AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-04-07DOI: 10.3390/antib13020029
Tahereh Keshvari, Stanislav Melnik, Lin Sun, Ali Niazi, F. Aram, Ali Moghadam, Benjamin Kogelmann, G. Wozniak-Knopp, Somanath Kallolimath, Amin Ramezani, H. Steinkellner
{"title":"Efficient Expression of Functionally Active Aflibercept with Designed N-glycans","authors":"Tahereh Keshvari, Stanislav Melnik, Lin Sun, Ali Niazi, F. Aram, Ali Moghadam, Benjamin Kogelmann, G. Wozniak-Knopp, Somanath Kallolimath, Amin Ramezani, H. Steinkellner","doi":"10.3390/antib13020029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13020029","url":null,"abstract":"Aflibercept is a therapeutic recombinant fusion protein comprising extracellular domains of human vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) and IgG1-Fc. It is a highly glycosylated protein with five N-glycosylation sites that might impact it structurally and/or functionally. Aflibercept is produced in mammalian cells and exhibits large glycan heterogeneity, which hampers glycan-associated investigations. Here, we report the expression of aflibercept in a plant-based system with targeted N-glycosylation profiles. Nicotiana benthamiana-based glycoengineering resulted in the production of aflibercept variants carrying designed carbohydrates, namely, N-glycans with terminal GlcNAc and sialic acid residues, herein referred to as AFLIGnGn and AFLISia, respectively. Both variants were transiently expressed in unusually high amounts (2 g/kg fresh leaf material) in leaves and properly assembled to dimers. Mass spectrometric site-specific glycosylation analyses of purified aflibercept showed the presence of two to four glycoforms in a consistent manner. We also demonstrate incomplete occupancy of some glycosites. Both AFLIGnGn and AFLISia displayed similar binding potency to VEGF165, with a tendency of lower binding to variants with increased sialylation. Collectively, we show the expression of functionally active aflibercept in significant amounts with controlled glycosylation. The results provide the basis for further studies in order to generate optimized products in the best-case scenario.","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140733039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-04-03DOI: 10.3390/antib13020028
Kahlio Mader, Lynn B. Dustin
{"title":"Beyond bNAbs: Uses, Risks, and Opportunities for Therapeutic Application of Non-Neutralising Antibodies in Viral Infection","authors":"Kahlio Mader, Lynn B. Dustin","doi":"10.3390/antib13020028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13020028","url":null,"abstract":"The vast majority of antibodies generated against a virus will be non-neutralising. However, this does not denote an absence of protective capacity. Yet, within the field, there is typically a large focus on antibodies capable of directly blocking infection (neutralising antibodies, NAbs) of either specific viral strains or multiple viral strains (broadly-neutralising antibodies, bNAbs). More recently, a focus on non-neutralising antibodies (nNAbs), or neutralisation-independent effects of NAbs, has emerged. These can have additive effects on protection or, in some cases, be a major correlate of protection. As their name suggests, nNAbs do not directly neutralise infection but instead, through their Fc domains, may mediate interaction with other immune effectors to induce clearance of viral particles or virally infected cells. nNAbs may also interrupt viral replication within infected cells. Developing technologies of antibody modification and functionalisation may lead to innovative biologics that harness the activities of nNAbs for antiviral prophylaxis and therapeutics. In this review, we discuss specific examples of nNAb actions in viral infections where they have known importance. We also discuss the potential detrimental effects of such responses. Finally, we explore new technologies for nNAb functionalisation to increase efficacy or introduce favourable characteristics for their therapeutic applications.","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140746769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-04-01DOI: 10.3390/antib13020027
Lindsay E Bass, R. Bonami
{"title":"Factors Governing B Cell Recognition of Autoantigen and Function in Type 1 Diabetes","authors":"Lindsay E Bass, R. Bonami","doi":"10.3390/antib13020027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13020027","url":null,"abstract":"Islet autoantibodies predict type 1 diabetes (T1D) but can be transient in murine and human T1D and are not thought to be directly pathogenic. Rather, these autoantibodies signal B cell activity as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that present islet autoantigen to diabetogenic T cells to promote T1D pathogenesis. Disrupting B cell APC function prevents T1D in mouse models and has shown promise in clinical trials. Autoantigen-specific B cells thus hold potential as sophisticated T1D biomarkers and therapeutic targets. B cell receptor (BCR) somatic hypermutation is a mechanism by which B cells increase affinity for islet autoantigen. High-affinity B and T cell responses are selected in protective immune responses, but immune tolerance mechanisms are known to censor highly autoreactive clones in autoimmunity, including T1D. Thus, different selection rules often apply to autoimmune disease settings (as opposed to protective host immunity), where different autoantigen affinity ceilings are tolerated based on variations in host genetics and environment. This review will explore what is currently known regarding B cell signaling, selection, and interaction with T cells to promote T1D pathogenesis.","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140783441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-04-01DOI: 10.3390/antib13020026
Sophie A Ragan, Caitlin Doyle, Neha Datta, Heather Abdic, Mark H Wilcox, Ros Montgomery, Shanika A Crusz, Yashwant R Mahida, Tanya M Monaghan
{"title":"Case Series: Efficacy of Polyclonal Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Refractory <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infection.","authors":"Sophie A Ragan, Caitlin Doyle, Neha Datta, Heather Abdic, Mark H Wilcox, Ros Montgomery, Shanika A Crusz, Yashwant R Mahida, Tanya M Monaghan","doi":"10.3390/antib13020026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13020026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) no longer features in treatment guidelines. However, IVIg is still used by some clinicians for severe or recurrent CDI (rCDI) cases. The main objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of IVIg and to identify possible predictors of disease resolution post IVIg administration for patients with CDI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective observational cohort study of patients ≥2 years old hospitalised with severe, relapsing, or rCDI treated with IVIg therapy was performed in a large UK tertiary hospital between April 2018 and March 2023. Scanned electronic notes from patient admissions and clinical reporting systems were used to collect relevant data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 20/978 patients diagnosed with CDI over the 5-year study were treated with IVIg. Twelve (60%) had hospital-onset CDI. Eleven of the twenty patients (55%) responded to treatment, with a mean of 8.6 (SD 10.7) days to disease resolution. Sixteen (80%) patients were treated for severe CDI and four (20%) for rCDI (n = 3) and relapsing CDI (n = 1). There were no statistically significant differences in possible independent predictors of disease resolution post IVIg administration between groups. There was an average of 6.2 (4.9) days to IVIg administration after diagnosis with no difference between responders and non-responders (<i>p</i> = 0.88) and no further significant difference in additional indicators. Four (36%) of the responders were immunosuppressed compared to just one (11%) of the non-responders (<i>p</i> = 0.15). Six of the responders (two with recurrent and four with severe CDI) improved rapidly within 2 days, and three of these were immunosuppressed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We observed disease resolution post IVIg therapy in over 50% of patients with refractory CDI. Our data also support a potential enhanced effect of IVIg in immunosuppressed individuals. Thus, the role of IVIg for CDI treatment, particularly in the immunosuppressed, warrants future case-control studies coupled to mechanistic investigations to improve care for this ongoing significant healthcare-associated infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11036217/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140847167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-03-18DOI: 10.3390/antib13010025
Alejandro Manzanares-Guzmán, P. H. Lugo-Fabres, T. Camacho-Villegas
{"title":"vNARs as Neutralizing Intracellular Therapeutic Agents: Glioblastoma as a Target","authors":"Alejandro Manzanares-Guzmán, P. H. Lugo-Fabres, T. Camacho-Villegas","doi":"10.3390/antib13010025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13010025","url":null,"abstract":"Glioblastoma is the most prevalent and fatal form of primary brain tumors. New targeted therapeutic strategies for this type of tumor are imperative given the dire prognosis for glioblastoma patients and the poor results of current multimodal therapy. Previously reported drawbacks of antibody-based therapeutics include the inability to translocate across the blood–brain barrier and reach intracellular targets due to their molecular weight. These disadvantages translate into poor target neutralization and cancer maintenance. Unlike conventional antibodies, vNARs can permeate tissues and recognize conformational or cryptic epitopes due to their stability, CDR3 amino acid sequence, and smaller molecular weight. Thus, vNARs represent a potential antibody format to use as intrabodies or soluble immunocarriers. This review comprehensively summarizes key intracellular pathways in glioblastoma cells that induce proliferation, progression, and cancer survival to determine a new potential targeted glioblastoma therapy based on previously reported vNARs. The results seek to support the next application of vNARs as single-domain antibody drug-conjugated therapies, which could overcome the disadvantages of conventional monoclonal antibodies and provide an innovative approach for glioblastoma treatment.","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140232154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-03-18DOI: 10.3390/antib13010024
Allison F O'Neill, Evelyn M Nguyen, Evelyn D Maldonado, Matthew R Chang, Jiusong Sun, Quan Zhu, Wayne A Marasco
{"title":"Anti-CD99 Antibody Therapy Triggers Macrophage-Dependent Ewing Cell Death In Vitro and Myeloid Cell Recruitment In Vivo.","authors":"Allison F O'Neill, Evelyn M Nguyen, Evelyn D Maldonado, Matthew R Chang, Jiusong Sun, Quan Zhu, Wayne A Marasco","doi":"10.3390/antib13010024","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antib13010024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ewing sarcoma is a rare tumor of the bone or soft tissues characterized by diffuse membranous staining for CD99. As this tumor remains incurable in the metastatic, relapsed, and refractory settings, we explored the downstream immune implications of targeting CD99.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We discovered a human anti-CD99 antibody (NOA2) by phagemid panning and investigated NOA2 immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo focusing on the myeloid cell compartment, given that M2 macrophages are present in human tumors and associated with a poor prognosis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>NOA2 is capable of inducing immune effector cell-mediated Ewing death in vitro via engagement of macrophages. Mice with metastatic Ewing tumors, treated with NOA2, experience tumor growth arrest and an associated increase in intratumoral macrophages. Further, incubation of macrophages and Ewing cells with NOA2, in conjunction with anti-PILRα antibody blockade in vitro, results in the reactivation of previously dormant macrophages possibly due to interrupted binding of Ewing CD99 to macrophage PILRα.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These studies are the first to demonstrate the role of human immune effector cells in anti-CD99-mediated Ewing tumor death. We propose that the engagement of CD99 by NOA2 results in the recruitment of intratumoral macrophages. In addition, interruption of the CD99:PILRα checkpoint axis may be a relevant therapeutic approach to activate tumor-associated macrophages.</p>","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10967632/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140292582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-03-13DOI: 10.3390/antib13010022
Md. Asiful Islam, Saleh Ahmed, Shabiha Sultana, Sayeda Sadia Alam, Tareq Hossan, Wesam Gouda, Faisal Alsaqabi, R. Hassan, P. Kotyla
{"title":"Vitamin D Status in Patients with Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Md. Asiful Islam, Saleh Ahmed, Shabiha Sultana, Sayeda Sadia Alam, Tareq Hossan, Wesam Gouda, Faisal Alsaqabi, R. Hassan, P. Kotyla","doi":"10.3390/antib13010022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13010022","url":null,"abstract":"Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder, characterised by consistently high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies, thrombosis, and/or pregnancy morbidity. Due to various suspected causes, deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D in the serum have been reported in patients with PAPS; however, the reports have been sporadic and inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the serum vitamin D levels in patients with PAPS compared to controls. A protocol was registered in PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42019132128) and a systematic literature search was conducted through Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases without restricting language and year. Pooled prevalence, mean difference (MD), and odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined by using a random effects model. Study quality was assessed by the Joana Brigg’s Institute (JBI) protocol and publication bias was evaluated by a trim and fill funnel plot, Begg’s, and Egger’s tests. The pooled prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was found to be 32.2% [95% CI: 16.3–48.2] and 61.5% [95% CI: 40.2–82.8], respectively. Serum levels of vitamin D were considerably lower in the PAPS patients compared to controls (MD: −5.75, 95% CI: −9.73 to −1.77; p = 0.005). Multiple sensitivity analyses showed that the results remained statistically significant, demonstrating the robustness of this meta-analysis. No significant publication bias was detected in determining the MD of serum vitamin D levels in PAPS and controls. In conclusion, PAPS patients had greater rates of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, higher frequency of thrombosis, and lower serum vitamin D levels than healthy individuals.","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140247037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-03-13DOI: 10.3390/antib13010023
L. Frasca, A. Mennella, R. Palazzo
{"title":"New, Old, and Shared Antibody Specificities in Autoimmune Diseases","authors":"L. Frasca, A. Mennella, R. Palazzo","doi":"10.3390/antib13010023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13010023","url":null,"abstract":"Autoantibodies represent a primary characteristic of many systemic autoimmune diseases [...]","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140244845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-03-12DOI: 10.3390/antib13010020
B. Effer, Daniel Ulloa, Camila Dappolonnio, Francisca Muñoz, Isabel Iturrieta-Gonzáles, Loraine Cotes, Claudio Rojas, Pamela Leal
{"title":"Construction of a Human Immune Library from Gallbladder Cancer Patients for the Single-Chain Fragment Variable (scFv) Antibody Selection against Claudin 18.2 via Phage Display","authors":"B. Effer, Daniel Ulloa, Camila Dappolonnio, Francisca Muñoz, Isabel Iturrieta-Gonzáles, Loraine Cotes, Claudio Rojas, Pamela Leal","doi":"10.3390/antib13010020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13010020","url":null,"abstract":"Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a very aggressive malignant neoplasm of the biliary tract with a poor prognosis. There are no specific therapies for the treatment of GBC or early diagnosis tools; for this reason, the development of strategies and technologies that facilitate or allow an early diagnosis of GBC continues to be decisive. Phage display is a robust technique used for the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) involving (1) the generation of gene libraries, (2) the screening and selection of isoforms related to an immobilized antigen, and (3) the in vitro maturation of the affinity of the antibody for the antigen. This research aimed to construct a human immune library from PBMCs of GBC patients and the isolation of scFv-phage clones with specificity against the larger extracellular loop belonging to claudin 18.2, which is an important biomarker overexpressed in GBC as well as gastric cancer. The immune-library-denominated GALLBLA1 was constructed from seven GBC patients and has a diversity of 6.12 × 1010 pfu mL−1. After three rounds of panning, we were able to identify clones with specificity against claudin 18.2. GALLBLA1 can contribute to the selection, isolation, and recombinant production of new human mAbs candidates for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140249041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibodiesPub Date : 2024-03-12DOI: 10.3390/antib13010021
Lucas Jacobs, Nader Wauters, Yahya Lablad, Johann Morelle, M. Taghavi
{"title":"Diagnosis and Management of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome and the Potential Impact of the 2023 ACR/EULAR Antiphospholipid Syndrome Classification Criteria","authors":"Lucas Jacobs, Nader Wauters, Yahya Lablad, Johann Morelle, M. Taghavi","doi":"10.3390/antib13010021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antib13010021","url":null,"abstract":"Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare and life-threatening condition characterized by the persistence of antiphospholipid antibodies and occurrence of multiple vascular occlusive events. CAPS currently remains a diagnostic challenge and requires urgent treatment. The diagnosis of CAPS is made difficult by classification criteria used as diagnostic criteria in clinical practice, knowledge derived from retrospective data and case reports, confounding clinical and biological features, and its rapid onset and mortality. The absence of prospective studies of CAPS limits the strength of evidence for guideline treatment protocols. This comprehensive review summarizes the current understanding of the disease, and discusses how the 2023 ACR/EULAR Antiphospholipid Syndrome Classification Criteria impact the definition and therapeutic management of CAPS, which is considered the most severe form of APS. The correct integration of 2023 ACR/EULAR APS classification criteria is poised to facilitate CAPS diagnosis, particularly in critical situations, offering a promising avenue for improved outcomes.","PeriodicalId":8188,"journal":{"name":"Antibodies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140250753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}