Engineering therapeutic bispecific antibodies using CrossMab technology.

Bispecific antibodies have recently gained major interest as they allow novel mechanisms-of-action and/or therapeutic applications that cannot be achieved using conventional IgG-based antibodies. A major issue in engineering IgG-based bispecific antibodies has been to enable the correct association of heavy and light chains resulting in correct assembly of the desired bispecific antibody in sufficient yield. Various approaches have been described during recent years to tackle this challenge. We have developed the so-called CrossMab technology that enforces correct light chain association based on the domain crossover of immunoglobulin domains in the Fab region of the bispecific antibody. This versatile technology allows the generation of different bispecific antibody formats including asymmetric heterodimeric monovalent 1 + 1 bispecific antibodies and asymmetric heterodimeric bispecific antibodies with 2 + 1 valency in combination with approaches enabling Fc-hetermodimerization like knob-into-hole technology as well as the generation of tetravalent symmetric bispecific antibodies with 2 + 2 valency, also known as Tandem-Fab based IgG antibodies, using processes suitable for the large scale production of therapeutic bispecific antibodies. Notably, as of now, at least eight different bispecific antibodies using CrossMab technology entered clinical development, and additional CrossMabs are in late preclinical development. This review provides a summary of the status and progress with the engineering and generation of CrossMab technology based bispecific antibodies as well as their therapeutic application.

Cytokines in noninvasively obtained amniotic fluid as predictors of fetal inflammatory response syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine inflammation and/or infection is frequently present, can lead to fetal inflammatory response syndrome, and is associated with adverse neonatal outcome. Clinical decision making requires balancing the potential benefits of pregnancy prolongation against the risk of intrauterine infection. Diagnostic tests in maternal serum are of moderate prediction value and amniocentesis is an invasive procedure. Therefore, markers obtained noninvasively would be helpful in patients with expectant management. OBJECTIVES: To determine the predictive values of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in vaginal secretions for fetal inflammatory response syndrome and/or histologic funisitis and for adverse neonatal outcome in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective multicenter case-control study, vaginal secretions were sampled daily with a noninvasive method from 99 women with preterm premature rupture of membranes and expectant management. Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured by 2 different immunoassays (an automated chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay and a lateral flow immunoassay). After delivery, patients were divided into a control or a fetal inflammatory response syndrome group according to neonatal interleukin-6 in cord plasma and/or the presence of funisitis. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed and prediction models were developed by calculating receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Gestational age at delivery was lower and latency period was longer in the fetal inflammatory response syndrome group compared to the control group. The strongest risk factor for composite adverse neonatal outcome was fetal inflammatory response syndrome (odds ratio, 2.48; confidence interval, 1.40-4.38). The median concentrations of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in vaginal secretions were significantly higher in the fetal inflammatory response group compared to the control group in both immunoassays (P < .001). The area under the curve of the clinical reference model (including common clinical parameters) was 0.66. Adding interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α into the model improved the area under the curve to 0.92 (in both assays, interleukin-6 IMMULITE and QuickLine); 0.87 (tumor necrosis factor-α IMMULITE) and 0.94 (tumor necrosis factor-α QuickLine), respectively. CONCLUSION: The strongest risk factor for worse neonatal outcome (composite neonatal outcome) was fetal inflammatory response syndrome. Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α seem to be good predictors for fetal inflammatory response syndrome and for histologic funisitis and may improve the clinical management of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes. The noninvasive technique of sampling amniotic fluid from vaginal secretions facilitates daily measurements and bedside assessment of cytokines and is in this respect preferable to invasive amniocentesis.

In vitro-assessment of putative antiprogestin activities of phytochemicals and synthetic UV absorbers in human endometrial Ishikawa cells.

Critical steps of embryo implantation are controlled by progesterone. These processes can be interrupted by progesterone receptor (PR) antagonists, e.g. drugs used for abortion. Antiprogestin effects induced by natural compounds and environmental chemicals have been rarely addressed. In our in vitro study, we investigated putative antiprogestin activities of the plant compounds apigenin (API) and trans-ferulic acid (t-FA) as well as the UV absorbers octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC). They were compared with the selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) mifepristone (RU486) and ulipristal acetate (UPA) as well as the full PR-antagonist ZK137316. Effects of test compounds in combination with progesterone on the progesterone-sensitive target gene estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) were characterized by sigmoidal concentration-response curves obtained by RT-qPCR. The agonistic effect of progesterone on SULT1E1 mRNA levels was concentration-dependently antagonized by RU486, UPA and ZK137316 as well as, with lower potency, apigenin. t-FA, OMC and 4-MBC had no effect on SULT1E1 mRNA levels. We demonstrated that apigenin, although at higher concentrations, exerts a similar effect as the well-characterized SPRMs RU486 and UPA or the progesterone antagonist ZK137316 in this model. Our endometrium-specific Ishikawa cell assay is a useful complement to artificial transactivation assays for the identification of environmental substances with antiprogestin activities.

Immunoglobulin domain crossover as a generic approach for the production of bispecific IgG antibodies.

We describe a generic approach to assemble correctly two heavy and two light chains, derived from two existing antibodies, to form human bivalent bispecific IgG antibodies without use of artificial linkers. Based on the knobs-into-holes technology that enables heterodimerization of the heavy chains, correct association of the light chains and their cognate heavy chains is achieved by exchange of heavy-chain and light-chain domains within the antigen binding fragment (Fab) of one half of the bispecific antibody. This "crossover" retains the antigen-binding affinity but makes the two arms so different that light-chain mispairing can no longer occur. Applying the three possible "CrossMab" formats, we generated bispecific antibodies against angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and show that they can be produced by standard techniques, exhibit stabilities comparable to natural antibodies, and bind both targets simultaneously with unaltered affinity. Because of its superior side-product profile, the CrossMab(CH1-CL) was selected for in vivo profiling and showed potent antiangiogenic and antitumoral activity.

Epitope characterization and crystal structure of GA101 provide insights into the molecular basis for type I/II distinction of CD20 antibodies.

CD20 is a cell-surface marker of normal and malignant B cells. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20, has improved the treatment of malignant lymphomas. Therapeutic CD20 antibodies are classified as either type I or II based on different mechanisms of killing malignant B cells. To reveal the molecular basis of this distinction, we fine-mapped the epitopes recognized by both types. We also determined the first X-ray structure of a type II antibody by crystallizing the obinutuzumab (GA101) Fab fragment alone and in complex with a CD20 cyclopeptide. Despite recognizing an overlapping epitope, GA101 binds CD20 in a completely different orientation than type I antibodies. Moreover, the elbow angle of GA101 is almost 30° wider than in type I antibodies, potentially resulting in different spatial arrangements of 2 CD20 molecules bound to a single GA101 or rituximab molecule. Using protein tomography, different CD20 complexes were found to be associated with the 2 antibodies, and confocal microscopy showed different membrane compartmentalization of these subpopulations of the cellular CD20 pool. Our findings offer a possible molecular explanation for the different cellular responses elicited by type I and II antibodies.

Vulnerability to psychotogenic effects of ketamine is associated with elevated D2/3-receptor availability.

Previous positron emission tomography (PET) studies employing competition paradigms have shown either no change or substantial declines in striatal [(11)C]-raclopride binding after challenge with psychotogenic doses of the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine. We sought to probe the relationship between the severity of ketamine-induced psychotic symptoms and altered dopamine D(2/3) receptor availability throughout brain using the high affinity ligand [(18)F]-fallypride (FP). PET recordings were obtained in a group of 10 healthy, young male volunteers, in a placebo condition, and in the course of an infusion with ketamine at a psychotomimetic dose. Administration of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Thought and Language Index in both conditions revealed a substantial emergence of mainly negative symptoms of schizophrenia, persisting until the end of the 3 h PET recordings. The baseline FP binding in cortex, caudate nucleus and other brain regions was highly predictive of the individual severity of psychotic symptoms in the ketamine condition. However, there was no evidence of ketamine-evoked reductions in FP binding. In the context of earlier findings, we speculate that high baseline D(2/3)-receptor availability may impart benefits with regard to cognitive flexibility, but increases the risk of maladaptive information processing in the face of environmental stresses and challenges.

Myocardial Perfusion SPECT and ATTR imaging 2021 in Germany: Results of the 9th Survey.

AIM: This paper presents the results of the 9th survey of myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) from the reporting year 2021. METHODS: 218 questionnaires (131 practices (PR), 58 hospitals (HO), 29 university hospitals (UH)) were evaluated. Results of the last survey 2018 are set in squared brackets. RESULTS: MPS data from a total of 133,057 [145,930] patients (-8.8%) with 131,868 [143,707] stress and 106,546 [121,899] rest MPS were analysed. A comparison with official data revealed that 54% all MPS were recorded. From 2018 to 2021, official data showed a every year an increase in MPS numbers. On average, 610 [502] MPS patients (+22%) were examined in each department. 74% [69%] of the responders reported an increase or no changes in their MPS patient numbers. Ambulatory care cardiologists represented as always, the mayor referral group (68% [69%]). For the first time, pharmacological stress was more frequently applied than ergometry (42% [51]). Regadenoson was mostly used. The use of the different protocols remained nearly unchanged. Two-day protocols were predominantly applied (49% [48%]). A shift from multi-headed cameras (58% [72%]) to SPECT-CT systems (24% [17%]) was found. Attenuation correction was performed in 33% [26%] of all MPS. 88% [86%] of all stress, 88% [87%] of all rest and 87% [83%] of all stress and rest MPS were acquired as gated SPECT. 72% [67%] of all departments performed scoring by default. The number of departments without scoring decreased to 13% [16%]. CONCLUSIONS: The MPS Study 2021 shows that the long-term positive development of MPS imaging in Germany is continuing. The COVID-19 pandemia did not change this trend. The procedural and technical details of MPS imaging reveal a high level of guideline conformity.

Myocardial blood flow during general anesthesia with xenon in humans: a positron emission tomography study.

BACKGROUND: Xenon has only minimal hemodynamic side effects and induces pharmacologic preconditioning. Thus, the use of xenon could be an interesting option in patients at risk for perioperative myocardial ischemia. However, little is known about the effects of xenon anesthesia on myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary vascular resistance in humans. METHODS: Myocardial blood flow was noninvasively quantified by H2¹5O positron emission tomography in six healthy volunteers (age: 38 ± 8 yr). MBF was measured at baseline and during general anesthesia induced with propofol and maintained with xenon, 59 ± 0%. Absolute quantification of MBF was started after the calculated plasma concentration of propofol had decreased to less than 1.5 µg · ml⁻¹. RESULTS: Compared with baseline (MBFbaseline, 1.03 ± 0.09 ml · min⁻¹ · g⁻¹; mean ± SD), MBF was decreased insignificantly by xenon (MBFxenon, 0.80 ± 0.22 ml · min⁻¹ · g⁻¹; -21%, P = 0.11). Xenon decreased the rate-pressure product (RPP; heart rate × systolic arterial pressure), an indicator of cardiac work and myocardial oxygen consumption (-15%, P < 0.04). When correcting for the RPP, the decrease in MBF observed during xenon anesthesia was reduced to -9% (MBFcorr-xenon, 1.42 ± 0.28 ml · g⁻¹ · mmHg⁻¹ vs. MBFcorr-baseline, 1.60 ± 0.28 ml · g⁻¹ · mmHg⁻¹, P = 0.32). Xenon did not affect the dependency of MBF on the RPP. Coronary vascular resistance did not significantly change (+15 ± 23%, P = 0.18) during xenon anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy subjects, xenon has only minimal effects on coronary flow dynamics. These effects are probably of indirect nature, reflecting the decrease in myocardial oxygen consumption induced by the effects of xenon anesthesia on cardiac work.

Ten years in the making: application of CrossMab technology for the development of therapeutic bispecific antibodies and antibody fusion proteins.

Bispecific antibodies have recently attracted intense interest. CrossMab technology was described in 2011 as novel approach enabling correct antibody light-chain association with their respective heavy chain in bispecific antibodies, together with methods enabling correct heavy-chain association using existing pairs of antibodies. Since the original description, CrossMab technology has evolved in the past decade into one of the most mature, versatile, and broadly applied technologies in the field, and nearly 20 bispecific antibodies based on CrossMab technology developed by Roche and others have entered clinical trials. The most advanced of these are the Ang-2/VEGF bispecific antibody faricimab, currently undergoing regulatory review, and the CD20/CD3 T cell bispecific antibody glofitamab, currently in pivotal Phase 3 trials. In this review, we introduce the principles of CrossMab technology, including its application for the generation of bi-/multispecific antibodies with different geometries and mechanisms of action, and provide an overview of CrossMab-based therapeutics in clinical trials.

Metformin versus acarbose therapy in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a prospective randomised double-blind study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of metformin versus acarbose in terms of ovulation rate, their impact on hormonal and metabolic status and tolerability of both drugs in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Seventy-five patients with PCOS were included in this prospective randomised controlled double-blinded clinical study. According to randomisation, patients were allocated to receive either metformin 2550 mg/day (n = 37) or acarbose 300 mg/day (n = 38) for 12 weeks. Primary study outcomes were ovulation rate, restoration of a regular menstrual cycle and the incidence of side effects. Secondary outcomes included treatment-related hormonal and metabolic changes. Comparable high rates of regular menstrual cycles as well as ovulation could be achieved in both groups (70% and 73% for metformin vs. 78% and 59% for acarbose, p = 0.330 and p = 0.185, respectively). In contrast, only in patients treated with metformin a statistically significant decrease in fasting insulin and cholesterol levels as well as BMI was observed. However, comparing both groups at the end of treatment, no significant differences in metabolic and/or hormonal parameters could be detected. Regarding side effects, the rate of flatulence and/or diarrhoea was significantly lower for acarbose compared to metformin (38% vs. 80%, p < 0.001).

The quantification of dynamic FET PET imaging and correlation with the clinical outcome in patients with glioblastoma.

The PET tracer O-(2-[18F]Fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine (FET) has been shown to be valuable for different roles in the management of brain tumours. The aim of this study was to evaluate several quantitative measures of dynamic FET PET imaging in patients with resected glioblastoma. We evaluated dynamic FET PET in nine patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma. Following FET PET, all subjects had radiation and chemotherapy. Tumour ROIs were defined by a threshold-based region-growing algorithm. We compared several standard measures of tumour uptake and uptake kinetics: SUV, SUV/background, distribution volume ratio (DVR), weighted frame differences and compartment model parameters. These measures were correlated with disease-free and overall survival, and analysed for statistical significance. We found that several measures allowed robust quantification. SUV and distribution volume did not correlate with clinical outcome. Measures that are based on a background region (SUV/BG, Logan-DVR) highly correlated with disease-free survival (r = -0.95, p < 0.0001), but not overall survival. Some advanced measures also showed a prognostic value but no improvement over the simpler methods. We conclude that FET PET probably has a prognostic value in patients with resected glioblastoma. The ratio of SUV to background may provide a simple and valuable predictive measure of the clinical outcome. Further studies are needed to confirm these explorative results.

DuoMab: a novel CrossMab-based IgG-derived antibody format for enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

High specificity accompanied with the ability to recruit immune cells has made recombinant therapeutic antibodies an integral part of drug development. Here we present a generic approach to generate two novel IgG-derived antibody formats that are based on a modification of the CrossMab technology. MoAbs harbor two heavy chains (HCs) resulting in one binding entity and one fragment crystallizable region (Fc), whereas DuoMabs are composed of four HCs harboring two binding entities and two Fc regions linked at a disulfide-bridged hinge. The latter bivalent format is characterized by avidity-enhanced target cell binding while simultaneously increasing the 'Fc-load' on the surface. DuoMabs were shown to be producible in high yield and purity and bind to surface cells with affinities comparable to IgGs. The increased Fc load directed at the surface of target cells by DuoMabs modulates their antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity competency toward target cells, making them attractive for applications that require or are modulated by FcR interactions.

Kinetic analyses of [123I]IBZM SPECT for quantification of striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding: a critical evaluation of the single-scan approach.

BACKGROUND: Dopamine-D2 receptor imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and [(123)I]IBZM is of great interest for basic and applied neurosciences. However, the use of kinetic analyses for quantification of dynamic [(123)I]IBZM SPECT and the validity of the commonly employed single-scan pseudo-equilibrium analysis (PsEA) have not been appropriately investigated. The present study addresses these shortcomings. METHODS: Ten movement disorder patients underwent dynamic SPECT (142 min) after single-bolus [(123)I]IBZM injection. Kinetic analyses comprise: simplified reference tissue model (SRTM), multi-linear reference tissue model (MRTM), their two-parameter versions (SRTM2/MRTM2) and non-invasive graphical analysis (NIGA). Simplified single-scan analyses were performed at peak time of specific binding (peak-equilibrium analysis, PEA) and during pseudo-equilibrium (PsEA). RESULTS: SRTM and MRTM are compromised by the high noise level of dynamic SPECT. SRTM2 and MRTM2 yielded reliable binding potential estimates that agreed excellently (mean difference=-0.1+/-1.0%, R(2)>0.99). Concordance between SRTM/MRTM and SRTM2/MRTM2 was high in cases in which SRTM/MRTM provided reliable results (SRTM2 or MRTM2 vs. SRTM: 3.7+/-5.0%, R(2)=0.88). NIGA was affected by a negative bias (-9.1+/-6.3%, R(2)=0.75; MRTM2 as reference) or high variability (-1.2+/-7.4%, R(2)=0.71) for analyses without and with inclusion of the k(2)'-term, respectively. PsEA showed a positive bias and low correlation in comparison with SRTM2/MRTM2 (7.6+/-10.8%, R(2)=0.59), which was considerably improved for PEA (-2.7+/-7.6%, R(2)=0.72). MRTM2 provided parametric images with minimal bias suited for voxel-wise statistical analyses. CONCLUSIONS: MRTM2 and SRTM2 can be reliably applied to dynamic [(123)I]IBZM SPECT. PEA is a suitable method for clinical routine, while our results discourage the use of PsEA (current clinical standard).

Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT: algorithm-specific influence of reorientation on calculation of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction.

UNLABELLED: Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT allows calculation of end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV and ESV, respectively) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The quantification algorithms QGS (quantitative gated SPECT), 4D-MSPECT, and CARE heart show a good correlation with cardiac MRI. Nevertheless, differences in contour finding suggest algorithm-specific effects if heart axes vary. The effect of tilting heart axes on gated SPECT was quantified as a possible source of error. METHODS: Sixty men underwent gated SPECT (450 MBq of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin or sestamibi, 8 gates/cycle). After correct reorientation (R(0)), datasets were tilted by 5 degrees , 10 degrees , 15 degrees , 20 degrees , 30 degrees , and 45 degrees along both long axes (R(5), R(10), R(15), R(20), R(30), and R(45), respectively). EDV, ESV, and LVEF were calculated using QGS, 4D-MSPECT, and CARE heart. Because a 15 degrees tilt could be a maximum possible misreorientation in routine, R(0) and R(15) results were analyzed in detail. Absolute-difference values between results of tilted and correctly reoriented datasets were calculated for all tilts and algorithms. RESULTS: QGS and CARE heart succeeded for R(0) and R(15) in all cases, whereas 4D-MSPECT failed to find the basal plane in 1 case (patient B). R(2) values between paired R(15)/R(0) results were 0.992 (QGS), 0.796 (4D-MSPECT; R(2) = 0.919 in n = 59 after exclusion of the failed case), and 0.916 (CARE heart) for EDV; 0.994 (QGS), 0.852 (4D-MSPECT; R(2) = 0.906 in n = 59), and 0.899 (CARE heart) for ESV; and 0.988 (QGS), 0.814 (4D-MSPECT; R(2) = 0.810 in n = 59), and 0.746 (CARE heart) for LVEF. Concerning all levels of misreorientation, 1 patient was excluded for all algorithms because of multiple problems in contour finding; additionally for 4D-MSPECT patient B was excluded. In the 45 degrees group, QGS succeeded in 58 of 59 cases, 4D-MSPECT in 58 of 58, and CARE heart in 33 of 59. Mean absolute differences for EDV ranged from 5.1 +/- 4.1 to 12.8 +/- 10.5 mL for QGS, from 6.7 +/- 6.3 to 34.2 +/- 20.7 mL for 4D-MSPECT, and from 5.4 +/- 5.6 to 25.2 +/- 16.1 mL for CARE heart (tilts between 5 degrees and 45 degrees ). Mean absolute differences for ESV ranged from 4.1 +/- 3.7 to 8.0 +/- 9.4 mL for QGS, from 5.6 +/- 8.0 to 10.0 +/- 10.5 mL for 4D-MSPECT, and from 5.4 +/- 5.6 to 25.5 +/- 16.1 mL for CARE heart. Mean absolute differences for LVEF ranged from 1.1% +/- 1.0% to 2.2% +/- 1.8% for QGS, from 4.0% +/- 3.5% to 8.0% +/- 7.1% for 4D-MSPECT, and from 3.4% +/- 2.9% to 9.2% +/- 6.0% for CARE heart. CONCLUSION: Despite tilted heart axes, QGS showed stable results even when using tilts up to 45 degrees . 4D-MSPECT and CARE heart results varied with reorientation of the heart axis, implying that published validation results apply to correctly reoriented data only.

Comparison of intravenous and intraperitoneal [123I]IBZM injection for dopamine D2 receptor imaging in mice.

INTRODUCTION: Intraperitoneal (IP) injection represents an attractive alternative route of radiotracer administration for small animal imaging, e.g., for longitudinal studies in transgenic mouse models. We explored the cerebral kinetics of the reversible dopamine D2 receptor ligand [(123)I]IBZM after IP injection in mice. METHODS: Cerebral [(123)I]IBZM kinetics were assessed by ex vivo autoradiography in mice sacrificed between 30 and 200 min after IP or intravenous (IV) injection. The striatum-to-cerebellum (S/C) uptake ratio at 140 min was evaluated in wild-type mice and R6/2 transgenic mice (a Huntington's disease model) in comparison with in vitro autoradiography using [(3)H]raclopride. RESULTS: [(123)I]IBZM uptake was slower and lower after IP injection [maximum uptake in striatum 5.6% injected dose per gram (ID/g) at 60 min] than IV injection (10.5%ID/g at 30 min). Between 60 and 120 min, striatal (cerebellar) uptake after IP injection reached 63% (91%) of the uptake after IV injection. The S/C uptake ratio increased to 15.5 at 200 min after IP injection, which corresponds to 87% of the IV injection value (17.8). Consistent with in vitro [(3)H]raclopride autoradiography, the S/C ratio given by ex vivo [(123)I]IBZM autoradiography (140 min after IP injection) was significantly reduced in R6/2 mice. CONCLUSIONS: Although IP injection resulted in slower kinetics, relevant measures of dopamine D2 receptor availability were comparable. Thus, IP injection represents a promising route of tracer administration for small animal [(123)I]IBZM SPECT. This should considerably simplify the implementation of longitudinal small animal neuroimaging studies, e.g., in transgenic mouse models.

Cerebral kinetics of the dopamine D(2) receptor ligand [(123)I]IBZM in mice.

INTRODUCTION: In vivo small animal imaging of the dopaminergic system is of great interest for basic and applied neurosciences, especially in transgenic mice. Small animal SPECT is particularly attractive because of its superior spatial resolution and tracer availability. We investigated the kinetics of the commercial dopamine D(2) receptor (DZR) ligand [(123)I]IBZM in mice as a prerequisite for an appropriate design of translational SPECT imaging between mice and humans. METHODS: Cerebral kinetics of [(123)I]IBZM under isoflurane anaesthesia were assessed by autoradiography in mice sacrificed at 30, 60, 120 and 200 min after iv injection. To explore the possible effects of isoflurane anaesthesia, an additional mice group was only anaesthetized for 20 min before being sacrificed at 140 min (putative time of single-scan SPECT analysis). RESULTS: Maximum [(123)I]IBZM uptake in the striatum (D(2)R-rich; 10.5+/-2.7 %ID/g) and cerebellum (D(2)R-devoid; 2.4+/-0.7 %ID/g) was observed at 30 min after injection. Thereafter, [(123)I]IBZM uptake decreased slowly in striatum and rapidly in the cerebellum (200 min: 5.3+/-1.9 and 0.4+/-0.2 %ID/g, respectively). The striatum-to-cerebellum (S/C) [(123)I]IBZM uptake ratio increased from 4.6+/-1.2 at 30 min to 11.6+/-2.6 at 120 min. The S/C ratio at 200 min was highly variable (17.8+/-10.1), possibly indicating pseudo-equilibration in some animals. In mice, which were only anaesthetized between 120 and 140 min, a higher S/C ratio of 17.0+/-5.1 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that [(123)I]IBZM is a suitable ligand for D(2)R-SPECT in mice. Although a single-scan analysis may be a pragmatic semi-quantitative approach, tracer kinetic analyses on dynamic SPECT data should be pursued. The interfering effects of isoflurane anaesthesia need to be considered.

Nitric oxide detection by DAF (diaminofluorescein) fluorescence in human myometrial tissue.

Nitric oxide (NO) is considered to be involved in the modulation of uterine contractility. In the present pilot study, the direct detection of intracellular NO in pregnant human myometrial tissues has been investigated by using the fluorescent indicator 4,5-diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA). Pregnant myometrial tissue samples were obtained during Cesarean sections between week 34 and 40 of gestation before the onset of labor. Living explants were loaded with 10 microM DAF-2DA, stimulated with 1 mM arginine, subsequently fixed with glutaraldehyde and examined by fluorescence microscopy. The presence of NO synthases (NOS) was studied by immunohistochemistry. After application of DAF-2DA, DAF fluorescence was located primarily in blood vessels and to a minor extent in myometrial cells. By immunohistochemistry, strong endothelial NOS (eNOS) staining was found in vessel walls. In myometrial cells weak staining of eNOS and inducible NOS was observed. We conclude that the direct NO detection by DAF-2DA provides a new and independent method to identify sites of NO production in myometrium and other heterogeneous tissues.

Volume/perfusion ratio from lung SPECT/CT.

AIM: In pulmonary emphysema lung volume reduction procedures (LVRP) can optimize respiratory pump function. Identification of the most affected lobe can be reached using relative lobar volume (relVol) from CT, but this approach disregards the corresponding lobar perfusion. The aim of the study was therefore to establish a new parameter combining relVol from CT and relative perfusion (relPerf) from perfusion SPECT as a single parameter (volume/perfusion ratio (VPR)) to optimize the identification procedure. METHODS: As a proof of principle VPR was calculated from hybrid V-/P-SPECT/CT scans from 20 patients with severe pulmonary emphysema (SPE) before LVRP. Lung V-/P-SPECT/CT (Siemens SymbiaT) was done with Technegas and 99mTc-MAA. Quantification of lobar perfusion from scintigraphy and volume from CT was performed using "HERMES Hybrid 3D - Lung Lobe Quantification". Using normal ranges - from 12 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism and normal lung structure and perfusion - all lobes were classified as normal or abnormal to identify targets for LVRP. RESULTS: Normal values for VPR: right upper lobe 1.09 ± 0.10, middle lobe 1.31 ± 0.31, right lower lobe 0.87 ± 0.08; left upper lobe 1.09 ± 0.11, left lower lobe 0.87 ± 0.12. In the 20 SPE patients there were only 7 lobes with pathological values for rel- Vol, 14 lobes with pathological values for rel- Perf but 31 lobes with pathological VPR. CONCLUSION: Estimation of VPR from lung SPECT/CT enables a combined view of lobar volume and perfusion with one parameter. In SPE patients VPR allows identifying possible target structures with much higher sensitivity than when using relPerf or relVol alone. The specificity and the prognostic value of this new parameter have to be tested in a clinical trial.

Variable heavy-variable light domain and Fab-arm CrossMabs with charged residue exchanges to enforce correct light chain assembly.

Technologies for the production of bispecific antibodies need to overcome two major challenges. The first one is correct heavy chain assembly, which was solved by knobs-into-holes technology or charge interactions in the CH3 domains. The second challenge is correct light chain assembly. This can be solved by engineering the Fab-arm interfaces or applying the immunoglobulin domain crossover approach. There are three different crossovers possible, namely Fab-arm, constant domain and variable domain crossovers. The CrossMabCH1-CL exchange does not lead to the formation of unexpected side products, whereas the CrossMabFab and the CrossMabVH-VL formats result in the formation of typical side products. Thus, CrossMabCH1-CL was initially favored for therapeutic antibody development. Here, we report a novel improved CrossMab design principle making use of site-specific positional exchanges of charged amino acid pairs in the constant domain of these CrossMabs to enable the correct light chain assembly in the CrossMabVH-VL and improvements for the CrossMabFab design.