Analytical control procedures of immunoreactivity for IgG and Fab fragments specific to haptens.

This study investigates immunoreactivity control procedures, i.e., specificity, affinity constant (Ka), and specific active binding sites (SABS), for polyclonal anticolchicine, monoclonal antidigitoxin IgG and Fab fragments, and antidigoxin Fab fragments (Digidot). Preliminary control procedures for IgG and Fab fragment purity indicated that all reagents were immunologically pure. All IgG and Fab fragments exhibited similar cross-reactivity and Ka. No decrease in percentage of Fab fragment SABS was observed after papain cleavage of anticolchicine and antidigitoxin IgG. Nevertheless, only 4.3 +/- 1.2% of nonimmunopurified anticolchicine polyclonal Fab fragments and 76.2 +/- 2.3 to 88.7 +/- 2.5% of different batches of immunopurified anti-digoxin Fab (Digidot) were active, the latter percentage being in the range of the 85% specified by the manufacturer. Only 58 +/- 3% of digitoxin-specific monoclonal IgG was active and 67 +/- 7% of its Fab fragments. Results show the importance of determining the ratio of SABS to presumed total specific binding sites for pharmaceutical monoclonal and polyclonal antibody preparations against haptens.

Evaluation of transforming activity of cellular DNAs from different origins by NIH3T3 transfection test.

The NIH3T3 cell transfection test, as first described by Cooper, has been optimized, then used to examine the transforming activity of genomic DNA extracted from eucaryotic cell lines commonly used for preparing vaccines or biopharmaceuticals. Accurate assessment of technical parameters of the test has led to improvement in reproducibility, while the demonstration of dose-effect relationships has allowed the definition of applications and limits for quantitative use. We have performed the direct assessment of transforming activity of cellular DNAs from cell lines widely used in biotechnology. In particular, we have shown that genomic DNA extracted from Vero, CHO or MRC5 cells, as well as from human or murine lymphoid cells, has no detectable transforming activity on NIH3T3 cells. Lastly, it has been demonstrated that acidic pH conditions are sufficient to destroy the major part--if not all--of the transforming activity of positive control DNAs.

Use of sulfonation method to determine DNA contamination of cell cultured monoclonal antibodies produced for human therapeutics.

In the past few years, culture of transformed mammalian cells has been widely used to produce natural or recombinant molecules, as monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and cytokines. For therapeutic use, the cellular DNA level must be determined. A number of techniques have been developed to measure the DNA content, based on sequential extraction blotting and hybridization with a labeled DNA probe. The sulphonate marker has been recently introduced by PBS-Orgenics; it allows the determination of picograms (pg) quantities of purified DNA. However, it is not simple to measure in complex biological samples especially when a large amount of protein is present. In considering the following points: 1. Precautions in handling the samples at different steps of preparation; 2. Modifications of the original technique 3. Concentration of samples expected at very low level, we are able to dose up to 2 pg of contaminant DNA per mg of MAb with a satisfactory reproducibility and reliability. This level is required not only to qualify final MAb but also to evaluate the efficiency of the purification process. Efforts are being made to achieve a better sensitivity.

Immunopharmacological activity of monoclonal antidigitoxin.

A monoclonal antibody specific to digitoxin was developed and Fab fragments were prepared using the conventional papain method. The affinity constant was determined as 10(9)M-1 and the cross reactivity with digoxin was 2%. The Fab fragments were used for the reversal of acute digitoxin poisoning in rabbits (100% mortality). Fab fragments were administered over a 40 or 80 minute period just after digitoxin infusion. Rabbits treated with specific Fab fragments were protected by a bistoichiometrical dose. Evaluation of plasma digitoxin confirmed that the specific Fab fragments were able to extract and sequestrate digitoxin. The digitoxin-Fab fragment complexes were removed by renal excretion. Our data provide evidence of the benefit of monoclonal Fab fragments specific for digitoxin for the reversal of acute digitoxin poisoning.

Polyclonal rabbit gamma globulins against a human cytotoxic CD4 T cell clone. II. Use in prevention of rejection in kidney transplantation: a pilot study.

Antiblast globulins (GAB) were prepared by immunization of rabbits with activated T lymphocytes (AT) derived from a rejected kidney allograft. AT consisted of a CD4+ (CD3+, CD2+ TCR alpha+ beta+) clone cytotoxic for HLA DR8-positive targets. The immunizing cells were adapted to industrial growth conditions by repetitive stimulations with an EBV-transformed line from the kidney donor and recombinant IL-2. In the pilot study, GAB (1.0-1.5 mg/kg/day) was given in 12-hr infusions, in association with prednisone (Pred) 1 mg/kg/day and azathioprine (Aza) 2 mg/kg/day, as prophylactic treatment of rejection in 12 kidney-transplanted patients during the first 2 weeks postgrafting. GAB dosage was further adapted according to the level of circulating E-rosette-forming T cells (ERFT). Cyclosporine A (8 mg/kg/day) was given at day 14 as a monotherapy after Pred and Aza were progressively tapered. No patient died, but one kidney was lost from surgical complication. No rejection occurred under GAB treatment; 41% of patients had at least one episode in the first 3 months and 16% from 3 to 9 months. GAB side effects were minor (skin rash: 2, low grade fever: 4) except for one acute serum sickness. Platelet and white blood cell counts were unchanged, but there was a significant decrease in hemoglobin during the 2 weeks of GAB infusions. Few infectious episodes occurred (3 bacterial, 2 viral). GAB monitoring showed a dramatic drop in T11+, T3+, T4+, and T8+ circulating T cells (less than 10% of normal values between days 3 and 14), whereas EFRT cells had a delayed and somewhat lower decrease (less than 10% after day 6 only). Consequently, mean GAB doses had to be raised to 1.3 mg/kg/day at day 4 and 1.6 at days 8 and 14. This pilot study suggests that this new bioreagent should be of major interest in the prophylaxis and treatment of rejection in allograft recipients. A controlled study is in progress.

Polyclonal rabbit gamma globulins against a human cytotoxic CD4+ T cell clone. I. Clone characteristics and antiblast globulin preparation.

Antihuman lymphocyte rabbit (or horse) gamma globulins used in recipients of organ transplantation are prepared against thymocytes or immortalized cell lines, the only two sources so far allowing enough antigen preparation. These cells lack, however, the surface determinants characteristic of alloreactive blasts involved in the rejection process. We have derived long-term cultures of a panel of alloreactive (untransformed) clones from a rejected kidney. Among them, clone 1E7 has been chosen as a cytotoxic CD4+ (CD2+ CD3+ TCR alpha beta+) clone proliferating against HLA-DR8 targets. This clone (clonality assessed on T cell receptor genomic rearrangements) has been grown using weekly stimulations with the kidney donor-derived EBV cell line and recombinant IL-2. Clone cultures have been adapted to mass production after optimization of culture conditions satisfying pharmaceutical requirements. This procedure warranted a reproducible source of antigen since the functional and phenotypic characteristics of the immunizing 1E7 cells remained identical through the life span of the culture. In addition, the study of the total growth capacity of 1E7 cells showed consistent expansion until the 40th cell cycle, ensuring a progeny that will satisfy the large-scale requirement for a clinical trial. Rabbits were injected with 100 x 10(6) 1E7 cells (21, 14, and 7 days before bleeding). Sera were depleted of agglutinin by red blood cell absorption and globulin antiblast (GAB) prepared by SO4Na precipitation and ion exchange chromatography; 50% complement-mediated target cell lysis and 50% inhibition of E rosette formation and alloproliferation were obtained at GAB dilutions of about 1:250-1:500. Prescreened on cynomolgus monkeys, GAB could significantly prolong skin grafts when given prophylactically. Finally GAB have been used in human recipients of kidney grafts for prophylaxis of early rejection. Results of this pilot study are given in a separate report in this issue. In conclusion we have, for the first time, set up a large-scale preparation of polyclonal globulin against a normal human alloreactive clone, and this new reagent should present several advantages over classic antilymphocyte or antithymocyte sera because it contains specificities against activation antigens and has less crossreactivity variation among batches.

A preliminary trial of vaccinia oncolysates in the treatment of recurrent melanoma with serologic responses to the treatment.

A preliminary trial was designed as a toxicity/feasibility study using a fixed dose of vaccinia melanoma oncolysates (VMO) to treat recurrent stage II and stage III (skin, subcutaneous, and nodal metastases only) melanoma. There were no adverse consequences of the therapy, and 4 of the 12 patients treated seemed to have responded to the treatment by the criteria of the study. Sera from the six patients with the longest survival showed immunoreactivity to human melanoma lines in a Staphylococcus protein A assay (SpA) after 3 months of therapy. While the specificity of this immunoreactivity remains to be determined, the discovery of posttreatment serologic activity in a SpA assay permits investigation of the degree of VMO immunostimulation at different dose levels of the biologic. This assay may provide the means to quantitate optimal biologic dose for future melanoma oncolysate trials. The Southeastern Cancer Study Group is now conducting a phase I/II trial with these vaccinia melanoma oncolysates using the SpA assay to monitor this trial.