Pr1E11, a novel anti-TROP-2 antibody isolated by adenovirus-based antibody screening, recognizes a unique epitope.

TROP-2 is a type Ⅰ transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in various epithelial cancer cells, and its increased expression correlates with poor prognosis. Although several anti-TROP-2 antibodies have been described, they were found unsuitable for antitumor therapy use in vivo as naked antibodies. In this study, we established a novel anti-TROP-2 antibody, designated Pr1E11, from mice immunized with primary prostate cancer cells. Antibody screening was based on the infection activity of Adv-LacZ-FZ33, which displays an immunoglobulin G binding domain in the adenoviral fiber protein. We found that Pr1E11 specifically binds to TROP-2 with high affinity and recognizes diverse epithelial cancer cell lines and primary pancreatic cancer tissues. Epitope analysis using TROP-2 deletion mutants revealed that binding site of Pr1E11 is a cysteine-rich domain, a unique epitope compared with other available anti-TROP-2 antibodies. In addition, Pr1E11 exhibited low internalization activity, which may make it suitable for naked antibody therapeutics. Our results suggest that Pr1E11 may stimulate different biological activities from other anti-TROP-2 antibodies based on its unique binding epitope, and is a potential candidate for naked antibody therapeutics for various epithelial cancer treatments.

Five-sixth Nephrectomy in Female Common Marmosets(Callithrix jacchus) as a Chronic Renal Failure Model: -A Longitudinal Course of Serum Biochemical, Hematological and Histopathological Changes-.

To assess the relevance and availability of subtotal nephrectomized common marmoset monkeys as a chronic renal failure (CRF) model, we observed for 26 weeks the pathophysiological condition of female marmosets subjected to five-sixth surgical nephrectomy (5/6Nx) by a two-step surgical method. The 5/6Nx marmosets showed a significant increase in serum levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine and cystatin-C immediately after 5/6Nx surgery. These renal disorder parameters subsequently tended to decrease with the passage of time but remained higher than the control levels by the end of the study. Hyperplastic parathyroid glands, a high turnover state of osteodystrophy in the femoral bone with higher serum ALP activity and anemia with hypocellularity of bone marrow were evident. The 5/6Nx marmosets showed a stable CRF condition for a long time and some characteristic disorders similar to those observed in CRF patients. These diagnostic aspects might be a species-specific anatomical and physiological signature, reflecting the nutritional condition. The CRF model using 5/6Nx marmosets might become a useful method of evaluating the unique mechanism of CRF development.

Spontaneous Malignant T Cell Lymphoma in a Young Male Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

We histopathologically and immunohistochemically investigated a case of malignant lymphoma that spontaneously developed in a male common marmoset at two years of age. Beginning at two years four months of age, the animal had an enlargement of the submandibular and inguinal lymph nodes, small subcutaneous nodules near the right breast and an approximately fivefold increase in peripheral lymphocyte count compared with the previous examination value. The postmortem findings at two years eight months of age showed lymphadenopathy with enlargement of the thymus and spleen. Small- to intermediate-sized neoplastic lymphocytes had diffusely proliferated in the enlarged nodes. The neoplastic cells were pleomorphic and had irregularly shaped nuclei. The nuclear chromatin staining revealed hyperchromatism in the small-sized cells, and the intermediate-sized cells exhibited vesicular staining. An immunohistochemical examination indicated that the neoplastic lymphocytes were positive for CD3 and negative for CD20, thus suggesting that they had originated from T cells. In addition, the proliferation of high endothelial venules and reactive epithelioid histiocytes was observed. Scattered tingible body-laden macrophages were infrequently detected. Neoplastic lymphocytes were also observed in the thymus, spleen, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands and femoral and sternal bone marrow. This malignant lymphoma in a young male common marmoset was considered to fit the category of "peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS)" according to the new WHO system of classification.

Spontaneous Adenosquamous Carcinoma with Rapid Growth and EMT-like Changes in the Mammary Gland of a Young Adult Female BALB/c Mouse.

This study histopathologically and immunohistochemically investigated a spontaneously occurring single mass subcutaneously located in the left lower abdomen of a female BALB/cAJcl-nu/+ mouse at 10 weeks of age. The mass was about 20 × 15 × 10 mm in size after formalin fixation; nevertheless, it was not detected by clinical observations at 9 weeks of age. H&E staining revealed the tumor origin was epithelial and probably arose from the mammary gland, and the tumor cells demonstrated a squamous, acinar or polyhedral/basal pattern. A cell kinetics analysis revealed that many of the tumor cells of the squamous, acinar or polyhedral/basal component were positive for PCNA and cyclin D1, although there were a few of TUNEL-positive tumor cells in all of the components. An epithelial/mesenchymal analysis demonstrated that most of the tumor cells of the squamous and acinar components contained keratin and E-cadherin; however, most of the tumor cells of the polyhedral/basal component were less or very weakly positive for these markers. The tumor cells of the squamous component were negative for vimentin and SMA; however, many of the tumor cells of the polyhedral/basal component exhibited vimentin. In addition, expression of SMA was confirmed in some tumor cells of the acinar and basal components. Based on the microscopic and immunohistochemical characterizations, the tumor was diagnosed to be adenosquamous carcinoma that originated from the mammary gland with rapid growth, and the tumor cells demonstrated epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like changes.

Critical role of renal dipeptidyl peptidase-4 in ameliorating kidney injury induced by saxagliptin in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats.

Saxagliptin, a potent dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, is currently used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, and it has been reported to exhibit a slower rate of dissociation from DPP-4 compared with another DPP-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin. In this study, we compared the effects of saxagliptin and sitagliptin on hypertension-related renal injury and the plasma and renal DPP-4 activity levels in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive (Dahl-S) rats. The high-salt diet (8% NaCl) significantly increased the blood pressure and quantity of urinary albumin excretion and induced renal glomerular injury in the Dahl-S rats. Treatment with saxagliptin (14mg/kg/day via drinking water) for 4 weeks significantly suppressed the increase in urinary albumin excretion and tended to ameliorate glomerular injury without altering the blood glucose levels and systolic blood pressure. On the other hand, the administration of sitagliptin (140mg/kg/day via drinking water) did not affect urinary albumin excretion and glomerular injury in the Dahl-S rats. Meanwhile, the high-salt diet increased the renal DPP-4 activity but did not affect the plasma DPP-4 activity in the Dahl-S rats. Both saxagliptin and sitagliptin suppressed the plasma DPP-4 activity by 95% or more. Although the renal DPP-4 activity was also inhibited by both drugs, the inhibitory effect of saxagliptin was more potent than that of sitagliptin. These results indicate that saxagliptin has a potent renoprotective effect in the Dahl-S rats, independent of its glucose-lowering actions. The inhibition of the renal DPP-4 activity induced by saxagliptin may contribute to ameliorating renal injury in hypertension-related renal injury.

Histopathological characterization of renal tubular and interstitial changes in 5/6 nephrectomized marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus).

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) have become a useful animal model, particularly for development of biopharmaceuticals. While various renal failure models have been established in rodents, there is currently no acceptable model in marmosets. We analyzed the damaged renal tubules and tubulointerstitial changes (inflammation and fibrosis) of 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) common marmosets by histopathological/immunohistochemical methods, and compared these findings to those in 5/6 Nx SD rats. In Nx marmosets and rats sacrificed at 5 and 13 weeks after Nx, variously dilated and atrophied renal tubules were seen in the cortex in common; however, the epithelial proliferating activity was much less in Nx marmosets. Furthermore, the degrees of inflammation and fibrosis seen in the affected cortex were more severe and massive in Nx marmosets with time-dependent increase. Interestingly, inflammation in Nx marmosets, of which degree was less in Nx rats, consisted of a large number of CD3-positive T cells and CD20-positive B cells (occasionally forming follicles), and a few CD68-positive macrophages. Based on these findings, lymphocytes might contribute to the progressive renal lesions in Nx marmosets. Fibrotic areas in Nx marmosets comprised myofibroblasts expressing vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), whereas along with vimentin and α-SMA expressions, desmin was expressed in myofibroblasts in Nx rats. This study shows that there are some differences in renal lesions induced by Nx between marmosets and rats, which would provide useful, base-line information for pharmacology and toxicology studies using Nx marmosets.

Evaluation of a fully human monoclonal antibody against multiple influenza A viral strains in mice and a pandemic H1N1 strain in nonhuman primates.

Influenza virus is a global health concern due to its unpredictable pandemic potential. Frequent mutations of surface molecules, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), contribute to low efficacy of the annual flu vaccine and therapeutic resistance to standard antiviral agents. The populations at high risk of influenza virus infection, such as the elderly and infants, generally mount low immune responses to vaccines, and develop severe disease after infection. Novel therapeutics with high effectiveness and mutation resistance are needed. Previously, we described the generation of a fully human influenza virus matrix protein 2 (M2) specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), Z3G1, which recognized the majority of M2 variants from natural viral isolates, including highly pathogenic avian strains. Passive immunotherapy with Z3G1 significantly protected mice from the infection when administered either prophylactically or 1-2days post infection. In the present study, we showed that Z3G1 significantly protected mice from lethal infection when treatment was initiated 3days post infection. In addition, therapeutic administration of Z3G1 reduced lung viral titers in mice infected with different viral strains, including amantadine and oseltamivir-resistant strains. Furthermore, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of Z3G1 sustained O2 saturation and reduced lung pathology in monkeys infected with a pandemic H1N1 strain. Finally, de-fucosylated Z3G1 with an IgG1/IgG3 chimeric Fc region was generated (AccretaMab® Z3G1), and showed increased ADCC and CDC in vitro. Our data suggest that the anti-M2 mAb Z3G1 has great potential as a novel anti-flu therapeutic agent.

Differential renal glomerular changes induced by 5/6 nephrectomization between common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) and rats.

We have been investigating the relevance and availability of 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) as a chronic renal failure model. As a part of this investigation, renal glomerular changes in the Nx marmosets were histopathologically and immunohistochemically evaluated, and then compared with those in 5/6 Nx SD rats. In the Nx marmosets, the blood and urine parameters were elevated, excluding urine protein; histopathologically, enlargement of Bowman's capsule and atrophy of the glomeruli were observed in all animals, and other slight changes were also observed in 1 or 2 marmosets. There were no significant changes in the mesangial matrix injury score, vimentin and desmin positivity or the number of WT1 positive cells between the control and Nx marmoset groups. On the other hand, in the Nx rats, the blood and urine parameters were elevated; histopathologically, various changes were observed in the glomeruli, and the mesangial matrix injury score, vimentin and desmin positivity were increased, while the number of WT1 positive cells was decreased; these histopathological impacts on the renal glomerulus at 13 weeks after Nx in rats were more severe than that in the Nx marmosets. Because the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) was much thicker in the marmosets than in the rats in electron microscopy, the weaker pathological changes in the Nx marmosets might be due to the GBM thickness. This study showed for the first time glomerular lesions developed in the Nx marmosets, and the possible pathogenesis of the glomerular lesions was discussed.