Sample records for receptor single-chain antibody

  1. Selection of single chain antibody fragments binding to the extracellular domain of 4-1BB receptor by phage display technology.

    PubMed

    Bagheri, Salman; Yousefi, Mehdi; Safaie Qamsari, Elmira; Riazi-Rad, Farhad; Abolhassani, Mohsen; Younesi, Vahid; Dorostkar, Ruhollah; Movassaghpour, Ali Akbar; Sharifzadeh, Zahra

    2017-03-01

    The 4-1BB is a surface glycoprotein that pertains to the tumor necrosis factor-receptor family. There is compelling evidence suggesting important roles for 4-1BB in the immune response, including cell activation and proliferation and also cytokine induction. Because of encouraging results of different agonistic monoclonal antibodies against 4-1BB in the treatment of cancer, infectious, and autoimmune diseases, 4-1BB has been suggested as an attractive target for immunotherapy. In this study, single chain variable fragment phage display libraries, Tomlinson I+J, were screened against specific synthetic oligopeptides (peptides I and II) designed from 4-1BB extracellular domain. Five rounds of panning led to selection of four 4-1BB specific single chain variable fragments (PI.12, PI.42, PII.16, and PII.29) which showed specific reaction to relevant peptides in phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The selected clones were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami 2, and their expression was confirmed by western blot analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay experiments indicated that these antibodies were able to specifically recognize 4-1BB without any cross-reactivity with other antigens. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated an acceptable specific binding of the single chain variable fragments to 4-1BB expressed on CCRF-CEM cells, while no binding was observed with an irrelevant antibody. Anti-4-1BB single chain variable fragments enhanced surface CD69 expression and interleukin-2 production in stimulated CCRF-CEM cells which confirmed the agonistic effect of the selected single chain variable fragments. The data from this study have provided a rationale for further experiments involving the biological functions of anti-4-1BB single chain variable fragments in future studies.

  2. Rapid optical imaging of EGF receptor expression with a single-chain antibody SNAP-tag fusion protein.

    PubMed

    Kampmeier, Florian; Niesen, Judith; Koers, Alexander; Ribbert, Markus; Brecht, Andreas; Fischer, Rainer; Kiessling, Fabian; Barth, Stefan; Thepen, Theo

    2010-10-01

    The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in several types of cancer and its inhibition can effectively inhibit tumour progression. The purpose of this study was to design an EGFR-specific imaging probe that combines efficient tumour targeting with rapid systemic clearance to facilitate non-invasive assessment of EGFR expression. Genetic fusion of a single-chain antibody fragment with the SNAP-tag produced a 48-kDa antibody derivative that can be covalently and site-specifically labelled with substrates containing 0 (6)-benzylguanine. The EGFR-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) fusion protein 425(scFv)SNAP was labelled with the near infrared (NIR) dye BG-747, and its accumulation, specificity and kinetics were monitored using NIR fluorescence imaging in a subcutaneous pancreatic carcinoma xenograft model. The 425(scFv)SNAP fusion protein accumulates rapidly and specifically at the tumour site. Its small size allows efficient renal clearance and a high tumour to background ratio (TBR) of 33.2 +/- 6.3 (n = 4) 10 h after injection. Binding of the labelled antibody was efficiently competed with a 20-fold excess of unlabelled probe, resulting in an average TBR of 6 +/- 1.35 (n = 4), which is similar to that obtained with a non-tumour-specific probe (5.44 +/- 1.92, n = 4). When compared with a full-length antibody against EGFR (cetuximab), 425(scFv)SNAP-747 showed significantly higher TBRs and complete clearance 72 h post-injection. The 425(scFv)SNAP fusion protein combines rapid and specific targeting of EGFR-positive tumours with a versatile and robust labelling technique that facilitates the attachment of fluorophores for use in optical imaging. The same approach could be used to couple a chelating agent for use in nuclear imaging.

  3. Method for preparation of single chain antibodies

    DOEpatents

    Cheung, Nai-Kong V [New York, NY; Guo, Hong-fen [New York, NY

    2012-04-03

    This invention provides a method for identifying cells expressing a target single chain antibody (scFv) directed against a target antigen from a collection of cells that includes cells that do not express the target scFv, comprising the step of combining the collection of cells with an anti-idiotype directed to an antibody specific for the target antigen and detecting interaction, if any, of the anti-idiotype with the cells, wherein the occurrence of an interaction identifies the cell as one which expresses the target scFv. This invention also provides a method for making a single chain antibody (scFv) directed against an antigen, wherein the selection of clones is made based upon interaction of those clones with an appropriate anti-idiotype, and heretofore inaccessible scFv so made. This invention provides the above methods or any combination thereof. Finally, this invention provides various uses of these methods.

  4. [Construction of a phage antibody library and screening of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor variant III single chain antibody].

    PubMed

    Han, Dong-gang; Duan, Xiao-yi; Guo, You-min; Zhou, Qi; Wang, Quan-ying; Yang, Guang-xiao

    2010-01-01

    To obtain specific anti-epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) single chain antibody (ScFv) by phage antibody library display system. The total RNA was extracted from the spleen B cells of BALB/c mice immunized with pep-3-OVA protein, and the first-strand cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription. Antibody VH and VL gene fragments were amplified and joined to a ScFv gene with the linker. The ScFv gene was ligated into the phagemid vector pCANTAB5E, which was transformed into competent E. coli TG1. The transformed cells were then infected with M13KO7 helper phage to yield the recombinant phage to construct the phage ScFv library. Pep-3-BSA protein was used to screen the phage antibody library and ELISA carried out to characterize the activity of the antibody. The VH and VL gene fragments of the antibody were about 350 bp and 320 bp in length as analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The ScFv gene was 780 bp, consistent with the expected length. The recombinant phagemid with ScFv gene insert was rescued, and an immune phage ScFv library with the content of 5.0x10(6) was constructed. The recombinant ScFv phage had a titer of 3.0x10(4) cfu/ml, and the fourth phage harvest yielded 56 times as much as that of the first one. SDS-PAGE demonstrated a molecular mass of the soluble ScFv of about 28 kD. ELISA results indicated good specificity of the ScFv to bind EGFRvIII. An immune phage ScFv library is successfully constructed, and the ScFv antibody fragment is capable of specific binding to EGFRvIII.

  5. Combinatorial Libraries of Arrayable Single-Chain Antibodies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benhar, Itai

    Antibodies that bind their respective targets with high affinity and specificity have proven to be essential reagents for biological research. Antibody phage display has become the leading tool for the rapid isolation of single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies in vitro for research applications, but there is usually a gap between scFv isolation and its application in an array format suitable for high-throughput proteomics. In this chapter, we present our antibody phage display system where antibody isolation and scFv immobilization are facilitated by the design of the phagemid vector used as platform. In our system, the scFvs are fused at their C-termini to a cellulose-binding domain (CBD) and can be immobilized onto cellulose-based filters. This made it possible to develop a unique filter lift screen that allowed the efficient screen for multiple binding specificities, and to directly apply library-derived scFvs in an antibody spotted microarray.

  6. Rejection of syngeneic colon carcinoma by CTLs expressing single-chain antibody receptors codelivering CD28 costimulation.

    PubMed

    Haynes, Nicole M; Trapani, Joseph A; Teng, Michele W L; Jackson, Jacob T; Cerruti, Loretta; Jane, Stephen M; Kershaw, Michael H; Smyth, Mark J; Darcy, Phillip K

    2002-11-15

    A new strategy to improve the therapeutic utility of redirected T cells for cancer involves the development of novel Ag-specific chimeric receptors capable of stimulating optimal and sustained T cell antitumor activity in vivo. Given that T cells require both primary and costimulatory signals for optimal activation and that many tumors do not express critical costimulatory ligands, modified single-chain Ab receptors have been engineered to codeliver CD28 costimulation. In this study, we have compared the antitumor potency of primary T lymphocytes expressing carcinoembryonic Ag (CEA)-reactive chimeric receptors that incorporate either TCR-zeta or CD28/TCR-zeta signaling. Although both receptor-transduced T cell effector populations demonstrated cytolysis of CEA(+) tumors in vitro, T cells expressing the single-chain variable fragment of Ig (scFv)-CD28-zeta chimera had a far greater capacity to control the growth of CEA(+) xenogeneic and syngeneic colon carcinomas in vivo. The observed enhanced antitumor activity of T cells expressing the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor was critically dependent on perforin and the production of IFN-gamma. Overall, this study has illustrated the ability of a chimeric scFv receptor capable of harnessing the signaling machinery of both TCR-zeta and CD28 to augment T cell immunity against tumors that have lost expression of both MHC/peptide and costimulatory ligands in vivo.

  7. Methods of preparing and using single chain anti-tumor antibodies

    DOEpatents

    Cheung, Nai-Kong; Guo, Hong-Fen

    2010-02-23

    This invention provides a method for identifying cells expressing a target single chain antibody (scFv) directed against a target antigen from a collection of cells that includes cells that do not express the target scFv, comprising the step of combining the collection of cells with an anti-idiotype directed to an antibody specific for the target antigen and detecting interaction, if any, of the anti-idiotype with the cells, wherein the occurrence of an interaction identifies the cell as one which expresses the target scFv. This invention also provides a method for making a single chain antibody (scFv) directed against an antigen, wherein the selection of clones is made based upon interaction of those clones with an appropriate anti-idiotype, and heretofore inaccessible scFv so made. This invention provides the above methods or any combination thereof. Finally, this invention provides various uses of these methods.

  8. Single-chain antigen recognition receptors that costimulate potent rejection of established experimental tumors.

    PubMed

    Haynes, Nicole M; Trapani, Joseph A; Teng, Michèle W L; Jackson, Jacob T; Cerruti, Loretta; Jane, Stephen M; Kershaw, Michael H; Smyth, Mark J; Darcy, Phillip K

    2002-11-01

    Tumor cells are usually weakly immunogenic as they largely express self-antigens and can down-regulate major histocompatability complex/peptide molecules and critical costimulatory ligands. The challenge for immunotherapies has been to provide vigorous immune effector cells that circumvent these tumor escape mechanisms and eradicate established tumors. One promising approach is to engineer T cells with single-chain antibody receptors, and since T cells require 2 distinct signals for optimal activation, we have compared the therapeutic efficacy of erbB2-reactive chimeric receptors that contain either T-cell receptor zeta (TCR-zeta) or CD28/TCR-zeta signaling domains. We have demonstrated that primary mouse CD8(+) T lymphocytes expressing the single-chain Fv (scFv)-CD28-zeta receptor have a greater capacity to secrete Tc1 cytokines, induce T-cell proliferation, and inhibit established tumor growth and metastases in vivo. The suppression of established tumor burden by cytotoxic T cells expressing the CD28/TCR-zeta chimera was critically dependent upon their interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) secretion. Our study has illustrated the practical advantage of engineering a T-cell signaling complex that codelivers CD28 activation, dependent only upon the tumor's expression of the appropriate tumor associated antigen.

  9. A novel T cell receptor single-chain signaling complex mediates antigen-specific T cell activity and tumor control

    PubMed Central

    Stone, Jennifer D.; Harris, Daniel T.; Soto, Carolina M.; Chervin, Adam S.; Aggen, David H.; Roy, Edward J.; Kranz, David M.

    2014-01-01

    Adoptive transfer of genetically modified T cells to treat cancer has shown promise in several clinical trials. Two main strategies have been applied to redirect T cells against cancer: 1) introduction of a full-length T cell receptor (TCR) specific for a tumor-associated peptide-MHC, or 2) introduction of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), including an antibody fragment specific for a tumor cell surface antigen, linked intracellularly to T cell signaling domains. Each strategy has advantages and disadvantages for clinical applications. Here, we present data on the in vitro and in vivo effectiveness of a single-chain signaling receptor incorporating a TCR variable fragment as the targeting element (referred to as TCR-SCS). This receptor contained a single-chain TCR (Vβ-linker-Vα) from a high-affinity TCR called m33, linked to the intracellular signaling domains of CD28 and CD3ζ. This format avoided mispairing with endogenous TCR chains, and mediated specific T cell activity when expressed in either CD4 or CD8 T cells. TCR-SCS-transduced CD8-negative cells showed an intriguing sensitivity, compared to full-length TCRs, to higher densities of less stable pepMHC targets. T cells that expressed this peptide-specific receptor persisted in vivo, and exhibited polyfunctional responses. Growth of metastatic antigen-positive tumors was significantly inhibited by T cells that expressed this receptor, and tumor cells that escaped were antigen loss variants. TCR-SCS receptors represent an alternative targeting receptor strategy that combines the advantages of single-chain expression, avoidance of TCR chain mispairing, and targeting of intracellular antigens presented in complex with MHC proteins. PMID:25082071

  10. Design and construction of immune phage antibody library against Tetanus neurotoxin: Production of single chain antibody fragments.

    PubMed

    Sadreddini, Sanam; Seifi-Najmi, Mehrnosh; Ghasemi, Babollah; Kafil, Hossein Samadi; Alinejad, Vahideh; Sadreddini, Sevil; Younesi, Vahid; Jadidi-Niaragh, Farhad; Yousefi, Mehdi

    2015-12-23

    Tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) is composed of a light (LC) and heavy chain (HC) polypeptides, released by anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani and can cause fatal life-threatening infectious disease. Toxin HC and LC modules represents receptor binding and zinc metalloprotease activity, respectively. The passive administration of animal-derived antibodies against tetanus toxin has been considered as the mainstay therapy for years. However, this treatment is associated with several adverse effects due to the presence of anti-isotype antibodies. In the present study, we have produced the fully human single chain antibody fragments (HuScFv) from two human antibody phage display libraries. Twenty-four different HuscFvs were isolated from two anti TeNT immune libraries. Our produced human ScFv (HuScFv) were converted to IgG platform and analyzed regarding their specific reactivity to TeNT. All of the selected scFvs have the same VL but different VH. Three HuscFvs from the first library (TTX15, 51, 75) and two HuscFvs from the second library (TTX16, 20) were chosen to convert to IgG1 using pOptiVEC and pcDNA3.3 systems. Production of IgG1 from transfected DG44 and binding capacity of them to tetanus toxin and toxoid were measured by ELISA. ELISA results showed no detectable production of TTX16 and TTX20 IgG1. Although, TTX51 and TTX75 were converted and produced as IgG1, no reactivity to tetanus toxin and toxoid was observed. However, TTX15 was successfully produced as whole IgG1 platform with reactivity to both tetanus toxin and toxoid. The latter would be an appropriate replacement for conventional polyclonal antibodies if would meet the further characterization including specificity determination, affinity measurement and toxin neutralizing assays. Our results demonstrated production of functional IgG1 derived from TTX15 scFv and might be an appropriate replacement for polyclonal Tetabulin but it needs further characterization.

  11. Generation of high-affinity, internalizing anti-FGFR2 single-chain variable antibody fragment fused with Fc for targeting gastrointestinal cancers.

    PubMed

    Borek, Aleksandra; Sokolowska-Wedzina, Aleksandra; Chodaczek, Grzegorz; Otlewski, Jacek

    2018-01-01

    Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are promising targets for antibody-based cancer therapies, as their substantial overexpression has been found in various tumor cells. Aberrant activation of FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2) signaling through overexpression of FGFR2 and/or its ligands, mutations, or receptor amplification has been reported in multiple cancer types, including gastric, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, breast and lung cancer. In this paper, we describe application of the phage display technology to produce a panel of high affinity single chain variable antibody fragments (scFvs) against the extracellular ligand-binding domain of FGFR2 (ECD_FGFR2). The binders were selected from the human single chain variable fragment scFv phage display libraries Tomlinson I + J and showed high specificity and binding affinity towards human FGFR2 with nanomolar KD values. To improve the affinity of the best binder selected, scFvF7, we reformatted it to a bivalent diabody format, or fused it with the Fc region (scFvF7-Fc). The scFvF7-Fc antibody construct presented the highest affinity for FGFR2, with a KD of 0.76 nM, and was selectively internalized into cancer cells overexpressing FGFR2, Snu-16 and NCI-H716. Finally, we prepared a conjugate of scFvF7-Fc with the cytotoxic drug monomethyl-auristatin E (MMAE) and evaluated its cytotoxicity. The conjugate delivered MMAE selectively to FGFR2-positive tumor cells. These results indicate that scFvF7-Fc-vcMMAE is a highly potent molecule for the treatment of cancers with FGFR2 overexpression.

  12. Kinetic analysis of a monoclonal therapeutic antibody and its single-chain homolog by surface plasmon resonance.

    PubMed

    Patel, Rekha; Andrien, Bruce A

    2010-01-01

    Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody fragments have become an emerging class of therapeutics since 1986. Their versatility enables them to be engineered for optimal efficiency and decreased immunogenicity, and the path to market has been set by recent regulatory approvals. One of the initial criteria for success of any protein or antibody therapeutic is to understand its binding characteristics to the target antigen. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been widely used and is an important tool for ligand-antigen binding characterization. In this work, the binding kinetics of a recombinant mAb and its single-chain antibody homolog, single-chain variable fragment (scFv), was analyzed by SPR. These two proteins target the same antigen. The binding kinetics of the mAb (bivalent antibody) and scFv (monovalent scFv) for this antigen was analyzed along with an assessment of the thermodynamics of the binding interactions. Alternative binding configurations were investigated to evaluate potential experimental bias because theoretically experimental binding configuration should have no impact on binding kinetics. Self-association binding kinetics in the proteins' respective formulation solutions and antigen epitope mapping were also evaluated. Functional characterization of monoclonal and single-chain antibodies has become just as important as structural characterization in the biotechnology field.

  13. [Construction and screening of phage antibody libraries against epidermal growth factor receptor and soluble expression of single chain Fv].

    PubMed

    Sheng, Wei-Jin; Miao, Qing-Fang; Zhen, Yong-Su

    2009-06-01

    Recent studies have shown that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important target for cancer therapy. The present study prepared single chain Fv (scFv) directed against EGFR. Balb/c mice were immunized by human carcinoma A431 cells, and total RNA of the splenic cells was extracted. VH and VL gene fragments were amplified by RT-PCR and further joined into scFv gene with a linker, then scFv gene fragments were ligated into the phagemid vector pCANTAB 5E. The phagemid containing scFv were transformed into electro-competent E. coli TG1 cells. The recombinant phage antibody library was constructed through rescuing the transformed cells with help phage M13K07. The specified recombinant phages were enriched through 5 rounds of affinity panning and the anti-EGFR phage scFv clones were screened and identified with ELISA. A total of 48 clones from the library were selected randomly and 45 clones were identified positive. After infecting E. coli HB2151 cells with one positive clone, soluble recombinant antibodies about 27 kD were produced and located in the periplasm and the supernatant. The result of sequencing showed that the scFv gene was 768 bp, which encoded 256 amino acid residues. VH and VL including 3 CDRs and 4 FRs, respectively, were all homologous to mouse Ig. The soluble scFv showed the specific binding activity to purified EGFR and EGFR located in carcinoma cell membrane. The successful preparation of anti-EGFR scFv will provide an EGFR targeted molecule for the development of antibody-based drugs and biological therapy of cancer.

  14. Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Novel Anti-ROR1 Single-Chain Antibodies in Hematological Malignancies.

    PubMed

    Aghebati-Maleki, Leili; Younesi, Vahid; Baradaran, Behzad; Abdolalizadeh, Jalal; Motallebnezhad, Morteza; Nickho, Hamid; Shanehbandi, Dariush; Majidi, Jafar; Yousefi, Mehdi

    2017-04-01

    Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR) proteins are a conserved family of tyrosine kinase receptors that function in developmental processes including cell survival, differentiation, cell migration, cell communication, cell polarity, proliferation, metabolism, and angiogenesis. ROR1 has recently been shown to be expressed in various types of cancer cells but not normal cells. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single-chain Fragment variable (scFv) antibodies provide potential therapeutic advantages over whole antibody molecules. In the present study, scFvs against a specific peptide from the extracellular domain of ROR1 were selected using phage display technology. The selected scFvs were further characterized using polyclonal and monoclonal phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), soluble monoclonal ELISA, colony PCR, and sequencing. Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of selected scFv antibodies were also evaluated in lymphoma and myeloma cancer cell lines using MTT and annexin V/PI assays. The results of ELISA indicated specific reactions of the isolated scFvs against the ROR1 peptide. Colony PCR confirmed the presence of full-length V H and Vκ inserts. The percentages of cell growth after 24 h of treatment of cells with individual scFv revealed that the scFv significantly inhibited the growth of the RPMI8226 and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells in comparison with the untreated cells ( p < 0.05). Interestingly, 24-h treatment with specific scFv induced apoptosis cell death in the RPMI8226 and CLL cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that targeting of ROR1 using peptide-specific scFv can be an effective immunotherapy strategy in hematological malignancies.

  15. Engineered Recombinant Single-Chain Fragment Variable Antibody for Immunosensors

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Zhihong; Mernaugh, Raymond L.; Yan, Heping; Yu, Lei; Zhang, Ying; Zeng, Xiangqun

    2008-01-01

    A recombinant single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody (designated A10B) was engineered to contain two histidines within the linker peptide used to join the scFv heavy and light chains. A piezoimmunosensor using the scFv was successfully developed. A10B scFv bound to the gold piezoimmunosensor surface were correctly oriented, retained antigen-binding activity, and coupled at high surface concentration. These results, and results obtained from an earlier study using an scFv containing a linker cysteine, suggest that the location on the linker sequence in which the amino acids were incorporated was well tolerated by the scFv and did not interfere with scFv antigen-binding activity. The scFv-modified QCM sensor was thoroughly characterized and used to specifically detect antigen in crude serum sample and had a sensitivity of 2.3 ± 0.15 nM (n = 4) with a linear range over 2.3 × 10−9–3.3 × 10−8 M. The piezoimmunosensor was also used to study the kinetics and thermodynamics of antigen/scFv antibody binding. PMID:16255580

  16. Studies of thermostability in Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel) single-domain antibody specific for the mutant epidermal-growth-factor receptor expressed by Pichia.

    PubMed

    Omidfar, Kobra; Rasaee, Mohhamad Javad; Kashanian, Soheila; Paknejad, Malieheh; Bathaie, Zahra

    2007-01-01

    Camelids have a unique immune system capable of producing heavy-chain antibodies lacking the light chains and CH1 (constant heavy-chain domain 1). It has been shown that, in contrast with conventional antibody fragments, the variable domains of these heavy-chain antibodies are functional at or after exposure to high temperatures. In the present study, the VHH (variable domain of heavy-chain antibody) camel antibody was subcloned into vector Ppiczc and expressed in Pichia pastoris. ORB1-83 VHH antibody recognizes the external domain of the mutant EGFR [EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor], EGFR VIII. This tumour-specific antigen is ligand-independent, contains a constitutively active tyrosine kinase domain and has been shown to be present in a number of human malignancies. We report here that, although expression from P. pastoris resulted in a significantly increased level of expression of the anti-EGFR VIII VHH antibodies compared with Escherichia coli [Omidfar, Rasaee, Modjtahedi, Forouzandeh, Taghikhani, Bakhtiari, Paknejad and Kashanian (2004) Tumor Biol. 25, 179-187; Omidfar, Rasaee, Modjtahedi, Forouzandeh, Taghikhani and Golmakany (2004) Tumor Biol. 25, 296-305], this antibody selectively bound to the EGFR VIII peptide and reacted specifically with the immunoaffinity-purified antigen from non-small-cell lung cancer. Furthermore, thermal denaturation stability and CD spectra analysis of the Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel) VHH and heavy-chain antibodies at different temperature proved reversibility and binding activity after heat denaturation. Our results indicate that the P. pastoris expression system may be useful for the expression of camel single domain antibody and the ability of the expressed protein to reversibly melt without aggregation, allowing it to regain binding activity after heat denaturation.

  17. Escherichia coli surface display of single-chain antibody VRC01 against HIV-1 infection

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Lin-Xu; School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583; Mellon, Michael

    Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission and infection occur mainly via the mucosal surfaces. The commensal bacteria residing in these surfaces can potentially be employed as a vehicle for delivering inhibitors to prevent HIV-1 infection. In this study, we have employed a bacteria-based strategy to display a broadly neutralizing antibody VRC01, which could potentially be used to prevent HIV-1 infection. The VRC01 antibody mimics CD4-binding to gp120 and has broadly neutralization activities against HIV-1. We have designed a construct that can express the fusion peptide of the scFv-VRC01 antibody together with the autotransporter β-barrel domain of IgAP gene frommore » Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which enabled surface display of the antibody molecule. Our results indicate that the scFv-VRC01 antibody molecule was displayed on the surface of the bacteria as demonstrated by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. The engineered bacteria can capture HIV-1 particles via surface-binding and inhibit HIV-1 infection in cell culture. - Highlights: • Designed single-chain VRC01 antibody was demonstrated to bind HIV-1 envelope gp120. • Single-chain VRC01 antibody was successfully displayed on the surface of E. coli. • Engineered bacteria can absorb HIV-1 particles and prevent HIV-1 infection in cell culture.« less

  18. A dual chain chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) in the native antibody format for targeting immune cells towards cancer cells without the need of an scFv.

    PubMed

    Faitschuk, E; Nagy, V; Hombach, A A; Abken, H

    2016-10-01

    Adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells showed remarkable therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of leukaemia/lymphoma. However, the application to a variety of cancer entities is often constricted by the non-availability of a single chain antibody (scFv), which is usually the targeting domain in a CAR, while antibodies in the natural format are often available. To overcome the limitation, we designed a CAR that uses an antibody in its natural configuration for binding. Such CAR consists of two chains, the immunoglobulin light and heavy chain with their constant regions, whereby the heavy chain is anchored to the membrane and linked to an intracellular signalling domain for T-cell activation. The two chains form a stable heterodimer, a so-called dual chain CAR (dcCAR), and bind with high affinity and in a specific manner to their cognate antigen. By specific binding, the dcCAR activates engineered T cells for the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and for target cell lysis. We provide evidence by three examples that the dcCAR format is universally applicable and thereby broadens the CAR cell therapy towards a larger variety of targets for which an scFv antibody is not available.

  19. Epitope mapping of the alpha-chain of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor using antipeptide antibodies.

    PubMed

    Delafontaine, P; Ku, L; Ververis, J J; Cohen, C; Runge, M S; Alexander, R W

    1994-12-01

    Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I) is an important mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The IGF I receptor (IGF IR) is a heterotetramer composed of two cross-linked extracellular alpha-chains and two membrane-spanning beta-chains that contain a tyrosine-kinase domain. It has a high degree of sequence similarity to the insulin receptor (IR), and the putative ligand-specific binding site has been localized to a cysteine-rich region (CRR) of the alpha-chain. To obtain insights into antigenic determinants of the IGF IR, we raised a panel of site-specific polyclonal antibodies against short peptide sequences N-terminal to and within the CRR. Several antibodies raised against linear epitopes within the CRR bound to solubilized and native rat and human IGF IR by ELISA, did not cross-react with IR, but unexpectedly failed to inhibit 125I-IGF I binding. A polyclonal antibody directed against a 48-amino acid synthetic peptide, corresponding to a region of the CRR postulated to be essential for ligand binding, failed to react with either solubilized, reduced or intact IGF IR. Three antibodies specific for the N-terminus of the alpha-chain reacted with solubilized and native IGF IR. One of these, RAB 6, directed against amino acids 38-44 of the IGF IR, inhibited 125I-IGF I binding to rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASM) and to IGF IR/3T3 cells (overexpressing human IGF IR) by up to 45%. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed strong IGF IR staining in the medial smooth muscle cell layer of rat aorta. These findings are consistent with a model wherein conformational epitopes within the CRR and linear epitopes within the N-terminus of the alpha-chain contribute to the IGF I binding pocket. These antibodies should provide a valuable tool to study structure-function relationships and in vivo regulation of the IGF IR.

  20. Potent Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication by an Intracellular Anti-Rev Single-Chain Antibody

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duan, Lingxun; Bagasra, Omar; Laughlin, Mark A.; Oakes, Joseph W.; Pomerantz, Roger J.

    1994-05-01

    Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has a complex life cycle, which has made it a difficult target for conventional therapeutic modalities. A single-chain antibody moiety, directed against the HIV-1 regulatory protein Rev, which rescues unspliced viral RNA from the nucleus of infected cells, has now been developed. This anti-Rev single-chain construct (SFv) consists of both light and heavy chain variable regions of an anti-Rev monoclonal antibody, which, when expressed intracellularly within human cells, potently inhibits HIV-1 replication. This intracellular SFv molecule is demonstrated to specifically antagonize Rev function. Thus, intracellular SFv expression, against a retroviral regulatory protein, may be useful as a gene therapeutic approach to combat HIV-1 infections.

  1. Development of cell-penetrating bispecific antibodies targeting the N-terminal domain of androgen receptor for prostate cancer therapy.

    PubMed

    Goicochea, Nancy L; Garnovskaya, Maria; Blanton, Mary G; Chan, Grace; Weisbart, Richard; Lilly, Michael B

    2017-12-01

    Castration-resistant prostate cancer cells exhibit continued androgen receptor signaling in spite of low levels of ligand. Current therapies to block androgen receptor signaling act by inhibiting ligand production or binding. We developed bispecific antibodies capable of penetrating cells and binding androgen receptor outside of the ligand-binding domain. Half of the bispecific antibody molecule consists of a single-chain variable fragment of 3E10, an anti-DNA antibody that enters cells. The other half is a single-chain variable fragment version of AR441, an anti-AR antibody. The resulting 3E10-AR441 bispecific antibody enters human LNCaP prostate cells and accumulates in the nucleus. The antibody binds to wild-type, mutant and splice variant androgen receptor. Binding affinity of 3E10-AR441 to androgen receptor (284 nM) was lower than that of the parental AR441 mAb (4.6 nM), but could be improved (45 nM) through alternative placement of the affinity tags, and ordering of the VH and VK domains. The 3E10-AR441 bispecific antibody blocked genomic signaling by wild-type or splice variant androgen receptor in LNCaP cells. It also blocked non-genomic signaling by the wild-type receptor. Furthermore, bispecific antibody inhibited the growth of C4-2 prostate cancer cells under androgen-stimulated conditions. The 3E10-AR441 biAb can enter prostate cancer cells and inhibits androgen receptor function in a ligand-independent manner. It may be an attractive prototype agent for prostate cancer therapy. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  2. Broadly neutralizing human antibody that recognizes the receptor-binding pocket of influenza virus hemagglutinin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Whittle, James R.R.; Zhang, Ruijun; Khurana, Surender

    Seasonal antigenic drift of circulating influenza virus leads to a requirement for frequent changes in vaccine composition, because exposure or vaccination elicits human antibodies with limited cross-neutralization of drifted strains. We describe a human monoclonal antibody, CH65, obtained by isolating rearranged heavy- and light-chain genes from sorted single plasma cells, coming from a subject immunized with the 2007 trivalent influenza vaccine. The crystal structure of a complex of the hemagglutinin (HA) from H1N1 strain A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 with the Fab of CH65 shows that the tip of the CH65 heavy-chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) inserts into the receptor binding pocketmore » on HA1, mimicking in many respects the interaction of the physiological receptor, sialic acid. CH65 neutralizes infectivity of 30 out of 36 H1N1 strains tested. The resistant strains have a single-residue insertion near the rim of the sialic-acid pocket. We conclude that broad neutralization of influenza virus can be achieved by antibodies with contacts that mimic those of the receptor.« less

  3. Isolation and characterization of anti c-met single chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies.

    PubMed

    Qamsari, Elmira Safaie; Sharifzadeh, Zahra; Bagheri, Salman; Riazi-Rad, Farhad; Younesi, Vahid; Abolhassani, Mohsen; Ghaderi, Sepideh Safaei; Baradaran, Behzad; Somi, Mohammad Hossein; Yousefi, Mehdi

    2017-12-01

    The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) Met is the cell surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) involved in invasive growth programs during embryogenesis and tumorgenesis. There is compelling evidence suggesting important roles for c-Met in colorectal cancer proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and survival. Hence, a molecular inhibitor of an extracellular domain of c-Met receptor that blocks c-Met-cell surface interactions could be of great thera-peutic importance. In an attempt to develop molecular inhibitors of c-Met, single chain variable fragment (scFv) phage display libraries Tomlinson I + J against a specific synthetic oligopeptide from the extracellular domain of c-Met receptor were screened; selected scFv were then characterized using various immune techniques. Three c-Met specific scFv (ES1, ES2, and ES3) were selected following five rounds of panning procedures. The scFv showed specific binding to c-Met receptor, and significantly inhibited proliferation responses of a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116). Moreover, anti- apoptotic effects of selected scFv antibodies on the HCT-116 cell line were also evaluated using Annexin V/PI assays. The results demonstrated rates of apoptotic cell death of 46.0, 25.5, and 37.8% among these cells were induced by use of ES1, ES2, and ES3, respectively. The results demonstrated ability to successfully isolate/char-acterize specific c-Met scFv that could ultimately have a great therapeutic potential in immuno-therapies against (colorectal) cancers.

  4. Single Domain Antibodies as New Biomarker Detectors

    PubMed Central

    Fischer, Katja; Leow, Chiuan Yee; Chuah, Candy; McCarthy, James

    2017-01-01

    Biomarkers are defined as indicators of biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention. Biomarkers have been widely used for early detection, prediction of response after treatment, and for monitoring the progression of diseases. Antibodies represent promising tools for recognition of biomarkers, and are widely deployed as analytical tools in clinical settings. For immunodiagnostics, antibodies are now exploited as binders for antigens of interest across a range of platforms. More recently, the discovery of antibody surface display and combinatorial chemistry techniques has allowed the exploration of new binders from a range of animals, for instance variable domains of new antigen receptors (VNAR) from shark and variable heavy chain domains (VHH) or nanobodies from camelids. These single domain antibodies (sdAbs) have some advantages over conventional murine immunoglobulin owing to the lack of a light chain, making them the smallest natural biomarker binders thus far identified. In this review, we will discuss several biomarkers used as a means to validate diseases progress. The potential functionality of modern singe domain antigen binders derived from phylogenetically early animals as new biomarker detectors for current diagnostic and research platforms development will be described. PMID:29039819

  5. Ribosome Display of Combinatorial Antibody Libraries Derived from Mice Immunized with Heat-Killed Xylella fastidiosa and the Selection of MopB-Specific Single-Chain Antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Azizi, Armaghan; Arora, Arinder; Markiv, Anatoliy; Lampe, David J.; Miller, Thomas A.

    2012-01-01

    Pierce's disease is a devastating lethal disease of Vitus vinifera grapevines caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. There is no cure for Pierce's disease, and control is achieved predominantly by suppressing transmission of the glassy-winged sharpshooter insect vector. We present a simple robust approach for the generation of panels of recombinant single-chain antibodies against the surface-exposed elements of X. fastidiosa that may have potential use in diagnosis and/or disease transmission blocking studies. In vitro combinatorial antibody ribosome display libraries were assembled from immunoglobulin transcripts rescued from the spleens of mice immunized with heat-killed X. fastidiosa. The libraries were used in a single round of selection against an outer membrane protein, MopB, resulting in the isolation of a panel of recombinant antibodies. The potential use of selected anti-MopB antibodies was demonstrated by the successful application of the 4XfMopB3 antibody in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a Western blot assay, and an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). These immortalized in vitro recombinant single-chain antibody libraries generated against heat-killed X. fastidiosa are a resource for the Pierce's disease research community that may be readily accessed for the isolation of antibodies against a plethora of X. fastidiosa surface-exposed antigenic molecules. PMID:22327580

  6. Retargeting of adenovirus vectors through genetic fusion of a single-chain or single-domain antibody to capsid protein IX.

    PubMed

    Poulin, Kathy L; Lanthier, Robert M; Smith, Adam C; Christou, Carin; Risco Quiroz, Milagros; Powell, Karen L; O'Meara, Ryan W; Kothary, Rashmi; Lorimer, Ian A; Parks, Robin J

    2010-10-01

    Adenovirus (Ad) vectors are the most commonly used system for gene therapy applications, due in part to their ability to infect a wide array of cell types and tissues. However, many therapies would benefit from the ability to target the Ad vector only to specific cells, such as tumor cells for cancer gene therapy. In this study, we investigated the utility of capsid protein IX (pIX) as a platform for the presentation of single-chain variable-fragment antibodies (scFv) and single-domain antibodies (sdAb) for virus retargeting. We show that scFv can be displayed on the capsid through genetic fusion to native pIX but that these molecules fail to retarget the virus, due to improper folding of the scFv. Redirecting expression of the fusion protein to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) results in correct folding of the scFv and allows it to recognize its epitope; however, ER-targeted pIX-scFv was incorporated into the Ad capsid at a very low level which was not sufficient to retarget virus infection. In contrast, a pIX-sdAb construct was efficiently incorporated into the Ad capsid and enhanced virus infection of cells expressing the targeted receptor. Taken together, our data indicate that pIX is an effective platform for presentation of large targeting polypeptides on the surface of the virus capsid, but the nature of the ligand can significantly affect its association with virions.

  7. Production of a novel camel single-domain antibody specific for the type III mutant EGFR.

    PubMed

    Omidfar, K; Rasaee, M J; Modjtahedi, H; Forouzandeh, M; Taghikhani, M; Golmakani, N

    2004-01-01

    Camelids have a unique immune system capable of producing single-domain heavy-chain antibodies. The antigen-specific domain of these heavy-chain IgGs (VHH) are the smallest binding units produced by the immune system. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of several binders against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) vIII retrieved from immune library of camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius). The EGFRvIII is a ligand-independent, constitutively active, mutated form of the wild-type EGFR. The expression of EGFRvIII has been demonstrated in a wide range of human malignancies, including gliomas, and breast, prostate, ovarian and lung cancer. Camels were immunized with a synthetic peptide corresponding to a mutated sequence and tissue homogenates. Single-domain antibodies (VHH) were directly selected by panning a phage display library on successively decreasing amounts of synthetic peptide immobilized on magnetic beads. The anti-EGFRvIII camel single-domain antibodies selectively bound to the EGFRvIII peptide and reacted specifically with the immunoaffinity-purified antigen from a non-small cell lung cancer patient. These antibodies with affinities in the nanomolar range recognized the EGFRvIII peptide and affinity-purified mutated receptor. We concluded that using the phage display technique, antigen-specific VHH antibody fragments are readily accessible from the camelids. These antibodies may be good candidates for tumor-diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  8. Preparative crystallization of a single chain antibody using an aqueous two-phase system.

    PubMed

    Huettmann, Hauke; Berkemeyer, Matthias; Buchinger, Wolfgang; Jungbauer, Alois

    2014-11-01

    A simultaneous crystallization and aqueous two-phase extraction of a single chain antibody was developed, demonstrating process integration. The process conditions were designed to form an aqueous two-phase system, and to favor crystallization, using sodium sulfate and PEG-2000. At sufficiently high concentrations of PEG, a second phase was generated in which the protein crystallization occurred simultaneously. The single chain antibody crystals were partitioned to the top, polyethylene glycol-rich phase. The crystal nucleation took place in the sodium sulfate-rich phase and at the phase boundary, whereas crystal growth was progressing mainly in the polyethylene glycol-rich phase. The crystals in the polyethylene glycol-rich phase grew to a size of >50 µm. Additionally, polyethylene glycol acted as an anti-solvent, thus, it influenced the crystallization yield. A phase diagram with an undersaturation zone, crystallization area, and amorphous precipitation zone was established. Only small differences in polyethylene glycol concentration caused significant shifts of the crystallization yield. An increase of the polyethylene glycol content from 2% (w/v) to 4% (w/v) increased the yield from approximately 63-87%, respectively. Our results show that crystallization in aqueous two-phase systems is an opportunity to foster process integration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Characterization of single chain antibody targets through yeast two hybrid

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Due to their unique ability to bind their targets with high fidelity, antibodies are used widely not only in biomedical research, but also in many clinical applications. Recombinant antibodies, including single chain variable fragments (scFv), are gaining momentum because they allow powerful in vitro selection and manipulation without loss of function. Regardless of the ultimate application or type of antibody used, precise understanding of the interaction between the antibody's binding site and its specific target epitope(s) is of great importance. However, such data is frequently difficult to obtain. Results We describe an approach that allows detailed characterization of a given antibody's target(s) using the yeast two-hybrid system. Several recombinant scFv were used as bait and screened against highly complex cDNA libraries. Systematic sequencing of all retained clones and statistical analysis allowed efficient ranking of the prey fragments. Multiple alignment of the obtained cDNA fragments provided a selected interacting domain (SID), efficiently narrowing the epitope-containing region. Interactions between antibodies and their respective targets were characterized for several scFv. For AA2 and ROF7, two conformation-specific sensors that exclusively bind the activated forms of the small GTPases Rab6 and Rab1 respectively, only fragments expressing the entire target protein's core region were retained. This strongly suggested interaction with a non-linear epitope. For two other scFv, TA10 and SF9, which recognize the large proteins giantin and non-muscle myosin IIA, respectively, precise antibody-binding regions within the target were defined. Finally, for some antibodies, secondary targets within and across species could be revealed. Conclusions Our method, utilizing the yeast two-hybrid technology and scFv as bait, is a simple yet powerful approach for the detailed characterization of antibody targets. It allows precise domain mapping for linear

  10. Expression and Functional Properties of an Anti-Triazophos High-Affinity Single-Chain Variable Fragment Antibody with Specific Lambda Light Chain

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Rui; Liang, Xiao; Xiang, Dandan; Guo, Yirong; Liu, Yihua; Zhu, Guonian

    2016-01-01

    Triazophos is a widely used organophosphorous insecticide that has potentially adverse effects to organisms. In the present study, a high-affinity single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody with specific lambda light chain was developed for residue monitoring. First, the specific variable regions were correctly amplified from a hybridoma cell line 8C10 that secreted monoclonal antibody (mAb) against triazophos. The regions were then assembled as scFv via splicing by overlap extension polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, the recombinant anti-triazophos scFv-8C10 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli strain HB2151 in soluble form, purified through immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, and verified via Western blot and peptide mass fingerprinting analyses. Afterward, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established based on the purified anti-triazophos scFv-8C10 antibody. The assay exhibited properties similar to those based on the parent mAb, with a high sensitivity (IC50 of 1.73 ng/mL) to triazophos and no cross reaction for other organophosphorus pesticides; it was reliable in detecting triazophos residues in spiked water samples. Moreover, kinetic measurement using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor indicated that the purified scFv-8C10 antibody had a high affinity of 1.8 × 10−10 M and exhibited good binding stability. Results indicated that the recombinant high-affinity scFv-8C10 antibody was an effective detection material that would be promising for monitoring triazophos residues in environment samples. PMID:27338340

  11. A camelid single-domain antibody neutralizes botulinum neurotoxin A by blocking host receptor binding

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yao, Guorui; Lam, Kwok-ho; Weisemann, Jasmin

    Antibody treatment is currently the only available countermeasure for botulism, a fatal illness caused by flaccid paralysis of muscles due to botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) intoxication. Among the seven major serotypes of BoNT/A-G, BoNT/A poses the most serious threat to humans because of its high potency and long duration of action. Prior to entering neurons and blocking neurotransmitter release, BoNT/A recognizes motoneurons via a dual-receptor binding process in which it engages both the neuron surface polysialoganglioside (PSG) and synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2). Previously, we identified a potent neutralizing antitoxin against BoNT/A1 termed ciA-C2, derived from a camelid heavy-chain-only antibody (VHH).more » In this study, we demonstrate that ciA-C2 prevents BoNT/A1 intoxication by inhibiting its binding to neuronal receptor SV2. Furthermore, we determined the crystal structure of ciA-C2 in complex with the receptor-binding domain of BoNT/A1 (HCA1) at 1.68 Å resolution. The structure revealed that ciA-C2 partially occupies the SV2-binding site on H CA1, causing direct interference of HCA1 interaction with both the N-glycan and peptide-moiety of SV2. Interestingly, this neutralization mechanism is similar to that of a monoclonal antibody in clinical trials, despite that ciA-C2 is more than 10-times smaller. Taken together, these results enlighten our understanding of BoNT/A1 interactions with its neuronal receptor, and further demonstrate that inhibiting toxin binding to the host receptor is an efficient countermeasure strategy.« less

  12. Targeting nanodisks via a single chain variable antibody--apolipoprotein chimera.

    PubMed

    Iovannisci, David M; Beckstead, Jennifer A; Ryan, Robert O

    2009-02-06

    Nanodisks (ND) are nanometer scale complexes of phospholipid and apolipoprotein that have been shown to function as drug delivery vehicles. ND harboring significant quantities of the antifungal agent, amphotericin B, or the bioactive isoprenoid, all trans retinoic acid, have been generated and characterized. As currently formulated, ND possess limited targeting capability. In this study, we constructed a single chain variable antibody (scFv).apolipoprotein chimera and assessed the ability of this fusion protein to form ND and recognize the antigen to which the scFv is directed. Data obtained revealed that alpha-vimentin scFv.apolipoprotein A-I is functional in ND formation and antigen recognition, opening the door to the use of such chimeras in targeting drug-enriched ND to specific tissues.

  13. ESCRT-mediated Uptake and Degradation of Brain-targeted α-synuclein Single Chain Antibody Attenuates Neuronal Degeneration In Vivo

    PubMed Central

    Spencer, Brian; Emadi, Sharareh; Desplats, Paula; Eleuteri, Simona; Michael, Sarah; Kosberg, Kori; Shen, Jay; Rockenstein, Edward; Patrick, Christina; Adame, Anthony; Gonzalez, Tania; Sierks, Michael; Masliah, Eliezer

    2014-01-01

    Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn). Recently, single-chain fragment variables (scFVs) have been developed against individual conformational species of α-syn. Unlike more traditional monoclonal antibodies, these scFVs will not activate or be endocytosed by Fc receptors. For this study, we investigated an scFV directed against oligomeric α-syn fused to the LDL receptor-binding domain from apolipoprotein B (apoB). The modified scFV showed enhanced brain penetration and was imported into neuronal cells through the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) pathway, leading to lysosomal degradation of α-syn aggregates. Further analysis showed that the scFV was effective at ameliorating neurodegenerative pathology and behavioral deficits observed in the mouse model of dementia with Lewy bodies/Parkinson's disease. Thus, the apoB modification had the effect of both increasing accumulation of the scFV in the brain and directing scFV/α-syn complexes for degradation through the ESCRT pathway, leading to improved therapeutic potential of immunotherapy. PMID:25008355

  14. ESCRT-mediated uptake and degradation of brain-targeted α-synuclein single chain antibody attenuates neuronal degeneration in vivo.

    PubMed

    Spencer, Brian; Emadi, Sharareh; Desplats, Paula; Eleuteri, Simona; Michael, Sarah; Kosberg, Kori; Shen, Jay; Rockenstein, Edward; Patrick, Christina; Adame, Anthony; Gonzalez, Tania; Sierks, Michael; Masliah, Eliezer

    2014-10-01

    Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn). Recently, single-chain fragment variables (scFVs) have been developed against individual conformational species of α-syn. Unlike more traditional monoclonal antibodies, these scFVs will not activate or be endocytosed by Fc receptors. For this study, we investigated an scFV directed against oligomeric α-syn fused to the LDL receptor-binding domain from apolipoprotein B (apoB). The modified scFV showed enhanced brain penetration and was imported into neuronal cells through the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) pathway, leading to lysosomal degradation of α-syn aggregates. Further analysis showed that the scFV was effective at ameliorating neurodegenerative pathology and behavioral deficits observed in the mouse model of dementia with Lewy bodies/Parkinson's disease. Thus, the apoB modification had the effect of both increasing accumulation of the scFV in the brain and directing scFV/α-syn complexes for degradation through the ESCRT pathway, leading to improved therapeutic potential of immunotherapy.

  15. A functional role for CD28 costimulation in tumor recognition by single-chain receptor-modified T cells.

    PubMed

    Moeller, Maria; Haynes, Nicole M; Trapani, Joseph A; Teng, Michele W L; Jackson, Jacob T; Tanner, Jane E; Cerutti, Loretta; Jane, Stephen M; Kershaw, Michael H; Smyth, Mark J; Darcy, Phillip K

    2004-05-01

    T cells engineered to express single-chain antibody receptors that incorporate TCR-zeta and cluster designation (CD)28 signaling domains (scFv-alpha-erbB2-CD28-zeta) can be redirected in vivo to cancer cells that lack triggering costimulatory molecules. To assess the contribution of CD28 signaling to the function of the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor, we expressed a series of mutated scFv-CD28-zeta receptors directed against erbB2. Residues known to be critical for CD28 signaling were mutated from tyrosine to phenylalanine at position 170 or proline to alanine at positions 187 and 190. Primary mouse T cells expressing either of the mutant receptors demonstrated impaired cytokine (IFN-gamma and GM-CSF) production and decreased proliferation after antigen ligation in vitro and decreased antitumor efficacy in vivo compared with T cells expressing the wild-type scFv-CD28-zeta receptor, suggesting a key signaling role for the CD28 component of the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor. Importantly, cell surface expression, binding capacity and cytolytic activity mediated by the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor were not diminished by either mutation. Overall, this study has definitively demonstrated a functional role for the CD28 component of the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor and has shown that incorporation of costimulatory activity in chimeric scFv receptors is a powerful approach for improving adoptive cancer immunotherapy.

  16. Streamlined method for parallel identification of single domain antibodies to membrane receptors on whole cells

    PubMed Central

    Rossotti, Martín; Tabares, Sofía; Alfaya, Lucía; Leizagoyen, Carmen; Moron, Gabriel; González-Sapienza, Gualberto

    2015-01-01

    BACKGROUND Owing to their minimal size, high production yield, versatility and robustness, the recombinant variable domain (nanobody) of camelid single chain antibodies are valued affinity reagents for research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. While their preparation against purified antigens is straightforward, the generation of nanobodies to difficult targets such as multi-pass or complex membrane cell receptors remains challenging. Here we devised a platform for high throughput identification of nanobodies to cell receptor based on the use of a biotin handle. METHODS Using a biotin-acceptor peptide tag, the in vivo biotinylation of nanobodies in 96 well culture blocks was optimized allowing their parallel analysis by flow cytometry and ELISA, and their direct used for pull-down/MS target identification. RESULTS The potential of this strategy was demonstrated by the selection and characterization of panels of nanobodies to Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18), MHC II and the mouse Ly-5 leukocyte common antigen (CD45) receptors, from a VHH library obtained from a llama immunized with mouse bone marrow derived dendritic cells. By on and off switching of the addition of biotin, the method also allowed the epitope binning of the selected Nbs directly on cells. CONCLUSIONS This strategy streamline the selection of potent nanobodies to complex antigens, and the selected nanobodies constitute ready-to-use biotinylated reagents. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This method will accelerate the discovery of nanobodies to cell membrane receptors which comprise the largest group of drug and analytical targets. PMID:25819371

  17. Using engineered single-chain antibodies to correlate molecular binding properties and nanoparticle adhesion dynamics.

    PubMed

    Haun, Jered B; Pepper, Lauren R; Boder, Eric T; Hammer, Daniel A

    2011-11-15

    Elucidation of the relationship between targeting molecule binding properties and the adhesive behavior of therapeutic or diagnostic nanocarriers would aid in the design of optimized vectors and lead to improved efficacy. We measured the adhesion of 200-nm-diameter particles under fluid flow that was mediated by a diverse array of molecular interactions, including recombinant single-chain antibodies (scFvs), full antibodies, and the avidin/biotin interaction. Within the panel of scFvs, we used a family of mutants that display a spectrum of binding kinetics, allowing us to compare nanoparticle adhesion to bond chemistry. In addition, we explored the effect of molecular size by inserting a protein linker into the scFv fusion construct and by employing scFvs that are specific for targets with vastly different sizes. Using computational models, we extracted multivalent kinetic rate constants for particle attachment and detachment from the adhesion data and correlated the results to molecular binding properties. Our results indicate that the factors that increase encounter probability, such as adhesion molecule valency and size, directly enhance the rate of nanoparticle attachment. Bond kinetics had no influence on scFv-mediated nanoparticle attachment within the kinetic range tested, however, but did appear to affect antibody/antigen and avidin/biotin mediated adhesion. We attribute this finding to a combination of multivalent binding and differences in bond mechanical strength between recombinant scFvs and the other adhesion molecules. Nanoparticle detachment probability correlated directly with adhesion molecule valency and size, as well as the logarithm of the affinity for all molecules tested. On the basis of this work, scFvs can serve as viable targeting receptors for nanoparticles, but improvements to their bond mechanical strength would likely be required to fully exploit their tunable kinetic properties and maximize the adhesion efficiency of nanoparticles that

  18. Development of single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies against surface proteins of ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’ is the causal agent of citrus huanglongbing, the most serious disease of citrus worldwide. We have developed and applied immunization and affinity screening methods to develop a primary library of recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies in an M13 vec...

  19. Single-Domain Antibodies and the Promise of Modular Targeting in Cancer Imaging and Treatment

    PubMed Central

    Iezzi, María Elena; Policastro, Lucía; Werbajh, Santiago; Podhajcer, Osvaldo; Canziani, Gabriela Alicia

    2018-01-01

    Monoclonal antibodies and their fragments have significantly changed the outcome of cancer in the clinic, effectively inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, triggering antibody-dependent immune effector cell activation and complement mediated cell death. Along with a continued expansion in number, diversity, and complexity of validated tumor targets there is an increasing focus on engineering recombinant antibody fragments for lead development. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), in particular those engineered from the variable heavy-chain fragment (VHH gene) found in Camelidae heavy-chain antibodies (or IgG2 and IgG3), are the smallest fragments that retain the full antigen-binding capacity of the antibody with advantageous properties as drugs. For similar reasons, growing attention is being paid to the yet smaller variable heavy chain new antigen receptor (VNAR) fragments found in Squalidae. sdAbs have been selected, mostly from immune VHH libraries, to inhibit or modulate enzyme activity, bind soluble factors, internalize cell membrane receptors, or block cytoplasmic targets. This succinct review is a compilation of recent data documenting the application of engineered, recombinant sdAb in the clinic as epitope recognition “modules” to build monomeric, dimeric and multimeric ligands that target, tag and stall solid tumor growth in vivo. Size, affinity, specificity, and the development profile of sdAbs drugs are seemingly consistent with desirable clinical efficacy and safety requirements. But the hepatotoxicity of the tetrameric anti-DR5-VHH drug in patients with pre-existing anti-drug antibodies halted the phase I clinical trial and called for a thorough pre-screening of the immune and poly-specific reactivities of the sdAb leads. PMID:29520274

  20. Single-Domain Antibodies and the Promise of Modular Targeting in Cancer Imaging and Treatment.

    PubMed

    Iezzi, María Elena; Policastro, Lucía; Werbajh, Santiago; Podhajcer, Osvaldo; Canziani, Gabriela Alicia

    2018-01-01

    Monoclonal antibodies and their fragments have significantly changed the outcome of cancer in the clinic, effectively inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, triggering antibody-dependent immune effector cell activation and complement mediated cell death. Along with a continued expansion in number, diversity, and complexity of validated tumor targets there is an increasing focus on engineering recombinant antibody fragments for lead development. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), in particular those engineered from the variable heavy-chain fragment (VHH gene) found in Camelidae heavy-chain antibodies (or IgG2 and IgG3), are the smallest fragments that retain the full antigen-binding capacity of the antibody with advantageous properties as drugs. For similar reasons, growing attention is being paid to the yet smaller variable heavy chain new antigen receptor (VNAR) fragments found in Squalidae. sdAbs have been selected, mostly from immune VHH libraries, to inhibit or modulate enzyme activity, bind soluble factors, internalize cell membrane receptors, or block cytoplasmic targets. This succinct review is a compilation of recent data documenting the application of engineered, recombinant sdAb in the clinic as epitope recognition "modules" to build monomeric, dimeric and multimeric ligands that target, tag and stall solid tumor growth in vivo . Size, affinity, specificity, and the development profile of sdAbs drugs are seemingly consistent with desirable clinical efficacy and safety requirements. But the hepatotoxicity of the tetrameric anti-DR5-VHH drug in patients with pre-existing anti-drug antibodies halted the phase I clinical trial and called for a thorough pre-screening of the immune and poly-specific reactivities of the sdAb leads.

  1. Viral receptor-binding site antibodies with diverse germline origins.

    PubMed

    Schmidt, Aaron G; Therkelsen, Matthew D; Stewart, Shaun; Kepler, Thomas B; Liao, Hua-Xin; Moody, M Anthony; Haynes, Barton F; Harrison, Stephen C

    2015-05-21

    Vaccines for rapidly evolving pathogens will confer lasting immunity if they elicit antibodies recognizing conserved epitopes, such as a receptor-binding site (RBS). From characteristics of an influenza-virus RBS-directed antibody, we devised a signature motif to search for similar antibodies. We identified, from three vaccinees, over 100 candidates encoded by 11 different VH genes. Crystal structures show that antibodies in this class engage the hemagglutinin RBS and mimic binding of the receptor, sialic acid, by supplying a critical dipeptide on their projecting, heavy-chain third complementarity determining region. They share contacts with conserved, receptor-binding residues but contact different residues on the RBS periphery, limiting the likelihood of viral escape when several such antibodies are present. These data show that related modes of RBS recognition can arise from different germline origins and mature through diverse affinity maturation pathways. Immunogens focused on an RBS-directed response will thus have a broad range of B cell targets. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Development of a Novel Human Single Chain Antibody Against EGFRVIII Antigen by Phage Display Technology.

    PubMed

    Rahbarnia, Leila; Farajnia, Safar; Babaei, Hossein; Majidi, Jafar; Akbari, Bahman; Ahdi Khosroshahi, Shiva

    2016-12-01

    Purpose: EGFRvIII as the most common mutant variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor is resulting from deletion of exons 2-7 in the coding sequence and junction of exons 1 and 8 through a novel glycine residue. EGFRvIII is highly expressed in glioblastoma, carcinoma of the breast, ovary, and lung but not in normal cells. The aim of the present study was identification of a novel single chain antibody against EGFRvIII as a promising target for cancer therapy. Methods: In this study, a synthetic peptide corresponding to EGFRvIII protein was used for screening a naive human scFv phage library. A novel five-round selection strategy was used for enrichment of rare specific clones. Results: After five rounds of screening, six positive scFv clones against EGFRvIII were selected using monoclonal phage ELISA, among them, only three clones had expected size in PCR reaction. The specific interaction of two of the scFv clones with EGFRvIII was confirmed by indirect ELISA. One phage clone with higher affinity in scFv ELISA was purified for further analysis. The purity of the produced scFv antibody was confirmed using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses. Conclusion: In the present study, a human anti- EGFRvIII scFv with high affinity was first identified from a scFv phage library. This study can be the groundwork for developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic agents against EGFRvIII expressing cancers.

  3. A chimeric receptor of the insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 (IGFR1) and a single chain antibody specific to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein activates the IGF1R signalling cascade in CG4 oligodendrocyte progenitors.

    PubMed

    Annenkov, Alexander; Rigby, Anne; Amor, Sandra; Zhou, Dun; Yousaf, Nasim; Hemmer, Bernhard; Chernajovsky, Yuti

    2011-08-01

    In order to generate neural stem cells with increased ability to survive after transplantation in brain parenchyma we developed a chimeric receptor (ChR) that binds to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) via its ectodomain and activates the insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 ‎‎(IGF1R) signalling cascade. Activation of this pro-survival pathway in response to ligand broadly available in the brain might increase neuroregenerative potential of transplanted precursors. The ChR was produced by fusing a MOG-specific singlechain antibody with the extracellular boundary of the IGF1R transmembrane segment. The ChR is expressed on the cellular surface, predominantly as a monomer, and is not N-glycosylated. To show MOG-dependent functionality of the ChR, neuroblastoma cells B104 expressing this ChR were stimulated with monolayers of cells expressing recombinant MOG. The ChR undergoes MOG-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation and homodimerisation. It promotes insulin and IGF-independent growth of the oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line CG4. The proposed mode of the ChR activation is by MOG-induced dimerisation which promotes kinase domain transphosphorylation, by-passing the requirement of conformation changes known to be important for IGF1R activation. Another ChR, which contains a segment of the β-chain ectodomain, was produced in an attempt to recapitulate some of these conformational changes, but proved non-functional. 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Cell-free immunology: construction and in vitro expression of a PCR-based library encoding a single-chain antibody repertoire.

    PubMed

    Makeyev, E V; Kolb, V A; Spirin, A S

    1999-02-12

    A novel cloning-independent strategy has been developed to generate a combinatorial library of PCR fragments encoding a murine single-chain antibody repertoire and express it directly in a cell-free system. The new approach provides an effective alternative to the techniques involving in vivo procedures of preparation and handling large libraries of antibodies. The possible use of the described strategy in the ribosome display is discussed.

  5. Genetically engineered multivalent single chain antibody constructs for cancer therapy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Surinder Batra, Ph D

    2006-02-27

    increase its tumor: normal tissue ratio for improved therapeutic index, we engineered a variety antibody constructs. These constructs were evaluated using novel approaches like special radionuclides, pretargeting and optimization. Due to the smaller size, the engineered antibody molecules should penetrate better throughout a tumor mass, with less dose heterogeneity, than is the case with intact IgG. Multivalent scFvs with an appropriate radionuclide, therefore, hold promising prospects for cancer therapy and clinical imaging in MAb-based radiopharmaceuticals. In addition, the human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) responses in patients against antibody-based therapy are usually directed against the immunoglobulin constant regions; however, anti-idiotypic responses can also be detected. The HAMA responses reduce the efficacy of treatment by removing the circulating antibody molecules, fragments, and possibly scFvs by altering the pharmacokinetic properties of the antibody. HAMA responses against divalent IgG, divalent Ig fragments, and possibly multimeric scFvs could cause immune complex formation with hypersensitivity or allergic reactions that could be harmful to patients. The use of small molecules, such as scFvs (monomeric as well as multimeric), with their shorter biological half-lives and the lack of the constant regions and humanized variable (binding regions) performed in our studies should reduce the development of HAMA. The generation of humanized and fully human scFvs should further reduce the development of HAMA. Specific accomplishments on the project are the production of large amounts of recombinant antibodies as they are required in large amounts for cancer diagnosis and therapy. A variety of single-chain Fv (scFv) constructs were engineered for the desired pharmacokinetic properties. Tetrameric and dimeric scFvs showed a two-fold advantage: (1) there was a considerable gain in avidity as compared to smaller fragments, and (2) the biological half-life was more

  6. Optocontrol of glutamate receptor activity by single side-chain photoisomerization

    PubMed Central

    Klippenstein, Viktoria; Hoppmann, Christian; Ye, Shixin; Wang, Lei; Paoletti, Pierre

    2017-01-01

    Engineering light-sensitivity into proteins has wide ranging applications in molecular studies and neuroscience. Commonly used tethered photoswitchable ligands, however, require solvent-accessible protein labeling, face structural constrains, and are bulky. Here, we designed a set of optocontrollable NMDA receptors by directly incorporating single photoswitchable amino acids (PSAAs) providing genetic encodability, reversibility, and site tolerance. We identified several positions within the multi-domain receptor endowing robust photomodulation. PSAA photoisomerization at the GluN1 clamshell hinge is sufficient to control glycine sensitivity and activation efficacy. Strikingly, in the pore domain, flipping of a M3 residue within a conserved transmembrane cavity impacts both gating and permeation properties. Our study demonstrates the first detection of molecular rearrangements in real-time due to the reversible light-switching of single amino acid side-chains, adding a dynamic dimension to protein site-directed mutagenesis. This novel approach to interrogate neuronal protein function has general applicability in the fast expanding field of optopharmacology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25808.001 PMID:28534738

  7. Structural Mimicry of Receptor Interaction by Antagonistic Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Antibodies*

    PubMed Central

    Blanchetot, Christophe; De Jonge, Natalie; Desmyter, Aline; Ongenae, Nico; Hofman, Erik; Klarenbeek, Alex; Sadi, Ava; Hultberg, Anna; Kretz-Rommel, Anke; Spinelli, Silvia; Loris, Remy; Cambillau, Christian; de Haard, Hans

    2016-01-01

    Interleukin 6 plays a key role in mediating inflammatory reactions in autoimmune diseases and cancer, where it is also involved in metastasis and tissue invasion. Neutralizing antibodies against IL-6 and its receptor have been approved for therapeutic intervention or are in advanced stages of clinical development. Here we describe the crystal structures of the complexes of IL-6 with two Fabs derived from conventional camelid antibodies that antagonize the interaction between the cytokine and its receptor. The x-ray structures of these complexes provide insights into the mechanism of neutralization by the two antibodies and explain the very high potency of one of the antibodies. It effectively competes for binding to the cytokine with IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) by using side chains of two CDR residues filling the site I cavities of IL-6, thus mimicking the interactions of Phe229 and Phe279 of IL-6R. In the first antibody, a HCDR3 tryptophan binds similarly to hot spot residue Phe279. Mutation of this HCDR3 Trp residue into any other residue except Tyr or Phe significantly weakens binding of the antibody to IL-6, as was also observed for IL-6R mutants of Phe279. In the second antibody, the side chain of HCDR3 valine ties into site I like IL-6R Phe279, whereas a LCDR1 tyrosine side chain occupies a second cavity within site I and mimics the interactions of IL-6R Phe229. PMID:27129274

  8. Structural Mimicry of Receptor Interaction by Antagonistic Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Blanchetot, Christophe; De Jonge, Natalie; Desmyter, Aline; Ongenae, Nico; Hofman, Erik; Klarenbeek, Alex; Sadi, Ava; Hultberg, Anna; Kretz-Rommel, Anke; Spinelli, Silvia; Loris, Remy; Cambillau, Christian; de Haard, Hans

    2016-06-24

    Interleukin 6 plays a key role in mediating inflammatory reactions in autoimmune diseases and cancer, where it is also involved in metastasis and tissue invasion. Neutralizing antibodies against IL-6 and its receptor have been approved for therapeutic intervention or are in advanced stages of clinical development. Here we describe the crystal structures of the complexes of IL-6 with two Fabs derived from conventional camelid antibodies that antagonize the interaction between the cytokine and its receptor. The x-ray structures of these complexes provide insights into the mechanism of neutralization by the two antibodies and explain the very high potency of one of the antibodies. It effectively competes for binding to the cytokine with IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) by using side chains of two CDR residues filling the site I cavities of IL-6, thus mimicking the interactions of Phe(229) and Phe(279) of IL-6R. In the first antibody, a HCDR3 tryptophan binds similarly to hot spot residue Phe(279) Mutation of this HCDR3 Trp residue into any other residue except Tyr or Phe significantly weakens binding of the antibody to IL-6, as was also observed for IL-6R mutants of Phe(279) In the second antibody, the side chain of HCDR3 valine ties into site I like IL-6R Phe(279), whereas a LCDR1 tyrosine side chain occupies a second cavity within site I and mimics the interactions of IL-6R Phe(229). © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  9. Screening for single-chain variable fragment antibodies against multiple Cry1 toxins from an immunized mouse phage display antibody library.

    PubMed

    Dong, Sa; Bo, Zongyi; Zhang, Cunzheng; Feng, Jianguo; Liu, Xianjin

    2018-04-01

    Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is a kind of antibody that possess only one chain of the complete antibody while maintaining the antigen-specific binding abilities and can be expressed in prokaryotic system. In this study, scFvs against Cry1 toxins were screened out from an immunized mouse phage displayed antibody library, which was successfully constructed with capacity of 6.25 × 10 7  CFU/mL. Using the mixed and alternative antigen coating strategy and after four rounds of affinity screening, seven positive phage-scFvs against Cry1 toxins were selected and characterized. Among them, clone scFv-3H9 (MG214869) showing relative stable and high binding abilities to six Cry1 toxins was selected for expression and purification. SDS-PAGE indicated that the scFv-3H9 fragments approximately 27 kDa were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli HB2151 strain. The purified scFv-3H9 was used to establish the double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (DAS-ELISA) for detecting six Cry1 toxins, of which the lowest detectable limits (LOD) and the lowest quantitative limits (LOQ) were 3.14-11.07 and 8.22-39.44 ng mL -1 , respectively, with the correlation coefficient higher than 0.997. The average recoveries of Cry1 toxins from spiked rice leaf samples were ranged from 84 to 95%, with coefficient of variation (CV) less than 8.2%, showing good accuracy for the multi-residue determination of six Cry1 toxins in agricultural samples. This research suggested that the constructed phage display antibody library based on the animal which was immunized with the mixture of several antigens under the same category can be used for the quick and effective screening of generic antibodies.

  10. Single-domain antibodies that compete with the natural ligand fibroblast growth factor block the internalization of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Veggiani, Gianluca; Ossolengo, Giuseppe; Aliprandi, Marisa

    2011-05-20

    Highlights: {yields} Recombinant antibodies for FGFR1 were isolated from a llama naive library in VHH format. {yields} These antibodies compete with the natural ligand FGF-2 for the same epitope on FGFR1. {yields} The antibody competition inhibits the FGF-2-dependent internalization of FGFR1. -- Abstract: Single-domain antibodies in VHH format specific for fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) were isolated from a phage-display llama naive library. In particular, phage elution in the presence of the natural receptor ligand fibroblast growth factor (FGF) allowed for the identification of recombinant antibodies that compete with FGF for the same region on the receptor surface. Thesemore » antibodies posses a relatively low affinity for FGFR1 and were never identified when unspecific elution conditions favoring highly affine binders were applied to panning procedures. Two populations of competitive antibodies were identified that labeled specifically the receptor-expressing cells in immunofluorescence and recognize distinct epitopes. Antibodies from both populations effectively prevented FGF-dependent internalization and nuclear accumulation of the receptor in cultured cells. This achievement indicates that these antibodies have a capacity to modulate the receptor physiology and, therefore, constitute powerful reagents for basic research and a potential lead for therapeutic applications.« less

  11. Chemotactic Signaling by Single-Chain Chemoreceptors

    PubMed Central

    Mowery, Patricia; Ames, Peter; Reiser, Rebecca H.; Parkinson, John S.

    2015-01-01

    Bacterial chemoreceptors of the methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP) family operate in commingled clusters that enable cells to detect and track environmental chemical gradients with high sensitivity and precision. MCP homodimers of different detection specificities form mixed trimers of dimers that facilitate inter-receptor communication in core signaling complexes, which in turn assemble into a large signaling network. The two subunits of each homodimeric receptor molecule occupy different locations in the core complexes. One subunit participates in trimer-stabilizing interactions at the trimer axis, the other lies on the periphery of the trimer, where it can interact with two cytoplasmic proteins: CheA, a signaling autokinase, and CheW, which couples CheA activity to receptor control. As a possible tool for independently manipulating receptor subunits in these two structural environments, we constructed and characterized fused genes for the E. coli serine chemoreceptor Tsr that encoded single-chain receptor molecules in which the C-terminus of the first Tsr subunit was covalently connected to the N-terminus of the second with a polypeptide linker. We showed with soft agar assays and with a FRET-based in vivo CheA kinase assay that single-chain Tsr~Tsr molecules could promote serine sensing and chemotaxis responses. The length of the connection between the joined subunits was critical. Linkers nine residues or shorter locked the receptor in a kinase-on state, most likely by distorting the native structure of the receptor HAMP domain. Linkers 22 or more residues in length permitted near-normal Tsr function. Few single-chain molecules were found as monomer-sized proteolytic fragments in cells, indicating that covalently joined receptor subunits were responsible for mediating the signaling responses we observed. However, cysteine-directed crosslinking, spoiling by dominant-negative Tsr subunits, and rearrangement of ligand-binding site lesions revealed subunit

  12. [Advances in the study of natural small molecular antibody].

    PubMed

    Zhu, Lei; Zhang, Da-peng

    2012-10-01

    Small molecule antibodies are naturally existed and well functioned but not structurally related to the conventional antibodies. They are only composed of heavy protein chains or light chains, much smaller than common antibody. The first small molecule antibody, called Nanobody was engineered from heavy-chain antibodies found in camelids. Cartilaginous fishes also have heavy-chain antibodies (IgNAR, "immunoglobulin new antigen receptor"), from which single-domain antibodies called Vnar fragments can be obtained. In addition, free light chain (FLC) antibodies in human bodies are being developed as therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Comparing to intact antibodies, common advantages of small molecule antibodies are with better solubility, tissue penetration, stability towards heat and enzymes, and comparatively low production costs. This article reviews the structural characteristics and mechanism of action of the Nanobody, IgNAR and FLC.

  13. Hydrogel Tethering Enhances Interdomain Stabilization of Single-Chain Antibodies

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Xiong, Yijia; Ford, Nicole R.; Hecht, Karen A.

    Self-assembly of recombinant proteins within the biosilica of living diatoms represents a means to construct functional materials in a reproducible and scalable manner that enable applications that harness the inherent specificities of proteins to sense and respond to environmental cues. Here we describe the use of a silaffin-derived lysine-rich 39 amino-acid targeting sequence (Sil3T8) to direct a single chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody or an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to assemble within the biosilica frustule, resulting in abundances in excess of 200,000 proteins per frustule. The fluorescence of either a derivative of trinitrotoluene (TNT) bound to the scFv ormore » the endogenous fluorescence of EGFP was used to monitor pro-tein conformational dynamics, accessibility to external quenchers, binding affinity, and conformational stability. We find that proteins within isolated frustules undergo isotropic rotational motions with two-fold increases in rotational correlation times, which are indicative of weak macromolecular associations within the biosilica. Solvent accessibilities and high-affinity (pM) binding are comparable to those in solution. In contrast to solution conditions, scFv antibod-ies within the biosilica matrix retain their binding affinity in the presence of chaotropic agents (i.e., 8 M urea). These results argue that dramatic increases in protein conforma-tional stability within the biosilica frustule matrices arise through molecular crowding, acting to retain native protein folds and associated functionality to allow the utility of engineered proteins under a range of harsh environmental conditions associated with environmental sensing and industrial catalytic transformations.« less

  14. An efficient route to bispecific antibody production using single-reactor mammalian co-culture

    PubMed Central

    Shatz, Whitney; Ng, Domingos; Dutina, George; Wong, Athena W.; Sonoda, Junichiro; Scheer, Justin M.

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT Bispecific antibodies have shown promise in the clinic as medicines with novel mechanisms of action. Lack of efficient production of bispecific IgGs, however, has limited their rapid advancement. Here, we describe a single-reactor process using mammalian cell co-culture production to efficiently produce a bispecific IgG with 4 distinct polypeptide chains without the need for parallel processing of each half-antibody or additional framework mutations. This method resembles a conventional process, and the quality and yield of the monoclonal antibodies are equal to those produced using parallel processing methods. We demonstrate the application of the approach to diverse bispecific antibodies, and its suitability for production of a tissue specific molecule targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and klotho β that is being developed for type 2 diabetes and other obesity-linked disorders. PMID:27680183

  15. Development of sugar chain-binding single-chain variable fragment antibody to adult T-cell leukemia cells using glyco-nanotechnology and phage display method.

    PubMed

    Muchima, Kaname; Todaka, Taro; Shinchi, Hiroyuki; Sato, Ayaka; Tazoe, Arisa; Aramaki, Rikiya; Kakitsubata, Yuhei; Yokoyama, Risa; Arima, Naomichi; Baba, Masanori; Wakao, Masahiro; Ito, Yuji; Suda, Yasuo

    2018-04-01

    Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is an intractable blood cancer caused by the infection of human T-cell leukemia virus type-1, and effective medical treatment is required. It is known that the structure and expression levels of cell surface sugar chains vary depending on cell states such as inflammation and cancer. Thus, it is expected that the antibody specific for ATL cell surface sugar chain would be an effective diagnostic tool and a strong candidate for the development of an anti-ATL drug. Here, we developed a stable sugar chain-binding single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFv) that can bind to ATL cells using a fibre-type Sugar Chip and phage display method. The fiber-type Sugar Chips were prepared using O-glycans released from ATL cell lines. The scFv-displaying phages derived from human B cells (diversity: 1.04 × 108) were then screened using the fiber-type Sugar Chips, and an O-glycan-binding scFv was obtained. The flow cytometry analysis revealed that the scFv predominantly bound to ATL cell lines. The sugar chain-binding properties of the scFv was evaluated by array-type Sugar Chip immobilized with a library of synthetic glycosaminoglycan disaccharide structures. Highly sulphated disaccharide structures were found to have high affinity to scFv.

  16. An affinity improved single-chain antibody from phage display of a library derived from monoclonal antibodies detects fumonisins by immunoassay.

    PubMed

    Hu, Zu-Quan; Li, He-Ping; Wu, Ping; Li, Ya-Bo; Zhou, Zhu-Qing; Zhang, Jing-Bo; Liu, Jin-Long; Liao, Yu-Cai

    2015-03-31

    Fumonisin B analogs, particularly FB1, FB2, and FB3, are major mycotoxins found in cereals. Single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies represent a promising alternative immunoassay system. A phage-displayed antibody library derived from four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated against FB1 was used to screen high binding affinity scFv antibodies; the best candidate was designated H2. Surface plasmon resonance measurements confirmed that the H2 scFv displayed a 82-fold higher binding affinity than its parent mAb. Direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that the H2 antibody could competitively bind to free FB1, FB2, and FB3, with an IC50 of 0.11, 0.04, and 0.10 μM, respectively; it had no cross-reactivity to deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and aflatoxin. Validation assays with naturally contaminated samples revealed a linear relationship between the H2 antibody-based assay results and chemical analysis results, that could be expressed as y=1.7072x+5.5606 (R(2)=0.8883). Homology modeling of H2 revealed a favorable binding structure highly complementary to the three fumonisins. Molecular docking analyses suggested that the preferential binding of the H2 scFv to FB2 was due to the presence of a hydrogen radical in its R1 position, leading to a proper electrostatic matching and hydrophobic interaction. The H2 scFv antibody can be used for the rapid, accurate, and specific detection of fumonisin contamination in agricultural samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Anti-streptococcal, tubulin, and dopamine receptor 2 antibodies in children with PANDAS and Tourette syndrome: single-point and longitudinal assessments.

    PubMed

    Morris-Berry, C M; Pollard, M; Gao, S; Thompson, C; Singer, H S

    2013-11-15

    Single-point-in-time ELISA optical densities for three putative antibodies identified in Sydenham's chorea, the streptococcal group A carbohydrate antigen, N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosamine, tubulin, and the dopamine 2 receptor, showed no differences in children with PANDAS (n=44) or Tourette syndrome (n=40) as compared to controls (n=24). Anti-tubulin and D2 receptor antibodies assessed in serial samples from 12 PANDAS subjects obtained prior to a documented exacerbation, during the exacerbation (with or without a temporally associated streptococcal infection), and following the exacerbation, showed no evidence of antibody levels correlating with a clinical exacerbation. These data do not support hypotheses suggesting an autoimmune hypothesis in either TS or PANDAS. © 2013.

  18. Single-chain antibody-delivered Livin siRNA inhibits human malignant melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo.

    PubMed

    Wang, Hao; Yang, Yifei; Wang, Wei; Guan, Bing; Xun, Meng; Zhang, Hai; Wang, Ziling; Zhao, Yong

    2017-05-01

    Although gene therapy has brought new insights into the treatment of malignant melanoma, targeting delivery of nucleic acid which targets critical oncogene/anti-oncogene in vivo is still a bottleneck in the therapeutic application. Our previous in vitro studies have found that the oncogene Livin could serve as a potential molecular target by small interfering RNA for gene therapy of malignant melanoma. However, how to transport Livin small interfering RNA into malignant melanoma cells specifically and efficiently in vivo needs further investigation. Cumulative evidence has suggested that single-chain antibody-mediated small interfering RNA targeted delivery is an effective way to silence specific genes in human cancer cells. Indeed, this study designed a protamine-single-chain antibody fusion protein, anti-MM scFv-tP, to deliver Livin small interfering RNA into LiBr cells. Further experiments confirmed the induction of cell apoptosis and suppression of cell proliferation by anti-MM scFv-tP in LiBr cells, along with efficient silence of Livin gene both in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, our findings provide a feasible approach to transport Livin small interfering RNA to malignant melanoma cells which would be a new therapeutic strategy for combating malignant melanoma.

  19. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal and single-chain variable fragment antibodies selective to coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls.

    PubMed

    Inui, Hideyuki; Takeuchi, Tetsuya; Uesugi, Akari; Doi, Fumito; Takai, Mikio; Nishi, Kosuke; Miyake, Shiro; Ohkawa, Hideo

    2012-02-22

    Coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) consisting of non-ortho and mono-ortho-chlorinated PCBs are dioxin-like compounds and cause wide contamination in the environment. To monitor Co-PCB residues, it was attempted to establish an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal and recombinant antibodies selective to Co-PCBs. When 3,3',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenoxybutyric acid (PCBH)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate was immunized into mice, two monoclonal antibodies, Mab-0217 and Mab-4444, were obtained. 3,3',5,5'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB80) was determined with an IC(50) value of 2.6 and 0.46 ng mL(-1) in ELISA based on Mab-0217 and Mab-4444, respectively. Mab-4444 cross-reacted with Co-PCB congeners, except for PCB77 and PCB81. Mab-0217 reacted with PCB80 and cross-reacted with PCB111. A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody derived from Mab-4444 was produced in recombinant Escherichia coli cells. The scFv antibody showed nearly the same sensitivity toward PCBH as the parent monoclonal antibody in ELISA. These results clearly suggested that Mab-4444 and its scFv antibodies were suitable for monitoring the representative congeners of Co-PCBs.

  20. Principles of antibody-mediated TNF receptor activation

    PubMed Central

    Wajant, H

    2015-01-01

    From the beginning of research on receptors of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily (TNFRSF), agonistic antibodies have been used to stimulate TNFRSF receptors in vitro and in vivo. Indeed, CD95, one of the first cloned TNFRSF receptors, was solely identified as the target of cell death-inducing antibodies. Early on, it became evident from in vitro studies that valency and Fcγ receptor (FcγR) binding of antibodies targeting TNFRSF receptors can be of crucial relevance for agonistic activity. TNFRSF receptor-specific antibodies of the IgM subclass and secondary cross-linked or aggregation prone dimeric antibodies typically display superior agonistic activity compared with dimeric antibodies. Likewise, anchoring of antibodies to cell surface-expressed FcγRs potentiate their ability to trigger TNFRSF receptor signaling. However, only recently has the relevance of oligomerization and FcγR binding for the in vivo activity of antibody-induced TNFRSF receptor activation been straightforwardly demonstrated in vivo. This review discusses the crucial role of oligomerization and/or FcγR binding for antibody-mediated TNFRSF receptor stimulation in light of current models of TNFRSF receptor activation and especially the overwhelming relevance of these issues for the rational development of therapeutic TNFRSF receptor-targeting antibodies. PMID:26292758

  1. Diagnostic nanoparticle targeting of the EGF-receptor in complex biological conditions using single-domain antibodies.

    PubMed

    Zarschler, K; Prapainop, K; Mahon, E; Rocks, L; Bramini, M; Kelly, P M; Stephan, H; Dawson, K A

    2014-06-07

    For effective localization of functionalized nanoparticles at diseased tissues such as solid tumours or metastases through biorecognition, appropriate targeting vectors directed against selected tumour biomarkers are a key prerequisite. The diversity of such vector molecules ranges from proteins, including antibodies and fragments thereof, through aptamers and glycans to short peptides and small molecules. Here, we analyse the specific nanoparticle targeting capabilities of two previously suggested peptides (D4 and GE11) and a small camelid single-domain antibody (sdAb), representing potential recognition agents for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We investigate specificity by way of receptor RNA silencing techniques and look at increasing complexity in vitro by introducing increasing concentrations of human or bovine serum. Peptides D4 and GE11 proved problematic to employ and conjugation resulted in non-receptor specific uptake into cells. Our results show that sdAb-functionalized particles can effectively target the EGFR, even in more complex bovine and human serum conditions where targeting specificity is largely conserved for increasing serum concentration. In human serum however, an inhibition of overall nanoparticle uptake is observed with increasing protein concentration. For highly affine targeting ligands such as sdAbs, targeting a receptor such as EGFR with low serum competitor abundance, receptor recognition function can still be partially realised in complex conditions. Here, we stress the value of evaluating the targeting efficiency of nanoparticle constructs in realistic biological milieu, prior to more extensive in vivo studies.

  2. Crystal structure of a shark single-domain antibody V region in complex with lysozyme.

    PubMed

    Stanfield, Robyn L; Dooley, Helen; Flajnik, Martin F; Wilson, Ian A

    2004-09-17

    Cartilaginous fish are the phylogenetically oldest living organisms known to possess components of the vertebrate adaptive immune system. Key to their immune response are heavy-chain, homodimeric immunoglobulins called new antigen receptors (IgNARs), in which the variable (V) domains recognize antigens with only a single immunoglobulin domain, akin to camelid heavy-chain V domains. The 1.45 angstrom resolution crystal structure of the type I IgNAR V domain in complex with hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) reveals a minimal antigen-binding domain that contains only two of the three conventional complementarity-determining regions but still binds HEL with nanomolar affinity by means of a binding interface comparable in size to conventional antibodies.

  3. i-bodies, Human Single Domain Antibodies That Antagonize Chemokine Receptor CXCR4*

    PubMed Central

    Dolezal, Olan; Cao, Benjamin; See, Heng B.; Pfleger, Kevin D. G.; Gorry, Paul R.; Pow, Andrew; Viduka, Katerina; Lim, Kevin; Lu, Bernadine G. C.; Chang, Denison H. C.; Murray-Rust, Thomas; Dogovski, Con; Doerflinger, Marcel; Zhang, Yuan; Parisi, Kathy; Casey, Joanne L.; Nuttall, Stewart D.; Foley, Michael

    2016-01-01

    CXCR4 is a G protein-coupled receptor with excellent potential as a therapeutic target for a range of clinical conditions, including stem cell mobilization, cancer prognosis and treatment, fibrosis therapy, and HIV infection. We report here the development of a fully human single-domain antibody-like scaffold termed an “i-body,” the engineering of which produces an i-body library possessing a long complementarity determining region binding loop, and the isolation and characterization of a panel of i-bodies with activity against human CXCR4. The CXCR4-specific i-bodies show antagonistic activity in a range of in vitro and in vivo assays, including inhibition of HIV infection, cell migration, and leukocyte recruitment but, importantly, not the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells. Epitope mapping of the three CXCR4 i-bodies AM3-114, AM4-272, and AM3-523 revealed binding deep in the binding pocket of the receptor. PMID:27036939

  4. A Mouse Model for Conditional Secretion of Specific Single-Chain Antibodies Provides Genetic Evidence for Regulation of Cortical Plasticity by a Non-cell Autonomous Homeoprotein Transcription Factor.

    PubMed

    Bernard, Clémence; Vincent, Clémentine; Testa, Damien; Bertini, Eva; Ribot, Jérôme; Di Nardo, Ariel A; Volovitch, Michel; Prochiantz, Alain

    2016-05-01

    During postnatal life the cerebral cortex passes through critical periods of plasticity allowing its physiological adaptation to the environment. In the visual cortex, critical period onset and closure are influenced by the non-cell autonomous activity of the Otx2 homeoprotein transcription factor, which regulates the maturation of parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons (PV cells). In adult mice, the maintenance of a non-plastic adult state requires continuous Otx2 import by PV cells. An important source of extra-cortical Otx2 is the choroid plexus, which secretes Otx2 into the cerebrospinal fluid. Otx2 secretion and internalization requires two small peptidic domains that are part of the DNA-binding domain. Thus, mutating these "transfer" sequences also modifies cell autonomous transcription, precluding this approach to obtain a cell autonomous-only mouse. Here, we develop a mouse model with inducible secretion of an anti-Otx2 single-chain antibody to trap Otx2 in the extracellular milieu. Postnatal secretion of this single-chain antibody by PV cells delays PV maturation and reduces plasticity gene expression. Induced adult expression of this single-chain antibody in cerebrospinal fluid decreases Otx2 internalization by PV cells, strongly induces plasticity gene expression and reopens physiological plasticity. We provide the first mammalian genetic evidence for a signaling mechanism involving intercellular transfer of a homeoprotein transcription factor. Our single-chain antibody mouse model is a valid strategy for extracellular neutralization that could be applied to other homeoproteins and signaling molecules within and beyond the nervous system.

  5. Analysis of the relationship between end-to-end distance and activity of single-chain antibody against colorectal carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Jianhua; Liu, Shanhong; Shang, Zhigang; Shi, Li; Yun, Jun

    2012-08-22

    We investigated the relationship of End-to-end distance between VH and VL with different peptide linkers and the activity of single-chain antibodies by computer-aided simulation. First, we developed (G4S)n (where n = 1-9) as the linker to connect VH and VL, and estimated the 3D structure of single-chain Fv antibody (scFv) by homologous modeling. After molecular models were evaluated and optimized, the coordinate system of every protein was built and unified into one coordinate system, and End-to-end distances calculated using 3D space coordinates. After expression and purification of scFv-n with (G4S)n as n = 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9, the immunoreactivity of purified ND-1 scFv-n was determined by ELISA. A multi-factorial relationship model was employed to analyze the structural factors affecting scFv: rn=ABn-ABO2+CDn-CDO2+BCn-BCst2. The relationship between immunoreactivity and r-values revealed that fusion protein structure approached the desired state when the r-value = 3. The immunoreactivity declined as the r-value increased, but when the r-value exceeded a certain threshold, it stabilized. We used a linear relationship to analyze structural factors affecting scFv immunoreactivity.

  6. Antibody side chain conformations are position-dependent.

    PubMed

    Leem, Jinwoo; Georges, Guy; Shi, Jiye; Deane, Charlotte M

    2018-04-01

    Side chain prediction is an integral component of computational antibody design and structure prediction. Current antibody modelling tools use backbone-dependent rotamer libraries with conformations taken from general proteins. Here we present our antibody-specific rotamer library, where rotamers are binned according to their immunogenetics (IMGT) position, rather than their local backbone geometry. We find that for some amino acid types at certain positions, only a restricted number of side chain conformations are ever observed. Using this information, we are able to reduce the breadth of the rotamer sampling space. Based on our rotamer library, we built a side chain predictor, position-dependent antibody rotamer swapper (PEARS). On a blind test set of 95 antibody model structures, PEARS had the highest average χ 1 and χ1+2 accuracy (78.7% and 64.8%) compared to three leading backbone-dependent side chain predictors. Our use of IMGT position, rather than backbone ϕ/ψ, meant that PEARS was more robust to errors in the backbone of the model structure. PEARS also achieved the lowest number of side chain-side chain clashes. PEARS is freely available as a web application at http://opig.stats.ox.ac.uk/webapps/pears. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. Fusion Peptide Improves Stability and Bioactivity of Single Chain Antibody against Rabies Virus.

    PubMed

    Xi, Hualong; Zhang, Kaixin; Yin, Yanchun; Gu, Tiejun; Sun, Qing; Shi, Linqing; Zhang, Renxia; Jiang, Chunlai; Kong, Wei; Wu, Yongge

    2017-04-28

    The combination of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) with a vaccine is currently effective against rabies infections, but improvements are needed. Genetic engineering antibody technology is an attractive approach for developing novel antibodies to replace RIG. In our previous study, a single-chain variable fragment, scFv57R, against rabies virus glycoprotein was constructed. However, its inherent weak stability and short half-life compared with the parent RIG may limit its diagnostic and therapeutic application. Therefore, an acidic tail of synuclein (ATS) derived from the C-terminal acidic tail of human alpha-synuclein protein was fused to the C-terminus of scFv57R in order to help it resist adverse stress and improve the stability and halflife. The tail showed no apparent effect on the preparation procedure and affinity of the protein, nor did it change the neutralizing potency in vitro. In the ELISA test of molecular stability, the ATS fusion form of the protein, scFv57R-ATS, showed an increase in thermal stability and longer half-life in serum than scFv57R. The protection against fatal rabies virus challenge improved after fusing the tail to the scFv, which may be attributed to the improved stability. Thus, the ATS fusion approach presented here is easily implemented and can be used as a new strategy to improve the stability and half-life of engineered antibody proteins for practical applications.

  8. Highly efficient recovery of functional single-chain Fv fragments from inclusion bodies overexpressed in Escherichia coli by controlled introduction of oxidizing reagent--application to a human single-chain Fv fragment.

    PubMed

    Tsumoto, K; Shinoki, K; Kondo, H; Uchikawa, M; Juji, T; Kumagai, I

    1998-10-01

    An improved and efficient refolding system for a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) from inclusion bodies expressed in Escherichia coli was developed. Stepwise removal of denaturing reagent and controlled addition of oxidizing reagent were found to be the most effective conditions to achieve for almost complete recovery of functional monomeric scFv from inclusion bodies. Adding L-arginine to the refolding solution also increased the yield of refolded functional scFv. The single-chain Fv fragments of both a mouse anti-lysozyme monoclonal antibody, HyHEL10, and a human monoclonal antibody against the D antigen of the Rh blood group, D10, in solubilized inclusion bodies could be refolded under these conditions with yields of up to 95%. The refolding procedures developed in this study will contribute to providing a stable supply of large amounts of human single-chain Fv fragments.

  9. Chimeric Anti-Human Podoplanin Antibody NZ-12 of Lambda Light Chain Exerts Higher Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity and Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity Compared with NZ-8 of Kappa Light Chain.

    PubMed

    Kaneko, Mika K; Abe, Shinji; Ogasawara, Satoshi; Fujii, Yuki; Yamada, Shinji; Murata, Takeshi; Uchida, Hiroaki; Tahara, Hideaki; Nishioka, Yasuhiko; Kato, Yukinari

    2017-02-01

    Podoplanin (PDPN), a type I transmembrane 36-kDa glycoprotein, is expressed not only in normal cells, such as renal epithelial cells (podocytes), lymphatic endothelial cells, and pulmonary type I alveolar cells, but also in cancer cells, including brain tumors and lung squamous cell carcinomas. Podoplanin activates platelet aggregation by binding to C-type lectin-like receptor-2 (CLEC-2) on platelets, and the podoplanin/CLEC-2 interaction facilitates blood/lymphatic vessel separation. We previously produced neutralizing anti-human podoplanin monoclonal antibody (mAb), clone NZ-1 (rat IgG 2a , lambda), which neutralizes the podoplanin/CLEC-2 interaction and inhibits platelet aggregation and cancer metastasis. Human-rat chimeric antibody, NZ-8, was previously developed using variable regions of NZ-1 and human constant regions of heavy chain (IgG 1 ) and light chain (kappa chain). Although NZ-8 showed high antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against human podoplanin-expressing cancer cells, the binding affinity of NZ-8 was lower than that of NZ-1. Herein, we produced a novel human-rat chimeric antibody, NZ-12, the constant regions of which consist of IgG 1 heavy chain and lambda light chain. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated that the binding affinity of NZ-12 was much higher than that of NZ-8. Furthermore, ADCC and CDC activities of NZ-12 were significantly increased against glioblastoma cell lines (LN319 and D397) and lung cancer cell line (PC-10). These results suggested that NZ-12 could become a promising therapeutic antibody against podoplanin-expressing brain tumors and lung cancers.

  10. Enhanced transport of plant-produced rabies single-chain antibody-RVG peptide fusion protein across an in cellulo blood-brain barrier device.

    PubMed

    Phoolcharoen, Waranyoo; Prehaud, Christophe; van Dolleweerd, Craig J; Both, Leonard; da Costa, Anaelle; Lafon, Monique; Ma, Julian K-C

    2017-10-01

    The biomedical applications of antibody engineering are developing rapidly and have been expanded to plant expression platforms. In this study, we have generated a novel antibody molecule in planta for targeted delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Rabies virus (RABV) is a neurotropic virus for which there is no effective treatment after entry into the central nervous system. This study investigated the use of a RABV glycoprotein peptide sequence to assist delivery of a rabies neutralizing single-chain antibody (ScFv) across an in cellulo model of human BBB. The 29 amino acid rabies virus peptide (RVG) recognizes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) at neuromuscular junctions and the BBB. ScFv and ScFv-RVG fusion proteins were produced in Nicotiana benthamiana by transient expression. Both molecules were successfully expressed and purified, but the ScFv expression level was significantly higher than that of ScFv-RVG fusion. Both ScFv and ScFv-RVG fusion molecules had potent neutralization activity against RABVin cellulo. The ScFv-RVG fusion demonstrated increased binding to nAchR and entry into neuronal cells, compared to ScFv alone. Additionally, a human brain endothelial cell line BBB model was used to demonstrate that plant-produced ScFv-RVG P fusion could translocate across the cells. This study indicates that the plant-produced ScFv-RVG P fusion protein was able to cross the in celluloBBB and neutralize RABV. © 2017 The Authors. Plant Biotechnology Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and The Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. RECOMBINATION OF ANTIBODY POLYPEPTIDE CHAINS IN THE PRESENCE OF ANTIGEN

    PubMed Central

    Metzger, Henry; Mannik, Mart

    1964-01-01

    Conditions were developed by which the separated H and L chains of gamma2 globulins recombined to form four-chained molecules in good yields. In the absence of antigen, anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl (anti-DNP) H chains randomly reassociated with a mixture of antibody and non-specific gamma2 globulin L chains. In the presence of a specific hapten, however, the antibody H chains preferentially interacted with the anti-DNP L chains. Antibody H chain-antibody L chain recombinants formed in the presence of hapten were more active than the corresponding recombinants formed in the absence of hapten. Speculations are made regarding the possible mechanisms and biological significance of these effects. PMID:14247718

  12. A new approach for generating bispecific antibodies based on a common light chain format and the stable architecture of human immunoglobulin G1

    PubMed Central

    De Nardis, Camilla; Hendriks, Linda J. A.; Poirier, Emilie; Arvinte, Tudor; Gros, Piet; Bakker, Alexander B. H.; de Kruif, John

    2017-01-01

    Bispecific antibodies combine two different antigen-binding sites in a single molecule, enabling more specific targeting, novel mechanisms of action, and higher clinical efficacies. Although they have the potential to outperform conventional monoclonal antibodies, many bispecific antibodies have issues regarding production, stability, and pharmacokinetic properties. Here, we describe a new approach for generating bispecific antibodies using a common light chain format and exploiting the stable architecture of human immunoglobulin G1. We used iterative experimental validation and computational modeling to identify multiple Fc variant pairs that drive efficient heterodimerization of the antibody heavy chains. Accelerated stability studies enabled selection of one Fc variant pair dubbed “DEKK” consisting of substitutions L351D and L368E in one heavy chain combined with L351K and T366K in the other. Solving the crystal structure of the DEKK Fc region at a resolution of 2.3 Å enabled detailed analysis of the interactions inducing CH3 interface heterodimerization. Local shifts in the IgG backbone accommodate the introduction of lysine side chains that form stabilizing salt-bridge interactions with substituted and native residues in the opposite chain. Overall, the CH3 domain adapted to these shifts at the interface, yielding a stable Fc conformation very similar to that in wild-type IgG. Using the DEKK format, we generated the bispecific antibody MCLA-128, targeting human EGF receptors 2 and 3. MCLA-128 could be readily produced and purified at industrial scale with a standard mammalian cell culture platform and a routine purification protocol. Long-term accelerated stability assays confirmed that MCLA-128 is highly stable and has excellent biophysical characteristics. PMID:28655766

  13. Single Chain Antibodies as Tools to Study transforming growth factor-β-Regulated SMAD Proteins in Proximity Ligation-Based Pharmacological Screens.

    PubMed

    Blokzijl, Andries; Zieba, Agata; Hust, Michael; Schirrmann, Thomas; Helmsing, Saskia; Grannas, Karin; Hertz, Ellen; Moren, Anita; Chen, Lei; Söderberg, Ola; Moustakas, Aristidis; Dübel, Stefan; Landegren, Ulf

    2016-06-01

    The cellular heterogeneity seen in tumors, with subpopulations of cells capable of resisting different treatments, renders single-treatment regimens generally ineffective. Accordingly, there is a great need to increase the repertoire of drug treatments from which combinations may be selected to efficiently target sets of pathological processes, while suppressing the emergence of resistance mutations. In this regard, members of the TGF-β signaling pathway may furnish new, valuable therapeutic targets. In the present work, we developed in situ proximity ligation assays (isPLA) to monitor the state of the TGF-β signaling pathway. Moreover, we extended the range of suitable affinity reagents for this analysis by developing a set of in-vitro-derived human antibody fragments (single chain fragment variable, scFv) that bind SMAD2 (Mothers against decapentaplegic 2), 3, 4, and 7 using phage display. These four proteins are all intracellular mediators of TGF-β signaling. We also developed an scFv specific for SMAD3 phosphorylated in the linker domain 3 (p179 SMAD3). This phosphorylation has been shown to inactivate the tumor suppressor function of SMAD3. The single chain affinity reagents developed in the study were fused tocrystallizable antibody fragments (Fc-portions) and expressed as dimeric IgG-like molecules having Fc domains (Yumabs), and we show that they represent valuable reagents for isPLA.Using these novel assays, we demonstrate that p179 SMAD3 forms a complex with SMAD4 at increased frequency during division and that pharmacological inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4)(1) reduces the levels of p179SMAD3 in tumor cells. We further show that the p179SMAD3-SMAD4 complex is bound for degradation by the proteasome. Finally, we developed a chemical screening strategy for compounds that reduce the levels of p179SMAD3 in tumor cells with isPLA as a read-out, using the p179SMAD3 scFv SH544-IIC4. The screen identified two kinase inhibitors, known inhibitors

  14. Over expression of anti-MUC1 single-domain antibody fragments in the yeast Pichia pastoris.

    PubMed

    Rahbarizadeh, Fatemeh; Rasaee, Mohammad J; Forouzandeh, Mehdi; Allameh, Abdol-Amir

    2006-02-01

    The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has become a highly popular expression host system for the recombinant production of a wide variety of proteins, such as antibody fragments. Camelids produce functional antibodies devoid of light chains and constant heavy-chain domain (CH1). The antigen binding fragments of such heavy chain antibodies are therefore comprised in one single domain, the so-called VH of the camelid heavy chain antibody (VHH). To test the feasibility of expressing VHHs in the yeast, which on account of their small size and antigen recognition properties would have a major impact on antibody engineering strategies, we constructed two VHH genes encoding the single-domain antibody fragments with specificity for a cancer associated mucin, MUC1. The recombinant strains of the yeast P. pastoris were developed which secrete single-domain antibody fragment to the culture supernatant as a biologically active protein. Supplementation of medium with sorbitol (in pre-induction phase) and casamino acid or EDTA (in induction phase) provided ideal condition of increasing the yield of VHH production compared to culture condition devoid of above recipe. The secreted protein was purified following a 80% ammonium sulfate precipitation step, followed by a affinity chromatography column. The specific activity in enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) of the purified yeast VHH was higher than that of a bacterial periplasmic counterpart. These results reaffirm that the yeast P. pastoris is a suitable host for high level and correctly folded production of VHH antibody fragments with potential in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This is the first report of expression of VHH in P. pastoris.

  15. Bovine single chain Fv antibody inhibits bovine herpesvirus-1 infectivity by targeting viral glycoprotein D.

    PubMed

    Xu, Jian; Wu, Jing; Jiang, Bo; He, Houjun; Zhang, Xixi; Li, Xiaoyang; Yang, Dawei; Huang, Xiufen; Sealy, Joshua E; Iqbal, Munir; Li, Yongqing

    2017-12-01

    Glycoprotein D (gD) of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is essential for attachment and penetration of cells during infection and is a major target for neutralizing antibodies during an adaptive immune response. Currently there are no recombinant antibodies capable of binding gD epitopes for use in treating BoHV-1 infection. In this study, a bovine scFv gene derived from a hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against the amino acid motif MEESKGYEPP of gD was expressed in E. coli. Molecular modeling, western blot and ELISA analysis showed that this scFv had a high affinity for BoHV-1 gD, with a Kd of 161.2 ± 37.58 nM and for whole BoHV-1 virus, with a Kd of 67.44 ± 16.99 nM. In addition, this scFv displayed a high affinity for BoHV-1 antigen in an ELISA and competed with BoHV-1 anti-serum in a competitive ELISA. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and laser confocal microscopy showed that this scFv could efficiently bind to and be internalized by BoHV-1 infected Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. Importantly, this scFv was shown to inhibit BoHV-1 infectivity and to reduce the number of viral plaques by blocking viral attachment to MDBK cells. Our study suggests that this bovine single-chain antibody could be developed for use as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent against BoHV-1 infection in cattle.

  16. Generation of human scFv antibody libraries: PCR amplification and assembly of light- and heavy-chain coding sequences.

    PubMed

    Andris-Widhopf, Jennifer; Steinberger, Peter; Fuller, Roberta; Rader, Christoph; Barbas, Carlos F

    2011-09-01

    The development of therapeutic antibodies for use in the treatment of human diseases has long been a goal for many researchers in the antibody field. One way to obtain these antibodies is through phage-display libraries constructed from human lymphocytes. This protocol describes the construction of human scFv (single chain antibody fragment) libraries using a short linker (GGSSRSS) or a long linker (GGSSRSSSSGGGGSGGGG). In this method, the individual rearranged heavy- and light-chain variable regions are amplified separately and are linked through a series of overlap polymerase chain reaction (PCR) steps to give the final scFv products that are used for cloning.

  17. Isolation of tumor antigen-specific single-chain variable fragments using a chimeric antigen receptor bicistronic retroviral vector in a Mammalian screening protocol.

    PubMed

    Lipowska-Bhalla, Grazyna; Gilham, David E; Hawkins, Robert E; Rothwell, Dominic G

    2013-12-01

    The clinical potential of chimeric antigen receptors in adoptive cellular therapy is beginning to be realized with several recent clinical trials targeting CD19 showing promising results in advanced B cell malignancies. This increased efficacy corresponds with improved engineering of the chimeric receptors with the latest-generation receptors eliciting greater signaling and proliferation potential. However, the antigen-binding single-chain variable fragment (scFv) domain of the receptors is critical in determining the activity of the chimeric receptor-expressing T cells, as this determines specificity and affinity to the tumor antigen. In this study, we describe a mammalian T cell line screening protocol employing a 2A-based bicistronic retroviral vector to isolate functional scFvs. This approach involves expression of the scFv library in a chimeric antigen receptor, and is based on selection of clones capable of stimulating CD69 upregulation in a T cell line and has a number of advantages over previously described methods in that the use of a 2A cassette ensures the exclusion of nonexpressing scFvs and the screening using a chimeric receptor in a mammalian T cell line ensures selection in the optimum context for therapeutic use. Proof-of-principle experiments show that the protocol was capable of a 10(5)-fold enrichment of positive clones after three rounds of selection. Furthermore, an antigen-specific clone was successfully isolated from a partially enriched scFv library, confirming the strength of the protocol. This approach has the potential to identify novel scFvs of use in adoptive T cell therapy and, potentially, wider antibody-based applications.

  18. A new approach for generating bispecific antibodies based on a common light chain format and the stable architecture of human immunoglobulin G1.

    PubMed

    De Nardis, Camilla; Hendriks, Linda J A; Poirier, Emilie; Arvinte, Tudor; Gros, Piet; Bakker, Alexander B H; de Kruif, John

    2017-09-01

    Bispecific antibodies combine two different antigen-binding sites in a single molecule, enabling more specific targeting, novel mechanisms of action, and higher clinical efficacies. Although they have the potential to outperform conventional monoclonal antibodies, many bispecific antibodies have issues regarding production, stability, and pharmacokinetic properties. Here, we describe a new approach for generating bispecific antibodies using a common light chain format and exploiting the stable architecture of human immunoglobulin G 1 We used iterative experimental validation and computational modeling to identify multiple Fc variant pairs that drive efficient heterodimerization of the antibody heavy chains. Accelerated stability studies enabled selection of one Fc variant pair dubbed "DEKK" consisting of substitutions L351D and L368E in one heavy chain combined with L351K and T366K in the other. Solving the crystal structure of the DEKK Fc region at a resolution of 2.3 Å enabled detailed analysis of the interactions inducing CH3 interface heterodimerization. Local shifts in the IgG backbone accommodate the introduction of lysine side chains that form stabilizing salt-bridge interactions with substituted and native residues in the opposite chain. Overall, the CH3 domain adapted to these shifts at the interface, yielding a stable Fc conformation very similar to that in wild-type IgG. Using the DEKK format, we generated the bispecific antibody MCLA-128, targeting human EGF receptors 2 and 3. MCLA-128 could be readily produced and purified at industrial scale with a standard mammalian cell culture platform and a routine purification protocol. Long-term accelerated stability assays confirmed that MCLA-128 is highly stable and has excellent biophysical characteristics. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  19. Crystal structures of a therapeutic single chain antibody in complex with two drugs of abuse—Methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

    PubMed Central

    Celikel, Reha; Peterson, Eric C; Owens, S Michael; Varughese, Kottayil I

    2009-01-01

    Methamphetamine (METH) is a major drug threat in the United States and worldwide. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy for treating METH abuse is showing exciting promise and the understanding of how mAb structure relates to function will be essential for future development of these important therapies. We have determined crystal structures of a high affinity anti-(+)-METH therapeutic single chain antibody fragment (scFv6H4, KD= 10 nM) derived from one of our candidate mAb in complex with METH and the (+) stereoisomer of another abused drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), known by the street name “ecstasy.” The crystal structures revealed that scFv6H4 binds to METH and MDMA in a deep pocket that almost completely encases the drugs mostly through aromatic interactions. In addition, the cationic nitrogen of METH and MDMA forms a salt bridge with the carboxylate group of a glutamic acid residue and a hydrogen bond with a histidine side chain. Interestingly, there are two water molecules in the binding pocket and one of them is positioned for a C—H⋯O interaction with the aromatic ring of METH. These first crystal structures of a high affinity therapeutic antibody fragment against METH and MDMA (resolution = 1.9 Å, and 2.4 Å, respectively) provide a structural basis for designing the next generation of higher affinity antibodies and also for carrying out rational humanization. PMID:19760665

  20. Crystal structures of a therapeutic single chain antibody in complex with two drugs of abuse-Methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

    PubMed

    Celikel, Reha; Peterson, Eric C; Owens, S Michael; Varughese, Kottayil I

    2009-11-01

    Methamphetamine (METH) is a major drug threat in the United States and worldwide. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy for treating METH abuse is showing exciting promise and the understanding of how mAb structure relates to function will be essential for future development of these important therapies. We have determined crystal structures of a high affinity anti-(+)-METH therapeutic single chain antibody fragment (scFv6H4, K(D)= 10 nM) derived from one of our candidate mAb in complex with METH and the (+) stereoisomer of another abused drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), known by the street name "ecstasy." The crystal structures revealed that scFv6H4 binds to METH and MDMA in a deep pocket that almost completely encases the drugs mostly through aromatic interactions. In addition, the cationic nitrogen of METH and MDMA forms a salt bridge with the carboxylate group of a glutamic acid residue and a hydrogen bond with a histidine side chain. Interestingly, there are two water molecules in the binding pocket and one of them is positioned for a C--H...O interaction with the aromatic ring of METH. These first crystal structures of a high affinity therapeutic antibody fragment against METH and MDMA (resolution = 1.9 A, and 2.4 A, respectively) provide a structural basis for designing the next generation of higher affinity antibodies and also for carrying out rational humanization.

  1. IG and TR single chain fragment variable (scFv) sequence analysis: a new advanced functionality of IMGT/V-QUEST and IMGT/HighV-QUEST.

    PubMed

    Giudicelli, Véronique; Duroux, Patrice; Kossida, Sofia; Lefranc, Marie-Paule

    2017-06-26

    IMGT®, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system® ( http://www.imgt.org ), was created in 1989 in Montpellier, France (CNRS and Montpellier University) to manage the huge and complex diversity of the antigen receptors, and is at the origin of immunoinformatics, a science at the interface between immunogenetics and bioinformatics. Immunoglobulins (IG) or antibodies and T cell receptors (TR) are managed and described in the IMGT® databases and tools at the level of receptor, chain and domain. The analysis of the IG and TR variable (V) domain rearranged nucleotide sequences is performed by IMGT/V-QUEST (online since 1997, 50 sequences per batch) and, for next generation sequencing (NGS), by IMGT/HighV-QUEST, the high throughput version of IMGT/V-QUEST (portal begun in 2010, 500,000 sequences per batch). In vitro combinatorial libraries of engineered antibody single chain Fragment variable (scFv) which mimic the in vivo natural diversity of the immune adaptive responses are extensively screened for the discovery of novel antigen binding specificities. However the analysis of NGS full length scFv (~850 bp) represents a challenge as they contain two V domains connected by a linker and there is no tool for the analysis of two V domains in a single chain. The functionality "Analyis of single chain Fragment variable (scFv)" has been implemented in IMGT/V-QUEST and, for NGS, in IMGT/HighV-QUEST for the analysis of the two V domains of IG and TR scFv. It proceeds in five steps: search for a first closest V-REGION, full characterization of the first V-(D)-J-REGION, then search for a second V-REGION and full characterization of the second V-(D)-J-REGION, and finally linker delimitation. For each sequence or NGS read, positions of the 5'V-DOMAIN, linker and 3'V-DOMAIN in the scFv are provided in the 'V-orientated' sense. Each V-DOMAIN is fully characterized (gene identification, sequence description, junction analysis, characterization of mutations and amino

  2. Genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells to express a single-chain antibody against EGFRvIII on the cell surface.

    PubMed

    Balyasnikova, Irina V; Franco-Gou, Rosa; Mathis, J Michael; Lesniak, Maciej S

    2010-06-01

    Human adult mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are under active investigation as cellular carriers for gene therapy. hMSCs possess natural tropism toward tumours; however, the targeting of hMSCs to specific cell populations within tumours is unexplored. In the case of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), at least half of the tumours express EGFRvIII on the cell surface, an ideal target for antibody-mediated gene/drug delivery. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of genetically modifying hMSCs to express a single-chain antibody (scFv) to EGFRvIII on their surfaces. Nucleofection was used to transfect hMSCs with cDNA encoding scFv EGFRvIII fused with PDGFR or human B7-1 transmembrane domains. The expression of scFv EGFRvIII on the cell surface was assessed by FACS. A stable population of scFv EGFRvIII-expressing hMSCs was selected, based on antibiotic resistance, and enriched using FACS. We found that nucleofection allows the efficient expression of scFv EGFRvIII on the cell surface of hMSCs. hMSCs transfected with the construct encoding scFv EGFRvIII as a fusion with PDGFRtm showed scFv EGFRvIII expression in up to 86% of cells. Most importantly, human MSCs expressing scFv against EGFRvIII demonstrated enhanced binding to U87-EGFRvIII cells in vitro and significantly increased retention in human U87-EGFRvIII-expressing tumours in vivo. In summary, we provide the first conclusive evidence of genetic modification of hMSCs with a single-chain antibody against an antigen expressed on the surface of tumour cells, thereby opening up a new venue for enhanced delivery of gene therapy applications in the context of malignant brain cancer. Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  3. Structural Basis of Neutralization of the Major Toxic Component from the Scorpion Centruroides noxius Hoffmann by a Human-derived Single-chain Antibody Fragment

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Canul-Tec, Juan Carlos; Riaño-Umbarila, Lidia; Rudiño-Piñera, Enrique

    2011-08-09

    It has previously been reported that several single-chain antibody fragments of human origin (scFv) neutralize the effects of two different scorpion venoms through interactions with the primary toxins of Centruroides noxius Hoffmann (Cn2) and Centruroides suffusus suffusus (Css2). Here we present the crystal structure of the complex formed between one scFv (9004G) and the Cn2 toxin, determined in two crystal forms at 2.5 and 1.9 {angstrom} resolution. A 15-residue span of the toxin is recognized by the antibody through a cleft formed by residues from five of the complementarity-determining regions of the scFv. Analysis of the interface of the complexmore » reveals three features. First, the epitope of toxin Cn2 overlaps with essential residues for the binding of {beta}-toxins to its Na+ channel receptor site. Second, the putative recognition of Css2 involves mainly residues that are present in both Cn2 and Css2 toxins. Finally, the effect on the increase of affinity of previously reported key residues during the maturation process of different scFvs can be inferred from the structure. Taken together, these results provide the structural basis that explain the mechanism of the 9004G neutralizing activity and give insight into the process of directed evolution that gave rise to this family of neutralizing scFvs.« less

  4. CARbodies: Human Antibodies Against Cell Surface Tumor Antigens Selected From Repertoires Displayed on T Cell Chimeric Antigen Receptors

    PubMed Central

    Alonso-Camino, Vanesa; Sánchez-Martín, David; Compte, Marta; Nuñez-Prado, Natalia; Diaz, Rosa M; Vile, Richard; Alvarez-Vallina, Luis

    2013-01-01

    A human single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library was expressed on the surface of human T cells after transduction with lentiviral vectors (LVs). The repertoire was fused to a first-generation T cell receptor ζ (TCRζ)-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). We used this library to isolate antibodies termed CARbodies that recognize antigens expressed on the tumor cell surface in a proof-of-principle system. After three rounds of activation-selection there was a clear repertoire restriction, with the emergence dominant clones. The CARbodies were purified from bacterial cultures as soluble and active proteins. Furthermore, to validate its potential application for adoptive cell therapy, human T cells were transduced with a LV encoding a second-generation costimulatory CAR (CARv2) bearing the selected CARbodies. Transduced human primary T cells expressed significant levels of the CARbodies-based CARv2 fusion protein on the cell surface, and importantly could be specifically activated, after stimulation with tumor cells. This approach is a promising tool for the generation of antibodies fully adapted to the display format (CAR) and the selection context (cell synapse), which could extend the scope of current adoptive cell therapy strategies with CAR-redirected T cells. PMID:23695536

  5. Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Dalmau, Josep; Gleichman, Amy J; Hughes, Ethan G; Rossi, Jeffrey E; Peng, Xiaoyu; Lai, Meizan; Dessain, Scott K; Rosenfeld, Myrna R; Balice-Gordon, Rita; Lynch, David R

    2008-01-01

    Summary Background A severe form of encephalitis associated with antibodies against NR1–NR2 heteromers of the NMDA receptor was recently identified. We aimed to analyse the clinical and immunological features of patients with the disorder and examine the effects of antibodies against NMDA receptors in neuronal cultures. Methods We describe the clinical characteristics of 100 patients with encephalitis and NR1–NR2 antibodies. HEK293 cells ectopically expressing single or assembled NR1–NR2 subunits were used to determine the epitope targeted by the antibodies. Antibody titres were measured with ELISA. The effect of antibodies on neuronal cultures was determined by quantitative analysis of NMDA-receptor clusters. Findings Median age of patients was 23 years (range 5–76 years); 91 were women. All patients presented with psychiatric symptoms or memory problems; 76 had seizures, 88 unresponsiveness (decreased conciousness), 86 dyskinesias, 69 autonomic instability, and 66 hypoventilation. 58 (59%) of 98 patients for whom results of oncological assessments were available had tumours, most commonly ovarian teratoma. Patients who received early tumour treatment (usually with immunotherapy) had better outcome (p=0.004) and fewer neurological relapses (p=0.009) than the rest of the patients. 75 patients recovered or had mild deficits and 25 had severe deficits or died. Improvement was associated with a decrease of serum antibody titres. The main epitope targeted by the antibodies is in the extracellular N-terminal domain of the NR1 subunit. Patients’ antibodies decreased the numbers of cell-surface NMDA receptors and NMDA-receptor clusters in postsynaptic dendrites, an effect that could be reversed by antibody removal. Interpretation A well-defined set of clinical characteristics are associated with anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis. The pathogenesis of the disorder seems to be mediated by antibodies. PMID:18851928

  6. Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies.

    PubMed

    Dalmau, Josep; Gleichman, Amy J; Hughes, Ethan G; Rossi, Jeffrey E; Peng, Xiaoyu; Lai, Meizan; Dessain, Scott K; Rosenfeld, Myrna R; Balice-Gordon, Rita; Lynch, David R

    2008-12-01

    A severe form of encephalitis associated with antibodies against NR1-NR2 heteromers of the NMDA receptor was recently identified. We aimed to analyse the clinical and immunological features of patients with the disorder and examine the effects of antibodies against NMDA receptors in neuronal cultures. We describe the clinical characteristics of 100 patients with encephalitis and NR1-NR2 antibodies. HEK293 cells ectopically expressing single or assembled NR1-NR2 subunits were used to determine the epitope targeted by the antibodies. Antibody titres were measured with ELISA. The effect of antibodies on neuronal cultures was determined by quantitative analysis of NMDA-receptor clusters. Median age of patients was 23 years (range 5-76 years); 91 were women. All patients presented with psychiatric symptoms or memory problems; 76 had seizures, 88 unresponsiveness (decreased consciousness), 86 dyskinesias, 69 autonomic instability, and 66 hypoventilation. 58 (59%) of 98 patients for whom results of oncological assessments were available had tumours, most commonly ovarian teratoma. Patients who received early tumour treatment (usually with immunotherapy) had better outcome (p=0.004) and fewer neurological relapses (p=0.009) than the rest of the patients. 75 patients recovered or had mild deficits and 25 had severe deficits or died. Improvement was associated with a decrease of serum antibody titres. The main epitope targeted by the antibodies is in the extracellular N-terminal domain of the NR1 subunit. Patients' antibodies decreased the numbers of cell-surface NMDA receptors and NMDA-receptor clusters in postsynaptic dendrites, an effect that could be reversed by antibody removal. A well-defined set of clinical characteristics are associated with anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis. The pathogenesis of the disorder seems to be mediated by antibodies.

  7. Antibody-ribosome-mRNA (ARM) complexes as efficient selection particles for in vitro display and evolution of antibody combining sites.

    PubMed Central

    He, M; Taussig, M J

    1997-01-01

    We describe a rapid, eukaryotic, in vitro method for selection and evolution of antibody combining sites using antibody-ribosome-mRNA (ARM) complexes as selection particles. ARMs carrying single-chain (VH/K) binding fragments specific for progesterone were selected using antigen-coupled magnetic beads; selection simultaneously captured the genetic information as mRNA, making it possible to generate and amplify cDNA by single-step RT-PCR on the ribosome-bound mRNA for further manipulation. Using mutant libraries, antigen-binding ARMs were enriched by a factor of 10(4)-10(5)-fold in a single cycle, with further enrichment in repeated cycles. While demonstrated here for antibodies, the method has the potential to be applied equally for selection of receptors or peptides from libraries. PMID:9396828

  8. Antibody-ribosome-mRNA (ARM) complexes as efficient selection particles for in vitro display and evolution of antibody combining sites.

    PubMed

    He, M; Taussig, M J

    1997-12-15

    We describe a rapid, eukaryotic, in vitro method for selection and evolution of antibody combining sites using antibody-ribosome-mRNA (ARM) complexes as selection particles. ARMs carrying single-chain (VH/K) binding fragments specific for progesterone were selected using antigen-coupled magnetic beads; selection simultaneously captured the genetic information as mRNA, making it possible to generate and amplify cDNA by single-step RT-PCR on the ribosome-bound mRNA for further manipulation. Using mutant libraries, antigen-binding ARMs were enriched by a factor of 10(4)-10(5)-fold in a single cycle, with further enrichment in repeated cycles. While demonstrated here for antibodies, the method has the potential to be applied equally for selection of receptors or peptides from libraries.

  9. CNS syndromes associated with antibodies against metabotropic receptors.

    PubMed

    Lancaster, Eric

    2017-06-01

    Autoantibodies to Central nervous system (CNS) metabotropic receptors are associated with a growing family of autoimmune brain diseases, including encephalitis, basal ganglia encephalitis, Ophelia syndrome, and cerebellitis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the state of knowledge regarding the target receptors, the neurological autoimmune disorders, and the pathogenic mechanisms. Antibodies to the γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor are associate with limbic encephalitis and severe seizures, often with small cell lung cancers. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antibodies associate with Ophelia syndrome, a relatively mild form of encephalitis linked to Hodgkin lymphoma. mGluR1 antibodies associate with a form of cerebellar degeneration, and also Hodgkin lymphoma. Antibodies to Homer 3, a protein associated with mGluR1, have also been reported in two patients with cerebellar syndromes. Dopamine-2 receptor antibodies have been reported by one group in children with basal ganglia encephalitis and other disorders. CNS metabotropic receptor antibodies may exert direct inhibitory effects on their target receptors, but the evidence is more limited than with autoantibodies to ionotropic glutamate receptors. In the future, improved recognition of these patients may lead to better outcomes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the diseases may uncover novel treatment strategies.

  10. Potentiated antibodies to mu-opiate receptors: effect on integrative activity of the brain.

    PubMed

    Geiko, V V; Vorob'eva, T M; Berchenko, O G; Epstein, O I

    2003-01-01

    The effect of homeopathically potentiated antibodies to mu-receptors (10(-100) wt %) on integrative activity of rat brain was studied using the models of self-stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus and convulsions produced by electric current. Electric current was delivered through electrodes implanted into the ventromedial hypothalamus. Single treatment with potentiated antibodies to mu-receptors increased the rate of self-stimulation and decreased the threshold of convulsive seizures. Administration of these antibodies for 7 days led to further activation of the positive reinforcement system and decrease in seizure thresholds. Distilled water did not change the rate of self-stimulation and seizure threshold.

  11. Structural and functional characterization of an anti-West Nile virus monoclonal antibody and its single-chain variant produced in glycoengineered plants

    PubMed Central

    Lai, Huafang; He, Junyun; Hurtado, Jonathan; Stahnke, Jake; Fuchs, Anja; Mehlhop, Erin; Gorlatov, Sergey; Loos, Andreas; Diamond, Michael S.; Chen, Qiang

    2014-01-01

    Previously, our group engineered a plant-derived monoclonal antibody (MAb pE16) that efficiently treated West Nile virus (WNV) infection in mice. In this study, we developed a pE16 variant consisting of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) fused to the heavy chain constant domains (CH) of human IgG (pE16scFv-CH). pE16 and pE16scFv-CH were expressed and assembled efficiently in Nicotiana benthamiana ΔXF plants, a glycosylation mutant lacking plant specific N-glycan residues. Glycan analysis revealed that ΔXF plant-derived pE16scFv-CH (ΔXFpE16scFv-CH) and pE16 (ΔXFpE16) both displayed a mammalian glycosylation profile. ΔXFpE16 and ΔXFpE16scFv-CH demonstrated equivalent antigen binding affinity and kinetics, and slightly enhanced neutralization of WNV in vitro compared to the parent mammalian cell-produced E16 (mE16). A single dose of ΔXFpE16 or ΔXFpE16scFv-CH protected mice against WNV-induced mortality even 4 days after infection at equivalent rates as mE16. This study provides a detailed tandem comparison of the expression, structure and function of a therapeutic MAb and its single-chain variant produced in glycoengineered plants. Moreover, it demonstrates the development of anti-WNV MAb therapeutic variants that are equivalent in efficacy to pE16, simpler to produce, and likely safer to use as therapeutics due to their mammalian N-glycosylation. This platform may lead to a more robust and cost effective production of antibody-based therapeutics against WNV infection and other infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic diseases. PMID:24975464

  12. Single chain variable fragment antibodies block aggregation and toxicity induced by familial ALS-linked mutant forms of SOD1.

    PubMed

    Ghadge, Ghanashyam D; Pavlovic, John D; Koduvayur, Sujatha P; Kay, Brian K; Roos, Raymond P

    2013-08-01

    Approximately 10% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are familial (known as FALS) with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, and ~25% of FALS cases are caused by mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). There is convincing evidence that mutant SOD1 (mtSOD1) kills motor neurons (MNs) because of a gain-of-function toxicity, most likely related to aggregation of mtSOD1. A number of recent reports have suggested that antibodies can be used to treat mtSOD1-induced FALS. To follow up on the use of antibodies as potential therapeutics, we generated single chain fragments of variable region antibodies (scFvs) against SOD1, and then expressed them as 'intrabodies' within a motor neuron cell line. In the present study, we describe isolation of human scFvs that interfere with mtSOD1 in vitro aggregation and toxicity. These scFvs may have therapeutic potential in sporadic ALS, as well as FALS, given that sporadic ALS may also involve abnormalities in the SOD1 protein or activity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Monoclonal antibodies against the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor.

    PubMed Central

    Okret, S; Wikström, A C; Wrange, O; Andersson, B; Gustafsson, J A

    1984-01-01

    Splenic cells from one BALB/c mouse and one C57/BL mouse, immunized with purified rat liver glucocorticoid receptor (GR), were fused with the mouse myeloma cell line Sp 2/0-Ag 14. Screening for production of anti-GR-antibodies by the hybridomas was carried out with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using partially purified rat liver GR as antigen. Further screening was by a second-antibody immunoprecipitation assay using [3H]triamcinolone acetonide-GR complex from rat liver cytosol as tracer. Hybridomas from 10 different microplate wells, positive in both assays, were successfully cloned by the limiting dilution method to monoclonality. The different origins of the monoclonal antibodies were confirmed by their various isoelectric points when analyzed by isoelectric focusing. Four of the monoclonal hybridoma cell lines secreted IgM antibodies; two, IgG1; three, IgG2a; and one, IgG2b. The GR-antibody complex was identified in glycerol density gradients by a shift of the 4S GR to an 8.5S or 19S GR-antibody complex when incubated with monoclonal IgG or IgM antibody, respectively. The 10 monoclonal antibodies recognized different determinants on the GR, all situated on that domain of the receptor that is separate from the ligand and DNA-binding domains. Also, the cross-reactivity to the mouse liver GR varied among the monoclonal antibodies. No cross-reactivity was observed to the human lymphocytic GR. NaDodSO4 electrophoresis of a 0.5% pure GR preparation followed by immunoblotting using one of the monoclonal antibodies identified a single peptide with a molecular weight of 94,000, identical to the purified rat liver GR. Images PMID:6200880

  14. Acetylcholine receptor antibody

    MedlinePlus

    ... found in the blood of most people with myasthenia gravis . The antibody affects a chemical that sends signals ... Performed This test is used to help diagnose myasthenia gravis . Normal Results Normally, there is no acetylcholine receptor ...

  15. Kinetic Characterisation of a Single Chain Antibody against the Hormone Abscisic Acid: Comparison with Its Parental Monoclonal

    PubMed Central

    Badescu, George O.; Marsh, Andrew; Smith, Timothy R.; Thompson, Andrew J.; Napier, Richard M.

    2016-01-01

    A single-chain Fv fragment antibody (scFv) specific for the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has been expressed in the bacterium Escherichia coli as a fusion protein. The kinetics of ABA binding have been measured using surface plasmon resonance spectrometry (BIAcore 2000) using surface and solution assays. Care was taken to calculate the concentration of active protein in each sample using initial rate measurements under conditions of partial mass transport limitation. The fusion product, parental monoclonal antibody and the free scFv all have low nanomolar affinity constants, but there is a lower dissociation rate constant for the parental monoclonal resulting in a three-fold greater affinity. Analogue specificity was tested and structure-activity binding preferences measured. The biologically-active (+)-ABA enantiomer is recognised with an affinity three orders of magnitude higher than the inactive (-)-ABA. Metabolites of ABA including phaseic acid, dihydrophaseic acid and deoxy-ABA have affinities over 100-fold lower than that for (+)-ABA. These properties of the scFv make it suitable as a sensor domain in bioreporters specific for the naturally occurring form of ABA. PMID:27023768

  16. Sequence-Based Discovery Demonstrates That Fixed Light Chain Human Transgenic Rats Produce a Diverse Repertoire of Antigen-Specific Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Harris, Katherine E; Aldred, Shelley Force; Davison, Laura M; Ogana, Heather Anne N; Boudreau, Andrew; Brüggemann, Marianne; Osborn, Michael; Ma, Biao; Buelow, Benjamin; Clarke, Starlynn C; Dang, Kevin H; Iyer, Suhasini; Jorgensen, Brett; Pham, Duy T; Pratap, Payal P; Rangaswamy, Udaya S; Schellenberger, Ute; van Schooten, Wim C; Ugamraj, Harshad S; Vafa, Omid; Buelow, Roland; Trinklein, Nathan D

    2018-01-01

    We created a novel transgenic rat that expresses human antibodies comprising a diverse repertoire of heavy chains with a single common rearranged kappa light chain (IgKV3-15-JK1). This fixed light chain animal, called OmniFlic, presents a unique system for human therapeutic antibody discovery and a model to study heavy chain repertoire diversity in the context of a constant light chain. The purpose of this study was to analyze heavy chain variable gene usage, clonotype diversity, and to describe the sequence characteristics of antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from immunized OmniFlic animals. Using next-generation sequencing antibody repertoire analysis, we measured heavy chain variable gene usage and the diversity of clonotypes present in the lymph node germinal centers of 75 OmniFlic rats immunized with 9 different protein antigens. Furthermore, we expressed 2,560 unique heavy chain sequences sampled from a diverse set of clonotypes as fixed light chain antibody proteins and measured their binding to antigen by ELISA. Finally, we measured patterns and overall levels of somatic hypermutation in the full B-cell repertoire and in the 2,560 mAbs tested for binding. The results demonstrate that OmniFlic animals produce an abundance of antigen-specific antibodies with heavy chain clonotype diversity that is similar to what has been described with unrestricted light chain use in mammals. In addition, we show that sequence-based discovery is a highly effective and efficient way to identify a large number of diverse monoclonal antibodies to a protein target of interest.

  17. Anti-Aβ single-chain variable fragment antibodies exert synergistic neuroprotective activities in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease

    PubMed Central

    Fernandez-Funez, Pedro; Zhang, Yan; Sanchez-Garcia, Jonatan; de Mena, Lorena; Khare, Swati; Golde, Todd E.; Levites, Yona; Rincon-Limas, Diego E.

    2015-01-01

    Both active and passive immunotherapy protocols decrease insoluble amyloid-ß42 (Aß42) peptide in animal models, suggesting potential therapeutic applications against the main pathological trigger in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, recent clinical trials have reported no significant benefits from humanized anti-Aß42 antibodies. Engineered single-chain variable fragment antibodies (scFv) are much smaller and can easily penetrate the brain, but identifying the most effective scFvs in murine AD models is slow and costly. We show here that scFvs against the N- and C-terminus of Aß42 (scFv9 and scFV42.2, respectively) that decrease insoluble Aß42 in CRND mice are neuroprotective in Drosophila models of Aß42 and amyloid precursor protein neurotoxicity. Both scFv9 and scFv42.2 suppress eye toxicity, reduce cell death in brain neurons, protect the structural integrity of dendritic terminals in brain neurons and delay locomotor dysfunction. Additionally, we show for the first time that co-expression of both anti-Aß scFvs display synergistic neuroprotective activities, suggesting that combined therapies targeting distinct Aß42 epitopes can be more effective than targeting a single epitope. Overall, we demonstrate the feasibility of using Drosophila as a first step for characterizing neuroprotective anti-Aß scFvs in vivo and identifying scFv combinations with synergistic neuroprotective activities. PMID:26253732

  18. Isolation and characterization of anti ROR1 single chain fragment variable antibodies using phage display technique.

    PubMed

    Aghebati-Maleki, Leili; Younesi, Vahid; Jadidi-Niaragh, Farhad; Baradaran, Behzad; Majidi, Jafar; Yousefi, Mehdi

    2017-01-01

    Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR1) belongs to one of the families of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). RTKs are involved in the various physiologic cellular functions including proliferation, migration, survival, signaling and differentiation. Several RTKs are deregulated in various cancers implying the targeting potential of these molecules in cancer therapy. ROR1 has recently been shown to be expressed in various types of cancer cells but not in normal adult cells. Hence a molecular inhibitor of extracellular domain of ROR1 that inhibits ROR1-cell surface interaction is of great therapeutic importance. In an attempt to develop molecular inhibitors of ROR1, we screened single chain variable fragment (scFv) phage display libraries, Tomlinson I + J, against one specific synthetic oligopeptide from extracellular domain of ROR1 and selected scFvs were characterized using various immunological techniques. Several ROR1 specific scFvs were selected following five rounds of panning procedure. The scFvs showed specific binding to ROR1 using immunological techniques. Our results demonstrate successful isolation and characterization of specific ROR1 scFvs that may have great therapeutic potential in cancer immunotherapy.

  19. Antibodies directed against receptor tyrosine kinases

    PubMed Central

    FAUVEL, Bénédicte; Yasri, Aziz

    2014-01-01

    Approximately 30 therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have already been approved for cancers and inflammatory diseases, and monoclonal antibodies continue to be one of the fastest growing classes of therapeutic molecules. Because aberrant signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is a commonly observed factor in cancer, most of the subclasses of RTKs are being extensively studied as potential targets for treating malignancies. The first two RTKs that have been targeted by antibody therapy, with five currently marketed antibodies, are the growth factor receptors EGFR and HER2. However, due to systemic side effects, refractory patients and the development of drug resistance, these treatments are being challenged by emerging therapeutics. This review examines current monoclonal antibody therapies against RTKs. After an analysis of agents that have already been approved, we present an analysis of antibodies in clinical development that target RTKs. Finally, we highlight promising RTKs that are emerging as new oncological targets for antibody-based therapy. PMID:24859229

  20. Therapeutically targeting glypican-2 via single-domain antibody-based chimeric antigen receptors and immunotoxins in neuroblastoma

    PubMed Central

    Li, Nan; Fu, Haiying; Hewitt, Stephen M.; Dimitrov, Dimiter S.

    2017-01-01

    Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer that is fatal in almost half of patients despite intense multimodality treatment. This cancer is derived from neuroendocrine tissue located in the sympathetic nervous system. Glypican-2 (GPC2) is a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is important for neuronal cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth. In this study, we find that GPC2 protein is highly expressed in about half of neuroblastoma cases and that high GPC2 expression correlates with poor overall survival compared with patients with low GPC2 expression. We demonstrate that silencing of GPC2 by CRISPR-Cas9 or siRNA results in the inhibition of neuroblastoma tumor cell growth. GPC2 silencing inactivates Wnt/β-catenin signaling and reduces the expression of the target gene N-Myc, an oncogenic driver of neuroblastoma tumorigenesis. We have isolated human single-domain antibodies specific for GPC2 by phage display technology and found that the single-domain antibodies can inhibit active β-catenin signaling by disrupting the interaction of GPC2 and Wnt3a. To explore GPC2 as a potential target in neuroblastoma, we have developed two forms of antibody therapeutics, immunotoxins and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Immunotoxin treatment was demonstrated to inhibit neuroblastoma growth in mice. CAR T cells targeting GPC2 eliminated tumors in a disseminated neuroblastoma mouse model where tumor metastasis had spread to multiple clinically relevant sites, including spine, skull, legs, and pelvis. This study suggests GPC2 as a promising therapeutic target in neuroblastoma. PMID:28739923

  1. Therapeutically targeting glypican-2 via single-domain antibody-based chimeric antigen receptors and immunotoxins in neuroblastoma.

    PubMed

    Li, Nan; Fu, Haiying; Hewitt, Stephen M; Dimitrov, Dimiter S; Ho, Mitchell

    2017-08-08

    Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer that is fatal in almost half of patients despite intense multimodality treatment. This cancer is derived from neuroendocrine tissue located in the sympathetic nervous system. Glypican-2 (GPC2) is a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is important for neuronal cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth. In this study, we find that GPC2 protein is highly expressed in about half of neuroblastoma cases and that high GPC2 expression correlates with poor overall survival compared with patients with low GPC2 expression. We demonstrate that silencing of GPC2 by CRISPR-Cas9 or siRNA results in the inhibition of neuroblastoma tumor cell growth. GPC2 silencing inactivates Wnt/β-catenin signaling and reduces the expression of the target gene N-Myc, an oncogenic driver of neuroblastoma tumorigenesis. We have isolated human single-domain antibodies specific for GPC2 by phage display technology and found that the single-domain antibodies can inhibit active β-catenin signaling by disrupting the interaction of GPC2 and Wnt3a. To explore GPC2 as a potential target in neuroblastoma, we have developed two forms of antibody therapeutics, immunotoxins and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Immunotoxin treatment was demonstrated to inhibit neuroblastoma growth in mice. CAR T cells targeting GPC2 eliminated tumors in a disseminated neuroblastoma mouse model where tumor metastasis had spread to multiple clinically relevant sites, including spine, skull, legs, and pelvis. This study suggests GPC2 as a promising therapeutic target in neuroblastoma.

  2. How single mutations affect viral escape from broad and narrow antibodies to H1 influenza hemagglutinin.

    PubMed

    Doud, Michael B; Lee, Juhye M; Bloom, Jesse D

    2018-04-11

    Influenza virus can escape most antibodies with single mutations. However, rare antibodies broadly neutralize many viral strains. It is unclear how easily influenza virus might escape such antibodies if there was strong pressure to do so. Here, we map all single amino-acid mutations that increase resistance to broad antibodies to H1 hemagglutinin. Our approach not only identifies antigenic mutations but also quantifies their effect sizes. All antibodies select mutations, but the effect sizes vary widely. The virus can escape a broad antibody to hemagglutinin's receptor-binding site the same way it escapes narrow strain-specific antibodies: via single mutations with huge effects. In contrast, broad antibodies to hemagglutinin's stalk only select mutations with small effects. Therefore, among the antibodies we examine, breadth is an imperfect indicator of the potential for viral escape via single mutations. Antibodies targeting the H1 hemagglutinin stalk are quantifiably harder to escape than the other antibodies tested here.

  3. Expression, production, and renaturation of a functional single-chain variable antibody fragment (scFv) against human ICAM-1

    PubMed Central

    Sun, H.; Wu, G.M.; Chen, Y.Y.; Tian, Y.; Yue, Y.H.; Zhang, G.L.

    2014-01-01

    Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is an important factor in the progression of inflammatory responses in vivo. To develop a new anti-inflammatory drug to block the biological activity of ICAM-1, we produced a monoclonal antibody (Ka=4.19×10−8 M) against human ICAM-1. The anti-ICAM-1 single-chain variable antibody fragment (scFv) was expressed at a high level as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. We refolded the scFv (Ka=2.35×10−7 M) by ion-exchange chromatography, dialysis, and dilution. The results showed that column chromatography refolding by high-performance Q Sepharose had remarkable advantages over conventional dilution and dialysis methods. Furthermore, the anti-ICAM-1 scFv yield of about 60 mg/L was higher with this method. The purity of the final product was greater than 90%, as shown by denaturing gel electrophoresis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell culture, and animal experiments were used to assess the immunological properties and biological activities of the renatured scFv. PMID:24919171

  4. Selection of Single-Chain Antibodies against the VP8* Subunit of Rotavirus VP4 Outer Capsid Protein and Their Expression in Lactobacillus casei

    PubMed Central

    Monedero, Vicente; Rodríguez-Díaz, Jesús; Viana, Rosa; Buesa, Javier; Pérez-Martínez, Gaspar

    2004-01-01

    Single-chain antibodies (scFv) recognizing the VP8* fraction of rotavirus outer capsid and blocking rotavirus infection in vitro were isolated by phage display. Vectors for the extracellular expression in Lactobacillus casei of one of the scFv were constructed. L. casei was able to secrete active scFv to the growth medium, showing the potential of probiotic bacteria to be engineered to express molecules suitable for in vivo antirotavirus therapies. PMID:15528568

  5. C4d-negative antibody-mediated rejection with high anti-angiotensin II type I receptor antibodies in absence of donor-specific antibodies.

    PubMed

    Fuss, Alexander; Hope, Christopher M; Deayton, Susan; Bennett, Greg Donald; Holdsworth, Rhonda; Carroll, Robert P; Coates, P Toby H

    2015-07-01

    Acute antibody-mediated rejection can occur in absence of circulating donor-specific antibodies. Agonistic antibodies targeting the anti-angiotensin II type 1 receptor (anti-AT1 R) are emerging as important non-human leucocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies. Elevated levels of anti-angiotensin II receptor antibodies were first observed in kidney transplant recipients with malignant hypertension and allograft rejection. They have now been studied in three separate kidney transplant populations and associate to frequency of rejection, severity of rejection and graft failure. We report 11 cases of biopsy-proven, Complement 4 fragment d (C4d)-negative, acute rejection occurring without circulating donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies. In eight cases, anti-angiotensin receptor antibodies were retrospectively examined. The remaining three subjects were identified from our centre's newly instituted routine anti-angiotensin receptor antibody screening. All subjects fulfilled Banff 2013 criteria for antibody-mediated rejection and all responded to anti-rejection therapy, which included plasma exchange and angiotensin receptor blocker therapy. These cases support the routine assessment of anti-AT1 R antibodies in kidney transplant recipients to identify subjects at risk. Further studies will need to determine optimal assessment protocol and the effectiveness of pre-emptive treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers. © 2015 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.

  6. Development of antibodies against the rat brain somatostatin receptor.

    PubMed

    Theveniau, M; Rens-Domiano, S; Law, S F; Rougon, G; Reisine, T

    1992-05-15

    Somatostatin (SRIF) is a neurotransmitter in the brain involved in the regulation of motor activity and cognition. It induces its physiological actions by interacting with receptors. We have developed antibodies against the receptor to investigate its structural properties. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were generated against the rat brain SRIF receptor. These antibodies (F4) were able to immunoprecipitate solubilized SRIF receptors from rat brain and the cell line AtT-20. The specificity of the interaction of these antibodies with SRIF receptors was further demonstrated by immunoblotting. F4 detected SRIF receptors of 60 kDa from rat brain and adrenal cortex and the cell lines AtT-20, GH3, and NG-108, which express high densities of SRIF receptors. They did not detect immunoreactive material from rat liver or COS-1, HEPG, or CRL cells, which do not express functional SRIF receptors. In rat brain, 60-kDa immunoreactivity was detected by F4 in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and striatum, which have high densities of SRIF receptors. However, F4 did not interact with proteins from cerebellum and brain stem, which express few SRIF receptors. Immunoreactive material cannot be detected in rat pancreas or pituitary, which have been reported to express a 90-kDa SRIF receptor subtype. The selective detection of 60-kDa SRIF receptors by F4 indicates that the 60- and 90-kDa SRIF receptor subtypes are immunologically distinct. The availability of antibodies that selectively detect native and denatured brain SRIF receptors provides us with a feasible approach to clone the brain SRIF receptor gene(s).

  7. Single-Cell Droplet Microfluidic Screening for Antibodies Specifically Binding to Target Cells.

    PubMed

    Shembekar, Nachiket; Hu, Hongxing; Eustace, David; Merten, Christoph A

    2018-02-20

    Monoclonal antibodies are a main player in modern drug discovery. Many antibody screening formats exist, each with specific advantages and limitations. Nonetheless, it remains challenging to screen antibodies for the binding of cell-surface receptors (the most important class of all drug targets) or for the binding to target cells rather than purified proteins. Here, we present a high-throughput droplet microfluidics approach employing dual-color normalized fluorescence readout to detect antibody binding. This enables us to obtain quantitative data on target cell recognition, using as little as 33 fg of IgG per assay. Starting with an excess of hybridoma cells releasing unspecific antibodies, individual clones secreting specific binders (of target cells co-encapsulated into droplets) could be enriched 220-fold after sorting 80,000 clones in a single experiment. This opens the way for therapeutic antibody discovery, especially since the single-cell approach is in principle also applicable to primary human plasma cells. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Production of novel recombinant single-domain antibodies against tandem repeat region of MUC1 mucin.

    PubMed

    Rahbarizadeh, F; Rasaee, M J; Forouzandeh Moghadam, M; Allameh, A A; Sadroddiny, E

    2004-06-01

    Recently, the existence of "heavy-chain" antibody in Camelidae has been described. However, as yet there is no data on the binding of this type of antibody to peptides. In addition, there was not any report of production of single-domain antibodies in two-humped camels (Camelus bactrianus). In the present study, these questions are addressed. We showed the feasibility of immunizing old world camels, cloning the repertoire of the variable domain of their heavy-chain antibodies, panning and selection, leading to the successful identification of minimum-sized antigen binders. Antigen-specific fragments of the heavy-chain IgGs (V(HH)) are of great interest in biotechnology because they are very stable, highly soluble, and react specifically and with high affinity to the antigens. In this study, we immunized two camels (Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus) with homogenized cancerous tissues, synthetic peptide, and human milk fat globule membrane (HMFG), and generated two V(HH) libraries displayed on phage particles. Some single-domain antibody fragments have been isolated that specifically recognize the tandem repeat region of MUC1. The camels' single-domain V(HH) harbor the original, intact antigen binding site and reacted specifically and with high affinity to the tandem repeat region of MUC1. Indeed soluble, specific antigen binders and good affinities (in the range of 0.2 x 10(9) M(-1) to 0.6 x 10(9) M(-1)) were identified from these libraries. This is the first example of the isolation of camel anti-peptide V(HH) domains.

  9. Gladiolus plants transformed with single-chain variable fragment antibodies to Cucumber mosaic virus

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Transgenic plants of Gladiolus ‘Peter Pears’ or ‘Jenny Lee’ were developed that contain single-chain variable fragments (scFv) to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) subgroup I or II. The CMV subgroup I heavy and light chain scFv fragments were placed under control of either the duplicated CaMV 35S or suga...

  10. Measuring Single-Domain Antibody Interactions with Epitopes in Jet Fuel Using Microscale Thermophoresis

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-01-01

    precluded because they are expensive to produce and unstable in all but the most optimized conditions. Aptamers have provided a popular alternative...has proven difficult (Song, Lee, and Ban 2012). Aptamers , however, do include their own challenges as their isolation through selection pro- cesses are...single-chain antibodies contain the same recognition properties of standard antibodies but are much smaller with a stability similar to aptamers

  11. Heterologous Antigen Selection of Camelid Heavy Chain Single Domain Antibodies against Tetrabromobisphenol A

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a ubiquitous flame retardant. A high-throughput immunoassay would allow for monitoring of human and environmental exposures as a part of risk assessment. Naturally occurring antibodies in camelids that are devoid of light chain, show great promise as an efficient tool in monitoring environmental contaminants, but they have been rarely used for small molecules. An alpaca was immunized with a TBBPA hapten coupled to thyroglobulin and a variable domain of heavy chain antibody (VHH) T3–15 highly selective for TBBPA was isolated from a phage displayed VHH library using heterologous coating antigens. Compared to the VHHs isolated using homologous antigens, VHH T3–15 had about a 10-fold improvement in sensitivity in an immunoassay. This assay, under the optimized conditions of 10% methanol in the assay buffer (pH 7.4), had an IC50 for TBBPA of 0.40 ng mL–1 and negligible cross reactivity (<0.1%) with other tested analogues. After heating the VHH at 90 °C for 90 min about 20% of the affinity for coating antigen T3-BSA remained. The recoveries of TBBPA from spiked soil and fetal bovine serum samples ranged from 90.3% to 110.7% by ELISA and agreed well with a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. We conclude the many advantages of VHH make them attractive for the development of immunoassays to small molecules. PMID:25068372

  12. Preclinical Testing Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Strain GLV-5b451 Expressing an Anti-VEGF Single-Chain Antibody for Canine Cancer Therapy

    PubMed Central

    Adelfinger, Marion; Bessler, Simon; Frentzen, Alexa; Cecil, Alexander; Langbein-Laugwitz, Johanna; Gentschev, Ivaylo; Szalay, Aladar A.

    2015-01-01

    Virotherapy on the basis of oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV) strains is a novel approach for canine cancer therapy. Here we describe, for the first time, the characterization and the use of VACV strain GLV-5b451 expressing the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) single-chain antibody (scAb) GLAF-2 as therapeutic agent against different canine cancers. Cell culture data demonstrated that GLV-5b451 efficiently infected and destroyed all four tested canine cancer cell lines including: mammary carcinoma (MTH52c), mammary adenoma (ZMTH3), prostate carcinoma (CT1258), and soft tissue sarcoma (STSA-1). The GLV-5b451 virus-mediated production of GLAF-2 antibody was observed in all four cancer cell lines. In addition, this antibody specifically recognized canine VEGF. Finally, in canine soft tissue sarcoma (CSTS) xenografted mice, a single systemic administration of GLV-5b451 was found to be safe and led to anti-tumor effects resulting in the significant reduction and substantial long-term inhibition of tumor growth. A CD31-based immuno-staining showed significantly decreased neo-angiogenesis in GLV-5b451-treated tumors compared to the controls. In summary, these findings indicate that GLV-5b451 has potential for use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of CSTS. PMID:26205404

  13. Enzymatic single-chain antibody tagging: a universal approach to targeted molecular imaging and cell homing in cardiovascular disease.

    PubMed

    Ta, H T; Prabhu, S; Leitner, E; Jia, F; von Elverfeldt, D; Jackson, Katherine E; Heidt, T; Nair, A K N; Pearce, H; von Zur Muhlen, C; Wang, X; Peter, K; Hagemeyer, C E

    2011-08-05

    Antibody-targeted delivery of imaging agents can enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of current imaging techniques. Similarly, homing of effector cells to disease sites increases the efficacy of regenerative cell therapy while reducing the number of cells required. Currently, targeting can be achieved via chemical conjugation to specific antibodies, which typically results in the loss of antibody functionality and in severe cell damage. An ideal conjugation technique should ensure retention of antigen-binding activity and functionality of the targeted biological component. To develop a biochemically robust, highly reproducible, and site-specific coupling method using the Staphylococcus aureus sortase A enzyme for the conjugation of a single-chain antibody (scFv) to nanoparticles and cells for molecular imaging and cell homing in cardiovascular diseases. This scFv specifically binds to activated platelets, which play a pivotal role in thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and inflammation. The conjugation procedure involves chemical and enzyme-mediated coupling steps. The scFv was successfully conjugated to iron oxide particles (contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging) and to model cells. Conjugation efficiency ranged between 50% and 70%, and bioactivity of the scFv after coupling was preserved. The targeting of scFv-coupled cells and nanoparticles to activated platelets was strong and specific as demonstrated in in vitro static adhesion assays, in a flow chamber system, in mouse intravital microscopy, and in in vivo magnetic resonance imaging of mouse carotid arteries. This unique biotechnological approach provides a versatile and broadly applicable tool for procuring targeted regenerative cell therapy and targeted molecular imaging in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases and beyond.

  14. Development and Evaluation of Single Domain Antibodies for Vaccinia and the L1 Antigen

    PubMed Central

    Walper, Scott A.; Liu, Jinny L.; Zabetakis, Daniel; Anderson, George P.; Goldman, Ellen R.

    2014-01-01

    There is ongoing interest to develop high affinity, thermal stable recognition elements to replace conventional antibodies in biothreat detection assays. As part of this effort, single domain antibodies that target vaccinia virus were developed. Two llamas were immunized with killed viral particles followed by boosts with the recombinant membrane protein, L1, to stimulate the immune response for envelope and membrane proteins of the virus. The variable domains of the induced heavy chain antibodies were selected from M13 phage display libraries developed from isolated RNA. Selection via biopanning on the L1 antigen produced single domain antibodies that were specific and had affinities ranging from 4×10−9 M to 7.0×10−10 M, as determined by surface plasmon resonance. Several showed good ability to refold after heat denaturation. These L1-binding single domain antibodies, however, failed to recognize the killed vaccinia antigen. Useful vaccinia binding single domain antibodies were isolated by a second selection using the killed virus as the target. The virus binding single domain antibodies were incorporated in sandwich assays as both capture and tracer using the MAGPIX system yielding limits of detection down to 4×105 pfu/ml, a four-fold improvement over the limit obtained using conventional antibodies. This work demonstrates the development of anti-vaccinia single domain antibodies and their incorporation into sandwich assays for viral detection. It also highlights the properties of high affinity and thermal stability that are hallmarks of single domain antibodies. PMID:25211488

  15. Isolation of a human anti-epidermal growth factor receptor Fab antibody, EG-19-11, with subnanomolar affinity from naïve immunoglobulin repertoires using a hierarchical antibody library system.

    PubMed

    Hur, Byung-ung; Yoon, Jae-bong; Liu, Li-Kun; Cha, Sang-hoon

    2010-11-30

    Specific antibodies that possess a subnanomolar affinity are very difficult to obtain from human naïve immunoglobulin repertoires without the use of lengthy affinity optimization procedures. Here, we designed a hierarchical phage-displayed antibody library system to generate an enormous diversity of combinatorial Fab fragments (6×10(17)) and attempted to isolate high-affinity Fabs against the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). A primary antibody library, designated HuDVFab-8L, comprising 4.5×10(9) human naïve heavy chains and eight unspecified human naïve light chains was selected against the EGFR-Fc protein by biopanning, and four anti-EGFR Fab clones were isolated. Because one of the Fab clones, denoted EG-L2-11, recognized a native EGFR expressed on A431 cells, the heavy chain of the Fab was shuffled with a human naïve light chain repertoire with a diversity of 1.4×10(8) and selected a second time against the EGFR-Fc protein again. One EG-L2-11 variant, denoted EG-19-11, recognized an EGFR epitope that was almost the same as that bound by cetuximab and had a K(D) of approximately 540 pM for soluble EGFR, which is about 7-fold higher than that of the FabC225 derived from cetuximab. This variant was also internalized by A431 cells, likely via receptor-mediated endocytosis, and it efficiently inhibited EGF-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR. These results demonstrate that the use of our hierarchical antibody library system is advantageous in generating fully human antibodies especially with a therapeutic purpose. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Production and characterization of a single chain variable fragment (scFv) for the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Deoxynivalenol (DON)is a mycotoxin produced by certain fungi that infest cereal grains worldwide. A hybridoma cell line producing a monoclonal antibody (Mab) recognizing DON was used as the starting point in the development of a recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody. The scFv wa...

  17. Peptide docking of HIV-1 p24 with single chain fragment variable (scFv) by CDOCKER algorithm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karim, Hana Atiqah Abdul; Tayapiwatana, Chatchai; Nimmanpipug, Piyarat; Zain, Sharifuddin M.; Rahman, Noorsaadah Abdul; Lee, Vannajan Sanghiran

    2014-10-01

    In search for the important residues that might have involve in the binding interaction between the p24 caspid protein of HIV-1 fragment (MET68 - PRO90) with the single chain fragment variable (scFv) of FAB23.5, modern computational chemistry approach has been conducted and applied. The p24 fragment was initially taken out from the 1AFV protein molecule consisting of both light (VL) and heavy (VH) chains of FAB23.5 as well as the HIV-1 caspid protein. From there, the p24 (antigen) fragment was made to dock back into the protein pocket receptor (antibody) by using the CDOCKER algorithm to conduct the molecular docking process. The score calculated from the CDOCKER gave 15 possible docked poses with various docked ligand's positions, the interaction energy as well as the binding energy. The best docked pose that imitates the original antigen's position was determined and further processed to the In Situ minimization to obtain the residues interaction energy as well as to observe the hydrogen bonds interaction in the protein-peptide complex. Based on the results demonstrated, the specific residues in the complex that have shown immense lower interaction energies in the 5Å vicinity region from the peptide are from the heavy chain (VH:TYR105) and light chain (VL: ASN31, TYR32, and GLU97). Those residues play vital roles in the binding mechanism of Antibody-Antigen (Ab-Ag) complex of p24 with FAB23.5.

  18. Isolation of anti-toxin single domain antibodies from a semi-synthetic spiny dogfish shark display library.

    PubMed

    Liu, Jinny L; Anderson, George P; Goldman, Ellen R

    2007-11-19

    Shark heavy chain antibody, also called new antigen receptor (NAR), consists of one single Variable domain (VH), containing only two complementarity-determining regions (CDRs). The antigen binding affinity and specificity are mainly determined by these two CDRs. The good solubility, excellent thermal stability and complex sequence variation of small single domain antibodies (sdAbs) make them attractive alternatives to conventional antibodies. In this report, we construct and characterize a diversity enhanced semi-synthetic NAR V display library based on naturally occurring NAR V sequences. A semi-synthetic shark sdAb display library with a complexity close to 1e9 was constructed. This was achieved by introducing size and sequence variations in CDR3 using randomized CDR3 primers of three different lengths. Binders against three toxins, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), ricin, and botulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) complex toxoid, were isolated from panning the display library. Soluble sdAbs from selected binders were purified and evaluated using direct binding and thermal stability assays on the Luminex 100. In addition, sandwich assays using sdAb as the reporter element were developed to demonstrate their utility for future sensor applications. We demonstrated the utility of a newly created hyper diversified shark NAR displayed library to serve as a source of thermal stable sdAbs against a variety of toxins.

  19. Isolation of anti-toxin single domain antibodies from a semi-synthetic spiny dogfish shark display library

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Jinny L; Anderson, George P; Goldman, Ellen R

    2007-01-01

    Background Shark heavy chain antibody, also called new antigen receptor (NAR), consists of one single Variable domain (VH), containing only two complementarity-determining regions (CDRs). The antigen binding affinity and specificity are mainly determined by these two CDRs. The good solubility, excellent thermal stability and complex sequence variation of small single domain antibodies (sdAbs) make them attractive alternatives to conventional antibodies. In this report, we construct and characterize a diversity enhanced semi-synthetic NAR V display library based on naturally occurring NAR V sequences. Results A semi-synthetic shark sdAb display library with a complexity close to 1e9 was constructed. This was achieved by introducing size and sequence variations in CDR3 using randomized CDR3 primers of three different lengths. Binders against three toxins, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), ricin, and botulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) complex toxoid, were isolated from panning the display library. Soluble sdAbs from selected binders were purified and evaluated using direct binding and thermal stability assays on the Luminex 100. In addition, sandwich assays using sdAb as the reporter element were developed to demonstrate their utility for future sensor applications. Conclusion We demonstrated the utility of a newly created hyper diversified shark NAR displayed library to serve as a source of thermal stable sdAbs against a variety of toxins. PMID:18021450

  20. B cell receptor editing in tolerance and autoimmunity

    PubMed Central

    Luning Prak, Eline T.; Monestier, Marc; Eisenberg, Robert A.

    2010-01-01

    Receptor editing is the process of ongoing antibody gene rearrangement in a lymphocyte that already has a functional antigen receptor. The expression of a functional antigen receptor will normally terminate further rearrangement (allelic exclusion). However, lymphocytes with autoreactive receptors have a chance at escaping negative regulation by “editing” the specificities of their receptors with additional antibody gene rearrangements. Nemazee points out, “receptor editing separates receptor selection from cellular selection.”1 As such, editing complicates the Clonal Selection Hypothesis, because edited cells are not simply endowed for life with a single, invariant antigen receptor.2 For example, an edited B cell changes the specificity of its B cell receptor (BCR), and if the initial immunoglobulin gene is not inactivated during the editing process, allelic exclusion is violated, and the B cell can exhibit two specificities. Here we will describe the discovery of editing, the pathways of receptor editing at the heavy (H) and light (L) chain loci, and current evidence regarding how and where editing happens and what effects it has on the antibody repertoire. PMID:21251012

  1. A shark antibody heavy chain encoded by a nonsomatically rearranged VDJ is preferentially expressed in early development and is convergent with mammalian IgG.

    PubMed

    Rumfelt, L L; Avila, D; Diaz, M; Bartl, S; McKinney, E C; Flajnik, M F

    2001-02-13

    In most vertebrate embryos and neonates studied to date unique antigen receptors (antibodies and T cell receptors) are expressed that possess a limited immune repertoire. We have isolated a subclass of IgM, IgM(1gj), from the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum that is preferentially expressed in neonates. The variable (V) region gene encoding the heavy (H) chain underwent V-D-J rearrangement in germ cells ("germline-joined"). Such H chain V genes were discovered over 10 years ago in sharks but until now were not shown to be expressed at appreciable levels; we find expression of H(1gj) in primary and secondary lymphoid tissues early in life, but in adults only in primary lymphoid tissue, which is identified in this work as the epigonal organ. H(1gj) chain associates covalently with light (L) chains and is most similar in sequence to IgM H chains, but like mammalian IgG has three rather than the four IgM constant domains; deletion of the ancestral IgM C2 domain thus defines both IgG and IgM(1gj). Because sharks are the members of the oldest vertebrate class known to possess antibodies, unique or specialized antibodies expressed early in ontogeny in sharks and other vertebrates were likely present at the inception of the adaptive immune system.

  2. A shark antibody heavy chain encoded by a nonsomatically rearranged VDJ is preferentially expressed in early development and is convergent with mammalian IgG

    PubMed Central

    Rumfelt, Lynn L.; Avila, David; Diaz, Marilyn; Bartl, Simona; McKinney, E. Churchill; Flajnik, Martin F.

    2001-01-01

    In most vertebrate embryos and neonates studied to date unique antigen receptors (antibodies and T cell receptors) are expressed that possess a limited immune repertoire. We have isolated a subclass of IgM, IgM1gj, from the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum that is preferentially expressed in neonates. The variable (V) region gene encoding the heavy (H) chain underwent V-D-J rearrangement in germ cells (“germline-joined”). Such H chain V genes were discovered over 10 years ago in sharks but until now were not shown to be expressed at appreciable levels; we find expression of H1gj in primary and secondary lymphoid tissues early in life, but in adults only in primary lymphoid tissue, which is identified in this work as the epigonal organ. H1gj chain associates covalently with light (L) chains and is most similar in sequence to IgM H chains, but like mammalian IgG has three rather than the four IgM constant domains; deletion of the ancestral IgM C2 domain thus defines both IgG and IgM1gj. Because sharks are the members of the oldest vertebrate class known to possess antibodies, unique or specialized antibodies expressed early in ontogeny in sharks and other vertebrates were likely present at the inception of the adaptive immune system. PMID:11172027

  3. Generation of single domain antibody fragments derived from camelids and generation of manifold constructs.

    PubMed

    Vincke, Cécile; Gutiérrez, Carlos; Wernery, Ulrich; Devoogdt, Nick; Hassanzadeh-Ghassabeh, Gholamreza; Muyldermans, Serge

    2012-01-01

    Immunizing a camelid (camels and llamas) with soluble, properly folded proteins raises an affinity-matured immune response in the unique camelid heavy-chain only antibodies (HCAbs). The peripheral blood lymphocytes of the immunized animal are used to clone the antigen-binding antibody fragment from the HCAbs in a phage display vector. A representative aliquot of the library of these antigen-binding fragments is used to retrieve single domain antigen-specific binders by successive rounds of panning. These single domain antibody fragments are cloned in tandem to generate manifold constructs (bivalent, biparatopic or bispecific constructs) to increase their functional affinity, to increase specificity, or to connect two independent antigen molecules.

  4. HER2 monoclonal antibodies that do not interfere with receptor heterodimerization-mediated signaling induce effective internalization and represent valuable components for rational antibody-drug conjugate design.

    PubMed

    de Goeij, Bart E C G; Peipp, Matthias; de Haij, Simone; van den Brink, Edward N; Kellner, Christian; Riedl, Thilo; de Jong, Rob; Vink, Tom; Strumane, Kristin; Bleeker, Wim K; Parren, Paul W H I

    2014-01-01

    The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2 provides an excellent target for selective delivery of cytotoxic drugs to tumor cells by antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) as has been clinically validated by ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla(TM)). While selecting a suitable antibody for an ADC approach often takes specificity and efficient antibody-target complex internalization into account, the characteristics of the optimal antibody candidate remain poorly understood. We studied a large panel of human HER2 antibodies to identify the characteristics that make them most suitable for an ADC approach. As a model toxin, amenable to in vitro high-throughput screening, we employed Pseudomonas exotoxin A (ETA') fused to an anti-kappa light chain domain antibody. Cytotoxicity induced by HER2 antibodies, which were thus non-covalently linked to ETA', was assessed for high and low HER2 expressing tumor cell lines and correlated with internalization and downmodulation of HER2 antibody-target complexes. Our results demonstrate that HER2 antibodies that do not inhibit heterodimerization of HER2 with related ErbB receptors internalize more efficiently and show greater ETA'-mediated cytotoxicity than antibodies that do inhibit such heterodimerization. Moreover, stimulation with ErbB ligand significantly enhanced ADC-mediated tumor kill by antibodies that do not inhibit HER2 heterodimerization. This suggests that the formation of HER2/ErbB-heterodimers enhances ADC internalization and subsequent killing of tumor cells. Our study indicates that selecting HER2 ADCs that allow piggybacking of HER2 onto other ErbB receptors provides an attractive strategy for increasing ADC delivery and tumor cell killing capacity to both high and low HER2 expressing tumor cells.

  5. Crystal structures of ricin toxin's enzymatic subunit (RTA) in complex with neutralizing and non-neutralizing single-chain antibodies.

    PubMed

    Rudolph, Michael J; Vance, David J; Cheung, Jonah; Franklin, Matthew C; Burshteyn, Fiana; Cassidy, Michael S; Gary, Ebony N; Herrera, Cristina; Shoemaker, Charles B; Mantis, Nicholas J

    2014-08-26

    Ricin is a select agent toxin and a member of the RNA N-glycosidase family of medically important plant and bacterial ribosome-inactivating proteins. In this study, we determined X-ray crystal structures of the enzymatic subunit of ricin (RTA) in complex with the antigen binding domains (VHH) of five unique single-chain monoclonal antibodies that differ in their respective toxin-neutralizing activities. None of the VHHs made direct contact with residues involved in RTA's RNA N-glycosidase activity or induced notable allosteric changes in the toxin's subunit. Rather, the five VHHs had overlapping structural epitopes on the surface of the toxin and differed in the degree to which they made contact with prominent structural elements in two folding domains of the RTA. In general, RTA interactions were influenced most by the VHH CDR3 (CDR, complementarity-determining region) elements, with the most potent neutralizing antibody having the shortest and most conformationally constrained CDR3. These structures provide unique insights into the mechanisms underlying toxin neutralization and provide critically important information required for the rational design of ricin toxin subunit vaccines. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Effects of protein engineering and rational mutagenesis on crystal lattice of single chain antibody fragments

    PubMed Central

    Kalyoncu, Sibel; Hyun, Jeongmin; Pai, Jennifer C.; Johnson, Jennifer L.; Entzminger, Kevin; Jain, Avni; Heaner, David P.; Morales, Ivan A.; Truskett, Thomas M.; Maynard, Jennifer A.; Lieberman, Raquel L.

    2014-01-01

    Protein crystallization is dependent upon, and sensitive to, the intermolecular contacts that assist in ordering proteins into a three dimensional lattice. Here we used protein engineering and mutagenesis to affect the crystallization of single chain antibody fragments (scFvs) that recognize the EE epitope (EYMPME) with high affinity. These hypercrystallizable scFvs are under development to assist difficult proteins, such as membrane proteins, in forming crystals, by acting as crystallization chaperones. Guided by analyses of intermolecular crystal lattice contacts, two second-generation anti-EE scFvs were produced, which bind to proteins with installed EE tags. Surprisingly, although non-complementarity determining region (CDR) lattice residues from the parent scFv framework remained unchanged through the processes of protein engineering and rational design, crystal lattices of the derivative scFvs differ. Comparison of energy calculations and the experimentally-determined lattice interactions for this basis set provides insight into the complexity of the forces driving crystal lattice choice and demonstrates the availability of multiple well-ordered surface features in our scFvs capable of forming versatile crystal contacts. PMID:24615866

  7. Determination of allergen specificity by heavy chains in grass pollen allergen-specific IgE antibodies.

    PubMed

    Gadermaier, Elisabeth; Flicker, Sabine; Lupinek, Christian; Steinberger, Peter; Valenta, Rudolf

    2013-04-01

    Affinity and clonality of allergen-specific IgE antibodies are important determinants for the magnitude of IgE-mediated allergic inflammation. We sought to analyze the contribution of heavy and light chains of human allergen-specific IgE antibodies for allergen specificity and to test whether promiscuous pairing of heavy and light chains with different allergen specificity allows binding and might affect affinity. Ten IgE Fabs specific for 3 non-cross-reactive major timothy grass pollen allergens (Phl p 1, Phl p 2, and Phl p 5) obtained by means of combinatorial cloning from patients with grass pollen allergy were used to construct stable recombinant single chain variable fragments (ScFvs) representing the original Fabs and shuffled ScFvs in which heavy chains were recombined with light chains from IgE Fabs with specificity for other allergens by using the pCANTAB 5 E expression system. Possible ancestor genes for the heavy chain and light chain variable region-encoding genes were determined by using sequence comparison with the ImMunoGeneTics database, and their chromosomal locations were determined. Recombinant ScFvs were tested for allergen specificity and epitope recognition by means of direct and sandwich ELISA, and affinity by using surface plasmon resonance experiments. The shuffling experiments demonstrate that promiscuous pairing of heavy and light chains is possible and maintains allergen specificity, which is mainly determined by the heavy chains. ScFvs consisting of different heavy and light chains exhibited different affinities and even epitope specificity for the corresponding allergen. Our results indicate that allergen specificity of allergen-specific IgE is mainly determined by the heavy chains. Different heavy and light chain pairings in allergen-specific IgE antibodies affect affinity and epitope specificity and thus might influence clinical reactivity to allergens. Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by

  8. [Transient expression and characterization of intracellular single chain Fv against the nucleocapsid protein of Hantavirus].

    PubMed

    Bai, Wen-tao; Xu, Zhi-kai; Zhang, Fang-lin; Luo, Wen; Liu, Yong; Wu, Xing-an; Yan, Yan

    2004-11-01

    To transiently express an intracellular single chain Fv of monoclonal antibody 1A8 against nucleocapsid protein of Hantavirus and characterize the immunological activities of the expressed products. COS-7 cells were transfected with mammalian expression vector 1A8-scFv-Ckappa/pCI-neo via lipofectin. The expressed product was identified by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation. A diffuse pattern fluorescence was observed in less than 1% cytoplasm of transfected COS-7 cells. The binding of intracellular antibody fragments to NP antigen was confirmed by immunoprecipitation analysis. Transiently expressed single chain intrabodies can effectively target NP antigen in the cytoplasm. The present study may provide a new approach for treatment of Hantavirus.

  9. Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells express T3 antigen and the T-cell receptor gamma chain.

    PubMed Central

    Stingl, G; Koning, F; Yamada, H; Yokoyama, W M; Tschachler, E; Bluestone, J A; Steiner, G; Samelson, L E; Lew, A M; Coligan, J E

    1987-01-01

    The murine epidermis is a heterogeneous epithelium composed of keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and a recently described subpopulation (2-3%) of bone-marrow-derived leukocytes with a dendritic morphology and the cell surface phenotype Thy-1+, L3T4-, Lyt-2-. Previous studies have demonstrated that cell lines derived from freshly explanted Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells (DEC) have abundant mRNA for rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma-chain genes. Analysis of Thy-1+ DEC in situ, freshly isolated cell suspensions of Thy-1+ DEC, and long-term Thy-1+ DEC lines demonstrated that 100% of the Thy-1+ DEC reacted with a monoclonal antibody to the epsilon chain of the murine T3 complex and that 40-60% of resident Thy-1+ DEC were also reactive with an antiserum to the TCR gamma chain. Two Thy-1+ DEC lines expressed a disulfide-linked 70-kDa molecule that could be precipitated with an anti-gamma-chain antiserum and could be coprecipitated with an antiserum to the T3 delta chain; the molecule appeared as a single 34-kDa band under reducing conditions. The phenotype of Thy-1+ DEC (T3+, L3T4-, Lyt-2-, TCR gamma chain+) thus resembles that of the recently described subpopulation of murine and human lymphocytes that have been identified in the thymus, peripheral blood, and fetal blood. Images PMID:2885839

  10. Production and characterization of anti-(mucin MUC1) single-domain antibody in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cultivar Xanthi).

    PubMed

    Ismaili, Ahmad; Jalali-Javaran, Mokhtar; Rasaee, Mohammad J; Rahbarizadeh, Fatemeh; Forouzandeh-Moghadam, Mehdi; Memari, Hamid Rajabi

    2007-05-01

    Members of the Camelidae (camels, dromedaries, llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas) are known to produce Igs (immunoglobulins) devoid of light chains and CH1s (constant heavy-chain domains). The antigen-specific binding fragments of these heavy-chain antibodies therefore comprise one single domain (the so-called 'VHH') and are of great importance in biotechnological applications. To evaluate the expression and biological activity of sdAbs (single-domain antibodies) in plants, which, on account of their small size and antigen-recognition properties, would have a major impact on antibody-engineering strategies, we constructed a pBI121-VHH gene encoding the recombinant sdAb fragments with specificity for a cancer-associated mucin, MUC1. Analysis of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cultivar Xanthi) plants by PCR and Western blotting demonstrated the expression of sdAb, while ELISA results with various MUC1 antigens and immunocytochemistry with cancerous cell lines confirmed that the activity of these molecules compared favourably with that of the parent recombinant antibodies. Protein purification was achieved by using sequential (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, gel filtration and immunoaffinity chromatography. Analysis of the purified VHH by ELISA indicated that the purified antibody fragments were able to react successfully with a MUC1-related peptide. These results reaffirm that the tobacco plant is a suitable host for the production of correctly folded VHH antibody fragments with diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

  11. High-throughput sequencing of natively paired antibody chains provides evidence for original antigenic sin shaping the antibody response to influenza vaccination.

    PubMed

    Tan, Yann-Chong; Blum, Lisa K; Kongpachith, Sarah; Ju, Chia-Hsin; Cai, Xiaoyong; Lindstrom, Tamsin M; Sokolove, Jeremy; Robinson, William H

    2014-03-01

    We developed a DNA barcoding method to enable high-throughput sequencing of the cognate heavy- and light-chain pairs of the antibodies expressed by individual B cells. We used this approach to elucidate the plasmablast antibody response to influenza vaccination. We show that >75% of the rationally selected plasmablast antibodies bind and neutralize influenza, and that antibodies from clonal families, defined by sharing both heavy-chain VJ and light-chain VJ sequence usage, do so most effectively. Vaccine-induced heavy-chain VJ regions contained on average >20 nucleotide mutations as compared to their predicted germline gene sequences, and some vaccine-induced antibodies exhibited higher binding affinities for hemagglutinins derived from prior years' seasonal influenza as compared to their affinities for the immunization strains. Our results show that influenza vaccination induces the recall of memory B cells that express antibodies that previously underwent affinity maturation against prior years' seasonal influenza, suggesting that 'original antigenic sin' shapes the antibody response to influenza vaccination. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  12. The production and characterization of novel heavy-chain antibodies against the tandem repeat region of MUC1 mucin.

    PubMed

    Rahbarizadeh, Fatemeh; Rasaee, Mohammad J; Forouzandeh, Mehdi; Allameh, Abdolamir; Sarrami, Ramin; Nasiry, Habib; Sadeghizadeh, Majid

    2005-01-01

    Camelidae are known to produce immunoglobulins (Igs) devoid of light chains and constant heavy-chain domains (CH1). Antigen-specific fragments of these heavy-chain IgGs (VHH) are of great interest in biotechnology applications. This paper describes the first example of successfully raised heavy-chain antibodies in Camelus dromedarius (single-humped camel) and Camelus bactrianus (two-humped camel) against a MUC1 related peptide that is found to be an important epitope expressed in cancerous tissue. Camels were immunized against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the tandem repeat region of MUC1 mucin and cancerous tissue preparation obtained from patients suffering from breast carcinoma. Three IgG subclasses with different binding properties to protein A and G were purified by affinity chromatography. Both conventional and heavy-chain IgG antibodies were produced in response to MUC1-related peptide. The elicited antibodies could react specifically with the tandem repeat region of MUC1 mucin in an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Anti-peptide antibodies were purified after passing antiserum over two affinity chromatography columns. Using ELISA, immunocytochemistry and Western blotting, the interaction of purified antibodies with different antigens was evaluated. The antibodies were observed to be selectively bound to antigens namely: MUC1 peptide (tandem repeat region), human milk fat globule membrane (HMFG), deglycosylated human milk fat globule membrane (D-HMFG), homogenized cancerous breast tissue and a native MUC1 purified from ascitic fluid. Ka values of specific polyclonal antipeptide antibodies were estimated in C. dromedarius and C. bactrianus, as 7 x 10(10) M(-1) and 1.4 x 10(10) M(-1) respectively.

  13. Human anti-CD30 recombinant antibodies by guided phage antibody selection using cell panning

    PubMed Central

    Klimka, A; Matthey, B; Roovers, R C; Barth, S; Arends, J-W; Engert, A; Hoogenboom, H R

    2000-01-01

    In various clinical studies, Hodgkin’s patients have been treated with anti-CD30 immunotherapeutic agents and have shown promising responses. One of the problems that appeared from these studies is the development of an immune response against the non-human therapeutics, which limits repeated administration and reduces efficacy. We have set out to make a recombinant, human anti-CD30 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody, which may serve as a targeting moiety with reduced immunogenicity and more rapid tumour penetration in similar clinical applications. Rather than selecting a naive phage antibody library on recombinant CD30 antigen, we used guided selection of a murine antibody in combination with panning on the CD30-positive cell line L540. The murine monoclonal antibody Ki-4 was chosen as starting antibody, because it inhibits the shedding of the extracellular part of the CD30 antigen. This makes the antibody better suited for CD30-targeting than most other anti-CD30 antibodies. We have previously isolated the murine Ki-4 scFv by selecting a mini-library of hybridoma-derived phage scFv-antibodies via panning on L540 cells. Here, we report that phage display technology was successfully used to obtain a human Ki-4 scFv version by guided selection. The murine variable heavy (VH) and light (VL) chain genes of the Ki-4 scFv were sequentially replaced by human V gene repertoires, while retaining only the major determinant for epitope-specificity: the heavy-chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of murine Ki-4. After two rounds of chain shuffling and selection by panning on L540 cells, a fully human anti-CD30 scFv was selected. It competes with the parental monoclonal antibody Ki-4 for binding to CD30, inhibits the shedding of the extracellular part of the CD30 receptor from L540 cells and is thus a promising candidate for the generation of anti-CD30 immunotherapeutics. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign PMID:10901379

  14. Llama-derived single domain antibodies specific for Abrus agglutinin.

    PubMed

    Goldman, Ellen R; Anderson, George P; Zabetakis, Dan; Walper, Scott; Liu, Jinny L; Bernstein, Rachael; Calm, Alena; Carney, James P; O'Brien, Thomas W; Walker, Jennifer L; Garber, Eric A E

    2011-11-01

    Llama derived single domain antibodies (sdAb), the recombinantly expressed variable heavy domains from the unique heavy-chain only antibodies of camelids, were isolated from a library derived from llamas immunized with a commercial abrin toxoid preparation. Abrin is a potent toxin similar to ricin in structure, sequence and mechanism of action. The selected sdAb were evaluated for their ability to bind to commercial abrin as well as abrax (a recombinant abrin A-chain), purified abrin fractions, Abrus agglutinin (a protein related to abrin but with lower toxicity), ricin, and unrelated proteins. Isolated sdAb were also evaluated for their ability to refold after heat denaturation and ability to be used in sandwich assays as both capture and reporter elements. The best binders were specific for the Abrus agglutinin, showing minimal binding to purified abrin fractions or unrelated proteins. These binders had sub nM affinities and regained most of their secondary structure after heating to 95 °C. They functioned well in sandwich assays. Through gel analysis and the behavior of anti-abrin monoclonal antibodies, we determined that the commercial toxoid preparation used for the original immunizations contained a high percentage of Abrus agglutinin, explaining the selection of Abrus agglutinin binders. Used in conjunction with anti-abrin monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, these reagents can fill a role to discriminate between the highly toxic abrin and the related, but much less toxic, Abrus agglutinin and distinguish between different crude preparations.

  15. Llama-Derived Single Domain Antibodies Specific for Abrus Agglutinin

    PubMed Central

    Goldman, Ellen R.; Anderson, George P.; Zabetakis, Dan; Walper, Scott; Liu, Jinny L.; Bernstein, Rachael; Calm, Alena; Carney, James P.; O’Brien, Thomas W.; Walker, Jennifer L.; Garber, Eric A. E.

    2011-01-01

    Llama derived single domain antibodies (sdAb), the recombinantly expressed variable heavy domains from the unique heavy-chain only antibodies of camelids, were isolated from a library derived from llamas immunized with a commercial abrin toxoid preparation. Abrin is a potent toxin similar to ricin in structure, sequence and mechanism of action. The selected sdAb were evaluated for their ability to bind to commercial abrin as well as abrax (a recombinant abrin A-chain), purified abrin fractions, Abrus agglutinin (a protein related to abrin but with lower toxicity), ricin, and unrelated proteins. Isolated sdAb were also evaluated for their ability to refold after heat denaturation and ability to be used in sandwich assays as both capture and reporter elements. The best binders were specific for the Abrus agglutinin, showing minimal binding to purified abrin fractions or unrelated proteins. These binders had sub nM affinities and regained most of their secondary structure after heating to 95 °C. They functioned well in sandwich assays. Through gel analysis and the behavior of anti-abrin monoclonal antibodies, we determined that the commercial toxoid preparation used for the original immunizations contained a high percentage of Abrus agglutinin, explaining the selection of Abrus agglutinin binders. Used in conjunction with anti-abrin monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, these reagents can fill a role to discriminate between the highly toxic abrin and the related, but much less toxic, Abrus agglutinin and distinguish between different crude preparations. PMID:22174977

  16. The Isolation of Novel Phage Display-Derived Human Recombinant Antibodies Against CCR5, the Major Co-Receptor of HIV

    PubMed Central

    Shimoni, Moria; Herschhorn, Alon; Britan-Rosich, Yelena; Kotler, Moshe; Benhar, Itai

    2013-01-01

    Abstract Selecting for antibodies against specific cell-surface proteins is a difficult task due to many unrelated proteins that are expressed on the cell surface. Here, we describe a method to screen antibody-presenting phage libraries against native cell-surface proteins. We applied this method to isolate antibodies that selectively recognize CCR5, which is the major co-receptor for HIV entry (consequently, playing a pivotal role in HIV transmission and pathogenesis). We employed a phage screening strategy by using cells that co-express GFP and CCR5, along with an excess of control cells that do not express these proteins (and are otherwise identical to the CCR5-expressing cells). These control cells are intended to remove most of the phages that bind the cells nonspecifically; thus leading to an enrichment of the phages presenting anti-CCR5-specific antibodies. Subsequently, the CCR5-presenting cells were quantitatively sorted by flow cytometry, and the bound phages were eluted, amplified, and used for further successive selection rounds. Several different clones of human single-chain Fv antibodies that interact with CCR5-expressing cells were identified. The most specific monoclonal antibody was converted to a full-length IgG and bound the second extracellular loop of CCR5. The experimental approach presented herein for screening for CCR5-specific antibodies can be applicable to screen antibody-presenting phage libraries against any cell-surface expressed protein of interest. PMID:23941674

  17. Development of single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies against Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca by phage display.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Qing; Jordan, Ramon; Brlansky, Ronald H; Istomina, Olga; Hartung, John

    2015-10-01

    Xylella fastidiosa is a member of the gamma proteobacteria. It is fastidious, insect-vectored and xylem-limited and causes a variety of diseases, some severe, on a wide range of economically important perennial crops, including grape and citrus. Antibody based detection assays are commercially available for X. fastidiosa, and are effective at the species, but not at the subspecies level. We have made a library of scFv antibody fragments directed against X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca strain 9a5c (citrus) by using phage display technology. Antibody gene repertoires were PCR-amplified using 23 primers for the heavy chain variable region (V(H)) and 21 primers for the light chain variable region (V(L)). The V(H) and V(L) were joined by overlap extension PCR, and then the genes of the scFv library were ligated into the phage vector pKM19. The library contained 1.2×10(7) independent clones with full-length scFv inserts. In each of 3cycles of affinity-selection with 9a5c, about 1.0×10(12) phage were used for panning with 4.1×10(6), 7.1×10(6), 2.1×10(7) phage recovered after the first, second and third cycles, respectively. Sixty-six percent of clones from the final library bound X. fastidiosa 9a5c in an ELISA. Some of these scFv antibodies recognized strain 9a5c and did not recognize X. fastidiosa strains that cause Pierce's disease of grapevine. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  18. Generation and characterization of a potent fully human monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-23 receptor.

    PubMed

    Sasaki-Iwaoka, Haruna; Ohori, Makoto; Imasato, Akira; Taguchi, Katsunari; Minoura, Kyoko; Saito, Tetsu; Kushima, Kiyoshi; Imamura, Emiko; Kubo, Satoshi; Furukawa, Shigetada; Morokata, Tatsuaki

    2018-06-05

    Interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 share a common subunit (p40) and function in T-helper (Th) 1 and Th17 immunity, respectively. Anti-IL-12/23p40 and specific anti-IL-23 antibodies are currently in clinical use for psoriasis and undergoing trials for autoimmune diseases. Since expression levels of the IL-23 receptor are likely to be much lower than those of IL-23, an anti-IL-23 receptor antibody might offer greater promise in inhibiting the IL-23-IL-17 pathways involved in inflammatory disorders. To our knowledge, no anti-IL-23 receptor antibody has been trialed in clinical studies to date. This study describes the generation and characterization of AS2762900-00, a fully human monoclonal antibody against the IL-23 receptor. AS2762900-00 bound both human and cynomolgus monkey IL-23 receptors. AS2762900-00 showed potent inhibitory effects on IL-23-induced Kit-225 cell proliferation compared to the existing anti-IL-12/23p40 antibody, ustekinumab. In a single dose administration pharmacodynamics study in cynomolgus monkeys, 1 mg/kg of AS2762900-00 significantly inhibited (> 85%) IL-23-induced STAT3 phosphorylation in blood for up to 84 days. Therefore, AS2762900-00 represents a potent novel IL-23-IL-17 pathway inhibitor with the potential to be developed into a new therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. A natively paired antibody library yields drug leads with higher sensitivity and specificity than a randomly paired antibody library.

    PubMed

    Adler, Adam S; Bedinger, Daniel; Adams, Matthew S; Asensio, Michael A; Edgar, Robert C; Leong, Renee; Leong, Jackson; Mizrahi, Rena A; Spindler, Matthew J; Bandi, Srinivasa Rao; Huang, Haichun; Tawde, Pallavi; Brams, Peter; Johnson, David S

    2018-04-01

    Deep sequencing and single-chain variable fragment (scFv) yeast display methods are becoming more popular for discovery of therapeutic antibody candidates in mouse B cell repertoires. In this study, we compare a deep sequencing and scFv display method that retains native heavy and light chain pairing with a related method that randomly pairs heavy and light chain. We performed the studies in a humanized mouse, using interleukin 21 receptor (IL-21R) as a test immunogen. We identified 44 high-affinity binder scFv with the native pairing method and 100 high-affinity binder scFv with the random pairing method. 30% of the natively paired scFv binders were also discovered with the randomly paired method, and 13% of the randomly paired binders were also discovered with the natively paired method. Additionally, 33% of the scFv binders discovered only in the randomly paired library were initially present in the natively paired pre-sort library. Thus, a significant proportion of "randomly paired" scFv were actually natively paired. We synthesized and produced 46 of the candidates as full-length antibodies and subjected them to a panel of binding assays to characterize their therapeutic potential. 87% of the antibodies were verified as binding IL-21R by at least one assay. We found that antibodies with native light chains were more likely to bind IL-21R than antibodies with non-native light chains, suggesting a higher false positive rate for antibodies from the randomly paired library. Additionally, the randomly paired method failed to identify nearly half of the true natively paired binders, suggesting a higher false negative rate. We conclude that natively paired libraries have critical advantages in sensitivity and specificity for antibody discovery programs.

  20. A natively paired antibody library yields drug leads with higher sensitivity and specificity than a randomly paired antibody library

    PubMed Central

    Adler, Adam S.; Bedinger, Daniel; Adams, Matthew S.; Asensio, Michael A.; Edgar, Robert C.; Leong, Renee; Leong, Jackson; Mizrahi, Rena A.; Spindler, Matthew J.; Bandi, Srinivasa Rao; Huang, Haichun; Brams, Peter; Johnson, David S.

    2018-01-01

    ABSTRACT Deep sequencing and single-chain variable fragment (scFv) yeast display methods are becoming more popular for discovery of therapeutic antibody candidates in mouse B cell repertoires. In this study, we compare a deep sequencing and scFv display method that retains native heavy and light chain pairing with a related method that randomly pairs heavy and light chain. We performed the studies in a humanized mouse, using interleukin 21 receptor (IL-21R) as a test immunogen. We identified 44 high-affinity binder scFv with the native pairing method and 100 high-affinity binder scFv with the random pairing method. 30% of the natively paired scFv binders were also discovered with the randomly paired method, and 13% of the randomly paired binders were also discovered with the natively paired method. Additionally, 33% of the scFv binders discovered only in the randomly paired library were initially present in the natively paired pre-sort library. Thus, a significant proportion of “randomly paired” scFv were actually natively paired. We synthesized and produced 46 of the candidates as full-length antibodies and subjected them to a panel of binding assays to characterize their therapeutic potential. 87% of the antibodies were verified as binding IL-21R by at least one assay. We found that antibodies with native light chains were more likely to bind IL-21R than antibodies with non-native light chains, suggesting a higher false positive rate for antibodies from the randomly paired library. Additionally, the randomly paired method failed to identify nearly half of the true natively paired binders, suggesting a higher false negative rate. We conclude that natively paired libraries have critical advantages in sensitivity and specificity for antibody discovery programs. PMID:29376776

  1. Targeting foreign major histocompatibility complex molecules to tumors by tumor cell specific single chain antibody (scFv).

    PubMed

    Li, Jinhua; Franek, Karl J; Patterson, Andrea L; Holmes, Lillia M; Burgin, Kelly E; Ji, Jianfei; Yu, Xianzhong; Wagner, Thomas E; Wei, Yanzhang

    2003-11-01

    Down-regulation of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is one of the major mechanisms that tumor cells adopted to escape immunosurveillance. Therefore, specifically coating tumor cells with foreign MHC may make tumor cells a better target for immune recognition and surveillance. In this study, we designed and generated a fusion protein, H2Kd/scPSMA, consisting of a single chain antibody against human prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and the extracellular domain of mouse H-2Kd. The expression of this fusion protein in B16F0 mouse melanoma cells was confirmed by RT-PCR and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). Our animal study showed that the expression of H2Kd/scPSMA in B16F0/PSMA5, a B16F0 cell line expressing human PSMA, significantly inhibited tumor growth as demonstrated in the pulmonary metastasis assay and tumor growth study and improved overall survival.

  2. Using llama derived single domain antibodies to target botulinum neurotoxins

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Swain, Marla D.; Anderson, George P.; Bernstein, Rachael D.; Liu, Jinny L.; Goldman, Ellen R.

    2010-04-01

    Llama serum contains both conventional IgG as well as unique forms of antibody that contain only heavy chains where antigen binding is mediated through a single variable domain. These variable domains can be expressed recombinantly and are referred to as single domain antibodies (sdAb). SdAb are among the smallest known naturally derived antigen binding fragments, possess good solubility, thermal stability, and can refold after heat and chemical denaturation. Llamas were immunized with either BoNT A or B toxoid and phage display libraries prepared. Single domain antibodies (sdAb) that were able to detect botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotypes A and B were selected from their respective libraries. Here, the binders obtained by panning the BoNT B library on either BoNT B toxoid or BoNT B complex toxoid coated plates or BoNT B toxin coupled microspheres are described. Using these panning methods, we selected for binders that showed specificity for BoNT B. Phage displayed binders were screened, moved to a protein expression vector and soluble sdAb was produced. Using a Luminex flow cytometer binders were evaluated in direct binding assays. We have exploited the unique properties of sdAb and used them as biological recognition elements in immuno-based sensors that can detect BoNT B.

  3. Activated Platelets in Carotid Artery Thrombosis in Mice Can Be Selectively Targeted with a Radiolabeled Single-Chain Antibody

    PubMed Central

    Goldschmidt, Jürgen; Pethe, Annette; Hagemeyer, Christoph E.; Neudorfer, Irene; Zirlik, Andreas; Weber, Wolfgang A.; Bode, Christoph; Meyer, Philipp T.

    2011-01-01

    Background Activated platelets can be found on the surface of inflamed, rupture-prone and ruptured plaques as well as in intravascular thrombosis. They are key players in thrombosis and atherosclerosis. In this study we describe the construction of a radiolabeled single-chain antibody targeting the LIBS-epitope of activated platelets to selectively depict platelet activation and wall-adherent non-occlusive thrombosis in a mouse model with nuclear imaging using in vitro and ex vivo autoradiography as well as small animal SPECT-CT for in vivo analysis. Methodology/Principal Findings LIBS as well as an unspecific control single-chain antibody were labeled with 111Indium (111In) via bifunctional DTPA ( = 111In-LIBS/111In-control). Autoradiography after incubation with 111In-LIBS on activated platelets in vitro (mean 3866±28 DLU/mm2, 4010±630 DLU/mm2 and 4520±293 DLU/mm2) produced a significantly higher ligand uptake compared to 111In-control (2101±76 DLU/mm2, 1181±96 DLU/mm2 and 1866±246 DLU/mm2) indicating a specific binding to activated platelets; P<0.05. Applying these findings to an ex vivo mouse model of carotid artery thrombosis revealed a significant increase in ligand uptake after injection of 111In-LIBS in the presence of small thrombi compared to the non-injured side, as confirmed by histology (49630±10650 DLU/mm2 vs. 17390±7470 DLU/mm2; P<0.05). These findings could also be reproduced in vivo. SPECT-CT analysis of the injured carotid artery with 111In-LIBS resulted in a significant increase of the target-to-background ratio compared to 111In-control (1.99±0.36 vs. 1.1±0.24; P<0.01). Conclusions/Significance Nuclear imaging with 111In-LIBS allows the detection of platelet activation in vitro and ex vivo with high sensitivity. Using SPECT-CT, wall-adherent activated platelets in carotid arteries could be depicted in vivo. These results encourage further studies elucidating the role of activated platelets in plaque pathology and atherosclerosis

  4. Alpaca (Lama pacos) as a convenient source of recombinant camelid heavy chain antibodies (VHHs)

    PubMed Central

    Maass, David R.; Sepulveda, Jorge; Pernthaner, Anton; Shoemaker, Charles B.

    2007-01-01

    Recombinant single domain antibody fragments (VHHs) that derive from the unusual camelid heavy chain only IgG class (HCAbs) have many favourable properties compared with single-chain antibodies prepared from conventional IgG. As a result, VHHs have become widely used as binding reagents and are beginning to show potential as therapeutic agents. To date, the source of VHH genetic material has been camels and llamas despite their large size and limited availability. Here we demonstrate that the smaller, more tractable and widely available alpaca is an excellent source of VHH coding DNA. Alpaca sera IgG consists of about 50% HCAbs, mostly of the short-hinge variety. Sequencing of DNA encoding more than 50 random VHH and hinge domains permitted the design of PCR primers that will amplify virtually all alpaca VHH coding DNAs for phage display library construction. Alpacas were immunized with ovine tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) and a VHH phage display library was prepared from a lymph node that drains the sites of immunizations and successfully employed in the isolation of VHHs that bind and neutralize ovine TNFα. PMID:17568607

  5. Netrin-1 receptor antibodies in thymoma-associated neuromyotonia with myasthenia gravis.

    PubMed

    Torres-Vega, Estefanía; Mancheño, Nuria; Cebrián-Silla, Arantxa; Herranz-Pérez, Vicente; Chumillas, María J; Moris, Germán; Joubert, Bastien; Honnorat, Jérôme; Sevilla, Teresa; Vílchez, Juan J; Dalmau, Josep; Graus, Francesc; García-Verdugo, José Manuel; Bataller, Luis

    2017-03-28

    To identify cell-surface antibodies in patients with neuromyotonia and to describe the main clinical implications. Sera of 3 patients with thymoma-associated neuromyotonia and myasthenia gravis were used to immunoprecipitate and characterize neuronal cell-surface antigens using reported techniques. The clinical significance of antibodies against precipitated proteins was assessed with sera of 98 patients (neuromyotonia 46, myasthenia gravis 52, thymoma 42; 33 of them with overlapping syndromes) and 219 controls (other neurologic diseases, cancer, and healthy volunteers). Immunoprecipitation studies identified 3 targets, including the Netrin-1 receptors DCC (deleted in colorectal carcinoma) and UNC5A (uncoordinated-5A) as well as Caspr2 (contactin-associated protein-like 2). Cell-based assays with these antigens showed that among the indicated patients, 9 had antibodies against Netrin-1 receptors (7 with additional Caspr2 antibodies) and 5 had isolated Caspr2 antibodies. Only one of the 219 controls had isolated Caspr2 antibodies with relapsing myelitis episodes. Among patients with neuromyotonia and/or myasthenia gravis, the presence of Netrin-1 receptor or Caspr2 antibodies predicted thymoma ( p < 0.05). Coexisting Caspr2 and Netrin-1 receptor antibodies were associated with concurrent thymoma, myasthenia gravis, and neuromyotonia, often with Morvan syndrome ( p = 0.009). Expression of DCC, UNC5A, and Caspr2 proteins was demonstrated in paraffin-embedded thymoma samples (3) and normal thymus. Antibodies against Netrin-1 receptors (DCC and UNC5a) and Caspr2 often coexist and associate with thymoma in patients with neuromyotonia and myasthenia gravis. This study provides Class III evidence that antibodies against Netrin-1 receptors can identify patients with thymoma (sensitivity 21.4%, specificity 100%). © 2017 American Academy of Neurology.

  6. Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) functions as receptor for specific sulfated glycosaminoglycans, and anti-RAGE antibody or sulfated glycosaminoglycans delivered in vivo inhibit pulmonary metastasis of tumor cells.

    PubMed

    Mizumoto, Shuji; Takahashi, Jun; Sugahara, Kazuyuki

    2012-06-01

    Altered expression of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparan sulfate (HS) at the surfaces of tumor cells plays a key role in malignant transformation and tumor metastasis. Previously we demonstrated that a Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-derived tumor cell line with high metastatic potential had a higher proportion of E-disaccharide units, GlcUA-GalNAc(4,6-O-disulfate), in CS chains than low metastatic LLC cells and that such CS chains are involved in the metastatic process. The metastasis was markedly inhibited by the pre-administration of CS-E from squid cartilage rich in E units or by preincubation with a phage display antibody specific for CS-E. However, the molecular mechanism of the inhibition remains to be investigated. In this study the receptor molecule for CS chains containing E-disaccharides expressed on LLC cells was revealed to be receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), which is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily predominantly expressed in the lung. Interestingly, RAGE bound strongly to not only E-disaccharide, but also HS-expressing LLC cells. Furthermore, the colonization of the lungs by LLC cells was effectively inhibited by the blocking of CS or HS chains at the tumor cell surface with an anti-RAGE antibody through intravenous injections in a dose-dependent manner. These results provide the clear evidence that RAGE is at least one of the critical receptors for CS and HS chains expressed at the tumor cell surface and involved in experimental lung metastasis and that CS/HS and RAGE are potential molecular targets in the treatment of pulmonary metastasis.

  7. Strong and oriented immobilization of single domain antibodies from crude bacterial lysates for high-throughput compatible cost-effective antibody array generation

    PubMed Central

    Even-Desrumeaux, Klervi; Baty, Daniel; Chames, Patrick

    2010-01-01

    Antibodies microarrays are among the novel class of rapidly emerging proteomic technologies that will allow us to efficiently perform specific diagnosis and proteome analysis. Recombinant antibody fragments are especially suited for this approach but their stability is often a limiting factor. Camelids produce functional antibodies devoid of light chains (HCAbs) of which the single N-terminal domain is fully capable of antigen binding. When produced as an independent domain, these so-called single domain antibody fragments (sdAbs) have several advantages for biotechnological applications thanks to their unique properties of size (15 kDa), stability, solubility, and expression yield. These features should allow sdAbs to outperform other antibody formats in a number of applications, notably as capture molecule for antibody arrays. In this study, we have produced antibody microarrays using direct and oriented immobilization of sdAbs produced in crude bacterial lysates to generate proof-of-principle of a high-throughput compatible array design. Several sdAb immobilization strategies have been explored. Immobilization of in vivo biotinylated sdAbs by direct spotting of bacterial lysate on streptavidin and sandwich detection was developed to achieve high sensitivity and specificity, whereas immobilization of “multi-tagged” sdAbs via anti-tag antibodies and direct labeled sample detection strategy was optimized for the design of high-density antibody arrays for high-throughput proteomics and identification of potential biomarkers. PMID:20859568

  8. The catalytic activity of a recombinant single chain variable fragment nucleic acid-hydrolysing antibody varies with fusion tag and expression host.

    PubMed

    Lee, Joungmin; Kim, Minjae; Seo, Youngsil; Lee, Yeonjin; Park, Hyunjoon; Byun, Sung June; Kwon, Myung-Hee

    2017-11-01

    The antigen-binding properties of single chain Fv antibodies (scFvs) can vary depending on the position and type of fusion tag used, as well as the host cells used for expression. The issue is even more complicated with a catalytic scFv antibody that binds and hydrolyses a specific antigen. Herein, we investigated the antigen-binding and -hydrolysing activities of the catalytic anti-nucleic acid antibody 3D8 scFv expressed in Escherichia coli or HEK293f cells with or without additional amino acid residues at the N- and C-termini. DNA-binding activity was retained in all recombinant forms. However, the DNA-hydrolysing activity varied drastically between forms. The DNA-hydrolysing activity of E. coli-derived 3D8 scFvs was not affected by the presence of a C-terminal human influenza haemagglutinin (HA) or His tag. By contrast, the activity of HEK293f-derived 3D8 scFvs was completely lost when additional residues were included at the N-terminus and/or when a His tag was incorporated at the C-terminus, whereas a HA tag at the C-terminus did not diminish activity. Thus, we demonstrate that the antigen-binding and catalytic activities of a catalytic antibody can be separately affected by the presence of additional residues at the N- and C-termini, and by the host cell type. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Antibody mediated in vivo delivery of small interfering RNAs via cell-surface receptors.

    PubMed

    Song, Erwei; Zhu, Pengcheng; Lee, Sang-Kyung; Chowdhury, Dipanjan; Kussman, Steven; Dykxhoorn, Derek M; Feng, Yi; Palliser, Deborah; Weiner, David B; Shankar, Premlata; Marasco, Wayne A; Lieberman, Judy

    2005-06-01

    Delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into cells is a key obstacle to their therapeutic application. We designed a protamine-antibody fusion protein to deliver siRNA to HIV-infected or envelope-transfected cells. The fusion protein (F105-P) was designed with the protamine coding sequence linked to the C terminus of the heavy chain Fab fragment of an HIV-1 envelope antibody. siRNAs bound to F105-P induced silencing only in cells expressing HIV-1 envelope. Additionally, siRNAs targeted against the HIV-1 capsid gene gag, inhibited HIV replication in hard-to-transfect, HIV-infected primary T cells. Intratumoral or intravenous injection of F105-P-complexed siRNAs into mice targeted HIV envelope-expressing B16 melanoma cells, but not normal tissue or envelope-negative B16 cells; injection of F105-P with siRNAs targeting c-myc, MDM2 and VEGF inhibited envelope-expressing subcutaneous B16 tumors. Furthermore, an ErbB2 single-chain antibody fused with protamine delivered siRNAs specifically into ErbB2-expressing cancer cells. This study demonstrates the potential for systemic, cell-type specific, antibody-mediated siRNA delivery.

  10. Netrin-1 receptor antibodies in thymoma-associated neuromyotonia with myasthenia gravis

    PubMed Central

    Torres-Vega, Estefanía; Mancheño, Nuria; Cebrián-Silla, Arantxa; Herranz-Pérez, Vicente; Chumillas, María J.; Moris, Germán; Joubert, Bastien; Honnorat, Jérôme; Sevilla, Teresa; Vílchez, Juan J.; Dalmau, Josep; Graus, Francesc; García-Verdugo, José Manuel

    2017-01-01

    Objective: To identify cell-surface antibodies in patients with neuromyotonia and to describe the main clinical implications. Methods: Sera of 3 patients with thymoma-associated neuromyotonia and myasthenia gravis were used to immunoprecipitate and characterize neuronal cell-surface antigens using reported techniques. The clinical significance of antibodies against precipitated proteins was assessed with sera of 98 patients (neuromyotonia 46, myasthenia gravis 52, thymoma 42; 33 of them with overlapping syndromes) and 219 controls (other neurologic diseases, cancer, and healthy volunteers). Results: Immunoprecipitation studies identified 3 targets, including the Netrin-1 receptors DCC (deleted in colorectal carcinoma) and UNC5A (uncoordinated-5A) as well as Caspr2 (contactin-associated protein-like 2). Cell-based assays with these antigens showed that among the indicated patients, 9 had antibodies against Netrin-1 receptors (7 with additional Caspr2 antibodies) and 5 had isolated Caspr2 antibodies. Only one of the 219 controls had isolated Caspr2 antibodies with relapsing myelitis episodes. Among patients with neuromyotonia and/or myasthenia gravis, the presence of Netrin-1 receptor or Caspr2 antibodies predicted thymoma (p < 0.05). Coexisting Caspr2 and Netrin-1 receptor antibodies were associated with concurrent thymoma, myasthenia gravis, and neuromyotonia, often with Morvan syndrome (p = 0.009). Expression of DCC, UNC5A, and Caspr2 proteins was demonstrated in paraffin-embedded thymoma samples (3) and normal thymus. Conclusions: Antibodies against Netrin-1 receptors (DCC and UNC5a) and Caspr2 often coexist and associate with thymoma in patients with neuromyotonia and myasthenia gravis. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that antibodies against Netrin-1 receptors can identify patients with thymoma (sensitivity 21.4%, specificity 100%). PMID:28251919

  11. Six commercially available angiotensin II AT1 receptor antibodies are non-specific.

    PubMed

    Benicky, Julius; Hafko, Roman; Sanchez-Lemus, Enrique; Aguilera, Greti; Saavedra, Juan M

    2012-11-01

    Commercially available Angiotensin II AT1 receptor antibodies are widely employed for receptor localization and quantification, but they have not been adequately validated. In this study, six commercially available AT1 receptor antibodies were characterized by established criteria: sc-1173 and sc-579 from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., AAR-011 from Alomone Labs, Ltd., AB15552 from Millipore, and ab18801 and ab9391 from Abcam. The immunostaining patterns observed were different for every antibody tested, and were unrelated to the presence or absence of AT1 receptors. The antibodies detected a 43 kDa band in western blots, corresponding to the predicted size of the native AT1 receptor. However, identical bands were observed in wild-type mice and in AT1A knock-out mice not expressing the target protein. Moreover, immunoreactivity detected in rat hypothalamic 4B cells not expressing AT1 receptors or transfected with AT1A receptor construct was identical, as revealed by western blotting and immunocytochemistry in cultured 4B cells. Additional prominent immunoreactive bands above and below 43 kDa were observed by western blotting in extracts from tissues of AT1A knock-out and wild-type mice and in 4B cells with or without AT1 receptor expression. In all cases, the patterns of immunoreactivity were independent of the AT1 receptor expression and different for each antibody studied. We conclude that, in our experimental setup, none of the commercially available AT1 receptor antibodies tested met the criteria for specificity and that competitive radioligand binding remains the only reliable approach to study AT1 receptor physiology in the absence of full antibody characterization.

  12. Six Commercially Available Angiotensin II AT1 Receptor Antibodies are Non-specific

    PubMed Central

    Benicky, Julius; Hafko, Roman; Sanchez-Lemus, Enrique; Aguilera, Greti

    2012-01-01

    Commercially available Angiotensin II AT1 receptor antibodies are widely employed for receptor localization and quantification, but they have not been adequately validated. In this study, six commercially available AT1 receptor antibodies were characterized by established criteria: sc-1173 and sc-579 from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., AAR-011 from Alomone Labs, Ltd., AB15552 from Millipore, and ab18801 and ab9391 from Abcam. The immunostaining patterns observed were different for every antibody tested, and were unrelated to the presence or absence of AT1 receptors. The antibodies detected a 43 kDa band in western blots, corresponding to the predicted size of the native AT1 receptor. However, identical bands were observed in wild-type mice and in AT1A knock-out mice not expressing the target protein. Moreover, immunoreactivity detected in rat hypothalamic 4B cells not expressing AT1 receptors or transfected with AT1A receptor construct was identical, as revealed by western blotting and immunocytochemistry in cultured 4B cells. Additional prominent immunoreactive bands above and below 43 kDa were observed by western blotting in extracts from tissues of AT1A knock-out and wild-type mice and in 4B cells with or without AT1 receptor expression. In all cases, the patterns of immunoreactivity were independent of the AT1 receptor expression and different for each antibody studied. We conclude that, in our experimental setup, none of the commercially available AT1 receptor antibodies tested met the criteria for specificity and that competitive radioligand binding remains the only reliable approach to study AT1 receptor physiology in the absence of full antibody characterization. PMID:22843099

  13. Hydrogel Tethering Enhances Interdomain Stabilization of Single-Chain Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Yijia; Ford, Nicole R; Hecht, Karen A; Roesijadi, Guritno; Squier, Thomas C

    2017-11-15

    Here, we identify the importance of molecular crowding agents in the functional stabilization of scFv antibodies. Antibodies were tethered through an engineered calmodulin (CaM)-binding peptide into a stimulus-responsive hydrogel composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-functionalized CaM. Macromolecular crowding is modulated by transient heating, which decreases effective pore sizes. Using a fluorescent ligand bound to the scFv, frequency-domain fluorescence spectroscopy was used to assess the structural coupling between the V H and the V L domains and relationships with functional stabilization. There is minimal structural coupling between the V H and the V L domains in solution, as is apparent from the substantial rotational mobility for the bound ligand, that is suggestive of an independent mobility for the V H and the V L domains. In comparison, the hydrogel matrix acts to structurally couple the V H and the V L domains, resulting in a reduction in rotational mobility and a retention of ligand binding in the presence of 8.0 M urea. Under these same conditions, ligand binding is disrupted for scFv antibodies in solution. Increases in the stabilization of scFv antibodies in hydrogels is not simply the result of molecular crowding because decreases in pore size act to destabilize ligand binding. Rather, our results suggest that the functional stabilization of the scFv antibody within the PEG hydrogel matrix includes important factors involving protein solvation that stabilize interdomain interactions between the V H and the V L domains necessary for ligand binding.

  14. Production of a soluble single-chain variable fragment antibody against okadaic acid and exploration of its specific binding.

    PubMed

    He, Kuo; Zhang, Xiuyuan; Wang, Lixia; Du, Xinjun; Wei, Dong

    2016-06-15

    Okadaic acid is a lipophilic marine algal toxin commonly responsible for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). Outbreaks of DSP have been increasing and are of worldwide public health concern; therefore, there is a growing demand for more rapid, reliable, and economical analytical methods for the detection of this toxin. In this study, anti-okadaic acid single-chain variable fragment (scFv) genes were prepared by cloning heavy and light chain genes from hybridoma cells, followed by fusion of the chains via a linker peptide. An scFv-pLIP6/GN recombinant plasmid was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli for expression, and the target scFv was identified with IC-CLEIA (chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay). The IC15 was 0.012 ± 0.02 μg/L, and the IC50 was 0.25 ± 0.03 μg/L. The three-dimensional structure of the scFv was simulated with computer modeling, and okadaic acid was docked to the scFv model to obtain a putative structure of the binding complex. Two predicted critical amino acids, Ser32 and Thr187, were then mutated to verify this theoretical model. Both mutants exhibited significant loss of binding activity. These results help us to understand this specific scFv-antigen binding mechanism and provide guidance for affinity maturation of the antibody in vitro. The high-affinity scFv developed here also has potential for okadaic acid toxin detection. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  15. Camel heavy chain antibodies against prostate-specific membrane antigen.

    PubMed

    Evazalipour, Mehdi; Tehrani, Bahram Soltani; Abolhassani, Mohsen; Morovvati, Hamid; Omidfar, Kobra

    2012-12-01

    Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a type II integral membrane glycoprotein, is highly overexpressed in all forms of prostate cancer tissues. It has also been demonstrated in a wide range of neovasculature of non-prostatic solid tumors, including bladder, pancreas, lung, kidney, colorectal, and gastric cancers. Given the unique expression of PSMA, it is considered an alluring target for antibody-based imaging and therapy of cancer. In the present study, the production and characterization of camel heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) specific for the external domain of the PSMA are reported. Due to the absence of the CH1 domain, HCAbs are smaller than their counterparts in conventional antibodies. In this study, camel antibodies were generated through immunization of Camelus dromedarius with a synthetic 28 amino acid peptide corresponding to the external surface domain of antigen and PSMA-expressing cell lines. Different binding properties to protein A and protein G affinity columns were deployed to separate three subclasses of camel IgG. The affinity purified HCAbs bound selectively to the synthetic peptide in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reacted specifically with PSMA-expressing cell line through immunocytochemistry study. Currently, we are attempting to develop recombinant variable domain of these heavy chain antibodies (VHH or nanobody) for tumor imaging and cancer therapy.

  16. Design of an Active Ultrastable Single-chain Insulin Analog

    PubMed Central

    Hua, Qing-xin; Nakagawa, Satoe H.; Jia, Wenhua; Huang, Kun; Phillips, Nelson B.; Hu, Shi-quan; Weiss, Michael A.

    2008-01-01

    Single-chain insulin (SCI) analogs provide insight into the inter-relation of hormone structure, function, and dynamics. Although compatible with wild-type structure, short connecting segments (<3 residues) prevent induced fit upon receptor binding and so are essentially without biological activity. Substantial but incomplete activity can be regained with increasing linker length. Here, we describe the design, structure, and function of a single-chain insulin analog (SCI-57) containing a 6-residue linker (GGGPRR). Native receptor-binding affinity (130 ± 8% relative to the wild type) is achieved as hindrance by the linker is offset by favorable substitutions in the insulin moiety. The thermodynamic stability of SCI-57 is markedly increased (ΔΔGu = 0.7 ± 0.1 kcal/mol relative to the corresponding two-chain analog and 1.9 ± 0.1 kcal/mol relative to wild-type insulin). Analysis of inter-residue nuclear Overhauser effects demonstrates that a native-like fold is maintained in solution. Surprisingly, the glycine-rich connecting segment folds against the insulin moiety: its central Pro contacts ValA3 at the edge of the hydrophobic core, whereas the final Arg extends the A1-A8 α-helix. Comparison between SCI-57 and its parent two-chain analog reveals striking enhancement of multiple native-like nuclear Overhauser effects within the tethered protein. These contacts are consistent with wild-type crystal structures but are ordinarily attenuated in NMR spectra of two-chain analogs, presumably due to conformational fluctuations. Linker-specific damping of fluctuations provides evidence for the intrinsic flexibility of an insulin monomer. In addition to their biophysical interest, ultrastable SCIs may enhance the safety and efficacy of insulin replacement therapy in the developing world. PMID:18332129

  17. Insulin Action is Blocked by a Monoclonal Antibody That Inhibits the Insulin Receptor Kinase

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morgan, David O.; Ho, Lisa; Korn, Laurence J.; Roth, Richard A.

    1986-01-01

    Thirty-six monoclonal antibodies to the human insulin receptor were produced. Thirty-four bound the intracellular domain of the receptor β subunit, the domain containing the tyrosine-specific kinase activity. Of these 34 antibodies, 33 recognized the rat receptor and 1 was shown to precipitate the receptors from mice, chickens, and frogs with high affinity. Another of the antibodies inhibited the kinase activities of the human and frog receptors with equal potencies. This antibody inhibited the kinase activities of these receptors by more than 90%, whereas others had no effect on either kinase activity. Microinjection of the inhibiting antibody into Xenopus oocytes blocked the ability of insulin to stimulate oocyte maturation. In contrast, this inhibiting antibody did not block the ability of progesterone to stimulate the same response. Furthermore, control immunoglobulin and a noninhibiting antibody to the receptor β subunit did not block this response to insulin. These results strongly support a role for the tyrosine-specific kinase activity of the insulin receptor in mediating this biological effect of insulin.

  18. Anti-CHMP5 single chain variable fragment antibody retrovirus infection induces programmed cell death of AML leukemic cells in vitro.

    PubMed

    Wang, Hai-rong; Xiao, Zhen-yu; Chen, Miao; Wang, Fei-long; Liu, Jia; Zhong, Hua; Zhong, Ji-hua; Ou-Yang, Ren-rong; Shen, Yan-lin; Pan, Shu-ming

    2012-06-01

    Over-expressed CHMP5 was found to act as oncogene that probably participated in leukemogenesis. In this study, we constructed the CHMP5 single chain variable fragment antibody (CHMP5-scFv) retrovirus and studied the changes of programmed cell death (PCD) of AML leukemic cells after infection by the retrovirus. The anti-CHMP5 KC14 hybridoma cell line was constructed to generate monoclonal antibody of CHMP5. The protein expression of CHMP5 was studied using immunofluorescence analysis. pMIG-CHMP5 scFv antibody expressible retroviral vector was constructed to prepare CHMP5-scFv retrovirus. AML leukemic U937 cells were infected with the retrovirus, and programmed cell death was studied using confocal microscope, FCM and Western blot. We obtained a monoclonal antibody of CHMP5, and found the expression of CHMP5 was up-regulated in the leukemic cells. After U937 cells were infected with CHMP5-scFv retrovirus, CHMP5 protein was neutralized. Moreover, the infection resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis and necrosis of U937 cells. In U937 cells infected with CHMP5-scFv retrovirus, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)-mediated caspase-independent necrotic PCD was activated, but autophagic programmed cell death was not observed. Neither the intrinsic nor extrinsic apoptotic PCD pathway was activated. The granzyme B/perforin-mediated caspase-dependent apoptotic PCD pathway was not activated. CHMP5-scFv retrovirus can neutralize the abnormally high levels of the CHMP5 protein in the cytosol of AML leukemic U937 cells, thereby inducing the programmed cell death of the leukemic cells via AIF-mediated caspase-independent necrosis and apoptosis.

  19. Growth promotion of genetically modified hematopoietic progenitors using an antibody/c-Mpl chimera.

    PubMed

    Kawahara, Masahiro; Chen, Jianhong; Sogo, Takahiro; Teng, Jinying; Otsu, Makoto; Onodera, Masafumi; Nakauchi, Hiromitsu; Ueda, Hiroshi; Nagamune, Teruyuki

    2011-09-01

    Thrombopoietin is a potent cytokine that exerts proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) through its cognate receptor, c-Mpl. Therefore, mimicry of c-Mpl signaling by a receptor recognizing an artificial ligand would be attractive to attain specific expansion of genetically modified HSCs. Here we propose a system enabling selective expansion of genetically modified cells using an antibody/receptor chimera that can be activated by a specific antigen. We constructed an antibody/c-Mpl chimera, in which single-chain Fv (ScFv) of an anti-fluorescein antibody was tethered to the extracellular D2 domain of the erythropoietin receptor and transmembrane/cytoplasmic domains of c-Mpl. When the chimera was expressed in interleukin (IL)-3-dependent pro-B cell line Ba/F3, genetically modified cells were selectively expanded in the presence of fluorescein-conjugated BSA (BSA-FL) as a specific antigen. Furthermore, highly purified mouse HSCs transduced with the retrovirus carrying antibody/c-Mpl chimera gene proliferated in vitro in response to BSA-FL, and the cells retained in vivo long-term repopulating abilities. These results demonstrate that the antibody/c-Mpl chimera is capable of signal transduction that mimics wild-type c-Mpl signaling. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Tumor-targeting CTL expressing a single-chain Fv specific for VEGFR2.

    PubMed

    Kanagawa, Naoko; Yanagawa, Tatsuya; Mukai, Yohei; Yoshioka, Yasuo; Okada, Naoki; Nakagawa, Shinsaku

    2010-03-26

    Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are critical effector cells in tumor immunity. Adoptive transfer therapy with in vitro-expanded tumor-specific CTL is a promising approach for preventing cancer metastasis and recurrence. Transferred CTL are not effective in clinical trials, however, due to inadequate tumor-infiltration. Therefore, the development of functionally modified CTL, such as tumor-targeting CTL, is widely desired. Here, we designed the tumor-targeting CTL expressing a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv-CTL) specific for vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2/flk1) by transducing the CTL with a retroviral vector. The scFv-CTL bound to VEGFR2/flk1-expressing cells and retained their cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. In addition, adoptive transfer of scFv-CTL into tumor-bearing mice effectively suppressed tumor growth due to the augmented accumulation of the transferred CTL in the tumor tissue. These findings indicate that the creation of CTL capable of targeting tumor vascular endothelial cells by scFv-expression technique is considerably promising for improvement of efficacy in adoptive immunotherapy. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Progress in overcoming the chain association issue in bispecific heterodimeric IgG antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Klein, Christian; Sustmann, Claudio; Thomas, Markus; Stubenrauch, Kay; Croasdale, Rebecca; Schanzer, Jürgen; Brinkmann, Ulrich; Kettenberger, Hubert; Regula, Jörg T.; Schaefer, Wolfgang

    2012-01-01

    The development of bispecific antibodies has attracted substantial interest, and many different formats have been described. Those specifically containing an Fc part are mostly tetravalent, such as stabilized IgG-scFv fusions or dual-variable domain (DVD) IgGs. However, although they exhibit IgG-like properties and technical developability, these formats differ in size and geometry from classical IgG antibodies. Thus, considerable efforts focus on bispecific heterodimeric IgG antibodies that more closely mimic natural IgG molecules. The inherent chain association problem encountered when producing bispecific heterodimeric IgG antibodies can be overcome by several methods. While technologies like knobs-into-holes (KiH) combined with a common light chain or the CrossMab technology enforce the correct chain association, other approaches, e.g., the dual-acting Fab (DAF) IgGs, do not rely on a heterodimeric Fc part. This review discusses the state of the art in bispecific heterodimeric IgG antibodies, with an emphasis on recent progress. PMID:22925968

  2. Prognostic significance of highly sulfated chondroitin sulfates in ovarian cancer defined by the single chain antibody GD3A11.

    PubMed

    van der Steen, Sophieke C H A; van Tilborg, Angela A G; Vallen, Myrtille J E; Bulten, Johan; van Kuppevelt, Toin H; Massuger, Leon F A G

    2016-03-01

    The extracellular matrix (ECM) of ovarian cancer may provide a number of potential biomarkers. Chondroitin sulfate (CS), a class of sulfated polysaccharides, is abundantly present in the ECM of ovarian cancer. Structural alterations of CS chains (i.e. sulfation pattern) have been demonstrated to play a role in cancer development and progression. In this study we investigate the potential of highly sulfated CS as a biomarker in ovarian cancer using the single chain antibody GD3A11 selected by the phage display technology. The specificity of the antibody was determined by an indirect ELISA. GD3A11 epitope expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in healthy organs, benign and malignant ovarian tumors (N=359) and correlated to clinical parameters. The CHST15 gene, responsible for the biosynthesis of highly sulfated CS was evaluated for mutation and methylation status. The GD3A11 epitope was minimally expressed in normal organs. Intense expression was observed in the ECM of different ovarian cancer subtypes, in contrast to benign ovarian tumors. Expression was independent of tumor grade, FIGO stage, and the use chemotherapy. For the aggressive ovarian cancer phenotype, intense expression was identified as an independent predictor for poor prognosis. CHST15 gene analysis showed no mutations nor an altered methylation status. Specific highly sulfated CS motifs expressed in the tumoral ECM hold biomarker potential in ovarian cancer patients. These matrix motifs constitute a novel class of biomarkers with prognostic significance and may be instrumental for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic applications (e.g. targeted therapy) in management of ovarian cancer. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Production and characterization of a new antibody specific for the mutant EGF receptor, EGFRvIII, in Camelus bactrianus.

    PubMed

    Omidfar, K; Rasaee, M J; Modjtahedi, H; Forouzandeh, M; Taghikhani, M; Bakhtiari, A; Paknejad, M; Kashanian, S

    2004-01-01

    EGFRvIII is the type III deletion mutant form of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with transforming activity. This tumor-specific antigen is ligand independent, contains a constitutively active tyrosine kinase domain and has been shown to be present in a number of human malignancies. In this study, we report the production and characterization of camel antibodies that are directed against the external domain of the EGFRvIII. Antibodies developed in camels are smaller (i.e. IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses lack light chains) than any other conventional mammalian antibodies. This property of camel antibodies makes them ideal tools for basic research and other applications such as tumor imaging and cancer therapy. In the present study, camel antibodies were generated by immunization of camelids (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius) with a synthetic 14-amino acid peptide corresponding to the mutated sequence of the EGFR, tissue homogenates of several patients with human glioblastoma, medulloblastoma and aggressive breast carcinoma, as well as EGFR-expressing cell lines. Three subclasses of camel IgG [conventional (IgG1, 160 kD) and heavy chain-only antibodies (IgG2 and IgG3, 90 kD)] were separated by their different binding properties to protein A and protein G affinity columns. The anti-EGFRvIII peptide antibodies from immunized camels were purified further using the EGFRvIII synthetic peptide affinity column. The purified anti-EGFRvIII peptide camel antibodies selectively bound to the EGFRvIII peptide and affinity-purified EGFRvIII from malignant tissues and detected a protein band of 140 kD from malignant tissues by Western blot. Affinity analysis showed that the antibodies from C. bactrianus and C. dromedarius reacted with peptide and antigen purified from a small cell lung cancer ascitic fluid with affinities of 2 x 10(8) and 5 x 10(7)M(-1) to the same extent, respectively. Since the functional antigen-binding domain of the anti-EGFRvIII antibodies in

  4. Evaluation of Disulfide Bond Position to Enhance the Thermal Stability of a Highly Stable Single Domain Antibody

    PubMed Central

    Zabetakis, Dan; Olson, Mark A.; Anderson, George P.; Legler, Patricia M.; Goldman, Ellen R.

    2014-01-01

    Single domain antibodies are the small recombinant variable domains derived from camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies. They are renowned for their stability, in large part due to their ability to refold following thermal or chemical denaturation. In addition to refolding after heat denaturation, A3, a high affinity anti-Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B single domain antibody, possesses a melting temperature of ∼84°C, among the highest reported for a single domain antibody. In this work we utilized the recently described crystal structure of A3 to select locations for the insertion of a second disulfide bond and evaluated the impact that the addition of this second bond had on the melting temperature. Four double-disulfide versions of A3 were constructed and each was found to improve the melting temperature relative to the native structure without reducing affinity. Placement of the disulfide bond at a previously published position between framework regions 2 and 3 yielded the largest improvement (>6°C), suggesting this location is optimal, and seemingly provides a universal route to raise the melting temperature of single domain antibodies. This study further demonstrates that even single domain antibodies with extremely high melting points can be further stabilized by addition of disulfide bonds. PMID:25526640

  5. Light-chain residue 95 is critical for antigen binding and multispecificity of monoclonal antibody G2.

    PubMed

    Usui, Daiki; Inaba, Satomi; Kamatari, Yuji O; Ishiguro, Naotaka; Oda, Masayuki

    2017-09-02

    The monoclonal antibody, G2, specifically binds to the immunogen peptide derived from the chicken prion protein, Pep18mer, and two chicken proteins derived peptides, Pep8 and Pep395; G2 binds with equal affinity to Pep18mer. The amino acid sequences of the three peptides are completely different, and so the recognition mechanism of G2 is unique and interesting. We generated a single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody of G2, and demonstrated its correct folding with an antigen binding function similar to intact G2 antibody. We also generated a Pro containing mutant of G2 scFv at residue 95 of the light chain, and analyzed its antigen binding using a surface plasmon biosensor. The mutant lost its binding ability to Pep18mer, but remained those to Pep8 and Pep395. The results clearly indicate residue 95 as being critical for multispecific antigen binding of G2 at the site generated from the junctional diversity introduced at the joints between the V and J gene segments. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. λ Light Chain Bias Associated With Enhanced Binding and Function of Anti-HIV Env Glycoprotein Antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Sajadi, Mohammad M.; Farshidpour, Maham; Brown, Eric P.; Ouyang, Xin; Seaman, Michael S.; Pazgier, Marzena; Ackerman, Margaret E.; Robinson, Harriet; Tomaras, Georgia; Parsons, Matthew S.; Charurat, Manhattan; DeVico, Anthony L.; Redfield, Robert R.; Lewis, George K.

    2016-01-01

    The humoral response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains incompletely understood. In this report, we describe biased λ light chain use during the HIV Env glycoprotein (Env) response in HIV infection and vaccination. We examined HIV Env binding (and neutralization) in the context of light chain use in subjects with acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and among HIV vaccinees. In all populations tested, there was a λ chain bias for HIV Env binding antibodies, compared with other HIV antigens (such as p24) or tetanus toxoid. In subjects with chronic HIV infection, a λ bias was noted for neutralization, with λ antibodies accounting for up to 90% of all neutralization activity observed. This is the first report of antibody function in a human infection being tied to light chain use. In HIV infection, antibodies expressing λ light chains tended to have longer CDRL3s, increased light chain contact with HIV Env, and less hypermutation in the heavy chain, compared with antibodies using the κ light chain. These data also support an evolutionary model for the understanding the various κ to λ light chain ratios observed across species and suggest that the λ light chain bias against HIV provides the host an advantage in developing a more efficient humoral response. PMID:26347575

  7. Antibody-Directed Cytotoxic Agents: Use of Monoclonal Antibody to Direct the Action of Toxin A Chains to Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gilliland, D. Gary; Steplewski, Zenon; Collier, R. John; Mitchell, Kenneth F.; Chang, Tong H.; Koprowski, Hilary

    1980-08-01

    We have constructed cell-specific cytotoxic agents by covalently coupling the A chain from diphtheria toxin or ricin toxin to monoclonal antibody directed against a colorectal carcinoma tumor-associated antigen. Antibody 1083-17-1A was modified by attachment of 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionyl or cystaminyl groups and then treated with reduced A chain to give disulfide-linked conjugates that retained the original binding specificity of the antibody moiety. The conjugates showed cytotoxic activity for colorectal carcinoma cells in culture, but were not toxic in the same concentration range for a variety of cell lines that lacked the antigen. Under defined conditions virtually 100% of antigen-bearing cultured cells were killed, whereas cells that lacked the antigen were not affected. Conjugates containing toxin A chains coupled to monoclonal antibodies may be useful in studying functions of various cell surface components and, possibly, as tumor-specific therapeutic agents.

  8. Method for altering antibody light chain interactions

    DOEpatents

    Stevens, Fred J.; Stevens, Priscilla Wilkins; Raffen, Rosemarie; Schiffer, Marianne

    2002-01-01

    A method for recombinant antibody subunit dimerization including modifying at least one codon of a nucleic acid sequence to replace an amino acid occurring naturally in the antibody with a charged amino acid at a position in the interface segment of the light polypeptide variable region, the charged amino acid having a first polarity; and modifying at least one codon of the nucleic acid sequence to replace an amino acid occurring naturally in the antibody with a charged amino acid at a position in an interface segment of the heavy polypeptide variable region corresponding to a position in the light polypeptide variable region, the charged amino acid having a second polarity opposite the first polarity. Nucleic acid sequences which code for novel light chain proteins, the latter of which are used in conjunction with the inventive method, are also provided.

  9. Epitope mapping of tsh receptor-blocking antibodies in Graves' disease that appear during pregnancy.

    PubMed

    Kung, A W; Lau, K S; Kohn, L D

    2001-08-01

    Spontaneous remission of Graves' disease during pregnancy is thought to be due to a reduction of thyroid-stimulating antibody activity. We suspected, however, that a broader change in TSH receptor antibody characteristics might play an important role in modulating disease activity during pregnancy. We measured TSH binding inhibitory Ig, thyroid-stimulating antibody, and thyroid stimulating-blocking antibody activities in 13 pregnant Graves' disease patients at first, second, and third trimesters and 4 months postpartum. To measure and epitope-map thyroid-stimulating antibody and thyroid stimulating-blocking antibody activities, we used CHO cells transfected with wild-type human TSH receptor or with several TSH receptor-LH/hCG receptor chimeras: Mc1+2, Mc2, and Mc4. These chimeric cells have their respective TSH receptor residues 9-165, 90-165, and 261-370 substituted with equivalent residues of the LH/hCG receptor. Overall thyroid-stimulating antibody decreased, whereas thyroid stimulating-blocking antibody increased progressively during pregnancy. TSH binding inhibitory Ig fluctuated in individual patients, but overall the activities remained statistically unchanged. Thyroid stimulating-blocking antibody appeared in subjects who were either negative for thyroid-stimulating antibody or whose thyroid-stimulating antibody activity increased or decreased during pregnancy. Epitope mapping showed that the thyroid-stimulating antibodies were mainly directed against residues 9-165 of the N-terminus of the TSH receptor extracellular domain. All thyroid stimulating-blocking antibodies had blocking activities against residues 261-370 of the C-terminus of the ectodomain. However, the majority of the thyroid stimulating-blocking antibodies had a hybrid conformational epitope directed against N-terminal residues 9-89 or 90-165 as well. Despite a change in the activity level, we did not observe any change in the epitope of either the stimulatory or blocking Abs as pregnancy

  10. Glycine receptor antibodies in PERM and related syndromes: characteristics, clinical features and outcomes

    PubMed Central

    Carvajal-González, Alexander; Leite, M. Isabel; Waters, Patrick; Woodhall, Mark; Coutinho, Ester; Balint, Bettina; Lang, Bethan; Pettingill, Philippa; Carr, Aisling; Sheerin, Una-Marie; Press, Raomand; Lunn, Michael P.; Lim, Ming; Maddison, Paul; Meinck, H.-M.; Vandenberghe, Wim

    2014-01-01

    The clinical associations of glycine receptor antibodies have not yet been described fully. We identified prospectively 52 antibody-positive patients and collated their clinical features, investigations and immunotherapy responses. Serum glycine receptor antibody endpoint titres ranged from 1:20 to 1:60 000. In 11 paired samples, serum levels were higher than (n = 10) or equal to (n = 1) cerebrospinal fluid levels; there was intrathecal synthesis of glycine receptor antibodies in each of the six pairs available for detailed study. Four patients also had high glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (>1000 U/ml), and one had high voltage-gated potassium channel-complex antibody (2442 pM). Seven patients with very low titres (<1:50) and unknown or alternative diagnoses were excluded from further study. Three of the remaining 45 patients had newly-identified thymomas and one had a lymphoma. Thirty-three patients were classified as progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus, and two as stiff person syndrome; five had a limbic encephalitis or epileptic encephalopathy, two had brainstem features mainly, two had demyelinating optic neuropathies and one had an unclear diagnosis. Four patients (9%) died during the acute disease, but most showed marked improvement with immunotherapies. At most recent follow-up, (2–7 years, median 3 years, since first antibody detection), the median modified Rankin scale scores (excluding the four deaths) decreased from 5 at maximal severity to 1 (P < 0.0001), but relapses have occurred in five patients and a proportion are on reducing steroids or other maintenance immunotherapies as well as symptomatic treatments. The glycine receptor antibodies activated complement on glycine receptor-transfected human embryonic kidney cells at room temperature, and caused internalization and lysosomal degradation of the glycine receptors at 37°C. Immunoglobulin G antibodies bound to rodent spinal cord and brainstem co-localizing with

  11. An Antibody Blocking Activin Type II Receptors Induces Strong Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy and Protects from Atrophy

    PubMed Central

    Minetti, Giulia C.; Sheppard, KellyAnn; Ibebunjo, Chikwendu; Feige, Jerome N.; Hartmann, Steffen; Brachat, Sophie; Rivet, Helene; Koelbing, Claudia; Morvan, Frederic; Hatakeyama, Shinji

    2014-01-01

    The myostatin/activin type II receptor (ActRII) pathway has been identified to be critical in regulating skeletal muscle size. Several other ligands, including GDF11 and the activins, signal through this pathway, suggesting that the ActRII receptors are major regulatory nodes in the regulation of muscle mass. We have developed a novel, human anti-ActRII antibody (bimagrumab, or BYM338) to prevent binding of ligands to the receptors and thus inhibit downstream signaling. BYM338 enhances differentiation of primary human skeletal myoblasts and counteracts the inhibition of differentiation induced by myostatin or activin A. BYM338 prevents myostatin- or activin A-induced atrophy through inhibition of Smad2/3 phosphorylation, thus sparing the myosin heavy chain from degradation. BYM338 dramatically increases skeletal muscle mass in mice, beyond sole inhibition of myostatin, detected by comparing the antibody with a myostatin inhibitor. A mouse version of the antibody induces enhanced muscle hypertrophy in myostatin mutant mice, further confirming a beneficial effect on muscle growth beyond myostatin inhibition alone through blockade of ActRII ligands. BYM338 protects muscles from glucocorticoid-induced atrophy and weakness via prevention of muscle and tetanic force losses. These data highlight the compelling therapeutic potential of BYM338 for the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy and weakness in multiple settings. PMID:24298022

  12. DARPA Antibody Technology Program. Standardized Test Bed for Antibody Characterization: Characterization of an MS2 ScFv Antibody Produced by Illumina

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-08-01

    platforms. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Antibody Antibody Technology Program (ATP) Quality Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) Biosurveillance Single-chain...2.6 Thermal Stress Test............................................................................................4 2.7 ELISA ...3.5 ELISA Results .................................................................................................11 3.6 SPR Results

  13. Immunologic analysis of human breast cancer progesterone receptors. 1. Immunonaffinity purification of transformed receptors and production of monoclonal antibodies

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Estes, P.A.; Suba, E.J.; Lawler-Heavner, J.

    1987-09-22

    A monoclonal antibody (MAb), designated PR-6, produced against chick oviduct progesterone receptors cross-reacts with the M/sub r/ 120,000 human B receptors. An immunomatrix prepared with PR-6 was used to purify progesterone receptors (PR) from T47D human breast cancer cells. Single-step immunoaffinity chromatography results in enrichment of B receptors (identified by immunoblot with PR-6 and by photoaffinity labeling with (/sup 3/H)promegestone) to a specific activity of 1915 pmol/mg of protein (or 23% purity) and with 27% yield. Purity and yields as judged by gel electrophoresis and densitometric scanning of the B protein were approximately 1.7-fold higher due to partial loss inmore » hormone binding activity at the elution step. B receptors purified under these conditions are transformed and biologically active. They were maintained as undergraded 120-kDa doublets and retained both hormone and DNA binding activities. These purified B receptors were used as immunogen for production of four monoclonal antibodies against human PR. Three of the MAbs, designated as B-30 (IgG/sub 1/), B-64 (IgG/sub 1/), and B-11 (IgM), are specific for B receptors. The fourth MAb, A/B-52 (IgG/sub 1/), reacts with both A and B receptors. The IgG MAbs are monospecific for human PR since they recognize and absorb native receptor-hormone complexes, displace the sedimentation of 4S receptors on salt containing sucrose gradients, and, by immunoblot assay of crude T47D cytosol, react only with receptor polypeptides. Although mice were injected with B receptors only, production of A/B-52 which recognized both A and B receptors provides evidence that these two proteins share regions of structural homology.« less

  14. Removal of a C-terminal serine residue proximal to the inter-chain disulfide bond of a human IgG1 lambda light chain mediates enhanced antibody stability and antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Yang; Zeng, Lin; Zhu, Aiping; Blanc, Tim; Patel, Dipa; Pennello, Anthony; Bari, Amtul; Ng, Stanley; Persaud, Kris; Kang, Yun (Kenneth); Balderes, Paul; Surguladze, David; Hindi, Sagit; Zhou, Qinwei; Ludwig, Dale L.; Snavely, Marshall

    2013-01-01

    Optimization of biophysical properties is a critical success factor for the developability of monoclonal antibodies with potential therapeutic applications. The inter-domain disulfide bond between light chain (Lc) and heavy chain (Hc) in human IgG1 lends structural support for antibody scaffold stability, optimal antigen binding, and normal Fc function. Recently, human IgG1λ has been suggested to exhibit significantly greater susceptibility to reduction of the inter Lc-Hc disulfide bond relative to the same disulfide bond in human IgG1κ. To understand the molecular basis for this observed difference in stability, the sequence and structure of human IgG1λ and human IgG1κ were compared. Based on this Lc comparison, three single mutations were made in the λ Lc proximal to the cysteine residue, which forms a disulfide bond with the Hc. We determined that deletion of S214 (dS) improved resistance of the association between Lc and Hc to thermal stress. In addition, deletion of this terminal serine from the Lc of IgG1λ provided further benefit, including an increase in stability at elevated pH, increased yield from transient transfection, and improved in vitro antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). These observations support the conclusion that the presence of the terminal serine of the λ Lc creates a weaker inter-chain disulfide bond between the Lc and Hc, leading to slightly reduced stability and a potential compromise in IgG1λ function. Our data from a human IgG1λ provide a basis for further investigation of the effects of deleting terminal serine from λLc on the stability and function of other human IgG1λ antibodies. PMID:23567210

  15. Construction and characterization of a highly reactive chicken-derived single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against Staphylococcus aureus developed with the T7 phage display system.

    PubMed

    Li, Jingquan; Xu, Yongping; Wang, Xitao; Li, Yuan; Wang, Lili; Li, Xiaoyu

    2016-06-01

    The purpose of this study was to construct a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody from chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) by means of genetic engineering and subsequent panning for a specific antibody against Staphylococcus aureus. We amplified the scFv using blood and spleen obtained from 100-day-old Roman chickens immunized with inactivated S. aureus and subsequently constructed a T7 phage display antibody library using phage display technology. Four non-repeated blood scFv and 6 spleen scFv were obtained following 3 rounds of panning of the T7 phage display antibody library, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sequencing. These 10 scFv were cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pCold I with expression induced at a low temperature. Four soluble proteins were obtained. Among them, soluble protein SFV6 derived from the spleen showed good reactivity against S. aureus using indirect ELISA and produced a particularly strong antibacterial effect in vitro. We were successful in isolating a highly specific scFv antibody against S. aureus from the spleen phage display library. This study provides a simple and rapid method for the quick preparation of a large number of antibodies against S. aureus and provides the foundation for the positioning of antibodies in the organism and the study of the antibacterial mechanism through which the antibody functions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Rational Design of Dual Agonist-Antibody Fusions as Long-acting Therapeutic Hormones.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yan; Wang, Ying; Zhang, Yong; Liu, Tao; Jia, Haiqun; Zou, Huafei; Fu, Qiangwei; Zhang, Yuhan; Lu, Lucy; Chao, Elizabeth; Parker, Holly; Nguyen-Tran, Van; Shen, Weijun; Wang, Danling; Schultz, Peter G; Wang, Feng

    2016-11-18

    Recent studies have suggested that modulation of two or more signaling pathways can achieve substantial weight loss and glycemic stability. We have developed an approach to the generation of bifunctional antibody agonists that activate leptin receptor and GLP-1 receptor. Leptin was fused into the complementarity determining region 3 loop of the light chain alone, or in combination with exendin-4 (EX4) fused at the N-terminus of the heavy chain of Herceptin. The antibody fusions exhibit similar or increased in vitro activities on their cognate receptors, but 50-100-fold longer circulating half-lives in rodents compared to the corresponding native peptides/proteins. The efficacy of the leptin/EX4 dual antibody fusion on weight loss, especially fat mass loss, was enhanced in ob/ob mice and DIO mice compared to the antibody fusion of either EX4 or leptin alone. This work demonstrates the versatility of this combinatorial fusion strategy for generating dual antibody agonists with long half-lives.

  17. Identification of Useful Nanobodies by Phage Display of Immune Single Domain Libraries Derived from Camelid Heavy Chain Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Romao, Ema; Morales-Yanez, Francisco; Hu, Yaozhong; Crauwels, Maxine; De Pauw, Pieter; Hassanzadeh, Gholamreza Ghassanzadeh; Devoogdt, Nick; Ackaert, Chloe; Vincke, Cecile; Muyldermans, Serge

    2016-01-01

    The discovery of functional heavy chain-only antibodies devoid of light chains in sera of camelids and sharks in the early nineties provided access to the generation of minimal-sized, single-domain, in vivo affinity-matured, recombinant antigenbinding fragments, also known as Nanobodies. Recombinant DNA technology and adaptation of phage display vectors form the basis to construct large naïve, synthetic or medium sized immune libraries from where multiple Nanobodies have been retrieved. Alternative selection methods (i.e. bacterial display, bacterial two-hybrid, Cis-display and ribosome display) have also been developed to identify Nanobodies. The antigen affinity, stability, expression yields and structural details of the Nanobodies have been determined by standard technology. Nanobodies were subsequently engineered for higher stability and affinity, to have a sequence closer to that of human immunoglobulin domains, or to add designed effector functions. Antigen specific Nanobodies recognizing with high affinity their cognate antigen were retrieved from various libraries. High expression yields are obtained from microorganisms, even when expressed in the cytoplasm. The purified Nanobodies are shown to possess beneficial biochemical and biophysical properties. The crystal structure of Nanobody::antigen complexes reveal the preference of Nanobodies for cavities on the antigen surface. Thanks to the properties described above, Nanobodies became a highly valued and versatile tool for biomolecular research. Moreover, numerous diagnostic and therapeutic Nanobody-based applications have been developed in the past decade. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  18. Targeted Multiplex Imaging Mass Spectrometry with Single Chain Fragment Variable (scfv) Recombinant Antibodies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thiery, Gwendoline; Mernaugh, Ray L.; Yan, Heping; Spraggins, Jeffrey M.; Yang, Junhai; Parl, Fritz F.; Caprioli, Richard M.

    2012-10-01

    Recombinant scfv antibodies specific for CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 P450 enzymes were combined with targeted imaging mass spectrometry to simultaneously detect the P450 enzymes present in archived, paraffin-embedded, human breast cancer tissue sections. By using CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 specific scfv, each coupled to a unique reporter molecule (i.e., a mass tag) it was possible to simultaneously detect multiple antigens within a single tissue sample with high sensitivity and specificity using mass spectrometry. The capability of imaging multiple antigens at the same time is a significant advance that overcomes technical barriers encountered when using present day approaches to develop assays that can simultaneously detect more than a single antigen in the same tissue sample.

  19. Modular Construction of Large Non-Immune Human Antibody Phage-Display Libraries from Variable Heavy and Light Chain Gene Cassettes.

    PubMed

    Lee, Nam-Kyung; Bidlingmaier, Scott; Su, Yang; Liu, Bin

    2018-01-01

    Monoclonal antibodies and antibody-derived therapeutics have emerged as a rapidly growing class of biological drugs for the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, infection, and neurological diseases. To support the development of human antibodies, various display techniques based on antibody gene repertoires have been constructed over the last two decades. In particular, scFv-antibody phage display has been extensively utilized to select lead antibodies against a variety of target antigens. To construct a scFv phage display that enables efficient antibody discovery, and optimization, it is desirable to develop a system that allows modular assembly of highly diverse variable heavy chain and light chain (Vκ and Vλ) repertoires. Here, we describe modular construction of large non-immune human antibody phage-display libraries built on variable gene cassettes from heavy chain and light chain repertoires (Vκ- and Vλ-light can be made into independent cassettes). We describe utility of such libraries in antibody discovery and optimization through chain shuffling.

  20. Enhanced production of a single domain antibody with an engineered stabilizing extra disulfide bond.

    PubMed

    Liu, Jinny L; Goldman, Ellen R; Zabetakis, Dan; Walper, Scott A; Turner, Kendrick B; Shriver-Lake, Lisa C; Anderson, George P

    2015-10-09

    Single domain antibodies derived from the variable region of the unique heavy chain antibodies found in camelids yield high affinity and regenerable recognition elements. Adding an additional disulfide bond that bridges framework regions is a proven method to increase their melting temperature, however often at the expense of protein production. To fulfill their full potential it is essential to achieve robust protein production of these stable binding elements. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that decreasing the isoelectric point of single domain antibody extra disulfide bond mutants whose production fell due to the incorporation of the extra disulfide bond would lead to recovery of the protein yield, while maintaining the favorable melting temperature and affinity. Introduction of negative charges into a disulfide bond mutant of a single domain antibody specific for the L1 antigen of the vaccinia virus led to approximately 3.5-fold increase of protein production to 14 mg/L, while affinity and melting temperature was maintained. In addition, refolding following heat denaturation improved from 15 to 70 %. It also maintained nearly 100 % of its binding function after heating to 85 °C for an hour at 1 mg/mL. Disappointingly, the replacement of neutral or positively charged amino acids with negatively charged ones to lower the isoelectric point of two anti-toxin single domain antibodies stabilized with a second disulfide bond yielded only slight increases in protein production. Nonetheless, for one of these binders the charge change itself stabilized the structure equivalent to disulfide bond addition, thus providing an alternative route to stabilization which is not accompanied by loss in production. The ability to produce high affinity, stable single domain antibodies is critical for their utility. While the addition of a second disulfide bond is a proven method for enhancing stability of single domain antibodies, it frequently comes at the cost of reduced

  1. Control of Established Colon Cancer Xenografts Using a Novel Humanized Single Chain Antibody-Streptococcal Superantigen Fusion Protein Targeting the 5T4 Oncofetal Antigen

    PubMed Central

    Patterson, Kelcey G.; Dixon Pittaro, Jennifer L.; Bastedo, Peter S.; Hess, David A.; Haeryfar, S. M. Mansour; McCormick, John K.

    2014-01-01

    Superantigens (SAgs) are microbial toxins that cross-link T cell receptors with major histocompatibility class II (MHC-II) molecules leading to the activation of large numbers of T cells. Herein, we describe the development and preclinical testing of a novel tumor-targeted SAg (TTS) therapeutic built using the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C (SpeC) SAg and targeting cancer cells expressing the 5T4 tumor-associated antigen (TAA). To inhibit potentially harmful widespread immune cell activation, a SpeC mutation within the high-affinity MHC-II binding interface was generated (SpeCD203A) that demonstrated a pronounced reduction in mitogenic activity, yet this mutant could still induce immune cell-mediated cancer cell death in vitro. To target 5T4+ cancer cells, we engineered a humanized single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody to recognize 5T4 (scFv5T4). Specific targeting of scFv5T4 was verified. SpeCD203A fused to scFv5T4 maintained the ability to activate and induce immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity of colorectal cancer cells. Using a xenograft model of established human colon cancer, we demonstrated that the SpeC-based TTS was able to control the growth and spread of large tumors in vivo. This required both TAA targeting by scFv5T4 and functional SAg activity. These studies lay the foundation for the development of streptococcal SAgs as ‘next-generation’ TTSs for cancer immunotherapy. PMID:24736661

  2. Construction of an Immunized Rabbit Phage Display Library for Selecting High Activity against Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1F Toxin Single-Chain Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Xu, Chongxin; Zhang, Cunzheng; Zhong, Jianfeng; Hu, Hui; Luo, Shimin; Liu, Xiaoqin; Zhang, Xiao; Liu, Yuan; Liu, Xianjin

    2017-07-26

    In the present study, a Cry1F-immunized rabbit phage display library (6.96 × 10 8 cfu/mL) was constructed for selecting high activity of anti-Cry1F toxin single-chain antibody (a single-chain variable fragment, scFv) by biopanning. A total of 16 positive monoclonal phage scFv's were obtained after 4 rounds of panning, which were identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), polymerized chain reaction, and DNA sequencing. The most positive phage scFv (named RF4) was expressed in Escherichia coli HB2151, and a soluble protein of approximately 30 kDa was purified with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An indirect competitive ELISA (IC-ELISA) was established on the basis of purified soluble RF4-scFv for Cry1F toxin. It indicated the 50% inhibition of the control (IC 50 ) was 11.56 ng/mL and the detection limit (IC 10 ) was 0.18 ng/mL and showed weak cross-reactivities for Cry1Ab (2.8%), Cry1Ac (1.3%), and Cry1B, Cry1C, Cry1Ie, and Cry2A (less than 0.1%). It was found that IC-ELISA detected Cry1F toxin spiked in rice, wheat, corn, and soil samples with good accuracy, stability, and repeatability. The recoveries were in the range of 80.2-99.6%, and the coefficients of variation were in the range of 2.5-10.0%. These results showed that IC-ELISA based on scFv from the immunized rabbit phage display library was promising for specific detection of Cry1F toxin in agroproducts and environmental samples.

  3. Acute Mechanisms Underlying Antibody Effects in Anti–N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis

    PubMed Central

    Moscato, Emilia H; Peng, Xiaoyu; Jain, Ankit; Parsons, Thomas D; Dalmau, Josep; Balice-Gordon, Rita J

    2014-01-01

    Objective A severe but treatable form of immune-mediated encephalitis is associated with antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) against the GluN1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Prolonged exposure of hippocampal neurons to antibodies from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis caused a reversible decrease in the synaptic localization and function of NMDARs. However, acute effects of the antibodies, fate of the internalized receptors, type of neurons affected, and whether neurons develop compensatory homeostatic mechanisms were unknown and are the focus of this study. Methods Dissociated hippocampal neuron cultures and rodent brain sections were used for immunocytochemical, physiological, and molecular studies. Results Patient antibodies bind to NMDARs throughout the rodent brain, and decrease NMDAR cluster density in both excitatory and inhibitory hippocampal neurons. They rapidly increase the internalization rate of surface NMDAR clusters, independent of receptor activity. This internalization likely accounts for the observed decrease in NMDAR-mediated currents, as no evidence of direct blockade was detected. Once internalized, antibody-bound NMDARs traffic through both recycling endosomes and lysosomes, similar to pharmacologically induced NMDAR endocytosis. The antibodies are responsible for receptor internalization, as their depletion from CSF abrogates these effects in hippocampal neurons. We find that although anti-NMDAR antibodies do not induce compensatory changes in glutamate receptor gene expression, they cause a decrease in inhibitory synapse density onto excitatory hippocampal neurons. Interpretation Our data support an antibody-mediated mechanism of disease pathogenesis driven by immunoglobulin-induced receptor internalization. Antibody-mediated downregulation of surface NMDARs engages homeostatic synaptic plasticity mechanisms, which may inadvertently contribute to disease progression. Ann Neurol 2014;76:108–119 PMID

  4. The Breadth of Cross Sub-Type Neutralisation Activity of a Single Domain Antibody to Influenza Hemagglutinin Can Be Increased by Antibody Valency

    PubMed Central

    Hufton, Simon E.; Risley, Paul; Ball, Christina R.; Major, Diane; Engelhardt, Othmar G.; Poole, Stephen

    2014-01-01

    The response to the 2009 A(H1N1) influenza pandemic has highlighted the need for additional strategies for intervention which preclude the prior availability of the influenza strain. Here, 18 single domain VHH antibodies against the 2009 A(H1N1) hemagglutinin (HA) have been isolated from a immune alpaca phage displayed library. These antibodies have been grouped as having either (i) non-neutralising, (ii) H1N1 restricted neutralising or (iii) broad cross-subtype neutralising activity. The ability to neutralise different viral subtypes, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), correlated with the absence of hemagglutination inhibition activity, loss of binding to HA at acid pH and the absence of binding to the head domain containing the receptor binding site. This data supports their binding to epitopes in the HA stem region and a mechanism of action other than blocking viral attachment to cell surface receptors. After conversion of cross-neutralising antibodies R1a-B6 and R1a-A5 into a bivalent format, no significant enhancement in neutralisation activity was seen against A(H1N1) and A(H5N1) viruses. However, bivalent R1a-B6 showed an 18 fold enhancement in potency against A(H9N2) virus and, surprisingly, gained the ability to neutralise an A(H2N2) virus. This demonstrates that cross-neutralising antibodies, which make lower affinity interactions with the membrane proximal stem region of more divergent HA sub-types, can be optimised by bivalency so increasing their breadth of anti-viral activity. The broad neutralising activity and favourable characteristics, such as high stability, simple engineering into bivalent molecules and low cost production make these single domain antibodies attractive candidates for diagnostics and immunotherapy of pandemic influenza. PMID:25084445

  5. Generation of a rabbit single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody for specific detection of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 in both free-living and bacteroid forms

    PubMed Central

    Srila, Witsanu; Yuttavanichakul, Watcharin; Teamtisong, Kamonluck; Teaumroong, Neung; Boonkerd, Nantakorn; Tittabutr, Panlada

    2017-01-01

    A simple and reliable method for the detection of specific nitrogen-fixing bacteria in both free-living and bacteroid forms is essential for the development and application of biofertilizer. Traditionally, a polyclonal antibody generated from an immunized rabbit was used for detection. However, the disadvantages of using a polyclonal antibody include limited supply and cross-reactivity to related bacterial strains. This is the first report on the application of phage display technology for the generation of a rabbit recombinant monoclonal antibody for specific detection and monitoring of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in both free-living form and in plant nodules. Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9, a broad host range soil bacteria, originally isolated from the root nodules of Aeschynomene americana in Thailand was used as a model in this study. A recombinant single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody library was constructed from the spleen of a rabbit immunized with DOA9. After three rounds of biopanning, one specific phage-displayed scFv antibody, designated bDOA9rb8, was identified. Specific binding of this antibody was confirmed by phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (phage ELISA). The phage antibody could bind specifically to DOA9 in both free-living cells (pure culture) and bacteroids inside plant nodules. In addition to phage ELISA, specific and robust immunofluorescence staining of both free-living and bacteroid forms could also be observed by confocal-immunofluorescence imaging, without cross-reactivity with other tested bradyrhizobial strains. Moreover, specific binding of free scFv to DOA9 was also demonstrated by ELISA. This recombinant antibody can also be used for the study of the molecular mechanism of plant–microbe interactions in the future. PMID:28654662

  6. Generation of a rabbit single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody for specific detection of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 in both free-living and bacteroid forms.

    PubMed

    Vu, Nguyen Xuan; Pruksametanan, Natcha; Srila, Witsanu; Yuttavanichakul, Watcharin; Teamtisong, Kamonluck; Teaumroong, Neung; Boonkerd, Nantakorn; Tittabutr, Panlada; Yamabhai, Montarop

    2017-01-01

    A simple and reliable method for the detection of specific nitrogen-fixing bacteria in both free-living and bacteroid forms is essential for the development and application of biofertilizer. Traditionally, a polyclonal antibody generated from an immunized rabbit was used for detection. However, the disadvantages of using a polyclonal antibody include limited supply and cross-reactivity to related bacterial strains. This is the first report on the application of phage display technology for the generation of a rabbit recombinant monoclonal antibody for specific detection and monitoring of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in both free-living form and in plant nodules. Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9, a broad host range soil bacteria, originally isolated from the root nodules of Aeschynomene americana in Thailand was used as a model in this study. A recombinant single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody library was constructed from the spleen of a rabbit immunized with DOA9. After three rounds of biopanning, one specific phage-displayed scFv antibody, designated bDOA9rb8, was identified. Specific binding of this antibody was confirmed by phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (phage ELISA). The phage antibody could bind specifically to DOA9 in both free-living cells (pure culture) and bacteroids inside plant nodules. In addition to phage ELISA, specific and robust immunofluorescence staining of both free-living and bacteroid forms could also be observed by confocal-immunofluorescence imaging, without cross-reactivity with other tested bradyrhizobial strains. Moreover, specific binding of free scFv to DOA9 was also demonstrated by ELISA. This recombinant antibody can also be used for the study of the molecular mechanism of plant-microbe interactions in the future.

  7. A novel antibody engineering strategy for making monovalent bispecific heterodimeric IgG antibodies by electrostatic steering mechanism.

    PubMed

    Liu, Zhi; Leng, Esther C; Gunasekaran, Kannan; Pentony, Martin; Shen, Min; Howard, Monique; Stoops, Janelle; Manchulenko, Kathy; Razinkov, Vladimir; Liu, Hua; Fanslow, William; Hu, Zhonghua; Sun, Nancy; Hasegawa, Haruki; Clark, Rutilio; Foltz, Ian N; Yan, Wei

    2015-03-20

    Producing pure and well behaved bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) on a large scale for preclinical and clinical testing is a challenging task. Here, we describe a new strategy for making monovalent bispecific heterodimeric IgG antibodies in mammalian cells. We applied an electrostatic steering mechanism to engineer antibody light chain-heavy chain (LC-HC) interface residues in such a way that each LC strongly favors its cognate HC when two different HCs and two different LCs are co-expressed in the same cell to assemble a functional bispecific antibody. We produced heterodimeric IgGs from transiently and stably transfected mammalian cells. The engineered heterodimeric IgG molecules maintain the overall IgG structure with correct LC-HC pairings, bind to two different antigens with comparable affinity when compared with their parental antibodies, and retain the functionality of parental antibodies in biological assays. In addition, the bispecific heterodimeric IgG derived from anti-HER2 and anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) antibody was shown to induce a higher level of receptor internalization than the combination of two parental antibodies. Mouse xenograft BxPC-3, Panc-1, and Calu-3 human tumor models showed that the heterodimeric IgGs strongly inhibited tumor growth. The described approach can be used to generate tools from two pre-existent antibodies and explore the potential of bispecific antibodies. The asymmetrically engineered Fc variants for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity enhancement could be embedded in monovalent bispecific heterodimeric IgG to make best-in-class therapeutic antibodies. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  8. Development of an affinity-matured humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody for cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Nakanishi, Takeshi; Maru, Takamitsu; Tahara, Kazuhiro; Sanada, Hideaki; Umetsu, Mitsuo; Asano, Ryutaro; Kumagai, Izumi

    2013-02-01

    We showed previously that humanization of 528, a murine anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody, causes reduced affinity for its target. Here, to improve the affinity of the humanized antibody for use in cancer immunotherapy, we constructed phage display libraries focused on the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of the antibody and carried out affinity selection. Two-step selections using libraries constructed in a stepwise manner enabled a 32-fold affinity enhancement of humanized 528 (h528). Thermodynamic analysis of the interactions between the variable domain fragment of h528 (h528Fv) mutants and the soluble extracellular domain of EGFR indicated that the h528Fv mutants obtained from the first selection showed a large increase in negative enthalpy change due to binding, resulting in affinity enhancement. Furthermore, mutants from the second selection showed a decrease in entropy loss, which led to further affinity maturation. These results suggest that a single mutation in the heavy chain variable domain (i.e. Tyr(52) to Trp) enthalpically contributed for overcoming the energetic barrier to the antigen-antibody interaction, which was a major hurdle for the in vitro affinity maturation of h528. We reported previously that the humanized bispecific diabody hEx3 Db, which targets EGFR and CD3, shows strong anti-tumor activity. hEx3 Db mutants, in which the variable domains of h528 were replaced with those of the affinity-enhanced mutants, were prepared and characterized. In a growth inhibition assay of tumor cells, the hEx3 Db mutants showed stronger anti-tumor activity than that of hEx3 Db, suggesting that affinity enhancement of h528Fv enhances the anti-tumor activity of the bispecific diabody.

  9. Efficient generation of monoclonal antibodies from single rhesus macaque antibody secreting cells.

    PubMed

    Meng, Weixu; Li, Leike; Xiong, Wei; Fan, Xuejun; Deng, Hui; Bett, Andrew J; Chen, Zhifeng; Tang, Aimin; Cox, Kara S; Joyce, Joseph G; Freed, Daniel C; Thoryk, Elizabeth; Fu, Tong-Ming; Casimiro, Danilo R; Zhang, Ningyan; A Vora, Kalpit; An, Zhiqiang

    2015-01-01

    Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are used as a preclinical model for vaccine development, and the antibody profiles to experimental vaccines in NHPs can provide critical information for both vaccine design and translation to clinical efficacy. However, an efficient protocol for generating monoclonal antibodies from single antibody secreting cells of NHPs is currently lacking. In this study we established a robust protocol for cloning immunoglobulin (IG) variable domain genes from single rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) antibody secreting cells. A sorting strategy was developed using a panel of molecular markers (CD3, CD19, CD20, surface IgG, intracellular IgG, CD27, Ki67 and CD38) to identify the kinetics of B cell response after vaccination. Specific primers for the rhesus macaque IG genes were designed and validated using cDNA isolated from macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cloning efficiency was averaged at 90% for variable heavy (VH) and light (VL) domains, and 78.5% of the clones (n = 335) were matched VH and VL pairs. Sequence analysis revealed that diverse IGHV subgroups (for VH) and IGKV and IGLV subgroups (for VL) were represented in the cloned antibodies. The protocol was tested in a study using an experimental dengue vaccine candidate. About 26.6% of the monoclonal antibodies cloned from the vaccinated rhesus macaques react with the dengue vaccine antigens. These results validate the protocol for cloning monoclonal antibodies in response to vaccination from single macaque antibody secreting cells, which have general applicability for determining monoclonal antibody profiles in response to other immunogens or vaccine studies of interest in NHPs.

  10. Blocking monocyte transmigration in in vitro system by an anti-CD99 human antibody in single chain fragment variable (scFv) format. Efficient large scale purification of biological active scFv from inclusion bodies in E. coli expression system

    PubMed Central

    Moricoli, Diego; Muller, William A.; Carbonella, Damiano Cosimo; Balducci, Maria Cristina; Dominici, Sabrina; Fiori, Valentina; Watson, Richard; Weber, Evan; Cianfriglia, Maurizio; Scotlandi, Katia; Magnani, Mauro

    2015-01-01

    Migration of leukocytes into a site of inflammation involves several steps mediated by various families of adhesion molecules. CD99 play a significant role in transendothelial migration (TEM) of leukocytes. Inhibition of TEM by specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) can provide a potent therapeutic approach to treating inflammatory conditions. However, the therapeutic utilization of whole IgG can lead to an inappropriate activation of Fc receptor-expressing cells inducing serious adverse side effects due to cytokine release. In this regard, specific recombinant antibody in single chain variable fragments (scFvs) originated by phage library may offer a solution by affecting TEM function in a safe clinical context. However, this consideration requires large scale production of functional scFv antibodies under GMP conditions and hence, the absence of toxic reagents utilized for the solubilization and refolding steps of inclusion bodies that may discourage industrial application of these antibody fragments. In order to apply the scFv anti-CD99 named C7A in a clinical setting we herein describe an efficient and large scale production of the antibody fragments expressed in E.coli as insoluble protein avoiding gel filtration chromatography approach, and laborious refolding step pre- and post-purification. Using differential salt elution which is a simple, reproducible and effective procedure we are able to separate scFv in monomer format from aggregates. The purified scFv antibody C7A exhibits inhibitory activity comparable to an antagonistic conventional mAb, thus providing an excellent agent for blocking CD99 signalling. Thanks to the original purification protocol that can be extended to other scFvs that are expressed as inclusion bodies in bacterial systems, the scFv anti-CD99 C7A herein described represents the first step towards the construction of new antibody therapeutic. PMID:24798881

  11. Single-step colony assay for screening antibody libraries.

    PubMed

    Kato, Mieko; Hanyu, Yoshiro

    2017-08-10

    We describe a method, single-step colony assay, for simple and rapid screening of single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) libraries. Colonies of Escherichia coli expressing the scFv library are formed on a hydrophilic filter that is positioned in contact with a membrane coated with an antigen. scFv expression is triggered upon treatment of colonies with an induction reagent, following which scFvs are secreted from the cells and diffused to the antigen-coated membrane. scFvs that exhibit binding affinity for the antigen are captured by the membrane-immobilized antigen. Lastly, detection of scFv binding of the antigen on the membrane allows identification of the clones on the filter that express antigen-specific scFvs. We tested this methodology by using an anti-rabbit IgG scFv, scFv(A10B), and a rat immune scFv library. Experiments conducted using scFv(A10B) revealed that this method improves scFv expression during the colony assay. By using our method to screen an immune library of 3×10 3 scFv clones, we established several clones exhibiting affinity for the antigen. Moreover, we tested 7 other antigens, including peptides, and successfully identified positive clones. We believe that this simple procedure and controlled scFv expression of the single-step colony assay could make the antibody screening both rapid and reliable and lead to successful isolation of positive clones from antibody libraries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Myasthenia gravis patients with ryanodine receptor antibodies have distinctive clinical features.

    PubMed

    Romi, F; Aarli, J A; Gilhus, N E

    2007-06-01

    Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused in 85% of the patients by acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies. Non-AChR muscle antibodies, against titin and ryanodine receptor (RyR) are mainly found in sera of patients with thymoma or late-onset MG. The occurrence of RyR antibodies increases the risk for severe MG and should lead to active immunomodulating treatment already at MG onset. The aim in this study was to describe the association between symptoms at MG onset and antibody profile in 152 patients. Patients with RyR antibodies had the highest rate of bulbar, respiratory and neck involvement at MG onset. They also had the highest frequency of non-limb MG symptoms. Neck weakness occurred in 40%. Respiratory difficulties at MG onset occurred in patients with titin antibodies, with and without RyR antibodies. Patients with RyR antibodies have a distinctive non-limb MG symptom profile, with bulbar, ocular, neck, and respiratory symptoms. These features, identified as early as at the first examination by a neurologist, characterize the RyR antibody positive subgroup at MG onset.

  13. O-linked oligosaccharides on insulin receptor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Collier, E.; Gorden, P.

    1991-02-01

    The insulin receptor, an integral membrane glycoprotein, is synthesized as a single-chain precursor that is cleaved to produce two mature subunits, both of which contain N-linked oligosaccharide chains and covalently linked fatty acids. We report that the beta-subunit also contains O-linked oligosaccharides. The proreceptor, alpha-subunit, and beta-subunit were labeled with (3H)mannose and (3H)galactose in the presence or absence of an inhibitor of O-linked glycosylation. Tryptic peptides from each component were separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. N- and O-linked oligosaccharide chains were identified on these peptides by specific enzymatic digestions. The proreceptor and alpha-subunit contained only N-linked oligosaccharides, whereas themore » beta-subunit contained both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. The O-linked oligosaccharide chains were attached to a single tryptic fraction of the beta-subunit, which also contained N-linked chains. This fraction was further localized to the NH2-terminal tryptic peptide of the beta-subunit by specific immunoprecipitation with an anti-peptide antibody with specificity for this region. Binding of insulin and autophosphorylation of the beta-subunit were not dependent on O-linked glycosylation, because cells grown in the presence of the inhibitor exhibited a normal dose response to insulin. Therefore, the insulin receptor contains O-linked oligosaccharides on the NH2-terminal tryptic peptide of the beta-subunit, and these O-linked oligosaccharides are not necessary to the binding or autophosphorylation function of the receptor.« less

  14. Novel Monoclonal Antibodies for Studies of Human and Rhesus Macaque Secretory Component and Human J-Chain

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Ruijun; Alam, S. Munir; Yu, Jae-Sung; Scearce, Richard; Lockwood, Bradley; Hwang, Kwan-Ki; Parks, Robert; Permar, Sallie; Brandtzaeg, Per; Haynes, Barton F.

    2016-01-01

    Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies exist in monomeric, dimeric, and secretory forms. Dimerization of IgA depends on a 15-kD polypeptide termed “joining (J) chain,” which is also part of the binding site for an epithelial glycoprotein called “secretory component (SC),” whether this after apical cleavage on secretory epithelia is ligand bound in secretory IgA (SIgA) or in a free form. Uncleaved membrane SC, also called the “polymeric Ig receptor,” is thus crucial for transcytotic export of SIgA to mucosal surfaces, where it interacts with and modulates commensal bacteria and mediates protective immune responses against exogenous pathogens. To evaluate different forms of IgA, we have produced mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against human J-chain and free SC. We found that J-chain MAb 9A8 and SC MAb 9H7 identified human dimeric IgA and SIgA in enzyme-linked immunoassay and western blot analysis, as well as functioning in immunohistochemistry to identify cytoplasmic IgA of intestinal lamina propria plasmablasts/plasma cells and crypt epithelium of distal human intestine. Finally, we demonstrated that SC MAb 9H7 cross-reacted with rhesus macaque SIgA. These novel reagents should be of use in the study of the biology of various forms of IgA in humans and SIgA in macaques, as well as in monitoring the production and/or isolation of these forms of IgA. PMID:27386924

  15. Inhibition of kinesin-driven microtubule motility by monoclonal antibodies to kinesin heavy chains

    PubMed Central

    1988-01-01

    We have prepared and characterized seven mouse monoclonal antibodies (SUK 1-7) to the 130-kD heavy chain of sea urchin egg kinesin. On immunoblots, SUK 3 and SUK 4 cross-reacted with Drosophila embryo 116- kD heavy chains, and SUK 4, SUK 5, SUK 6, and SUK 7 bound to the 120-kD heavy chains of bovine brain kinesin. Three out of seven monoclonal antikinesins (SUK 4, SUK 6, and SUK 7) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of sea urchin egg kinesin-induced microtubule translocation, whereas the other four monoclonal antibodies had no detectable effect on this motility. The inhibitory monoclonal antibodies (SUK 4, SUK 6, and SUK 7) appear to bind to spatially related sites on an ATP- sensitive microtubule binding 45-kD chymotryptic fragment of the 130-kD heavy chain, whereas SUK 2 binds to a spatially distinct site. None of the monoclonal antikinesins inhibited the microtubule activated MgATPase activity of kinesin, suggesting that SUK 4, SUK 6, and SUK 7 uncouple this MgATPase activity from motility. PMID:2974459

  16. The main immunogenic region of acetylcholine receptors does not provoke the formation of antibodies of a predominant idiotype.

    PubMed

    Killen, J A; Hochschwender, S M; Lindstrom, J M

    1985-08-01

    Anti-idiotype antibodies were induced in rats by immunization with rat monoclonal antibodies to the main immunogenic region of acetylcholine receptors. These anti-idiotype antibodies showed very little crossreaction with other rat monoclonal antibodies which bind to the same region of the receptor. When the rats producing these anti-idiotype antibodies were immunized with receptor, they showed no net decrease in anti-receptor antibody production. These data indicate that, although more than half of the antibodies produced by rats immunized with receptor are directed at a small region, many anti-receptor idiotypes are involved in this response and anti-idiotype therapy is not beneficial.

  17. Tumor-targeting domains for chimeric antigen receptor T cells.

    PubMed

    Bezverbnaya, Ksenia; Mathews, Ashish; Sidhu, Jesse; Helsen, Christopher W; Bramson, Jonathan L

    2017-01-01

    Immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has been advancing steadily in clinical trials. Since the ability of engineered T cells to recognize intended tumor-associated targets is crucial for the therapeutic success, antigen-binding domains play an important role in shaping T-cell responses. Single-chain antibody and T-cell receptor fragments, natural ligands, repeat proteins, combinations of the above and universal tag-specific domains have all been used in the antigen-binding moiety of chimeric receptors. Here we outline the advantages and disadvantages of different domains, discuss the concepts of affinity and specificity, and highlight the recent progress of each targeting strategy.

  18. Stable expression and purification of a functional processed Fab' fragment from a single nascent polypeptide in CHO cells expressing the mCAT-1 retroviral receptor.

    PubMed

    Camper, Nicolas; Byrne, Teresa; Burden, Roberta E; Lowry, Jenny; Gray, Breena; Johnston, James A; Migaud, Marie E; Olwill, Shane A; Buick, Richard J; Scott, Christopher J

    2011-09-30

    Monoclonal antibodies and derivative formats such as Fab' fragments are used in a broad range of therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. New systems and methodologies that can improve the production of these proteins are consequently of much interest. Here we present a novel approach for the rapid production of processed Fab' fragments in a CHO cell line that has been engineered to express the mouse cationic amino acid transporter receptor 1 (mCAT-1). This facilitated the introduction of the target antibody gene through retroviral transfection, rapidly producing stable expression. Using this system, we designed a single retroviral vector construct for the expression of a target Fab' fragment as a single polypeptide with a furin cleavage site and a FMDV 2A self-cleaving peptide introduced to bridge the light and truncated heavy chain regions. The introduction of these cleavage motifs ensured equimolar expression and processing of the heavy and light domains as exemplified by the production of an active chimeric Fab' fragment against the Fas receptor, routinely expressed in 1-2mg/L yield in spinner-flask cell cultures. These results demonstrate that this method could have application in the facile production of bioactive Fab' fragments. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Humanization of Antibodies Using Heavy Chain Complementarity-determining Region 3 Grafting Coupled with in Vitro Somatic Hypermutation*

    PubMed Central

    Bowers, Peter M.; Neben, Tamlyn Y.; Tomlinson, Geoffery L.; Dalton, Jennifer L.; Altobell, Larry; Zhang, Xue; Macomber, John L.; Wu, Betty F.; Toobian, Rachelle M.; McConnell, Audrey D.; Verdino, Petra; Chau, Betty; Horlick, Robert A.; King, David J.

    2013-01-01

    A method for simultaneous humanization and affinity maturation of monoclonal antibodies has been developed using heavy chain complementarity-determining region (CDR) 3 grafting combined with somatic hypermutation in vitro. To minimize the amount of murine antibody-derived antibody sequence used during humanization, only the CDR3 region from a murine antibody that recognizes the cytokine hβNGF was grafted into a nonhomologous human germ line V region. The resulting CDR3-grafted HC was paired with a CDR-grafted light chain, displayed on the surface of HEK293 cells, and matured using in vitro somatic hypermutation. A high affinity humanized antibody was derived that was considerably more potent than the parental antibody, possessed a low pm dissociation constant, and demonstrated potent inhibition of hβNGF activity in vitro. The resulting antibody contained half the heavy chain murine donor sequence compared with the same antibody humanized using traditional methods. PMID:23355464

  20. Structural Basis for Antibody Discrimination between Two Hormones That Recognize the Parathyroid Hormone Receptor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    McKinstry, William J.; Polekhina, Galina; Diefenbach-Jagger, Hannelore

    Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) plays a vital role in the embryonic development of the skeleton and other tissues. When it is produced in excess by cancers it can cause hypercalcemia, and its local production by breast cancer cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of bone metastasis formation in that disease. Antibodies have been developed that neutralize the action of PTHrP through its receptor, parathyroid hormone receptor 1, without influencing parathyroid hormone action through the same receptor. Such neutralizing antibodies against PTHrP are therapeutically effective in animal models of the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy and of bone metastasis formation. Wemore » have determined the crystal structure of the complex between PTHrP (residues 1-108) and a neutralizing monoclonal anti-PTHrP antibody that reveals the only point of contact is an {alpha}-helical structure extending from residues 14-29. Another striking feature is that the same residues that interact with the antibody also interact with parathyroid hormone receptor 1, showing that the antibody and the receptor binding site on the hormone closely overlap. The structure explains how the antibody discriminates between the two hormones and provides information that could be used in the development of novel agonists and antagonists of their common receptor.« less

  1. Neuropsychiatric disturbances in SLE are associated with antibodies against NMDA receptors.

    PubMed

    Omdal, R; Brokstad, K; Waterloo, K; Koldingsnes, W; Jonsson, R; Mellgren, S I

    2005-05-01

    To determine whether neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are influenced by antibodies against the human N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor types NR2a or NR2b. A decapeptide was synthesized containing a sequence motif present in the extracellular ligand-binding domain of NMDA receptors NR2a and NR2b, bound by the monoclonal murine anti-DNA antibody R4A. In an ELISA with the murine monoclonal R4v as positive control, plasma samples of 57 patients with SLE were examined for the anti-peptide (anti-NR2) antibody after the patients had been subjected to comprehensive psychological and cognitive testing. Poor performance on the Visual Paired Associates test (immediate), the Grooved Pegboard test, as well as high scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, and scales D-2 (depression), Pd-4 (psychopathic deviate), Sc-8 (schizophrenia), and Ma-9 (hypomania) of the MMPI-2 were significantly associated with elevated levels of anti-NR2 antibodies. The findings in several domains indicate an association between anti-NR2 antibodies and depressed mood in addition to decreased short-time memory and learning. Antibodies to NMDA receptors thus may represent one of several mechanisms for cerebral dysfunction in patients with SLE.

  2. Comparing domain interactions within antibody Fabs with kappa and lambda light chains.

    PubMed

    Toughiri, Raheleh; Wu, Xiufeng; Ruiz, Diana; Huang, Flora; Crissman, John W; Dickey, Mark; Froning, Karen; Conner, Elaine M; Cujec, Thomas P; Demarest, Stephen J

    2016-10-01

    IgG antibodies are multi-domain proteins with complex inter-domain interactions. Human IgG heavy chains (HCs) associate with light chains (LCs) of the κ or λ isotype to form mature antibodies capable of binding antigen. The HC/LC interaction involves 4 domains: VH and CH1 from the HC and VL and CL from the LC. Human Fabs with κ LCs have been well characterized for their unfolding behaviors and demonstrate a significant level of cooperativity and stabilization when all 4 domains are intact. Very little is known regarding the thermodynamic properties of human Fabs with λ LCs. Here, we dissect the domain contributions to Fab stability for both κ and λ LC-containing Fabs. We find the cooperativity of unfolding between the constant domains, CH1/Cλ, and variable domains, VH/Vλ, within λ LC-containing Fabs is significantly weaker than that of κ LC-containing Fabs. The data suggests there may not be an evolutionary necessity for strong variable/constant domain cooperativity within λ LC-containing Fabs. After investigating the biophysical properties of Fabs with mismatched variable and constant domain subunits (e.g., VH/Vκ paired with CH1/Cλ or T cell receptor Cα/Cβ), the major role of the constant domains for both κ- and λ-containing Fabs may be to reduce the hydrophobic exposure at the VH/VL interface. Even though Fabs with these non-native pairings were thermodynamically less stable, they secreted well from mammalian cells as well behaved monodisperse proteins, which was in contrast to what was observed with the VH/Vκ and VH/Vλ scFvs that secreted as a mixture of monomer and aggregates.

  3. Resolution of an immunodiagnostic dilemma: heavy chain chimeric antibodies for species in which plasmocytomas are unknown.

    PubMed

    Butler, J E; Wertz, N; Sun, X-Z; Lunney, J K; Muyldermans, S

    2013-01-01

    The immunoglobulin (Ig) genes of many vertebrates have been characterized but IgG subclasses, IgD and IgE proteins are only available for three species in which plasmacytomas occur. This creates a major problem in the production and specificity verification of diagnostic anti-Ig reagents for the vast majority of mammals. We describe a novel solution using the swine system with its eleven different variants of IgG. It involves the in vitro synthesis of chimeric porcine-camelid heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) that do not require light chains and therefore only a single transfection vector. The expressed chimeric HCAbs are comprised of the camelid VHH domain encoding specificity for lysozyme and the hinge, CH2 and CH3 domains of the various porcine IgGs. These HCAb retain their antigenic integrity and their ability to recognize lysozyme. The engineered specificity assures that these HCAb can be immobilized in native configuration when used for testing the specificity of anti-swine IgG antibodies. Comparative data to illustrate the importance of this point are provided. These are now available for use in hybridoma selection and as reference standards for evaluating the specificity of currently available anti-swine IgG antibodies. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Single-Chain Fv-Based Anti-HIV Proteins: Potential and Limitations

    PubMed Central

    West, Anthony P.; Galimidi, Rachel P.; Gnanapragasam, Priyanthi N. P.

    2012-01-01

    The existence of very potent, broadly neutralizing antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) offers the potential for prophylaxis against HIV-1 infection by passive immunization or gene therapy. Both routes permit the delivery of modified forms of IgGs. Smaller reagents are favored when considering ease of tissue penetration and the limited capacities of gene therapy vectors. Immunoadhesin (single-chain fragment variable [scFv]-Fc) forms of IgGs are one class of relatively small reagent that has been explored for delivery by adeno-associated virus. Here we investigated the neutralization potencies of immunoadhesins compared to those of their parent IgGs. For the antibodies VRC01, PG9, and PG16, the immunoadhesins showed modestly reduced potencies, likely reflecting reduced affinities compared to those of the parent IgG, and the VRC01 immunoadhesin formed dimers and multimers with reduced neutralization potencies. Although scFv forms of neutralizing antibodies may exhibit affinity reductions, they provide a means of building reagents with multiple activities. Attachment of the VRC01 scFv to PG16 IgG yielded a bispecific reagent whose neutralization activity combined activities from both parent antibodies. Although the neutralization activity due to each component was partially reduced, the combined reagent is attractive since fewer strains escaped neutralization. PMID:22013046

  5. Combination of two insulin-like growth factor-I receptor inhibitory antibodies targeting distinct epitopes leads to an enhanced antitumor response.

    PubMed

    Dong, Jianying; Demarest, Stephen J; Sereno, Arlene; Tamraz, Susan; Langley, Emma; Doern, Adam; Snipas, Tracey; Perron, Keli; Joseph, Ingrid; Glaser, Scott M; Ho, Steffan N; Reff, Mitchell E; Hariharan, Kandasamy

    2010-09-01

    The insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) is a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase that mediates cell survival signaling and supports tumor progression in multiple tumor types. We identified a spectrum of inhibitory IGF-IR antibodies with diverse binding epitopes and ligand-blocking properties. By binding distinct inhibitory epitopes, two of these antibodies, BIIB4 and BIIB5, block both IGF-I and IGF-II binding to IGF-IR using competitive and allosteric mechanisms, respectively. Here, we explored the inhibitory effects of combining BIIB4 and BIIB5. In biochemical assays, the combination of BIIB4 and BIIB5 improved both the potency and extent of IGF-I and IGF-II blockade compared with either antibody alone. In tumor cells, the combination of BIIB4 and BIIB5 accelerated IGF-IR downregulation and more efficiently inhibited IGF-IR activation as well as downstream signaling, particularly AKT phosphorylation. In several carcinoma cell lines, the antibody combination more effectively inhibited ligand-driven cell growth than either BIIB4 or BIIB5 alone. Notably, the enhanced tumor growth-inhibitory activity of the BIIB4 and BIIB5 combination was much more pronounced at high ligand concentrations, where the individual antibodies exhibited substantially reduced activity. Compared with single antibodies, the BIIB4 and BIIB5 combination also significantly further enhanced the antitumor activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor erlotinib and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. Moreover, in osteosarcoma and hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft models, the BIIB4 and BIIB5 combination significantly reduced tumor growth to a greater degree than each single antibody. Taken together, our results suggest that targeting multiple distinct inhibitory epitopes on IGF-IR may be a more effective strategy of affecting the IGF-IR pathway in cancer.

  6. A monoclonal antibody against PDGF B-chain inhibits PDGF-induced DNA synthesis in C3H fibroblasts and prevents binding of PDGF to its receptor.

    PubMed

    Vassbotn, F S; Langeland, N; Hagen, I; Holmsen, H

    1990-09-01

    A monoclonal antibody (MAb 6D11) against platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was studied. We found that the MAb 6D11 in concentrations equimolar to PDGF blocked the [3H]thymidine incorporation in C3H/10T1/2 C18 fibroblasts stimulated by PDGF B-B and PDGF A-B. This inhibition was overcome by high doses of PDGF. The [3H]thymidine incorporation stimulated by other growth factors (aFGF, bFGF and bombesin) was not inhibited by the antibody. The MAb 6D11 blocked receptor binding of PDGF B-B, but not PDGF A-A. These findings suggest that the MAb 6D11 abolishes PDGF-induced DNA synthesis by blocking PDGF receptor binding. In this communication we demonstrate an isoform-specific monoclonal antibody against PDGF.

  7. Making cell-permeable antibodies (Transbody) through fusion of protein transduction domains (PTD) with single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies: potential advantages over antibodies expressed within the intracellular environment (Intrabody).

    PubMed

    Heng, Boon Chin; Cao, Tong

    2005-01-01

    Over the past decade, there has been growing interest in the use of antibodies against intracellular targets. This is currently achieved through recombinant expression of the single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody format within the cell, which is commonly referred to as an intrabody. This possesses a number of inherent advantages over RNA interference (iRNA). Firstly, the high specificity and affinity of intrabodies to target antigens is well-established, whereas iRNA has been frequently shown to exert multiple non-specific effects. Secondly, intrabodies being proteins possess a much longer active half-life compared to iRNA. Thirdly, when the active half-life of the intracellular target molecule is long, gene silencing through iRNA would be slow to yield any effect, whereas the effects of intrabody expression would be almost instantaneous. Lastly, it is possible to design intrabodies to block certain binding interactions of a particular target molecule, while sparing others. There is, however, various technical challenges faced with intrabody expression through the application of recombinant DNA technology. In particular, protein conformational folding and structural stability of the newly-synthesized intrabody within the cell is affected by reducing conditions of the intracellular environment. Also, there are overwhelming safety concerns surrounding the application of transfected recombinant DNA in human clinical therapy, which is required to achieve intrabody expression within the cell. Of particular concern are the various viral-based vectors that are commonly-used in genetic manipulation. A novel approach around these problems would be to look at the possibility of fusing protein transduction domains (PTD) to scFv antibodies, to create a 'cell-permeable' antibody or 'Transbody'. PTD are short peptide sequences that enable proteins to translocate across the cell membrane and be internalized within the cytosol, through atypical secretory and

  8. Biosynthesis and processing of the mannose receptor in human macrophages.

    PubMed

    Lennartz, M R; Cole, F S; Stahl, P D

    1989-02-05

    The biosynthesis and processing of the human mannose receptor has been studied in monocyte-derived macrophages. Adherent cells were labeled for 60 min with Trans35S (a mixture of 35S-labeled methionine and cysteine), chased, and subjected to immunoprecipitation by antibody raised against the human placental receptor. The antibody immunoprecipitated a single protein of molecular mass 162 kDa; precipitation of the labeled receptor could be inhibited by placental receptor. The results presented demonstrate that the receptor is synthesized as a 154-kDa precursor which is processed to 162 kDa in 90 min. The precursor is a glycoprotein bearing endoglycosidase H-sensitive oligosaccharides; the 162-kDa form is endoglycosidase H-resistant but peptide:N-glycanase-sensitive. Desialylation of the mannose receptor with neuraminidase generates a protein which is recognized by peanut agglutinin, a lectin that specifically binds desialylated O-linked oligosaccharides. Thus, the human macrophage mannose receptor bears both N- and O-linked oligosaccharide chains. Newly synthesized mannose receptor exhibits a half-life of 33 h as determined by pulse-chase studies. This indicates that on the average, each molecule of receptor recycles between the cell surface and endosomes hundreds of times before degradation.

  9. Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies: Historical Perspective and Future Outlook

    PubMed Central

    Arbabi-Ghahroudi, Mehdi

    2017-01-01

    Tremendous effort has been expended over the past two and a half decades to understand many aspects of camelid heavy chain antibodies, from their biology, evolution, and immunogenetics to their potential applications in various fields of research and medicine. In this article, I present a historical perspective on the development of camelid single-domain antibodies (sdAbs or VHHs, also widely known as nanobodies) since their discovery and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these unique molecules in various areas of research, industry, and medicine. Commercialization of camelid sdAbs exploded in 2001 with a flurry of patents issued to the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and later taken on by the Vlaams Interuniversitair Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) and, after 2002, the VIB-founded spin-off company, Ablynx. While entrepreneurial spirit has certainly catalyzed the exploration of nanobodies as marketable products, IP restrictions may be partially responsible for the relatively long time span between the discovery of these biomolecules and their entry into the pharmaceutical market. It is now anticipated that the first VHH-based antibody drug, Caplacizumab, a bivalent anti-vWF antibody for treating rare blood clotting disorders, may be approved and commercialized in 2018 or shortly thereafter. This elusive first approval, along with the expiry of key patents, may substantially alter the scientific and biomedical landscape surrounding camelid sdAbs and pave the way for their emergence as mainstream biotherapeutics. PMID:29209322

  10. Negative tail fusions can improve ruggedness of single domain antibodies.

    PubMed

    Goldman, Ellen R; Brozozog-Lee, P Audrey; Zabetakis, Dan; Turner, Kendrick B; Walper, Scott A; Liu, Jinny L; Anderson, George P

    2014-03-01

    Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), the recombinantly expressed binding domains derived from the heavy-chain-only antibodies found in camelids and sharks, are valued for their ability to refold after heat denaturation. However, some sdAbs are prone to aggregation on extended heating at high concentration. Additionally, sdAbs prepared cytoplasmically often lack the conserved disulfide bond found in variable heavy domains, which both decreases their melting point and can decrease their ability to refold. Genetic fusions of sdAbs with the acid tail of α-synuclein (ATS) resulted in constructs that had enhanced ability to resist aggregation. In addition, almost complete refolding was observed even in the absence of the disulfide bond. These sdAb-ATS fusions expand the utility of sdAbs. They provide sdAbs that are resistant to aggregation, and enable the production of re-foldable sdAbs in the reducing environment of the cytoplasm. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  11. Retroviral transduction of fluonanobody and the variable domain of camelid heavy-chain antibodies to chicken embryonic cells.

    PubMed

    Rajabibazl, Masoumeh; Rasaee, Mohammad Javad; Forouzandeh, Mehdi; Rahimpour, Azam

    2013-12-01

    Single domain antibodies from camel heavy chain antibodies (VHH or nanobody), are advantages due to higher solubility, stability, high homology with human antibody, lower immunogenicity and low molecular weight. These criteria make them candidates for production of engineered antibody fragments particularly in transgenic animals. To study the development of transgenic chicken using a recombinant retrovirus containing fluonanobody. The retrovirus constructs containing nanobody genes along with secretory signals and GFP gene were established and packed. The virus particle containing the obtained fusion gene was injected into the eggs in stage X. Molecular detection and protein analysis was done in the G0 chickens. The rate of hatched chicken after gene manipulation was estimated to be about 33%. Real-Time PCR assay showed that the nanobody along with GFP gene were integrated in cells of 1.2% of chickens. We conclude that although the rate of gene transfer by recombinant viruses in chickens is low, it would be possible to transfect the target camel immunoglobulin gene into chicken genome.

  12. Ion channels in EEG: isolating channel dysfunction in NMDA receptor antibody encephalitis.

    PubMed

    Symmonds, Mkael; Moran, Catherine H; Leite, M Isabel; Buckley, Camilla; Irani, Sarosh R; Stephan, Klaas Enno; Friston, Karl J; Moran, Rosalyn J

    2018-06-01

    See Roberts and Breakspear (doi:10.1093/brain/awy136) for a scientific commentary on this article.Neurological and psychiatric practice frequently lack diagnostic probes that can assess mechanisms of neuronal communication non-invasively in humans. In N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis, functional molecular assays are particularly important given the presence of NMDA antibodies in healthy populations, the multifarious symptomology and the lack of radiological signs. Recent advances in biophysical modelling techniques suggest that inferring cellular-level properties of neural circuits from macroscopic measures of brain activity is possible. Here, we estimated receptor function from EEG in patients with NMDA receptor antibody encephalitis (n = 29) as well as from encephalopathic and neurological patient controls (n = 36). We show that the autoimmune patients exhibit distinct fronto-parietal network changes from which ion channel estimates can be obtained using a microcircuit model. Specifically, a dynamic causal model of EEG data applied to spontaneous brain responses identifies a selective deficit in signalling at NMDA receptors in patients with NMDA receptor antibody encephalitis but not at other ionotropic receptors. Moreover, though these changes are observed across brain regions, these effects predominate at the NMDA receptors of excitatory neurons rather than at inhibitory interneurons. Given that EEG is a ubiquitously available clinical method, our findings suggest a unique re-purposing of EEG data as an assay of brain network dysfunction at the molecular level.

  13. Human tumor xenografts in mouse as a model for evaluating therapeutic efficacy of monoclonal antibodies or antibody-drug conjugate targeting receptor tyrosine kinases.

    PubMed

    Feng, Liang; Wang, Wei; Yao, Hang-Ping; Zhou, Jianwei; Zhang, Ruiwen; Wang, Ming-Hai

    2015-01-01

    Targeting receptor tyrosine kinases by therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates has met with tremendous success in clinical oncology. Currently, numerous therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are under preclinical development. The potential for moving candidate antibodies into clinical trials relies heavily on therapeutic efficacy validated by human tumor xenografts in mice. Here we describe methods used to determine therapeutic efficacy of monoclonal antibodies or antibody-drug conjugates specific to human receptor tyrosine kinase using human tumor xenografts in mice as the model. The end point of the study is to determine whether treatment of tumor-bearing mice with a monoclonal antibody or antibody-drug conjugates results in significant delay of tumor growth.

  14. Toll-like Receptors and B-cell Receptors Synergize to Induce Immunoglobulin Class Switch DNA Recombination: Relevance to Microbial Antibody Responses

    PubMed Central

    Pone, Egest J.; Zan, Hong; Zhang, Jinsong; Al-Qahtani, Ahmed; Xu, Zhenming; Casali, Paolo

    2011-01-01

    Differentiation of naïve B cells, including immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch DNA recombination (CSR), is critical for the immune response and depends on the extensive integration of signals from the B cell receptor (BCR), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family members, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytokine receptors. TLRs and BCR synergize to induce CSR in T cell-dependent and T cell-independent antibody responses to microbial pathogens. BCR triggering together with simultaneous endosomal TLR engagement leads to enhanced B cell differentiation and antibody responses. The requirement of both BCR and TLR engagement would ensure appropriate antigen-specific activation in an infection. Co-stimulation of TLRs and BCR likely plays a significant role in anti-microbial antibody responses to contain pathogen loads until the T cell-dependent antibody responses peak. Furthermore, the temporal sequence of different signals is also critical for optimal B cell responses, as exemplified by the activation of B cells by initial TLR engagement, leading to the upregulation of co-stimulatory CD80 and MHC-II receptors, which, in turn, result in more efficient interactions with T cells, thereby enhancing the germinal center (GC) reaction and antibody affinity maturation. Overall, BCR and TLR stimulation and the integration with signals from the pathogen or immune cells and their products, determine the ensuing B cell antibody response. PMID:20370617

  15. Expression and characterization of a recombinant single-domain monoclonal antibody against MUC1 mucin in tobacco plants.

    PubMed

    Rajabi-Memari, H; Jalali-Javaran, M; Rasaee, M J; Rahbarizadeh, F; Forouzandeh-Moghadam, M; Esmaili, A

    2006-08-01

    A promising alternative to conventional antibodies is the single-domain antibody fragment of the Camelidae (V(HH)), which (because of features such as small length, high expression, solubility, and stability) is preferred to other antibody derivatives. In this report, a recombinant single-domain antibody (V(HH)) against MUC1 mucin in the tobacco plant, which may be considered as a suitable and economical alternative expression system, was produced. This antibody was expressed under the control of a strong constitutive promoter, CaMV35S, and NOS terminator. A plant high-expression sequence (Kozak sequence) was linked at the 5' end for overexpression of the V(HH) gene. The constructed cassette (pBIV(HH)) was transferred to agrobacterium, and the VHH gene was inserted into the plant genome by agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic lines were selected on kanamycin (100 mg/L) and maintained in soil, and subsequent generations were obtained. The presence and expression of the transgene was confirmed in the transformants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot. Tobacco transgenic lines leave expressed V(HH) at levels varying from 1.12% to 1.63% of the total soluble protein. This report examines the transformation and expression of recombinant single-domain antibody (V(HH)) against antigen-associated tumor in tobacco plants.

  16. Thymus cells in myasthenia gravis selectively enhance production of anti-acetylcholine-receptor antibody by autologous blood lymphocytes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Newsom-Davis, J.; Willcox, N.; Calder, L.

    1981-11-26

    We investigated the role of the thymus in 16 patients with myasthenia gravis without thymoma by studying the production of anti-acetylcholine-receptor antibody by thymic and blood lymphocytes cultured alone or together. In 10 responders (with the highest receptor-antibody titers in their plasma), cultured thymic cells spontaneously produced measurable receptor antibody. Receptor-antibody production by autologous blood lymphocytes was enhanced by the addition of responder's thymic cells, irradiated to abrogate antibody production and suppression (P<0.01). This enhancement was greater and more consistent than that by pokeweed mitogen; it depended on viable thymic cells, appeared to be selective for receptor antibody, and correlatedmore » with the ratio of thymic helper (OKT4-positive or OKT4+) to suppressor (OKT8+) T cells (P<0.01). These results suggest that myasthenic thymus contains cell-bound acetylcholine-receptor-like material or specific T cells (or both) that can aid receptor-antibody production. This may be relevant to the benefits of thymectomy in myasthenia and to the breakdown in self-tolerance in this and other autoimmune diseases.« less

  17. Crosslinking of surface antibodies and Fc sub. gamma. receptors: Theory and application

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wofsy, C.; Goldstein, B.

    1991-03-15

    In an immune response, the crosslinking of surface immunoglobulin (sIg) on B cells by multiply-bound ligand activates a range of cell responses, culminating in the production of antibody-secreting cells. However, when the crosslinking agent is itself an antibody, B cell activation is inhibited. Solution antibody (IgG) can bind simultaneously to sIg and to another cell surface receptor, Fc{sub {gamma}}R, co-crosslinking' the distinct receptors. Experiments point to co-crosslinking as the inhibitory signal. It is not clear how co-crosslinking inhibits B cell stimulation. The authors construct and analyze a mathematical model aimed at clarifying the nature and mechanisms of action of themore » separate cell signals controlling B cell responses to antibodies. Basophils and mast cells respond to the crosslinking of cell surface antibody by releasing histamine. Like B cells, basophils also express FC{sub {gamma}}R. They use their model to analyze new data on the effect of antibody-induced co-crosslinking of the two types of receptor on this family of cells. Predictions of the model indicate that an observed difference between the response patterns induced by antibodies and by antibody fragments that cannot bind to FC{sub {gamma}}R can be explained if co-crosslinking is neither inhibitory nor stimulatory in this system.« less

  18. Use of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to study hCG-receptor interactions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Milius, R.P.

    1985-01-01

    Although the glycoprotein hormones lutropin (LH), follitropin (FSH), and thyrotropin (TSH) bind to different receptors, each contains an identical alpha subunit. Specificity is somehow endowed by theta subunits which are distinct for each hormone. Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) is a natural LH analog that contains a beta subunit nearly identical to that of LH. The roles of these subunits in the recognition and high affinity binding of hCG to receptor was examined. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for the individual subunits of hCG were used to probe the hormone-receptor interaction. Conformation-specific and sequence-specific antibodies were examined for their abilities to bindmore » Triton X-100-solubilized /sup 125/I-hCG-receptor complex and to inhibit hormone binding to crude rat ovarian membranes containing receptor. Even though the immunoreactive sites are not located on the receptor binding surface of the beta subunit, most, but not all, of these polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were able to inhibit /sup 125/I-hCG binding to receptor. Although the inhibition of binding may be due to steric interference due to the size of the antibody molecules, a two-step model for hCG binding to receptor is presented that also explains these results. In this model, the beta subunit initially binds with the receptor with a highly specific but low affinity interaction. This activates a site for the high affinity binding of the alpha subunit and stabilization of the complex. This is an attractive model as it may be applied to other glycoprotein hormones sharing an alpha subunit.« less

  19. Isoform specificity of progesterone receptor antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Fabris, Victoria; Abascal, María F; Giulianelli, Sebastián; May, María; Sequeira, Gonzalo R; Jacobsen, Britta; Lombès, Marc; Han, Julie; Tran, Luan; Molinolo, Alfredo

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Progesterone receptors (PR) are prognostic and predictive biomarkers in hormone‐dependent cancers. Two main PR isoforms have been described, PRB and PRA, that differ only in that PRB has 164 extra N‐terminal amino acids. It has been reported that several antibodies empirically exclusively recognize PRA in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues. To confirm these findings, we used human breast cancer xenograft models, T47D‐YA and ‐YB cells expressing PRA or PRB, respectively, MDA‐MB‐231 cells modified to synthesize PRB, and MDA‐MB‐231/iPRAB cells which can bi‐inducibly express either PRA or PRB. Cells were injected into immunocompromised mice to generate tumours exclusively expressing PRA or PRB. PR isoform expression was verified using immunoblots. FFPE samples from the same tumours were studied by immunohistochemistry using H‐190, clone 636, clone 16, and Ab‐6 anti‐PR antibodies, the latter exclusively recognizing PRB. Except for Ab‐6, all antibodies displayed a similar staining pattern. Our results indicate that clones 16, 636, and the H‐190 antibody recognize both PR isoforms. They point to the need for more stringency in evaluating the true specificity of purported PRA‐specific antibodies as the PRA/PRB ratio may have prognostic and predictive value in breast cancer. PMID:29085663

  20. Isoform specificity of progesterone receptor antibodies.

    PubMed

    Fabris, Victoria; Abascal, María F; Giulianelli, Sebastián; May, María; Sequeira, Gonzalo R; Jacobsen, Britta; Lombès, Marc; Han, Julie; Tran, Luan; Molinolo, Alfredo; Lanari, Claudia

    2017-10-01

    Progesterone receptors (PR) are prognostic and predictive biomarkers in hormone-dependent cancers. Two main PR isoforms have been described, PRB and PRA, that differ only in that PRB has 164 extra N-terminal amino acids. It has been reported that several antibodies empirically exclusively recognize PRA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. To confirm these findings, we used human breast cancer xenograft models, T47D-YA and -YB cells expressing PRA or PRB, respectively, MDA-MB-231 cells modified to synthesize PRB, and MDA-MB-231/iPRAB cells which can bi-inducibly express either PRA or PRB. Cells were injected into immunocompromised mice to generate tumours exclusively expressing PRA or PRB. PR isoform expression was verified using immunoblots. FFPE samples from the same tumours were studied by immunohistochemistry using H-190, clone 636, clone 16, and Ab-6 anti-PR antibodies, the latter exclusively recognizing PRB. Except for Ab-6, all antibodies displayed a similar staining pattern. Our results indicate that clones 16, 636, and the H-190 antibody recognize both PR isoforms. They point to the need for more stringency in evaluating the true specificity of purported PRA-specific antibodies as the PRA/PRB ratio may have prognostic and predictive value in breast cancer.

  1. Progress on research of chicken IgY antibody-FcRY receptor combination and transfer.

    PubMed

    Tian, Zehua; Zhang, Xiaoying

    2012-10-01

    The transfer of maternal immunoglobulins (Igs) plays a significant role in fetal initial humoral immunity, of which process has changed and diversified during the evolution of vertebrates. IgY is a key molecular in antibody evolution which links ancient Igs and mammalian Igs such as IgG and IgE. IgY's transfer to the embryo is a two-step receptor-mediated process, including the transfer from the maternal bloodstream to the yolk sac, and from the yolk sac to the embryo. IgY's neonatal Fc receptor (FcRY) mainly functions in the second process. This article reviews IgY's status in antibody evolution and IgY's structure and application. Furthermore, this review compares the binding and transferring mechanism between mammalian IgG, and IgG's neonatal Fc receptor and chicken IgY-FcRY. Details of IgY-FcRY combination, such as combining conditions required, IgY-FcRY binding stoichiometry and exact binding sites on both FcRY and IgY are discussed. Likewise, the endocytosis, the main mechanism of IgY-FcRY transfer and recycling mechanism are analyzed. Related knowledge might be important for better understanding antibody and receptor evolution, antibody-receptor interaction and antibody function. Furthermore, such kind of knowledge might be useful for antibody drug research and development.

  2. Myeloma-Derived Light Chain Paired with a Diagnostic Monoclonal Antibody Hinders Immunoassay Performance.

    PubMed

    Tu, Bailin; Tieman, Bryan; Moore, Jeffrey; Pan, You; Muerhoff, A Scott

    2017-06-01

    Monoclonal antibodies are widely used as the capture and detection reagents in diagnostic immunoassays. In the past, myeloma fusion partners expressing endogenous heavy and/or light chains were often used to generate hybridoma cell lines. As a result, mixed populations of antibodies were produced that can cause inaccurate test results, poor antibody stability, and significant lot-to-lot variability. We describe one such scenario where the P3U1 (P3X63Ag8U.1) myeloma fusion partner was used in the generation of a hybridoma producing protein induced vitamin K absence/antagonist-II (PIVKA II) antibody. The hybridoma produces three subpopulations of immunoglobulin as determined by ion exchange (IEx) chromatography that exhibit varying degrees of immunoreactivity (0%, 50%, or 100%) to the target antigen as determined by Surface Plasmon Resonance. To produce an antibody with the highest possible sensitivity and specificity, the antigen-specific heavy and light chain variable domains (VH and VL) were cloned from the hybridoma and tethered to murine IgG1 and kappa scaffolds. The resulting recombinant antibody was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and is compatible for use in a diagnostic immunoassay.

  3. A semi high-throughput method for screening small bispecific antibodies with high cytotoxicity.

    PubMed

    Sugiyama, Aruto; Umetsu, Mitsuo; Nakazawa, Hikaru; Niide, Teppei; Onodera, Tomoko; Hosokawa, Katsuhiro; Hattori, Shuhei; Asano, Ryutaro; Kumagai, Izumi

    2017-06-06

    Small bispecific antibodies that induce T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity have the potential to damage late-stage tumor masses to a clinically relevant degree, but their cytotoxicity is critically dependent on their structural and functional properties. Here, we constructed an optimized procedure for identifying highly cytotoxic antibodies from a variety of the T-cell-recruiting antibodies engineered from a series of antibodies against cancer antigens of epidermal growth factor receptor family and T-cell receptors. By developing and applying a set of rapid operations for expression vector construction and protein preparation, we screened the cytotoxicity of 104 small antibodies with diabody format and identified some with 10 3 -times higher cytotoxicity than that of previously reported active diabody. The results demonstrate that cytotoxicity is enhanced by synergistic effects between the target, epitope, binding affinity, and the order of heavy-chain and light-chain variable domains. We demonstrate the importance of screening to determine the critical rules for highly cytotoxic antibodies.

  4. Construction, expression, and characterization of a single-chain variable fragment antibody against 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the hemolymph of silkworm larvae.

    PubMed

    Sakamoto, Seiichi; Pongkitwitoon, Benyakan; Nakamura, Seiko; Sasaki-Tabata, Kaori; Tanizaki, Yusuke; Maenaka, Katsumi; Tanaka, Hiroyuki; Morimoto, Satoshi

    2011-07-01

    A single-chain variable fragment antibody against herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D-scFv) has been successfully expressed in the hemolymph of silkworm larvae using a rapid Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) bacmid DNA system. Variable heavy- and light-chain domains were cloned directly from the cDNA of the hybridoma cell line 2C4 and assembled together with flexible peptide linker (Gly(4)Ser)(3) between two domains. The yield of functional 2,4-D-scFv after purification was 640 μg per 30 ml of hemolymph, which is equivalent to 21.3 mg per liter of hemolymph. The characterization of 2,4-D-scFv using an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) revealed that it has wide cross-reactivities against 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (65.5%), 2,4-dichlorophenol (47.9%), and 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid (26.0%), making it possible to apply 2,4-D-scFv to icELISA for detecting/determining 2,4-D and its metabolites. Judging from its cost and time requirements and its ease of handling, this BmNPV bacmid DNA expression system is more useful for expressing functional scFv than bacterial systems, which frequently require costly and time-consuming refolding.

  5. Next-Generation DNA Sequencing of VH/VL Repertoires: A Primer and Guide to Applications in Single-Domain Antibody Discovery.

    PubMed

    Henry, Kevin A

    2018-01-01

    Immunogenetic analyses of expressed antibody repertoires are becoming increasingly common experimental investigations and are critical to furthering our understanding of autoimmunity, infectious disease, and cancer. Next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technologies have now made it possible to interrogate antibody repertoires to unprecedented depths, typically by sequencing of cDNAs encoding immunoglobulin variable domains. In this chapter, we describe simple, fast, and reliable methods for producing and sequencing multiplex PCR amplicons derived from the variable regions (V H , V H H or V L ) of rearranged immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes using the Illumina MiSeq platform. We include complete protocols and primer sets for amplicon sequencing of V H /V H H/V L repertoires directly from human, mouse, and llama lymphocytes as well as from phage-displayed V H /V H H/V L libraries; these can be easily be adapted to other types of amplicons with little modification. The resulting amplicons are diverse and representative, even using as few as 10 3 input B cells, and their generation is relatively inexpensive, requiring no special equipment and only a limited set of primers. In the absence of heavy-light chain pairing, single-domain antibodies are uniquely amenable to NGS analyses. We present a number of applications of NGS technology useful in discovery of single-domain antibodies from phage display libraries, including: (i) assessment of library functionality; (ii) confirmation of desired library randomization; (iii) estimation of library diversity; and (iv) monitoring the progress of panning experiments. While the case studies presented here are of phage-displayed single-domain antibody libraries, the principles extend to other types of in vitro display libraries.

  6. Preparation and biological activities of anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies with fully core-fucosylated homogeneous bi-antennary complex-type glycans.

    PubMed

    Tsukimura, Wataru; Kurogochi, Masaki; Mori, Masako; Osumi, Kenji; Matsuda, Akio; Takegawa, Kaoru; Furukawa, Kiyoshi; Shirai, Takashi

    2017-12-01

    Recently, the absence of a core-fucose residue in the N-glycan has been implicated to be important for enhancing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here, we first prepared anti-HER2 mAbs having two core-fucosylated N-glycan chains with the single G2F, G1aF, G1bF, or G0F structure, together with those having two N-glycan chains with a single non-core-fucosylated corresponding structure for comparison, and determined their biological activities. Dissociation constants of mAbs with core-fucosylated N-glycans bound to recombinant Fcγ-receptor type IIIa variant were 10 times higher than those with the non-core-fucosylated N-glycans, regardless of core glycan structures. mAbs with the core-fucosylated N-glycans had markedly reduced ADCC activities, while those with the non-core-fucosylated N-glycans had high activities. These results indicate that the presence of a core-fucose residue in the N-glycan suppresses the binding to the Fc-receptor and the induction of ADCC of anti-HER2 mAbs.

  7. Anti-idiotypic antibody: A new strategy for the development of a growth hormone receptor antagonist.

    PubMed

    Lan, Hainan; Zheng, Xin; Khan, Muhammad Akram; Li, Steven

    2015-11-01

    In general, traditional growth hormone receptor antagonist can be divided into two major classes: growth hormone (GH) analogues and anti-growth hormone receptor (GHR) antibodies. Herein, we tried to explore a new class of growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonist that may have potential advantages over the traditional antagonists. For this, we developed a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody growth hormone, termed CG-86. A series of experiments were conducted to characterize and evaluate this antibody, and the results from a competitive receptor-binding assay, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and epitope mapping demonstrate that CG-86 behaved as a typical Ab2β. Next, we examined its antagonistic activity using in vitro cell models, and the results showed that CG-86 could effectively inhibit growth hormone receptor-mediated signalling and effectively inhibit growth hormone-induced Ba/F3-GHR638 proliferation. In summary, these studies show that an anti-idiotypic antibody (CG-86) has promise as a novel growth hormone receptor antagonist. Furthermore, the current findings also suggest that anti-idiotypic antibody may represent a novel strategy to produce a new class of growth hormone receptor antagonist, and this strategy may be applied with other cytokines or growth factors. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Antibody repertoire development in camelids.

    PubMed

    De Genst, Erwin; Saerens, Dirk; Muyldermans, Serge; Conrath, Katja

    2006-01-01

    The humoral immune response of the Camelidae is unique as these animals are the only known mammals that seem to possess functional homodimeric heavy-chain antibodies besides the classical heteromeric antibodies composed of heavy (H) and light (L) chains. By definition, the heavy-chain antibodies lack the L-chain, and it was noticed that their H-chain is devoid of the typical first constant domain (CH1) and contains a dedicated variable domain, referred to as VHH. The VHH exon is assembled from separate V-D-J gene segments. The recombined VHH region is subjected to somatic hypermutations; however, the timing and actual mechanism of the class switch from mu to the dedicated gamma-isotype remains elusive. Interestingly, antigen-specific VHHs are easily retrieved after panning of a phage-displayed rearranged V-gene pool cloned from an immunised camelid. These single-domain antigen binding entities possess a number of biophysical properties that offer particular advantages in various medical and biotechnological applications.

  9. DISTINCT ANTIBODY SPECIES: STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES CREATING THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITIES

    PubMed Central

    Muyldermans, Serge; Smider, Vaughn V.

    2016-01-01

    Antibodies have been a remarkably successful class of molecules for binding a large number of antigens in therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications. Typical antibodies derived from mouse or human sources use the surface formed by complementarity determining regions (CDRs) on the variable regions of the heavy chain/light chain heterodimer, which typically forms a relatively flat binding surface. Alternative species, particularly camelids and bovines, provide a unique paradigm for antigen recognition through novel domains which form the antigen binding paratope. For camelids, heavy chain antibodies bind antigen with only a single heavy chain variable region, in the absence of light chains. In bovines, ultralong CDR-H3 regions form an independently folding minidomain, which protrudes from the surface of the antibody and is diverse in both its sequence and disulfide patterns. The atypical paratopes of camelids and bovines potentially provide the ability to interact with different epitopes, particularly recessed or concave surfaces, compared to traditional antibodies. PMID:26922135

  10. [Preparation of anti-hCG single domain antibody by antibody grafting technique using an antigen-binding peptide].

    PubMed

    Peng, Jing; Wang, Qiong; Cheng, Xiaoling; Liu, Mengwen; Wang, Mei; Xin, Huawei

    2018-04-25

    We used the antibody grafting technology to prepare anti-hCG single-domain antibodies on the basis of antigen-binding peptide to simplify the single-domain antibody preparation process and improving the biochemical stability of peptide. By using a universal single-domain antibody backbone (cAbBCII10), CDR1 or CDR3 was replaced by the hCG-binding peptide, and the grafted antibody gene sequences were synthesized and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET30a(+) in fusion with a C-terminal sfGFP gene, i.e. pET30a-(His6)-cAbBCII10-CDR1/hCGBP1-sfGFP and pET30a-(His6)-cAbBCII10-CDR3/hCGBP3-sfGFP. The recombinant plasmids were transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3), and the fusion proteins were induced by IPTG. Highly soluble recombinant fusion proteins were obtained and purified by Ni-NTA affinity column. SDS-PAGE confirmed the purified protein as the target protein. The antigen-antibody binding assay showed that both the CDR1 and CDR3 grafted antibodies have hCG-binding activities. While the titers of the two grafted antibodies were similar, the binding affinity of CDR3 grafted antibody was higher than that of CDR1 grafted protein (about 2-3 times). The grafted antibodies retained the relatively high biochemical stability of the single-domain antibody backbone and were relatively thermostable and alkaline tolerant. The obtained antibodies also had a relatively high antigen-binding specificity to hCG. This study provided a reliable experimental basis for further optimization of anti-hCG single domain antibody by antibody grafting technology using antigen-binding peptide.

  11. FcγRII-binding Centyrins mediate agonism and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis when fused to an anti-OX40 antibody

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Di; Whitaker, Brian; Derebe, Mehabaw G.; Chiu, Mark L.

    2018-01-01

    ABSTRACT Immunostimulatory antibodies against the tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFR) are emerging as promising cancer immunotherapies. The agonism activity of such antibodies depends on crosslinking to Fc gamma RIIB receptor (FcγRIIB) to enable the antibody multimerization that drives TNFR activation. Previously, Fc engineering was used to enhance the binding of such antibodies to Fcγ receptors. Here, we report the identification of Centyrins as alternative scaffold proteins with binding affinities to homologous FcγRIIB and FcγRIIA, but not to other types of Fcγ receptors. One Centyrin, S29, was engineered at distinct positions of an anti-OX40 SF2 antibody to generate bispecific and tetravalent molecules named as mAbtyrins. Regardless of the position of S29 on the SF2 antibody, SF2-S29 mAbtyrins could bind FcγRIIB and FcγRIIA specifically while maintaining binding to OX40 receptors. In a NFκB reporter assay, attachment of S29 Centyrin molecules at the C-termini, but not the N-termini, resulted in SF2 antibodies with increased agonism owing to FcγRIIB crosslinking. The mAbtyrins also showed agonism in T-cell activation assays with immobilized FcγRIIB and FcγRIIA, but this activity was confined to mAbtyrins with S29 specifically at the C-termini of antibody heavy chains. Furthermore, regardless of the position of the molecule, S29 Centyrin could equip an otherwise Fc-silent antibody with antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis activity without affecting the antibody's intrinsic antibody-dependent cell-meditated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. In summary, the appropriate adoption FcγRII-binding Centyrins as functional modules represents a novel strategy to engineer therapeutic antibodies with improved functionalities. PMID:29359992

  12. Molecular-specific urokinase antibodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Atassi, M. Zouhair (Inventor); Morrison, Dennis R. (Inventor)

    2009-01-01

    Antibodies have been developed against the different molecular forms of urokinase using synthetic peptides as immunogens. The peptides were synthesized specifically to represent those regions of the urokinase molecules which are exposed in the three-dimensional configuration of the molecule and are uniquely homologous to urokinase. Antibodies are directed against the lysine 158-isoleucine 159 peptide bond which is cleaved during activation from the single-chain (ScuPA) form to the bioactive double chain (54 KDa and 33 KDa) forms of urokinase and against the lysine 135 lysine 136 bond that is cleaved in the process of removing the alpha-chain from the 54 KDa form to produce the 33 KDa form of urokinase. These antibodies enable the direct measurement of the different molecular forms of urokinase from small samples of conditioned medium harvested from cell cultures.

  13. Generation of human Fab antibody libraries: PCR amplification and assembly of light- and heavy-chain coding sequences.

    PubMed

    Andris-Widhopf, Jennifer; Steinberger, Peter; Fuller, Roberta; Rader, Christoph; Barbas, Carlos F

    2011-09-01

    The development of therapeutic antibodies for use in the treatment of human diseases has long been a goal for many researchers in the antibody field. One way to obtain these antibodies is through phage-display libraries constructed from human lymphocytes. This protocol describes the construction of human Fab (fragment antigen binding) antibody libraries. In this method, the individual rearranged heavy- and light-chain variable regions are amplified separately and are linked through a series of overlap polymerase chain reaction (PCR) steps to give the final Fab products that are used for cloning.

  14. Paired analysis of TCRα and TCRβ chains at the single-cell level in mice

    PubMed Central

    Dash, Pradyot; McClaren, Jennifer L.; Oguin, Thomas H.; Rothwell, William; Todd, Brandon; Morris, Melissa Y.; Becksfort, Jared; Reynolds, Cory; Brown, Scott A.; Doherty, Peter C.; Thomas, Paul G.

    2010-01-01

    Characterizing the TCRα and TCRβ chains expressed by T cells responding to a given pathogen or underlying autoimmunity helps in the development of vaccines and immunotherapies, respectively. However, our understanding of complementary TCRα and TCRβ chain utilization is very limited for pathogen- and autoantigen-induced immunity. To address this problem, we have developed a multiplex nested RT-PCR method for the simultaneous amplification of transcripts encoding the TCRα and TCRβ chains from single cells. This multiplex method circumvented the lack of antibodies specific for variable regions of mouse TCRα chains and the need for prior knowledge of variable region usage in the TCRβ chain, resulting in a comprehensive, unbiased TCR repertoire analysis with paired coexpression of TCRα and TCRβ chains with single-cell resolution. Using CD8+ CTLs specific for an influenza epitope recovered directly from the pneumonic lungs of mice, this technique determined that 25% of such effectors expressed a dominant, nonproductively rearranged Tcra transcript. T cells with these out-of-frame Tcra mRNAs also expressed an alternate, in-frame Tcra, whereas approximately 10% of T cells had 2 productive Tcra transcripts. The proportion of cells with biallelic transcription increased over the course of a response, a finding that has implications for immune memory and autoimmunity. This technique may have broad applications in mouse models of human disease. PMID:21135507

  15. Specificity of the Antibody Receptor Site to D-Lysergamide: Model of a Physiological Receptor for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

    PubMed Central

    Vunakis, Helen Van; Farrow, John T.; Gjika, Hilda B.; Levine, Lawrence

    1971-01-01

    Antibodies to D-lysergic acid have been produced in rabbits and guinea pigs and a radioimmunoassay for the hapten was developed. The specificity of this lysergamide-antilysergamide reaction was determined by competitive binding with unlabeled lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psychotomimetic drugs, neurotransmitters, and other compounds with diverse structures. LSD and several related ergot alkaloids were potent competitors, three to seven times more potent than lysergic acid itself. The N,N-dimethyl derivatives of several compounds, including tryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, 4-hydroxytryptamine, 5-methoxytryptamine, tyramine, and mescaline, were only about ten times less effective than lysergic acid, even though these compounds lack some of the ring systems of lysergic acid. The pattern of inhibition by related compounds with various substituents suggests that the antibody receptor site recognizes structural features resembling the LSD molecule. In particular, the aromatic nucleus and the dimethylated ethylamine side chain in phenylethylamine and tryptamine derivatives may assume in solution a conformation resembling ring A and the methylated nitrogen in ring C of LSD. Among the tryptamine derivatives, a large percentage of the most potent competitors are also psychotomimetic compounds. PMID:5283939

  16. Encephalitis and AMPA receptor antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Höftberger, Romana; van Sonderen, Agnes; Leypoldt, Frank; Houghton, David; Geschwind, Michael; Gelfand, Jeffrey; Paredes, Mercedes; Sabater, Lidia; Saiz, Albert; Titulaer, Maarten J.; Graus, Francesc

    2015-01-01

    Objective: We report the clinical features, comorbidities, and outcome of 22 newly identified patients with antibodies to the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR). Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients diagnosed between May 2009 and March 2014. Immunologic techniques have been reported previously. Results: Patients' median age was 62 years (range 23–81; 14 female). Four syndromes were identified: 12 (55%) patients presented with distinctive limbic encephalitis (LE), 8 (36%) with limbic dysfunction along with multifocal/diffuse encephalopathy, one with LE preceded by motor deficits, and one with psychosis with bipolar features. Fourteen patients (64%) had a tumor demonstrated pathologically (5 lung, 4 thymoma, 2 breast, 2 ovarian teratoma) or radiologically (1 lung). Additional antibodies occurred in 7 patients (3 onconeuronal, 1 tumor-related, 2 cell surface, and 1 tumor-related and cell surface), all with neurologic symptoms or tumor reflecting the concurrent autoimmunity. Treatment and outcome were available from 21 patients (median follow-up 72 weeks, range 5–266): 5 had good response to immunotherapy and tumor therapy, 10 partial response, and 6 did not improve. Eventually 5 patients died; all had a tumor or additional paraneoplastic symptoms related to onconeuronal antibodies. Coexistence of onconeuronal antibodies predicted a poor outcome (p = 0.009). Conclusion: Anti-AMPAR encephalitis usually manifests as LE, can present with other symptoms or psychosis, and is paraneoplastic in 64% of cases. Complete and impressive neurologic improvement can occur, but most patients have partial recovery. Screening for a tumor and onconeuronal antibodies is important because their detection influences outcome. PMID:25979696

  17. Clinical Value of Thyrotropin Receptor Antibodies for the Differential Diagnosis of Interferon Induced Thyroiditis.

    PubMed

    Benaiges, D; Garcia-Retortillo, M; Mas, A; Cañete, N; Broquetas, T; Puigvehi, M; Chillarón, J J; Flores-Le Roux, J A; Sagarra, E; Cabrero, B; Zaffalon, D; Solà, R; Pedro-Botet, J; Carrión, J A

    2016-01-01

    The clinical value of thyrotropin receptor antibodies for the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis induced by pegylated interferon-alpha remains unknown. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of thyrotropin receptor antibodies in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin. Retrospective analysis of 274 patients with CHC receiving pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin. Interferon-induced thyrotoxicosis was classified according to clinical guidelines as Graves disease, autoimmune and non- autoimmune destructive thyroiditis. 48 (17.5%) patients developed hypothyroidism, 17 (6.2%) thyrotoxicosis (6 non- autoimmune destructive thyroiditis, 8 autoimmune destructive thyroiditis and 3 Graves disease) and 22 "de novo" thyrotropin receptor antibodies (all Graves disease, 2 of the 8 autoimmune destructive thyroiditis and 17 with normal thyroid function). The sensitivity and specificity of thyrotropin receptor antibodies for Graves disease diagnosis in patients with thyrotoxicosis were 100 and 85%, respectively. Patients with destructive thyroiditis developed hypothyroidism in 87.5% of autoimmune cases and in none of those with a non- autoimmune etiology (p<0.001). Thyrotropin receptor antibodies determination cannot replace thyroid scintigraphy for the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis in CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  18. Data on enhanced expression and purification of camelid single domain antibodies from Escherichia coli classical inclusion bodies.

    PubMed

    Maggi, Maristella; Scotti, Claudia

    2017-06-01

    Heterologous expression of high amounts of recombinant proteins is a milestone for research and industrial purposes. Single domain antibodies (sdAbs) are heavy-chain only antibody fragments with applications in the biotechnological, medical and industrial fields. The simple nature and small size of sdAbs allows for efficient expression of the soluble molecule in different hosts. However, in some cases, it results in low functional protein yield. To overcome this limitation, expression of a 6xHistag sdAb was attempted in different conditions in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. Data showed that high amount of sdAb can be expressed in E. coli classical inclusion bodies, efficiently extracted by urea in a short-time, and properly purified by metal ion affinity chromatography. These data originate from the research article "Enhanced expression and purification of camelid single domain VHH antibodies from classical inclusion bodies" Maggi and Scotti (2017) [1] (DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pep.2017.02.007).

  19. Structural insights into the extracellular recognition of the human serotonin 2B receptor by an antibody

    PubMed Central

    Wacker, Daniel; Kapoor, Mili; Zhang, Ai; Han, Gye Won; Basu, Shibom; Patel, Nilkanth; Messerschmidt, Marc; Weierstall, Uwe; Liu, Wei; Katritch, Vsevolod; Roth, Bryan L.; Stevens, Raymond C.

    2017-01-01

    Monoclonal antibodies provide an attractive alternative to small-molecule therapies for a wide range of diseases. Given the importance of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as pharmaceutical targets, there has been an immense interest in developing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that act on GPCRs. Here we present the 3.0-Å resolution structure of a complex between the human 5-hydroxytryptamine 2B (5-HT2B) receptor and an antibody Fab fragment bound to the extracellular side of the receptor, determined by serial femtosecond crystallography with an X-ray free-electron laser. The antibody binds to a 3D epitope of the receptor that includes all three extracellular loops. The 5-HT2B receptor is captured in a well-defined active-like state, most likely stabilized by the crystal lattice. The structure of the complex sheds light on the mechanism of selectivity in extracellular recognition of GPCRs by monoclonal antibodies. PMID:28716900

  20. Adult celiac disease with acetylcholine receptor antibody positive myasthenia gravis

    PubMed Central

    Freeman, Hugh J; Gillett, Helen R; Gillett, Peter M; Oger, Joel

    2009-01-01

    Celiac disease has been associated with some autoimmune disorders. A 40-year-old competitive strongman with celiac disease responded to a gluten-free diet, but developed profound and generalized motor weakness with acetylcholine receptor antibody positive myasthenia gravis, a disorder reported to occur in about 1 in 5000. This possible relationship between myasthenia gravis and celiac disease was further explored in serological studies. Frozen stored serum samples from 23 acetylcholine receptor antibody positive myasthenia gravis patients with no intestinal symptoms were used to screen for celiac disease. Both endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies were examined. One of 23 (or, about 4.3%) was positive for both IgA-endomysial and IgA tissue transglutaminase antibodies. Endoscopic studies subsequently showed duodenal mucosal scalloping and biopsies confirmed the histopathological changes of celiac disease. Celiac disease and myasthenia gravis may occur together more often than is currently appreciated. The presence of motor weakness in celiac disease may be a clue to occult myasthenia gravis, even in the absence of intestinal symptoms. PMID:19824105

  1. Mechanism of human antibody-mediated neutralization of Marburg virus.

    PubMed

    Flyak, Andrew I; Ilinykh, Philipp A; Murin, Charles D; Garron, Tania; Shen, Xiaoli; Fusco, Marnie L; Hashiguchi, Takao; Bornholdt, Zachary A; Slaughter, James C; Sapparapu, Gopal; Klages, Curtis; Ksiazek, Thomas G; Ward, Andrew B; Saphire, Erica Ollmann; Bukreyev, Alexander; Crowe, James E

    2015-02-26

    The mechanisms by which neutralizing antibodies inhibit Marburg virus (MARV) are not known. We isolated a panel of neutralizing antibodies from a human MARV survivor that bind to MARV glycoprotein (GP) and compete for binding to a single major antigenic site. Remarkably, several of the antibodies also bind to Ebola virus (EBOV) GP. Single-particle EM structures of antibody-GP complexes reveal that all of the neutralizing antibodies bind to MARV GP at or near the predicted region of the receptor-binding site. The presence of the glycan cap or mucin-like domain blocks binding of neutralizing antibodies to EBOV GP, but not to MARV GP. The data suggest that MARV-neutralizing antibodies inhibit virus by binding to infectious virions at the exposed MARV receptor-binding site, revealing a mechanism of filovirus inhibition. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Antitumor activity of a dual cytokine/single-chain antibody fusion protein for simultaneous delivery of GM-CSF and IL-2 to Ep-CAM expressing tumor cells.

    PubMed

    Schanzer, Juergen M; Fichtner, Iduna; Baeuerle, Patrick A; Kufer, Peter

    2006-01-01

    Cytokine targeting to tumor-associated antigens via antibody cytokine fusion proteins has demonstrated potent antitumor activity in numerous animal models and has led to the clinical development of 2 antibody-interleukin-2 (IL-2) fusion proteins. We previously reported on the construction and in vitro properties of a "dual" cytokine fusion protein for simultaneous targeted delivery of human granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-2 to human tumors. The fusion protein is based on a heterodimerized core structure formed by human CH1 and Ckappa domains (heterominibody) with C-terminally fused human cytokines and N-terminally fused single-chain antibody fragments specific for the tumor-associated surface antigen epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM). For testing the antitumor activity in syngeneic mouse xenograft models, we developed "dual cytokine heterominibodies" with murine cytokines (mDCH). mDCH fusion proteins and, as controls, "single cytokine heterominibodies" (SCH) carrying either murine GM-CSF (mGM-CSF) or murine IL-2 (mIL-2) were constructed, of which all retained the specific activities of cytokines and binding to the Ep-CAM antigen on human Ep-CAM transfected mouse colon carcinoma CT26-KSA cells. Over a 5-day treatment course, DCH fusion proteins induced significant inhibition of established pulmonary CT26-KSA metastases in immune-competent Balb/c mice at low daily doses of 1 mug of fusion protein per mouse. However, with the tested dosing schemes, antitumor activity of mDCH was largely independent of cytokine targeting to tumors as demonstrated by a control protein with mutated Ep-CAM binding sites. Single cytokine fusion proteins mSCH-GM-CSF and mSCH-IL-2 showed similar antitumor activity as the dual cytokine fusion protein mDCH, indicating that GM-CSF and IL-2 in one molecule did not significantly synergize in tumor rejection under our experimental conditions. Our results seem to contradict the notion that IL-2 and GM

  3. Duplex microfluidic SERS detection of pathogen antigens with nanoyeast single-chain variable fragments.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yuling; Rauf, Sakandar; Grewal, Yadveer S; Spadafora, Lauren J; Shiddiky, Muhammad J A; Cangelosi, Gerard A; Schlücker, Sebastian; Trau, Matt

    2014-10-07

    Quantitative and accurate detection of multiple biomarkers would allow for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of diseases induced by pathogens. Monoclonal antibodies are standard affinity reagents applied for biomarkers detection; however, their production is expensive and labor-intensive. Herein, we report on newly developed nanoyeast single-chain variable fragments (NYscFv) as an attractive alternative to monoclonal antibodies, which offers the unique advantage of a cost-effective production, stability in solution, and target-specificity. By combination of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) microspectroscopy using glass-coated, highly purified SERS nanoparticle clusters as labels, with a microfluidic device comprising multiple channels, a robust platform for the sensitive duplex detection of pathogen antigens has been developed. Highly sensitive detection for individual Entamoeba histolytica antigen EHI_115350 (limit of detection = 1 pg/mL, corresponding to 58.8 fM) and EHI_182030 (10 pg/mL, corresponding 453 fM) with high specificity has been achieved, employing the newly developed corresponding NYscFv as probe in combination with SERS microspectroscopy at a single laser excitation wavelength. Our first report on SERS-based immunoassays using the novel NYscFv affinity reagent demonstrates the flexibility of NYscFv fragments as viable alternatives to monoclonal antibodies in a range of bioassay platforms and paves the way for further applications.

  4. Vaccine-elicited receptor-binding site antibodies neutralize two New World hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses.

    PubMed

    Clark, Lars E; Mahmutovic, Selma; Raymond, Donald D; Dilanyan, Taleen; Koma, Takaaki; Manning, John T; Shankar, Sundaresh; Levis, Silvana C; Briggiler, Ana M; Enria, Delia A; Wucherpfennig, Kai W; Paessler, Slobodan; Abraham, Jonathan

    2018-05-14

    While five arenaviruses cause human hemorrhagic fevers in the Western Hemisphere, only Junin virus (JUNV) has a vaccine. The GP1 subunit of their envelope glycoprotein binds transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) using a surface that substantially varies in sequence among the viruses. As such, receptor-mimicking antibodies described to date are type-specific and lack the usual breadth associated with this mode of neutralization. Here we isolate, from the blood of a recipient of the live attenuated JUNV vaccine, two antibodies that cross-neutralize Machupo virus with varying efficiency. Structures of GP1-Fab complexes explain the basis for efficient cross-neutralization, which involves avoiding receptor mimicry and targeting a conserved epitope within the receptor-binding site (RBS). The viral RBS, despite its extensive sequence diversity, is therefore a target for cross-reactive antibodies with activity against New World arenaviruses of public health concern.

  5. Isolation and characterization of a thermally stable recombinant anti-caffeine heavy-chain antibody fragment.

    PubMed

    Ladenson, Ruth C; Crimmins, Dan L; Landt, Yvonne; Ladenson, Jack H

    2006-07-01

    We have isolated and characterized a caffeine-specific, heavy-chain-only antibody fragment (V(HH)) from llama that is capable of being utilized to analyze caffeine in hot and cold beverages. Camelid species (llama and camel) were selected for immunization because of their potential to make heat-stable, heavy-chain-only antibodies. Llamas and camels were immunized with caffeine covalently linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and recombinant antibody techniques were used to create phage displayed libraries of variable region fragments of the heavy-chain antibodies. Caffeine-specific V(HH) fragments were selected by their ability to bind to caffeine/bovine serum albumin (BSA) and confirmed by a positive reaction in a caffeine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (caffeine ELISA). One of these V(HH) fragments (VSA2) was expressed as a soluble protein and shown to recover its reactivity after exposure to temperatures up to 90 degrees C. In addition, VSA2 was able to bind caffeine at 70 degrees C. A competition caffeine ELISA was developed for the measurement of caffeine in beverages, and concentrations of caffeine obtained for coffee, Coca-Cola Classic, and Diet Coke agreed well with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination and literature values. VSA2 showed minimal cross reactivity with structurally related methylxanthines.

  6. Purification and refolding of anti-T-antigen single chain antibodies (scFvs) expressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies.

    PubMed

    Yuasa, Noriyuki; Koyama, Tsubasa; Fujita-Yamaguchi, Yoko

    2014-02-01

    T-antigen (Galβ1-3GalNAcα-1-Ser/Thr) is an oncofetal antigen that is commonly expressed as a carbohydrate determinant in many adenocarcinomas. Since it is associated with tumor progression and metastasis, production of recombinant antibodies specific for T-antigen could lead to the development of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Previously, we isolated and characterized 11 anti-T-antigen phage clones from a phage library displaying human single-chain antibodies (scFvs) and purified one scFv protein, 1G11. More recently, we purified and characterized 1E8 scFv protein using a Drosophila S2 expression system. In the current study, four anti-T-antigen scFv genes belonging to Groups 1-4 were purified from inclusion bodies expressed in Escherichia coli cells. Inclusion bodies isolated from E. coli cells were denatured in 3.5 M Gdn-HCl. Solubilized His-tagged scFv proteins were purified using Ni(2+)-Sepharose column chromatography in the presence of 3.5 M Gdn-HCl. Purified scFv proteins were refolded according to a previously published method of step-wise dialysis. Two anti-T-antigen scFv proteins, 1E6 and 1E8 that belong to Groups 1 and 2, respectively, were produced in sufficient amounts, thus allowing further characterization of their binding activity with T-antigen. Specificity and affinity constants determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), respectively, provided evidence that both 1E8 and 1E6 scFv proteins are T-antigen specific and suggested that 1E8 scFv protein has a higher affinity for T-antigen than 1E6 scFv protein.

  7. Thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies as a predictor of thyrosuppressive drug therapy outcome in Graves' disease patients.

    PubMed

    Aleksić, Aleksandar Z; Aleksić, Željka; Manić, Saška; Mitov, Vladimir; Jolić, Aleksandar

    2014-01-01

    Graves' disease is autoimmune hyperthyroidism caused by pathological stimulation of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies. The decision on changing the therapy can be made on time by determining the prognostic factors of thyrosuppressive drug therapy outcome. The aim of the study was to determine the significance of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies level on the prediction of therapy outcome. The study was prospective and involved 106 drug-treated patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease. Thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies level was measured at the beginning of therapy, during therapy and 12 months after it had been introduced. No statistically significant difference in the level of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies was found at the beginning of disease and 12 months after the introduction of thyrosuppressive drug therapy among the patients who had been in remission and those who had not. Regardless of the outcome, thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies level significantly decreased in all patients 12 months after the therapy had been introduced. The level of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies at the beginning of disease and 12 months after the introduction of therapy cannot predict the outcome of thyrosuppressive drug therapy.

  8. Growth inhibition of tumor cells in vitro by using monoclonal antibodies against gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor.

    PubMed

    Lee, Gregory; Ge, Bixia

    2010-07-01

    As the continuation of a previous study, synthetic peptides corresponding to the extracellular domains of human gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor were used to generate additional monoclonal antibodies which were further characterized biochemically and immunologically. Among those identified to recognize GnRH receptor, monoclonal antibodies designated as GHR-103, GHR-106 and GHR-114 were found to exhibit high affinity (Kd < or = 1 x 10(-8) M) and specificity to GnRH receptor as judged by the whole cell binding immunoassay and Western blot assay. Both anti-GnRH receptor monoclonal antibodies and GnRH were shown to compete for the same binding site of GnRH receptor on the surface of cultured cancer cells. Growth inhibitions of cancer cells cultured in vitro were demonstrated by cellular apoptosis experiments (TUNEL and MTT assays) under different conditions of treatment with GHR-106 monoclonal antibody or GnRH analogs. It was generally observed that both GnRH I and GHR-106 effectively induce the apoptosis of cultured cancer cells as determined by TUNEL and MTT assays. Consistently, suppressions of gene expressions at mRNA levels were demonstrated with several ribosomal proteins (P0, P1, P2 and L37), when cancer cells were incubated with GnRH or GHR-106. The widespread expressions of GnRH receptor in almost all of the studied human cancer cell lines were also demonstrated by RT-PCR and Western blot assay, as well as indirect immunofluorescence assay with either of these monoclonal antibodies as the primary antibody. In view of the longer half life of antibodies as compared to that of GnRH or its analogs, anti-GnRH receptor monoclonal antibodies in humanized forms could function as GnRH analogs and serve as an ideal candidate of anti-cancer drugs for therapeutic treatments of various cancers in humans as well as for fertility regulations.

  9. Charge heterogeneity: Basic antibody charge variants with increased binding to Fc receptors

    PubMed Central

    Hintersteiner, Beate; Lingg, Nico; Zhang, Peiqing; Woen, Susanto; Hoi, Kong Meng; Stranner, Stefan; Wiederkum, Susanne; Mutschlechner, Oliver; Schuster, Manfred; Loibner, Hans; Jungbauer, Alois

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT We identified active isoforms of the chimeric anti-GD2 antibody, ch14.18, a recombinant antibody produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells, which is already used in clinical trials.1,2,3 We separated the antibody by high resolution ion-exchange chromatography with linear pH gradient elution into acidic, main and basic charge variants on a preparative scale yielding enough material for an in-depth study of the sources and the effects of microheterogeneity. The binding affinity of the charge variants toward the antigen and various cell surface receptors was studied by Biacore. Effector functions were evaluated using cellular assays for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Basic charge variants showed increased binding to cell surface receptor FcγRIIIa, which plays a major role in regulating effector functions. Furthermore, increased binding of the basic fractions to the neonatal receptor was observed. As this receptor mediates the prolonged half-life of IgG in human serum, this data may well hint at an increased serum half-life of these basic variants compared to their more acidic counterparts. Different glycoform patterns, C-terminal lysine clipping and N-terminal pyroglutamate formation were identified as the main structural sources for the observed isoform pattern. Potential differences in structural stability between individual charge variant fractions by nano differential scanning calorimetry could not been detected. Our in-vitro data suggests that the connection between microheterogeneity and the biological activity of recombinant antibody therapeutics deserves more attention than commonly accepted. PMID:27559765

  10. Charge heterogeneity: Basic antibody charge variants with increased binding to Fc receptors.

    PubMed

    Hintersteiner, Beate; Lingg, Nico; Zhang, Peiqing; Woen, Susanto; Hoi, Kong Meng; Stranner, Stefan; Wiederkum, Susanne; Mutschlechner, Oliver; Schuster, Manfred; Loibner, Hans; Jungbauer, Alois

    We identified active isoforms of the chimeric anti-GD2 antibody, ch14.18, a recombinant antibody produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells, which is already used in clinical trials. 1,2,3 We separated the antibody by high resolution ion-exchange chromatography with linear pH gradient elution into acidic, main and basic charge variants on a preparative scale yielding enough material for an in-depth study of the sources and the effects of microheterogeneity. The binding affinity of the charge variants toward the antigen and various cell surface receptors was studied by Biacore. Effector functions were evaluated using cellular assays for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Basic charge variants showed increased binding to cell surface receptor FcγRIIIa, which plays a major role in regulating effector functions. Furthermore, increased binding of the basic fractions to the neonatal receptor was observed. As this receptor mediates the prolonged half-life of IgG in human serum, this data may well hint at an increased serum half-life of these basic variants compared to their more acidic counterparts. Different glycoform patterns, C-terminal lysine clipping and N-terminal pyroglutamate formation were identified as the main structural sources for the observed isoform pattern. Potential differences in structural stability between individual charge variant fractions by nano differential scanning calorimetry could not been detected. Our in-vitro data suggests that the connection between microheterogeneity and the biological activity of recombinant antibody therapeutics deserves more attention than commonly accepted.

  11. Engineering of a recombinant trivalent single-chain variable fragment antibody directed against rabies virus glycoprotein G with improved neutralizing potency.

    PubMed

    Turki, Imène; Hammami, Akil; Kharmachi, Habib; Mousli, Mohamed

    2014-02-01

    Human and equine rabies immunoglobulins are currently available for passive immunization against rabies. However, these are hampered by the limited supply and some drawbacks. Advances in antibody engineering have led to overcome issues of clinical applications and to improve the protective efficacy. In the present study, we report the generation of a trivalent single-chain Fv (scFv50AD1-Fd), that recognizes the rabies virus glycoprotein, genetically fused to the trimerization domain of the bacteriophage T4 fibritin, termed 'foldon' (Fd). scFv50AD1-Fd was expressed as soluble recombinant protein in bacterial periplasmic space and purified through affinity chromatography. The molecular integrity and stability were analyzed by polyacrylamide gradient-gel electrophoresis, size-exclusion chromatography and incubation in human sera. The antigen-binding properties of the trimeric scFv were analyzed by direct and competitive-ELISA. Its apparent affinity constant was estimated at 1.4 ± 0.25 × 10(9)M(-1) and was 75-fold higher than its monovalent scFv (1.9 ± 0.68 × 10(7)M(-1)). The scFv50AD1-Fd neutralized rabies virus in a standard in vitro and in vivo neutralization assay. We showed a high neutralization activity up to 75-fold compared with monovalent format and the WHO standard serum. The gain in avidity resulting from multivalency along with an improved biological activity makes the trivalent scFv50AD1-Fd construct an important reagent for rabies protection. The antibody engineering approach presented here may serve as a strategy for designing a new generation of anti-rabies for passive immunotherapy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Macromolecular beta-adrenergic antagonists discriminating between receptor and antibody.

    PubMed Central

    Pitha, J; Zjawiony, J; Lefkowitz, R J; Caron, M G

    1980-01-01

    The beta-adrenergic antagonist, alprenolol, was attached in an irreversible manner to macromolecular dextran via side arms that differed in length. The ability of these macromolecules to bind to the beta-adrenergic receptor of frog erythrocytes and to catecholamine-binding antibodies raised against partially purified receptors was studied. Compared to the parent drug the potency of binding of macromolecular alprenolol to the receptor decreased about 1/10, 1/600, and 1/8000 when the length of the arm separating alprenolol from the dextran moiety was 13, 8, and 4 atoms, respectively. In contrast, the binding potencies of the parent drug and of all its macromolecular derivatives for the antibody were within the same order of magnitude. Thus, conversion of a drug to a macromolecular form may not only sustain its binding activity but may also lead in a higher selectivity. The macromolecular derivatives described here may be suitable probes for investigation of the location and of the molecular properties of the binding sites for beta-adrenergic drugs. PMID:6154947

  13. Crystal structure of the anti-(carcinoembryonic antigen) single-chain Fv antibody MFE-23 and a model for antigen binding based on intermolecular contacts.

    PubMed

    Boehm, M K; Corper, A L; Wan, T; Sohi, M K; Sutton, B J; Thornton, J D; Keep, P A; Chester, K A; Begent, R H; Perkins, S J

    2000-03-01

    MFE-23 is the first single-chain Fv antibody molecule to be used in patients and is used to target colorectal cancer through its high affinity for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a cell-surface member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. MFE-23 contains an N-terminal variable heavy-chain domain joined by a (Gly(4)Ser)(3) linker to a variable light-chain (V(L)) domain (kappa chain) with an 11-residue C-terminal Myc-tag. Its crystal structure was determined at 2.4 A resolution by molecular replacement with an R(cryst) of 19.0%. Five of the six antigen-binding loops, L1, L2, L3, H1 and H2, conformed to known canonical structures. The sixth loop, H3, displayed a unique structure, with a beta-hairpin loop and a bifurcated apex characterized by a buried Thr residue. In the crystal lattice, two MFE-23 molecules were associated back-to-back in a manner not seen before. The antigen-binding site displayed a large acidic region located mainly within the H2 loop and a large hydrophobic region within the H3 loop. Even though this structure is unliganded within the crystal, there is an unusually large region of contact between the H1, H2 and H3 loops and the beta-sheet of the V(L) domain of an adjacent molecule (strands DEBA) as a result of intermolecular packing. These interactions exhibited remarkably high surface and electrostatic complementarity. Of seven MFE-23 residues predicted to make contact with antigen, five participated in these lattice contacts, and this model for antigen binding is consistent with previously reported site-specific mutagenesis of MFE-23 and its effect on CEA binding.

  14. Comparison of llama VH sequences from conventional and heavy chain antibodies.

    PubMed

    Vu, K B; Ghahroudi, M A; Wyns, L; Muyldermans, S

    1997-01-01

    Forty different PCR clones encoding a llama variable heavy chain domain were analysed. The majority of these clones are derived from heavy-chain antibody cDNA in which the entire CH1 exon is absent. It appears from the amino acid within the VHH framework 1 and 3 that all the llama clones belong to the VH III family. However, the individual llama VHH sequences differ more substantially from each other than expected for members of the same family. Several remarkable amino acid substitutions in the framework 2 hinder the proper association of the VL. However, they lay the foundation for the secretion from the endoplasmic reticulum and good solubility behaviour of llama H2 antibodies. The repertoire of the llama VHHs may be extensive due to the presence of a long CDR3-loop, often constrained by a disulfide bridge and the occurrence of H1 and H2 loop conformations not yet encountered in mice or human VHs. The variability plot of the amino acids in the VHH shows that the first hypervariable region coincides with the structural H1 loop in contrast to the situation found in mice and man where the CDR1 and H1 are slightly offset. We propose that the amino acids of the llama H1 loop participate actively in the antigen binding. All these observations are characteristic for the llama VHHs of the homodimeric heavy-chain H2 antibodies, but are not maintained in the llama clones from conventional heterotetrameric H2L2 immunoglobulins.

  15. Concordance of polymerase chain reaction with human immunodeficiency virus antibody detection.

    PubMed

    Horsburgh, C R; Ou, C Y; Jason, J; Holmberg, S D; Lifson, A R; Moore, J L; Ward, J W; Seage, G R; Mayer, K H; Evatt, B L

    1990-08-01

    To evaluate the correlation of detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with detection of HIV antibody, 271 simultaneous serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were examined from 242 persons whose activities placed them at increased risk for HIV infection: 142 from homosexual men, 86 from hemophilic men, and 43 from heterosexual partners of HIV-infected persons. PCR was performed using the gag region primer pair SK38/39 and the env region primer pairs SK68/69 and CO71/72. Amplified HIV DNA was detected using specific oligomer probes. Of 63 HIV antibody-positive samples, 58 (92%) had HIV DNA by PCR. Of 208 HIV antibody-negative samples, 7 (3.4%) had HIV DNA by PCR. On follow-up, 4 of the latter persons were seropositive when next tested; 2 were well and antibody- and PCR-negative; 1 had died of a stroke before retesting. Thus, PCR detects HIV in most antibody-positive persons; detection is increased by use of multiple primer pairs. PCR-positive antibody-negative specimens may indicate HIV infection in which antibody has not yet developed or may be false-positive PCR results. When PCR is discordant with HIV antibody, testing of additional specimens and clinical follow-up are necessary to assess HIV infection status.

  16. Expression and assembly of a fully active antibody in algae

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mayfield, Stephen P.; Franklin, Scott E.; Lerner, Richard A.

    2003-01-01

    Although combinatorial antibody libraries have solved the problem of access to large immunological repertoires, efficient production of these complex molecules remains a problem. Here we demonstrate the efficient expression of a unique large single-chain (lsc) antibody in the chloroplast of the unicellular, green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We achieved high levels of protein accumulation by synthesizing the lsc gene in chloroplast codon bias and by driving expression of the chimeric gene using either of two C. reinhardtii chloroplast promoters and 5' and 3' RNA elements. This lsc antibody, directed against glycoprotein D of the herpes simplex virus, is produced in a soluble form by the alga and assembles into higher order complexes in vivo. Aside from dimerization by disulfide bond formation, the antibody undergoes no detectable posttranslational modification. We further demonstrate that accumulation of the antibody can be modulated by the specific growth regime used to culture the alga, and by the choice of 5' and 3' elements used to drive expression of the antibody gene. These results demonstrate the utility of alga as an expression platform for recombinant proteins, and describe a new type of single chain antibody containing the entire heavy chain protein, including the Fc domain.

  17. Development of anti-bovine IgA single chain variable fragment and its application in diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease

    PubMed Central

    Sridevi, N. V.; Shukra, A. M.; Neelakantam, B.; Anilkumar, J.; Madhanmohan, M.; Rajan, S.; Dev Chandran

    2014-01-01

    Recombinant antibody fragments like single chain variable fragments (scFvs) represent an attractive yet powerful alternative to immunoglobulins and hold great potential in the development of clinical diagnostic/therapeutic reagents. Structurally, scFvs are the smallest antibody fragments capable of retaining the antigen-binding capacity of whole antibodies and are composed of an immunoglobulin (Ig) variable light (VL) and variable heavy (VH) chain joined by a flexible polypeptide linker. In the present study, we constructed a scFv against bovine IgA from a hybridoma cell line IL-A71 that secretes a monoclonal antibody against bovine IgA using recombinant DNA technology. The scFv was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The binding activity and specificity of the scFv was established by its non-reactivity toward other classes of immunoglobulins as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot analysis. Kinetic measurement of the scFv indicated that the recombinant antibody fragment had an affinity in picomolar range toward purified IgA. Furthermore, the scFv was used to develop a sensitive ELISA for the detection of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) carrier animals. PMID:24678404

  18. Controlled chain polymerisation and chemical soldering for single-molecule electronics.

    PubMed

    Okawa, Yuji; Akai-Kasaya, Megumi; Kuwahara, Yuji; Mandal, Swapan K; Aono, Masakazu

    2012-05-21

    Single functional molecules offer great potential for the development of novel nanoelectronic devices with capabilities beyond today's silicon-based devices. To realise single-molecule electronics, the development of a viable method for connecting functional molecules to each other using single conductive polymer chains is required. The method of initiating chain polymerisation using the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) is very useful for fabricating single conductive polymer chains at designated positions and thereby wiring single molecules. In this feature article, developments in the controlled chain polymerisation of diacetylene compounds and the properties of polydiacetylene chains are summarised. Recent studies of "chemical soldering", a technique enabling the covalent connection of single polydiacetylene chains to single functional molecules, are also introduced. This represents a key step in advancing the development of single-molecule electronics.

  19. Engineering an Anti-Transferrin Receptor ScFv for pH-Sensitive Binding Leads to Increased Intracellular Accumulation.

    PubMed

    Tillotson, Benjamin J; Goulatis, Loukas I; Parenti, Isabelle; Duxbury, Elizabeth; Shusta, Eric V

    2015-01-01

    The equilibrium binding affinity of receptor-ligand or antibody-antigen pairs may be modulated by protonation of histidine side-chains, and such pH-dependent mechanisms play important roles in biological systems, affecting molecular uptake and trafficking. Here, we aimed to manipulate cellular transport of single-chain antibodies (scFvs) against the transferrin receptor (TfR) by engineering pH-dependent antigen binding. An anti-TfR scFv was subjected to histidine saturation mutagenesis of a single CDR. By employing yeast surface display with a pH-dependent screening pressure, scFvs having markedly increased dissociation from TfR at pH 5.5 were identified. The pH-sensitivity generally resulted from a central cluster of histidine residues in CDRH1. When soluble, pH-sensitive, scFv clone M16 was dosed onto live cells, the internalized fraction was 2.6-fold greater than scFvs that lacked pH-sensitive binding and the increase was dependent on endosomal acidification. Differences in the intracellular distribution of M16 were also observed consistent with an intracellular decoupling of the scFv M16-TfR complex. Engineered pH-sensitive TfR binding could prove important for increasing the effectiveness of TfR-targeted antibodies seeking to exploit endocytosis or transcytosis for drug delivery purposes.

  20. Engineering an Anti-Transferrin Receptor ScFv for pH-Sensitive Binding Leads to Increased Intracellular Accumulation

    PubMed Central

    Tillotson, Benjamin J.; Goulatis, Loukas I.; Parenti, Isabelle; Duxbury, Elizabeth; Shusta, Eric V.

    2015-01-01

    The equilibrium binding affinity of receptor-ligand or antibody-antigen pairs may be modulated by protonation of histidine side-chains, and such pH-dependent mechanisms play important roles in biological systems, affecting molecular uptake and trafficking. Here, we aimed to manipulate cellular transport of single-chain antibodies (scFvs) against the transferrin receptor (TfR) by engineering pH-dependent antigen binding. An anti-TfR scFv was subjected to histidine saturation mutagenesis of a single CDR. By employing yeast surface display with a pH-dependent screening pressure, scFvs having markedly increased dissociation from TfR at pH 5.5 were identified. The pH-sensitivity generally resulted from a central cluster of histidine residues in CDRH1. When soluble, pH-sensitive, scFv clone M16 was dosed onto live cells, the internalized fraction was 2.6-fold greater than scFvs that lacked pH-sensitive binding and the increase was dependent on endosomal acidification. Differences in the intracellular distribution of M16 were also observed consistent with an intracellular decoupling of the scFv M16-TfR complex. Engineered pH-sensitive TfR binding could prove important for increasing the effectiveness of TfR-targeted antibodies seeking to exploit endocytosis or transcytosis for drug delivery purposes. PMID:26713870

  1. A panel of recombinant monoclonal antibodies against zebrafish neural receptors and secreted proteins suitable for wholemount immunostaining.

    PubMed

    Staudt, Nicole; Müller-Sienerth, Nicole; Fane-Dremucheva, Alla; Yusaf, Shahnaz P; Millrine, David; Wright, Gavin J

    2015-01-02

    Cell surface receptors and secreted proteins play important roles in neural recognition processes, but because their site of action can be a long distance from neuron cell bodies, antibodies that label these proteins are valuable to understand their function. The zebrafish embryo is a popular vertebrate model for neurobiology, but suffers from a paucity of validated antibody reagents. Here, we use the entire ectodomain of neural zebrafish cell surface or secreted proteins expressed in mammalian cells to select monoclonal antibodies to ten different antigens. The antibodies were characterised by Western blotting and the sensitivity of their epitopes to formalin fixation was determined. The rearranged antigen binding regions of the antibodies were amplified and cloned which enabled expression in a recombinant form from a single plasmid. All ten antibodies gave specific staining patterns within formalin-treated embryonic zebrafish brains, demonstrating that this generalised approach is particularly efficient to elicit antibodies that stain native antigen in fixed wholemount tissue. Finally, we show that additional tags can be easily added to the recombinant antibodies for convenient multiplex staining. The antibodies and the approaches described here will help to address the lack of well-defined antibody reagents in zebrafish research. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Cross-neutralizing human anti-poliovirus antibodies bind the recognition site for cellular receptor

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Zhaochun; Fischer, Elizabeth R.; Kouiavskaia, Diana; Hansen, Bryan T.; Ludtke, Steven J.; Bidzhieva, Bella; Makiya, Michelle; Agulto, Liane; Purcell, Robert H.; Chumakov, Konstantin

    2013-01-01

    Most structural information about poliovirus interaction with neutralizing antibodies was obtained in the 1980s in studies of mouse monoclonal antibodies. Recently we have isolated a number of human/chimpanzee anti-poliovirus antibodies and demonstrated that one of them, MAb A12, could neutralize polioviruses of both serotypes 1 and 2. This communication presents data on isolation of an additional cross-neutralizing antibody (F12) and identification of a previously unknown epitope on the surface of poliovirus virions. Epitope mapping was performed by sequencing of antibody-resistant mutants and by cryo-EM of complexes of virions with Fab fragments. The results have demonstrated that both cross-neutralizing antibodies bind the site located at the bottom of the canyon surrounding the fivefold axis of symmetry that was previously shown to interact with cellular poliovirus receptor CD155. However, the same antibody binds to serotypes 1 and 2 through different specific interactions. It was also shown to interact with type 3 poliovirus, albeit with about 10-fold lower affinity, insufficient for effective neutralization. Antibody interaction with the binding site of the cellular receptor may explain its broad reactivity and suggest that further screening or antibody engineering could lead to a universal antibody capable of neutralizing all three serotypes of poliovirus. PMID:24277851

  3. A Human Blood-Brain Barrier Transcytosis Assay Reveals Antibody Transcytosis Influenced by pH-Dependent Receptor Binding

    PubMed Central

    Sade, Hadassah; Baumgartner, Claudia; Hugenmatter, Adrian; Moessner, Ekkehard; Freskgård, Per-Ola; Niewoehner, Jens

    2014-01-01

    We have adapted an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier, the immortalized human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3), to quantitatively measure protein transcytosis. After validating the receptor-mediated transport using transferrin, the system was used to measure transcytosis rates of antibodies directed against potential brain shuttle receptors. While an antibody to the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) was exclusively recycled to the apical compartment, the fate of antibodies to the transferrin receptor (TfR) was determined by their relative affinities at extracellular and endosomal pH. An antibody with reduced affinity at pH5.5 showed significant transcytosis, while pH-independent antibodies of comparable affinities at pH 7.4 remained associated with intracellular vesicular compartments and were finally targeted for degradation. PMID:24788759

  4. Regions of botulinum neurotoxin A light chain recognized by human anti-toxin antibodies from cervical dystonia patients immunoresistant to toxin treatment. The antigenic structure of the active toxin recognized by human antibodies.

    PubMed

    Atassi, M Zouhair; Dolimbek, Behzod Z; Jankovic, Joseph; Steward, Lance E; Aoki, K Roger

    2011-07-01

    This work was aimed at determining the BoNT/A L-chain antigenic regions recognized by blocking antibodies in human antisera from cervical dystonia patients who had become immunoresistant to BoNT/A treatment. Antisera from 28 immunoresistant patients were analyzed for binding to each of 32 overlapping synthetic peptides that spanned the entire L-chain. A mixture of the antisera showed that antibodies bound to three peptides, L11 (residues 141-159), L14 (183-201) and L18 (239-257). When mapped separately, the antibodies were bound only by a limited set of peptides. No peptide bound antibodies from all the patients and amounts of antibodies bound to a given peptide varied with the patient. Peptides L11, L14 and L18 were recognized predominantly. A small but significant number of patients had antibodies to peptides L27 (365-383) and L29 (379-397). Other peptides were recognized at very low and perhaps insignificant antibody levels by a minority (15% or less) of patients or had no detectable antibody with any of the sera. In the 3-dimensional structure, antibody-binding regions L11, L14 and L18 of the L-chain occupy surface areas and did not correlate with electrostatic potential, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, or temperature factor. These three antigenic regions reside in close proximity to the belt of the heavy chain. The regions L11 and L18 are accessible in both the free light chain and the holotoxin forms, while L14 appears to be less accessible in the holotoxin. Antibodies against these regions could prevent delivery of the L-chain into the neurons by inhibition of the translocation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  5. Intramolecular trimerization, a novel strategy for making multispecific antibodies with controlled orientation of the antigen binding domains

    PubMed Central

    Alvarez-Cienfuegos, Ana; Nuñez-Prado, Natalia; Compte, Marta; Cuesta, Angel M.; Blanco-Toribio, Ana; Harwood, Seandean Lykke; Villate, Maider; Merino, Nekane; Bonet, Jaume; Navarro, Rocio; Muñoz-Briones, Clara; Sørensen, Karen Marie Juul; Mølgaard, Kasper; Oliva, Baldo; Sanz, Laura; Blanco, Francisco J.; Alvarez-Vallina, Luis

    2016-01-01

    Here, we describe a new strategy that allows the rapid and efficient engineering of mono and multispecific trivalent antibodies. By fusing single-domain antibodies from camelid heavy-chain-only immunoglobulins (VHHs) to the N-terminus of a human collagen XVIII trimerization domain (TIEXVIII) we produced monospecific trimerbodies that were efficiently secreted as soluble functional proteins by mammalian cells. The purified VHH-TIEXVIII trimerbodies were trimeric in solution and exhibited excellent antigen binding capacity. Furthermore, by connecting with two additional glycine-serine-based linkers three VHH-TIEXVIII modules on a single polypeptide chain, we present an approach for the rational design of multispecific tandem trimerbodies with defined stoichiometry and controlled orientation. Using this technology we report here the construction and characterization of a tandem VHH-based trimerbody capable of simultaneously binding to three different antigens: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and green fluorescence protein (GFP). Multispecific tandem VHH-based trimerbodies were well expressed in mammalian cells, had good biophysical properties and were capable of simultaneously binding their targeted antigens. Importantly, these antibodies were very effective in inhibiting the proliferation of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Multispecific VHH-based trimerbodies are therefore ideal candidates for future applications in various therapeutic areas. PMID:27345490

  6. Improvement of single domain antibody stability by disulfide bond introduction.

    PubMed

    Hagihara, Yoshihisa; Saerens, Dirk

    2012-01-01

    The successful medical application of single domain antibodies largely depends on their functionality. This feature is partly determined by the intrinsic stability of the single domain. Therefore a lot of research has gone into the elucidation of rules to uniformly increase stability of antibodies. Recently, a novel intra-domain disulfide bond was independently discovered by two research groups, after either rational design or careful investigation of the naturally occurring camelid antibody repertoire. By introducing this particular disulfide bond within a single domain antibody, the conformational stability can be increased in general. In this chapter it is described how to introduce this extra intra-domain disulfide bond and how to estimate the biophysical and biochemical impact of this cystine on the domain.

  7. Retrieval of estradiol receptor in paraffin sections of resting porcine uteri by microwave treatment. Immunostaining patterns obtained with different primary antibodies.

    PubMed

    Sierralta, W D; Thole, H H

    1996-05-01

    The unmasking of estradiol receptor in paraffin sections of Bouin's-fixed uterine tissue from ovariectomized gilts was attained with microwave treatment. Immunocytochemistry of the receptor was performed using a polyclonal or five monoclonal antibodies, two of which are commercially available, reacting with different domains of the protein and an amplified-peroxidase system for detection. With five of the antibodies, a predominance of nuclear staining was observed in cells of endometrial glands, while one monoclonal antibody (13H2), reacting with the receptor's domain E, showed a preference for the cytoplasmic receptor. In stroma, all antibodies detected more receptor in nuclei than in cytoplasm. In epithelium, the commercially available antibody H222, our monoclonals 13H2 and HT65, and the polyclonal antibody 402 demonstrated more receptor in cytoplasmic than in nuclear areas. In myometrium, the nuclei from longitudinal and ring muscles were definitely stained with the antibodies. We conclude that the accessibilities of the antibody epitopes of the receptor differ according to the functional uterine cell type.

  8. Glutamate receptor antibodies in neurological diseases: anti-AMPA-GluR3 antibodies, anti-NMDA-NR1 antibodies, anti-NMDA-NR2A/B antibodies, anti-mGluR1 antibodies or anti-mGluR5 antibodies are present in subpopulations of patients with either: epilepsy, encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and neuropsychiatric SLE, Sjogren's syndrome, schizophrenia, mania or stroke. These autoimmune anti-glutamate receptor antibodies can bind neurons in few brain regions, activate glutamate receptors, decrease glutamate receptor's expression, impair glutamate-induced signaling and function, activate blood brain barrier endothelial cells, kill neurons, damage the brain, induce behavioral/psychiatric/cognitive abnormalities and ataxia in animal models, and can be removed or silenced in some patients by immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Levite, Mia

    2014-08-01

    Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the Central Nervous System (CNS), and it is crucially needed for numerous key neuronal functions. Yet, excess glutamate causes massive neuronal death and brain damage by excitotoxicity--detrimental over activation of glutamate receptors. Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is the main pathological process taking place in many types of acute and chronic CNS diseases and injuries. In recent years, it became clear that not only excess glutamate can cause massive brain damage, but that several types of anti-glutamate receptor antibodies, that are present in the serum and CSF of subpopulations of patients with a kaleidoscope of human neurological diseases, can undoubtedly do so too, by inducing several very potent pathological effects in the CNS. Collectively, the family of anti-glutamate receptor autoimmune antibodies seem to be the most widespread, potent, dangerous and interesting anti-brain autoimmune antibodies discovered up to now. This impression stems from taking together the presence of various types of anti-glutamate receptor antibodies in a kaleidoscope of human neurological and autoimmune diseases, their high levels in the CNS due to intrathecal production, their multiple pathological effects in the brain, and the unique and diverse mechanisms of action by which they can affect glutamate receptors, signaling and effects, and subsequently impair neuronal signaling and induce brain damage. The two main families of autoimmune anti-glutamate receptor antibodies that were already found in patients with neurological and/or autoimmune diseases, and that were already shown to be detrimental to the CNS, include the antibodies directed against ionotorpic glutamate receptors: the anti-AMPA-GluR3 antibodies, anti-NMDA-NR1 antibodies and anti-NMDA-NR2 antibodies, and the antibodies directed against Metabotropic glutamate receptors: the anti-mGluR1 antibodies and the anti-mGluR5 antibodies. Each type of these anti

  9. A high affinity monoclonal antibody recognizing the light chain of human coagulating factor VII.

    PubMed

    Sarial, Sheila; Asadi, Farzad; Jeddi-Tehrani, Mahmood; Hadavi, Reza; Bayat, Ali Ahmad; Mahmoudian, Jafar; Taghizadeh-Jahed, Masoud; Shokri, Fazel; Rabbani, Hodjattallah

    2012-12-01

    Factor VII (FVII) is a serine protease-coagulating element responsible for the initiation of an extrinsic pathway of clot formation. Here we generated and characterized a high affinity monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes human FVII. Recombinant human FVII (rh-FVII) was used for the production of a monoclonal antibody using BALB/c mice. The specificity of the antibody was determined by Western blot using plasma samples from human, mouse, sheep, goat, bovine, rabbit, and rat. Furthermore, the antibody was used to detect transiently expressed rh-FVII in BHK21 cell line using Western blot and sandwich ELISA. A mouse IgG1 (kappa chain) monoclonal antibody clone 1F1-B11 was produced against rh-FVII. The affinity constant (K(aff)) of the antibody was calculated to be 6.4×10(10) M(-1). The antibody could specifically recognize an epitope on the light chain of hFVII, with no reactivity with factor VII from several other animals. In addition, transiently expressed rh-FVII in BHK21 cells was recognized by 1F1-B11. The high affinity as well as the specificity of 1F1-B11 for hFVII will facilitate the affinity purification of hFVII and also production of FVII deficient plasma and minimizes the risk of bovine FVII contamination when fetal bovine serum-supplemented media are used for production and subsequent purification of rh-FVII.

  10. Molecular Simulation of Receptor Occupancy and Tumor Penetration of an Antibody and Smaller Scaffolds: Application to Molecular Imaging.

    PubMed

    Orcutt, Kelly D; Adams, Gregory P; Wu, Anna M; Silva, Matthew D; Harwell, Catey; Hoppin, Jack; Matsumura, Manabu; Kotsuma, Masakatsu; Greenberg, Jonathan; Scott, Andrew M; Beckman, Robert A

    2017-10-01

    Competitive radiolabeled antibody imaging can determine the unlabeled intact antibody dose that fully blocks target binding but may be confounded by heterogeneous tumor penetration. We evaluated the hypothesis that smaller radiolabeled constructs can be used to more accurately evaluate tumor expressed receptors. The Krogh cylinder distributed model, including bivalent binding and variable intervessel distances, simulated distribution of smaller constructs in the presence of increasing doses of labeled antibody forms. Smaller constructs <25 kDa accessed binding sites more uniformly at large distances from blood vessels compared with larger constructs and intact antibody. These observations were consistent for different affinity and internalization characteristics of constructs. As predicted, a higher dose of unlabeled intact antibody was required to block binding to these distant receptor sites. Small radiolabeled constructs provide more accurate information on total receptor expression in tumors and reveal the need for higher antibody doses for target receptor blockade.

  11. High efficient expression of a functional humanized single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against CD22 in Pichia pastoris.

    PubMed

    Zarei, Najmeh; Vaziri, Behrouz; Shokrgozar, Mohammad Ali; Mahdian, Reza; Fazel, Ramin; Khalaj, Vahid

    2014-12-01

    Single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) have recently emerged as attractive candidates in targeted immunotherapy of various malignancies. The anti-CD22 scFv is able to target CD22, on B cell surface and is being considered as a promising molecule in targeted immunotherapy of B cell malignancies. The recombinant anti-CD22 scFv has been successfully expressed in Escherichia coli; however, the insufficient production yield has been a major bottleneck for its therapeutic application. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has become a highly popular expression host for the production of a wide variety of recombinant proteins such as antibody fragments. In this study, we used the Pichia expression system to express a humanized scFv antibody against CD22. The full-length humanized scFv gene was codon optimized, cloned into the pPICZαA and expressed in GS115 strain. The maximum production level of the scFv (25 mg/L) were achieved at methanol concentration, 1 %; pH 6.0; inoculum density, OD600 = 3 and the induction time of 72 h. The correlation between scFv gene dosage and expression level was also investigated by real-time PCR, and the results confirmed the presence of such correlation up to five gene copies. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies and Biacore analysis demonstrated binding to CD22 on the surface of human lymphoid cell line Raji and recombinant soluble CD22, respectively. Taken together, the presented data suggest that the Pichia pastoris can be considered as an efficient host for the large-scale production of anti-CD22 scFv as a promising carrier for targeted drug delivery in treatment of CD22(+) B cell malignancies.

  12. Single-Chain Folding of Synthetic Polymers: A Critical Update.

    PubMed

    Altintas, Ozcan; Barner-Kowollik, Christopher

    2015-11-23

    The current contribution serves as a critical update to a previous feature article from us (Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2012, 33, 958-971), and highlights the latest advances in the preparation of single chain polymeric nanoparticles and initial-yet promising-attempts towards mimicking the structure of natural biomacromolecules via single-chain folding of well-defined linear polymers via so-called single chain selective point folding and repeat unit folding. The contribution covers selected examples from the literature published up to ca. September 2015. Our aim is not to provide an exhaustive review but rather highlight a selection of new and exciting examples for single-chain folding based on advanced macromolecular precision chemistry. Initially, the discussion focuses on the synthesis and characterization of single-chain folded structures via selective point folding. The second part of the feature article addresses the folding of well-defined single-chain polymers by means of repeat unit folding. The current state of the art in the field of single-chain folding indicates that repeat unit folding-driven nanoparticle preparation is well-advanced, while initial encouraging steps towards building selective point folding systems have been taken. In addition, a summary of the-in our view-open key questions is provided that may guide future biomimetic design efforts. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  13. Combining Anti-ERBB3 Antibodies Specific for Domain I and Domain III Enhances the Anti-Tumor Activity over the Individual Monoclonal Antibodies

    PubMed Central

    D’Souza, Jimson W.; Shchaveleva, Irina; Marks, James D.; Litwin, Samuel; Robinson, Matthew K.

    2014-01-01

    Background Inappropriate signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor family (EGFR1/ERBB1, ERBB2/HER2, ERBB3/HER3, and ERBB4/HER4) of receptor tyrosine kinases leads to unregulated activation of multiple downstream signaling pathways that are linked to cancer formation and progression. In particular, ERBB3 plays a critical role in linking ERBB signaling to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Akt signaling pathway and increased levels of ERBB3-dependent signaling is also increasingly recognized as a mechanism for acquired resistance to ERBB-targeted therapies. Methods We had previously reported the isolation of a panel of anti-ERBB3 single-chain Fv antibodies through use of phage-display technology. In the current study scFv specific for domain I (F4) and domain III (A5) were converted into human IgG1 formats and analyzed for efficacy. Results Treatment of cells with an oligoclonal mixture of the A5/F4 IgGs appeared more effective at blocking both ligand-induced and ligand-independent signaling through ERBB3 than either single IgG alone. This correlated with improved ability to inhibit the cell growth both as a single agent and in combination with other ERBB-targeted therapies. Treatment of NCI-N87 tumor xenografts with the A5/F4 oligoclonal led to a statistically significant decrease in tumor growth rate that was further enhanced in combination with trastuzumab. Conclusion These results suggest that an oligoclonal antibody mixture may be a more effective approach to downregulate ERBB3-dependent signaling. PMID:25386657

  14. A recombinant dromedary antibody fragment (VHH or nanobody) directed against human Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines.

    PubMed

    Smolarek, Dorota; Hattab, Claude; Hassanzadeh-Ghassabeh, Gholamreza; Cochet, Sylvie; Gutiérrez, Carlos; de Brevern, Alexandre G; Udomsangpetch, Rachanee; Picot, Julien; Grodecka, Magdalena; Wasniowska, Kazimiera; Muyldermans, Serge; Colin, Yves; Le Van Kim, Caroline; Czerwinski, Marcin; Bertrand, Olivier

    2010-10-01

    Fy blood group antigens are carried by the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC), a red cells receptor for Plasmodium vivax broadly implicated in human health and diseases. Recombinant VHHs, or nanobodies, the smallest intact antigen binding fragment derivative from the heavy chain-only antibodies present in camelids, were prepared from a dromedary immunized against DARC N-terminal extracellular domain and selected for DARC binding. A described VHH, CA52, does recognize native DARC on cells. It inhibits P. vivax invasion of erythrocytes and displaces interleukin-8 bound to DARC. The targeted epitope overlaps the well-defined DARC Fy6 epitope. K (D) of CA52-DARC equilibrium is sub-nanomolar, hence ideal to develop diagnostic or therapeutic compounds. Immunocapture by immobilized CA52 yielded highly purified DARC from engineered K562 cells. This first report on a VHH with specificity for a red blood cell protein exemplifies VHHs' potentialities to target, to purify, and to modulate the function of cellular markers.

  15. Rapidly progressive neurological deterioration in anti-AMPA receptor encephalitis with additional CRMP5 antibodies.

    PubMed

    Yang, Shuangshuang; Qin, Jie; Li, Jinghong; Gao, Yuan; Zhao, Lu; Wu, Jun; Song, Bo; Xu, Yuming; Sun, Shilei

    2016-11-01

    Anti-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) encephalitis positive for additional onconeural antibodies is rarely reported. Here we report the clinical features of a patient who developed limbic encephalitis with both glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2) and collapsin response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5) antibodies. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal encephalopathy. Chest computed tomography showed a highly suspicious malignant thymoma. He experienced rapid neurological deterioration during hospitalization. This report indicates that the clinical diversity of anti-AMPAR encephalitis and the presence of onconeural antibodies may lead to poor prognosis.

  16. Immediate and Catastrophic Antibody-Mediated Rejection in a Lung Transplant Recipient With Anti-Angiotensin II Receptor Type 1 and Anti-Endothelin-1 Receptor Type A Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Cozzi, E; Calabrese, F; Schiavon, M; Feltracco, P; Seveso, M; Carollo, C; Loy, M; Cardillo, M; Rea, F

    2017-02-01

    Preexisting donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs) have been associated with reduced survival of lung allografts. However, antibodies with specificities other than HLA may have a detrimental role on the lung transplant outcome. A young man with cystic fibrosis underwent lung transplantation with organs from a suitable deceased donor. At the time of transplantation, there were no anti-HLA DSAs. During surgery, the patient developed a severe and intractable pulmonary hypertension associated with right ventriular dysfunction, which required arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. After a brief period of clinical improvement, a rapid deterioration in hemodynamics led to the patient's death on postoperative day 5. Postmortem studies showed that lung specimens taken at the end of surgery were compatible with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), while terminal samples evidenced diffuse capillaritis, blood extravasation, edema, and microthrombi, with foci of acute cellular rejection (A3). Immunological investigations demonstrated the presence of preexisting antibodies against the endothelin-1 receptor type A (ET A R) and the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT 1 R), two of the most potent vasoconstrictors reported to date, whose levels slightly rose after transplantation. These data suggest that preexisting anti-ET A R and anti-AT 1 R antibodies may have contributed to the onset of AMR and to the catastrophic clinical course of this patient. © Copyright 2016 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

  17. Balancing Selectivity and Efficacy of Bispecific Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) × c-MET Antibodies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates*

    PubMed Central

    Sellmann, Carolin; Doerner, Achim; Knuehl, Christine; Rasche, Nicolas; Sood, Vanita; Krah, Simon; Rhiel, Laura; Messemer, Annika; Wesolowski, John; Schuette, Mark; Becker, Stefan; Toleikis, Lars; Kolmar, Harald; Hock, Bjoern

    2016-01-01

    Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have already demonstrated benefits for the treatment of cancer in several clinical studies, showing improved drug selectivity and efficacy. In particular, simultaneous targeting of prominent cancer antigens, such as EGF receptor (EGFR) and c-MET, by bsAbs has raised increasing interest for potentially circumventing receptor cross-talk and c-MET-mediated acquired resistance during anti-EGFR monotherapy. In this study, we combined the selectivity of EGFR × c-MET bsAbs with the potency of cytotoxic agents via bispecific antibody-toxin conjugation. Affinity-attenuated bispecific EGFR × c-MET antibody-drug conjugates demonstrated high in vitro selectivity toward tumor cells overexpressing both antigens and potent anti-tumor efficacy. Due to basal EGFR expression in the skin, ADCs targeting EGFR in general warrant early safety assessments. Reduction in EGFR affinity led to decreased toxicity in keratinocytes. Thus, the combination of bsAb affinity engineering with the concept of toxin conjugation may be a viable route to improve the safety profile of ADCs targeting ubiquitously expressed antigens. PMID:27694443

  18. The Fc and not CD4 Receptor Mediates Antibody Enhancement of HIV Infection in Human Cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Homsy, Jacques; Meyer, Mia; Tateno, Masatoshi; Clarkson, Sarah; Levy, Jay A.

    1989-06-01

    Antibodies that enhance human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectivity have been found in the blood of infected individuals and in infected or immunized animals. These findings raise serious concern for the development of a safe vaccine against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. To address the in vivo relevance and mechanism of this phenomenon, antibody-dependent enhancement of HIV infectivity in peripheral blood macrophages, lymphocytes, and human fibroblastoid cells was studied. Neither Leu3a, a monoclonal antibody directed against the CD4 receptor, nor soluble recombinant CD4 even at high concentrations prevented this enhancement. The addition of monoclonal antibody to the Fc receptor III (anti-FcRIII), but not of antibodies that react with FcRI or FcRII, inhibited HIV type 1 and HIV type 2 enhancement in peripheral blood macrophages. Although enhancement of HIV infection in CD4+ lymphocytes could not be blocked by anti-FcRIII, it was inhibited by the addition of human immunoglobulin G aggregates. The results indicate that the FcRIII receptor on human macrophages and possibly another Fc receptor on human CD4+ lymphocytes mediate antibody-dependent enhancement of HIV infectivity and that this phenomenon proceeds through a mechanism independent of the CD4 protein.

  19. Growth control of genetically modified cells using an antibody/c-Kit chimera.

    PubMed

    Kaneko, Etsuji; Kawahara, Masahiro; Ueda, Hiroshi; Nagamune, Teruyuki

    2012-05-01

    Gene therapy has been regarded as an innovative potential treatment against serious congenital diseases. However, applications of gene therapy remain limited, partly because its clinical success depends on therapeutic gene-transduced cells acquiring a proliferative advantage. To address this problem, we have developed the antigen-mediated genetically modified cell amplification (AMEGA) system, which uses chimeric receptors to enable the selective proliferation of gene-transduced cells. In this report, we describe mimicry of c-Kit signaling and its application to the AMEGA system. We created an antibody/c-Kit chimera in which the extracellular domain of c-Kit is replaced with an anti-fluorescein single-chain Fv antibody fragment and the extracellular D2 domain of the erythropoietin receptor. A genetically modified mouse pro-B cell line carrying this chimera showed selective expansion in the presence of fluorescein-conjugated BSA (BSA-FL) as a growth inducer. By further engineering the transmembrane domain of the chimera to reduce interchain interaction we attained stricter ligand-dependency. Since c-Kit is an important molecule in the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), this antibody/c-Kit chimera could be a promising tool for gene therapy targeting HSCs. Copyright © 2011 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. A Simple Model System to Demonstrate Antibody Structure and Functions.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    O'Kennedy, Richard

    1991-01-01

    A model that can be used to show the arrangement of light and heavy chains, disulfide linkages, domains, and subclass variations in antibodies is given. It can be constructed and modified to illustrate Fab, F(ab')2, and Fc fragments, single domain and bifunctional antibodies, and labeling of antibodies. (Author)

  1. Focal status epilepticus and progressive dyskinesia: A novel phenotype for glycine receptor antibody-mediated neurological disease in children.

    PubMed

    Chan, D W S; Thomas, T; Lim, M; Ling, S; Woodhall, M; Vincent, A

    2017-03-01

    Antibody-associated disorders of the central nervous system are increasingly recognised in adults and children. Some are known to be paraneoplastic, whereas in others an infective trigger is postulated. They include disorders associated with antibodies to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), voltage-gated potassium channel-complexes (VGKC-complex), GABA B receptor or glycine receptor (GlyR). With antibodies to NMDAR or VGKC-complexes, distinct clinical patterns are well characterised, but as more antibodies are discovered, the spectra of associated disorders are evolving. GlyR antibodies have been detected in patients with progressive encephalopathy with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM), or stiff man syndrome, both rare but disabling conditions. We report a case of a young child with focal seizures and progressive dyskinesia in whom GlyR antibodies were detected. Anticonvulsants and immunotherapy were effective in treating both the seizures and movement disorder with good neurological outcome and with a decline in the patient's serum GlyR-Ab titres. Glycine receptor antibodies are associated with focal status epilepticus and seizures, encephalopathy and progressive dyskinesia and should be evaluated in autoimmune encephalitis. Copyright © 2016 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Anti-sulfotyrosine antibodies

    DOEpatents

    Bertozzi, Carolyn R [Berkeley, CA; Kehoe, John [Saint Davids, PA; Bradbury, Andrew M [Santa Fe, NM

    2009-09-15

    The invention provides anti-sulfotyrosine specific antibodies capable of detecting and isolating polypeptides that are tyrosine-sulfated. The sulfotyrosine antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention may be used to discriminate between the non-sulfated and sulfated forms of such proteins, using any number of immunological assays, such ELISAs, immunoblots, Western Blots, immunoprecipitations, and the like. Using a phage-display system, single chain antibodies (scFvs) were generated and screened against tyrosine-sulfated synthetic peptide antigens, resulting in the isolation of scFvs that specifically recognize sulfotyrosine-containing peptides and/or demonstrate sulfotyrosine-specific binding in tyrosine sulfated proteins. The VH and VL genes from one such sulfotyrosine-specific scFv were employed to generate a full length, sulfotyrosine-specific immunoglobulin.

  3. Blockade of human P2X7 receptor function with a monoclonal antibody.

    PubMed

    Buell, G; Chessell, I P; Michel, A D; Collo, G; Salazzo, M; Herren, S; Gretener, D; Grahames, C; Kaur, R; Kosco-Vilbois, M H; Humphrey, P P

    1998-11-15

    A monoclonal antibody (MoAb) specific for the human P2X7 receptor was generated in mice. As assessed by flow cytometry, the MoAb labeled human blood-derived macrophage cells natively expressing P2X7 receptors and cells transfected with human P2X7 but not other P2X receptor types. The MoAb was used to immunoprecipitate the human P2X7 receptor protein, and in immunohistochemical studies on human lymphoid tissue, P2X7 receptor labeling was observed within discrete areas of the marginal zone of human tonsil sections. The antibody also acted as a selective antagonist of human P2X7 receptors in several functional studies. Thus, whole cell currents, elicited by the brief application of 2',3'-(4-benzoyl)-benzoyl-ATP in cells expressing human P2X7, were reduced in amplitude by the presence of the MoAb. Furthermore, preincubation of human monocytic THP-1 cells with the MoAb antagonized the ability of P2X7 agonists to induce the release of interleukin-1beta.

  4. Fc receptors for mouse IgG1 on human monocytes: polymorphism and role in antibody-induced T cell proliferation.

    PubMed

    Tax, W J; Hermes, F F; Willems, R W; Capel, P J; Koene, R A

    1984-09-01

    In previous studies, it was shown that there is polymorphism in the mitogenic effect of mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibodies against the T3 antigen of human T cells. This polymorphism implies that IgG1 anti-T3 antibodies are not mitogenic for T cells from 30% of healthy individuals. The present results demonstrate that this polymorphism is caused by polymorphism of an Fc receptor for mouse IgG1, present on human monocytes. The Fc receptor for murine IgG1 could be detected by a newly developed rosetting assay on monocytes from all individuals responsive to the mitogenic effect of IgG1 anti-T3 antibodies. This Fc receptor was not detectable on monocytes from those individuals exhibiting no mitogenic responses to IgG1 anti-T3 monoclonal antibodies. Cross-linking of T3 antigens appears to be essential for antibody-induced mitosis of T cells, because mononuclear cells that did not proliferate in response to WT 31 (an IgG1 antibody against T3 antigen) showed a proliferative response to Sepharose beads coated with WT 31. The Fc receptor--if functionally present--may be involved in the cross-linking of T3 antigens through anti-T3 antibodies. Further evidence for the involvement of this Fc receptor in antibody-induced T cell proliferation was provided by inhibition studies. Immune complexes containing IgG1 antibodies were able to inhibit the proliferative response to IgG1 anti-T3 antibodies. This inhibition by immune complexes appears to be mediated through the monocyte Fc receptor for mouse IgG1. These findings are important for the interpretation of previously described inhibitory effects of anti-T cell monoclonal antibodies on T cell proliferation, and show that such inhibitory effects may be monocyte-mediated (via immune complexes) rather than caused by a direct involvement of the respective T cell antigens in T cell mitosis. The Fc receptor for mouse IgG1 plays a role in antibody-induced T cell proliferation. Its polymorphism may have important implications for the

  5. A droplet-based heterogeneous immunoassay for screening single cells secreting antigen-specific antibodies.

    PubMed

    Akbari, Samin; Pirbodaghi, Tohid

    2014-09-07

    High throughput heterogeneous immunoassays that screen antigen-specific antibody secreting cells are essential to accelerate monoclonal antibody discovery for therapeutic applications. Here, we introduce a heterogeneous single cell immunoassay based on alginate microparticles as permeable cell culture chambers. Using a microfluidic device, we encapsulated single antibody secreting cells in 35-40 μm diameter alginate microbeads. We functionalized the alginate to capture the secreted antibodies inside the microparticles, enabling single cell analysis and preventing the cross-talk between the neighboring encapsulated cells. We demonstrated non-covalent functionalization of alginate microparticles by adding three secondary antibodies to the alginate solution to form high molecular weight complexes that become trapped in the porous nanostructure of alginate and capture the secreted antibodies. We screened anti-TNF-alpha antibody-secreting cells from a mixture of antibody-secreting cells.

  6. Encephalitis with refractory seizures, status epilepticus, and antibodies to the GABAA receptor: a case series, characterisation of the antigen, and analysis of the effects of antibodies.

    PubMed

    Petit-Pedrol, Mar; Armangue, Thaís; Peng, Xiaoyu; Bataller, Luis; Cellucci, Tania; Davis, Rebecca; McCracken, Lindsey; Martinez-Hernandez, Eugenia; Mason, Warren P; Kruer, Michael C; Ritacco, David G; Grisold, Wolfgang; Meaney, Brandon F; Alcalá, Carmen; Sillevis-Smitt, Peter; Titulaer, Maarten J; Balice-Gordon, Rita; Graus, Francesc; Dalmau, Josep

    2014-03-01

    Increasing evidence suggests that seizures and status epilepticus can be immune-mediated. We aimed to describe the clinical features of a new epileptic disorder, and to establish the target antigen and the effects of patients' antibodies on neuronal cultures. In this observational study, we selected serum and CSF samples for antigen characterisation from 140 patients with encephalitis, seizures or status epilepticus, and antibodies to unknown neuropil antigens. The samples were obtained from worldwide referrals of patients with disorders suspected to be autoimmune between April 28, 2006, and April 25, 2013. We used samples from 75 healthy individuals and 416 patients with a range of neurological diseases as controls. We assessed the samples using immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, cell-based assay, and analysis of antibody effects in cultured rat hippocampal neurons with confocal microscopy. Neuronal cell-membrane immunoprecipitation with serum of two index patients revealed GABAA receptor sequences. Cell-based assay with HEK293 expressing α1/β3 subunits of the GABAA receptor showed high titre serum antibodies (>1:160) and CSF antibodies in six patients. All six patients (age 3-63 years, median 22 years; five male patients) developed refractory status epilepticus or epilepsia partialis continua along with extensive cortical-subcortical MRI abnormalities; four patients needed pharmacologically induced coma. 12 of 416 control patients with other diseases, but none of the healthy controls, had low-titre GABAA receptor antibodies detectable in only serum samples, five of them also had GAD-65 antibodies. These 12 patients (age 2-74 years, median 26.5 years; seven male patients) developed a broader spectrum of symptoms probably indicative of coexisting autoimmune disorders: six had encephalitis with seizures (one with status epilepticus needing pharmacologically induced coma; one with epilepsia partialis continua), four had stiff-person syndrome (one with seizures

  7. Production and characterization of monoclonal antibody and its recombinant single chain variable fragment specific for a food-born mycotoxin, fumonisin B1.

    PubMed

    Min, Won-Ki; Cho, Young-Jin; Park, Jun-Bock; Bae, Yi-Hyun; Kim, Eun-Jeong; Park, Kyungmoon; Park, Yong-Cheol; Seo, Jin-Ho

    2010-01-01

    Fumonisin B(1) (FMB(1)) is a food-born mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme. Monoclonal antibody against FMB(1) (anti-FMB(1) mAb) was produced in the hybridoma DV9, which was established from a BALB/c mouse immunized with bovine serum albumin conjugated FMB(1) (FMB(1)-BSA). A competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that anti-FMB(1) mAb has about 10 ppb of minimum FMB(1) detection concentration and 220 ppb of 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)). Much lower cross-reactivity of anti-FMB(1) mAb on ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B(1) and deoxynivalenol provided that anti-FMB(1) mAb was specific for FMB(1). The gene coding single chain variable fragment against FMB(1) (anti-FMB(1) scFv) was cloned from the hybridoma DV9 and was expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli. Insoluble anti-FMB(1) scFv required optimization of its refolding condition, and hence functional scFv was obtained. By using indirect ELISA, about 12-fold lower binding activity of anti-FMB(1) scFv on FMB(1)-BSA was obtained in comparison with that of the parental mAb.

  8. Visual Detection of Human Antibodies Using Sugar Chain-Immobilized Fluorescent Nanoparticles: Application as a Point of Care Diagnostic Tool for Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

    PubMed

    Shinchi, Hiroyuki; Yuki, Nobuhiro; Ishida, Hideharu; Hirata, Koichi; Wakao, Masahiro; Suda, Yasuo

    2015-01-01

    Sugar chain binding antibodies have gained substantial attention as biomarkers due to their crucial roles in various disorders. In this study, we developed simple and quick detection method of anti-sugar chain antibodies in sera using our previously developed sugar chain-immobilized fluorescent nanoparticles (SFNPs) for the point-of-care diagnostics. Sugar chain structure on SFNPs was modified with the sugar moieties of the GM1 ganglioside via our original linker molecule to detect anti-GM1 antibodies. The structures and densities of the sugar moieties immobilized on the nanoparticles were evaluated in detail using lectins and sera containing anti-GM1 antibodies from patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological disorder, as an example of disease involving anti-sugar chain antibodies. When optimized SFNPs were added to sera from patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, fluorescent aggregates were able to visually detect under UV light in three hours. The sensitivity of the detection method was equivalent to that of the current ELISA method used for the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome. These results suggest that our method using SFNPs is suitable for the point-of-care diagnostics of diseases involving anti-sugar chain antibodies.

  9. HIV blocking antibodies following immunisation with chimaeric peptides coding a short N-terminal sequence of the CCR5 receptor.

    PubMed

    Chain, Benjamin M; Noursadeghi, Mahdad; Gardener, Michelle; Tsang, Jhen; Wright, Edward

    2008-10-23

    The chemokine receptor CCR5 is required for cellular entry by many strains of HIV, and provides a potential target for molecules, including antibodies, designed to block HIV transmission. This study investigates a novel approach to stimulate antibodies to CCR5. Rabbits were immunised with chimaeric peptides which encode a short fragment of the N-terminal sequence of CCR5, as well as an unrelated T cell epitope from Tetanus toxoid. Immunisation with these chimaeric peptides generates a strong antibody response which is highly focused on the N-terminal CCR5 sequence. The antibody to the chimaeric peptide containing an N-terminal methionine also recognises the full length CCR5 receptor on the cell surface, albeit at higher concentrations. Further comparison of binding to intact CCR5 with binding to CCR5 peptide suggest that the receptor specific antibody generated represents a very small fragment of the total anti-peptide antibody. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the N-terminal peptide in the context of the intact receptor has a different structure to that of the synthetic peptide. Finally, the antibody was able to block HIV infection of macrophages in vitro. Thus results of this study suggest that N-terminal fragments of CCR5 may provide potential immunogens with which to generate blocking antibodies to this receptor, while avoiding the dangers of including T cell auto-epitopes.

  10. HIV blocking antibodies following immunisation with chimaeric peptides coding a short N-terminal sequence of the CCR5 receptor

    PubMed Central

    Chain, Benjamin M.; Noursadeghi, Mahdad; Gardener, Michelle; Tsang, Jhen; Wright, Edward

    2008-01-01

    The chemokine receptor CCR5 is required for cellular entry by many strains of HIV, and provides a potential target for molecules, including antibodies, designed to block HIV transmission. This study investigates a novel approach to stimulate antibodies to CCR5. Rabbits were immunised with chimaeric peptides which encode a short fragment of the N-terminal sequence of CCR5, as well as an unrelated T cell epitope from Tetanus toxoid. Immunisation with these chimaeric peptides generates a strong antibody response which is highly focused on the N-terminal CCR5 sequence. The antibody to the chimaeric peptide containing an N-terminal methionine also recognises the full length CCR5 receptor on the cell surface, albeit at higher concentrations. Further comparison of binding to intact CCR5 with binding to CCR5 peptide suggest that the receptor specific antibody generated represents a very small fragment of the total anti-peptide antibody. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the N-terminal peptide in the context of the intact receptor has a different structure to that of the synthetic peptide. Finally, the antibody was able to block HIV infection of macrophages in vitro. Thus results of this study suggest that N-terminal fragments of CCR5 may provide potential immunogens with which to generate blocking antibodies to this receptor, while avoiding the dangers of including T cell auto-epitopes. PMID:18765264

  11. Anti-CD20 single chain variable antibody fragment-apolipoprotein A-I chimera containing nanodisks promote targeted bioactive agent delivery to CD20-positive lymphomas.

    PubMed

    Crosby, Natasha M; Ghosh, Mistuni; Su, Betty; Beckstead, Jennifer A; Kamei, Ayako; Simonsen, Jens B; Luo, Bing; Gordon, Leo I; Forte, Trudy M; Ryan, Robert O

    2015-08-01

    A fusion protein comprising an α-CD20 single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody, a spacer peptide, and human apolipoprotein (apo) A-I was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The lipid interaction properties intrinsic to apoA-I as well as the antigen recognition properties of the scFv were retained by the chimera. scFv•apoA-I was formulated into nanoscale reconstituted high-density lipoprotein particles (termed nanodisks; ND) and incubated with cultured cells. α-CD20 scFv•apoA-I ND bound to CD20-positive non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) cells (Ramos and Granta) but not to CD20-negative T lymphocytes (i.e., Jurkat). Binding to NHL cells was partially inhibited by pre-incubation with rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20. Confocal fluorescence microscopy analysis of Granta cells following incubation with α-CD20 scFv•apoA-I ND formulated with the intrinsically fluorescent hydrophobic polyphenol, curcumin, revealed α-CD20 scFv•apoA-I localizes to the cell surface, while curcumin off-loads and gains entry to the cell. Compared to control incubations, viability of cultured NHL cells was decreased upon incubation with α-CD20 scFv•apoA-I ND harboring curcumin. Thus, formulation of curcumin ND with α-CD20 scFv•apoA-I as the scaffold component confers cell targeting and enhanced bioactive agent delivery, providing a strategy to minimize toxicity associated with chemotherapeutic agents.

  12. Conventional light chains inhibit the autonomous signaling capacity of the B cell receptor.

    PubMed

    Meixlsperger, Sonja; Köhler, Fabian; Wossning, Thomas; Reppel, Michael; Müschen, Markus; Jumaa, Hassan

    2007-03-01

    Signals from the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), consisting of mu heavy chain (muHC) and conventional light chain (LC), and its precursor the pre-BCR, consisting of muHC and surrogate light chain (SLC), via the adaptor protein SLP-65 regulate the development and function of B cells. Here, we compare the effect of SLC and conventional LC expression on receptor-induced Ca(2+) flux in B cells expressing an inducible form of SLP-65. We found that SLC expression strongly enhanced an autonomous ability of muHC to induce Ca(2+) flux irrespective of additional receptor crosslinking. In contrast, LC expression reduced this autonomous muHC ability and resulted in antigen-dependent Ca(2+) flux. These data indicate that autonomous ligand-independent signaling can be induced by receptor forms other than the pre-BCR. In addition, our data suggest that conventional LCs play an important role in the inhibition of autonomous receptor signaling, thereby allowing further B cell differentiation.

  13. A phage display vector optimized for the generation of human antibody combinatorial libraries and the molecular cloning of monoclonal antibody fragments.

    PubMed

    Solforosi, Laura; Mancini, Nicasio; Canducci, Filippo; Clementi, Nicola; Sautto, Giuseppe Andrea; Diotti, Roberta Antonia; Clementi, Massimo; Burioni, Roberto

    2012-07-01

    A novel phagemid vector, named pCM, was optimized for the cloning and display of antibody fragment (Fab) libraries on the surface of filamentous phage. This vector contains two long DNA "stuffer" fragments for easier differentiation of the correctly cut forms of the vector. Moreover, in pCM the fragment at the heavy-chain cloning site contains an acid phosphatase-encoding gene allowing an easy distinction of the Escherichia coli cells containing the unmodified form of the phagemid versus the heavy-chain fragment coding cDNA. In pCM transcription of heavy-chain Fd/gene III and light chain is driven by a single lacZ promoter. The light chain is directed to the periplasm by the ompA signal peptide, whereas the heavy-chain Fd/coat protein III is trafficked by the pelB signal peptide. The phagemid pCM was used to generate a human combinatorial phage display antibody library that allowed the selection of a monoclonal Fab fragment antibody directed against the nucleoprotein (NP) of Influenza A virus.

  14. Development of therapeutic antibodies to G protein-coupled receptors and ion channels: Opportunities, challenges and their therapeutic potential in respiratory diseases.

    PubMed

    Douthwaite, Julie A; Finch, Donna K; Mustelin, Tomas; Wilkinson, Trevor C I

    2017-01-01

    The development of recombinant antibody therapeutics continues to be a significant area of growth in the pharmaceutical industry with almost 50 approved monoclonal antibodies on the market in the US and Europe. Therapeutic drug targets such as soluble cytokines, growth factors and single transmembrane spanning receptors have been successfully targeted by recombinant monoclonal antibodies and the development of new product candidates continues. Despite this growth, however, certain classes of important disease targets have remained intractable to therapeutic antibodies due to the complexity of the target molecules. These complex target molecules include G protein-coupled receptors and ion channels which represent a large target class for therapeutic intervention with monoclonal antibodies. Although these targets have typically been addressed by small molecule approaches, the exquisite specificity of antibodies provides a significant opportunity to provide selective modulation of these important regulators of cell function. Given this opportunity, a significant effort has been applied to address the challenges of targeting these complex molecules and a number of targets are linked to the pathophysiology of respiratory diseases. In this review, we provide a summary of the importance of GPCRs and ion channels involved in respiratory disease and discuss advantages offered by antibodies as therapeutics at these targets. We highlight some recent GPCRs and ion channels linked to respiratory disease mechanisms and describe in detail recent progress made in the strategies for discovery of functional antibodies against challenging membrane protein targets such as GPCRs and ion channels. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Development and characterization of a camelid single-domain antibody directed to human CD22 biomarker.

    PubMed

    Faraji, Fatemeh; Tajik, Nader; Behdani, Mahdi; Shokrgozar, Mohammad Ali; Zarnani, Amir Hassan; Shahhosseini, Fatemeh; Habibi-Anbouhi, Mahdi

    2018-03-15

    CD22 is a B-cell-specific trans-membrane glycoprotein, which is found on the surface of the most B cells and modulates their function, survival, and apoptosis. Recently, targeting this cell surface biomarker in B-cell malignancies and disorders has attracted a lot of attention. The variable domain of camelid single-chain antibodies (VHH, nanobody) is a form of antibodies with novel properties including small size (15-17 kDa), thermal and chemical stability, high affinity and homology to human antibody sequences. In this study, a novel anti-CD22-specific VHH (Nb) has been developed and characterized by the screening of an immunized phage display library and its binding to CD22 + B cells is evaluated. Produced anti-CD22 VHH had a single protein band about 17 kDa of molecular size in Western blotting and its binding affinity was approximately 9 × 10 -9  M. Also, this product had high specificity and it was able to recognize the natural CD22 antigen in CD22+ cell lysate as well as on the cell surface (93%). This anti-CD22 VHH with both high affinity and specificity recognizes CD22 antigen well and can be used in diagnosis and treatment of B cell disorders and malignancies. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  16. Screening and identification of human ZnT8-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) from type 1 diabetes phage display library.

    PubMed

    Wu, Qian; Wang, Xiaodong; Gu, Yong; Zhang, Xiao; Qin, Yao; Chen, Heng; Xu, Xinyu; Yang, Tao; Zhang, Mei

    2016-07-01

    Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) is a major autoantigen and a predictive marker in type 1 diabetes (T1D). To investigate ZnT8-specific antibodies, a phage display library from T1D was constructed and single-chain antibodies against ZnT8 were screened and identified. Human T1D single-chain variable fragment (scFv) phage display library consists of approximately 1×10(8) clones. After four rounds of bio-panning, seven unique clones were positive by phage ELISA. Among them, C27 and C22, which demonstrated the highest affinity to ZnT8, were expressed in Escherichia coli Top10F' and then purified by affinity chromatography. C27 and C22 specifically bound ZnT8 N/C fusion protein and ZnT8 C terminal dimer with one Arg325Trp mutation. The specificity to human islet cells of these scFvs were further confirmed by immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, we have successfully constructed a T1D phage display antibody library and identified two ZnT8-specific scFv clones, C27 and C22. These ZnT8-specific scFvs are potential agents in immunodiagnostic and immunotherapy of T1D.

  17. Antibody titres at diagnosis and during follow-up of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: a retrospective study.

    PubMed

    Gresa-Arribas, Nuria; Titulaer, Maarten J; Torrents, Abiguei; Aguilar, Esther; McCracken, Lindsey; Leypoldt, Frank; Gleichman, Amy J; Balice-Gordon, Rita; Rosenfeld, Myrna R; Lynch, David; Graus, Francesc; Dalmau, Josep

    2014-02-01

    Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a severe but treatable autoimmune disorder which diagnosis depends on sensitive and specific antibody testing. We aimed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of serum and CSF antibody testing in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, and the relation between titres, relapses, outcome, and epitope repertoire. In this observational study, we used rat brain immunohistochemistry and cell-based assays (CBA) with fixed or live NMDA receptor-expressing cells to determine the sensitivity and specificity of antibody testing in paired serum and CSF samples. Samples were obtained at diagnosis from patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and from control participants worldwide. We deemed a patient to be antibody positive if their serum, their CSF, or both tested positive with both immunohistochemistry and CBA techniques; we determined titres with serial sample dilution using brain immunohistochemistry. We examined samples from 45 patients (25 with good outcome [modified Rankin Scale, mRS 0-2], ten with poor outcome [mRS 3-6], and ten with relapses) at three or more timepoints. We determined the epitope repertoire in the samples of 23 patients with CBA expressing GluN1-NMDA receptor mutants. We analysed samples from 250 patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and 100 control participants. All 250 patients had NMDA receptor antibodies in CSF but only 214 had antibodies in serum (sensitivity 100.0% [98.5-1000%] vs 85.6% [80.7-89.4%], p<0.0001). Serum immunohistochemistry testing was more often in agreement with CBA with fixed cells (77 [71%] of 108) than with CBA with live cells (63 [58%] of 108, p=0.0056). In multivariable analysis, CSF and serum titres were higher in patients with poor outcome than in those with good outcome (CSF dilution 340 vs 129, difference 211, [95% CI 1-421], p=0.049; serum dilution 7370 vs 1243, difference 6127 [2369-9885], p=0.0025), and in patients with teratoma than in

  18. Validation of endothelin B receptor antibodies reveals two distinct receptor-related bands on Western blot.

    PubMed

    Barr, Travis P; Kornberg, Daniel; Montmayeur, Jean-Pierre; Long, Melinda; Reichheld, Stephen; Strichartz, Gary R

    2015-01-01

    Antibodies are important tools for the study of protein expression but are often used without full validation. In this study, we used Western blots to characterize antibodies targeted to the N or C terminal (NT or CT, respectively) and the second or third intracellular loop (IL2 or IL3, respectively) of the endothelin B receptor (ETB). The IL2-targeted antibody accurately detected endogenous ETB expression in rat brain and cultured rat astrocytes by labeling a 50-kDa band, the expected weight of full-length ETB. However, this antibody failed to detect transfected ETB in HEK293 cultures. In contrast, the NT-targeted antibody accurately detected endogenous ETB in rat astrocyte cultures and transfected ETB in HEK293 cultures by labeling a 37-kDa band but failed to detect endogenous ETB in rat brain. Bands detected by the CT- or IL3-targeted antibody were found to be unrelated to ETB. Our findings show that functional ETB can be detected at 50 or 37kDa on Western blot, with drastic differences in antibody affinity for these bands. The 37-kDa band likely reflects ETB processing, which appears to be dependent on cell type and/or culture condition. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Characterization of Antibodies to Identify Cellular Expression of Dopamine Receptor 4.

    PubMed

    Deming, Janise D; Van Craenenbroeck, Kathleen; Eom, Yun Sung; Lee, Eun-Jin; Craft, Cheryl Mae

    2016-01-01

    The dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) plays an important role in vision. In order to study the DRD4 expression in vivo, it is important to have antibodies that are specific for DRD4 for both immunoblot and immunohistochemical (IHC) applications. In this study, six antibodies raised against DRD4 peptides were tested in vitro, using transfected mammalian cells, and in vivo, using mouse retinas. Three Santa Cruz (SC) antibodies, D-16, N-20, and R-20, were successful in IHC of transfected DRD4; however, N-20 was the only one effective on immunoblot analysis in DRD4 transfected cells and IHC of mouse retinal sections, while R-20, 2B9, and Antibody Verify AAS63631C were non-specific or below detection.

  20. Fab antibodies capable of blocking T cells by competitive binding have the identical specificity but a higher affinity to the MHC-peptide-complex than the T cell receptor.

    PubMed

    Neumann, Frank; Sturm, Christine; Hülsmeyer, Martin; Dauth, Nina; Guillaume, Philippe; Luescher, Immanuel F; Pfreundschuh, Michael; Held, Gerhard

    2009-08-15

    In transplant rejection, graft versus host or autoimmune diseases T cells are mediating the pathophysiological processes. Compared to unspecific pharmacological immune suppression specific inhibition of those T cells, that are involved in the disease, would be an alternative and attractive approach. T cells are activated after their T cell receptor (TCR) recognizes an antigenic peptide displayed by the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Molecules that interact with MHC-peptide-complexes in a specific fashion should block T cells with identical specificity. Using the model of the SSX2 (103-111)/HLA-A*0201 complex we investigated a panel of MHC-peptide-specific Fab antibodies for their capacity blocking specific T cell clones. Like TCRs all Fab antibodies reacted with the MHC complex only when the SSX2 (103-111) peptide was displayed. By introducing single amino acid mutations in the HLA-A*0201 heavy chain we identified the K66 residue as the most critical binding similar to that of TCRs. However, some Fab antibodies did not inhibit the reactivity of a specific T cell clone against peptide pulsed, artificial targets, nor cells displaying the peptide after endogenous processing. Measurements of binding kinetics revealed that only those Fab antibodies were capable of blocking T cells that interacted with an affinity in the nanomolar range. Fab antibodies binding like TCRs with affinities on the lower micromolar range did not inhibit T cell reactivity. These results indicate that molecules that block T cells by competitive binding with the TCR must have the same specificity but higher affinity for the MHC-peptide-complex than the TCR.

  1. Single Chain Antibodies as Estrogen Receptor Repressors in Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-06-01

    differential display we identified proteinase inhibitor-9 as an mRNA upregulated by estrogen in a human hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2) stably transfected...antiestrogen ICI 182,780 was a pure antag- human hepatoblastoma cell line (3), contained ER (4), this cell onist. Western blot analysis showed that

  2. Terminal differentiation of murine resident peritoneal macrophages is characterized by expression of the STK protein tyrosine kinase, a receptor for macrophage-stimulating protein.

    PubMed

    Iwama, A; Wang, M H; Yamaguchi, N; Ohno, N; Okano, K; Sudo, T; Takeya, M; Gervais, F; Morissette, C; Leonard, E J; Suda, T

    1995-11-01

    STK, a new member of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor family, is the receptor for macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP), which acts on murine resident peritoneal macrophages. We established polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against STK and characterized the structure of STK protein and STK expression on cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Western blotting showed that the STK transcript is translated into a single-chain precursor and then cleaved into a 165-kD disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of a 35-kD alpha-chain and a 144-kD beta-chain. Western blotting detected STK protein on resident peritoneal macrophages, a target of MSP, and showed that it was autophosphorylated in cells stimulated by MSP. By flow cytometric analysis using a monoclonal anti-STK antibody, we showed that STK protein is expressed on restricted macrophage populations such as resident peritoneal macrophages, but not on exudate peritoneal macrophages or mononuclear phagocytes of the bone marrow, peripheral blood, spleen, or alveoli. Resident peritoneal macrophages were classified into two fractions according to their reactivity with an anti-STK antibody and a marker antibody for macrophages: STKhigh-F4/80high cells and STKnegative-F4/80low cells. Acute exudative macrophages were all STKnegative-F4/80low, but they gradually became predominantly STKhigh-F4/80high several days after entrance into the peritoneal cavity. These results showed that after monocytes migrate into the peritoneal cavity, they undergo terminal differentiation in the peritoneal microenvironment. This is the first evidence of tissue-specific terminal differentiation of peritoneal macrophages, and this terminal differentiation can be characterized by the expression of STK receptor tyrosine kinase.

  3. A chimeric antigen receptor for TRAIL-receptor 1 induces apoptosis in various types of tumor cells.

    PubMed

    Kobayashi, Eiji; Kishi, Hiroyuki; Ozawa, Tatsuhiko; Hamana, Hiroshi; Nakagawa, Hidetoshi; Jin, Aishun; Lin, Zhezhu; Muraguchi, Atsushi

    2014-10-31

    Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its associated receptors (TRAIL-R/TR) are attractive targets for cancer therapy because TRAIL induces apoptosis in tumor cells through TR while having little cytotoxicity on normal cells. Therefore, many agonistic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for TR have been produced, and these induce apoptosis in multiple tumor cell types. However, some TR-expressing tumor cells are resistant to TR-specific mAb-induced apoptosis. In this study, we constructed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) of a TRAIL-receptor 1 (TR1)-specific single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody (TR1-scFv-CAR) and expressed it on a Jurkat T cell line, the KHYG-1 NK cell line, and human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). We found that the TR1-scFv-CAR-expressing Jurkat cells killed target cells via TR1-mediated apoptosis, whereas TR1-scFv-CAR-expressing KHYG-1 cells and PBLs killed target cells not only via TR1-mediated apoptosis but also via CAR signal-induced cytolysis, resulting in cytotoxicity on a broader range if target cells than with TR1-scFv-CAR-expressing Jurkat cells. The results suggest that TR1-scFv-CAR could be a new candidate for cancer gene therapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. ¹⁵N, ¹³C and ¹H resonance assignments and secondary structure determination of a variable heavy domain of a heavy chain antibody.

    PubMed

    Prosser, Christine E; Waters, Lorna C; Muskett, Frederick W; Veverka, Vaclav; Addis, Philip W; Griffin, Laura M; Baker, Terry S; Lawson, Alastair D G; Wernery, Ulrich; Kinne, Jorg; Henry, Alistair J; Taylor, Richard J; Carr, Mark D

    2014-04-01

    Heavy chain antibodies differ in structure to conventional antibodies lacking both the light chain and the first heavy chain constant domain (CH1). Characteristics of the antigen-binding variable heavy domain of the heavy chain antibody (VHH) including the smaller size, high solubility and stability make them an attractive alternative to more traditional antibody fragments for detailed NMR-based structural analysis. Here we report essentially complete backbone and side chain (15)N, (13)C and (1)H assignments for a free VHH. Analysis of the backbone chemical shift data obtained indicates that the VHH is comprised predominantly of β-sheets corresponding to nearly 60% of the protein backbone.

  5. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia antibodies with a common stereotypic rearrangement recognize nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA

    PubMed Central

    Catera, Rosa; Hatzi, Katerina; Yan, Xiao-Jie; Zhang, Lu; Wang, Xiao Bo; Fales, Henry M.; Allen, Steven L.; Kolitz, Jonathan E.; Rai, Kanti R.; Chiorazzi, Nicholas

    2008-01-01

    Leukemic B lymphocytes of a large group of unrelated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients express an unmutated heavy chain immunoglobulin variable (V) region encoded by IGHV1-69, IGHD3-16, and IGHJ3 with nearly identical heavy and light chain complementarity-determining region 3 sequences. The likelihood that these patients developed CLL clones with identical antibody V regions randomly is highly improbable and suggests selection by a common antigen. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from this stereotypic subset strongly bind cytoplasmic structures in HEp-2 cells. Therefore, HEp-2 cell extracts were immunoprecipitated with recombinant stereotypic subset-specific CLL mAbs, revealing a major protein band at approximately 225 kDa that was identified by mass spectrometry as nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MYHIIA). Reactivity of the stereotypic mAbs with MYHIIA was confirmed by Western blot and immunofluorescence colocalization with anti-MYHIIA antibody. Treatments that alter MYHIIA amounts and cytoplasmic localization resulted in a corresponding change in binding to these mAbs. The appearance of MYHIIA on the surface of cells undergoing stress or apoptosis suggests that CLL mAb may generally bind molecules exposed as a consequence of these events. Binding of CLL mAb to MYHIIA could promote the development, survival, and expansion of these leukemic cells. PMID:18812466

  6. [Cloning of VH and VL Gene of Human anti-IL1RAP McAb and Construction of Recombinant Chimeric Receptor].

    PubMed

    Yin, Ling-Ling; Ruan, Su-Hong; Tian, Yu; Zhao, Kai; Xu, Kai Lin

    2015-10-01

    To clone the variable region genes of human anti-IL1RAP (IL-1 receptor accessory protein) monoclonal antibodies (McAb) and to construct IL1RAP chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). The VH and VL DNA of IL1RAP single chain antibodies were amplified by RACE and overlap extension PCR from total RNA extracted from 3H6E10 and 10D8A7 hybridoma and ligated into specific IL1RAP single-chain variable fragments (scFv). CD8α transmembrane domain, CD137 intracellular domain, TCR ζ chain, human CD8α signal peptide and scFv-anti-IL1RAP were cloned into plasmid LV-lac. Recombinant lentiviruses were generated by co-transfection of recombinant plasmid LV-lac, pMD2. G, and psPAX2 helper vectors into 293FT packing cells. The VH and VL genes of 2 human anti-IL1RAP McAb were acquired. The 3H6E10 VH and VL genes consisted of 402 bp and 393 bp encoding 134 and 131 aminoacid residues, respectively; 10D8A7 VH and VL genes consisted of 423 bp and 381 bp encoding 141 and 127 amine acid residues, respectively. Recombinant expression vertors LV-3H6E10 scFv-ICD and LV-10D8A7 scFv-ICD (ICD: CD8α transmembrane domain-CD137 intracellular domain-TCR ζ chain) were constructed. The target fragments were demonstrated by sequencing analysis. Recombinant plasmids were transfected into 293FT cells and lentiviral particles were acquired. Human anti-IL1RAP recombinant receptors are constructed successfully and lay a good foundation for the construction of IL1RAP-CAR killer T cell vaccine.

  7. [TSH anti-receptor antibodies in Graves' disease].

    PubMed

    Sérgio, M R; Godinho, C; Guerra, L; Agapito, A; Fonseca, F; Costa, C

    1996-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) in the diagnosis of Graves disease. TRAb was tested by an isotopic receptor assay-TRAK Henning-in 80 newly diagnosed, untreated Graves disease patients (group I), 63 with other thyroid diseases (group II) and 60 controls (group III). In group I, 11 patients were TRAb negative and 7 were considered in the gray area (TRAb between 9 and 14 U/L). In group II, only 2 patients had TRAb 9 U/l and all controls were TRAb negative. For statistical analysis patients with TRAb in gray area were excluded. Sensitivity and specificity for this assay were 84.5 and 100% respectively. Predictive value of 100% affords certainty that a hyperthyroid patient with a positive TRAb has Graves disease, not sequining a scintigram.

  8. The effect of monoclonal antibodies to the human transferrin receptor on transferrin and iron uptake by rat and rabbit reticulocytes.

    PubMed

    McArdle, H J; Morgan, E H

    1984-02-10

    The effect of monoclonal antibodies to the human transferrin receptor on transferrin and iron uptake by rat and rabbit reticulocytes has been examined. The antibodies used were as follows: T58/1.4, B3/25.4, 42/6.3, T56/14.3.1, and 43/31. The effects were the same, irrespective of the antibody. Transferrin and iron uptake were stimulated in both rat and rabbit reticulocytes. The stimulation was not due to an increase in the number or affinity of the receptors, but rather to an increase in the rate of turnover of the receptors. Electron microscopy suggested that the antibody acted by facilitating the formation of coated pits containing the transferrin-receptor complex.

  9. Differential neutralizing activities of a single domain camelid antibody (VHH) specific for ricin toxin's binding subunit (RTB).

    PubMed

    Herrera, Cristina; Vance, David J; Eisele, Leslie E; Shoemaker, Charles B; Mantis, Nicholas J

    2014-01-01

    Ricin, a member of the A-B family of ribosome-inactivating proteins, is classified as a Select Toxin by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because of its potential use as a biothreat agent. In an effort to engineer therapeutics for ricin, we recently produced a collection of alpaca-derived, heavy-chain only antibody VH domains (VHH or "nanobody") specific for ricin's enzymatic (RTA) and binding (RTB) subunits. We reported that one particular RTB-specific VHH, RTB-B7, when covalently linked via a peptide spacer to different RTA-specific VHHs, resulted in heterodimers like VHH D10/B7 that were capable of passively protecting mice against a lethal dose challenge with ricin. However, RTB-B7 itself, when mixed with ricin at a 1 ∶ 10 toxin:antibody ratio did not afford any protection in vivo, even though it had demonstrable toxin-neutralizing activity in vitro. To better define the specific attributes of antibodies associated with ricin neutralization in vitro and in vivo, we undertook a more thorough characterization of RTB-B7. We report that RTB-B7, even at 100-fold molar excess (toxin:antibody) was unable to alter the toxicity of ricin in a mouse model. On the other hand, in two well-established cytotoxicity assays, RTB-B7 neutralized ricin with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) that was equivalent to that of 24B11, a well-characterized and potent RTB-specific murine monoclonal antibody. In fact, RTB-B7 and 24B11 were virtually identical when compared across a series of in vitro assays, including adherence to and neutralization of ricin after the toxin was pre-bound to cell surface receptors. RTB-B7 differed from both 24B11 and VHH D10/B7 in that it was relatively less effective at blocking ricin attachment to receptors on host cells and was not able to form high molecular weight toxin:antibody complexes in solution. Whether either of these activities is important in ricin toxin neutralizing activity in vivo remains to be determined.

  10. Isolation and expression of recombinant antibody fragments to the biological warfare pathogen Brucella melitensis.

    PubMed

    Hayhurst, Andrew; Happe, Scott; Mabry, Robert; Koch, Zephyr; Iverson, Brent L; Georgiou, George

    2003-05-01

    Brucella melitensis is a highly infectious animal pathogen able to cause a recurring debilitating disease in humans and is therefore high on the list of biological warfare agents. Immunoglobulin genes from mice immunized with gamma-irradiated B. melitensis strain 16M were used to construct a library that was screened by phage display against similarly prepared bacteria. The selected phage particles afforded a strong enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) signal against gamma-irradiated B. melitensis cells. However, extensive efforts to express the respective single chain antibody variable region fragment (scFv) in soluble form failed due to: (i) poor solubility and (ii) in vivo degradation of the c-myc tag used for the detection of the recombinant antibodies. Both problems could be addressed by: (i) fusing a human kappa light chain constant domain (Ck) chain to the scFv to generate single chain antibody fragment (scAb) antibody fragments and (ii) by co-expression of the periplasmic chaperone Skp. While soluble, functional antibodies could be produced in this manner, phage-displaying scFvs or scAbs were still found to be superior ELISA reagents for immunoassays, due to the large signal amplification afforded by anti-phage antibodies. The isolated phage antibodies were shown to be highly specific to B. melitensis and did not recognize Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in contrast to the existing diagnostic monoclonal YST 9.2.1.

  11. Effect of the anti-receptor ligand-blocking 225 monoclonal antibody on EGF receptor endocytosis and sorting

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jaramillo, Maria L.; Leon, Zully; Grothe, Suzanne

    The anti-receptor antibody, 225 mAb, is known to block binding of ligand to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the effect of this neutralizing antibody on EGFR endocytosis, trafficking and degradation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that endocytosis of {sup 125}I-225 mAb occurs, albeit with a slower rate than that of EGF. Using pulse chase assays, we show that internalized {sup 125}I-225 mAb is recycled to the surface much more efficiently than internalized {sup 125}I-EGF. Also, we found that internalization of {sup 125}I-225 mAb, in contrast to that of EGF, is independent of receptor tyrosine kinase activity, as evidencedmore » by its insensitivity to AG1478, a specific EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Analysis of the levels of cell surface and total EGFR showed that treatment with 225 mAb results in a 30-40% decrease in surface EGFR and a relatively slow downregulation of total EGFR. Taken together, these data indicate that 225 mAb induces internalization and downregulation of EGFR via a mechanism distinct from that underlying EGF-induced EGFR internalization and downregulation.« less

  12. Binding of alpha-fetoprotein by immobilized monoclonal antibodies during episodes of zero-gravity obtained by parabolic flight

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Spooner, Brian S.; Guikema, James A.; Barnes, Grady

    1990-01-01

    Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a single-chain polypeptide which is synthesized by the liver and yolk sac of the human fetus, provided a model ligand for assessing the effects of microgravity on ligand binding to surface-immobilized model receptor molecules. Monoclonal antibodies, used as receptors for AFP, were immobilized by covalent attachment to latex microparticles. Zero gravity environment was obtained by parabolic flight aboard NASA 930, a modified KC-135 aircraft. Buring the onset of an episode of zero gravity, ligand and receptor were mixed. Timed incubation (20 s) was terminated by centrifugation, the supernatant removed, and microparticies were assessed for bound AFP by immunochemical methods. The extent of binding was not influenced by microgravity, when compared with 1-G controls, which suggests that aberrant cellular activities observed in microgravity are not the simple expression of altered macromolecular interactions.

  13. Improved growth response of antibody/receptor chimera attained by the engineering of transmembrane domain.

    PubMed

    Kawahara, Masahiro; Ogo, Yuko; Ueda, Hiroshi; Nagamune, Teruyuki

    2004-10-01

    Structure-based design of antibody/cytokine receptor chimeras has permitted a growth signal transduction in response to non-natural ligands such as fluorescein-conjugated BSA as mimicry of cytokine-cytokine receptor systems. However, while tight on/off regulation is observed in the natural cytokine receptor systems, many chimeras constructed to date showed residual growth-promoting activity in the absence of ligands. Here we tried to reduce the basal growth signal intensity from a chimera by engineering the transmembrane domain (TM) that is thought to be involved in the interchain interaction of natural cytokine receptors. When the retroviral vectors encoding the chimeras with either the wild-type erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) TM or the one bearing two mutations in the leucine zipper motif were transduced to non-strictly interleukin-6-dependent 7TD1 cells, a tight antigen-dependent on/off regulation was attained, also demonstrating the first antigen-mediated genetically modified cell amplification of non-strictly factor-dependent cells. The results clearly indicate that the TM mutation is an effective means to improve the growth response of the antibody/receptor chimera.

  14. Nonviral RNA transfection to transiently modify T cells with chimeric antigen receptors for adoptive therapy.

    PubMed

    Riet, Tobias; Holzinger, Astrid; Dörrie, Jan; Schaft, Niels; Schuler, Gerold; Abken, Hinrich

    2013-01-01

    Redirecting T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) of predefined specificity showed remarkable efficacy in the adoptive therapy trials of malignant diseases. The CAR consists of a single chain fragment of variable region (scFv) antibody targeting domain covalently linked to the CD3ζ signalling domain of the T cell receptor complex to mediate T cell activation upon antigen engagement. By using an antibody-derived targeting domain a CAR can potentially redirect T cells towards any target expressed on the cell surface as long as a binding domain is available. Antibody-mediated targeting moreover circumvents MHC restriction of the targeted antigen, thereby broadening the potential of applicability of adoptive T cell therapy. While T cells were so far genetically modified by viral transduction, transient modification with a CAR by RNA transfection gained increasing interest during the last years. This chapter focuses on methods to modify human T cells from peripheral blood with a CAR by electroporation of in vitro transcribed RNA and to test modified T cells for function for use in adoptive immunotherapy.

  15. Effect of Chain Conformation on the Single-Molecule Melting Force in Polymer Single Crystals: Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulations Study.

    PubMed

    Feng, Wei; Wang, Zhigang; Zhang, Wenke

    2017-02-28

    Understanding the relationship between polymer chain conformation as well as the chain composition within the single crystal and the mechanical properties of the corresponding single polymer chain will facilitate the rational design of high performance polymer materials. Here three model systems of polymer single crystals, namely poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), polyethylene (PE), and nylon-66 (PA66) have been chosen to study the effects of chain conformation, helical (PEO) versus planar zigzag conformation (PE, PA66), and chain composition (PE versus PA66) on the mechanical properties of a single polymer chain. To do that, steered molecular dynamics simulations were performed on those polymer single crystals by pulling individual polymer chains out of the crystals. Our results show that the patterns of force-extension curve as well as the chain moving mode are closely related to the conformation of the polymer chain in the single crystal. In addition, hydrogen bonds can enhance greatly the force required to stretch the polymer chain out of the single crystal. The dynamic breaking and reformation of multivalent hydrogen bonds have been observed for the first time in PA66 at the single molecule level.

  16. Fc gamma receptor 3a genotype predicts overall survival in follicular lymphoma patients treated on SWOG trials with combined monoclonal antibody plus chemotherapy but not chemotherapy alone

    PubMed Central

    Persky, Daniel O.; Dornan, David; Goldman, Bryan H.; Braziel, Rita M.; Fisher, Richard I.; LeBlanc, Michael; Maloney, David G.; Press, Oliver W.; Miller, Thomas P.; Rimsza, Lisa M.

    2012-01-01

    Background Fc gamma receptor polymorphisms were linked to outcome in follicular lymphoma patients treated with single-agent rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. In particular, 158F/F genotype of Fc gamma receptor 3A and 131R/R genotype of Fc gamma receptor 2A correlated with worse outcome compared to high-affinity 158V/V and 131H/H, respectively. We examined this association in the context of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody combined with chemotherapy, as compared to chemotherapy alone, in follicular lymphoma patients treated on SWOG clinical trials. Design and Methods Tissue from 142 SWOG patients treated with chemotherapy alone (protocol S8809, n=70) or combined chemotherapy and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab and Iodine I-131 tositumomab on protocols S9800 and S9911, n=30 and 42, respectively) was analyzed. DNA was extracted and assayed for Fc gamma receptor 3A V158F and 2A R131H polymorphisms using a TaqMan SNP assay. Stratified Cox’s regression was used to assess association with overall survival. Results For Fc gamma receptor 3A, there was an association with overall survival in the combination therapy trials but not in the chemotherapy-only trial. Having at least one Fc gamma receptor 3A V allele was associated with improved overall survival versus F/F (HR=0.33, 95% CI, 0.11, 0.96, P=0.042). For overall survival, there was evidence of a statistical interaction between the use of mAb and the number of V alleles (0, 1, or 2) (P=0.006). There was no such association for Fc gamma receptor 2A. Conclusions Fc gamma receptor 3A polymorphism status may be predictive of survival in follicular lymphoma patients receiving treatments containing an anti-CD20 antibody but not treatment with chemotherapy alone. Thus, Fc gamma receptor 3A polymorphisms may be important to consider in designing new follicular lymphoma trials and new anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. PMID:22271896

  17. New-Onset Headache in Patients With Autoimmune Encephalitis Is Associated With anti-NMDA-Receptor Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Schankin, Christoph J; Kästele, Fabian; Gerdes, Lisa Ann; Winkler, Tobias; Csanadi, Endy; Högen, Tobias; Pellkofer, Hannah; Paulus, Walter; Kümpfel, Tania; Straube, Andreas

    2016-06-01

    We tested the hypotheses (i) that autoimmune encephalitis is associated with new-onset headache, and (ii) that the occurrence of headache is associated with the presence of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor antibodies. Autoimmune encephalitis presents with cognitive dysfunction as well as neuro-psychiatric symptoms. Its pathophysiology might involve antibody-mediated dysfunction of the glutamatergic system as indicated by the presence of anti-NMDA-receptor antibodies in some patients. In this cross-sectional study, patients with autoimmune encephalitis were assessed with a standardized interview for previous headache and headache associated with autoimmune encephalitis. Headache was classified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition. Clinical and paraclinical findings were correlated with the occurrence of headache. Of 40 patients with autoimmune encephalitis, 19 did not have a history of headache. Of those, nine suffered from encephalitis-associated headache. Seven of these nine had anti-NMDA-receptor antibodies in contrast to only two among the remaining 10 patients without new-onset headache (P = .023, odds ratio: 14, 95% confidence interval: 1.5; 127). In most patients headache occurred in attacks on more than 15 days/month, was severe, and of short duration (less than 4 hours). International Headache Society criteria for migraine were met in three patients. New-onset headache is a relevant symptom in patients with autoimmune encephalitis who have no history of previous headache, especially in the subgroup with anti-NMDA-receptor antibodies. This indicates a thorough investigation for secondary headaches including anti-NMDA-R antibodies for patients with new-onset headache and neuropsychiatric findings. Glutamatergic dysfunction might be important for the generation of head pain but may only occasionally be sufficient to trigger migraine-like attacks in nonmigraineurs. © 2016 American Headache Society.

  18. Identification of the functional interleukin-22 (IL-22) receptor complex: the IL-10R2 chain (IL-10Rbeta ) is a common chain of both the IL-10 and IL-22 (IL-10-related T cell-derived inducible factor, IL-TIF) receptor complexes.

    PubMed

    Kotenko, S V; Izotova, L S; Mirochnitchenko, O V; Esterova, E; Dickensheets, H; Donnelly, R P; Pestka, S

    2001-01-26

    Interleukin-10 (IL-10)-related T cell-derived inducible factor (IL-TIF; provisionally designated IL-22) is a cytokine with limited homology to IL-10. We report here the identification of a functional IL-TIF receptor complex that consists of two receptor chains, the orphan CRF2-9 and IL-10R2, the second chain of the IL-10 receptor complex. Expression of the CRF2-9 chain in monkey COS cells renders them sensitive to IL-TIF. However, in hamster cells both chains, CRF2-9 and IL-10R2, must be expressed to assemble the functional IL-TIF receptor complex. The CRF2-9 chain (or the IL-TIF-R1 chain) is responsible for Stat recruitment. Substitution of the CRF2-9 intracellular domain with the IFN-gammaR1 intracellular domain changes the pattern of IL-TIF-induced Stat activation. The CRF2-9 gene is expressed in normal liver and kidney, suggesting a possible role for IL-TIF in regulating gene expression in these tissues. Each chain, CRF2-9 and IL-10R2, is capable of binding IL-TIF independently and can be cross-linked to the radiolabeled IL-TIF. However, binding of IL-TIF to the receptor complex is greater than binding to either receptor chain alone. Sharing of the common IL-10R2 chain between the IL-10 and IL-TIF receptor complexes is the first such case for receptor complexes with chains belonging to the class II cytokine receptor family, establishing a novel paradigm for IL-10-related ligands similar to the shared use of the gamma common chain (gamma(c)) by several cytokines, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15.

  19. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibodies in Thyroid Eye Disease-Methodology and Clinical Applications.

    PubMed

    Diana, Tanja; Kahaly, George J

    2018-05-02

    Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TSHR-Ab) cause autoimmune hyperthyroidism and are prevalent in patients with related thyroid eye disease (TED). To provide a historical perspective on TSHR-Ab and to present evidence-based recommendations for clinical contemporary use. The authors review the recent literature pertaining to TSHR-Ab in patients with TED and describe the various immunoassays currently used for detecting TSHR-Ab and their clinical applications. We provide a historical summary and description of the various methods used to detect TSHR-Ab, foremost, the functional TSHR-Ab. Increasing experimental and clinical data demonstrate the clinical usefulness of cell-based bioassays for measurements of functional TSHR-Ab in the diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune TED and in the characterization of patients with autoimmune-induced hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies, especially the functional stimulating antibodies, are sensitive, specific, and reproducible biomarkers for patients with autoimmune TED and correlate well with clinical disease activity and clinical severity. Unlike competitive-binding assays, bioassays have the advantage of indicating not only the presence of antibodies but also their functional activity and potency. Measurement of TSHR-Ab (especially stimulating antibodies) is a clinically useful tool for the management of patients with TED.

  20. [An analysis and literature review of two cases of autoimmune encephalitis with GABAB receptor antibodies].

    PubMed

    Zhang, M; Hao, H J; Liu, L P; Zhang, H H; Zhou, Y Y

    2016-10-01

    Autoimmune encephalitis with GABA B receptor antibodies has been rarely reported. Two cases of GABA B receptor antibodies encephalitis were presented here.Epilepsy was the onset symptom, followed by declined consciousness and frequent seizures. Fever was presented in the whole course of the disease. Myorhythmia of the two hands and pilomotor seizures were shown in the later course of the disease. No specificity was demonstrated in electroencephalograms and magnetic resonance imaging. Sensitive response was shown to the first-line immunotherapy.

  1. Therapeutic antibody targeting of individual Notch receptors.

    PubMed

    Wu, Yan; Cain-Hom, Carol; Choy, Lisa; Hagenbeek, Thijs J; de Leon, Gladys P; Chen, Yongmei; Finkle, David; Venook, Rayna; Wu, Xiumin; Ridgway, John; Schahin-Reed, Dorreyah; Dow, Graham J; Shelton, Amy; Stawicki, Scott; Watts, Ryan J; Zhang, Jeff; Choy, Robert; Howard, Peter; Kadyk, Lisa; Yan, Minhong; Zha, Jiping; Callahan, Christopher A; Hymowitz, Sarah G; Siebel, Christian W

    2010-04-15

    The four receptors of the Notch family are widely expressed transmembrane proteins that function as key conduits through which mammalian cells communicate to regulate cell fate and growth. Ligand binding triggers a conformational change in the receptor negative regulatory region (NRR) that enables ADAM protease cleavage at a juxtamembrane site that otherwise lies buried within the quiescent NRR. Subsequent intramembrane proteolysis catalysed by the gamma-secretase complex liberates the intracellular domain (ICD) to initiate the downstream Notch transcriptional program. Aberrant signalling through each receptor has been linked to numerous diseases, particularly cancer, making the Notch pathway a compelling target for new drugs. Although gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) have progressed into the clinic, GSIs fail to distinguish individual Notch receptors, inhibit other signalling pathways and cause intestinal toxicity, attributed to dual inhibition of Notch1 and 2 (ref. 11). To elucidate the discrete functions of Notch1 and Notch2 and develop clinically relevant inhibitors that reduce intestinal toxicity, we used phage display technology to generate highly specialized antibodies that specifically antagonize each receptor paralogue and yet cross-react with the human and mouse sequences, enabling the discrimination of Notch1 versus Notch2 function in human patients and rodent models. Our co-crystal structure shows that the inhibitory mechanism relies on stabilizing NRR quiescence. Selective blocking of Notch1 inhibits tumour growth in pre-clinical models through two mechanisms: inhibition of cancer cell growth and deregulation of angiogenesis. Whereas inhibition of Notch1 plus Notch2 causes severe intestinal toxicity, inhibition of either receptor alone reduces or avoids this effect, demonstrating a clear advantage over pan-Notch inhibitors. Our studies emphasize the value of paralogue-specific antagonists in dissecting the contributions of distinct Notch receptors to

  2. Characterization of early and late endocytic compartments of the transferrin cycle. Transferrin receptor antibody blocks erythroid differentiation by trapping the receptor in the early endosome.

    PubMed

    Killisch, I; Steinlein, P; Römisch, K; Hollinshead, R; Beug, H; Griffiths, G

    1992-09-01

    We describe a detailed morphological characterization of the endocytic pathway in differentiating chicken erythroblasts transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV). These cells express high levels of transferrin receptors (TfR) when induced to differentiate at 42 degrees C. Biochemical analysis showed that most (approximately 90%) of the internalized 125I-Tf recycled within approximately 30 min while a smaller fraction of 125I-Tf required up to 2 h for recycling. By immunocytochemistry, the bulk of Tf and TfR was localized at the plasma membrane and in tubuloreticular early endosomes. This structure contained coated buds that labelled with an antibody specific for the clathrin light chain. Decreasing amounts of both Tf and TfR were detected in two distal compartments, spherical endosome vesicles resembling multivesicular bodies and the prelysosomal compartment (PLC) enriched in cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. As shown by fluorescent (FITC-Tf) labelling of living cells, the movement of Tf/TfR complex into these late structures was accompanied by a significant drop in pH from about 6, the value displayed by early endosomes, to values below pH 5.0. Since no detectable 125I-Tf degradation was observed during a 4 h period we believe that the Tf/TfR detected in these late endocytic structures avoids degradation and recycles back to the cell surface. The addition of an anti-TfR monoclonal antibody to the culture medium of these cells blocks their differentiation. Under this condition the antibody-TfR complex was trapped in an early endosome compartment that enlarged to more than twice its normal size. However, this condition did not affect the transport kinetics of horseradish peroxidase from the medium to the PLC.

  3. Screening of synthetic phage display scFv libraries yields competitive ligands of human leptin receptor.

    PubMed

    Molek, Peter; Vodnik, Miha; Strukelj, Borut; Bratkovič, Tomaž

    2014-09-26

    Initially considered the main endogenous anorexigenic factor, fat-derived leptin turned out to be a markedly pleiotropic hormone, influencing diverse physiological processes. Moreover, hyperleptinemia in obese individuals has been linked to the onset or progression of serious disorders, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and atherosclerosis, and antagonizing peripheral leptin's signalization has been shown to improve these conditions. To develop an antibody-based leptin antagonist we have devised a tailored panning procedure and screened two phage display libraries of single chain variable antibody fragments (scFvs) against recombinant leptin receptor. One of the scFvs was expressed in Escherichia coli and its interaction with leptin receptor was characterized in more detail. It was found to recognize a discontinuous epitope and to compete with leptin for receptor binding with IC50 and Kd values in the nanomolar range. The reported scFv represents a lead for development of leptin antagonists that may ultimately find use in therapy of various hyperleptinemia-related disorders. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Immunoassay for wheat processing quality: utilization of a sandwich assay incorporating an immobilized single-chain fragment.

    PubMed

    Hill, A S; Giersch, T M; Loh, C S; Skerritt, J H

    1999-10-01

    A single-chain fragment (scFv) was engineered from a monoclonal antibody to high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), wheat flour polypeptides that play a major role in determining the mixing- and extension strength-related properties of dough and its subsequent baking performance. The scFv was expressed in a thioredoxin mutant Escherichia coli strain that allows disulfide bond formation in the cytoplasm and incorporated into a diagnostic test for wheat quality. Although the scFv lacks the more highly conserved antibody constant regions usually involved with immobilization, it was able to be directly immobilized to a polystyrene microwell solid phase without chemical or covalent modification of the protein or solid phase and utilized as a capture antibody in a double-antibody (two-site) immunoassay. In the sandwich assay, increasing HMW-GS concentrations produced increasing assay color, and highly significant correlations were obtained between optical densities obtained in the ELISA using the scFv and the content of large glutenin polymers in flours as well as measures of dough strength as measured by resistance to dough extension in rheological testing. The assay using the scFv was able to be carried out at lower flour sample extract dilutions than that required for a similar assay utilizing a monoclonal capture antibody. This research shows that engineered antibody fragments can be utilized to provide superior assay performance in two-site ELISAs over monoclonal antibodies and is the first application of an engineered antibody to the analysis of food processing quality.

  5. Subcellular localization of estradiol receptor in MCF7 cells studied with nanogold-labelled antibody fragments.

    PubMed

    Kessels, M M; Qualmann, B; Thole, H H; Sierralta, W D

    1998-01-01

    Ultrastructural localization studies of estradiol receptor in hormone-deprived and hormone-stimulated MCF7 cells were done using F(ab') fragments of three different antibodies (#402, 13H2, HT277) covalently linked to nanogold. These ultra-small, non-charged immunoreagents, combined with a size-enlargement by silver enhancement, localized estradiol receptor in both nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of non-stimulated target cells; stimulation with the steroid induced a predominantly nuclear labelling. In the cytoplasm of resting cells, tagging was often observed at or in the proximity of stress fibers. In the nucleus a large proportion of receptor was found inside the nucleolus, specially with the reagent derived from antibody 13H2. We postulate that different accessibilities of receptor epitopes account for the different labelling densities observed at cytoskeletal elements and the nucleoli.

  6. Phosphorylated ubiquitin chain is the genuine Parkin receptor

    PubMed Central

    Okatsu, Kei; Koyano, Fumika; Kimura, Mayumi; Kosako, Hidetaka; Saeki, Yasushi

    2015-01-01

    PINK1 selectively recruits Parkin to depolarized mitochondria for quarantine and removal of damaged mitochondria via ubiquitylation. Dysfunction of this process predisposes development of familial recessive Parkinson’s disease. Although various models for the recruitment process have been proposed, none of them adequately explain the accumulated data, and thus the molecular basis for PINK1 recruitment of Parkin remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we show that a linear ubiquitin chain of phosphomimetic tetra-ubiquitin(S65D) recruits Parkin to energized mitochondria in the absence of PINK1, whereas a wild-type tetra-ubiquitin chain does not. Under more physiologically relevant conditions, a lysosomal phosphorylated polyubiquitin chain recruited phosphomimetic Parkin to the lysosome. A cellular ubiquitin replacement system confirmed that ubiquitin phosphorylation is indeed essential for Parkin translocation. Furthermore, physical interactions between phosphomimetic Parkin and phosphorylated polyubiquitin chain were detected by immunoprecipitation from cells and in vitro reconstitution using recombinant proteins. We thus propose that the phosphorylated ubiquitin chain functions as the genuine Parkin receptor for recruitment to depolarized mitochondria. PMID:25847540

  7. Role of the constant region domain in the structural diversity of human antibody light chains.

    PubMed

    Hifumi, Emi; Taguchi, Hiroaki; Kato, Ryuichi; Uda, Taizo

    2017-04-01

    Issues regarding the structural diversity (heterogeneity) of an antibody molecule have been the subject of discussion along with the development of antibody drugs. Research on heterogeneity has been extensive in recent years, but no clear solution has been reached. Heterogeneity is also observed in catalytic antibody κ light chains (CLs). In this study, we investigated how the constant region domain of CLs concerns structural diversity because it is a simple and good example for elucidating heterogeneity. By means of cation-exchange chromatography, SDS-PAGE, and 2-dimensional electrophoresis for the CL, multimolecular forms consisting of different electrical charges and molecular sizes coexisted in the solution, resulting in the similar heterogeneity of the full length of CLs. The addition of copper ion could cause the multimolecular forms to change to monomolecular forms. Copper ion contributed greatly to the enrichment of the dimer form of CL and the homogenization of the differently charged CLs. Two molecules of the CL protein bound one copper ion. The binding affinity of the ion was 48.0 μM -1 Several divalent metal ions were examined, but only zinc showed a similar effect.-Hifumi, E., Taguchi, H., Kato, R., Uda, T. Role of the constant region domain in the structural diversity of human antibody light chains. © FASEB.

  8. INDUCTION OF RABBIT ANTIBODY WITH MOLECULAR UNIFORMITY AFTER IMMUNIZATION WITH GROUP C STREPTOCOCCI

    PubMed Central

    Eichmann, Klaus; Lackland, Henry; Hood, Leroy; Krause, Richard M.

    1970-01-01

    Antibodies with uniform properties may occur in rabbits after immunization with Group C streptococci. These precipitating antibodies possess specificity for the group-specific carbohydrate. Not uncommonly, their concentration is between 20 and 40 mg/ml of antiserum. Evidence for molecular uniformity in the case of one of these antibodies, described in detail here, includes: individual antigenic specificity; monodisperse distribution of the light chains by alkaline urea polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis; and a single amino acid in each of the first three N-terminal positions of the light chains. When the amino acid sequence of rabbit antibody b+ light chains (κ type) are aligned against their human κ counterparts, a definite homology is observed between the N-terminus of the human and the rabbit variable region. PMID:5409946

  9. Neuropsychiatric lupus and auto-antibodies against ionotropic glutamate receptor (NMDAR)

    PubMed Central

    Cohen-Solal, J.F.G.; Diamond, B.

    2010-01-01

    Almost half of lupus patients will experience neuropsychiatric symptoms during the course of their disease. The etiology of the neuronal damages are still uncertain and probably multiple. Auto-antibodies reactive with brain have been postulated to play a role. The observation of pathogenic auto-antibodies binding the NR2A and NR2B subunits of the ionotropic glutamate receptor (NMDAR) illustrates this hypothesis. First studies showed that 40% of lupus patients possess serum titers of anti-NR2A/B antibody, but the presence of these auto-antibodies is not always associated with the occurrence of neuronal damages or neuropsychiatric symptoms. Nevertheless, their presence is observed in the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) of one half of the patients suffering from neurolupus. The presence in the serum of these auto-antibodies anti-NR2A/B of the NMDAR is preliminary to their presence in the CSF where their deleterious effect is observable. Their entry into the brain is dependent on a breach of the blood brain barrier (BBB). In conclusion, the serum titer of auto-antibodies against NR2A/B subunits is an indication of the potential for neuro-psychiatric manifestations during the course of the disease. PMID:20605660

  10. A bi-functional antibody-receptor domain fusion protein simultaneously targeting IGF-IR and VEGF for degradation

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Yang; Zeng, Lin; Novosyadlyy, Ruslan; Forest, Amelie; Zhu, Aiping; Korytko, Andrew; Zhang, Haifan; Eastman, Scott W; Topper, Michael; Hindi, Sagit; Covino, Nicole; Persaud, Kris; Kang, Yun; Burtrum, Douglas; Surguladze, David; Prewett, Marie; Chintharlapalli, Sudhakar; Wroblewski, Victor J; Shen, Juqun; Balderes, Paul; Zhu, Zhenping; Snavely, Marshall; Ludwig, Dale L

    2015-01-01

    Bi-specific antibodies (BsAbs), which can simultaneously block 2 tumor targets, have emerged as promising therapeutic alternatives to combinations of individual monoclonal antibodies. Here, we describe the engineering and development of a novel, human bi-functional antibody-receptor domain fusion molecule with ligand capture (bi-AbCap) through the fusion of the domain 2 of human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) to an antibody directed against insulin-like growth factor – type I receptor (IGF-IR). The bi-AbCap possesses excellent stability and developability, and is the result of minimal engineering. Beyond potent neutralizing activities against IGF-IR and VEGF, the bi-AbCap is capable of cross-linking VEGF to IGF-IR, leading to co-internalization and degradation of both targets by tumor cells. In multiple mouse xenograft tumor models, the bi-AbCap improves anti-tumor activity over individual monotherapies. More importantly, it exhibits superior inhibition of tumor growth, compared with the combination of anti-IGF-IR and anti-VEGF therapies, via powerful blockade of both direct tumor cell growth and tumor angiogenesis. The unique “capture-for-degradation” mechanism of the bi-AbCap is informative for the design of next-generation bi-functional anti-cancer therapies directed against independent signaling pathways. The bi-AbCap design represents an alternative approach to the creation of dual-targeting antibody fusion molecules by taking advantage of natural receptor-ligand interactions. PMID:26073904

  11. Domain walls in single-chain magnets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pianet, Vivien; Urdampilleta, Matias; Colin, Thierry; Clérac, Rodolphe; Coulon, Claude

    2017-12-01

    The topology and creation energy of domain walls in different magnetic chains (called Single-Chain Magnets or SCMs) are discussed. As these domain walls, that can be seen as "defects", are known to control both static and dynamic properties of these one-dimensional systems, their study and understanding are necessary first steps before a deeper discussion of the SCM properties at finite temperature. The starting point of the paper is the simple regular ferromagnetic chain for which the characteristics of the domain walls are well known. Then two cases will be discussed (i) the "mixed chains" in which isotropic and anisotropic classical spins alternate, and (ii) the so-called "canted chains" where two different easy axis directions are present. In particular, we show that "strictly narrow" domain walls no longer exist in these more complex cases, while a cascade of phase transitions is found for canted chains as the canting angle approaches 45∘. The consequence for thermodynamic properties is briefly discussed in the last part of the paper.

  12. Engineering a Single Chain Fv Antibody to αvβ6 Integrin using the Specificity-Determining Loop of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

    PubMed Central

    Kogelberg, Heide; Tolner, Berend; Thomas, Gareth J.; Di Cara, Danielle; Minogue, Shane; Ramesh, Bala; Sodha, Serena; Marsh, Dan; Lowdell, Mark W.; Meyer, Tim; Begent, Richard H.J.; Hart, Ian; Marshall, John F; Chester, Kerry

    2010-01-01

    Summary The αvβ6 integrin is a promising target for cancer therapy. Its expression is up-regulated de novo on many types of carcinoma where it may activate transforming growth factor-β1 and transforming growth factor-β3, interact with the specific extracellular matrix proteins and promote migration and invasion of tumour cells. The viral protein 1 (VP1) coat protein of the O1 British field strain serotype of foot-and-mouth disease virus is a high-affinity ligand for αvβ6, and we recently reported that a peptide derived from VP1 exhibited αvβ6-specific binding in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that this peptide could confer binding specificity of an antibody to αvβ6. A 17-mer peptide of VP1 was inserted into the complementary-determining region H3 loop of MFE-23, a murine single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody reactive with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The resultant scFv (B6-1) bound to αvβ6 but retained residual reactivity with CEA. This was eliminated by point mutation (Y100bP) in the variable heavy-chain domain to create an scFv (B6-2) that was as structurally stable as MFE-23 and reacted specifically with αvβ6 but not α5β1, αvβ3, αvβ5, αvβ8 or CEA. B6-2 was internalized into αvβ6-expressing cells and inhibited αvβ6-dependent migration of carcinoma cells. B6-2 was subsequently humanized. The humanized form (B6-3) was obtained as a non-covalent dimer from secretion in Pichia pastoris (115 mg/l) and was a potent inhibitor of αvβ6-mediated cell adhesion. Thus, we have used a rational stepwise approach to create a humanized scFv with therapeutic potential to block αvβ6-mediated cancer cell invasion or to deliver and internalize toxins specifically to αvβ6-expressing tumours. PMID:18656482

  13. Site-specific PEGylation of an anti-CEA/CD3 bispecific antibody improves its antitumor efficacy

    PubMed Central

    Pan, Haitao; Liu, Jiayu; Deng, Wentong; Xing, Jieyu; Li, Qing; Wang, Zhong

    2018-01-01

    Introduction Bispecific antibodies that engage immune cells to kill cancer cells are actively pursued in cancer immunotherapy. Different types of bispecific antibodies, including single-chain fragments, Fab fragments, nanobodies, and immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs), have been studied. However, the low molecular weight of bispecific antibodies with single-chain or Fab fragments generally leads to their rapid clearance in vivo, which limits the therapeutic potential of these bispecific antibodies. Materials and methods In this study, we used a site-specific PEGylation strategy to modify the bispecific single-domain antibody-linked Fab (S-Fab), which was designed by linking an anticarcinoembryonic antigen (anti-CEA) nanobody with an anti-CD3 Fab. Results The half-life (t1/2) of PEGylated S-Fab (polyethylene glycol-S-Fab) was increased 12-fold in vivo with a slightly decreased tumor cell cytotoxicity in vitro as well as more potent tumor growth inhibition in vivo compared to S-Fab. Conclusion This study demonstrated that PEGylation is an effective approach to enhance the antitumor efficacy of bispecific antibodies. PMID:29881272

  14. Advancing the global proteome survey platform by using an oriented single chain antibody fragment immobilization approach.

    PubMed

    Säll, Anna; Persson, Helena; Ohlin, Mats; Borrebaeck, Carl A K; Wingren, Christer

    2016-09-25

    Increasing the understanding of a proteome and how its protein composition is affected by for example different diseases, such as cancer, has the potential to improve strategies for early diagnosis and therapeutics. The Global Proteome Survey or GPS is a method that combines mass spectrometry and affinity enrichment with the use of antibodies. The technology enables profiling of complex proteomes in a species independent manner. The sensitivity of GPS, and other methods relying on affinity enrichment, is largely affected by the activity of the exploited affinity reagent. We here present an improvement of the GPS platform by utilizing an antibody immobilization approach which ensures a controlled immobilization process of the antibody to the magnetic bead support. More specifically, we make use of an antibody format that enables site-directed biotinylation and use this in combination with streptavidin coated magnetic beads. The performance of the expanded GPS platform was evaluated by profiling yeast proteome samples. We demonstrate that the oriented antibody immobilization strategy increases the ability of the GPS platform and results in larger fraction of functional antibodies. Additionally, we show that this new antibody format enabled in-solution capture, i.e. immobilization of the antibodies after sample incubation. A workflow has been established that permit the use of an oriented immobilization strategy for the GPS platform. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Differential Neutralizing Activities of a Single Domain Camelid Antibody (VHH) Specific for Ricin Toxin’s Binding Subunit (RTB)

    PubMed Central

    Herrera, Cristina; Vance, David J.; Eisele, Leslie E.; Shoemaker, Charles B.; Mantis, Nicholas J.

    2014-01-01

    Ricin, a member of the A-B family of ribosome-inactivating proteins, is classified as a Select Toxin by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because of its potential use as a biothreat agent. In an effort to engineer therapeutics for ricin, we recently produced a collection of alpaca-derived, heavy-chain only antibody VH domains (VHH or “nanobody”) specific for ricin’s enzymatic (RTA) and binding (RTB) subunits. We reported that one particular RTB-specific VHH, RTB-B7, when covalently linked via a peptide spacer to different RTA-specific VHHs, resulted in heterodimers like VHH D10/B7 that were capable of passively protecting mice against a lethal dose challenge with ricin. However, RTB-B7 itself, when mixed with ricin at a 1∶10 toxin:antibody ratio did not afford any protection in vivo, even though it had demonstrable toxin-neutralizing activity in vitro. To better define the specific attributes of antibodies associated with ricin neutralization in vitro and in vivo, we undertook a more thorough characterization of RTB-B7. We report that RTB-B7, even at 100-fold molar excess (toxin:antibody) was unable to alter the toxicity of ricin in a mouse model. On the other hand, in two well-established cytotoxicity assays, RTB-B7 neutralized ricin with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) that was equivalent to that of 24B11, a well-characterized and potent RTB-specific murine monoclonal antibody. In fact, RTB-B7 and 24B11 were virtually identical when compared across a series of in vitro assays, including adherence to and neutralization of ricin after the toxin was pre-bound to cell surface receptors. RTB-B7 differed from both 24B11 and VHH D10/B7 in that it was relatively less effective at blocking ricin attachment to receptors on host cells and was not able to form high molecular weight toxin:antibody complexes in solution. Whether either of these activities is important in ricin toxin neutralizing activity in vivo remains to be determined. PMID

  16. Rapid Isolation of a Single-Chain Antibody against the Cyanobacterial Toxin Microcystin-LR by Phage Display and Its Use in the Immunoaffinity Concentration of Microcystins from Water

    PubMed Central

    McElhiney, Jacqui; Drever, Mathew; Lawton, Linda A.; Porter, Andy J.

    2002-01-01

    A naïve (unimmunized) human semisynthetic phage display library was employed to isolate recombinant antibody fragments against the cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin-LR. Selected antibody scFv genes were cloned into a soluble expression vector and expressed in Escherichia coli for characterization against purified microcystin-LR by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The most sensitive single-chain antibody (scAb) isolated was capable of detecting microcystin-LR at levels below the World Health Organization limit in drinking water (1 μg liter−1) and cross-reacted with three other purified microcystin variants (microcystin-RR, -LW, and -LF) and the related cyanotoxin nodularin. Extracts of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa were assayed by ELISA, and quantifications of microcystins in toxic samples showed good correlation with analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Immobilized scAb was also used to prepare immunoaffinity columns, which were assessed for the ability to concentrate microcystin-LR from water for subsequent analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Anti-microcystin-LR scAb was immobilized on columns via a hexahistidine tag, ensuring maximum exposure of antigen binding sites, and the performance of the columns was evaluated by directly applying 150 ml of distilled water spiked with 4 μg of purified microcystin-LR. The procedure was simple, and a recovery rate of 94% was achieved following elution in 1 ml of 100% methanol. Large-scale, low-cost production of anti-microcystin-LR scAb in E. coli is an exciting prospect for the development of biosensors and on-line monitoring systems for microcystins and will also facilitate a range of immunoaffinity applications for the cleanup and concentration of these toxins from environmental samples. PMID:12406716

  17. Production of Recombinant Human scFv Against Tetanus Toxin Heavy Chain by Phage Display Technology.

    PubMed

    Khalili, Ehsan; Lakzaei, Mostafa; Rasaee, Mohhamad Javad; Aminian, Mahdi

    2015-10-01

    Tetanus, as a major cause of death in developing countries, is caused by tetanus neurotoxin. Recombinant antibodies against tetanus neurotoxin can be useful in tetanus management. Phage display of antibody fragments from immune human antibody libraries with single chain constructs combining the variable fragments (scFv) has been one of the most prominent technologies in antibody engineering. The aim of this study was the generation of a single chain fragment of variable region (scFv) library and selection of specific antibodies with high affinity against tetanus toxin. Immune human single chain fragment variable (HuscFv) antibody phagemid library was displayed on pIII of filamentous bacteriophage. Selection of scFv clones was performed against tetanus toxin antigens after three rounds of panning. The selected scFv clones were analyzed for inhibition of tetanus toxin binding to ganglioside GT1b. After the third round of panning, over 35 HuscFv phages specific for tetanus toxin were isolated from this library of which 15 clones were found to bind specifically to tetanus toxin. The selected HuscFv phages expressed as a soluble HuscFv peptide and some clones showed positive signals against tetanus toxin. We found that six HuscFv clones inhibit toxin binding to ganglioside GT1b. These selected antibodies can be used in the management of tetanus.

  18. Bacterial Expression of a Single-Chain Variable Fragment (scFv) Antibody against Ganoderic Acid A: A Cost-Effective Approach for Quantitative Analysis Using the scFv-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

    PubMed

    Yusakul, Gorawit; Nuntawong, Poomraphie; Sakamoto, Seiichi; Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, Pahweenvaj; Kohno, Toshitaka; Kikkawa, Nao; Rojsitthisak, Pornchai; Shimizu, Kuniyoshi; Tanaka, Hiroyuki; Morimoto, Satoshi

    2017-01-01

    Due to the highly specific binding between an antibody and its target, superior analytical performances was obtained by immunoassays for phytochemical analysis over conventional chromatographic techniques. Here, we describe a simple method for producing a functional single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against ganoderic acid A (GAA), a pharmacologically active metabolite from Ganoderma lingzhi. The Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain produced a large amount of anti-GAA scFv. However, in vitro refolding steps, which partially recovered the reactivity of the scFv, were required. Interestingly, the functional scFv was expressed as a soluble and active form in the cytoplasm of an engineered E. coli SHuffle ® strain. Purified anti-GAA scFv, which yielded 2.56 mg from 1 L of culture medium, was obtained from simple and inexpensive procedures for expression and purification. The anti-GAA scFv-based indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) exhibited high sensitivity (linearity: 0.078-1.25 µg/mL) with precision (CV: ≤6.20%) and reliability (recovery: 100.1-101.8%) for GAA determination. In summary, the approach described here is an inexpensive, simple, and efficient expression system that extends the application of anti-GAA scFv-based immunoassays. In addition, when in vitro refolding steps can be skipped, the cost and complexity of scFv antibody production can be minimized.

  19. An anti-CD30 single-chain Fv selected by phage display and fused to Pseudomonas exotoxin A (Ki-4(scFv)-ETÁ) is a potent immunotoxin against a Hodgkin-derived cell line

    PubMed Central

    Klimka, A; Barth, S; Matthey, B; Roovers, R C; Lemke, H; Hansen, H; Arends, J-W; Diehl, V; Hoogenboom, H R; Engert, A

    1999-01-01

    The human CD30 receptor is highly overexpressed on the surface of Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg cells and has been shown to be an excellent target for selective immunotherapy using monoclonal antibody-based agents such as immunotoxins. To construct a new recombinant immunotoxin for possible clinical use in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, we have chosen the murine anti-CD30 hybridoma Ki-4 to generate a high-affinity Ki-4 single-chain variable fragment (scFv). Hybridoma V-genes were polymerase chain reaction-amplified, assembled, cloned and expressed as a mini-library for display on filamentous phage. Functional Ki-4 scFv were obtained by selection of binding phage on the Hodgkin lymphoma-derived, CD30-expressing cell line L540Cy. The selected recombinant Ki-4 scFv was shown to specifically bind to an overlapping epitope on the CD30 antigen with binding kinetics similar to those of the original antibody. The Ki-4 scFv was subsequently fused to a deletion mutant of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (ETÁ). The resulting immunotoxin Ki-4(scFv)-ETÁ specifically binds to CD30+ L540Cy cells and inhibits the protein synthesis by 50% at a concentration (IC50) of 43 pM. This recombinant immunotoxin is a promising candidate for further clinical evaluation in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma or other CD30+ malignancies. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign PMID:10376974

  20. A Heterodimer of a VHH (Variable Domains of Camelid Heavy Chain-only) Antibody That Inhibits Anthrax Toxin Cell Binding Linked to a VHH Antibody That Blocks Oligomer Formation Is Highly Protective in an Anthrax Spore Challenge Model*

    PubMed Central

    Moayeri, Mahtab; Leysath, Clinton E.; Tremblay, Jacqueline M.; Vrentas, Catherine; Crown, Devorah; Leppla, Stephen H.; Shoemaker, Charles B.

    2015-01-01

    Anthrax disease is caused by a toxin consisting of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor, and edema factor. Antibodies against PA have been shown to be protective against the disease. Variable domains of camelid heavy chain-only antibodies (VHHs) with affinity for PA were obtained from immunized alpacas and screened for anthrax neutralizing activity in macrophage toxicity assays. Two classes of neutralizing VHHs were identified recognizing distinct, non-overlapping epitopes. One class recognizes domain 4 of PA at a well characterized neutralizing site through which PA binds to its cellular receptor. A second neutralizing VHH (JKH-C7) recognizes a novel epitope. This antibody inhibits conversion of the PA oligomer from “pre-pore” to its SDS and heat-resistant “pore” conformation while not preventing cleavage of full-length 83-kDa PA (PA83) by cell surface proteases to its oligomer-competent 63-kDa form (PA63). The antibody prevents endocytosis of the cell surface-generated PA63 subunit but not preformed PA63 oligomers formed in solution. JKH-C7 and the receptor-blocking VHH class (JIK-B8) were expressed as a heterodimeric VHH-based neutralizing agent (VNA2-PA). This VNA displayed improved neutralizing potency in cell assays and protected mice from anthrax toxin challenge with much better efficacy than the separate component VHHs. The VNA protected virtually all mice when separately administered at a 1:1 ratio to toxin and protected mice against Bacillus anthracis spore infection. Thus, our studies show the potential of VNAs as anthrax therapeutics. Due to their simple and stable nature, VNAs should be amenable to genetic delivery or administration via respiratory routes. PMID:25564615

  1. A novel in vivo method for isolating antibodies from a phage display library by neuronal retrograde transport selectively yields antibodies against p75(NTR.).

    PubMed

    Tani, Hiroaki; Osbourn, Jane K; Walker, Edward H; Rush, Robert A; Ferguson, Ian A

    2013-01-01

    The neurotrophin receptor p75(NTR) is utilized by a variety of pathogens to gain entry into the central nervous system (CNS). We tested if this entry portal might be exploited using a phage display library to isolate internalizing antibodies that target the CNS in vivo. By applying a phage library that expressed human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies on their surface to a transected sciatic nerve, we showed that (1) phage conjugated to anti-p75(NTR) antibody or phage scFv library pre-panned against p75(NTR) are internalized by neurons expressing p75(NTR); (2) subsequent retrograde axonal transport separates internalized phage from the applied phage; and, (3) internalized phage can be recovered from a proximal ligature made on a nerve. This approach resulted in 13-fold increase in the number of phage isolated from the injured nerve compared with the starting population, and isolation of 18 unique internalizing p75(NTR) antibodies that were transported from the peripheral nerve into the spinal cord, through the blood-brain barrier. In addition, antibodies recognizing other potentially internalized antigens were identified through in vivo selection using a fully diverse library. Because p75(NTR) expression is upregulated in motor neurons in response to injury and in disease, the p75(NTR) antibodies may have substantial potential for cell-targeted drug/gene delivery. In addition, this novel selection method provides the potential to generate panels of antibodies that could be used to identify further internalization targets, which could aid drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier.

  2. A novel in vivo method for isolating antibodies from a phage display library by neuronal retrograde transport selectively yields antibodies against p75NTR

    PubMed Central

    Tani, Hiroaki; Osbourn, Jane K.; Walker, Edward H.; Rush, Robert A.; Ferguson, Ian A.

    2013-01-01

    The neurotrophin receptor p75NTR is utilized by a variety of pathogens to gain entry into the central nervous system (CNS). We tested if this entry portal might be exploited using a phage display library to isolate internalizing antibodies that target the CNS in vivo. By applying a phage library that expressed human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies on their surface to a transected sciatic nerve, we showed that (1) phage conjugated to anti-p75NTR antibody or phage scFv library pre-panned against p75NTR are internalized by neurons expressing p75NTR; (2) subsequent retrograde axonal transport separates internalized phage from the applied phage; and, (3) internalized phage can be recovered from a proximal ligature made on a nerve. This approach resulted in 13-fold increase in the number of phage isolated from the injured nerve compared with the starting population, and isolation of 18 unique internalizing p75NTR antibodies that were transported from the peripheral nerve into the spinal cord, through the blood-brain barrier. In addition, antibodies recognizing other potentially internalized antigens were identified through in vivo selection using a fully diverse library. Because p75NTR expression is upregulated in motor neurons in response to injury and in disease, the p75NTR antibodies may have substantial potential for cell-targeted drug/gene delivery. In addition, this novel selection method provides the potential to generate panels of antibodies that could be used to identify further internalization targets, which could aid drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. PMID:23549155

  3. Diabody-based recombinant formats of humanized IgG-like bispecific antibody with effective retargeting of lymphocytes to tumor cells.

    PubMed

    Asano, Ryutaro; Kawaguchi, Hiroko; Watanabe, Yasuhiro; Nakanishi, Takeshi; Umetsu, Mitsuo; Hayashi, Hiroki; Katayose, Yu; Unno, Michiaki; Kudo, Toshio; Kumagai, Izumi

    2008-10-01

    Recently, recombinant antibodies have been dissected into antigen-binding regions and rebuilt into multivalent high-avidity formats. These new structural designs are expected to improve in vivo pharmacokinetics and efficacy in clinical use. Here, we designed effective recombinant bispecific antibody (BsAb) formats based on hEx3, a humanized bispecific diabody with epidermal growth factor receptor and CD3 retargeting. The bispecific and bivalent IgG-like antibodies engineered from hEx3 (or its single-chain form, hEx3-scDb) and the human Fc region showed stronger binding to each target cell than did monovalent diabody formats, and their affinity was identical to that of the corresponding parent IgG. The bivalent effect of the constructed IgG-like BsAbs resulted in cell cytotoxicity 10 times that of monovalent diabodies, and further, the fusion of Fc portion contributed intense cytotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by the induction of the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The growth-inhibition effects of IgG-like BsAbs were superior to those of the approved therapeutic antibody cetuximab, which recognizes the same epidermal growth factor receptor antigen, even when peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used as effector cells. We thus demonstrated a critical improvement in the effect of hEx3 by the bottom-up construction of IgG-like BsAbs; in adoptive immunotherapy, monotherapy without supplemental molecules may be able to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

  4. Competitive Selection from Single Domain Antibody Libraries Allows Isolation of High-Affinity Antihapten Antibodies That Are Not Favored in the llama Immune Response

    PubMed Central

    Rosa, Sofia Tabares-da; Rossotti, Martin; Carleiza, Carmen; Carrión, Federico; Pritsch, Otto; Ahn, Ki Chang; Last, Jerold A.; Hammock, Bruce D; González-Sapienza, Gualberto

    2011-01-01

    Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) found in camelids, lack a light chain and their antigen-binding site sits completely in the heavy-chain variable domain (VHH). Their simplicity, thermostability, and ease in expression have made VHHs highly attractive. While this has been successfully exploited for macromolecular antigens, their application to the detection of small molecules is still limited to a very few reports, mostly describing low affinity VHHs. Using triclocarban (TCC) as a model hapten, we found that conventional antibodies, IgG1 fraction, reacted with free TCC with a higher relative affinity (IC50 51.0 ng/mL) than did the sdAbs (IgG2 and IgG3, 497 and 370 ng/mL, respectively). A VHH library was prepared, and by elution of phage with limiting concentrations of TCC and competitive selection of binders, we were able to isolate high-affinity clones, KD 0.98–1.37 nM (SPR) which allowed development of a competitive assay for TCC with an IC50 = 3.5 ng/mL (11 nM). This represents a 100-fold improvement with regard to the performance of the sdAb serum fraction, and it is 100-fold better than the IC50 attained with other anti-hapten VHHs reported thus far. Despite the modest overall anti-hapten sdAbs response in llamas, a small subpopulation of high affinity VHHs are generated that can be isolated by carefully design of the selection process. PMID:21827167

  5. A single-chain fragment variable recombinant antibody against F5 fimbria of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli inhibits agglutination of horse red blood cells induced by F5 protein.

    PubMed

    Bhaskaran, S; Jay, C M; Berghman, L R; Wagner, G G; Waghela, S D

    2005-08-01

    Bovine colibacillosis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a worldwide problem. Adhesion of ETEC to intestinal cell receptors mediated by the surface protein F5 fimbriae is the initial step in the establishment of colibacillosis. Prevention of ETEC F5(+) adhesion to enterocytes protects newborn calves against collibacillosis. On the enterocytes, the F5 fimbriae bind to a ganglioside that is also found on horse red blood cells. Thus, the presence of F5 fimbriae induces haemagglutination, which is useful as an indicator in a functional assay system. In this study, recombinant anti-F5 scFv antibody fragment produced in E. coli HB2151 reacted with F5 fimbriae in ELISA and Western immunoblot, and prevented haemagglutination induced by the binding of the F5 fimbriae to its natural host receptors on horse red blood cells. Given the ease with which recombinant antibodies can be mass-produced, the presently described scFv may hold promise as a prophylactic agent for colibacillosis.

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

    PubMed

    Heitner, Tara; Satozawa, Noboru; McLean, Kirk; Vogel, David; Cobb, Ronald R; Liu, Bing; Mahmoudi, Mithra; Finster, Silke; Larsen, Brent; Zhu, Ying; Zhou, Hongxing; Müller-Tiemann, Beate; Monteclaro, Felipe; Zhao, Xiao-Yan; Light, David R

    2006-12-01

    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.

  7. Polynucleotides encoding anti-sulfotyrosine antibodies

    DOEpatents

    Bertozzi, Carolyn R [Berkeley, CA; Kehoe, John [Saint Davids, PA; Bradbury, Andrew M [Santa Fe, NM

    2011-01-11

    The invention provides anti-sulfotyrosine specific antibodies capable of detecting and isolating polypeptides that are tyrosine-sulfated. The sulfotyrosine antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention may be used to discriminate between the non-sulfated and sulfated forms of such proteins, using any number of immunological assays, such ELISAs, immunoblots, Western Blots, immunoprecipitations, and the like. Using a phage-display system, single chain antibodies (scFvs) were generated and screened against tyrosine-sulfated synthetic peptide antigens, resulting in the isolation of scFvs that specifically recognize sulfotyrosine-containing peptides and/or demonstrate sulfotyrosine-specific binding in tyrosine sulfated proteins. The VH and VL genes from one such sulfotyrosine-specific scFv were employed to generate a full length, sulfotyrosine-specific immunoglobulin.

  8. Single-chain behavior of poly(3-hexylthiophene)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ivanov, Momchil; Gross, Jonathan; Janke, Wolfhard

    2017-03-01

    Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) has been in the focus of recent studies due to its promising future use in organic photovoltaics, electronics and photonics. Recent publications investigate the melt behavior of P3HT, its interaction with other molecules, mainly various fullerene derivates, and isolated chains interacting with substrates. In this work we lay the focus on the single-chain properties of P3HT in vacuum. We compare structural properties obtained from simulations using two coarse-grained models and an atomistic model of the polymer for various chain lengths and temperatures.

  9. Efficient heterologous expression and secretion in Aspergillus oryzae of a llama variable heavy-chain antibody fragment V(HH) against EGFR.

    PubMed

    Okazaki, Fumiyoshi; Aoki, Jun-ichi; Tabuchi, Soichiro; Tanaka, Tsutomu; Ogino, Chiaki; Kondo, Akihiko

    2012-10-01

    We have constructed a filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae that secretes a llama variable heavy-chain antibody fragment (V(HH)) that binds specifically to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a culture medium. A major improvement in yield was achieved by fusing the V(HH) with a Taka-amylase A signal sequence (sTAA) and a segment of 28 amino acids from the N-terminal region of Rhizopus oryzae lipase (N28). The yields of secreted, immunologically active anti-EGFR V(HH) reached 73.8 mg/1 in a Sakaguchi flask. The V(HH) fragments were released from the sTAA or N28 proteins by an indigenous A. oryzae protease during cultivation. The purified recombinant V(HH) fragment was specifically recognized and could bind to the EGFR with a high affinity.

  10. Discovery of functional monoclonal antibodies targeting G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels.

    PubMed

    Wilkinson, Trevor C I

    2016-06-15

    The development of recombinant antibody therapeutics is a significant area of growth in the pharmaceutical industry with almost 50 approved monoclonal antibodies on the market in the US and Europe. Despite this growth, however, certain classes of important molecular targets have remained intractable to therapeutic antibodies due to complexity of the target molecules. These complex target molecules include G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels which represent a large potential target class for therapeutic intervention with monoclonal antibodies. Although these targets have typically been addressed by small molecule approaches, the exquisite specificity of antibodies provides a significant opportunity to provide selective modulation of these target proteins. Given this opportunity, substantial effort has been applied to address the technical challenges of targeting these complex membrane proteins with monoclonal antibodies. In this review recent progress made in the strategies for discovery of functional monoclonal antibodies for these challenging membrane protein targets is addressed. © 2016 The Author(s). published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

  11. Characterization of single-domain antibodies with an engineered disulfide bond.

    PubMed

    Hussack, Greg; Mackenzie, C Roger; Tanha, Jamshid

    2012-01-01

    Camelidae single-domain antibodies (VHHs) represent a unique class of emerging therapeutics. Similar to other recombinant antibody fragments (e.g., Fabs, scFvs), VHHs are amenable to library screening and selection, but benefit from superior intrinsic biophysical properties such as high refolding efficiency, high solubility, no tendency for aggregation, resistance to proteases and chemical denaturants, and high expression, making them ideal agents for antibody-based drug design. Despite these favorable biophysical characteristics, further improvements to VHH stability are desirable when considering applications in adverse environments like high heat, low humidity, pH extremes, and the acidic, protease-rich gastrointestinal tract. Recently, the introduction of a disulfide bond into the hydrophobic core of camelid VHHs increased antibody thermal and conformational stability. Here, we present additional protocols for characterizing the effects of the introduced disulfide bond on a panel of llama VHHs. Specifically, we employ mass spectrometry fingerprinting analysis of VHH peptides to confirm the presence of the introduced disulfide bond, size exclusion chromatography, and surface plasmon resonance to examine the effects on aggregation state and target affinity, and circular dichroism spectroscopy and protease digestion assays to assess the effects on thermal and proteolytic stability. The disulfide bond stabilization strategy can be incorporated into antibody library design and should lead to hyperstabilized single-domain antibodies (VHHs, VHs), and possibly Fabs and scFvs, if selection pressures such as denaturants or proteases are introduced during antibody selection.

  12. Mouse Hepatitis Virus Strain A59 and Blocking Antireceptor Monoclonal Antibody Bind to the N-Terminal Domain of Cellular Receptor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dveksler, Gabriela S.; Pensiero, Michael N.; Dieffenbach, Carl W.; Cardellichio, Christine B.; Basile, Alexis A.; Elia, Patrick E.; Holmes, Kathryn V.

    1993-03-01

    Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) strain A59 uses as cellular receptors members of the carcinoembryonic antigen family in the immunoglobulin superfamily. Recombinant receptor proteins with deletions of whole or partial immunoglobulin domains were used to identify the regions of receptor glycoprotein recognized by virus and by antireceptor monoclonal antibody CC1, which blocks infection of murine cells. Monoclonal antibody CC1 and MHV-A59 virions bound only to recombinant proteins containing the entire first domain of MHV receptor. To determine which of the proteins could serve as functional virus receptors, receptor-negative hamster cells were transfected with recombinant deletion clones and then challenged with MHV-A59 virions. Receptor activity required the entire N-terminal domain with either the second or the fourth domain and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Recombinant proteins lacking the first domain or its C-terminal portion did not serve as viral receptors. Thus, like other virus receptors in the immunoglobulin superfamily, including CD4, poliovirus receptor, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1, the N-terminal domain of MHV receptor is recognized by the virus and the blocking monoclonal antibody.

  13. Effect of single-point mutations on the stability and immunogenicity of a recombinant ricin A chain subunit vaccine antigen.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Justin C; O'Hara, Joanne M; Hu, Lei; Gao, Fei P; Joshi, Sangeeta B; Volkin, David B; Brey, Robert N; Fang, Jianwen; Karanicolas, John; Mantis, Nicholas J; Middaugh, C Russell

    2013-04-01

    There is great interest in the design and development of highly thermostable and immunogenic protein subunit vaccines for biodefense. In this study, we used two orthogonal and complementary computational protein design approaches to generate a series of single-point mutants of RiVax, an attenuated recombinant ricin A chain (RTA) protein subunit vaccine antigen. As assessed by differential scanning calorimetry, the conformational stabilities of the designed mutants ranged from 4°C less stable to 4.5°C more stable than RiVax, depending on solution pH. Two more thermostable (V18P, C171L) and two less thermostable (T13V, S89T) mutants that displayed native-like secondary and tertiary structures (as determined by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectral analysis, respectively) were tested for their capacity to elicit RTA-specific antibodies and toxin-neutralizing activity. Following a prime-boost regimen, we found qualitative differences with respect to specific antibody titers and toxin neutralizing antibody levels induced by the different mutants. Upon a second boost with the more thermostable mutant C171L, a statistically significant increase in RTA-specific antibody titers was observed when compared with RiVax-immunized mice. Notably, the results indicate that single residue changes can be made to the RiVax antigen that increase its thermal stability without adversely impacting the efficacy of the vaccine.

  14. Droplet based microfluidics for highthroughput screening of antibody secreting cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cai, Liheng; Heyman, John; Mazutis, Linas; Ung, Lloyd; Guerra, Rodrigo; Aubrecht, Donald; Weitz, David

    2014-03-01

    We present a droplet based microfluidic platform that allows highthroughput screening of antibody secreting cells. We coencapsulate single cells, fluorescent probes, and detection beads into emulsion droplets with diameter of 40 micron. The beads capture antibodies secreted by cells, resulting in a pronounced fluorescent signal that activates dielectrophoresis sorting at rate about 500 droplets per second. Moreover, we demonstrate that Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) can be successfully applied to the cell encapsulated in a single sorted droplet. Our work highlights the potential of droplet based microfluidics as a platform to generate recombinant antibodies.

  15. Generation of a Highly Reactive Chicken-Derived Single-Chain Variable Fragment against Fusarium verticillioides by Phage Display

    PubMed Central

    Hu, Zu-Quan; Liu, Jin-Long; Li, He-Ping; Xing, Shu; Xue, Sheng; Zhang, Jing-Bo; Wang, Jian-Hua; Nölke, Greta; Liao, Yu-Cai

    2012-01-01

    Fusarium verticillioides is the primary causal agent of Fusarium ear and kernel rot in maize, producing fumonisin mycotoxins that are toxic to humans and domestic animals. Rapid detection and monitoring of fumonisin-producing fungi are pivotally important for the prevention of mycotoxins from entering into food/feed products. Chicken-derived single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against cell wall-bound proteins from F. verticillioides were isolated from an immunocompetent phage display library. Comparative phage enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISAs) and sequencing analyses identified four different scFv antibodies with high sensitivity. Soluble antibody ELISAs identified two highly sensitive scFv antibodies, FvCA3 and FvCA4, with the latter being slightly more sensitive. Three-dimensional modeling revealed that the FvCA4 may hold a better overall structure with CDRH3, CDRL1 and CDRL3 centered in the core region of antibody surface compared with that of other scFvs. Immunofluorescence labeling revealed that the binding of FvCA4 antibody was localized to the cell walls of conidiospores and hyphae of F. verticillioides, confirming the specificity of this antibody for a surface target. This scFv antibody was able to detect the fungal mycelium as low as 10−2 μg/mL and contaminating mycelium at a quantity of 10−2 mg/g maize. This is the first report that scFv antibodies derived from phage display have a wide application for rapid and accurate detection and monitoring of fumonisin-producing pathogens in agricultural samples. PMID:22837678

  16. Identification of the Single Immunodominant Region of the Native Human CC Chemokine Receptor 6 Recognized by Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Dorgham, Karim; Dejou, Cécile; Piesse, Christophe; Gorochov, Guy; Pène, Jérôme; Yssel, Hans

    2016-01-01

    Chemokines and their receptors play an important role in cell trafficking and recruitment. The CCR6 chemokine receptor, selectively expressed on leukocyte populations, has been shown to play a deleterious role in the pathogenesis of various chronic inflammatory diseases and, as such, may constitute a prime target in the development of immunotherapeutic treatment. However, to date no neutralizing mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for this chemokine receptor have been reported, whereas information on small molecules capable of interfering with the interaction of CCR6 and its ligands is scant. Here, we report the failure to generate neutralizing mouse mAbs specific for human (hu)CCR6. Immunization of mice with peptides mimicking extracellular domains, potentially involved in CCR6 function, failed to induce Abs reactive with the native receptor. Although the use of NIH-3T3 cells expressing huCCR6 resulted in the isolation of mAbs specific for this receptor, they were not able to block the interaction between huCCR6 and huCCL20. Investigation of the anti-huCCR6 mAbs generated in the present study, as well as those commercially available, show that all mAbs invariably recognize a unique, non-neutralizing, immunodominant region in the first part of its N-terminal domain. Together, these results indicate that the generation of potential neutralizing anti-huCCR6 mAbs in the mouse is unlikely to succeed and that alternative techniques, such as the use of other animal species for immunization, might constitute a better approach to generate such a potentially therapeutic tool for the treatment of inflammatory disease.

  17. Enhancing Antibody Fc Heterodimer Formation through Electrostatic Steering Effects

    PubMed Central

    Gunasekaran, Kannan; Pentony, Martin; Shen, Min; Garrett, Logan; Forte, Carla; Woodward, Anne; Ng, Soo Bin; Born, Teresa; Retter, Marc; Manchulenko, Kathy; Sweet, Heather; Foltz, Ian N.; Wittekind, Michael; Yan, Wei

    2010-01-01

    Naturally occurring IgG antibodies are bivalent and monospecific. Bispecific antibodies having binding specificities for two different antigens can be produced using recombinant technologies and are projected to have broad clinical applications. However, co-expression of multiple light and heavy chains often leads to contaminants and pose purification challenges. In this work, we have modified the CH3 domain interface of the antibody Fc region with selected mutations so that the engineered Fc proteins preferentially form heterodimers. These novel mutations create altered charge polarity across the Fc dimer interface such that coexpression of electrostatically matched Fc chains support favorable attractive interactions thereby promoting desired Fc heterodimer formation, whereas unfavorable repulsive charge interactions suppress unwanted Fc homodimer formation. This new Fc heterodimer format was used to produce bispecific single chain antibody fusions and monovalent IgGs with minimal homodimer contaminants. The strategy proposed here demonstrates the feasibility of robust production of novel Fc-based heterodimeric molecules and hence broadens the scope of bispecific molecules for therapeutic applications. PMID:20400508

  18. Ultrasensitive Detection of Ricin Toxin in Multiple Sample Matrixes Using Single-Domain Antibodies.

    PubMed

    Gaylord, Shonda T; Dinh, Trinh L; Goldman, Ellen R; Anderson, George P; Ngan, Kevin C; Walt, David R

    2015-07-07

    Ricin is an extremely potent ribosomal inactivating protein listed as a Category B select agent. Although ricin intoxication is not transmittable from person to person, even a single ricin molecule can lead to cell necrosis because it inactivates 1500 ribosomes/min. Since there is currently no vaccine or therapeutic treatment for ricin intoxication, ultrasensitive analytical assays capable of detecting ricin in a variety of matrixes are urgently needed to limit exposure to individuals as well as communities. In this paper, we present the development and application of a single-molecule array (Simoa) for the detection of ricin toxin in human urine and serum. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), among the smallest engineered binding fragments, were chemically coupled to the surface of paramagnetic beads for the sensitive detection of ricin toxin. The Simoa was able to detect ricin at levels of 10 fg/mL, 100 fg/mL, and 1 pg/mL in buffer, urine and serum, respectively, in a fraction of the assay time need using immuno-polymerase chain reaction (IPCR). Using a fully automated state-of-the-art platform, the Simoa HD-1 analyzer, the assay time was reduced to 64 min.

  19. Drug of the year: programmed death-1 receptor/programmed death-1 ligand-1 receptor monoclonal antibodies.

    PubMed

    Robert, Caroline; Soria, Jean-Charles; Eggermont, Alexander M M

    2013-09-01

    Programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1)/its ligand (PD-L1) antibodies have changed the landscape in oncology in 2013. The most mature results have been obtained in advanced melanoma patients. They indicate important response rates and high quality responses or prolonged duration. Also in renal cancer and in lung cancer remarkable activity has been demonstrated. Thus it is clear that these antibodies have a very broad potential and trials in many tumour types are being initiated. Breaking tolerance at the tumour site is a potent phenomenon and the potential for synergy with other checkpoint inhibitors such as ipilimumab have also been demonstrated in 2013. Long term tumour control now seems achievable and thus the concept of a clinical cure is emerging by modulation of the immune system. These antibodies bring immunotherapy to the forefront and indicate that immune-modulation will be a key component of therapeutic strategies from now on. Because of all these reasons PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies are considered 'drug of the year'. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Gravimetric antigen detection utilizing antibody-modified lipid bilayers.

    PubMed

    Larsson, Charlotte; Bramfeldt, Hanna; Wingren, Christer; Borrebaeck, Carl; Höök, Fredrik

    2005-10-01

    Lipid bilayers containing 5% nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) lipids supported on SiO2 have been used as a template for immobilization of oligohistidine-tagged single-chained antibody fragments (scFvs) directed against cholera toxin. It was demonstrated that histidine-tagged scFvs could be equally efficiently coupled to an NTA-Ni2+-containing lipid bilayer from a purified sample as from an expression supernatant, thereby providing a coupling method that eliminates time-consuming protein prepurification steps. Irrespective of whether the coupling was made from the unpurified or purified antibody preparation, the template proved to be efficient for antigen (cholera toxin) detection, verified using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring. In addition, via a secondary amplification step using lipid vesicles containing GM1 (the natural membrane receptor for cholera toxin), the detection limit of cholera toxin was less than 750 pM. To further strengthen the coupling of scFvs to the lipid bilayer, scFvs containing two histidine tags, instead of just one tag, were also evaluated. The increased coupling strength provided via the bivalent anchoring significantly reduced scFv displacement in complex solutions containing large amounts of histidine-containing proteins, verified via cholera toxin detection in serum.

  1. Correlation of monoclonal and polyclonal somatostatin receptor 5 antibodies in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

    PubMed Central

    Kaemmerer, Daniel; Lupp, Amelie; Peter, Luisa; Fischer, Elke; Schulz, Stefan; Klöppel, Günter; Hommann, Merten

    2013-01-01

    Aims: To evaluate the frequency of somatostatin-receptor 5 (SSTR 5) in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors by using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Material and Method: we analyzed 66 proven pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors immunohistochemically with monoclonal (clone UMB-4) and polyclonal SSTR 5-antibodies. Immunoreactive score (IRS) and DAKO-score Her2/neu were evaluated. Results: Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated for the IRS a significant higher staining of all specimen using the monoclonal antibodies ( IRS SSTR5 poly vs IRS SSTR 5 mono; 20.0% vs 30.3% p < 0.001) by a correlation of 0.21; p = 0.04. For the HER2 score there was also a significant higher staining in the monoclonal group (Her2 SSTR 5 poly vs Her2 SSTR 5 mono; 21.5% vs 28.8% p < 0.001) by a correlation of 0.20; p = 0.08. Conclusion: Both antibodies are useful in staining of SSTR, although UMB-4 demonstrated a 10% higher SSTR 5 staining. Due to the previous underestimated expression rate of SSTR 5, current standards in diagnostics and therapy should be reconsidered. The increasing usage of long-acting pansomatostatin receptor analogues will rise the adverse effects connected to SSTR5 binding. PMID:23236542

  2. Human Monoclonal Antibodies Against a Plethora of Viral Pathogens From Single Combinatorial Libraries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Williamson, R. Anthony; Burioni, Roberto; Sanna, Pietro P.; Partridge, Lynda J.; Barbas, Carlos F., III; Burton, Dennis R.

    1993-05-01

    Conventional antibody generation usually requires active immunization with antigen immediately prior to the preparation procedure. Combinatorial antibody library technology offers the possibility of cloning a range of antibody specificities at a single point in time and then accessing these specificities at will. Here we show that human monoclonal antibody Fab fragments against a plethora of infectious agents can be readily derived from a single library. Further examination of a number of libraries shows that whenever antibody against a pathogen can be detected in the serum of the donor, then specific antibodies can be derived from the corresponding library. We describe the generation of human Fab fragments against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, human cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus, rubella, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, and respiratory syncytial virus. The antibodies are shown to be highly specific and a number are effective in neutralizing virus in vitro.

  3. [A case of acute cerebellar ataxia following infectious mononucleosis accompanied by intrathecal anti-glutamate receptor δ2 antibody].

    PubMed

    Murakami, Hidetomo; Iijima, Shoji; Kawamura, Mitsuru; Takahashi, Yukitoshi; Ichikawa, Hiroo

    2013-01-01

    An 18-year-old woman was admitted because of sore throat and pain in the epigastric region. On admission, she presented with swollen tonsils and hepatosplenomegaly. Blood examinations revealed the presence of atypical lymphocytes, liver damage and anti-VCA IgM and IgG antibodies. These findings led to diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. After admission, her condition improved, but on hospital day 4, she suddenly developed cerebellar ataxia in the trunk and four limbs. Cranial MRI findings were normal. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected on hospital day 6 showed normal cell counts and normal concentrations of protein and glucose. EB virus DNA and anti-VCA IgM and IgG antibodies were negative and glutamate receptor δ2 antibody was positive in CSF collected on hospital day 11. We diagnosed acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA) and performed methylprednisolone pulse therapy. After this therapy, her cerebellar ataxia improved over a few days. This is the first reported case of ACA after EB virus infection presenting with glutamate receptor δ2 antibody in CSF. The glutamate receptor δ2 subunit is expressed on cerebellar Purkinje cells. Therefore, the presence of the antibody may be associated with cerebellar dysfunction. In the present case, secondary immune reactions after EB virus infection may have produced the antibody.

  4. Intracellular antibody signalling is regulated by phosphorylation of the Fc receptor TRIM21

    PubMed Central

    Vaysburd, Marina; Yang, Ji-Chun; Mallery, Donna L; Zeng, Jingwei; Johnson, Christopher M; McLaughlin, Stephen H; Skehel, Mark; Maslen, Sarah; Cruickshank, James; Huguenin-Dezot, Nicolas; Chin, Jason W; Neuhaus, David

    2018-01-01

    Cell surface Fc receptors activate inflammation and are tightly controlled to prevent autoimmunity. Antibodies also simulate potent immune signalling from inside the cell via the cytosolic antibody receptor TRIM21, but how this is regulated is unknown. Here we show that TRIM21 signalling is constitutively repressed by its B-Box domain and activated by phosphorylation. The B-Box occupies an E2 binding site on the catalytic RING domain by mimicking E2-E3 interactions, inhibiting TRIM21 ubiquitination and preventing immune activation. TRIM21 is derepressed by IKKβ and TBK1 phosphorylation of an LxxIS motif in the RING domain, at the interface with the B-Box. Incorporation of phosphoserine or a phosphomimetic within this motif relieves B-Box inhibition, promoting E2 binding, RING catalysis, NF-κB activation and cytokine transcription upon infection with DNA or RNA viruses. These data explain how intracellular antibody signalling is regulated and reveal that the B-Box is a critical regulator of RING E3 ligase activity. PMID:29667579

  5. A heterodimer of a VHH (variable domains of camelid heavy chain-only) antibody that inhibits anthrax toxin cell binding linked to a VHH antibody that blocks oligomer formation is highly protective in an anthrax spore challenge model.

    PubMed

    Moayeri, Mahtab; Leysath, Clinton E; Tremblay, Jacqueline M; Vrentas, Catherine; Crown, Devorah; Leppla, Stephen H; Shoemaker, Charles B

    2015-03-06

    Anthrax disease is caused by a toxin consisting of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor, and edema factor. Antibodies against PA have been shown to be protective against the disease. Variable domains of camelid heavy chain-only antibodies (VHHs) with affinity for PA were obtained from immunized alpacas and screened for anthrax neutralizing activity in macrophage toxicity assays. Two classes of neutralizing VHHs were identified recognizing distinct, non-overlapping epitopes. One class recognizes domain 4 of PA at a well characterized neutralizing site through which PA binds to its cellular receptor. A second neutralizing VHH (JKH-C7) recognizes a novel epitope. This antibody inhibits conversion of the PA oligomer from "pre-pore" to its SDS and heat-resistant "pore" conformation while not preventing cleavage of full-length 83-kDa PA (PA83) by cell surface proteases to its oligomer-competent 63-kDa form (PA63). The antibody prevents endocytosis of the cell surface-generated PA63 subunit but not preformed PA63 oligomers formed in solution. JKH-C7 and the receptor-blocking VHH class (JIK-B8) were expressed as a heterodimeric VHH-based neutralizing agent (VNA2-PA). This VNA displayed improved neutralizing potency in cell assays and protected mice from anthrax toxin challenge with much better efficacy than the separate component VHHs. The VNA protected virtually all mice when separately administered at a 1:1 ratio to toxin and protected mice against Bacillus anthracis spore infection. Thus, our studies show the potential of VNAs as anthrax therapeutics. Due to their simple and stable nature, VNAs should be amenable to genetic delivery or administration via respiratory routes. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  6. Fab is the most efficient format to express functional antibodies by yeast surface display.

    PubMed

    Sivelle, Coline; Sierocki, Raphaël; Ferreira-Pinto, Kelly; Simon, Stéphanie; Maillere, Bernard; Nozach, Hervé

    2018-04-30

    Multiple formats are available for engineering of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by yeast surface display, but they do not all lead to efficient expression of functional molecules. We therefore expressed four anti-tumor necrosis factor and two anti-IpaD mAbs as single-chain variable fragment (scFv), antigen-binding fragment (Fab) or single-chain Fabs and compared their expression levels and antigen-binding efficiency. Although the scFv and scFab formats are widely used in the literature, 2 of 6 antibodies were either not or weakly expressed. In contrast, all 6 antibodies expressed as Fab revealed strong binding and high affinity, comparable to that of the soluble form. We also demonstrated that the variations in expression did not affect Fab functionality and were due to variations in light chain display and not to misfolded dimers. Our results suggest that Fab is the most versatile format for the engineering of mAbs.

  7. Identification of the membrane remnants of transferrin receptor with domain-specific antibodies.

    PubMed

    Baynes, R D; Shih, Y J; Hudson, B G; Cook, J D

    1994-03-01

    Tissue culture studies with K562 and HL60 cells have demonstrated the production of a soluble form of transferrin receptor identical to that identified in human serum. The present study was undertaken to search for membrane remnants of the truncated receptor with peptide antibodies specific for the extracellular and cytoplasmic domain of transferrin receptor. In cell membranes, a 105K remnant was identified that is consistent with truncation of one extracellular domain monomer of the transferrin receptor. In the exosomal fraction of the culture supernatant, a smaller 20K remnant consistent with truncation of both extracellular domains was also demonstrated. These findings provide evidence that soluble receptor is the product of proteolytic cleavage of intact membrane-bound transferrin receptor. Prior studies showing that the concentration of the extracellular domain in exosomes remained stable during incubation in culture supernatant suggest that this cleavage possibly occurs intracellularly.

  8. Repeated acetylcholine receptor antibody-concentrations and association to clinical myasthenia gravis development.

    PubMed

    Heldal, Anne Taraldsen; Eide, Geir Egil; Romi, Fredrik; Owe, Jone Furlund; Gilhus, Nils Erik

    2014-01-01

    We aimed to examine the longitudinal association between Myasthenia Gravis (MG) clinical severity and concentration of acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-antibodies to evaluate if AChR-antibody variations correlate to disease severity. A positive AChR-antibody test is specific for MG. All patients from western Norway who had two or more AChR- antibody tests in the period 1983-2013 were identified. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Clinical Classification was used to grade disease development. Multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to estimate a possible predictive effect for AChR-antibody concentration on MGFA classification result. In 67 patients two or more AChR-antibody tests with a corresponding MGFA-score were performed, with a total of 309 tests. 56 patients were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and 11 by pyridostigmine only. There was a positive association between concentration of AChR-antibodies and longitudinal MGFA-score for the subgroup with immunosuppressive treatment, but not for those treated with pyridostigmine only. This association between AChR-antibody concentration and MGFA score declined with increasing time since onset (p = 0.005 for the interaction of group×time×concentration). For MG patients with immunosuppressive treatment, repeated AChR-antibody measurements give information about clinical development, and can therefore be of support in therapeutic decisions.

  9. Mimicry of erythropoietin and interleukin-6 signalling by an antibody/cytokine receptor chimera in murine myeloid 32D cells.

    PubMed

    Kawahara, Masahiro; Ueda, Hiroshi; Tsumoto, Kouhei; Kumagai, Izumi; Nagamune, Teruyuki

    2007-04-01

    We have previously designed antibody-cytokine receptor chimeras that could respond to a cognate antigen. While these chimeric receptors were functional, it has not been investigated exactly how they mimic signal transduction through corresponding wild-type receptors. In this study, we compared the growth properties and the phosphorylation status of intracellular signal transducers between the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR)- or gp130-based chimeric receptors and wild-type EpoR or EpoR-gp130 chimera, respectively. Expression plasmids, encoding V(H) or V(L) region of anti-hen egg lysozyme (HEL) antibody HyHEL-10 tethered to a pair of extracellular D2 domain of EpoR and transmembrane/cytoplasmic domains of either EpoR or gp130, were constructed, and pairs of chimeric receptor combinations (V(H)-EpoR and V(L)-EpoR, V(H)-gp130 and V(L)-gp130, V(H)-EpoR and V(L)-gp130, V(H)-gp130 and V(L)-EpoR) were expressed in an IL-3-dependent myeloid cell line, 32D. Growth assay revealed that the transfectants all grew in a HEL-dependent manner. As for phosphorylation of Stat3, Stat5, ERK and Akt, the chimeric receptors showed similar activation pattern of signalling molecules with wild-type receptors, although the chimeric receptors showed ligand-independency and a little lower maximal phosphorylation than the corresponding wild-type receptors. The results demonstrate that antibody-receptor chimeras could substantially mimic wild-type receptors.

  10. Short-chain fatty acid receptors inhibit invasive phenotypes in breast cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    Thirunavukkarasan, Madhumathi; Wang, Chao; Rao, Angad; Hind, Tatsuma; Teo, Yuan Ru; Siddiquee, Abrar Al-Mahmood; Goghari, Mohamed Ally Ibrahim; Kumar, Alan Prem

    2017-01-01

    Short chain fatty acids (2 to 6 carbons in length) are ubiquitous lipids that are present in human plasma at micromolar concentrations. In addition to serving as metabolic precursors for lipid and carbohydrate synthesis, they also act as cognate ligands for two known G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), FFAR2 and FFAR3. While there is evidence that these receptors may inhibit the progression of colorectal cancer, their roles in breast cancer cells are largely unknown. We evaluated the effects of enforced overexpression of these receptors in two phenotypically distinct breast cancer cell lines: MCF7 and MDA-MD-231. Our results demonstrate that both receptors inhibit cell invasiveness, but through different signaling processes. In invasive, mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-231 cells, FFAR2 inhibits the Hippo-Yap pathway and increases expression of adhesion protein E-cadherin, while FFAR3 inhibits MAPK signaling. Both receptors have the net effect of reducing actin polymerization and invasion of cells through a Matrigel matrix. These effects were absent in the less invasive, epithelial-like MCF7 cells. Correspondingly, there is reduced expression of both receptors in invasive breast carcinoma and in aggressive triple-negative breast tumors, relative to normal breast tissue. Cumulatively, our data suggest that the activation of cognate receptors by short chain fatty acids drives breast cancer cells toward a non-invasive phenotype and therefore may inhibit metastasis. PMID:29049318

  11. A novel site contributing to growth-arrest-specific gene 6 binding to its receptors as revealed by a human monoclonal antibody

    PubMed Central

    2004-01-01

    Gas6 (growth-arrest-specific gene 6) is a vitamin K-dependent protein known to activate the Axl family of receptor tyrosine kinases. It is an important regulator of thrombosis and many other biological functions. The C-terminus of Gas6 binds to receptors and consists of two laminin-like globular domains LG1 and LG2. It has been reported that a Ca2+-binding site at the junction of LG1 and LG2 domains and a hydrophobic patch at the LG2 domain are important for receptor binding [Sasaki, Knyazev, Cheburkin, Gohring, Tisi, Ullrich, Timpl and Hohenester (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 44164–44170]. In the present study, we developed a neutralizing human monoclonal antibody, named CNTO300, for Gas6. The antibody was generated by immunization of human IgG-expressing transgenic mice with recombinant human Gas6 protein and the anti-Gas6 IgG sequences were rescued from an unstable hybridoma clone. Binding of Gas6 to its receptors was partially inhibited by the CNTO300 antibody in a dose-dependent manner. To characterize further the interaction between Gas6 and this antibody, the binding kinetics of CNTO300 for recombinant Gas6 were compared with independently expressed LG1 and LG2. The CNTO300 antibody showed comparable binding affinity, yet different dependence on Ca2+, to Gas6 and LG1. No binding to LG2 was detected. In the presence of EDTA, binding of the antibody to Gas6 was disrupted, but no significant effect of EDTA on LG1 binding was evident. Further epitope mapping identified a Gas6 peptide sequence recognized by the CNTO300 antibody. This peptide sequence was found to be located at the LG1 domain distant from the Ca2+-binding site and the hydrophobic patch. Co-interaction of Gas6 with its receptor and CNTO300 antibody was detected by BIAcore analysis, suggesting a second receptor-binding site on the LG1 domain. This hypothesis was further supported by direct binding of Gas6 receptors to an independently expressed LG1 domain. Our results revealed, for the first time, a

  12. Redefining progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus after the discovery of antibodies to glycine receptors.

    PubMed

    Crisp, Sarah J; Balint, Bettina; Vincent, Angela

    2017-06-01

    This review highlights the recent discovery of antibodies to glycine receptor (GlyR-Ab) and discusses the relationship between these antibodies and neurological disorders. Since the initial description in 2008 of antibodies to glycine receptors (GlyR-Abs) in a patient with progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM), these antibodies have been found in PERM and in some patients with a variety of stiff person spectrum (SPS) or related disorders. Patients with GlyR-Abs often improve with aggressive immunotherapy, and antibody titres correlate with disease severity. Around 25% of patients have another autoimmune condition and 10-20% have an underlying malignancy. GlyR-Abs bind to extracellular determinants, are mainly Immunoglobulin G1 subclass and induce GlyR internalization in Human embryonic kidney 293 cells, suggesting pathogenicity. The spectrum of neurological disease associated with GlyR-Abs has not been fully characterized, and lower titres may not be syndrome specific, but GlyR-Abs, like antibodies to other neuronal cell-surface antigens, define immunotherapy-responsive disease and are likely to be pathogenic. This distinguishes them from the glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies that can also be found at high titres in patients with classical stiff person syndrome which is more often chronic and relatively resistant to immunological treatments. Irrespective of the clinical features, GlyR-Abs are helpful in the diagnosis of patients who very often have a subacute, progressive and life-threatening disorder which shows a favourable response to immunotherapy.

  13. Closely Related Antibody Receptors Exploit Fundamentally Different Strategies for Steroid Recognition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Verdino, P.; Aldag, C.; Hilvert, D.

    2009-05-26

    Molecular recognition by the adaptive immune system relies on specific high-affinity antibody receptors that are generated from a restricted set of starting sequences through homologous recombination and somatic mutation. The steroid binding antibody DB3 and the catalytic Diels-Alderase antibody 1E9 derive from the same germ line sequences but exhibit very distinct specificities and functions. However, mutation of only two of the 36 sequence differences in the variable domains, Leu{sup H47}Trp and Arg{sup H100}Trp, converts 1E9 into a high-affinity steroid receptor with a ligand recognition profile similar to DB3. To understand how these changes switch binding specificity and function, we determinedmore » the crystal structures of the 1E9 Leu{sup H47}Trp/Arg{sup H100}Trp double mutant (1E9dm) as an unliganded Fab at 2.05 {angstrom} resolution and in complex with two configurationally distinct steroids at 2.40 and 2.85 {angstrom}. Surprisingly, despite the functional mimicry of DB3, 1E9dm employs a distinct steroid binding mechanism. Extensive structural rearrangements occur in the combining site, where residue H47 acts as a specificity switch and H100 adapts to different ligands. Unlike DB3, 1E9dm does not use alternative binding pockets or different sets of hydrogen-bonding interactions to bind configurationally distinct steroids. Rather, the different steroids are inserted more deeply into the 1E9dm combining site, creating more hydrophobic contacts that energetically compensate for the lack of hydrogen bonds. These findings demonstrate how subtle mutations within an existing molecular scaffold can dramatically modulate the function of immune receptors by inducing unanticipated, but compensating, mechanisms of ligand interaction.« less

  14. Application of Monoclonal Antibodies in Functional and Comparative Investigations of Heavy-Chain Immunoglobulins in New World Camelids

    PubMed Central

    Daley, L. P.; Gagliardo, L. F.; Duffy, M. S.; Smith, M. C.; Appleton, J. A.

    2005-01-01

    Of the three immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotypes described to occur in camelids, IgG2 and IgG3 are distinct in that they do not incorporate light chains. These heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) constitute approximately 50% of the IgG in llama serum and as much as 75% of the IgG in camel serum. We have produced isotype-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in order to investigate the roles of HCAbs in camelid immunity. Seventeen stable hybridomas were cloned, and three MAbs that were specific for epitopes on the γ chains of llama IgG1, IgG2, or IgG3 were characterized in detail. Affinity chromatography revealed that each MAb bound its isotype in solution in llama serum. The antibodies bound to the corresponding alpaca IgGs, to guanaco IgG1 and IgG2, and to camel IgG1. Interestingly, anti-IgG2 MAbs bound three heavy-chain species in llama serum, confirming the presence of three IgG2 subisotypes. Two IgG2 subisotypes were detected in alpaca and guanaco sera. The MAbs detected llama serum IgGs when they were bound to antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and were used to discern among isotypes induced during infection with a parasitic nematode. Diseased animals, infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, did not produce antigen-specific HCAbs; rather, they produced the conventional isotype, IgG1, exclusively. Our data document the utility of these MAbs in functional and physiologic investigations of the immune systems of New World camelids. PMID:15753251

  15. Application of monoclonal antibodies in functional and comparative investigations of heavy-chain immunoglobulins in new world camelids.

    PubMed

    Daley, L P; Gagliardo, L F; Duffy, M S; Smith, M C; Appleton, J A

    2005-03-01

    Of the three immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotypes described to occur in camelids, IgG2 and IgG3 are distinct in that they do not incorporate light chains. These heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) constitute approximately 50% of the IgG in llama serum and as much as 75% of the IgG in camel serum. We have produced isotype-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in order to investigate the roles of HCAbs in camelid immunity. Seventeen stable hybridomas were cloned, and three MAbs that were specific for epitopes on the gamma chains of llama IgG1, IgG2, or IgG3 were characterized in detail. Affinity chromatography revealed that each MAb bound its isotype in solution in llama serum. The antibodies bound to the corresponding alpaca IgGs, to guanaco IgG1 and IgG2, and to camel IgG1. Interestingly, anti-IgG2 MAbs bound three heavy-chain species in llama serum, confirming the presence of three IgG2 subisotypes. Two IgG2 subisotypes were detected in alpaca and guanaco sera. The MAbs detected llama serum IgGs when they were bound to antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and were used to discern among isotypes induced during infection with a parasitic nematode. Diseased animals, infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, did not produce antigen-specific HCAbs; rather, they produced the conventional isotype, IgG1, exclusively. Our data document the utility of these MAbs in functional and physiologic investigations of the immune systems of New World camelids.

  16. Side chain requirements for affinity and specificity in D5, an HIV-1 antibody derived from the VH1-69 germline segment.

    PubMed

    Stewart, Alex; Harrison, Joseph S; Regula, Lauren K; Lai, Jonathan R

    2013-04-08

    Analysis of factors contributing to high affinity antibody-protein interactions provides insight into natural antibody evolution, and guides the design of antibodies with new or enhanced function. We previously studied the interaction between antibody D5 and its target, a designed protein based on HIV-1 gp41 known as 5-Helix, as a model system [Da Silva, G. F.; Harrison, J. S.; Lai, J. R., Biochemistry, 2010, 49, 5464-5472]. Antibody D5 represents an interesting case study because it is derived from the VH1-69 germline segment; this germline segment is characterized by a hydrophobic second heavy chain complementarity determining region (HCDR2) that constitutes the major functional paratope in D5 and several antibodies derived from the same progenitor. Here we explore side chain requirements for affinity and specificity in D5 using phage display. Two D5-based libraries were prepared that contained diversity in all three light chain complementarity determining regions (LCDRs 1-3), and in the third HCDR (HCDR3). The first library allowed residues to vary among a restricted set of six amino acids (Tyr/Ala/Asp/Ser/His/Pro; D5-Lib-I). The second library was designed based on a survey of existing VH1-69 antibody structures (D5-Lib-II). Both libraries were subjected to multiple rounds of selection against 5-Helix, and individual clones characterized. We found that selectants from D5-Lib-I generally had moderate affinity and specificity, while many clones from D5-Lib-II exhibited D5-like properties. Additional analysis of the D5-Lib-II functional population revealed position-specific biases for particular amino acids, many that differed from the identity of those side chains in D5. Together these results suggest that there is some permissiveness for alternative side chains in the LCDRs and HCDR3 of D5, but that replacement with a minimal set of residues is not tolerated in this scaffold for 5-Helix recognition. This work provides novel information about this high

  17. Anti-HER2 IgY antibody-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for detection and selective destruction of breast cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Background Nanocarrier-based antibody targeting is a promising modality in therapeutic and diagnostic oncology. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) exhibit two unique optical properties that can be exploited for these applications, strong Raman signal for cancer cell detection and near-infrared (NIR) absorbance for selective photothermal ablation of tumors. In the present study, we constructed a HER2 IgY-SWNT complex and demonstrated its dual functionality for both detection and selective destruction of cancer cells in an in vitro model consisting of HER2-expressing SK-BR-3 cells and HER2-negative MCF-7 cells. Methods The complex was constructed by covalently conjugating carboxylated SWNTs with anti-HER2 chicken IgY antibody, which is more specific and sensitive than mammalian IgGs. Raman signals were recorded on Raman spectrometers with a laser excitation at 785 nm. NIR irradiation was performed using a diode laser system, and cells with or without nanotube treatment were irradiated by 808 nm laser at 5 W/cm2 for 2 min. Cell viability was examined by the calcein AM/ethidium homodimer-1 (EthD-1) staining. Results Using a Raman optical microscope, we found the Raman signal collected at single-cell level from the complex-treated SK-BR-3 cells was significantly greater than that from various control cells. NIR irradiation selectively destroyed the complex-targeted breast cancer cells without harming receptor-free cells. The cell death was effectuated without the need of internalization of SWNTs by the cancer cells, a finding that has not been reported previously. Conclusion We have demonstrated that the HER2 IgY-SWNT complex specifically targeted HER2-expressing SK-BR-3 cells but not receptor-negative MCF-7 cells. The complex can be potentially used for both detection and selective photothermal ablation of receptor-positive breast cancer cells without the need of internalization by the cells. Thus, the unique intrinsic properties of SWNTs combined with high

  18. Anti-HER2 IgY antibody-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for detection and selective destruction of breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Xiao, Yan; Gao, Xiugong; Taratula, Oleh; Treado, Stephen; Urbas, Aaron; Holbrook, R David; Cavicchi, Richard E; Avedisian, C Thomas; Mitra, Somenath; Savla, Ronak; Wagner, Paul D; Srivastava, Sudhir; He, Huixin

    2009-10-02

    Nanocarrier-based antibody targeting is a promising modality in therapeutic and diagnostic oncology. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) exhibit two unique optical properties that can be exploited for these applications, strong Raman signal for cancer cell detection and near-infrared (NIR) absorbance for selective photothermal ablation of tumors. In the present study, we constructed a HER2 IgY-SWNT complex and demonstrated its dual functionality for both detection and selective destruction of cancer cells in an in vitro model consisting of HER2-expressing SK-BR-3 cells and HER2-negative MCF-7 cells. The complex was constructed by covalently conjugating carboxylated SWNTs with anti-HER2 chicken IgY antibody, which is more specific and sensitive than mammalian IgGs. Raman signals were recorded on Raman spectrometers with a laser excitation at 785 nm. NIR irradiation was performed using a diode laser system, and cells with or without nanotube treatment were irradiated by 808 nm laser at 5 W/cm2 for 2 min. Cell viability was examined by the calcein AM/ethidium homodimer-1 (EthD-1) staining. Using a Raman optical microscope, we found the Raman signal collected at single-cell level from the complex-treated SK-BR-3 cells was significantly greater than that from various control cells. NIR irradiation selectively destroyed the complex-targeted breast cancer cells without harming receptor-free cells. The cell death was effectuated without the need of internalization of SWNTs by the cancer cells, a finding that has not been reported previously. We have demonstrated that the HER2 IgY-SWNT complex specifically targeted HER2-expressing SK-BR-3 cells but not receptor-negative MCF-7 cells. The complex can be potentially used for both detection and selective photothermal ablation of receptor-positive breast cancer cells without the need of internalization by the cells. Thus, the unique intrinsic properties of SWNTs combined with high specificity and sensitivity of IgY antibodies

  19. Fully human antibodies against the Protease-Activated Receptor-2 (PAR-2) with anti-inflammatory activity.

    PubMed

    Giblin, Patricia; Boxhammer, Rainer; Desai, Sudha; Kroe-Barrett, Rachel; Hansen, Gale; Ksiazek, John; Panzenbeck, Maret; Ralph, Kerry; Schwartz, Racheline; Zimmitti, Clare; Pracht, Catrin; Miller, Sandra; Magram, Jeanne; Litzenburger, Tobias

    2011-01-01

    PAR-2 belongs to a family of G-protein coupled Protease-Activated Receptors (PAR) which are activated by specific proteolytic cleavage in the extracellular N-terminal region. PAR-2 is activated by proteases such as trypsin, tryptase, proteinase 3, factor VIIa, factor Xa and is thought to be a mediator of inflammation and tissue injury, where elevated levels of proteases are found. Utilizing the HuCAL GOLD® phage display library we generated fully human antibodies specifically blocking the protease cleavage site in the N-terminal domain. In vitro affinity optimization resulted in antibodies with up to 1000-fold improved affinities relative to the original parental antibodies with dissociation constants as low as 100 pM. Corresponding increases in potency were observed in a mechanistic protease cleavage assay. The antibodies effectively inhibited PAR-2 mediated intracellular calcium release and cytokine secretion in various cell types stimulated with trypsin. In addition, the antibodies demonstrated potent inhibition of trypsin induced relaxation of isolated rat aortic rings ex vivo. In a short term mouse model of inflammation, the trans vivo DTH model, anti-PAR-2 antibodies showed inhibition of the inflammatory swelling response. In summary, potent inhibitors of PAR-2 were generated which allow further assessment of the role of this receptor in inflammation and evaluation of their potential as therapeutic agents.

  20. The Antitumor Effect of Single-domain Antibodies Directed Towards Membrane-associated Catalase and Superoxide Dismutase.

    PubMed

    Bauer, Georg; Motz, Manfred

    2016-11-01

    Neutralizing single-domain antibodies directed towards catalase or superoxide dismutase (SOD) caused efficient reactivation of intercellular reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS)-dependent apoptosis-inducing signaling specifically in human tumor cells. Single-domain antibodies targeted tumor cell-specific membrane-associated SOD and catalase, but not the corresponding intracellular enzymes. They were shown to be about 200-fold more effective than corresponding classical recombinant antigen-binding fragments and more than four log steps more efficient than monoclonal antibodies. Combined addition of single-domain antibodies against catalase and SOD caused a remarkable synergistic effect. Proof-of-concept experiments in immunocompromised mice using human tumor xenografts and single-domain antibodies directed towards SOD showed an inhibition of tumor growth. Neutralizing single-domain antibodies directed to catalase and SOD also caused a very strong synergistic effect with the established chemotherapeutic agent taxol, indicating an overlap of signaling pathways. This effect might also be useful in order to avoid unwanted side-effects and to drastically lower the costs for taxol-based therapy. Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

  1. Agonistic Human Monoclonal Antibodies against Death Receptor 4 (DR4) | NCI Technology Transfer Center | TTC

    Cancer.gov

    The National Cancer Institute is seeking parties interested in licensing human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that bind to death receptor 4 ("DR4"). The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its functional receptors, DR4 and DR5, have been recognized as promising targets for cancer treatment.

  2. Antibodies and Their Receptors: Different Potential Roles in Mucosal Defense

    PubMed Central

    Horton, Rachel E.; Vidarsson, Gestur

    2013-01-01

    Over recent years it has become increasingly apparent that mucosal antibodies are not only restricted to the IgM and IgA isotypes, but that also other isotypes and particularly IgG can be found in significant quantities at some mucosal surfaces, such as in the genital tract. Their role is more complex than traditionally believed with, among other things, the discovery of novel function of mucosal immunoglobulin receptors. A thorough knowledge in the source and function and mucosal immunoglobulins is particularly important in development of vaccines providing mucosal immunity, and also in the current climate of microbicide development, to combat major world health issues such as HIV. We present here a comprehensive review of human antibody mediated mucosal immunity. PMID:23882268

  3. Photocleavable DNA Barcoding Antibodies for Multiplexed Protein Analysis in Single Cells.

    PubMed

    Ullal, Adeeti V; Weissleder, Ralph

    2015-01-01

    We describe a DNA-barcoded antibody sensing technique for single cell protein analysis in which the barcodes are photocleaved and digitally detected without amplification steps (Ullal et al., Sci Transl Med 6:219, 2014). After photocleaving the unique ~70 mer DNA barcodes we use a fluorescent hybridization technology for detection, similar to what is commonly done for nucleic acid readouts. This protocol offers a simple method for multiplexed protein detection using 100+ antibodies and can be performed on clinical samples as well as single cells.

  4. Hybrid Antibody-Induced Topographical Redistribution of Surface Immunoglobulins, Alloantigens, and Concanavalin A Receptors on Mouse Lymphoid Cells

    PubMed Central

    Stackpole, Christopher W.; De Milio, Lawrence T.; Hämmerling, Ulrich; Jacobson, Janet B.; Lardis, Michael P.

    1974-01-01

    Redistribution of surface immunoglobulins, H-2b, Thy-1.2, and TL.1,2,3 alloantigens, and concanavalin A receptors on mouse lymphoid cells induced by hybrid rabbit F(ab′)2 antibody (anti-mouse immunoglobulin/anti-visual marker or anti-concanavalin A/anti-visual marker) was studied by immunofluorescence. When used directly to label surface immunoglobulin, and indirectly to label alloantigens and concanavalin A receptors, hybrid antibodies induced similar displacement of all surface components from a uniform distribution into “patches” and “caps” at 37°. One hybrid antibody preparation, antimouse immunoglobulin/anti-ferritin, contained negligible amounts of bivalent anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody, and was therefore “monovalent” for the antimouse immunoglobulin specificity. This observation suggests that factors other than multivalent crosslinking are responsible for hybrid antibody-induced redistribution of cell-surface components. Cap formation induced by hybrid antibody was enhanced markedly by attachment of the visual marker, either ferritin or southern bean mosaic virus, at 37°. At -5°, hybrid antibody does not displace uniformly distributed H-2b alloantigen-alloantibody complexes, but patches of label develop when ferritin attaches to the hybrid antibody. These results explain the patchy distribution of cell-surface components, which is a temperature-independent characteristic of labeling with hybrid antibodies and visual markers for electron microscopy. Images PMID:4595577

  5. Ecobody technology: rapid monoclonal antibody screening method from single B cells using cell-free protein synthesis for antigen-binding fragment formation.

    PubMed

    Ojima-Kato, Teruyo; Nagai, Satomi; Nakano, Hideo

    2017-10-25

    We report a rapid and cost-effective monoclonal antibody screening method from single animal B cells using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Escherichia coli cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), which allows evaluation of antibodies within 2 working days. This process is named "Ecobody technology". The method includes strategies to isolate B cells that specifically bind an antigen from the peripheral blood of immunised animals, and single-cell RT-PCR to generate DNA fragments of the V H and V L genes, followed by CFPS for production of fragments of antigen binding (Fab). In the CFPS step, we employed our techniques: 1) 'Zipbody' as a method for producing Fab, in which the association of heavy and light chains is facilitated by adhesive leucine zipper peptides fused at the C-termini of the Fab; and 2) an N-terminal SKIK peptide tag that can increase protein expression levels. Using Ecobody technology, we obtained highly-specific monoclonal antibodies for the antigens Vibrio parahaemolyticus and E. coli O26. The anti-V. parahaemolyticus Zipbody mAb was further produced in E. coli strain SHuffle T7 Express in inclusion bodies and refolded by a conventional method, resulting in significant antigen-binding activity (K D  = 469 pM) and productivity of 8.5 mg purified antibody/L-culture.

  6. Purification optimization for a recombinant single-chain variable fragment against type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) by using design of experiment (DoE).

    PubMed

    Song, Yong-Hong; Sun, Xue-Wen; Jiang, Bo; Liu, Ji-En; Su, Xian-Hui

    2015-12-01

    Design of experiment (DoE) is a statistics-based technique for experimental design that could overcome the shortcomings of traditional one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach for protein purification optimization. In this study, a DoE approach was applied for optimizing purification of a recombinant single-chain variable fragment (scFv) against type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) expressed in Escherichia coli. In first capture step using Capto L, a 2-level fractional factorial analysis and successively a central composite circumscribed (CCC) design were used to identify the optimal elution conditions. Two main effects, pH and trehalose, were identified, and high recovery (above 95%) and low aggregates ratio (below 10%) were achieved at the pH range from 2.9 to 3.0 with 32-35% (w/v) trehalose added. In the second step using cation exchange chromatography, an initial screening of media and elution pH and a following CCC design were performed, whereby the optimal selectivity of the scFv was obtained on Capto S at pH near 6.0, and the optimal conditions for fulfilling high DBC and purity were identified as pH range of 5.9-6.1 and loading conductivity range of 5-12.5 mS/cm. Upon a further gel filtration, the final purified scFv with a purity of 98% was obtained. Finally, the optimized conditions were verified by a 20-fold scale-up experiment. The purities and yields of intermediate and final products all fell within the regions predicted by DoE approach, suggesting the robustness of the optimized conditions. We proposed that the DoE approach described here is also applicable in production of other recombinant antibody constructs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Correlation of antimuscarinic acetylcholine receptor antibody titers and antidesmoglein antibody titers with the severity of disease in patients with pemphigus.

    PubMed

    Lakshmi, Manimegalai Jeyasekaran Dhanabhakya; Jaisankar, Telanseri Jaykar; Rajappa, Medha; Thappa, Devinder Mohan; Chandrashekar, Laxmisha; Divyapriya, Dakshinamurthy; Munisamy, Malathi; Revathy, Gunaseelan

    2017-05-01

    Acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody levels significantly correlate with disease severity at initial pemphigus diagnosis and during follow-up. However, it is not clear if they are just an epiphenomenon or a potential trigger of the known pathogenic process in pemphigus vulgaris. We sought to assess the changes in anti-muscarinic (M3) AchR and anti-desmoglein (Dsg) antibody titers with therapy. This was a hospital-based cohort study involving 45 patients with active pemphigus. Disease was graded clinically using Pemphigus Disease Area Index. Antibody titers were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline, 3 months, and 15 months. All patients with pemphigus had significantly higher anti-M3 AchR titers when compared with a control group. Only 95.5% of patients had anti-Dsg1 antibodies and 84.4% of patients had anti-Dsg3 antibodies. A statistically significant reduction in all 3 antibody titers from baseline to follow-up with treatment was observed. There was a good correlation between all 3 antibody titer and Pemphigus Disease Area Index score at baseline and after therapy and between anti-M3 AchR and anti-Dsg1 antibody titers. Sample size was small and follow-up period was short. Anti-M3 AchR antibodies are strongly associated with pemphigus. They significantly correlate with disease activity and their titers decline with therapy along with anti-Dsg antibodies. Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. A novel anti-alpha-fetoprotein single-chain variable fragment displays anti-tumor effects in HepG2 cells as a single agent or in combination with paclitaxel.

    PubMed

    Ji, Xiaonan; Shen, Yanli; Sun, Hao; Gao, Xiangdong

    2016-08-01

    Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high rate of tumor recurrence and metastasis, resulting in shortened survival time. The function of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as a regulatory factor in the growth of HCC cells has been well defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of a novel AFP-specific single-chain variable fragment that blocked AFP and inhibited HCC cell growth. The results indicated that the anti-AFP single-chain variable fragment (scFv) induced growth inhibition of AFP-expressing HCC cell lines in vitro through induction of G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The mechanism of apoptosis probably involved with blocking AFP internalization and regulation of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling network. Moreover, the anti-AFP-scFv also effectively sensitized the HepG2 cells to paclitaxel (PTX) at a lower concentration. The combination effect of PTX and anti-AFP-scFv displayed a synergistic effect on HepG2 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrated that targeting AFP by specific antibodies has potential immunotherapeutic efficacy in human HCC.

  9. Use of the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) for comparing apoptotic effect of conventional antibodies versus nanobodies

    PubMed Central

    Shaker, Ghada H.; Melake, Nahla A.

    2011-01-01

    The large molecular size of antibodies is considered one major factor preventing them from becoming more efficient therapeutically. It is well established that all camelids have unique antibodies circulating in their blood called heavy-chain antibodies (HcAbs). Unlike antibodies from other species, these HcAbs contain a single variable domain and two constant domains (CH2 and CH3). HcAbs are a novel type of immunoglobulin-like, antigen binding protein with beneficial pharmacokinetic properties that are ideally suited to targeting cellular antigens for molecular imaging or therapeutic purposes. Since the antigen-binding site of dromedary HcAb is comprised in one single domain, it was referred to as nanobody. In the present work, the different IgG subclasses from immunized camel (Camelus dromedairus) were purified employing their different affinity for protein A column (PA) and protein G column (PG). Characterization of IgG subclasses was done by using 12% SDS–PAGE under reducing conditions. Protein bands were visualized after staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue, showing two bands at 50 kDa and 30 kDa in case of IgG1 while IgG2 and IgG3 produce only one band at 46 kDa and 43 kDa respectively. The induction of apoptosis by either conventional or nanobodies was evaluated on two different cell lines, Colon and Hepatic cancer cell (HCT116 and HepG2), using the comet assay. Induced apoptosis were confirmed by visualizing DNA fragmentation bands on 2% agarose gel, and the gel was photographed under UV light. This study demonstrates the successful targeting of human cancer colon cell lines by nanobodies in vitro. It may open perspectives for their future use as tumor target vehicle, due to their small size, soluble behavior and they interact with epitopes that are less antigenic for conventional antibodies. PMID:23960797

  10. Structural basis for antibody recognition in the receptor-binding domains of toxins A and B from Clostridium difficile.

    PubMed

    Murase, Tomohiko; Eugenio, Luiz; Schorr, Melissa; Hussack, Greg; Tanha, Jamshid; Kitova, Elena N; Klassen, John S; Ng, Kenneth K S

    2014-01-24

    Clostridium difficile infection is a serious and highly prevalent nosocomial disease in which the two large, Rho-glucosylating toxins TcdA and TcdB are the main virulence factors. We report for the first time crystal structures revealing how neutralizing and non-neutralizing single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) recognize the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of TcdA and TcdB. Surprisingly, the complexes formed by two neutralizing antibodies recognizing TcdA do not show direct interference with the previously identified carbohydrate-binding sites, suggesting that neutralization of toxin activity may be mediated by mechanisms distinct from steric blockage of receptor binding. A camelid sdAb complex also reveals the molecular structure of the TcdB RBD for the first time, facilitating the crystallization of a strongly negatively charged protein fragment that has resisted previous attempts at crystallization and structure determination. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry measurements confirm the stoichiometries of sdAbs observed in the crystal structures. These studies indicate how key epitopes in the RBDs from TcdA and TcdB are recognized by sdAbs, providing molecular insights into toxin structure and function and providing for the first time a basis for the design of highly specific toxin-specific therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

  11. Structural Basis for Antibody Recognition in the Receptor-binding Domains of Toxins A and B from Clostridium difficile*

    PubMed Central

    Murase, Tomohiko; Eugenio, Luiz; Schorr, Melissa; Hussack, Greg; Tanha, Jamshid; Kitova, Elena N.; Klassen, John S.; Ng, Kenneth K. S.

    2014-01-01

    Clostridium difficile infection is a serious and highly prevalent nosocomial disease in which the two large, Rho-glucosylating toxins TcdA and TcdB are the main virulence factors. We report for the first time crystal structures revealing how neutralizing and non-neutralizing single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) recognize the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of TcdA and TcdB. Surprisingly, the complexes formed by two neutralizing antibodies recognizing TcdA do not show direct interference with the previously identified carbohydrate-binding sites, suggesting that neutralization of toxin activity may be mediated by mechanisms distinct from steric blockage of receptor binding. A camelid sdAb complex also reveals the molecular structure of the TcdB RBD for the first time, facilitating the crystallization of a strongly negatively charged protein fragment that has resisted previous attempts at crystallization and structure determination. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry measurements confirm the stoichiometries of sdAbs observed in the crystal structures. These studies indicate how key epitopes in the RBDs from TcdA and TcdB are recognized by sdAbs, providing molecular insights into toxin structure and function and providing for the first time a basis for the design of highly specific toxin-specific therapeutic and diagnostic agents. PMID:24311789

  12. Affinity-reversed-phase liquid chromatography assay to quantitate recombinant antibodies and antibody fragments in fermentation broth.

    PubMed

    Battersby, J E; Snedecor, B; Chen, C; Champion, K M; Riddle, L; Vanderlaan, M

    2001-08-24

    An automated dual-column liquid chromatography assay comprised of affinity and reversed-phase separations that quantifies the majority of antibody-related protein species found in crude cell extracts of recombinant origin is described. Although potentially applicable to any antibody preparation, we here use samples of anti-CD18 (Fab'2LZ) and a full-length antibody, anti-tissue factor (anti-TF), from various stages throughout a biopharmaceutical production process to describe the assay details. The targeted proteins were captured on an affinity column containing an anti-light-chain (kappa) Fab antibody (AME5) immobilized on controlled pore glass. The affinity column was placed in-line with a reversed-phase column and the captured components were transferred by elution with dilute acid and subsequently resolved by eluting the reversed-phase column with a shallow acetonitrile gradient. Characterization of the resolved components showed that most antibody fragment preparations contained a light-chain fragment, free light chain, light-chain dimer and multiple forms of Fab'. Analysis of full-length antibody preparations also resolved these fragments as well as a completely assembled form. Co-eluting with the full-length antibody were high-molecular-mass variants that were missing one or both light chains. Resolved components were quantified by comparison with peak areas of similarly treated standards. By comparing the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of an Escherichia coli blank run, a production run and the material affinity captured (AME5) from a production run, it was determined that the AME5 antibody captured isoforms of light chain, light chain covalently attached to heavy chain, and truncated light chain isoforms. These forms comprise the bulk of the soluble product-related fragments found in E. coli cell extracts of recombinantly produced antibody fragments.

  13. In vivo imaging of the inflammatory receptor CD40 after cerebral ischemia using a fluorescent antibody.

    PubMed

    Klohs, Jan; Gräfe, Michael; Graf, Kristof; Steinbrink, Jens; Dietrich, Thore; Stibenz, Dietger; Bahmani, Peyman; Kronenberg, Golo; Harms, Christoph; Endres, Matthias; Lindauer, Ute; Greger, Klaus; Stelzer, Ernst H K; Dirnagl, Ulrich; Wunder, Andreas

    2008-10-01

    Brain inflammation is a hallmark of stroke, where it has been implicated in tissue damage as well as in repair. Imaging technologies that specifically visualize these processes are highly desirable. In this study, we explored whether the inflammatory receptor CD40 can be noninvasively and specifically visualized in mice after cerebral ischemia using a fluorescent monoclonal antibody, which we labeled with the near-infrared fluorescence dye Cy5.5 (Cy5.5-CD40MAb). Wild-type and CD40-deficient mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Mice were either intravenously injected with Cy5.5-CD40MAb or control Cy5.5-IgGMAb. Noninvasive and ex vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging was performed after injection of the compounds. Probe distribution and specificity was further assessed with single-plane illumination microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy. Significantly higher fluorescence intensities over the stroke-affected hemisphere, compared to the contralateral side, were only detected noninvasively in wild-type mice that received Cy5.5-CD40MAb, but not in CD40-deficient mice injected with Cy5.5-CD40MAb or in wild-type mice that were injected with Cy5.5-IgGMAb. Ex vivo near-infrared fluorescence showed an intense fluorescence within the ischemic territory only in wild-type mice injected with Cy5.5-CD40MAb. In the brains of these mice, single-plane illumination microscopy demonstrated vascular and parenchymal distribution, and confocal microscopy revealed a partial colocalization of parenchymal fluorescence from the injected Cy5.5-CD40MAb with activated microglia and blood-derived cells in the ischemic region. The study demonstrates that a CD40-targeted fluorescent antibody enables specific noninvasive detection of the inflammatory receptor CD40 after cerebral ischemia using optical techniques.

  14. Importance of IgG subclasses of anti-Rh antibodies for the detection of Fc-receptor-bearing human lymphocytes.

    PubMed

    Zupańska, B; Maślanka, K; van Loghem, E

    1982-11-01

    13 anti-Rh sera were compared for their usefulness in the detection of Fc-receptor-bearing lymphocytes (EAhum test). IgG subclasses of anti-Rh antibodies were determined by the antiglobulin test with monospecific sera and by the detection of Gm allotypic markers in the haemagglutination inhibition test. Six sera with IgG1 + IgG3 or IgG1 + IgG2 + IgG3 antibodies and one with pure IgG3 antibodies were found to be useful, whereas six other sera with only IgG1 were unsuitable for the EAhum test. G3m markers were detected only on the anti-Rh antibodies which were capable of forming rosettes with lymphocytes. The data show that human peripheral lymphocytes possess Fc receptors for IgG3 immunoglobulins.

  15. Generation and Characterization of Polyclonal Antibody Against Part of Immunoglobulin Constant Heavy υ Chain of Goose

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Panpan; Guo, Yongli; Ma, Bo; Wang, Junwei

    2014-01-01

    Immunoglobulin Y (abbreviated as IgY) is a type of immunoglobulin that is the major antibody in bird, reptile, and lungfish blood. IgY consists of two light (λ) and two heavy (υ) chains. In the present study, polyclonal antibody against IgYFc was generated and evaluated. rIgYCυ3/Cυ4 was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and utilized to raise polyclonal antibody in rabbit. High affinity antisera were obtained, which successfully detected the antigen at a dilution of 1:204,800 for ELISA assay. The antibody can specifically recognize both rIgYCυ3/Cυ4 and native IgY by Western bolt analysis. Furthermore, the serum of Grus japonensis or immunoglobulin of chicken, duck, turkey, and silkie samples and dynamic changes of serum GoIgY after immunogenicity with GPV-VP3-virus-like particles (GPV-VP3-VLPs) can be detected with the anti-GoIgYFc polyclonal antibody. These results suggested that the antibody is valuable for the investigation of biochemical properties and biological functions of GoIgY. PMID:25171010

  16. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies in clinic.

    PubMed

    Wootla, Bharath; Denic, Aleksandar; Rodriguez, Moses

    2014-01-01

    Immunoglobulins (Ig) or antibodies are heavy plasma proteins, with sugar chains added to amino-acid residues by N-linked glycosylation and occasionally by O-linked glycosylation. The versatility of antibodies is demonstrated by the various functions that they mediate such as neutralization, agglutination, fixation with activation of complement and activation of effector cells. Naturally occurring antibodies protect the organism against harmful pathogens, viruses and infections. In addition, almost any organic chemical induces antibody production of antibodies that would bind specifically to the chemical. These antibodies are often produced from multiple B cell clones and referred to as polyclonal antibodies. In recent years, scientists have exploited the highly evolved machinery of the immune system to produce structurally and functionally complex molecules such as antibodies from a single B clone, heralding the era of monoclonal antibodies. Most of the antibodies currently in the clinic, target components of the immune system, are not curative and seek to alleviate symptoms rather than cure disease. Our group used a novel strategy to identify reparative human monoclonal antibodies distinct from conventional antibodies. In this chapter, we discuss the therapeutic relevance of both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies in clinic.

  17. Successful combination immunotherapy of anti-gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor antibody-positive encephalitis with extensive multifocal brain lesions.

    PubMed

    Fukami, Yuki; Okada, Hiroaki; Yoshida, Mari; Yamaguchi, Keiji

    2017-08-31

    A 78-year old woman who presented with akinetic mutism was admitted to our hospital. Brain MRI showed multifocal increased T 2 /FLAIR signal with extensive cortical-subcortical involvement. We suspected autoimmune encephalitis and the patient received methylprednisolone pulse. Her conscious level gradually recovered, but later relapsed again and presented with refractory status epilepticus. We treated her with intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange and pulsed cyclophosphamide, with satisfactory response. A brain biopsy showed perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates and reactive gliosis. Anti-gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor antibodies test came back to be positive after her recovery, and the diagnosis of anti-GABA A receptor antibody-positive encephalitis was made. This is a very rare case where brain biopsies were performed in a patient with anti-GABA A receptor antibody-positive encephalitis.

  18. Identification of anti-CD98 antibody mimotopes for inducing antibodies with antitumor activity by mimotope immunization.

    PubMed

    Saito, Misa; Kondo, Masahiro; Ohshima, Motohiro; Deguchi, Kazuki; Hayashi, Hideki; Inoue, Kazuyuki; Tsuji, Daiki; Masuko, Takashi; Itoh, Kunihiko

    2014-04-01

    A mimotope is an antibody-epitope-mimicking peptide retrieved from a phage display random peptide library. Immunization with antitumor antibody-derived mimotopes is promising for inducing antitumor immunity in hosts. In this study, we isolated linear and constrained mimotopes from HBJ127, a tumor-suppressing anti-CD98 heavy chain mAb, and determined their abilities for induction of antitumor activity equal to that of the parent antibody. We detected elevated levels of antipeptide responses, but failed to detect reactivity against native CD98-expressing HeLa cells in sera of immunized mice. Phage display panning and selection of mimotope-immunized mouse spleen-derived antibody Fab library showed that HeLa cell-reactive Fabs were successfully retrieved from the library. This finding indicates that native antigen-reactive Fab clones represented an undetectable minor population in mimotope-induced antibody repertoire. Functional and structural analysis of retrieved Fab clones revealed that they were almost identical to the parent antibody. From these results, we confirmed that mimotope immunization was promising for retrieving antitumor antibodies equivalent to the parent antibody, although the co-administration of adjuvant compounds such as T-cell epitope peptides and Toll-like receptor 4 agonist peptides is likely to be necessary for inducing stronger antitumor immunity than mimotope injection alone. © 2014 The Authors. Cancer Science published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association.

  19. Prevalence of elevated serum anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody titers in patients presenting exclusively with psychiatric symptoms: a comparative follow-up study.

    PubMed

    Ando, Yoshihito; Shimazaki, Haruo; Shiota, Katsutoshi; Tetsuka, Syuichi; Nakao, Koichi; Shimada, Tatsuhiro; Kurata, Kazumi; Kuroda, Jinichi; Yamashita, Akihiro; Sato, Hayato; Sato, Mamoru; Eto, Shinkichi; Onishi, Yasunori; Tanaka, Keiko; Kato, Satoshi

    2016-07-08

    Increasing numbers of patients with elevated anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody titers presenting exclusively with psychiatric symptoms have been reported. The aim of the present study was to clarify the prevalence of elevated serum anti-NMDA receptor antibody titers in patients with new-onset or acute exacerbations of psychiatric symptoms. In addition, the present study aimed to investigate the association between elevated anti-NMDA receptor titers and psychiatric symptoms. The present collaborative study included 59 inpatients (23 male, 36 female) presenting with new-onset or exacerbations of schizophrenia-like symptoms at involved institutions from June 2012 to March 2014. Patient information was collected using questionnaires. Anti-NMDA receptor antibody titers were measured using NMDAR NR1 and NR2B co-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells as an antigen (cell-based assay). Statistical analyses were performed for each questionnaire item. The mean age of participants was 42.0 ± 13.7 years. Six cases had elevated serum anti-NMDA antibody titers (10.2 %), four cases were first onset, and two cases with disease duration >10 years presented with third and fifth recurrences. No statistically significant difference in vital signs or major symptoms was observed between antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups. However, a trend toward an increased frequency of schizophrenia-like symptoms was observed in the antibody-positive group. Serum anti-NMDA receptor antibody titers may be associated with psychiatric conditions. However, an association with specific psychiatric symptoms was not observed in the present study. Further studies are required to validate the utility of serum anti-NMDA receptor antibody titer measurements at the time of symptom onset.

  20. High-level rapid production of full-size monoclonal antibodies in plants by a single-vector DNA replicon system

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Zhong; Phoolcharoen, Waranyoo; Lai, Huafang; Piensook, Khanrat; Cardineau, Guy; Zeitlin, Larry; Whaley, Kevin J.; Arntzen, Charles J.

    2010-01-01

    Plant viral vectors have great potential in rapid production of important pharmaceutical proteins. However, high-yield production of heterooligomeric proteins that require the expression and assembly of two or more protein subunits often suffers problems due to the “competing” nature of viral vectors derived from the same virus. Previously we reported that a bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV)-derived, three-component DNA replicon system allows rapid production of single recombinant proteins in plants (Huang et al. 2009). In this article, we report further development of this expression system for its application in high-yield production of oligomeric protein complexes including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in plants. We showed that the BeYDV replicon system permits simultaneous efficient replication of two DNA replicons and thus, high-level accumulation of two recombinant proteins in the same plant cell. We also demonstrated that a single vector that contains multiple replicon cassettes was as efficient as the three-component system in driving the expression of two distinct proteins. Using either the non-competing, three-vector system or the multi-replicon single vector, we produced both the heavy and light chain subunits of a protective IgG mAb 6D8 against Ebola virus GP1 (Wilson et al. 2000) at 0.5 mg of mAb per gram leaf fresh weight within 4 days post infiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. We further demonstrated that full-size tetrameric IgG complex containing two heavy and two light chains was efficiently assembled and readily purified, and retained its functionality in specific binding to inactivated Ebola virus. Thus, our single-vector replicon system provides high-yield production capacity for heterooligomeric proteins, yet eliminates the difficult task of identifying non-competing virus and the need for co-infection of multiple expression modules. The multi-replicon vector represents a significant advance in transient expression technology for

  1. Expression of single-chain Fv gene specific for gamma-seminoprotein by RTS and its biological activity identification.

    PubMed

    Han, Yuedong; Haun, Yi; Deng, Jinlan; Gao, Feng; Pan, Bifeng; Cui, Daxiang

    2006-01-01

    Fabricating a single-chain variable fragment specific for human seminoprotein is very important in antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy and NMR imaging for prostate cancer. Here a single-chain Fv specific for gamma-seminoprotein was expressed by RTS. Its activity and the efficiency of entry into prostate cancer cells are investigated by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining, as well as entry of conjugated magnetic beads into cells. Results showed that ScFv peptides specific for gamma-seminoprotein were successfully prepared, which can bind with the prostate cells specifically and can bring magnetic beads into prostate cancer cells within 15 min, the amount of magnetic beads inside prostate cancer cells increased as the culture time prolonged. ScFv-conjugated magnetic beads did not enter into control cells. In conclusion, the ScFv peptide against human gamma-seminoprotein with biological activity was successfully fabricated, which can take magnetic beads to prostate cancer cells specifically and not to the control cells. This ScFv peptide against human gamma-seminoprotein should be useful in improving the detection and therapy of prostate cancer at early stages and NMR imaging.

  2. Large-scale sequence and structural comparisons of human naive and antigen-experienced antibody repertoires.

    PubMed

    DeKosky, Brandon J; Lungu, Oana I; Park, Daechan; Johnson, Erik L; Charab, Wissam; Chrysostomou, Constantine; Kuroda, Daisuke; Ellington, Andrew D; Ippolito, Gregory C; Gray, Jeffrey J; Georgiou, George

    2016-05-10

    Elucidating how antigen exposure and selection shape the human antibody repertoire is fundamental to our understanding of B-cell immunity. We sequenced the paired heavy- and light-chain variable regions (VH and VL, respectively) from large populations of single B cells combined with computational modeling of antibody structures to evaluate sequence and structural features of human antibody repertoires at unprecedented depth. Analysis of a dataset comprising 55,000 antibody clusters from CD19(+)CD20(+)CD27(-) IgM-naive B cells, >120,000 antibody clusters from CD19(+)CD20(+)CD27(+) antigen-experienced B cells, and >2,000 RosettaAntibody-predicted structural models across three healthy donors led to a number of key findings: (i) VH and VL gene sequences pair in a combinatorial fashion without detectable pairing restrictions at the population level; (ii) certain VH:VL gene pairs were significantly enriched or depleted in the antigen-experienced repertoire relative to the naive repertoire; (iii) antigen selection increased antibody paratope net charge and solvent-accessible surface area; and (iv) public heavy-chain third complementarity-determining region (CDR-H3) antibodies in the antigen-experienced repertoire showed signs of convergent paired light-chain genetic signatures, including shared light-chain third complementarity-determining region (CDR-L3) amino acid sequences and/or Vκ,λ-Jκ,λ genes. The data reported here address several longstanding questions regarding antibody repertoire selection and development and provide a benchmark for future repertoire-scale analyses of antibody responses to vaccination and disease.

  3. Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Antibodies against Asialoglycoprotein Receptor, Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 and Pan-Cytokeratin

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Yu; Liu, Huiying; Sun, Bin; Zhao, Linlin; Ge, Naijian; Qian, Haihua; Yang, Yefa; Wu, Mengchao; Yin, Zhengfeng

    2014-01-01

    Background Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR)-ligand-based separation combined with identification with Hep Par 1 or pan-cytokeratin (P-CK) antibody have been demonstrated to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to develop an improved enrichment and identification system that allows the detection of all types of HCC CTCs. Methods The specificity of the prepared anti-ASGPR monoclonal antibody was characterized. HCC cells were bound by ASGPR antibody and subsequently magnetically isolated by second antibody-coated magnetic beads. Isolated HCC cells were identified by immunofluorescence staining using a combination of anti-P-CK and anti-carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) antibodies. Blood samples spiked with HepG2 cells were used to determine recovery and sensitivity. CTCs were detected in blood samples from HCC patients and other patients. Results ASGPR was exclusively expressed in human hepatoma cell line, normal hepatocytes and HCC cells in tissue specimens detected by the ASGPR antibody staining. More HCC cells could be identified by the antibody cocktail for CPS1 and P-CK compared with a single antibody. The current approach obtained a higher recovery rate of HepG2 cells and more CTC detection from HCC patients than the previous method. Using the current method CTCs were detected in 89% of HCC patients and no CTCs were found in the other test subjects. Conclusions Our anti-ASGPR antibody could be used for specific and efficient HCC CTC enrichment, and anti-P-CK combined with anti-CPS1 antibodies is superior to identification with one antibody alone in the sensitivity for HCC CTC detection. PMID:24763545

  4. Re-engineering therapeutic antibodies for Alzheimer's disease as blood-brain barrier penetrating bi-specific antibodies.

    PubMed

    Pardridge, William M

    2016-12-01

    Therapeutic antibodies are large molecule drugs that do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, drug development of therapeutic antibodies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires that these molecules be re-engineered to enable BBB delivery. This is possible by joining the therapeutic antibody with a transporter antibody, resulting in the engineering of a BBB-penetrating bispecific antibody (BSA). Areas covered: The manuscript covers transporter antibodies that cross the BBB via receptor-mediated transport systems on the BBB, such as the insulin receptor or transferrin receptor. Furthermore, it highlights therapeutic antibodies for AD that target the Abeta amyloid peptide, beta secretase-1, or the metabotropic glutamate receptor-1. BSAs are comprised of both the transporter antibody and the therapeutic antibody, as well as IgG constant region, which can induce immune tolerance or trigger transport via Fc receptors. Expert opinion: Multiple types of BSA molecular designs have been used to engineer BBB-penetrating BSAs, which differ in valency and spatial orientation of the transporter and therapeutic domains of the BSA. The plasma pharmacokinetics and dosing regimens of BSAs differ from that of conventional therapeutic antibodies. BBB-penetrating BSAs may be engineered in the future as new treatments of AD, as well as other neural disorders.

  5. Production and Characterization of Novel Camel Single Domain Antibody Targeting Mouse Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

    PubMed

    Kazemi-Lomedasht, Fatemeh; Behdani, Mahdi; Habibi-Anbouhi, Mahdi; Shahbazzadeh, Delavar

    2016-06-01

    Camel single domain antibody known as Nanobody™ refers to a novel class of monoclonal antibodies with appropriate pharmacological properties. Nanobody is an antigen-binding site of camel heavy chain antibody also known as VHH. Expression in a microbial system, stability in difficult conditions and extremes of PH, and nanomolar affinity to target an appropriate drug format makes Nanobody a potential for drug discovery. Needs for Nanobody function evaluation in animal models turned our interest to develop anti-mouse vascular endothelial growth factor (mVEGF) Nanobodies using phage display as a potent technique in the isolation of antibodies. Isolation of anti-mVEGF Nanobodies was performed on Camelus dromedarius immune library through four consecutive rounds of biopanning on immobilized mVEGF. Enrichment of the Nanobody library was monitored by polyclonal phage-ELISA, and specific Nanobodies were selected using periplasmic extract-ELISA. Selected Nanobodies were expressed in WK6 Escherichia coli cells and purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. Specificity and affinity of selected Nanobodies were evaluated on immobilized mVEGF. Results demonstrated the successful enrichment of the Nanobody library. Two clones named Nb5 and Nb10 were selected through screening procedures according to their signal value in periplasmic extract-ELISA. Selected Nanobodies specifically reacted to mVEGF, but cross-reactivity with other antigens was not observed. Evaluated affinity for the Nanobodies was in nanomolar range. Taken together, according to the results, the selected Nanobodies promise to be a novel tool in research and for further development of diagnostic or therapeutic purposes in pharmaceutical science.

  6. Single-Molecule Interactions of a Monoclonal Anti-DNA Antibody with DNA

    PubMed Central

    Nevzorova, Tatiana A.; Zhao, Qingze; Lomakin, Yakov A.; Ponomareva, Anastasia A.; Mukhitov, Alexander R.; Purohit, Prashant K.; Weisel, John W.; Litvinov, Rustem I.

    2017-01-01

    Interactions of DNA with proteins are essential for key biological processes and have both a fundamental and practical significance. In particular, DNA binding to anti-DNA antibodies is a pathogenic mechanism in autoimmune pathology, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Here we measured at the single-molecule level binding and forced unbinding of surface-attached DNA and a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody MRL4 from a lupus erythematosus mouse. In optical trap-based force spectroscopy, a microscopic antibodycoated latex bead is trapped by a focused laser beam and repeatedly brought into contact with a DNA-coated surface. After careful discrimination of non-specific interactions, we showed that the DNA-antibody rupture force spectra had two regimes, reflecting formation of weaker (20–40 pN) and stronger (>40 pN) immune complexes that implies the existence of at least two bound states with different mechanical stability. The two-dimensional force-free off-rate for the DNA-antibody complexes was ~2.2 × 10−3 s−1, the transition state distance was ~0.94 nm, the apparent on-rate was ~5.26 s−1, and the stiffness of the DNA-antibody complex was characterized by a spring constant of 0.0021 pN/nm, suggesting that the DNA-antibody complex is a relatively stable, but soft and deformable macromolecular structure. The stretching elasticity of the DNA molecules was characteristic of single-stranded DNA, suggesting preferential binding of the MRL4 antibody to one strand of DNA. Collectively, the results provide fundamental characteristics of formation and forced dissociation of DNA-antibody complexes that help to understand principles of DNA-protein interactions and shed light on the molecular basis of autoimmune diseases accompanied by formation of anti-DNA antibodies. PMID:29104846

  7. [Construction, expression and characterization of the fusion gene of super-antigen SEA and single chain Fv of the ND-1 monoclonal antibody against human colorectal cancer].

    PubMed

    Chen, Hang; Li, Li; Fang, Jin

    2012-04-01

    To construct and express the recombinant ND-1-scFv/SEA, a fusion protein of superantigen (staphylococcal enterotoxinA, SEA) and single-chain variable fragment of monoclonal antibody ND-1 against human clolorectal carcinoma, and to enhance the targeted killing effect of SEA. The expression of the fusion protein was induced in E.coli M15 by IPTG. Ni-NTA resin affinity chromatography was used to separate and purify the expressed product. The specific binding activity of the purified ND-1-scFv/SEA protein was examined by indirect immunofluorescence assay and the targeted-cytotoxicity was determined using MTT assay. The expressing vector of fusion gene ND-1scFv/SEA was constructed successfully. ND-1-scFv/SEA protein retained a high binding affinity to antigen-positive human colorectal cancer cell CCL-187 and had a stronger capability to activate PBMC and kill the target cells compared to SEA alone, with a killing rate of 91% at 4 μg/mL. ND-1-scFv/SEA fusion protein could specifically target colorectal cancer cell, enhance the activity of kill tumor cell and has potential applications in the targeted therapy of colorectal cancer.

  8. [Novel therapy for malignant lymphoma: adoptive immuno-gene therapy using chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)-expressing T lymphocytes].

    PubMed

    Ozawa, Keiya

    2014-03-01

    Adoptive T-cell therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology is a novel approach to cancer immuno-gene therapy. CARs are hybrid proteins consisting of target-antigen-specific single-chain antibody fragment fused to intracellular T-cell activation domains (CD28 or CD137/CD3 zeta receptor). CAR-expressing engineered T lymphocytes can directly recognize and kill tumor cells in an HLA independent manner. In the United States, promising results have been obtained in the clinical trials of adoptive immuno-gene therapy using CD19-CAR-T lymphocytes for the treatment of refractory B-cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this review article, CD19-CAR-T gene therapy for refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma is discussed.

  9. Equivalence of chain conformations in the surface region of a polymer melt and a single Gaussian chain under critical conditions.

    PubMed

    Skvortsov, A M; Leermakers, F A M; Fleer, G J

    2013-08-07

    In the melt polymer conformations are nearly ideal according to Flory's ideality hypothesis. Silberberg generalized this statement for chains in the interfacial region. We check the Silberberg argument by analyzing the conformations of a probe chain end-grafted at a solid surface in a sea of floating free chains of concentration φ by the self-consistent field (SCF) method. Apart from the grafting, probe chain and floating chains are identical. Most of the results were obtained for a standard SCF model with freely jointed chains on a six-choice lattice, where immediate step reversals are allowed. A few data were generated for a five-choice lattice, where such step reversals are forbidden. These coarse-grained models describe the equilibrium properties of flexible atactic polymer chains at the scale of the segment length. The concentration was varied over the whole range from φ = 0 (single grafted chain) to φ = 1 (probe chain in the melt). The number of contacts with the surface, average height of the free end and its dispersion, average loop and train length, tail size distribution, end-point and overall segment distributions were calculated for a grafted probe chain as a function of φ, for several chain lengths and substrate∕polymer interactions, which were varied from strong repulsion to strong adsorption. The computations show that the conformations of the probe chain in the melt do not depend on substrate∕polymer interactions and are very similar to the conformations of a single end-grafted chain under critical conditions, and can thus be described analytically. When the substrate∕polymer interaction is fixed at the value corresponding to critical conditions, all equilibrium properties of a probe chain are independent of φ, over the whole range from a dilute solution to the melt. We believe that the conformations of all flexible chains in the surface region of the melt are close to those of an appropriate single chain in critical conditions, provided

  10. Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies As an Alternative to Overcome Challenges Related to the Prevention, Detection, and Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

    PubMed

    Fernandes, Carla F C; Pereira, Soraya Dos S; Luiz, Marcos B; Zuliani, Juliana P; Furtado, Gilvan P; Stabeli, Rodrigo G

    2017-01-01

    Due mainly to properties such as high affinity and antigen specificity, antibodies have become important tools for biomedical research, diagnosis, and treatment of several human diseases. When the objective is to administer them for therapy, strategies are used to reduce the heterologous protein immunogenicity and to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. Size minimization contributes to ameliorate these characteristics, while preserving the antigen-antibody interaction site. Since the discovery that camelids produce functional antibodies devoid of light chains, studies have proposed the use of single domains for biosensors, monitoring and treatment of tumors, therapies for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, drug delivery, or passive immunotherapy. Despite an expected increase in antibody and related products in the pharmaceutical market over the next years, few research initiatives are related to the development of alternatives for helping to manage neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In this review, we summarize developments of camelid single-domain antibodies (VHH) in the field of NTDs. Particular attention is given to VHH-derived products, i.e., VHHs fused to nanoparticles, constructed for the development of rapid diagnostic kits; fused to oligomeric matrix proteins for viral neutralization; and conjugated with proteins for the treatment of human parasites. Moreover, paratransgenesis technology using VHHs is an interesting approach to control parasite development in vectors. With enormous biotechnological versatility, facility and low cost for heterologous production, and greater ability to recognize different epitopes, VHHs have appeared as an opportunity to overcome challenges related to the prevention, detection, and control of human diseases, especially NTDs.

  11. Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies As an Alternative to Overcome Challenges Related to the Prevention, Detection, and Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases

    PubMed Central

    Fernandes, Carla F. C.; Pereira, Soraya dos S.; Luiz, Marcos B.; Zuliani, Juliana P.; Furtado, Gilvan P.; Stabeli, Rodrigo G.

    2017-01-01

    Due mainly to properties such as high affinity and antigen specificity, antibodies have become important tools for biomedical research, diagnosis, and treatment of several human diseases. When the objective is to administer them for therapy, strategies are used to reduce the heterologous protein immunogenicity and to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. Size minimization contributes to ameliorate these characteristics, while preserving the antigen–antibody interaction site. Since the discovery that camelids produce functional antibodies devoid of light chains, studies have proposed the use of single domains for biosensors, monitoring and treatment of tumors, therapies for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, drug delivery, or passive immunotherapy. Despite an expected increase in antibody and related products in the pharmaceutical market over the next years, few research initiatives are related to the development of alternatives for helping to manage neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In this review, we summarize developments of camelid single-domain antibodies (VHH) in the field of NTDs. Particular attention is given to VHH-derived products, i.e., VHHs fused to nanoparticles, constructed for the development of rapid diagnostic kits; fused to oligomeric matrix proteins for viral neutralization; and conjugated with proteins for the treatment of human parasites. Moreover, paratransgenesis technology using VHHs is an interesting approach to control parasite development in vectors. With enormous biotechnological versatility, facility and low cost for heterologous production, and greater ability to recognize different epitopes, VHHs have appeared as an opportunity to overcome challenges related to the prevention, detection, and control of human diseases, especially NTDs. PMID:28649245

  12. Different mechanisms are involved in the antibody mediated inhibition of ligand binding to the urokinase receptor: a study based on biosensor technology.

    PubMed

    List, K; Høyer-Hansen, G; Rønne, E; Danø, K; Behrendt, N

    1999-01-01

    Certain monoclonal antibodies are capable of inhibiting the biological binding reactions of their target proteins. At the molecular level, this type of effect may be brought about by completely different mechanisms, such as competition for common binding determinants, steric hindrance or interference with conformational properties of the receptor critical for ligand binding. This distinction is central when employing the antibodies as tools in the elucidation of the structure-function relationship of the protein in question. We have studied the effect of monoclonal antibodies against the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a protein located on the surface of various types of malignant and normal cells which is involved in the direction of proteolytic degradation reactions in the extracellular matrix. We show that surface plasmon resonance/biomolecular interaction analysis (BIA) can be employed as a highly useful tool to characterize the inhibitory mechanism of specific antagonist antibodies. Two inhibitory antibodies against uPAR, mAb R3 and mAb R5, were shown to exhibit competitive and non-competitive inhibition, respectively, of ligand binding to the receptor. The former antibody efficiently blocked the receptor against subsequent ligand binding but was unable to promote the dissociation of a preformed receptor-ligand complex. The latter antibody was capable of binding the preformed complex, forming a transient trimolecular assembly, and promoting the dissociation of the uPA/uPAR complex. The continuous recording of binding and dissociation, obtained in BIA, is central in characterizing these phenomena. The identification of a non-competitive inhibitory mechanism against this receptor reveals the presence of a determinant which influences the binding properties of a remote site in the molecular structure and which could be an important target for a putative synthetic antagonist.

  13. In vivo Therapy with Monoclonal Anti-I-A Antibody Suppresses Immune Responses to Acetylcholine Receptor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waldor, Matthew K.; Sriram, Subramaniam; McDevitt, Hugh O.; Steinman, Lawrence

    1983-05-01

    A monoclonal antibody to I-A gene products of the immune response gene complex attenuates both humoral and cellular responses to acetylcholine receptor and appears to suppress clinical manifestations of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. This demonstrates that use of antibodies against immune response gene products that are associated with susceptibility to disease may be feasible for therapy in autoimmune conditions such as myasthenia gravis.

  14. Expression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Neutralizing Antibody Fragments Using Human Vaginal Lactobacillus.

    PubMed

    Marcobal, Angela; Liu, Xiaowen; Zhang, Wenlei; Dimitrov, Antony S; Jia, Letong; Lee, Peter P; Fouts, Timothy R; Parks, Thomas P; Lagenaur, Laurel A

    Eradication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by vaccination with epitopes that produce broadly neutralizing antibodies is the ultimate goal for HIV prevention. However, generating appropriate immune responses has proven difficult. Expression of broadly neutralizing antibodies by vaginal colonizing lactobacilli provides an approach to passively target these antibodies to the mucosa. We tested the feasibility of expressing single-chain and single-domain antibodies (dAbs) in Lactobacillus to be used as a topical microbicide/live biotherapeutic. Lactobacilli provide an excellent platform to express anti-HIV proteins. Broadly neutralizing antibodies have been identified against epitopes on the HIV-1 envelope and have been made into active antibody fragments. We tested single-chain variable fragment m9 and dAb-m36 and its derivative m36.4 as prototype antibodies. We cloned and expressed the antibody fragments m9, m36, and m36.4 in Lactobacillus jensenii-1153 and tested the expression levels and functionality. We made a recombinant L. jensenii 1153-1128 that expresses dAb-m36.4. All antibody fragments m9, m36, and m36.4 were expressed by lactobacilli. However, we noted the smaller m36/m36.4 were expressed to higher levels, ≥3 μg/ml. All L. jensenii-expressed antibody fragments bound to gp120/CD4 complex; Lactobacillus-produced m36.4 inhibited HIV-1 BaL in a neutralization assay. Using a TZM-bl assay, we characterized the breadth of neutralization of the m36.4. Delivery of dAbs by Lactobacillus could provide passive transfer of these antibodies to the mucosa and longevity at the site of HIV-1 transmission.

  15. Polymorphisms in the Vitamin A Receptor and Innate Immunity Genes Influence the Antibody Response to Rubella Vaccination

    PubMed Central

    Ovsyannikova, Inna G.; Haralambieva, Iana H.; Dhiman, Neelam; O’Byrne, Megan M.; Pankratz, V. Shane; Jacobson, Robert M.; Poland, Gregory A.

    2009-01-01

    Background Genetic polymorphisms play an important role in rubella vaccine-induced immunity. Methods We genotyped 714 healthy children after two age-appropriate doses of rubella-containing vaccine for 142 potential SNPs. Results Specific polymorphisms in the vitamin A receptor, RIG-I, TRIM5 and TRIM22 genes were significantly associated with rubella vaccine humoral immunity. The minor allele of the rs4416353 in the vitamin A receptor gene was associated with an allele dose-related decrease (P=.019) in rubella antibody response. The minor allele of rs6793694, in the vitamin A receptor gene, was associated with an allele dose-related antibody decrease (P=.039). The minor variant of nonsynonymous SNP rs10813831 (Arg7Cys) in the RIG-I gene was associated with an allele dose-related decrease in rubella antibody level from 37.4 IU/mL to 28.0 IU/mL (P=.035), while increased representation of the minor allele of the 5’UTR SNP (rs3824949, P=.015), in the antiretroviral TRIM5 gene, was associated with an allele dose-related increase in rubella antibody. It is of particular interest that the nonsynonymous SNP rs3740996 (His43Tyr) in the TRIM5 gene was associated with variations in rubella antibody response (P=.016) after having been previously found to have a significant functional role. Conclusions These findings further expand our immunogenetic understanding of mechanisms of rubella vaccine-induced immunity. PMID:20001730

  16. Construction and characterization of VL-VH tail-parallel genetically engineered antibodies against staphylococcal enterotoxins.

    PubMed

    He, Xianzhi; Zhang, Lei; Liu, Pengchong; Liu, Li; Deng, Hui; Huang, Jinhai

    2015-03-01

    Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced by Staphylococcus aureus have increasingly given rise to human health and food safety. Genetically engineered small molecular antibody is a useful tool in immuno-detection and treatment for clinical illness caused by SEs. In this study, we constructed the V(L)-V(H) tail-parallel genetically engineered antibody against SEs by using the repertoire of rearranged germ-line immunoglobulin variable region genes. Total RNA were extracted from six hybridoma cell lines that stably express anti-SEs antibodies. The variable region genes of light chain (V(L)) and heavy chain (V(H)) were cloned by reverse transcription PCR, and their classical murine antibody structure and functional V(D)J gene rearrangement were analyzed. To construct the eukaryotic V(H)-V(L) tail-parallel co-expression vectors based on the "5'-V(H)-ivs-IRES-V(L)-3'" mode, the ivs-IRES fragment and V(L) genes were spliced by two-step overlap extension PCR, and then, the recombined gene fragment and V(H) genes were inserted into the pcDNA3.1(+) expression vector sequentially. And then the constructed eukaryotic expression clones termed as p2C2HILO and p5C12HILO were transfected into baby hamster kidney 21 cell line, respectively. Two clonal cell lines stably expressing V(L)-V(H) tail-parallel antibodies against SEs were obtained, and the antibodies that expressed intracytoplasma were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence assay, and flow cytometry. SEs can stimulate the expression of some chemokines and chemokine receptors in porcine IPEC-J2 cells; mRNA transcription level of four chemokines and chemokine receptors can be blocked by the recombinant SE antibody prepared in this study. Our results showed that it is possible to get functional V(L)-V(H) tail-parallel genetically engineered antibodies in same vector using eukaryotic expression system.

  17. AAVrh.10-mediated expression of an anti-cocaine antibody mediates persistent passive immunization that suppresses cocaine-induced behavior.

    PubMed

    Rosenberg, Jonathan B; Hicks, Martin J; De, Bishnu P; Pagovich, Odelya; Frenk, Esther; Janda, Kim D; Wee, Sunmee; Koob, George F; Hackett, Neil R; Kaminsky, Stephen M; Worgall, Stefan; Tignor, Nicole; Mezey, Jason G; Crystal, Ronald G

    2012-05-01

    Cocaine addiction is a major problem affecting all societal and economic classes for which there is no effective therapy. We hypothesized an effective anti-cocaine vaccine could be developed by using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene transfer vector as the delivery vehicle to persistently express an anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody in vivo, which would sequester cocaine in the blood, preventing access to cognate receptors in the brain. To accomplish this, we constructed AAVrh.10antiCoc.Mab, an AAVrh.10 gene transfer vector expressing the heavy and light chains of the high affinity anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody GNC92H2. Intravenous administration of AAVrh.10antiCoc.Mab to mice mediated high, persistent serum levels of high-affinity, cocaine-specific antibodies that sequestered intravenously administered cocaine in the blood. With repeated intravenous cocaine challenge, naive mice exhibited hyperactivity, while the AAVrh.10antiCoc.Mab-vaccinated mice were completely resistant to the cocaine. These observations demonstrate a novel strategy for cocaine addiction by requiring only a single administration of an AAV vector mediating persistent, systemic anti-cocaine passive immunity.

  18. Normal T lymphocytes can express two different T cell receptor beta chains: implications for the mechanism of allelic exclusion

    PubMed Central

    1995-01-01

    We have examined the extent of allelic exclusion at the T cell receptor (TCR) beta locus using monoclonal antibodies specific for V beta products. A small proportion (approximately 1%) of human peripheral blood T cells express two V beta as determined by flow cytometric analysis, isolation of representative clones, and sequencing of the corresponding V beta chains. Dual beta T cells are present in both the CD45R0+ and CD45R0- subset. These results indicate that dual beta expression is compatible with both central and peripheral selection. They also suggest that the substantial degree of TCR beta allelic exclusion is dependent only on asynchronous rearrangements at the beta locus, whereas the role of the pre-TCR is limited to signaling the presence of at least one functional beta protein. PMID:7699339

  19. Production and characterization of a single-chain variable fragment linked alkaline phosphatase fusion protein for detection of O,O-diethyl organophosphorus pesticides in a one-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) fusion protein for detection of O, O-diethyl organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) was produced and characterized. The scFv gene was prepared by cloning VL and VH genes from a hybridoma cell secreting monoclonal antibody with broad-s...

  20. Targeting the MET oncogene by concomitant inhibition of receptor and ligand via an antibody-"decoy" strategy.

    PubMed

    Basilico, Cristina; Modica, Chiara; Maione, Federica; Vigna, Elisa; Comoglio, Paolo M

    2018-04-25

    MET, a master gene sustaining "invasive growth," is a relevant target for cancer precision therapy. In the vast majority of tumors, wild-type MET behaves as a "stress-response" gene and relies on the ligand (HGF) to sustain cell "scattering," invasive growth and apoptosis protection (oncogene "expedience"). In this context, concomitant targeting of MET and HGF could be crucial to reach effective inhibition. To test this hypothesis, we combined an anti-MET antibody (MvDN30) inducing "shedding" (i.e., removal of MET from the cell surface), with a "decoy" (i.e., the soluble extracellular domain of the MET receptor) endowed with HGF-sequestering ability. To avoid antibody/decoy interaction-and subsequent neutralization-we identified a single aminoacid in the extracellular domain of MET-lysine 842-that is critical for MvDN30 binding and engineered the corresponding recombinant decoyMET (K842E). DecoyMET K842E retains the ability to bind HGF with high affinity and inhibits HGF-induced MET phosphorylation. In HGF-dependent cellular models, MvDN30 antibody and decoyMET K842E used in combination cooperate in restraining invasive growth, and synergize in blocking cancer cell "scattering." The antibody and the decoy unbridle apoptosis of colon cancer stem cells grown in vitro as spheroids. In a preclinical model, built by orthotopic transplantation of a human pancreatic carcinoma in SCID mice engineered to express human HGF, concomitant treatment with antibody and decoy significantly reduces metastatic spread. The data reported indicate that vertical targeting of the MET/HGF axis results in powerful inhibition of ligand-dependent MET activation, providing proof of concept in favor of combined target therapy of MET "expedience." © 2018 UICC.

  1. Medium-chain fatty acids as ligands for orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR84.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jinghong; Wu, Xiaosu; Simonavicius, Nicole; Tian, Hui; Ling, Lei

    2006-11-10

    Free fatty acids (FFAs) play important physiological roles in many tissues as an energy source and as signaling molecules in various cellular processes. Elevated levels of circulating FFAs are associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Here we show that GPR84, a previously orphan G protein-coupled receptor, functions as a receptor for medium-chain FFAs with carbon chain lengths of 9-14. Medium-chain FFAs elicit calcium mobilization, inhibit 3',5'-cyclic AMP production, and stimulate [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) binding in a GPR84-dependent manner. The activation of GPR84 by medium-chain FFAs couples primarily to a pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o) pathway. In addition, we show that GPR84 is selectively expressed in leukocytes and markedly induced in monocytes/macrophages upon activation by lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, we demonstrate that medium-chain FFAs amplify lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 p40 through GPR84. Our results indicate a role for GPR84 in directly linking fatty acid metabolism to immunological regulation.

  2. The structural analysis of shark IgNAR antibodies reveals evolutionary principles of immunoglobulins.

    PubMed

    Feige, Matthias J; Gräwert, Melissa A; Marcinowski, Moritz; Hennig, Janosch; Behnke, Julia; Ausländer, David; Herold, Eva M; Peschek, Jirka; Castro, Caitlin D; Flajnik, Martin; Hendershot, Linda M; Sattler, Michael; Groll, Michael; Buchner, Johannes

    2014-06-03

    Sharks and other cartilaginous fish are the phylogenetically oldest living organisms that rely on antibodies as part of their adaptive immune system. They produce the immunoglobulin new antigen receptor (IgNAR), a homodimeric heavy chain-only antibody, as a major part of their humoral adaptive immune response. Here, we report the atomic resolution structure of the IgNAR constant domains and a structural model of this heavy chain-only antibody. We find that despite low sequence conservation, the basic Ig fold of modern antibodies is already present in the evolutionary ancient shark IgNAR domains, highlighting key structural determinants of the ubiquitous Ig fold. In contrast, structural differences between human and shark antibody domains explain the high stability of several IgNAR domains and allowed us to engineer human antibodies for increased stability and secretion efficiency. We identified two constant domains, C1 and C3, that act as dimerization modules within IgNAR. Together with the individual domain structures and small-angle X-ray scattering, this allowed us to develop a structural model of the complete IgNAR molecule. Its constant region exhibits an elongated shape with flexibility and a characteristic kink in the middle. Despite the lack of a canonical hinge region, the variable domains are spaced appropriately wide for binding to multiple antigens. Thus, the shark IgNAR domains already display the well-known Ig fold, but apart from that, this heavy chain-only antibody employs unique ways for dimerization and positioning of functional modules.

  3. Antibody uptake into neurons occurs primarily via clathrin-dependent Fcγ receptor endocytosis and is a prerequisite for acute tau protein clearance.

    PubMed

    Congdon, Erin E; Gu, Jiaping; Sait, Hameetha B R; Sigurdsson, Einar M

    2013-12-06

    Tau immunotherapy is effective in transgenic mice, but the mechanisms of Tau clearance are not well known. To this end, Tau antibody uptake was analyzed in brain slice cultures and primary neurons. Internalization was rapid (<1 h), saturable, and substantial compared with control mouse IgG. Furthermore, temperature reduction to 4 °C, an excess of unlabeled mouse IgG, or an excess of Tau antibodies reduced uptake in slices by 63, 41, and 62%, respectively (p = 0.002, 0.04, and 0.005). Uptake strongly correlated with total and insoluble Tau levels (r(2) = 0.77 and 0.87 and p = 0.002 and 0.0002), suggesting that Tau aggregates influence antibody internalization and/or retention within neurons. Inhibiting phagocytosis did not reduce uptake in slices or neuronal cultures, indicating limited microglial involvement. In contrast, clathrin-specific inhibitors reduced uptake in neurons (≤ 78%, p < 0.0001) and slices (≤ 35%, p = 0.03), demonstrating receptor-mediated endocytosis as the primary uptake pathway. Fluid phase endocytosis accounted for the remainder of antibody uptake in primary neurons, based on co-staining with internalized dextran. The receptor-mediated uptake is to a large extent via low affinity FcγII/III receptors and can be blocked in slices (43%, p = 0.04) and neurons (53%, p = 0.008) with an antibody against these receptors. Importantly, antibody internalization appears to be necessary for Tau reduction in primary neurons. Overall, these findings clarify that Tau antibody uptake is primarily receptor-mediated, that these antibodies are mainly found in neurons with Tau aggregates, and that their intracellular interaction leads to clearance of Tau pathology, all of which have major implications for therapeutic development of this approach.

  4. Antibodies Against Hypocretin Receptor 2 Are Rare in Narcolepsy.

    PubMed

    Giannoccaro, Maria Pia; Waters, Patrick; Pizza, Fabio; Liguori, Rocco; Plazzi, Giuseppe; Vincent, Angela

    2017-02-01

    Recently, antibodies to the hypocretin receptor 2 (HCRTR2-Abs) were reported in a high proportion of narcolepsy patients who developed the disease following Pandemrix® vaccination. We tested a group of narcolepsy patients for the HCRTR2-Abs using a newly established cell-based assay. Sera from 50 narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and 11 narcolepsy type 2 (NT2) patients, 22 patients with other sleep disorders, 15 healthy controls, and 93 disease controls were studied. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSFs) from three narcoleptic patients were subsequently included. Human embryonic kidney cells were transiently transfected with human HCRTR2, incubated with patients' sera for 1 hr at 1:20 dilution and then fixed. Binding of antibodies was detected by fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies to human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the different IgG subclasses. A nonlinear visual scoring system was used from 0 to 4; samples scoring ≥1 were considered positive. Only 3 (5%) of 61 patients showed a score ≥1, one with IgG1- and two with IgG3-antibodies, but titers were low (1:40-1:100). CSFs from these patients were negative. The three positive patients included one NT1 case with associated psychotic features, one NT2 patient, and an NT1 patient with normal hypocretin CSF levels. Low levels of IgG1 or IgG3 antibodies against HCRTR2 were found in 3 of 61 patients with narcolepsy, although only 1 presented with full-blown NT1. HCRTR2-Abs are not common in narcolepsy unrelated to vaccination. © Sleep Research Society 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.

  5. Junctional and allele-specific residues are critical for MERS-CoV neutralization by an exceptionally potent germline-like antibody

    DOE PAGES

    Ying, Tianlei; Prabakaran, Ponraj; Du, Lanying; ...

    2015-09-15

    The MERS-CoV is an emerging virus, which already infected more than 1,300 humans with high (~36%) mortality. Here, we show that m336, an exceptionally potent human anti-MERS-CoV antibody, is almost germline with only one somatic mutation in the heavy chain. The structure of Fab m336 in complex with the MERS-CoV receptor-binding domain reveals that its IGHV1-69-derived heavy chain provides more than 85% binding surface and that its epitope almost completely overlaps with the receptor-binding site. Analysis of antibodies from 69 healthy humans suggests an important role of the V(D)J recombination-generated junctional and allele-specific residues for achieving high affinity of bindingmore » at such low levels of somatic hypermutation. Our results also have important implications for development of vaccine immunogens based on the newly identified m336 epitope as well as for elucidation of mechanisms of neutralization by m336-like antibodies and their elicitation in vivo.« less

  6. Expression and purification of a novel therapeutic single-chain variable fragment antibody against BNP from inclusion bodies of Escherichia coli.

    PubMed

    Bu, Dawei; Zhou, Yuwei; Tang, Jian; Jing, Fang; Zhang, Wei

    2013-12-01

    Abnormal brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) secretion is regarded as the dominating mechanism of cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSW), which results from a renal loss of sodium and water during intracranial disease leading to hyponatremia. Scale preparation of therapeutic single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that can neutralize elevated circulating BNP may have potential value for clinical use. In this report, we used a recently isolated humanized anti-BNP scFv fragment (3C1) as model antibody (Ab) to evaluate the potential of scale production of this therapeutic protein. The truncated gene encoding for scFv fragment cloned in pET22b (+) was mainly overexpressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli (E. coli) Rosetta (DE3) pLysS cells. The insoluble fragment was solubilized and purified by Ni-NTA agarose resin under denaturation conditions, and recovered via an effective refolding buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 0.15 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M arginine, 2 mM GSH, 1 mM GSSG, and 5% glycerol. The refolded scFv fragment was concentrated by PEG20000, and dialyzed in PBS (containing 5% glycerol, pH 7.4). The final yield was approximately 10.2 mg active scFv fragment per liter of culture (3.4 g wet weight cells). The scFv fragment was more than 95% pure assessed by SDS-PAGE assay. Recombinant scFv fragment with His tag displayed its immunoreactivity with anti-His tag Ab by western blotting. ELISA showed the scFv fragment specifically bound to BNP, and it displayed similar activity as the traditional anti-BNP monoclonal Ab (mAb). Thus, the current strategy allows convenient small-scale production of this therapeutic protein. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Disease-enhancing antibodies improve the efficacy of bacterial toxin-neutralizing antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Chow, Siu-Kei; Smith, Cameron; MacCarthy, Thomas; Pohl, Mary Ann; Bergman, Aviv; Casadevall, Arturo

    2013-01-01

    SUMMARY During infection, humoral immunity produces a polyclonal response with various immunoglobulins recognizing different epitopes within the microbe or toxin. Despite this diverse response, the biological activity of an antibody (Ab) is usually assessed by the action of a monoclonal population. We demonstrate that a combination of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that are individually disease-enhancing or neutralizing to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA), a component of anthrax toxin, results in significantly augmented protection against the toxin. This boosted protection is Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)-dependent and involves the formation of stoichiometrically defined mAb-PA complexes that requires immunoglobulin bivalence and simultaneous interaction between PA and the two mAbs. The formation of these mAb-PA complexes inhibits PA oligomerization, resulting in protection. These data suggest that functional assessments of single Abs may inaccurately predict how the same Abs will operate in polyclonal preparations and imply that potentially therapeutic mAbs may be overlooked in single Ab screens. PMID:23601104

  8. Medium-chain fatty acid-sensing receptor, GPR84, is a proinflammatory receptor.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Masakatsu; Takaishi, Sachiko; Nagasaki, Miyuki; Onozawa, Yoshiko; Iino, Ikue; Maeda, Hiroaki; Komai, Tomoaki; Oda, Tomiichiro

    2013-04-12

    G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) is a putative receptor for medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), whose pathophysiological roles have not yet been clarified. Here, we show that GPR84 was activated by MCFAs with the hydroxyl group at the 2- or 3-position more effectively than nonhydroxylated MCFAs. We also identified a surrogate agonist, 6-n-octylaminouracil (6-OAU), for GPR84. These potential ligands and the surrogate agonist, 6-OAU, stimulated [(35)S]GTP binding and accumulated phosphoinositides in a GPR84-dependent manner. The surrogate agonist, 6-OAU, internalized GPR84-EGFP from the cell surface. Both the potential ligands and 6-OAU elicited chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and macrophages and amplified LPS-stimulated production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 from PMNs and TNFα from macrophages. Furthermore, the intravenous injection of 6-OAU raised the blood CXCL1 level in rats, and the inoculation of 6-OAU into the rat air pouch accumulated PMNs and macrophages in the site. Our results indicate a proinflammatory role of GPR84, suggesting that the receptor may be a novel target to treat chronic low grade inflammation associated-disease.

  9. Medium-chain Fatty Acid-sensing Receptor, GPR84, Is a Proinflammatory Receptor

    PubMed Central

    Suzuki, Masakatsu; Takaishi, Sachiko; Nagasaki, Miyuki; Onozawa, Yoshiko; Iino, Ikue; Maeda, Hiroaki; Komai, Tomoaki; Oda, Tomiichiro

    2013-01-01

    G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) is a putative receptor for medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), whose pathophysiological roles have not yet been clarified. Here, we show that GPR84 was activated by MCFAs with the hydroxyl group at the 2- or 3-position more effectively than nonhydroxylated MCFAs. We also identified a surrogate agonist, 6-n-octylaminouracil (6-OAU), for GPR84. These potential ligands and the surrogate agonist, 6-OAU, stimulated [35S]GTP binding and accumulated phosphoinositides in a GPR84-dependent manner. The surrogate agonist, 6-OAU, internalized GPR84-EGFP from the cell surface. Both the potential ligands and 6-OAU elicited chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and macrophages and amplified LPS-stimulated production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 from PMNs and TNFα from macrophages. Furthermore, the intravenous injection of 6-OAU raised the blood CXCL1 level in rats, and the inoculation of 6-OAU into the rat air pouch accumulated PMNs and macrophages in the site. Our results indicate a proinflammatory role of GPR84, suggesting that the receptor may be a novel target to treat chronic low grade inflammation associated-disease. PMID:23449982

  10. Effect of chain stiffness on the structure of single-chain polymer nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moreno, Angel J.; Bacova, Petra; Lo Verso, Federica; Arbe, Arantxa; Colmenero, Juan; Pomposo, José A.

    2018-01-01

    Polymeric single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) are soft nano-objects synthesized by purely intramolecular cross-linking of single polymer chains. By means of computer simulations, we investigate the conformational properties of SCNPs as a function of the bending stiffness of their linear polymer precursors. We investigate a broad range of characteristic ratios from the fully flexible case to those typical of bulky synthetic polymers. Increasing stiffness hinders bonding of groups separated by short contour distances and increases looping over longer distances, leading to more compact nanoparticles with a structure of highly interconnected loops. This feature is reflected in a crossover in the scaling behaviour of several structural observables. The scaling exponents change from those characteristic for Gaussian chains or rings in θ-solvents in the fully flexible limit, to values resembling fractal or ‘crumpled’ globular behaviour for very stiff SCNPs. We characterize domains in the SCNPs. These are weakly deformable regions that can be seen as disordered analogues of domains in disordered proteins. Increasing stiffness leads to bigger and less deformable domains. Surprisingly, the scaling behaviour of the domains is in all cases similar to that of Gaussian chains or rings, irrespective of the stiffness and degree of cross-linking. It is the spatial arrangement of the domains which determines the global structure of the SCNP (sparse Gaussian-like object or crumpled globule). Since intramolecular stiffness can be varied through the specific chemistry of the precursor or by introducing bulky side groups in its backbone, our results propose a new strategy to tune the global structure of SCNPs.

  11. [Construction of human phage antibody library and screening for human monoclonal antibodies of amylin].

    PubMed

    Gong, Qian; Li, Chang-ying; Chang, Ji-wu; Zhu, Tie-hong

    2012-06-01

    To screen monoclonal antibodies to amylin from a constructed human phage antibody library and identify their antigenic specificity and combining activities. The heavy chain Fd fragment and light chain of human immunoglobulin genes were amplified from peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy donors using RT-PCR, and then inserted into phagemid pComb3XSS to generate a human phage antibody library. The insertion of light chain or heavy chain Fd genes were identified by PCR after the digestion of Sac I, Xba I, Xho Iand Spe I. One of positive clones was analyzed by DNA sequencing. The specific anti-amylin clones were screened from antibody library against human amylin antigens and then the positive clones were determined by Phage-ELISA analysis. A Fab phage antibody library with 0.8×10(8); members was constructed with the efficacy of about 70%. DNA sequence analysis indicated V(H); gene belonged to V(H);3 gene family and V(λ); gene belonged to the V(λ); gene family. Using human amylin as panning antigen, specific anti-amylin Fab antibodies were enriched by screening the library for three times. Phage-ELISA assay showed the positive clones had very good specificity to amylin antigen. The successful construction of a phage antibody library and the identification of anti-amylin Fab antibodies provide a basis for further study and preparation of human anti-amylin antibodies.

  12. Large-scale sequence and structural comparisons of human naive and antigen-experienced antibody repertoires

    PubMed Central

    DeKosky, Brandon J.; Lungu, Oana I.; Park, Daechan; Johnson, Erik L.; Charab, Wissam; Chrysostomou, Constantine; Kuroda, Daisuke; Ellington, Andrew D.; Ippolito, Gregory C.; Gray, Jeffrey J.; Georgiou, George

    2016-01-01

    Elucidating how antigen exposure and selection shape the human antibody repertoire is fundamental to our understanding of B-cell immunity. We sequenced the paired heavy- and light-chain variable regions (VH and VL, respectively) from large populations of single B cells combined with computational modeling of antibody structures to evaluate sequence and structural features of human antibody repertoires at unprecedented depth. Analysis of a dataset comprising 55,000 antibody clusters from CD19+CD20+CD27− IgM-naive B cells, >120,000 antibody clusters from CD19+CD20+CD27+ antigen–experienced B cells, and >2,000 RosettaAntibody-predicted structural models across three healthy donors led to a number of key findings: (i) VH and VL gene sequences pair in a combinatorial fashion without detectable pairing restrictions at the population level; (ii) certain VH:VL gene pairs were significantly enriched or depleted in the antigen-experienced repertoire relative to the naive repertoire; (iii) antigen selection increased antibody paratope net charge and solvent-accessible surface area; and (iv) public heavy-chain third complementarity-determining region (CDR-H3) antibodies in the antigen-experienced repertoire showed signs of convergent paired light-chain genetic signatures, including shared light-chain third complementarity-determining region (CDR-L3) amino acid sequences and/or Vκ,λ–Jκ,λ genes. The data reported here address several longstanding questions regarding antibody repertoire selection and development and provide a benchmark for future repertoire-scale analyses of antibody responses to vaccination and disease. PMID:27114511

  13. Cloning and molecular characterization of the cDNAs encoding the variable regions of an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody.

    PubMed

    Shanehbandi, Dariush; Majidi, Jafar; Kazemi, Tohid; Baradaran, Behzad; Aghebati-Maleki, Leili

    2017-01-01

    CD20-based targeting of B-cells in hematologic malignancies and autoimmune disorders is associated with outstanding clinical outcomes. Isolation and characterization of VH and VL cDNAs encoding the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) is necessary to produce next generation MAbs and their derivatives such as bispecific antibodies (bsAb) and single-chain variable fragments (scFv). This study was aimed at cloning and characterization of the VH and VL cDNAs from a hybridoma cell line producing an anti-CD20 MAb. VH and VL fragments were amplified, cloned and characterized. Furthermore, amino acid sequences of VH, VL and corresponding complementarity-determining regions (CDR) were determined and compared with those of four approved MAbs including Rituximab (RTX), Ibritumomab tiuxetan, Ofatumumab and GA101. The cloned VH and VL cDNAs were found to be functional and follow a consensus pattern. Amino acid sequences corresponding to the VH and VL fragments also indicated noticeable homologies to those of RTX and Ibritumomab. Furthermore, amino acid sequences of the relating CDRs had remarkable similarities to their counterparts in RTX and Ibritumomab. Successful recovery of VH and VL fragments encourages the development of novel CD20 targeting bsAbs, scFvs, antibody conjugates and T-cells armed with chimeric antigen receptors.

  14. Forced unfolding of single-chain polymeric nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Hosono, Nobuhiko; Kushner, Aaron M; Chung, Jaeyoon; Palmans, Anja R A; Guan, Zhibin; Meijer, E W

    2015-06-03

    Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is applied to single-chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCPNs) to acquire information about the internal folding structure of SCPNs and inherent kinetic parameters of supramolecular self-assembling motifs embedded into the SCPNs. The SCPNs used here are polyacrylate-based polymers carrying 2-ureido-4-[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) or benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) pendants that induce an intramolecular chain collapse into nanoparticles consisting of one polymer chain only via internal supramolecular cross-linking. The SCPN is stretched by an AFM cantilever to unfold mechanically, which allows measuring of force-extension profiles of the SCPNs. Consecutive peaks observed in the force profiles are attributed to rupture events of self-assembled UPy/BTA units in the SCPNs. The force profiles have been analyzed statistically for a series of polymers with different UPy/BTA incorporation densities. The results provide insights into the internal conformation of SCPNs, where the folding structure can be changed with the incorporation density of UPy/BTA. In addition, dynamic loading rate analysis allows the determination of kinetic parameters of BTA self-assembly, which has not been accessible by any other method. This study offers a rational tool for understanding the folding structure, kinetics, and pathway of two series of SCPNs.

  15. A single molecule assay to probe monovalent and multivalent bonds between hyaluronan and its key leukocyte receptor CD44 under force

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bano, Fouzia; Banerji, Suneale; Howarth, Mark; Jackson, David G.; Richter, Ralf P.

    2016-09-01

    Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a category of linear, anionic polysaccharides, are ubiquitous in the extracellular space, and important extrinsic regulators of cell function. Despite the recognized significance of mechanical stimuli in cellular communication, however, only few single molecule methods are currently available to study how monovalent and multivalent GAG·protein bonds respond to directed mechanical forces. Here, we have devised such a method, by combining purpose-designed surfaces that afford immobilization of GAGs and receptors at controlled nanoscale organizations with single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). We apply the method to study the interaction of the GAG polymer hyaluronan (HA) with CD44, its receptor in vascular endothelium. Individual bonds between HA and CD44 are remarkably resistant to rupture under force in comparison to their low binding affinity. Multiple bonds along a single HA chain rupture sequentially and independently under load. We also demonstrate how strong non-covalent bonds, which are versatile for controlled protein and GAG immobilization, can be effectively used as molecular anchors in SMFS. We thus establish a versatile method for analyzing the nanomechanics of GAG·protein interactions at the level of single GAG chains, which provides new molecular-level insight into the role of mechanical forces in the assembly and function of GAG-rich extracellular matrices.

  16. Anti-MUC1 antibody inhibits EGF receptor signaling in cancer cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hisatsune, Akinori, E-mail: hisatsun@kumamoto-u.ac.jp; Nakayama, Hideki; Kawasaki, Mitsuru

    2011-02-18

    Research highlights: {yields} We identified changes in the expression and function of EGFR by anti-MUC1 antibody. {yields} An anti-MUC1 antibody GP1.4 decreased EGFR from cell surface by internalization. {yields} GP1.4 specifically inhibited ERK signaling triggered EGF-EGFR signaling pathway. {yields} Internalization of EGFR was dependent on the presence of MUC1 on cell surface. {yields} GP1.4 significantly inhibited EGF-dependent cancer cell proliferation and migration. -- Abstract: MUC1 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein aberrantly overexpressed in various cancer cells. High expression of MUC1 is closely associated with cancer progression and metastasis, leading to poor prognosis. We previously reported that MUC1 is internalizedmore » by the binding of the anti-MUC1 antibody, from the cell surface to the intracellular region via the macropinocytotic pathway. Since MUC1 is closely associated with ErbBs, such as EGF receptor (EGFR) in cancer cells, we examined the effect of the anti-MUC1 antibody on EGFR trafficking. Our results show that: (1) anti-MUC1 antibody GP1.4, but not another anti-MUC1 antibody C595, triggered the internalization of EGFR in pancreatic cancer cells; (2) internalization of EGFR by GP1.4 resulted in the inhibition of ERK phosphorylation by EGF stimulation, in a MUC1 dependent manner; (3) inhibition of ERK phosphorylation by GP1.4 resulted in the suppression of proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. We conclude that the internalization of EGFR by anti-MUC1 antibody GP1.4 inhibits the progression of cancer cells via the inhibition of EGFR signaling.« less

  17. A case of late-onset, thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis with ryanodine receptor and titin antibodies and concomitant granulomatous myositis.

    PubMed

    Stefanou, M I; Komorowski, L; Kade, S; Bornemann, A; Ziemann, U; Synofzik, M

    2016-09-13

    Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder, which has only rarely been reported to co-manifest with myositis. The diagnosis of concomitant myositis in patients with myasthenia gravis is clinically challenging, and requires targeted investigations for the differential diagnosis, including EMG, autoantibody assays, muscle biopsy and, importantly, imaging of the mediastinum for thymoma screening. This report presents a case-vignette of a 72-year-old woman with progressive proximal muscle weakness and myalgias, diagnosed with thymoma-associated myasthenia and bioptically verified granulomatous myositis, with positive autoantibody status for ryanodine receptor and titin antibodies. The diagnosis of concurrent myositis and myasthenia gravis, especially in the presence of ryanodine receptor and titin antibodies, should lead neurologists to adopt different treatment strategies compared to those applied in myasthenia or myositis alone. Moreover, further evidence is warranted that titin and, particularly, ryanodine receptor antibodies may co-occur or be pathophysiologically involved in myasthenia-myositis cases.

  18. Selection and characterization of naturally occurring single-domain (IgNAR) antibody fragments from immunized sharks by phage display.

    PubMed

    Dooley, Helen; Flajnik, Martin F; Porter, Andrew J

    2003-09-01

    The novel immunoglobulin isotype novel antigen receptor (IgNAR) is found in cartilaginous fish and is composed of a heavy-chain homodimer that does not associate with light chains. The variable regions of IgNAR function as independent domains similar to those found in the heavy-chain immunoglobulins of Camelids. Here, we describe the successful cloning and generation of a phage-displayed, single-domain library based upon the variable domain of IgNAR. Selection of such a library generated from nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) immunized with the model antigen hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) enabled the successful isolation of intact antigen-specific binders matured in vivo. The selected variable domains were shown to be functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, extremely stable, and bind to antigen specifically with an affinity in the nanomolar range. This approach can therefore be considered as an alternative route for the isolation of minimal antigen-binding fragments with favorable characteristics.

  19. Potent neutralization of botulinum neurotoxin/B by synergistic action of antibodies recognizing protein and ganglioside receptor binding domain.

    PubMed

    Chen, Changchun; Wang, Shuhui; Wang, Huajing; Mao, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Tiancheng; Ji, Guanghui; Shi, Xin; Xia, Tian; Lu, Weijia; Zhang, Dapeng; Dai, Jianxin; Guo, Yajun

    2012-01-01

    Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the causative agents for life-threatening human disease botulism, have been recognized as biological warfare agents. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics hold considerable promise as BoNT therapeutics, but the potencies of mAbs against BoNTs are usually less than that of polyclonal antibodies (or oligoclonal antibodies). The confirmation of key epitopes with development of effective mAb is urgently needed. We selected 3 neutralizing mAbs which recognize different non-overlapping epitopes of BoNT/B from a panel of neutralizing antibodies against BoNT/B. By comparing the neutralizing effects among different combination groups, we found that 8E10, response to ganglioside receptor binding site, could synergy with 5G10 and 2F4, recognizing non-overlapping epitopes within Syt II binding sites. However, the combination of 5G10 with 2F4 blocking protein receptor binding sites did not achieve synergistical effects. Moreover, we found that the binding epitope of 8E10 was conserved among BoNT A, B, E, and F, which might cross-protect the challenge of different serotypes of BoNTs in vivo. The combination of two mAbs recognizing different receptors' binding domain in BoNTs has a synergistic effect. 8E10 is a potential universal partner for the synergistical combination with other mAb against protein receptor binding domain in BoNTs of other serotypes.

  20. Uses of monoclonial antibody 8H9

    DOEpatents

    Cheung, Nai-Kong V.

    2015-06-23

    This invention provides an antibody that binds the same antigen as that of monoclonal antibody 8H9, wherein the heavy chain CDR (Complementary Determining Region)1 comprises NYDIN, heavy chain CDR2 comprises WIFPGDGSTQY, heavy chain CDR3 comprises QTTATWFAY, and the light chain CDR1 comprises RASQSISDYLH, light chain CDR2 comprises YASQSIS, and light chain CDR3 comprises QNGHSFPLT. In another embodiment, there is provided a polypeptide that binds the same antigen as that of monoclonal antibody 8H9, wherein the polypeptide comprises NYDIN, WIFPGDGSTQY, QTTATWFAY, RASQSISDYLH, YASQSIS, and QNGHSFPLT.

  1. Antibody engineering reveals the important role of J segments in the production efficiency of llama single-domain antibodies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

    PubMed

    Gorlani, A; Hulsik, D Lutje; Adams, H; Vriend, G; Hermans, P; Verrips, T

    2012-01-01

    Variable domains of llama heavy-chain antibodies (VHH) are becoming a potent tool for a wide range of biotechnological and medical applications. Because of structural features typical of their single-domain nature, they are relatively easy to produce in lower eukaryotes, but it is not uncommon that some molecules have poor secretion efficiency. We therefore set out to study the production yield of VHH. We computationally identified five key residues that are crucial for folding and secretion, and we validated their importance with systematic site-directed mutations. The observation that all key residues were localised in the V segment, in proximity of the J segment of VHH, led us to study the importance of J segment in secretion efficiency. Intriguingly, we found that the use of specific J segments in VHH could strongly influence the production yield. Sequence analysis and expression experiments strongly suggested that interactions with chaperones, especially with the J segment, are a crucial aspect of the production yield of VHH.

  2. Antibody protection reveals extended epitopes on the human TSH receptor.

    PubMed

    Latif, Rauf; Teixeira, Avelino; Michalek, Krzysztof; Ali, M Rejwan; Schlesinger, Max; Baliram, Ramkumarie; Morshed, Syed A; Davies, Terry F

    2012-01-01

    Stimulating, and some blocking, antibodies to the TSH receptor (TSHR) have conformation-dependent epitopes reported to involve primarily the leucine rich repeat region of the ectodomain (LRD). However, successful crystallization of TSHR residues 22-260 has omitted important extracellular non-LRD residues including the hinge region which connects the TSHR ectodomain to the transmembrane domain and which is involved in ligand induced signal transduction. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to determine if TSHR antibodies (TSHR-Abs) have non-LRD binding sites outside the LRD. To obtain this information we employed the method of epitope protection in which we first protected TSHR residues 1-412 with intact TSHR antibodies and then enzymatically digested the unprotected residues. Those peptides remaining were subsequently delineated by mass spectrometry. Fourteen out of 23 of the reported stimulating monoclonal TSHR-Ab crystal contact residues were protected by this technique which may reflect the higher binding energies of certain residues detected in this approach. Comparing the protected epitopes of two stimulating TSHR-Abs we found both similarities and differences but both antibodies also contacted the hinge region and the amino terminus of the TSHR following the signal peptide and encompassing cysteine box 1 which has previously been shown to be important for TSH binding and activation. A monoclonal blocking TSHR antibody revealed a similar pattern of binding regions but the residues that it contacted on the LRD were again distinct. These data demonstrated that conformationally dependent TSHR-Abs had epitopes not confined to the LRDs but also incorporated epitopes not revealed in the available crystal structure. Furthermore, the data also indicated that in addition to overlapping contact regions within the LRD, there are unique epitope patterns for each of the antibodies which may contribute to their functional heterogeneity.

  3. Antibody Protection Reveals Extended Epitopes on the Human TSH Receptor

    PubMed Central

    Latif, Rauf; Teixeira, Avelino; Michalek, Krzysztof; Ali, M. Rejwan; Schlesinger, Max; Baliram, Ramkumarie; Morshed, Syed A.; Davies, Terry F.

    2012-01-01

    Stimulating, and some blocking, antibodies to the TSH receptor (TSHR) have conformation-dependent epitopes reported to involve primarily the leucine rich repeat region of the ectodomain (LRD). However, successful crystallization of TSHR residues 22–260 has omitted important extracellular non-LRD residues including the hinge region which connects the TSHR ectodomain to the transmembrane domain and which is involved in ligand induced signal transduction. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to determine if TSHR antibodies (TSHR-Abs) have non-LRD binding sites outside the LRD. To obtain this information we employed the method of epitope protection in which we first protected TSHR residues 1–412 with intact TSHR antibodies and then enzymatically digested the unprotected residues. Those peptides remaining were subsequently delineated by mass spectrometry. Fourteen out of 23 of the reported stimulating monoclonal TSHR-Ab crystal contact residues were protected by this technique which may reflect the higher binding energies of certain residues detected in this approach. Comparing the protected epitopes of two stimulating TSHR-Abs we found both similarities and differences but both antibodies also contacted the hinge region and the amino terminus of the TSHR following the signal peptide and encompassing cysteine box 1 which has previously been shown to be important for TSH binding and activation. A monoclonal blocking TSHR antibody revealed a similar pattern of binding regions but the residues that it contacted on the LRD were again distinct. These data demonstrated that conformationally dependent TSHR-Abs had epitopes not confined to the LRDs but also incorporated epitopes not revealed in the available crystal structure. Furthermore, the data also indicated that in addition to overlapping contact regions within the LRD, there are unique epitope patterns for each of the antibodies which may contribute to their functional heterogeneity. PMID:22957097

  4. Evaluation of changes in promoters, use of UCOES and chain order to improve the antibody production in CHO cells.

    PubMed

    Rocha-Pizaña, Maria Del Refugio; Ascencio-Favela, Guadalupe; Soto-García, Brenda Maribell; Martinez-Fierro, Margarita de la Luz; Alvarez, Mario Moisés

    2017-04-01

    Therapy with biopharmaceuticals, mainly recombinant antibodies, offers patients higher life expectancy and better life quality than pharmacologic therapy. Countries with the highest scientific development are investing in this kind of therapy, and this is why the optimization of the production of these recombinant proteins would lead to their higher production and lower costs of the final product. Modifications in the use of promoters, the use of recombination regions, and the change in the order of the chains, are some of the genetic engineering changes that can increase the production of recombinant antibodies. In this work, three different promoters were tested: Prom A, hCMV, and EF1-a, for two different antibodies, one anti-TNFa and one anti-CD20 + . Changes were made in the order of the chains H-L or L-H and one or two UCOE (ubiquitous chromatin opening element) sequences were also used to identify the combinations that provide the best transient and stable expression for the antibodies in the CHO-s cells. In our results, we observed that the use of the two UCOE regions, with L-H order is almost three times better for the expression of the two different antibodies, while the strength of the promoter is conditioned by the sequence of each expressed protein. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  5. Hashimoto's thyroiditis with heterogeneous antithyrotropin receptor antibodies: unique epitopes may contribute to the regulation of thyroid function by the antibodies.

    PubMed

    Akamizu, T; Kohn, L D; Hiratani, H; Saijo, M; Tahara, K; Nakao, K

    2000-06-01

    Blocking-type TSH-binding inhibitor Igs (TBIIs) are known to cause hypothyroidism and an atrophic thyroid gland in patients with primary myxedema. They can block the activity of thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) in Graves' patients as well as the activity of TSH. The majority of the epitopes for these blocking-type TBIIs have been, and are shown herein, to be present on the C-terminal region of the extracellular domain of the human TSH receptor (TSHR), whereas those for Graves' TSAbs are on the N-terminus. We report on a patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis who suffered from mild hypothyroidism and a moderately sized goiter. Her serum had a potent blocking-type TBII and a weak TSAb in human and porcine TSHR systems. Using human TSHR/lutropin-CG receptor chimeras, we determined that the functional epitope of her blocking-type TBII was uniquely present on the N-terminal, rather than the C-terminal, region of the extracellular domain of the TSHR, unlike the case for blocking-type TBIIs in primary myxedema patients. The epitope of her TSAb was also unusual. Although the functional epitopes of most TSAbs are known to involve the N-terminal region of the receptor, her TSAb epitope did not seem to be present solely on the N- or C-terminus of the extracellular domain of the receptor. Blocking-type TBIIs from patients with primary myxedema blocked her TSAb activity as well as stimulation by TSH; her blocking-type TBII was able to only partially block her TSAb. In contrast, her blocking-type TBII almost completely blocked TSAbs from Graves' patients. Thus, we suggest that the unique epitopes of this patient's heterogeneous population of TSH receptor antibodies, at least in part, contribute to regulation of her thyroid function.

  6. Enhancement and Analysis of Human Antiaflatoxin B1 (AFB1) scFv Antibody-Ligand Interaction Using Chain Shuffling.

    PubMed

    Rangnoi, Kuntalee; Choowongkomon, Kiattawee; O'Kennedy, Richard; Rüker, Florian; Yamabhai, Montarop

    2018-06-06

    A human antiaflatoxin B1 (AFB1) scFv antibody (yAFB1-c3), selected from a naı̈ve human phage-displayed scFv library, was used as a template for improving and analysis of antibody-ligand interactions using the chain-shuffling technique. The variable-heavy and variable-light (VH/VL)-shuffled library was constructed from the VH of 25 preselected clones recombined with the VL of yAFB1-c3 and vice versa. Affinity selection from these libraries demonstrated that the VH domain played an important role in the binding of scFv to free AFB1. Therefore, in the next step, VH-shuffled scFv library was constructed from variable-heavy (VH) chain repertoires, amplified from the naı̈ve library, recombined with the variable-light (VL) chain of the clone yAFB1-c3. This library was then used to select a specific scFv antibody against soluble AFB1 by a standard biopanning method. Three clones that showed improved binding properties were isolated. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that the improved clones have amino acid mutations in framework 1 (FR1) and the complementarity determining region (CDR1) of the VH chain. One clone, designated sAFH-3e3, showed 7.5-fold improvement in sensitivity over the original scFv clone and was selected for molecular binding studies with AFB1. Homology modeling and molecular docking were used to compare the binding of this and the original clones. The results confirmed that VH is more important than VL for AFB1 binding.

  7. Graves' Disease Mechanisms: The Role of Stimulating, Blocking, and Cleavage Region TSH Receptor Antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Morshed, S. A.; Davies, T. F.

    2016-01-01

    The immunologic processes involved in Graves' disease (GD) have one unique characteristic – the autoantibodies to the TSH receptor (TSHR) – which have both linear and conformational epitopes. Three types of TSHR antibodies (stimulating, blocking, and cleavage) with different functional capabilities have been described in GD patients, which induce different signaling effects varying from thyroid cell proliferation to thyroid cell death. The establishment of animal models of GD by TSHR antibody transfer or by immunization with TSHR antigen has confirmed its pathogenic role and, therefore, GD is the result of a breakdown in TSHR tolerance. Here we review some of the characteristics of TSHR antibodies with a special emphasis on new developments in our understanding of what were previously called “neutral” antibodies and which we now characterize as autoantibodies to the “cleavage” region of the TSHR ectodomain. PMID:26361259

  8. Ephrin-B2 prevents N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody effects on memory and neuroplasticity.

    PubMed

    Planagumà, Jesús; Haselmann, Holger; Mannara, Francesco; Petit-Pedrol, Mar; Grünewald, Benedikt; Aguilar, Esther; Röpke, Luise; Martín-García, Elena; Titulaer, Maarten J; Jercog, Pablo; Graus, Francesc; Maldonado, Rafael; Geis, Christian; Dalmau, Josep

    2016-09-01

    To demonstrate that ephrin-B2 (the ligand of EphB2 receptor) antagonizes the pathogenic effects of patients' N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies on memory and synaptic plasticity. One hundred twenty-two C57BL/6J mice infused with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis or controls, with or without ephrin-B2, were investigated. CSF was infused through ventricular catheters connected to subcutaneous osmotic pumps over 14 days. Memory, behavioral tasks, locomotor activity, presence of human antibodies specifically bound to hippocampal NMDAR, and antibody effects on the density of cell-surface and synaptic NMDAR and EphB2 were examined at different time points using reported techniques. Short- and long-term synaptic plasticity were determined in acute brain sections; the Schaffer collateral pathway was stimulated and the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were recorded in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Mice infused with patients' CSF, but not control CSF, developed progressive memory deficit and depressive-like behavior along with deposits of NMDAR antibodies in the hippocampus. These findings were associated with a decrease of the density of cell-surface and synaptic NMDAR and EphB2, and marked impairment of long-term synaptic plasticity without altering short-term plasticity. Administration of ephrin-B2 prevented the pathogenic effects of the antibodies in all the investigated paradigms assessing memory, depressive-like behavior, density of cell-surface and synaptic NMDAR and EphB2, and long-term synaptic plasticity. Administration of ephrin-B2 prevents the pathogenic effects of anti-NMDAR encephalitis antibodies on memory and behavior, levels of cell-surface NMDAR, and synaptic plasticity. These findings reveal a strategy beyond immunotherapy to antagonize patients' antibody effects. Ann Neurol 2016;80:388-400. © 2016 American Neurological Association.

  9. Sortase A-mediated site-specific labeling of camelid single-domain antibody-fragments: a versatile strategy for multiple molecular imaging modalities.

    PubMed

    Massa, Sam; Vikani, Niravkumar; Betti, Cecilia; Ballet, Steven; Vanderhaegen, Saskia; Steyaert, Jan; Descamps, Benedicte; Vanhove, Christian; Bunschoten, Anton; van Leeuwen, Fijs W B; Hernot, Sophie; Caveliers, Vicky; Lahoutte, Tony; Muyldermans, Serge; Xavier, Catarina; Devoogdt, Nick

    2016-09-01

    A generic site-specific conjugation method that generates a homogeneous product is of utmost importance in tracer development for molecular imaging and therapy. We explored the protein-ligation capacity of the enzyme Sortase A to label camelid single-domain antibody-fragments, also known as nanobodies. The versatility of the approach was demonstrated by conjugating independently three different imaging probes: the chelating agents CHX-A"-DTPA and NOTA for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with indium-111 and positron emission tomography (PET) with gallium-68, respectively, and the fluorescent dye Cy5 for fluorescence reflectance imaging (FRI). After a straightforward purification process, homogeneous single-conjugated tracer populations were obtained in high yield (30-50%). The enzymatic conjugation did not affect the affinity of the tracers, nor the radiolabeling efficiency or spectral characteristics. In vivo, the tracers enabled the visualization of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expressing BT474M1-tumors with high contrast and specificity as soon as 1 h post injection in all three imaging modalities. These data demonstrate Sortase A-mediated conjugation as a valuable strategy for the development of site-specifically labeled camelid single-domain antibody-fragments for use in multiple molecular imaging modalities. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  10. Neutralisation and binding of VHS virus by monovalent antibody fragments.

    PubMed

    Cupit, P M; Lorenzen, N; Strachan, G; Kemp, G J; Secombes, C J; Cunningham, C

    2001-12-04

    We have previously reported the cloning and characterisation of the heavy and light chain variable domain genes encoding three monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) that bind viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). Two of these antibodies, 3F1H10 and 3F1A2 both neutralised the virus though 3F1A2 appeared to recognise a broader range of virus isolates. The variable domains of these two antibodies differ by only four residues (Lorenzen et al., 2000a. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 10, 129-142). To further study the mechanism of neutralisation, Fab fragments as well as a series of recombinant bacterial single chain antibody (scAb) fragments were generated from the three anti-VHSV Mabs and their variable domain genes, respectively. Fabs and scAbs derived from the neutralising Mabs were both able to neutralise the VHSV type 1 isolate DK-F1. In addition, a series of scAb fragments were produced using the 3F1H10 variable heavy (VH) chain and variable light (Vkappa) chain domains but containing, either alone or in dual combination, each of the four different residues present in 3F1A2. The dissociation constants of Mabs 3F1H10 and 3F1A2 and their respective Fab and scAb fragments were measured by BIAcore analysis and found to correlate with the capacity of each molecule to neutralise DK-F1. These investigations, together with computer assisted molecular analysis of the theoretical influence of each mutation on antigen binding, led to the identification of a single mutation at position 35a in the VH domain as having the most marked impact on viral neutralisation.

  11. Mechanism of HSV infection through soluble adapter-mediated virus bridging to the EGF receptor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nakano, Kenji, E-mail: kenakano@med.kyushu-u.ac.j; Kobayashi, Masatoshi; Nakamura, Kei-ichiro

    2011-04-25

    Herpes simplex virus entry into cells requires the binding of envelope glycoprotein D (gD) to an entry receptor. Depending on the cell, entry occurs by different mechanisms, including fusion at the cell surface or endocytosis. Here we examined the entry mechanism through a non-HSV receptor mediated by a soluble bi-specific adapter protein composed of recognition elements for gD and the EGF receptor (EGFR). Virus entered into endosomes using either EGF or an EGFR-specific single chain antibody (scFv) for receptor recognition. Infection was less efficient with the EGF adapter which could be attributed to its weaker binding to a viral gD.more » Infection mediated by the scFv adapter was pH sensitive, indicating that gD-EGFR bridging alone was insufficient for capsid release from endosomes. We also show that the scFv adapter enhanced infection of EGFR-expressing tumor tissue in vivo. Our results indicate that adapters may retarget HSV infection without drastically changing the entry mechanism.« less

  12. Monoclonal Antibodies against the MET/HGF Receptor and Its Ligand: Multitask Tools with Applications from Basic Research to Therapy

    PubMed Central

    Prat, Maria; Oltolina, Francesca; Basilico, Cristina

    2014-01-01

    Monoclonal antibodies can be seen as valuable tools for many aspects of basic as well as applied sciences. In the case of MET/HGFR, they allowed the identification of truncated isoforms of the receptor, as well as the dissection of different epitopes, establishing structure–function relationships. Antibodies directed against MET extracellular domain were found to be full or partial receptor agonists or antagonists. The agonists can mimic the effects of the different isoforms of the natural ligand, but with the advantage of being more stable than the latter. Thus, some agonist antibodies promote all the biological responses triggered by MET activation, including motility, proliferation, morphogenesis, and protection from apoptosis, while others can induce only a migratory response. On the other hand, antagonists can inhibit MET-driven biological functions either by competing with the ligand or by removing the receptor from the cell surface. Since MET/HGFR is often over-expressed and/or aberrantly activated in tumors, monoclonal antibodies can be used as probes for MET detection or as “bullets” to target MET-expressing tumor cells, thus pointing to their use in diagnosis and therapy. PMID:28548076

  13. Analysis of lymphopoietic stem cells with a monoclonal antibody to the rat transferrin receptor.

    PubMed Central

    Jefferies, W A; Brandon, M R; Williams, A F; Hunt, S V

    1985-01-01

    A mouse monoclonal IgG2a antibody, designated MRC OX-26, is shown to be specific for the rat transferrin receptor, but does not block transferrin binding. The antibody labelled a myeloma, three leukaemia cell lines and normal dividing cells of various types, but also bound to a number of nondividing normal tissues. No labelling of lymphopoietic stem cells could be detected, even though approximately 25% of bone marrow and over 95% of fetal liver cells were clearly labelled. Images Figure 1 Figure 3 PMID:2981766

  14. The milk delivery chain and presence of Brucella spp. antibodies in bulk milk in Uganda.

    PubMed

    Rock, Kim Toeroek; Mugizi, Denis Rwabiita; Ståhl, Karl; Magnusson, Ulf; Boqvist, Sofia

    2016-06-01

    This study examined the influence of informal milk delivery chains on the risk of human exposure to Brucella spp. through milk consumption in two regions of Uganda (Gulu and Soroti Districts). The work involved describing milk delivery chains, investigating brucellosis awareness amongst milk deliverers and determining the presence of Brucella spp. antibodies in cattle milk on delivery to primary collection points (boiling points and dairies). Milk samples (n = 331) were collected from deliverers at primary collection points and from street vendors at point of sale and analysed using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA). A written questionnaire was used to collect data from deliverers (n = 279) on their milk delivery chains and their brucellosis awareness. The most common delivery points in Gulu District were small dairies and in Soroti District boiling points. The presence of Brucella spp. antibodies in milk samples was higher in Soroti (40 %) than in Gulu (11 %) (P < 0.0001). There are possible public health risk consequences of this finding as 42 % of deliverers in Soroti District reported drinking raw milk, compared with 15 % in Gulu District (P < 0.0001). Awareness of brucellosis was low, with 70 % of all milk deliverers reporting not having heard of the disease or the bacterium. Application of quality controls for milk (colour and odour) along the delivery chain varied depending upon supply and demand. This study provides evidence of the diversity of informal milk markets in low-income countries and of the potential public health risks of consuming unpasteurised milk. These results can be useful to those planning interventions to reduce brucellosis.

  15. Clinical Utility of Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody Testing in Ocular Myasthenia Gravis.

    PubMed

    Peeler, Crandall E; De Lott, Lindsey B; Nagia, Lina; Lemos, Joao; Eggenberger, Eric R; Cornblath, Wayne T

    2015-10-01

    The sensitivity of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody testing is thought to be lower in ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) compared with generalized disease, although estimates in small-scale studies vary. There is little information in the literature about the implications of AChR antibody levels and progression from OMG to generalized myasthenia gravis. To test the hypothesis that serum AChR antibody testing is more sensitive in OMG than previously reported and to examine the association between AChR antibody levels and progression from OMG to generalized myasthenia gravis. A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted of 223 patients (mean [SD] age, 59.2 [16.4] years; 139 [62.3%] male) diagnosed with OMG between July 1, 1986, and May 31, 2013, at 2 large, academic medical centers. Baseline characteristics, OMG symptoms, results of AChR antibody testing, and progression time to generalized myasthenia gravis (if this occurred) were recorded for each patient. Multiple logistic regression was used to measure the association between all clinical variables and antibody result. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to examine time to generalization. Among the 223 participants, AChR antibody testing results were positive in 158 participants (70.9%). In an adjusted model, increased age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P = .007) and progression to generalized myasthenia gravis (OR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.18-7.26; P = .02) were significantly associated with positive antibody test results. Women were less likely to have a positive antibody test result (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19-0.68; P = .002). Patients who developed symptoms of generalized myasthenia gravis had a significantly higher mean (SD) antibody level than those who did not develop symptoms of generalized myasthenia gravis (12.7 [16.5] nmol/L vs 4.2 [7.9] nmol/L; P = .002). We demonstrate a higher sensitivity of AChR antibody testing than previously reported in the

  16. Novel BAFF-Receptor Antibody to Natively Folded Recombinant Protein Eliminates Drug-Resistant Human B-cell Malignancies In Vivo.

    PubMed

    Qin, Hong; Wei, Guowei; Sakamaki, Ippei; Dong, Zhenyuan; Cheng, Wesley A; Smith, D Lynne; Wen, Feng; Sun, Han; Kim, Kunhwa; Cha, Soungchul; Bover, Laura; Neelapu, Sattva S; Kwak, Larry W

    2018-03-01

    Purpose: mAbs such as anti-CD20 rituximab are proven therapies in B-cell malignancies, yet many patients develop resistance. Novel therapies against alternative targets are needed to circumvent resistance mechanisms. We sought to generate mAbs against human B-cell-activating factor receptor (BAFF-R/TNFRSF13C), which has not yet been targeted successfully for cancer therapy. Experimental Design: Novel mAbs were generated against BAFF-R, expressed as a natively folded cell surface immunogen on mouse fibroblast cells. Chimeric BAFF-R mAbs were developed and assessed for in vitro and in vivo monotherapy cytotoxicity. The chimeric mAbs were tested against human B-cell tumor lines, primary patient samples, and drug-resistant tumors. Results: Chimeric antibodies bound with high affinity to multiple human malignant B-cell lines and induced potent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against multiple subtypes of human lymphoma and leukemia, including primary tumors from patients who had relapsed after anti-CD20 therapy. Chimeric antibodies also induced ADCC against ibrutinib-resistant and rituximab-insensitive CD20-deficient variant lymphomas, respectively. Importantly, they demonstrated remarkable in vivo growth inhibition of drug-resistant tumor models in immunodeficient mice. Conclusions: Our method generated novel anti-BAFF-R antibody therapeutics with remarkable single-agent antitumor effects. We propose that these antibodies represent an effective new strategy for targeting and treating drug-resistant B-cell malignancies and warrant further development. Clin Cancer Res; 24(5); 1114-23. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.

  17. Recent Developments in Antibody-Based Assays for the Detection of Bacterial Toxins

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Kui; Dietrich, Richard; Didier, Andrea; Doyscher, Dominik; Märtlbauer, Erwin

    2014-01-01

    Considering the urgent demand for rapid and accurate determination of bacterial toxins and the recent promising developments in nanotechnology and microfluidics, this review summarizes new achievements of the past five years. Firstly, bacterial toxins will be categorized according to their antibody binding properties into low and high molecular weight compounds. Secondly, the types of antibodies and new techniques for producing antibodies are discussed, including poly- and mono-clonal antibodies, single-chain variable fragments (scFv), as well as heavy-chain and recombinant antibodies. Thirdly, the use of different nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), quantum dots (QDs) and carbon nanomaterials (graphene and carbon nanotube), for labeling antibodies and toxins or for readout techniques will be summarized. Fourthly, microscale analysis or minimized devices, for example microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip (LOC), which have attracted increasing attention in combination with immunoassays for the robust detection or point-of-care testing (POCT), will be reviewed. Finally, some new materials and analytical strategies, which might be promising for analyzing toxins in the near future, will be shortly introduced. PMID:24732203

  18. Production and characterization of single-chain antibody (scFv) against 3ABC non-structural protein in Escherichia coli for sero-diagnosis of Foot and Mouth Disease virus.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Gaurav K; Mahajan, Sonalika; Matura, Rakesh; Subramaniam, Saravanan; Mohapatra, Jajati K; Pattnaik, Bramhadev

    2014-11-01

    Differentiation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease infected from vaccinated animals is essential for effective implementation of vaccination based control programme. Detection of antibodies against 3ABC non-structural protein of FMD virus by immunodiagnostic assays provides reliable indication of FMD infection. Sero-monitoring of FMD in the large country like India is a big task where thousands of serum samples are annually screened. Currently, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies are widely used in these immunodiagnostic assays. Considering the large population of livestock in the country, an economical and replenishable alternative of these antibodies was required. In this study, specific short chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against 3B region of 3ABC poly-protein was developed. High level of scFv expression in Escherichia coli system was obtained by careful optimization in four different strains. Two formats of enzyme immunoassays (sandwich and competitive ELISAs) were optimized using scFv with objective to differentiate FMD infected among the vaccinated population. The assays were statistically validated by testing 2150 serum samples. Diagnostic sensitivity/specificity of sandwich and competitive ELISAs were determined by ROC method as 92.2%/95.5% and 89.5%/93.5%, respectively. This study demonstrated that scFv is a suitable alternate for immunodiagnosis of FMD on large scale. Copyright © 2014 The International Alliance for Biological Standardization. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. [Anti-M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies and Sjögren's syndrome].

    PubMed

    Tsuboi, Hiroto; Iizuka, Mana; Asashima, Hiromitsu; Sumida, Takayuki

    2013-01-01

    Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that affects exocrine glands including salivary and lacrimal glands. It is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration into exocrine glands, leading to dry mouth and eyes. A number of auto-antibodies are detected in patients with SS. However, no SS-specific pathologic auto-antibodies have yet been found in this condition. M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R) plays a crucial role in the secretion of saliva. It is reported that some patients with SS carried inhibitory auto-antibodies against M3R. To clarify the epitopes and function of anti-M3R antibodies in SS, we examined antibodies to the extracellular domains (N terminal region, the first, second, and third extracellular loop) of M3R by ELISA using synthesized peptide antigens encoding these domains in 42 SS and 42 healthy controls (HC). Titers and positivity of anti-M3R antibodies to every extracellular domain of M3R were significantly higher in SS than in HC. Our results indicated the presence of several B cell epitopes on M3R in SS. Moreover, we analyzed the functions of anti-M3R antibodies by Ca(2+)-influx assays using a human salivary gland (HSG) cell line. The functional analysis indicated that the influence of such anti-M3R antibodies on Ca(2+)-influx in HSG cells might differ based on the epitopes to which they bind. Interestingly, both IgG from anti-M3R antibodies to the second extracellular loop positive SS and anti-M3R monoclonal antibodies against the second extracellular loop of M3R, which we generated, suppressed Ca(2+)-influx in the HSG cells induced by cevimeline stimulation. These observations suggested that auto-antibodies against the second extracellular loop of M3R could be involved in salivary dysfunction in patients with SS. These results indicated the presence of several B cell epitopes on M3R in SS and the influence of anti-M3R antibodies on salivary secretion might differ based on these epitopes. Thus, anti-M3R antibodies could be not

  20. Comparison of chain sampling plans with single and double sampling plans

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stephens, K. S.; Dodge, H. F.

    1976-01-01

    The efficiency of chain sampling is examined through matching of operating characteristics (OC) curves of chain sampling plans (ChSP) with single and double sampling plans. In particular, the operating characteristics of some ChSP-0, 3 and 1, 3 as well as ChSP-0, 4 and 1, 4 are presented, where the number pairs represent the first and the second cumulative acceptance numbers. The fact that the ChSP procedure uses cumulative results from two or more samples and that the parameters can be varied to produce a wide variety of operating characteristics raises the question whether it may be possible for such plans to provide a given protection with less inspection than with single or double sampling plans. The operating ratio values reported illustrate the possibilities of matching single and double sampling plans with ChSP. It is shown that chain sampling plans provide improved efficiency over single and double sampling plans having substantially the same operating characteristics.

  1. Production of chimeric recombinant single domain antibody-green fluorescent fusion protein in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

    PubMed

    Bazl, M Rajabi; Rasaee, M J; Foruzandeh, M; Rahimpour, A; Kiani, J; Rahbarizadeh, F; Alirezapour, B; Mohammadi, M

    2007-02-01

    There is an increasing interest in the application of nanobodies such as VHH in the field of therapy and imaging. In the present study a stable genetically engineered cell line of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) origin transfected using two sets of expression vectors was constructed in order to permit the cytoplasmic and extracellular expression of single domain antibody along with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as reporter gene. The quality of the constructs were examined both by the restriction map as well as sequence analysis. The gene transfection and protein expression was further examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The transfected cells were grown in 200 microg/mL hygromycin containing media and the stable cell line obtained showed fluorescent activity for more than a period of 180 days. The production of fusion protein was also detected by fluorescent microscopy, fluorescent spectroscopy as well as by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. This strategy allows a rapid production of recombinant fluobodies involving VHH, which can be used in various experiments such as imaging and detection in which a primary labeled antibody is required.

  2. Unbiased analysis of TCRα/β chains at the single-cell level in human CD8+ T-cell subsets.

    PubMed

    Sun, Xiaoming; Saito, Masumichi; Sato, Yoshinori; Chikata, Takayuki; Naruto, Takuya; Ozawa, Tatsuhiko; Kobayashi, Eiji; Kishi, Hiroyuki; Muraguchi, Atsushi; Takiguchi, Masafumi

    2012-01-01

    T-cell receptor (TCR) α/β chains are expressed on the surface of CD8(+) T-cells and have been implicated in antigen recognition, activation, and proliferation. However, the methods for characterization of human TCRα/β chains have not been well established largely because of the complexity of their structures owing to the extensive genetic rearrangements that they undergo. Here we report the development of an integrated 5'-RACE and multiplex PCR method to amplify the full-length transcripts of TCRα/β at the single-cell level in human CD8(+) subsets, including naive, central memory, early effector memory, late effector memory, and effector phenotypic cells. Using this method, with an approximately 47% and 62% of PCR success rate for TCRα and for TCRβ chains, respectively, we were able to analyze more than 1,000 reads of transcripts of each TCR chain. Our comprehensive analysis revealed the following: (1) chimeric rearrangements of TCRδ-α, (2) control of TCRα/β transcription with multiple transcriptional initiation sites, (3) altered utilization of TCRα/β chains in CD8(+) subsets, and (4) strong association between the clonal size of TCRα/β chains and the effector phenotype of CD8(+) T-cells. Based on these findings, we conclude that our method is a useful tool to identify the dynamics of the TCRα/β repertoire, and provides new insights into the study of human TCRα/β chains.

  3. Folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for the treatment of gastric cancer

    PubMed Central

    Pyo, Suhkneung; Kang, Chung Hyo; Lee, Chong Ock; Lee, Heung Kyoung; Choi, Sang Un; Park, Chi Hoon

    2018-01-01

    Gastric cancer is a malignancy that has a high mortality rate. Although progress has been made in the treatment of gastric cancer, many patients experience cancer recurrence and metastasis. Folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is overexpressed on the cell surface in over one-third of gastric cancer patients, but rarely is expressed in normal tissue. This makes FOLR1 a potential target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy, although the function of FOLR1 has not been elucidated. CAR are engineered fusion receptor composed of an antigen recognition region and signaling domains. T cells expressing CAR have specific activation and cytotoxic effects against cancer cells containing the target antigen. In this study, we generated a CAR that targets FOLR1 composed of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of FOLR1 antibody and signaling domains consisting of CD28 and CD3ζ. Both FOLR1-CAR KHYG-1, a natural killer cell line, and FOLR1-CAR T cells recognized FOLR1-positive gastric cancer cells in a MHC-independent manner and induced secretion of various cytokines and caused cell death. Conclusively, this is the first study to demonstrate that CAR KHYG-1/T cells targeting FOLR1 are effective against FOLR1-positive gastric cancer cells. PMID:29874279

  4. Many Routes to an Antibody Heavy-Chain CDR3: Necessary, Yet Insufficient, for Specific Binding

    DOE PAGES

    D'Angelo, Sara; Ferrara, Fortunato; Naranjo, Leslie; ...

    2018-03-08

    Because of its great potential for diversity, the immunoglobulin heavy-chain complementarity-determining region 3 (HCDR3) is taken as an antibody molecule’s most important component in conferring binding activity and specificity. For this reason, HCDR3s have been used as unique identifiers to investigate adaptive immune responses in vivo and to characterize in vitro selection outputs where display systems were employed. Here, we show that many different HCDR3s can be identified within a target-specific antibody population after in vitro selection. For each identified HCDR3, a number of different antibodies bearing differences elsewhere can be found. In such selected populations, all antibodies with themore » same HCDR3 recognize the target, albeit at different affinities. In contrast, within unselected populations, the majority of antibodies with the same HCDR3 sequence do not bind the target. In one HCDR3 examined in depth, all target-specific antibodies were derived from the same VDJ rearrangement, while non-binding antibodies with the same HCDR3 were derived from many different V and D gene rearrangements. Careful examination of previously published in vivo datasets reveals that HCDR3s shared between, and within, different individuals can also originate from rearrangements of different V and D genes, with up to 26 different rearrangements yielding the same identical HCDR3 sequence. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that the same HCDR3 can be generated by many different rearrangements, but that specific target binding is an outcome of unique rearrangements and VL pairing: the HCDR3 is necessary, albeit insufficient, for specific antibody binding.« less

  5. Many Routes to an Antibody Heavy-Chain CDR3: Necessary, Yet Insufficient, for Specific Binding

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    D'Angelo, Sara; Ferrara, Fortunato; Naranjo, Leslie

    Because of its great potential for diversity, the immunoglobulin heavy-chain complementarity-determining region 3 (HCDR3) is taken as an antibody molecule’s most important component in conferring binding activity and specificity. For this reason, HCDR3s have been used as unique identifiers to investigate adaptive immune responses in vivo and to characterize in vitro selection outputs where display systems were employed. Here, we show that many different HCDR3s can be identified within a target-specific antibody population after in vitro selection. For each identified HCDR3, a number of different antibodies bearing differences elsewhere can be found. In such selected populations, all antibodies with themore » same HCDR3 recognize the target, albeit at different affinities. In contrast, within unselected populations, the majority of antibodies with the same HCDR3 sequence do not bind the target. In one HCDR3 examined in depth, all target-specific antibodies were derived from the same VDJ rearrangement, while non-binding antibodies with the same HCDR3 were derived from many different V and D gene rearrangements. Careful examination of previously published in vivo datasets reveals that HCDR3s shared between, and within, different individuals can also originate from rearrangements of different V and D genes, with up to 26 different rearrangements yielding the same identical HCDR3 sequence. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that the same HCDR3 can be generated by many different rearrangements, but that specific target binding is an outcome of unique rearrangements and VL pairing: the HCDR3 is necessary, albeit insufficient, for specific antibody binding.« less

  6. Straight-chain alcohols exhibit a cutoff in potency for the inhibition of recombinant glutamate receptor subunits

    PubMed Central

    Akinshola, B Emmanuel

    2001-01-01

    The effects of n-alcohols (methanol to 1-decanol) on kainate-activated AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 and GluR3 ion currents were studied in Xenopus oocytes using the two-electrode voltage-clamp recording technique. For short-chain alcohols from methanol to 1-hexanol, potency for inhibition of GluR1 and GluR3 receptor-mediated current increased in proportion to the chain length or hydrophobicity of the alcohol. The IC50 values of these alcohols for GluR1 were: methanol, 702 mM; ethanol, 170 mM; 1-propanol, 69 mM; 1-butanol, 20 mM; 1-pentanol, 17 mM; and 1-hexanol, 10 mM. For GluR3, IC50 values were: methanol, 712 mM; ethanol, 238 mM; 1-propanol, 50 mM; 1-butanol, 32 mM; 1-pentanol, 13 mM; and 1-hexanol, 7 mM. For long-chain alcohols, 1-heptanol was less potent than 1-hexanol (estimated IC50: 19 mM for GluR1 and 18 mM for GluR3), 1-octanol had little effect only on GluR3, and 1-nonanol and 1-decanol did not significantly inhibit both GluR1 and GluR3 responses. The observations indicate that straight-chain n-alcohols exhibit a cutoff in their potency for inhibition of the function of non-NMDA glutamate receptor subunits, GluR1 and GluR3. The cutoff in potency of n-alcohols for inhibition of non-NMDA glutamate receptor function is consistent with the interpretation that alcohols affect the function of these receptor-channels by interacting with an alcohol binding site of specific dimensions on the receptor protein. PMID:11429388

  7. Multisite Phosphorylation Modulates the T Cell Receptor ζ-Chain Potency but not the Switchlike Response.

    PubMed

    Mukhopadhyay, Himadri; de Wet, Ben; Clemens, Lara; Maini, Philip K; Allard, Jun; van der Merwe, P Anton; Dushek, Omer

    2016-04-26

    Multisite phosphorylation is ubiquitous in cellular signaling and is thought to provide signaling proteins with additional regulatory mechanisms. Indeed, mathematical models have revealed a large number of mechanisms by which multisite phosphorylation can produce switchlike responses. The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is a multisubunit receptor on the surface of T cells that is a prototypical multisite substrate as it contains 20 sites that are distributed on 10 conserved immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs). The TCR ζ-chain is a homodimer subunit that contains six ITAMs (12 sites) and exhibits a number of properties that are predicted to be sufficient for a switchlike response. We have used cellular reconstitution to systematically study multisite phosphorylation of the TCR ζ-chain. We find that multisite phosphorylation proceeds by a nonsequential random mechanism, and find no evidence that multiple ITAMs modulate a switchlike response but do find that they alter receptor potency and maximum phosphorylation. Modulation of receptor potency can be explained by a reduction in molecular entropy of the disordered ζ-chain upon phosphorylation. We further find that the tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 increases receptor potency but does not modulate the switchlike response. In contrast to other multisite proteins, where phosphorylations act in strong concert to modulate protein function, we suggest that the multiple ITAMs on the TCR function mainly to amplify subsequent signaling. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Correlated receptor transport processes buffer single-cell heterogeneity

    PubMed Central

    Kallenberger, Stefan M.; Unger, Anne L.; Legewie, Stefan; Lymperopoulos, Konstantinos; Eils, Roland

    2017-01-01

    Cells typically vary in their response to extracellular ligands. Receptor transport processes modulate ligand-receptor induced signal transduction and impact the variability in cellular responses. Here, we quantitatively characterized cellular variability in erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) trafficking at the single-cell level based on live-cell imaging and mathematical modeling. Using ensembles of single-cell mathematical models reduced parameter uncertainties and showed that rapid EpoR turnover, transport of internalized EpoR back to the plasma membrane, and degradation of Epo-EpoR complexes were essential for receptor trafficking. EpoR trafficking dynamics in adherent H838 lung cancer cells closely resembled the dynamics previously characterized by mathematical modeling in suspension cells, indicating that dynamic properties of the EpoR system are widely conserved. Receptor transport processes differed by one order of magnitude between individual cells. However, the concentration of activated Epo-EpoR complexes was less variable due to the correlated kinetics of opposing transport processes acting as a buffering system. PMID:28945754

  9. PET Imaging of Macrophage Mannose Receptor-Expressing Macrophages in Tumor Stroma Using 18F-Radiolabeled Camelid Single-Domain Antibody Fragments.

    PubMed

    Blykers, Anneleen; Schoonooghe, Steve; Xavier, Catarina; D'hoe, Kevin; Laoui, Damya; D'Huyvetter, Matthias; Vaneycken, Ilse; Cleeren, Frederik; Bormans, Guy; Heemskerk, Johannes; Raes, Geert; De Baetselier, Patrick; Lahoutte, Tony; Devoogdt, Nick; Van Ginderachter, Jo A; Caveliers, Vicky

    2015-08-01

    Tumor-associated macrophages constitute a major component of the stroma of solid tumors, encompassing distinct subpopulations with different characteristics and functions. We aimed to identify M2-oriented tumor-supporting macrophages within the tumor microenvironment as indicators of cancer progression and prognosis, using PET imaging. This can be realized by designing (18)F-labeled camelid single-domain antibody fragments (sdAbs) specifically targeting the macrophage mannose receptor (MMR), which has been identified as an important biomarker on this cell population. Cross-reactive anti-MMR sdAbs were generated after immunization of an alpaca with the extracellular domains of both human and mouse MMR. The lead binder was chosen on the basis of comparisons of binding affinity and in vivo pharmacokinetics. The PET tracer (18)F-fluorobenzoate (FB)-anti-MMR sdAb was developed using the prosthetic group N-succinimidyl-4-(18)F-fluorobenzoate ((18)F-SFB), and its biodistribution, tumor-targeting potential, and specificity in terms of macrophage and MMR targeting were evaluated in mouse tumor models. Four sdAbs were selected after affinity screening, but only 2 were found to be cross-reactive for human and mouse MMR. The lead anti-MMR 3.49 sdAb, bearing an affinity of 12 and 1.8 nM for mouse and human MMR, respectively, was chosen for its favorable in vivo biodistribution profile and tumor-targeting capacity. (18)F-FB-anti-MMR 3.49 sdAb was synthesized with a 5%-10% radiochemical yield using an automated and optimized protocol. In vivo biodistribution analyses showed fast clearance via the kidneys and retention in MMR-expressing organs and tumor. The kidney retention of the fluorinated sdAb was 20-fold lower than a (99m)Tc-labeled counterpart. Compared with MMR- and C-C chemokine receptor 2-deficient mice, significantly higher uptake was observed in tumors grown in wild-type mice, demonstrating the specificity of the (18)F tracer for MMR and macrophages, respectively. Anti

  10. Identification of Key Residues Essential for the Structural Fold and Receptor Selectivity within the A-chain of Human Gene-2 (H2) Relaxin*

    PubMed Central

    Chan, Linda J.; Rosengren, K. Johan; Layfield, Sharon L.; Bathgate, Ross A. D.; Separovic, Frances; Samuel, Chrishan S.; Hossain, Mohammed A.; Wade, John D.

    2012-01-01

    Human gene-2 (H2) relaxin is currently in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of acute heart failure. It is a 53-amino acid insulin-like peptide comprising two chains and three disulfide bonds. It interacts with two of the relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors. Although its cognate receptor is RXFP1, it is also able to cross-react with RXFP2, the native receptor for a related peptide, insulin-like peptide 3. In order to understand the basis of this cross-reactivity, it is important to elucidate both binding and activation mechanisms of this peptide. The primary binding mechanism of this hormone has been extensively studied and well defined. H2 relaxin binds to the leucine-rich repeats of RXFP1 and RXFP2 using B-chain-specific residues. However, little is known about the secondary interaction that involves the A-chain of H2 relaxin and transmembrane exoloops of the receptors. We demonstrate here through extensive mutation of the A-chain that the secondary interaction between H2 relaxin and RXFP1 is not driven by any single amino acid, although residues Tyr-3, Leu-20, and Phe-23 appear to contribute. Interestingly, these same three residues are important drivers of the affinity and activity of H2 relaxin for RXFP2 with additional minor contributions from Lys-9, His-12, Lys-17, Arg-18, and Arg-22. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of secondary activation interaction of RXFP1 and RXFP2 by H2 relaxin, leading to a potent and RXFP1-selective analog, H2:A(4–24)(F23A), which was tested in vitro and in vivo and found to significantly inhibit collagen deposition similar to native H2 relaxin. PMID:23024363

  11. Mapping of monoclonal antibody- and receptor-binding domains on human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) using a surface plasmon resonance-based biosensor.

    PubMed

    Laricchia-Robbio, L; Liedberg, B; Platou-Vikinge, T; Rovero, P; Beffy, P; Revoltella, R P

    1996-10-01

    An automated surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor system has been used for mapping antibody and receptor-binding regions on the recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) molecule. A rabbit antimouse IgG1-Fc antibody (RAM.Fc) was coupled to an extended carboxymethylated-hydrogel matrix attached to a gold surface in order to capture an anti-rhGM-CSF monoclonal antibody (MAb) injected over the sensing layer. rhGM-CSF was subsequently injected and allowed to bind to this antibody. Multisite binding assays were then performed, by flowing sequentially other antibodies and peptides over the surface, and the capacity of the latter to interact with the entrapped rhGM-CSF in a multimolecular complex was monitored in real time with SPR. Eleven MAb (all IgG1K), were analyzed: respectively, four antipeptide MAb raised against three distinct epitopes of the cytokine (two clones against residues 14-24, that includes part of the first alpha-helix toward the N-terminal region; one clone against peptide 30-41, an intrahelical loop; and one clone against residues 79-91, including part of the third alpha-helix) and seven antiprotein MAbs raised against the entire rhGM-CSF, whose target native epitopes are still undetermined. In addition, the binding capacity to rhGM-CSF of a synthetic peptide, corresponding to residues 238-254 of the extracellular human GM-CSF receptor alpha-chain, endowed with rhGM-CSF binding activity, was tested. The results from experiments performed with the biosensor were compared with those obtained by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using the same reagents. The features of the biosensor technology (fully automated, measure in real time, sharpened yes/no response, less background disturbances, no need for washing step or labeling of the reagent) offered several advantages in these studies of MAb immunoreactivity and epitope mapping, giving a much better resolution and enabling more distinct

  12. Antibody purification-independent microarrays (PIM) by direct bacteria spotting on TiO2-treated slides.

    PubMed

    De Marni, Marzia L; Monegal, Ana; Venturini, Samuele; Vinati, Simone; Carbone, Roberta; de Marco, Ario

    2012-02-01

    The preparation of effective conventional antibody microarrays depends on the availability of high quality material and on the correct accessibility of the antibody active moieties following their immobilization on the support slide. We show that spotting bacteria that expose recombinant antibodies on their external surface directly on nanostructured-TiO(2) or epoxy slides (purification-independent microarray - PIM) is a simple and reliable alternative for preparing sensitive and specific microarrays for antigen detection. Variable domains of single heavy-chain antibodies (VHHs) against fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) were used to capture the antigen diluted in serum or BSA solution. The FGFR1 detection was performed by either direct antigen labeling or using a sandwich system in which FGFR1 was first bound to its antibody and successively identified using a labeled FGF. In both cases the signal distribution within each spot was uniform and spot morphology regular. The signal-to-noise ratio of the signal was extremely elevated and the specificity of the system was proved statistically. The LOD of the system for the antigen was calculated being 0.4ng/mL and the dynamic range between 0.4ng/mL and 10μg/mL. The microarrays prepared with bacteria exposing antibodies remain fully functional for at least 31 days after spotting. We finally demonstrated that the method is suitable for other antigen-antibody pairs and expect that it could be easily adapted to further applications such as the display of scFv and IgG antibodies or the autoantibody detection using protein PIMs. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  13. Structural Basis for Recognition of Human Enterovirus 71 by a Bivalent Broadly Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody

    PubMed Central

    Ku, Zhiqiang; Zuo, Teng; Kong, Liangliang; Zhang, Chao; Shi, Jinping; Liu, Qingwei; Chen, Tan; Zhang, Yingyi; Jiang, Wen; Zhang, Linqi; Huang, Zhong; Cong, Yao

    2016-01-01

    Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the main pathogen responsible for hand, foot and mouth disease with severe neurological complications and even death in young children. We have recently identified a highly potent anti-EV71 neutralizing monoclonal antibody, termed D5. Here we investigated the structural basis for recognition of EV71 by the antibody D5. Four three-dimensional structures of EV71 particles in complex with IgG or Fab of D5 were reconstructed by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) single particle analysis all at subnanometer resolutions. The most critical EV71 mature virion-Fab structure was resolved to a resolution of 4.8 Å, which is rare in cryo-EM studies of virus-antibody complex so far. The structures reveal a bivalent binding pattern of D5 antibody across the icosahedral 2-fold axis on mature virion, suggesting that D5 binding may rigidify virions to prevent their conformational changes required for subsequent RNA release. Moreover, we also identified that the complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of D5 heavy chain directly interacts with the extremely conserved VP1 GH-loop of EV71, which was validated by biochemical and virological assays. We further showed that D5 is indeed able to neutralize a variety of EV71 genotypes and strains. Moreover, D5 could potently confer protection in a mouse model of EV71 infection. Since the conserved VP1 GH-loop is involved in EV71 binding with its uncoating receptor, the scavenger receptor class B, member 2 (SCARB2), the broadly neutralizing ability of D5 might attribute to its inhibition of EV71 from binding SCARB2. Altogether, our results elucidate the structural basis for the binding and neutralization of EV71 by the broadly neutralizing antibody D5, thereby enhancing our understanding of antibody-based protection against EV71 infection. PMID:26938634

  14. Covalent bond force profile and cleavage in a single polymer chain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Garnier, Lionel; Gauthier-Manuel, Bernard; van der Vegte, Eric W.; Snijders, Jaap; Hadziioannou, Georges

    2000-08-01

    We present here the measurement of the single-polymer entropic elasticity and the single covalent bond force profile, probed with two types of atomic force microscopes (AFM) on a synthetic polymer molecule: polymethacrylic acid in water. The conventional AFM allowed us to distinguish two types of interactions present in this system when doing force spectroscopic measurements: the first interaction is associated with adsorption sites of the polymer chains onto a bare gold surface, the second interaction is directly correlated to the rupture process of a single covalent bond. All these bridging interactions allowed us to stretch the single polymer chain and to determine the various factors playing a role in the elasticity of these molecules. To obtain a closer insight into the bond rupture process, we moved to a force sensor stable in position when measuring attractive forces. By optimizing the polymer length so as to fulfill the elastic stability conditions, we were able for the first time to map out the entire force profile associated with the cleavage of a single covalent bond. Experimental data coupled with molecular quantum mechanical calculations strongly suggest that the breaking bond is located at one end of the polymer chain.

  15. Imaging vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors in turpentine-induced sterile thigh abscesses with radiolabeled single-chain VEGF.

    PubMed

    Levashova, Zoia; Backer, Marina; Backer, Joseph M; Blankenberg, Francis G

    2009-12-01

    Angiogenesis plays a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disorders. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors are the most important regulators of angiogenesis. We wished to determine whether labeled forms of single-chain VEGF (scVEGF) could be used to image VEGF receptors in a well-characterized model of sterile soft-tissue inflammation induced by intramuscular injection of turpentine. Anesthetized adult male Swiss-Webster mice received a 20-microL intramuscular injection of turpentine into the right thigh. At 4, 7, or 10 d later, groups of 3-5 mice were injected via the tail vein with 50 microg of either scVEGF that had been site specifically labeled with Cy5.5 (scVEGF/Cy) or inactivated scVEGF/Cy (inVEGF/Cy) and then examined by fluorescence imaging. At 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, or 12 d, additional groups of 3-5 mice were injected via the tail vein with 74-111 MBq of (99m)Tc-scVEGF (or (99m)Tc-inVEGF) and then examined by SPECT imaging. On days 3 through 10, both forms of scVEGF (scVEGF/Cy and (99m)Tc-scVEGF) showed significantly higher uptake (P < 0.05) in the right (abscessed) thigh than in the contralateral thigh (and higher uptake than the inactivated tracer). Peak uptake occurred on day 7 (3.67 +/- 1.79 [ratio of uptake in abscessed thigh to uptake in normal thigh, mean +/- SD] and 0.72 +/- 0.01 for scVEGF/Cy and inVEGF/Cy, respectively, and 3.49 +/- 1.22 and 1.04 +/- 0.41 for (99m)Tc-scVEGF and (99m)Tc-inVEGF, respectively) and slowly decreased thereafter. Autoradiography revealed peak tracer uptake in the thick irregular angiogenic rim of the abscess cavity on day 9 (5.83 x 10(-7) +/- 9.22 x 10(-8) and 5.85 x 10(-8) +/- 5.95 x 10(-8) percentage injected dose per pixel for (99m)Tc-scVEGF and (99m)Tc-inVEGF, respectively); in comparison, a thin circumscribed rim of uptake was seen with (99m)Tc-inVEGF. Immunostaining revealed that VEGFR-2 (VEGF receptor) colocalized with CD31 (endothelial cell marker) at all time points in the

  16. Molecular dynamics simulation of the folding of single alkane chains with different lengths on single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yan Fang; Yang, Hua; Zhang, Hui

    2018-05-31

    Chain folding is an important step during polymer crystallization. In order to study the effects of the surface on chain folding, molecular dynamics simulations of the folding of different alkane chains on three kinds of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and graphene were performed. The folding behaviors of the single alkane chains on these surfaces were found to be different from their folding behaviors in vacuum. The end-to-end distances of the chains were calculated to explore the chain folding. An increasing tendency to fold into two or more stems with increasing alkane chain length was observed. This result indicates that the occurrence and the stability of chain folding are related to the surface curvature, the diameter of the SWCNT, and surface texture. In addition, the angle between the direction of the alkane chain segment and the direction of the surface texture was measured on different surfaces.

  17. Microglial Fc Receptors Mediate Physiological Changes Resulting From Antibody Cross-Linking of Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein

    PubMed Central

    Marta, Cecilia B.; Bansal, Rashmi; Pfeiffer, Steven E.

    2009-01-01

    Antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) have been implicated in Multiple Sclerosis demyelination through activation of complement and/or macrophage-effector processes. We presented a novel mechanism, whereby MOG on oligodendrocytes, when cross-linked with anti-MOG and secondary antibody resulted in its repartitioning into lipid rafts, and changes in protein phosphorylation and morphology. Here, we show that similar events occur when anti-MOG is cross-linked with Fc receptors (FcRs) present on microglia but not with complement. These results indicate that FcRs are endogenous antigen/antibody cross-linkers in vitro, suggesting that FcRs could be physiologically relevant in vivo and possible targets for therapy in Multiple Sclerosis. PMID:18406472

  18. AAVrh.10-Mediated Expression of an Anti-Cocaine Antibody Mediates Persistent Passive Immunization That Suppresses Cocaine-Induced Behavior

    PubMed Central

    Rosenberg, Jonathan B.; Hicks, Martin J.; De, Bishnu P.; Pagovich, Odelya; Frenk, Esther; Janda, Kim D.; Wee, Sunmee; Koob, George F.; Hackett, Neil R.; Kaminsky, Stephen M.; Worgall, Stefan; Tignor, Nicole; Mezey, Jason G.

    2012-01-01

    Abstract Cocaine addiction is a major problem affecting all societal and economic classes for which there is no effective therapy. We hypothesized an effective anti-cocaine vaccine could be developed by using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene transfer vector as the delivery vehicle to persistently express an anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody in vivo, which would sequester cocaine in the blood, preventing access to cognate receptors in the brain. To accomplish this, we constructed AAVrh.10antiCoc.Mab, an AAVrh.10 gene transfer vector expressing the heavy and light chains of the high affinity anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody GNC92H2. Intravenous administration of AAVrh.10antiCoc.Mab to mice mediated high, persistent serum levels of high-affinity, cocaine-specific antibodies that sequestered intravenously administered cocaine in the blood. With repeated intravenous cocaine challenge, naive mice exhibited hyperactivity, while the AAVrh.10antiCoc.Mab-vaccinated mice were completely resistant to the cocaine. These observations demonstrate a novel strategy for cocaine addiction by requiring only a single administration of an AAV vector mediating persistent, systemic anti-cocaine passive immunity. PMID:22486244

  19. Toward Single Atom Chains with Exfoliated Tellurium.

    PubMed

    Churchill, Hugh O H; Salamo, Gregory J; Yu, Shui-Qing; Hironaka, Takayuki; Hu, Xian; Stacy, Jeb; Shih, Ishiang

    2017-08-10

    We demonstrate that the atom chain structure of Te allows it to be exfoliated as ultra-thin flakes and nanowires. Atomic force microscopy of exfoliated Te shows that thicknesses of 1-2 nm and widths below 100 nm can be exfoliated with this method. The Raman modes of exfoliated Te match those of bulk Te, with a slight shift (4 cm -1 ) due to a hardening of the A 1 and E modes. Polarized Raman spectroscopy is used to determine the crystal orientation of exfoliated Te flakes. These experiments establish exfoliation as a route to achieve nanoscale trigonal Te while also demonstrating the potential for fabrication of single atom chains of Te.

  20. Synthetic. cap alpha. subunit peptide 125-147 of human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor induces antibodies to native receptor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    McCormick, D.J.; Griesmann, G.E.; Huang, Z.

    1986-03-05

    A synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 125-147 of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (AChR) ..cap alpha.. subunit proved to be a major antigenic region of the AChR. Rats inoculated with 50 ..mu..g of peptide (T ..cap alpha.. 125-147) developed T cell immunity and antibodies to native AChR and signs of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. They report the synthesis and preliminary testing of a disulfide-looped peptide comprising residues 125-147 of the human AChR ..cap alpha.. subunit. Peptide H ..cap alpha.. 125-147 differs from T ..cap alpha.. 125-147 at residues 139 (Glu for Gln) and 143 (Ser for Thr). In immunoprecipitation assays, antibodiesmore » to Torpedo AChR bound /sup 125/I-labelled H..cap alpha.. 125-147 antibody bound H..cap alpha.. 125-147, but monoclonal antibodies to an immunodominant region of native AChR bound neither H..cap alpha.. 125-147 nor T ..cap alpha.. 125-147. Rats immunized with H ..cap alpha.. 125-147 produced anti-mammalian muscle AChR antibodies that induced modulation of AChRs from cultured human myotubes. Thus, region 125-147 of the human AChR ..cap alpha.. subunit is extracellular in muscle, and is both antigenic and immunogenic. It remains to be determined whether or not autoantibodies to this region may in part cause the weakness or myasthenia gravis in man.« less

  1. Receptor mimicry by antibody F045–092 facilitates universal binding to the H3 subtype of influenza virus

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lee, Peter S.; Ohshima, Nobuko; Stanfield, Robyn L.

    Influenza viruses present a significant health challenge each year, as in the H3N2 epidemic of 2012–2013. Here we describe an antibody, F045–092, that possesses broadly neutralizing activity against the entire H3 subtype and accommodates the natural variation and additional glycosylation in all strains tested from 1963 to 2011. Crystal structures of F045–092 in complex with HAs from 1975 and 2011 H3N2 viruses reveal the structural basis for its neutralization breadth through insertion of its 23-residue HCDR3 into the receptor-binding site that involves striking receptor mimicry. F045–092 extends its recognition to divergent subtypes, including H1, H2 and H13, using the enhancedmore » avidity of its IgG to overcome lower-affinity Fab binding, as observed with other antibodies that target the receptor-binding site. This unprecedented level of antibody cross-reactivity against the H3 subtype can potentially inform on development of a pan-H3 vaccine or small-molecule therapeutics.« less

  2. Covalent antibody display—an in vitro antibody-DNA library selection system

    PubMed Central

    Reiersen, Herald; Løbersli, Inger; Løset, Geir Å.; Hvattum, Else; Simonsen, Bjørg; Stacy, John E.; McGregor, Duncan; FitzGerald, Kevin; Welschof, Martin; Brekke, Ole H.; Marvik, Ole J.

    2005-01-01

    The endonuclease P2A initiates the DNA replication of the bacteriophage P2 by making a covalent bond with its own phosphate backbone. This enzyme has now been exploited as a new in vitro display tool for antibody fragments. We have constructed genetic fusions of P2A with single-chain antibodies (scFvs). Linear DNA of these fusion proteins were processed in an in vitro coupled transcription–translation mixture of Escherichia coli S30 lysate. Complexes of scFv–P2A fusion proteins covalently bound to their own DNA were isolated after panning on immobilized antigen, and the enriched DNAs were recovered by PCR and prepared for the subsequent cycles of panning. We have demonstrated the enrichment of scFvs from spiked libraries and the specific selection of different anti-tetanus toxoid scFvs from a V-gene library with 50 million different members prepared from human lymphocytes. This covalent antibody display technology offers a complete in vitro selection system based exclusively on DNA–protein complexes. PMID:15653626

  3. Toward Effective HIV Vaccination INDUCTION OF BINARY EPITOPE REACTIVE ANTIBODIES WITH BROAD HIV NEUTRALIZING ACTIVITY

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nishiyama, Yasuhiro; Planque, Stephanie; Mitsuda, Yukie

    2009-11-23

    We describe murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised by immunization with an electrophilic gp120 analog (E-gp120) expressing the rare ability to neutralize genetically heterologous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strains. Unlike gp120, E-gp120 formed covalent oligomers. The reactivity of gp120 and E-gp120 with mAbs to reference neutralizing epitopes was markedly different, indicating their divergent structures. Epitope mapping with synthetic peptides and electrophilic peptide analogs indicated binary recognition of two distinct gp120 regions by anti-E-gp120 mAbs, the 421-433 and 288-306 peptide regions. Univalent Fab and single chain Fv fragments expressed the ability to recognize both peptides. X-ray crystallography of an anti-E-gp120 Fab fragmentmore » revealed two neighboring cavities, the typical antigen-binding cavity formed by the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) and another cavity dominated by antibody heavy chain variable (VH) domain framework (FR) residues. Substitution of the FR cavity VH Lys-19 residue by an Ala residue resulted in attenuated binding of the 421-433 region peptide probe. The CDRs and VH FR replacement/silent mutation ratios exceeded the ratio for a random mutation process, suggesting adaptive development of both putative binding sites. All mAbs studied were derived from VH1 family genes, suggesting biased recruitment of the V gene germ line repertoire by E-gp120. The conserved 421-433 region of gp120 is essential for HIV binding to host CD4 receptors. This region is recognized weakly by the FR of antibodies produced without exposure to HIV, but it usually fails to induce adaptive synthesis of neutralizing antibodies. We present models accounting for improved CD4-binding site recognition and broad HIV neutralizing activity of the mAbs, long sought goals in HIV vaccine development.« less

  4. Hybridization-based antibody cDNA recovery for the production of recombinant antibodies identified by repertoire sequencing.

    PubMed

    Valdés-Alemán, Javier; Téllez-Sosa, Juan; Ovilla-Muñoz, Marbella; Godoy-Lozano, Elizabeth; Velázquez-Ramírez, Daniel; Valdovinos-Torres, Humberto; Gómez-Barreto, Rosa E; Martinez-Barnetche, Jesús

    2014-01-01

    High-throughput sequencing of the antibody repertoire is enabling a thorough analysis of B cell diversity and clonal selection, which may improve the novel antibody discovery process. Theoretically, an adequate bioinformatic analysis could allow identification of candidate antigen-specific antibodies, requiring their recombinant production for experimental validation of their specificity. Gene synthesis is commonly used for the generation of recombinant antibodies identified in silico. Novel strategies that bypass gene synthesis could offer more accessible antibody identification and validation alternatives. We developed a hybridization-based recovery strategy that targets the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDRH3) for the enrichment of cDNA of candidate antigen-specific antibody sequences. Ten clonal groups of interest were identified through bioinformatic analysis of the heavy chain antibody repertoire of mice immunized with hen egg white lysozyme (HEL). cDNA from eight of the targeted clonal groups was recovered efficiently, leading to the generation of recombinant antibodies. One representative heavy chain sequence from each clonal group recovered was paired with previously reported anti-HEL light chains to generate full antibodies, later tested for HEL-binding capacity. The recovery process proposed represents a simple and scalable molecular strategy that could enhance antibody identification and specificity assessment, enabling a more cost-efficient generation of recombinant antibodies.

  5. Single-copy entanglement in critical quantum spin chains

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eisert, J.; Cramer, M.

    2005-10-01

    We consider the single-copy entanglement as a quantity to assess quantum correlations in the ground state in quantum many-body systems. We show for a large class of models that already on the level of single specimens of spin chains, criticality is accompanied with the possibility of distilling a maximally entangled state of arbitrary dimension from a sufficiently large block deterministically, with local operations and classical communication. These analytical results—which refine previous results on the divergence of block entropy as the rate at which maximally entangled pairs can be distilled from many identically prepared chains—are made quantitative for general isotropic translationally invariant spin chains that can be mapped onto a quasifree fermionic system, and for the anisotropic XY model. For the XX model, we provide the asymptotic scaling of ˜(1/6)log2(L) , and contrast it with the block entropy.

  6. Antibody Light-Chain-Restricted Recognition of the Site of Immune Pressure in the RV144 HIV-1 Vaccine Trial Is Phylogenetically Conserved

    DOE PAGES

    Wiehe, Kevin; Easterhoff, David; Luo, Kan; ...

    2014-11-29

    In HIV-1, the ability to mount antibody responses to conserved, neutralizing epitopes is critical for protection. Here we have studied the light chain usage of human and rhesus macaque antibodies targeted to a dominant region of the HIV-1 envelope second variable (V2) region involving lysine (K) 169, the site of immune pressure in the RV144 vaccine efficacy trial. We found that humans and rhesus macaques used orthologous lambda variable gene segments encoding a glutamic acid-aspartic acid (ED) motif for K169 recognition. Structure determination of an unmutated ancestor antibody demonstrated that the V2 binding site was preconfigured for ED motif-mediated recognitionmore » prior to maturation. Thus, light chain usage for recognition of the site of immune pressure in the RV144 trial is highly conserved across species. In conclusion, these data indicate that the HIV-1 K169-recognizing ED motif has persisted over the diversification between rhesus macaques and humans, suggesting an evolutionary advantage of this antibody recognition mode.« less

  7. Antibody Light-Chain-Restricted Recognition of the Site of Immune Pressure in the RV144 HIV-1 Vaccine Trial Is Phylogenetically Conserved

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wiehe, Kevin; Easterhoff, David; Luo, Kan

    In HIV-1, the ability to mount antibody responses to conserved, neutralizing epitopes is critical for protection. Here we have studied the light chain usage of human and rhesus macaque antibodies targeted to a dominant region of the HIV-1 envelope second variable (V2) region involving lysine (K) 169, the site of immune pressure in the RV144 vaccine efficacy trial. We found that humans and rhesus macaques used orthologous lambda variable gene segments encoding a glutamic acid-aspartic acid (ED) motif for K169 recognition. Structure determination of an unmutated ancestor antibody demonstrated that the V2 binding site was preconfigured for ED motif-mediated recognitionmore » prior to maturation. Thus, light chain usage for recognition of the site of immune pressure in the RV144 trial is highly conserved across species. In conclusion, these data indicate that the HIV-1 K169-recognizing ED motif has persisted over the diversification between rhesus macaques and humans, suggesting an evolutionary advantage of this antibody recognition mode.« less

  8. Analysis of reduced monoclonal antibodies using size exclusion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Hongcheng; Gaza-Bulseco, Georgeen; Chumsae, Chris

    2009-12-01

    Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) has been widely used to detect antibody aggregates, monomer, and fragments. SEC coupled to mass spectrometry has been reported to measure the molecular weights of antibody; antibody conjugates, and antibody light chain and heavy chain. In this study, separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain by SEC and direct coupling to a mass spectrometer was further studied. It was determined that employing mobile phases containing acetonitrile, trifluoroacetic acid, and formic acid allowed the separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain after reduction by SEC. In addition, this mobile phase allowed the coupling of SEC to a mass spectrometer to obtain a direct molecular weight measurement. The application of the SEC-MS method was demonstrated by the separation of the light chain and the heavy chain of multiple recombinant monoclonal antibodies. In addition, separation of a thioether linked light chain and heavy chain from the free light chain and the free heavy chain of a recombinant monoclonal antibody after reduction was also achieved. This optimized method provided a separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain based on size and allowed a direct measurement of molecular weights by mass spectrometry. In addition, this method may help to identify peaks eluting from SEC column directly.

  9. Regions of recognition by blocking antibodies on the light chain of botulinum neurotoxin A: antigenic structure of the entire toxin.

    PubMed

    Dolimbek, Behzod Z; Steward, Lance E; Aoki, K Roger; Atassi, M Zouhair

    2011-06-01

    The continuous regions on botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) light (L) chain recognized by anti-toxin antibodies (Abs) from mouse, horse and chicken have been mapped. We synthesized a panel of thirty-two 19-residue peptides that overlapped consecutively by 5 residues and encompassed the entire L chain (residues 1-453). Mouse Abs recognized 5 major antigenic regions on the L chain, horse Abs recognized 9 while chicken Abs recognized 8 major antigenic regions. Overall, however, the three host species recognized, to some extent, similar, but not identical, peptides and the levels of Abs directed against a given region varied with the immunized host. Differences in the MHC of the host caused variation in levels of Ab recognition and some epitopes showed right or left frame-shifts among the species. Selected region(s) were also uniquely recognized by one species (e.g., peptide L1 by horse Abs). Mapping of the L chain antigenic regions and the previous localization of the regions on the H chain with the same antisera, has permitted description of the complete antigenic structure of BoNT/A. The locations in the 3-dimensional structure of the antigenic regions of the entire toxin are shown for mouse Abs. In the 3-D structure, the antigenic regions are on the surface of the toxin and when antibodies are bound the enzymatic activity of the light chain is obstructed. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  10. Genomic Region Containing Toll-Like Receptor Genes Has a Major Impact on Total IgM Antibodies Including KLH-Binding IgM Natural Antibodies in Chickens

    PubMed Central

    Berghof, Tom V. L.; Visker, Marleen H. P. W.; Arts, Joop A. J.; Parmentier, Henk K.; van der Poel, Jan J.; Vereijken, Addie L. J.; Bovenhuis, Henk

    2018-01-01

    Natural antibodies (NAb) are antigen binding antibodies present in individuals without a previous exposure to this antigen. Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-binding NAb levels were previously associated with survival in chickens. This suggests that selective breeding for KLH-binding NAb may increase survival by means of improved general disease resistance. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed to identify genes underlying genetic variation in NAb levels. The studied population consisted of 1,628 adolescent layer chickens with observations for titers of KLH-binding NAb of the isotypes IgM, IgA, IgG, the total KLH-binding (IgT) NAb titers, total antibody concentrations of the isotypes IgM, IgA, IgG, and the total antibodies concentration in plasma. GWAS were performed using 57,636 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). One chromosomal region on chromosome 4 was associated with KLH-binding IgT NAb, and total IgM concentration, and especially with KLH-binding IgM NAb. The region of interest was fine mapped by imputing the region of the study population to whole genome sequence, and subsequently performing an association study using the imputed sequence variants. 16 candidate genes were identified, of which FAM114A1, Toll-like receptor 1 family member B (TLR1B), TLR1A, Krüppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) showed the strongest associations. SNP located in coding regions of the candidate genes were checked for predicted changes in protein functioning. One SNP (at 69,965,939 base pairs) received the maximum impact score from two independent prediction tools, which makes this SNP the most likely causal variant. This SNP is located in TLR1A, which suggests a fundamental role of TLR1A on regulation of IgM levels (i.e., KLH-binding IgM NAb, and total IgM concentration), or B cells biology, or both. This study contributes to increased understanding of (genetic) regulation of KLH-binding NAb levels, and total antibody concentrations. PMID:29375555

  11. Ultrasensitive direct impedimetric immunosensor for detection of serum HER2.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Shikha; Zapatero-Rodríguez, Julia; Saxena, Rahul; O'Kennedy, Richard; Srivastava, Sudha

    2018-05-30

    Assesment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status is a key factor prompting definitive treatment decisions that help in reducing mortality rates associated with breast cancer. In this article, highly sensitive and low-cost impedimetric immunosensor using single-chain fragment variable antibody fragments was developed for quantitative detection of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 from serum employing gold nanoparticle-modified disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. The gold nanoparticles facilitate fast electron transfer and offer a biocompatible surface for immobilization of small antibody fragments in an oriented manner, resulting in improved antigen binding efficiency. The single-chain fragment variable antibody fragment-modified screen printed immunosensor exhibits wide dynamic range of 0.01-100 ng mL -1 and detection limit of 0.01 ng mL -1 . The advantages offered by this platform in terms of high sensitivity, broad dynamic range and low-cost demonstrates great potential for improved monitoring of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 levels for the management of breast and other cancers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Differential control of the tyrosine kinases Lyn and Syk by the two signaling chains of the high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor.

    PubMed

    Jouvin, M H; Adamczewski, M; Numerof, R; Letourneur, O; Vallé, A; Kinet, J P

    1994-02-25

    Nonreceptor tyrosine kinases such as the newly described 70-kDa (ZAP-70/Syk) and Src-related tyrosine kinases are coupled to a variety of receptors, including the antigen receptors on B- and T-cells and the Fc receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) and IgG (Fc gamma RI, Fc gamma RIII/CD16). Various subunits of these receptors contain homologous activation motifs which appear capable of autonomously triggering cell activation. Two forms of this motif are present in the Fc epsilon RI multimeric complex: one in the beta chain and one in the gamma chain. Here we show that each of the two tyrosine kinases known to be involved in Fc epsilon RI signaling is controlled by a distinct motif-containing chain. Lyn associates with the nonactivated beta chain, whereas gamma promotes the activation of Syk. We also show that neither the beta nor the gamma motif alone can account for the full signaling capacity of the entire receptor. We propose that, upon triggering of the tetrameric receptor, Lyn already bound to beta becomes activated and phosphorylates beta and gamma; the phosphorylation of gamma induces the association of Syk with gamma and also the activation of Syk, resulting in the phosphorylation and activation of phospholipase C gamma 1. Cooperative recruitment of specific kinases by the various signaling chains found in this family of antigen receptors could represent a way to achieve the full signaling capacity of the multimeric complexes.

  13. Blood-brain barrier drug delivery of IgG fusion proteins with a transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody.

    PubMed

    Pardridge, William M

    2015-02-01

    Biologic drugs are large molecules that do not cross the blood- brain barrier (BBB). Brain penetration is possible following the re-engineering of the biologic drug as an IgG fusion protein. The IgG domain is a MAb against an endogenous BBB receptor such as the transferrin receptor (TfR). The TfRMAb acts as a molecular Trojan horse to ferry the fused biologic drug into the brain via receptor-mediated transport on the endogenous BBB TfR. This review discusses TfR isoforms, models of BBB transport of transferrin and TfRMAbs, and the genetic engineering of TfRMAb fusion proteins, including BBB penetrating IgG-neurotrophins, IgG-decoy receptors, IgG-lysosomal enzyme therapeutics and IgG-avidin fusion proteins, as well as BBB transport of bispecific antibodies formed by fusion of a therapeutic antibody to a TfRMAb targeting antibody. Also discussed are quantitative aspects of the plasma pharmacokinetics and brain uptake of TfRMAb fusion proteins, as compared to the brain uptake of small molecules, and therapeutic applications of TfRMAb fusion proteins in mouse models of neural disease, including Parkinson's disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and lysosomal storage disorders. The review covers the engineering of TfRMAb-avidin fusion proteins for BBB targeted delivery of biotinylated peptide radiopharmaceuticals, low-affinity TfRMAb Trojan horses and the safety pharmacology of chronic administration of TfRMAb fusion proteins. The BBB delivery of biologic drugs is possible following re-engineering as a fusion protein with a molecular Trojan horse such as a TfRMAb. The efficacy of this technology will be determined by the outcome of future clinical trials.

  14. Docking and free energy simulations to predict conformational domains involved in hCG-LH receptor interactions using recombinant antibodies.

    PubMed

    Majumdar, Ritankar; Railkar, Reema; Dighe, Rajan R

    2011-11-01

    Single chain fragment variables (ScFvs) have been extensively employed in studying the protein-protein interactions. ScFvs derived from phage display libraries have an additional advantage of being generated against a native antigen, circumventing loss of information on conformational epitopes. In the present study, an attempt has been made to elucidate human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor interactions by using a neutral and two inhibitory ScFvs against hCG. The objective was to dock a computationally derived model of these ScFvs onto the crystal structure of hCG and understand the differential roles of the mapped epitopes in hCG-LH receptor interactions. An anti-hCG ScFv, whose epitope was mapped previously using biochemical tools, served as the positive control for assessing the quality of docking analysis. To evaluate the role of specific side chains at the hCG-ScFv interface, binding free energy as well as residue interaction energies of complexes in solution were calculated using molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/surface area method after performing the molecular dynamic simulations on the selected hCG-ScFv models and validated using biochemical and SPR analysis. The robustness of these calculations was demonstrated by comparing the theoretically determined binding energies with the experimentally obtained kinetic parameters for hCG-ScFv complexes. Superimposition of hCG-ScFv model onto a model of hCG complexed with the 51-266 residues of LH receptor revealed importance of the residues previously thought to be unimportant for hormone binding and response. This analysis provides an alternate tool for understanding the structure-function analysis of ligand-receptor interactions. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  15. Anti-DNA antibodies--quintessential biomarkers of SLE.

    PubMed

    Pisetsky, David S

    2016-02-01

    Antibodies that recognize and bind to DNA (anti-DNA antibodies) are serological hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and key markers for diagnosis and disease activity. In addition to common use in the clinic, anti-DNA antibody testing now also determines eligibility for clinical trials, raising important questions about the nature of the antibody-antigen interaction. At present, no 'gold standard' for serological assessment exists, and anti-DNA antibody binding can be measured with a variety of assay formats, which differ in the nature of the DNA substrates and in the conditions for binding and detection of antibodies. A mechanism called monogamous bivalency--in which high avidity results from simultaneous interaction of IgG Fab sites with a single polynucleotide chain--determines anti-DNA antibody binding; this mechanism might affect antibody detection in different assay formats. Although anti-DNA antibodies can promote pathogenesis by depositing in the kidney or driving cytokine production, they are not all alike, pathologically, and anti-DNA antibody expression does not necessarily correlate with active disease. Levels of anti-DNA antibodies in patients with SLE can vary over time, distinguishing anti-DNA antibodies from other pathogenic antinuclear antibodies. Elucidation of the binding specificities and the pathogenic roles of anti-DNA antibodies in SLE should enable improvements in the design of informative assays for both clinical and research purposes.

  16. Unbiased Analysis of TCRα/β Chains at the Single-Cell Level in Human CD8+ T-Cell Subsets

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Xiaoming; Saito, Masumichi; Sato, Yoshinori; Chikata, Takayuki; Naruto, Takuya; Ozawa, Tatsuhiko; Kobayashi, Eiji; Kishi, Hiroyuki; Muraguchi, Atsushi; Takiguchi, Masafumi

    2012-01-01

    T-cell receptor (TCR) α/β chains are expressed on the surface of CD8+ T-cells and have been implicated in antigen recognition, activation, and proliferation. However, the methods for characterization of human TCRα/β chains have not been well established largely because of the complexity of their structures owing to the extensive genetic rearrangements that they undergo. Here we report the development of an integrated 5′-RACE and multiplex PCR method to amplify the full-length transcripts of TCRα/β at the single-cell level in human CD8+ subsets, including naive, central memory, early effector memory, late effector memory, and effector phenotypic cells. Using this method, with an approximately 47% and 62% of PCR success rate for TCRα and for TCRβ chains, respectively, we were able to analyze more than 1,000 reads of transcripts of each TCR chain. Our comprehensive analysis revealed the following: (1) chimeric rearrangements of TCRδ-α, (2) control of TCRα/β transcription with multiple transcriptional initiation sites, (3) altered utilization of TCRα/β chains in CD8+ subsets, and (4) strong association between the clonal size of TCRα/β chains and the effector phenotype of CD8+ T-cells. Based on these findings, we conclude that our method is a useful tool to identify the dynamics of the TCRα/β repertoire, and provides new insights into the study of human TCRα/β chains. PMID:22792299

  17. Impact of linker and conjugation chemistry on antigen binding, Fc receptor binding and thermal stability of model antibody-drug conjugates

    PubMed Central

    Acchione, Mauro; Kwon, Hyewon; Jochheim, Claudia M.; Atkins, William M.

    2012-01-01

    Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with biotin as a model cargo tethered to IgG1 mAbs via different linkers and conjugation methods were prepared and tested for thermostability and ability to bind target antigen and Fc receptor. Most conjugates demonstrated decreased thermostability relative to unconjugated antibody, based on DSC, with carbohydrate and amine coupled ADCs showing the least effect compared with thiol coupled conjugates. A strong correlation between biotin-load and loss of stability is observed with thiol conjugation to one IgG scaffold, but the stability of a second IgG scaffold is relatively insensitive to biotin load. The same correlation for amine coupling was less significant. Binding of antibody to antigen and Fc receptor was investigated using surface plasmon resonance. None of the conjugates exhibited altered antigen affinity. Fc receptor FcγIIb (CD32b) interactions were investigated using captured antibody conjugate. Protein G and Protein A, known inhibitors of Fc receptor (FcR) binding to IgG, were also used to extend the analysis of the impact of conjugation on Fc receptor binding. H10NPEG4 was the only conjugate to show significant negative impact to FcR binding, which is likely due to higher biotin-load compared with the other ADCs. The ADC aHISNLC and aHISTPEG8 demonstrated some loss in affinity for FcR, but to much lower extent. The general insensitivity of target binding and effector function of the IgG1 platform to conjugation highlight their utility. The observed changes in thermostability require consideration for the choice of conjugation chemistry, depending on the system being pursued and particular application of the conjugate. PMID:22531451

  18. Quantitative assessment of antibody internalization with novel monoclonal antibodies against Alexa fluorophores.

    PubMed

    Liao-Chan, Sindy; Daine-Matsuoka, Barbara; Heald, Nathan; Wong, Tiffany; Lin, Tracey; Cai, Allen G; Lai, Michelle; D'Alessio, Joseph A; Theunissen, Jan-Willem

    2015-01-01

    Antibodies against cell surface antigens may be internalized through their specific interactions with these proteins and in some cases may induce or perturb antigen internalization. The anti-cancer efficacy of antibody-drug conjugates is thought to rely on their uptake by cancer cells expressing the surface antigen. Numerous techniques, including microscopy and flow cytometry, have been used to identify antibodies with desired cellular uptake rates. To enable quantitative measurements of internalization of labeled antibodies, an assay based on internalized and quenched fluorescence was developed. For this approach, we generated novel anti-Alexa Fluor monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that effectively and specifically quench cell surface-bound Alexa Fluor 488 or Alexa Fluor 594 fluorescence. Utilizing Alexa Fluor-labeled mAbs against the EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase, we showed that the anti-Alexa Fluor reagents could be used to monitor internalization quantitatively over time. The anti-Alexa Fluor mAbs were also validated in a proof of concept dual-label internalization assay with simultaneous exposure of cells to two different mAbs. Importantly, the unique anti-Alexa Fluor mAbs described here may also enable other single- and dual-label experiments, including label detection and signal enhancement in macromolecules, trafficking of proteins and microorganisms, and cell migration and morphology.

  19. Exploring the folding pattern of a polymer chain in a single crystal by combining single-molecule force spectroscopy and steered molecular dynamics simulations.

    PubMed

    Song, Yu; Feng, Wei; Liu, Kai; Yang, Peng; Zhang, Wenke; Zhang, Xi

    2013-03-26

    Understanding the folding pattern of a single polymer chain within its single crystal will shed light on the mechanism of crystallization. Here, we use the combined techniques of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to study the folding pattern of a polyethylene oxide (PEO) chain in its single crystal. Our results show that the folding pattern of a PEO chain in the crystal formed in dilute solution follows the adjacent re-entry folding model. While in the crystal obtained from the melt, the nonadjacent folding with large and irregular loops contributes to big force fluctuations in the force-extension curves. The method established here can offer a novel strategy to directly unravel the chain-folding pattern of polymer single crystals at single-molecule level.

  20. Use of Monoclonal Antibodies to Study the Structure and Function of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors on Electric Organ and Muscle and to Determine the Structure of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors on Neurons

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-03-16

    receptors in muscle is responsible for the muscular weakness characteristic of myasthenia gravis . Some insecticides can act like chemical warfare...expresses muscle-like acetyi-.holine receptor by observing that autoantibodies from myasthenia gravis patients reacted as well with these receptors as...Antibodies in sera from patients with myasthenia gravis do not bind to acetylcholine receptors from human brain. J Neuroimmunol 16:205-213. 21. Whiting