laboratory-scale-production-and-purification-of-a-therapeutic-antibody

Laboratory Scale Production and Purification of a Therapeutic Antibody

Ensuring the successful production of a therapeutic antibody begins early on in the development process. The first stage is vector expression of the ...

University of Sydney

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been strongly implicated in the regulation of Golgi trafficking as well as endocytosis and exocytosis. Our aim was to investigate the role of PLD in regulating the biphasic exocytosis of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells that is essential for mammalian glucose homeostasis. We observed that PLD activity in MIN6 pancreatic beta-cells is closely coupled to secretion. Cellular PLD activity was increased in response to a variety of secretagogues including the nutrient glucose and the cholinergic receptor agonist carbamoylcholine. Conversely, pharmacological or hormonal inhibition of stimulated secretion reduced PLD activity. Most importantly, blockade of PLD-catalyzed phosphatidic acid formation using butan-1-ol inhibited insulin secretion in both MIN6 cells and isolated pancreatic islets. It was further established that PLD activity was required for both the first and the second phase of glucose-stimulated insulin release, suggesting a role in the very distal steps of exocytosis, beyond granule recruitment into a readily releasable pool. Visualization of granules using green fluorescent protein-phogrin confirmed a requirement for PLD prior to granule fusion with the plasma membrane. PLD1 was shown to be the predominant isoform in MIN6 cells, and it was located at least partially on insulin granules. Overexpression of wild-type or a dominant negative catalytically inactive mutant of PLD1 augmented or inhibited secretagogue-stimulated secretion, respectively. The results suggest that phosphatidic acid formation on the granule membrane by PLD1 is essential for the regulated secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells.

Phospholipase D1 regulates secretagogue-stimulated insulin release in pancreatic beta-cells.

Dynamic remodeling of the actinomyosin cytoskeleton is integral to many biological processes. It is regulated, in part, by myosin phosphorylation. Nonmuscle myosin H chain IIA is phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) on Ser(1917). Our aim was to determine the PKC isoform specificity of this phosphorylation event and to evaluate its potential role in regulated secretion. Using an Ab against the phosphorylated form of Ser(1917), we show that this site is not phosphorylated in unstimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. The physiological stimulus, Ag, or the pharmacological activators, PMA plus A23187, induced Ser(1917) phosphorylation with a time course coincident with the onset of granule mediator secretion. Dephosphorylation at this site occurred as Ag-stimulated secretion declined from its peak, but dephosphorylation was delayed in cells activated with PMA plus A23187. Phosphate incorporation was also enhanced by PMA alone and by inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A. Gö6976, an inhibitor of conventional PKC isoforms, abolished secretion and Ser(1917) phosphorylation with similar dose dependencies consistent with involvement of either PKCalpha or PKCbeta. Phorbol ester-stimulated Ser(1917) phosphorylation was reconstituted in HEK-293 cells (which lack endogenous PKCbeta) by overexpression of both wild-type and constitutively active PKCbetaII but not the corresponding PKCbetaI or PKCalpha constructs. A similar selectivity for PKCbetaII overexpression was also observed in MIN6 insulinoma cells infected with recombinant PKC wild-type adenoviruses. Our results implicate PKC-dependent phosphorylation of myosin H chain IIA in the regulation of secretion in mast cells and suggest that Ser(1917) phosphorylation might be a marker of PKCbetaII activation in diverse cell types.

Phosphorylation of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA on Ser1917 is mediated by protein kinase C beta II and coincides with the onset of stimulated degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells.

We report preclinical data for CEP-37247, the first human framework domain antibody construct to enter the clinic. At approximately 11 - 13kDa, domain antibodies or dAbs are the smallest antibody domain able to demonstrate the antigen-recognition function of an antibody, e.g. high selectivity and affinity for target antigen. CEP-37247 is a bivalent anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α domain antibody protein construct combining the antigen-recognition function of a dAb with the pharmacological advantages of an antibody Fc region. As a homodimer, with each chain comprising VL dAb, truncated CH1, hinge, CH2 and CH3 domains, CEP-37247 has a molecular mass of approximately 78kDa, which is about half the size of a conventional IgG molecule. Surface plasmon resonance data demonstrate that CEP-37247 possesses high selectivity and affinity for TNFα. CEP-37247 is a potent neutralizer of TNFα activity in vitro in the L929 TNF-mediated cytotoxicity assay. In a human TNFα-over-expressing mouse model of polyarthritis, CEP-37247 prevents development of disease, and is at least as effective as the marketed product etanercept. Fc functionality is intact - CEP-37247 is capable of mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and has a circulating half-life of approximately 4.5 days in cynomolgus macaques. Given the favorable properties outlined above, and its high expression levels (approaching 7 g/L) in a CHOK1 based-expression system, CEP-37247 is progressing into the clinic, where other potential advantages such as enhanced efficacy due to improved tissue distribution, and beneficial immunogenicity profile, will be evaluated.

Anti-TNFα domain antibody construct CEP-37247: Full antibody functionality at half the size.

HLDA10 is the Tenth Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigen (HLDA) Workshop. The HLDA Workshops provide a mechanism to allocate cluster of differentiation (CD) nomenclature by engaging in interlaboratory studies. As the host laboratory, we invited researchers from national and international academic and commercial institutions to submit monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to human leukocyte surface membrane molecules, particularly those that recognised molecules on human myeloid cell populations and dendritic cells (DCs). These mAbs were tested for activity and then distributed as a blinded panel to 15 international laboratories to test on different leukocyte populations. These populations included blood DCs, skin-derived DCs, tonsil leukocytes, monocyte-derived DCs, CD34-derived DCs, macrophage populations and diagnostic acute myeloid leukaemia and lymphoma samples. Each laboratory was provided with enough mAb to perform five repeat experiments. Here, we summarise the reactivity of different mAb to 68 different cell-surface molecules expressed by human myeloid and DC populations. Submitted mAbs to some of the molecules were further validated to collate data required to designate a formal CD number. This collaborative process provides the broader scientific community with an invaluable data set validating mAbs to leukocyte-surface molecules.

New insights into the phenotype of human dendritic cell populations.

CD83 is a member of the Ig gene superfamily, first identified in activated lymphocytes. Since then, CD83 has become an important marker for defining activated human dendritic cells (DC). Several potential CD83 mRNA isoforms have been described, including a soluble form detected in human serum, which may have an immunosuppressive function. To further understand the biology of CD83, we examined its expression in different human immune cell types before and after activation using a panel of mouse and human anti-human CD83 mAb. The mouse anti-human CD83 mAbs, HB15a and HB15e, and the human anti-human CD83 mAb, 3C12C, were selected to examine cytoplasmic and surface CD83 expression, based on their different binding characteristics. Glycosylation of CD83, the CD83 mRNA isoforms, and soluble CD83 released differed among blood DC, monocytes, and monocyte-derived DC, and other immune cell types. A small T cell population expressing surface CD83 was identified upon T cell stimulation and during allogeneic MLR. This subpopulation appeared specifically during viral Ag challenge. We did not observe human CD83 on unstimulated human natural regulatory T cells (Treg), in contrast to reports describing expression of CD83 on mouse Treg. CD83 expression was increased on CD4(+), CD8(+) T, and Treg cells in association with clinical acute graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. The differential expression and function of CD83 on human immune cells reveal potential new roles for this molecule as a target of therapeutic manipulation in transplantation, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.

The Analysis of CD83 Expression on Human Immune Cells Identifies a Unique CD83+-Activated T Cell Population.

It has been over four decades since the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using a hybridoma cell line was first reported. Since then more than thirty therapeutic antibodies have been marketed, mostly as oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory therapeutics. While antibodies are very efficient, their cost-effectiveness has always been discussed owing to their high costs, accumulating to more than one billion dollars from preclinical development through to market approval. Because of this, therapeutic antibodies are inaccessible to some patients in both developed and developing countries. The growing interest in biosimilar antibodies as affordable versions of therapeutic antibodies may provide alternative treatment options as well potentially decreasing costs. As certain markets begin to capitalize on this opportunity, regulatory authorities continue to refine the requirements for demonstrating quality, efficacy and safety of biosimilar compared to originator products. In addition to biosimilars, innovations in antibody engineering are providing the opportunity to design biobetter antibodies with improved properties to maximize efficacy. Enhancing effector function, antibody drug conjugates (ADC) or targeting multiple disease pathways via multi-specific antibodies are being explored. The manufacturing process of antibodies is also moving forward with advancements relating to host cell production and purification processes. Studies into the physical and chemical degradation pathways of antibodies are contributing to the design of more stable proteins guided by computational tools. Moreover, the delivery and pharmacokinetics of antibody-based therapeutics are improving as optimized formulations are pursued through the implementation of recent innovations in the field.

Zehra Elgundi

Faculty of Pharmacy

University of Sydney

Laboratory Scale Production and Purification of a Therapeutic Antibody

Zehra Elgundi

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Faculty of Pharmacy

University of Sydney

Laboratory Scale Production and Purification of a Therapeutic Antibody

Faculty of Pharmacy