High-Throughput Generation of Bipod (Fab × scFv) Bispecific Antibodies Exploits Differential Chain Expression and Affinity Capture.

Generation of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) having two unique Fab domains requires heterodimerization of the two heavy chains and pairing of each heavy chain with its cognate light chain. An alternative bispecific scaffold (Bipod) comprising an scFv and a Fab on a heterodimeric Fc eliminates the possibility of light chain mispairing. However, unpredictable levels of chain expression and scFv-induced aggregation can complicate purification and reduce the yield of desired Bipod. Here, we describe a high-throughput method for generation of Bipods based on protein A and CH1 domain affinity capture. This method exploits over-expression of the scFv chain to maximize heterodimer yield. Bipods purified by this method have purity suitable for cell-based functional assays and in vivo studies.

Chimeric antibodies with extended half-life in ferrets.

BACKGROUND: Ferrets have long been used as a disease model for the study of influenza vaccines, but a more recent use has been for the study of human monoclonal antibodies directed against influenza viruses. Published data suggest that human antibodies are cleared unusually quickly from the ferret and that immune responses may be partially responsible. This immunogenicity increases variability within groups and may present an obstacle to long-term studies. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to identify an antibody design with reduced immunogenicity and longer circulating half-life in ferrets. METHODS: The constant region coding sequences for ferret immunoglobulin G were cloned, and chimeric human/ferret antibodies were expressed and purified. Some of the chimeric antibodies included substitutions that have been shown to extend the half-life of human IgG antibodies. These chimeric antibodies were tested for binding to recombinant ferret FcRn receptor and then evaluated in pharmacokinetic studies in ferrets. RESULTS: A one-residue substitution in the ferret Fc domain, S252Y, was identified that increased binding affinity to the ferret neonatal receptor by 24-fold and extended half-life from 65 ± 27 to 206 ± 28 hours or ~9 days. Ferrets dosed twice with this surrogate antibody showed no indications of an immune response. CONCLUSION: Expressing the variable region of a candidate human therapeutic antibody with ferret constant regions containing the S252Y substitution can offer long half-life and limit immunogenicity.

Avidity confers FcγR binding and immune effector function to aglycosylated immunoglobulin G1.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are an integral part of the adaptive immune response that provide a direct link between humoral and cellular components of the immune system. Insights into relationships between the structure and function of human IgGs have prompted molecular engineering efforts to enhance or eliminate specific properties, such as Fc-mediated immune effector functions. Human IgGs have an N-glycosylation site at Asn297, located in the second heavy chain constant region (CH2). The composition of the Fc glycan can have substantial impacts on Fc gamma receptor(FcγR) binding. The removal of the glycan through enzymatic deglycosylation or mutagenesis of the N-linked glycosylation site has been reported to "silence" FcγR-binding and effector functions, particularly with assays that measure monomeric binding. However, interactions between IgGs and FcγRs are not limited to monomeric interactions but can be influenced by avidity, which takes into account the sum of multimeric interactions between antigen-engaged IgGs and FcγRs. We show here that under in vitro conditions, which allowed avidity binding, aglycosylated IgGs can bind to one of the FcγRs, FcγRI, and mediate effector functions. These studies highlight how the valency of a molecular interaction (monomeric binding versus avidity binding) can influence antibody/FcγR interactions such that avidity effects can translate very low intrinsic affinities into significant functional outcomes.