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Li D, Cui Z, Zhao F, Zhu X, Tan A, Deng Y, Lai Y, Huang Z. Characterization of snakehead (Channa argus) interleukin-21: Involvement in immune defense against two pathogenic bacteria, in leukocyte proliferation, and in activation of JAK-STAT signaling pathway. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 123:207-217. [PMID: 35278639 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL-21), a crucial immune regulatory molecule, belongs to the common γ-chain family of type I cytokines, and exerts pleiotropic effects on multiple immune cell types in mammals. However, the characteristics and functions of fish IL-21 remain unclear. To further investigate the molecular mechanism of IL-21 in teleosts, we first cloned and identified the IL-21 gene (designated shIL-21) of the snakehead (Channa argus). The full-length open reading frame of shIL-21 is 438 bp in length, and encodes a predicted protein of 145 amino acid residues. A sequence analysis showed that shIL-21 has the typical structural characteristics of other IL-21 proteins, containing four α-helices and four conserved cysteine residues. In a phylogenetic analysis, shIL-21 clustered within a subgroup of IL-21 proteins from other teleost species and shared its closest evolutionary relationship with that of Lates calcarifer. The expression analysis showed that shIL-21 was ubiquitously expressed in all the healthy snakehead tissues tested, albeit at different levels. After infection with Nocardia seriolae or Aeromonas schubertii, the relative expression of shIL-21 was mainly upregulated in the head kidney and spleen in vivo. Similarly, after stimulation with the three pathogen analogues lipoteichoic acid, lipopolysaccharides, and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, the expression of shIL-21 was also induced in head kidney leukocytes in vitro. A recombinant shIL-21 protein was expressed and purified, and promoted the proliferation of head kidney leukocytes, induced the expression of genes encoding critical signaling molecules in the Janus kinase (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, including JAK1, JAK3, STAT1, and STAT3, and induced the expression of endogenous shIL-21 and genes encoding several key proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and IL-1β). Taken together, these preliminary findings suggest that shIL-21 is involved in the immune defense against bacterial infection, in leukocyte proliferation, and in the activation of the JAK-STAT pathway. They thus extend the functional studies of IL-21 in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Zhengwei Cui
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Fei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China.
| | - Xueqing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Aiping Tan
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Yuting Deng
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Yingtiao Lai
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Zhibin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
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2
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The Assessment of IL-21 and IL-22 at the mRNA Level in Tumor Tissue and Protein Concentration in Serum and Peritoneal Fluid in Patients with Ovarian Cancer. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10143058. [PMID: 34300224 PMCID: PMC8304053 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10143058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the analysis was for the first time to assess the expression of genes encoding IL-21 and IL-22 at the mRNA level in ovarian tumor specimens and the concentration of these parameters in serum and peritoneal fluid in patients with ovarian serous cancer. The levels of IL-21 and IL-22 transcripts were evaluated with the use of the real-time RT-qPCR. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the concentration of proteins. Quantitative analysis of IL-21 gene mRNA in the tumor tissue showed the highest activity in the G1 degree of histopathological differentiation and was higher in G1 compared to the control group. The concentration of IL-21 and IL-22 in the serum and in the peritoneal fluid of women with ovarian cancer varied depending on the degree of histopathological differentiation of the cancer and showed statistical variability compared to controls. The conducted studies have shown that the local and systemic changes in the immune system involving IL-21 and IL-22 indicate the participation of these parameters in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer, and modulation in the IL-21/IL-22 system may prove useful in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies used in patients, which require further research.
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Dieu-Nosjean MC, Giraldo NA, Kaplon H, Germain C, Fridman WH, Sautès-Fridman C. Tertiary lymphoid structures, drivers of the anti-tumor responses in human cancers. Immunol Rev 2016; 271:260-75. [PMID: 27088920 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The characterization of the microenvironment of human tumors led to the description of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) characterized by mature dendritic cells in a T-cell zone adjacent to B-cell follicle including a germinal center. TLS represent sites of lymphoid neogenesis that develop in most solid cancers. Analysis of the current literature shows that the TLS presence is associated with a favorable clinical outcome for cancer patients, regardless of the approach used to quantify TLS and the stage of the disease. Using several approaches that combine immunohistochemistry, gene expression assays, and flow cytometry on large series of lung tumors, our work demonstrated that TLS are important sites for the initiation and/or maintenance of the local and systemic T- and B-cell responses against tumors. Surrounded by high endothelial venules, they represent a privileged area for the recruitment of lymphocytes into tumors and generation of central-memory T and B cells that circulate and limit cancer progression. TLS can be considered as a novel biomarker to stratify the overall survival risk of untreated cancer patients and as a marker of efficient immunotherapies. The induction and manipulation of cancer-associated TLS using drug agonists and/or biotherapies should open new avenues to treat cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Caroline Dieu-Nosjean
- INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Team 13 Cancer, Immune Control and Escape, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, UPMC University Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas A Giraldo
- INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Team 13 Cancer, Immune Control and Escape, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, UPMC University Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Hélène Kaplon
- INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Team 13 Cancer, Immune Control and Escape, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, UPMC University Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Claire Germain
- INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Team 13 Cancer, Immune Control and Escape, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, UPMC University Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Wolf Herman Fridman
- INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Team 13 Cancer, Immune Control and Escape, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, UPMC University Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Sautès-Fridman
- INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Team 13 Cancer, Immune Control and Escape, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UMR_S 1138, Cordeliers Research Center, UPMC University Paris 06, Paris, France
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4
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Suthers AN, Old JM, Young LJ. The common gamma chain cytokine interleukin-21 is expressed by activated lymphocytes from two macropod marsupials, Macropus eugenii and Onychogalea fraenata. Int J Immunogenet 2016; 43:209-17. [PMID: 27306193 DOI: 10.1111/iji.12272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, interleukin-21 is a member of the common gamma chain cytokine family that also includes IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15. IL-21 has pleiotropic effects on both myeloid and lymphoid immune cells and as a consequence, the biological actions of IL-21 are broad: regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses and playing a pivotal role in antiviral, inflammatory and antitumour cellular responses. While IL-21 genes have been characterized in mammals, birds, fish and amphibians, there are no reports for any marsupial species to date. We characterized the expressed IL-21 gene from immune tissues of two macropod species, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), a model macropod, and the closely related endangered bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata). The open reading frame of macropod IL-21 is 462 nucleotides in length and encodes a 153-mer putative protein that has 46% identity with human IL-21. Despite the somewhat low amino acid conservation with other mammals, structural elements and residues essential for IL-21 conformation and receptor association were conserved in the macropod IL-21 predicted peptides. The detection of IL-21 gene expression in T-cell-enriched tissues, combined with analysis of the promotor region of the tammar wallaby gene, suggests that macropod IL-21 is expressed in stimulated T cells but is not readily detected in other cells and tissues. The similarity of gene expression profile and functionally important amino acid residues to eutherian IL-21 makes it unlikely that the differences in B- and T-cell responses that are reported for some marsupial species are due to a lack of important functional residues or IL-21 gene expression in this group of mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Suthers
- School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld, Australia
| | - J M Old
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - L J Young
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia
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Rojas G, Carmenate T, Leon K. Molecular dissection of the interactions of an antitumor interleukin-2-derived mutein on a phage display-based platform. J Mol Recognit 2015; 28:261-8. [PMID: 25683569 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Revised: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A mutein with stronger antitumor activity and lower toxicity than wild-type human interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been recently described. The rationale behind its design was to reinforce the immunostimulatory potential through the introduction of four mutations that would selectively disrupt the interaction with the IL-2 receptor alpha chain (thought to be critical for both IL-2-driven expansion of T regulatory cells and IL-2-mediated toxic effects). Despite the successful results of the mutein in several tumor models, characterization of its interactions was still to be performed. The current work, based on phage display of IL-2-derived variants, showed the individual contribution of each mutation to the impairment of alpha chain binding. A more sensitive assay, based on the ability of phage-displayed IL-2 variants to induce proliferation of the IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 cell line, revealed differences between the mutated variants. The results validated the mutein design, highlighting the importance of the combined effects of the four mutations. The developed phage display-based platform is robust and sensitive, allows a fast comparative evaluation of multiple variants, and could be broadly used to engineer IL-2 and related cytokines, accelerating the development of cytokine-derived therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gertrudis Rojas
- Systems Biology Department, Center of Molecular Immunology, Calle 216 esq 15, PO Box 16040, Atabey, Playa, La Habana, CP, 11600, Cuba
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6
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Spangler JB, Moraga I, Mendoza JL, Garcia KC. Insights into cytokine-receptor interactions from cytokine engineering. Annu Rev Immunol 2014; 33:139-67. [PMID: 25493332 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-032713-120211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines exert a vast array of immunoregulatory actions critical to human biology and disease. However, the desired immunotherapeutic effects of native cytokines are often mitigated by toxicity or lack of efficacy, either of which results from cytokine receptor pleiotropy and/or undesired activation of off-target cells. As our understanding of the structural principles of cytokine-receptor interactions has advanced, mechanism-based manipulation of cytokine signaling through protein engineering has become an increasingly feasible and powerful approach. Modified cytokines, both agonists and antagonists, have been engineered with narrowed target cell specificities, and they have also yielded important mechanistic insights into cytokine biology and signaling. Here we review the theory and practice of cytokine engineering and rationalize the mechanisms of several engineered cytokines in the context of structure. We discuss specific examples of how structure-based cytokine engineering has opened new opportunities for cytokines as drugs, with a focus on the immunotherapeutic cytokines interferon, interleukin-2, and interleukin-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie B Spangler
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305; , , ,
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Spolski R, Leonard WJ. Interleukin-21: a double-edged sword with therapeutic potential. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2014; 13:379-95. [PMID: 24751819 DOI: 10.1038/nrd4296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 385] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-21 is a cytokine with broad pleiotropic actions that affect the differentiation and function of lymphoid and myeloid cells. Since its discovery in 2000, a tremendous amount has been learned about its biological actions and the molecular mechanisms controlling IL-21-mediated cellular responses. IL-21 regulates both innate and adaptive immune responses, and it not only has key roles in antitumour and antiviral responses but also exerts major effects on inflammatory responses that promote the development of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders. Numerous studies have shown that enhancing or inhibiting the action of IL-21 has therapeutic effects in animal models of a wide range of diseases, and various clinical trials are underway. The current challenge is to understand how to specifically modulate the actions of IL-21 in the context of each specific immune response or pathological situation. In this Review, we provide an overview of the basic biology of IL-21 and discuss how this information has been - and can be - exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanne Spolski
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Warren J Leonard
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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8
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Moraga I, Spangler J, Mendoza JL, Garcia KC. Multifarious determinants of cytokine receptor signaling specificity. Adv Immunol 2014; 121:1-39. [PMID: 24388212 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800100-4.00001-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines play crucial roles in regulating immune homeostasis. Two important characteristics of most cytokines are pleiotropy, defined as the ability of one cytokine to exhibit diverse functionalities, and redundancy, defined as the ability of multiple cytokines to exert overlapping activities. Identifying the determinants for unique cellular responses to cytokines in the face of shared receptor usage, pleiotropy, and redundancy will be essential in order to harness the potential of cytokines as therapeutics. Here, we discuss the biophysical (ligand-receptor geometry and affinity) and cellular (receptor trafficking and intracellular abundance of signaling molecules) parameters that contribute to the specificity of cytokine bioactivities. Whereas the role of extracellular ternary complex geometry in cytokine-induced signaling is still not completely elucidated, cytokine-receptor affinity is known to impact signaling through modulation of the stability and kinetics of ternary complex formation. Receptor trafficking also plays an important and likely underappreciated role in the diversification of cytokine bioactivities but it has been challenging to experimentally probe trafficking effects. We also review recent efforts to quantify levels of intracellular signaling components, as second messenger abundance can affect cytokine-induced bioactivities both quantitatively and qualitatively. We conclude by discussing the application of protein engineering to develop therapeutically relevant cytokines with reduced pleiotropy and redirected biological functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Moraga
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Program in Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jamie Spangler
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Program in Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Juan L Mendoza
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Program in Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - K Christopher Garcia
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Program in Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
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9
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Duppatla V, Gjorgjevikj M, Schmitz W, Hermanns HM, Schäfer CM, Kottmair M, Müller T, Sebald W. IL-4 analogues with site-specific chemical modification at position 121 inhibit IL-4 and IL-13 biological activities. Bioconjug Chem 2013; 25:52-62. [PMID: 24341642 DOI: 10.1021/bc400307k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
IL-4 signaling into a cell occurs via assembly of a receptor complex that consists of a high-affinity IL-4Rα chain and a low affinity chain, where the low-affinity chain is either γc or IL-13Rα1. It has been previously shown that mutational disruption of the low affinity interface in the IL-4DM (double mutein) yields an antagonist that inhibits IL-4 as well as IL-13-dependent responses. The present study reveals that new types of IL-4 antagonists can be generated by site-specific chemical modification. The chemically modified IL-4 analogues consist of (1) mixed disulfides created by refolding IL-4 cysteine muteins in the presence of different thiol compounds or (2) maleimide conjugates created by modifying cysteine muteins with maleimide derivatives. IL-4 analogues chemically modified at position 121 retain marginal binding affinity to γc or IL-13Rα1 receptor ectodomains during SPR interaction analysis. The biological activity of the analogues is strongly reduced in HEK-Blue IL-4/IL-13 cells as well as in Jurkat cells. Since the IL-4 analogues modified at position 121 have the ability to inhibit γc (IL-4)- and IL13Rα1 (IL-4/IL-13)-dependent responses in Jurkat and HEK-Blue cell lines, they effectively act as IL-4 antagonists. The results of our IL-4 study provide the first example of a cytokine that is transformed into a competitive inhibitor by site-specific chemical modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viswanadham Duppatla
- Lehrstuhl für Physiologische Chemie II, Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften (Biozentrum) der Universität Würzburg , Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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10
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Isik G, Chung NPY, van Montfort T, Menis S, Matthews K, Schief WR, Moore JP, Sanders RW. An HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer with an embedded IL-21 domain activates human B cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67309. [PMID: 23826263 PMCID: PMC3691133 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that target the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) can prevent virus acquisition, but several Env properties limit its ability to induce an antibody response that is of sufficient quantity and quality. The immunogenicity of Env can be increased by fusion to co-stimulatory molecules and here we describe novel soluble Env trimers with embedded interleukin-4 (IL-4) or interleukin-21 (IL-21) domains, designed to activate B cells that recognize Env. In particular, the chimeric EnvIL-21 molecule activated B cells efficiently and induced the differentiation of antibody secreting plasmablast-like cells. We studied whether we could increase the activity of the embedded IL-21 by designing a chimeric IL-21/IL-4 (ChimIL-21/4) molecule and by introducing amino acid substitutions in the receptor binding domain of IL-21 that were predicted to enhance its binding. In addition, we incorporated IL-21 into a cleavable Env trimer and found that insertion of IL-21 did not impair Env cleavage, while Env cleavage did not impair IL-21 activity. These studies should guide the further design of chimeric proteins and EnvIL-21 may prove useful in improving antibody responses against HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gözde Isik
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nancy P. Y. Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Thijs van Montfort
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sergey Menis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center and Department of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Katie Matthews
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - William R. Schief
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Scripps Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - John P. Moore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Rogier W. Sanders
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Maurer MF, Garrigues U, Jaspers SR, Meengs B, Rixon MW, Stevens BL, Lewis KB, Julien SH, Bukowski TR, Wolf AC, Hamacher NB, Snavely M, Dillon SR. Generation and characterization of human anti-human IL-21 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. MAbs 2012; 4:69-83. [PMID: 22327431 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.4.1.18713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a type I four-helical bundle cytokine that exerts a variety of significant effects on many hematopoietic cells, including T and B lymphocytes and natural killer cells. IL-21 is produced predominantly by CD4+ T cells and natural killer T cells and, when aberrantly overexpressed, appears to play important roles in a wide variety of autoimmune disorders. To generate potential therapeutic reagents capable of inhibiting IL-21 for clinical use, we immunized human immunoglobulin transgenic mice with IL-21 and then identified and cloned a panel of human anti-human IL-21 binding monoclonal antibodies. IL-21 neutralizing and IL-21-binding, non-neutralizing antibodies were assigned to distinct epitope "bins" based on surface plasmon resonance competition studies. The most potent neutralizing antibodies had extremely high (sub pM) affinity for IL-21 and were able to block IL-21 activity in various biological assays using either an IL-21R-transfected pre-B-cell line or primary human B cells, and their neutralizing activity was, in some cases, superior to that of a soluble form of the high affinity heterodimeric IL-21 receptor. Characterization of this panel of IL-21 antibodies provided the basis for the selection of a therapeutic candidate antibody capable of inhibiting IL-21 activity for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Maurer
- Department of Preclinical Research and Development, ZymoGenetics, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
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12
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Hamming OJ, Kang L, Svensson A, Karlsen JL, Rahbek-Nielsen H, Paludan SR, Hjorth SA, Bondensgaard K, Hartmann R. Crystal structure of interleukin-21 receptor (IL-21R) bound to IL-21 reveals that sugar chain interacting with WSXWS motif is integral part of IL-21R. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:9454-60. [PMID: 22235133 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.311084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-21 is a class I cytokine that exerts pleiotropic effects on both innate and adaptive immune responses. It signals through a heterodimeric receptor complex consisting of the IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) and the common γ-chain. A hallmark of the class I cytokine receptors is the class I cytokine receptor signature motif (WSXWS). The exact role of this motif has not been determined yet; however, it has been implicated in diverse functions, including ligand binding, receptor internalization, proper folding, and export, as well as signal transduction. Furthermore, the WXXW motif is known to be a consensus sequence for C-mannosylation. Here, we present the crystal structure of IL-21 bound to IL-21R and reveal that the WSXWS motif of IL-21R is C-mannosylated at the first tryptophan. We furthermore demonstrate that a sugar chain bridges the two fibronectin domains that constitute the extracellular domain of IL-21R and anchors at the WSXWS motif through an extensive hydrogen bonding network, including mannosylation. The glycan thus transforms the V-shaped receptor into an A-frame. This finding offers a novel structural explanation of the role of the class I cytokine signature motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole J Hamming
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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