Interaction of human monocyte Fc gamma receptors with rat IgG2b. A new indicator for the Fc gamma RIIa (R-H131) polymorphism.

Rat mAbs receive considerable interest for immunologic intervention in man. The rat IgG2b isotype has previously been found to be optimally active both in vivo and in vitro. We found that both a rat IgG2b CD3 mAb and a monovalent hybrid rat IgG2b-mouse IgG1 bispecific Ab triggered T cell activation in PBMC. Inhibition analyses with mAb blocking different human IgG Fc receptors (Fc gamma R) showed a dimorphic pattern. In donors expressing an Fc gamma RIIa-R/R131 allotype (previously defined on the basis of interaction with mouse (m) IgG1 as "high responder") anti-Fc gamma RI mAb 197 inhibited rat IgG2b induced T cell mitogenesis almost completely. In Fc gamma RIIa-H/H131 ("low responder" allotype) donors, however, both anti-Fc gamma RI mAb 197 and anti-Fc gamma RII mAb IV.3 were essential for optimal inhibition of mitogenesis. T cell proliferation experiments performed with the use of Fc gamma R-transfected fibroblasts as accessory cells showed the high affinity Fc gamma RIa (CD64) to interact with both rat IgG2b and rat IgG2b-mlgG1 hybrid CD3 mAb. The use of the two types of Fc gamma RIIa (CD32)-transfectants instead showed rat IgG2b CD3 mAb to interact solely with the IIa-H/H131 allotype. Interestingly, rat IgG2b-mlgG1 hybrid mAb did not interact effectively with this low affinity Fc gamma R. This suggests a requirement for only one rat IgG2b H chain for Fc gamma RIa-mediated binding, whereas two identical H chains seem to be necessary for proper interaction with Fc gamma RIIa. Ab-sensitized RBC-rosette experiments performed with the use of a rat IgG2b anti-NIP mAb confirmed the interaction pattern observed with rat CD3 mAb, supporting the phenomena to be isotype-, and not mAb-, dependent. These analyses point to a unique reactivity pattern for rat IgG2b Abs, interacting both with the high affinity Fc gamma RIa in all donors and Fc gamma RIIa of individuals expressing the IIa-H131 allotype.

Killing of human leukaemia/lymphoma B cells by activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the presence of a bispecific monoclonal antibody (alpha CD3/alpha CD19).

Bispecific antibodies (BsAb) can be used to retarget T cells irrespective of their specificity to certain target cells inducing target cell lysis. We have tested the efficacy of the BsAb SHR-1, directed against the T cell antigen CD3 and the B cell antigen CD19 to induce (malignant) B cell kill by T cells as measured in a 51Cr-release assay. Two cytotoxic T cell clones (CTL), expressing TCR alpha beta or TCR gamma delta, were effective in killing CD19 expressing B cell lines at different stages of differentiation in the presence, but not in the absence, of the BsAb. CD19- target cells were not killed. Fresh CD19+ leukaemia/lymphoma cells were also efficiently killed by SHR-1 preincubated CTL clones. In addition, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or CD3-activated IL-2 expanded peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of normal donors did so after 2 weeks of stimulation. A concentration of 100 ng/ml of the BsAb was sufficient to obtain optimal lysis of all target cells tested. These results show that fresh human leukaemia/lymphoma cells, freshly derived from active lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, can be effectively killed in the presence of this BsAb by activated T cells.

The efficacy of CD3 x CD19 bispecific monoclonal antibody (BsAb) in a clonogenic assay: the effect of repeated addition of BsAb and interleukin-2.

To evaluate the potency by which human T cells are targeted and activated by bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BsAbs) to lyse tumor cells, a clonogenic assay was developed. The efficacy of a CD3 x CD19 BsAb binding to both the CD3 T-cell antigen and the CD19 B-cell antigen was already proven in 51Cr-release assays and in 3-day activation cultures. To achieve more quantitative results, a 14-day clonogenic assay, based on limiting-dilution, was performed for the determination of the initial and residual number of clonogenic units obtained with a CD19+ pre-pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL-B) cell line. Elimination of up to 5 logs of ALL-B cells by freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultured with BsAb plus interleukin-2 (IL-2) could be detected. The presence of human IgG did not abolish the effect. Repeated addition of each of the two agents was necessary, because a single treatment produced only a 1- to 2-log kill. CD3 monoclonal antibody and IL-2 stimulation ("lymphokine-activated killer cell" conditions) resulted in only a 2-log kill. The number of T cells proved critical in lysis of ALL-B cells, with a 5-log kill using a T-cell:B-cell ratio of 3:1 but with only a 1-log kill using a ratio of 1:1. PBMCs isolated from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, both in relapse or remission, proved to be as competent as those from healthy donors in removing ALL-B cells. This clonogenic assay shows the importance of repeated administration of CD3 x CD19 BsAb and IL-2 and offers the possibility to compare it with other therapies in B-cell malignancy.

Unprimed CD4+ and CD8+ T cells can be rapidly activated by a CD3 x CD19 bispecific antibody to proliferate and become cytotoxic.

We previously reported that a CD3 x CD19 bispecific antibody (bsAb) can induce efficient killing of tumour cells by preactivated T cells isolated from patients with B cell malignancy. For future intravenous application we investigated whether resting T cells from peripheral blood can be stimulated to proliferate and become cytotoxic with the CD3 x CD19 bsAb alone. Indeed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, isolated from healthy donors or patients with B cell malignancy, started to proliferate within 1 day in response to CD3 x CD19 bsAb. Within the same time span cytotoxic activity against CD19-positive tumour cells was already detectable. Maintenance of cytotoxic activity was seen during 3 days of culture but optimal lysis of the target cells then required fresh CD3 x CD19 bsAb in the cytotoxicity assay. Essentially the same results for proliferation and cytotoxicity were found when separated CD4-positive and CD8-positive T cells were activated by the bsAb in the presence of autologous monocytes. These results may be relevant for the in vivo application of the bsAb when used as immunotherapy in patients with B cell malignancy.

Evaluation of Fc gamma receptor mediated T-cell activation by two purified CD3 x CD19 bispecific monoclonal antibodies with hybrid Fc domains.

Two bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BsAb), differing in H chain isotype combination, were made for treatment of B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma; QAI-2, CD3-mouse-IgG1 x CD19-mouse-IgG2a and QAI-3, CD3-mouse-IgG1 x CD19-mouse-IgG2b. Both purified BsAb proved equally effective for their ability to target pre-activated T cells towards CD19 positive tumour cells. In T-cell proliferation assays, the capacity of Fc gamma RIa (CD64), Fc gamma RIIa-R131 and Fc gamma RIIa-H131 (CD32) transfected fibroblasts was tested to present the BsAb. The BsAb combining mouse (m) IgG1 and mIgG2a promoted T-cell activation in combination with the Fc gamma RIa transfectant; the mIgG1-mIgG2b BsAb was only marginally active. Both BsAb could not induce T-cell activation when presented by either of the Fc gamma RIIa transfectants. Similar results were obtained using PBMC cultures, containing Fc gamma RIa+/Fc gamma RIIa+ monocytes as accessory cells. The importance of Fc gamma R-dependent BsAb-mediated T-cell activation emerged from experiments with T cells and CD19 positive B-cell lines, showing that cross-linking via CD19+ target cells alone did not induce T-cell proliferation. Therefore, BsAb with functionally different Fc domains represent alternative strategies in BsAb therapy, the efficacy of which deserves to be compared in vivo.

Killing of autologous B-lineage malignancy using CD3 x CD19 bispecific monoclonal antibody in end stage leukemia and lymphoma.

To develop an effective tumor immunotherapy for B-lineage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a bispecific monoclonal antibody (BsAb) has been generated with the first specificity for the CD3 epsilon-chain and the second for the CD19 antigen. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from patients with NHL or ALL during remission or relapse rapidly proliferated (up to 179-fold increase) on in vitro activation combining phytohemagglutinin or CD3 monoclonal antibody with interleukin-2. After 3 weeks of stimulation, more than 90% of the PBMCs was CD3+ and CD8+, even when cultures were started with only 5% CD3+ cells. Cytotoxic activity against autologous malignant B cells was markedly enhanced (from 5% baseline to 70% lysis) by the addition of the CD3 x CD19 BsAb in all samples tested. Immunophenotypic examination of a series of tumor target cells showed that all samples examined showed CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and HLA class I, but showed no B7 expression. CD11a (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1) expression was heterogeneous. Various types of experiments showed that efficient CD3 x CD19 BsAb-mediated cytolytic capacity was not dependent on expression of either of these surface proteins. This contrasts with normal major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen-specific cytotoxicity and may be essential for effective in vivo application of this BsAb.