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Santisteban Celis IC, Matoba N. Lectibodies as antivirals. Antiviral Res 2024; 227:105901. [PMID: 38734211 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Growing concerns regarding the emergence of highly transmissible viral diseases highlight the urgent need to expand the repertoire of antiviral therapeutics. For this reason, new strategies for neutralizing and inhibiting these viruses are necessary. A promising approach involves targeting the glycans present on the surfaces of enveloped viruses. Lectins, known for their ability to recognize specific carbohydrate molecules, offer the potential for glycan-targeted antiviral strategies. Indeed, numerous studies have reported the antiviral effects of various lectins of both endogenous and exogenous origins. However, many lectins in their natural forms, are not suitable for use as antiviral therapeutics due to toxicity, other unfavorable pharmacological effects, and/or unreliable manufacturing sources. Therefore, improvements are crucial for employing lectins as effective antiviral therapeutics. A novel approach to enhance lectins' suitability as pharmaceuticals could be the generation of recombinant lectin-Fc fusion proteins, termed "lectibodies." In this review, we discuss the scientific rationale behind lectin-based antiviral strategies and explore how lectibodies could facilitate the development of new antiviral therapeutics. We will also share our perspective on the potential of these molecules to transcend their potential use as antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Carlosalberto Santisteban Celis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
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Zhou J, Wang L, Liu X, Gai Y, Dong M, Wang C, Ali MM, Ye M, Yu X, Hu L. Glycan-Imprinted Nanoparticle as Artificial Neutralizing Antibody for Efficient HIV-1 Recognition and Inhibition. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:4423-4432. [PMID: 38568019 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The HIV-1 envelope is a heavily glycosylated class 1 trimeric fusion protein responsible for viral entry into CD4+ immune cells. Developing neutralizing antibodies against the specific envelope glycans is an alternative method for antiviral therapies. This work presents the first-ever development and characterization of artificial neutralizing antibodies using molecular imprinting technology to recognize and bind to the envelope protein of HIV-1. The prepared envelope glycan-imprinted nanoparticles (GINPs) can successfully prevent HIV-1 from infecting target cells by shielding the glycans on the envelope protein. In vitro experiments showed that GINPs have strong affinity toward HIV-1 (Kd = 36.7 ± 2.2 nM) and possess high anti-interference and specificity. GINPs demonstrate broad inhibition activity against both tier 1 and tier 2 HIV-1 strains with a pM-level IC50 and exhibit a significant inhibitory effect on long-term viral replication by more than 95%. The strategy provides a promising method for the inhibition and therapy of HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Zhou
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, National Engineering Laboratory of AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Libian Wang
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, National Engineering Laboratory of AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanxin Gai
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, National Engineering Laboratory of AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Mingming Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Chu Wang
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, National Engineering Laboratory of AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Muhammad Mujahid Ali
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, National Engineering Laboratory of AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Mingliang Ye
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, National Chromatographic R&A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Xianghui Yu
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, National Engineering Laboratory of AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Lianghai Hu
- Center for Supramolecular Chemical Biology, National Engineering Laboratory of AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
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Xie Y, Butler M. N-glycomic profiling of capsid proteins from Adeno-Associated Virus serotypes. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwad074. [PMID: 37774344 PMCID: PMC10950483 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwad074] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector has become the leading platform for gene delivery. Each serotype exhibits a different tissue tropism, immunogenicity, and in vivo transduction performance. Therefore, selecting the most suitable AAV serotype is critical for efficient gene delivery to target cells or tissues. Genome divergence among different serotypes is due mainly to the hypervariable regions of the AAV capsid proteins. However, the heterogeneity of capsid glycosylation is largely unexplored. In the present study, the N-glycosylation profiles of capsid proteins of AAV serotypes 1 to 9 have been systemically characterized and compared using a previously developed high-throughput and high-sensitivity N-glycan profiling platform. The results showed that all 9 investigated AAV serotypes were glycosylated, with comparable profiles. The most conspicuous feature was the high abundance mannosylated N-glycans, including FM3, M5, M6, M7, M8, and M9, that dominated the chromatograms within a range of 74 to 83%. Another feature was the relatively lower abundance of fucosylated and sialylated N-glycan structures, in the range of 23%-40% and 10%-17%, respectively. However, the exact N-glycan composition differed. These differences may be utilized to identify potential structural relationships between the 9 AAV serotypes. The current research lays the foundation for gaining better understanding of the importance of N-glycans on the AAV capsid surface that may play a significant role in tissue tropism, interaction with cell surface receptors, cellular uptake, and intracellular processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing Xie
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
| | - Michael Butler
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
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Notova S, Imberty A. Tuning specificity and topology of lectins through synthetic biology. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 73:102275. [PMID: 36796139 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Lectins are non-immunoglobulin and non-catalytic glycan binding proteins that are able to decipher the structure and function of complex glycans. They are widely used as biomarkers for following alteration of glycosylation state in many diseases and have application in therapeutics. Controlling and extending lectin specificity and topology is the key for obtaining better tools. Furthermore, lectins and other glycan binding proteins can be combined with additional domains, providing novel functionalities. We provide a view on the current strategy with a focus on synthetic biology approaches yielding to novel specificity, but other novel architectures with novel application in biotechnology or therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Notova
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Anne Imberty
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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Rosato F, Pasupuleti R, Tomisch J, Meléndez AV, Kolanovic D, Makshakova ON, Wiltschi B, Römer W. A bispecific, crosslinking lectibody activates cytotoxic T cells and induces cancer cell death. J Transl Med 2022; 20:578. [PMID: 36494671 PMCID: PMC9733292 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03794-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant glycosylation patterns play a crucial role in the development of cancer cells as they promote tumor growth and aggressiveness. Lectins recognize carbohydrate antigens attached to proteins and lipids on cell surfaces and represent potential tools for application in cancer diagnostics and therapy. Among the emerging cancer therapies, immunotherapy has become a promising treatment modality for various hematological and solid malignancies. Here we present an approach to redirect the immune system into fighting cancer by targeting altered glycans at the surface of malignant cells. We developed a so-called "lectibody", a bispecific construct composed of a lectin linked to an antibody fragment. This lectibody is inspired by bispecific T cell engager (BiTEs) antibodies that recruit cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) while simultaneously binding to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) on cancer cells. The tumor-related glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) represents the target of this proof-of-concept study. It is recognized with high selectivity by the B-subunit of the pathogen-derived Shiga toxin, presenting opportunities for clinical development. METHODS The lectibody was realized by conjugating an anti-CD3 single-chain antibody fragment to the B-subunit of Shiga toxin to target Gb3+ cancer cells. The reactive non-canonical amino acid azidolysine (AzK) was inserted at predefined single positions in both proteins. The azido groups were functionalized by bioorthogonal conjugation with individual linkers that facilitated selective coupling via an alternative bioorthogonal click chemistry reaction. In vitro cell-based assays were conducted to evaluate the antitumoral activity of the lectibody. CTLs, Burkitt´s lymphoma-derived cells and colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines were screened in flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assays for activation and lysis, respectively. RESULTS This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that the lectibody activates T cells for their cytotoxic signaling, redirecting CTLs´ cytotoxicity in a highly selective manner and resulting in nearly complete tumor cell lysis-up to 93%-of Gb3+ tumor cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This research highlights the potential of lectins in targeting certain tumors, with an opportunity for new cancer treatments. When considering a combinatorial strategy, lectin-based platforms of this type offer the possibility to target glycan epitopes on tumor cells and boost the efficacy of current therapies, providing an additional strategy for tumor eradication and improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Rosato
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rajeev Pasupuleti
- grid.432147.70000 0004 0591 4434ACIB - The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria ,grid.410413.30000 0001 2294 748XInstitute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Jana Tomisch
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ana Valeria Meléndez
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dajana Kolanovic
- grid.432147.70000 0004 0591 4434ACIB - The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria ,grid.410413.30000 0001 2294 748XInstitute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Olga N. Makshakova
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.419733.b0000 0004 0487 3538Kazan Institute for Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS, Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - Birgit Wiltschi
- grid.432147.70000 0004 0591 4434ACIB - The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria ,grid.410413.30000 0001 2294 748XInstitute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria ,grid.5173.00000 0001 2298 5320Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Winfried Römer
- grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Dent M, Mayer KL, Verjan Garcia N, Guo H, Kajiura H, Fujiyama K, Matoba N. Impact of glycoengineering and antidrug antibodies on the anticancer activity of a plant-made lectin-Fc fusion protein. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:2217-2230. [PMID: 35900183 PMCID: PMC9616523 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plants are an efficient production platform for manufacturing glycoengineered monoclonal antibodies and antibody-like molecules. Avaren-Fc (AvFc) is a lectin-Fc fusion protein or lectibody produced in Nicotiana benthamiana, which selectively recognizes cancer-associated high-mannose glycans. In this study, we report the generation of a glycovariant of AvFc that is devoid of plant glycans, including the core α1,3-fucose and β1,2-xylose residues. The successful removal of these glycans was confirmed by glycan analysis using HPLC. This variant, AvFcΔXF , has significantly higher affinity for Fc gamma receptors and induces higher levels of luciferase expression in an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) reporter assay against B16F10 murine melanoma cells without inducing apoptosis or inhibiting proliferation. In the B16F10 flank tumour mouse model, we found that systemic administration of AvFcΔXF , but not an aglycosylated AvFc variant lacking affinity for Fc receptors, significantly delayed the growth of tumours, suggesting that Fc-mediated effector functions were integral. AvFcΔXF treatment also significantly reduced lung metastasis of B16F10 upon intravenous challenge whereas a sugar-binding-deficient mutant failed to show efficacy. Lastly, we determined the impact of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) on drug activity in vivo by pretreating animals with AvFcΔXF before implanting tumours. Despite a significant ADA response induced by the pretreatment, we found that the activity of AvFcΔXF was unaffected by the presence of these antibodies. These results demonstrate that glycoengineering is a powerful strategy to enhance AvFc's antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Dent
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
| | - Katarina L. Mayer
- UofL Health – Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
| | - Noel Verjan Garcia
- UofL Health – Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
| | - Haixun Guo
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
- Center for Predictive MedicineUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
| | - Hiroyuki Kajiura
- International Center for BiotechnologyOsaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | | | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
- UofL Health – Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
- Center for Predictive MedicineUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
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Tobola F, Wiltschi B. One, two, many: Strategies to alter the number of carbohydrate binding sites of lectins. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:108020. [PMID: 35868512 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Carbohydrates are more than an energy-storage. They are ubiquitously found on cells and most proteins, where they encode biological information. Lectins bind these carbohydrates and are essential for translating the encoded information into biological functions and processes. Hundreds of lectins are known, and they are found in all domains of life. For half a century, researchers have been preparing variants of lectins in which the binding sites are varied. In this way, the traits of the lectins such as the affinity, avidity and specificity towards their ligands as well as their biological efficacy were changed. These efforts helped to unravel the biological importance of lectins and resulted in improved variants for biotechnological exploitation and potential medical applications. This review gives an overview on the methods for the preparation of artificial lectins and complexes thereof and how reducing or increasing the number of binding sites affects their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Tobola
- acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria; Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Birgit Wiltschi
- acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria; Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria; Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
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Nabi-Afjadi M, Heydari M, Zalpoor H, Arman I, Sadoughi A, Sahami P, Aghazadeh S. Lectins and lectibodies: potential promising antiviral agents. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:37. [PMID: 35562647 PMCID: PMC9100318 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00338-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In nature, lectins are widely dispersed proteins that selectively recognize and bind to carbohydrates and glycoconjugates via reversible bonds at specific binding sites. Many viral diseases have been treated with lectins due to their wide range of structures, specificity for carbohydrates, and ability to bind carbohydrates. Through hemagglutination assays, these proteins can be detected interacting with various carbohydrates on the surface of cells and viral envelopes. This review discusses the most robust lectins and their rationally engineered versions, such as lectibodies, as antiviral proteins. Fusion of lectin and antibody’s crystallizable fragment (Fc) of immunoglobulin G (IgG) produces a molecule called a “lectibody” that can act as a carbohydrate-targeting antibody. Lectibodies can not only bind to the surface glycoproteins via their lectins and neutralize and clear viruses or infected cells by viruses but also perform Fc-mediated antibody effector functions. These functions include complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis (ADCP). In addition to entering host cells, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein S1 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and downregulates it and type I interferons in a way that may lead to lung disease. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope are heavily glycosylated, which could make them a major target for developing vaccines, diagnostic tests, and therapeutic drugs. Lectibodies can lead to neutralization and clearance of viruses and cells infected by viruses by binding to glycans located on the envelope surface (e.g., the heavily glycosylated SARS-CoV-2 spike protein).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Heydari
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, 13145-1384, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.,American Association of Kidney Patients, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ibrahim Arman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Arezoo Sadoughi
- Department of Immunology, International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Parisa Sahami
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technologies Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Safiyeh Aghazadeh
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, 5756151818, Iran.
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Oh YJ, Dent MW, Freels AR, Zhou Q, Lebrilla CB, Merchant ML, Matoba N. Antitumor activity of a lectibody targeting cancer-associated high-mannose glycans. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1523-1535. [PMID: 35077861 PMCID: PMC9077314 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant protein glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer, but few drugs targeting cancer glycobiomarkers are currently available. Here, we showed that a lectibody consisting of the high-mannose glycan-binding lectin Avaren and human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) Fc (AvFc) selectively recognizes a range of cell lines derived from lung, breast, colon, and blood cancers at nanomolar concentrations. Binding of AvFc to the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines A549 and H460 was characterized in detail. Co-immunoprecipitation proteomics analysis revealed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) are among the lectibody's common targets in these cells. AvFc blocked the activation of EGFR and IGF1R by their respective ligands in A549 cells and inhibited the migration of A549 and H460 cells upon stimulation with EGF and IGF1. Furthermore, AvFc induced potent Fc-mediated cytotoxic effects and significantly restricted A549 and H460 tumor growth in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Immunohistochemistry analysis of primary lung tissues from NSCLC patients demonstrated that AvFc preferentially binds to tumors over adjacent non-tumor tissues. Our findings provide evidence that increased abundance of high-mannose glycans in the glycocalyx of cancer cells can be a druggable target, and AvFc may provide a new tool to probe and target this tumor-associated glycobiomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Jun Oh
- UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Matthew W Dent
- UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Angela R Freels
- UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Qingwen Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Carlito B Lebrilla
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Michael L Merchant
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 505 S. Hancock Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
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10
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Self-Assembling Lectin Nano-Block Oligomers Enhance Binding Avidity to Glycans. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020676. [PMID: 35054861 PMCID: PMC8775495 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins, are attractive biomolecules for medical and biotechnological applications. Many lectins have multiple carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) and strongly bind to specific glycans through multivalent binding effect. In our previous study, protein nano-building blocks (PN-blocks) were developed to construct self-assembling supramolecular nanostructures by linking two oligomeric proteins. A PN-block, WA20-foldon, constructed by fusing a dimeric four-helix bundle de novo protein WA20 to a trimeric foldon domain of T4 phage fibritin, self-assembled into several types of polyhedral nanoarchitectures in multiples of 6-mer. Another PN-block, the extender PN-block (ePN-block), constructed by tandemly joining two copies of WA20, self-assembled into cyclized and extended chain-type nanostructures. This study developed novel functional protein nano-building blocks (lectin nano-blocks) by fusing WA20 to a dimeric lectin, Agrocybe cylindracea galectin (ACG). The lectin nano-blocks self-assembled into various oligomers in multiples of 2-mer (dimer, tetramer, hexamer, octamer, etc.). The mass fractions of each oligomer were changed by the length of the linkers between WA20 and ACG. The binding avidity of the lectin nano-block oligomers to glycans was significantly increased through multivalent effects compared with that of the original ACG dimer. Lectin nano-blocks with high avidity will be useful for various applications, such as specific cell labeling.
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Ward EM, Kizer ME, Imperiali B. Strategies and Tactics for the Development of Selective Glycan-Binding Proteins. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1795-1813. [PMID: 33497192 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The influences of glycans impact all biological processes, disease states, and pathogenic interactions. Glycan-binding proteins (GBPs), such as lectins, are decisive tools for interrogating glycan structure and function because of their ease of use and ability to selectively bind defined carbohydrate epitopes and glycosidic linkages. GBP reagents are prominent tools for basic research, clinical diagnostics, therapeutics, and biotechnological applications. However, the study of glycans is hindered by the lack of specific and selective protein reagents to cover the massive diversity of carbohydrate structures that exist in nature. In addition, existing GBP reagents often suffer from low affinity or broad specificity, complicating data interpretation. There have been numerous efforts to expand the GBP toolkit beyond those identified from natural sources through protein engineering, to improve the properties of existing GBPs or to engineer novel specificities and potential applications. This review details the current scope of proteins that bind carbohydrates and the engineering methods that have been applied to enhance the affinity, selectivity, and specificity of binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Ward
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 31 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Microbiology Graduate Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 31 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Megan E. Kizer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 31 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Barbara Imperiali
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 31 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Miller NL, Clark T, Raman R, Sasisekharan R. Glycans in Virus-Host Interactions: A Structural Perspective. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:666756. [PMID: 34164431 PMCID: PMC8215384 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.666756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many interactions between microbes and their hosts are driven or influenced by glycans, whose heterogeneous and difficult to characterize structures have led to an underappreciation of their role in these interactions compared to protein-based interactions. Glycans decorate microbe glycoproteins to enhance attachment and fusion to host cells, provide stability, and evade the host immune system. Yet, the host immune system may also target these glycans as glycoepitopes. In this review, we provide a structural perspective on the role of glycans in host-microbe interactions, focusing primarily on viral glycoproteins and their interactions with host adaptive immunity. In particular, we discuss a class of topological glycoepitopes and their interactions with topological mAbs, using the anti-HIV mAb 2G12 as the archetypical example. We further offer our view that structure-based glycan targeting strategies are ready for application to viruses beyond HIV, and present our perspective on future development in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel L Miller
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Thomas Clark
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Rahul Raman
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ram Sasisekharan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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13
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LeBlanc EV, Kim Y, Capicciotti CJ, Colpitts CC. Hepatitis C Virus Glycan-Dependent Interactions and the Potential for Novel Preventative Strategies. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060685. [PMID: 34205894 PMCID: PMC8230238 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections continue to be a major contributor to liver disease worldwide. HCV treatment has become highly effective, yet there are still no vaccines or prophylactic strategies available to prevent infection and allow effective management of the global HCV burden. Glycan-dependent interactions are crucial to many aspects of the highly complex HCV entry process, and also modulate immune evasion. This review provides an overview of the roles of viral and cellular glycans in HCV infection and highlights glycan-focused advances in the development of entry inhibitors and vaccines to effectively prevent HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle V. LeBlanc
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
| | - Youjin Kim
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
| | - Chantelle J. Capicciotti
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
- Department of Chemistry, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Che C. Colpitts
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (E.V.L.); (Y.K.); (C.J.C.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Nascimento da Silva LC, Mendonça JSP, de Oliveira WF, Batista KLR, Zagmignan A, Viana IFT, Dos Santos Correia MT. Exploring lectin-glycan interactions to combat COVID-19: Lessons acquired from other enveloped viruses. Glycobiology 2021; 31:358-371. [PMID: 33094324 PMCID: PMC7665446 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwaa099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of a new human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has imposed great pressure on the health system worldwide. The presence of glycoproteins on the viral envelope opens a wide range of possibilities for application of lectins to address some urgent problems involved in this pandemic. In this work, we discuss the potential contributions of lectins from non-mammalian sources in the development of several fields associated with viral infections, most notably COVID-19. We review the literature on the use of non-mammalian lectins as a therapeutic approach against members of the Coronaviridae family, including recent advances in strategies of protein engineering to improve their efficacy. The applications of lectins as adjuvants for antiviral vaccines are also discussed. Finally, we present some emerging strategies employing lectins for the development of biosensors, microarrays, immunoassays and tools for purification of viruses from whole blood. Altogether, the data compiled in this review highlights the importance of structural studies aiming to improve our knowledge about the basis of glycan recognition by lectins and its repercussions in several fields, providing potential solutions for complex aspects that are emerging from different health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Cláudio Nascimento da Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Microbiana, Laboratório de Patogenicidade Bacteriana, Universidade CEUMA, São Luís 65075-120, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal, Laboratório de Patogenicidade Bacteriana, Universidade CEUMA, São Luís 65075-120, Brazil
| | - Juliana Silva Pereira Mendonça
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Microbiana, Laboratório de Patogenicidade Bacteriana, Universidade CEUMA, São Luís 65075-120, Brazil
| | - Weslley Felix de Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50.670-901, Brazil
| | - Karla Lílian Rodrigues Batista
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal, Laboratório de Patogenicidade Bacteriana, Universidade CEUMA, São Luís 65075-120, Brazil
| | - Adrielle Zagmignan
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal, Laboratório de Patogenicidade Bacteriana, Universidade CEUMA, São Luís 65075-120, Brazil
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15
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Dent M, Hamorsky K, Vausselin T, Dubuisson J, Miyata Y, Morikawa Y, Matoba N. Safety and Efficacy of Avaren-Fc Lectibody Targeting HCV High-Mannose Glycans in a Human Liver Chimeric Mouse Model. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 11:185-198. [PMID: 32861832 PMCID: PMC7451001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide despite the recent advent of highly effective direct-acting antivirals. The envelope glycoproteins of HCV are heavily glycosylated with a high proportion of high-mannose glycans (HMGs), which serve as a shield against neutralizing antibodies and assist in the interaction with cell-entry receptors. However, there is no approved therapeutic targeting this potentially druggable biomarker. METHODS The anti-HCV activity of a fusion protein consisting of Avaren lectin and the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region of a human immunoglobulin G1 antibody, Avaren-Fc (AvFc) was evaluated through the use of in vitro neutralization assays as well as an in vivo challenge in a chimeric human liver (PXB) mouse model. Drug toxicity was assessed by histopathology, serum alanine aminotransferase, and mouse body weights. RESULTS AvFc was capable of neutralizing cell culture-derived HCV in a genotype-independent manner, with 50% inhibitory concentration values in the low nanomolar range. Systemic administration of AvFc in a histidine-based buffer was well tolerated; after 11 doses every other day at 25 mg/kg there were no significant changes in body or liver weights or in blood human albumin or serum alanine aminotransferase activity. Gross necropsy and liver pathology confirmed the lack of toxicity. This regimen successfully prevented genotype 1a HCV infection in all animals, although an AvFc mutant lacking HMG binding activity failed. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that targeting envelope HMGs is a promising therapeutic approach against HCV infection, and AvFc may provide a safe and efficacious means to prevent recurrent infection upon liver transplantation in HCV-related end-stage liver disease patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Krystal Hamorsky
- Department of Medicine; James Graham Brown Cancer Center; Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Thibaut Vausselin
- University of Lille, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, INSERM, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019, UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- University of Lille, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, INSERM, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019, UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | | | | | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; James Graham Brown Cancer Center; Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
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16
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Jaakkonen A, Volkmann G, Iwaï H. An off-the-Shelf Approach for the Production of Fc Fusion Proteins by Protein Trans-Splicing towards Generating a Lectibody In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114011. [PMID: 32503354 PMCID: PMC7313076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies, engineered antibodies, and antibody fragments have become important biological therapeutic platforms. The IgG format with bivalent binding sites has a modular structure with different biological roles, i.e., effector and binding functions, in different domains. We demonstrated the reconstruction of an IgG-like domain structure in vitro by protein ligation using protein trans-splicing. We produced various binding domains to replace the binding domain of IgG from Escherichia coli and the Fc domain of human IgG from Brevibacillus choshinensis as split-intein fusions. We showed that in vitro protein ligation could produce various Fc-fusions at the N-terminus in vitro from the independently produced domains from different organisms. We thus propose an off-the-shelf approach for the combinatorial production of Fc fusions in vitro with several distinct binding domains, particularly from naturally occurring binding domains. Antiviral lectins from algae are known to inhibit virus entry of HIV and SARS coronavirus. We demonstrated that a lectin could be fused with the Fc-domain in vitro by protein ligation, producing an IgG-like molecule as a “lectibody”. Such an Fc-fusion could be produced in vitro by this approach, which could be an attractive method for developing potential therapeutic agents against rapidly emerging infectious diseases like SARS coronavirus without any genetic fusion and expression optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anniina Jaakkonen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (A.J.); (G.V.)
- Present Address: Microbiology Unit, Finnish Food Authority, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gerrit Volkmann
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (A.J.); (G.V.)
| | - Hideo Iwaï
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (A.J.); (G.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-2941-59752
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17
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Metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma is promoted by extended high-mannose glycans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:7633-7644. [PMID: 32213588 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1916498117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane-bound oligosaccharides form the interfacial boundary between the cell and its environment, mediating processes such as adhesion and signaling. These structures can undergo dynamic changes in composition and expression based on cell type, external stimuli, and genetic factors. Glycosylation, therefore, is a promising target of therapeutic interventions for presently incurable forms of advanced cancer. Here, we show that cholangiocarcinoma metastasis is characterized by down-regulation of the Golgi α-mannosidase I coding gene MAN1A1, leading to elevation of extended high-mannose glycans with terminating α-1,2-mannose residues. Subsequent reshaping of the glycome by inhibiting α-mannosidase I resulted in significantly higher migratory and invasive capabilities while masking cell surface mannosylation suppressed metastasis-related phenotypes. Exclusive elucidation of differentially expressed membrane glycoproteins and molecular modeling suggested that extended high-mannose glycosylation at the helical domain of transferrin receptor protein 1 promotes conformational changes that improve noncovalent interaction energies and lead to enhancement of cell migration in metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. The results provide support that α-1,2-mannosylated N-glycans present on cancer cell membrane proteins may serve as therapeutic targets for preventing metastasis.
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18
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Dent M, Matoba N. Cancer biologics made in plants. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 61:82-88. [PMID: 31785553 PMCID: PMC7096282 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Plants are routinely utilized as efficient production platforms for the development of anti-cancer biologics leading to novel anti-cancer vaccines, immunotherapies, and drug-delivery modalities. Various biosimilar/biobetter antibodies and immunogens based on tumor-associated antigens have been produced and optimized for plant expression. Plant virus nanoparticles, including those derived from cowpea mosaic virus or tobacco mosaic virus in particular have shown promise as immunotherapies stimulating tumor-associated immune cells and as drug carriers delivering conjugated chemotherapeutics effectively to tumors. Advancements have also been made toward the development of lectins that can selectively recognize cancer cells. The ease at which plant systems can be utilized for the production of these products presents an opportunity to further develop novel and exciting anti-cancer biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Dent
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA; Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
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19
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Seber Kasinger LE, Dent MW, Mahajan G, Hamorsky KT, Matoba N. A novel anti-HIV-1 bispecific bNAb-lectin fusion protein engineered in a plant-based transient expression system. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:1646-1656. [PMID: 30729651 PMCID: PMC6662308 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) has been a major step towards better prophylactic and therapeutic agents against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). However, effective therapy will likely require a combination of anti-HIV agents to avoid viral evasion. One possible solution to this problem is the creation of bispecific molecules that can concurrently target two vulnerable sites providing synergistic inhibitory effects. Here, we describe the production in plants and anti-HIV activity of a novel bispecific fusion protein consisting of the antigen-binding fragment (Fab) of the CD4 binding site-specific bNAb VRC01 and the antiviral lectin Avaren, which targets the glycan shield of the HIV-1 envelope (VRC01Fab -Avaren). This combination was justified by a preliminary experiment demonstrating the synergistic HIV-1 neutralization activity of VRC01 and Fc-fused Avaren dimer (Avaren-Fc). Using the GENEWARE® tobacco mosaic virus vector, VRC01Fab -Avaren was expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana and purified using a three-step chromatography procedure. Surface plasmon resonance and ELISA demonstrated that both the Avaren and VRC01Fab moieties retain their individual binding specificities. VRC01Fab -Avaren demonstrated enhanced neutralizing activity against representative HIV-1 strains from A, B and C clades, compared to equimolar combinations of VRC01Fab and Avaren. Notably, VRC01Fab -Avaren showed significantly stronger neutralizing effects than the bivalent parent molecules VRC01 IgG and Avaren-Fc, with IC50 values ranging from 48 to 310 pm. These results support the continued development of bispecific anti-HIV proteins based on Avaren and bNAbs, to which plant-based transient overexpression systems will provide an efficient protein engineering and production platform.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew W. Dent
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
| | - Garima Mahajan
- James Graham Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
| | - Krystal Teasley Hamorsky
- James Graham Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
- Center for Predictive MedicineUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
- Department of MedicineUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
| | - Nobuyuki Matoba
- James Graham Brown Cancer CenterUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
- Center for Predictive MedicineUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisvilleKYUSA
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