Human IgG Fc domain engineering enhances antitoxin neutralizing antibody activity

Prostate cancer research: tools, cell types, and molecular targets

Multiple cancer cell types are found in prostate tumors. They are either luminal-like adenocarcinoma or less luminal-like and more stem-like non-adenocarcinoma and small cell carcinoma. These types are lineage related through differentiation. Loss of cancer differentiation from luminal-like to stem-like is mediated by the activation of stem cell transcription factors (scTF) such as LIN28A, NANOG, POU5F1 and SOX2. scTF expression leads to down-regulation of β2-microglobulin (B2M). Thus, cancer cells can change from the scT F ˜ B 2 M hi phenotype of differentiated to that of scT F ˙ B 2 M lo of dedifferentiated in the disease course. In development, epithelial cell differentiation is induced by stromal signaling and cell contact. One of the stromal factors specific to prostate encodes proenkephalin (PENK). PENK can down-regulate scTF and up-regulate B2M in stem-like small cell carcinoma LuCaP 145.1 cells indicative of exit from the stem state and differentiation. In fact, prostate cancer cells can be made to undergo dedifferentiation or reprogramming by scTF transfection and then to differentiate by PENK transfection. Therapies need to be designed for treating the different cancer cell types. Extracellular anterior gradient 2 (eAGR2) is an adenocarcinoma antigen associated with cancer differentiation that can be targeted by antibodies to lyse tumor cells with immune system components. eAGR2 is specific to cancer as normal cells express only the intracellular form (iAGR2). For AGR2-negative stem-like cancer cells, factors like PENK that can target scTF could be effective in differentiation therapy.

Benchmarking glycoform-resolved affinity separation - mass spectrometry assays for studying FcγRIIIa binding

The antibody- FcγRIIIa interaction triggers key immunological responses such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), making it highly important for therapeutic mAbs. Due to the direct glycan-glycan interaction with FcγRIIIa receptor, differences in antibody glycosylation can drastically influence the binding affinity. Understanding the differential binding of mAb glycoforms is a very important, yet challenging task due to the co-existence of multiple glycoforms in a sample. Affinity liquid chromatography (AC) and affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) hyphenated with mass spectrometry (MS) can provide glycoform-resolved affinity profiles of proteins based on their differences in either dissociation (AC) or equilibrium (ACE) constants. To cross-validate the affinity ranking provided by these complementary novel approaches, both techniques were benchmarked using the same FcγRIIIa constructs. Both approaches were able to assess the mAb - FcγRIIIa interaction in a glycoform selective manner and showed a clear increase in binding for fully versus hemi-fucosylated mAbs. Also, other features, such as increasing affinity with elevated galactosylation or the binding affinity for high mannose glycoforms were consistent. We further applied these approaches to assess the binding towards the F158 allotype of FcγRIIIa, which was not reported before. The FcγRIIIa F158 allotype showed a very similar profile compared to the V158 receptor with the strongest increase in binding due to afucosylation and only a slight increase in binding with additional galactosylation. Both techniques showed a decrease of the binding affinity for high mannose glycoforms for FcγRIIIa F158 compared to the V158 variant. Overall, both approaches provided very comparable results in line with orthogonal methods proving the capabilities of separation-based affinity approaches to study FcγR binding of antibody glycoforms.

Understanding Fc function for rational vaccine design against pathogens

Antibodies represent the primary correlate of immunity following most clinically approved vaccines. However, their mechanisms of action vary from pathogen to pathogen, ranging from neutralization, to opsonophagocytosis, to cytotoxicity. Antibody functions are regulated both by antigen specificity (Fab domain) and by the interaction of their Fc domain with distinct types of Fc receptors (FcRs) present in immune cells. Increasing evidence highlights the critical nature of Fc:FcR interactions in controlling pathogen spread and limiting the disease state. Moreover, variation in Fc-receptor engagement during the course of infection has been demonstrated across a range of pathogens, and this can be further influenced by prior exposure(s)/immunizations, age, pregnancy, and underlying health conditions. Fc:FcR functional variation occurs at the level of antibody isotype and subclass selection as well as post-translational modification of antibodies that shape Fc:FcR-interactions. These factors collectively support a model whereby the immune system actively harnesses and directs Fc:FcR interactions to fight disease. By defining the precise humoral mechanisms that control infections, as well as understanding how these functions can be actively tuned, it may be possible to open new paths for improving existing or novel vaccines.

Coronavac inactivated vaccine triggers durable, cross-reactive Fc-mediated phagocytosis activities

Although humoral responses elicited by infection or vaccine lost the ability to prevent transmission against Omicron, vaccine-induced antibodies may still contribute to disease attenuation through Fc-mediated effector functions. However, Fc effector function elicited by CoronaVac, as the most widely supplied inactivated vaccine globally, has not been characterized. For the first time, our study depicted Fc-mediated phagocytosis activity induced by CoronaVac, including antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis (ADNP) activities, and further compared with that from convalescent individuals and CoronaVac recipients with subsequent breakthrough infections. We showed that 2-dose of CoronaVac effectively induced both ADCP and ADNP, but was substantially lower compared to infection, whereas the booster dose further augmented ADCP and ADNP responses, and remained detectable for 52 weeks. Among CoronaVac recipients, ADCP and ADNP responses also demonstrated cross-reactivity against Omicron subvariants, and breakthrough infection could enhance the phagocytic response. Meanwhile, serum samples from vaccinees, convalescent individuals with wildtype infection, BA.2 and BA.5 breakthrough infection demonstrated differential cross-reactive ADCP and ADNP responses against Omicron subvariants, suggesting the different subvariants of spike antigen exposure might alter the cross-reactivity of Fc effector function. Further, ADCP and ADNP responses were strongly correlated with Spike-specific IgG responses and neutralizing activities, indicating coordinated neutralization activity, ADCP and ADNP responses triggered by CoronaVac. Of note, the ADCP and ADNP responses were more durable and cross-reactive than corresponding Spike-specific IgG titers and neutralizing activities. Our study has important implications for optimal boosting vaccine strategies that may induce potent and broad Fc-mediated phagocytic activities.

CD32 Expression by CD4+ T and CD8+ T Lymphocytes Is Increased in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

FcγR is expressed by many immune cells and plays an important role in the immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. CD32 belongs to the FcγR family. This study aimed to observe changes in CD32 expression by CD4+ T and CD8+ T lymphocytes in chronic HBV infection patients and evaluate the clinical utility of CD4+ T and CD8+ T CD32 expression to assess the severity of liver injury in chronic HBV-infected patients. A total of 68 chronic HBV patients and 40 healthy individuals were recruited, and the median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD32 expression on CD4+ T, CD8+ T lymphocytes was measured using flow cytometry and the CD4+ T, CD8+ T CD32 index was calculated. The reactivity of the healthy individual lymphocytes to mixed patients' plasma containing HBV was observed. Finally, the correlation between CD4+ T, CD8+ T lymphocytes CD32 MFI and liver function indicator levels was analyzed. The CD4+ T, CD8+ T CD32 MFI and index were significantly elevated in HBV patient groups than in normal control group (p < 0.001, for all). Furthermore, the CD32 MFI of healthy persons' CD4+ T and CD8+ T lymphocytes were remarkably increased when stimulated with mixed patients' plasma containing high HBV copies (p < 0.001; P < 0.001). More importantly, in HBV patients, there was a significant positive correlation between CD4+ T, CD8+ T CD32 MFI and the level of serum aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the increased expression of CD32 on CD4+ T and CD8+ T lymphocytes might be potential promising biomarkers for the severity of liver function impairment in chronic HBV patients.

A Holistic Review of the Preclinical Landscape for Long-Acting Anti-infective Drugs Using HIV as a Paradigm

Lack of predictive preclinical models is a key contributor to the steep attrition rate in drug development. Successful clinical translation may be higher for new chemical entities or existing approved drugs reformulated for long-acting (LA) administration if preclinical studies designed to identify any new uncertainties are predictive of human exposure and response. In this review, we present an overview of standard preclinical assessments deployed for LA formulations and delivery systems, using human immunodeficiency virus LA therapeutics preclinical development as a paradigm. Key progress in the preclinical development of novel LA antiretrovirals formulations and delivery systems are summarized, including bispecific broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody and small molecule technologies for codelivery of multiple drugs with disparate solubility properties. There are new opportunities to take advantage of recent developments in tissue engineering and 3-dimensional in vitro modeling to advance preclinical modeling of anti-infective activity, developmental and reproductive toxicity assessment, and to apply quantitative modeling and simulation strategies. These developments are likely to drive the progression of more LA anti-infective drugs and multipurpose technologies into clinical development in the coming years.

Monoclonal Antibodies for Bacterial Pathogens: Mechanisms of Action and Engineering Approaches for Enhanced Effector Functions

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy has opened a new era in the pharmaceutical field, finding application in various areas of research, from cancer to infectious diseases. The IgG isoform is the most used therapeutic, given its long half-life, high serum abundance, and most importantly, the presence of the Fc domain, which can be easily engineered. In the infectious diseases field, there has been a rising interest in mAbs research to counteract the emerging crisis of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Various pathogens are acquiring resistance mechanisms, inhibiting any chance of success of antibiotics, and thus may become critically untreatable in the near future. Therefore, mAbs represent a new treatment option which may complement or even replace antibiotics. However, very few antibacterial mAbs have succeeded clinical trials, and until now, only three mAbs have been approved by the FDA. These failures highlight the need of improving the efficacy of mAb therapeutic activity, which can also be achieved with Fc engineering. In the first part of this review, we will describe the mechanisms of action of mAbs against bacteria, while in the second part, we will discuss the recent advances in antibody engineering to increase efficacy of pre-existing anti-bacterial mAbs.

Aubin M, Nilles EJ, Musk ER, Menon AS, Saphire EO, Krammer F, Lauffenburger DA, Barouch DH, Alter G. mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccines elicit antibodies with differences in Fc-mediated effector functions

The successful development of several coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has substantially reduced morbidity and mortality in regions of the world where the vaccines have been deployed. However, in the wake of the emergence of viral variants that are able to evade vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies, real-world vaccine efficacy has begun to show differences across the two approved mRNA platforms, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273; these findings suggest that subtle variation in immune responses induced by the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines may confer differential protection. Given our emerging appreciation for the importance of additional antibody functions beyond neutralization, we profiled the postboost binding and functional capacity of humoral immune responses induced by the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines in a cohort of hospital staff. Both vaccines induced robust humoral immune responses to wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to variants of concern. However, differences emerged across epitope-specific responses, with higher concentrations of receptor binding domain (RBD)- and N-terminal domain-specific IgA observed in recipients of mRNA-1273. Antibodies eliciting neutrophil phagocytosis and natural killer cell activation were also increased in mRNA-1273 vaccine recipients as compared to BNT162b2 recipients. RBD-specific antibody depletion highlighted the different roles of non-RBD-specific antibody effector functions induced across the mRNA vaccines. These data provide insights into potential differences in protective immunity conferred by these vaccines.

Phagocytosis by an HIV antibody is associated with reduced viremia irrespective of enhanced complement lysis

Increasingly, antibodies are being used to treat and prevent viral infections. In the context of HIV, efficacy is primarily attributed to dose-dependent neutralization potency and to a lesser extent Fc-mediated effector functions. It remains unclear whether augmenting effector functions of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) may improve their clinical potential. Here, we use bNAb 10E8v4 targeting the membrane external proximal region (MPER) to examine the role of antibody-mediated effector and complement (C’) activity when administered prophylactically against SHIV challenge in rhesus macaques. With sub-protective dosing, we find a 78–88% reduction in post-acute viremia that is associated with 10E8v4-mediated phagocytosis acting at the time of challenge. Neither plasma nor tissue viremic outcomes in vivo is improved with an Fc-modified variant of 10E8v4 enhanced for C’ functions as determined in vitro. These results suggest that effector functions inherent to unmodified 10E8v4 contribute to efficacy against SHIV_SF162P3 in the absence of plasma neutralizing titers, while C’ functions are dispensable in this setting, informing design of bNAb modifications for improving protective efficacy.

While antibodies neutralize HIV via Fab recognition of viral surface antigens, antibody Fc domains mediate effector functions, including antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and cytotoxicity (ADCC), and complement (C') activity. Here, Spencer et al. modify bNAb 10E8v4 to enhance C'-mediated potency in SHIV challenged rhesus macaques to probe its function in protection, showing that in the absence of neutralization, enhancing C' activities in vitro adds no value toward reducing viremia in either blood or tissue.

Immunomic Investigation of Holocyclotoxins to Produce the First Protective Anti-Venom Vaccine Against the Australian Paralysis Tick, Ixodes holocyclus

Venom producing animals are ubiquitously disseminated among vertebrates and invertebrates such as fish, snakes, scorpions, spiders, and ticks. Of the ~890 tick species worldwide, 27 have been confirmed to cause paralysis in mammalian hosts. The Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) is the most potent paralyzing tick species known. It is an indigenous three host tick species that secretes potent neurotoxins known as holocyclotoxins (HTs). Holocyclotoxins cause a severe and harmful toxicosis leading to a rapid flaccid paralysis which can result in death of susceptible hosts such as dogs. Antivenins are generally polyclonal antibody treatments developed in sheep, horses or camels to administer following bites from venomous creatures. Currently, the methods to prevent or treat tick paralysis relies upon chemical acaricide preventative treatments or prompt removal of all ticks attached to the host followed by the administration of a commercial tick-antiserum (TAS) respectively. However, these methods have several drawbacks such as poor efficacies, non-standardized dosages, adverse effects and are expensive to administer. Recently the I. holocyclus tick transcriptome from salivary glands and viscera reported a large family of 19 holocyclotoxins at 38-99% peptide sequence identities. A pilot trial demonstrated that correct folding of holocyclotoxins is needed to induce protection from paralysis. The immunogenicity of the holocyclotoxins were measured using commercial tick antiserum selecting HT2, HT4, HT8 and HT11 for inclusion into the novel cocktail vaccine. A further 4 HTs (HT1, HT12, HT14 and HT17) were added to the cocktail vaccine to ensure that the sequence variation among the HT protein family was encompassed in the formulation. A second trial comparing the cocktail of 8 HTs to a placebo group demonstrated complete protection from tick challenge. Here we report the first successful anti-venom vaccine protecting dogs from tick paralysis.

Aubin M, Nilles EJ, Musk ER, Menon AS, Saphire EO, Krammer F, Lauffenburger DA, Barouch DH, Alter G. Subtle immunological differences in mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine induced Fc-functional profiles

The successful development of several COVID-19 vaccines has substantially reduced morbidity and mortality in regions of the world where the vaccines have been deployed. However, in the wake of the emergence of viral variants, able to evade vaccine induced neutralizing antibodies, real world vaccine efficacy has begun to show differences across the mRNA platforms, suggesting that subtle variation in immune responses induced by the BNT162b2 and mRNA1273 vaccines may provide differential protection. Given our emerging appreciation for the importance of additional antibody functions, beyond neutralization, here we profiled the postboost binding and functional capacity of the humoral response induced by the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 in a cohort of hospital staff. Both vaccines induced robust humoral immune responses to WT SARS-CoV-2 and VOCs. However, differences emerged across epitopespecific responses, with higher RBD- and NTD-specific IgA, as well as functional antibodies (ADNP and ADNK) in mRNA-1273 vaccine recipients. Additionally, RBD-specific antibody depletion highlighted the different roles of non-RBD-specific antibody effector function induced across the mRNA vaccines, providing novel insights into potential differences in protective immunity generated across these vaccines in the setting of newly emerging VOCs.

Association between Higher CD32a+CD4+ T Cell Count and Viral Load in the Peripheral Blood of HIV-infected Patients

Background:

The significance of CD32a receptor expression in individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is currently unclear. Previously, B. Descours et al. (2017) concluded that in patients infected with HIV-1, CD32a is expressed on resting T cells that contain HIV DNA. According to the authors, these cells are reservoirs for inducible, replication-competent viruses. However, other studies have reported that CD32a expression is associated with activated T cells and is not a marker of HIV-1 reservoirs. The aims of this study were: to determine the significance of the CD32a marker in HIV infection, to assess its expression on T helper (Th) subpopulations in peripheral blood of HIV-infected individuals and to clarify the relationship between this expression and viral load.

Methods:

For comparative analysis, the following groups were used: 27 HIV-infected patients; 11 individuals with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection; 16 individuals with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection; and 13 healthy donors. Peripheral blood served as the study material. The expression of CD32a receptor on Th cell subpopulations was assessed using flow cytometry. Nonparametric statistical methods were used for data analysis.

Results:

It was found that relative CD32a+ Th cell counts in HIV-infected individuals significantly exceeded corresponding values in other groups: healthy individuals (p<0.0001), those with HCV infection (p=0.0008) and those with HBV infection (p <0.0001). Among the Th subpopulations in HIV-infected patients, the CD32a receptor was predominantly expressed on Th1 cells (p<0.0001) and Th2 cells (p<0.0001), compared with Th17. We found a strong, direct correlation (r=0.78; p<0.0001) between viral load and CD32a+CD4+ T cell count in peripheral blood of HIV-infected individuals.

Conclusion:

Thus, our results provide evidence that the CD32a receptor can serve as a marker of HIV infection, and its expression depends on viral load. Clinical material was used here, for the first time, to show that CD32a is predominantly expressed on Th1 and Th2 cells.

Immunotherapeutic strategies to target vulnerabilities in the Ebolavirus glycoprotein

The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa and the subsequent outbreaks of 2018-2020 in Equator and North Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo illustrate the public health challenges of emerging and reemerging viruses. EVD has a high case fatality rate with a rapidly progressing syndrome of fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding diathesis. Recently, two monoclonal-antibody-based therapies received United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, and there are several other passive immunotherapies that hold promise as therapeutics against other species of Ebolavirus. Here, we review concepts needed to understand mechanisms of action, present an expanded schema to define additional sites of vulnerability on the viral glycoprotein, and review current antibody-based therapeutics. The concepts described are used to gain insights into the key characteristics that represent functional targets for immunotherapies against Zaire Ebolavirus and other emerging viruses within the Ebolavirus genus.

Quantum leap of monoclonal antibody (mAb) discovery and development in the COVID-19 era

In recent years the global market for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) became a multi-billion-dollar business. This success is mainly driven by treatments in the oncology and autoimmune space. Instead, development of effective mAbs against infectious diseases has been lagging behind. For years the high production cost and limited efficacy have blocked broader application of mAbs in the infectious disease space, which instead has been dominated for almost a century by effective and cheap antibiotics and vaccines. Only very few mAbs against RSV, anthrax, Clostridium difficile or rabies have reached the market. This is about to change. The development of urgently needed and highly effective mAbs as preventive and therapeutic treatments against a variety of pathogens is gaining traction. Vast advances in mAb isolation, engineering and production have entirely shifted the cost-efficacy balance. MAbs against devastating diseases like Ebola, HIV and other complex pathogens are now within reach. This trend is further accelerated by ongoing or imminent health crises like COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where antibodies could be the last resort. In this review we will retrace the history of antibodies from the times of serum therapy to modern mAbs and lay out how the current run for effective treatments against COVID-19 will lead to a quantum leap in scientific, technological and health care system innovation around mAb treatments for infectious diseases.

Functional diversification of IgGs through Fc glycosylation

IgG antibodies are secreted from B cells and bind to a variety of pathogens to control infections as well as contribute to inflammatory diseases. Many of the functions of IgGs are mediated through Fcγ receptors (FcγRs), which transduce interactions with immune complexes, leading to a variety of cellular outcomes depending on the FcγRs and cell types engaged. Which FcγRs and cell types will be engaged during an immune response depends on the structure of Fc domains within immune complexes that are formed when IgGs bind to cognate antigen(s). Recent studies have revealed an unexpected degree of structural variability in IgG Fc domains among people, driven primarily by differences in IgG subclasses and N-linked glycosylation of the CH2 domain. This translates, in turn, to functional immune diversification through type I and type II FcγR-mediated cellular functions. For example, Fc domain sialylation triggers conformational changes of IgG1 that enable interactions with type II FcγRs; these receptors mediate cellular functions including antiinflammatory activity or definition of thresholds for B cell selection based on B cell receptor affinity. Similarly, presence or absence of a core fucose alters type I FcγR binding of IgG1 by modulating the Fc's affinity for FcγRIIIa, thereby altering its proinflammatory activity. How heterogeneity in IgG Fc domains contributes to human immune diversity is now being elucidated, including impacts on vaccine responses and susceptibility to disease and its sequelae during infections. Here, we discuss how Fc structures arising from sialylation and fucosylation impact immunity, focusing on responses to vaccination and infection. We also review work defining individual differences in Fc glycosylation, regulation of Fc glycosylation, and clinical implications of these pathways.

Noncanonical Functions of Antibodies

The typical functions of antibodies are based on linking the process of antigen recognition with initiation of innate immune reactions. With the introduction of modern research technologies and the use of sophisticated model systems, recent years have witnessed the discovery of a number of noncanonical functions of antibodies. These functions encompass either untypical strategies for neutralization of pathogens or exertion of activities that are characteristic for other proteins (cytokines, chaperones, or enzymes). Here, we provide an overview of the noncanonical functions of antibodies and discuss their mechanisms and implications in immune regulation and defense. A better comprehension of these functions will enrich our knowledge of the adaptive immune response and shall inspire the development of novel therapeutics.

A MUC16 IgG Binding Activity Selects for a Restricted Subset of IgG Enriched for Certain Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Epitope Specificities

We have recently shown that MUC16, a component of the glycocalyx of some mucosal barriers, has elevated binding to the G0 glycoform of the Fc portion of IgG. Therefore, IgG from patients chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who typically exhibit increased amounts of G0 glycoforms, showed increased MUC16 binding compared to uninfected controls. Using the rhesus macaque simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac251 model, we can compare plasma antibodies before and after chronic infection. We find increased binding of IgG to MUC16 after chronic SIV infection. Antibodies isolated for tight association with MUC16 (MUC16-eluted antibodies) show reduced FcγR engagement and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity. The glycosylation profile of these IgGs was consistent with a decrease in FcγR engagement and subsequent ADCC effector function, as they contain a decrease in afucosylated bisecting glycoforms that preferentially bind FcγRs. Testing of the SIV antigen specificity of IgG from SIV-infected macaques revealed that the MUC16-eluted antibodies were enriched for certain specific epitopes, including regions of gp41 and gp120. This enrichment of specific antigen responses for fucosylated bisecting glycoforms and the subsequent association with MUC16 suggests that the immune response has the potential to direct specific epitope responses to localize to the glycocalyx through interaction with this specific mucin.IMPORTANCE Understanding how antibodies are distributed in the mucosal environment is valuable for developing a vaccine to block HIV infection. Here, we study an IgG binding activity in MUC16, potentially representing a new IgG effector function that would concentrate certain antibodies within the glycocalyx to trap pathogens before they can reach the underlying columnar epithelial barriers. These studies reveal that rhesus macaque IgG responses during chronic SIV infection generate increased antibodies that bind MUC16, and interestingly, these MUC16-tethered antibodies are enriched for binding to certain antigens. Therefore, it may be possible to direct HIV vaccine-generated responses to associate with MUC16 and enhance the antibody's ability to mediate immune exclusion by trapping virions within the glycocalyx and preventing the virus from reaching immune target cells within the mucosa. This concept will ultimately have to be tested in the rhesus macaque model, which is shown here to have MUC16-targeted antigen responses.

Enhancing FcγR-mediated antibody effector function during persistent viral infection

Persistent viral infections can interfere with FcγR-mediated antibody effector functions by excessive immune complex (IC) formation, resulting in resistance to therapeutic FcγR-dependent antibodies. We and others have previously demonstrated that mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) are resistant to a wide range of depleting antibodies due to excessive IC formation. Here, we dissect the mechanisms by which two depleting antibodies overcome the obstacle of endogenous ICs and achieve efficient target cell depletion in persistently infected mice. Efficient antibody-mediated depletion during persistent LCMV infection required increased levels of antibody bound to target cells or use of afucosylated antibodies with increased affinity for FcγRs. Antibodies targeting the highly expressed CD90 antigen or overexpressed human CD20 efficiently depleted their target cells in naïve and persistently infected mice, whereas antibodies directed against less abundant antigens failed to deplete their target cells during persistent LCMV infection. In addition, we demonstrate the superior activity of afucosylated antibodies in the presence of endogenous ICs. We generated afucosylated antibodies directed against CD4 and CD8α, which, in contrast to their parental fucosylated versions, efficiently depleted their respective target cells in persistently infected mice. Efficient antibody-mediated depletion can thus be achieved if therapeutic antibodies can outcompete endogenous ICs for access to FcγRs either by targeting highly expressed antigens or by increased affinity for FcγRs. Our findings have implications for the optimization of therapeutic antibodies and provide strategies to allow efficient FcγR engagement in the presence of competing endogenous ICs in persistent viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.

Differential requirements for FcγR engagement by protective antibodies against Ebola virus

Ebola virus (EBOV) continues to pose significant threats to global public health, requiring ongoing development of multiple strategies for disease control. To date, numerous monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target the EBOV glycoprotein (GP) have demonstrated potent protective activity in animal disease models and are thus promising candidates for the control of EBOV. However, recent work in a variety of virus diseases has highlighted the importance of coupling Fab neutralization with Fc effector activity for effective antibody-mediated protection. To determine the contribution of Fc effector activity to the protective function of mAbs to EBOV GP, we selected anti-GP mAbs targeting representative, protective epitopes and characterized their Fc receptor (FcγR) dependence in vivo in FcγR humanized mouse challenge models of EBOV disease. In contrast to previous studies, we find that anti-GP mAbs exhibited differential requirements for FcγR engagement in mediating their protective activity independent of their distance from the viral membrane. Anti-GP mAbs targeting membrane proximal epitopes or the GP mucin domain do not rely on Fc-FcγR interactions to confer activity, whereas antibodies against the GP chalice bowl and the fusion loop require FcγR engagement for optimal in vivo antiviral activity. This complexity of antibody-mediated protection from EBOV disease highlights the structural constraints of FcγR binding for specific viral epitopes and has important implications for the development of mAb-based immunotherapeutics with optimal potency and efficacy.

Host-directed therapies for parasitic diseases

Parasitic infections are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Management strategies rely primarily on antiparasitic drugs that have side effects and risk of drug resistance. Therefore, novel strategies are needed for treatment of parasitic infections. Host-directed therapy (HDT) is a viable alternative, which targets host pathways responsible for parasite invasion/survival/pathogenicity. Recent innovative combinations of genomics, proteomics and computational biology approaches have led to discovery of several host pathways that could be promising targets for HDT for treating parasitic infections. Herein, we review major advances in HDT for parasitic disease with regard to core regulatory pathways and their interactions.

AGR2, a unique tumor-associated antigen, is a promising candidate for antibody targeting

Anterior gradient 2 (AGR2), a protein disulfide isomerase, shows two subcellular localizations: intracellular (iAGR2) and extracellular (eAGR2). In healthy cells that express AGR2, the predominant form is iAGR2, which resides in the endoplasmic reticulum. In contrast, cancer cells secrete and express eAGR2 on the cell surface. We wanted to test if AGR2 is a cancer-specific tumor-associated antigen. We utilized two AGR2 antibodies, P3A5 and P1G4, for in vivo tumor localization and tumor growth inhibition. The monoclonal antibodies recognized both human AGR2 and mouse Agr2. Biodistribution experiments using a syngeneic mouse model showed high uptake of P3A5 AGR2 antibody in xenografted eAgr2⁺ pancreatic tumors, with limited uptake in normal tissues. In implanted human patient-derived eAGR2⁺ pancreatic cancer xenografts, tumor growth inhibition was evaluated with antibodies and Gemcitabine (Gem). Inhibition was more potent by P1G4 + Gem combination than Gem alone or P3A5 + Gem. We converted these two antibodies to human:mouse chimeric forms: the constructed P3A5 and P1G4 chimeric mV_LhC_κ and mV_HhC_γ (γ1, γ2, γ4) genes were inserted in a single mammalian expression plasmid vector, and transfected into human 293F cells. Expressed human:mouse chimeric IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 antibodies retained AGR2 binding. Increase in IgG yield by transfected cells could be obtained with serial transfection of vectors with different drug resistance. These chimeric antibodies, when incubated with human blood, effectively lysed eAGR2⁺ PC3 prostate cancer cells. We have, thus, produced humanized anti-AGR2 antibodies that, after further testing, might be suitable for treatment against a variety of eAGR2⁺ solid tumors.

Serum IgM Glycosylation Associated with Tuberculosis Infection in Mice

Changes in serum glycans discriminate between disease statuses in cancer. A similar connection has not been established in the context of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). The inflammation arising from infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis may affect host protein glycosylation, thereby providing information about disease status in TB. A mouse model of infection was used to study glycoprotein N-glycosylation in serum. Following digestion of serum glycoproteins with peptide-N-glycosidase F (PNGase F), released glycans were permethylated and analyzed by multidimensional mass spectrometry (MS). Conditions included naive or Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated animals, which were either uninfected or infected with M. tuberculosis MS results were validated by lectin blotting. We found that both glycoprotein fucosylation and sialylation were particularly sensitive to M. tuberculosis infection. We observed that M. tuberculosis infection elevates serum IgM levels and induces changes in glycosylation that could inform about the disease.IMPORTANCE We demonstrate that M. tuberculosis infection influenced host protein glycosylation in a mouse model. The mechanism by which infection modifies glycans in serum proteins is not understood. Investigation of the regulation of such modifications by M. tuberculosis opens a new field that could lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers. Validation of such findings in human samples will reveal the clinical relevance of these findings.

IgG Fc Receptors: Evolutionary Considerations

Immunoglobulins (Ig), a critical component of the adaptive immune system, are present in all jawed vertebrates and through sophisticated diversification mechanisms are able to recognize antigens of almost infinite diversity. During mammalian evolution, IgG has emerged as the predominant Ig isotype that is elicited upon antigenic challenge, representing the most abundant isotype present in circulation. Along with the IgG molecule, a family of specialized receptors has evolved in mammalian species that specifically recognize the Fc domain of IgG. These receptors, termed Fcγ receptors (FcγRs), are expressed on the surface of effector leukocytes and upon crosslinking by the IgG Fc domain mediate diverse immunomodulatory processes with profound impact on several aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. FcγRs share a high degree of sequence homology among mammalian species and the ancestral locus, where the genes that encode for FcγRs are mapped, can be traced back early in mammalian evolution. FcγRs also share a number of common structural and functional properties among mammalian species and utilize highly conserved motifs for transducing signals upon engagement. Despite the high homology of FcγRs in diverse mammalian species, human FcγRs exhibit unique features relating to the gene organization, expression pattern in the various leukocyte populations, as well as affinity for human IgGs. Such inter-species differences in FcγRs biology between humans and other mammalian species represents a major limitation for the interpretation of in vivo studies on human IgG function using conventional animal models.

CD32 Ligation Promotes the Activation of CD4+ T Cells

Low affinity receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (FcγRs) represent a critical link between innate and adaptive immunity. Immune complexes (ICs) are the natural ligands for low affinity FcγRs, and high levels of ICs are usually detected in both, chronic viral infections and autoimmune diseases. The expression and function of FcγRs in myeloid cells, NK cells and B cells have been well characterized. By contrast, there are controversial reports about the expression and function of FcγRs in T cells. Here, we demonstrated that ~2% of resting CD4+ T cells express cell surface FcγRII (CD32). Analysis of CD32 expression in permeabilized cells revealed an increased proportion of CD4+CD32+ T cells (~9%), indicating that CD4+ T cells store a CD32 cytoplasmic pool. Activation of CD4+ T cells markedly increased the expression of CD32 either at the cell surface or intracellularly. Analysis of CD32 mRNA transcripts in activated CD4+ T cells revealed the presence of both, the stimulatory FcγRIIa (CD32a) and the inhibitory FcγRIIb (CD32b) isoforms of CD32, being the CD32a:CD32b mRNA ratio ~5:1. Consistent with this finding, we found not only that CD4+ T cells bind aggregated IgG, used as an IC model, but also that CD32 ligation by specific mAb induced a strong calcium transient in CD4+ T cells. Moreover, we found that pretreatment of CD4+ T cells with immobilized IgG as well as cross-linking of CD32 by specific antibodies increased both, the proliferative response of CD4+ T cells and the release of a wide pattern of cytokines (IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) triggered by either PHA or anti-CD3 mAb. Collectively, our results indicate that ligation of CD32 promotes the activation of CD4+ T cells. These findings suggest that ICs might contribute to the perpetuation of chronic inflammatory responses by virtue of its ability to directly interact with CD4+ T cells through CD32a, promoting the activation of T cells into different inflammatory profiles.

Engineered mRNA-expressed antibodies prevent respiratory syncytial virus infection

The lung is a critical prophylaxis target for clinically important infectious agents, including human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. Here, we develop a modular, synthetic mRNA-based approach to express neutralizing antibodies directly in the lung via aerosol, to prevent RSV infections. First, we express palivizumab, which reduces RSV F copies by 90.8%. Second, we express engineered, membrane-anchored palivizumab, which prevents detectable infection in transfected cells, reducing in vitro titer and in vivo RSV F copies by 99.7% and 89.6%, respectively. Finally, we express an anchored or secreted high-affinity, anti-RSV F, camelid antibody (RSV aVHH and sVHH). We demonstrate that RSV aVHH, but not RSV sVHH, significantly inhibits RSV 7 days post transfection, and we show that RSV aVHH is present in the lung for at least 28 days. Overall, our data suggests that expressing membrane-anchored broadly neutralizing antibodies in the lungs could potentially be a promising pulmonary prophylaxis approach.

Engineered neutralizing antibodies are potential therapeutics for numerous viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Here, the authors develop an mRNA-based approach to express membrane-anchored neutralizing antibodies in the lung and demonstrate that it inhibits RSV infections in mice.

Enrichment of high affinity subclasses and glycoforms from serum-derived IgG using FcγRs as affinity ligands

As antibodies continue to gain predominance in drug discovery and development pipelines, efforts to control and optimize their activity in vivo have matured to incorporate sophisticated abilities to manipulate engagement of specific Fc binding partners. Such efforts to promote diverse functional outcomes include modulating IgG-Fc affinity for FcγRs to alternatively potentiate or reduce effector functions, such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and phagocytosis. While a number of natural and engineered Fc features capable of eliciting variable effector functions have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, elucidation of these important functional relationships has taken significant effort through use of diverse genetic, cellular and enzymatic techniques. As an orthogonal approach, we demonstrate use of FcγR as chromatographic affinity ligands to enrich and therefore simultaneously identify favored binding species from a complex mixture of serum-derived pooled polycloncal human IgG, a load material that contains the natural repertoire of Fc variants and post-translational modifications. The FcγR-enriched IgG was characterized for subclass and glycoform composition and the impact of this bioseparation step on antibody activity was measured in cell-based effector function assays including Natural Killer cell activation and monocyte phagocytosis. This work demonstrates a tractable means to rapidly distinguish complex functional relationships between two or more interacting biological agents by leveraging affinity chromatography followed by secondary analysis with high-resolution biophysical and functional assays and emphasizes a platform capable of surveying diverse natural post-translational modifications that may not be easily produced with high purity or easily accessible with recombinant expression techniques.

Signaling by Antibodies: Recent Progress

IgG antibodies mediate a diversity of immune functions by coupling of antigen specificity through the Fab domain to signal transduction via Fc-Fc receptor interactions. Indeed, balanced IgG signaling through type I and type II Fc receptors is required for the control of proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory processes. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms that govern IgG-Fc receptor interactions, highlighting the diversity of Fc receptor-mediated effector functions that regulate immunity and inflammation as well as determine susceptibility to infection and autoimmunity and responsiveness to antibody-based therapeutics and vaccines.

Beyond binding: antibody effector functions in infectious diseases

Antibodies play an essential role in host defence against pathogens by recognizing microorganisms or infected cells. Although preventing pathogen entry is one potential mechanism of protection, antibodies can control and eradicate infections through a variety of other mechanisms. In addition to binding and directly neutralizing pathogens, antibodies drive the clearance of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites via their interaction with the innate and adaptive immune systems, leveraging a remarkable diversity of antimicrobial processes locked within our immune system. Specifically, antibodies collaboratively form immune complexes that drive sequestration and uptake of pathogens, clear toxins, eliminate infected cells, increase antigen presentation and regulate inflammation. The diverse effector functions that are deployed by antibodies are dynamically regulated via differential modification of the antibody constant domain, which provides specific instructions to the immune system. Here, we review mechanisms by which antibody effector functions contribute to the balance between microbial clearance and pathology and discuss tractable lessons that may guide rational vaccine and therapeutic design to target gaps in our infectious disease armamentarium.

Fcγ Receptor Function and the Design of Vaccination Strategies

Through specific interactions with distinct types of Fcγ receptors (FcγRs), the Fc domain of immunoglobulin G (IgG) mediates a wide spectrum of immunological functions that influence both innate and adaptive responses. Recent studies indicate that IgG Fc-FcγR interactions are dynamically regulated during an immune response through the control of the Fc-associated glycan structure and Ig subclass composition on the one hand and selective FcγR expression on immune cells on the other, which together determine the capacity of IgG to interact in a cell-type-specific manner with specific members of the FcγR family. Here, we present a framework that synthesizes the current understanding of the contribution of FcγR pathways to the induction and regulation of antibody and T cell responses. Within this context, we discuss vaccination strategies to elicit broad and potent immune responses based on the immunomodulatory properties of Fc-FcγR interactions.

Beyond Viral Neutralization

It has been known for more than 30 years that HIV-1 infection drives a very potent B cell response resulting in the production of anti-HIV-1 antibodies targeting several viral proteins, particularly its envelope glycoproteins (Env). Env epitopes are exposed on the surfaces of viral particles and infected cells where they are targets of potentially protective antibodies. These antibodies can interdict infection by neutralization and there is strong evidence suggesting that Fc-mediated effector function can also contribute to protection. Current evidence suggests that Fc-mediated effector function plays a role in protection against infection by broadly neutralizing antibodies and it might be important for protection by non-neutralizing antibodies. Fc-mediated effector function includes diverse mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-mediated complement activation, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, antibody-dependent cell-mediated virus inhibition, antibody-mediated trancytosis inhibition, and antibody-mediated virus opsonization. All these functions could be beneficial in fighting viral infections, including HIV-1. In this perspective, we discuss the latest developments in ADCC research discussed at the HIVR4P satellite session on non-neutralizing antibodies, with emphasis on the mechanisms of ADCC resistance used by HIV-1, the structural basis of epitopes recognized by antibodies that mediate ADCC, natural killer-cell education and ADCC, and murine models to study ADCC against HIV-1.

Role of Homologous Fc Fragment in the Potency and Efficacy of Anti-Botulinum Antibody Preparations

The only approved treatment for botulism relies on passive immunity which is mostly based on antibody preparations collected from hyper-immune horses. The IgG Fc fragment is commonly removed from these heterologous preparations to reduce the incidence of hyper-sensitivity reactions. New-generation therapies entering the pipeline are based on a combination of humanized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), which exhibit improved safety and pharmacokinetics. In the current study, a systematic and quantitative approach was applied to measure the direct contribution of homologous Fc to the potency of monoclonal and polyclonal antitoxin preparations in mice. Homologous Fc increased the potency of three individual anti-botulinum toxin MAbs by up to one order of magnitude. Moreover, Fc fragment removal almost completely abolished the synergistic potency obtained from a combined preparation of these three MAbs. The MAb mixture neutralized a 400-mouse median lethal dose (MsLD₅₀) of botulinum toxin, whereas the F(ab′)₂ combination failed to neutralize 10 MsLD₅₀ of botulinum toxin. Notably, increased avidity did not compensate for this phenomenon, as a polyclonal, hyper-immune, homologous preparation lost 90% of its potency as well upon Fc removal. Finally, the addition of homologous Fc arms to a heterologous pharmaceutical anti-botulinum toxin polyclonal horse F(ab′)₂ preparation improved its efficacy when administered to intoxicated symptomatic mice. Our study extends the aspects by which switching from animal-based to human-based antitoxins will improve not only the safety but also the potency and efficacy of passive immunity against toxins.

Multiplexed Fc array for evaluation of antigen-specific antibody effector profiles

Antibodies are widely considered to be a frequent primary and often mechanistic correlate of protection of approved vaccines; thus evaluating the antibody response is of critical importance in attempting to understand and predict the efficacy of novel vaccine candidates. Historically, antibody responses have been analyzed by determining the titer of the humoral response using measurements such as an ELISA, neutralization, or agglutination assays. In the simplest case, sufficiently high titers of antibody against vaccine antigen(s) are sufficient to predict protection. However, antibody titer provides only a partial measure of antibody function, which is dependent on both the variable region (Fv) to bind the antigen target, and the constant region (Fc) to elicit an effector response from the innate arm of the immune system. In the case of some diseases, such as HIV, for which an effective vaccine has proven elusive, antibody effector function has been shown to be an important driver of monoclonal antibody therapy outcomes, of viral control in infected patients, and of vaccine-mediated protection in preclinical and clinical studies. We sought to establish a platform for the evaluation of the Fc domain characteristics of antigen-specific antibodies present in polyclonal samples in order to better develop insights into Fc receptor-mediated antibody effector activity, more fully understand how antibody responses may differ in association with disease progression and between subject groups, and differentiate protective from non-protective responses. To this end we have developed a high throughput biophysical platform capable of simultaneously evaluating many dimensions of the antibody effector response.

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High-throughput array-based characterization platform for polyclonal antibodies.

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Development of a biophysical proxy for antibody effector function.

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Antigen and Fc receptor recognition characteristics are captured.

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Enables systematic serologic studies of NHP and human antibody samples.

Biophysical and Functional Characterization of Rhesus Macaque IgG Subclasses

Antibodies raised in Indian rhesus macaques [Macaca mulatta (MM)] in many preclinical vaccine studies are often evaluated in vitro for titer, antigen-recognition breadth, neutralization potency, and/or effector function, and in vivo for potential associations with protection. However, despite reliance on this key animal model in translation of promising candidate vaccines for evaluation in first in man studies, little is known about the properties of MM immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses and how they may compare to human IgG subclasses. Here, we evaluate the binding of MM IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 to human Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) and their ability to elicit the effector functions of human FcγR-bearing cells, and unlike in humans, find a notable absence of subclasses with dramatically silent Fc regions. Biophysical, in vitro, and in vivo characterization revealed MM IgG1 exhibited the greatest effector function activity followed by IgG2 and then IgG3/4. These findings in rhesus are in contrast with the canonical understanding that IgG1 and IgG3 dominate effector function in humans, indicating that subclass-switching profiles observed in rhesus studies may not strictly recapitulate those observed in human vaccine studies.

Promise and problems associated with the use of recombinant AAV for the delivery of anti-HIV antibodies

Attempts to elicit antibodies with potent neutralizing activity against a broad range of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) isolates have so far proven unsuccessful. Long-term delivery of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with such activity is a creative alternative that circumvents the need for an immune response and has the potential for creating a long-lasting sterilizing barrier against HIV. This approach is made possible by an incredible array of potent broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that have been identified over the last several years. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are ideally suited for long-term delivery for a variety of reasons. The only products made from rAAV are derived from the transgenes that are put into it; as long as those products are not viewed as foreign, expression from muscle tissue may continue for decades. Thus, use of rAAV to achieve long-term delivery of anti-HIV mAbs with potent neutralizing activity against a broad range of HIV-1 isolates is emerging as a promising concept for the prevention or treatment of HIV-1 infection in humans. Experiments in mice and monkeys that have demonstrated protective efficacy against AIDS virus infection have raised hopes for the promise of this approach. However, all published experiments in monkeys have encountered unwanted immune responses to the AAV-delivered antibody, and these immune responses appear to limit the levels of delivered antibody that can be achieved. In this review, we highlight the promise of rAAV-mediated antibody delivery for the prevention or treatment of HIV infection in humans, but we also discuss the obstacles that will need to be understood and solved in order for the promise of this approach to be realized.

Modulating Antibody Functionality in Infectious Disease and Vaccination

Induction of pathogen-specific binding antibodies has long been considered a signature of protective immunity following vaccination and infection. The humoral immune response is a complex network of antibodies that target different specificities and drive different functions, collectively acting to limit and clear infection either directly, via pathogen neutralization, or indirectly, via pathogen clearance by the innate immune system. Emerging data suggest that not all antibody responses are equal, and qualitative features of antibodies may be key to defining protective immune profiles. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding of protective functional antibody responses in natural infection, vaccination, and monoclonal antibody therapeutics. Moreover, we highlight opportunities to augment or modulate antibody-mediated protection through enhancement of antibody functionality.

Mouse and human FcR effector functions

Mouse and human FcRs have been a major focus of attention not only of the scientific community, through the cloning and characterization of novel receptors, and of the medical community, through the identification of polymorphisms and linkage to disease but also of the pharmaceutical community, through the identification of FcRs as targets for therapy or engineering of Fc domains for the generation of enhanced therapeutic antibodies. The availability of knockout mouse lines for every single mouse FcR, of multiple or cell-specific--'à la carte'--FcR knockouts and the increasing generation of hFcR transgenics enable powerful in vivo approaches for the study of mouse and human FcR biology. This review will present the landscape of the current FcR family, their effector functions and the in vivo models at hand to study them. These in vivo models were recently instrumental in re-defining the properties and effector functions of FcRs that had been overlooked or discarded from previous analyses. A particular focus will be made on the (mis)concepts on the role of high-affinity IgG receptors in vivo and on results from antibody engineering to enhance or abrogate antibody effector functions mediated by FcRs.

Structural characterization of GASDALIE Fc bound to the activating Fc receptor FcγRIIIa

The Fc region of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) initiates inflammatory responses such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) through binding to activating Fc receptors (FcγRI, FcγRIIa, FcγRIIIa). These receptors are expressed on the surface of immune cells including macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. An inhibitory receptor, FcγRIIb, is expressed on macrophages and other myeloid leukocytes simultaneously with the activating receptor FcγRIIa, thereby setting a threshold for cell activation. The affinity of IgG Fc for binding activating Fc receptors depends on IgG subclass and the composition of N-linked glycans attached to a conserved asparagine in the Fc CH2 domain. For example, Fc regions with afucosylated glycans bind more tightly to FcγRIIIa than fucosylated Fc, and afucosylated Fcs exhibit enhanced ADCC activity in vivo and in vitro. Enhanced pro-inflammatory responses have also been seen for Fc regions with amino acid substitutions. GASDALIE Fc is an Fc mutant (G236A/S239D/A330L/I332E) that exhibits a higher affinity for FcγRIIIa and increased effector functions in vivo compared to wild-type Fc. To explore its altered functions, we compared the affinities of GASDALIE and wild-type Fc for activating and inhibitory FcγRs. We also determined the crystal structure of GASDALIE Fc alone and bound to FcγRIIIa. The overall structure of GASDALIE Fc alone was similar to wild-type Fc structures, however, increased electrostatic interactions in the GASDALIE Fc:FcγRIIIa interface compared with other Fc:FcγR structures suggest a mechanism for the increased affinity of GASDALIE Fc for FcγRIIIa.

Prospects for engineering HIV-specific antibodies for enhanced effector function and half-life

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

A wealth of recent animal model data suggests that as exciting possibilities for the use of antibodies in passive immunotherapy strategies continue to develop, it will be important to broadly consider how antibodies achieve anti-HIV-1 effect in vivo.

RECENT FINDINGS

Beyond neutralization breadth and potency, substantial evidence from natural infection, vaccination, and studies in animal models points to a critical role for antibody Fc receptor (FcR) engagement in reducing risk of infection, decreasing postinfection viremia, and delaying viral rebound. Supporting these findings in the setting of HIV, the clinical maturation of recombinant antibody therapeutics has reinforced the importance of Fc-driven activity in vivo across many disease settings, as well as opportunely resulted in the development and exploration of a number of engineered Fc sequence and glycosylation variants that possess differential binding to FcRs. Exploiting these variants as tools, the individual and concerted effects of antibody effector functions such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated virus inhibition, phagocytosis, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody half-life, and compartmentalization are now being explored. As exciting molecular therapies are advanced, these studies promise to provide insight into optimal in-vivo antibody activity profiles.

SUMMARY

Careful consideration of recent progress in understanding protective antibody activities in vivo can point toward how tailoring antibody activity via Fc domain modification may enable optimization of HIV prevention and eradication strategies.

Fcγ receptor pathways during active and passive immunization

IgG antibodies are actively produced in response to antigenic challenge or passively administered as an effective form of immunotherapy to confer immunity against foreign antigens. Their protective activity is mediated through their bifunctional nature: a variable Fab domain mediates antigen-binding specificity, whereas the constant Fc domain engages Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) expressed on the surface of leukocytes to mediate effector functions. While traditionally considered the invariant domain of an IgG molecule, the Fc domain displays remarkable structural heterogeneity determined primarily by differences in the amino acid sequence of the various IgG subclasses and by the composition of the complex, Fc-associated biantennary N-linked glycan. These structural determinants regulate the conformational flexibility of the IgG Fc domain and affect its capacity to interact with distinct types of FcγRs (type I or type II FcγRs). FcγR engagement activates diverse downstream immunomodulatory pathways with pleiotropic functional consequences including cytotoxicity and phagocytosis of IgG-coated targets, differentiation and activation of antigen presenting cells, modulation of T-cell activation, plasma cell survival, and regulation of antibody responses. These functions highlight the importance of FcγR-mediated pathways in the modulation of adaptive immune responses and suggest a central role for IgG-FcγR interactions during active and passive immunization.

A constant threat for HIV: Fc-engineering to enhance broadly neutralizing antibody activity for immunotherapy of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Passive immunotherapy with polyclonal or hyperimmune serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) preparations provides an efficient means of protecting immunocompromised patients from microbial infections. More recently, the use of passive immunotherapy to prevent or to treat established infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has gained much attention, due to promising preclinical data obtained in monkey and humanized mouse in vivo model systems, demonstrating that the transfer of HIV-specific antibodies can not only prevent HIV infection, but also diminish virus load during chronic infection. Furthermore, an array of broadly neutralizing HIV-specific antibodies has become available and the importance of the IgG constant region as a critical modulator of broadly neutralizing activity has been demonstrated. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent findings with regard to the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for antibody-mediated clearance of HIV infection, and to discuss how this may help to improve HIV therapy via optimizing Fcγ-receptor-dependent activities of HIV-specific antibodies.

The role of Fc-FcγR interactions in IgG-mediated microbial neutralization

Antibodies are bifunctional molecules, containing a variable Fab domain that mediates binding specificity and a constant Fc domain that bridges antibody-coated targets with FcγR-expressing cells that mediate effector functions. Although traditional mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization of microbes have been largely thought to result from Fab-antigen interactions, recent studies suggest that recruitment of FcγR-expressing effector cells by antibodies is a major in vivo mechanism of antibody-mediated protection from infection. In this article, we review FcγR biology, compare mammalian FcγR families, and summarize recent evidence demonstrating the crucial role that Fc-FcγR interactions play during in vivo protection from infection.

EndoS and EndoS2 hydrolyze Fc-glycans on therapeutic antibodies with different glycoform selectivity and can be used for rapid quantification of high-mannose glycans

Enzymes that affect glycoproteins of the human immune system, and thereby modulate defense responses, are abundant among bacterial pathogens. Two endoglycosidases from the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, EndoS and EndoS2, have recently been shown to hydrolyze N-linked glycans of human immunoglobulin G. However, detailed characterization and comparison of the hydrolyzing activities have not been performed. In the present study, we set out to characterize the enzymes by comparing the activities of EndoS and EndoS2 on a selection of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cetuximab, adalimumab, panitumumab and denosumab. By analyzing the glycans hydrolyzed by EndoS and EndoS2 from the antibodies using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight, we found that both the enzymes cleaved complex glycans and that EndoS2 hydrolyzed hybrid and oligomannose structures to a greater extent compared with EndoS. A comparison of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) profiles of the glycan pool of cetuximab hydrolyzed with EndoS and EndoS2 showed that EndoS2 hydrolyzed hybrid and oligomannose glycans, whereas these peaks were missing in the EndoS chromatogram. We utilized this difference in glycoform selectivity, in combination with the IdeS protease, and developed a LC separation method to quantify high mannose content in the Fc fragments of the selected mAbs. We conclude that EndoS and EndoS2 hydrolyze different glycoforms from the Fc-glycosylation site on therapeutic mAbs and that this can be used for rapid quantification of high mannose content.

Microscale purification of antigen-specific antibodies

Glycosylation of the Fc domain is an important driver of antibody effector function. While assessment of antibody glycoform compositions observed across total plasma IgG has identified differences associated with a variety of clinical conditions, in many cases it is the glycosylation state of only antibodies against a specific antigen or set of antigens that may be of interest, for example, in defining the potential effector function of antibodies produced during disease or after vaccination. Historically, glycoprofiling such antigen-specific antibodies in clinical samples has been challenging due to their low prevalence, the high sample requirement for most methods of glycan determination, and the lack of high-throughput purification methods. New methods of glycoprofiling with lower sample requirements and higher throughput have motivated the development of microscale and automatable methods for purification of antigen-specific antibodies from polyclonal sources such as clinical serum samples. In this work, we present a robot-compatible 96-well plate-based method for purification of antigen-specific antibodies, suitable for such population level glycosylation screening. We demonstrate the utility of this method across multiple antibody sources, using both purified plasma IgG and plasma, and across multiple different antigen types, with enrichment factors greater than 1000-fold observed. Using an on-column IdeS protease treatment, we further describe staged release of Fc and Fab domains, allowing for glycoprofiling of each domain.

Monoclonal Antibody Combinations that Present Synergistic Neutralizing Activity: A Platform for Next-Generation Anti-Toxin Drugs

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are among the fastest-growing therapeutics and are being developed for a broad range of indications, including the neutralization of toxins, bacteria and viruses. Nevertheless, MAbs potency is still relatively low when compared to conventional polyclonal Ab preparations. Moreover, the efficacy of an individual neutralizing MAb may significantly be hampered by the potential absence or modification of its target epitope in a mutant or subtype of the infectious agent. These limitations of individual neutralizing MAbs can be overcome by using oligoclonal combinations of several MAbs with different specificities to the target antigen. Studies conducted in our lab and by others show that such combined MAb preparation may present substantial synergy in its potency over the calculated additive potency of its individual MAb components. Moreover, oligoclonal preparation is expected to be better suited to compensating for reduced efficacy due to epitope variation. In this review, the synergistic neutralization properties of combined oligoclonal Ab preparations are described. The effect of Ab affinity, autologous Fc fraction, and targeting a critical number of epitopes, as well as the unexpected contribution of non-neutralizing clones to the synergistic neutralizing effect are presented and discussed.

FcγR dependent mechanisms of cytotoxic, agonistic, and neutralizing antibody activities

Given the widespread use of antibodies of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) class as cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, and neutralizing agents in the therapy of malignant, infectious, and autoimmune diseases, understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic activity is of major importance. While Fcγ receptors (FcγR) have well-appreciated roles as effectors of cytotoxic IgG activity, it has only recently become clear that the functionality of immunomodulatory and neutralizing IgG preparations also depends on cellular FcγRs. Here, we review current models of IgG activity in infectious and inflammatory settings, and examine the importance of cell type-specific expression of FcγRs in determining functional outcome. We discuss how this knowledge may be used to improve the activity of therapeutic antibody preparations and outline important areas of focus for future research.

humanized mice to study FcγR function

Passive immunotherapy represents a promising therapeutic intervention for a number of neoplastic, chronic inflammatory, and infectious diseases, with several monoclonal antibodies currently under development or already in use in the clinic. While Fab-antigen interactions play a crucial role in the activity of an antibody, it has become clear that Fc-mediated effector functions are involved during antibody-mediated activities in vivo. A complete understanding of the contributions of effector activities mediated by an antibody during its in vivo function is required for the development of antibodies with improved therapeutic efficacies. Animal models that are commonly used for the preclinical evaluation of antibodies include murine and non-human primate species, whose FcγRs present substantial structural, functional, and genetic variation compared with their human counterparts. Therefore, the use of such animal models provides limited information on the role of human IgG Fc-FcγR interactions during the in vivo activities of antibodies intended for human therapeutics. In this chapter, we describe the development and evaluation of an FcγR-humanized mouse model for the study of human FcγR function in vivo. In this model, endogenous mouse FcγR genes have been deleted and human FcγRs are expressed as transgenes that faithfully recapitulate the unique pattern of human FcγR expression. Evaluation of the in vivo activities of a number of cytotoxic or therapeutic antibodies using FcγR-humanized mice provided useful insights into human IgG Fc effector function. This mouse model has become a vital preclinical model for testing therapeutic human antibodies to treat malignancies, autoimmunity, inflammation, and infectious disease.