Chimeric mouse human IgG3 antibodies with an IgG4-like hinge region induce complement-mediated lysis more efficiently than IgG3 with normal hinge

Enhancing complement activation by therapeutic anti-tumor antibodies: Mechanisms, strategies, and engineering approaches

The complement system plays an integral role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Beyond its protective function against infections, complement is also known to influence tumor immunity, where its activation can either promote tumor progression or mediate tumor cell destruction, depending on the context. One such context can be provided by antibodies, with their inherent capacity to activate the classical complement pathway. In recent years, our understanding of the mechanisms governing complement activation by IgG and IgM antibodies has expanded significantly. At the same time, preclinical and clinical studies on antibodies such as rituximab, ofatumumab, and daratumumab have provided evidence for the role of complement in therapeutic success, encouraging strategies to further enhance its activity. In this review we examine the main determinants of antibody-mediated complement activation, highlighting the importance of antibody subclass, affinity, valency, and geometry of antigen engagement. We summarize the evidence for complement involvement in anti-tumor activity and challenges of accurately estimating the extent of its contribution to therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, we explore several engineering approaches designed to enhance complement activation, including increased Fc oligomerization and C1q affinity, bispecific C1q-recruiting antibodies, IgG subclass chimeras, as well as antibody and paratope combinations. Strategies targeting membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins to overcome tumor-associated complement inhibition are also discussed as a method to boost therapeutic efficacy. Finally, we highlight the potential of complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (CDCC) and complement-dependent cellular phagocytosis (CDCP) as effector mechanisms that warrant deeper investigation. By integrating advances in antibody and complement biology with insights from efforts to enhance complement activation in therapeutic antibodies, this review aims to provide a comprehensive framework of antibody design and engineering strategies that optimize complement activity for improved anti-tumor efficacy.

Selection and characterization of a peptide-based complement modulator targeting C1 of the innate immune system

The human complement pathway plays a pivotal role in immune defence, homeostasis, and autoimmunity regulation, and complement-based therapeutics have emerged as promising interventions, with both antagonistic and agonistic approaches being explored. The classical pathway of complement is initiated when the C1 complex binds to hexameric antibody platforms. Recent structural data revealed that C1 binds to small, homogeneous interfaces at the periphery of the antibody platforms. Here, we have developed a novel strategy for complement activation using macrocyclic peptides designed to mimic the interface between antibodies and the C1 complex. In vitro selection utilizing the RaPID system identified a cyclic peptide (cL3) that binds to the C1 complex via the globular head domains of C1q. Notably, when immobilized on surfaces, cL3 effectively recruits C1 from human serum, activates C1s proteases, and induces lysis of cell-mimetic lipid membranes. This represents the first instance of a peptide capable of activating complement by binding C1 when immobilized. Further characterization and synthesis of deletion mutants revealed a critical cycle size of cL3 essential for C1 binding and efficient complement activation. Importantly, cL3 also demonstrated the ability to inhibit complement-mediated lysis without affecting C1 binding, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic modality to prevent complement-dependent cytotoxicity whilst promoting cellular phagocytosis and cell clearance. In summary, this study introduces the concept of "Peptactins" - peptide-based activators of complement - and underscores the potential of macrocyclic peptides for complement modulation, offering potential advantages over traditional biologicals in terms of size, production, and administration.

Unlocking the Power of Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity: Engineering Strategies for the Development of Potent Therapeutic Antibodies for Cancer Treatments

The complement system is a crucial part of the innate immune response, providing defense against invading pathogens and cancer cells. Recently, it has become evident that the complement system plays a significant role in anticancer activities, particularly through complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), alongside antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis (ADCP). With the discovery of new roles for serum complement molecules in the human immune system, various approaches are being pursued to develop CDC-enhanced antibody therapeutics. In this review, we focus on successful antibody engineering strategies for enhancing CDC, analyzing the lessons learned and the limitations of each approach. Furthermore, we outline potential pathways for the development of antibody therapeutics specifically aimed at enhancing CDC for superior therapeutic efficacy in the future.

Characterization of disulfide linkages at the hinge region of IgG antibodies by HPLC mass spectrometry

There are two types of disulfide linkages in IgG antibodies at the hinge region: intra- and inter-disulfide linkages. Characterization of intra-disulfide linked isomer will provide important information on the stability of the antibodies and better understanding of the mechanism of Fab-arm exchange. In this report, HPLC coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry was applied for characterization of disulfide linkages in IgG antibodies at the hinge region. We were able to accurately identify both inter- and intra-disulfide linked peptides and correctly quantify intra-disulfide isomers. It is the first study to quantify intra-disulfide isomers in IgG antibodies with a mass spectrometry approach. It will help to achieve efficient generation of bispecific antibodies with Fab-arm exchange.

Possible participation of IgG4 in the activation of complement in IgG4-related disease with hypocomplementemia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate which IgG subclasses contribute to the activation of the complement pathway in IgG4-related disease (IgG4RD) patients with hypocomplementemia.

METHODS

Sera of IgG4RD patients were analyzed for the binding ability of IgG subclasses to complement component 1q (C1q). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitates containing immune complexes (ICs) in sera of IgG4RD patients were analyzed for IgG subclass composition by Western blotting. PEG precipitates containing ICs (PEG-ICs) in sera of patients were also analyzed for their ability to consume complement in normal human serum (NHS) using a total complement hemolytic (CH50) assay and a commercial kit to measure the complement capacity of all three individual complement pathways.

RESULTS

The C1q binding assay revealed high serum levels of C1q-binding IgG4 in IgG4RD patients with hypocomplementemia. ICs in PEG precipitates were formed with IgG4 in IgG4RD patients, regardless of the presence or absence of hypocomplementemia. We observed a marked reduction of CH50 and reduced complement activity in the classical complement pathway as well as the mannan-binding lectin complement pathway in NHS incubated with PEG-IC isolated from IgG4RD patients with hypocomplementemia.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that IgG4 may participate in the activation of complement in IgG4RD patients with hypocomplementemia.

Advances in Antibody Design

The use of monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics requires optimizing several of their key attributes. These include binding affinity and specificity, folding stability, solubility, pharmacokinetics, effector functions, and compatibility with the attachment of additional antibody domains (bispecific antibodies) and cytotoxic drugs (antibody-drug conjugates). Addressing these and other challenges requires the use of systematic design methods that complement powerful immunization and in vitro screening methods. We review advances in designing the binding loops, scaffolds, domain interfaces, constant regions, post-translational and chemical modifications, and bispecific architectures of antibodies and fragments thereof to improve their bioactivity. We also highlight unmet challenges in antibody design that must be overcome to generate potent antibody therapeutics.

Hinge-Region O-Glycosylation of Human Immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3)

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is one of the most abundant proteins present in human serum and a fundamental component of the immune system. IgG3 represents ∼8% of the total amount of IgG in human serum and stands out from the other IgG subclasses because of its elongated hinge region and enhanced effector functions. This study reports partial O-glycosylation of the IgG3 hinge region, observed with nanoLC-ESI-IT-MS(/MS) analysis after proteolytic digestion. The repeat regions within the IgG3 hinge were found to be in part O-glycosylated at the threonine in the triple repeat motif. Non-, mono- and disialylated core 1-type O-glycans were detected in various IgG3 samples, both poly- and monoclonal. NanoLC-ESI-IT-MS/MS with electron transfer dissociation fragmentation and CE-MS/MS with CID fragmentation were used to determine the site of IgG3 O-glycosylation. The O-glycosylation site was further confirmed by the recombinant production of mutant IgG3 in which potential O-glycosylation sites had been knocked out. For IgG3 samples from six donors we found similar O-glycan structures and site occupancies, whereas for the same samples the conserved N-glycosylation of the Fc CH2 domain showed considerable interindividual variation. The occupancy of each of the three O-glycosylation sites was found to be ∼10% in six serum-derived IgG3 samples and ∼13% in two monoclonal IgG3 allotypes.

The immunoglobulin, IgG Fc receptor and complement triangle in autoimmune diseases

Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated activation of complement and IgG Fc receptors (FcγRs) are important defense mechanisms of the innate immune system to ward off infections. However, the same mechanisms can drive severe and harmful inflammation, when IgG antibodies react with self-antigens in solution or tissues, as described for several autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and immune vasculitis. More specifically, IgG immune complexes (ICs) can activate all three pathways of the complement system resulting in the generation of C3 and C5 cleavage products that can activate a panel of different complement receptors on innate and adaptive immune cells. Importantly, complement and FcγRs are often co-expressed on inflammatory immune cells such as neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages or dendritic cells and act in concert to mediate the inflammatory response in autoimmune diseases. In this context, the cross-talk between the receptor for the anaphylatoxin C5a, i.e. C5ar1 (CD88) and FcγRs is of major importance. Recent data suggest a model of bidirectional regulation, in which CD88 acts upstream of FcγRs and sets the threshold for FcγR-dependent effector responses by regulating the ratio between activating and inhibitory FcγRs. Vice versa, FcγR ligation can either amplify or block C5aR-mediated effector functions, depending on whether IgG IC aggregate activating or inhibitory FcγRs. Further, complement and FcγRs cooperate on B cells and on follicular dendritic cells to regulate the development of autoreactive B cells, their differentiation into plasma cells and, eventually, the production of autoantibodies. Here, we will give an update on recent findings regarding this complex regulatory network between complement and FcγRs, which may also regulate the inflammatory response in allergy, cancer and infection.

Engineered antibodies of IgG1/IgG3 mixed isotype with enhanced cytotoxic activities

Enhancement of multiple effector functions of an antibody may be a promising approach for antibody therapy. We have previously reported that fucose removal from Fc-linked oligosaccharides greatly enhances antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of therapeutic antibodies. Here, we report a unique approach to enhance complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), another important effector function of antitumor antibodies, by using engineered constant region of human IgG1/IgG3 chimeric isotypes. We systematically shuffled constant domains of IgG1 and IgG3 to generate a comprehensive set of mixed chimeric isotypes of anti-CD20 antibodies. Among these, the variant 1133, consisting of the CH1 and the hinge each from IgG1 and the Fc from IgG3, was unexpectedly found to exhibit markedly enhanced CDC that exceeded wild-type levels. However, it lacked protein A-binding capacity, an important feature for the industrial production. To eliminate this deficiency, a portion in COOH-terminal CH3 domain of 1133 was substituted with IgG1, resulting in full recovery of protein A binding without compromising the enhanced CDC and ADCC activities. The CDC-enhancing effect using a chimeric isotype was also shown in CD52 antigen/antibody system. The ADCC activity of the variants was also maximized by the absence of fucose from its carbohydrate structure, a phenomenon that has previously been observed for wild-type antibodies. Enhanced cytotoxicity of a variant was confirmed in a cynomolgus monkey model. These findings suggest that the variant antibodies with IgG1/IgG3 chimeric constant regions and nonfucosylated oligosaccharides that possess dual-enhanced cytotoxic functions may be an improvement for the next generation of therapeutic antitumor antibodies.

Modulation of the effector functions of a human IgG1 through engineering of its hinge region

We report here the engineering of a humanized anti-human EphA2 mAb (mAb 12G3H11) in an effort to explore the relationship between the hinge of a human IgG1 and its effector functions. mAb 12G3H11, used here as a model, is directed against the human receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2, which is an actively investigated target for cancer therapy due to its up-regulation in many cancer cells. Various rational modifications were introduced into the hinge region of mAb 12G3H11. These mutations were predicted to modulate the hinge's length, flexibility, and/or biochemical properties. We show that the upper and middle hinge both play important, although functionally distinct roles. In particular, middle hinge modifications predicted to decrease its rigidity or length as well as eliminating either one of its two cysteine residues had a strong negative impact on C1q binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Disruption of covalent bonds between both H chains may account in part for these effects. We also describe middle hinge mutants with a significantly decreased ability to bind FcgammaRIIIA and trigger Ab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Conversely, we also generated upper hinge mutants exhibiting an increase in C1q binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity activity. Therefore, this approach represents a novel strategy to fine-tune the biological activity of a given human IgG1. We also define, for the first time in such a systematic fashion, the relationship between various characteristics of the middle and upper hinge and the corresponding effector functions.

Suppression of sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis sample preparation artifacts for analysis of IgG4 half-antibody

Human IgG4 subtype antibodies have often been reported to have a significant portion (5-50%) of a heavy chain-light chain dimer ("half-antibody") on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), in which the heavy chain is not covalently linked through the hinge disulfides to another heavy chain. We demonstrate here that there can be artifactual sources of half-antibody. One occurred during SDS-PAGE sample preparation where rapid disulfide scrambling was initiated by preexisting free sulfhydryls in the monoclonal antibody (mAb) and by free sulfhydryl produced by destruction of disulfide bonds during heating. Inclusion of N-ethylmaleimide in the sample buffer prevented the disulfide scrambling. Presumably, cyclization of the flexible IgG4 hinge during this disulfide scrambling leads to the preferential separation of heavy chains. A second condition producing half-antibody was reoxidation after exposure to reductant, where 46% of the antibody was trapped in the intrachain disulfide form. The amount of half-antibody was reduced to 4% by reoxidation in the presence of a mixture of oxidized and reduced glutathione. When the improved sample preparation conditions were used, IgG4 mAb freshly isolated from cells contained 4.5-15% half-antibody, indicating that equilibration of the interchain and intrachain hinge disulfide pairing was not always attained in cells.

Antibody-mediated neutralization of cytomegalovirus: modulation of efficacy induced through the IgG constant region

Antibodies can neutralize the infectious properties of human cytomegalovirus (CMV). In vivo, the major neutralization determinants are located on glycoprotein B (gB). Recombinant human antibodies, that carry different constant regions (IgG1, IgG3 and the synthetic variant IgG3mA) against two of these epitopes were investigated for their ability to recruit the complement cascade for destruction of the virus. It was shown that all variants of an antibody against the antigenic domain (AD)-2 epitope displayed a similar neutralization activity despite the fact that improved C1q binding was observed for IgG3 and IgG3mA over the IgG1 variant. In contrast, an antibody against the AD-1 epitope carrying the normal IgG3 constant region, was less efficient than its IgG1 counterpart in neutralizing the virus in the absence of complement. However, it restored its activity in the presence of complement to the level of the naturally occurring IgG1 version. The same antibody was substantially more potent in neutralizing the virus in the presence of complement if it carried the IgG3mA constant region. This demonstrates the importance of the constant domain for the biological activity of AD-1 specific antibodies, a factor that should be taken into account when using antibody-based therapeutics or when inducing antibodies by vaccination.

IgG4 breaking the rules

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) antibodies have been known for some time to be functionally monovalent. Recently, the structural basis for this monovalency has been elucidated: the in vivo exchange of IgG half-molecules (one H-plus one L-chain) among IgG4. This process results in bispecific antibodies that in most situations will behave as functionally monovalent antibodies. The structural basis for the abnormal behaviour of IgG4 seems to be largely the result of a single amino acid change relative to human IgG1: the change of a proline in core hinge of IgG1 to serine. This results in a marked shift in the equilibrium between interchain disulphide bridges and intrachain disulphide bridges, which for IgG4 results in 25-75% absence of a covalent interaction between the H-chains. Because of strong non-covalent interactions between the CH3 domains (and possibly also between the CH1 domain and the trans-CH2 domain) IgG4 is a stable four-chain molecule and does not easily exchange half-molecules under standard physiological conditions in vitro. We postulate that the exchange is catalysed in vivo by protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and/or FcRn (the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related Fc receptor) during transit of IgG4 in the endosomal pathway in endothelial cells. Because IgG4 is predominantly expressed under conditions of chronic antigen exposure, the biological relevance of this exchange of half-molecules is that it generates antibodies that are unable to form large immune complexes and therefore have a low potential for inducing immune inflammation. In contrast to monovalent immunoglobulin fragments, these scrambled immunoglobulins have a normal half-life. The significance of the ensuing bispecificity needs further evaluation, because this will be relevant only in situations where high IgG4 responses are found to two unrelated antigens that happen to be present in the body at the same time and place. In this context the significance of IgG4 autoreactivity might have to be re-evaluated. The main function of IgG4, however, is presumably to interfere with immune inflammation induced by complement-fixing antibodies, or, in the case of helminth infection or allergy, by IgE antibodies.

Activation of human complement by totally human monoclonal antibodies

A uniquely developed series of totally human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were examined for their complement fixing properties in comparison to human myeloma preparations and to commercially available human polyclonal immunoglobulins. C3b and C4b deposition was measured using a kinetic ELISA technique. When the IgG myeloma proteins were tested for classical pathway activation, our findings were similar to those previously described, where IgG1 and IgG3 were more potent activators of the classical pathway than IgG2 and IgG4. However, those same studies determined that IgG2 was the best activator of the alternative pathway followed by IgG1 and IgG3 while IgG4 does not activate complement via either pathway. In our studies of alternative pathway activation, the IgG2 myeloma exhibited strong activation of the alternative pathway, but, at levels lower than the other three IgG subtypes. Using this test system, we examined the complement activating potential of four totally human mAbs that were constructed from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of a colon carcinoma patient in long term remission. We found that our uniquely constructed totally human IgG2 mAbs (A3, E1, F6 and F8) were able to activate complement by both the classical and alternative pathways to varying degrees. In addition, we found that the complement activating ability of the human mAbs was greater than that of the human IgG2 myeloma immunoglobulins or normal human IgG2 preparations. This study represents the first report of complement activation by totally human mAbs and confirms more recent findings which indicate that levels of complement activation by human IgG immunoglobulins cannot be predicted based solely on their subclass identity.

Structure and function of several anti-dansyl chimeric antibodies formed by domain interchanges between human IgM and mouse IgG2b

Two pairs of chimeric, domain-switched immunoglobulins with identical murine, anti-dansyl (5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl) variable domains have been generated, employing as parent antibodies a human IgM and a mouse IgG2b. The first pair of chimeric antibodies mu mu gamma mu and gamma gamma mu gamma was generated by switching the C mu 3 and C gamma 2 domains between IgM and IgG2b. The second pair of chimeras mu mu gamma gamma and gamma gamma mu mu were formed by switching both C mu 3 and C mu 4 with C gamma 2 and C gamma 3. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation showed that over half (57 and 71%) of the two chimeric antibodies possessing the C mu 4 domain and tail piece formed disulfide-linked IgM-like polymers. In contrast, the two chimeric antibodies lacking the C mu 4 domain were almost entirely monomeric. Both monomeric chimeras had reduced ability to activate complement. The chimera gamma gamma mu gamma had no activity under any of the assay conditions, whereas mu mu gamma gamma caused only a small amount of cell lysis but was fully active in consuming complement at 4 degrees C. The polymeric chimera gamma gamma mu mu was much less active than IgM, bound C1 weakly and caused some cell lysis but consumed little complement with soluble antigen. The polymeric chimera mu mu gamma mu bound C1 strongly and was the most active antibody in all assays, even more active than the parental IgG2b and IgM antibodies; it was the only antibody that exhibited antigen-independent activity. The results suggest that C mu 3 alone does not constitute the complement binding site in IgM but requires both C mu 1-2 and C mu 4 for full activity.

The structural requirements for complement activation by IgG: does it hinge on the hinge?

The flexibility of antibody molecules principally derives from the structure of the hinge region. It has generally been accepted that the flexibility of the IgG hinge is necessary for complement activation to occur; however, recent studies dispute this premise. As described here by Ole Henrik Brekke, Terje Michaelsen and Inger Sandlie, it now appears that the only requirement of the hinge region for complement activation is the presence of inter-heavy-chain disulfide bond(s). Furthermore, the structural basis for the differences between IgG subclasses with respect to effector functions appear to be located within the CH2 domain of the immunoglobulin molecule.

Human IgG isotype-specific amino acid residues affecting complement-mediated cell lysis and phagocytosis

In this report we describe the construction of anti-5-iodo-4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenacetyl (NIP) mouse/human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 chimeric molecules with altered amino acid residues in the CH2 domain. Three mutants are described. Gln-268 is substituted by His in gamma 4 Q268H, Ser-331 is substituted by Pro in gamma 4 S331P, and in gamma 4 Q268H/S331P both residues are substituted. The ability of the mutant molecules to induce complement-mediated cell lysis (CML) and phagocytosis by Fc gamma RII- and Fc gamma RIII-bearing polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were measured. In CML, gamma 4 Q268H was inactive, but both gamma 4 S331P and gamma 4 Q268H/S331P were active provided that the antigenic density on the target cells was high. In phagocytosis mediated by PMN, the mutants gamma 4 S331P and gamma 4 Q268H/S331P were both active only when complement was introduced. gamma 4 Q268H was not active in phagocytosis under any conditions. We conclude that His-268 in human IgG molecules does not modulate CML activity or phagocytosis mediated by Fc gamma RII and/or Fc gamma RIII. Pro-331 rescues CML activity in IgG4 molecules when the epitope density on the target cells is high, but does not affect Fc gamma RII/Fc gamma RIII-mediated phagocytosis. In this manner the mutants gamma 4 S331P and gamma 4 Q268H/S331P mimic human IgG2. This could indicate a structural similarity between IgG2 and these mutant molecules that distinguish them from both IgG1 and IgG3.

One disulfide bond in front of the second heavy chain constant region is necessary and sufficient for effector functions of human IgG3 without a genetic hinge

We have created four IgG3 mutants without a normal hinge region: (i) m0 without a genetic hinge; (ii) m0/C131S, where Cys-131 in m0 was mutated to Ser; (iii) m0/231C232 (formerly HM-1), where a Cys residue was inserted in m0 between Ala-231 and Pro-232; (iv) m0/C131S/231C232, which is a hybrid of m0/231C232 and m0/C131S. The wild-type IgG3 and all mutants bind 5-iodo-4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenacetyl groups. The wild type and mutants, m15 (with 15 aa in the hinge), m0/231C232, and m0/C131S/231C232, were all positive for complement-mediated lysis, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by peripheral blood leukocytes, and phagocytosis by U937. m0/C131S/231C232 was only weakly positive and sometimes negative for respiratory burst activity mediated by peripheral blood neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes), whereas m15, m0/231C232, and wild-type IgG3 were strongly positive. The m0 and m0/C131S mutants were mainly negative for complement-mediated lysis, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and phagocytosis by U937 and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The results indicate that a hinge spacer region is not necessary, but the correct alignment of the two second heavy chain constant regions in the IgG3 molecule by a minimum of one disulfide bond is necessary and sufficient for effector functions.

Human IgG3 can adopt the disulfide bond pattern characteristic for IgG1 without resembling it in complement mediated cell lysis

In this paper we describe the construction of mouse-human IgG3 mutant antibodies resembling IgG1 in their disulfide bond pattern between the heavy and light chain (H-L) and between the two heavy chains (H-H). The effector functions of these mutant antibodies were compared to normal IgG3 and IgG1. Changing only the disulfide bond pattern between the heavy and light chains did not alter the ability to induce complement mediated cell lysis (CML), regardless of the amount of corresponding antigen that had been introduced to the surface of the target cells. However, alteration of the disulfide bond pattern between the two heavy chains had a large effect on CML due to shortening of the hinge from 62 to 15 amino acids. No difference between the mutants and normal antibodies in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) was observed. This suggests that IgG3 can adopt the H-L disulfide bond pattern of IgG1 without obtaining the CML activity characteristic for IgG1.

Structural features of human immunoglobulin G that determine isotype-specific differences in complement activation

Although very similar in sequence, the four subclasses of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) differ markedly in their ability to activate complement. Glu318-Lys320-Lys322 has been identified as a key binding motif for the first component of complement, C1q, and is present in all isotypes of Ig capable of activating complement. This motif, however, is present in all subclasses of human IgG, including those that show little (IgG2) or even no (IgG4) complement activity. Using point mutants of chimeric antibodies, we have identified specific residues responsible for the differing ability of the IgG subclasses to fix complement. In particular, we show that Ser at position 331 in gamma 4 is critical for determining the inability of that isotype to bind C1q and activate complement. Additionally, we provide further evidence that levels of C1q binding do not necessarily correlate with levels of complement activity, and that C1q binding alone is not sufficient for complement activation.

The extended hinge region of IgG3 is not required for high phagocytic capacity mediated by Fc gamma receptors, but the heavy chains must be disulfide bonded

Fc gamma receptor (Fc gamma R) phagocytosis and respiratory burst were induced by chimeric mouse-human anti-(4-hydroxy-5-iodo-3-nitrophenyl) acetyl IgG3 antibodies with mutations in hinge and/or in CH1 region. IgG3 mutants with different hinge length ranging from 47 to 0 amino acids, an IgG3 molecule with an artificial hinge of just one cysteine residue (HM-1), and two hybrid IgG3 molecules with IgG4 hinge or IgG4 CH1-hinge were tested. Using the monocytic cell line U937 as effector cells, the mutated IgG3 molecules were very similar, revealing high activity, while the IgG3/IgG4 hybrids revealed a slightly reduced activity. However, the hingeless (0-h) mutant was negative, except after interferon-gamma stimulation when it became slightly positive. Interestingly, HM-1 was as active as the IgG3 mutants. With polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) as effector cells we obtained some day-to-day variations, but all the IgG3 mutants were highly active, with the two shortest hinge mutants somewhat less active. The IgG3/IgG4 hybrid molecules revealed an intermediate activity, while IgG4 wild-type and the 0-h mutant were negative. However, the HM-1 molecule revealed an activity similar to that of the IgG3 mutants. The phagocytic activity of U937 was inhibited by monomeric IgG, indicating the importance of Fc gamma RI. In contrast, with PMN both blockage of Fc gamma RII and cleavage of Fc gamma RIII were required to significantly reduce the phagocytosis and respiratory burst, thus showing that both receptors contribute to the effect. These results demonstrate that the extended IgG3 hinge region is not necessary for a high phagocytic activity and that the major structural importance of the hinge is to connect the two heavy chains in this region.

Activation of complement by an IgG molecule without a genetic hinge

The hinge region links the two Fab arms to the Fc portion of the IgG molecule. It mediates flexibility to the molecule and serves as a connecting structure between the two heavy chains. In addition it provides space between the Fab and Fc parts. All three properties have been proposed to be important for the ability of IgG to initiate complement activation leading to complement-mediated cell lysis (CML). Here we report the construction of a hinge-deleted mouse-human chimaeric IgG3 molecule with specificity for the hapten NIP (3-iodo-4-hydroxy-5-nitrophenacetyl), HM-1. HM-1 lacks the genetic hinge, but has an introduced cysteine between Ala 231 (EU numbering) and Pro 232 in the lower hinge encoded by the CH2 exon. The introduced cysteine forms a disulphide bond between the two heavy chains of the molecule. In CML, HM-1 shows a greater activity than IgG3 wild type. This is the first time an IgG molecule without a genetic hinge has been found to be active in CML. We conclude that the hinge functioning as a spacer is not a prerequisite for complement activation. Rather, its major role seems to be to connect the heavy chains to each other in the amino-terminal part of CH2. Because HM-1 is expected to have low Fab-Fc flexibility, this molecular feature is probably of no importance for complement activation.

Structural motifs involved in human IgG antibody effector functions

A humanized IgG antibody to CAMPATH-1 antigen (CDw52) is known to be lympholytic both in vitro and in vivo. So as to improve therapeutic potency through protein engineering strategies, we wish to define the structural motifs underlying some of the documented differences in function between human (h) IgG1 and IgG4 forms of the antibody. By the creation of heavy chain domain-switch and intra-domain recombinant antibodies we have established an important role for the carboxy-terminal half of the CH2 domain in determining differential behaviour in antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) and in complement lysis. If this same region were necessary for the effector mechanisms that operate in vivo, then it might be possible to improve antibody effector functions by construction of novel antibodies that possess within the one molecule multiple copies of the crucial hinge-CH2 associated structures. Although our previous work suggested that the hIgG4 CAMPATH-1 antibody was ineffective at ADCC, we found this to be so only in some individuals. In others, IgG4, and indeed all the IgG subclasses were able to mediate ADCC. Overall, though, hIgG1 remains the best choice isotype for lytic therapy in vivo.