1
|
Su Z, Almo SC, Wu Y. Computational simulations of bispecific T cell engagers by a multiscale model. Biophys J 2024; 123:235-247. [PMID: 38102828 PMCID: PMC10808035 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of bispecific antibodies as T cell engagers can bypass the normal T cell receptor-major histocompatibility class interaction, redirect the cytotoxic activity of T cells, and lead to highly efficient tumor cell killing. However, this immunotherapy also causes significant on-target off-tumor toxicologic effects, especially when it is used to treat solid tumors. To avoid these adverse events, it is necessary to understand the fundamental mechanisms involved in the physical process of T cell engagement. We developed a multiscale computational framework to reach this goal. The framework combines simulations on the intercellular and multicellular levels. On the intercellular level, we simulated the spatial-temporal dynamics of three-body interactions among bispecific antibodies, CD3 and tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). The derived number of intercellular bonds formed between CD3 and TAAs was further transferred to the multicellular simulations as the input parameter of adhesive density between cells. Through the simulations under various molecular and cellular conditions, we were able to gain new insights into how to adopt the most appropriate strategy to maximize the drug efficacy and avoid the off-target effect. For instance, we discovered that the low antibody-binding affinity resulted in the formation of large clusters at the cell-cell interface, which could be important to control the downstream signaling pathways. We also tested different molecular architectures of the bispecific antibody and suggested the existence of an optimal length in regulating the T cell engagement. Overall, the current multiscale simulations serve as a proof-of-concept study to help in the future design of new biological therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqian Su
- Data Science Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Steven C Almo
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Yinghao Wu
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Weaver DF. Drug Design for Alzheimer's Disease: Biologics vs. Small Molecules. Curr Alzheimer Res 2024; 20:821-826. [PMID: 38468530 DOI: 10.2174/0115672050301583240307114452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
There shall probably be no "magic bullet" for Alzheimer's; rather, we should be pursuing a "magic shotgun blast" that will target multiple complementary therapeutic receptors. Although protein misfolding/oligomerization will probably be one of these targets, this alone is insufficient and will require the co-administration of other therapeutic entities engaging targets, such as immunopathy, gliopathy, mitochondriopathy, synaptotoxicity or others. Although polypharmacy is emerging as the preferred therapeutic route, many questions remain unanswered. Should this be a cocktail of biologics, a concoction of small molecules, or a judicious combination of both? Biologics and small molecule drugs display both strengths and weaknesses. When addressing a disease as complex and globally important as Alzheimer's, there should be room for the continuing development of both of these therapeutic classes. Each has much to offer, and when used with their advantages and disadvantages in clear focus, an ultimate solution will probably require contributions from both.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donald F Weaver
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Departments of Medicine, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Su Z, Almo SC, Wu Y. Understanding the General Principles of T Cell Engagement by Multiscale Computational Simulations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.07.544116. [PMID: 37333150 PMCID: PMC10274768 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.07.544116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The use of bispecific antibodies as T cell engagers can bypass the normal TCR-MHC interaction, redirect the cytotoxic activity of T-cells, and lead to highly efficient tumor cell killing. However, this immunotherapy also causes significant on-target off-tumor toxicologic effects, especially when they were used to treat solid tumors. In order to avoid these adverse events, it is necessary to understand the fundamental mechanisms during the physical process of T cell engagement. We developed a multiscale computational framework to reach this goal. The framework combines simulations on the intercellular and multicellular levels. On the intercellular level, we simulated the spatial-temporal dynamics of three-body interactions among bispecific antibodies, CD3 and TAA. The derived number of intercellular bonds formed between CD3 and TAA were further transferred into the multicellular simulations as the input parameter of adhesive density between cells. Through the simulations under various molecular and cellular conditions, we were able to gain new insights of how to adopt the most appropriate strategy to maximize the drug efficacy and avoid the off-target effect. For instance, we discovered that the low antibody binding affinity resulted in the formation of large clusters at the cell-cell interface, which could be important to control the downstream signaling pathways. We also tested different molecular architectures of the bispecific antibody and suggested the existence of an optimal length in regulating the T cell engagement. Overall, the current multiscale simulations serve as a prove-of-concept study to help the future design of new biological therapeutics. SIGNIFICANCE T-cell engagers are a class of anti-cancer drugs that can directly kill tumor cells by bringing T cells next to them. However, current treatments using T-cell engagers can cause serious side-effects. In order to reduce these effects, it is necessary to understand how T cells and tumor cells interact together through the connection of T-cell engagers. Unfortunately, this process is not well studied due to the limitations in current experimental techniques. We developed computational models on two different scales to simulate the physical process of T cell engagement. Our simulation results provide new insights into the general properties of T cell engagers. The new simulation methods can therefore serve as a useful tool to design novel antibodies for cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
|
4
|
Gambles MT, Yang J, Kopeček J. Multi-targeted immunotherapeutics to treat B cell malignancies. J Control Release 2023; 358:232-258. [PMID: 37121515 PMCID: PMC10330463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The concept of multi-targeted immunotherapeutic systems has propelled the field of cancer immunotherapy into an exciting new era. Multi-effector molecules can be designed to engage with, and alter, the patient's immune system in a plethora of ways. The outcomes can vary from effector cell recruitment and activation upon recognition of a cancer cell, to a multipronged immune checkpoint blockade strategy disallowing evasion of the cancer cells by immune cells, or to direct cancer cell death upon engaging multiple cell surface receptors simultaneously. Here, we review the field of multi-specific immunotherapeutics implemented to treat B cell malignancies. The mechanistically diverse strategies are outlined and discussed; common B cell receptor antigen targeting strategies are outlined and summarized; and the challenges of the field are presented along with optimistic insights for the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Tommy Gambles
- Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jiyuan Yang
- Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Jindřich Kopeček
- Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Plazyo O, Gudjonsson JE. Hitting the Bullseye in Autoimmunity: Targeting Biologics through Tethering: Examining a Therapeutic Potential for Vitiligo and Beyond. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:3133-3135. [PMID: 36038402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Plazyo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Johann E Gudjonsson
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhansaya A, Malika N, Boris D, Kanat T, Kanatbek M, Yerlan R, Kasym M. Expression of Recombinant CTLA-4 and PD-L1 Proteins Fused with Thioredoxin, and Determination of Their Ligand-Binding Activities. Rep Biochem Mol Biol 2022; 11:310-319. [PMID: 36164623 PMCID: PMC9455179 DOI: 10.52547/rbmb.11.2.310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of chimeric proteins that selectively interact with various immune cell receptors to treat oncology patients has increased. One effective way to obtain recombinant proteins is to use the E. coli expression system. However, in eukaryotic protein production in E. coli, several difficulties arise that can be solved by fusing the target protein with thioredoxin. Thioredoxin can enhance solubility, but its large size can lead to an erroneous assessment of protein solubility, folding, and activity. The present study examined the ligand-binding activity of PD-L1, and CTLA-4 receptors fused with thioredoxin. METHODS The de novo synthesized genes of the extracellular domains of the PD-L1 and CTLA-4 were cloned into the pET28 and pET32 expression plasmids and used to transform E. coli BL21 cells. Purified recombinant proteins were characterized by western blotting, LC-MS/MS spectrometry, and ELISA. RESULTS Amino acid sequence comparisons of the recombinant proteins obtained by LC-MS/MS with the SwissProt database resulted in the highest comparison scores from 4950 to 13396. The binding efficiencies of recombinant human B7-1 Fc to rCTLA-4 and rTrx-CTLA-4 proteins in ELISA did not differ significantly. Similar results were obtained with recombinant rhesus monkey PD-1 hFc against rPD-L1 and rTrx-PD-L1. CONCLUSION Recombinant proteins specifically reacted with recombinant human B7-1 Fc and recombinant rhesus monkey PD-1 hFc. The fusion of thioredoxin with recombinant proteins through linkers slightly affected the activity of the extracellular domains of CTLA-4 and PD-L1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adish Zhansaya
- National Center for Biotechnology, Kurgalzhyn road, 13/5, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan.
- L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev st., 2, Nur-Sultan, 010008, Kazakhstan.
| | - Nurtleu Malika
- National Center for Biotechnology, Kurgalzhyn road, 13/5, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan.
- L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev st., 2, Nur-Sultan, 010008, Kazakhstan.
| | - Dzantiev Boris
- A. N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospect 33, Moscow, 119071, Russian Federation.
| | - Tursunov Kanat
- National Center for Biotechnology, Kurgalzhyn road, 13/5, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Mukantayev Kanatbek
- National Center for Biotechnology, Kurgalzhyn road, 13/5, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Ramankulov Yerlan
- National Center for Biotechnology, Kurgalzhyn road, 13/5, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan.
| | - Mukanov Kasym
- National Center for Biotechnology, Kurgalzhyn road, 13/5, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mendoza C, Mizrachi D. Using the Power of Junctional Adhesion Molecules Combined with the Target of CAR-T to Inhibit Cancer Proliferation, Metastasis and Eradicate Tumors. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020381. [PMID: 35203590 PMCID: PMC8962422 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Decades of evidence suggest that alterations in the adhesion properties of neoplastic cells endow them with an invasive and migratory phenotype. Tight junctions (TJs) are present in endothelial and epithelial cells. Tumors arise from such tissues, thus, the role of TJ proteins in the tumor microenvironment is highly relevant. In the TJ, junctional adhesion molecules (JAM) play a key role in assembly of the TJ and control of cell–cell adhesion. Reprogramming of immune cells using chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to allow for target recognition and eradication of tumors is an FDA approved therapy. The best-studied CAR-T cells recognize CD19, a B-cell surface molecule. CD19 is not a unique marker for tumors, liquid or solid. To address this limitation, we developed a biologic containing three domains: (1) pH-low-insertion peptide (pHLIP), which recognizes the low pH of the cancer cells, leading to the insertion of the peptide into the plasma membrane. (2) An extracellular domain of JAM proteins that fosters cell–cell interactions. (3) CD19 to be targeted by CAR-T cells. Our modular design only targets cancer cells and when coupled with anti-CD19 CAR-T cells, it decreases proliferation and metastasis in at least two cancer cell lines.
Collapse
|