Recent Advances in Monoclonal Antibody-Based Approaches in the Management of Bacterial Sepsis

• Published in: Biomedicines Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 765
• Main Authors: Kharga, Kusum, Kumar, Lokender, Patel, Sanjay Kumar Singh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.03.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Antigens; Bacteria; bacterial infection; Bacterial infections; Cell activation; Clinical trials; Drug resistance; Inflammation; Kinases; Lipopolysaccharides; Monoclonal antibodies; monoclonal antibody therapy; Morbidity; Mortality; Physiological aspects; Review; Sepsis; Septic shock; Surface antigens; United States; septic shock; bacterial infection; monoclonal antibody therapy; inflammation; sepsis
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030765

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by an uncontrolled inflammatory response to an infectious agent and its antigens. Immune cell activation against the antigens causes severe distress that mediates a strong inflammatory response in vital organs. Sepsis is responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapeutic strategies are now being explored as a viable therapy option for severe sepsis and septic shock. Monoclonal antibodies may provide benefits through two major strategies: (a) monoclonal antibodies targeting the pathogen and its components, and (b) mAbs targeting inflammatory signaling may directly suppress the production of inflammatory mediators. The major focus of mAb therapies has been bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), although other surface antigens are also being investigated for mAb therapy. Several promising candidates for mAbs are undergoing clinical trials at present. Despite several failures and the investigation of novel targets, mAb therapy provides a glimmer of hope for the treatment of severe bacterial sepsis and septic shock. In this review, mAb candidates, their efficacy against controlling infection, with special emphasis on potential roadblocks, and prospects are discussed.