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Lagassé HD, Ou J, Sauna ZE, Golding B. Factor VIII moiety of recombinant Factor VIII Fc fusion protein impacts Fc effector function and CD16 + NK cell activation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1341013. [PMID: 38655263 PMCID: PMC11035769 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1341013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombinant Factor VIII-Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) is an enhanced half-life therapeutic protein product used for the management of hemophilia A. Recent studies have demonstrated that rFVIIIFc interacts with Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) resulting in the activation or inhibition of various FcγR-expressing immune cells. We previously demonstrated that rFVIIIFc, unlike recombinant Factor IX-Fc (rFIXFc), activates natural killer (NK) cells via Fc-mediated interactions with FcγRIIIA (CD16). Additionally, we showed that rFVIIIFc activated CD16+ NK cells to lyse a FVIII-specific B cell clone. Here, we used human NK cell lines and primary NK cells enriched from peripheral blood leukocytes to study the role of the FVIII moiety in rFVIIIFc-mediated NK cell activation. Following overnight incubation of NK cells with rFVIIIFc, cellular activation was assessed by measuring secretion of the inflammatory cytokine IFNγ by ELISA or by cellular degranulation. We show that anti-FVIII, anti-Fc, and anti-CD16 all inhibited indicating that these molecules were involved in rFVIIIFc-mediated NK cell activation. To define which domains of FVIII were involved, we used antibodies that are FVIII domain-specific and demonstrated that blocking FVIII C1 or C2 domain-mediated membrane binding potently inhibited rFVIIIFc-mediated CD16+ NK cell activation, while targeting the FVIII heavy chain domains did not. We also show that rFVIIIFc binds CD16 with about five-fold higher affinity than rFIXFc. Based on our results we propose that FVIII light chain-mediated membrane binding results in tethering of the fusion protein to the cell surface, and this, together with increased binding affinity for CD16, allows for Fc-CD16 interactions to proceed, resulting in NK cellular activation. Our working model may explain our previous results where we observed that rFVIIIFc activated NK cells via CD16, whereas rFIXFc did not despite having identical IgG1 Fc domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- H.A. Daniel Lagassé
- Division of Hemostasis, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics CMC, Office of Therapeutic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Jiayi Ou
- Division of Hemostasis, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics CMC, Office of Therapeutic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Zuben E. Sauna
- Division of Hemostasis, Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics CMC, Office of Therapeutic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Basil Golding
- Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics CMC, Office of Therapeutic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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2
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Liao K, Mackenzie H, Ait-Oudhia S, Manimaran S, Zeng Y, Akers T, Yun T, de Oliveira Pena J. The Impact of Immunogenicity on the Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, and Safety of Sotatercept in a Phase III Study of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2024; 115:478-487. [PMID: 38012534 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.3116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Sotatercept, a soluble fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of activin receptor type IIA linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1, is a first-in-class activin signaling inhibitor under development for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We evaluated antidrug antibody (ADA) development and determined the effects of immunogenicity on the pharmacokinetics (PKs), efficacy, and safety of sotatercept in STELLAR, a multicenter, double-blind phase III trial (NCT04576988) wherein participants with PAH were randomized 1:1 to receive sotatercept (starting dose 0.3; target dose 0.7 mg/kg) or placebo subcutaneously every 3 weeks in combination with background therapies for ≤ 72 weeks. ADA-positive (ADA-POS) participants were identified and characterized for neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). PKs, efficacy, and safety were evaluated by ADA and NAb status. Of 162 evaluable participants, 42 (25.9%) were ADA-POS through week 24, of whom 11 (6.8%) were also NAb-POS. Median onset of ADAs was 3.29 weeks (interquartile range (IQR): 3.14-6.14), and median duration was 6 weeks (IQR: 3.14-17.86). No clinically meaningful differences were found across subgroups that were ADA-NEG, ADA-POS/NAb-NEG, and ADA-POS/NAb-POS, in terms of PKs (sotatercept trough concentration over time, mean postdose trough concentration at the end of treatment, and clearance), efficacy (changes from baseline in 6-minute walk distance, pulmonary vascular resistance, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels), and safety (incidence of hypersensitivity, anaphylactic reactions, and administration site reactions). We conclude that ADA incidence from sotatercept treatment was 25.9% and did not meaningfully affect the PKs, efficacy, or safety of sotatercept in participants with PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Liao
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Tad Akers
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
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3
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Diamos AG, Pardhe MD, Bergeman MH, Kamzina AS, DiPalma MP, Aman S, Chaves A, Lowe K, Kilbourne J, Hogue IB, Mason HS. A self-binding immune complex vaccine elicits strong neutralizing responses against herpes simplex virus in mice. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1085911. [PMID: 37205110 PMCID: PMC10186352 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1085911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction It has been known for over half a century that mixing an antigen with its cognate antibody in an immune complex (IC) can enhance antigen immunogenicity. However, many ICs produce inconsistent immune responses, and the use of ICs in the development new vaccines has been limited despite the otherwise widespread success of antibody-based therapeutics. To address this problem, we designed a self-binding recombinant immune complex (RIC) vaccine which mimics the larger ICs generated during natural infection. Materials and methods In this study, we created two novel vaccine candidates: 1) a traditional IC targeting herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) by mixing glycoprotein D (gD) with a neutralizing antibody (gD-IC); and 2) an RIC consisting of gD fused to an immunoglobulin heavy chain and then tagged with its own binding site, allowing self-binding (gD-RIC). We characterized the complex size and immune receptor binding characteristics in vitro for each preparation. Then, the in vivo immunogenicity and virus neutralization of each vaccine were compared in mice. Results gD-RIC formed larger complexes which enhanced C1q receptor binding 25-fold compared to gD-IC. After immunization of mice, gD-RIC elicited up to 1,000-fold higher gD-specific antibody titers compared to traditional IC, reaching endpoint titers of 1:500,000 after two doses without adjuvant. The RIC construct also elicited stronger virus-specific neutralization against HSV-2, as well as stronger cross-neutralization against HSV-1, although the proportion of neutralizing antibodies to total antibodies was somewhat reduced in the RIC group. Discussion This work demonstrates that the RIC system overcomes many of the pitfalls of traditional IC, providing potent immune responses against HSV-2 gD. Based on these findings, further improvements to the RIC system are discussed. RIC have now been shown to be capable of inducing potent immune responses to a variety of viral antigens, underscoring their broad potential as a vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G. Diamos
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University (ASU), School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ian B. Hogue
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University (ASU), School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Hugh S. Mason
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University (ASU), School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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Fang S, Brems BM, Olawode EO, Miller JT, Brooks TA, Tumey LN. Design and Characterization of Immune-Stimulating Imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:3228-3241. [PMID: 35904247 PMCID: PMC10166635 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Traditional antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology has employed tumor-targeting antibodies to selectively deliver ultrapotent cytotoxins to tumor tissue. While this technology has been highly successful, resulting in the FDA approval of over 10 ADCs, the field continues to struggle with modest efficacy and significant off-target toxicity. Concurrent with the struggles of the ADC field, a new generation of immune-activating therapeutics has arisen, most clearly exemplified by the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors that are now part of standard-of-care treatment regimens for a variety of cancers. The success of these immuno-oncology therapeutic agents has prompted the investigation of a variety of new immuno-stimulant approaches, including toll-like receptor (TLR) activators. Herein, we describe the optimization of ADC technology for the selective delivery of a potent series of TLR7 agonists. A series of imidazole[4,5-c]quinoline agonists (as exemplified by compound 1) were shown to selectively agonize the human and mouse TLR7 receptor at low nanomolar concentrations, resulting in the release of IFNα from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) and the upregulation of CD86 on antigen-presenting cells. Compound 1 was attached to a deglycosylated (Fc-γ null) HER2-targeting antibody via a cleavable linker, resulting in an ADC (anti-HER2_vc-1) that potently and selectively activated the TLR7 pathway in tumor-associated macrophages via a "bystander" mechanism. We demonstrated that this ADC rapidly released the TLR7 agonist into the media when incubated with HER2+ cells. This release was not observed upon incubation with an isotype control ADC and furthermore was suppressed by co-administration of the naked antibody. In co-culture experiments with HER2+ HCC1954 cells, this ADC induced the activation of the NFκB pathway in mouse macrophages and the release of IFNα from hPBMCs, while a corresponding isotype control ADC did not. Finally, we demonstrated that IP administration of anti-HER2_vc-1 induced complete tumor regression in an HCC1954 xenograft study in SCID beige mice. Unlike related ADC technology that has been reported recently, our technology relies on the passive diffusion of the TLR7 agonist into tumor-associated macrophages rather than Fc-γ-mediated uptake. Based on these observations, we believe that this ADC technology holds significant potential for both oncology and infectious disease applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siteng Fang
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Brittany M Brems
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Emmanuel O Olawode
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Jared T Miller
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Tracy A Brooks
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - L Nathan Tumey
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
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5
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Biophysical differences in IgG1 Fc-based therapeutics relate to their cellular handling, interaction with FcRn and plasma half-life. Commun Biol 2022; 5:832. [PMID: 35982144 PMCID: PMC9388496 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03787-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-based therapeutics (ABTs) are used to treat a range of diseases. Most ABTs are either full-length IgG1 antibodies or fusions between for instance antigen (Ag)-binding receptor domains and the IgG1 Fc fragment. Interestingly, their plasma half-life varies considerably, which may relate to how they engage the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). As such, there is a need for an in-depth understanding of how different features of ABTs affect FcRn-binding and transport behavior. Here, we report on how FcRn-engagement of the IgG1 Fc fragment compare to clinically relevant IgGs and receptor domain Fc fusions, binding to VEGF or TNF-α. The results reveal FcRn-dependent intracellular accumulation of the Fc, which is in line with shorter plasma half-life than that of full-length IgG1 in human FcRn-expressing mice. Receptor domain fusion to the Fc increases its half-life, but not to the extent of IgG1. This is mirrored by a reduced cellular recycling capacity of the Fc-fusions. In addition, binding of cognate Ag to ABTs show that complexes of similar size undergo cellular transport at different rates, which could be explained by the biophysical properties of each ABT. Thus, the study provides knowledge that should guide tailoring of ABTs regarding optimal cellular sorting and plasma half-life. Analysis of clinically approved antibody-based therapeutics reveals different structural designs, such as full-length IgG1 or Fc-fusions, entail distinct biophysical properties that affect FcRn binding, intracellular transport and plasma half-life.
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6
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Chen H, Maul‐Pavicic A, Holzer M, Huber M, Salzer U, Chevalier N, Voll RE, Hengel H, Kolb P. Detection and functional resolution of soluble immune complexes by an FcγR reporter cell panel. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e14182. [PMID: 34842342 PMCID: PMC8749491 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fc-gamma receptor (FcγR) activation by soluble IgG immune complexes (sICs) represents a major mechanism of inflammation in certain autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A robust and scalable test system allowing for the detection and quantification of sIC bioactivity is missing. We developed a comprehensive reporter cell panel detecting activation of FcγRs. The reporter cell lines were integrated into an assay that enables the quantification of sIC reactivity via ELISA or a faster detection using flow cytometry. This identified FcγRIIA(H) and FcγRIIIA as the most sIC-sensitive FcγRs in our test system. Reaching a detection limit in the very low nanomolar range, the assay proved also to be sensitive to sIC stoichiometry and size reproducing for the first time a complete Heidelberger-Kendall curve in terms of immune receptor activation. Analyzing sera from SLE patients and mouse models of lupus and arthritis proved that sIC-dependent FcγR activation has predictive capabilities regarding severity of SLE disease. The assay provides a sensitive and scalable tool to evaluate the size, amount, and bioactivity of sICs in all settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhang Chen
- Institute of VirologyUniversity Medical CenterAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Faculty of MedicineAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Andrea Maul‐Pavicic
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical ImmunologyMedical Center – University of FreiburgFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI)Medical Center‐University of FreiburgFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Martin Holzer
- Institute for Pharmaceutical SciencesAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Magdalena Huber
- Institute of VirologyUniversity Medical CenterAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Faculty of MedicineAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Ulrich Salzer
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical ImmunologyMedical Center – University of FreiburgFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Nina Chevalier
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical ImmunologyMedical Center – University of FreiburgFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Reinhard E Voll
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical ImmunologyMedical Center – University of FreiburgFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI)Medical Center‐University of FreiburgFaculty of MedicineUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute of VirologyUniversity Medical CenterAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Faculty of MedicineAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Philipp Kolb
- Institute of VirologyUniversity Medical CenterAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Faculty of MedicineAlbert‐Ludwigs‐University FreiburgFreiburgGermany
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Azevedo C, Pinto S, Benjakul S, Nilsen J, Santos HA, Traverso G, Andersen JT, Sarmento B. Prevention of diabetes-associated fibrosis: Strategies in FcRn-targeted nanosystems for oral drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113778. [PMID: 33887405 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with an elevated risk of micro- and macrovascular complications, such as fibrosis. To prevent diabetes-associated fibrosis, the symptomatology of diabetes must be controlled, which is commonly done by subcutaneous injection of antidiabetic peptides. To minimize the pain and distress associated with such injections, there is an urgent need for non-invasive oral transmucosal drug delivery strategies. However, orally administered peptide-based drugs are exposed to harsh conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and poorly cross the selective intestinal epithelium. Thus, targeting of drugs to receptors expressed in epithelial cells, such as the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), may therefore enhance uptake and transport through mucosal barriers. This review compiles how in-depth studies of FcRn biology and engineering of receptor-binding molecules may pave the way for design of new classes of FcRn-targeted nanosystems. Tailored strategies may open new avenues for oral drug delivery and provide better treatment options for diabetes and, consequently, fibrosis prevention.
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8
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Lagassé HAD, Hopkins LB, Jankowski W, Jacquemin MG, Sauna ZE, Golding B. Factor VIII-Fc Activates Natural Killer Cells via Fc-Mediated Interactions With CD16. Front Immunol 2021; 12:692157. [PMID: 34262568 PMCID: PMC8273617 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.692157] [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: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The most challenging complication associated with Factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy is the development of neutralizing anti-drug antibodies, or inhibitors, which occur in 23-35% of severe (FVIII level <1%) hemophilia A (HA) patients and are a serious hindrance to effective management of HA. Consequently, strategies that can either prevent anti-FVIII inhibitors from developing or "tolerize" individuals who develop such antibodies represent a clinically important unmet need. One intervention for patients with high-titer inhibitors is immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy. Although ITI therapy is the only clinically proven strategy to eradicate anti-FVIII inhibitors, mechanisms of inhibitor reduction remain unknown. Factor VIII Fc-fusion (rFVIIIFc) is an enhanced half-life antihemophilic factor used in replacement therapy for HA. Fc-fusion is a successful protein bio-engineering platform technology. In addition to enhancement of plasma half-life via neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) binding, other Fc-mediated interactions, including engagement with Fc gamma receptors (FcγR), may have immunological consequences. Several case reports and retrospective analyses suggest that rFVIIIFc offers superior outcomes with respect to ITI compared to other FVIII products. Previously we and others demonstrated rFVIIIFc interactions with activating FcγRIIIA/CD16. Here, we investigated if rFVIIIFc activates natural killer (NK) cells via CD16. We demonstrated rFVIIIFc signaling via CD16 independent of Von Willebrand Factor (VWF):FVIII complex formation. We established that rFVIIIFc potently activated NK cells in a CD16-dependent fashion resulting in IFNγ secretion and cytolytic perforin and granzyme B release. We also demonstrated an association between rFVIIIFc-mediated NK cell IFNγ secretion levels and the high-affinity (158V) CD16 genotype. Furthermore, we show that rFVIIIFc-activated CD16+ NK cells were able to lyse a B-cell clone (BO2C11) bearing an anti-FVIII B-cell receptor in an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. These in vitro findings provide an underlying molecular mechanism that may help explain clinical case reports and retrospective studies suggesting rFVIIIFc may be more effective in tolerizing HA patients with anti-FVIII inhibitors compared to FVIII not linked to Fc. Our in vitro findings suggest a potential use of Fc-fusion proteins acting via NK cells to target antigen-specific B-cells, in the management of unwanted immune responses directed against immunogenic self-antigens or therapeutic protein products.
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Affiliation(s)
- H A Daniel Lagassé
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Louis B Hopkins
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Wojciech Jankowski
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Marc G Jacquemin
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Zuben E Sauna
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Basil Golding
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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9
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Diamos AG, Pardhe MD, Sun H, Hunter JGL, Kilbourne J, Chen Q, Mason HS. A Highly Expressing, Soluble, and Stable Plant-Made IgG Fusion Vaccine Strategy Enhances Antigen Immunogenicity in Mice Without Adjuvant. Front Immunol 2020; 11:576012. [PMID: 33343565 PMCID: PMC7746858 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.576012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutics based on fusing a protein of interest to the IgG Fc domain have been enormously successful, though fewer studies have investigated the vaccine potential of IgG fusions. In this study, we systematically compared the key properties of seven different plant-made human IgG1 fusion vaccine candidates using Zika virus (ZIKV) envelope domain III (ZE3) as a model antigen. Complement protein C1q binding of the IgG fusions was enhanced by: 1) antigen fusion to the IgG N-terminus; 2) removal of the IgG light chain or Fab regions; 3) addition of hexamer-inducing mutations in the IgG Fc; 4) adding a self-binding epitope tag to create recombinant immune complexes (RIC); or 5) producing IgG fusions in plants that lack plant-specific β1,2-linked xylose and α1,3-linked fucose N-linked glycans. We also characterized the expression, solubility, and stability of the IgG fusions. By optimizing immune complex formation, a potently immunogenic vaccine candidate with improved solubility and high stability was produced at 1.5 mg IgG fusion per g leaf fresh weight. In mice, the IgG fusions elicited high titers of Zika-specific antibodies which neutralized ZIKV using only two doses without adjuvant, reaching up to 150-fold higher antibody titers than ZE3 antigen alone. We anticipate these findings will be broadly applicable to the creation of other vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antigens, Viral/genetics
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- Antigens, Viral/pharmacology
- Complement C1q/metabolism
- Drug Stability
- Epitopes
- Female
- Immunization
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Immunoglobulin G/genetics
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Immunoglobulin G/pharmacology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Plant Leaves/genetics
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics
- Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/pharmacology
- Solubility
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Vaccines, Subunit/pharmacology
- Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics
- Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology
- Viral Envelope Proteins/pharmacology
- Viral Vaccines/genetics
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
- Viral Vaccines/pharmacology
- Zika Virus/immunology
- Zika Virus/pathogenicity
- Zika Virus Infection/immunology
- Zika Virus Infection/prevention & control
- Zika Virus Infection/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G. Diamos
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Mary D. Pardhe
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Joseph G. L. Hunter
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Qiang Chen
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Hugh S. Mason
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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10
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Li W, Schäfer A, Kulkarni SS, Liu X, Martinez DR, Chen C, Sun Z, Leist SR, Drelich A, Zhang L, Ura ML, Berezuk A, Chittori S, Leopold K, Mannar D, Srivastava SS, Zhu X, Peterson EC, Tseng CT, Mellors JW, Falzarano D, Subramaniam S, Baric RS, Dimitrov DS. High Potency of a Bivalent Human V H Domain in SARS-CoV-2 Animal Models. Cell 2020; 183:429-441.e16. [PMID: 32941803 PMCID: PMC7473018 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Novel COVID-19 therapeutics are urgently needed. We generated a phage-displayed human antibody VH domain library from which we identified a high-affinity VH binder ab8. Bivalent VH, VH-Fc ab8, bound with high avidity to membrane-associated S glycoprotein and to mutants found in patients. It potently neutralized mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 in wild-type mice at a dose as low as 2 mg/kg and exhibited high prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, possibly enhanced by its relatively small size. Electron microscopy combined with scanning mutagenesis identified ab8 interactions with all three S protomers and showed how ab8 neutralized the virus by directly interfering with ACE2 binding. VH-Fc ab8 did not aggregate and did not bind to 5,300 human membrane-associated proteins. The potent neutralization activity of VH-Fc ab8 combined with good developability properties and cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 mutants provide a strong rationale for its evaluation as a COVID-19 therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
| | - Alexandra Schäfer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 3109 Michael Hooker Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Swarali S Kulkarni
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, and the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - Xianglei Liu
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - David R Martinez
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 3109 Michael Hooker Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chuan Chen
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Zehua Sun
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Sarah R Leist
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 3109 Michael Hooker Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Aleksandra Drelich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Centers for Biodefense and Emerging Diseases, Galveston National Laboratory, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77550, USA
| | - Liyong Zhang
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Marcin L Ura
- Abound Bio, 1401 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Alison Berezuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sagar Chittori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Karoline Leopold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dhiraj Mannar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Shanti S Srivastava
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Xing Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Chien-Te Tseng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Centers for Biodefense and Emerging Diseases, Galveston National Laboratory, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77550, USA
| | - John W Mellors
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Abound Bio, 1401 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Darryl Falzarano
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, and the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - Sriram Subramaniam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ralph S Baric
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 3109 Michael Hooker Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dimiter S Dimitrov
- Center for Antibody Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Abound Bio, 1401 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
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11
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Sperinde G, Montgomery D, Mytych DT. Clinical Immunogenicity Risk Assessment for a Fusion Protein. AAPS JOURNAL 2020; 22:64. [PMID: 32246297 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-020-00447-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This document highlights some relevant factors in the assessment of immunogenicity risk of fusion protein therapeutics. Our aim is to highlight specific risks associated with this type of molecule, while also aligning with general risk assessment factors, through a hypothetical case study, where the therapeutic molecule of interest is a Receptor-Fc Fusion protein (RFF) expressed within a typical manufacturing process in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells (CHO). Given that the components are comprised of endogenous sequences, the risk of developing an ADA response to this molecule is generally considered to be low. However, the consequences of such an immune response may be more severe, specifically, if there is cross reactivity with the endogenous receptor, inducing cell lysis, or if any ADA act as an agonist to trigger receptor signaling. The risk factors described below are not meant to provide a comprehensive list, but rather a framework for factors that should be considered. Immunogenicity risk is difficult to quantify and relies on a comprehensive analysis of both product and patient-related factors. The goal is not necessarily to quantify risk, but rather to demonstrate an understanding of factors that may pose a risk, implement a strategy to minimize risk factors and then align overall risk with a bioanalytical immunogenicity monitoring strategy. The consequences resulting from unexpected outcome will likely depend on severity and impact on patient safety. An immunogenicity risk assessment is an ongoing and continuous process throughout clinical development with the goal of maximizing the safety of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gizette Sperinde
- BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Diana Montgomery
- Predictive and Clinical Immunogenicity, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Daniel T Mytych
- Clinical Immunology-Translational Medicine, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
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12
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Cormier M, Batty P, Tarrant J, Lillicrap D. Advances in knowledge of inhibitor formation in severe haemophilia A. Br J Haematol 2020; 189:39-53. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Cormier
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Richardson Laboratory Queen’s University Kingston ON Canada
| | - Paul Batty
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Richardson Laboratory Queen’s University Kingston ON Canada
| | - Julie Tarrant
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Richardson Laboratory Queen’s University Kingston ON Canada
| | - David Lillicrap
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Richardson Laboratory Queen’s University Kingston ON Canada
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