Single chain antibody fragments for ocular use produced at high levels in a commercial wheat variety

Molecular Farming in Seed Crops: Gene Transfer into Barley (Hordeum vulgare ) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum )

The production of recombinant proteins in seed crops has a long history and cereal grains are now one of the platforms in commercial use. Specific advantages include excellent storage properties, a well-developed endomembrane system with a high biosynthetic capacity and well-established cultivation procedures worldwide. However, the production of transgenic cereals is a time-consuming procedure and the lack of efficient transformation systems is still a significant bottleneck. Barley can be transformed at high efficiency but the protocols are genotype-dependent. Wheat is generally more challenging to transform, but considerable progress has been made in enhancing transformation efficiencies and in controlling transgene expression. In this chapter, we describe and discuss standard procedures for generating transgenic barley and wheat for the production of recombinant proteins.

Advances in epidermal growth factor receptor specific immunotherapy: lessons to be learned from armed antibodies

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been recognized as an important therapeutic target in oncology. It is commonly overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors and is critically involved in cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This multi-dimensional role of EGFR in the progression and aggressiveness of cancer, has evolved from conventional to more targeted therapeutic approaches. With the advent of hybridoma technology and phage display techniques, the first anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (Cetuximab and Panitumumab) were developed. Due to major limitations including host immune reactions and poor tumor penetration, these antibodies were modified and used as guiding mechanisms for the specific delivery of readily available chemotherapeutic agents or plants/bacterial toxins, giving rise to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotoxins (ITs), respectively. Continued refinement of ITs led to deimmunization strategies based on depletion of B and T-cell epitopes or substitution of non-human toxins leading to a growing repertoire of human enzymes capable of inducing cell death. Similarly, the modification of classical ADCs has resulted in the first, fully recombinant versions. In this review, we discuss significant advancements in EGFR-targeting immunoconjugates, including ITs and recombinant photoactivable ADCs, which serve as a blueprint for further developments in the evolving domain of cancer immunotherapy.

Construction, expression, and activity of a novel immunotoxin comprising a humanized antiepidermal growth factor receptor scFv and modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a significant role in the development and metastasis of many solid tumors. Strategies based on anti-EGFR immunotoxins have shown promising results in several studies, but immunogenicity of antibody and toxin moieties is a limitation of this type of therapeutics. In the present study, a novel humanized anti-EGFR immunotoxin (huscFv-PE25) was developed by genetic fusing of a humanized anti-EGFR single-chain variable fragment (huscFv) with a modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PE25KDEL). The reactivity and toxicity of this immunotoxin with tumor cells were assessed by dot-blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and MTT procedures. Results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot-blot assay indicated that the immunotoxin recognizes and efficiently binds to EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells. MTT assay showed a specific growth-inhibitory effect of huscFv-PE25 on EGFR-overexpressing A431 cells, without any inhibitory effect on EGFR-negative cells. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that huscFv-PE25 can recognize and exert an inhibitory effect on EGFR-overexpressing cancer cells, despite its smaller size and lower immunogenicity. This may provide a basis for the development of novel clinical therapeutic agents against EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells.

Purification of single-chain antibody fragments exploiting pH-gradients in simulated moving bed chromatography

This paper deals with the theoretical design and experimental validation of an affinity-based continuous multi-column chromatography process for the purification of single-chain Fragment variable (scFv) antibodies. An open-loop 3-zone pH-gradient simulated moving bed (SMB) process was investigated exploiting the highly specific affinity of metal ions toward histidine-tagged recombinant proteins. The separation problem was simplified by considering the cell culture supernatant as a pseudo-binary mixture. The influence of mobile phase pH on the adsorption isotherm parameters was estimated by the inverse method using recorded pH-gradient batch elution profiles. Suitable operating parameters for the SMB process were identified using an equilibrium stage model and subsequently validated in a lab-scale SMB unit. Finally, the performance of the pH-gradient SMB process was compared against a non-optimized batch process. Biologically active single-chain Fragment variable antibody formats were purified continuously with 9% more recovery, 11 times more productivity (576 mg of purified scFv per day and liter stationary phase in SMB) and enriched by a factor of 2.5 compared to those obtained in the non-optimized batch process.

Transgenic barley: a prospective tool for biotechnology and agriculture

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the founder crops of agriculture, and today it is the fourth most important cereal grain worldwide. Barley is used as malt in brewing and distilling industry, as an additive for animal feed, and as a component of various food and bread for human consumption. Progress in stable genetic transformation of barley ensures a potential for improvement of its agronomic performance or use of barley in various biotechnological and industrial applications. Recently, barley grain has been successfully used in molecular farming as a promising bioreactor adapted for production of human therapeutic proteins or animal vaccines. In addition to development of reliable transformation technologies, an extensive amount of various barley genetic resources and tools such as sequence data, microarrays, genetic maps, and databases has been generated. Current status on barley transformation technologies including gene transfer techniques, targets, and progeny stabilization, recent trials for improvement of agricultural traits and performance of barley, especially in relation to increased biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and potential use of barley grain as a protein production platform have been reviewed in this study. Overall, barley represents a promising tool for both agricultural and biotechnological transgenic approaches, and is considered an ancient but rediscovered crop as a model industrial platform for molecular farming.

Comparative in vitro and experimental in vivo studies of the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody nimotuzumab and its aglycosylated form produced in transgenic tobacco plants

A broad variety of foreign genes can be expressed in transgenic plants, which offer the opportunity for large-scale production of pharmaceutical proteins, such as therapeutic antibodies. Nimotuzumab is a humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) recombinant IgG1 antibody approved in different countries for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, paediatric and adult glioma, and nasopharyngeal and oesophageal cancers. Because the antitumour mechanism of nimotuzumab is mainly attributed to its ability to interrupt the signal transduction cascade triggered by EGF/EGFR interaction, we have hypothesized that an aglycosylated form of this antibody, produced by mutating the N(297) position in the IgG(1) Fc region gene, would have similar biochemical and biological properties as the mammalian-cell-produced glycosylated counterpart. In this paper, we report the production and characterization of an aglycosylated form of nimotuzumab in transgenic tobacco plants. The comparison of the plantibody and nimotuzumab in terms of recognition of human EGFR, effect on tyrosine phosphorylation and proliferation in cells in response to EGF, competition with radiolabelled EGF for EGFR, affinity measurements of Fab fragments, pharmacokinetic and biodistribution behaviours in rats and antitumour effects in nude mice bearing human A431 tumours showed that both antibody forms have very similar in vitro and in vivo properties. Our results support the idea that the production of aglycosylated forms of some therapeutic antibodies in transgenic plants is a feasible approach when facing scaling strategies for anticancer immunoglobulins.

In vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activities of anti-EGFR single-chain variable fragment fused with recombinant gelonin toxin

PURPOSE

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the growth and metastasis of many solid tumors. Strategies that target EGFR hold promising therapeutic potential for the treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as EGFR is normally overexpressed in these tumors. This study was designed to determine whether an anti-EGFR immunotoxin has anti-tumor activity against NSCLC, and if so, to further investigate the possible mechanisms of cytotoxicity.

METHODS

A fusion protein of anti-EGFR single-chain variable fragment (anti-EGFR scFv) and the plant toxin gelonin (rGel) was constructed, expressed in bacteria, and purified to homogeneity. Cytotoxicity of anti-EGFR scFv/rGel (E/rG) immunotoxin was assessed on A549, HCC827, and H1975 cells (EGFR-overexpressing NSCLC-derived cell lines) and A549 xenografts in nude mice.

RESULTS

Cytotoxicity experiments using E/rG on A549, HCC827, and H1975 cells demonstrated that E/rG can specifically inhibit proliferation of these cells, whereas it did not affect the proliferation of Raji cells that do not express EGFR. Treatment for A549 xenografts in nude mice with E/rG resulted in significant suppression of tumor growth compared to controls. Immunofluorescence in frozen tissue sections confirmed that E/rG could specifically bind to tumor tissues in nude mice bearing A549 tumor xenografts, while rGel alone showed no binding activity. Furthermore, E/rG inhibited the growth of A549 cells by cytotoxic effects that blocked tumor proliferation, and the immunotoxin-induced cell death may be mediated by autophagy.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that E/rG might have significant potential as a novel clinical therapeutic agent against human NSCLC.

Production and characterization of a humanized single-chain antibody against human integrin alphav beta3 protein

Anti-angiogenesis therapy is an emerging strategy for cancer treatment. This therapy has many advantages over existing treatments, such as fewer side effects, fewer resistance problems, and a broader tumor type spectrum. Integrin αvβ3 is a heterodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein that has been demonstrated to play a key role in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. We have used a phage antibody display to humanize a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb E10) against human integrin αvβ3 with a predetermined CDR3 gene. Three human phage antibodies were developed. Analysis of the humanized phage antibodies by phage ELISA revealed that the antibodies retained high antigen-binding activity and detected the same epitope as the parent mAb E10. A humanized single chain Fv (scFv) antibody was expressed in Escherichia coli in a soluble form. Analysis of the purified scFv indicated that it has the same specificity and affinity as the original mAb. Cell viability assays and xenograft model results suggested that the humanized scFv possesses anti-tumor growth activity in vitro and in vivo. This successful production of a humanized scFv with the ability to inhibit αvβ3-mediated cancer cell growth may provide a novel candidate for integrin αvβ3-targeted therapy.

Transgene expression systems in the Triticeae cereals

The control of transgene expression is vital both for the elucidation of gene function and for the engineering of transgenic crops. Given the dominance of the Triticeae cereals in the agricultural economy of the temperate world, the development of well-performing transgene expression systems of known functionality is of primary importance. Transgenes can be expressed either transiently or stably. Transient expression systems based on direct or virus-mediated gene transfer are particularly useful in situations where the need is to rapidly screen large numbers of genes. However, an unequivocal understanding of gene function generally requires that a transgene functions throughout the plant's life and is transmitted through the sexual cycle, since this alone allows its effect to be decoupled from the plant's response to the generally stressful gene transfer event. Temporal, spatial and quantitative control of a transgene's expression depends on its regulatory environment, which includes both its promoter and certain associated untranslated region sequences. While many transgenic approaches aim to manipulate plant phenotype via ectopic gene expression, a transgene sequence can be also configured to down-regulate the expression of its endogenous counterpart, a strategy which exploits the natural gene silencing machinery of plants. In this review, current technical opportunities for controlling transgene expression in the Triticeae species are described. Apart from protocols for transient and stable gene transfer, the choice of promoters and other untranslated regulatory elements, we also consider signal peptides, as they too govern the abundance and particularly the sub-cellular localization of transgene products.

Applications of single-chain variable fragment antibodies in therapeutics and diagnostics

Antibodies (Abs) are some of the most powerful tools in therapy and diagnostics and are currently one of the fastest growing classes of therapeutic molecules. Recombinant antibody (rAb) fragments are becoming popular therapeutic alternatives to full length monoclonal Abs since they are smaller, possess different properties that are advantageous in certain medical applications, can be produced more economically and are easily amendable to genetic manipulation. Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) Abs are one of the most popular rAb format as they have been engineered into larger, multivalent, bi-specific and conjugated forms for many clinical applications. This review will show the tremendous versatility and importance of scFv fragments as they provide the basic antigen binding unit for a multitude of engineered Abs for use as human therapeutics and diagnostics.

Transgenic wheat, barley and oats: future prospects

Following the success of transgenic maize and rice, methods have now been developed for the efficient introduction of genes into wheat, barley and oats. This review summarizes the present position in relation to these three species, and also uses information from field trial databases and the patent literature to assess the future trends in the exploitation of transgenic material. This analysis includes agronomic traits and also discusses opportunities in expanding areas such as biofuels and biopharming.

Viral vectors for production of recombinant proteins in plants

Global demand for recombinant proteins has steadily accelerated for the last 20 years. These recombinant proteins have a wide range of important applications, including vaccines and therapeutics for human and animal health, industrial enzymes, new materials and components of novel nano-particles for various applications. The majority of recombinant proteins are produced by traditional biological "factories," that is, predominantly mammalian and microbial cell cultures along with yeast and insect cells. However, these traditional technologies cannot satisfy the increasing market demand due to prohibitive capital investment requirements. During the last two decades, plants have been under intensive investigation to provide an alternative system for cost-effective, highly scalable, and safe production of recombinant proteins. Although the genetic engineering of plant viral vectors for heterologous gene expression can be dated back to the early 1980s, recent understanding of plant virology and technical progress in molecular biology have allowed for significant improvements and fine tuning of these vectors. These breakthroughs enable the flourishing of a variety of new viral-based expression systems and their wide application by academic and industry groups. In this review, we describe the principal plant viral-based production strategies and the latest plant viral expression systems, with a particular focus on the variety of proteins produced and their applications. We will summarize the recent progress in the downstream processing of plant materials for efficient extraction and purification of recombinant proteins.

Targeted protein accumulation promoted by autoassembly and its recovery from plant cells

The expression of a fusion protein formed between the avian infectious bronchitis virus M protein and the bacterial enzyme beta-glucuronidase (GUS) in plants promotes the formation of new organization of the endoplasmic reticulum in tobacco plants. This unusual organization of the membranes, never present in nontransformed plants, has been explained by the oligomerization of the GUS domains of the IBVM-GUS fusion proteins. These specific organized membranes could have broad implications for biotechnology since their formation could be used as a mechanism for retaining and accumulating resident proteins in specific and discrete membrane compartments. In this study, we have shown that the unusual organization of native membranes due to overexpression of the IBVM-GUS fusion gene in tobacco transgenic plants and calli is present at higher levels in plant cell suspensions than in plant tissues. In these cell suspensions, IBVM-GUS protein was continuously synthesized and accumulated throughout the cell culture. An enrichment of the chimeric IBVM-GUS protein corresponding to a five-fold increase in the microsomal fractions was achieved and the GUS enzyme did not show any modification on enzyme kinetics. However, the GUS activity could be differentially distributed in the fractions eluted at different pH suggesting differences in the surface topography of histidine residues for this recombinant GUS.