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A cell-based phenotypic library selection and screening approach for the de novo discovery of novel functional chimeric antigen receptors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1136. [PMID: 35064152 PMCID: PMC8782825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-tumor therapies that seek to exploit and redirect the cytotoxic killing and effector potential of autologous or syngeneic T cells have shown extraordinary promise and efficacy in certain clinical settings. Such cells, when engineered to express synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) acquire novel targeting and activation properties which are governed and orchestrated by, typically, antibody fragments specific for a tumor antigen of interest. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that not all antibodies are equal in this regard, with a growing appreciation that ‘optimal’ CAR performance requires a consideration of multiple structural and contextual parameters. Thus, antibodies raised by classical approaches and intended for other applications often perform poorly or not at all when repurposed as CARs. With this in mind, we have explored the potential of an in vitro phenotypic CAR library discovery approach that tightly associates antibody-driven bridging of tumor and effector T cells with an informative and functionally relevant CAR activation reporter signal. Critically, we demonstrate the utility of this enrichment methodology for ‘real world’ de novo discovery by isolating several novel anti-mesothelin CAR-active scFv candidates.
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2
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Hajari Taheri F, Hassani M, Sharifzadeh Z, Behdani M, Arashkia A, Abolhassani M. T cell engineered with a novel nanobody‐based chimeric antigen receptor against VEGFR2 as a candidate for tumor immunotherapy. IUBMB Life 2019; 71:1259-1267. [DOI: 10.1002/iub.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmoud Hassani
- Department of ImmunologyHybridoma Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
- Department of Molecular MedicineTehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Zahra Sharifzadeh
- Department of ImmunologyHybridoma Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
| | - Mehdi Behdani
- Department of Molecular MedicinePasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
| | - Arash Arashkia
- Department of a Molecular VirologyPasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
| | - Mohsen Abolhassani
- Department of ImmunologyHybridoma Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
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3
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Hickey JW, Kosmides AK, Schneck JP. Engineering Platforms for T Cell Modulation. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 341:277-362. [PMID: 30262034 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
T cells are crucial contributors to mounting an effective immune response and increasingly the focus of therapeutic interventions in cancer, infectious disease, and autoimmunity. Translation of current T cell immunotherapies has been hindered by off-target toxicities, limited efficacy, biological variability, and high costs. As T cell therapeutics continue to develop, the application of engineering concepts to control their delivery and presentation will be critical for their success. Here, we outline the engineer's toolbox and contextualize it with the biology of T cells. We focus on the design principles of T cell modulation platforms regarding size, shape, material, and ligand choice. Furthermore, we review how application of these design principles has already impacted T cell immunotherapies and our understanding of T cell biology. Recent, salient examples from protein engineering, synthetic particles, cellular and genetic engineering, and scaffolds and surfaces are provided to reinforce the importance of design considerations. Our aim is to provide a guide for immunologists, engineers, clinicians, and the pharmaceutical sector for the design of T cell-targeting platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Hickey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Institute for NanoBiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alyssa K Kosmides
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Institute for NanoBiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jonathan P Schneck
- Institute for NanoBiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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4
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Efficacy and toxicity management of CAR-T-cell immunotherapy: a matter of responsiveness control or tumour-specificity? Biochem Soc Trans 2016; 44:406-11. [PMID: 27068947 DOI: 10.1042/bst20150286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T-cells have demonstrated potent clinical efficacy in patients with haematological malignancies. However, the use of CAR-T-cells targeting solid tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) has been limited by organ toxicities related to activation of T-cell effector functions through the CAR. Most existing CARs recognize TAAs, which are also found in normal tissues. CAR-T-cell-mediated destruction of normal tissues constitutes a major roadblock to CAR-T-cell therapy, and must be avoided or mitigated. There is a broad range of strategies for modulating antigen responsiveness of CAR-T-cells, with varying degrees of complexity. Some of them might ameliorate the acute and chronic toxicities associated with current CAR constructs. However, further embellishments to CAR therapy may complicate clinical implementation and possibly create new immunogenicity issues. In contrast, the development of CARs targeting truly tumour-specific antigens might circumvent on-target/off-tumour toxicities without adding additional complexity to CAR-T-cell therapies, but these antigens have been elusive and may require novel selection strategies for their discovery.
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Chimeric antigen receptor-redirected T cells return to the bench. Semin Immunol 2016; 28:3-9. [PMID: 26797495 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
While the clinical progress of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) immunotherapy has garnered attention to the field, our understanding of the biology of these chimeric molecules is still emerging. Our aim within this review is to bring to light the mechanistic understanding of these multi-modular receptors and how these individual components confer particular properties to CAR-Ts. In addition, we will discuss extrinsic factors that can be manipulated to influence CAR-T performance such as choice of cellular population, culturing conditions and additional modifications that enhance their activity particularly in solid tumors. Finally, we will also consider the emerging toxicity associated with CAR-Ts. By breaking apart the CAR and examining the role of each piece, we can build a better functioning cellular vehicle for optimized treatment of cancer patients.
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Selection strategies for anticancer antibody discovery: searching off the beaten path. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:292-301. [PMID: 25819764 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-based drugs represent one of the most successful and promising therapeutic approaches in oncology. Large combinatorial phage antibody libraries are available for the identification of therapeutic antibodies and various technologies exist for their further conversion into multivalent and multispecific formats optimized for the desired pharmacokinetics and the pathological context. However, there is no technology for antigen profiling of intact tumors to identify tumor markers targetable with antibodies. Such constraints have led to a relative paucity of tumor-associated antigens for antibody targeting in oncology. Here we review novel approaches aimed at the identification of antibody-targetable, accessible antigens in intact tumors. We hope that such advanced selection approaches will be useful in the development of next-generation antibody therapies for cancer.
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7
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Brown KL, Palyvoda OY, Auner GW, Gruber SA. Raman spectroscopic modeling of early versus late T-lymphocyte activation via differential spectral detection of receptor expression. J Immunol Methods 2014; 415:31-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Farajnia S, Ahmadzadeh V, Tanomand A, Veisi K, Khosroshahi SA, Rahbarnia L. Development trends for generation of single-chain antibody fragments. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2014; 36:297-308. [DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2014.945126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Compte M, Alvarez-Cienfuegos A, Nuñez-Prado N, Sainz-Pastor N, Blanco-Toribio A, Pescador N, Sanz L, Alvarez-Vallina L. Functional comparison of single-chain and two-chain anti-CD3-based bispecific antibodies in gene immunotherapy applications. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:e28810. [PMID: 25057445 PMCID: PMC4091452 DOI: 10.4161/onci.28810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy to achieve in vivo secretion of recombinant anti-CD3 x anti-tumor bispecific antibodies in cancer patients is being explored as a strategy to counterbalance rapid renal elimination, thereby sustaining levels of bispecific antibodies in the therapeutic range. Here, we performed a comparative analysis between single- and two-chain configurations for anti-CD3 x anti-CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) bispecific antibodies secreted by genetically-modified human cells. We demonstrate that tandem single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies and two-chain diabodies are expressed as soluble secreted proteins with similar yields. However, we found significant differences in their biological functionality (i.e., antigen binding) and in their ability to induce non-specific T cell activation. Whereas single-chain tandem scFvs induced human T cell activation and proliferation in an antigen-independent manner, secreted two-chain diabodies exerted almost no proliferative stimulus when human T cells were cultured alone or in co-cultures with CEA negative cells. Thus, our data suggest that two-chain diabodies are preferable to single-chain tandem scFvs for immunotherapeutic strategies comprising in vivo secretion of bispecific antibodies aiming to recruit and activate anticancer specific lymphocytic effector T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Compte
- Molecular Immunology Unit; Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Natalia Nuñez-Prado
- Molecular Immunology Unit; Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Madrid, Spain
| | - Noelia Sainz-Pastor
- Molecular Immunology Unit; Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Blanco-Toribio
- Molecular Immunology Unit; Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Pescador
- Molecular Immunology Unit; Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sanz
- Molecular Immunology Unit; Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Alvarez-Vallina
- Molecular Immunology Unit; Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro; Madrid, Spain ; BCE Protein Engineering; Department of Engineering; Aarhus University; Aarhus, Denmark
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Lipowska-Bhalla G, Gilham DE, Hawkins RE, Rothwell DG. Isolation of Tumor Antigen-Specific Single-Chain Variable Fragments Using a Chimeric Antigen Receptor Bicistronic Retroviral Vector in a Mammalian Screening Protocol. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2013; 24:381-91. [DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2013.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Grazyna Lipowska-Bhalla
- Clinical Immune and Molecular Monitoring Laboratory, Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology Group, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, M20 4BX, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David E. Gilham
- Clinical and Experimental Immunotherapy, Department of Medical Oncology, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, M20 4BX, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E. Hawkins
- Clinical and Experimental Immunotherapy, Department of Medical Oncology, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, M20 4BX, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic G. Rothwell
- Clinical Immune and Molecular Monitoring Laboratory, Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology Group, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, M20 4BX, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Gilham DE, Cheadle EJ. Targeting T cells to tumor: exploiting the chimeric antibody receptor. Immunotherapy 2013; 5:927-9. [PMID: 23998728 DOI: 10.2217/imt.13.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive therapy using gene-modified T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) is gaining pace in the clinic, particularly in hematological malignancies. Translation into treatment of solid tumors has been slower, not least because of the lack of truly tumor-specific target antigens. Alonso-Camino et al. describe experiments that further develop the concept of using the therapeutic entity (in this case, the CAR T cell) to screen for functional binding of tumor target cells. This article highlights the potential for the approach, but also underlies some of the key hurdles that remain to be overcome in order to produce a functional antibody-based screening approach that is able to identify novel tumor antigens that can be recognized by CAR T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Gilham
- Clinical & Experimental Immunotherapy Group, Department of Medical Oncology, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Healthcare Science Centre, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK.
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Alonso-Camino V, Sánchez-Martín D, Compte M, Nuñez-Prado N, Diaz RM, Vile R, Alvarez-Vallina L. CARbodies: Human Antibodies Against Cell Surface Tumor Antigens Selected From Repertoires Displayed on T Cell Chimeric Antigen Receptors. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2013; 2:e93. [PMID: 23695536 PMCID: PMC4817937 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
A human single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library was expressed on the surface of human T cells after transduction with lentiviral vectors (LVs). The repertoire was fused to a first-generation T cell receptor ζ (TCRζ)-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). We used this library to isolate antibodies termed CARbodies that recognize antigens expressed on the tumor cell surface in a proof-of-principle system. After three rounds of activation-selection there was a clear repertoire restriction, with the emergence dominant clones. The CARbodies were purified from bacterial cultures as soluble and active proteins. Furthermore, to validate its potential application for adoptive cell therapy, human T cells were transduced with a LV encoding a second-generation costimulatory CAR (CARv2) bearing the selected CARbodies. Transduced human primary T cells expressed significant levels of the CARbodies-based CARv2 fusion protein on the cell surface, and importantly could be specifically activated, after stimulation with tumor cells. This approach is a promising tool for the generation of antibodies fully adapted to the display format (CAR) and the selection context (cell synapse), which could extend the scope of current adoptive cell therapy strategies with CAR-redirected T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa Alonso-Camino
- 1] Molecular Immunology Unit, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain [2] Current addresses: Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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13
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Duong CPM, Westwood JA, Yong CSM, Murphy A, Devaud C, John LB, Darcy PK, Kershaw MH. Engineering T cell function using chimeric antigen receptors identified using a DNA library approach. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63037. [PMID: 23667569 PMCID: PMC3646939 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic engineering of cellular function holds much promise for the treatment of a variety of diseases including gene deficiencies and cancer. However, engineering the full complement of cellular functions can be a daunting genetic exercise since many molecular triggers need to be activated to achieve complete function. In the case of T cells, genes encoding chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) covalently linking antibodies to cytoplasmic signaling domains can trigger some, but not all, cellular functions against cancer cells. To date, relatively few CAR formats have been investigated using a candidate molecule approach, in which rationally chosen molecules were trialed one by one. Therefore, to expedite this arduous process we developed an innovative screening method to screen many thousands of CAR formats to identify genes able to enhance the anticancer ability of T cells. We used a directional in-frame library of randomly assembled signaling domains in a CAR specific for the tumor associated antigen erbB2. Several new and original CARs were identified, one of which had an enhanced ability to lyse cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth in mice. This study highlights novel technology that could be used to screen a variety of molecules for their capacity to induce diverse functions in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie P. M. Duong
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer A. Westwood
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carmen S. M. Yong
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amanda Murphy
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christel Devaud
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Liza B. John
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Phillip K. Darcy
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Immunology, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael H. Kershaw
- Cancer Immunology Research Program, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Immunology, Monash University, Prahran, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Blanco-Toribio A, Sainz-Pastor N, Álvarez-Cienfuegos A, Merino N, Cuesta ÁM, Sánchez-Martín D, Bonet J, Santos-Valle P, Sanz L, Oliva B, Blanco FJ, Álvarez-Vallina L. Generation and characterization of monospecific and bispecific hexavalent trimerbodies. MAbs 2012; 5:70-9. [PMID: 23221741 PMCID: PMC3564888 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.22698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe a new class of multivalent and multispecific antibody-based reagents for therapy. The molecules, termed “trimerbodies,” use a modified version of the N-terminal trimerization region of human collagen XVIII noncollagenous 1 domain flanked by two flexible linkers as trimerizing scaffold. By fusing single-chain variable fragments (scFv) with the same or different specificity to both N- and C-terminus of the trimerizing scaffold domain, we produced monospecific or bispecific hexavalent molecules that were efficiently secreted as soluble proteins by transfected mammalian cells. A bispecific anti-laminin x anti-CD3 N-/C-trimerbody was found to be trimeric in solution, very efficient at recognizing purified plastic-immobilized laminin and CD3 expressed at the surface of T cells, and remarkably stable in human serum. The bispecificity was further demonstrated in T cell activation studies. In the presence of laminin-rich substrate, the bispecific anti-laminin x anti-CD3 N-/C-trimerbody stimulated a high percentage of human T cells to express surface activation markers. These results suggest that the trimerbody platform offers promising opportunities for the development of the next-generation therapeutic antibodies, i.e., multivalent and bispecific molecules with a format optimized for the desired pharmacokinetics and adapted to the pathological context.
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