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Zia A, Orozco A, Fang ISY, Tang AM, Mendoza Viruega AS, Dong S, Leung LYT, Devraj VM, Oludada OE, Ehrhardt GRA. High throughput long-read sequencing of circulating lymphocytes of the evolutionarily distant sea lamprey reveals diversity and common elements of the variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB) repertoire. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1427075. [PMID: 39170622 PMCID: PMC11335541 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1427075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The leucine-rich repeat-based variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB) antibody system of jawless vertebrates is capable of generating an antibody repertoire equal to or exceeding the diversity of antibody repertoires of jawed vertebrates. Unlike immunoglobulin-based immune repertoires, the VLRB repertoire diversity is characterized by variable lengths of VLRB encoding transcripts, rendering conventional immunoreceptor repertoire sequencing approaches unsuitable for VLRB repertoire sequencing. Here we demonstrate that long-read single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing (PacBio) approaches permit the efficient large-scale assessment of the VLRB repertoire. We present a computational pipeline for sequence data processing and provide the first repertoire-based analysis of VLRB protein characteristics including properties of its subunits and regions of diversity within each structural leucine-rich repeat subunit. Our study provides a template to explore changes in the VLRB repertoire during immune responses and to establish large scale VLRB repertoire databases for computational approaches aimed at isolating monoclonal VLRB reagents for biomedical research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariel Orozco
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Irene S. Y. Fang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aspen M. Tang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Shilan Dong
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Vijaya M. Devraj
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Dancy C, Heintzelman KE, Katt ME. The Glycocalyx: The Importance of Sugar Coating the Blood-Brain Barrier. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8404. [PMID: 39125975 PMCID: PMC11312458 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158404] [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: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The endothelial glycocalyx (GCX), located on the luminal surface of vascular endothelial cells, is composed of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and vascular health within the central nervous system (CNS), influencing critical processes such as blood flow regulation, inflammation modulation, and vascular permeability. While the GCX is ubiquitously expressed on the surface of every cell in the body, the GCX at the BBB is highly specialized, with a distinct composition of glycans, physical structure, and surface charge when compared to GCX elsewhere in the body. There is evidence that the GCX at the BBB is disrupted and partially shed in many diseases that impact the CNS. Despite this, the GCX has yet to be a major focus of therapeutic targeting for CNS diseases. This review examines diverse model systems used in cerebrovascular GCX-related research, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate models to ensure clinical relevance and translational potential. This review aims to highlight the importance of the GCX in disease and how targeting the GCX at the BBB specifically may be an effective approach for brain specific targeting for therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candis Dancy
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (C.D.); (K.E.H.)
| | - Kaitlyn E. Heintzelman
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (C.D.); (K.E.H.)
- School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Moriah E. Katt
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (C.D.); (K.E.H.)
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, West Virginia University Health Science Center, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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Bela-Ong DB, Kim J, Thompson KD, Jung TS. Leveraging the biotechnological promise of the hagfish variable lymphocyte receptors: tools for aquatic microbial diseases. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 150:109565. [PMID: 38636740 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The jawless vertebrates (agnathans/cyclostomes) are ancestral animals comprising lampreys and hagfishes as the only extant representatives. They possess an alternative adaptive immune system (AIS) that uses leucine-rich repeats (LRR)-based variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) instead of the immunoglobulin (Ig)-based antigen receptors of jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes). The different VLR types are expressed on agnathan lymphocytes and functionally resemble gnathostome antigen receptors. In particular, VLRB is functionally similar to the B cell receptor and is expressed and secreted by B-like lymphocytes as VLRB antibodies that bind antigens with high affinity and specificity. The potential repertoire scale of VLR-based antigen receptors is believed to be at least comparable to that of Ig-based systems. VLR proteins inherently possess characteristics that render them excellent candidates for biotechnological development, including tractability to recombinant approaches. In recent years, scientists have explored the biotechnological development and utility of VLRB proteins as alternatives to conventional mammalian antibodies. The VLRB antibody platform represents a non-traditional approach to generating a highly diverse repertoire of unique antibodies. In this review, we first describe some aspects of the biology of the AIS of the jawless vertebrates, which recognizes antigens by means of unique receptors. We then summarize reports on the development of VLRB-based antibodies and their applications, particularly those from the inshore hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri) and their potential uses to address microbial diseases in aquaculture. Hagfish VLRB antibodies (we call Ccombodies) are being developed and improved, while obstacles to the advancement of the VLRB platform are being addressed to utilize VLRBs effectively as tools in immunology. VLRB antibodies for novel antigen targets are expected to emerge to provide new opportunities to tackle various scientific questions. We anticipate a greater interest in the agnathan AIS in general and particularly in the hagfish AIS for greater elucidation of the evolution of adaptive immunity and its applications to address microbial pathogens in farmed aquatic animals and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis B Bela-Ong
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesung Kim
- Earwynbio Co., Ltd., 206 Sungjangjiwon-dong, 991 Worasan-ro, Munsan, Jinju, Gyeongnam, 52839, Republic of Korea
| | - Kim D Thompson
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Tae Sung Jung
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam, 52828, Republic of Korea; Earwynbio Co., Ltd., 206 Sungjangjiwon-dong, 991 Worasan-ro, Munsan, Jinju, Gyeongnam, 52839, Republic of Korea.
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Lopez-Morales J, Vanella R, Appelt EA, Whillock S, Paulk AM, Shusta EV, Hackel BJ, Liu CC, Nash MA. Protein Engineering and High-Throughput Screening by Yeast Surface Display: Survey of Current Methods. SMALL SCIENCE 2023; 3:2300095. [PMID: 39071103 PMCID: PMC11271970 DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202300095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Yeast surface display (YSD) is a powerful tool in biotechnology that links genotype to phenotype. In this review, the latest advancements in protein engineering and high-throughput screening based on YSD are covered. The focus is on innovative methods for overcoming challenges in YSD in the context of biotherapeutic drug discovery and diagnostics. Topics ranging from titrating avidity in YSD using transcriptional control to the development of serological diagnostic assays relying on serum biopanning and mitigation of unspecific binding are covered. Screening techniques against nontraditional cellular antigens, such as cell lysates, membrane proteins, and extracellular matrices are summarized and techniques are further delved into for expansion of the chemical repertoire, considering protein-small molecule hybrids and noncanonical amino acid incorporation. Additionally, in vivo gene diversification and continuous evolution in yeast is discussed. Collectively, these techniques enhance the diversity and functionality of engineered proteins isolated via YSD, broadening the scope of applications that can be addressed. The review concludes with future perspectives and potential impact of these advancements on protein engineering. The goal is to provide a focused summary of recent progress in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanan Lopez-Morales
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel 4058, Switzerland; Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Rosario Vanella
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel 4058, Switzerland; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth A Appelt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sarah Whillock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alexandra M Paulk
- Program in Mathematical, Computational, and Systems Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2280, USA; Center for Synthetic Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Eric V Shusta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Benjamin J Hackel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Chang C Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Center for Synthetic Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Michael A Nash
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel 4058, Switzerland; Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel 4058, Switzerland
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Hjelm LC, Lindberg H, Ståhl S, Löfblom J. Affibody Molecules Intended for Receptor-Mediated Transcytosis via the Transferrin Receptor. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:956. [PMID: 37513868 PMCID: PMC10383291 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of biologics for diseases affecting the central nervous system has been less successful compared to other disease areas, in part due to the challenge of delivering drugs to the brain. The most well-investigated and successful strategy for increasing brain uptake of biological drugs is using receptor-mediated transcytosis over the blood-brain barrier and, in particular, targeting the transferrin receptor-1 (TfR). Here, affibody molecules are selected for TfR using phage display technology. The two most interesting candidates demonstrated binding to human TfR, cross-reactivity to the murine orthologue, non-competitive binding with human transferrin, and binding to TfR-expressing brain endothelial cell lines. Single amino acid mutagenesis of the affibody molecules revealed the binding contribution of individual residues and was used to develop second-generation variants with improved properties. The second-generation variants were further analyzed and showed an ability for transcytosis in an in vitro transwell assay. The new TfR-specific affibody molecules have the potential for the development of small brain shuttles for increasing the uptake of various compounds to the central nervous system and thus warrant further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Charlotta Hjelm
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna Lindberg
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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Choi ES, Shusta EV. Strategies to identify, engineer, and validate antibodies targeting blood-brain barrier receptor-mediated transcytosis systems for CNS drug delivery. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:1789-1800. [PMID: 38007619 PMCID: PMC10842915 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2286371] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Numerous therapeutics for neurological diseases have been developed, but many have failed in clinical trials in part due to limited brain bioavailability, mainly stemming from inefficient transport through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). One potential approach to noninvasive, BBB-targeted drug delivery to the brain is the use of engineered antibodies as delivery vehicles that can transport conjugated drug cargo across the BBB and into the brain via receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT). Effective development of these RMT targeting systems includes novel target discovery, along with antibody engineering and subsequent validation. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on both known and emerging RMT systems, targeting antibody properties in relation to BBB trafficking, and antibody validation strategies. EXPERT OPINION Clinical development of known RMT targeting systems and identification of novel BBB RMT targets will be complementary strategies for overcoming the BBB in central nervous system (CNS) disease treatment. The search for new RMT targets with higher brain specificity and enriched expression in the brain has given rise to some new targets which may offer unique benefits. It is our opinion that the expansion of BBB RMT system identification, along with targeting molecule engineering and validation strategies, will substantially contribute to the treatment of a wide range of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Seo Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Eric V Shusta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
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Cegarra C, Cameron B, Chaves C, Dabdoubi T, Do TM, Genêt B, Roudières V, Shi Y, Tchepikoff P, Lesuisse D. An innovative strategy to identify new targets for delivering antibodies to the brain has led to the exploration of the integrin family. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274667. [PMID: 36108060 PMCID: PMC9477330 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Increasing brain exposure of biotherapeutics is key to success in central nervous system disease drug discovery. Accessing the brain parenchyma is especially difficult for large polar molecules such as biotherapeutics and antibodies because of the blood-brain barrier. We investigated a new immunization strategy to identify novel receptors mediating transcytosis across the blood-brain barrier.
Method
We immunized mice with primary non-human primate brain microvascular endothelial cells to obtain antibodies. These antibodies were screened for their capacity to bind and to be internalized by primary non-human primate brain microvascular endothelial cells and Human Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cell clone D3. They were further evaluated for their transcytosis capabilities in three in vitro blood-brain barrier models. In parallel, their targets were identified by two different methods and their pattern of binding to human tissue was investigated using immunohistochemistry.
Results
12 antibodies with unique sequence and internalization capacities were selected amongst more than six hundred. Aside from one antibody targeting Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule and one targeting Striatin3, most of the other antibodies recognized β1 integrin and its heterodimers. The antibody with the best transcytosis capabilities in all blood-brain barrier in vitro models and with the best binding capacity was an anti-αnβ1 integrin. In comparison, commercial anti-integrin antibodies performed poorly in transcytosis assays, emphasizing the originality of the antibodies derived here. Immunohistochemistry studies showed specific vascular staining on human and non-human primate tissues.
Conclusions
This transcytotic behavior has not previously been reported for anti-integrin antibodies. Further studies should be undertaken to validate this new mechanism in vivo and to evaluate its potential in brain delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Cegarra
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, Chilly Mazarin, France
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Catarina Chaves
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | | | - Tuan-Minh Do
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Bruno Genêt
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi, Vitry-Sur-Seine, France
| | - Valérie Roudières
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Yi Shi
- Histology, Translational Sciences, Sanofi, Vitry-Sur-Seine, France
| | | | - Dominique Lesuisse
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area, Sanofi, Chilly Mazarin, France
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