Novel anti-GARP antibody DS-1055a augments anti-tumor immunity by depleting highly suppressive GARP+ regulatory T cells.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells, which are essential for maintaining self-tolerance, inhibit anti-tumor immunity, consequently hindering protective cancer immunosurveillance, and hampering effective anti-tumor immune responses in tumor-bearing hosts. Here, we show that depletion of Treg cells via targeting glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP) induces effective anti-tumor immune responses. GARP was specifically expressed by highly suppressive Treg cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of multiple cancer types in humans. In the periphery, GARP was selectively induced in Treg cells, but not in effector T cells, by polyclonal stimulation. DS-1055a, a novel afucosylated anti-human GARP monoclonal antibody, efficiently depleted GARP+ Treg cells, leading to the activation of effector T cells. Moreover, DS-1055a decreased FoxP3+CD4+ T cells in the TME and exhibited remarkable anti-tumor activity in humanized mice bearing HT-29 tumors. We propose that DS-1055a is a new Treg-cell-targeted cancer immunotherapy agent with augmentation of anti-tumor immunity.

Ogipeptins, novel inhibitors of LPS: physicochemical properties and structural elucidation.

In the course of our screening program for inhibitors of lipopolysaccharide binding to cellular receptor CD14, a potent inhibitory activity was detected in the cultured broth of Pseudoalteromonas sp. SANK 71903. Four active compounds, ogipeptins A, B, C and D, were isolated from the cultured broth. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by physicochemical data and spectral analyses, and they were determined to be new cyclic lipopeptides.

Identification and biological activity of ogipeptins, novel LPS inhibitors produced by marine bacterium.

A library of secondary metabolites from microorganisms was screened to identify novel inhibitors against lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a strong stimulant of innate immunity. Novel cyclic peptides, ogipeptin A, B, C and D, were identified in the culture broth of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. SANK 71903. These compounds blocked LPS binding to the cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) in vitro with IC50 values of 4.8, 6.0, 4.1 and 5.6 nm, respectively, and attenuated tumor necrosis factor-α secretion from LPS-stimulated macrophage-like cells. These compounds also displayed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.25 µg ml-1 to 1 µg ml-1. Thus, novel antibiotics that inhibited LPS-induced innate immune reactions were identified in this study.

Screening and biological activities of pedopeptins, novel inhibitors of LPS produced by soil bacteria.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a strong endotoxin and is delivered to the cell surface signaling receptor, Toll-like receptor 4 and MD-2 complex, via soluble cluster of differentiation (CD) 14 or membranous CD14, resulting in the induction of the inflammatory response. To obtain new compounds that block LPS binding to CD14, we designed a high-throughput screening based on time-resolved intermolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer. This cell-free screening system successfully led to the discovery of novel inhibitors of LPS-CD14 interaction from the library of the secondary metabolites of microorganisms. We identified the novel compounds pedopeptin A, B and C from a culture broth of Pedobacter sp. SANK 72003. Pedopeptins blocked LPS binding to CD14 in vitro with IC50 values of 20, 11 and 47 nM, respectively, and also inhibited LPS binding to the cells expressing CD14, leading to the suppression of cytokine production. Moreover, they showed antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli with minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 2 to 4 µg ml(-1).

Pedopeptins, novel inhibitors of LPS: taxonomy of producing organism, fermentation, isolation, physicochemical properties and structural elucidation.

In the course of our screening for inhibitors of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding to cellular receptor CD14, potent inhibitory activity was detected in the cultured broth of Pedobacter sp. SANK 72003. Three active compounds, pedopeptin A, B and C, were isolated from the broth and their structures were elucidated by physicochemical and spectral data to be new cyclic depsipeptides.

Haplofungins, novel inositol phosphorylceramide synthase inhibitors, from Lauriomyces bellulus SANK 26899 I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activities.

In the course of screening for antifungal agents, we have discovered eight novel compounds, haplofungin A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, from a culture broth of the fungus strain Lauriomyces bellulus SANK 26899. Haplofungins are composed of an arabinonic acid moiety linked through an ester to a modified long alkyl chain and show potent inhibitory activities against fungal inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) synthase. Haplofungin A inhibited the activity of IPC synthase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae with an IC(50) value of 0.0015 microg ml(-1). This inhibitor also suppressed the growth of Candida glabrata at the MIC value of 0.5 microg ml(-1).

Pleofungins, novel inositol phosphorylceramide synthase inhibitors, from Phoma sp. SANK 13899. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, and biological activities.

In the course of a screening for inositol phosphorylceramide (IPC) synthase inhibitors, the novel inhibitors pleofungins A, B, C, and D were found in a mycelial extract of a fungus, Phoma sp. SANK13899. Purification was performed by 50% methanol and ethyl acetate extraction, reversed phase open-column chromatography, and HPLC separations. Pleofungin A inhibited the IPC synthase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus fumigatus at IC(50) values of 16 and 1.0 ng/ml, respectively. The inhibitor also suppressed the growth of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and A. fumigatus at MIC values of 2.0, 0.3, and 0.5 mug/ml, respectively. These biological properties indicate that pleofungins belong to a novel class of IPC synthase inhibitors efficacious against A. fumigatus.

Pleofungins, novel inositol phosphorylceramide synthase inhibitors, from Phoma sp. SANK 13899. II. Structural elucidation.

Pleofungins (formerly called F-15078) A, B, C and D, novel depsipeptide antifungal antibiotics, were found in a mycelium extract of the producing fungus, Phoma sp. SANK 13899. The structures of pleofungins A, B, C and D were elucidated mainly by various NMR studies. The absolute configurations of the amino acids and N-methyl amino acids of pleofungin A constituents in the hydrolysate were determined by the application of advanced Marfey's method in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of their silylation products with N-methyl-N-(tert-butylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. Two alpha-hydroxy acid constituents, alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid and alpha-hydroxyisovaleric acid, were isolated from the hydrolysate and their stereochemistries were determined by their specific rotations.