Physicochemical and biological characterization of 1E10 anti-idiotype vaccine.

BACKGROUND: 1E10 monoclonal antibody is a murine anti-idiotypic antibody that mimics N-glycolyl-GM3 gangliosides. This antibody has been tested as an anti-idiotypic cancer vaccine, adjuvated in Al(OH)3, in several clinical trials for melanoma, breast, and lung cancer. During early clinical development this mAb was obtained in vivo from mice ascites fluid. Currently, the production process of 1E10 is being transferred from the in vivo to a bioreactor-based method. RESULTS: Here, we present a comprehensive molecular and immunological characterization of 1E10 produced by the two different production processes in order to determine the impact of the manufacturing process in vaccine performance. We observed differences in glycosylation pattern, charge heterogeneity and structural stability between in vivo-produced 1E10 and bioreactor-obtained 1E10. Interestingly, these modifications had no significant impact on the immune responses elicited in two different animal models. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in 1E10 primary structure like glycosylation; asparagine deamidation and oxidation affected 1E10 structural stability but did not affect the immune response elicited in mice and chickens when compared to 1E10 produced in mice.

The idiotype (Id) cascade in mice elicited the production of anti-R24 Id and anti-anti-Id monoclonal antibodies with antitumor and protective activity against human melanoma.

Gangliosides have been considered as potential targets for immunotherapy because they are overexpressed on the surface of melanoma cells. However, immunization with purified gangliosides results in a very poor immune response, usually mediated by IgM antibodies. To overcome this limitation, we immunized mice with R24, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that recognizes the most tumor-restricted ganglioside (GD3); our goal was to obtain anti-idiotype (Id) antibodies bearing the internal image of GD3. Animals produced anti-Id and anti-anti-Id antibodies. Both anti-Id and anti-anti-Id antibodies were able to inhibit mAb R24 binding to GD3. In addition, the anti-anti-Id antibodies were shown to recognize GD3 directly. Anti-Id and anti-anti-Id mAb were then selected from two fusion experiments for evaluation. The most interesting finding emerged from the characterization of the anti-anti-Id mAb 5.G8. It was shown to recognize two different GD3-expressing human melanoma cell lines in vitro and to mediate tumor cell cytotoxicity by complement activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The biological activity of the anti-anti-Id mAb was also tested in a mouse tumor model, in which it was shown to be a powerful growth inhibitor of melanoma cells. Thus, activity of the anti-anti-Id mAb 5.G8 matched that of the prototypic anti-GD3 mAb R24 both in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, our results indicate that the idiotype approach might produce high affinity, specific and very efficient antitumor immune responses.

Production of house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) IgA specific anti-sera and its application in immunohistochemistry and in ELISA for detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum-specific IgA.

The IgA antibody response plays a vital role in mucosal immunity because it functions to neutralize pathogens at the mucosal surface and thus impedes attachment to underlying tissues. Although the importance of IgA in the mucosal immunity of galliform birds has been established, studies examining IgA-based immunity in passerine birds are lacking, perhaps due in part to the absence of reagents that can detect passerine IgA. A 469 base pair region of the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) IgA heavy chain was PCR-amplified from spleen cDNA and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence was found to share 55% and 46% identity with the IgA heavy chain of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and chicken (Gallus gallus), respectively. The heavy chain fragment was produced using a bacterial expression system and purified. Rabbit anti-sera were generated against the recombinant protein. The anti-sera reacted with a single house finch serum protein ( approximately 50-55kDa) in Western blot. The anti-sera were used to identify plasma cells in the Harderian gland and conjunctiva of house finches with conjunctivitis associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection. The anti-sera were also utilized in an ELISA to detect M. gallisepticum-specific IgA antibodies in lachrymal samples of infected finches.

Characterization of the antibody response against NeuGcGM3 ganglioside elicited in non-small cell lung cancer patients immunized with an anti-idiotype antibody.

1E10 mAb is an anti-Id murine mAb (Ab2 mAb) specific for an Ab1 mAb that reacts with NeuGc-containing gangliosides, sulfatides, and Ags expressed in some human tumors. In preclinical studies, this Ab2 Ab was able to mimic NeuGc-containing gangliosides only in animals lacking expression of these Ags in normal tissues. In this study, we report on the immune responses elicited in 20 non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with 1 mg of aluminum hydroxide-precipitated 1E10 mAb. In the hyperimmune sera from 16 of 20 patients, a strong specific Ab response of both IgM and IgG isotypes against NeuGcGM3 ganglioside was observed. Patient immune sera were able to induce complement-independent cell death of NeuGcGM3-expressing X63 murine myeloma target cells. Significant immunoreactivity to NeuGcGM3 was still detected after the complete abrogation of the reactivity against 1E10 mAb by the adsorption of patient sera with this Ab. We hypothesize that Id(-)Ag(+) Abs could reflect the activation of an autologous idiotypic cascade into the patients. Both Id(+)Ag(+) and Id(-)Ag(+) fractions were separated by affinity chromatography and characterized. Although IgG isotype Abs were found in both fractions, IgM isotype Abs were found only in the Id(-)Ag(+) fraction. Both Id(+)Ag(+) and Id(-)Ag(+) Abs were able to specifically recognize and induce cell death in NeuGcGM3-expressing X63 myeloma target cells. Patients that developed IgG and/or IgM Abs against NeuGcGM3 showed longer median survival times.

Generation and characterization of an anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody related to GM3(NeuGc) ganglioside.

The 14F7 monoclonal antibody (MAb), IgG1 isotype, which reacts specifically to GM3(NeuGc) ganglioside induced a specific IgG anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) response in syngeneic mice when it was administered coupled with KLH and in the presence of Freund's adjuvant. Spleen cells from these mice were used in somatic-cell hybridization experiments using the murine myeloma cell line P3-X63-Ag8 653 as fusion partner. An IgG1 Ab2 MAb was selected. This Ab2 MAb, called 4G9, was able to block the binding of 14F7 MAb to GM3(NeuGc) ganglioside and developed a strong IgG anti-anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab3) response, when injected into syngeneic mice. These Ab3 antibodies were characterized to bear 14F7 MAb idiotopes, but did not have the same specificity as 14F7 MAb. In the other hand, a very specific anti-NeuGc-containing ganglioside response was generated in chickens immunized with this Ab2 MAb, thus behaving, in this species as an "internal image" antibody.

Phase I clinical evaluation of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor.

Ior egf/r3, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) against Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) was generated at the Cuban Institute of Oncology. Immunoscintigraphic studies in 148 patients with this 99-m Technetium (99Tc) labeled mAb, showed a high sensitivity and specificity for in vivo detection of epithelial tumors. To study safety, pharmacokinetic and immunogenicity of ior egf/r3 at high doses, a phase I clinical trial was conducted. Nineteen patients with advanced epithelial tumors received 4 mAb intravenous infusions at 6 dose levels: from 50 to 500 mg. Previously, immunoscintigraphic images using the same mAb labeled with 99Tc were acquired. Blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analysis and HAMA response. After mAb therapy, objective response was classified according to WHO criteria. Ior egf/r3 was well tolerated in spite of the high-administered doses. Only a severe adverse reaction consisting of hypotension and lethargy was observed. In 13 patients, selective accumulation of 99Tc-labeled mAb was observed at the site of the primary tumor or the metastasis. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that elimination half-life and the area under the time-concentration curve increased linearly with dose. HAMA response was detected in 17 patients. After 6 months of mAb therapy, 4 patients had stable disease. One patient had a tumor partial remission after 3 cycles of ior egf/r3.

Oral tolerance induced to house dust mite extract in naive and sensitized mice: evaluation of immunoglobulin G anti-immunoglobulin E autoantibodies and IgG-IgE complexes.

We investigated the effect on specific antibody response of naive and sensitized mice orally administrated with low (0.25 mg) or high (10.0 mg) doses of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) extract. We also examined the effect of oral administration of Dp on the production of autoantibodies to immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin E (IgE). Naive and sensitized mice both showed a marked down-regulation of IgE antibody production, regardless of the dose of Dp. We also detected an inhibitory effect of the total IgE levels and the allergen-specific IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b antibody response in sensitized mice given the low dose of Dp. In contrast, high doses of Dp stimulated IgG1 antibody production in both naive and sensitized animals. In addition, the oral tolerance induction protocol stimulated anti-F(ab')2gamma and anti-Fcgamma autoantibody production. Evaluation of IgG anti-IgE autoantibodies by a direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) revealed the presence of these autoantibodies, predominantly of the IgG1 isotype, specifically in those animals fed with the high dose. In contrast, IgG-IgE complexes, determined by EIA using immobilized anti-IgE antibodies, were detected mainly in sera of control animals. The autoantibody anti-IgE specificity was tested against IgE-TNP and IgE-DANSYL murine proteins and revealed different inhibition profiles, suggesting the action of heterogeneous subpopulations of autoantibodies. Taken together, our results show that the oral tolerance protocol with Dp was able to modulate the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies in both naive and sensitized animals. In addition, we suggest that anti-IgE autoantibodies participate in the modulation of allergic response triggered by oral tolerance protocols.

[The experimental induction of rheumatoid factors of low affinity and cross reactivity with nonhistone nucleoproteins by means of anti-idiotypes directed at rheumatoid factors of high affinity and cross reactivity with histones H1 and H2b]. / Inducción experimental de factores reumatoides de baja afinidad y reactividad cruzada con nucleoproteinas no histonas mediante anti-idiotipos dirigidos a factores reumatoides de alta afinidad y reactividad cruzada con histonas H1 y H2b.

The study of the anti-nuclear cross reactivity of rheumatoid factors has shown differences between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy seropositive subjects. This paper describes the finding, of a subpopulation of rheumatoid factor molecules which show a cross reactive idiotype and show high affinity for IgG and cross reactivity against histones in rheumatoid arthritis patients but not in healthy subjects. These molecules, in turn, were able to induce, experimentally, heterogeneous rheumatoid factor molecules that show a low affinity for IgG and cross-reactivity against nucleoproteins other than histones, most likely through idiotypic networks. The mechanism could be responsible for the diversification of serum autoantibodies found in rheumatoid arthritis.

Interaction of rheumatoid factor and Entamoeba histolytica

Testes para citotoxicidade e lise amebiana foram utilizados para deminstrar uma possível interaçäo entre o fator reumatóide e a Entamoeba histolytica. A atividade citotóxica amebiana foi inibida pela IgG antiameba de coelho purificada através de cromatografia. Constatou-se inibiçäo aumentada com IgG antiameba de coelho mais fator reumatóide. A mesma inibiçäo acentuada da atividade citotóxica amebiana pôde ser constatada quando se substituiu o fator reumatóide por sor humano normal, inativado pelo calor, como controle. Cerca de 50% de lise amebiana ocorreu quando as amebas foram misturadas com soro normal humano como fonte de complemento. A lise amebiana aumentou para 60% quando incubadas com soro humano normal, acrescido de anticorpos humanos antiameba. Nenum aumento adicional pode ser obtido pela adiçäo de fator reumatóide. Usando IgG antiameba de coelho em vez de anticorpos humanos, a proporçäo de lise näo aumentou. A incubaçäo de amebas com soro humano normal, IgG antiameba de coelho e fator reumatóide reduziu acentuadamente a lise amebiana. O fator reumatóide näo teve efeito na atividade citotóxica amebiana, nem na lise amebiana mediada pelo complemento in vitro

Interaction of rheumatoid factor and Entamoeba histolytica.

The amoebae's cytotoxicity test and the amoebae's lysis test were used to show possible interactions between rheumatoid factor (RF) and Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebae's cytotoxic activity (ACA) was inhibited by affinity chromatography purified antiamoebae rabbit IgG (RIgG). Enhanced inhibition could be demonstrated with RIgG plus RF. But the same marked inhibition of ACA could be seen when replacing RF by heat inactivated normal human serum as a control. About 50% amoebae's lysis occurred when amoebae were brought together with native normal human serum (NNHS) as a source of complement. Amoebae's lysis increased to 60% when incubated with NHS plus human antiamoebae antibodies. No further augmentation could be obtained by the addition of RF. Using RIgG instead of human antibodies the lysis rate did not increase. Incubation of amoebae, NNHS, RIgG and RF even reduced amoebae's lysis. RF neither has an effect on ACA nor on complement mediated AL in vitro.

Immune responses during human schistosomiasis mansoni. XVI. Idiotypic differences in antibody preparations from patients with different clinical forms of infection.

Antibodies were purified from pooled sera from patients with different clinical forms of schistosomiasis mansoni on immunoaffinity columns of schistosome soluble egg Ag (SEA). As previously reported, T lymphocytes in PBMC preparations from schistosomiasis patients (but not control subjects who have never been infected) proliferate when cultured in the presence of certain of these anti-SEA purified antibodies. We now show that PBMC from most patients with chronic schistosomiasis, regardless of the clinical form of their infection, respond to anti-SEA antibodies from sera of asymptomatic (intestinal) or hepatointestinal patients. In stark contrast, none responds to anti-SEA antibodies purified from sera of acute or hepatosplenic patients. All of these multiclonal anti-SEA antibody preparations were active in anti-SEA ELISA assays and gave comparable patterns of reactivity with SEA upon immunoblotting analysis. Immunization of rabbits with some of these anti-SEA antibody preparations, followed by absorption of the rabbit antisera on absorbents of normal Ig, produced specific anti-Id reagents. Use of these reagents in competitive ELISA systems demonstrated that the Id in stimulatory and nonstimulatory anti-SEA antibody preparations differ with regard to the proportion of the serologically defined Id expressed by each. It appears possible to screen patients' plasmas for the presence of shared Id by use of suitable Id/anti-Id competitive ELISA assays. Taken together these data indicate that only certain Id-positive preparations are stimulatory to patients' PBMC, and the expression of these T cell stimulatory, immunoregulatory Id on anti-SEA antibodies correlates with the clinical form of a patient's infection.

Immune responses during human schistosomiasis mansoni. XV. Anti-idiotypic T cells can recognize and respond to anti-SEA idiotypes directly.

We previously have shown that former patients and patients with active cases of schistosomiasis mansoni have T lymphocytes in their PBMC that proliferate when exposed to immunoaffinity-purified antibodies against Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigens (SEA). These T cell anti-idiotypic responses required the participation of adherent cells, but the role of these cells in the response to the Id has been unclear. We now show that chloroquine does not interfere with Id-elicited stimulation of cells from former patients but completely inhibits their response to the SEA. F(ab')2 fragments of anti-SEA Id are stimulatory, and excess normal human IgG does not alter anti-Id responses. Soluble Id F(ab) fragments are not stimulatory, but rather inhibit stimulation by the intact Id from which they were made. Either intact Id or their F(ab')2 fragments can stimulate non-adherent T cells in the absence of adherent cells if an exogenous source of purified or recombinant human IL-1 is supplied. Nonstimulatory F(ab) fragments can stimulate nonadherent cells if they are bound first to Sepharose 4B and presented in conjunction with IL-1. Thus, T cells from former schistosomiasis patients can react with polyclonal anti-SEA-related Id directly. Under these conditions T cell proliferation requires receptor cross-linking and a source of IL-1 but does not require either "processing" of Id or MHC co-presentation.

Accelerated elimination of N. brasiliensis from the small intestine after auto-anti-IgE induction.

Immunization of rats with a purified IgE myeloma (IR2) induced an auto-anti-IgE response. Such treatment inhibited total IgE levels in the serum of conventional IgE-producing rats (Marshall & Bell, 1985) and increased the number of mucosal mast cells (MMC) in the intestine. The present study has investigated the ability of auto-anti-IgE induction to influence the course of a Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection, to modify IgE synthesis, or to affect the number of MMC in the intestine following infection. Auto-anti-IgE induction was found to have a surprising effect on worm elimination. IR2-immunized rats were able to rid themselves of this nematode with an accelerated tempo--a small but significant effect after primary infection, but a substantial enhancement of worm loss after reinfection. Auto-anti-IgE induction was not able to prevent the typical increase in IgE that accompanies an N. brasiliensis infection, nor did it alter the helminth-induced intestinal mastocytosis. When MMC degranulation was measured by assaying the serum levels of a specific rat mast protease (RMCP II) following secondary infection, the amount of RMCP II released was less in auto-anti-IgE-producing rats. These findings have implications for the importance of IgE, MMC and other cells of inflammation in an anti-parasitic response.