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Camacho-Villegas TA, Mata-González MT, García-Ubbelohd W, Núñez-García L, Elosua C, Paniagua-Solis JF, Licea-Navarro AF. Intraocular Penetration of a vNAR: In Vivo and In Vitro VEGF 165 Neutralization. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16040113. [PMID: 29614715 PMCID: PMC5923400 DOI: 10.3390/md16040113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Variable new antigen receptor domain (vNAR) antibodies are novel, naturally occurring antibodies that can be isolated from naïve, immune or synthetic shark libraries. These molecules are very interesting to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries because of their unique characteristics related to size and tissue penetrability. There have been some approved anti-angiogenic therapies for ophthalmic conditions, not related to vNAR. This includes biologics and chimeric proteins that neutralize vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)165, which are injected intravitreal, causing discomfort and increasing the possibility of infection. In this paper, we present a vNAR antibody against human recombinant VEGF165 (rhVEGF165) that was isolated from an immunized Heterodontus francisci shark. A vNAR called V13, neutralizes VEGF165 cytokine starting at 75 μg/mL in an in vitro assay based on co-culture of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and green fluorescence protein (GFP)-labeled human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cells. In the oxygen-induced retinopathy model in C57BL/6:Hsd mice, we demonstrate an endothelial cell count decrease. Further, we demonstrate the intraocular penetration after topical administration of 0.1 μg/mL of vNAR V13 by its detection in aqueous humor in New Zealand rabbits with healthy eyes after 3 h of application. These findings demonstrate the potential of topical application of vNAR V13 as a possible new drug candidate for vascular eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya A Camacho-Villegas
- CONACYT-Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara, Jalisco, C.P. 44270, Mexico.
- Biomedical Innovation Department, Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada, (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, C.P. 22860, Mexico.
| | - María Teresa Mata-González
- Research and Development Department, Laboratorios Silanes S.A. de C.V., Ciudad de México, C. P. 03100, Mexico.
| | - Walter García-Ubbelohd
- Research and Development Department, Laboratorios Silanes S.A. de C.V., Ciudad de México, C. P. 03100, Mexico.
| | - Linda Núñez-García
- Research and Development Department, Laboratorios Silanes S.A. de C.V., Ciudad de México, C. P. 03100, Mexico.
| | - Carolina Elosua
- Research and Development Department, Teraclón IDF S.L., Calle de Santiago Grisolía, Tres Cantos, 28020 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jorge F Paniagua-Solis
- Research and Development Department, Laboratorios Silanes S.A. de C.V., Ciudad de México, C. P. 03100, Mexico.
| | - Alexei F Licea-Navarro
- Biomedical Innovation Department, Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada, (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, C.P. 22860, Mexico.
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Steven J, Müller MR, Carvalho MF, Ubah OC, Kovaleva M, Donohoe G, Baddeley T, Cornock D, Saunders K, Porter AJ, Barelle CJ. In Vitro Maturation of a Humanized Shark VNAR Domain to Improve Its Biophysical Properties to Facilitate Clinical Development. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1361. [PMID: 29109729 PMCID: PMC5660122 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular engineering to increase the percentage identity to common human immunoglobulin sequences of non-human therapeutic antibodies and scaffolds has become standard practice. This strategy is often used to reduce undesirable immunogenic responses, accelerating the clinical development of candidate domains. The first humanized shark variable domain (VNAR) was reported by Kovalenko and colleagues and used the anti-human serum albumin (HSA) domain, clone E06, as a model to construct a number of humanized versions including huE06v1.10. This study extends this work by using huE06v1.10 as a template to isolate domains with improved biophysical properties and reduced antigenicity. Random mutagenesis was conducted on huE06v1.10 followed by refinement of clones through an off-rate ranking-based selection on target antigen. Many of these next-generation binders retained high affinity for target, together with good species cross-reactivity. Lead domains were assessed for any tendency to dimerize, tolerance to N- and C-terminal fusions, affinity, stability, and relative antigenicity in human dendritic cell assays. Functionality of candidate clones was verified in vivo through the extension of serum half-life in a typical drug format. From these analyses the domain, BA11, exhibited negligible antigenicity, high stability and high affinity for mouse, rat, and HSA. When these attributes were combined with demonstrable functionality in a rat model of PK, the BA11 clone was established as our clinical candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Thomas Baddeley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn Cornock
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew J Porter
- Elasmogen Ltd., Aberdeen, United Kingdom.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Kovaleva M, Johnson K, Steven J, Barelle CJ, Porter A. Therapeutic Potential of Shark Anti-ICOSL VNAR Domains is Exemplified in a Murine Model of Autoimmune Non-Infectious Uveitis. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1121. [PMID: 28993766 PMCID: PMC5622306 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Induced costimulatory ligand (ICOSL) plays an important role in the activation of T cells through its interaction with the inducible costimulator, ICOS. Suppression of full T cell activation can be achieved by blocking this interaction and has been shown to be an effective means of ameliorating disease in models of autoimmunity and inflammation. In this study, we demonstrated the ability of a novel class of anti-ICOSL antigen-binding single domains derived from sharks (VNARs) to effectively reduce inflammation in a murine model of non-infectious uveitis. In initial selections, specific VNARs that recognized human ICOSL were isolated from an immunized nurse shark phage display library and lead domains were identified following their performance in a series of antigen selectivity and in vitro bioassay screens. High potency in cell-based blocking assays suggested their potential as novel binders suitable for further therapeutic development. To test this hypothesis, surrogate anti-mouse ICOSL VNAR domains were isolated from the same phage display library and the lead VNAR clone selected via screening in binding and ICOS/ICOSL blocking experiments. The VNAR domain with the highest potency in cell-based blocking of ICOS/ICOSL interaction was fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 and was tested in vivo in a mouse model of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein-induced uveitis. The anti-mICOSL VNAR Fc, injected systemically, resulted in a marked reduction of inflammation in treated mice when compared with untreated control animals. This approach inhibited disease progression to an equivalent extent to that seen for the positive corticosteroid control, cyclosporin A, reducing both clinical and histopathological scores. These results represent the first demonstration of efficacy of a VNAR binding domain in a relevant clinical model of disease and highlight the potential of VNARs for the treatment of auto-inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine Johnson
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Andrew Porter
- Elasmogen Ltd., Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Abstract
In addition to antibodies with the classical composition of heavy and light chains, the adaptive immune repertoire of sharks also includes a heavy-chain only isotype, where antigen binding is mediated exclusively by a small and highly stable domain, referred to as vNAR. In recent years, due to their high affinity and specificity combined with their small size, high physicochemical stability and low-cost of production, vNAR fragments have evolved as promising target-binding scaffolds that can be tailor-made for applications in medicine and biotechnology. This review highlights the structural features of vNAR molecules, addresses aspects of their generation using immunization or in vitro high throughput screening methods and provides examples of therapeutic, diagnostic and other biotechnological applications.
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Key Words
- CDR, complementarity-determining region
- HV, hypervariable region
- IgNAR
- IgNAR V domain, variable domain of IgNAR
- IgNAR, immunoglobulin new antigen receptor
- VH, variable domain of the heavy chain
- VHH, variable domain of camelid heavy chain antibodies
- VL, variable domain of the light chain
- antibody technology
- biologic therapeutic
- heavy chain antibody
- mAbs, monoclonal antibodies
- scFv, single chain variable fragment
- shark
- single chain binding domain
- vNAR, variable domain of IgNAR
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Zielonka
- a Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry ; Technische Universität Darmstadt ; Darmstadt , Germany
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Müller MR, Saunders K, Grace C, Jin M, Piche-Nicholas N, Steven J, O'Dwyer R, Wu L, Khetemenee L, Vugmeyster Y, Hickling TP, Tchistiakova L, Olland S, Gill D, Jensen A, Barelle CJ. Improving the pharmacokinetic properties of biologics by fusion to an anti-HSA shark VNAR domain. MAbs 2014; 4:673-85. [PMID: 23676205 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.22242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in recombinant antibody technology and protein engineering have provided the opportunity to reduce antibodies to their smallest binding domain components and have concomitantly driven the requirement for devising strategies to increase serum half-life to optimise drug exposure, thereby increasing therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we adopted an immunization route to raise picomolar affinity shark immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNARs) to target human serum albumin (HSA). From our model shark species, Squalus acanthias, a phage display library encompassing the variable binding domain of IgNAR (VNAR) was constructed, screened against target, and positive clones were characterized for affinity and specificity. N-terminal and C-terminal molecular fusions of our lead hit in complex with a naïve VNAR domain were expressed, purified and exhibited the retention of high affinity binding to HSA, but also cross-selectivity to mouse, rat and monkey serum albumin both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the naïve VNAR had enhanced pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics in both N- and C-terminal orientations and when tested as a three domain construct with naïve VNAR flanking the HSA binding domain at both the N and C termini. Molecules derived from this platform technology also demonstrated the potential for clinical utility by being available via the subcutaneous route of delivery. This study thus demonstrates the first in vivo functional efficacy of a VNAR binding domain with the ability to enhance PK properties and support delivery of multifunctional therapies.
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