielded conflicting results, but two independent meta analyses(Urquhart 2015; Ganko 2015) reported the pooled prevalence of bacterial infection was 34% or 36.2% and P. acnes was identified as the major infecting species. They found moderate evidence that low virulent bacteria play a role in disc degeneration and moderate evidence of causation, but indicated that these observations could result from bacterial contamination. A more recent 368-patient study (Capoor 2017) confirmed the previously observed prevalence and found that P. acnes was the only significant species isolated from degenerated disc tissue. Importantly, this study documented the presence of P. acnes biofilm in the infected disc tissue; a result consistent with infection rather than perioperative contamination.

While antibiotic therapy has seen some moderate results in the treatment of CLBP, in accordance with this disclosure, it is believed that antibiotic therapy alone may not be effective to relieve the chronic inflammatory state, particularly of damaged intervertebral discs, which is susceptible to recurrent infection by P. acnes. Further, some patients will not have a low virulence infection, and thus should not be unnecessarily treated with antibiotics.

P. acnes plays a key role in the development of acne vulgaris, as well as roles in other chronic and recurrent infections, including implant infections, which are facilitated by the organism's ability to form biofilms. In pilosebaceous units, P. acnes pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) bind to toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 on sebocytes. This activates NF-κΒ signaling and results in the production of pro-IL-Ιβ. P. acnes PAMPs also trigger NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which facilitates pro-IL- 1β cleavage and the excessive release of mature IL-Ιβ. IL-Ιβ promotes dermal matrix destruction through induction of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Progression of the inflammation results in follicular rupture, allowing P. acnes to leak out of the pilosebaceous unit and activate perifollicular myeloid cells. This results in further release of IL-Ιβ and neutrophil-rich perifollicular inflammation. Thus, IL-Ιβ is the driver of inflammatory responses to P. acnes in acne vulgaris.

Disc degeneration is known to be mediated by the abnormal secretion of cytokines by the inner nucleus pulposus (NP) and outer annulus fibrosus (AF) cells of the intervertebral disc, as well as by immune cells attracted to the site of disc degeneration. The initiating insult is thought to trigger NF-κΒ signaling through TLRs and stimulate the production of pro-IL-Ιβ. Increased levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 have also been described in degenerated disc tissue, indicating inflammasome activation and facilitated maturation of pro-IL-Ιβ. In addition, P. acnes proteases have been found to convert pro-IL-Ιβ to mature IL-Ιβ. Inflammatory actions are further amplified because IL-Ιβ is not only an NF-κΒ target gene, but also an NF-κΒ activator, forming a positive feedback loop. This IL-^-IL-Rl signaling promotes extracellular matrix degradation through induction of proteolytic enzymes, including MMPs 1, 2, 3, 9, and 13 and aggrecanases of 'a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) families 4/5. Specific damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which include fragmented collagen, aggrecan, or hyaluronic acid, bind to TLRs on NP and AF cells and activate NF-κΒ, forming another positive feedback loop. IL-Ιβ also promotes the production of chemotactic CC- chemokines, mainly CCL3 and CCL4, leading to the recruitment and activation of infiltrating immune cells that further amplify the inflammatory cascade. These pathways form the core of a model in which P. acnes infection causes IL-Ιβ release by NP, AF and immune cells, which leads to extracellular matrix degradation within the intervertebral disc.

The ingrowth of nociceptive nerve fibers into the degenerated disc, usually accompanied by the presence of annular fissures can be a main source of nociception related to CLBP. IL-Ιβ has been shown to induce the expression of neurotrophin-like nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in both disc and immune cells, supporting nerve ingrowth into the degenerated disc. IL-Ιβ- stimulated NGF and BDNF production further induces expression of pain-associated cation channels in the dorsal root ganglion, the depolarization of which is likely to promote low back and radicular pain. Finally, NGF has a direct activating or sensitizing effect on nociceptors, and its upregulation in CLBP has been demonstrated. Disc cells (NP and AF) make up a small portion of the disc tissue mass and primarily remove waste and receive nutrition through diffusion. In degenerative disc disease, there can be nerve ingrowth and likely some level of angiogenesis to support the nerve ingrowth. In accordance with this disclosure, P. acnes produces alpha- hemolysins and other virulence factors that interact with nociceptors in nerve ingrowths, resulting in CLBP. Further, in accordance with this disclosure, P. acnes is believed to significantly amplify etiological factors that contribute to degenerate disc disease (DDD) through the promotion of IL-Ιβ and facilitates pathogenesis in synergy with other etiological factors of DDD. Since activation of IL-Ιβ system promotes low back pain, P. acnes as extensive inducer of IL-Ιβ indirectly participates in the pathogenesis of CLBP. Based on the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to activate sensory neurons by releasing formyl peptides and the pore-forming/hemolytic virulence factor a-haemolysin, it is believed that there is also a direct, IL-Ιβ independent, mechanism of P. acnes involvement in CLBP realized through the release of pore-forming hemolysins that induce calcium flux and action potentials in nociceptive neurons. This is supported by the fact, that P. acnes genome contains several putative pore-forming/hemolytic virulence factors (e.g. genes PPA687, PPA1198, PPA1231, PPA1340, and PPA2108 encoding homologs of Christie, Atkins and Munch-Petersen (CAMP) factors, potentially hemolytic gene products including PPA565, which shares similarity with hemolysin III of B. cereus, and PA938 (COG1253) and PPA1396 (COG1189), which share similarity with the hemolysins TlyC and TlyA of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, respectively). These hemolytic factors are clinically relevant, as hemolysis can be used as a clinical marker for the presence of P. acnes in orthopedic infections. Therefore, P. acnes can play a role in the pathogenesis of CLBP, and P. acnes bacterial load could be directly linked to clinical course of CLBP.

In some embodiments, the methods comprise detection or quantification of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) or infection thereof in patient samples, or infection by other commensal bacteria associated with low-virulence infection. P. acnes is a gram-positive aerotolerant anaerobe that forms part of the normal resident microbiota of the skin, oral cavity and the gastrointestinal and genito-urinary tracts. It is an opportunistic pathogen that has been linked to a wide range of infections and conditions, including implant infections, discitis, musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., osteitis, osteomyelitis, synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome), sarcoidosis, chronic prostatitis, and prostate cancer.

Thus, in some embodiments, the patient has intervertebral disc disease or CLBP and a fine needle biopsy is isolated for testing. In these embodiments, the invention involves analysis of disc tissue for the presence of infection of one or more commensal pathogens (e.g., P. acnes), and/or for the presence of an RNA signature indicative of a low-virulence infection. In some embodiments, the presence of infection is determined using disc tissue following discectomy. In some embodiments, the invention involves detecting or quantifying commensal pathogen(s) (e.g., P acnes) in the disc tissue sample by microbiological cultivation or by genetic, microbial-specific stain, immunochemical, or spectroscopic analysis. In some embodiments, the invention further comprises evaluating the RNA from a sample (e.g., mRNA or miRNA) to classify the profile as being indicative of low virulence infection, or not being indicative of a low virulence infection. In some embodiments, an RNA profile is evaluated independently to determine the presence of a low virulence infection, with or without the use of other techniques such as PCR, culture, or microscopy.

In some embodiments, an RNA profile (of host tissue) is evaluated for the presence of an RNA signature (e.g., mRNA or miRNA signature) that is indicative of a low-grade or low-virulence infection. Exemplary RNA signatures are disclosed in WO 2017/019440, which is hereby incorporated by reference. An exemplary miRNA score for P. acnes infection can be determined by scoring the relative expression levels of miR-29a-3p and miR-574-3p. For example, a diagnostic miRNA score (DMS) based on the following formula results in high specificity using a cut-off of -0.3: DMS = 18.71 - 1 1.24 * logl O (miR-29a-3p) + 10.4 * logl O (miR-574-3p). Other RNA signatures can be trained from RNA profiles of samples that are positive or abundant for P. acnes (or other commensal microorganism) and samples that test negative (or non-abundant) for P. acnes (or other commensal microorganisms). For example, samples can be binned based on detection (or detection level) of P. acnes by quantitative PCR and at least one other technique, such microbial culture or spectroscopy (including with microbial stains, FISH, or immunohistochemistry). In some embodiments, the presence of a low-virulent infection is evaluated by culture, including aerobic and/or anaerobic cultivation and subsequent biochemical and spectroscopic (e.g., mass spec, MALDI-TOF MS, or NMR) identification of species. For genetic analysis, nucleic acids (e.g., DNA and/or RNA) are isolated from the sample for analysis. In still other embodiments, immunochemistry (e.g., immunohistochemistry or ELISA) can be used to detect protein or other epitopes of commensal organisms. For instance, without limitation, monoclonal antibodies against P. acnes antigens including virulence factors can be used, such as antibodies specific for epitopes of cell-membrane-bound lipoteichoic acid (PAB antibody) and ribosome- bound trigger factor protein (TIG antibody). In some embodiments, antibodies specific for P. acnes alpha-hemolysin or formylated peptide is used to identify these virulence factors in biopsy or disc material, which indicates that the patient is suffering from a low virulence infection. Other techniques such as microscopy on tissue samples can be used to identify positive samples, and may employ any appropriate staining reagent (e.g., gram stain, P. acftes-specific stain, or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)) or other immunoreagents specific for the commensal microorganism of interest. Mass spectroscopy techniques can be used to identify P. ac^es-specific molecules that are indicative of infection, including biofilm components.

In some embodiments, the presence or level of commensal pathogens is determined (alternatively or in addition to culturing) by hybridization or amplification of microbial nucleic acids. For example, detection assays include real-time or endpoint polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid hybridization to microarrays, or nucleic acid sequencing. In some embodiments, the molecular detection assay detects microbial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, such as 16S and/or 23S rRNA genes, and particularly the variable regions of 16S. In some embodiments, the presence of a commensal pathogen is determined by a microarray hybridization-based assay. Exemplary methods for diagnosing a low-virulence infection of an intervertebral disc are described in WO 2017/019440, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the presence of the low-virulence infection is determined in a non-invasive manner. For example, in some embodiments an MR-spectroscopy signature is obtained to determine the chemical composition of the intervertebral disc. The chemical composition may comprise biofilm components specific for P. acnes biofilm, as well as other molecules indicative of P. acnes infection. Exemplary methods for performing MRS on intervertebral discs are described in US 2011/0087087, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments of the present invention, where the diagnostic test confirms a low-virulence infection, the patient is treated for infection before any invasive surgery (such as discectomy), and in some embodiments, invasive procedures may be entirely avoided.

In still other embodiments, treatment is provided post-surgery to facilitate recovery and avoid recurrence. In such embodiments, disc tissue following discectomy is available for determining the likelihood that the patient is suffering from a chronic infection of the intervertebral disc. In cases where a low-virulence infection is not confirmed, the patient is not treated for a chronic infection.

Antibiotic treatment consisting of amoxicillin (500 mg)-clavulanic acid (125 mg) three times a day for 100 days has been used in patients with CLBP unresponsive to conservative therapies with mixed results. [Albert 2013; Palazzo 2017] However, the patient populations in these studies were not evaluated for the presence of infection or IL-Ιβ overexpression prior to treatment; the treatment provided was not typical of the antibiotic regimens normally used to treat P. acnes infection (Jahns 2016; Zeller 2007); and even if P. acnes infection were to be successfully eradicated, other etiological factors could support ongoing IL-i -based inflammatory process and NGF-dependent nerve ingrowth and nociception, leading to treatment failure.

Once infection has been established, therapeutic approaches combining appropriate antibiotic treatment with a therapy or therapies targeting IL-Ιβ and/or NGF and/or angiogenesis (concomitantly or sequentially) are undertaken. A range of therapies targeting these factors are available, including several monoclonal antibody therapies. Development of an appropriate diagnostic strategy will rationalize indication of the combination therapy and a provide path to precision medicine in the treatment of DDD and CLBP.

Antibiotics can be administered locally to the intervertebral disc region (e.g., by injection or transdermally), or administered systemically (e.g., orally or i.v.). In some embodiments, antibiotics (alone or with other therapies) are applied locally during a biopsy procedure. Exemplary antibiotics for P. acnes infection include clindamycin and erythromycin. In some embodiments, the antibiotic is a tetracycline antibiotic, such as tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline, oxy tetracycline and lymecycline. In various embodiments, depending on the etiology of the infection, the antibiotic can be a beta- lactam antibiotic, macrolide, or tetracycline. For example, the antibiotic is selected from benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, dicloxacillin, methicillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, penicillin G, cephalexin, cefoxitin, cephalolothin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, tetracycline, vancomycin, clindamycin, fusidic acid, doxycycline, moxifioxacin, linezolid, rifampicin, ertapenem, taurolidine, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a beta-lactam antibiotic (such as amoxicillin) is administered with a beta-lactamase inhibitor (e.g., clavulanate). The antibiotic given orally are generally selected from those that are able to penetrate the intervertebral disc.

The patient in some embodiments receives chronic antibiotic therapy, for example, for at least about 1 month, or at least about 2 months, or at least about 3 months (e.g., about 100 days or more).

In various embodiments, the patient further receives therapy with an IL-Ιβ inhibitor. Exemplary IL-Ιβ inhibitors include monoclonal antibodies against IL-Ιβ antibody or fragment thereof, a recombinant protein with IL-Ιβ binding activity, or a small molecule inhibitor. Exemplary antibody fragments include single chain variable fragments. In some embodiments, the IL-Ιβ inhibitor comprises a neutralizing or blocking antibody against IL-Ιβ, a rIL-IRA, or an extracellular portion of the human IL-1R1 and/or IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-lRAcP), which can be linked in-line to IgG Fc region. In still other embodiments, the IL-Ιβ inhibitor is a caspase inhibitor (or other inhibitor that prevents processing of proIL-Ιβ), and which is optionally administered orally.

Exemplary IL-Ιβ inhibitors are selected from anakinra, rilonacept, canakinumab, geviokizumab, LY2189102, MED-8968, CYT013, sIL-lRI, sIL-lRII, EBI-005, CMPX-1023, VX-765 (Pralnacasan), IL-ltrap, CDP-484, CP424174, CP412245, CJ14877, CJ14897, and LL-Z1271a. The IL-Ιβ antagonist or inhibitor can be administered by a route selected from parenteral, oral, and transdermal. Generally, where the inhibitor is a biologic, such as an antibody or portion thereof or other recombinant protein, the inhibitor may be administered parenterally, including subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, intravenous injection, or local injection to intervertebral disc tissue. In some embodiments, the therapy is provided during a biopsy procedure. In some embodiments, the IL-Ιβ inhibitor is a small molecule (such as caspase inhibitor), and may be administered orally or transdermally in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the therapy with the IL-Ιβ inhibitor is concurrent with antibiotic therapy (e.g., for at least about 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months) or is administered after antibiotic therapy. In some embodiments, the course of therapy with the IL-Ιβ inhibitor is shorter or longer than antibiotic therapy, such as about 2 weeks, about 3 weeks, about 1 month, about 2 months, about 3 months, or for 6 months or more. Administrations may be given daily, weekly, or every other week, or monthly. Generally, biologies are administered weekly, every other week, or monthly. In some embodiments, the patient receives from 2 to 8 doses of IL-Ιβ inhibitor.

In some embodiments, the patient receives therapy with an inhibitor of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which can be provided with antibiotic treatment, or in combination with antibiotic treatment and IL-Ιβ inhibitor therapy. In some embodiments, the NGF inhibitor is selected from a monoclonal anti-NGF antibody or fragment thereof (including a sevf), small-peptide mimetics of NGF, small-molecule TrkA antagonist, TrkA immunoadhesion molecule, soluble binding domain of NGF receptor, or monoclonal antibody or monoclonal antibody fragment against TrkA. Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) is also known as high affinity nerve growth factor receptor. In some embodiments, the inhibitor of NGF is tanezumab, fulranumab, TrkAd5, AMG 403, Appha-Dl 1, MNAC13, ALE0540, PD90780, or PPC-1807.

The NGF inhibitor can be administered by a route selected from parenteral, oral, and transdermal, and in some embodiments is administered during a biopsy procedure. Generally, where the inhibitor is a biologic, such as an antibody or portion thereof or other recombinant protein, the inhibitor may be administered parenterally, including subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, intravenous injection, or local injection to intervertebral disc tissue. In some embodiments, the NGF inhibitor is a small molecule, and may be administered orally or transdermally in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the therapy with the NGF inhibitor is concurrent with antibiotic therapy (e.g., for at least about 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months) or is administered after antibiotic therapy. In some embodiments, the course of therapy with the NGF inhibitor is shorter or longer than antibiotic therapy, such as about 2 weeks, about 3 weeks, about 1 month, about 2 months, about 3 months, or for 6 months or more. Administrations may be given daily, weekly, or every other week, or monthly. Generally, biologies are administered weekly, every other week, or monthly. In some embodiments, the patient receives from 2 to 8 doses of IL-Ιβ inhibitor. The NGF inhibitor therapy may be concurrent with IL-Ιβ therapy, including separate or co- formulation.

In some embodiments, the patient receives an anti-angiogenic therapy, which can be provided with antibiotic treatment, or in combination with antibiotic treatment and IL-Ιβ inhibitor therapy and/or anti-NGF therapy. In some embodiments, the angiogenesis inhibitor is a VEGF pathway inhibitor, which can be a monoclonal anti- VEGF antibody or fragment thereof (including a sevf), small-peptide mimetics, small- molecule inhibitor (e.g., tyrosine kinase inhibitor), or soluble binding domain of VEGF receptor. Exemplary angiogenesis inhibitors include antibodies directed against VEGF or VEGFR, soluble VEGFR/VEGFR hybrids, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. An exemplary VEGF pathway inhibitor is Bevacizumab. Bevacizumab binds to VEGF and inhibits it from binding to VEGF receptors.

The angiogenesis inhibitor can be administered by a route selected from parenteral, oral, and transdermal, and in some embodiments is administered during a biopsy procedure. Generally, where the inhibitor is a biologic, such as an antibody or portion thereof or other recombinant protein, the inhibitor may be administered parenterally, including subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, intravenous injection, or local injection to intervertebral disc tissue. In some embodiments, the angiogenesis inhibitor is a small molecule, and may be administered orally or transdermally in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the therapy with the angiogenesis inhibitor is concurrent with antibiotic therapy (e.g., for at least about 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months) or is administered after antibiotic therapy. In some embodiments, the course of therapy with the angiogenesis inhibitor is shorter or longer than antibiotic therapy, such as about 2 weeks, about 3 weeks, about 1 month, about 2 months, about 3 months, or for 6 months or more. Administrations may be given daily, weekly, or every other week, or monthly. Generally, biologies are administered weekly, every other week, or monthly. In some embodiments, In some embodiments, the patient receives from 2 to 8 doses of IL-Ιβ inhibitor. The angiogenesis inhibitor therapy may be concurrent with IL-Ιβ therapy, including separate or co-formulation.

Dosage forms suitable for parenteral administration (e.g. intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and intra-articular injection and infusion) include, for example, solutions, suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, and the like. They may also be manufactured in the form of sterile solid compositions (e.g. lyophilized composition), which can be dissolved or suspended in sterile injectable medium immediately before use. They may contain, for example, suspending or dispersing agents known in the art. Formulation components suitable for parenteral administration include a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl paraben; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as EDTA; buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates; and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose.

For intravenous administration, suitable carriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, Cremophor EL™ or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The carrier should be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage, and should be preserved against microorganisms. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol), and suitable mixtures thereof. Embodiments of the invention will be further illustrated with the following non- limiting examples. EXAMPLES

Example 1. Ability of P. acnes to Induce IL-lB-based Pathogenesis

The ability of P. acnes PAMPs to induce IL-Ιβ and trigger NLRP3 inflammasome assembly are demonstrated by monitoring of IL-Ιβ, NLRP3 and caspase 1 levels in ex vivo models based on NP and AF cell cultures derived from clinical specimens of degenerated disc tissue. In vivo models in which animals are experimentally infected with P. acnes strains isolated from human degenerated discs could also be employed. Further, short fragments of hyaluronic acid, P. acnes -induced DAMPs, shown to interact with TLR2 of the NP cells in vitro, could also be confirmed to induce IL-Ιβ in an animal experiment.

To further establish that P. acnes is a strong contributor to IL-^-based pathogenesis of DDD, in vitro and in vivo experiments are performed to quantitatively compare the ability of P. acnes to induce IL-Ιβ with other known activators of IL-Ιβ used in the experimental studies of DDD. Ability of the P. acnes related formyl peptides and the pore-forming/hemolytic virulence factor to induce calcium flux and action potentials in nociceptive neurons could be evaluated in vitro using analogical designs as used in study of Staphylococcus aureus. ¹⁹

Example 2. Mechanism of nociceptor activation by P. acnes

Live bacteria actively release formylated peptides and secrete a host of virulence factors including pore-forming toxins (PFTs) to facilitate tissue dissemination (See Chiu et al, Nature 2013; 501 :52-7). Alpha-hemolysin (Hla) is a PFT secreted by nearly all S. aureus strains, playing a role in tissue damage, bacterial spread, and inflammation and it was shown to be one of the mechanisms employed by S. aureus to elicit sustained bursts of calcium flux, selectively in capsaicin-responsive neurons (See Chiu et al, Nature 2013; 501 :52-7).

Type 1 secretion systems (T1SS) are wide-spread among Gram-negative bacteria. An important example is the secretion of the hemolytic toxin HlyA from uropathogenic strains. Secretion is achieved in a single step directly from the cytosol to the extracellular space. The translocation machinery is composed of three indispensable membrane proteins, two in the inner membrane, and the third in the outer membrane. The inner membrane proteins belong to the ABC transporter and membrane fusion protein families (MFPs), respectively, while the outer membrane component is a porin-like protein. Assembly of the three proteins is triggered by accumulation of the transport substrate (HlyA) in the cytoplasm, to form a continuous channel from the inner membrane, bridging the periplasm and finally to the exterior. Interestingly, the majority of substrates of T1 SS contain all the information necessary for targeting the polypeptide to the translocation channel— a specific sequence at the extreme C-terminus (See Thomas et al, Mol. Cell Res. 2014; 1843: 1629-41). From P. acnes, PPA1396 seems to resemble this operon structure more. It has also been annotated as hemolysin type A.

In bacteria, protein expression initiates with a formyl-methionine group, the formyl group is then removed post-translationally by peptide deformylase. Formyl peptides can be released from the bacteria either actively or passively as a result of cell death. Neutrophils execute a variety of antimicrobial functions, including the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), phagocytosis of pathogens and dead and dying tissue, degranulation with the release of a variety of toxic products, expulsion of neutrophil extracellular traps, and paracrine signaling to recruit other cell types. Neutrophils sense inflammatory stimuli principally within the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. The first GPCR to be described on the human neutrophil was formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPRl) which, when activated, triggers a wide variety of functions, including chemotaxis, degranulation, ROS production, and phagocytosis. The principal ligands for FPRl are bacterial and mitochondrial formylated peptides, actively secreted by invading pathogens or passively released from dead and dying host cells after tissue injury.

Although it was initially thought that FPRl only bound N-formylated peptides, it is now widely recognized that the formyl group is not a prerequisite for receptor binding. The N-formylated version of any peptide containing a methionine residue at the 5' terminus is at least 100-fold more potent than the identical nonformylated peptide.

Several short formylated peptide sequences have been identified to elicit a response e.g. fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLF) by activating the formyl peptide receptors, and used routinely as models for the study of these systems. Various other peptides have been identified by studying organisms such as S. aureus (See Chiu et al, Nature 2013; 501 :52-7) and L.monycogenes (See Rabiet et al, Eur. J. Immunol. 2005; 35:2486-95). In this example, we show that a similar mechanism can exist in P. acnes, and which may contribute to chronic pain/inflammation.

Identification of P. acnes formyl peptides

P. acnes strains have a number of proteins that have the fMLF and fMLP pattern which has been identified in E.coli, but not fMIFL a pattern derived from S. aureus. Nevertheless, as in other bacterial species it is expected that P. acnes release formylated peptides to its environment, which can trigger an inflammatory response.

Among these proteins that have the peptides of interest there are two membrane proteins and one secreted. Although these proteins are likely to serve a different function in the cell, it is possible that they can be released to the environment and elicit the neutrophil response. Similarly, a number of hypothetical proteins are detected in the genome, which may play a similar role, however they are not predicted to contain any release mechanism.

Table 1 : Predicted proteins with formyl peptide motif

Identification of P. acnes hemolysins

There are at least three proteins annotated as hemolysins in P. acnes, which are conserved in all sequenced genomes. Of the three, PPA1396 (and its orthologs) seem to better align to the operon structure of known hemolysins. The gene is predicted to encode an alpha hemolysin, which has been shown to activate nociceptors (See Chiu et al, Nature 2013; 501 :52-7).

Notably, there is evidence, that the additional genes also exhibit hemolytic activity.

Table 2: Predicted hemolysins

The three genes are present in all species/strains of Propionibacterium acnes (aka Cutibacterium acnes).

Table 3: Hemolysis genes across P. acnes strains

Publications by Nodzo et al (Am. J. Orthop. Belle Mead NJ. 2014; 43:E93-97) show that more than 50% of examined P. acnes strains exhibited hemolytic activity, a population enriched in samples with definite infection. Since hemolysin is ubiquitous in P. acnes this result is somewhat unexpected - one would expect that all strains are hemolytic. However, it has been shown that non-hemolytic strains may produce hemolysis when treated with antibiotics or other stress (See Wright et al, Infect. Dis. 2016; 9:39-44).

Conclusions

Based on bioinformatics analysis and correlation with S. aureus findings we predict that P. acnes hemolysins play a role in causing chronic pain, and this prediction is supported by the presence of such genes in the P. acnes genome, as well as the evidence of their expression. This seems to be a ubiquitous phenotype.

The potential of having formylated peptides playing this role is also present.

Since formylated peptides are ubiquitous among bacteria, and P. acnes contains at least a few proteins with sequence similar to peptides that have been shown to elicit response. However, it is possible that other sequences can also play a similar role as it has been shown in other studies (See Rabiet et al, Eur. J. Immunol. 2005; 35:2486-95), either actively secreted by the bacterium or as byproducts of protein cleavage.

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EQUIVALENTS

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as follows in the scope of the appended claims.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific embodiments described specifically herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the following claims.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All patents and publications referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.