Characterization of Two Highly Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting the Glycan Loop of the Zika Virus Envelope Protein

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus associated with several neurological diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and microcephaly in newborn children. Its distribution and mode of transmission (via Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes) collectively cause ZIKV to be a serious concern for global health. High genetic homology of flaviviruses and shared ecology is a hurdle for accurate detection. Distinguishing infections caused by different viruses based on serological recognition can be misleading as many anti-flavivirus monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) discovered to date are highly cross-reactive, especially those against the envelope (E) protein. To provide more specific research tools, we produced ZIKV E directed hybridoma cell lines and characterized two highly ZIKV-specific mAb clones (mAbs A11 and A42) against several members of the Flavivirus genus. Epitope mapping of mAb A11 revealed glycan loop specificity in Domain I of the ZIKV E protein. The development of two highly specific mAbs targeting the surface fusion protein of ZIKV presents a significant advancement in research capabilities as these can be employed as essential tools to enhance our understanding of ZIKV identification on infected cells ex vivo or in culture.

The non-ionizing electromagnetic stimulation enhanced antibody production (NESEAP) effect - Discovery and technological applications

The rise of biological therapeutics in the global pharmaceuticals market has escalated the demand for quality monoclonal antibodies for healthcare and scientific applications. Reducing costs while enhancing production yields without compromising quality are the main challenges to the growth of this industry today. Over the last two decades non-ionizing radiation has been demonstrated to elicit targeted biological responses in a frequency and dose dependent manner. We hypothesize and design a millimeter wave radiation procedure to enhance the yields of antibody-producing hybridoma cell lines. We demonstrate this method enhances the production of IgA and IgG antibodies from MOPC315.BM and U13.6 cells by a factor of 24.05 ± 3.32 and 1.41 ± 0.03 respectively relative to untreated cells. No treatment associated cytotoxicity was observed in either cell line corroborating physiological viability of irradiated cells. Our results demonstrate proof-of-concept of a novel technique to significantly enhance antibody yields from hybridoma cells which could lead to a reduction in antibody production costs. Further studies will focus on scaling up of this technology and employment of non-contact, tuned electromagnetic stimulation of biological systems for targeted responses.

Development of Novel Monoclonal Antibodies Against Nattokinase

Nattokinase is a protease produced by Bacillus subtilis var. natto that exhibits various beneficial biological effects. Thus, a reliable assay to determine nattokinase levels is needed. In this study, we developed novel mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that recognize nattokinase, and created a specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure nattokinase levels. The ELISA was developed using a combination of new mouse antinattokinase mAbs used as capture antibodies coated onto 96-well plates, with a peroxidase-conjugated antibody used for detection. This ELISA enabled detection of nattokinase at 1 ng/mL. We believe that the novel mAbs developed in this study will be useful in future for elucidating nattokinase function.

Advances in hybridoma preparation using electrofusion technology

As a rapidly developing cell engineering technique, cell electrofusion has been increasingly applied in the field of hybridoma preparation in recent years. However, it is difficult to completely replace the polyethylene glycol-mediated cell fusion using electrofusion due to the high operation requirements, high cost of electrofusion instruments, and lack of prior reference research work. The key elements limiting electrofusion in the field of hybridoma preparation also introduce practical complications, such as the use/choice of electrofusion instruments, setup/optimization of electrical parameters, and precise control of cells. This review summarizes the state of the art of cell electrofusion in hybridoma preparation based on recent published literature, mainly focusing on electrofusion instruments and their components, process control and characterization, and cell treatment. It also provides new information and insightful commentary critically important for further electrofusion development in the field of hybridoma preparation.

Regulatory T Cell Depletion Using a CRISPR Fc-Optimized CD25 Antibody

Regulatory T cells (T_regs) are major drivers behind immunosuppressive mechanisms and present a major hurdle for cancer therapy. T_regs are characterized by a high expression of CD25, which is a potentially valuable target for T_reg depletion to alleviate immune suppression. The preclinical anti-CD25 (αCD25) antibody, clone PC-61, has met with modest anti-tumor activity due to its capacity to clear T_regs from the circulation and lymph nodes, but not those that reside in the tumor. The optimization of the Fc domain of this antibody clone has been shown to enhance the intratumoral T_reg depletion capacity. Here, we generated a stable cell line that produced optimized recombinant T_reg-depleting antibodies. A genome engineering strategy in which CRISPR-Cas9 was combined with homology-directed repair (CRISPR-HDR) was utilized to optimize the Fc domain of the hybridoma PC-61 for effector functions by switching it from its original rat IgG1 to a mouse IgG2a isotype. In a syngeneic tumor mouse model, the resulting αCD25-m2a (mouse IgG2a isotype) antibody mediated the effective depletion of tumor-resident T_regs, leading to a high effector T cell (T_eff) to T_reg ratio. Moreover, a combination of αCD25-m2a and an αPD-L1 treatment augmented tumor eradication in mice, demonstrating the potential for αCD25 as a cancer immunotherapy.

Production and Characterization of Rat Monoclonal Antibodies against the PAL Antigen of Legionella spp

The purpose of this work was to obtain genus-specific monoclonal antibodies against the Legionella spp. recombinant PAL protein, which will subsequently allow to use them as a basis for the development of new express tests for pathogenic legionella detection. A short three-week immunization protocol for Wistar rats was used to generate rat-mouse heterohybridomas producing antibodies against PAL. Mouse myeloma cell line Sp2/0-Ag14 served as the fusion partner. Hybridization was performed using two methods: PEG-mediated fusion and electrofusion. Subsequent screening was performed by indirect solid-phase ELISA against the target protein rPAL. Specificity analysis was performed by dot-blot using a panel of lysates obtained from 39 pure cultures of different strains, which included closely related and heterologous microorganisms among others. No difference in the efficiency of stable hybridoma clones production by the two indicated cell-fusion methods was detected. Twelve clones producing specific rat monoclonal antibodies were obtained based on the screening results. The obtained rat monoclonal antibodies are highly specific towards the PAL protein of L. pneumophila of different serological groups and other pathogenic legionella and are good candidates to be used as the components of diagnostic test systems for the detection of pathogenic representatives of the Legionella genus.

An improved iliac lymph node method for production of monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies have been applied in a wide range of biological and medical studies since the advent of cell fusion technology. Although cell fusion techniques have been improved by using myelomas and reagents, researchers still find it difficult to produce monoclonal antibodies because of the long protocols, high costs, and low efficiency of obtaining hybridomas. To solve these problems, we first developed an iliac lymph node method in 1995 using rats. In this method, an antigen emulsion is injected intramuscularly into the tail base, and then B lymphocytes are isolated from the enlarged iliac lymph nodes. This method is approximately 10 times more productive than the conventional spleen method. Here, we present further improvements to the iliac lymph node method to render it easily applicable in both mice and rats. We found that the frequency of hybridomas secreting specific antibodies was over five times higher using the electro cell fusion method than using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) fusion method. This frequency using the iliac lymph node method with electro cell fusion is at least 50 times higher than that using the traditional spleen method, thereby leading to the reduction in the number of mice or rats to be sacrificed. In addition, only a single injection for immunization is necessary for the iliac lymph node method, opposed to three for the spleen method. Therefore, this method is rapid, inexpensive, and ethical for producing monoclonal antibodies.

Development of Anti-human T Cell Immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM Domains (TIGIT) Monoclonal Antibodies for Flow Cytometry

Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) recently made a significant survival rate improvement in cancer treatment. T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) is expressed in T and NK cells related to their activities. It has a single extracellular immunoglobulin domain, a type 1 transmembrane domain, and a single intracellular ITIM. TIGIT binds with poliovirus receptor (PVR) or PVR2, resulting in suppressing T and NK cell activities. Some studies showed that the combined use of a TIGIT inhibitor with another immune checkpoint inhibitor enhanced antitumor activities more strongly than their single use. Therefore, TIGIT should be a new target for immunotherapy. In this study, we developed new anti-human TIGIT (hTIGIT) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using the Cell-Based Immunization and Screening (CBIS) method. Mice were immunized with hTIGIT-overexpressed Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells (CHO/hTIGIT), and hybridomas were screened by flow cytometry. One of the mAbs, TgMab-2 (IgG₁, kappa), specifically and sensitively detects hTIGIT in CHO/hTIGIT and NK cells. The dissociation constants (K_D) of TgMab-2 for CHO/hTIGIT cells were determined to be 3.5 × 10^-9 M. These results suggest that TgMab-2, which was developed by CBIS method, is useful for analyzing the function of hTIGIT by flow cytometry.

A Monoclonal Antibody against the C-Terminal Domain of Bacillus cereus Hemolysin II Inhibits HlyII Cytolytic Activity

Bacillus cereus is the fourth most common cause of foodborne illnesses that produces a variety of pore-forming proteins as the main pathogenic factors. B. cereus hemolysin II (HlyII), belonging to pore-forming β-barrel toxins, has a C-terminal extension of 94 amino acid residues designated as HlyIICTD. An analysis of a panel of monoclonal antibodies to the recombinant HlyIICTD protein revealed the ability of the antibody HlyIIC-20 to inhibit HlyII hemolysis. A conformational epitope recognized by HlyIIC-20 was found. by the method of peptide phage display and found that it is localized in the N-terminal part of HlyIICTD. The HlyIIC-20 interacted with a monomeric form of HlyII, thus suppressing maturation of the HlyII toxin. Protection efficiencies of various B. cereus strains against HlyII were different and depended on the epitope amino acid composition, as well as, insignificantly, on downstream amino acids. Substitution of L324P and P324L in the hemolysins ATCC14579T and B771, respectively, determined the role of leucine localized to the epitope in suppressing the hemolysis by the antibody. Pre-incubation of HlyIIC-20 with HlyII prevented the death of mice up to an equimolar ratio. A strategy of detecting and neutralizing the toxic activity of HlyII could provide a tool for monitoring and reducing B. cereus pathogenicity.

Inhibitory Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Recombinant Derivatives Targeting Surface-Exposed Carbonic Anhydrase XII on Cancer Cells

Monoclonal and recombinant antibodies are widely used for the diagnostics and therapy of cancer. They are generated to interact with cell surface proteins which are usually involved in the development and progression of cancer. Carbonic anhydrase XII (CA XII) contributes to the survival of tumors under hypoxic conditions thus is considered a candidate target for antibody-based therapy. In this study, we have generated a novel collection of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the recombinant extracellular domain of CA XII produced in HEK-293 cells. Eighteen out of 24 MAbs were reactive with cellular CA XII on the surface of live kidney and lung cancer cells as determined by flow cytometry. One MAb 14D6 also inhibited the enzymatic activity of recombinant CA XII as measured by the stopped-flow assay. MAb 14D6 showed the migrastatic effect on human lung carcinoma A549 and renal carcinoma A498 cell lines in a ‘wound healing’ assay. It did not reduce the growth of multicellular lung and renal cancer spheroids but reduced the cell viability by the ATP Bioluminescence assay. Epitope mapping revealed the surface-exposed amino acid sequence (35-FGPDGENS-42) close to the catalytic center of CA XII recognized by the MAb 14D6. The variable regions of the heavy and light chains of MAb 14D6 were sequenced and their complementarity-determining regions were defined. The obtained variable sequences were used to generate recombinant antibodies in two formats: single-chain fragment variable (scFv) expressed in E. coli and scFv fused to human IgG1 Fc fragment (scFv-Fc) expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Both recombinant antibodies maintained the same specificity for CA XII as the parental MAb 14D6. The novel antibodies may represent promising tools for CA XII-related cancer research and immunotherapy.

Establishment of Murine Hybridoma Cells Producing Antibodies against Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2

In 2020 the world faced the pandemic of COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by a new type of coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. To stop the spread of the disease, it is crucial to create molecular tools allowing the investigation, diagnoses and treatment of COVID-19. One of such tools are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this study we describe the development of hybridoma cells that can produce mouse mAbs against receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. These mAbs are able to specifically detect native and denatured S proteins in all tested applications, including immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining of cells and immunohistochemical staining of paraffin embedded patients' tissue samples. In addition, we showed that the obtained mAbs can efficiently block SARS-CoV-2 infection in in vitro experiments. Finally, we determined the amino acid sequence of light and heavy chains of the mAbs. This information will allow the use of corresponding peptides to establish genetically engineered therapeutic antibodies. To date multiple mAbs against SARS-CoV-2 proteins have been established, however, bigger sets of various antibodies will allow the detection and neutralization of SARS-CoV-2, even if the virus acquires novel mutations.

Isolation and Characterization of Antibodies Induced by Immunization with TNF-α Inducible Globotetraosylceramide

Glycosphingolipids containing very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) regulate several immune responses, such as cytokine production, immune signaling, and antibody induction. We previously reported that stimulation with an inflammatory mediator, TNF-α, promotes the expression of glycosphingolipids in vascular endothelial cells. The major component is globotetraosylceramide containing VLCFAs (Gb4Cer-VLCFAs), but its role in inflammatory responses has not been fully investigated. In this study, the antibody-inducing properties of Gb4Cer-VLCFAs were analyzed using serum and hybridoma cells generated from Gb4Cer-VLCFA-immunized mice. The reactivity of serum antibodies against Gb4Cer indicated that immunization with Gb4Cer-VLCFAs immediately induced the production of anti-Gb4Cer antibodies. Over 81% of hybridomas generated from the splenocytes of an immunized mouse produced anti-Gb4Cer antibodies, a subset of which recognized an epitope shared by Gb4Cer and its precursor globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer). Further biochemical analyses of established monoclonal antibodies revealed that these antibodies included IgM and IgG3, which specifically react with Gb4Cer and Gb3Cer. These results indicate that immunization with Gb4Cer-VLCFAs can efficiently induce the production of anti-Gb4Cer and -Gb3Cer antibodies by B cells.

Microtube Array Membrane (MTAM)-Based Encapsulated Cell Therapy for Cancer Treatment

The treatment of cancer has evolved significantly in recent years with a strong focus on immunotherapy. Encapsulated Cell Therapy (ECT) for immunotherapy-based anti-cancer treatment is a unique niche within this landscape, where molecules such as signaling factors and antibodies produced from cells are encapsulated within a vehicle, with a host amount of benefits in terms of treatment efficacy and reduced side effects. However, traditional ECTs generally lie in two extremes; either a macro scale vehicle is utilized, resulting in a retrievable system but with limited diffusion and surface area, or a micro scale vehicle is utilized, resulting in a system that has excellent diffusion and surface area but is unretrievable in the event of side effects occurring, which greatly compromises the biosafety of patients. In this study we adapted our patented and novel electrospun Polysulfone (PSF) Microtube Array Membranes (MTAMs) as a 'middle' approach to the above dilemma, which possess excellent diffusion and surface area while being retrievable. Hybridoma cells were encapsulated within the PSF MTAMs, where they produced CEACAM6 antibodies to be used in the suppression of cancer cell line A549, MDA-MB-468 and PC 3 (control). In vitro and in vivo studies revealed excellent cell viability of hybridoma cells with continuous secretion of CEACAM6 antibodies which suppressed the MDA-MB-468 throughout the entire 21 days of experiment. Such outcome suggested that the PSF MTAMs were not only an excellent three-dimensional (3D) cell culture substrate but potentially also an excellent vehicle for the application in ECT systems. Future research needs to include a long term in vivo >6 months study before it can be used in clinical applications.

Transcriptional Regulation of Müllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) and Establishment of a Gonadal Somatic Cell Line Using mis-GFP Transgenic Medaka (Oryzias latipes)

In vertebrate germ cell differentiation, gonadal somatic cells and germ cells are closely related. By analyzing this relationship, it has recently been reported in mammals that primordial germ cells (PGCs), induced from pluripotent stem cells and germline stem cells, can differentiate into functional gametes when co-cultured in vitro with fetal gonadal somatic cells. In some fish species, differentiation into functional sperm by reaggregation or co-culture of gonadal somatic cells and germ cells has also been reported; however, the relationship between gonadal somatic cells and germ cells in these species is not well-understood. Here, we report the transcriptional regulation of Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS) and the establishment of a gonadal somatic cell line using mis-GFP transgenic fish, in medaka (Oryzias latipes)-a fish model which offers many advantages for molecular genetics. MIS is a glycoprotein belonging to the transforming growth factor β superfamily. In medaka, mis mRNA is expressed in gonadal somatic cells of both sexes before sex differentiation, and MIS regulates the proliferation of germ cells during this period. Using luciferase assays, we found that steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) and liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH1) activate medaka mis gene transcription, probably by binding to the mis promoter. We also report that mis-GFP transgenic medaka emit GFP fluorescence specific to gonadal somatic cells in the gonads. By fusing Sertoli cells from transgenic medaka with a cell line derived from medaka hepatoma cancer, we produced a hybridoma cell line that expresses gonadal somatic cell-specific markers, including Sertoli and Leydig cell markers. Moreover, embryonic PGCs co-cultured with the established hybridoma, as feeder cells, proliferated and formed significant colonies after 1 week. PGCs cultured for 3 weeks expressed a germ cell marker dnd, as well as the meiotic markers sycp1 and sycp3. Thus, we here provide the first evidence in teleosts that we have successfully established a gonadal somatic cell-derived hybridoma that can induce both the proliferation and meiosis of germ cells.

Approaches to Interrogating the Human Memory B-Cell and Memory-Derived Antibody Repertoire Following Dengue Virus Infection

Memory B-cells (MBCs) are potential antibody secreting immune cells that differentiate and mature following host exposure to a pathogen. Following differentiation, MBCs remain in peripheral circulation after recovery and are poised to secrete antigen-specific antibodies if and when they are re-exposed to their cognate antigen. Consequently, MBCs form the founder population and provide one of the first lines of pathogen-specific defense against reinfection. The role MBCs play is complicated for viruses that are heterologous, such as dengue virus (DENV), which exist as antigenically different serotypes. On second infection with a different serotype, MBCs from initial dengue infection rapidly proliferate and secrete antibodies: many of these MBC derived antibodies will be cross-reactive and weakly neutralizing, while some antibodies may recognize epitopes conserved across serotypes and have the capacity to broadly neutralize 2 or more serotypes. It is also possible that a new population of MBCs and antibodies specific for the second virus serotype need to arise for long-term broader immunity to develop. Methods to interrogate and track memory B cell responses are important for evaluating both natural immunity and vaccine response. However, the low abundance of MBCs for any specific pathogen makes it challenging to interrogate frequency, specificity, and breadth for the pathogen of interest. This review discusses current approaches that have been used to interrogate the memory B cell immune response against viral pathogens in general and DENV specifically. Including strengths, limitations, and future directions. Single-cell approaches could help uncover the DENV specific MBC antibody repertoire, and improved methods for isolating DENV specific monoclonal antibodies from human peripheral blood cells would allow for a functional analysis of the anti-DENV repertoire.

Chimeric antigen receptor preparation from hybridoma to T-cell expression

The successful use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) for hematological cancer treatment has influenced the direction taken in translational research toward an increasing focus on personalized targeted immunotherapy. Thus, a growing number of labs worldwide are now interested in testing their old antibody collections in this format to broaden the spectrum of utility and improve safety and efficacy. We herein present a straightforward protocol for the identification of an antibody from a hybridoma and the design of the single chain fragment that will be placed on the extracellular part of the CAR construct. We further show how to test the expression and the activity of the construct in primary T cells. We illustrate our demonstration with two new CARs targeted against the B cell receptor, more precisely the light chains κ and λ, that represent potential alternatives to the CD19 CAR used in the treatment of B-cell malignancies.

Single-Cell Droplet Microfluidic Screening for Antibodies Specifically Binding to Target Cells

Monoclonal antibodies are a main player in modern drug discovery. Many antibody screening formats exist, each with specific advantages and limitations. Nonetheless, it remains challenging to screen antibodies for the binding of cell-surface receptors (the most important class of all drug targets) or for the binding to target cells rather than purified proteins. Here, we present a high-throughput droplet microfluidics approach employing dual-color normalized fluorescence readout to detect antibody binding. This enables us to obtain quantitative data on target cell recognition, using as little as 33 fg of IgG per assay. Starting with an excess of hybridoma cells releasing unspecific antibodies, individual clones secreting specific binders (of target cells co-encapsulated into droplets) could be enriched 220-fold after sorting 80,000 clones in a single experiment. This opens the way for therapeutic antibody discovery, especially since the single-cell approach is in principle also applicable to primary human plasma cells.

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Binding assay with co-encapsulation of hybridoma and target cell in droplets

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Signal normalization allows quantitative detection of Ab binding without focusing

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Droplet sorting for antibody binding shows enrichment of specific hybridoma cells

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33 fg of antibody can be detected and up to 80,000 clones can be screened

Capture and display of antibodies secreted by hybridoma cells enables fluorescent on-cell screening

Hybridoma methods for monoclonal antibody (mAb) cloning are a mainstay of biomedical research, but they are hindered by the need to maintain hybridomas in oligoclonal pools during antibody screening. Here, we describe a system in which hybridomas specifically capture and display the mAbs they secrete: On-Cell mAb Screening (OCMS™). In OCMS™, mAbs displayed on the cell surface can be rapidly assayed for expression level and binding specificity using fluorescent antigens with high-content (image-based) methods or flow cytometry. OCMS™ demonstrated specific mAb binding to poliovirus and rabies virus by forming a cell surface IgG “cap”, as a universal assay for anti-viral mAbs. We produced and characterized OCMS™-enabled hybridomas secreting mAbs that neutralize poliovirus and used fluorescence microscopy to identify and clone a human mAb specific for the human N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. Lastly, we used OCMS™ to assess expression and antigen binding of a recombinant mAb produced in 293T cells. As a novel method to physically associate mAbs with the hybridomas that secrete them, OCMS™ overcomes a central challenge to hybridoma mAb screening and offers new paradigms for mAb discovery and production.

Tomato endo beta-mannanase: A candidate of potential tomato allergen protein detected with human monoclonal antibody established from a patient suffered from Japanese cedar pollinosis

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from a patient allergic to Japanese cedar pollens were transformed by Epstein-Barr virus infection. Some transformed B-lymphoblastoid cells (BLCs) secreted IgM class antibodies to cedar pollen extracts and tomato fruit extracts. One stable human-mouse hybridoma clone Y-22-3-3 secreting IgM class monoclonal antibody to tomato fruit extracts was established by cell fusion of BLCs with mouse myeloma cells. Western blot analysis of tomato extracts showed Y-22-3-3 monoclonal antibody recognized a tomato protein with a molecular weight of 40 kDa. The CBB-stained 40 kDa protein from antibody-affinity chromatography was analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF, and identified as tomato endo-beta-mannanase, which was previously reported as one of the potential candidates for tomato allergens.

Production and Characterization of Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Against Truncated Recombinant Dickkopf-1 as a Candidate Biomarker

Several studies have reported an increased serum level of Dickkopf (DKK-1) protein in a variety of cancers, including multiple myeloma, lung, colorectal, bone loss, and Alzheimer's disease. This protein has potential to be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of some cancers, especially bone loss in multiple myeloma. In the present study, to measure the concentration level of DKK-1 protein, rabbit polyclonal antibody (pAb) and mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced against this protein. New Zealand white rabbits and BALB/c mice were immunized with the chimeric recombinant DKK-1 antigen. Immunized mouse spleen cells were fused with SP2/0 cells to generate anti-rDKK-1 antibody-producing hybridoma cells. Antibodies were purified by protein A affinity chromatography and assessed using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel, western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results implied that the pAb and mAb were produced against the DKK-1 protein. The Kd value of 5 × 10^-9 M was recorded for the mAb MR6F3 toward native DKK-1, and the Ig isotype was identified as IgG2b. No cross-reactivity was shown with DKK-2 by MR6F3. Collectively, our results revealed that the produced pAb and mAb could be used in the measurement of DKK-1 protein.

Improved production of monoclonal antibodies against the LcrV antigen of Yersinia pestis using FACS-aided hybridoma selection

For about four decades, hybridoma technologies have been the “work horse” of monoclonal antibody production. These techniques proved to be robust and reliable, albeit laborious. Over the years, several major improvements have been introduced into the field, but yet, antibody production still requires many hours of labor and considerable resources. In this work, we present a leap forward in the advancement of hybridoma-based monoclonal antibody production, which saves labor and time and increases yield, by combining hybridoma technology, fluorescent particles and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). By taking advantage of the hybridomas’ cell-surface associated antibodies, we can differentiate between antigen-specific and non-specific cells, based on their ability to bind the particles. The speed and efficiency of antibody discovery, and subsequent cell cloning, are of high importance in the field of infectious diseases. Therefore, as a model system, we chose the protein LcrV, a major virulence factor of the plague pathogen Yersinia pestis, an important re-emerging pathogen and a possible bioterror agent.

Antigens and Antibodies in Disease With Specifics About CGRP Immunology

Growth in knowledge about calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the pathophysiology of migraine brought CGRP antagonism to headache medicine. Failures in development of small molecule CGRP receptor antagonists and increasing knowledge and use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in medicine led to the breakthrough development of large molecule anti-CGRP mAbs: eptinezumab, erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab. This specifics about CGRP immunology aims to outline: (1) knowledge needed for CGRP antagonism and (2) developmental issues of specific CGRP antagonists for provider use. This clinically oriented review documents IgG structure and function; state of the art of monoclonal IgG production and ligand-antigen-antibodies in migraine therapeutics contributing to immunogenic risks and off-target toxicities. Specifics to CGRP ligand, receptor, antagonism, and molecules, small and large, complete this review. Completion will facilitate assessment of the similarities, differences, and application of the forthcoming anti-CGRP receptor and ligand antagonists for patients.

A Bioassay for Optimization of Macrophage-Conditioned Medium as a Culture Supplement to Promote Hybridoma Cell Survival and Growth

Macrophage-conditioned medium (MCM) is an important cell culture supplement used to support the survival and growth of newly fused hybridoma cells. The use of macrophage cells, as a part of hybridoma technology, has proven to be an effective and inexpensive source of growth factors that promote the early survival and growth of hybridoma cells. Despite the widespread use of MCM as a hybridoma culture supplement, there is limited guidance and standardization for MCM production to achieve optimal hybridoma support. As an undefined supplement, significant variations in production of MCM may negatively impact hybridoma cell survival and growth. The lack of an available method for standardization of MCM bioactivity has limited validation, optimization, and commercial production. Consequently, variations in batch production of MCM may result in low-quality MCM that limits hybridoma viability and negatively impacts monoclonal antibody production. In this report, we describe a novel bioassay based on the newly generated, MCM-dependent RMH359 hybridoma cell line that can be used to validate MCM bioactivity and standardize production. We demonstrate the utility of the RMH359 bioassay (1) for evaluating MCM hybridoma bioactivity, (2) to define optimal conditions for production of MCM, and (3) as a method for MCM validation and standardization. In conclusion, the RMH359 cell bioassay provides a specific and sensitive assessment of MCM bioactivity in support of hybridoma cell survival and growth.

Targeted photodynamic therapy of cancer using a novel gallium (III) tris (ethoxycarbonyl) corrole conjugated-mAb directed against cancer/testis antigens 83

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive, highly selective approach to the treatment of tumors. However, its therapeutic effect is limited by long‐lasting skin phototoxicity. Therefore, to compromise this shortcoming, it is preferable to deliver photosensitizers selectively to tumor cells with the aid of antibodies specific against tumor‐associated antigens. Cancer/testis antigens 83 (CT83), also called KK‐LC‐1 or CXorf61, recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), has become a promising target for immunotherapy. Herein, we developed and characterized a novel mouse CT83 mAb 7G4 with a high affinity with Gallium (III) 5, 10, 15‐tris (ethoxycarbonyl) corrole (1‐Ga), a new and promising photosensitizer in PDT. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry and cytotoxicity activity assays revealed that 7G4‐1‐Ga was able to recognize human CT83 with high specificity. Furthermore, 7G4‐1‐Ga showed greater cytotoxicity to CT83‐expressing human cancer cells in vitro than 1‐Ga. These results suggest that the antibody‐conjugated photosensitizer between anti‐CT83 mAb and 1‐Ga may have a good application in PDT, where the destruction of CT83‐expressing tumor is required.

Multiple Tolerization Reduces Antibody Binding Against Tolerogen Cells: Implications for the Production of Monoclonal Antibodies

We report an immunization technique that can update the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs): the multiple tolerization subtractive immunization (MTSI). A total of 10 BALB/C mice were used. Animals in group 1 received one inoculation of RWPE-1 cells (nontumoral), followed by cyclophosphamide, and then received serial inoculations of nonirradiated PC3 cells (tumoral). Animals in group 2 received our MTSI protocol, as follows: one inoculation of RWPE-1 cells, followed by cyclophosphamide (Cy). This whole tolerization step was repeated three other times, with 14-day intervals between the last Cy exposure and the next RWPE-1 cell inoculation. Finally, the animals received the same nonirradiated PC3 cell exposure as group 1. Blood was taken from each animal, and their polyclonal sera individually tested against the nontumoral RWPE-1 cells in flow cytometry. We found out that, after the MTSI was employed, the serum of the immunized animals, in group 2, contained considerably less antibodies that reacted against the tolerogenic cells, compared with the serum of the animals that underwent regular subtractive immunization. We showed that, by repeating the tolerization cycles, the polyclonal antibodies produced by mice have a reduced specificity toward common/immunodominant epitopes present at nontumoral cells, and thus this technique can be readily used by others in studies involving murine mAb protocols.

Evaluation of the fusion partner cell line SPYMEG for obtaining human monoclonal antibodies against influenza B virus

Influenza B virus has been known to infect humans and other animals, including seals. Vaccination efficacy varies across seasons. Human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can be useful for developing novel vaccines, guided by epitope analysis, and can be used therapeutically. Hybridoma technology has been used to make mAbs. Here we evaluated SPYMEG as a fusion partner cell line for human mAb generation specific to influenza B hemagglutinin (HA). SPYMEG is a human/murine myeloma partner cell line that has previously been used to generate human mAbs that recognize the HA of influenza A and B viruses. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 16 volunteers, previously vaccinated with the 2014–2015 trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine, and were fused with SPYMEG to yield hybridomas. The resulting hybridomas were screened for antigen-specific antibody secretion and cloned by limiting dilution. We obtained 32 stable clones secreting anti-influenza B HA human IgG, although most of these clones were obtained from one volunteer (SeaV-29) who had a robust immune response. We conclude that SPYMEG is a good fusion partner cell line, although cloning by limiting dilution may lead to significant loss of hybridomas.

When monoclonal antibodies are not monospecific: Hybridomas frequently express additional functional variable regions

Monoclonal antibodies are commonly assumed to be monospecific, but anecdotal studies have reported genetic diversity in antibody heavy chain and light chain genes found within individual hybridomas. As the prevalence of such diversity has never been explored, we analyzed 185 random hybridomas, in a large multicenter dataset. The hybridomas analyzed were not biased towards those with cloning difficulties or known to have additional chains. Of the hybridomas we evaluated, 126 (68.1%) contained no additional productive chains, while the remaining 59 (31.9%) contained one or more additional productive heavy or light chains. The expression of additional chains degraded properties of the antibodies, including specificity, binding signal and/or signal-to-noise ratio, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. The most abundant mRNA transcripts found in a hybridoma cell line did not necessarily encode the antibody chains providing the correct specificity. Consequently, when cloning antibody genes, functional validation of all possible VH and VL combinations is required to identify those with the highest affinity and lowest cross-reactivity. These findings, reflecting the current state of hybridomas used in research, reiterate the importance of using sequence-defined recombinant antibodies for research or diagnostic use.

Automated high throughput microscale antibody purification workflows for accelerating antibody discovery

To rapidly find “best-in-class” antibody therapeutics, it has become essential to develop high throughput (HTP) processes that allow rapid assessment of antibodies for functional and molecular properties. Consequently, it is critical to have access to sufficient amounts of high quality antibody, to carry out accurate and quantitative characterization. We have developed automated workflows using liquid handling systems to conduct affinity-based purification either in batch or tip column mode. Here, we demonstrate the capability to purify >2000 antibodies per day from microscale (1 mL) cultures. Our optimized, automated process for human IgG1 purification using MabSelect SuRe resin achieves ∼70% recovery over a wide range of antibody loads, up to 500 µg. This HTP process works well for hybridoma-derived antibodies that can be purified by MabSelect SuRe resin. For rat IgG2a, which is often encountered in hybridoma cultures and is challenging to purify via an HTP process, we established automated purification with GammaBind Plus resin. Using these HTP purification processes, we can efficiently recover sufficient amounts of antibodies from mammalian transient or hybridoma cultures with quality comparable to conventional column purification.

Production of a Mouse Monoclonal Antibody Against Mortalin by Whole Cell Immunization

Pancreatic carcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer death and is characterized by early invasion and metastasis. Advances in molecular biology directed new strategies in targeted therapy using monoclonal antibodies. To identify new biomarkers, we generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies against the newly established cell line, Faraz-ICR, from a patient with acinar cell carcinoma. After immunization of BALB/c female mice with Faraz-ICR cell line and fusion of splenocytes with SP2/0 myeloma cell line, high reactive hybridoma producing antibodies to Faraz-ICR were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Western blot and two-dimensional immunoblot were used for further characterization of the targets antibodies. Among high reactive clones, the reactivity of 1C11 clone was assessed with other epithelial tumors. The isotype of the antibody was revealed to be IgM, and the antibody reacted to a protein with a molecular weight of about 70 kDa in Western blot analysis. To further characterization of the target antigen, immunoproteome of the Faraz-ICR cell line was performed. By liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, we identified that the target of 1C11 clone was HSP70. In conclusion, pancreatic cancer is a fatal malignancy with no reliable biomarker for early screening and diagnosis. In this study, by establishing a pancreatic cell line, a panel of monoclonal antibodies was generated aiming to explore specific or associated cancer targets. We then introduced 1C11 monoclonal antibody that can specifically recognize mortalin as a main tumor marker and may serve as a new tool for diagnostic kit and therapeutic strategies targeting this molecule.

Discovery of functional monoclonal antibodies targeting G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels

The development of recombinant antibody therapeutics is a significant area of growth in the pharmaceutical industry with almost 50 approved monoclonal antibodies on the market in the US and Europe. Despite this growth, however, certain classes of important molecular targets have remained intractable to therapeutic antibodies due to complexity of the target molecules. These complex target molecules include G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels which represent a large potential target class for therapeutic intervention with monoclonal antibodies. Although these targets have typically been addressed by small molecule approaches, the exquisite specificity of antibodies provides a significant opportunity to provide selective modulation of these target proteins. Given this opportunity, substantial effort has been applied to address the technical challenges of targeting these complex membrane proteins with monoclonal antibodies. In this review recent progress made in the strategies for discovery of functional monoclonal antibodies for these challenging membrane protein targets is addressed.

Myeloma-Derived Light Chain Paired with a Diagnostic Monoclonal Antibody Hinders Immunoassay Performance

Monoclonal antibodies are widely used as the capture and detection reagents in diagnostic immunoassays. In the past, myeloma fusion partners expressing endogenous heavy and/or light chains were often used to generate hybridoma cell lines. As a result, mixed populations of antibodies were produced that can cause inaccurate test results, poor antibody stability, and significant lot-to-lot variability. We describe one such scenario where the P3U1 (P3X63Ag8U.1) myeloma fusion partner was used in the generation of a hybridoma producing protein induced vitamin K absence/antagonist-II (PIVKA II) antibody. The hybridoma produces three subpopulations of immunoglobulin as determined by ion exchange (IEx) chromatography that exhibit varying degrees of immunoreactivity (0%, 50%, or 100%) to the target antigen as determined by Surface Plasmon Resonance. To produce an antibody with the highest possible sensitivity and specificity, the antigen-specific heavy and light chain variable domains (VH and VL) were cloned from the hybridoma and tethered to murine IgG1 and kappa scaffolds. The resulting recombinant antibody was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and is compatible for use in a diagnostic immunoassay.

Advances in the Isolation of Specific Monoclonal Rabbit Antibodies

The rabbit monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have advantages in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics with high affinity and specificity. During the past decade, many techniques have been developed for isolating rabbit mAbs, including single B cell antibody technologies. This review describes the basic characterization of rabbit antibody repertoire and summarizes methods of hybridoma technologies, phage display platform, and single B cell antibody technologies. With advances in antibody function and repertoire analysis, rabbit mAbs will be widely used in therapeutic applications in the coming years.

The Regulatory Functions of a New Tetrapeptide from the Bursa of Fabricius on AIV Vaccine Immunization and Antibody Production

BACKGROUND

Understanding the regulatory functions of the biological peptide from the humoral central immune organ bursa of Fabricius on vaccine immune responses and antibody production is of vital importance.

OBJECTIVES

Here we thoroughly verified the immunomodulatory functions of the new tetrapeptide BP4 from the bursa of Fabricius on vaccine immune responses in mice and chicken immunizaiton model, and on potential intracellular signaling during antibody production.

METHOD

BP4 was isolated and identified by Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. immunomodulatory functions of BP4 was verified by AIV vaccine immunization on mice and chickens regarding roles in vivo, by monitoring the impact of signalling inhibitors in hybridoma cells on antibody production in vitro.

RESULTS

Our investigation revealed the strong inducing roles of new isolated BP4 on immune responses in mice immunization, the immunomodulatory effects in the immunized chicken, four potential key intracellular signaling during antibody production in hybrdoma cells.

CONCLUSION

The new bursal-derived peptide BP4 was isolated and identified, and the immunomodulatory effects on antigen-specific immune responses in vivo and in vitro were verified, suggesting BP4 might be highly relevant to the humoral immune responses, and PI3K/Akt, p38 MAPK, NF-κB and tyrosine phosphorylation signaling might be the key activated intracellular signaling during antibody production during BP4 stimulation, which provided a novel potential adjuvant candidate for vaccine immunization improvement and precaution on animal epidemic disease.

Towards Identifying Protective B-Cell Epitopes: The PspA Story

Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is one of the most abundant cell surface protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae). PspA variants are structurally and serologically diverse and help evade complement-mediated phagocytosis of S. pneumoniae, which is essential for its survival in the host. PspA is currently been screened for employment in the generation of more effective (serotype independent) vaccine to overcome the limitations of polysaccharide based vaccines, providing serotype specific immune responses. The cross-protection eliciting regions of PspA localize to the α-helical and proline rich regions. Recent data indicate significant variation in the ability of antibodies induced against the recombinant PspA variants to recognize distinct S. pneumoniae strains. Hence, screening for the identification of the topographical repertoire of B-cell epitopes that elicit cross-protective immune response seems essential in the engineering of a superior PspA-based vaccine. Herein, we revisit epitope identification in PspA and the utility of hybridoma technology in directing the identification of protective epitope regions of PspA that can be used in vaccine research.

Monoclonal Antibodies Against the Staphylococcus aureus Bicomponent Leukotoxin AB Isolated Following Invasive Human Infection Reveal Diverse Binding and Modes of Action

The 2-component leukotoxin LukAB is critical for Staphylococcus aureus targeting and killing of human neutrophils ex vivo and is produced in the setting of human infection. We report 3 LukAB-specific human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with distinct mechanisms of toxin neutralization and in vivo efficacy. Three hybridomas secreting mAbs with anti-LukAB activity (designated SA-13, -15, and -17) were generated from B cells obtained from a 12-year-old boy with S. aureus osteomyelitis. Each of the 3 mAbs neutralized LukAB-mediated neutrophil toxicity, exhibited differing levels of potency, recognized different antigenic sites on the toxin, and displayed at least 2 distinct mechanisms for cytotoxic inhibition. SA-15 bound exclusively to the dimeric form of the toxin, suggesting that human B cells recognize epitopes on the dimerized form of LukAB during natural infection. Both SA-13 and SA-17 bound the LukA monomer and the LukAB dimer. Although all 3 mAbs potently neutralized cytotoxicity, only SA-15 and SA-17 significantly inhibited toxin association with the cell surface. Treatment with a 1:1 mixture of mAbs SA-15 and SA-17 resulted in significantly lower bacterial colony counts in heart, liver, and kidneys in a murine model of S. aureus sepsis. These data describe the isolation of diverse and efficacious antitoxin mAbs.

Development of high-affinity monoclonal antibody using CD44 overexpressed cells as a candidate for targeted immunotherapy and diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia

AIM

CD44s antigens have been suggested as an efficient biomarker for cancer stem cells. Current study aimed to develop a hybridoma that producing a high affinity murine anti-human CD44 monoclonal antibody for early diagnostic laboratory tests of some cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To make hybridoma against CD44, mice were immunized with MDA-MB-468 cells. Resulted hybridomas using three culture media were screened by indirect ELISA, then cloned by limiting dilution, and isotype was determined after obtaining ascitic fluid and antibody purification.

RESULTS

We obtained a stable secreting clone, capable of secreting a high-affinity monoclonal antibody against CD44 protein, IgG2a kappa, with the affinity of 5.4 × 10-8 M without cross-reactivity.

CONCLUSION

We could establish a hybridoma in a native form. This stable and high-affinity anti-CD44 mAb has a potential for diagnostic procedures and laboratory research. Thus, it could be exploited as a suitable tool for target-specific diagnosis and even treatment in several cancers.

Generation of Domain-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Against Human Glutaredoxin3

Human Glutaredoxin3 (hGLRX3), which encodes a 37.4 kDa protein, possesses an N-terminal Trx homology domain followed by two tandem repeats of Grx domains. GLRX3 is expressed in many tissues and plays important roles in iron metabolism, antioxidant effect, cell proliferation and development, regulation of immune reaction, and tumorigenesis. The mechanisms underlying the biological function of GLRX3 are still not clear. To facilitate the functional research of GLRX3, in this study, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against hGLRX3 were produced by using purified prokaryotic recombinant 6His-hGLRX3 fusion protein as the immunogen. Five MAbs were obtained after preliminary screening by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, then further characterized by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. The domain specificity of these MAbs was also evaluated. Owing to the high conservation of protein sequences among different species, anti-GLRX3 MAbs produced in this study were shown to be immunoactive for GLRX3 in the cells from other species, such as mice, rats, Chinese hamster, and zebrafish. These domain-specific anti-GLRX3 MAbs will be an essential tool to investigate the roles of GLRX3 in normal physiological or pathological conditions.

Development of a low-serum medium for the production of monoclonal antibody against congenital adrenal hyperplasia by hybridoma culture

Statistically designed experiments were used in developing a low-serum medium for the production of a diagnostic monoclonal antibody against congenital adrenal hyperplasia using hybridoma 192. A two-level half-fractional factorial design was used for screening six components (Minimum Essential Medium Eagle amino acids, 2-mercaptoethanol, ethanolamine, ferric citrate, zinc sulfate, and sodium selenite). The experimental design was then augmented to central composite design. The basal Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM; containing 4 mM L-glutamine, 1% antibiotic-antimycotic agent) supplemented with 0.4% by volume fetal bovine serum (FBS), 311.8 mM ferric citrate, 17.3 nM sodium selenite, and 4.5 mM zinc sulfate (LSD) was found to support the growth of the hybridoma. Specific cell growth rate in the LSD (0.033 ± 0.001/h) was slightly lower than in the control medium (i.e., basal DMEM supplemented with 2% FBS; 0.0045 ± 0.003/h). Nevertheless, the specific MAb production rate for LSD was higher (0.057 ± 0.015 pg/cell · h versus 0.004 ± 0.002 pg/cell · h in LSD and control, respectively). The antibody produced in the LSD showed high specificity and no cross-reactivity with the other structural resemblance's steroid hormones, revealing no structural changes owing to the new medium formulation developed. The new medium formulation effectively reduced the medium cost by up to 64.6%.

Effect of amino acid supplementation on titer and glycosylation distribution in hybridoma cell cultures-Systems biology-based interpretation using genome-scale metabolic flux balance model and multivariate data analysis

Genome-scale flux balance analysis (FBA) is a powerful systems biology tool to characterize intracellular reaction fluxes during cell cultures. FBA estimates intracellular reaction rates by optimizing an objective function, subject to the constraints of a metabolic model and media uptake/excretion rates. A dynamic extension to FBA, dynamic flux balance analysis (DFBA), can calculate intracellular reaction fluxes as they change during cell cultures. In a previous study by Read et al. (2013), a series of informed amino acid supplementation experiments were performed on twelve parallel murine hybridoma cell cultures, and this data was leveraged for further analysis (Read et al., Biotechnol Prog. 2013;29:745-753). In order to understand the effects of media changes on the model murine hybridoma cell line, a systems biology approach is applied in the current study. Dynamic flux balance analysis was performed using a genome-scale mouse metabolic model, and multivariate data analysis was used for interpretation. The calculated reaction fluxes were examined using partial least squares and partial least squares discriminant analysis. The results indicate media supplementation increases product yield because it raises nutrient levels extending the growth phase, and the increased cell density allows for greater culture performance. At the same time, the directed supplementation does not change the overall metabolism of the cells. This supports the conclusion that product quality, as measured by glycoform assays, remains unchanged because the metabolism remains in a similar state. Additionally, the DFBA shows that metabolic state varies more at the beginning of the culture but less by the middle of the growth phase, possibly due to stress on the cells during inoculation. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:1163-1173, 2016.

Verification of the Cross Immunoreactivity of A60, a Mouse Monoclonal Antibody against Neuronal Nuclear Protein

A60, the mouse monoclonal antibody against the neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN), is the most widely used neuronal marker in neuroscience research and neuropathological assays. Previous studies identified fragments of A60-immunoprecipitated protein as Synapsin I (Syn I), suggesting the antibody will demonstrate cross immunoreactivity. However, the likelihood of cross reactivity has never been verified by immunohistochemical techniques. Using our established tissue processing and immunofluorescent staining protocols, we found that A60 consistently labeled mossy fiber terminals in hippocampal area CA3. These A60-positive mossy fiber terminals could also be labeled by Syn I antibody. After treating brain slices with saponin in order to better preserve various membrane and/or vesicular proteins for immunostaining, we observed that A60 could also label additional synapses in various brain areas. Therefore, we used A60 together with a rabbit monoclonal NeuN antibody to confirm the existence of this cross reactivity. We showed that the putative band positive for A60 and Syn I could not be detected by the rabbit anti-NeuN in Western blotting. As efficient as Millipore A60 to recognize neuronal nuclei, the rabbit NeuN antibody demonstrated no labeling of synaptic structures in immunofluorescent staining. The present study successfully verified the cross reactivity present in immunohistochemistry, cautioning that A60 may not be the ideal biomarker to verify neuronal identity due to its cross immunoreactivity. In contrast, the rabbit monoclonal NeuN antibody used in this study may be a better candidate to substitute for A60.

Expression of SPARC like protein 1 (SPARCL1), extracellular matrix-associated protein is down regulated in gastric adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

SPARC-like protein 1 (SPARCL1/Hevin), a member of the SPARC family is defined by the presence of a highly acidic domain-I, a follistatin-like domain, and an extracellular calcium (EC) binding domain. SPARCL1 has been shown to be down-regulated in many types of cancer and may serve as a negative regulator of cell growth and proliferation.

METHODS

Both tumor and adjacent normal tissue were collected from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Monoclonal antibody developed against recombinant SPARCL1 was used to analyze the expression of SPARCL1 by immunohisto chemical and western blotting (WB) analysis.

RESULTS

The expression of SPARCL1 was found to be significantly lower or negligible in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues in nearly all of the cases in comparison with adjacent normal tissue. This comparison was found to be independent of the patient's age, sex, and stage of cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

We postulate that down regulation of SPARCL1 may be related to inactivation of its tumor suppressor functions and might play an important role in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Generation of the First TCR Transgenic Mouse with CD4(+) T Cells Recognizing an Anti-inflammatory Regulatory T Cell-Inducing Hsp70 Peptide

Antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) directed at self-antigens are difficult to study since suitable specific tools to isolate and characterize these cells are lacking. A T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mouse would generate possibilities to study such ­antigen-specific T cells. As was shown previously, immunization with the mycobacterial heat shock protein (Hsp) 70-derived peptide B29 and its mouse homologs mB29a and mB29b induced anti-inflammatory responses. Furthermore, B29 induced antigen-­specific Tregs in vivo. To study mB29b-specific Tregs, we isolated the TCR from T cell hybridomas generated against mB29b and produced a TCR transgenic mouse that expresses a MHC-class II restricted mB29b-specific TCR. These TCR transgenic CD4⁺ T cells were found to cross-react with the B29 epitope as identified with peptide-induced proliferation and IL-2 production. Thus, we have successfully generated a novel mouse model with antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells that recognize self and bacterial Hsp 70-derived peptides. With this novel mouse model, it will be possible to study primary antigen-specific T cells with specificity for a regulatory Hsp70 T cell epitope. This will enable the isolation and characterization CD4⁺CD25⁺ Tregs with a proven specificity. This will provide useful knowledge of the induction, activation, and mode of action of Hsp70-specific Tregs, for instance, during experimental arthritis.

Target-Agnostic Identification of Functional Monoclonal Antibodies Against Klebsiella pneumoniae Multimeric MrkA Fimbrial Subunit

The increasing incidence of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections refractory to treatment with current broad-spectrum antibiotic classes warrants the exploration of alternative approaches, such as antibody therapy and/or vaccines, for prevention and treatment. However, the lack of validated targets shared by spectrums of clinical strains poses a significant challenge. We adopted a target-agnostic approach to identify protective antibodies against K. pneumoniae Several monoclonal antibodies were isolated from phage display and hybridoma platforms by functional screening for opsonophagocytic killing activity. We further identified their common target antigen to be MrkA, a major protein in the type III fimbriae complex, and showed that these serotype-independent anti-MrkA antibodies reduced biofilm formation in vitro and conferred protection in multiple murine pneumonia models. Importantly, mice immunized with purified MrkA proteins also showed reduced bacterial burden following K. pneumoniae challenge. Taken together, these results support MrkA as a promising target for K. pneumoniae antibody therapeutics and vaccines.

Generation of potent mouse monoclonal antibodies to self-proteins using T-cell epitope "tags"

Immunization of mice or rats with a "non-self" protein is a commonly used method to obtain monoclonal antibodies, and relies on the immune system's ability to recognize the immunogen as foreign. Immunization of an antigen with 100% identity to the endogenous protein, however, will not elicit a robust immune response. To develop antibodies to mouse proteins, we focused on the potential for breaking such immune tolerance by genetically fusing two independent T-cell epitope-containing sequences (from tetanus toxin (TT) and diphtheria toxin fragment A (DTA)) to a mouse protein, mouse ST2 (mST2). Wild-type CD1 mice were immunized with three mST2 tagged proteins (Fc, TT and DTA) and the specific serum response was determined. Only in mice immunized with the T-cell epitope-containing antigens were specific mST2 serum responses detected; hybridomas generated from these mice secreted highly sequence-diverse IgGs that were capable of binding mST2 and inhibiting the interaction of mST2 with its ligand, mouse interleukin (IL)-33 (mIL-33). Of the hundreds of antibodies profiled, we identified five potent antibodies that were able to inhibit IL-33 induced IL-6 release in a mast cell assay; notably one such antibody was sufficiently potent to suppress IL-5 release and eosinophilia infiltration in an Alternaria alternata challenge mouse model of asthma. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that T-cell epitope-containing tags have the ability to break tolerance in wild-type mice to 100% conserved proteins, and it provides a compelling argument for the broader use of this approach to generate antibodies against any mouse protein or conserved ortholog.

Expression and characterization of single-chain variable fragment antibody against staphylococcal enterotoxin A in Escherichia coli

The staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are potent gastrointestinal exotoxins synthesized by Staphylococcus aureus, which is responsible for various diseases including septicemia, food poisoning, and toxic shock syndrome, as well as bovine mastitis. Among them, staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is one of the most commonly present serotypes in staphylococcal food poisoning cases. In this study, the stable hybridoma 3C12 producing anti-SEA monoclonal antibody was established with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 1.48 × 10(-8) mol·L(-1), its ScFv-coding genes were obtained and then the anti-SEA single chain variable fragment (ScFv) protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. Characterization of the expressed target ScFv protein was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results demonstrated that the recombinant anti-SEA ScFv protein retained a specific binding activity for SEA, and the KD value of the soluble ScFv was about 3.75 × 10(-7) mol·L(-1). The overall yield of bioactive anti-SEA ScFv in E. coli flask culture was more than 10 mg·L(-1).

Mimicking the germinal center reaction in hybridoma cells to isolate temperature-selective anti-PEG antibodies

Modification of antibody class and binding properties typically requires cloning of antibody genes, antibody library construction, phage or yeast display and recombinant antibody expression. Here, we describe an alternative “cloning-free” approach to generate antibodies with altered antigen-binding and heavy chain isotype by mimicking the germinal center reaction in antibody-secreting hybridoma cells. This was accomplished by lentiviral transduction and controllable expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) to generate somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination in antibody genes coupled with high-throughput fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) of hybridoma cells to detect altered antibody binding properties. Starting from a single established hybridoma clone, we isolated mutated antibodies that bind to a low-temperature structure of polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polymer widely used in nanotechnology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. FACS of AID-infected hybridoma cells also facilitated rapid identification of class switched variants of monoclonal IgM to monoclonal IgG. Mimicking the germinal center reaction in hybridoma cells may offer a general method to identify and isolate antibodies with altered binding properties and class-switched heavy chains without the need to carry out DNA library construction, antibody engineering and recombinant protein expression.

Specific B-cell Epitope of Per a 1: A Major Allergen of American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and Anatomical Localization

Purpose

Cockroach (CR) is a common source of indoor allergens, and Per a 1 is a major American CR (Periplaneta americana) allergen; however, several attributes of this protein remain unknown. This study identifies a novel specific B cell epitope and anatomical locations of Per a 1.0105.

Methods

Recombinant Per a 1.0105 (rPer a 1.0105) was used as BALB/c mouse immunogen for the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAb). The MAb specific B cell epitope was identified by determining phage mimotopic peptides and pair-wise alignment of the peptides with the rPer a 1.0105 amino acid sequence. Locations of the Per a 1.0105 in P. americana were investigated by immunohistochemical staining.

Results

The rPer a 1.0105 (~13 kDa) had 100%, 98% and ≥90% identity to Per a 1.0105, Per a 1.0101, and Cr-PII, respectively. The B-cell epitope of the Per a 1.0105 specific-MAb was located at residues⁹⁹ QDLLLQLRDKGV¹¹⁰ contained in all 5 Per a 1.01 isoforms and Per a 1.02. The epitope was analogous to the Bla g 1.02 epitope; however, this B-cell epitope was not an IgE inducer. Per a 1.0105 was found in the midgut and intestinal content of American CR but not in the other organs. The amount of the Per a 1 was ~544 ℃g per gram of feces.

Conclusions

The novel Per a 1 B-cell epitope described in this study is a useful target for allergen quantification in samples; however, the specific MAb can be used as an allergen detection reagent. The MAb based-affinity resin can be made for allergen purification, and the so-purified protein can serve as a standard and diagnostic allergen as well as a therapeutic vaccine component. The finding that the Per a 1 is contained in the midgut and feces is useful to increase yield and purity when preparing this allergen.

Generation and epitope mapping of a sub-group cross-reactive anti-respiratory syncytial virus G glycoprotein monoclonal antibody which is protective in vivo

Passively administered antibodies to conserved epitopes on the attachment (G) glycoprotein of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) have potential in the immunoprophylaxis of human infections. This study set out to generate monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognizing all prevalent lineages of HRSV and capable of immunoprophylaxis in mice. Two murine MAbs of broad specificity for prevalent virus strains were generated by immunization of mice with hRSV of sub-group A followed by selection of hybridomas on recombinant G glycoprotein from a sub-group B virus. The anti-G hybridomas generated secreted antibody of high affinity but negligible neutralizing capacity one of which was tested in mice and found to be protective against live virus challenge. Western blotting and partial epitope mapping on transiently expressed G-glycoprotein fragments indicate that these antibodies recognize a complex epitope on the protein backbone of the molecule involving residues both C'- and N-terminal to the central conserved motif.

Targeted therapy of solid tumors by monoclonal antibody specific to epidermal growth factor receptor

Tumor growth and progression depends largely on the activity of cell membrane receptors like epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that plays a pivotal role in the progression and invasion of different solid tumors. As one of the most promising approaches for targeting and therapy, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have widely been used in the treatment of various malignancies. However, the clinical effects of mAbs appear to be dependent upon its specificity and potency. In the current investigation, a series of mAbs were produced against human EGFR using hybridoma technology. Balb/c mice were immunized against EGFR-positive A431 cancer cells and the most immune mouse was selected for fusion and generation of anti-EGFR mAbs. Isotyping of the generated mAbs was performed by ELISA method. Of various monoclones produced, IgG1 subclass (mAb BF4) displayed specific binding to the EGFR-expressing A431 cells. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining revalidated its specific reactivity with EGFR and MTT assay revealed significant growth inhibition of A431 cells treated with mAb BF4 mainly through induction of apoptosis. Based on these findings, we propose the produced anti-EGFR mAb BF4 to be exploited for diagnostic and possibly treatment of various malignancies with overexpression of EGFR.

Phage display approaches for the isolation of monoclonal antibodies against dengue virus envelope domain III from human and mouse derived libraries

Domain III of the dengue virus envelope protein (EDIII, aa295-395) has an immunoglobulin fold and is the proposed receptor-binding domain of the virus. Previous studies have shown that monoclonal antibodies against EDIII can be neutralizing and have therapeutic potential. Here, cloned Fab-phage libraries of human and mouse origin were screened for DENV specific antibodies. Firstly, bacterially expressed EDIII or whole virus particles were used as bait in biopanning against a large naïve human Fab-phage library (>10 billion independent clones). Multiple panning strategies were employed, and in excess of 1000 clones were screened, but all of the antibodies identified bound the envelope in regions outside EDIII suggesting EDIII antibodies are virtually absent from the naïve human repertoire. Next, a chimeric Fab-phage library was constructed from a panel of EDIII specific mouse hybridomas by pooling the VH and VL chain sequences from the hybridomas and cloning these into the pComb3X phagemid vector with human CH and CL encoding sequences. Biopanning against EDIII identified a unique antibody (C9) that cross-reacts with EDIII from DENV1-3 and, in the IgG format, binds and neutralizes DENV2 in cell-based assays. Sequence analysis and saturation mutagenesis of complementary determining regions (CDR) in the C9 light chain suggest an antigen recognition model in which the LCDR3 is a key determinant of EDIII specificity, while modifications in LCDR1 and LCDR2 affect DENV serotype cross-reactivity. Overall, this study supports the current prevailing opinion that neutralizing anti-EDIII monoclonal antibodies can be readily generated in murine systems, but in humans the anti-DENV immune response is directed away from domain III.