Topical application of human-derived Ig isotypes for the control of acute respiratory infection evaluated in a human CD89-expressing mouse model.

Recurrent and persistent airway infections remain prevalent in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID), despite restoration of serum immunoglobulin levels by intravenous or subcutaneous plasma-derived IgG. We investigated the effectiveness of different human Ig isotype preparations to protect mice against influenza when delivered directly to the respiratory mucosa. Four polyvalent Ig preparations from pooled plasma were compared: IgG, monomeric IgA (mIgA), polymeric IgA-containing IgM (IgAM) and IgAM associated with the secretory component (SIgAM). To evaluate these preparations, a transgenic mouse expressing human FcαRI/CD89 within the myeloid lineage was created. CD89 was expressed on all myeloid cells in the lung and blood except eosinophils, reflecting human CD89 expression. Intranasal administration of IgA-containing preparations was less effective than IgG in reducing pulmonary viral titres after infection of mice with A/California/7/09 (Cal7) or the antigenically distant A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) viruses. However, IgA reduced weight loss and inflammatory mediator expression. Both IgG and IgA protected mice from a lethal dose of PR8 virus and for mIgA, this effect was partially CD89 dependent. Our data support the beneficial effect of topically applied Ig purified from pooled human plasma for controlling circulating and non-circulating influenza virus infections. This may be important for reducing morbidity in PID patients.

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin treatment in CIDP and MMN. Efficacy, treatment satisfaction and costs.

Subcutaneous administration of immunoglobulin (SCIG) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) has been reported in several case reports and in a few randomized trials during the last decade. In this review we present the studies on SCIG in CIDP and MMN with special focus on the clinical effects. Moreover, the effect on quality of life, side effects to SCIG and the health economic perspectives are reviewed. Nine case studies, three randomized trials and six long-term, follow-up studies were identified. Most of the studies are conducted in patients switched from regular IVIG to SCIG treatment; one study involves treatment-naïve patients. The review shows that none of the studies have been powered to demonstrate an effect on disability. SCIG can maintain muscle strength for a period of 1 to 2years and ability seems preserved for a similar period. Quality of life is generally unchanged or improved after switch to SCIG and generalized side-effects seem fewer, whereas local reactions at the injection site occur. Health economic analyses favour SCIG at the doses used in the reviewed studies.

Antibody-directed liposomes: comparison of various ligands for association, endocytosis, and drug delivery.

We have developed and compared the cytotoxicity of methotrexate-gamma-aspartate encapsulated in several liposome formulations which bind mouse monoclonal antibody in order to define conditions for screening cell lines and antibodies for liposomal efficacy. Liposomes conjugated to Staphylococcus aureus Protein A were more potent than liposomes conjugated to either rabbit or affinity-purified goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin (Ig) when incubated with AKR/J SL2 cells sensitized with specific antibody. The antibody-directed Protein A liposomes were also 10-fold more potent than liposomes conjugated directly to specific antibody against the AKR/J SL2. We examined the effect of antibody specificity, concentration, and isotype on liposome-mediated drug delivery to AKR/J SL2 cells. The growth-inhibitory effect of the drug in the antibody-directed Protein A liposomes varied with the target antigen on the cell. The potency of the liposomes with a given antibody was proportional to their relative binding and endocytosis by the cells, and to the reactivity of the particular antibody with the cell as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. The Protein A liposomes maintained maximal potency down to antibody concentrations as low as 1 microgram/ml with the anti-Thy 1.1-sensitized AKR/J SL2 cells, thus demonstrating the possible use of these liposomes for hybridoma screening. Use of isotype-switched variants of the anti-Thy 1.1 antibody with the AKR/J SL2 cells showed the superior efficacy of the IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 isotypes to the IgG1 with the Protein A liposomes. The large differential potency of the free drug and the drug encapsulated in antibody-directed Protein A liposomes was maintained even at short incubation times, thus providing a system which may be useful for eradication of tumor cells from bone marrow in vitro.

Efficacy of anti-Abeta antibody isotypes used for intracerebroventricular immunization in TgCRND8.

We have previously demonstrated that intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of anti-Abeta (IgG1, kappa against the 1-28 region of Abeta) reduced cerebral amyloid plaques by 50% after 1 month without producing hemorrhage or activating IL-1beta responses in Tg2576 brain [N.B. Chauhan, G.J. Siegel, Reversal of amyloid beta toxicity in Alzheimer's disease model Tg2576 by intraventricular antiamyloid beta antibody, J. Neurosci. Res. 69 (1) (2002) 10-23]. The current report compares the efficacy of IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes of anti-Abeta against several different epitopes of Abeta in clearing cerebral Abeta after a single bolus ICV injection in TgCRND8. Consistent with earlier in vitro findings from other laboratories, these in vivo data demonstrate that all IgG1 isotype antibodies tested cleared cerebral Abeta more efficiently than did IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies without producing histotoxicity in brain, liver or kidney, while an antibody against the C-terminus of Abeta did not reduce plaques or diminish their accumulation with aging of the animals. Intriguingly, there was no significant difference between the Abeta-reducing efficiency of IgG1 anti-Abeta antibodies directed against residues 3-6, against residues 1-10 or against residues 1-28 of N-terminus Abeta.

Evaluation of IgG concentration and IgG subisotypes in foals with complete or partial failure of passive transfer after administration of intravenous serum or plasma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an equine plasma product i.v. and a concentrated serum product i.v. to deliver antibodies to 46 foals with failure of passive transfer (FPT). Treatment of FPT was as per manufacturers recommendations, using plasma (950 ml/unit) or a concentrated serum product (250 ml/unit). Significant variables affecting the 3 day post-transfusion serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of foals included body weight, pretransfusion IgG concentration, number of product units transfused, foaling season and product administered. Plasma treatment had a greater increase in post-transfusion serum IgG concentrations compared to the serum product treatment mainly because plasma contained approximately twice the amount of IgG per unit as the serum product. The change in equine influenza virus and tetanus toxoid-specific IgGa, IgGb, and IgG(T) titres was measured in foals from pretransfusion to 3 days post-transfusion. For each gram of IgG transfused, the change in antigen-specific IgG subisotypes were similar for both treatment groups. The results of this study suggest that similar foal serum IgG concentrations can be achieved 3 days post-transfusion by administering 1 unit of plasma or 2-3 units of serum product.

Variability of the inhibition by total immunoglobulin of in vitro autoantibody-mediated erythrophagocytosis by mouse macrophages.

Several autoimmune diseases, mainly autoantibody-mediated, are attenuated by infusion of total IgG (IVIg). The efficacy varies widely from one patient to another. Using an experimental model of in vitro phagocytosis of autoantibody-coated erythrocytes by mouse macrophages, we analysed the possible causes for such a variability. Our results indicated that the efficacy of the phagocytosis inhibition depends upon different factors, such as the isotype and the extent of polymerization of the immunoglobulin used for the treatment as well as the genetic background of the mice and the state of macrophage activation that can be influenced by concomitant viral infection. The development of an in vitro assay for the phagocytic activity of macrophages might improve the selection of patients susceptible to benefit from IVIg treatment.

Mouse genetic background is a major determinant of isotype-related differences for antibody-mediated protective efficacy against Cryptococcus neoformans.

The protective efficacy of mAbs to Cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan depends on Ab isotype. Previous studies in A/JCr and C57BL/6J mice showed relative protective efficacy of IgG1, IgG2a >> IgG3. However, we now report that in C57BL/6J x 129/Sv mice, IgG3 is protective while IgG1 is not protective, with neither isotype being protective in 129/Sv mice. IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 had different effects on IFN-gamma expression in infected C57BL/6J x 129/Sv mice. IgG1-treated C57BL/6J x 129/Sv mice had significantly more pulmonary eosinophilia than IgG2a- and IgG3-treated C57BL/6J x 129/Sv mice. C. neoformans infection and Ab administration had different effects on FcgammaRI, FcgammaRII, and FcgammaRIII expression in C57BL/6J, 129/Sv, and C57BL/6J x 129/Sv mice. Our results indicate that the relative efficacy of Ab isotype function against C. neoformans is a function of the genetic background of the host and that IgG3-mediated protection in C57BL/6J x 129/Sv mice was associated with lower levels of IFN-gamma and fewer pulmonary eosinophils. The dependence of isotype efficacy on host genetics underscores a previously unsuspected complex relationship between the cellular and humoral arms of the adaptive immune response.

High-dose, unlabeled, nonspecific antibody pretreatment: influence on specific antibody localization to human melanoma xenografts.

Nonspecific uptake of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies in normal tissues is a significant problem for tumor imaging. A potential means of decreasing nonspecific antibody binding is to "blockade" nonspecific antibody binding sites by predosing with cold, nonspecific isotype-matched antibody, before injecting specific antibody. Nontumor-specific murine monoclonal antibody LK2H10 (IgG1) or Ab-1 (IgG2a) was given i.v. at doses of 0 to 3.5 mg to nude mice with xenografts of human melanoma. These mice were then given i.v. 4 micrograms of 131I anti-high molecular weight antigen of melanoma (HMWMAA) monoclonal antibody 763.24T (IgG1) or 225.28S (IgG2a), respectively. These mice were also given a tracer dose of 125I LK2H10 or Ab-1, respectively. Specific tumor uptake of anti-HMWMAA antibodies was see in all cases. No drop in tumor or nontumor uptake was demonstrated for either of the tumor-specific or nonspecific monoclonal antibodies due to nonspecific monoclonal antibody pretreatment. These data suggest that high doses of isotype-matched unlabeled nonspecific monoclonal antibody given before 131I tumor-specific monoclonal antibody, will not enhance tumor imaging.

Functional in vivo characterization of human monoclonal anti-D in NOD-scid mice.

The prophylaxis of the hemolytic disease of the newborn requires significant amounts of plasma-derived polyclonal human anti-D. Because of procurement problems, there is a growing interest in replacing plasma-derived anti-D by in vitro-produced human monoclonal anti-D. Hundreds of monoclonal anti-D have been prepared, but the selection of the most potent for in vivo use is difficult because it cannot be predicted by in vitro characterization. This study evaluated the possibility of using nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-scid) mice for the in vivo evaluation of human monoclonal anti-D. Human red blood cells (RBCs) were found to circulate normally in the blood of NOD-scid mice previously injected with a physiologic amount of human immunoglobulin G (10 mg). The addition of a small amount of anti-D (1 to 5 microg) resulted in the clearance of Rh D(+) RBCs within 4 hours. The comparative testing of 8 monoclonal anti-Ds showed a wide range of potency (15% to 87%) relative to plasma-derived polyclonal anti-D. There was no strong correlation between the in vivo potency index and the immunoglobulin G isotype, affinity, or fine specificity of the antibodies. These results show the usefulness of NOD-scid mice for the initial in vivo screening of human monoclonal anti-D before testing the most active antibodies in clinical trials done in human volunteers.

Toxicity of major histocompatibility complex class II specific monoclonal antibodies: audietur et altera pars.

AIM: To investigate whether in vivo toxicity of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) is contributed by mAb's constant region binding to Fc receptor (FcR). METHODS: Laboratory mice were injected intravenously (i.v.) with class II MHC-specific mAb of various isotypes and respective antigen-binding fragments, and their clinical status was observed subsequently. RESULTS: All anti-class II mAb of the IgG2a isotype exhibit acute toxicity, manifested in severe lethargy and a frequent death. No adverse effects were observed after the FcR-binding capability of the toxic mAb was eliminated via deletion or mutation of its Fc segment. CONCLUSION: In vivo toxicity of anti-class II mAb appears to be the consequence of the crosslinking of class II+ cells with cells expressing FcR.

Isotype-dependent inhibition of tumor growth in vivo by monoclonal antibodies to death receptor 4.

To explore an approach for death receptor targeting in cancer, we developed murine mAbs to human death receptor 4 (DR4). The mAb 4H6 (IgG1) competed with Apo2L/TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (DR4's ligand) for binding to DR4, whereas mAb 4G7 (IgG2a) did not. In vitro, both mAbs showed minimal intrinsic apoptosis-inducing activity, but each triggered potent apoptosis upon cross-linking. In a colon tumor nude mouse model in vivo, mAb 4H6 treatment without addition of exogenous linkers induced apoptosis in tumor cells and caused complete tumor regression, whereas mAb 4G7 partially inhibited tumor growth. An IgG2a isotype switch variant of mAb 4H6 was much less effective in vivo than the parent IgG1-4H6, despite similar binding affinities to DR4. The same conclusion was obtained by comparing other IgG1 and IgG2 mAbs to DR4 for their anti-tumor activities in vivo. Thus, the isotype of anti-DR4 mAb may be more important than DR4 binding affinity for tumor elimination in vivo. Anti-DR4 mAbs of the IgG1 isotype may provide a useful tool for investigating the therapeutic potential of death receptor targeting in cancer.

Experimental glomerulonephritis induced by immune complexes of monoclonal antibodies produced by immunoglobulin class-switch variants.

Experimental glomerulonephritis was induced in mice by injecting performed antigen-antibody complexes composed of monoclonal anti-dansyl antibody of switch-variant origin and dansyl-conjugated bovine serum albumin. A comparison was made of the ability of two kinds of monoclonal antibodies, IgE and IgG2a, of the same variant origin to induce glomerulonephritis. Both types of immune complexes (IC), (IgE-IC and IgG2a-IC), given daily elicited exudative proliferative glomerulonephritis accompanied by proteinuria. Significant glomerular hypercellularity including invasion by polymorphonuclear leukocytes was observed as early as 2 days and was prominent at 14 days after the start of daily injections. Deposits of IgE-IC and IgG2a-IC plus the third complement component were observed mainly in mesangial areas early in the experiment (3 to 8 days) and additionally along peripheral loops at a later stage (9 to 14 days). By electron microscopic examination, immune deposits were detected in the mesangial areas as well as in the subepithelial aspect of the peripheral loops. These results reveal that the isotype of the antibody used to prepare IC does not influence the form or severity of glomerulonephritis.

Mechanism for the isotype dependence of antibody-mediated toxicity in Cryptococcus neoformans-infected mice.

Ab-based therapies have undergone a renaissance in recent years, but infusion-related reactions are a significant clinical problem. Administration of certain mAbs to Swiss Webster mice infected with Cryptococcus neoformans can result in acute lethal toxicity (ALT) characterized by cardiovascular collapse. The ability of a mAb to produce ALT is isotype dependent and occurs with IgG1 but not IgG3. To investigate this phenomenon, we measured spleen and liver cytokine responses and platelet-activating factor (PAF) content in mice given C. neoformans glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) followed by specific Ab of IgG1 or IgG3 isotype. We found no evidence to suggest that the differences in IgG1 and IgG3 toxicity were due to differences in chemokine or cytokine response. In contrast, liver and spleen tissue PAF content was significantly greater in mice IgG1. Furthermore, our results show differences in the response to IgG1- and IgG3-GXM complexes regarding: 1) macrophage-inflammatory protein-1alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 regulation, 2) splenic and hepatic PAF content, and 3) hepatic PAF content in infected mice. IgG1-associated ALT appears to be the result of greater production of PAF in response to IgG1-GXM complex formation. The results are consistent with the view that IgG1 and IgG3 interact with different Fc receptors. Our findings strongly suggest that the mechanism for Ab-mediated ALT is different from the cytokine release syndrome described after administration of other therapeutic mAbs.

More is not necessarily better: prozone-like effects in passive immunization with IgG.

Despite a century of study, the relationship between Ag-specific Ig concentration and protection remains poorly understood for the majority of pathogens. In certain conditions, administration of high Ab doses before challenge with an infectious agent can be less effective than smaller Ab doses, a phenomenon which is consistent with a prozone-like effect. In this study, the relationship between IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 dose, infective inocula, and protection was investigated in a mouse model of Cryptococcus neoformans infection. The activity of each IgG subclass ranged from protective to disease-enhancing depending on both the Ab dose and infective inocula used. Enhanced dissemination to the brain was observed in mice given a high IgG2a dose and a relatively low inoculum. Ab administration had immunomodulatory effects, with cytokine expression in lung, brain, and spleen varying as a function of the infective inoculum Ab dose and IgG subclass. In vitro studies did not predict or explain the mechanism of in vivo prozone-like effects, because all isotypes were opsonic and elicited NO release from macrophages. IgG2a was most efficient in inducing a macrophage oxidative burst. These results reveal that an individual Ab can be protective, nonprotective, or disease-enhancing depending on its concentration relative to a challenge inoculum. Our findings have implications for the potential contribution of Ab responses to defense against microbial diseases because Ab-mediated immunity may be protective, nonprotective, or even deleterious to the host.

Linkage of foreign carrier protein to a self-tumor antigen enhances the immunogenicity of a pulsed dendritic cell vaccine.

The unique Ag-presenting capabilities of dendritic cells (DCs) make them attractive vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic cancer vaccines. While tumor Ag-pulsed DC vaccination has shown promising results in a variety of murine tumor models and early clinical trials, the optimal form of tumor Ag for use in DC pulsing has not been determined. We have studied DC vaccination using alternative forms of a soluble protein tumor Ag, the tumor-specific Ig idiotype (Id) expressed by a murine B cell lymphoma. Vaccination of mice with Id-pulsed DCs was able to induce anti-Id Abs only when the Id was modified to constitute a hapten-carrier system. DCs pulsed with Id proteins modified to include foreign constant regions, foreign constant regions plus GM-CSF, or linkage to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) carrier protein were increasingly potent in their ability to elicit anti-Id Abs. Vaccination with Id-KLH-pulsed DCs induced tumor-protective immunity superior to that obtained with Id-KLH plus a chemical adjuvant, and protection was not dependent upon effector T cells. Rather, protection was associated with the induction of high titers of anti-Id Abs of the IgG2a subclass, characteristic of a Th1 response. These findings have implications for the design of therapeutic Ag-pulsed DC vaccines for cancer immunotherapy in humans.