Heterodimeric bispecific antibody-derivatives against CD19 and CD16 induce effective antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against B-lymphoid tumor cells.

Bispecific scFv antibody-derivatives (bsscFvs) recruiting natural killer (NK) cells for the lysis of malignant cells have therapeutic potential. However, a bsscFv specific for the B-lymphoid tumor antigen CD19 and the trigger molecule CD16 on NK cells had similar affinities for both antigens (42 and 58nM, respectively) and was not optimal for cytotoxicity. Therefore, a bispecific tribody (bsTb) was constructed with two binding sites for CD19 and one for CD16. This bsTb contained a CD19-specific Fab fragment carrying a CD16-specific scFv fused to its light chain and a CD19-specific scFv fused to its heavy chain. The bsTb was compared with a bispecific bibody (bsBb) lacking the CD19-specific scFv. The bsTb had 3-fold greater avidity for CD19 than the bsBb (8 and 24nM, respectively), while both had equal affinity for CD16 (56nM). Both molecules mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of leukemia-derived SEM cells and primary cells from leukemia patients. The bsTb showed half-maximum effective concentrations (EC(50)) of 55pM and promoted equal lysis as the bsBb and the bsscFv at 6- and 12-fold lower concentrations, respectively. Among these three molecules the bsTb showed the most promising in vitro properties which are anticipated to be displayed also in vivo.

A new bioassay for the immunocytokine L19-IL2 for simultaneous analysis of both functional moieties.

Currently, cancer directed new biological entities (NBEs) in the pharmaceutical R&D pipelines are derived from monoclonal antibodies in various formats, such as immunocytokines. Generally, immunocytokines are bi-functional molecules that consist of a specific targeting antibody-based portion and a linked cytokine. To confirm the quality of the drug product both moieties have to be characterized using appropriate techniques. Until now, the binding capacity of antibodies is usually examined by ligand binding assays whereas the biological activity of the linked cytokine is determined by cell-based potency assays. However, the simultaneous analysis of both functional moieties in a single assay format has not been described so far. In this paper we present a newly designed bioassay format for the anti-cancer immunocytokine L19-IL2, comprising of the human vascular targeting single-chain Fv L19 and human interleukin 2 (IL2). This new potency assay allows simultaneous analysis of both moieties, thus specific L19 binding capacity and the ability of IL2 to induce the proliferation of the detector cytotoxic T-cell line CTLL-2. Assay development was performed with special focus on application of different fitting models for the sigmoid dose-response curves to evaluate the influence of model optimization on the validity of assay results. For assay validation generally accepted characteristics were determined. Assay specificity was shown by testing L19-IL2 related compounds. All other validation parameters were derived from 25 batch runs using five nominal L19-IL2 concentrations, covering a range from 60% to 140% of the standard's potency. Accuracy ranged from -3.4% to -6.9% relative error (%RE). Interbatch precision ranged from 6.1% to 10.6% coefficient of variation (%CV). For assay linearity a coefficient of determination (R(2)) of 0.9992 was found. Assay robustness was shown with L19-IL2 samples after three freeze-thaw cycles and also with different cell passages of the used cytotoxic T-cell line. Based on the data, we conclude that this assay is valid for potency estimation of the immunocytokine L19-IL2. Moreover, this format represents a major improvement compared to other approaches which only allow potency evaluation of both functional moieties in separate assays. In general the underlying assay principle described seems suitable for potency determination of other immunocytokines.

A recombinant bispecific single-chain fragment variable specific for HLA class II and Fc alpha RI (CD89) recruits polymorphonuclear neutrophils for efficient lysis of malignant B lymphoid cells.

Bispecific Abs offer new perspectives for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we describe a recombinant bispecific single-chain fragment variable (bsscFv) directed against Fc alpha RI (CD89) on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) or monocytes/macrophages and HLA class II on lymphoma target cells. Fc alpha RI and HLA class II-directed single-chain fragment variable (scFv) fragments were isolated from phage display libraries, established from the hybridomas A77 and F3.3, respectively. The two scFv molecules were connected with a 20 aa flexible linker sequence. After expression in SF21 insect cells and chromatographic purification, the bispecific molecule showed specific binding to both Ags at K(D) values of 148 +/- 42 nM and 113 +/- 25 nM for the anti-Fc alpha RI and anti-HLA class II scFv components in the bsscFv, respectively. In Ab-dependent cytotoxicity assays with PMNs as effectors and a series of lymphoma-derived cell lines (ARH-77, RAJI, REH, NALM-6, RS4;11), the bsscFv was significantly more cytotoxic than the parental murine IgG1 and its chimeric IgG1 derivative. When targeting primary tumor cell isolates from six patients with B cell malignancies, the killing capacity of the (Fc alphaRI x HLA class II) bsscFv compared favorably to conventional HLA class II mAb. Importantly, the cell lines NALM-6 and RS411, as well as two primary tumor cell isolates, were exclusively lysed by the bsscFv. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an Fc alpha RI-directed bsscFv effectively recruiting PMNs for redirected cytotoxicity against human B cell malignancies. Our data show that an (Fc alpha RI x HLA class II) bsscFv is an interesting candidate for further engineering of small, modular immunopharmaceuticals.

A CD33-specific single-chain immunotoxin mediates potent apoptosis of cultured human myeloid leukaemia cells.

A novel single-chain immunotoxin was constructed by combining a CD33-specific single chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment with an engineered variant of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (ETA). The variant toxin carries the KDEL peptide at its C-terminus, a cellular peptide mediating improved retrograde transport to the endoplasmic reticulum. The purified recombinant fusion protein induced potent apoptosis of the human myeloid cell lines U937, HL-60 and THP-1. Up to 98% of U937 cells were eliminated after treatment for 72 h with a single dose of 500 ng/ml (c. 7 nmol/l). Killing was antigen-specific and occurred by apoptosis. A control protein, consisting of a CD19-specific scFv antibody fragment fused to the ETA-KDEL toxin, failed to induce death of the CD19-negative cell lines U937, HL-60 and THP-1. The CD33-ETA toxin also mediated apoptosis of fresh patient-derived acute myeloid leukaemia cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood. The pronounced antigen-restricted cytotoxicity of the novel fusion protein makes it a candidate for further evaluation of its therapeutic potential.

Influence of variable N-glycosylation on the cytolytic potential of chimeric CD19 antibodies.

To investigate the influence of N-linked oligosaccharides at asparagines-297 on the cytolytic potential of chimeric CD19 antibodies, three distinct variants were generated by production in different expression systems. The same chimeric CD19 antibody was produced in Sf21 insect cells, human 293 T cells, and 293 T cells expressing a co-transfected beta1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnTIII). The N-glycan structures and the cytolytic potential of the antibodies produced in these three systems were directly compared. After expression in insect cells, the antibody carried paucimannosidic N-linked oligosaccharides, distinct from the complex biantennary carbohydrate moieties attached to the product from human cells. After co-expression with GnTIII in human cells, the antibody carried an eightfold greater percentage of oligosaccharides with a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (78.7% versus 9.6%) and a 30-fold increased proportion of bisecting, defucosylated oligosaccharides (15.9% versus 0.5%). The insect cell product triggered stronger antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of a human leukemia-derived cell line than the product from non-re-engineered 293 T cells and was equally effective at 50- to 100-fold lower concentrations. The antibody from glyco-engineered 293 T cells had comparable lytic activity as the insect cell product. Both mediated significant ADCC at lower effector-to-target cell ratios than the antibody from non-re-engineered 293 T cells, and both were highly effective against primary blasts from pediatric leukemia patients. The data demonstrate the influence of the N-glycosylation pattern on the ADCC activity of chimeric CD19 antibodies and point to the importance of suitable expression systems for the production of highly active therapeutic antibodies.

Effective lysis of lymphoma cells with a stabilised bispecific single-chain Fv antibody against CD19 and FcgammaRIII (CD16).

A recombinant bispecific single-chain fragment variable antibody (bsscFv), directed against the B-cell antigen CD19 and the low affinity Fc-receptor FcgammaRIII (CD16), was designed for use in the treatment of patients with leukaemias and lymphomas. The Fc-portions of whole antibodies were deliberately eliminated in this construct to avoid undesired effector functions. A stabilised bsscFv, ds[CD19 x CD16], was generated, in which disulphide bonds bridging the respective variable light (VL) and variable heavy (VH) chains were introduced into both component single-chain (sc)Fvs. After production in 293T cells and chromatographic purification, ds[CD19 x CD16] specifically and simultaneously bound both antigens. The serum stability of ds[CD19 x CD16] was increased more than threefold when compared with the unstabilised counterpart, while other biological properties were not affected by these mutations. In antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity experiments, ds[CD19 x CD16] mediated specific lysis of both CD19-positive malignant human B-lymphoid cell lines and primary tumour cells from patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Natural killer cells, mononuclear cells (MNCs) from healthy donors and, in some instances, MNCs isolated from patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, were used as effectors. Thus, ds[CD19 x CD16] holds promise for the treatment of CD19(+) B-lineage malignancies.

A recombinant bispecific single-chain Fv antibody against HLA class II and FcgammaRIII (CD16) triggers effective lysis of lymphoma cells.

Bispecific antibodies offer the possibility of improving effector-cell recruitment for antibody therapy. For this purpose, a recombinant bispecific single-chain Fv antibody (bsscFv), directed against FcgammaRIII (CD16) and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II, was constructed and tested in functional assays. RNA from the hybridomas 3G8 and F3.3, reacting with CD16 and HLA class II, respectively, was used to generate phage display libraries. From these libraries, reactive phages were isolated and the bsscFv was constructed by connecting both single-chain Fv components through a 20 amino acid flexible linker. After expression in SF21 insect cells and chromatographic purification, the bsscFv bound specifically and simultaneously to both antigens. The affinities of the anti-CD16 and the anti-HLA class II scFv components of the bsscFv were 8.6 x 10(-8) mol/l and 13.7 x 10(-8) mol/l, respectively, which was approximately sevenfold lower than the F(ab) fragments of the parental antibodies. In antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity experiments with human mononuclear cells as effectors, the bsscFv-mediated specific lysis of both HLA class II-positive, malignant human B-lymphoid cell lines and primary cells from patients with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukaemia. Optimal lysis was obtained at bsscFv concentrations of approximately 400 ng/ml, similar to the concentration required for maximum lysis by the corresponding chemically linked bispecific antibody. Thus, this recombinant bsscFv-antibody is an efficient molecule for effector-cell mediated lysis of malignant human B-lymphoid cells.

Chimeric CD19 antibody mediates cytotoxic activity against leukemic blasts with effector cells from pediatric patients who received T-cell-depleted allografts.

Relapse is a major problem after transplantation in children with acute B-lineage leukemias, and new therapies are needed to increase graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effects without inducing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Here, we studied the ability of effector cells recovered from patients after transplantation with positive-selected stem cells from alternative donors to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). For this purpose, a chimeric CD19 antibody, CD19-4G7chim, was generated. This antibody efficiently mediated ADCC against primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts by using purified natural killer (NK) cells from healthy donors or mononuclear cells from patients as effector cells. Increased lysis was obtained after stimulation of effector cells with interleukin-2 (IL-2). ADCC was not prevented by inhibitory effects mediated by HLA class I. We propose that treatment with chimeric CD19 antibodies leading to ADCC by donor-derived NK cells may become a therapeutic option for the post-transplantation treatment of minimal residual B-lineage ALLs.

Efficient eukaryotic expression of fluorescent scFv fusion proteins directed against CD antigens for FACS applications.

Two sets of expression vectors were constructed that permitted the efficient expression of single-chain Fv fragments (scFvs) fused N-terminally to an enhanced mutant of the green fluorescent protein GFP+ or the red fluorescent protein DsRed in insect and mammalian cells. The vectors allowed rapid cloning of scFv fragments and secretion of the fusion proteins in a native conformation. Fluorescent scFv fusion proteins directed against a series of cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens were efficiently secreted by transiently transfected mammalian cells and insect cells infected with baculoviral expression constructs. Yields of the secreted proteins varied from 100 microg/l to 3 mg/l. The purified proteins were functionally active in flow cytometry, immunofluorescent microscopy, and competition binding experiments performed to delineate the epitopes recognized by different monoclonal antibodies against the same polypeptide. The use of two different scFv fragments fused with red and green fluorescent proteins and reacting with T- and B-cell lineage markers (CD7 and CD19), respectively, allowed a simplified quantitation of both subsets in two-color flow cytometry experiments with mixed populations of T- and B-lymphoid cells. Due to the lack of Fc domains in the scFv proteins, the fluorescent fusion proteins showed more than 20-fold reduced background fluorescence compared with whole antibodies of the same specificity in experiments with effector cells expressing the high affinity FcgammaRI receptor CD64. Thus, for a number of analytical applications, fluorescent scFv fusion proteins offer advantages over the use of complete primary antibodies and chemically labeled fluorescent secondary antibodies.