Evolving an anti-toxin antibody.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Leonard Presta.
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IL-23 is a member of the IL-12 cytokine family that drives a highly pathogenic T cell population involved in the initiation of autoimmune diseases. We have shown that IL-23-dependent, pathogenic T cells produced IL-17 A, IL-17 F, IL-6, and TNF but not IFN-gamma or IL-4. We now show that T-bet and STAT1 transcription factors are not required for the initial production of IL-17. However, optimal IL-17 production in response to IL-23 stimulation appears to require the presence of T-bet. To explore the clinical efficacy of targeting the IL-23 immune pathway, we generated anti-IL-23p19-specific antibodies and tested to determine whether blocking IL-23 function can inhibit EAE, a preclinical animal model of human multiple sclerosis. Anti-IL-23p19 treatment reduced the serum level of IL-17 as well as CNS expression of IFN-gamma, IP-10, IL-17, IL-6, and TNF mRNA. In addition, therapeutic treatment with anti-IL-23p19 during active disease inhibited proteolipid protein (PLP) epitope spreading and prevented subsequent disease relapse. Thus, therapeutic targeting of IL-23 effectively inhibited multiple inflammatory pathways that are critical for driving CNS autoimmune inflammation.
Dimerization is essential for activity of human epidermal growth factor receptors (HER1/EGFR, HER2/ErbB2, HER3/ErbB3, and ErbB4) and mediates intracellular signaling events leading to cancer cell proliferation, survival, and resistance to therapy. HER2 is the preferred dimerization partner. Activation of HER signaling pathways may be blocked by inhibition of dimer formation using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) directed against the dimerization domain of HER2. The murine MAb 2C4 that specifically binds the HER2 dimerization domain was cloned as a chimeric antibody, humanized using a computer-generated model to guide framework substitutions, and variants were tested as Fabs. Pharmacokinetics and toxicology were evaluated in rodents and cynomolgus monkeys. Cloning the variable domains of MAb 2C4 into a vector containing human kappa and CH1 domains allowed construction of a mouse-human chimeric Fab. DNA sequencing of the chimeric clone permitted identification of CDR residues. The full-length IgG1 of variant F-10 was equivalent in binding to chimeric IgG1 and was designated pertuzumab (rhuMAb 2C4; Omnitarg). Pertuzumab pharmacokinetics was best described by a two-compartment model with a distribution phase of <1 day, terminal half-life of approximately 10 days, and volume of distribution of approximately 40 mL/kg that approximates serum volume. With the exception of diarrhea, pertuzumab was generally well tolerated in cynomolgus monkeys. Pertuzumab, a recombinant humanized IgG1 MAb, is the first of a new class of agents known as HER dimerization inhibitors. Inhibition of HER dimerization may be an effective anticancer strategy in tumors with either normal or elevated expression of HER2.
Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) plays an important role in tumor cell growth and survival. On ligand stimulation, IGF-IR, a receptor tyrosine kinase, phosphorylates tyrosine residues on two major substrates, IRS-1 and Shc, which subsequently signal through the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathways. Here, we describe the characterization of a fully human anti-IGF-IR monoclonal antibody 19D12 that inhibits IGF binding and autophosphorylation of both IGF-IR/IGF-IR homodimers and IGF-IR/insulin receptor heterodimers. 19D12 does not recognize insulin receptor homodimers. In addition to inhibiting IGF-IR autophosphorylation, 19D12 also inhibits IRS-1 phosphorylation and activation of the major downstream signaling molecules AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Furthermore, the antibody down-regulates the total IGF-IR protein level and can exhibit antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity against a non-small cell adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro in the presence of isolated human natural killer cells. 19D12 binds tightly to the receptor, with an affinity of 3.8 pmol/L as measured by KinExA. In cell culture, 19D12 inhibits proliferation and soft agar growth of various tumor cell lines. In vivo, 19D12 inhibits the tumor growth of a very aggressive human ovarian tumor xenograft model A2780. These data support the development of this anti-IGF-IR monoclonal antibody as a promising anticancer agent.
6A6 is a murine monoclonal antibody raised against the humanized anti-tissue factor antibody D3H44. 6A6 is able to completely neutralize the anticoagulant activity of D3H44 in tissue factor-dependent functional assays, such as endotoxin-induced whole blood clotting, prothrombin time, as well as factor X and factor IX activation. ELISA-type assays further showed that 6A6 binds to an epitope with critical determinants on the V(L) domain of D3H44. The possibility that the anti-idiotypic 6A6 might carry an "internal image" of the original antigen (tissue factor) was examined using the X-ray structure of the 6A6-Fab/D3H44-Fab complex determined at 2.5A resolution. We find that 6A6 structurally mimics tissue factor only so far as it combines with the antigen recognition surface of D3H44. While 6A6 contacts both V(L) and V(H) domains of D3H44, as does tissue factor, there is more contact with the D3H44 V(L) domain and less with the D3H44 V(H) domain relative to the tissue factor contacts on D3H44. Additionally, there is an almost total lack of correspondence between 6A6 and tissue factor at the level of amino acid side-chain functional groups. Despite the fact that both tissue factor and 6A6 are composed largely of beta-sheets, they present fundamentally different elements of secondary structure to D3H44; tissue factor presents beta-sheets edge-on, while 6A6 uses mostly loops. Finally, the finding that 6A6 competes with tissue factor for D3H44 binding raises the possibility of using 6A6 as an antidote for D3H44 anticoagulant therapy. To this end, we constructed a chimeric murine/human 6A6-Fab, which effectively neutralized D3H44 and fully restored tissue factor function in enzymatic assays.
Some Abs are more efficacious after being cross-linked to form dimers or multimers, presumably as a result of binding to and clustering more surface target to either amplify or diversify cellular signaling. To improve the therapeutic potency of these types of Abs, we designed and generated Abs that express tandem Fab repeats with the aim of mimicking cross-linked Abs. The versatile design of the system enables the creation of a series of multivalent human IgG Ab forms including tetravalent IgG1, tetravalent F(ab')2, and linear Fab multimers with either three or four consecutively linked Fabs. The multimerized Abs target the cell surface receptors HER2, death receptor 5, and CD20, and are more efficacious than their parent mAbs in triggering antitumor cellular responses, indicating they could be useful both as reagents for study as well as novel therapeutics.
With the acceptance of antibodies as therapeutics, a diversity of engineered antibody forms have been created to improve their efficacy, including enhancing the effector functions of full-length antibodies, delivering toxins to kill cells or cytokines in order to stimulate the immune system, and bispecific antibodies to target multiple receptors. After years of in vitro investigation, many of these are now moving into clinical trials and are showing promise. A potential new type of effector function for antibodies, that is, the generation of reactive oxygen species that may effect inflammation or bacterial killing, has been elucidated. In addition, the field has expanded beyond a concentration on immunoglobulin G to include immunoglobulin A antibodies as potential therapeutics.