Molecular characterization of human anti-hinge antibodies derived from single-cell cloning of normal human B cells.

Anti-hinge antibodies (AHAs) are an autoantibody subclass that, following proteolytic cleavage, recognize cryptic epitopes exposed in the hinge regions of immunoglobulins (Igs) and do not bind to the intact Ig counterpart. AHAs have been postulated to exacerbate chronic inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. On the other hand, AHAs may protect against invasive microbial pathogens and cancer. However, despite more than 50 years of study, the origin and specific B cell compartments that express AHAs remain elusive. Recent research on serum AHAs suggests that they arise during an active immune response, in contrast to previous proposals that they derive from the preexisting immune repertoire in the absence of antigenic stimuli. We report here the isolation and characterization of AHAs from memory B cells, although anti-hinge-reactive B cells were also detected in the naive B cell compartment. IgG AHAs cloned from a single human donor exhibited restricted specificity for protease-cleaved F(ab')2 fragments and did not bind the intact IgG counterpart. The cloned IgG-specific AHA-variable regions were mutated from germ line-derived sequences and displayed a high sequence variability, confirming that these AHAs underwent class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. Consistent with previous studies of serum AHAs, several of these clones recognized a linear, peptide-like epitope, but one clone was unique in recognizing a conformational epitope. All cloned AHAs could restore immune effector functions to proteolytically generated F(ab')2 fragments. Our results confirm that a diverse set of epitope-specific AHAs can be isolated from a single human donor.

In vivo antigen-driven plasmablast enrichment in combination with antigen-specific cell sorting to facilitate the isolation of rare monoclonal antibodies from human B cells.

The ability to rapidly generate large panels of antigen-specific human antibodies in a rodent would enable the efficient discovery of novel therapeutically useful antibodies. We have developed a system wherein human antigen-specific antibody-secreting plasmablasts can be enriched in vivo, in a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)/beige mouse host. The antigen-specific plasmablasts can then be sorted by flow cytometry, enabling single-cell cloning and expression of fully human immunoglobulin-G. By using this technique, we have generated four broadly reactive anti-influenza A antibodies. Therefore, the method described here is useful for the identification of rare functional antibodies. This protocol takes ∼1 month to complete, from the time of human vaccination to the cloning of heavy- and light-chain genes. For additional small-scale transient expression, purification and binding analysis, the protocol would take an additional month.

Development and preclinical characterization of a humanized antibody targeting CXCL12.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to develop a potent humanized antibody against mouse/human CXCL12. This report summarized its in vitro and in vivo activities. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cell surface binding and cell migration assays were used to select neutralizing hamster antibodies, followed by testing in several animal models. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 30D8 was selected for humanization based on its in vitro and in vivo activities. RESULTS: 30D8, a hamster antibody against mouse and human CXCL12α, CXCL12ß, and CXCL12γ, was shown to dose-dependently block CXCL12α binding to CXCR4 and CXCR7, and CXCL12α-induced Jurkat cell migration in vitro. Inhibition of primary tumor growth and/or metastasis was observed in several models. 30D8 alone significantly ameliorated arthritis in a mouse collagen-induced arthritis model (CIA). Combination with a TNF-α antagonist was additive. In addition, 30D8 inhibited 50% of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. Humanized 30D8 (hu30D8) showed similar in vitro and in vivo activities as the parental hamster antibody. A crystal structure of the hu30D8 Fab/CXCL12α complex in combination with mutational analysis revealed a "hot spot" around residues Asn(44)/Asn(45) of CXCL12α and part of the RFFESH region required for CXCL12α binding to CXCR4 and CXCR7. Finally, hu30D8 exhibited fast clearance in cynomolgus monkeys but not in rats. CONCLUSION: CXCL12 is an attractive target for treatment of cancer and inflammation-related diseases; hu30D8 is suitable for testing this hypothesis in humans.