Biomedical subjects

Ronald R Cobb

Publications and source records attributed to Ronald R Cobb.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Obligate multivalent recognition of cell surface tomoregulin following selection from a multivalent phage antibody library.

A therapeutic antibody candidate (AT-19) isolated using multivalent phage display binds native tomoregulin (TR) as a mul-timer not as a monomer. This report raises the importance of screening and selecting phage antibodies on native antigen and reemphasizes the possibility that potentially valuable antibodies are discarded when a monomeric phage display system is used for screening. A detailed live cell panning selection and screening method to isolate multivalently active antibodies is described. AT-19 is a fully human antibody recognizing the cell surface protein TR, a proposed prostate cancer target for therapeutic antibody internalization. AT-19 was isolated from a multivalent single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library rescued with hyperphage. The required multivalency for isolation of AT-19 is supported by fluorescence activated cell sorting data demonstrating binding of the multivalent AT-19 phage particles at high phage concentrations and failure of monovalent particles to bind. Pure monomeric scFv AT-19 does not bind native receptor on cells, whereas dimeric scFv or immunoglobulin G binds with nanomolar affinity. The isolation of AT-19 antibody with obligate bivalent binding activity to native TR is attributed to the use of a multivalent display of scFv on phage and the method for selecting and screening by alternate use of 2 recombinant cell lines.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Tab2, a novel recombinant polypeptide tag offering sensitive and specific protein detection and reliable affinity purification.

The detection and purification of proteins are often time-consuming and frequently involve complicated protocols. The addition of a peptide tag to recombinant proteins can make this process more efficient. Many of the commonly used tags, such as Flagtrade mark, Myc, HA and V5 are recognized by specific monoclonal antibodies and therefore, allow immunoaffinity-based purification. Enhancing the current scope of flexibility in using diverse peptide tags, we report here the development of a novel, short polypeptide tag (Tab2) for detection and purification of recombinant proteins. The Tab2 epitope corresponds to the NH2-terminal seven amino acid residues of human TGFalpha. A monoclonal anti-Tab2 antibody was raised and characterized. To investigate the potential of this peptide sequence as a novel tag for recombinant proteins, we expressed several different recombinant proteins containing this tag in E. coli, baculovirus, and mammalian cells. The data presented demonstrates the Tab2 tag-anti-Tab2 antibody combination is a reliable tool enabling specific Western blot detection, FACS analysis, and immunoprecipitation as well as non-denaturing protein affinity purification.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2006

Anti-EphA2 antibodies decrease EphA2 protein levels in murine CT26 colorectal and human MDA-231 breast tumors but do not inhibit tumor growth.

The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase has been shown to be over-expressed in cancer and a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that activates and down-modulates EphA2 was reported to inhibit the growth of human breast and lung tumor xenografts in nude mice. Reduction of EphA2 levels by treatment with anti-EphA2 siRNA also inhibited tumor growth, suggesting that the anti-tumor effects of these agents are mediated by decreasing the levels of EphA2. As these studies employed human tumor xenograft models in nude mice with reagents whose cross reactivity with murine EphA2 is unknown, we generated a mAb (Ab20) that preferentially binds, activates, and induces the degradation of murine EphA2. Treatment of established murine CT26 colorectal tumors with Ab20 reduced EphA2 protein levels to approximately 12% of control tumor levels, yet had no effect on tumor growth. CT26 tumor cell colonization of the lung was also not affected by Ab20 administration despite having barely detectable levels of EphA2. We also generated and tested a potent agonistic mAb against human EphA2 (1G9-H7). No inhibition of humanMDA-231 breast tumor xenograft growth was observed despite evidence for >85% reduction of EphA2 protein levels in the tumors. These results suggest that molecular characteristics of the tumors in addition to EphA2 over-expression may be important for predicting responsiveness to EphA2-directed therapies.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Identification of a novel prostate tumor target, mindin/RG-1, for antibody-based radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

Gene expression analysis showed that a human mindin homologue, mindin/RG-1, is expressed selectively in prostate tissues and that its expression level is elevated in some prostate tumors. Mindin/RG-1 protein expression is maintained in >80% of prostate cancers metastatic to bone or lymph nodes as well as in locally recurrent tumors in androgen-unresponsive patients. In contrast, mindin/RG-1 expression in other normal tissues is significantly lower than that seen in the prostate. A fully human antibody, 19G9, was generated against mindin/RG-1 protein and was shown to accumulate at high abundance in LNCaP tumor xenografts. Conjugates of this antibody with the chelator CHX-A''-DTPA were generated and radiolabeled with either 111In, 90Y, or 86Y. Small animal positron emission tomography imaging with the 86Y-radiolabeled conjugate showed very specific accumulation of the antibody in LNCaP tumor xenografts with clear tumor delineation apparent at 4 hours. The therapeutic efficacy of [90Y]-CHX-A''-DTPA-19G9 was evaluated in mice bearing LNCaP xenografts. A dose-finding study identified a nontoxic therapeutic dose to be approximately 75 microCi. Significant antitumor effects were seen with a single administration of radiolabeled antibody to animals bearing 200 to 400 mm3 tumors. Inhibition of tumor growth was observed in all treated animals over a 49-day period. At 49 days posttreatment, slow tumor growth recurred but this could be prevented for an additional 40-day period by a second administration of a 75 microCi dose at day 49. We conclude that [90Y]-CHX-A''-DTPA-19G9 is a novel antibody conjugate that has considerable promise for therapy of metastatic prostate cancer in androgen-unresponsive patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

High levels of protein expression using different mammalian CMV promoters in several cell lines.

With the recent completion of the human genome sequencing project, scientists are faced with the daunting challenge of deciphering the function of these newly found genes quickly and efficiently. Equally as important is to produce milligram quantities of the therapeutically relevant gene products as quickly as possible. Mammalian expression systems provide many advantages to aid in this task. Mammalian cell lines have the capacity for proper post-translational modifications including proper protein folding and glycosylation. In response to the needs described above, we investigated the protein expression levels driven by the human CMV in the presence or absence of intron A, the mouse and rat CMV promoters with intron A, and the MPSV promoter in plasmid expression vectors. We evaluated the different promoters using an in-house plasmid vector backbone. The protein expression levels of four genes of interest driven by these promoters were evaluated in HEK293EBNA and CHO-K1 cells. Stable and transient transfected cells were utilized. In general, the full-length human CMV, in the presence of intron A, gave the highest levels of protein expression in transient transfections in both cell lines. However, the MPSV promoter resulted in the highest levels of stable protein expression in CHO-K1 cells. Using the CMV driven constitutive promoters in the presence of intron A, we have been able to generate >10 microg/ml of recombinant protein using transient transfections.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Transient transfection of CHO-K1-S using serum-free medium in suspension: a rapid mammalian protein expression system.

With the recent completion of the human genome sequencing project, scientists now face the daunting challenge of deciphering the function of these newly found genes quickly and efficiently. For biotechnology, it is equally important to identify the therapeutically relevant genes as quickly as possible. Mammalian expression systems provide many advantages to aid in this task. Mammalian cell lines have the capacity for proper post-translational modifications, including proper protein folding and glycosylation. In response to these needs, a CHO-K1 cell line that grows in suspension and in serum-free media was initially established and designated CHO-K1-S. An antibody gene of interest was chosen as the target for optimization rather than a reporter gene system. A comparison of various lipid transfection reagents was made using recombinant protein expression as the endpoint readout. Various other parameters including lipid:DNA ratios, cell density, and transfections in shaker versus spinner flasks were tested using the CHO-K1-S cell line. As a result, a rapid and reliable transient transfection protocol was developed. Using this procedure, we have produced milligram/per liter quantities of bioactive recombinant proteins from several genes of interest.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Cloning and characterization of the rat HIF-1 alpha prolyl-4-hydroxylase-1 gene.

Prolyl-4-hydroxylase domain-containing enzymes (PHDs) mediate the oxygen-dependent regulation of the heterodimeric transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). Under normoxic conditions, one of the subunits of HIF-1, HIF-1alpha, is hydroxylated on specific proline residues to target HIF-1alpha for degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Under hypoxic conditions, the hydroxylation by the PHDs is attenuated by lack of the oxygen substrate, allowing HIF-1 to accumulate, translocate to the nucleus, and mediate HIF-mediated gene transcription. In several mammalian species including humans, three PHDs have been identified. We report here the cloning of a full-length rat cDNA that is highly homologous to the human and murine PHD-1 enzymes and encodes a protein that is 416 amino acids long. Both cDNA and protein are widely expressed in rat tissues and cell types. We demonstrate that purified and crude baculovirus-expressed rat PHD-1 exhibits HIF-1alpha specific prolyl hydroxylase activity with similar substrate affinities and is comparable to human PHD-1 protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Inhibition of tyrosine kinases blocks adhesion-induced T-cell coactivation without interfering with T-cell adhesion to endothelial cell-surface ligands.

Integrin and cell adhesion molecule-regulated cellular adhesion plays an integral part in the recruitment and activation of lymphocytes. T-cell activation is a dynamic process subject to integrin-dependent and -independent regulation. Stimulation of human peripheral blood T cells by the anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody results in a rapid upregulation of integrin affinity. In conjunction with adhesion to endothelial cell-derived ligands and extracellular matrix proteins, anti-CD3 antibodies have been shown to result in significant increases in IL-2 production and T-cell proliferation. Therefore, at least two signal cascades are activated by ligation of the TCR: One results in a change in affinity of integrins for their ligands, whereas the other activates a signaling cascade that leads to gene induction. We investigated the effects of several tyrosine kinase inhibitors on human peripheral blood T-cell adhesion and adhesion-induced costimulation of IL-2 expression and secretion. These compounds did not inhibit anti-CD3-induced short-term (30 min) or long-term (18 hr) T-cell adhesion to VCAM-1, MAdCAM, or ICAM-1. When T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 and allowed to adhere to VCAM-1, MAdCAM, or ICAM-1 in the presence of these inhibitors; IL-2 production was significantly reduced. The MEK specific inhibitor, PD98059, did not block T-cell adhesion to the various substrates, but it did block IL-2 synthesis. In addition, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors and PD98059 blocked anti-CD3-mediated stimulation of IL-2 synthesis. These data suggest that the signaling mechanism for anti-CD3-mediated integrin activation is distinct from the signaling pathway that results in adhesion-induced IL-2 synthesis via specific integrins and anti-CD3.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗