Anti-pd-l1 antibodies and their use to enhance t-cell function
Abstract
The present application relates to anti-PD-L1 antibodies, which have therapeutic use to enhance T-cell function to upregulate cell-mediated immune responses and for the treatment of T cell dysfunctional disorders, including infection (e.g., acute and chronic) and tumor immunity.
Term
3.2 yearsto projected expiry
Projected expiry 8 December 2029, counted from filing; an application has no term until it is granted.
- Priority and filed
- Published
- Today
- Projected expiry
1 claim: 1 independent, 0 dependent
- 1Zastrzeżenia patentowe 1. Wyizolowane przeciwciało anty-PD-L1 lub jego fragment wiążący antygen, obejmujący sekwencję regionu zmiennego łańcucha ciężkiego i łańcucha lekkiego, przy czym:(a) łańcuch ciężki obejmuje HVR-H1, HVR-H2 i HVR-H3, gdzie ponadto: (i) sekwencją HVR-H1 jest GFTFSDSWIH (SEQ ID NO: 15);(ii) sekwencją HVR-H2 jest AWISPYGGSTYYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 16);(iii) sekwencją HVR-H3 jest RHWPGGFDY (SEQ ID NO: 3);i (b) łańcuch lekki obejmuje HVR-L1, HVR-L2 i HVR-L3, gdzie ponadto: (iv) sekwencją HVR-L1 jest RASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 17);(v) sekwencją HVR-L2 jest SASFLYS (SEQ ID NO: 18);(vi) sekwencją HVR-L3 jest QQYLYHPAT (SEQ ID NO: 19). 2. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 1 obejmujący ponadto: (a) sekwencje zrębowe regionu zmiennego łańcucha ciężkiego ustawione między HVR zgodnie ze wzorem: (HC-FR1)-(HVR-H1)-(HC-FR2)-(HVR-H2)-(HCFR3)-(HVR-H3)-(HC-FR4) i (b) sekwencje zrębowe regionu zmiennego łańcucha lekkiego ustawione między HVR zgodnie ze wzorem: (LC-FR1)-(HVR-L1)-(LC-FR2)-(HVR-L2)-(LC-FR3)(HVR-L3)-(LC-FR4). 3. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 1 albo 2, gdzie sekwencje zrębowe pochodzą z ludzkich konsensusowych sekwencji zrębowych, gdzie sekwencje zrębowe regionu zmiennego łańcucha ciężkiego stanowi konsensusowy zrąb VH podgrupy III i/lub gdzie sekwencje zrębowe regionu zmiennego łańcucha lekkiego stanowią konsensusowe sekwencje zrębowe VL kappa I. 4. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 2 albo 3, gdzie jedna lub większa liczba sekwencji zrębowych jest następująca: HC-FR1 jest EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS (SEQ ID NO:4);HC-FR2 jest WVRQAPGKGLEWV (SEQ ID NO:5);HC-FR3 jest RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR (SEQ ID NO:6);HC-FR4 jest WGQGTLVTVSA (SEQ ID NO:7);i/lub gdzie jedna lub większa liczba sekwencji zrębowych jest następująca: LC-FR1 jest DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC (SEQ ID NO:11);LC-FR2 jest WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY (SEQ ID NO:12);LC-FR3 jest GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYC (SEQ ID NO:13);LC-FR4 jest FGQGTKVEIKR (SEQ ID NO:14). 130 5. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 4 zawierające ponadto ludzki region stały lub zawierające ponadto mysi region stały. 6. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 5, gdzie ludzki region stały jest wybrany z grupy obejmującej IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 i IgG4, lub gdzie ludzki region stały jest z IgG1, i gdzie mysi region stały jest wybrany z grupy obejmującej IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B i IgG3 lub gdzie mysi regon stały jest z IgG2A. 7. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według któregokolwiek z zastrzeżeń 1 do 6, gdzie wspomniane przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała ma zmniejszoną lub minimalną funkcję efektorową. 8. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 7, gdzie wspomniana minimalna funkcja efektorowa wynika mutacji Fc usuwającej funkcję efektorową. 9. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 7 albo 8, gdzie mutacją Fc usuwającą funkcję efektorową jest N297A i/lub D265A/N297A. 10. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według któregokolwiek z zastrzeżeń 7 do 9, gdzie minimalna funkcja efektorowa jest wynikiem braku glikozylacji. 11. Przeciwciało lub fragment przeciwciała według zastrzeżenia 1, zawierające ponadto region zrębowy VH i VL pochodzący z ludzkiej sekwencji konsensusowej, gdzie sekwencja zrębowa VH pochodzi z sekwencji podgrupy Kabata I, II lub III, gdzie sekwencja zrębowa VH jest korzystnie konsensusową sekwencją zrębową podgrupy Kabata III i gdzie sekwencja zrębowa VL pochodzi z sekwencji podgrupy Kabata kappa I, II, III lub IV, gdzie sekwencja zrębowa VL jest korzystnie konsensusową sekwencją zrębową Kabata kappa I 12. Wyizolowane przeciwciało anty-PD-L1 lub jego fragment wiążący antygen według któregokolwiek z zastrzeżeń 1 do 11, zawierające sekwencję regionu zmiennego łańcucha ciężkiego i łańcucha lekkiego, gdzie (a) łańcuch ciężki obejmuje sekwencję: EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLS CAASGFTFSDSWIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVAWISPYGGSTYYADSVKGRFTI SADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARRHWPGGFDYWGQGTLVTVS A (SEQ ID NO:20);i (b) łańcuch lekki obejmuje sekwencję: DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC RASQDVSTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIYSASFLYSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTL TISSLQPEDFATYYCQQYLYH PATFGQGTKVEIKR (SEQ ID NO:21). 13. Kompozycja zawierająca przeciwciało anty-PD-L1 lub jego fragment wiążący antygen według któregokolwiek z zastrzeżeń 1 do 12 i co najmniej jeden farmaceutycznie dopuszczalny nośnik. 14. Wyizolowany kwas nukleinowy kodujący przeciwciało lub jego fragment wiążący antygen według któregokolwiek z zastrzeżeń 1 do 12. 15. Wektor zawierający kwas nukleinowy według zastrzeżenia 14. 16. Komórka gospodarz zawierająca wektor według zastrzeżenia 15. 17. Sposób wytwarzania przeciwciała anty-PD-L1 lub jego fragmentu wiążącego antygen obejmujący hodowlę komórki gospodarza według zastrzeżenia 16 w warunkach odpowiednich do ekspresji wektora kodującego przeciwciało anty-PD-L1 lub jego fragment wiążący antygen i odzyskiwanie przeciwciała lub jego fragmentu wiążącego antygen. Uprawniony: F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG Pełnomocnik: mgr inż. Małgorzata Kaczmarczyk Rzecznik patentowy 131 Kostymulacja rodziny B7 132 FIG. 2 133 134 Wpływ przeciwciała anty-PD-L1 na proliferację limfocytów T CD4 po wtórnej stymulacji Proliferacja Proliferacja 135 FIG. 5 136 FIG. 6 137 138 Obniżenie mian wirusa w surowicy i tkankach u myszy traktowanych a-PD-LI 139 Wpływ późnej interwencji z leczeniem anty-PDL1 w modelu raka jelita grubego MC38.Ova Średnia objętość guza (mm 3 ) +/- SEM FIG. 9A FIG. 9B 140 Dzień leczenia (= x + 12 dni doświadczenia) Gemcytabina fig a o Wpływ leczenia z blokowaniem PD-L1 samodzielnie oraz w połączeniu z anty-VEGF lub gemcytabiną 2000—1 - - -o- - - Anty-gp12010mg/kg ..........φ..........Anty-VEGF Smg/kg —Anty-gp120 + Anty-VEGF -*-Gemcytabina 40mg/kg --π--Anty-gp120 + GEM ...........Anty-PD-L1 + Anty-gp120 -♦----Anty-PD-L1 10mg/kg - τ -·---Anty-PD-L1 + VEGF - Anty-PD-LI + GEM Leczenie Ab l4l FIG. 11A-1 142 FIG. 11A-2 143 FIG. 11A-3 l44 σσσοσσσσσσσσσσσαα LdUJUJLlJLLJUJUJlJLILlJlJJUJlJJUJUJLLILlJUJ 7) CC CC W W C C CW W W C W (Λ W W FIG. 11A-4 145 cn FIG. 11B-1 FIG. 11B £>>>>> Cjł CD CD CJJ UJ O r *1 <p ι.» c!J UJ u» CJJ C.y O o va co to co co κ/ł co ez> co to co co co tri co to ca nj ni' nj «j c) ΰ] ,□! «3 λ] <O co ca co co to ca co cn to co co co colo co <o <?! εάι o: <O CO CO CO Ό t/ł CO ca CO CO CO CO ca CO cn CO ro CO to co eo ta o*J <0 co ta ca crt ta ca ca co co co Ρ-ι Pl P* P-l P-l Pł Pł Ρι Ρ-» Pt P-f Pi p-( Ph O, CU fi, cza co co co co wJ <0 ca co co co co co co co co . co O< <M O c? OJ o o Oł 04 cm Oł 04 O O S: ν* I V* I <ś! ¢1 0* CQl V) s? Uj <n r- p t— CO □z X X X <Z) co Ώ co co <4 . M- m- m(Ί CM CN 04 CN ίθ to S? i? a C\1 CM ΣΓ OJ CM £ 8 s? CM ΙΟ «Λ <9 CO •rj· *ł* (M OJ Ot CM 146 FIG. 11B-2 147 Łańcuchy Lekkie FIG. 11B-3
1,166 paragraphs in 25 sections, as filed
[0001] This invention relates generally to the immunological and potentiation function of T lymphocytes, including an increase in the level of cellular immune responses and treatment of disorders associated with T-cell dysfunction.
Background of the Invention [0002] Costimulation, i.e. the delivery of two different signals to T lymphocytes, is a widely accepted model of resting T cell activation by antigen presenting cells (APCs). Lafferty et al., Aust. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci. 53: 27-42 (1975). This model also distinguishes between self and non-self proteins as well as immunological tolerance. Bretscher et al., Science 169: 1042-1049 (1970); Bretscher, PA, PNAS USA 96: 185-190 (1999); Jenkins et al., J. Exp. Med. 165: 302319 (1987). The original signal, i.e. an antigen specific signal, is transmitted via the T cell receptor (TCR) after recognition of the foreign antigen peptide presented in the context of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Second, that is, the co-stimulatory signal is delivered to the T lymphocytes by co-stimulatory molecules expressed on antigen presenting cells (APCs) and induces T lymphocytes to favor clonal expansion, cytokine secretion and effector functions. Lenschow et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 14: 233 (1996). In the absence of co-stimulation, T-lymphocytes may become resistant to antigen stimulation, do not elicit an effective immune response, and may further deplete or tolerate foreign antigens.
[0003] A simple two-signal model may be too simplified, because the signal strength of TCR actually has a quantitative effect on the activation and differentiation of T lymphocytes. Viola et al., Science 273: 104-106 (1996); Sloan-Lancaster, Nature 363: 156-159 (1993).
In addition, T-cell activation may occur even in the absence of a co-stimulatory signal if the TCR signal strength is high. More importantly, T lymphocytes receive both positive and negative secondary costimulatory signals. The regulation of such positive and negative signals is key to maximizing the protective immune responses of the host, while maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune reactions. Negative secondary signals seem indispensable for the induction of T cell tolerance, and positive signals promote T cell activation. While the simple two-signal model still provides the correct explanation for naive lymphocytes, the host immune response is a dynamic process and co-stimulatory signals can also be delivered to exposed T lymphocytes on antigen.
[0004] The co-stimulation mechanism is of therapeutic interest because it has been shown that manipulation of co-stimulatory signals provides means for enhancing or terminating the cellular immune response. Recently, T-cell dysfunction or anergy has been found to coincide with the induced and sustained expression of the inhibitory receptor, the programmed death 1 (PD-1) polypeptide. As a result, therapeutic targeting of PD-1 and other molecules that signal through interactions with PD-1, such as programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2) are areas of intense interest. Inhibition of PD-L1 signaling has been proposed as a means to increase T-cell-based immunity in the treatment of cancer (e.g., cancer immunity) and infection, including both acute, as well as a chronic (e.g. persistent) infection. WO2008 / 071447, US2003 / 039653 A1, Hirano et al .; Cancer Res., 65 (3): 1089 (February 2005), Dong et al., Nat. Med. 8 (8): 793 (August 2002), EP1537878 A1, Barber et al., Nature,
439: 682 (February 2006), Yamazaki et al., J. Immunol., 169 (10): 5538 (November 2002), Latchman et al., Nat. Immunol., 2 (3): 261 (marec 2001), WO2008 / 085562, WO2006 / 042237 and WO2007 / 005874 disclose anti-PD-L1 antibodies and methods for their preparation and use. However, because the optimal target medicine in this pathway has not yet been made commercially available, there is still significant unmet medical need.
Summary of the Invention [0005] The present invention provides anti-PD-L1 antibodies, including nucleic acid encoding them and compositions containing such antibodies, and their use to enhance T-cell function to increase cellular immune responses and to treat disorders associated with lymphocyte dysfunction T, including infections (eg acute and chronic) and cancer resistance.
[0006] The present invention relates to an isolated anti-PD-L1 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, including the sequence of the heavy chain variable region and the light chain, wherein:
(a) the heavy chain includes HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, where moreover:
(i) the HVR-H1 sequence is GFTFSDSWIH (SEQ ID NO: 15);
(ii) the sequence of HVR-H2 is AWISPYGGSTYYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 16);
(iii) the HVR-H3 sequence is RHWPGGFDY (SEQ ID NO: 3); and (b) the light chain includes HVR-L1, HVR-L2 and HVR-L3, where moreover:
(iv) the HVR-L1 sequence is RASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 17);
(v) the HVR-L2 sequence is SASFLYS (SEQ ID NO: 18);
(vi) the HVR-L3 sequence is QQYLYHPAT (SEQ ID NO: 19).
[0007] In a further embodiment, the inventive antibody comprises:
(a) heavy chain variable region framework sequences set between HVR according to the formula: (HC-FR1) - (HVR-H1) - (HC-FR2) - (HVR-H2) - (HC-FR3) (HVR-H3) - (HC-FR4) and (b) light chain variable region framework sequences positioned between HVR according to the formula: (LC-FR1) - (HVR-L1) - (LC-FR2) - (HVR-L2) - (LC-FR4) FR3) (HVR-L3) - (LC-FR4).
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention provides an isolated heavy chain variable region polypeptide comprising the sequence HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, wherein:
(a) the HVR-H1 sequence is GFTFSX1SWIH (SEQ ID NO: 1);
(b) the HVR-H2 sequence is AWIX2PYGGSX3YYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO: 2);
(c) the HVR-H3 sequence is RHWPGGFDY (SEQ ID NO: 3);
wherein in addition X1 is D; X2 is S and X3 is T. Said polypeptide may further comprise heavy chain variable region frameworks arranged between the HVR according to the formula: (HC-FR1) - (HVR-H1) - (HC-FR2) - (HVR-H2) (HC-FR3) - (HVR-H3) - (HC-FR4). In yet another aspect, the framework sequences are derived from human consensus framework sequences. In a further aspect, the framework sequences constitute a consensus framework VH subgroup III. In yet another aspect, at least one of the framework sequences is as follows:
HC-FR1 is EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS (SEQ ID NO: 4)
HC-FR2 is WVRQAPGKGLEWV (SEQ ID NO: 5)
HC-FR3 is RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR (SEQ ID NO: 6). HC-FR4 is WGQGTLVTVSA (SEQ ID NO: 7).
[0009] The heavy chain polypeptide may be further connected to a light chain variable region comprising HVR-L1, HVR-L2 and HVR L3, wherein:
(a) the HVR-L1 sequence is RASQX4X5X6TX7X8A (SEQ ID NO: 8);
(b) the HVR-L2 sequence is SASX9LX10S, (SEQ ID NO: 9);
(c) the HVR-L3 sequence is QQX11X12X13X14PX15T (SEQ ID NO: 10); where X4 is D; X5 is V; X6 is S; X7 is A; X8 is V; X9 is F; X10 is Y; X11 is Y; X12 is L; X13 is Y; X14 is H; X15 is A. In yet another aspect, the light chain further comprises light chain variable region framework sequences positioned between HVR according to the formula: (LCFR1) - (HVR-L1) - (LC-FR2) - (HVR-L2) - (LC-) FR3) - (HVR-L3) - (LC-FR4). In yet another aspect, the framework sequences are derived from human consensus framework sequences. In yet another aspect, the framework sequences are the kappa I consensus framework. In yet another aspect, at least one of the framework sequences is as follows:
LC-FR1 is DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC (SEQ ID NO: 11)
LC-FR2 is WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY (SEQ ID NO: 12)
LC-FR3 is GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYC (SEQ ID NO: 13)
LC-FR4 is FGQGTKVEIKR (SEQ ID NO: 14).
[0010] Also disclosed herein is an isolated anti-PD-L1 antibody or antigen-binding fragment comprising a heavy chain and light chain variable region sequence in which:
(a) the heavy chain includes HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, hereinafter:
(i) the HVR-H1 sequence is GFTFSX1SWIH (SEQ ID NO: 1) (ii) the HVR-H2 sequence is AWIX2PYGGSX3YYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO:
2) (iii) the sequence of HVR-H3 is RHWPGGFDY, and (SEQ ID NO: 3) (b) the light chain includes HVR-L1, HVR-L2 and HVR-L3, hereinafter:
(i) the HVR-L1 sequence is RASQX4X5X6TX7X8A (SEQ ID NO: 8) (ii) the HVR-L2 sequence is SASX9LX10S; and (SEQ ID NO: 9) (iii) the HVR-L3 sequence is QQX11X12X13X14PX15T; (SEQ ID NO: 10); [0011] In addition, X1 is D; X2 is S and X3 is T, X4 is D; X5 is V; X6 is S; X7 is A; X8 is V; X9 is F; X10 is Y; X11 is Y; X12 is L; X13 is Y; X14 is H and X15 means A.
[0012] In another aspect, the heavy chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences arranged between HVR, such as: (HC-FR1) - (HVRH1) - (HC-FR2) - (HVR-H2) - (HC-FR3) ) - (HVR-H3) - (HC-FR4), and the light chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences positioned between HVR, (: LC-FR1) - (HVR-L1) - (LC-FR2) - (HVR-L2) - (LC-FR3) - (HVR-L3) - (LC-FR4). In yet another aspect, the framework sequences are derived from human consensus framework sequences. In yet another aspect, the heavy chain framework sequences are from the Kabat subgroup I, II or III. In yet another aspect, the heavy chain framework sequence is the VH subgroup III consensus framework. In yet another aspect, one or more of the heavy chain framework sequences is as follows:
HC-FR1 EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS (SEQ ID NO: 4)
HC-FR2 WVRQAPGKGLEWV (SEQ ID NO: 5)
HC-FR3 RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR (SEQ ID NO: 6)
HC-FR4 WGQGTLVTVSA (SEQ ID NO: 7).
[0013] In yet another aspect, the light chain framework sequences are from the Kabat kappa subgroup I, II, II or IV. In yet another aspect, the light chain framework sequences are the kappa I consensus framework. In yet another aspect, one or more of the light chain framework sequences are as follows:
<td>LC-FR1</td><td>DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 11)</td>
<td>LC-FR2</td><td>WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 12)</td>
<td>LC-FR3</td><td>GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYC</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 13)</td>
<td>LC-FR4</td><td>FGQGTKVEIKR</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 14)</td>
[0014] In yet another specific aspect, the antibody further comprises a human or murine constant region. In yet another aspect, the human constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4. In yet another specific aspect, the human constant region is from IgG1. In yet another aspect, the mouse constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgG3. In yet another aspect, the mouse constant region is from IgG2A. In yet another specific aspect, the antibody has a reduced or minimal effector function. In yet another specific aspect, the minimal effector function results from an "effectorless Fc mutation" mutation or a lack of glycosylation. In yet another embodiment, the Fc mutation that removes the effector function is the substitution of N297A or D265A / N297A in the constant region.
[0015] Accordingly, the invention provides an anti-PD-L1 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising a heavy chain and light chain variable region sequence, wherein:
(a) the heavy chain further comprises the sequence HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, respectively GFTFSDSWIH (SEQ ID NO: 15), AWISPYGGSTYYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO 16) and RHWPGGFDY (SEQ ID NO: 3) or (b ) the light chain further comprises the sequence HVR-L1, HVR-L2 and HVR-L3, respectively, RASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 17), SASFLYS (SEQ ID NO: 18) and QQYLYHPAT (SEQ ID NO: 19).
[0016] In another aspect, the heavy chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences arranged between HVR, such as: (HC-FR1) - (HVR-H1) - (HCFR2) - (HVR-H2) - (HC-FR3) ) - (HVR-H3) - (HC-FR4), and the light chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences positioned between HVR, (: LC-FR1) - (HVR-L1) - (LC-FR2) - (HVR-L2) - (LC-FR3) - (HVR-L3) - (LC-FR4). In yet another aspect, the framework sequences are derived from human consensus framework sequences. In yet another aspect, the heavy chain framework sequences are from the Kabat subgroup I, II or III. In yet another aspect, the heavy chain framework sequence is the VH subgroup III consensus framework. In yet another aspect, one or more of the heavy chain framework sequences is as follows:
<td>HC-FR1</td><td>EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 4)</td>
<td>HC-FR2</td><td>WVRQAPGKGLEWV</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 5)</td>
<td>HC-FR3</td><td>RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 6)</td>
<td>HC-FR4</td><td>WGQGTLVTVSA</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 7)</td>
[0017] In yet another aspect, the light chain framework sequences are from the Kabat kappa subgroup I, II, II or IV. In yet another aspect, the light chain framework sequences are the kappa I consensus framework. In yet another aspect, one or more of the light chain framework sequences are as follows:
LC-FR1 DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC (SEQ ID NO: 11)
LC-FR2 WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY (SEQ ID NO: 12)
LC-FR3 GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYC (SEQ ID NO: 13)
LC-FR4 FGQGTKVEIKR (SEQ ID NO: 14).
[0018] In yet another specific aspect, the antibody further comprises a human or murine constant region. In yet another aspect, the human constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4. In yet another specific aspect, the human constant region is IgG1. In yet another aspect, the mouse constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgG3. In yet another aspect, the mouse constant region is from IgG2A. In yet another specific aspect, the antibody has a reduced or minimal effector function. In yet another specific aspect, the minimal effector function results from an "Fc mutation that removes effector function" or a lack of glycosylation. In yet another embodiment, the Fc mutation that removes the effector function is a N297A or D265A / N297A base in the constant region.
[0019] In particular and in one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated anti-PD-L1 antibody comprising a heavy chain and light chain variable region sequence, wherein:
(a) the heavy chain sequence includes the sequence: EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFSDSWIHWVRQAPGKGLEWVAWIS PYGGSTYYADSVKGRFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCARRHWPGGFDYWG <sub>15</sub> QGTLVTVSA (SEQ ID NO: 20), and (b) the light chain sequence comprises the sequence: DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCRASQDVSTAVAWYQQKPGKAPKLLIY SASF LYSGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYCQQYLYHPATFGQGTKVEIKR (SEQ ID NO: 21).
[0020] In another aspect, the heavy chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences arranged between HVR, such as: (HC-FR1) - (HVR-H1) - (HC20 FR2) - (HVR-H2) - (HC-) FR3) - (HVR-H3) - (HC-FR4), and the light chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences positioned between HVR, as follows: (LC-FR1) - (HVR-L1) - (LC-FR2) - (HVR-L2) - (LC-FR3) - (HVR-L3) - (LC-FR4). In yet another aspect, the framework sequences are derived from human consensus framework sequences. In a further aspect, the heavy chain framework sequences are from the Kabat subgroup I, II or III. In yet another aspect, the heavy chain framework sequence is the VH subgroup III cleavage consensus. In yet another aspect, one or more of the heavy chain framework sequences is as follows:
HC-FR1 EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS (SEQ ID NO: 4)
HC-FR2 WVRQAPGKGLEWV (SEQ ID NO: 5)
HC-FR3 RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR (SEQ ID NO: 6)
HC-FR4 WGQGTLVTVSA (SEQ ID NO: 7).
[0021] In yet another aspect, light chain framework sequences are from the Kabat kappa subgroup I, II, II or IV. In yet another aspect, the light chain framework sequences are the kappa I consensus framework. In yet another aspect, one or more of the light chain framework sequences are as follows:
<td>LC-FR1</td><td>DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 11)</td>
<td>LC-FR2</td><td>WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 12)</td>
<td>LC-FR3</td><td>GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYC</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 13)</td>
<td>LC-FR4</td><td>FGQGTKVEIKR</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 14)</td>
[0022] In yet another specific aspect, the antibody further comprises a human or murine constant region. In yet another aspect, the human constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4. In yet another specific aspect, the human constant region is from IgG1. In yet another aspect, the mouse constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgG3. In yet another aspect, the murine solid constant region is from IgG2A. In yet another specific aspect, the antibody has a reduced or minimal effector function. In yet another specific aspect, the minimal effector function results from production in prokaryotic cells. In yet another specific aspect, the minimal effector function results from an "Fc mutation that removes effector function" or a lack of glycosylation.
[0023] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides compositions comprising any of the above-described anti-PD-L1 antibodies in combination with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0024] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid coding for a light chain or heavy chain variable region sequence of an anti-PD-L1 antibody, wherein:
(a) the heavy chain further comprises the sequence HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, respectively GFTFSDSWIH (SEQ ID NO: 15), AWISPYGGSTYYADSVKG (SEQ ID NO 16) and RHWPGGFDY (SEQ ID NO: 3) and (b) the light chain further comprises the sequences HVR-L1, HVR-L2 and HVR-L3, respectively RASQDVSTAVA (SEQ ID NO: 17), SASFLYS (SEQ ID NO: 18) and QQYLYHPAT (SEQ ID NO: 19).
[0025] In an aspect, the heavy chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences positioned between HVR, such as: (HC-FR1) - (HVR-H1) - (HC-FR2) (HVR-H2) - (HC-FR3) ) - (HVR-H3) - (HC-FR4), and the light chain variable region comprises one or more framework sequences positioned between HVR, (LCFR1) - (HVR-L1) - (LC-FR2) - (HVR) -L 2) - (LC-FR3) - (HVR-L3) - (LC-FR4). In yet another aspect, the framework sequences are derived from human consensus framework sequences. In a further aspect, the heavy chain framework sequences are from the Kabat subgroup I, II or III. In yet another aspect, the heavy chain framework sequence is the VH subgroup III consensus framework. In yet another aspect, one or more of the heavy chain framework sequences is as follows:
HC-FR1 EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS HC-FR2 WVRQAPGKGLEWV (SEQ ID NO: 4) (SEQ ID NO: 5)
HC-FR3 RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR (SEQ ID NO: 6)
HC-FR4 WGQGTLVTVSA (SEQ ID NO: 7).
[0026] In yet another aspect, the light chain framework sequences are from the Kabat kappa subgroup I, II, II or IV. In yet another aspect, the light chain framework sequences are the kappa I consensus framework. In yet another aspect, one or more of the light chain framework sequences are as follows:
<td>LC-FR1</td><td>DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 11)</td>
<td>LC-FR2</td><td>WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 12)</td>
<td>LC-FR3</td><td>GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYC</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 13)</td>
<td>LC-FR4</td><td>FGQGTKVEIKR</td><td>(SEQ ID NO: 14)</td>
[0027] In yet another specific aspect, the antibody further comprises a human or murine constant region. In yet another aspect, the human constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4. In yet another specific aspect, the human constant region is from IgG1. In yet another aspect, the mouse constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgG3. In yet another aspect, the murine solid constant region is from IgG2A. In yet another specific aspect, the antibody has a reduced or minimal effector function. In yet another specific aspect, the minimal effector function results from production in prokaryotic cells. In yet another specific aspect, the minimal effector function results from an "Fc mutation that removes effector function" or a lack of glycosylation.
[0028] In yet another aspect, the nucleic acid further comprises a vector suitable for expressing a nucleic acid encoding any of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies described hereinbefore. In yet another specific aspect, the vector further comprises a host cell suitable for expression of the nucleic acid. In yet another specific aspect, the host cell is a eukaryotic cell or a prokaryotic cell. In yet another specific aspect, the eukaryotic cell is a mammalian cell, such as a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell.
[0029] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of producing an anti-PD-L1 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprising culturing a host cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding any of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies described above or an antigen binding fragment thereof as appropriate. for expression under conditions suitable for the production of such an antibody or fragment, and recovering said antibody or fragment.
[0030] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising an anti-PD-L1 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof as provided herein, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
The disclosure also relates to an article comprising a container comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a composition disclosed herein and an information leaflet indicating the use for the treatment of a disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction.
[0032] The disclosure also relates to an article comprising any of the above-described anti-PD-L1 compositions in combination with at least one BNCA molecule. In one aspect, the BNCA molecules are an antibody, an antigen-binding fragment of an antibody, a BNCA oligopeptide, a BNCA RNAi, or a small BNCA molecule. In another aspect, the negative costimulatory molecule B7 is selected from the group consisting of: CTLA-4,
PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, B7.1, B7-H3 and B7-H4.
[0033] In yet another embodiment, the device includes any of the anti-PD-L1 compositions described above in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent. In one aspect, the chemotherapeutic agent is gemcitabine.
[0034] The disclosure also relates to an article comprising any of the above-described anti-PD-L1 antibodies in combination with one or more agonists or positive co-stimulatory molecules. In one aspect, the costimulatory co-stimulatory molecule is a costimulatory molecule from the B7 family. In another aspect, the positive costimulatory molecule is selected from the group consisting of: CD28, CD80, CD86, ICOS / ICOSL. In yet another aspect, the costimulatory co-stimulatory molecule is a costimulatory molecule from the TNFR family. In a further aspect, the TNFR costimulatory molecule is selected from the group consisting of: OX40 / OX40L, 4-1BB / 4-1BBL, CD27 / CD27L, CD30 / CD30L and HVEM / LIGHT, and their soluble fragments, constructs and agonist antibodies.
[0035] This disclosure also relates to an article comprising any of the above-described anti-PD-L1 antibodies in combination with one or more antibiotics. In one aspect, the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of an antiviral agent, an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent, an antiprotozoal agent.
[0036] In another aspect, the antiviral agent is selected from the group consisting of reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, entry or fusion inhibitors, maturation inhibitors, virus release inhibitors, immune enhancing agents, synergistic antiviral agents, vaccines, liver agonists and herbal therapies. In yet another aspect, the combination comprises one or more categories of antiviral agents.
[0037] This disclosure also relates to an article comprising any of the above-described anti-PD-L1 antibodies in combination with one or more vaccines.
[0038] This disclosure also relates to a method of potentiating T-cell function comprising administering an effective amount of any of the antibodies or anti-PD-L1 compositions described above. In one aspect, the antibody or anti-PD-L1 composition causes dysfunctional T lymphocytes to be non-functional.
[0039] The disclosure also relates to a method of treating a disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of any of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies or antibodies described above. In one specific aspect, the disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction is infection or cancer resistance. In another aspect, the infection is acute or chronic. In another aspect, the chronic infection is persistent, latent or slow. In yet another aspect, the chronic infection is from a pathogen selected from the group consisting of bacteria, virus, fungus and protozoa. In a further aspect, the pathogen level in the host is reduced. In yet another aspect, the method further comprises treatment with a vaccine. In yet another aspect, the method further comprises antibiotic treatment. In yet another aspect, the pathogen is a bacterium, and the method further comprises administering an antibacterial agent. In yet another aspect, the bacterium is selected from the group consisting of: Mycobacterium spp., Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Streptococcus spp., Haemophilus, spp., Neisseria spp., Klebsiella spp., Borrelia spp., Bacterioides fragillis, Treponema spp. and Helicobacter pylori. In yet another aspect, the pathogen is a virus, and the method further comprises administering an antiviral agent. In yet another aspect, the virus is selected from the group consisting of: hepatitis B virus, C virus, herpes simplex virus, human immunodeficiency virus I, II, cytomegalovirus, Eppstein-Barr virus, human papilloma virus, human T-virus lymphocytic TI, II, varicella virus and shingles. In yet another aspect, the pathogen is a fungus, and the method further comprises administering an antifungal agent. In yet another aspect, the disorder is selected from the group consisting of: aspergillosis, blastomycosis, candidiasis caused by Candidia albicans, coccidioidomycosis caused by Coccidioides immitis, histoplasmosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, microsporidiosis. In yet another aspect, the pathogen is protozoan, and the method further comprises administering an antiprotor agent. In yet another aspect, the disorder is selected from the group consisting of: leishmaniasis, plasmodiosis (i.e. malaria), cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, trypanosomias and infections with parasitic worms in the intestine, including those derived from flukes (e.g. schistosomiasis), tapeworms (e.g. echinococcosis) ) and nematodes (e.g. trichinosis, askariosis, filarioses and Hungarians).
[0040] In yet another aspect, the disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction is tumor resistance. In yet another aspect, the antibody or PD-L1 composition is combined with a treatment regimen further comprising a traditional therapy selected from the group consisting of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, inhibition of angiogenesis, and palliative care. In yet another specific aspect, the chemotherapeutic treatment is selected from the group consisting of:
gemcitabine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin. In yet another specific aspect, cancer resistance results from a tumor selected from the group consisting of breast, lung, colon, ovarian, melanoma, bladder cancer, kidney, liver, salivary gland, stomach, gliomas, thyroid cancer, thymic cancer, epithelial cancer, head and neck cancers, stomach and pancreas.
Brief description of the drawings [0041]
Figure 1 is a graphical illustration depicting the co-stimulation of T lymphocytes by the B7 family including cell-surface molecules.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing an experimental design of the PMEL / B16 T cell stimulation test.
Figure 3 is a bar graph showing the effect of anti-PD-L1 Ab on the antigen-specific effect of T lymphocytes by intensively producing IFN-γ in CD8 + T cell PM8 cells in response to the gp100 peptide from melanocyte. Both the percentage of IFN-γ producing CD8 + T cells and their levels of IFN-γ production increase during stimulation in the presence of the antiPD-L1 antibody.
Figure 4 is a bar graph showing the effect of anti-PD-L1 Ab on the antigen-specific effect of T lymphocytes by enhancing Y424.55.S1 anti-PD-L1 Ab-proliferation of CD4 + Ova-specific T cells during secondary B cell stimulation of A20 B / mPD -L1 APC treated with Ova pulse.
Figure 5 is a set of FACS plots showing the proliferation of human CD8 T lymphocytes by YW243.55S1 anti-PD-L1 antibody in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. The percentage of proliferating cells as measured by dilution in the form of CFSE intensity is also given.
Figure 6 shows a schematic of the experimental design for the treatment of chronic LCMV with the YW243.55S70 chimeric Ab anti-PD-L1 form. The arrows indicate the time of administration of 6 doses of anti-PD-L1 from 14 days after infection with 2 x 10<sup>6</sup> pfu of LCMV clone 13.
Figures 7A and 7B are graphs showing enhanced effector CD8 function in ex vivo cells after in vitro treatment of chronic LCMV infection with anti-PD-L1 Ab, YW243.55.S70. Blockage of PD-L1 by YW243.55.S70 increased CD8 T cell degranulation<sup>+</sup> (measured on the basis of an increase in the surface of CD107A) (Fig. 7A) and increased the% of IFN-gamma-producing cells in response to the peptide gp33 from LCMV (Fig. 7B). The frequency of cells specific for gp33 is revealed by staining with pentamers H2-Db gp33.
Figures 8A and 8B show the decrease in blood and tissue titers of LCMV in chronic LCMV infection following in vivo treatment with anti-PD-L1 antibody. In Figure 8A, viral titers from the various tissues indicated are analyzed on days 21 and 28, respectively, one and two weeks after treatment with Ab. In Figure 8B, viral serum antibody titers are analyzed on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 with LCMV inoculation occurring on day 0 and treatment beginning on day 14.
Figure 9A shows a significant reduction in MC38.Ova colon carcinoma tumor growth by using anti-PD-L1 antibody after therapeutic treatment of cultured tumors (treatment began on day 14, when the tumor was 250 mm<sup>3</sup>). Figure 9B is a histogram showing levels of PDL1 expression surface on MC38.Ova cells in tissue culture measured by flow cytometry. PD-L2 is not expressed in MC38.Ova cells.
Figure 10 is a graph showing the effect of treatment with PD-L1 blocking alone and in combination with anti-VEGF or gemcitabine on the growth of MC38.Ova tumors in C57BL / 6 mice.
Figures 11A-B show the sequences of variable regions of the heavy and light chain of anti-PD-L1 antibodies identified by phage display. The shaded fields show the CDRs from different definitions while the frames show the HVR range.
A detailed description of the preferred form
General Techniques [0042] In practicing the present invention, conventional molecular biology techniques (including recombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry and immunology that are within the skill of the art will be used, unless otherwise indicated. Such techniques are explained fully in literature, as in
Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, second edition (Sambrook et al., 1989); Oligonucleotide Synthesis (MJ Gait, eds., 1984); Animal Cell Culture (RI Freshney, eds., 1987); Methods in Enzymology (Academic Press, Inc.); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (FM Ausubel et al., Edited 1987 and periodic updates); PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction, (Mullis et al., Eds., 1994); A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning (Perbal Bernard V., 1988); Phage Display: A Laboratory Manual (Barbas et al., 2001).
I. Resistance of the host
A. Lymphocyte development and activation [0043] The two major types of lymphocytes in humans are T-lymphocytes (derived from the thymus) and B (derived from the bone marrow). These cells come from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow and fetal liver that have entered the lymphoid pathway. The progeny of these stem cells enter diverging pathways to mature into B or T cells. The development of human B lymphocytes occurs completely in the bone marrow. T-lymphocytes, on the other hand, develop from immature precursors that leave the marrow and migrate from the blood to the thymus, where they proliferate and differentiate into mature T-lymphocytes.
[0044] Mature lymphocytes that emerge from the thymus or bone marrow are silent or "quiescent", i.e. they are mitotically inactive. After being dispersed in the bloodstream, these "naïve" or "virgin" lymphocytes migrate to various secondary or peripheral lymphoid organs, such as the spleen, lymph nodes or tonsils. Most virgin lymphocytes are inherently short-lived and die within days after they leave the bone marrow or thymus. However, if such a cell receives signals that indicate the presence of an antigen, it can be activated and go through subsequent rounds of cell division. Some resulting daughter cells may then return to rest to become memory lymphocytes - B and T lymphocytes that are basically pre-stimulated until the next encounter with the stimulant allergen.
[0045] Activation of lymphocytes refers to an ordered series of events through which a resting lymphocyte passes when it is stimulated to divide and produce daughter cells, some of which become effector cells. The full response includes both the induction of cell proliferation (mitogenesis) and the expression of immune function. Lymphocytes become activated when specific ligands bind to receptors on their surface. Ligands are different for T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, but the resulting intracellular physiological mechanisms are similar.
[0046] Some foreign antigens may themselves induce lymphocyte activation, especially large polymeric antigens that cross-link surface immunoglobulins on B lymphocytes or other glycoproteins on T cells. However, most antigens are not polymeric and even direct binding to B lymphocytes in large amounts does not lead to for activation. These more common antigens activate B-lymphocytes when they are co-stimulated with nearby activated helper T-lymphocytes. Such stimulation may occur with the lymphokines secreted by the T-lymphocyte, but is most efficiently transmitted by direct contact of B-lymphocyte with T-cell surface proteins that interact with specific B-cell receptors to produce a secondary signal.
B. T-lymphocytes [0047] T lymphocytes do not express immunoglobulins, but instead detect the presence of foreign substances by surface proteins, called T-cell receptors (TCRs). These receptors recognize antigens by direct contact or by affecting the action of other immune cells. Together with macrophages, T lymphocytes are the main cell type involved in cellular immunity.
[0048] Unlike B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes can detect foreign substances only in specific contexts. In particular, T lymphocytes will only recognize a foreign protein if it is first cleaved into small peptides that are then exposed to the surface of a second host cell, termed an antigen presenting cell (APC). Many types of host cells may display antigens under certain conditions, but certain types are more specifically adapted for this purpose and are particularly important in controlling T cell activity, including macrophages and other B lymphocytes. Antigen presentation depends in part on specific proteins called complex proteins Tissue Compliance (MHC) on the surface of presenting cells. Therefore, to stimulate cellular immunity,
There are two significant subsets of T lymphocytes: cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc or CTL cells) and helper T lymphocytes (TH), which cells can be roughly identified by the expression of the CD8 and CD4 marker on the surface of cells. Tc lymphocytes are important in defense against viruses and can kill viruses directly by recognizing specific viral peptides expressed on the cell surface. TH lymphocytes promote the proliferation, maturation and immune function of other cell types, e.g. lymphokine secretion to control the function of B lymphocytes, macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Both virgin T cells and memory usually remain dormancy and in this state do not exhibit significant helper or cytotoxic activity. After activation, these cells undergo several rounds of mitotic division to produce daughter cells. Some of these progeny cells are restored as memory cells, but others become effector cells that actively express helper or cytotoxic activity. These daughter cells resemble their parents: CD4 + cells can only produce CD4 + daughter cells, whereas CD8 + cells only give CD8 + daughter cells. Effector T lymphocytes express surface markers that are not expressed on resting T lymphocytes, such as CD25, CD28, CD29, CD40L, transferrin receptors and MHC class II proteins. After withdrawal of the activating stimulus, the cytotoxic or helper activity gradually disappears within a few days when the effector cells die or return to rest.
[0050] Similar to the activation of B lymphocytes, T-cell responses to most antigens also require two types of simultaneous stimuli. The first is an antigen that, if properly exposed by MHC proteins on an antigen presenting cell, can be recognized and bound by T cell receptors. Although this MHC antigen complex sends a signal to the inside of the cell, it is usually insufficient to cause T cell activation. Full activation, such as occurs with helper T cells, requires co-stimulation with other specific ligands, called costimulators, which are expressed on the surface of the antigen presenting cell. On the other hand, the activation of a cytotoxic T-cell generally requires IL-2, a cytokine secreted by activated helper T-cells.
C. Immune response Three basic functional properties of the immune system in mammals that distinguish it from other defense mechanisms of the body include: (1) specificity - the ability to recognize and respond or not respond individually among a large number of target molecules, (2) discrimination - the ability to distinguish between self and non-self elements, in order to co-exist with all countless proteins and other organic material, but still react vigorously to foreign material that is introduced into the body and (3) memory - the ability to be formed by experience, so that subsequent encounters with a specific foreign pathogen will provoke a faster and more energetic response than the one that takes place at the first meeting.When one or more of these functions are thwarted, this results in a pathological condition.
[0052] Viral lymphocytes are continually released from the primary lymphoid organs into peripheral tissues, each of which carries surface receptors that allow antigen binding. Antigen binding in B lymphocytes is mediated by surface-bound immunoglobulins, whereas T lymphocytes are mediated by T-cell receptors. After activation of virgin lymphocytes, they proliferate to give progeny that can then undergo subsequent cycles of activation and proliferation. The rate and intensity of the response to a given antigen depends largely on the clonal selection: the larger the population of daughter cells or clones specific for a given antigen, the greater the number of cells that can recognize and participate in the immune response. Each immune response is a complex and internally regulated sequence of events involving several cell types. It is triggered when the immunogen enters the body and encounters a specialized class of cells called antigen presenting cells (APCs). These APCs capture a small amount of immunogen and display it in a form that can be recognized by antigen-specific helper T cells. The helper T lymphocytes then become activated and in turn promote the activation of other classes of lymphocytes, such as B lymphocytes or cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The activated lymphocytes then proliferate and perform their specific effector functions. At each stage of the process, lymphocytes and APC communicate with each other through direct contact or by secretion of regulatory cytokines.
[0053] The exogenous antigens that are captured by APC undergo a series of changes called antigen processing. Such treatments, especially protein immunogens, include denaturation and partial proteolytic digestion, such that the immunogen is cleaved into short peptides. A limited number of resulting peptides are then bound non-covalently to MHC class II proteins and transported to the APC surface by a process known as antigen presentation. The CD4 + helper T cell that comes into direct contact with the APC can be activated, but it will only do so if it expresses a T cell receptor protein that can recognize and bind to the specific peptide-MHC complex presented by the APC.
[0054] The helper T cells (TH) primarily direct the immune response, as they are needed to activate two other effector cell lymphocytes: cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc) and plasma secreting cells. Activation of TH occurs early in the immune response and requires at least two signals. One signal is provided by binding the T-cell antigen receptor to the MHC-peptide complex on the surface of the APC, which is channeled through the CD3 protein complex, whereas the second, the APC-costimulatory signal is considered to be due to the binding of the distinct signal-transducing protein to the APC. T-lymphocyte surface with a specific ligand on APC. One known example of such an interaction is the CD28 protein of the T-lymphocyte with the APC surface protein family known as B7. Other pairs of surface proteins may also mediate costimulation. The costimulation process will be described in more detail later. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the present invention are believed to potentiate costimulation by antagonism of the negative co-stimulatory signal provided by PD-L1 mediated signaling.
[0055] Together, these two signals induce the helper T cell to initiate the secretion of the interleukin-2 cytokine (IL-2), as well as to start expressing specific IL-2 receptors with high affinity on its surface. IL-2 is a very potent mitogenic factor for T lymphocytes and is essential for the proliferative response of activated T cells. The effect of IL-2 on the cell from which the phenomenon known as the autocrine effect is secreted. In addition, it has been shown that even if the T lymphocyte has received both signals, it will not proliferate if its own IL-2 surface receptors are blocked. Il-2 may also act on cells in the immediate vicinity, in the so-called paracrine effect. This effect is particularly important for the activation of Tc lymphocytes, which usually do not produce enough IL-2, to stimulate your own proliferation. In addition to IL-2, activated TH cells secrete other cytokines and promote the growth, differentiation and function of B lymphocytes, macrophages and other cell types.
[0056] The contact between the APC and the antigen specific TH lymphocyte also affects APC - of which IL-1 release is one of the most important. This cytokine is believed to act in an autocrine fashion to increase the surface expression of MHC class II proteins and various adhesion molecules, thereby enhancing TH lymphocyte binding and increasing antigen presentation. At the same time, IL-1 acts in a paracrine fashion on the TH lymphocyte, stimulating IL-2 secretion and IL-2 receptor expression.
[0057] During the activation of TH lymphocytes as described previously, some B lymphocytes may also bind to the immunogen through their antigen receptors, which are membrane-bound forms of antibodies that will be secreted later. In contrast to T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes recognize the immunogen in its free, unprocessed form. Specific antigen binding provides one type of signal that can lead to the activation of B lymphocytes. The second type is provided by activated TH lymphocytes that express proteins that help activate B-lymphocyte by binding to non-immunoglobulin receptors on their surface. These TH-derived signals that act on any B cell, regardless of its antigen specificity, are known as helper agents. These excipients include IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6. However, the aid is more efficiently achieved by contacting the cell with a cell that allows the T cell surface proteins to directly contact those on B lymphocytes. The greatest contact effect occurs when a protein called CD40 ligand (CD40L) is expressed on the TH lymphocytes only after their activation is bound to a protein called CD40 on B lymphocytes. In a process known as accidental activation, contact with an activated B lymphocyte may even be sufficient to activate resting B lymphocytes, even though their surface immunoglobulins have not been associated with antigen .
[0058] Tc lymphocytes act to fight cells that express foreign antigens on their surfaces, such as host cells infected with the virus. Most Tc lymphocytes express CD8 instead of CD4 and thus recognize antigens in combination with MHC class I proteins and not class II. When a somatic cell is infected with a virus, some immunogenic viral proteins can be processed within the cell, and the resulting peptides can appear as surface complexes with MHC class I molecules. These peptide-MHC complexes can then be recognized by the T-cell receptor from the clone antigen-specific, providing one of the two signals necessary to activate the Tc lymphocyte. The first signal itself stimulates IL-2 receptors with high affinity on Tc lymphocyte. The second signal is provided by IL-2 secreted from a nearby activated TH lymphocyte. After receiving both signals, the activated Tc lymphocyte acquires cytotoxic activity, allowing it to kill the cell to which it is associated, as well as any other cells carrying the same peptide-MHC class complexes.
I. In some cases, killing occurs because Tc releases specific toxins to the target cell; in others, Tc stimulates the target cell to commit suicide by apoptosis. Activated Tc lymphocyte also proliferates, which leads to the formation of additional Tc lymphocytes with the same antigenic specificity.
D. Costimulation by a superfamily of immunoglobulins:
1. B7.1 / B7.2 - CD28 / CTLA-4 [0059] Perhaps the best-characterized T-cell co-stimulation pathway is one that transmits the signal via B7.1 (CD80) /B7.2 (CD86) - CD28 / CTLA4 (CD152). This signaling pathway is critical for the activation and tolerance of T lymphocytes. Karandikar et al., J. Neuroimmunol. 89: 10-18 (1998); Oosterwegal et al., Curr. Opin. Immunol. 11: 294-300 (1999); Salomon et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 19: 225-252 (2001); Sansom, DM, Immunol. 101: 169-177 (2000); Chambers et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 19: 565-592 (2001).
[0060] B7.1 [Freeman et al., J. Exp. Med. 174: 625-631 (1991); Freedman et al., J. Immunol. 137: 3260-3267 (1987); Yokochi et al., J. Immunol. 128: 823-827 (1982)] and B7.2 [Freeman et al., Science 262: 909-911 (1993); Freeman et al., J. Exp. Med. 178: 2185-2192 (1993); Azuma et al., Nature 366: 76-79 (1993)] have dual specificity for the two stimulatory CD-28 and CTLA-4 receptors. Aruffo et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 8573-8577 (1987); Gross et al., J. Immuuol. 144: 3201-3210 (1990). CD28 is constitutively expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes [Gross et al., J. Immunol. 149: 380388 (1992)], whereas CTLA-4, a higher affinity receptor, expresses that is rapidly upregulated after T cell activation. Peach et al., J. Exp. Med. 180: 2049-2058 (1994); Linsley et al., J. Exp. Med. 176: 1595-1604 (1992); Kinsley et al. Immunity 1: 793-801 (1994); Linsley et al., Immunity 4: 535-543 (1996). The majority of the APC population shows constitutive expression of B7.2 at low levels, which is rapidly elevated, whereas B7.1 is expressed inducibly later after activation. Freeman et al., Science 262: 909-911 (1993); Hathcock et al., J. Exp. Med. 180: 631-640 (1994). Earlier data on the expression of B7.2 and knockout mice suggest that B7.2 is a more important costimulatory molecule to initiate immune responses, but otherwise these two molecules have largely overlapping functions. McAdam et al., Immuno. Rev. 165: 631-640 (1994). 1 is expressed in a manner induced later after activation. Freeman et al., Science 262: 909-911 (1993); Hathcock et al., J. Exp. Med. 180: 631-640 (1994). Earlier data on the expression of B7.2 and knockout mice suggest that B7.2 is a more important costimulatory molecule to initiate immune responses, but otherwise these two molecules have largely overlapping functions. McAdam et al., Immuno. Rev. 165: 631-640 (1994). 1 is expressed in a manner induced later after activation. Freeman et al., Science 262: 909-911 (1993); Hathcock et al., J. Exp. Med. 180: 631-640 (1994). Earlier data on the expression of B7.2 and knockout mice suggest that B7.2 is a more important costimulatory molecule to initiate immune responses, but otherwise these two molecules have largely overlapping functions. McAdam et al., Immuno. Rev. 165: 631-640 (1994).
[0061] CD28 interacts with B7.1 and B7.2 to provide a signal that acts synergistically with the TCR signal to promote activation of lymphocytes T. Lenschow et al. Annu. Rev.
Immunol. 165: 233-258 (1996); Lanzavecchia et al., Cell 96: 1-4 (1999). In the absence of a TCR signal, CD28 signaling is not physiologically relevant. The signaling of CD28 regulates the T-cell activation threshold and significantly reduces the number of TCR binding events necessary for the activation of T lymphocytes. Viola et al., Science 273: 104-106 (1996). Activation of CD28 supports T cell responses by favoring T cell survival, thus allowing cytokines to initiate clonal expansion and differentiation of lymphocytes. Thompson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 1333-1337 (1989); Lucas et al., J. Immunol. 154: 5757-5768 (1995); Shahinian et al., Science 261: 609-612 (1993); Sperling et al., J. Immunol. 157: 3909-3917 (1996); Boise et al., Immunity 3: 87-98 (1995). CD28 also optimizes the responses of previously activated T lymphocytes,
[0062] Activation of CTLA-4 results in a negative signal that inhibits signal transduction via TCR and CD-28. Binding of CTLA-4 results in inhibition of IL-2 synthesis and passage through the cell cycle and cessation of T cell responses. Walunas et al., Immunity 1: 405-413 (1994); Walunas et al., J. Exp. Med. 183: 2541-2550 (1996); Krummel et al., J. Exp. Med. 182: 459-466 (1995); Brunner et al., J. Immunol. 162: 58135820 (1999); Greenwald et al., Immunity 14: 145-155 (2001). CTLA-4 plays an important role in the regulation of T cell responses, including peripheral T-cell tolerance. Although it is not clear how signaling is coordinated by CTLA-4 and CD28, some options include overcoming CD28 in binding to B7, by inducing immunosuppressive cytokines, direct antagonism of CD28 signaling and / or signaling via TCR.
[0063] As a result, CTLA-4 antagonism (e.g., anti-CTLA antagonist antibodies) and / or B7.1 / B7.2 / CD28 agonism may be useful for enhancing the immune response in the treatment of an infection (e.g., acute and chronic) and cancer resistance.
2. ICOS / ICOSL signaling:
[0064] Another pathway of interaction between APCs and T lymphocytes is via ICOS (CD278) and ICOSL (B7-H2, CD275). ICO / ICOSL signaling favors differentiation and effector functions of helper T cells and is particularly important for the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10), but plays a less significant role in the regulation of T cell expansion and IL-2 production, including regulatory T-cells, tolerance T-lymphocytes and autoimmune response.
[0065] Unlike CD28, ICOS is not constitutively expressed on naive T lymphocytes, but is rapidly induced on T lymphocytes after binding to TCR. Hutloff et al., Nature 397: 263-266 (1999); Yoshinaga et al., Nature 402: 827-832 (1999); Beier et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 30: 3707-3717 (2000); Coyle et al., Immunity 13: 95-105 (2000); Mages et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 30: 1040-1047 (2000); McAdam et al., J. Immunol. 165: 5035-5040 (2000). This suggests that ICOS provides a co-stimulatory signal for activated T cells. While costimulation by CD28 increases ICOS expression, and ICOS expression is reduced in the absence of B7.1 and B7.2, ICOS is not completely dependent on CD28 signals. McAdam et al., J. Immunol. 165: 5035-5040 (2000); Aicher et al., J. Immunol. 164: 4689-4696 (2000); Kopf et al., J. Exp. Med. 192: 53-61 (2000). ICOS is elevated on T helper cells of both type 1 and 2 TH1 and TH2) in the initial phase of differentiation, but the levels remain high on TH2 lymphocytes and fall on TH1 lymphocytes. Pattern of ICOS expression on T lymphocytes in the reproductive centers. Beier et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 30: 3707-3717 (2000); Mages et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 30: 1040-1047 (2000) indicates the role of ICOS in helping T-lymphocytes to B lymphocytes.
This was confirmed in functional studies, and even ICOS expression was confirmed on rat B lymphocytes, although not on other species. Tezuka et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 276: 335-345 (2000: McAdam et al., Nature 409: 102-105 (2001);
Dong et al., Nature 409: 97-101 (2001); Dong et al., J. Immunol. 166: 3659-3662 (2001);
Tafuri et al., Nature 409: 105-109 (2001).
[0066] One function of ICOS / ICOSL signaling appears to be to regulate cytokine production (e.g., IL-4, IL-13) by recently activated as well as effector lymphocytes T. Hutloff et al., Nature 397: 263-266 (1999 ); Coyle et al., Immunity 13: 95-105 (2000); Dong et al., Nature 409: 97-101 (2001). In studies of allergic airway disease, the TH2 effector function, but no TH2 differentiation, is ensured by blocking ICOS. Tesciuba et al., J. Immunol. 167: 1996-2003 (2001). Indicating that ICOS may also regulate TH1 effector function, both TH1 and TH2 cytokine production can be inhibited by ICOS-Ig fusion protein after re-activation in vitro. Kopf et al., J. Exp. Med. 192: 53-61 (2000).
[0067] Another potential role of ICOS relates to the maintenance of the TH1 response. In an experimental model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) for multiple sclerosis, TH1 disease associated with myelin-specific CD4 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup>, the results of ICOS blockage are shown to be different when co-stimulation is blocked during initial stimulation of T lymphocytes and then in the effector phase of EAE. Dong et al., Nature 409: 97-101 (2001); Rottman et al., Nature Immunol. 2: 605-611 (2001); Sporici et al., Clin. Immunol. 100: 277-288 (2001). EAE caused by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is significantly exacerbated in ICOS knockout mice<sup>- / -</sup> with increased production of IFN-γ compared to the wild type. Similarly, ICOS blockade during EAE induction worsened the disease, also leading to an increase in IFN-γ production. Thus, ICOS block during pre-stimulation leads to a polarization of the response towards TH1. Interestingly, the initial stimulation of myelin-specific TCR-transgenic T-lymphocytes in vitro in the presence of ICOS-Ig inhibited their ability to induce EAE, in contrast to the results of ICOS-Ig blockade observed in vivo. Sporici and others, as above. The difference for opposite in vitro and in vivo results is not yet clear, but may reflect the role of ICOS for IL-10 producing regulatory T cells as well as effector T lymphocytes during in vivo blocking of ICOS. Costimulation by IL-10 is very effective in enhancing the production of IL-10 and is more effective than costimulation by CD28. Hutloff et al., Supra. The IL-10 regulatory loop, IL-12 is critical in EAE regulation, because IL-10 - / - mice, but not IL4 - / - mice, develop acute EAE. Segal et al., J. Exp. Med. 187: 537-546 (1998).
[0068] Yet another potential role of ICOS is the intensification of T-lymphocyte-dependent humoral B-lymphocyte responses. ICOS mice<sup>- / -</sup> and ICOSL<sup>- / -</sup> demonstrated that ICOS is required for T lymphocyte-dependent B cell responses. Hutloff et al., Nature 397: 263-66 (1999); Chapoval et al., Nat. Immunol. 2: 269-74 (2001); Coyle et al., Immunity 13: 95-105 (2000); McAdam et al., Nature 409: 102-5 (2001); Tafuri et al., Nature 409: 1059 (2001); Suh et al., Nat. Immunol. 4: 899-906 (2003). ICOS mice<sup>- / -</sup> they also show a reduced number of reproductive centers in response to initial immunization, profound defects in the formation of reproductive centers in response to secondary challenge and defects in the switching of IgG classes. The role of ICOS in the interaction of T: B lymphocytes has been further tested by identifying homozygous ICOS loss in T lymphocytes in patients with common variable immunodeficiency of early adulthood. Grimbacher et al., Nat. Immunol. 4: 261-68 (2003).
[0069] As a result, ICOS / ICOSL agonism (e.g., anti-ICOS agonist antibodies, soluble ICOS / ICOSL ligand) may be useful for enhancing the immune response in the treatment of infection (e.g., acute and chronic) and / or cancer immunity.
3. The PD-1 pathway:
An important negative signal for co-stimulatory activation of T lymphocytes is provided by the programmed programmed receptor-1 (PD-1) (CD279) and its binding partners in the form of PD-L1 ligands (B7-H1, CD274) and PD-L2 ( B7-DC, CD273). The negative regulatory role of PD-1 was revealed using PD-1 knockouts (Pdcd1<sup>- / -</sup>) that are susceptible to an autoimmune reaction. Nishimura et al., Immunity 11: 141-51 (1999); Nishimura et al., Science 291: 319-22 (2001). PD-1 is associated with CD28 and CTLA-4, but has no cysteine near the membrane that allows homodimerization. The PD-1 cytoplasmic domain contains the ITIM motif (immunoreceptor tyorine-based inhibition motif, V / IxYxxL / V). PD-1 binds only to PD-L1 and PD-L2. Freeman et al., J. Exp. Med. 192: 1-9 (2000); Dong et al., Nature Med. 5: 1365-1369 (1999); Latchman et al., Nature Immunol. 2: 261-268 (2001); Tseng et al., J. Exp. Med. 193: 839-846 (2001).
[0071] PD-1 can be expressed on T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer type T lymphocytes, monocyte activated cells and dendritic cells (DCs). PD-1 is expressed in activated, but not in unstimulated, human CD4 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup>, B lymphocytes and myeloid cells. This is in opposition to the more limited expression of CD28 and CTLA-4. Nishimura et al., Int. Immunol. 8: 773-80 (1996); Boettler et al., J. Virol. 80: 3532-40 (2006). There are at least 4 PD-1 variants that have been cloned from activated human T lymphocytes, including transcripts lacking (i) exon 2, (ii) exon 3, (iii) exons 2 and 3 or (iv) exons 2 to 4 Nielsen et al., Cell. Immunol. 235: 109-16 (2005). With the exception of PD-1Ae \ 3, all variants are expressed at similar levels as full-length PD-1 in resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Expression of all variants is significantly induced after activation of human T lymphocytes by means of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. The PD-1Ae \ 3 variants lack the transmembrane domain and resemble soluble CTLA-4, which plays an important role in the autoimmune reaction. Ueda et al., Nature 423: 506-11 (2003). This variant is enriched in synovial fluid and the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Wan et al., J. Immunol. 177: 8844-50 (2006).
[0072] Two PD-1 ligands differ in their expression patterns. PD-L1 is constitutively expressed on murine T and B lymphocytes, CDs, macrophages, mesenchymal stem cells and mast cells derived from the bone marrow. Yamazaki et al., J. Immunol. 169: 5538-45 (2002). PD-L1 is expressed on a wide range of non-hematopoietic cells (e.g. corneas, lungs, vascular epithelium, non-parenchymal liver cells, mesenchymal stem cells, pancreatic islets, placental syncytiotrophoblasts, keratinocytes, etc.) [Keir et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 26: 677-704 (2008)] and is increased on many cell types after activation. Both type I and type II interferon (IFN) increase the level of PD-L1. Eppihimer et al., Microcirculation 9: 133-45 (2002); Schreiner et al., J. Neuroimmunol. 155: 172-82 (2004). PD-L1 expression in cell lines is reduced if MyD88, TRAF6 and MEK are inhibited. Liu et al., Blood 110: 296-304 (2007). JAK2 also plays a role in PD-L1 induction. Lee et al., FEBS Lett. 580: 755-62 (2006); Liu et al., Blood 110: 296-304 (2007). Loss or inhibition of a phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), a cellular phosphatase that modifies phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt signaling, increased the post-transcriptional expression of PD-L1 in tumors. Parsa et al., Nat. Med. 13: 84-88 (2007). which modifies phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt signaling, increases post-transcriptional PD-L1 expression in tumors. Parsa et al., Nat. Med. 13: 84-88 (2007). which modifies phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt signaling, increases post-transcriptional PD-L1 expression in tumors. Parsa et al., Nat. Med. 13: 84-88 (2007).
[0073] Expression of PD-L2 is more limited than PD-L1. PD-L2 is induced by expression on DC, macrophages and mast cells derived from the bone marrow. PD-L2 is also expressed on about half to two-thirds of resting peritoneal B1 cells, but not on conventional B2 B lymphocytes. Zhong et al., Eur.J. Immunol. 37: 2405-10 (2007). PD-L2 + B1 cells bind phosphatidylcholine and may be important for innate immune responses against bacterial antigens. Induction of PD-L2 by IFN-γ depends partly on NF-κΒ. Liang et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 33: 2706-16 (2003). PD-L2 can also be induced on monocytes and macrophages by GM-CF, IL-4 and IFN-γ. Yamazaki et al., J. Immunol. 169: 5538-45 (2002); Loke et al., PNAS 100: 5336-41 (2003).
[0074] PD-1 signaling typically has a greater impact on cytokine production than on cell proliferation, with a significant effect on the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2. The inhibition of signaling via PD-1 also depends on the strength of the TCR signaling with greater inhibition provided at low TCR stimulation levels. With this reduction, one can manage by costimulation via CD28 [Freeman et al., J. Exp. Med. 192: 1027-34 (2000)] or the presence of IL-2 [Carter et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 32: 634-43 (2002)].
[0075] Evidence is accumulated that the signaling via PD-L1 and PD-L2 can be bi-directional. That is, in addition to the modification of the TCR or BCR signaling, the signaling may also be provided back to the cells expressing PDL1 and PD-L2. While the treatment of dendritic cells with a natural anti-PD-L2 human antibody isolated from Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia patient showed no elevation of MHC II or B7 costimulatory molecules, such cells produced more pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-α and IL-6, and stimulated proliferation lymphocytes T. Nguyen et al., J. Exp. Med. 196: 1393-98 (2002). Treating mice with this antibody also (1) increased resistance to transplanted b16 melanoma and rapidly induced tumor specific CTL. Radhakrishnan et al., J. Immunol. 170: 1830-38 (2003); Radhakrishnan et al., Cancer Res. 64: 4965-72 (2004); Heckman et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 37: 1827-35 (2007); (2) blocked the development of inflammatory disease of the airways in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Radhakrishnan et al., J. Immunol. 173: 1360-65 (2004); Radhakrishnan et al., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 116: 66874 (2005).
[0076] Further evidence of reverse signaling to dendritic cells ("DCs") results from bone marrow-derived DC studies grown with soluble PD-1 (EC PD-1 domain fused to the constant Ig region - "s-PD-1") . Kuipers et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 36: 2472-82 (2006). This sPD-1 inhibited DC activation and increased production of IL-10, reversibly by anti-PD-1 administration.
[0077] Additionally, several studies show a receptor for PD-L1 or PD-L2, which is independent of PD-1. B7.1 has already been identified as a binding partner for PD-L1. Butte et al., Immunity 27: 111-22 (2007). Studies on chemical crosslinking suggest that PDL1 and B7.1 can interact via their IgV-like domains. Interactions B7.1: PD-L1 can induce inhibitory signal to T lymphocytes. The attachment of PD-L1 on CD4 + T lymphocytes by B7.1 or attachment of B7.1 on CD4 + T lymphocytes via PD-L1 provides the inhibitory signal. T-lymphocytes lacking CD28 and CTLA-4 show a decrease in cytokine proliferation and production when stimulated by anti-CD3 coated beads from B7.1. In T lymphocytes lacking all receptors for B7.1 (i.e. CD28, CTLA-4 and PD-L1) T-cell proliferation and cytokine production were no longer inhibited by anti-CD3 coated beads from B7.1. This means that B7.1 acts specifically by PD-L1 on T-lymphocyte in the absence of CD28 and CTLA-4. Similarly, PD-1 deficient T cells showed reduced proliferation and cytokine production when stimulated in the presence of anti-CD3 coated beads with PD-L1, demonstrating the inhibitory effect of PD-L1 attachment to B7.1 on T lymphocytes. When T lymphocytes were devoid of all known receptors for PD-L1 (i.e. without PD-1 and B7.1), T-cell proliferation was no longer attenuated by anti-CD3 coated beads from PD-L1. Therefore, PD-L1 may exert an inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes through B7.1 or PD-1. 1 acts specifically by PD-L1 on T-lymphocyte in the absence of CD28 and CTLA-4. Similarly, PD-1 deficient T cells showed reduced proliferation and cytokine production when stimulated in the presence of anti-CD3 coated beads with PD-L1, demonstrating the inhibitory effect of PD-L1 attachment to B7.1 on T lymphocytes. When T lymphocytes were devoid of all known receptors for PD-L1 (i.e. without PD-1 and B7.1), T-cell proliferation was no longer attenuated by anti-CD3 coated beads from PD-L1. Therefore, PD-L1 may exert an inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes through B7.1 or PD-1. 1 acts specifically by PD-L1 on T-lymphocyte in the absence of CD28 and CTLA-4. Similarly, PD-1 deficient T cells showed reduced proliferation and cytokine production when stimulated in the presence of anti-CD3 coated beads with PD-L1, demonstrating the inhibitory effect of PD-L1 attachment to B7.1 on T lymphocytes. When T lymphocytes were devoid of all known receptors for PD-L1 (i.e. without PD-1 and B7.1), T-cell proliferation was no longer attenuated by anti-CD3 coated beads from PD-L1. Therefore, PD-L1 may exert an inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes through B7.1 or PD-1. When T lymphocytes were deprived of all known PD-L1 receptors (i.e. without PD-1 and B7.1), T-cell proliferation was no longer attenuated by anti-CD3 coated beads from PD-L1. Therefore, PD-L1 may exert an inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes through B7.1 or PD-1. When T lymphocytes were deprived of all known PD-L1 receptors (i.e. without PD-1 and B7.1), T-cell proliferation was no longer attenuated by anti-CD3 coated beads from PD-L1. Therefore, PD-L1 may exert an inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes through B7.1 or PD-1.
[0078] The direct interaction between B7.1 and PD-L1 suggests that the contemporary understanding of costimulation is incomplete and underlines the importance of the expression of these molecules on T lymphocytes. PD-L1 T cell assays<sup>- / -</sup> indicate that PD-L1 on T lymphocytes may decrease the production of cytokines by T lymphocytes. Latchman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA 101: 10691-96 (2004). Since both PD-L1 and B7.1 are expressed on T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, DCs and macrophages, there is a possibility of directional interactions between B7.1 and PD-L1 on these cell types. In addition, PD-L1 on non-hematopoietic cells may interact with B7.1 as well as PD-1 on T-lymphocytes, which raises the question of whether PD-L1 is involved in their regulation. One possible explanation for the inhibitory effect of B7.1: PD-L1 is that the PD-L1 of the T-lymphocyte can either capture or separate B7.1 APC from interacting with CD28.
[0079] As a result, antagonism of PD-L1 signaling, including PD-L1 blocking, such that it does not interact with PD-1, B7.1 or both, thus preventing the sending of a negative costimulatory signal through PD-L1 to T lymphocytes and other antigen-presenting cells, may likely enhance immunity in response to infection (e.g., acute and chronic) and cancer resistance. In addition, anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the present invention may be combined with antagonists of other components of the PD-1 signaling pathway: PD-L1, e.g. antagonist anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L2 antibodies.
4. B7-H3 [0080] Costimulatory signals are also provided by B7-H3 (B7RP-2, CD276, PRO352) that are extensively expressed in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. Chapoval et al., Nat. Immunol. 2: 269-74 (2001). In humans, B7-H3 has both a 4Ig and a 2Ig variant, with a predominance of 4Ig, while the 2Ig variant predominates in mice. Sun et al., J. Immuuol. 168: 6294-97 (2002); Steinberger et al., J. Immuuol. 172: 2352-59 (2004); Ling et al., Genomics 82: 365-77 (2003).
[0081] Recent studies have shown that B7-H3 is both a stimulator and an inhibitor of T cell responses. Evidence for stimulatory activation is as follows: (1) in combination with anti-CD3, B7-H3 / Ig fusions co-stimulate CD4 + T cell proliferation and CD8 + and stimulated lytic activity of IFN-γ and CD8, Chapoval et al., Nat. Immunol. 2: 269-74 (2001); and (2) injection of the B7-H3 expression plasmid into tumors in the EL-4 lymphoma model resulted in complete regression of 50% of tumors that was dependent on CD8 + T lymphocytes and NK cells. However, several recent studies have shown the inhibitory role of this molecule. Nokauty B7-H3<sup>- / -</sup> in APC, they show a twofold increase in alloreactive T-cell proliferation in the MLR response. Activation of CD4 T cells by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 was inhibited in HLA-DR2 transfected with any of the forms of B7-H3. Ling et al., Geuomics 82: 365-77 (2003). The result was a reduction in the proliferation and production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10 and GM-CSF. The reconciliation of these tests may lie in the existence of two receptors for B7-H3 with opposite functions, similar to how CD28 and CTLA-4 regulate signaling through B7.1 and B7.2.
[0082] As a result, blocking of B7-H3 signaling may contribute to enhancing the immune response to infection and cancer resistance when it is combined with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention.
5. B7-H4 [0083] The most recent addition to the B7 family is B7-H4 (B7x, B7-S1, B7-H.5, VTCN1, PRO1291), which is a negative regulator of the lymphocytes of T. Zang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100 (18), 10388-10392 (2003); Watanabe et al., Nat. Immunol. 4 (7), 670-679 (2003); Prasad, et al., Immunity 18 (6), 863-873 (2003); Sica et al., Immunity 18 (6), 849-861 (2003). Both human and mouse B7-H4 are extensively expressed in both lymphoid organs (spleen and thymus) and non-lymphatic (including lungs, liver, testes, ovaries, placenta, skeletal muscles, pancreas and small intestine). B7H4 is not detected in healthy human tissues using the IHC method, nor B7-H4 regulation at the level of translation. IHC shows that B7-H4 is strongly expressed in lung and ovarian tumors, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicates that mouse B7-H4 is also highly expressed in cell lines of prostate, lung and colon cancer. B7-H4 binds to an unknown receptor on activated but not naïve T lymphocytes that is different from CTLA-4, ICOS,
PD-1 and receptor for B7-H3. Although BTLA was initially described as a ligand for B7-H4, the reported binding of B7-H4 / Ig fusion to wild-type but not BTLA cells<sup>- / -</sup> imposes the conclusion that HVEM, not BTLA, is a unique ligand for B7-H4. Sedy et al., Nat. Immunol. 6: 90-98 (2004).
[0084] Studies with B7-H4 transfectants and immobilized B7-H4 / Ig fusions show that B7-H4 provides a signal that inhibits CD4 T cell proliferation<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> via TCR, cell cycle progression in the G0 / G1 phase and IL-2 production. Sica et al., Immunity 18: 849-61 (2003); Zang et al., PNAS 100: 10388-92 (2003); Prasad et al., Immunity 18: 863-73 (2003). B7.1 costimulation can not overcome the inhibition induced by B7-H4 / Ig. The anti-B7-H4 blocking antibody increased T-cell proliferation and IL-2 production in vitro. In vivo anti-B7H4 antibody coinciding with hemiplatin (KLH) bleeding in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) led to a slight increase in antiKLH IgM production and two to three fold increase in T cell proliferation and IL-2 production after re-stimulation in vitro with KLH, suggesting a greater initial stimulation of T lymphocytes in vivo in the presence of anti-B7-H4.<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> and CD11b macrophages<sup>+</sup> in the brain in a mouse model of autoimmune disease treated with anti-B7-H4. Combined available experimental data on B7-H4 suggests that it may lower immune responses in peripheral tissues and play a role in the regulation of T cell tolerance. B7-H4 expression may also play a role in avoiding host immune responses in the case of tumor immunity. Choi et al., J. Immunol. 171: 4650-54 (2003). As a result, B7-H4 antagonism may be useful for enhancing the immune response to infection and cancer resistance when it is combined with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention.
6. BTLA:
[0085] A member of the B7 family, BTLA (CD272, BTLA-1) is functionally similar to PD-1 and CTLA. Initially identified as a selective marker of Th1 lymphocytes, BTLA is expressed only on lymphocytes. Similarly to CTLA-4, ICOS and PD-1, BTLA is induced on T lymphocytes during activation. However, unlike ICOS, which remains elevated on Th2 lymphocytes, but is lowered in Th1 lymphocytes, BTLA is still expressed on Th1 lymphocytes, but not on Th2 lymphocytes. Similar to PD-1, BTLA is also expressed on B lymphocytes. Gavrieli et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 312: 1236-43 (2003). However, BTLA is expressed on both resting and activated B lymphocytes, whereas PD-1 expression is elevated on activated B lymphocytes. BTLA has two ITIM motifs.
[0086] BTLA exerts an inhibitory effect on both B lymphocytes and T. Watanabe et al., Nat. Immunol. 4: 670-79 (2003). B BLTA lymphocytes<sup>- / -</sup> show a slight response to anti-IgM, but an increased response to anti-CD3 in vitro. Polarized Th1 BT1 lymphocytes<sup>- / -</sup> show an approximately twofold increase in proliferation in response to in vitro antigen exposure. In vivo, BTLA mice<sup>- / -</sup> show a triple increase in the response of hapten-specific antibodies and increased susceptibility to EAE. The phenotype of BTLA mice<sup>- / -</sup> reminiscent of the PD-1 mouse phenotype<sup>- / -</sup>, showing increased sensitivity to the autoimmune reaction, but more subtle than phenotypes of CTLA-4 mice<sup>- / -</sup>. However, considering its role as a negative regulator, blocking BTLA may prove useful for enhancing the immune response to infection and anti-tumor immunity in combination with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention. [0087] Interestingly, it has recently been demonstrated that a member of the Ig superfamily, BTLA, also interacts with a member of the TNFR family, HVEM. Sedy et al., Nat. Immunol. 6: 90-98 (2005); Gonza21 lez et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102: 1116-1121 (2005). The HVEM overview is shown below in the paragraph TNFR Costimulators.
E. Costimulators from the TNFR family
1. OX40 / OX40L (CD134) [0088] OX40 deficient mice (CD134, TXPG1L, TNFRSF4) and OX40L (CD134L, CD252, GP34, TNFSF4, TXGP1) have reduced primary CD4 + T cell responses to both viral antigens and common protein antigens as well as in the reactions of contact sensitivity. Chen et al., Immunity 11: 689-698 (1999); Kopf et al., Immunity 11: 699-708 (1999); Murata et al., J. Exp. Med. 191: 365-374 (2000); Gramaglia et al., J. Immunol. 165: 3043-3050 (2000). Lower frequencies of antigen-specific effector T lymphocytes are formed late in the primary response and develop less memory T lymphocytes. Gramaglia et al., Supra. In contrast to CD27 deficient T lymphocytes, early proliferation is not impaired in naive CD4 + T cell populations deficient in OX40. However, reduced proliferation and significant apoptotic cell death occur 4-5 days after activation, which leads to the fact that few T cells survive in the long term. Rogers et al., Immunity 15: 445-455 (2001). For OX40 deficient CD8 + T lymphocytes, the initial cell division is unchanged, but the accumulation of primary effector cells is significantly reduced 3-6 days after meeting the antigen. Croft et al., Nat. Immunol. 3: 609-620 (2003).
[0089] Transgenic expression of OX40L by dendritic cells or T lymphocytes has increased the number of CD4 + T cells responsive to antigen and gives autoimmune-like symptoms that are associated with abnormal activation of lymphocytes T. Brocker et al., Eur.J. Immunol. 29: 1610-1616 (1999); Murata et al., J. Immunol. 169: 4628-4636 (2002). After immunization, injection of an anti-OX40 agonist leads to the accumulation of a larger number of CD4 + T cells reactive at the peak of the primary response and a concomitant increase in the number of memory T cells that are produced. Gramaglia et al., Supra, Bansai-Pakala et al., Nature Med. 7: 907-912 (2001), Maxwell et al., J. Immunol. 164: 107-112 (2000); Weatherill et al., Cell. Immunol. 209: 63-75 (2001). Increased accumulation of primary effector CTLs occurs when mice pre-stimulated with antigen are treated with an OX40-specific agonistic antibody. De Smedt et al., J. Immunol. 168: 661-670 (2002).
[0090] OX40 is thought to provide a late-acting signal that allows the newly formed effector cells to survive at the peak of the primary immune response. There is also good evidence that OX40 continues to work in the CD28 pathway - in addition to increased expression of OX40 mediated by CD28 signals, functional analysis of CD28 deficiency against OX40 deficiency has shown that early primary T cell responses are significantly impaired in the absence of CD28 signals, but only late responses are disturbed in the absence of OX40 signals. Rogers et al., Immunity 15: 445-455 (2001); Bertram et al., J. Immunol. 168: 3777-3785 (2002).
[0091] As a result, activation of OX40 / OX40L, such as by the use of agonist antibodies, is likely to be useful in combination with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention to treat disorders associated with T-cell dysfunction.
2. 4-1BB (CD137) / 4-1BBL, [0092] Similar to OX40 / OX40L, T-lymphocytes with 4-1BB deficiency (CD137, TNFRSF9) and 4-1BBL (TNFSF9) show less CD8 + T-cells reactive to antigen. accumulating in primary responses, when 4-1BBL is absent and less evolving memory T lymphocytes. DeBenedette et al., J. Immunol. 163: 4833-4841 (1999); Tan et al., J. Immunol. 163: 4859-4868 (1999); Tan et al., J. Immunol. 164: 232022
2325 (2000). In addition, blocking 4-1BBL does not change the initial CD8 + T cell proliferative response, but inhibits the burstaccumulation of effector CTL at the peak of the primary response after 3-6 days, due to the apoptosis of the cells, which split several times. Cooper et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 32: 521-529 (2002). Agonist anti-4-1BB and anti-4-1BBL-transfected APC also produced similar results: CTL responses and CD4 + T-lymphocytes are markedly increased in vivo. Melero et al., Nature Med. 3: 682-685 (1997); Melero et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 28: 1116-1121 (1998); Takahashi et al., J. Immunol. 162: 5037-5040 (1999); Guinn et al., J. Immunol. 162: 50035010 (1999); Halstead et al., Nature Immunol. 3: 536-541 (2002); Takahashi et al., Immunol. Lett. 76: 183-191 (2001); Bansal-Pakala et al., J. Immunol. 169: 5005-5009 (2002). The antibody specific for 4-1BB does not change the initial proliferative response,
[0093] As with OX40, it is believed that 4-1BB provides a late acting signal that allows survival of newly formed effector cells at the peak of the primary immune response. There is also good evidence that
4-1BB works later than CD28 - in addition to increased expression of OX40 and 4-1BB via CD28 signals, functional analysis of CD28 deficiency against 41BB deficiency showed that early primary T cell responses are significantly impaired in the absence of CD28 signals, but only late responses are disturbed in the absence of OX40 signals. Rogers et al., Immunity 15: 445-455 (2001); Bertram et al., J. Immunol. 168: 3777-3785 (2002).
[0094] An anti-CD137 agonist antibody can induce tumor regression in a cancer in which CTL CD8 + plays a major role. Melero et al., Nat. Med. 3: 682-5 (1997); Hirano et al., Cancer Res. 65 (3): 1089-96 (2005). Constitutive and inducible expression of PD-L1 confers resistance in such tumors that is reversible after PD-L1 blockage. Hirano et al.
As a result, 4-1BB / 4-BBL activation, such as by using agonist antibodies, particularly in combination with PD-L1 antagonists (e.g., anti-PD-L1 antibody), is likely to be useful in the treatment of disorders associated with T-cell dysfunction.
3. CD27 / CD27L (CD70) [0096] The importance of CD27 (TNFRSF7, S152) and CD27L (CD70, TNFSF7) signaling in the initial phases of T cell responses was demonstrated in in vitro blocking studies in which CD27 / CD70 interactions were disrupted. Oshima et al., Int. Immunol. 10: 517-526 (1998); Agematsu et al., J. Immunol. 153: 1421-1429 (1994); Hintzen et al., J. Immunol. 154: 2612-2623 (1995). T-lymphocytes that are free of CD27 initially divide normally, but then proliferate poorly 3 or more days after activation. Hendriks et al., Nature Immunol. 1: 433-440 (2000). This indicates that CD27 is involved in promoting the initial expansion of naive T cell populations either by early inhibition of T cell death or by acting on the cell cycle to allow a prolonged division 2-3 days after activation. This was confirmed in in vivo studies in CD27-deficient mice whose lower numbers of antigen-specific responses (days 4-8) and less memory T lymphocytes developed over 3 or more weeks. Hendriks et al., Supra. Expression of CD27 is elevated early after T-cell activation, suggesting that it mainly provides signals that support early proliferation before the effector response peak point.
[0097] As a result, activation of CD27 / CD27L, including the use of agonist antibodies, particularly in combination with the anti-PDL1 antibodies described herein, is likely to be useful for treating disorders associated with T-cell dysfunction.
4. CD30 / CD30L (CD153) [0098] The signaling of CD30 (TNFRSF8, Ki-1) and CD30L (CD153, TNFSF8) is co-stimulatory for several of the functions of in vitro T lymphocytes. Del Prete et al., J. Exp. Med. 182: 1655-1661 (1995), Bowen et al., J. Immunol. 156: 442-449 (1995). CD30L blocking reagents inhibited the development of Th2 lymphocytes and increased the development of Th1 cells in vitro. This effect is according to data which shows that CD30 is preferentially expressed in Th2 lymphocytes and type 2 cytotoxic lymphocytes, Tc2. Del Prete et al., Supra, Nakamura et al., J. Immunol. 158: 2090-2098 (1996). CD30 is expressed 3-4 days after the activation of naive T lymphocytes in non-polarized primary responses. Nakamura et al., Supra, indicating that its role is not limited to responses dominated by type 2 cytokines.
Although accurate CD30 / CD30L signaling mechanisms are unclear, it has been suggested that they may be similar to OX40 and 4-1BB. When subjected to the adoptive tranfer, antigen-specific CD8 + T lymphocytes are transferred to CD30L deficient mice, they do not accumulate at a large number at the peak of the primary response and less memory T lymphocytes develop. As a result, CD30 may also provide signals for proliferation and / or survival to allow the formation of a large number of antigen specific T lymphocytes at the peak point of primary responses.
[0100] As a result, activation of CD27 / CD27L, including the use of agonistic antibodies, particularly in combination with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies described herein, is likely to be useful for the treatment of disorders associated with T-cell dysfunction.
5. HVEM / LIGHT [0101] The effect of HVEM (HVEA, ATAR, LIGHTR, TNFRSF14, PRO509) and LIGHT (CD258, HVEML, TR2, TNFSF14, PRO726) on the co-stimulation of T lymphocytes is complicated by 1) the ability of LIGHT to also bind to the lymphoxotin-beta receptor (LTPR) and 2) HVEM to bind to soluble LTα3. Therefore, any HVEM / LIGHT impact studies should also take into account the effects of other binding partners for this signaling system. Blockage LIGHT may inhibit early T cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs). Tamada et al., J. Immunol. 164: 4105-4110 (2000), Kwon et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272: 14272-14276 (1997); Harrop et al., J. Immunol. 161: 1786-1794 (1998); Tamada et al., Nature Med. 6: 283-289 (2000). The production of proinflammatory cytokines is inhibited, when LIGHT is blocked in allogeneic heart transplants with MHC mismatch. Ye et al., J. Exp. Med. 195: 795-800 (2002). In addition, allogeneic skin grafts are discarded with delayed kinetics in recipients who are deficient in both LIGHT and CD28. Scheu et al., J. Exp. Med. 195: 1613-1624 (2002). It has been suggested that delayed transplant rejection may indicate an early inhibition of clonal T-cell expansion or cytokine production. This conclusion is supported by (i) in vitro studies showing that splenic Lymphocytes responding to the allogeneic antigen exhibit reduced production of TH1 and TH2 cytokines and poor stimulation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity [Sheu et al., Supra] and (ii) in vivo studies showing that blocking LIGHT reduces the formation of alloreactive CTLs. Tamada et al. Nature Med. 6: 283-289 (2000).
[0102] As a result, HVEM / LIGHT activation, such as by the use of agonist antibodies, especially in combination with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies described herein, may be useful for the treatment of disorders associated with T-cell dysfunction.
II. Definitions [0103] An "allergen" or "immunogen" is any molecule that can elicit an immune response. As used herein, the term encompasses either the antigenic molecule itself, or a source thereof, such as pollen grain, animal hair, insect venom or food product. This should be distinguished from the term antigen, which refers to a molecule that can be specifically recognized by an immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor. Any foreign substance capable of eliciting an immune response is a potential allergen. Many different chemical substances of both natural and synthetic origin are known as allergens. Complex natural organic compounds, especially proteins, can cause allergy through antibodies, while simple organic compounds, inorganic substances and metals more preferentially cause allergy through T-lymphocytes. In some cases, the same allergen may be responsible for more than one type of allergy. Allergen exposure may occur by inhalation, injection, injection or contact with the skin.
[0104] "Dysfunction" in the context of immune system dysfunction refers to a limited immune response to antigen stimulation. This term includes the common elements of both exhaustion and / or anergy in which antigen recognition may occur, but the subsequent immune response is ineffective in controlling infection or tumor growth.
[0105] "Tolerance" or "immunological tolerance" is the inability of the immune system to elicit a defensive immune response to a specific antigen. Tolerance can be natural or personal, in which the body does not attack its own proteins and antigens, or can be induced, resulting from the manipulation of the immune system. Central tolerance occurs during lymphocyte development and occurs in the thymus and bone marrow. During this process, T and B lymphocytes that recognize self antigens are removed before they develop into fully immunocompetent cells. This process is most active during fetal development, but lasts throughout life when immature lymphocytes are formed. Peripheral tolerance of T lymphocytes tolerance refers to a functional lack of response to autoantigens, which are present in peripheral tissues and occurs after the T and B lymphocytes mature and enter the periphery. These processes include the inhibition of autoreactive cells by "regulatory" T lymphocytes and the formation of hyporeactivity (anergy) in lymphocytes that encounter the antigen in the absence of co-stimulatory signals that accompany inflammation. "Acquired" or "induced tolerance" refers to the adaptation of the immune system to external antigens characterized by a specific lack of lymphoid tissue reactivity to a given antigen, which in other circumstances would probably induce cell-mediated and humoral immunity. In adults, tolerance may be clinically induced by repeated administration of very high doses of antigen or low doses that are below the threshold required to stimulate an immune response, such as by intravenous or sublingual administration of soluble antigens. Immunosupression also facilitates the induction of tolerance. Breaking autotolerance can lead to autoimmune reactions.
[0106] "T-cell exposure" means the induction, induction or stimulation of T lymphocytes into sustained or enhanced biological activity, or the renewal or reactivation of depleted or inactive T cells. Examples of T-lymphocyte enhancement include: increased interferon γ secretion from CD8 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup>, increased proliferation, increased reactivity to the antigen (e.g., removal of viruses or pathogens) relative to pre-intervention levels. In one embodiment, the level of severity is at least 50%, alternatively 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, 120%, 150%, 200%. A method for measuring this severity is known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0107] A "disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction" is a disorder or condition of T lymphocytes characterized by reduced reactivity to antigen stimulation. In a particular embodiment, the disorder associated with T-lymphocyte dysfunction is a disorder that is specifically associated with inadequately increased signaling through PD-1. In another embodiment, the disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction is one in which T-lymphocytes are anergic or have reduced cytokine secretion, proliferation or cytolytic activity. In a specific aspect, reduced reactivity leads to ineffective control of a pathogen or tumor expressing an immunogen. Examples of disorders associated with dysfunction of T lymphocytes characterized by T-cell dysfunction include untreated acute infection,
[0108] "Chronic infection" refers to an infection in which an infectious agent (e.g., pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, parasitic protozoans, fungi, or the like) has elicited an immune response in the infected host but has not been removed or eliminated from it. host, as during an acute infection. Chronic infections can be persistent, latent or slow. While acute infections are usually cured by the immune system in a few days or weeks (e.g., influenza), persistent infections persist at a relatively low level for months, years, decades or whole life (e.g., hepatitis B). In contrast, latent infections are characterized by a long period of asymptomatic activity interrupted by periods of fast-growing high-grade infection and elevated levels of pathogens (eg herpes). Finally, slow infection is one that is characterized by a gradual and continuous build-up of disease symptoms, such as a long incubation period, followed by a prolonged and progressive clinical course that begins after the onset of clinical symptoms. In contrast to latent and persistent infections, slow infection may not start with an acute period of virus expansion (eg picornavirus infection, visna virus, scrapie, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease). Exemplary infectious agents capable of causing chronic infection include viruses (e.g., cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Listeria spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Borrelia spp., Helicobacter pylori and the like), parasitic protozoa (e.g., Leishmania spp., Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma spp., Toxoplasma spp., Trypanosoma spp. , Taenia carssiceps and the like) and fungi (e.g.
Aspergillus spp., Candida albicaus, Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Pneumocystis carinii and the like). Additional infectious agents include prions or misfolded proteins that affect the structure of the brain or neurons by further promoting the poor folding of proteins in these tissues, leading to the formation of amyloid plaques that cause cell death, tissue damage and death. Examples of disease resulting from prion infection include: Creutzfeldt Jakob disease and its variants, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Syndrome (GSS), fatal familial insomnia (sFI), kuru, scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle (known as 'mad cow' disease ") And various other forms of animal encephalopathy [e.g. transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME),
[0109] "Tumor immunity" refers to a process in which tumors escape recognition and removal by the immune system. Therefore, as a therapeutic concept, cancer resistance is "treated" when such avoidance is weakened and cancers are recognized and attacked by the immune system. Examples of cancer recognition include tumor binding, tumor shrinkage, and tumor removal. [0110] A "B7-negative co-stimulatory antagonist" ("BNCA") is a factor that reduces, blocks, inhibits, suppresses or interferes with a negative co-stimulatory signal channeled through or through surface proteins of cells expressed on T cells through a member of the B7 family. In one aspect, the BNCA may alone or in combination with the anti-PD-1 antibodies of the invention cause, that dysfunctional T lymphocytes are dysfunctional. In another aspect, the BNCA may be a factor that inhibits the synthesis, expression, signaling and / or post-expression processing of the nucleic acid or B7-negative protein of the costimulatory molecule. In yet another aspect, the BNCA is an antibody, an antigen-binding antibody fragment, a BNCA oligopeptide, a BNCA RNAi or a small BNCA molecule that reduces, blocks, inhibits, abrogates or interferes with signal transduction by a B7-negative costimulatory molecule. Examples of B7-negative costimulatory molecules include: CTLA-4, PD-L1, PD-1, B7.1 (expressed on T lymphocytes), PD-L2, B7-H3 and B7-H4. In yet another aspect, the BNCA is an antibody, an antigen-binding antibody fragment, a BNCA oligopeptide, a BNCA RNAi or a small BNCA molecule that reduces, blocks, inhibits, abrogates or interferes with signal transduction by a B7-negative costimulatory molecule. Examples of B7-negative costimulatory molecules include: CTLA-4, PD-L1, PD-1, B7.1 (expressed on T lymphocytes), PD-L2, B7-H3 and B7-H4. In yet another aspect, the BNCA is an antibody, an antigen-binding antibody fragment, a BNCA oligopeptide, a BNCA RNAi or a small BNCA molecule that reduces, blocks, inhibits, abrogates or interferes with signal transduction by a B7-negative costimulatory molecule. Examples of B7-negative costimulatory molecules include: CTLA-4, PD-L1, PD-1, B7.1 (expressed on T lymphocytes), PD-L2, B7-H3 and B7-H4.
[0111] A positive co-stimulatory agonist is a molecule that enhances, intensifies, enhances or facilitates the co-stimulatory signal channeled through or through cell surface proteins expressed on T cells. In one aspect, the positive costimulatory molecule may be an extracellular domain, a soluble construct or agonistic antibody, which activates a positive costimulatory route. Examples of positive costimulatory molecules include the superfamily of B7 molecules, e.g. B7.1, B7.2, CD28 and ICOS / ICOSL. Additional examples include co-stimulatory molecules from the TNFR family, e.g. OX40 / OX40L. 41-BB / 41-BBL, CD27 / CD27L,
CD30 / CD30L and HVEM / LIGHT.
[0112] A "small molecule" or "small organic molecule" is one that has a molecular weight below about 500 Daltons.
[0113] An "interfering RNA" "RNAi" is a 10 to 50 nucleotide long RNA that reduces the expression of the target gene in which portions of the strand are sufficiently complementary (e.g., exhibit at least 80% identity with the target gene). The RNA interference method refers to the specific purpose of inhibiting gene expression ("gene silencing") at the post-transcriptional level (e.g., translation) and includes all post-transcriptional and transcriptional RNA-inhibition mechanisms such as those described in PD Zamore, Science 296: 1265 (2002) and Hannan and Rossi, Nature 431: 371-378 (2004). As used herein, RNAi may be in the form of small interfering RNA (siRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and / or micro RNA (miRNA). Such RNAi molecules are often double-stranded RNA complexes, which can be expressed as separate complementary or partially complementary RNA strands. Methods for designing double stranded RNA complexes are well known in the art. For example, the design and synthesis of suitable shRNAs and siRNAs can be found in Sandy et al., BioTechniques 39: 215-224 (2005).
[0114] A "small interfering RNA" or siRNA is a double stranded RNA duplex (dsRNA) of 10 to 50 nucleotides in length that reduces the expression of the target gene in which the first strand parts are sufficiently complementary (e.g., have at least 80% identity to the target gene) ). siRNAs are specifically designed to avoid an antiviral response characterized by increased interferon synthesis, non-specific inhibition of protein synthesis and RNA degradation, which often leads to suicide or cell death associated with the use of RNAi in mammalian cells. Paddison et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99 (3): 1443-8. (2002).
[0115] The term "hairpin" refers to the structure of an RNA loop with 7-20 nucleotides. A "short hairpin RNA" or "shRNA" is a single-stranded RNA of 10 to 50 nucleotides in length, characterized by a hairpin bend that reduces the expression of the target gene in which portions of the RNA strand are sufficiently complementary (e.g. least 80% identity with the target gene). The term "stem-loop" refers to the formation of pairs between two regions of base pairs in the same molecule to form a double helix that ends with a short unpaired loop to form a lollipop-shaped structure.
[0116] A "micro RNA" or "miRNA" (formerly known as stRNA) is single-stranded
RNA with a length of about 10 to 70 nucleotides that initially undergoes transcription as a pre-miRNA characterized by a "stem-loop" structure, which is then processed into mature miRNA after further processing by the silencing complex induced by
RNA (RISC).
[0117] "Interfering BNCA RNA" or "RNAI BNCA" binds, preferably specifically, to BNCA nucleic acid and reduces its expression. This means that the expression of the negative co-stimulatory molecule B7 is lower with the presence of BNCA RNAi as compared to the expression of the negative B7 costimulatory molecule in a control in which the BNCA RNAi is not present. BNCA RNAi can be identified and synthesized using known methods (Shi Y., Trends in Genetics 19 (1): 9-12 (2003), WO2003056012, WO2003064621, WO2001 / 075164, WO2002 / 044321.
[0118] A "BNCA oligopeptide" is an oligopeptide that binds, preferably specifically, to a negative B7 costimulatory polypeptide, at the appropriate receptor, ligand or signaling component, as described herein. Such oligopeptides can be synthesized chemically using known oligopeptide synthesis methods or can be prepared and purified using recombinant technology. Such oligopeptides are usually at least 5 amino acids long, alternatively at least about 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57,
58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81,
82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100 or more amino acids. Such oligopeptides can be identified without undue experimentation using well-known techniques. In this regard, it should be noted that techniques for screening oligopeptide libraries for oligopeptides that are capable of specifically binding to a target polypeptide are well known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,556762, 5750373, 4708871, 4833092, 5223409. , 5403484, 5571689, 5663143, PCT Publication Nos. WO 84/03506 and WO84 / 03564; Geysen et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 3998-4002 (1984); Geysen et al., Proc. Natl Acad Sci USA, 82: 178-182 (1985), Geysen et al., In Synthetic Peptides as Antigens, 130-149 (1986), Geysen et al., J. Immunol. Meth., 102: 259 -274 (1987); Schoofs et al., J. Immunol., 140: 611-616 (1988), Cwirla, SE et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87: 6378 (1990); Lowman, HB et al. Biochemistry, 30: 10832 (1991); Clackson, T. et al. Nature, 352: 624 (1991); Marks, JD et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222: 581 (1991); Kang, AS et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88: 8363 (1991) and Smith, GP, Current Opin. Biotechnol., 2: 668 (1991).
[0119] A "small molecule BNCA antagonist" or "small BNCA molecule" is an organic molecule, other than an oligopeptide or antibody, as defined herein, which inhibits, preferably specifically, a negative B7CA co-stimulatory polypeptide. This inhibition of the negative co-stimulatory B7 signaling preferably results in dysfunctional T lymphocytes reacting to antigen stimulation. Exemplary small BNCA molecules can be identified and chemically synthesized using known methodologies (see, e.g., PCT Publication Nos. WO2000 / 00823 and WO2000 / 39585). Such small BNCA molecules are typically less than about 2,000 Daltons, alternatively less than about 1,500, 750,500, 250 or 200 Daltons, are capable of binding, preferably specifically, to the negative stimulatory B7 polypeptide as described herein, and can be identified without unnecessary experiments using well-known techniques. In this regard, it should be noted that techniques for screening libraries of organic molecules for molecules that are capable of binding to a target polypeptide are well known in the art (see, e.g., PCT Publication Nos. WO00 / 00823 and WO00 / 39585).
[0120] The term "antibiotic" includes any molecule that specifically inhibits or eliminates the growth of microorganisms, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus or protozoan, but is not lethal to the host at the administered concentration and dose. As used herein, the term antibiotic includes an antibacterial agent, an antiviral agent, antifungal agent and antiprotozoal agent. In a specific aspect, the antibiotic is non-toxic to the host at the administered concentration and dosage intervals. Antimicrobial antibacterials or antibacterial agents can be broadly classified as bactericidal (directly killing) or bacteriostatic (i.e., divisive). Bactericidal antibiotics can be further divided into those with a narrow spectrum (ie they only work on a small class of a subset of bacteria, e.g. Gram-negative, etc.) or with a broad spectrum (ie act on a wide class). Examples of antibiotics include: (i) aminoglycosides, e.g. amikacin, gentamycin, kanamycin, neomycin, netylmycin, streptomycin, tobramycin, paromycin, (ii) ansamycins, e.g. geldanamycin, herbimycin, (iii) carbacephems, e.g. loracarbef, (iv) carbapenems, e.g. ertapenum, doripenem, imipenem / cilastatin, meropenem, (v) cephalosporin (first generation), e.g. cefadroxil, cefazolin, cephalothin, cefalexin, (vi) cephalosporins (second generation), e.g. ceflaclor, cefamandol, cefoxitin, cefprozil, cefuroxime, (vi) cephalosporins (third generation), e.g. cefixime, cefdinir, cefditoren, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefpodoxime, ceftazidime, ceftibuten, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone, (vii) cephalosporins (fourth generation), e.g. cefepime, (viii ), cephalosporins (fifth generation), e.g.
[0121] The term "antiviral agent" includes any molecule that inhibits or eliminates the growth, pathogenicity and / or survival of the viruses. This includes antiretroviral agents such as (1) reverse transcriptase inhibitors, including, for example: (a) NRTI reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., acyclovir / aciclovir (ZOVIRAX)<sup>®</sup>, ZOVIR<sup>®</sup>), cidofovir, azidothymidine / zidovudine (AZT, RETROVIR<sup>®</sup>), didanosine (ddI, VIDEX®, zalcitabine (ddC, HIVID<sup>®</sup>); stavudine (d4T, ZERIT<sup>®</sup>; Lamivudine (3TC, EPIVIR<sup>®</sup>); abacavir (ZIAGEN<sup>®</sup>); emtricitabine (EMTRIVA<sup>®</sup>); brivudine (HELPIN<sup>®</sup>); entecavir (BARACLUDE<sup>®</sup>); idoxuridine; viramidine (taribavirin from Valeant Pharmacueticals), a polymerase inhibitor that is an analogue of the cytidine nucleoside PCI-6130 and pro-drug variants (e.g., R7128) from Pharmasset / Roche; an inhibitor that is a nucleoside analogue of Merck / Isis Pharmaceuticals MK-0608, (b) reverse transcriptase inhibitors that are nucleotide analogs (NtRTI) (e.g., tenofovir (VIREAD)<sup>®</sup>); adefovir (PREVEON<sup>®</sup>, HEPSERA<sup>®</sup>); fomiwirsen (VITRAVENE<sup>®</sup>); (c) Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), efavirenz (SUSTIVA<sup>®</sup>, STOCRIN<sup>®</sup>); nevirapine (VIRAMUNE<sup>®</sup>), delavirdine (RESCRIPTOR<sup>®</sup>), etravirine (INTELENCE®), lowirid; non-nucleoside inhibitor of RNA-dependent HCV RNA polymerase from ViroChem Pharma - VCH-759, non-nucleoside HCV inhibitor of HCV polymerase inhibitor from Pfizer - PF-868554; and (d) polymerase inhibitors, including: RNA-dependent hepatitis C RNA polymerase polymerase from Boehringer Ingelheim-BILB-1941, RNA polymerase inhibitor from Roche-R1626; ACH-0137171 replicase inhibitor from Achillion Pharmaceuticals, R7128 - polymerase inhibitor from Roche / Pharmasset, ABT-333 and ABT-072
- polymerase inhibitors from Abbott, BI 207127 - polymerase inhibitor from Boehringer Ingelheim, PSI-7851 - Pharmasset polymerase inhibitor, ANA598 - polymerase inhibitor from Anadys Pharmaceuticals, MK-3281 - polymerase inhibitor from Merck, IDX184 - polymerase inhibitor from Idenix, GSK 625433 - polymerase inhibitor from Glaxo Smith Kline, INX-189 - polymerase inhibitor from Inhibitex, NM283 - polymerase inhibitor from Idenix, HCV796 - polymerase inhibitor from Wyeth, GL60667 and GS9190 - polymerase inhibitors from Gilead, PF-00868554 polymerase inhibitor from Pfizer, VCH759 , VCH916, VX222 and VX759 - polymerase inhibitors with Virochem, IDX184 and IDX375 - Idenix polymerase inhibitors, BMS650032 - polymerase inhibitor from Bristol Myers Squibb; (2) protease inhibitors, including, for example: saquinavir (FOROVASE<sup>®</sup>/ INVIRASE<sup>®</sup>), ritonavir (NORVIR<sup>®</sup>), indinavir (CRIXIVAN<sup>®</sup>), nelfinavir (VIRACEPT<sup>®</sup>), amprenavir (AGENERASE<sup>®</sup>), lopinavir (KALETRA<sup>®</sup>), atazanavir (REYATAZ<sup>®</sup>), fosamprenavir (LEXIVA<sup>®</sup>), tipranavir (APTIVUS<sup>®</sup>), darunavir (PREZISTA<sup>®</sup>), telapravir (VX-950); second-generation HCV protease inhibitors from Vertex Pharmaceuticals - VX-500 and VX-813; protease inhibitor NS3 / 4A from Intermune / RocheITMN-191 / R-7227, boceprevir, protease inhibitor from Schering-Plow - SCH 503034, inbihitor proteazy HCV NS3 / 4A from Medivir / Tibotec - TMC435 / TMC435350, protease inhibitor ACH-1625 from Achillion Pharmaceuticals, ACH-806 - Protease inhibitor from Achillion / Gilead, BI201335 and BILN 2061 - protease inhibitors from Boehringer Ingelheim, SCH 900518 / SP900518 (narlaprevir) - Protease inhibitor from Schering-Plow, MK-7009 - Protease inhibitor from Merck, BMS- 650032, BMS-790052 and BMS-791325 - Bristol protease inhibitors Myeres Squibb, R7227 - protease inhibitor from Roche, PHX1766 - Phenomix protease inhibitor, AVL-181 - protease inhibitor from Avila Therapeutics, biliverdin, CTS-1027 protease inhibitor from Roche Biosciences, VX985 - protease inhibitor from Vertex, VCH-759 and VCH-917 - protease inhibitors from Virochem / Vertex, IDX-136 and 316 - protease inhibitors from Idenix, ABT-450 - protease inhibitor - protease inhibitor from Abbott, VBY 376 - protease inhibitor from Virobay; (3) integrase inhibitors, including, for example, raltegravir (ISENTRESS<sup>®</sup>), elvitegravir; (4) combined therapies with nucleoside analog / nucleotide analogue inhibitors, atripla (tenofovir + embrynitabine + efavirenz), combivir (lamivudine + zidovudine), (5) entry or fusion inhibitors, including for example: maraviroc, enfuvirtide, dokozanol, anti-HIV antibody -CD4, anti-gp120 antibody, anti-CCR5 antibody, HCV NS5a antagonists: (a) A-831, A-689 and AZD 2836 from Arrow Therapeutics, (b) BMS-790052 and BMS-824393 from Bristol Myers Squibb, ( c) GSK-625433 from Glaxo Smith Kline, (d) NS4a antagonists ACH-1095, (5) maturation inhibitors, including, for example, bevirimat and viwecone; (6) virus release inhibitors, including for example: zanamivir (RELENZA<sup>®</sup>), oseltamivir (TAMIFLU<sup>®</sup>), arbidol; (7) immune enhancing agents, including, for example, interferon-α (e.g. BLX-883 and BLX 883 CR from Biolex Therapeutics, a Belerofon with Nautilus Biotech, long-acting IFN-α, IFN-α SR from LG Life Sciences, long acting IFN-a2b CR and IFN-a2b XL from Flamel Technologies, pegylated IFN-α (e.g., PEG-IFN-α-2a, PEGASYS®, PEG-IFN-α-2b, PEGINTRON®), IFN-α2b-fusion protein human serum albumin (ALBUFERON<sup>®</sup>); interferon-β, including IF \ - (') - 1b (BETASERON®), interferon-γ, interferon-λ, pegylated interferon-λ (eg PEG-rIL-29 with ZymoGenetics / Novo Nordisk), interferon-o / interferon from leukocytes II (e.g., Intarcia Therapeutics), agonists of similar toll receptors 7, including imiquimod, isatoribine and their pro-drug variants (e.g., ANA-975 and ANA-971) from Anadys Pharmaceuticals, oglufanid (IM862, L-Glu- L-Trp-OH) and its variants conjugated to a lipid or glycosyl group from Implicit Bioscience, NOV-205 (e.g., Molixan® - a peptide antiviral agent from Novelos Therapeutics, Inc.), anti-viral EHC18 with Enzo Biochem, gamma-D-glutamyl -L-tryptophan (e.g., SCV-07, SciClone Pharmaceuticals / Verta), aloferon (e.g., aloferon-1-HGVSGHGQHGVHG, alloferon-2-GVSGHGQHGVHG), CPG 10101 - TLR-9 agonist from Coley Pharmaceuticals / Actilon; (8) synergistic antiviral agents, i.e. have little or no antiviral activity, but potentiate the effects of other antiviral agents e.g. chloroquine, grapefruit juice, hydroxyurea, leflunomide, mycophenolic acid, resveratrol, ritonavi; and other antiviral drugs such as amantadine, edoxudin, famciclovir (FAMVIR)<sup>®</sup>), penciclovir, faskarnet, phosphonet, ganciclovir (CYTOVENE<sup>®</sup>, CYMEVENE<sup>®</sup>, VITRASERT<sup>®</sup>), gardasil, ibacitabine, imunovir, moroxidine, nexavir, peramivir, pleonaryl, podophyllotoxine, ribavirin, rimantadine, trifluridine, trizivir, tromandadine, truvada, valaciclovir, valganciclovir, vidarabine and interferon potentiating agents, such as EMZ702 from Transition Therapeutics, histamine dihydrochloride (e.g., Ceplene® + IFN-α); and (9) different or unclassified antiviral agents, such as: KPE-02003002 (Artenimol) from Kemin Pharmaceuticals, mitochinon - agonist of Coenzyme Q10 antioxidant from Antipodean Pharmaceuticals, alpha-glucosidase I inhibitors (e.g., MX-3253-celgosivir from Migenix Pharmaceuticals, castanospermine, glucocorticoid antagonists (e.g., HCV IRES inhibitors, mifepristone, VGX-410C from VGX Pharmaceuticals), hepatic agonists (e.g., PYN17 from Phynova Pharmaceuticals), antiviral agents derived from traditional herbal therapies, e.g. PYN18 from Phynova Pharmaceuticals, caspase inhibitors (e.g. LB-84451 - from LG Life Sciences, emrikasan - PF-03491390 / IDN-6556 from Pfizer), cyclosporin analogs that inhibit viral replication by preventing binding to cyclophilin A (e.g., SDZ NIM 911 from Novartis, Debio-025 from Debiopharm), [0122] The term "antifungal agent" includes any molecule that inhibits or abrogates growth, pathogenicity and / or fungal survival. This includes, for example, (1) polyene antifungal agents such as natamycin, rymocidin, filipin, nystatin, amphotericin B, candycin; (2) imidazoles, such as miconazole, ketoconazole (LOTRIMIN emrikasan - PF-03491390 / IDN-6556 from Pfizer), cyclosporin analogs that inhibit viral replication preventing binding to cyclophilin A (e.g., SDZ NIM 911 from Novartis, Debio-025 from Debiopharm), [0122] The term "antifungal agent" includes any molecule that inhibits or eliminates fungal growth, pathogenicity and / or survival. This includes, for example, (1) polyene antifungal agents such as natamycin, rymocidin, filipin, nystatin, amphotericin B, candycin; (2) imidazoles, such as miconazole, ketoconazole (LOTRIMIN emrikasan - PF-03491390 / IDN-6556 from Pfizer), cyclosporin analogs that inhibit viral replication preventing binding to cyclophilin A (e.g., SDZ NIM 911 from Novartis, Debio-025 from Debiopharm), [0122] The term "antifungal agent" includes any molecule that inhibits or eliminates fungal growth, pathogenicity and / or survival. This includes, for example, (1) polyene antifungal agents such as natamycin, rymocidin, filipin, nystatin, amphotericin B, candycin; (2) imidazoles, such as miconazole, ketoconazole (LOTRIMIN This includes, for example, (1) polyene antifungal agents such as natamycin, rymocidin, filipin, nystatin, amphotericin B, candycin; (2) imidazoles, such as miconazole, ketoconazole (LOTRIMIN This includes, for example, (1) polyene antifungal agents such as natamycin, rymocidin, filipin, nystatin, amphotericin B, candycin; (2) imidazoles, such as miconazole, ketoconazole (LOTRIMIN<sup>®</sup>), econazole, bifonazole, butoconazole, fenticonazole, isoconazole, oxoniconazole, sertaconazole (ERTACZO®), sulconazole, thioconazole, (3) triazoles such as fluconazole, itraconazole, isavuconazole, rawuconazole posaconazole, voriconazole, terconazole; (4) allylamines, such as terbinafine (LAMISIL®), amorolfine, naphtyphine (Naftin<sup>®</sup>), butenafine (LOTRIMIN ULTRA<sup>®</sup>); (5) echinocandins, such as anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin, and other substances with antifungal properties, such as benzoic acid, cicclopix, flucytosine, griseofulvin, gentian purple, haloprogin, tolnaftate (TINACTIN<sup>®</sup>, DESENEX<sup>®</sup>, AFTATE<sup>®</sup>), undecylenic acid, tea tree oil - ISO 4730 (Melaleuca oil, Terpinen-4-ol type), citronella oil, lemongrass, orange oil, palmarose oil, patchouli, lemon myrtle, neem seed oil, coconut oil .
[0123] The term "antiprotozoative agent" includes any molecule that inhibits or abrogates the growth, pathogenicity and / or survival of primitive hosts. Examples of antiprotozoal agents include (1) anti-malarial agents, e.g. quinine, quinimax, quinidine, quinimax, chloroquine (ARALEN®), hydroxychloroquine (PLAQUENIL®), amodiaquine, pyrimethamine (DARAPRIM®), sulfadoxine, procloyl, mefloquine (LARIAM®) , halofantrine, prymachine, artemesin and their derivatives (e.g. artemether, artensunate, dihydroartemisinin, arteether), clindamycin and combinations thereof; (2) protease inhibitors and drugs, benznidazole, buparwachon, karbarson, clioquinol, disulfiram, eflornithine, emetin, furazolidone, meglumine antimonite, melarsoprol, metronidazole (FLAGYL®), miltefosine, nifurtimox, nitazoxanide, ornidazole, paromomycin sulfate, pentamidine,
[0124] The term "vaccine" as used herein includes any non-pathogenic immunogen which, when inoculated with the host, induces immunity against a specific pathogen. Vaccines can take many forms. Vaccines can be whole organisms that have important antigens in common with the pathogen, but are not themselves pathogenic (eg against cow'spox). Vaccines can also be made from killed (eg Salka polio vaccine) or attenuated organisms (which have lost their ability to cause disease - such as the Sabina polio vaccine). Vaccines can also be prepared from purified macromolecules isolated from a pathogenic organism. For example, toxoid vaccines (e.g. against tetanus and diphtheria) containing an inactive form of a soluble bacterial toxin - they lead to the production of antibodies against toxin, but not immunity to intact bacteria. Subunit vaccines (e.g., hepatitis B) contain only one immunogenic protein isolated from the pathogen of interest. Vaccines with a hapten conjugate combine specific carbohydrate or polypeptide epitopes isolated from the pathogen of interest with immunogenic carriers such as tetanus toxoid. These strategies essentially use epitopes, such as haptens, to induce the production of antibodies that then recognize the same epitope in the native pathogen. However, to be maximally effective, such vaccines must contain both B cell epitopes,
[0125] DNA vaccines exploit the ability of host cells to take up and express DNA encoding a pathogenic protein that is injected intramuscularly.
[0126] Examples of antiviral vaccines that can be used in conjunction with anti-PD-L1 antibodies in the methods described herein include: HCV vaccine (virasom) from Pevion Biotech., TG4040 (MVA-HCV from Transgene viron designed for cellular enhancement) immune response (CD4 + and CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes) against NS3, NS4 and NS5B, CHRONVAC® - codon-optimized NS3 / 4a DNA vaccine from Inovio Biomedical, HCV / CpG vaccines from Novartis, GI-5005 - HCV vaccine from Globeimmune, IC41 is a blend of synthetic peptides containing HCV epitopes for CD4 and CD8 T cells in combination with Intercell poly-L-arginine.
[0127] Host responses to immunogens can be enhanced if administered in admixture with adjuvants. Immunological adjuvants act in one or more of the following ways: (1) prolonging the immunogen retention, (2) increasing the effective size of the immunogen (thereby favoring phagocytosis and presentation of macrophages), (3) stimulating the influx of macrophages or other immune cells to the injection site, or (4) promoting local cytokine production and other immune activities. Examples of adjuvants include: complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), aluminum and mycobacterial protein salts, such as di- and muramyl tripeptides.
[0128] The term "antibody" includes monoclonal antibodies (including full-length antibodies that have an immunoglobulin Fc region), antibody compositions with multi-epitope specificity, multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies, diabodies, and single-chain molecules, as well as antibody fragments (e.g. Fab, F (ab ') 2 and Fv) The term "immunoglobulin" (Ig) is used interchangeably herein with the term "antibody".
[0129] The primary 4-chain antibody unit is a heterotetrameric glycoprotein consisting of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H) chains. The IgM antibody consists of 5 basic heterotetramer units together with an additional polypeptide, called the J chain, and contains 10 antigen binding sites, while IgA antibodies contain 2-5 basic 4-chain units that can polymerize to form multivalent assemblies in combination with the J. In the case of IgG, a 4-chain unit generally has about 150,000 daltons. Each L chain is linked to the H chain by one covalent disulphide bond, while the two H chains are linked to one another by one or more disulfide bonds depending on the H chain isotype. Each H and L chain also has regularly spaced intrachain disulfide bridges. Each H chain has a variable domain at the N-terminus (VH), followed by three constant domains (Ch) for each of the α and γ chains and four Ch domains for the μ and ε isotypes.
Each L chain has a variable domain at the N-terminus (VL) and then a constant domain at the other end. VL is aligned with VH, and CL is aligned with the first constant domain of the heavy chain (CH1). Specific amino acid residues are thought to form the interface between the variable domains of the light chain and the heavy chain. Pairing VH and VL together creates one antigen-binding site. For the structure and properties of different antibody classes, see e.g. Basic and Clinical Immunology, 8th edition, Daniel P. Sties, Abba I. Terr and Tristram G. Parsolw (eds.), Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994, page 71 and Chapter 6. The L chain from any vertebrate species can be assigned to one of two clearly different types, called kappa and lambda, based on the amino acid sequences of their constant domains. Depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain of their heavy chains (CH), immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes or isotypes. There are five classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM, having heavy chains denoted respectively α, δ, ε, γ and μ. The γ and α classes are further subdivided on the basis of the relatively small differences in CH sequence and function, e.g., the human subjects express the following subclasses: IgG1, IgG2A, IgG2B, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2.
[0130] An "isolated" antibody is one that has been identified, separated and / or recovered from a component of its production environment (e.g., natural or recombinantly). Preferably, the isolated polypeptide is devoid of association with all other components from its production environment. Pollutant components from its production environment, such as those derived from recombinant transfected cells, are materials that will typically interfere with research, diagnostic or therapeutic applications of antibodies and may include enzymes, hormones and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous solutes. In preferred embodiments, the polypeptide will be purified: (1) to greater than 95% by weight of the antibody, as determined, for example, by the Lowry method, and in some embodiments to more than 99% by weight; (1) sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of the N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence using a rotating cup sequencer or (3) to be uniform by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing or reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or preferably silver staining. The isolated antibody includes the antibody in situ in recombinant cells, since at least one component of the antibody's natural environment will not be present. Usually, however, the isolated polypeptide or antibody will be prepared in at least one purification step.
[0131] A "variable region" or "variable domain" of an antibody refers to the amino-terminal domains of the antibody heavy or light chain domains. The variable domains of the heavy chain and light chain can be referred to as "VH" and "VL" respectively. These domains are generally the most variable parts of the antibody (relative to other antibodies in the same class) and contain antigen binding sites. [0132] The term "variable" refers to the fact that some segments of variable domains differ widely in sequence among antibodies. The V domain mediates antigen binding and determines the specificity of a particular antibody relative to its specific antigen. However, the variability is not evenly distributed over the entire range of variable domains. On the contrary, it concentrates in three sections called hypervariable regions (HVR), both in the light chain and heavy chain variable domains. The more conserved portions of the variable domains are called framework regions (FRs). All variable domains of native heavy and light chains contain four FR regions, largely adopting a beta-sheet configuration, connected by three HVRs, which form linking loops, and in some cases, are part of the beta-sheet structure. HVRs in each chain are held together close to each other by FR regions and together with HVRs from the other chain contribute to the formation of an antigen-binding site in the antibodies (see Kabat et al., Sequences of Immunological Inte 33 rest, Fifth Edition, National Institute of Health, Bethesda , MD (1991)). The constant domains are not directly involved in the binding of the antibody to the antigen, but have different effector functions,
[0133] The term "monoclonal antibody" as used herein refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e. the individual antibodies included in the population are identical except for possible naturally occurring mutations and / or post-translational modifications (e.g., isomerization, amidation) that may be present in small amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific because they are directed against a single antigenic site. In contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations that typically contain different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is directed against a single determinant on the antigen. In addition to their specificity, monoclonal antibodies are preferred because that they are synthesized by the hybridoma culture, are not contaminated by other immunoglobulins. The "monoclonal" adjunct indicates the nature of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies and can not be interpreted as requiring production of the antibody in any particular way. For example, monoclonal antibodies for use in accordance with the present invention may be made by a variety of techniques, including for example a hybridoma (e.g., Kohler and Milstein., Nature, 256: 495-97 (1975); Hongo et al., Hybridoma, 14 (3): 253-260 (1995), Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd edition, 1988); Hammerling et al. In: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, NY, 1981)), by recombinant DNA methods (see, e.g., US Patent No. 4816567), and 5,661,016; Marks et al., Bio / Technology 10: 779-783 (1992); Lonberg et al., Nature 368: 856859 (1994); Morrison, Nature 368: 812-813 (1994); Fishwild et al., Nature Biotechnol. 14: 845-851 (1996); Neuberger, Nature Biotechnol. 14: 826 (1996); and Lonberg and Huszar, Intern. Rev. Immunol. 13: 65-93 (1995).
[0134] The term "naked antibody" refers to an antibody that is not conjugated to a cytotoxic molecule or radioactive marker.
[0135] The terms "full-length antibody", "intact antibody" or "whole antibody" are used interchangeably to refer to the antibody in its substantially intact form as opposed to the antibody fragment. In particular, whole antibodies include those with heavy and light chains containing the Fc region. The constant domains may be constant domains with a native sequence (e.g., human constant domains with a native sequence) or variants of their amino acid sequences. In some instances, the intact antibody may have one or more effector functions.
[0136] An "antibody fragment" includes a portion of an intact antibody, preferably an antigen-binding region and / or a variable region of an intact antibody. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab ', F (ab') 2 and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies (see US 5,641,870, Example 2; Zapata et al., Protein Eng. 8 (10):
1057-1062 [1995]); single-chain antibody molecules and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments. Antibody digestion with papain produces two identical antigen binding fragments, referred to as "Fab" fragments and a residual "Fc" fragment, this assay reflects the ability to easily crystallize. The Fab fragment consists of the entire L chain along with the variable region domain of the H chain (VH) and the first constant domain of one heavy chain (CH1). Each Fab fragment is monovalent in antigen binding, i.e., has one antigen-binding site. Treatment of the antibody with pepsin gives a single large fragment of F (ab ') 2, which roughly corresponds to the combined disulfide of two Fab fragments with different antigen binding activity and is still capable of crosslinking the antigen. Fragments of Fab ' they differ from the Fab fragments in that they have several additional residues at the carboxy terminus of the CH1 domain, including one or more cysteines from the antibody hinge region. Fab'SH is herein Fab ', in which the cysteine residue of the constant domains comprises a free thiol group. F (ab ') 2 antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab' fragments that contain hinge cysteines between them. Other chemical combinations of antibody fragments are also known. which contain hinged cysteines between them. Other chemical combinations of antibody fragments are also known. which contain hinged cysteines between them. Other chemical combinations of antibody fragments are also known.
[0137] The Fc fragment comprises portions of the carboxyl terminus of both H-chains held together by disulfides. The effector functions of antibodies are determined by sequences in the Fc region, a region that is also recognized by Fc receptors (FcRs) present on some cell types.
[0138] "Fv" is the minimal antibody fragment that contains the entire antigen recognition and binding site. This fragment consists of the dimer of one heavy chain variable region domain and one of the light chain in a close, non-covalent association. After folding these two domains, six hypervariable loops are formed (3 loops from each of the H and L chains) that provide amino acid residues for antigen binding and give the antibody the specificity of antigen binding. However, even a single variable domain (or half of the Fv comprising only three antigen-specific HVR regions) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, although with less affinity than the entire binding site.
[0139] "Single-chain Fv", also designated by the abbreviation "SFv" or "sFv", are antibody fragments that contain the antibody VH and VL domains joined into a single polypeptide chain. Preferably, the sFv polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide linker between the VH and VL domains, which enables sFv to form the desired structure for antigen binding. For an overview of sFv, see Pluckthun in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore ed., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315 (1994).
[0140] The "functional fragments" of the antibodies of the invention comprise a portion of an intact antibody, generally including a variable or antigen-binding region of an intact antibody or an antibody Fc region that retains or has modified the FcR binding ability. Examples of antibody fragments include linear antibodies, single chain antibody molecules, and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.
[0141] The term "diabodies" refers to the small antibody fragments produced by constructing sFv fragments (see the preceding paragraph) with short linkers (about 5-10 residues) between the VH and VL domains, such that interchain but no intra-domain vapor domain pairing is achieved. , which results in a divalent fragment, i.e. a fragment containing two antigen-binding sites. Bispecific diabodies are heterodimers from two "crossed" sFv fragments in which the VH and VL domains of these two antibodies are present on different polypeptide chains. Diabodies are described in more detail, for example in EP 404097; WO 93/11161; Hollinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 6444-6448 (1993).
[0142] Monoclonal antibodies herein include in particular "chimeric" antibodies (immunoglobulins) in which a portion of the heavy and / or light chain is identical to or homologous to the respective sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a particular class or subclass of antibodies, while where the remainder of the chain (s) is identical to or homologous to the respective sequences in antibodies from another species or belonging to another class or subclass of antibodies, as well as fragments of such antibodies, provided that they exhibit the desired biological activity (US Pat. No. 4816567, Morrison et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci USA, 81: 6851-6855 (1984)). Chimeric antibodies of interest include PRIMATIZED antibodies<sup>®</sup>wherein the antigen-binding region of the antibody is derived from an antibody produced, e.g., by immunization of macaque monkeys of the antigen of interest. As used herein, "humanized antibody" is a subset of "chimeric antibodies." [0143] "Humanized" forms of non-human antibodies (e.g., murine) are chimeric antibodies that contain a minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. In one embodiment, the humanized antibody is a human immunoglobulin (acceptor antibody) in which residues of the HVR (defined below) acceptor molecule are replaced with non-human HVR residues (donor antibody), such as a mouse, rat, rabbit or non-human primate. a man with the desired specificity, affinity and / or efficiency. In certain instances, Fv framework residues of a human immunoglobulin are replaced with corresponding non-human residues. In addition, humanized antibodies may contain residues that are not found in an acceptor antibody or in a donor antibody. These modifications can be made to further refine antibody performance, such as binding affinity. Generally, a humanized antibody will contain substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin sequence and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence, although the FR regions may contain one or more substitutions of individual FR residues, which improve the effect of antibodies, such as binding affinity, isomerization, immunogenicity etc. The number of these amino acid substitutions in the FR is usually no more than 6 in the H chain and in the L chain no more than 3. The humanized antibody will optionally also contain at least part of the constant region immunoglobulin (Fc), typically that of human immunoglobulin. For more details, see, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321: 522525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). See also, for example, Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994); and Pat. U.S. Patent Nos. 6982321 and 7087409. isomerization, immunogenicity etc. The number of these amino acid substitutions in the FR is usually no more than 6 in the H chain, and in the L chain no more than 3. The humanized antibody will optionally also contain at least part of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), usually that of a human immunoglobulin . For more details, see, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321: 522525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). See also, for example, Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994); and Pat. U.S. Patent Nos. 6982321 and 7087409. isomerization, immunogenicity etc. The number of these amino acid substitutions in the FR is usually no more than 6 in the H chain, and in the L chain no more than 3. The humanized antibody will optionally also contain at least part of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), usually that of a human immunoglobulin . For more details, see, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321: 522525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). See also, for example, Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994); and Pat. U.S. Patent Nos. 6982321 and 7087409. and in the L chain no more than 3. The humanized antibody will also optionally contain at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), usually that of a human immunoglobulin. For more details, see, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321: 522525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). See also, for example, Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994); and Pat. U.S. Patent Nos. 6982321 and 7087409. and in the L chain no more than 3. The humanized antibody will also optionally contain at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), usually that of a human immunoglobulin. For more details, see, e.g., Jones et al., Nature 321: 522525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). See also, for example, Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994); and Pat. U.S. Patent Nos. 6982321 and 7087409. 522525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). See also, for example, Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994); and Pat. U.S. Patent Nos. 6982321 and 7087409. 522525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). See also, for example, Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994); and Pat. U.S. Patent Nos. 6982321 and 7087409.
[0144] A "human antibody" is an antibody that has an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human-produced antibody sequence and / or has been made using any of the techniques for making human antibodies as disclosed herein. This definition of a human antibody specifically excludes a humanized antibody containing non-human antigen binding residues. Human antibodies can be produced using various techniques known in the art, including phage display libraries. Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. Biol., 227: 381 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222: 581 (1991). Also available for the preparation of human monoclonal antibodies are those described in Cole et al., Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77 (1985); Boerner et al., J. Immunol., 147 (1): 86-95 (1991). See also van Dijk and van de Winkel, Curr. Opin. Pharmacol., 5: 368-74 (2001). Human antibodies can be produced by administering an antigen to a transgenic animal that has been modified to produce such antibodies in response to an antigen challenge but whose endogenous loci have been excluded, e.g. immunized xenogeneic mice (see, e.g., US Pat. Nos. 6075181 and 6150584 for XENOMOUSE technology ™).
See also, for example, Li et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103: 3557-3562 (2006) regarding human antibodies produced by the hybridoma technology of human B lymphocytes.
[0145] As used herein, the term "hypervariable region", "HVR" or "HV" refers to antibody variable domain regions that are hypervariable in sequence and / or form structurally defined loops. In general, the antibodies contain six HVRs; three in VH (H1, H2, H3) and three in VL (L1, L2, L3). In native H3 and L3 antibodies, they show the greatest diversity of six HVRs and it is thought that in particular H3 plays a unique role in imparting exact specificity to antibodies. See, e.g., Xu et al., Immunity 13: 37-45 (2000); Johnson and Wu, in Methods in Molecular Biology 248: 1-25 (Lo, eds., Human Press, Totowa, NJ, 2003). In fact, naturally occurring camelids consisting only of the heavy chain are functional and stable in the absence of a light chain. See, e.g., Hamers-Casterman et al., Nature 363: 446-448 (1993); Sheriff et al., Nature Struct. Biol. 3: 733-736 (1996).
[0146] A variety of HVR determination methods are used and are included herein. The complementarity determining regions (CDRs) according to Kabat are based on sequence variability and are most commonly used (Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5 Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. (1991)) . Chothia refers to the location of structural loops (Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol. 196: 901-917 (1987)). HVR AbM is a compromise between Kabat HVR and Chothia structural loops and is used by the Molecular AbM antibody modeling software. The "contact" HVRs are based on the analysis of the available complex crystal structures. The rest of each of these HVRs are listed below.
<td>Loop</td><td>Undercoat</td><td>AbM</td><td>Chothia</td><td>Contact</td>
<td>L1</td><td>L24-L34</td><td>L24-L34</td><td>L26-L32</td><td>L30-L36</td>
<td>L2</td><td>L50-L56</td><td>L50-L56</td><td>L50-L52</td><td>L46-L55</td>
<td>L3</td><td>L89-L97</td><td>L89-L97</td><td>L91-L96</td><td>L89-L96</td>
<td>H1</td><td>H31-H35B</td><td>H26-H35B</td><td>H26-H32</td><td>H30-H35B</td>
(Kabat numbering)
<td>H1</td><td>H31-H35</td><td>H26-H35</td><td>H26-H32</td><td>H30-H35</td>
<td></td><td>(Numbering</td><td>Chothia)</td><td></td><td></td>
<td>H2</td><td>H50-H65</td><td>H50-H58</td><td>H53-H55</td><td>H47-H58</td>
<td>H3</td><td>H95-H102</td><td>H95-H102</td><td>H96-H101</td><td>H93-H101</td>
[0147] HVRs may include the following "extended HVR": 24-36 or 24-34 (L1), 4656 or 50-56 (L2) and 89-97 or 89-96 (L3) in VL and 26-35 (H1 ), 50-65 or 49-65 (H2) and 93102, 94-102 or 95-102 (H3) in VH. The rest of the variable domain is numbered according to Kabat et al., Supra, for each of these definitions.
The expression & quot; Kabat variable domain numbering as in Kabat & quot; or & quot; Kabat amino acid numbering, as in Kabat, & quot; refers to a numbering system used for heavy chain variable domains or light chain variable domain domains of Kabat et al. ., as above. Using this numbering system, the actual linear amino acid sequence may contain fewer or additional amino acids corresponding to the shortening or insertion of the variable domain in the FR or HVR. For example, a heavy chain variable domain may comprise the insertion of a single amino acid (Kabat residue 52a) after residue 52 in H2 and inserted residues (e.g., 82a, 82b and 82c, etc. according to Kabat) after residue 82 in the heavy chain FR. The numbering of residues according to Kabat can be determined for a given antibody by alignment in antibody sequence homology regions with a "standard" sequence numbered according to Kabat. [0149] "framework" or "FR" residues are variable domain residues other than HVR residues, as defined herein.
[0150] A "human consensus framework" or "human acceptor framework" is a framework that represents the most frequently occurring amino acid residues in a set of human immunoglobulin VL or VH framework sequences. In general, the selection of human immunoglobulin VL or VH sequences is from a subgroup of variable domain sequences. In general, the sequence subgroup is a subgroup as in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Ed. 5 Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (1991). For example, for a VL, a subgroup may be a subgroup of kappa I, kappa II, kappa III or kappa IV as in Kabat et al., Supra. In addition, for a VH, a subgroup may be a subgroup, I, subgroup II or subgroup III as in Kabat et al., Supra. Alternatively, the human consensus framework may be derived from the above in which specific residues, such as when the human framework residue is selected based on its homology with the donor framework by aligning the donor framework sequence with a set of different human framework sequences. A human acceptor framework "derived from" a human immunoglobulin framework or a human consensus framework may comprise the same as the amino acid sequence itself or may contain pre-existing changes in the amino acid sequence. In some embodiments, the number of pre-existing amino acid changes is 10 or less, 9 or less, 8 or less, 7 or less, 6 or less, 5 or less, 4 or less, 3 or less, or 2 or less. [0151] A "VH subgroup III consensus framework" comprises the consensus sequence obtained from the amino acid sequences in the subgroup III of the heavy chain variable regions of Kabat et al., Supra. In one embodiment, the amino acid sequence of the VH subgroup III consensus framework comprises at least part or all of each of the following sequences: EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS (HC-FR1) (SEQ ID NO: 4), WVRQAPGKGLEWV (HC-FR2), (SEQ ID NO: 5), RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR (HC-FR3, SEQ ID NO: 6), WGQGTLVTVSA (HC-FR4), (SEQ ID NO: 7). [0152] A "kappa I VL consensus framework" comprises the consensus sequence obtained from the amino acid sequences in the subgroup I of the kappa light chain variable regions of Kabat et al., Supra. In one embodiment, the amino acid sequence of the VH subgroup I consensus framework comprises at least part or all of each of the following sequences: DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC (LC-FR1) (SEQ ID NO: 11), WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY (LC-FR2) (SEQ ID NO: 12), GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDFATYYC (LC-FR3) (SEQ ID NO: 13), FGQGTKVEIKR (LC-FR4) (SEQ ID NO: 14).
[0153] An "amino acid modification" at a particular position, e.g. an Fc region, refers to the substitution or deletion of a particular residue or insertion of at least one amino acid residue in the vicinity of a specified residue. An "adjacent" insertion of a certain residue means an insertion within one to two residues from it. The insertion can be N-terminal or C-terminal to a particular residue. A preferred amino acid modification is a substitution.
[0154] An "affinity matched" antibody is one with one or more changes in one or more HVR that leads to an improvement in the affinity of the antibody to the antigen, compared to the parent antibody that does not have this change / these changes. In one embodiment, the affinity antibody has nanomolar or even picomolar affinity for the target antigen. Affected mature antibodies are produced using procedures known in the art. For example, Marks et al., Bio / Technology 10: 779-783 (1992) describes affinity maturation by shuffling VH and VL domains. Random mutagenesis of HVR and / or framework residues is described, for example, by: Barbas et al. Proc Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 380938
3813 (1994); Schier et al. Gene 169: 147-155 (1995); Yelton et al. J. Immunol. 155: 19942004 (1995); Jackson et al., J. Immunol. 154 (7): 3310-9 (1995); and Hawkins et al. J. Mol. Biol.
226: 889-896 (1992).
[0155] As used herein, the term "specifically binds to" or "is specific to" refers to measurable and reproducible interactions, such as target-antibody binding, which indicates the presence of a target in the presence of a heterogeneous population of molecules, including biological molecules. For example, an antibody that specifically binds to a target molecule (which may be an epitope) is an antibody that binds to that target molecule with greater affinity, greediness, easier and / or for longer than with other targets. In one embodiment, the degree of binding of the antibody to the unrelated target is less than about 10% of antibody binding to the target, as measured, e.g., by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In some embodiments, the antibody that specifically binds to the target has a dissociation constant (Kd) <1 μΜ, < 100 nM, <10 nM, <1 nM or <0.1 nM. In some embodiments, the antibody specifically binds to an epitope on a protein that is conserved among proteins from different species. In another embodiment, the specific binding may include but does not require exclusive binding.
[0156] A "blocking" antibody or "antagonistic" antibody is one that inhibits or reduces the biological activity of the antigen to which it binds. In some embodiments, blocking antibodies or antagonist antibodies significantly or completely inhibit the biological activity of an antigen. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention block the signaling via PD-1 so as to restore the functional response of T-lymphocytes from the dysfunctional state to antigen stimulation.
[0157] An "agonist" or activating antibody is one which increases or initiates signaling by the antigen to which it binds. In some embodiments, the agonistic antibodies elicit or activate signaling without the presence of a natural ligand. [0158] The term "solid phase" describes a non-aqueous matrix to which the antibody of the present invention may adhere. Examples of solid phases included herein include those formed in part or in whole of glass (e.g., glasses with controlled porosity), polysaccharides (e.g., agarose), polyacrylamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol and silicones. In some embodiments, depending on the context, the solid phase may include a well on the assay plate; in others it is a purification column (e.g., affinity chromatography column).
[0159] "Antigen effector functions" refer to those biological activities that can be attributed to an Fc region (an Fc region with a native sequence or Fc region with an amino acid sequence variant) of the antibody and are dependent on the antibody isotype. Examples of antibody effector functions include: C1q binding and complement dependent cytotoxicity; Fc receptor binding; antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC); phagocytosis; decreasing the level of cell surface receptors (e.g., B-cell receptors); and activation of B lymphocytes. "Reduced or minimized" antibody effector function means one that is reduced by at least 50% (alternatively 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%) of the wild type or unmodified antibody. Determination of antibody effector functions is readily determined and measured by one of ordinary skill in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the changes relate to antibody effector functions in the form of complement fixation, complement dependent cytotoxicity, and antibody dependent cytotoxicity. In some embodiments of the invention, the effector function is removed as a result of a mutation in the constant region that removes glycosylation, e.g., "effector function removing mutation." In one aspect, the effector-effector mutation mutation is the N297A or DANA mutation (D265A + N297A) in the CH2 region. Shields et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276 (9): 6591-6604 (2001). Alternatively, additional mutations that reduce or eliminate the effector function include: K322A and L234A / L235A (LALA). Al39 ternatively,
Chem. 278 (5): 3466-3473 (2003).
[0160] "Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity" or ADCC refers to the form of cytotoxicity in which the secreted Ig bound to Fc receptors (FcRs) present on some cytotoxic cells (e.g., natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils and macrophages) allows these effector cytotoxic cells for specific binding to a target cell bearing antigen and subsequent killing of the target cell with cytotoxins. Antibodies "arm" cytotoxic cells and are required to kill target cells in this mechanism. The main ADCC mediating cells, NK cells, express FcyRIII only, whereas the monocytes express FcyRI, FcγRII and FcγRIII. Fc expression on hematopoietic cells is summarized in Table 3 on page 464 of Ravetch and Kinet, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 9: 457-92 (1991). To assess the ADCC activity of the molecule of interest, an in vitro ADCC assay such as that described in US Patent No. 5,500,362 or 5,821,337 can be performed. Effector cells useful for such assays include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and natural killer (NK) cells. . Alternatively or additionally, the ADCC activity of the molecule of interest may be evaluated in vivo, e.g. in an animal model such as that disclosed in Clynes et al. PNAS USA 95: 652-656 (1998).
Unless otherwise indicated, residue numbering in an immunoglobulin heavy chain is that of the EU index, as in Kabat et al., Supra. "EU index as in Kabat" refers to the numbering of residues of the human IgG1 EU antibody.
[0162] The term "Fc region" is used herein to denote the C-terminal region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain, including the Fc regions having a native sequence and Fc regions being variants. Although the limits of the Fc region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain may vary, the Fc region of the human IgG heavy chain is typically defined as extending from the amino acid residue at the Cys226 position or from the Pro230 to the carboxyl terminus. C-terminal lysine (residue 447 according to the EU numbering system) from the Fc region can be removed, for example, during the production or purification of the antibody, or by modifying the nucleic acid encoding the heavy chain of the antibody by genetic engineering. Accordingly, the composition of intact antibodies may comprise antibody populations with all K447 residues removed, antibody populations with non-deleted K447 residues and antibody populations comprising a mixture of antibodies with and without the K447 residue. Suitable native sequence Fc regions for use in the antibodies of the invention include human IgG1, IgG2 (IgG2A, IgG2B), IgG3 and IgG4.
[0163] An "Fc receptor" or "FcR" describes a receptor that binds to the Fc region of an antibody. A preferred FcR is an FcR with a native human sequence. In addition, a preferred FcR is one that binds to an IgG antibody (gamma receptor) and includes receptors from the FcyRI, FcyRII and FcyRIII subclasses, including allelic variants and forms resulting from alternative splicing of these receptors, FcyRII receptors include FcyRIIA ("activating receptor"). ") And FcyRIIB (" inhibitory receptor ") that have similar amino acid sequences that differ primarily in their cytoplasmic domains. The activating receptor FcyRIIA contains an activating tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) immunoreceptor in its cytoplasmic domain. The FcyRIIB inhibitory receptor contains a tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) inhibitory immunoreceptor motif in its cytoplasmic domain. (see M. Daeron, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 15: 203-234 (1997).) The FcR review can be found in Ravetch and Kinet, Annu Rev. Immunol 9: 457-92 (1991);
Capel et al., Immunomethods 4: 25-34 (1994); and de Haas et al., J. Lab. Clin. Med. 126: 33041 (1995). Other FcRs, including those that will be identified in the future, are encompassed herein by the term "FcR".
[0164] The term "Fc receptor" or "FcR" also includes a neonatal FcRn receptor that is responsible for the transfer of maternal IgGs to the fetus. Guyer et al., J. Immunol. 117: 587 (1976) and Kim et al., J. Immunol. 24: 249 (1994). Methods for measuring binding to FcRn are known (see, e.g., Ghetie and Ward, Immunol. Today 18: (12): 592-8 (1997); Ghetie et al., Nature Biotechnology 15 (7): 637-40 (1997); Hinton et al., J. Biol. Chem. 279 (8): 6213-6 (2004); WO 2004/92219 (Hinton et al.) Binding to FcRn in vivo and serum half-life of human FcRn binding polypeptides with high Affinity may be tested, e.g., in transgenic mice or in transfected human cell lines expressing human FcRn or primate which are administered with polypeptides containing the Fc region of the variant. WO 2004/42072 (Presta) describes antibody variants with improved or reduced binding to FcRs. See also, e.g., Shields et al., J. Biol. Chem. 9 (2): 6591-6604 (2001).
[0165] "Effector cells" are leukocytes that express one or more FcRs and perform effector functions. In one aspect, effector cells express at least FcyRIII and perform effector function in ADCC. Examples of human leukocytes that mediate ADCC are peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and neutrophils. Effector cells can be isolated from a native source, e.g. from blood. Effector cells are generally effector effector associated lymphocytes and act in the production of cytokines (helper T cells), killing cells infected with pathogens (cytotoxic T lymphocytes) or antibody secretion (differentiated B lymphocytes).
[0166] "Complement dependent cytotoxicity" or "CDC" refers to the lysis of a target cell in the presence of complement. Activation of the classical complement pathway is initiated by binding the first component of the complement system (C1q) to antibodies (from the respective subclass) that are associated with their related antigen. To assess complement activation, a CDC assay may be performed, e.g. as described in GazzanoSantoro et al., J. Immunol. Methods 202: 163 (1996). Variants of antibodies with altered amino acid sequences of the Fc region and an increased or decreased C1q binding capacity are described in US Patent Nos. 6194551B1 and WO99 / 51642. See also Idusogues and Others J. Immunol. 164: 4178-4184 (2000).
[0167] The N-glycosylation site in IgG is Asn297 in the CH2 domain. The present invention also provides antigen binding composition, a humanised antibody comprising an Fc region with reduced or deleted effector function. One way to achieve this is by substituting A297N which, as previously shown, abolishes complement binding and effector functions ("Fc mutant without effector function") in the anti-CD20 antibody. Idusgie et al., Supra. As a result of this mutation, the production of anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the present inventions containing this Fc mutation in mammalian cells such as CHO will not involve any glycosylation, and this in turn leads to reduced or minimized effector function. Alternatively,
[0168] A "binding affinity" typically refers to the strength of the sum of all non-covalent interactions between a single binding site of a molecule (e.g., an antibody) and its binding partner (e.g., an antigen). Unless otherwise indicated, "binding affinity" as used herein refers to an intrinsic binding affinity that reflects a 1: 1 interaction between elements of a binding pair (e.g., antibody and antigen). The affinity of the X molecule to its Y partner can generally be represented as a dissociation constant (Kd). Affinity can be measured by common methods known in the art, including those described herein. Low affinity antibodies usually bind the antigen slowly and tend to be easily dissociated, whereas high affinity antibodies typically bind antigen faster and tend to stay bound for longer. Various methods for measuring binding affinities are known in the art and any of them may be used for the purposes of the present invention. Specific illustrative and exemplary forms of binding affinity measurement are described below.
[0169] The "Kd" or "Kd value" of this invention is in one embodiment measured in a radiolabeled antigen binding assay (RIA) carried out with an antibody version of Ant and an antigen molecule as described in the following assay that measures the affinity of Fab binding to antigen. in solution by balancing Fab with minimal concentration of labeled antigen (<sup>125</sup>I) in the presence of a dilution series of unlabelled antigen, then capturing the bound antigen on an anti-Fab antibody coated plate (Chen, et al. (1999) J. Mol Biol 293: 865-881). To establish the conditions for the assay, the microtiter plates (Dynex) are coated overnight with 5 μg / ml capture anti-Fab (Cappel Labs) in 50 mM sodium carbonate (pH 9.6) and then blocked with 2% (by weight). ./obj.) bovine serum albumin in PBS for two to five hours at room temperature (about 23 ° C). On a non adsorbing plate (Nunc No. 269620), 100 pM or 26 pM [<sup>125</sup>I] -antigen is mixed with serial dilutions of Fab of interest (according to the study for anti-VEGF antibody Fab-12, in Presta et al. (1997) Cancer Res. 57: 4593-4599). The Fab of interest is then incubated overnight; however, incubation may take place over a longer period (e.g., 65 hours) to ensure equilibrium. The mixtures are then transferred to a capture plate for incubation at room temperature for one hour. The solution is then removed and the plate washed eight times with 0.1% Tween 20 in PBS. After the plates are allowed to dry, 150 [mu] l / well of the scintillation compound (MicroScint-20; Packard) is added and the plates are counted on a Topcount gamma counter (Packard) for ten minutes. Concentrations of each Fab,
[0170] According to another embodiment, the Kd is measured using surface plasmon resonance tests using a BIACORE device.<sup>®</sup>-2000 or BIACORE<sup>®</sup>-3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway, NJ) at 25 ° C with antigen immobilized on CM5 chips at ~ 10 response units (RU). Briefly, biosensor chips with carboxymethylated dextran (CM5, BIAcore, Inc.) are activated with N-ethyl-N '- (3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) according to the supplier's instructions. Antigen is diluted with 10 mM sodium acetate, pH 4.8, to 5 μg / ml (~ 0.2 μΜ) before injection at a flow rate of 5 μl / minute to reach about 10 response units (RU) of coupled protein. After injection of the antigen, 1 M ethanolamine is injected to block unreacted groups. For kinetic measurements, two-fold dilutions of Fab (0.78 nM to 500 nM) are injected in PBS with a surfactant 0.05% TWEEN 20<sup>™</sup> (PBST) at 25 ° C with a flow rate of about 25 gl / min. Association rates (k on) and dissociation rates (k off) are calculated using a simple one-to-one Langmuir binding model (BIAcore<sup>® </sup>Evaluation Software, version 3.2) while adjusting the sensorgrams of association and dissociation. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) is calculated as the ratio koff / kon. See, e.g., Chen et al., J. Mol. Biol. 293: 865-881 (1999). If the association speed exceeds 10<sup>6</sup>M<sup>-1</sup> s<sup>-1 </sup>in the above surface plasmon resonance assay, then the association rate can be determined using a fluorescence quench technique that measures the increase or decrease of the fluorescence emission intensity (excitation = 295 nm, emission = 340 nm, 16 nm band) at 25 ° C of 20 nM anti-antigen antibody (Fab form) in PBS, pH 7.2, in the presence of increasing concentrations of antigen, measured in a spectrometer, such as a spectrophotometer equipped with flow arrest (Aviv Instruments) or a spectrophotometer
SLM-Aminco<sup>™</sup> from the 8000 series (ThermoSpectronic) with a cuvette with a stirrer.
[0171] The "association rate", "binding rate" or "kon" in accordance with this invention can also be determined as described above using the BIACORE system.<sup>®</sup>-2000 or BIACORE<sup>®</sup>-3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway, NJ) at 25 ° C with antigen immobilized on CM5 chips at approximately 10 response units (RU). Briefly, the carboxymethylated dextran biosensor chips (CM5, BIAcore, Inc.) are activated with N-ethyl-N '- (3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (ECD) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) according to the supplier's instructions. The antigen is diluted with 10 mM sodium acetate, pH 4.8, to 5 mg / ml (~ 0.2 mM) before injection at a flow rate of 5 ml / min to reach about 10 response units (RU) of coupled protein. After injection of the antigen, 1 M ethanolamine is added to block unreacted groups. For kinetic measurements, two-fold Fab dilutions (0.78 nM to 500 nM) are injected in PBS with 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST) at 25 ° C with a flow rate of about 25 μl / min. Association rates (k on) and dissociation rates (k off) are calculated using a simple one-to-one Langmuir binding model (BIAcore Evaluation Software, version 3.2) while fitting the association and dissociation sensorgram. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) was calculated as the koff / kon ratio. See, e.g., Chen, Y., et al. (1999) J. Mol Biol 293: 865-881. However, if the association speed exceeds 10<sup>6</sup> M<sup>-1</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> in the above surface plasmon resonance assay, then the association rate is preferably established using a fluorescence quench technique that measures the increase or decrease in the fluorescence emission intensity (excitation = 295 nm, emission = 340 nm, 16 nm band) at 25 ° C of 20 nM anti- antigen (Fab form) in PBS, pH 7.2, in the presence of increasing concentrations of antigen, measured in a spectrometer, such as an Aviv Instruments flow spectrophotometer or SLM-Aminco 8000 series (ThermoSpectronic) with a stirred cell.
[0172] The expression "substantially reduced" or "substantially different" as used herein means a sufficiently high degree of difference between the two numerical values (generally one related to the molecule and the other bound to the reference / reference molecule), such that the person skilled in the art would consider the difference between these two values to be statistically significant in the context of biological characteristics measured by these values (e.g., Kd values). The difference between these two values is, for example, greater than about 10%, greater than about 20%, greater than about 30%, greater than about 40%, and / or greater than about 50% as a function of the reference / reference value.
[0173] The expression "substantially similar" or "substantially the same," as used herein, means a sufficiently high degree of similarity between the two numerical values (e.g. one associated with the antibody of the invention and the other bound to the reference / reference antibody), that a person skilled in the art would consider the difference between the two values to be of little or no biological and / or statistical significance in the context of a biological characteristic measured by these values (e.g., Kd values). The difference between these two values is, for example, less than about 50%, less than about 40%, less than about 30%, less than about 20%, and / or less than about 10% as a function of the reference / comparison value.
[0174] "Percent (%) identity" and "amino acid sequence homology" with respect to a peptide, polypeptide or amino acid sequence is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in the proposed sequence that are identical to the amino acid residues in a specific peptide or polypeptide sequence, after alignment these sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve a maximum percent sequence identity and not taking into account any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignment for the purpose of determining the percent amino acid sequence identity can be obtained in various ways that are within the skill of the art, e.g. using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN or MEGALIGN ™ (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the art can determine the appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms needed to obtain the maximum alignment over the entire length of the sequences being compared. However, for the purposes herein, the% amino acid sequence identity values are generated using the ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program by Genentech, Inc. The ALIGN-2 source code was filed with user documentation at the US Copyright Office, Washington DC, 20559, where it is registered under US TXU510087 copyright number. The ALIGN-2 program is publicly available through Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, California. The ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use in the UNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V4.0D.
[0175] In situations in which the ALIGN-2 program is used to compare amino acid sequences,% amino acid sequence identity for a given amino acid sequence A to, with or relative to a given amino acid sequence B (which may alternatively be formulated such that the given amino acid sequence A has or has a specific% amino acid sequence identity to, to or from a given amino acid sequence of B) is calculated as follows:
100 times the fraction X / Y where X is the number of amino acid residues considered to be identical in the ALIGN-2 sequence alignment program in this program A and B, and where Y is the total number of amino acid residues in B. It will be understood that when the length of the amino acid sequence A is not equal to the length of the amino acid sequence B,% identity of the amino acid sequence A to B will not be equal to% of the amino acid sequence B to A.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, all% amino acid sequence identity values used herein are obtained as described in the paragraph immediately above using the ALIGN-2 computer program.
[0177] An "isolated" nucleic acid molecule encoding an antibody is herein a nucleic acid molecule that is identified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid molecule with which it is ordinarily associated in the medium in which it was generated. Preferably, the isolated nucleic acid is devoid of association with all components associated with the manufacturing environment. Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides and antibodies are in a form other than the form or system in which they are present in nature. Thus, the isolated nucleic acid molecules differ here from the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptides and the antibodies existing naturally in the cells.
[0178] The term "control sequences" refers to DNA sequences that are necessary for the expression of a functionally linked coding sequence in an organism of a particular host. The control sequences that are suitable for prokaryotes include, for example, a promoter, optionally an operator sequence, and a ribosome binding site. It is known that eukaryotic cells utilize promoters, polyadenylation signals and enhancers.
[0179] A nucleic acid is "operably linked" when it is placed in a functional relationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, DNA for a presequence or secretory leader is operably linked to DNA for a polypeptide, it is expressed as a preprotein that participates in the secretion of the polypeptide; the promoter or enhancer is operably linked to the coding sequence if it affects sequence transcription; or the ribosome binding site is operably linked to the coding sequence if it is positioned to facilitate translation. In general, "operably linked" means that the joined DNA sequences are adjacent to each other, and in the case of a secretory leader, are adjacent to each other and are in the reading phase. However, the amplifiers do not have to be adjacent. Linking is achieved by ligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites do not exist, synthetic adapters or oligonucleotide linkers are used in accordance with conventional practice.
[0180] The term "epitope tagged" as used herein refers to a chimeric polypeptide comprising a polypeptide or antibody described herein fused with a "tag polypeptide." The tag polypeptide has enough residues to provide an epitope against which an antibody can be made, but is short enough that it does not interfere with the polypeptide to which it is linked. The tag polypeptide is also preferably quite unique such that the antibody does not cross-react appreciably with other epitopes. Suitable tag polypeptides generally have at least six amino acid residues, and typically from about 8 to 50 amino acid residues (preferably between about 10 and 20 amino acid residues).
[0181] As used herein, the term "immunoadhesin" means antibody-like molecules that combine the binding specificity of a heterologous protein ("adhesion") with effector functions of immunoglobulin constant domains. Structurally, immunoadhesins include the fusion of an amino acid sequence with the desired binding specificity that is different from that of the antigen recognition and binding site of the antibody (i.e., "heterologous"), and the immunoglobulin constant domain sequence. The adhesin portion of an immunoadhesin molecule is typically a contiguous amino acid sequence comprising at least a receptor or ligand binding site. The immunoglobulin constant domain sequence in the immunoadhesin can be obtained from any immunoglobulin, such as the IgG-1, IgG-2 subtypes (including IgG2A and IgG2B), IgG-3 or IgG4, IgA (including IgA-1 and IgA-2), IgE, IgD or IgM. Ig fusions preferably include substitution of the polypeptide or antibody domain described herein in place of at least one variable region in the Ig molecule. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the immunoglobulin fusion includes the hinge, CH2 and CH3 or hinge regions, CH1, CH2 and CH3 of the IgG1 molecule. For the production of immunoglobulin fusions, see also US Patent No. 5428130 published on June 27, 1995. For example, immunoadhesins useful as second drugs useful for combination therapy include polypeptides that contain extracellular or PD-1-binding PD-L1 or PD-L2 parts, or vice versa, in fusion with the constant domain of the immunoglobulin sequence. [0182] A "fusion protein" and a "fusion polypeptide" refer to a polypeptide having two parts covalently linked to each other, wherein each of the parts is a polypeptide with a different property. The property may be a biological property, such as in vitro or in vivo activity. The property can also be a simple chemical or physical property, such as binding to a target molecule, catalysing a reaction, etc. These two parts can be directly linked by a single peptide bond or via a peptide linker and will be in reading frame with each other.
[0183] A "stable" preparation is one in which the protein substantially retains its physical and chemical stability and integrity during storage. Various analytical techniques for measuring protein stability are available in the art and reviewed in Peptide and Protein Drug Delivery, 247-301, Vincent Lee ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, New York, Pubs. (1991) and Jones, A. Adv. Drug Delivery Rev. 10: 29-90 (1993). Stability can be measured at the selected temperature for the selected time. For rapid screening, the formulation can be stored at 40 ° C for 2 weeks to 1 month at which point stability is measured. When the formulation is to be stored at 2-8 ° C, the formulation should generally be stable at 30 ° C or 40 ° C for at least 1 month and / or stable at 2-8 ° C for at least 2 years. When the preparation is to be stored at 30 ° C, the preparation should generally be stable for at least 2 years at 30 ° C and / or stable at 40 ° C for at least 6 months. For example, the degree of aggregation during storage can serve as an indicator of protein stability. Accordingly, a "stable" formulation can be one in which less than about 10%, and preferably less than about 5%, of the protein is present in the form of an aggregate in the formulation. In other embodiments, any increase in aggregate formation during formulation storage can be determined. and preferably less than about 5% of the protein is present in the form of an aggregate in the formulation. In other embodiments, any increase in aggregate formation during formulation storage can be determined. and preferably less than about 5% of the protein is present in the form of an aggregate in the formulation. In other embodiments, any increase in aggregate formation during formulation storage can be determined.
[0184] A "reconstituted" preparation is one that has been prepared by dissolving a lyophilized protein or antibody preparation in a diluent, such that the protein is dispersed as a whole. The reconstituted preparation is suitable for administration (e.g., subcutaneous administration) to a patient to be treated with the protein of interest, and in certain embodiments of the invention may be one that is suitable for parenteral or intravenous administration.
[0185] An "isotonic" preparation is one that has substantially the same osmotic pressure as human blood. Isotonic formulations will generally have an osmotic pressure from about 250 to 350 mOsm. The term "hypotonic" describes a formulation with an osmotic pressure below that in human blood. Accordingly, the term "hypertonic" is used to describe a formulation with an osmotic pressure above that in human blood. Isotonicity can be measured, for example, using an osmometer based on vapor pressure or a cryometric type. The formulations of the present invention are hypertonic by the addition of salt and / or buffer.
[0186] "Carriers" as used herein include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers that are nontoxic in the cell or mammal exposed therein at the dosages and concentrations employed. A physiologically acceptable carrier is often a pH buffered aqueous solution. Examples of physiologically acceptable carriers include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids; antioxidants, including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight polypeptide (less than about 10 residues); proteins, such as albumin, gelatin or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine and lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides and other carbohydrates, including glucose, mannose or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols, such as mannitol or sorbitol; counterions forming salts, such as sodium; and / or nonionic surfactants such as TWEEN ™, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and PLURONICS ™.
[0187] An "information leaflet" refers to instructions customarily included in commercially available drug packages that contain information regarding indications, use, dosage, administration, contraindications, other drugs that may be combined with the packaged product, and / or warnings about use. such drugs, etc.
[0188] A "pharmaceutically acceptable acid" includes inorganic and organic acids that are nontoxic in concentration and in the manner in which they are formulated. For example, suitable inorganic acids include hydrochloric, perchloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, nitric, sulfuric, sulfonic, sulfinic, sulfanilic, phosphoric, carbonic, and the like. Suitable organic acids include straight or branched chain alkyls, aromatic, cyclic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic , heterocyclic, saturated, unsaturated, mono-, di- and tricarboxylic, including, for example, formic, acetic, 2-hydroxyacetic, trifluoroacetic, phenylacetic, trimethylacetic, t-butylacetic, anthranilic, propane, 2-hydroxypropane, 2-oxopropanoic acid, propane, cyclopentane propionic, cyclopentane propionic, 3-phenylpropionic acid, butane,
4-benzenesulfonic, naphthalene-2-sulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, camphorsulfonic, 4-methylbicyclo [2.2.2] oxo-2-ene-1-carboxylic, glucohepton, 4,4'-methylenebis-3- (hydroxy-2) -ene-1-carboxylic acid), hydroxynaphtho.
[0189] "Pharmaceutically acceptable bases" include inorganic and organic bases that are non-toxic in concentration and in the manner in which they are formulated. For example, suitable bases include those formed from metals that form inorganic bases such as lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, ammonium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, aluminum, N-methylglucamine, morpholine, piperidine and non-toxic organic bases. including primary, secondary and tertiary amines, substituted amines, cyclic amines and basic ion exchange resins [e.g. N (R ') 4<sup>+</sup> (where R 'is independently H or C14 alkyl, e.g. ammonium, Tris)], e.g. isopropylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, ethanolamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, trimethamine, dicyclohexylamine, lysine, arginine, histidine, caffeine, procaine , hydrabamine, choline, betaine, ethylenediamine, glucosamine, methylglucamine, theobromine, purines, piperazine, piperidine, N-ethylpiperidine, polyamine resins and the like. Particularly preferred non-toxic organic bases are isopropylamine, diethylamine, ethanolamine, trimethamine, dicyclohexylamine, choline and caffeine. Additional pharmaceutically acceptable acids and bases that can be used with the present invention include those derived from amino acids, e.g. histidine, glycine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid,
[0190] "Pharmaceutically acceptable" buffers and salts include those derived from both acid addition salts and with bases from the acids and bases mentioned above. Specific buffers and / or salts include histidine, succinate and acetate.
[0191] A "pharmaceutically acceptable sugar" is a molecule that, in combination with a protein of interest, significantly prevents or reduces the chemical and / or physical instability of a protein during storage. When the formulation is intended for lyophilization and subsequent reconstitution, "pharmaceutically acceptable sugars" may also be known as "lyoprotectants". Exemplary sugars and their corresponding sugar alcohols include: an amino acid such as monosodium glutamate or histidine; methylamine, such as betaine; a lyotropic salt such as magnesium sulfate; a polyol, such as a tri-alcohol or higher molecular weight alcohols, e.g. glycerol, dextran, erythritol, glycerol, arabitol, xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol; propylene glycol; polyethylene glycol; PLURONICS<sup>®</sup>; and their connections. Additional exemplary lyoprotectants include glycerol and gelatin, and melibiosis, meleziose, raffinose, mannotriose and stachyose sugars. Examples of reducing sugars include glucose, maltose, lactose, maltulose, isomaltulose and lactulose. Examples of non-reducing sugar include non-reducing glycosides of polyhydroxy compounds selected from sugar alcohols and other straight chain polyhydric alcohols. Preferred sugar alcohols are monoglycosides, especially those compounds that are obtained by the reduction of disaccharides, such as lactose, maltose, lactulose and maltulose. The later glycosidic group may be glucosidic or galactosidic. Additional examples of sugar alcohols are glucitol, maltitol, lactitol and isomaltulose. Preferred pharmaceutically acceptable sugars are non-reducing sugars, trehalose or sucrose. Pharmaceutically acceptable sugars are added to the formulation in a "protective amount" (e.g., before lyophilization), meaning that the protein generally retains its physical and chemical stability and integrity during storage (e.g., after reconstitution and storage).
[0192] The "diluent" of interest herein is one which is pharmaceutically acceptable (safe and non-toxic for human administration) and is useful in the preparation of a liquid preparation, such as a formulation reconstituted after lyophilization. Exemplary diluents include sterile water, bacteriostatic water for injections (BWFI), pH buffered solution (e.g., phosphate buffered saline), sterile saline solution, Ringer's solution, or dextrose solution. In an alternate embodiment, the diluents may include aqueous salt solutions and / or buffers.
[0193] A "preservative" is a compound that can be added herein to formulations to reduce bacterial activity. The addition of a preservative may, for example, facilitate the manufacture of a multiple-use (multi-dose) formulation. Examples of potential preservatives include octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, hexamethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride (a mixture of alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides in which the alkyl groups are long-chain compounds) and benzethonium chloride. Other types of preservatives include aromatic alcohols such as phenol, butyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol, alkyl parabens such as methyl or propyl parabens, catechol, resorcinol, cyclohexanol, 3-pentanol and m-cresol. The most preferred preservative is benzyl alcohol.
[0194] "Treatment" refers to clinical interventions designed to change the course of natural processes in a treated subject or in a cell, and may be performed prophylactically or during clinical pathology. Desirable effects of treatment include preventing the onset or relapse of the disease, preventing metastases, decreasing the rate of disease progression, ameliorating or ameliorating the disease state and remission or better prognosis. In some embodiments, the antibodies of the invention are used to delay the development of the disease or disorder. The subject is effectively "treated," e.g. using the apoptotic anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention, if one or more symptoms associated with a disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction are alleviated.
[0195] An "effective amount" refers to at least an effective amount in the doses and times necessary to achieve the desired or indicated effect, including a therapeutic or prophylactic result. For example, an effective amount of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the present invention is at least a minimal concentration that results in inhibition of signaling by PD-L1 or by PD-1 on T lymphocytes or B7.1 on other APCs or both.
[0196] A "therapeutically effective amount" is at least the minimum concentration required to achieve a measurable improvement or prevention of a particular disorder. The therapeutically effective amount here depends on factors such as the condition, age, sex and weight of the patient, and the ability of the antibody to elicit the desired response in the subject. A therapeutically effective amount is one in which any toxic or deleterious effects of the antibody are overridden by therapeutically beneficial effects. For example, a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the present invention is at least a minimal concentration that inhibits at least one symptom of a disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction.
[0197] A "prophylactically effective amount" refers to an amount effective in the dosages and periods necessary to achieve the desired prophylactic result. For example, a prophylactically effective amount of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the present invention is at least a minimal concentration that prevents or slows down the development of at least one symptom of a disorder associated with T-cell dysfunction.
[0198] "Chronic" administration refers to the administration of the drug (s) in a continuous mode, as opposed to the emergency mode, in order to maintain the initial therapeutic effect (activity) for a longer period of time. "Interrupted" administration is a treatment that is not continuous without interruption, but rather is cyclical.
[0199] "Mammal" for purposes of treatment refers to any animal classified as a mammal, including humans, domesticated and farm animals, and zoological animals used in sports or pets, such as dogs, horses, rabbits, cattle, pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, ferrets, rats, cats, etc. Preferably, the mammal is a human.
[0200] The term "pharmaceutical formulation" refers to a preparation that is in a form that allows effective biological activity of the active ingredient and that does not contain any additional components that are unacceptably toxic to the individual to which the formulation will be administered. Such preparations are sterile.
[0201] The "sterile" preparation is aseptic or free of all living microbes and their spores.
[0202] The term "about" as used herein refers to the normal error range at a given value known to a person skilled in the art.
[0203] An "autoimmune disorder" is a disease or disorder caused by and directed against a subject's own tissues or organs or its cosegregation or manifestation or resulting condition therefrom. The autoimmune disease may be an organ-specific disease (i.e., the immune response is specifically directed against the organ system, such as the endocrine system, hematopoietic system, skin, cardiorespiratory system, digestive system and liver, excretory system, thyroid, ears, nervous system, muscular, central nervous system, etc.) or a systemic disease that can affect many organ systems (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polymyositis, etc.). autoimmune hearing disorders (such as, for example, inner ear disease and hearing loss), Behcet's disease, Raynaud's syndrome, organ transplantation and autoimmune related diseases (such as, for example, diabetes-related autoimmune diseases such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), Addison's disease and autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g., Graves disease and thyroiditis)). More preferably, such diseases include, e.g., RA, ulcerative colitis, ANCA-associated vasculitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Graves's disease, IDDM, pernicious anemia, thyroiditis and glomerulonephritis. organ transplantation and autoimmune related diseases (such as, for example, diabetes-related autoimmune diseases such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), Addison's disease and autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g., Graves disease and thyroiditis)). More preferably, such diseases include, e.g., RA, ulcerative colitis, ANCA-associated vasculitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Graves's disease, IDDM, pernicious anemia, thyroiditis and glomerulonephritis. organ transplantation and autoimmune related diseases (such as, for example, diabetes-related autoimmune diseases such as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), Addison's disease and autoimmune thyroid disease (e.g., Graves disease and thyroiditis)). More preferably, such diseases include, e.g., RA, ulcerative colitis, ANCA-associated vasculitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Graves's disease, IDDM, pernicious anemia, thyroiditis and glomerulonephritis.
[0204] The term "cytotoxic agent" as used herein refers to a substance that inhibits or prevents the function of cells and / or causes destruction of cells. This term includes radioactive isotopes (e.g., At<sup>211</sup>, I<sup>131</sup>, I<sup>125</sup>, Y<sup>90</sup>, Re<sup>186</sup>, Re<sup>188</sup>, Sm<sup>153</sup>, Bi<sup>212</sup>, P<sup>32</sup> and Lu) and toxins, such as small-molecule toxins or enzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal origin, or fragments thereof.
[0205] A "chemotherapeutic agent" is a chemical compound useful in the treatment of cancer. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents include alkylating agents such as thiotepa and cyclophosphamide (CYTOXAN®); alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, improsulfan and piposulfan; aziridines, such as benzodopa, carboquone, meturedopa and uredopa; ethyleneimine and methyl amylamine, including altretamine, triethylenemelamine, triethylenephosphoramide, triethylenethiophosphoramide and trimethylmelamine; acetogenins (especially bulatacin and bulatacinone); delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol, MARINOL®); Beta-lapachone; lapachol; colchicine; betulinic acid; camptothecin (including synthetic topotecan analog (HYCAMTIN®), CPT-11 (irinotecan, CAMPTOSAR®), acetylcamptothecin, scopolectin and 9-aminocamptothecin); bryostatin; pemetrexed; callystatin; CC-1065 (including its adozelesin, carzelesin and bizelesine synthetic analogues); podophyllotoxin; podophyllinic acid; teniposide; cryptophycins (especially cryptophycin 1 and cryptophycin 8); dolastatin; duocarmycin (including synthetic analogs KW-2189 and CB1-TM1); eleutherobin; pancratistatin; TLK-286; CDP323, an oral alpha-4 integrin inhibitor; sarcodictyin; spongistatins; nitrogen mustards, such as chlorambucil, chloraphosphite, cholophosphamide, estramustine, ifosfamide, mechlorethamine, mechlorethamine oxide hydrochloride, melphalan, novembichin, phenesterine, prednimustine, trofosfamide, uracil mustard; nitrosoureas, such as carmustine, chlorozotocin, fotemustine, lomustine, nimustine and ranimnustine; antibiotics, such as eniodin antibiotics (e.g., calicheamicin, especially calicheamicin gamma1I and calicheamicin omegaI1 (see, e.g., Nicolaou et al. , Angew. Chem Intl. Ed. Engl., 33: 183-186 (1994)); dynemycin, including dynemycin A; esperamicin; as well as neocarcinostatin chromophore and related chromophores of enediine chromobacterial antibiotics), aclacinomysins, actinomycin, autramycin, azaserine, bleomycin, cactomycin, carabicin, carminycin, carcinophin, chromomycin, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, doxorubicin (including ADRIAMYCIN®, morpholino cjyanomorfolinodoksorubicynę, 2-pyrrolino, liposomal formulation of doxorubicin HCl for injection (Doxil ®), and deoxydoxorubicin), epirubicin, esorubicin, iadarubicynę, marcellomycin, mitomycins such as mitomycin C, mycophenolic acid, nogalamycin, olivomycins , peplomycin, potfiromycin, puromycin, quelamycin, rodorubicin, streptonigry, streptozocin, tubercidin, ubenimeks, zorostatin, zorubicin; anti-metabolites such as methotrexate, gemcitabine (GEMZAR®), tegafur (UFTORAL®), capecitabine (XELODA®), epothilone and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); folic acid analogs such as denopterin, methotrexate, pteropterin, trimetrexate; purine analogs such as fludarabine, 6-mercaptopurine, thiamiprine, thioguanine; pyrimidine analogs such as ancitabine, azacitidine, 6-azauridine, karmofur, cytarabine, dideoxyuridine, doxifluridine, enocytabine, floxuridine and imatinib (a 2-phenylaminopyrimidine derivative), as well as other c-Kit inhibitors; supra adrenals such as aminoglutethimide, mitotane, trilostane; folic acid supplements, such as frolinic acid; aceglatone; aldofosfamide glycoside; aminolevulinic acid; enyluracyl; amsacrine; bestrabucil; bisantrene; edatraxate; defofamine; demecolcine; diaziquone; elfornithine; elliptic acetate; etoglucid; gallium nitrate; hydroxyurea; lentinan; lonidamine; maytansinoids, such as maytansine and ansamitocins; mitoguazone; mitoxantrone; mopidanmol; nitraerine; pentostatin; phenamet; pirarubicin; losoxantrone; 2-ethylhydrazide; procarbazine; PSK® polysaccharide complex (JHS Natural Products, Eugene, OR); razoxane; rhizoxin; sizofiran; spirogermanium; tenuazonic acid; triaziquone; 2,2 ', 2 "-trichlorotriethylamine; trichothecenes (especially T-2 toxin, verracurin A, roridine A and anguidine); urethane; vindesine (ELDISINE®, FILDESIN®); dacarbazine; mannomustine; mitobronitol; mitolactol; pipobroman; gacytosine; arabinoside ("Ara-C"); thiotepa; taxoids, e.g. paclitaxel (TAXOL®), a nanoparticle formulation of albumin-modified paclitaxel (ABRAXANE ™) and doksetaxel (TAXOTERE®); chloranbucyl; 6-thioguanine; mercaptopurine; methotrexate; platinum analogs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin; vinblastine (VELBAN®);
platinum; etoposide (VP-16); ifosfamide; mitoxantrone; vincristine (ONCOVIN®); oxaliplatin; leucovovin; vinorelbine (NAVELBINE®); edatrexate; edatrexate; daunomycin; aminopterin; ibandronate; an RFS 2000 topoisomerase inhibitor; difluoromethylornithine (DMFO); retinoids, such as retinoic acid; pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the foregoing; as well as combinations of two or more of the above, such as CHOP, an abbreviation for cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone, and FOLFOX, an abbreviation for oxaliplatin treatment regimen (ELOXATIN ™) in combination with 5-FU and leucovovin. A particularly preferred chemotherapeutic agent useful in combination with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention, especially in the treatment of tumor resistance, is gemcitabine.
[0206] Also included in this definition are antihormonal agents that act to regulate, reduce, block or inhibit the effects of hormones that can promote tumor growth and are often in the form of systemic or whole body treatment. They can be hormones themselves. Examples include antiestrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), including for example tamoxifen (including NOLVADEX® tamoxifen), raloxifene (EVISTA®), droloxifene, 4-hydroxy tamoxifen, trioxifene, keoxifene, LY117018, onapristone and toremifene (FARESTON®) ; anti-progesterones; agents reducing the number of estrogen receptors (ERD); estrogen receptor antagonists, such as fulvestrant (FASLODEX®); agents whose function is to stop or stop the function of the ovaries, for example, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, such as leuprolide acetate (LUPRON® and ELIGARD®), goserelin acetate, buserelin acetate and tripterelin; antiandrogens such as flutamide, nilutamide and bicalutamide; and aromatase inhibitors that inhibit the aromatase enzyme that regulates estrogen production in the adrenal glands, such as, for example, 4 (5) -imidazoles, aminoglutethimide, megestrol acetate (MEGASE®), exemestane (AROMASIN®), formestane, fadrozole, vorozole (RIVISOR® ), letrozole (FEMARA®) and anastrozole (ARIMIDEX®). In addition, such a definition of chemotherapeutic agents includes bisphosphonates, such as clodronate (e.g., BONEFOS® or OSTAC®), ethidronate (DIDROCAL®), NE-58095, zoledronic acid / zoledronate (ZOMETA®), alendronate (FOSAMAX®), pamidronate (AREDIA®) ), tiludronate (SKELID®) or risedronate (ACTONEL®); and also troxacitabine (1, A 3-dioxolane nucleoside analog of cytosine); antisense oligonucleotides, especially those that inhibit gene expression on signaling pathways involved in aberrant cell proliferation, such as, e.g., PKC-alpha, Raf, H-Ras, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R); vaccines, such as THERATOPE® vaccine and gene therapy vaccines, e.g. ALLOVECTIN® vaccine, LEUVECTIN® vaccine and VAXID® vaccine; a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (e.g., LURTOTECAN®); an antiestrogen, such as fulvestrant; a Kit inhibitor such as imatinib or EXEL-0862 (tyrosine kinase inhibitor); EGFR inhibitors such as erlotinib or cetuximab; an anti-VEGF inhibitor such as bevacizumab; arinotecan; rmRH (e.g., ABARELIX®); lapatinib and lapatinib ditosylate (a small molecule double inhibitor of ErbB-2 and EGFR tyrosine kinases, also known as GW572016); 17AAG (a geldanamycin derivative which is a heat shock protein poison (Hsp) 90) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the foregoing. [0207] A "growth inhibitory agent" refers to a compound or composition that inhibits cell growth whose growth depends on in vitro or in vivo receptor activation. Accordingly, the growth inhibitory agent includes one that significantly reduces the proportion of receptor-dependent cells in the S-phase. Examples of growth inhibitory agents include agents that block the progression of the cell cycle (at a different location than the S phase), such as agents that induce the arrest. in G1 and M-arrest. Classical M-phase blockers include vinka and vinca alkaloids (vincristine and vinblastine), taxanes and topoisomerase II inhibitors such as doxorubicin, epirubicin, daunorubicin, etoposide and bleomycin. These measures that stop G1 also affect the phase arrest
S, e.g. DNA alkylating agents such as tamoxifen, prednisone, dacarbazine, mechlorethamine, cisplatin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and ara-C. Further information can be found in The Molecular Basis of Cancer, Mendelsohn and Israel, ed., Chapter 1, entitled "Cell cycle regulation, oncogenes, and antineoplastic drugs", Murakami et al. (WB Saunders: Philadelphia, 1995), especially p. 13. Taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel ) are both antisocial drugs derived from yew tree. Docetaxel (TAXOTERE®, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer), originating from the European yew, is a semi-synthetic analog of paclitaxel (TAXOL®, Bristol-Myers Squibb).
[0208] The term "cytokine" is a generic name for proteins released by one cell population that acts on another cell as an intercellular mediator. Examples of such cytokines are lymphokines, monokines; interleukins (IL) such as IL-1, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-11 , IL-12, IL-13, IL-15 ... IL-35, including PROLEUKIN® rIL-2; tumor necrosis factor, such as TNF-α or TNF-β; and other polypeptide factors, including LIF and kit ligand (KL), while the term "interleukin" has now essentially become synonymous with cytokine. As used herein, the term cytokine includes proteins from natural sources or from recombinant cell cultures and biologically active equivalents of native cytokine sequences, including synthetically produced small molecule compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and salts. Cytokines can be divided by the distance of the target location, where autocrine refers to the action on the same cell from which it is secreted, paracrine refers to the action limited to the immediate proximity of the cytokine secretion site, and endocrine refers to the action in remote regions of the body . The immune cytokines can also be classified according to whether they exacerbate the type I response (e.g., IFN-γ, TGF-β, etc.), which promotes cellular immunity or type II response (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, etc.) that promotes immunity through antibodies or humoral. Immune cytokines play roles in the co-stimulation, maturation, proliferation, activation, inflammation, growth, differentiation, production and secretion of cytokines, survival of various immune cells.
[0209] The term "hormone" refers to polypeptide hormones that are usually secreted by glandular organs through ducts. The hormones include, for example, growth hormone such as human growth hormone, N-methionyl human growth hormone and bovine growth hormone; parathyroid hormone; thyroxine; insulin; proinsulin; relaxin; estradiol; Hormone Replacement Therapy; androgens, such as calusterone, dromostanolone propionate, epitiostanol, mepitiostane or testolactone; prorelaxin; glycoprotein hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH); prolactin, placental lactogen, mouse gonadotropin-associated peptide, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; inhibin; activin; substance inhibiting the development of Muller's ducts; and thrombopoietin.
III. Ways of carrying out the invention
A. Humanization using phage display [0210] The hypervariate transplant region variants described herein were prepared according to Kunkel by mutagenesis of a nucleic acid encoding human acceptor sequences, using a separate oligonucleotide for each hypervariable region. Kunkel et al., Methods Enzymol. 154: 367-382 (1987). Appropriate changes can be made within the framework and / or hypervariable region using routine techniques to improve and restore the relevant hypervariable-antigen region interactions. [0211] Phage display (phagemid) (also referred to herein as phage display) can be used as a convenient and rapid method for the production and screening of a wide variety of potential antibody variants in a library formed by sequence domination 52.
[0212] Phage display (phagemid) (also referred to herein as phage display in some contexts) can be used as a convenient and rapid method of making and screening a wide variety of potential antibody variants in a library formed by randomization of sequences. However, other methods of making and screening for altered antibodies are available to the skilled person.
[0213] Phage display technology (phagemid) has provided a powerful tool for the production and screening of new proteins that bind to a ligand, such as an antigen. The use of phage display techniques (phagemid) allows the production of large libraries of protein variants that can be quickly sorted for those sequences that bind to the target molecule with high affinity. Nucleic acids encoding polypeptide variants are typically linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a viral coat protein, such as a gene III protein or a gene of the VIII gene. Presentation systems have been developed on a monovalent phagemid, where the nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein or polypeptide is linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a portion of the gene III protein. (Bass, S., Proteins, 8: 309 (1990); Lowman and Wells, Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology, 3: 205 (1991)). In a monovalent phage display system, gene fusion is expressed at a low level, and wild-type gene III proteins are also expressed so that the infectivity of the particles is preserved. Methods for producing peptide libraries and screening of these libraries have been disclosed in a number of patents (e.g., US Patent No. 5,732,86, US Patent No. 5,432,018, US Patent No. 5,580,717, US Patent 5,427,908, and US Patent No. 5,498,530).
[0214] Antibody-binding libraries or polypeptides have been prepared in a number of ways, including by changing a single gene by inserting random DNA sequences or by cloning a family of related genes. Methods for displaying antibodies or antigen-binding fragments using phage display (phagemid) have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5750373, 5733743, 5837242, 5969108, 6172197, 5580717 and 5658727. The library is then screened for the expression of antibodies or antigen-binding proteins of desired size. characteristics.
[0215] Methods for substituting the selected amino acid in a nucleic acid template are well established in the art, and some of them are described herein. For example, hypervariable region residues can be substituted using the Kunkel method. See, e.g., Kunkel et al., Methods Enzymol. 154: 367-382 (1987).
[0216] The oligonucleotide sequence includes one or more designed codebook sets for the hyper-hinge region residues to be altered. A set of codes is a set of different nucleotide triplet sequences used to code for the desired amino acid variant. Codon sets can be represented by symbols for the determination of individual nucleotides or equimolar mixtures of nucleotides as shown below in accordance with the IUB code.
IUB CODES
<td>G (Guanine)</td><td>Y (C or T)</td><td>H (A or C or T)</td>
<td>A (Adenine)</td><td>M (A or C)</td><td>B (C or G or T)</td>
<td>T (Tymina)</td><td>K (G or T)</td><td>V (A or C or G)</td>
<td>C (Cytosine)</td><td>S (C or G)</td><td>D (A or G or T)</td>
<td>R (A or G)</td><td>W (A or T)</td><td>N (A or C or G or T)</td>
For example, in a DVK codon set, D may be nucleotides A or G or
T; V can be A or G or C; and K may be G or T. This set of codons may represent 18 different codons and encode the amino acids Ala, Trp, Tyr,
Lys, Thr, Asn, Lys, Ser, Arg, Asp, Glu, Gly and Cys.
[0217] Sets of oligonucleotides or primers can be synthesized using standard methods. A set of oligonucleotides may be synthesized, for example, by solid phase synthesis, including sequences that represent all possible combinations of nucleotide triplets provided by the codon set and which will encode the desired amino acid group. The synthesis of oligonucleotides with a selected "degeneration" of nucleotides in some positions is well known in the art. Such nucleotide sets containing specific codon sets can be synthesized using commercial nucleic synthesizers (available for example from Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA), or can be obtained commercially (e.g. from Life Technologies, Rockville, MD). Accordingly, a set of genetically engineered oligonucleotides containing a specific codon set will typically comprise a plurality of oligonucleotides with different sequences, the differences being determined by a set of codons in the general sequence. The oligonucleotides used according to the invention have sequences that allow for hybridization with the variable domain nucleic acid matrix and may also contain sites for restriction enzymes for cloning purposes.
[0218] In one method, nucleic acid sequences coding for amino acid variants can be created by oligonucleotide mutagenesis. This technique is well known in the art as described in Zoller et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 10: 6487-6504 (1987). Briefly, nucleic acid sequences encoding amino acid variants are created by hybridizing a set of oligonucleotides encoding a desired set of codons with a DNA template, wherein the template is a single-stranded form of a plasmid containing a variable region nucleic acid template sequence. After hybridization, the DNA polymerase is used to synthesize the entire second complementary strand of the template, which in this way will have a built-in oligonucleotide primer and will contain the codon sets provided by the oligonucleotide set.
[0219] In general, oligonucleotides of at least 25 nucleotides in length are used. The optimal oligonucleotide will contain 12 to 15 nucleotides that are completely complementary to the template on either side of the nucleotide (s) encoding the mutation (s). This ensures that the oligonucleotide will properly hybridize to the single-stranded DNA template molecule. Oligonucleotides are readily synthesized using techniques known in the art, such as those described in Crea et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA, 75: 5765 (1978). [0220] A DNA template is created either by those vectors that are derived from M13 bacteriophage vectors (the corresponding commercially available M13mp18 and M13mp19 vectors are suitable), or vectors that contain a single-stranded phage origin of replication as described in Viera et al. Meth. Enzymol. 153: 3 (1987). So the DNA to be mutated, it can be inserted into one of these vectors to create a single-stranded matrix. The preparation of the single-stranded template is described in Sections 4.21-4.41 in Sambrook et al., Supra.
[0221] To change the native DNA sequence, the oligonucleotide is hybridized to a single-stranded template under the appropriate hybridization conditions. The DNA polymerizing enzyme, typically T7 DNA polymerase or Klenow DNA polymerase I fragment, is then added to synthesize the complementary template strand using the oligonucleotide as a synthesis primer. In this way a heteroduplex molecule is formed in which one strand of DNA encodes the mutated form of gene 1 and the other strand (original template) encodes the native, unchanged sequence of gene 1. This heteroduplex molecule is then transformed into a suitable host cell, usually prokaryotic, such as E. coli JM101. After cell growth, they are plated on agarose plates and screened using a radiolabelled oligonucleotide primer<sup>32</sup>-phosphate to identify bacterial colonies that contain mutated DNA.
[0222] The method described just above may be modified so that a homoduplex molecule is formed in which both plasmid strands contain a mutation (s). The modifications are as follows: The single-stranded oligonucleotide is hybridized to a single-stranded template as described above. A mix of three deoxyribonucleotides, deoxyriboadenosine (dATP), deoxyriboguanosine (dGTP) and deoxyribothymidine (dTT) is combined with a modified thiodeoxyribocytosis called dCTP- (aS) (which can be obtained from Amersham). This mixture is added to the matrix-oligonucleotide complex. After addition of the DNA polymerase to this mixture, a DNA strand identical to the template is formed except for the mutant bases. In addition, this new strand of DNA will contain dCTP- (aS) instead of dCTP, which serves to protect it from digestion with restriction endonuclease. After the strand of the double-stranded heteroduplex template is inoculated with a suitable restriction enzyme, the template strand may be digested with ExoIII nuclease or other suitable nuclease for cleavage in a different region from that which contains the site (s) to be mutagenized. The reaction is then stopped with leaving a molecule that is only partially single-stranded. A complete double-stranded DNA homoduplex is then created using DNA polymerase in the presence of all four deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates, ATP and DNA ligase. This homoduplex molecule can then be transformed into a suitable host cell. The reaction is then stopped with leaving a molecule that is only partially single-stranded. A complete double-stranded DNA homoduplex is then created using DNA polymerase in the presence of all four deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates, ATP and DNA ligase. This homoduplex molecule can then be transformed into a suitable host cell. The reaction is then stopped with leaving a molecule that is only partially single-stranded. A complete double-stranded DNA homoduplex is then created using DNA polymerase in the presence of all four deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates, ATP and DNA ligase. This homoduplex molecule can then be transformed into a suitable host cell.
[0223] As indicated earlier, the sequence of the oligonucleotide set is of sufficient length to hybridize to the nucleic acid template and may also, but not necessarily, contain restriction sites. The DNA template can be created either by those vectors that are derived from M13 bacteriophage vectors, or vectors that contain a single-stranded phage origin of replication as described in Viera et al. Meth. Enzymol. 153: 3 (1987). Thus, the DNA to be mutated must be inserted into one of these vectors to produce a single-stranded template. The preparation of single-stranded templates is described in sections 4.21-4.41 in Sambrook et al., Supra.
[0224] According to another method, the library can be produced by providing sets of oligonucleotides located upstream and downstream of each site, each set containing a plurality of oligonucleotides with different sequences, and these different sequences being determined by the codon sets provided in the oligonucleotide sequence. Sets of oligonucleotides located upstream and downstream of the site, together with the template variable domain nucleic acid sequence, may be used in the polymerase chain reaction to produce a "library" of PCR products. The PCR products can be referred to as "nucleic acid cassettes" because they can be combined with other related or unrelated nucleic acid sequences, e.g. viral coat proteins and dimerization domains, using established molecular biology techniques.
[0225] The PCR primer sequence comprises one or more codon sets designed for solvent available and very different positions in the hypervariable region. As described above, the set of codes is a set of different nucleotide triplet sequences used to encode the desired variant amino acids. Selected antibodies that meet the desired criteria, selected in appropriate screening / selection steps, can be isolated and cloned using standard recombination techniques.
B. Recombinant Production [0226] The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid encoding anti-PD-L1 antibodies, vectors and host cells comprising such nucleic acid and recombinant techniques for making such an antibody.
[0227] For the production of the antibody by recombination, the nucleic acid encoding it is isolated and inserted into a replicable vector for further cloning (amplification of the DNA) or for expression. The DNA encoding the monoclonal antibody is readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., using oligonucleotide probes that are capable of specifically binding to genes encoding the antibody heavy and light chains). There are many vectors available. The selection of the vector depends in part on the host cell to be used. Generally preferred host cells are of prokaryotic or eukaryotic origin (generally mammalian).
1. Production of the antibody in prokaryotic cells
a) Vector construction [0228] Polynucleotide sequences encoding polypeptide components of the antibodies of the invention can be obtained using standard recombination techniques. The desired polynucleotide sequences can be isolated and sequenced from antibody-producing cells, such as hybridoma cells. Alternatively, polynucleotides may be synthesized using a nucleotide synthesizer or PCR techniques. Once obtained, the sequences encoding the polypeptides are inserted into a recombinant vector capable of replicating and expressing heterologous polynucleotides in prokaryotic hosts. Many vectors that are available and known in the art can be used for the purposes of the present invention. The choice of the appropriate vector will depend mainly on the size of the nucleic acids, which are to be inserted into the vector and the specific host cell to be transformed with the vector. Each vector contains various components depending on its function (amplification or expression of a heterologous polynucleotide or both) and its compatibility with the particular host cell in which it is located. Vector components typically include, but are not limited to: an origin of replication, a selectable marker gene, a promoter, a ribosome binding site (RBS), a signal sequence, a heterologous nucleic acid insert, and a transcription termination sequence.
[0229] In general, plasmid vectors containing replicon and control sequences that are derived from a species compatible with the host cell are used in combination with these hosts. The vector usually carries a replication site as well as marker sequences that are able to provide phenotypic selection in transformed cells. For example, E. coli is typically transformed using pBR322, a plasmid derived from an E. coli species. pBR322 contains genes encoding ampicillin (Amp) and tetracycline (Tet) resistance and thus provides an easy way to identify transformed cells. pBR322, its derivatives or other microbial plasmids or bacteriophages, may also contain or be modified to contain promoters that can be used by the microbial organism to express an endogenous protein.
[0230] In addition, phage vectors containing replicon and control sequences that are compatible with the host microorganism can be used as transformation vectors in combination with these hosts. For example, a bacteriophage such as GEM.TM-11 can be used to create a recombinant vector that can be used to transform susceptible host cells, such as E. coli LE392.
[0231] The expression vector of the invention may comprise two or more promoter-cistron pairs encoding each of the polypeptide components. The promoter is a non-translated control sequence located upstream of (in the 5 'direction) a cistron that modulates its expression. Prokaryotic promoters are usually divided into two classes, inducible and constitutive. An inducible promoter is a promoter that initiates an increase in the level of cistron transcription under its control in response to changes in culture conditions, e.g. the presence or absence of a nutrient or a change in temperature.
[0232] Many promoters are recognized that are recognized by various potential host cells. The promoter selected may be operably linked to the cistronic DNA encoding the light or heavy chain by removing the promoter from the source DNA by restriction enzyme digestion and inserting the isolated promoter sequence into the vector of the invention. Both the native promoter sequence and many heterologous promoters can be used for direct amplification and / or expression of target genes. In some embodiments, heterologous promoters are used, as they generally allow greater transcription and higher efficiency of the expressed target gene as compared to the native promoter of the target polypeptide.
[0233] Promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts include the PhoA promoter, galactamase and lactose promoter systems, the tryptophane promoter (trp) promoter and hybrid promoters such as the tac or trc promoter. However, other promoters that are functional in bacteria (such as other known bacterial or phage promoters) are also suitable. Their nucleotide sequences have been published, thus allowing the skilled worker to functionally link them to cistrons encoding target light and heavy chains (Siebenlist et al (1980) Cell 20: 269) using linkers or adapters to provide any required restriction sites.
[0234] In one aspect, each cistron in the recombinant vector comprises a secretory signal sequence component that directs the translocation of the expressed polypeptides across the membrane. In general, the signal sequence may be a component of the vector, or it may be part of the target polypeptide DNA that is inserted into the vector. The signal sequence selected for the purposes of this invention should be one that is recognized and processed (i.e., cleaved by a signal peptidase) by the host cell. For prokaryotic host cells that do not recognize and process signal sequences native to heterologous polypeptides, the signal sequence is replaced with a prokaryotic signal sequence selected from, for example, the group consisting of alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase leaders, Ipp or thermostable enterotoxin II (STII), LamB, PhoE, PelB, OmpA and MBP. In one embodiment of the invention, the signal sequences used in both cistrons of the expression system are STII signal sequences or variants thereof.
[0235] In another aspect, the production of immunoglobulins of the invention may take place in the cytoplasm of the host cell, and therefore does not require the secretion of the secretory signal sequence in each cistron. In this regard, the light and heavy chains of immunoglobulins are expressed, folded and assembled into functional forms of immunoglobulins in the cytoplasm. Some host strains (e.g. E. coli trxB strains<sup>-</sup>) provide conditions in the cytoplasm that are beneficial for the formation of disulphide bonds, thereby allowing the appropriate folding and assembly of the expressed protein subunits. Proba and Pluckthun Gene, 159: 203 (1995).
[0236] The present invention provides an expression system in which the quantitative ratio of expressed polypeptide components can be modulated to maximize the yield of secreted and properly assembled antibodies of the invention. Such modulation is achieved at least in part by the simultaneous modulation of translational forces for the polypeptide components.
One of the translational translational modulation techniques is disclosed in Simmons et al. Pat. No. 5840523. It uses variants of translation initiation region (TIR) in a cistron. For a given TIR, a number of amino acid sequence or nucleic acid variants can be made with a range of translational powers, thus providing a convenient method in which to match this ratio to the desired level of expression of a particular chain. The TIR variants can be produced by conventional mutagenesis techniques that cause codon changes that can alter the amino acid sequence, although silent changes in the nucleotide sequence are preferred. Changes in the TIR may include, for example, changes in the number or distribution of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence along with changes in the signal sequence. One way to generate mutant signal sequences is to create a "codon bank" at the beginning of the coding sequence that does not change the amino acid sequence of the signal sequence (i.e., the changes are silent). This can be achieved by changing the third nucleotide position of each codon; in addition, some amino acids, such as leucine, serine and arginine, have many first and second positions that can add complexity to bank creation. This method of mutagenesis is described in detail in Yansura et al. (1992) METHODS: A Companion is Methods in Enzymol. 4: 151-158. serine and arginine, have many first and second positions that can add complexity when creating a bank. This method of mutagenesis is described in detail in Yansura et al. (1992) METHODS: A Companion is Methods in Enzymol. 4: 151-158. serine and arginine, have many first and second positions that can add complexity when creating a bank. This method of mutagenesis is described in detail in Yansura et al. (1992) METHODS: A Companion is Methods in Enzymol. 4: 151-158.
[0237] Preferably, the set of vectors is created in the TIR force range for each cistron. This limited set provides a comparison of the expression levels of each chain, as well as the performance of the desired antibody products at various combinations of TIR forces. TIR forces can be determined by quantifying the expression level of the reporter gene as described in detail in Simmons et al. Stalemate. No. 5840523. Based on a comparison of translational forces, the desired individual TIRs are selected for integration into constructs of the expression vectors of the invention.
b) Prokaryotic host cells.
[0238] Prokaryotic host cells suitable for expressing antibodies of the invention include Archaebacteria and Eubacteria, such as Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Examples of useful bacteria include Escherichia (e.g. E. coli), Bacilli (e.g., B. subtilis), Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas species (e.g., P. aeruginosa), Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia marcescans, Klebsiella, Proteus, Shigella, Rhizobia, Vitreoscilla or
Paracoccus. Gram-negative cells are used in one embodiment. In one embodiment, E. coli cells are used as hosts for the invention. Examples of E. coli strains include strain W3110 (Bachmann, Cellular and Molecular Biology, vol. 2 (Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology, 1987), pp. 1190-1219; Deposit No. in ATCC 27325) and derivatives thereof, including strain 33D3 with genotype W3110 yfhuA (ytonA) ptr3 lac Iq lacL8yompTy (nmpc-fepE) degP41 kan<sup>R</sup> (U.S. Patent No. 5,639,635). Other strains and their derivatives, such as E. coli 294 (ATCC 31446), E. coli B, E. coli 1776 (ATCC 31537) and E. coli RV308 (ATCC 31608) are also suitable. These examples are illustrative and not restrictive. Methods for constructing derivatives of any of the aforementioned bacteria with specific genotypes are known in the art and described e.g. in Bass et al., Proteins, 8: 309-314 (1990). It is usually necessary to select the appropriate bacteria, taking into account the replicant's replicative capacity in bacterial cells. For example, E. coli, Serratia or Salmonella species can be suitably used as hosts when well-known plasmids such as pBR322, pBR325, pACYC177 or pKN410 are used to deliver the replicon.
[0239] Typically, the host cell should secrete minimal amounts of proteolytic enzymes, and additional protease inhibitors may be preferably included in the cell culture.
c) Generation of Antibodies [0240] Host cells are transformed using the expression vectors described above and grown in conventional nutrient media suitably modified for the induction of promoters, selection of transformants or amplification of genes encoding the desired sequences. Transformation means introducing DNA into a prokaryotic host, such that the DNA is capable of replication, either as an extrachromosomal element or after integration with the chromosome. Depending on the host cell used, the transformation is carried out using standard techniques suitable for such cells. Calcium treatment using calcium chloride is usually used for bacterial cells that contain significant barriers in the form of cell walls. Another method of transformation uses polyethylene glycol / DMSO.
[0241] Prokaryotic cells used to produce antibodies of the invention are grown in media known in the art and suitable for growing selected host cells. Examples of suitable media include Luria broth (LB) with essential nutrient additions. In some embodiments, the media also contains a selective agent selected on the basis of the construction of an expression vector for selectively enabling growth of prokaryotic cells containing the expression vector. For example, ampicillin is added to the media to grow cells that express the ampicillin resistance gene.
[0242] Any necessary additives in addition to the carbon, nitrogen and inorganic phosphate sources may also be included at appropriate concentrations, introduced alone or in admixture with another additive or medium, such as a complex nitrogen source. Optionally, the culture medium may contain one or more reducing agents selected from the group consisting of glutathione, cysteine, cystamine, thioglycollate, dithioerythritol and dithiothreitol.
[0243] Prokaryotic host cells are grown at appropriate temperatures. For example, for E. coli growth, the preferred temperature ranges from about 20 ° C to about 39 ° C, more preferably from about 25 ° C to about 37 ° C, even more preferably around 30 ° C. The pH of the medium can be any pH in the range of about 5 to about 9, mainly depending on the host organism. For E. coli, the pH is preferably from about 6.8 to about 7.4, and more preferably about 7.0.
[0244] If an inducible promoter is used in the expression vector of the invention, the expressed protein is induced under conditions suitable for promoter activation. In one aspect of the invention, the PhoA promoters are used to control the transcription of polypeptides. Accordingly, the transformed host cells are grown in medium with limited availability of phosphates for induction. Preferably, the medium with limited phosphate availability is CRAP medium (see, e.g., Simmons et al., J. Immunol. Methods (2002), 263: 133-147). Many other inducers can be used that are compatible with the vector construct used, as is known in the art. [0245] Expressed protein antibodies of the present invention are secreted into and recovered from host cell periplasm. Protein recovery usually involves damage to the microorganism, in general by methods such as osmotic shock, sonication or lysis. When cells are damaged, cell debris or whole cells can be removed by centrifugation or filtration. The proteins can then be purified, for example by affinity chromatography on the resin. Alternatively, the proteins can be transported into the culture medium and isolated therefrom. The cells can be removed from the culture and the culture supernatant filtered and concentrated for further purification of the produced proteins. Expressed polypeptides can be further isolated and identified using commonly known methods, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western blot. cell debris or whole cells can be removed by centrifugation or filtration. The proteins can then be purified, for example by affinity chromatography on the resin. Alternatively, the proteins can be transported into the culture medium and isolated therefrom. The cells can be removed from the culture and the culture supernatant filtered and concentrated for further purification of the produced proteins. Expressed polypeptides can be further isolated and identified using commonly known methods, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western blot. cell debris or whole cells can be removed by centrifugation or filtration. The proteins can then be purified, for example by affinity chromatography on the resin. Alternatively, the proteins can be transported into the culture medium and isolated therefrom. The cells can be removed from the culture and the culture supernatant filtered and concentrated for further purification of the produced proteins. Expressed polypeptides can be further isolated and identified using commonly known methods, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western blot. proteins can be transported to the culture medium and isolated from there. The cells can be removed from the culture and the culture supernatant filtered and concentrated for further purification of the produced proteins. Expressed polypeptides can be further isolated and identified using commonly known methods, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western blot. proteins can be transported to the culture medium and isolated from there. The cells can be removed from the culture and the culture supernatant filtered and concentrated for further purification of the produced proteins. Expressed polypeptides can be further isolated and identified using commonly known methods, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western blot.
[0246] Alternatively, the production of antibodies is carried out in a large amount in the fermentation process. Various batch fermentation procedures with continuous large-scale dosing are available for the production of recombinant proteins. Large-scale fermentations have a capacity of at least 1000 liters, preferably about 1,000 to 100,000 liters. These fermenters use rotor mixers to distribute oxygen and nutrients, especially glucose (a preferred carbon / energy source). Small-scale fermentation usually refers to fermentation in a fermenter that has no more than about 100 liters of volume capacity and can range from about 1 liter to about 100 liters. [0247] During the fermentation process, the induction of protein expression is usually initiated after culturing the cells under appropriate conditions to the desired density, e.g.
A variety of inducers can be used that are compatible with the vector construct used, as is known in the art and described above. The cells can be cultured for a shorter time before induction. The cells are usually induced for about 12-50 hours, although a longer or shorter induction time may be used.
[0248] In order to improve the production efficiency and quality of the antibodies of the invention, various fermentation conditions can be modified. For example, additional vectors showing overexpression of chaperone proteins such as Dsb proteins (DsbA, DsbB, DsbC, DsbD and DsbG) or FkpA (cis, peptidyl-prolyl trans-isomerase) may be used to improve the correct folding and folding of antibody secreted polypeptides. about caring activity) for the simultaneous transformation of prokaryotic host cells. Chaperones have been shown to facilitate the correct folding and solubility of heterologous proteins produced in bacterial host cells. Chen et al. (1999) J Bio Chem 274: 19601-19605; Georgiou et al., US Patent No. 6083715; Georgiou et al., US Patent No. 6027888; Bothmann and Pluckthun (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275: 17100-17105; Ramm and Pluckthun (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275: 1710617113; Arie et al. (2001) Mol. Microbiol. 39: 199-210.
[0249] To minimize proteolysis of the expressed heterologous proteins (especially those that are sensitive to proteolysis), specific host strains with proteolytic enzyme deficiency may be used for the present invention. For example, host cell strains can be modified to have a genetic mutation (s) in genes coding for known bacterial proteases, such as Protease III, OmpT, DegP, Tsp, Protease I, Mi protease, Protease V, Protease VI and their combinations. Some E. coli strains with protease deficiency are available and described, for example, in Joly et al. (1998), supra; Georgiou et al., US Patent No. 5,264,365; Georgiou et al., US Patent No. 5,008,192; Hara et al., Microbial Drug Resistance, 2: 63-72 (1996).
[0250] E. coli strains deficient in proteolytic enzymes and transformed with plasmids overexpressing one or more chaperones can be used as host cells in the expression system encoding the antibodies of the invention.
d) Purification of antibodies [0251] The antibody protein produced herein is further purified to obtain formulations that are substantially homogeneous for further testing and uses. Standard protein purification methods known in the art may be used. The following procedures are examples of suitable purification procedures: fractionation on immunoaffinity or ion exchange columns, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica gel chromatography or a cation exchange resin such as DEAE, chromatofocusing, SDS-PAGE, ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration using, for example, Sephadex G-75.
[0252] In one aspect, the fixed-immobilized protein A is used for immunoaffinity purification of full-length antibody products of the invention. Protein A is a 41 kD cell wall protein with Staphylococcus aureas that binds with high affinity to the antibody Fc region. Lindmark et al. (1983) J. Immunol. Meth. 62: 1-13. The solid phase onto which Protein A is immobilized is preferably a column comprising a glass or silica surface, more preferably a glass column with controlled porosity or a column of silicic acid. In some applications, the column was coated with a reagent, such as glycerol, as an attempt to prevent non-specific adhesion of impurities. The solid phase is then washed to remove impurities bound non-specifically to the solid phase.
2. Production of antibody in eukaryotic cells [0253] For expression in eukaryotic cells, vector components typically include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following, a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes and an enhancer element, a promoter and the transcription termination sequence.
a) Signal signal component [0254] The vector for use in a eukaryotic host may also include an insert that encodes a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the N-terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide. The heterologous signal sequence selected is preferably one that is recognized and processed (i.e., cleaved by a signal peptidase) by the host cell. In mammalian cell expression, mammalian signal sequences as well as viral secretory leaders, e.g. the herpes simplex gD signal, are available.
[0255] The DNA for such a precursor region is linked in reading frame to DNA encoding the antibodies of the invention.
b) Origin of replication [0256] In general, the origin of replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors (the origin of SV40 can usually be used only because it contains an early promoter).
c) Component in the form of a selection gene [0257] Expression and cloning vectors may contain a selection gene, also referred to as a selection marker. Typical selection genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g. ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate or tetracycline, (b) supplement auxotrophic deficiencies, or (c) provide essential nutrients not available in complex media, e.g. the gene encoding D-alanine racemase for Bacilli.
[0258] In one example of the selection scheme, a drug is used to arrest the growth of the host cell. These cells, which are successfully transformed with a heterologous gene, produce a protein conferring drug resistance and thus survive the selection conditions. Examples of such a dominant selection are neomycin, mycophenolic acid and hygromycin.
[0259] A further example of suitable selection markers for mammalian cells are those that allow the identification of cells competent to take up the nucleic acid encoding antibodies of the invention, such as DHFR, thymidine kinase, metallothionein-I and II, preferably primate mothothelines, adenosine deaminase, ornithine decarboxylase, etc.
[0260] For example, cells transformed with the DHFR selection gene are first identified by culturing all transformants in a culture medium that contains methotrexate (Mtx), a competitive DHFR antagonist. A suitable host cell when wild-type DHFR is used is a Chinese hamster ovary cell line deficient in DHFR activity (e.g., ATCC CRL-9096).
[0261] Alternatively, host cells (particularly wild-type hosts comprising endogenous DHFR) transformed or co-transformed with DNA sequences encoding the antibody, wild-type DHFR protein and a second selection marker such as aminoglycoside 3'-aminophos- phoside phosphatase (APH) can be selected on based on cell growth in a medium containing a selection agent for a selection marker, such as an aminoglycoside antibiotic, e.g. kanamycin, neomycin or G418. See US Patent No. 4,965,199.
d) Promoter component [0262] Expression and cloning vectors typically contain a promoter that is recognized by the host organism and operably linked to the nucleic acid encoding the desired antibody sequences. Virtually all eukaryotic genes have an AT-rich region of about 25-30 bases upstream of where the transcription is initiated. Another sequence of 70 to 80 bases before the start of the transcription of many genes is the CNCAAT region, where N can be any nucleotide. At the 3'-end of most eukaryotic sequences is the AATAAA sequence, which may be a signal for attaching a polyA tail to the 3'-end of the coding sequence. All of these sequences can be inserted into eukaryotic expression vectors.
[0263] Other promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts include the phoA promoter, lactamase and lactose promoter systems, alkaline phosphatase promoter, tryptophan promoter (trp) and hybrid promoters, such as the tac promoter. However, other known bacterial promoters are suitable. Promoters for use in bacterial systems will also contain a Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence operably linked to the DNA encoding the antibody polypeptide.
[0264] Transcription of antibody polypeptides from vectors in mammalian host cells is controlled, for example, by promoters derived from viral genomes, such as polyomavirus, avipox, adenovirus (such as adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, sarcoma virus, virus cytomegalovirus, retrovirus, hepatitis B virus, and most preferably monkey virus (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g. the actin promoter or immunoglobulin promoter, from heat shock promoters, provided that such promoters are compatible with host cell systems. [0265] The early and late promoters of the SV40 virus are conveniently obtained as the SV40 restriction fragment which also contains an origin of replication from the SV40 virus. The immediate early promoter of the human cytomegalovirus is conveniently obtained as a HindIII E restriction fragment. A system for expressing DNA in mammalian hosts using a cattle papillomavirus as a vector is disclosed in US Patent No. 4,414,146. The modification of this system is described in US Patent No. 4,601,978. See also Reyes et al., Nature 297: 598-601 (1982) regarding the expression of human interferon cDNA in mouse cells under the control of the thymidine kinase promoter from herpes simplex virus. Alternatively, a long terminal repeat from the Rous sarcoma virus can be used as a promoter. A modification of this system is described in US Patent No. 4,601,978. See also Reyes et al., Nature 297: 598-601 (1982) for the expression of human interferon cDNA in mouse cells under the control of the thymidine kinase promoter from herpes simplex virus. Alternatively, a long terminal repeat from the Rous sarcoma virus can be used as a promoter. A modification of this system is described in US Patent No. 4,601,978. See also Reyes et al., Nature 297: 598-601 (1982) for the expression of human interferon cDNA in mouse cells under the control of the thymidine kinase promoter from herpes simplex virus. Alternatively, a long terminal repeat from the Rous sarcoma virus can be used as a promoter.
e) Ingredient in the form of a reinforcing element [0266] Transcription of DNA encoding the antibodies of this invention by higher eukaryotes is often increased by inserting the enhancer sequence into the vector. Currently, many enhancer sequences from mammalian genes (globin, elastase, albumin, α-fetoprotein and insulin) are known. Usually, however, an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus is used. Examples include the SV40 enhancer on the late side from the origin of replication (base pairs 100-270), the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on the late side from the origin of replication and adenovirus enhancers. See also Yaniv, Nature 297: 17-18 (1982) regarding elements of enhancers for the activation of eukaryotic promoters. The amplifier can be included in the vector in position 5 'or 3'
f) Component to ensure transcription termination [0267] Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells (yeast, fungal, insect, plant, animal, human or nucleated cells from other multicellular organisms) will also contain sequences necessary for the termination of transcription and stabilization of mRNA. Such sequences are commonly available from 5 'and sometimes 3' regions that are not translated from eukaryotic or viral DNA or cDNA. These regions contain nucleotide segments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the non-translated portion of the mRNA encoding the antibody. One of the useful ingredients for terminating transcription is the bovine growth hormone polyadenylation region. See WO94 / 11026 and the expression vector disclosed therein.
g) Selection and transformation of host cells [0268] Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing DNA in vectors include the higher eukaryotic cells described herein, including vertebrate host cells. The proliferation of vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a routine procedure. Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are the CV1 monkey kidney cell line, transformed with SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651); a human kidney germline cell (293 or 293 cells subcloned for growth in a suspension culture, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol. 36:59 (1977)); kidney cells of a newborn hamster (BHK, ATCC CCL 10); Chinese hamster ovary cells / -DHFR (CHO, Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 77: 4216 (1980)); mouse Sertoli cells (TM4, Mather, Biol. Rep. 23: 243-251 (1980)); monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); monkey green kidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC CRL-1587); human cervical cancer cells (HELA, ATCC CCL 2); dog kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL 34); Buffalo rat liver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442); human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL 75); human liver cells (Hep G2, HB 8065); mouse mammary tumor (MMT 060562, ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals NY Acad. Sci. 383: 44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and a human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2). ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals NY Acad. Sci. 383: 44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and a human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2). ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals NY Acad. Sci. 383: 44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and a human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2).
[0269] Host cells are transformed using the above-described expression or cloning vectors for antibody production and grown in conventional nutrient media suitably modified to induce promoters, select transformants, or amplify genes encoding the desired sequences. Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are
h) Culturing host cells [0270] Host cells used in the production of antibodies of this invention can be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially available media such as Ham's F10 (Sigma), minimal medium ((MEM), (Sigma), RPMI-1640 (Sigma) and Eagle's medium modified by Dulbecco ((DMEM), Sigma) are suitable for growing cells In addition, any of the media described in Ham et al., Meth. Enz. 58:44 (1979), Barnes et al., Anal Biochem. 102: 255 (1980), US Pat. No. 4,767, 704; 4657866; 4927762 4560655; or 5122469; WO 90/03430; WO 87/00195; or US Patent No. 30985 may be used as a culture medium for culturing host cells. Each medium may be supplemented, if desired, with hormones and / or other growth factors (such as like insulin, transferrin or epidermal growth factor), salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium and phosphates), buffers (such as HEPES), nucleotides (such as adenosine and thymidine), antibiotics (such as GENTAMYCIN ™), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds usually present in concentrations in the micromolar range) and glucose or an equivalent source of glucose. Any other necessary supplements may also be included in suitable concentrations, as will be known to those skilled in the art. Culture conditions such as temperature, pH and the like are as previously used for host cells selected for expression and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. antibiotics (such as GENTAMYCIN ™), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds typically present at final concentrations in the micromolar range) and glucose or an equivalent source of glucose. Any other necessary supplements may also be included in suitable concentrations, as will be known to those skilled in the art. Culture conditions such as temperature, pH and the like are as previously used for host cells selected for expression and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. antibiotics (such as GENTAMYCIN ™), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds typically present at final concentrations in the micromolar range) and glucose or an equivalent source of glucose. Any other necessary supplements may also be included in suitable concentrations, as will be known to those skilled in the art. Culture conditions such as temperature, pH and the like are as previously used for host cells selected for expression and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. as will be known to those skilled in the art. Culture conditions such as temperature, pH and the like are as previously used for host cells selected for expression and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. as will be known to those skilled in the art. Culture conditions such as temperature, pH and the like are as previously used for host cells selected for expression and will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
i) Purification of antibody [0271] When using recombinant techniques, the antibody may be produced intracellularly, in the periplasmic space or secreted directly into the medium. If the antibody is produced intracellularly, in a first step, particulate residues that are either host cells or lysed fragments are removed, for example by centrifugation or ultrafiltration. Carter et al., Bio / Technology 10: 163-167 (1992) describe a procedure for isolating antibodies that are secreted into the periplasmic space of E. coli. Briefly, the cell paste is thawed in the presence of sodium acetate (pH 3.5), EDTA and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) for about 30 minutes. Cell debris can be removed by centrifugation. When the antibody is secreted into the medium, supernatants from such expression systems are generally initially concentrated using commercially available protein concentration filters, e.g. Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration units. A protease inhibitor, such as PMSF, may be included in any of the above steps to inhibit proteolysis, and antibiotics may be included to prevent the growth of accidental contaminants.
[0272] The antibody composition, prepared from the cells, can be purified using, for example, hydroxyapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis and affinity chromatography, wherein affinity chromatography is a preferred purification technique. The suitability of protein A as an affinity ligand depends on the species and isotype of any immunoglobulin Fc domain that is present in the antibody. Protein A can be used to purify antibodies that are based on human immunoglobulins containing 1, 2 or 4 heavy chains (Lindmark et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 62: 1-13 (1983)). G protein is recommended for all mouse isotypes and for human 3 (Guss et al., EMBO J. 5: 15671575 (1986)). The matrix to which the affinity ligand is attached is mostly agarose, but other matrices are available. Mechanically stable matrices, such as controlled porosity glass or poly (styrene-divinyl) benzene, allow for higher flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. When the antibody contains a CH3 domain, Bakerbond ABX ™ resin (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) is useful for purification. Other protein purification techniques such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica chromatography, SEPHAROSE ™ chromatography with heparin, anion or cation exchange chromatography (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing , SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered. such as controlled pore glass or poly (styrene-divinyl) benzene, allow higher flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. When the antibody contains a CH3 domain, Bakerbond ABX ™ resin (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) is useful for purification. Other protein purification techniques such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica chromatography, SEPHAROSE ™ chromatography with heparin, anion or cation exchange chromatography (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing , SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered. such as controlled pore glass or poly (styrene-divinyl) benzene, allow higher flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. When the antibody contains a CH3 domain, Bakerbond ABX ™ resin (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) is useful for purification. Other protein purification techniques such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica chromatography, SEPHAROSE ™ chromatography with heparin, anion or cation exchange chromatography (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing , SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered. allow higher flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. When the antibody contains a CH3 domain, Bakerbond ABX ™ resin (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) is useful for purification. Other protein purification techniques such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica chromatography, SEPHAROSE ™ chromatography with heparin, anion or cation exchange chromatography (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing , SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered. allow higher flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. When the antibody contains a CH3 domain, Bakerbond ABX ™ resin (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) is useful for purification. Other protein purification techniques such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica chromatography, SEPHAROSE ™ chromatography with heparin, anion or cation exchange chromatography (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing , SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered. NJ) is useful for purification. Other protein purification techniques such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica chromatography, SEPHAROSE ™ chromatography with heparin, anion or cation exchange chromatography (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing , SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered. NJ) is useful for purification. Other protein purification techniques such as ion exchange column fractionation, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, silica chromatography, SEPHAROSE ™ chromatography with heparin, anion or cation exchange chromatography (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing , SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered.
[0273] After any step / any pre-purification steps, the mixture containing the antibody of interest and the impurities can be subjected to hydrophobic interaction chromatography at low pH using an elution buffer at a pH between about 2.5-4.5, preferably carried out at low concentrations. salt (e.g. from about 0-0.25M salt).
C. Antibody production
1) Polyclonal Antibodies [0274] Polyclonal antibodies are generally produced in animals by multiple subcutaneous (sc) or intraperitoneal (ip) injections of the appropriate antigen and adjuvant. It may be useful to conjugate the appropriate antigen to a protein that is immunogenic in an immunized species, e.g. keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), serum albumin, bovine thyroglobulin or a soybean trypsin inhibitor using a bifunctional or derivatising agent, e.g. a maleimidobenzoylsulfosuccinimide ester (conjugation through residues) cysteine), N-hydroxysuccinimide (via lysine residues), glutaraldehyde, succinic anhydride, SOCl2 or R<sup>1</sup>N = C = NR, where R and R<sup>1</sup> independently are lower alkyl. Examples of adjuvants that may be used include complete Freund's adjuvant and MPL-TDM adjuvant (monophosphoryl lipid A, synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate). The immunization protocol can be chosen by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation.
[0275] Animals are immunized against an antigen, an immunogenic conjugate or derivative by a combination, e.g. 100 μg or 5 μg protein or conjugate (for rabbits or mice, respectively) with 3 volumes of complete Freund's adjuvant and intradermal injection of the solution at multiple sites. One month later, animals are boosted with 1/5 to 1/10 of the original amount of peptide or conjugate in Freund's complete adjuvant by subcutaneous injection at multiple sites. Seven to fourteen days later, blood is collected from the animals and the serum is tested for antibody titres.
The animals are given booster doses up to the plateau titre. Conjugates also can be produced in recombinant cell cultures as fusion proteins. In addition, aggregating agents, such as alum, are suitably used to potentiate the immune response.
2) Monoclonal Antibodies [0276] Monoclonal antibodies are obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e. the individual antibodies included in the population are identical except for possible naturally occurring mutations and / or post-translational modifications (e.g., isomerization, amidation) that may be present in minor quantities. Thus, the "monoclonal" approach indicates the nature of the antibody as not being a mixture of separate antibodies.
[0277] For example, monoclonal antibodies can be produced using the hybridoma method, first described by Kohler et al., Nature 256: 495 (1975) or can be produced by recombinant DNA methods (US Patent No. 4816567).
[0278] In the hybridoma method, a mouse or other appropriate host animal, such as a hamster, is immunized as described above to induce lymphocytes that produce or are capable of producing antibodies that will specifically bind to the protein used for immunization. Alternatively, lymphocytes can be immunized in vitro. The lymphocytes are then fused to myeloma cells using a suitable fusion agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form hybridoma cells (Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, pp. 59-103 (Academic Press, 1986).
[0279] The immunizing agent will typically contain an antigenic protein or a fusion variant thereof. Typically, either peripheral blood lymphocytes ("PBL") are used if human-derived cells are desired, or spleen cells or lymph node cells are used if non-human mammal cell sources are desired. The lymphocytes are then fused to the immortalized cell line using a suitable fusion agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form hybridoma cells (Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, Academic Press (1986), pp. 59-103.
[0280] Immortalized cell lines are typically transformed mammalian cells, especially mouse myeloma, bovine and human myeloma cells. Typically, myeloma cell lines from rats or mice are used. The hybridoma cells thus prepared are seeded and grown in a suitable culture medium that preferably contains one or more substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused parent myeloma cells. For example, if the parental myeloma cell does not contain a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT or HPRT), the hybridoma culture medium will typically contain hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thymidine (HAT medium), which are substances that prevent the growth of HGPRT deficient cells.
[0281] Preferred immortalized myeloma cells are those that fuse efficiently, support stable high-level production of antibodies by the selected antibody-producing cells, and are sensitive to a medium such as HAT medium. Among these, mouse myeloma lines are preferred, such as those derived from murine tumors MKBD-21 and MPC-11, available from the Salk Institute Cell Distribution Center, San Diego, California, USA and SP-2 cells (and their derivatives, e.g. X63 -Ag8-653) available from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Virginia USA. Human myeloma and mouse-human heteromyeloma cell lines have also been described for the production of monoclonal antibodies (Kozbor, J. Immunol., 133: 3001 (1984); Brodeur et al., Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, pp. 51-63 (Marcel Dekker, Inc.,
[0282] The culture medium in which the hybridoma cells are grown, y, is evaluated for the production of monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen. Preferably, the binding specificity of the monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridoma cells is determined by immunoprecipitation or in an in vitro binding assay, such as a radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
[0283] The culture medium in which the hybridoma cells are grown can be assessed for the presence of monoclonal antibodies directed against the desired antigen. Preferably, the affinity and binding specificity of the monoclonal antibody can be determined by immunoprecipitation or in an in vitro binding assay, such as a radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Such techniques and tests are known in the art. For example, binding affinity can be determined in a Scatchard analysis according to Munson et al., Anal. Biochem., 107: 220 (1980).
[0284] After identifying the hybridoma cells that produce antibodies with the desired specificity, affinity and / or activity, the clones can be subcloned in limiting dilution procedures and grown by standard methods (Goding, supra). Suitable culture media for this purpose include, e.g., D-MEM or RPMI-1640 medium. In addition, hybridoma cells can be grown in vivo as tumors in a mammal. [0285] Monoclonal antibodies secreted by subclones are appropriately separated from the culture medium, ascites or serum using conventional immunoglobulin purification procedures, such as, for example, protein A Sepharose chromatography, hydroxylapatite, gel electrophoresis, dialysis or affinity chromatography.
[0286] Monoclonal antibodies can also be produced by recombinant DNA methods such as those described in US Patent No. 4,816,567 and as described above. The DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies is readily isolated and sequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., using oligonucleotide probes that are capable of specifically binding to genes encoding the heavy and light chains of mouse antibodies). Hybridoma cells serve as a preferred source of such DNA. Once the DNA has been isolated, it can be inserted into expression vectors, which are then transfected into host cells, such as E. coli cells, monkey COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells or myeloma cells that otherwise will not produce the immunoglobulin protein, to synthesize monoclonal antibodies in such recombinant host cells. A review of articles on recombinant expression of DNA encoding the antibody in bacteria includes Skerra et al., Curr. Opinion in Immunol., 5: 256-262 (1993) and Piucktliun, Immunol. Revs. 130: 151-188 (1992). [0287] In a further embodiment, the antibodies can be isolated from phage antibody libraries generated using the techniques described in McCafferty et al. Nature, 348: 552554 (1990). Clackson et al., Nature, 352: 624-628 (1991) and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222: 581-597 (1991) describe the isolation of mouse and human antibodies, respectively, using phage libraries. Subsequent publications describe the production of human antibodies with high affinity (nM range) by chain shuffling (Marks et al., Bio / Technology, 10: 779-783 (1992)), as well as combinatorial infection and in vivo recombination as a strategy for the construction of very large phage libraries (Waterhouse et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 21: 2265-2266 (1993)). Therefore, these techniques are real alternatives to traditional monoclonal antibody hybridoma techniques for the isolation of monoclonal antibodies.
[0288] The DNA also may be modified, e.g. by substituting the coding sequence for human heavy and light chain constant domains instead of the homologous murine sequences (US Patent No. 4,816,567; Morrison et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 6851 ( 1984)), or by covalently linking to an immunoglobulin coding sequence with all or part of the sequence encoding a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide. Typically, such non-immunoglobulin polypeptides are substituted as constant domains of the antibody or are substituted as variable domains of one site that joins the antigen in the antibody to form a chimeric divalent antibody containing one site that binds to antigen with antigen specificity and a further site that joins the antigen with specificity for another antigen.
[0289] The monoclonal antibodies described herein may be monovalent, and their production is well known in the art. For example, one method includes recombinant expression of the light chain and the modified immunoglobulin heavy chain. The heavy chain is truncated, generally anywhere in the Fc region, to prevent cross-linking of heavy chains. Alternatively, suitable cysteine residues may be substituted with another amino acid residue or deleted to prevent cross-linking. In vitro methods are also suitable for the production of monovalent antibodies. Digesting antibodies to produce fragments thereof, particularly Fab fragments, can be achieved using routine techniques known in the art.
[0290] Chimeric or hybrid antibodies may also be generated in vitro using known synthetic chemistry methods of proteins, including those using cross-linking agents. For example, immunotoxins may be constructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or a thioether bond. Examples of suitable reagents for this purpose include iminothiolate and methyl-4-mercaptobutyrimidate.
3) Humanized antibodies.
[0291] Antibodies of the invention may further comprisehumanized or human proteins. Humanized forms of non-human antibodies (e.g., murine) are chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chains or fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab ', F (ab') 2 or other antibody-binding antigenic subsequences) that contain a minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. Humanized antibodies include human immunoglobulins (acceptor antibody) in which residues from the complementarity determining region (CDR) (HVR as used herein) of the acceptor molecule are replaced by residues from a non-human CDR (donor antibody), such as a mouse, rat or rabbit, with the desired specificity, affinity and efficiency. In certain instances, Fv framework residues of a human immunoglobulin are replaced with corresponding non-human residues. Humanized antibodies may also contain residues that are found neither in the acceptor antibody nor in the imported CDR sequences or framework sequences. Generally, a humanized antibody will contain substantially all of at least one, usually two, variable domains in which all or substantially all of the CDRs correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of the human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. The humanized antibody will optimally also comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. Jones et al., Nature 321: 522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al. Nature 332: 323-329 (1988) and Presta, Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992).
[0292] Humanization methods for non-human antibodies are well known in the art. In general, a humanized antibody has one or more amino acid residues introduced from a non-human source. These non-human amino acid residues are often referred to as "imported" residues that are typically taken from the "imported" variable domain. Humanization can be essentially performed by the method of Winter and co-workers, Jones et al., Nature, 321: 522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature, 332: 323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science, 239: 1534-1536 (1988), or by substituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequences with the corresponding sequences from a human antibody. Accordingly, such "humanized" antibodies are chimeric antibodies (US Patent No. 4,816,567), in which much less than the intact human variable domain was replaced by the corresponding sequence from non-human species. In practice, humanized antibodies are typically human antibodies in which certain CDR residues and optionally some FR residues are substituted with residues from analogous sites in rodent antibodies.
[0293] The choice of human variable domains, both light and heavy, for use in the production of humanized antibodies is very important to reduce antigenicity. According to the so-called "best fit" method, the variable domain sequence of the rodent antibody is screened over the entire library of known human variable domain sequences. The human sequence, which is closest to that of the rodent, is then accepted as the human framework (FR) for the humanized antibody. Sims et al., J. Immunol., 151: 2296 (1993); Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol., 196: 901 (1987). Another method uses a specific framework derived from the consensus sequence of all human antibodies from a particular subgroup of light or heavy chains. The same framework region can be used for several different humanized antibodies. Carter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89: 4285 (1992); Presta et al., J. Immunol., 151: 2623 (1993).
[0294] It is further important that the antibodies are humanized while maintaining high affinity for the antigen and other beneficial biological properties. To achieve this goal, according to a preferred method, humanized antibodies are prepared by the analysis of parent sequences and various deduced humanized products using three-dimensional parent and humanized sequence models. Three-dimensional immunoglobulin models are widely available and are known to those skilled in the art. Computer programs are available that illustrate and show the probable three-dimensional conformational structures of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. Viewing these images allows analysis of the probable role of residues in the action of the proposed immunoglobulin sequence, i.e. residue analysis, that affect the ability of the proposed immunoglobulin to bind its antigen. In this way, FR residues from the acceptor molecule can be selected and combined, and these sequences can be imported, thereby obtaining the desired antibody characteristic, such as increased affinity for the target antigen (s). In general, CDR residues are directly and most fundamentally involved in affecting antigen binding.
[0295] Various forms of the humanized antibody are contemplated. For example, a humanized antibody may be an antibody fragment, such as a Fab, which is optionally conjugated to one or more cytotoxic agents to produce an immunoconjugate. Alternatively, the humanized antibody may be an intact antibody, such as an intact IgG1 antibody.
4) Human antibodies [0296] As an alternative to humanization, human antibodies can be made. For example, it is now possible to produce transgenic animals (e.g., mice) that are capable, upon immunization, of producing a full repertoire of human antibodies in the absence of endogenous immunoglobulin production. For example, it has been described that homozygous removal of the heavy chain (JH) antibody joining region gene in chimeric germline mutant mice results in complete inhibition of endogenous antibody production. Transfer of the immunoglobulin gene set from the human germline in such germ-mutant mice will lead to the production of human antibodies after antigen challenge. See, e.g., Jakobovits et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 2551 (1993); Jakobovits et al., Nature, 362: 255-258 (1993); Bruggermann et al., Year in Immuno., 7:33 (1993); U.S. Patent Nos. 5,596,699 and WO 97/17852.
[0297] Alternatively, phage display technology can be used to generate human antibodies and antibody fragments in vitro from repertoires of immunoglobulin variable domain (V) genes from non-immunized donors. McCafferty et al., Nature 348: 552-553 (1990); Hoogenboom and Winter, J. Mol. Biol. 227: 381 (1991). According to this technique, the antibody V domain genes are cloned in frame with the primary or secondary protein gene of the filamentous bacteriophage, such as M13 or fd, and presented as functional antibody fragments on the surface of the phage particle. Since the filamentous particle contains a single-stranded DNA copy from the phage genome, selections based on the functional properties of the antibody also lead to the selection of a gene encoding an antibody exhibiting these properties. In this way, the phage mimics some of the properties of lymphocyte B. The phage display can be carried out in a variety of formats, which can be found, for example, in Johnson, Kevin S. and Chiswell, David J., Curr. Opin Struct. Biol. 3: 564-571 (1993). Several sources of V gene segments can be used in phage display. Clackson et al., Nature, 352: 624-628 (1991) isolated a diverse set of anti-oxazolone antibodies from a small random combinatorial library of V genes derived from the spleens of immunized mice. One can construct a repertoire of V genes from non-immunized human donors, and antibodies against a set of diverse antigens (including autoantigens) can be isolated by essentially following the techniques described by Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol. 222: 581-597 (1991) or Griffith et al., EMBO J. 12: 725-734 (1993). See also US Patent Nos. 5,563,322 and 5,793,905.
[0298] Techniques from Cole et al. and Boerner et al. they are also available for the production of human monoclonal antibodies (Cole et al., Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77 (1985) and Boerner et al., J. Immunol. 147 (1): 86-95 ( 1991.) Similarly, human antibodies can be made by introducing human immunoglobulin loci into transgenic animals, e.g. mice in which endogenous immunoglobulin genes have been partially or completely inactivated .. After challenge, the production of human antibodies is very similar to those occurring in humans at in terms of gene rearrangement, assembly and antibody repertoire. This approach is described e.g. in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,568,255,565,126; 5,633,256; 5,661,016 and in the following scientific publications: Marks et al. Bio / Technology 10: 779-783 (1992); Lonberg et al., Nature 368: 856-859 (1994); Morrison, Nature 368: 812-13 (1994), Fishwild et al., Nature Biotechnology 14: 845-51 (1996), Neuberger, Nature Biotechnology 14: 826 (1996) and Lonberg and Huszar, Intern. Rev. Immunol. 13: 65-93 (1995).
[0299] Finally, human antibodies can also be produced in vitro by activated B lymphocytes (see US Patent Nos. 5,577,610 and 5,229,275).
5) Antibody fragments [0300] Under certain circumstances, the use of antibody fragments instead of whole antibodies is beneficial. Smaller fragment sizes allow for quick removal and can lead to better access to solid tumors.
[0301] Various techniques have been developed for the production of antibody fragments. Traditionally, these fragments were obtained by proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies (see, e.g., Morimoto et al., J Biochem Biophys. Methods 24: 107-117 (1992), and Brennan et al., Science 229: 81 (1985)). However, these fragments can now be produced directly by recombinant host cells. Fab, Fv and ScFv antibody fragments can all be expressed and secreted from E. coli, thus allowing the large amounts of these fragments to be readily produced. Antibody fragments can be isolated from the phage antibody libraries discussed above. Alternatively, Fab'-SH fragments can be recovered directly from E. coli and chemically coupled to form F (ab ') 2 fragments (Carter et al., Bio / Technology 10: 163-167 (1992)). According to another approach, F (ab ') 2 fragments can be isolated directly from recombinant host cell cultures. Fab and F (ab ') 2 with an extended half-life in vivo are described in US Patent No. 5,869,046. In other embodiments, the antibody of choice is a single-chain Fv fragment (scFv). See WO 93/16185; U.S. Patent No. 5,578,194 and U.S. Patent No. 5,587, 458. The antibody fragment may also be a "linear antibody", e.g. as described in US Patent 5,641,870. Such linear antibody fragments may be monospecific or bispecific. In other embodiments, the antibody of choice is a single chain Fv fragment (scFv). See WO 93/16185; U.S. Patent No. 5,578,194 and U.S. Patent No. 5,587, 458. The antibody fragment may also be a "linear antibody", e.g. as described in US Patent 5,641,870. Such linear antibody fragments may be monospecific or bispecific. In other embodiments, the antibody of choice is a single chain Fv fragment (scFv). See WO 93/16185; U.S. Patent No. 5,578,194 and U.S. Patent No. 5,587, 458. The antibody fragment may also be a "linear antibody", e.g. as described in US Patent 5,641,870. Such linear antibody fragments may be monospecific or bispecific.
6) Antibody-dependent enzyme-based therapy (ADEPT) [0302] Antibodies of the present invention can also be used in ADEPT by coupling the antibody with a prodrug activating enzyme that converts a prodrug (e.g., a peptidic chemotherapeutic agent, see WO 81/01145) into active anticancer drug. See, e.g., WO 88/07378 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975, 278. [0303] The enzyme component of the immunoconjugate useful for ADEPT includes any enzyme capable of acting on a prodrug in such a way as to convert it into a more active, cytotoxic form.
[0304] Enzymes that are useful in the method of this invention include, but are not limited to, glycosidase, glucose oxidase, human lysozyme, human glucuronidase, alkaline phosphatase, useful for converting phosphate-containing prodrugs into free drugs; arylsulfatase, useful for converting sulfate-containing prodrugs into free drugs; T T he T T he T T he he T T he T T he he T T he he T T he he T he he T T he he T T he he T T he he T T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T he he T T he he T he he T he he 35 proteases, such as the protease from Serratia, thermolysin, subtilisin, carboxypeptidases (e.g., carboxypeptidase G2 and carboxypeptidase A) and cathepsins (such as cathepsins B and L), which are useful for converting prodrugs containing peptides into medications; D-Alanyl carboxypeptidases, useful for converting prodrugs that contain D-amino acid substituents; T T he 00 he 00 00 T T T he T T he T T he T T he T T he T T he T T he T T he T T he T T T he T T he T T T he T T he he T he he 35 β-lactamase useful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. such as β-galactosidase and neuraminidase, useful for converting glycosylated prodrugs into free drugs; β-lactamase useful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. such as β-galactosidase and neuraminidase, useful for converting glycosylated prodrugs into free drugs; β-lactamase useful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. useful for converting glycosylated prodrugs into free drugs; β-lactamase useful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. useful for converting glycosylated prodrugs into free drugs; β-lactamase useful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. β-lactamase useful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. β-lactamase useful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs; and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin G amidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. useful for converting drugs derivatized at their amine nitrogen atoms with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, into free drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, also known in the art as "abzymes", can be used to convert the prodrugs of the invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature 328: 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population. 457-458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared as described herein to deliver the abzyme to a tumor cell population.
[0305] The above enzymes may be covalently attached to the polypeptide or antibodies described herein using techniques well known in the art, such as the use of heterobifunctional cross-linking agents as discussed above. Alternatively, fusion proteins comprising at least an antigen binding region of an antibody of the invention linked to at least a functionally operatively active part of the enzyme of the invention may be constructed using recombinant DNA techniques that are well known in the art (see, e.g., Neuberger et al., Nature 312 : 604-608 (1984)).
7) Bispecific and multi-specific antibodies [0306] Bispecific antibodies (BsAb) are antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different epitopes, including those on the same or a different protein. Alternatively, one arm may bind to the target antigen, and the other arm may be joined to the arm that binds to a leukocyte trigger molecule, such as a T cell receptor molecule (e.g., CD3) or Fc receptors for IgG (FcγR), such as as FcyR1 (CD64), FcyRII (CD32) and FcyRIII (CD16), so as to concentrate and localize cellular defense mechanisms in a cell expressing the target antigen. Such antibodies can be obtained from full-length antibodies or antibody fragments (e.g., F (ab ') 2) bispecific antibodies.
[0307] Bispecific antibodies may also be used to locate cytotoxic agents in cells that express the target antigen. Such antibodies have one arm that binds to the desired antigen and a second arm that binds to a cytotoxic agent (e.g., saporin, anti-interferon-α, vinca alkaloid, ricin A chain, methotrexate or radioactive isotope hapten). Examples of known bispecific antibodies include antiErbB2 / anti-FcgRIII (WO 96/16673), anti-ErbB2 / anti-FcgRI (USP 5837234), antiErbB2 / anti-CD3 (USP 5821337).
[0308] Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the art. Traditional production of full-length bispecific antibodies is based on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy chain / light chain pairs, the two chains having different specificities. Millstein et al., Nature, 305: 537-539 (1983). Because of the random assignment of the heavy and light chains of immunoglobulins, these hybridomas (quadromas) produce a potential mixture of 10 different antibody molecules, of which only one has the corresponding bispecific structure. Purification of the correct molecule, which is usually carried out in affinity chromatography steps, is quite cumbersome and product yields are low. Similar procedures are disclosed in WO 93/08829 and in Traunecker et al., EMBO J., 10: 3655-3659 (1991).
[0309] According to another approach, antibody variable domains with the desired binding specificities (antibody-antigen combining sites) are fused to immunoglobulin constant domain sequences. The fusion is preferably with an immunoglobulin heavy chain constant domain comprising at least a portion of the hinge, CH2 and CH3 regions. It is preferred that the first heavy-chain constant region (CH1) containing the site necessary for light-chain binding is present in at least one of the fusions. DNAs encoding immunoglobulin heavy chain fusions and, if necessary, an immunoglobulin light chain, are inserted into separate expression vectors and used to co-transfect the appropriate host organism. This provides great flexibility in adjusting the mutual proportions of the three fragments of the polypeptides in the forms, in which the unequal ratios of the three polypeptide chains used for construction provide optimal performance. It is, however, possible to insert coding sequences for two or all three polypeptide chains into one expression vector when the expression of at least two polypeptide chains in equal ratios leads to high yields or when the proportions are of no particular significance.
[0310] In a preferred embodiment of this approach, the bispecific antibodies consist of an immunoglobulin heavy chain of the first binding specificity in one arm and a hybrid immunoglobulin heavy chain-light chain pair (providing second binding specificity) in the other arm. It has been found that this asymmetric structure facilitates the separation of the desired bispecific compound from unwanted immunoglobulin chain linkages, because the presence of an immunoglobulin light chain in only one half of the bispecific molecules provides an easy separation method. This approach is disclosed in WO 94/04690. For detailed information on the production of bispecific antibodies, see, for example, Suresh et al., Methods in Enzymology 121: 210 (1986).
[0311] According to another approach described in WO 96/27011 or USP 5731168, the interface between a pair of antibody molecules can be modified by engineering techniques so as to maximize the percentage of heterodimers that are recovered from recombinant cell culture. A preferred interface comprises at least a portion of the CH3 region of the constant domain of the antibody. In this method, one or more small side chain amino acids from the junction of the first antibody molecule are replaced with larger side chains (e.g., tyrosine or tryptophan). The compensatory "cavities" of identical or similar size to the large side chain (s) are formed at the interface of the second antibody molecule as a result of replacing large side amino acid chains with smaller ones (e.g., alanine or threonine).
[0312] Techniques for generating bispecific antibodies from antibody fragments have been described in the literature. For example, bispecific antibodies can be made using a chemical combination. Brennan et al., Science 229: 81 (1985) describe a procedure in which intact antibodies are proteolytically cleaved to form F (ab ') 2 fragments. These fragments are reduced in the presence of a dithio complexing agent, sodium arsenite, to stabilize adjacent dithiols and prevent the formation of intermolecular disulphides. Produced Fab 'fragments are then transformed into thionitrobenzoate derivatives (TNB). One of the Fab'-TNB derivatives is then converted back into a Fab'-TNB derivative to form a bispecific antibody.
[0313] Fab 'fragments can be recovered directly from E. coli and chemically coupled to form bispecific antibodies. Shalaby et al., J. Exp. Med. 175: 217-225 (1992) describes the production of F (ab ') 2 molecules of a fully humanized bispecific antibody. Each Fab 'fragment was separately secreted from E. coli and subjected to direct chemical conjugation in vitro to form a bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibody thus formed was able to bind to cells overexpressing the ErbB2 receptor and normal human T lymphocytes, and trigger the lytic activity of human cytotoxic lymphocytes against targets in human breast tumors.
[0314] Various techniques for making and isolating divalent antibody fragments directly from recombinant cell culture have also been described. For example, divalent heterodimers were produced using leucine zippers. Kostelny et al., J. Immunol., 148 (5): 1547-1553 (1992). Leucine zipper peptides from Fos and Jun proteins were combined with Fab 'fragments of two different antibodies by gene fusion. The antibody homodimers were reduced at the hinge region to form monomers and then re-oxidized to form the antibody heterodimers. The "diabody" technology described by Hollinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 6444-6448 (1993) provided an alternative mechanism for the formation of bispecific / divalent antibody fragments. These fragments comprise a variable domain (VH) heavy chain linked to the variable domain (VL) of the light chain with a linker that is too short to allow pairing between the two domains in the same chain. Accordingly, the VH and VL domains from one fragment are forced to pair with the complementary VL and VH domains from another fragment, thereby forming two antigen binding sites. Also described is another strategy for the formation of bispecific / divalent antibody fragments by the use of single chain Fv (sFv) dimers. See Gruber et al., J. Immunol., 152: 5368 (1994). the VH and VL domains from one fragment are forced to pair with the complementary VL and VH domains from another fragment, thereby forming two antigen-binding sites. Also described is another strategy for the formation of bispecific / divalent antibody fragments by the use of single chain Fv (sFv) dimers. See Gruber et al., J. Immunol., 152: 5368 (1994). the VH and VL domains from one fragment are forced to pair with the complementary VL and VH domains from another fragment, thereby forming two antigen-binding sites. Also described is another strategy for the formation of bispecific / divalent antibody fragments by the use of single chain Fv (sFv) dimers. See Gruber et al., J. Immunol., 152: 5368 (1994).
[0315] Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated. For example, trispecific antibodies can be generated. Tutt et al., J. Immunol. 147: 60 (1991).
[0316] Exemplary bispecific antibodies can bind to two different epitopes on a given molecule. Alternatively, the anti-protein arm may be linked to a shoulder that binds to a leukocyte trigger molecule, such as a T cell receptor molecule (e.g., CD2, CD3, CD28 or B7) or Fc receptors for IgG (FcγR), such as FcyRI. (CD64), FcyRII (CD32) and FcyRIII (CD16), so as to concentrate cellular defense mechanisms on a cell expressing a particular protein. Bispecific antibodies may also be used to locate cytotoxic agents in cells that express a particular protein. Such antibodies have a protein-binding arm and an arm that binds to a cytotoxic agent or a radionuclide chelator, such as EOTUBE, DPTA, DOTA or TETA.
8) Multivalent antibodies [0317] A multivalent antibody may be internalized (and / or catabolized) faster than a divalent antibody by a cell expressing the antigen to which the antibodies bind. Antibodies of the present invention may be multivalent antibodies (which are other than from the IgM class) with three or more antigen binding sites (e.g., tetravalent antibodies) that can be readily produced by recombinantly expressing the nucleic acid encoding the antibody polypeptide chains. The multivalent antibody may comprise a dimerization domain and three or more antigen binding sites. A preferred dimerization domain includes (or consists of) an Fc region or a hinge region. In this scenario, the antibody will comprise an Fc region and three or more antigen-binding sites on the amino-terminal side relative to the Fc region. A preferred multivalent antibody herein comprises (or consists of) three to about eight, but preferably four, antigen binding sites. The multivalent antibody comprises at least one polypeptide chain (and preferably two polypeptide chains), wherein the polypeptide chain (s) comprise (s) two or more variable domains. For example, the polypeptide chain (s) may / may include VD1- (X1) n-VD2- (X2) n-Fc, where VD1 is the first variable domain, VD2 is the second variable domain, Fc is one chain The polypeptide region of Fc, X1 and X2 represents an amino acid or polypeptide, and an is 0 or 1. For example, the polypeptide chain (s) may include: VH-CH1-flexible linker-VH-CH1-chain Fc region; or VH-CH1-VHCH1-chain Fc region. Preferably, the multivalent antibody further comprises at least two (and preferably four) light chain variable domain polypeptides. For example, a multivalent antibody may contain from about two to about eight light chain variable domain polypeptides. The light chain variable domain polypeptides contemplated herein comprise a variable light chain domain and optionally further comprise a CL domain. For example, a multivalent antibody may contain from about two to about eight light chain variable domain polypeptides. The light chain variable domain polypeptides contemplated herein comprise a variable light chain domain and optionally further comprise a CL domain. For example, a multivalent antibody may contain from about two to about eight light chain variable domain polypeptides. The light chain variable domain polypeptides contemplated herein comprise a variable light chain domain and optionally further comprise a CL domain.
9) Heteroconjugate Antibodies [0318] Heteroconjugate antibodies are also within the scope of the present invention. Antibodies that are heteroconjugates consist of two covalently linked antibodies. For example, one of the antibodies in a heteroconjugate may be conjugated with avidin and the other with biotin. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed to target cells of the immune system to unwanted cells, USP 4676980, and for the treatment of HIV infection. WO 91/00360, WO 92/200373 and EP 0308936. It is contemplated that antibodies can also be generated in vitro using known methods from synthetic chemistry of proteins, including those using cross-linking agents. For example, immunotoxins may be constructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or a thioether bond. Examples of suitable reagents for this purpose include iminothiolate and methyl-4-mercaptobutyrimidate and those disclosed, for example, in US Patent No. 4,676,980. Heteroconjugate antibodies may be produced using any convenient crosslinking methods. Suitable crosslinking agents are well known in the art and disclosed in US Patent No. 4,676,980, along with a variety of crosslinking techniques.
10) Modification of effector functions by engineering techniques [0319] It may be desirable to modify the antibody of the invention with respect to the Fc effector function, e.g., to modify (e.g., increase or eliminate) antigen-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and / or complement dependent (CDC) antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. In a preferred embodiment, the Fc effector function of anti-PD-L1 antibodies is reduced or eliminated. This can be achieved by introducing one or more amino acid substitutions in the Fc region of the antibody. Alternatively or additionally, cysteine residue (s) may be introduced in the Fc region, thereby allowing the formation of an intrachain disulfide bond in this region. The homodimeric antibodies produced in this way may show a better ability to internalize and / or increase complement-mediated cell killing and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). See Caron et al., J. Exp Med. 176: 1191-1195 (1992) and Shopes, BJ Immunol. 148: 2918-2922 (1992). Homodimeric antibodies with enhanced antitumor activity can also be produced using heterobifunctional cross-linking agents, as described in Wolff et al., Cancer Research 53: 2560-2565 (1993). Alternatively, the antibody may be modified by engineering techniques to have dual Fc regions and thus may have better complement lysis and ADCC capabilities. See Stevenson et al., Anti-Cancer Drug Design 3: 219-230 (1989).
[0320] To increase the serum half-life of a antibody, a salvage receptor binding epitope (e.g., salvage receptor) can be introduced into the antibody (especially an antibody fragment) as described, e.g., in US Patent 5739277. As used herein, the term "epitope" Rescue Receptor Binding refers to an Fc-region epitope of an IgG molecule (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4) that is responsible for increasing the serum half-life of an IgG molecule in vivo.
11) Other amino acid sequence modifications [0321] Modification of the amino acid sequence of the antibodies described herein is contemplated. For example, it may be desirable to improve the binding affinity and / or other biological properties of the antibody. Antibody amino acid sequence variants are prepared by introducing appropriate nucleotide changes into the antibody nucleic acid or by peptide synthesis. Such modifications include, e.g., deletions and / or insertions and / or substitutions of residues in the amino acid sequences of the antibody. In order to obtain the final construct, any combination of deletion, insertion and substitution is made, provided that the final construct possesses the desired characteristics. Amino acid changes can also alter the post-translational processing of the antibody, such as changing the number or position of glycosylation sites.
[0322] A useful method of identifying particular antibody residues or regions that are preferred sites for mutagenesis is called "alanine scanning mutagenesis" as described by Cunningham and Wells, Science 244: 1081-1085 (1989). Here, the residue or group of target residues is identified (e.g., charged residues such as arg, asp, his, lys and glu) and replaced with neutral or negative amino acids (most preferably alanine or polyalanine) to affect the interaction of the amino acids with the antigen . Those amino acid locations that exhibit functional sensitivity to substitutions are then refined by introducing additional or other variants in or instead of substitution sites. Thus, while the place to introduce variation of the amino acid sequence is predetermined, the type of mutation as such does not have to be predetermined. For example, for analyzing the efficiency of mutations at a given site, ala scanning or random mutagenesis is performed in the codon or target region and the antibody variants expressed are screened at the angle of the desired activity.
[0323] Amino acid sequence insertions include fusions at the amino and / or carboxyl terminus, extending from the length of one residue to polypeptides containing one hundred or more residues, as well as insertions within the sequence of single or multiple amino acid residues. Examples of terminal insertions include an antibody with a methionylated N-terminal residue or an antibody fused to a cytotoxic polypeptide. Other insertional variants of the antibody molecule include the fusion of the N- or C-terminus of the antibody with an enzyme (e.g., to ADEPT) or a polypeptide that increases the serum half-life of the antibody.
[0324] Another type of variant is a variant with an amino acid substitution. These variants have at least one amino acid residue in the antibody molecule replaced by a different residue. Sites of greatest interest for substitution mutagenesis include hypervariable regions, but changes in FR are also contemplated.
Conservative substitutions are shown in Table A below in the "preferred substitutions" column. If such substitutions result in a change in biological activity, then more significant changes may be made, referred to as "exemplary substitutions" in Table A, or as described below with reference to the amino acid classes and the products screened.
TABLE A
<td colspan="3">Amino acid substitutions</td>
<td>The original rest</td><td>Membership substitutions</td><td>Favorable substitutions</td>
<td>Ala (A)</td><td>val; leu; how much</td><td>val</td>
<td>Arg (R)</td><td>lys; gln; own</td><td>lys</td>
<td>Asn (N)</td><td>gln; his; asp, lys; arg</td><td>gln</td>
<td>Asp (D)</td><td>glu; own</td><td>glu</td>
<td>Cys (C)</td><td>cheese; ala</td><td>cheese</td>
<td>Gln (Q)</td><td>own; glu</td><td>own</td>
<td>Glu (E)</td><td>asp; gln</td><td>asp</td>
<td>Gly (G)</td><td>ala</td><td>ala</td>
<td>His (H)</td><td>own; gln; lys; arg</td><td>arg</td>
<td>How much (I)</td><td>leu; val; underworld; ala; phe; norleucine</td><td>leu</td>
<td>Leu (L)</td><td>norleucine; how much; val; underworld; ala; phe</td><td>how much</td>
<td><sup>L</sup>s<sup>s (K)</sup></td><td>arg; gln; own</td><td>arg</td>
<td>Met (M)</td><td>leu; phe; how much</td><td>leu</td>
<td>Phe (F)</td><td>leu; val; how much; ala; tyr</td><td>tyr</td>
<td>Pro (P)</td><td>ala</td><td>ala</td>
<td>Ser (S)</td><td>Thr</td><td>thr</td>
<td>Thr (T)</td><td>Cheese</td><td>cheese</td>
<td>Trp (W)</td><td>tyr; phe</td><td>tyr</td>
<td>Tyr (Y)</td><td>trp; phe; thr; cheese</td><td>phe</td>
<td>Val (V)</td><td>how much; leu; underworld; phe; ala; norleucine</td><td>leu</td>
[0325] Significant modifications in the biological properties of the antibody are achieved by selecting substitutions that differ significantly in their effect on maintaining (a) the polypeptide backbone structure in the substitution region, e.g. as a card or helix conformation, (b) altering the hydrophobicity of the molecule at the site target, or (c) side chain volume. Naturally occurring residues are divided into groups based on common side chain properties:
(1) hydrophobic: norleucine, met, ala, val, leu, ile;
(2) neutral hydrophilic: cys, cheese, thr;
(3) acidic: asp, glu;
(4) basic: asn, gln, his, lys, arg;
(5) residues that influence chain orientation: gly, pro; and (6) aromatic: trp, tyr, phe.
[0326] Non-conservative substitutions involve the exchange of an element from one of these classes to another.
[0327] Any cysteine residues not involved in maintaining the correct conformation of the antibody may also be substituted, generally serine, to improve the oxidative stability of the molecule and prevent incorrect cross-linking. On the other hand, the cysteine bond (s) may / may be added to the antibody to improve its stability (especially when the antibody is an antibody fragment, such as an Fv fragment).
[0328] A particularly preferred type of variant with a substitution includes substitution of one or more residues of the hypervariable region of the parent antibody (e.g., a humanized or human antibody). In general, the obtained variant (s) selected for further development will / will show improved biological properties compared to the parent antibody from which it was made (s). A convenient method of making such variations with a substitution includes affinity maturation using phage display. In short, several sites in the hypervariable region (e.g., 6-7 sites) are mutated to produce all possible amino acid substitutions at each site. Antibody variants thus produced are presented in a monovalent fashion in filamentous filamentous particles in the form of a fusion with the product of gene III M13, packaged in each particle. Variants displayed on phage are then screened for their biological activity (e.g., binding affinity) as disclosed herein. To identify the proposed sites of the hypervariable region for modification, mutation by alanine can be performed to identify hypervariable region residues significantly contributing to antigen binding. Alternatively or additionally, it may be beneficial to analyze the crystal structure of the antigen-antibody complex to identify contact points between the antibody and its target (e.g., PD-L1, B7.1). Such contact residues and adjacent residues are candidates for substitution according to the techniques developed herein. After preparing such variants, a set of variants is screened as described herein and antibodies with improved properties in one or more of the appropriate tests may be selected for further development.
[0329] Another type of amino acid variant of the antibody alters the original antibody glycosylation pattern. By change is meant the removal of one or more carbohydrate groups present in the antibody and / or the addition of one or more glycosylation sites that are not present in the antibody.
[0330] The glycosylation of antibodies is usually N-glycosylation or O-glycosylation. N-glycosylation refers to the attachment of a carbohydrate moiety to the side chain of an asparagine residue. The tripeptide sequences asparagine-X-serine and asparagine-X-threonine, in which X is any amino acid except proline, are recognized sequences for the enzymatic attachment of the carbohydrate group to the asparagine side chain. Accordingly, the presence of either of these tripeptide sequences in the polypeptide creates a potential glycosylation site. O-linked glycosylation refers to the attachment of one of the sugars N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose or xylose to a hydroxyamino acid, most commonly serine or threonine, although 5-hydroxyproline or 5-hydroxylysine can also be used.
[0331] Addition of glycosylation sites to the antibody is conveniently accomplished by altering the amino acid sequence such that it contains one or more of the tripeptide sequences described above (for N-glycosylation sites). Changes can also be made by adding or substituting one or more serine and threonine residues in the sequence of the original antibody (for O glycosylation sites).
[0332] Nucleic acid molecules encoding amino acid sequence variants for the antibodies of the invention are produced by a variety of methods known in the art. These methods include, but are not limited to, isolation from a natural source (in the case of naturally occurring amino acid sequence variants) or oligonucleotide (or site directed) mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis and mutagenesis using a cassette of previously made variant variants or non-variants.
12) Other Modifications of Antibodies [0333] Antibodies of the present invention may further be modified to include additional non-proteinaceous groups that are known in the art and readily available. Preferably, the water-soluble polymers are suitable for derivatizing the antibody. Non-limiting examples of water-soluble polymers include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol (PEG), ethylene glycol / propylene glycol copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, poly (vinyl alcohol), polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly-1,3-dioxolane, poly-1,3 , 6-trioxane, ethylene / maleic anhydride copolymer, polyamino acids (homopolymers or random copolymers) and dextran or poly (n-vinylpyrrolidone) polyethylene glycol, homopolymers of polypropylene glycol, copolymers of polypropylene oxide / ethylene oxide, polyoxyethylated polyols (e.g., glycerol), poly (vinyl alcohol) and mixtures thereof. Polyethylene glycol-propionaldehyde can have advantages in production due to its stability in water. The polymer may have any molecular weight and may be branched or unbranched. The number of polymers attached to the antibody may be different, and if more than one polymer is attached, they may be the same or different molecules. In general, the number and / or type of polymers used for derivatization can be determined based on considerations including, but not limited to, specific properties or functions of the improved antibody, whether the antibody derivative will be used in therapy under specific conditions, etc. Such techniques and other suitable formulations are disclosed in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th edition,
D. Pharmaceutical Preparations [0334] Therapeutic preparations are prepared for storage by mixing the active ingredient with the desired degree of purity with optional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers (Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wiklins, Pub ., Gennaro, ed., Philadelphia, PA 2000). Acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers, antioxidants including ascorbic acid, methionine, vitamin E, sodium metabisulfite; preservatives, isotonizing agents, stabilizers, metal complexes (e.g. Zn-protein complexes); chelating agents, such as EDTA and / or nonionic surfactants.
[0335] When the therapeutic agent is an antibody fragment, the smallest inhibitory fragment that specifically binds to the binding domain of the target protein is preferred. For example, antibody fragments or even peptide molecules that retain the binding capacity of the target protein sequence can be designed based on the antibody variable region sequences. Such peptides can be chemically synthesized and / or produced by recombinant DNA technology (see, e.g., Marasco et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 90: 7889-7893 [1993]).
[0336] Buffers are used to control the pH in a range that optimizes therapeutic efficacy, especially if the stability is pH dependent. The buffers are preferably present in concentrations ranging from about 50 mM to about 250 mM. Suitable buffering agents for use in the present invention include both organic and inorganic acids and their salts. For example, citrate, phosphate, succinate, tartrate, fumarate, gluconate, oxalate, lactate, acetate. In addition, the buffers may consist of histidine and trimethylamine salts, such as Tris.
[0337] Preservatives are added to delay microbial growth and are usually present in the range of 0.2% - 1.0% (w / v). Suitable preservatives for use in the present invention include octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride; hexametonium chloride; benzalkonium halides (e.g., chloride, bromide, iodide), benzethonium chloride; thiomersal, phenol, butyl alcohol or benzyl alcohol; alkylparabens, such as methyl or propylparaben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol, 3-pentanol and m-cresol.
[0338] Tonicity agents sometimes known as "stabilizers" are present in the composition to adjust or maintain the tonicity of the liquid. When used with large, charged biological molecules, such as proteins and antibodies, they are often referred to as "stabilizers" because they can interact with charged groups of side chains of amino acids, thereby reducing the potential for interactions between molecules and within them. The tonicity agents may be present in any amount between 0.1% and 25% by weight, preferably 1 to 5%, based on the relative amounts of the other ingredients. Preferred tonicity agents include polyhydric sugar alcohols, preferably trihydric or higher sugar alcohols, such as glycerol, erythritol, arabitol, xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol.
[0339] Additional excipients include agents that can serve as one or more of: (1) bulking agents, (2) solubilizing agents, (3) stabilizers, and (4) agents that prevent denaturation or adhere to the container wall. Such excipients include: polyhydric sugar alcohols (mentioned above); amino acids, such as alanine, glycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine, lysine, ornithine, leucine, 2-phenylalanine, glutamic acid, threonine, etc .; organic sugars or sugar alcohols, such as sucrose, lactose, lactitol, trehalose, stachyose, mannose, sorbose, xylose, ribose, ribitol, myoinisitose, myoinitol, galactose, galactitol, glycerol, cycitols (e.g., inositol), polyethylene glycol; sulfur-containing reducing agents, such as urea, glutathione, thioctic acid, sodium thioglycolate, thioglycerol, α-monothioglycerol and sodium thiosulphide; low molecular weight proteins, such as human serum albumin, bovine serum albumin, gelatin or other immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; monosaccharides (e.g. xylose, mannose, fructose, glucose); disaccharides (e.g., lactose, maltose, sucrose); trisaccharides, such as raffinose and polysaccharides, such as dextrin or dextran.
[0340] Nonionic surfactants or detergents (also known as & quot; wetting agents & quot;) are present that facilitate solubilization of the therapeutic agent as well as to protect the therapeutic protein from agglutination aggregation, which also allows the formulation to surface shear stress without causing denaturation of the active therapeutic protein or antibody. Non-ionic surfactants range from about 0.05 mg / ml to about 1.0 mg / ml, preferably about 0.07 mg / ml to about 0.2 mg / ml.
[0341] Suitable nonionic surfactants include polysorbates (20, 40, 60, 65, 80 etc.), poloxamers (184, 188 etc.), PLURONIC® polyols, TRITON®, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoethers (TWEEN®-20, TWEEN ®-80 etc.), lauromacrogol 400, polyoxyl stearate 40, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil 10, 50 and 60, glycerol monostearate, sucrose and fatty acid ester, methylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose. Anionic detergents that can be used include sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate, and sodium dioctylsulfonate. Cationic detergents include benzalkonium chloride or benzethonium chloride.
[0342] The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile. The preparation can be sterilized by filtration through membranes for juicing by filtration. The present therapeutic composition is usually placed in a container that has a sterile access port, for example in an intravenous solution bag or vial with a stopper that can be pierced with a hypodermic needle.
[0343] The route of administration is consistent with known and validated methods such as single or multiple bolus or infusion administration over a long period of time in a suitable manner, e.g. by injection or infusion by subcutaneous, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intraarterial, alterative or intra-articular, by topical administration, inhalation or by means of sustained release or sustained release.
[0344] The formulation may also contain more than one active compound, if desired in the particular indication being treated, preferably those which have complementary activities and do not adversely affect each other. Alternatively, or additionally, the composition may contain a cytotoxic agent, cytokine or growth inhibitory agent. Such molecules are suitably present in combination in amounts effective for the intended purpose.
[0345] The active ingredients can also be encapsulated in microcapsules prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or interfacial polymerization, for example hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatin microcapsules and microcapsules of poly (methyl methacrylate), in colloidal drug delivery systems (e.g. liposomes, albumin microspheres, respectively). microemulsions, nanoparticles and nanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences ed. 18, as above.
[0346] The stability of the proteins and antibodies described herein can be increased by the use of non-toxic, "water-soluble multivalent salts of metal". Examples include Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Zn<sup>2+</sup>, Fe<sup>2+</sup>, Fe<sup>3+</sup>, Cu<sup>2+</sup>, Sn<sup>2+</sup>, Sn<sup>4+</sup>, Al<sup>2+</sup> and Al<sup>3+</sup>. Exemplary anions that can form water-soluble salts with the above polyvalent metal cations include those formed from inorganic acids and / or organic acids. Such water-soluble salts have a solubility in water (at 20 ° C) of at least about 20 mg / ml, alternatively at least about 100 mg / ml, alternatively at least about 200 mg / ml.
[0347] Suitable inorganic acids that can be used to form "multivalent metal salts of water soluble" include hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, thiocyanate acid and phosphoric acid. Suitable organic acids that can be used include aliphatic carboxylic acid and aromatic acids. The aliphatic acids, as defined in this definition, can be defined as saturated or unsaturated C 2-9 carboxylic acids (e.g., aliphatic mono-, di- and tricarboxylic acids). For example, monocarboxylic acids according to this definition include saturated C2-9 monocarboxylic, acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, caproic, enanthic, caprylic pelargonium and capric acids, and unsaturated C2-9 monocarboxylic acids, acrylic acid, propiol methacrylic, crotonic and isocrotic acids. . Exemplary dicarboxylic acids include saturated C2-9 dicarboxylic, malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic and pimelic acids, while unsaturated C2-9 dicarboxylic acids include maleic, fumaric, citraconic and mesaconic acids. Exemplary tricarboxylic acids include saturated C2-9 tricarboxylic acids, tricarballylic acid, and 1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid. In addition, carboxylic acids in accordance with this definition may also contain one or two hydroxyl groups to form hydroxycarboxylic acids. Exemplary hydroxycarboxylic acids include glycolic, lactic, glycerol, tartronic, malic, tartaric and citric acid. Aromatic acids according to this definition include benzoic and salicylic acid. adipic and pimelic, while the unsaturated C 2-9 dicarboxylic acids include maleic, fumaric, citraconic and mesaconic acids. Exemplary tricarboxylic acids include saturated C2-9 tricarboxylic acids, tricarballylic acid, and 1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid. In addition, carboxylic acids in accordance with this definition may also contain one or two hydroxyl groups to form hydroxycarboxylic acids. Exemplary hydroxycarboxylic acids include glycolic, lactic, glycerol, tartronic, malic, tartaric and citric acid. Aromatic acids according to this definition include benzoic and salicylic acid. adipic and pimelic, while the unsaturated C 2-9 dicarboxylic acids include maleic, fumaric, citraconic and mesaconic acids. Exemplary tricarboxylic acids include saturated C2-9 tricarboxylic acids, tricarballylic acid, and 1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid. In addition, carboxylic acids in accordance with this definition may also contain one or two hydroxyl groups to form hydroxycarboxylic acids. Exemplary hydroxycarboxylic acids include glycolic, lactic, glycerol, tartronic, malic, tartaric and citric acid. Aromatic acids according to this definition include benzoic and salicylic acid. trikarballilic acid and 1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid. In addition, carboxylic acids in accordance with this definition may also contain one or two hydroxyl groups to form hydroxycarboxylic acids. Exemplary hydroxycarboxylic acids include glycolic, lactic, glycerol, tartronic, malic, tartaric and citric acid. Aromatic acids according to this definition include benzoic and salicylic acid. trikarballilic acid and 1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid. In addition, carboxylic acids in accordance with this definition may also contain one or two hydroxyl groups to form hydroxycarboxylic acids. Exemplary hydroxycarboxylic acids include glycolic, lactic, glycerol, tartronic, malic, tartaric and citric acid. Aromatic acids according to this definition include benzoic and salicylic acid.
[0348] Commonly used water-soluble multivalent metal salts that can be used to facilitate the stabilization of the encapsulated polypeptides of the present invention include, for example: (1) metal salts and inorganic halide acids (e.g., zinc chloride, calcium chloride), sulfates, nitrates, phosphates and thiocyanates; (2) metal salts and aliphatic carboxylic acids (e.g., calcium acetate, zinc acetate, calcium propionate, zinc glycolate, calcium lactate, zinc lactate and zinc tartrate); and (3) metal salts and aromatic carboxylic acids of benzoates (e.g., zinc benzoate) and salicylates.
E. Methods of treatment:
For the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease, the appropriate dosage of active agent will depend on the type of disease being treated as defined above, severity and course of the disease, whether the agent is administered for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes, prior therapy, clinical history of the patient and response to the agent, and recognition of the attending physician. The agent is conveniently administered to the patient once or in a series of treatments.
[0350] The disclosure also relates to costimulation resulting from the attenuation of PD-1 signaling, in particular through the use of PD-L1 antibodies that counteract the binding to PD-1 and / or B7.1, as well as the therapeutic treatment of disorders associated with T-cell dysfunction. .
1. Infections [0351] PD-1 and its ligands ("PD-1: PD-L") play an important role in the regulation of immune defenses against pathogens that cause acute and chronic infections. PD-1 signaling: PD-L plays a key role in regulating the balance between effective antimicrobial immune defense and tissue damage by the immune system. For example, while PD-1 knockout mice remove adenovirus infection faster than their wild-type counterparts, they produce more severe damage to liver cells. Iwai et al., J. Exp. Med. 198: 39-50 (2003). In the murine model of encephalitis, the corneal blocking anti-PD-L1 antibody exacerbated keratitis, increasing the expansion of HSV-1 specific CD4-effector T-cells, and IFN-γ production and survival. Jun et al., FEBS Lett.
[0352] Microorganisms that cause chronic infection use the PD-1: PD-L signal transduction pathway to avoid host immune responses, leading to chronic infections. Viruses that cause chronic infections may cause virus-specific T lymphocytes to be non-functional, thus silencing the antiviral response of lymphocytes T. Barber et al., Nature 439: 68287 (2006); Wherry et al., J. Virol. 78: 5535-45 (2004). Exhaustion of T lymphocytes or CD8 T cell anergy<sup>+</sup> is an important reason for ineffective virus control during chronic infections and is characteristic of chronic LCMV infections in mice as well as HIV, HBV, HCV and HTLV infections in humans and SIV infections in primate. There seems to be a hierarchical, gradual loss of activity in the phenotype of depleted CD8-specific T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup>with a first loss of cytotoxicity and IL-2 production followed by effector cytokine production.
[0353] The PD-1 level is elevated after activation and expression is maintained at high levels by exhausted CD8 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> in mice with chronic LCMV infection. Barber et al., Supra. Administration of PD-1 binding blocking antibodies: PD-L1 resulted in enhanced T cell responses and a significant reduction in viral load. In mice with persistent infection with an ineffective TH CD4 response<sup>+</sup> PD-1 blockage: PD-L1 restored CD8 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> from the dysfunctional state leading to proliferation, secretion of cytokines, killing of infected cells and reduction of viral load, which strongly suggests a therapeutic approach for the treatment of chronic viral infections.
[0354] As a result of the role of PD-1: PD-L in LCMV, there has been a strong interest in targeting this pathway for the treatment of chronic infection in humans. PD-1 expression is high on HIV-specific T lymphocytes [Petrovas et al., J. Exp. Med. 203:
2281-92 (2006); Day et al., Nature 443: 350-54 (2006); Traumann et al., Nat. Med. 12: 119880
202 (2006)], specific for HBV [Boettler et al., J. Virol. 80: 3532-40 (2006); Boni et al., J. Virol. 81: 4215-25 (2007)] and HCV specific [Urbani et al., J. Virol. 80: 11398-403 (2006)]. The PD-L1 level is also elevated on CD14 monocytes<sup>+</sup> in peripheral blood and myeloid DC in patients with chronic HBV infection [Chen et al., J. Immunol. 178: 6634-41 (2007); Geng et al., J. Viral Hepat. 13: 725-33 (2006)] and on CD14 cells<sup>+</sup> and T lymphocytes in HIV patients [Trabattoni et al., Blood 101: 2514-20 (2003)]. Blocking PD-1: PD-L1 in vitro effects reversal of exhaustion of HIV-specific, HBV-specific HCV-specific and SIV-specific CD8 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> and CD4<sup>+</sup> and restores proliferation and cytokine production. Petrovas et al., J. Exp. Med. 203: 2281-92 (2006); Day et al., Supra; Trautmann et al., Supra; Boni et al., Supra; Urbani et al., Supra; Velu et al., J. Virol. 81: 5819-28 (2007).
[0355] The degree of PD-1 expression can also be a useful diagnostic marker on CD8-specific CD8 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> indicating the extent of T lymphocyte depletion and the severity of the disease. The expression level of PD-1 on HIV-specific CD8 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> Correlates with virus load, decreasing number of CD4<sup>+</sup> and reduced CD8 T-lymphocyte capacity<sup>+</sup> for proliferation in response to HIV antigen in vitro. Analogously to in vivo observations, there is a direct correlation between the expression of PD-1 on HIV-specific CD4 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> and virus load. D'Souza et al., J. Immunol. 179: 1979-87 (2007). People with long-term disease progression have functional CD-specific CD8 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> memory with markedly lower PD-1 expression, in contrast to typical people with progression of the disease, which show significantly increased expression of PD-1, which correlates with a decrease in CD4 + T-lymphocytes, decrease in CD4 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup>, reducing the effect of HIV-specific CD8 T-effector cells<sup>+</sup> memory and increased plasma virus load. Zhang et al., Blood 109: 4671-78 (2007).
[0356] The PD-1 pathway: PD-L was also associated with the chronicity of bacterial infections. Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcers and is a risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. During H. pylori infection, T cell responses are insufficient to remove the infection, leading to persistent infection. After exposure to H. pylori in vitro or in vivo, the level of PD-L1 on gastric epithelial cells increases. Gastric epithelial cells express MHC class II molecules and are considered to play important role of APC during H. pylori infection. Anti-PD-L1 antibodies blocking PD-1 interaction with PDL1 intensify T-cell proliferation and IL-2 production in cultures of gastric epithelial cells exposed to H. pylori and CD4 T-lymphocytes. Blocking PD-L1 with antibodies or siRNA prevented the generation of regulatory T-lymphocytes, suggesting that PD-L1 may promote suppression of T lymphocytes and persistence of infection by controlling the dynamics between regulatory and effector T cells during H. pylori infection. Beswick et al., Infect. Immun. 75: 4334-41 (2007).
[0357] Parasitic worms also used the PD-1: PD-L1 pathway to induce macrophages that inhibit the immune response. During Taenia crassiceps infections (i.e. tapeworms) in mice, PD-1 and PD-L2 levels are increased on activated macrophages, and CD4 + T cells express PD-1. Blockage of PD-1, PD-L1 or PD-L2 significantly reduced the inhibition of T-cell proliferation in vitro by macrophages from tapeworm-infected mice. Terrazas et al., Int. J. Parasitol. 35: 1349-58 (2005). During Shistosoma mansoni infection in mice, macrophages express at a high level of PD-L1 and at lower levels of PD-L2. The anti-PD-L1 antibody removed the ability of these macrophages to inhibit T-cell proliferation in vitro, while anti-PD-L2 showed no effect. Expression of PD-L1 on macrophages from infected mice decreases after 12 weeks from infection, which correlates with the interruption in lymphocyte anergy T. Smith et al., J. Immunol. 173: 1240-48 (2004).
2. Tumor Resistance [0358] Empirical evidence for cancer resistance includes (i) observation of spontaneous remission, (ii) presence of detectable but ineffective host immune responses to tumors, (iii) increased incidence of primary and secondary malignancies in immunodeficient patients , (iv) detecting elevated levels of antibodies and T lymphocytes in cancer patients, and (v) observing that test animals can be immunized against various types of tumors.
[0359] Studies have shown that most human cancers express tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) that can be recognized by T-lymphocytes and are therefore potentially capable of eliciting an immune response. Boon et al., Immunol. Today 16: 334-336 (1995). Clinical trials of early phase on vaccination of cancer patients with TAA or professional antigen-presenting cells treated with TAA pulse are initiated. Dudley et al., Science 298: 850-854 (2002); Gajewski et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 7: 895s-901s (2001); Marincola et al., Adv. Immunol. 74: 181-273 (2000); Peterson et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 21: 2342-2348 (2003). Many of these studies have resulted in the induction of CD8 + T cells specific for tumor antigen. Mackensen et al., Eur. Cytokine Netw 10: 329-336 (1999); Peterson et al. as above. Adaptation of adoptive T cell-specific tumor lymphocytes to patients was also carried out and it showed the colonization of proliferated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TTL) at the tumor sites. Meidenbauer et al., J. Immunol. 170: 2161-2169 (2003). However, despite infiltration of effector immune cells into the tumor, tumor growth was rarely controlled.
[0360] It is well known that the tumor microenvironment can protect tumor cells from destruction by the immune system. Ganss et al., Cancer Res. 58: 4673-4681 (1998); Singh et al., J. Exp. Med. 175: 139-146 (1992). It was found that soluble factors as well as membrane-associated molecules including transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interleukin (IL) -10, prostaglandin E2, FASL, CTLA-4 ligands, tumor necrosis factor-induced ligand induceapoptosis (TRAIL) and the death 1 receptor programmed ligand (PD-L1, i.e., B7-H1) are expressed by tumors and are thought to mediate the avoidance of immunity. Thus, blocking these negative immune regulatory signals on cancer cells is a promising approach to enhance the resistance of tumor-specific CD8 + T cells in vivo.
[0361] PD-L1 expression on many tumors is a component of this inhibition and may interact with other immunosuppressive signals. PD-L1 negatively regulates T-cell receptor signaling. PD-L1 expression has been demonstrated in situ in a wide range of solid tumors, including breast, lung, colon, ovarian, melanoma, bladder cancer, liver, salivary gland, stomach, glioblastomas, cancers thyroid, thymus, epithelium, head and neck. Brown et al., J. Immunol. 170: 1257-66 (2003); Dong et al., Nat. Med. 8: 793-800 (2002); Hamanishi et al., PNAS 104: 3360-65 (2007); Strome et al., Cancer Res. 63: 6501-5 (2003); Inman et al., Cancer 109: 1499-505 (2007); Konishi et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 10: 5094-100 (2004); Nakanishi et al., Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 56: 1173-82 (2007); Nomi et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 13: 2151-57 (2004); Thompson and others PNAS 101: 17174-79 (2004); Wu et al., Acta Histochem. 108: 19-24 (2006).
[0362] Immuno-staining also discloses PD-1: PD-L expression on a variety of tumors.
[0363] Interestingly, the cancer has also been characterized as a chronic inflammatory disease. Coussens et al., Nature 420: 860-867 (2002). While up to 15% of cancers around the world have a direct infectious origin [Kuper et al., J. Intern. Med. 248: 17182
183 (2000)], many human cancers are associated with chronic irritation and inflammation. Zou et al., Ntu. Rev. Cancer 5: 263-274 (2005).
[0364] Studies on PD-L1 expression on tumors relative to disease progression indicate that PD-L1 expression strongly correlates with unfavorable prognosis in kidney, ovarian, bladder, breast, gastric and pancreatic cancer, but probably not for small cell lung cancer. Hamanishi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104: 3360-65 (2007), Inman et al., Cancer 109: 1499-505 (2007), Konishi et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 10: 5094-100 (2004); Nakanishi et al., Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 56: 1173-82 (2007); Nomi et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 13: 2151-57 (2007); Thompson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101: 17174-79 (2004); Wu et al., Acta Histochem. 108: 19-24 (2006). In addition, these studies suggest that higher levels of PD-L1 expression on tumors may facilitate the stage of cancer and infiltrate deeper tissue structures.
[0365] PD-1 pathway: PD-L may also play a role in hematologic malignancies. PD-1 or PD-L1 are rarely expressed on B cell malignancies, but PD-L2 is overexpressed in malignant tumors from the mantle cells. Brown et al., Supra; Rosenwald et al., J. Exp. Med. 198: 851-62 (2003). PD-L1 is expressed on multiple myeloma cells, but not on normal plasma cells. The proliferation of T lymphocytes in response to myeloma cells is enhanced in vitro by blocking PD-L1. Liu et al., Blood 110: 296-304 (2007). PD-L1 is expressed on some primary T cell lymphomas, in particular anaplastic large T cell lymphomas, and PD-L1 is expressed on a bound network of follicular dendritic cells. Dorfman et al., Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 30: 802-10 (2006). Analysis with the use of microarrays also suggests that tumor-associated T cells react to PD-1 signals in situ in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Chemnitz et al., Blood 110: 3226-33 (2007). PD-1 and PD-L1 are expressed on CD4 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> in the course of HTLV-1 mediated leukemia and adult lymphocytes. Shimauchi et al., Int. J. Cancer 121: 2585-90 (2007). These tumor cells respond excessively to TCR signals, and blocking PD-1 increases their expression of TNF-α, but not IFN-γ. Studies in animal models show that PD-L1 expression on tumors inhibits T-cell activation and tumor cell lysis, and in some cases leads to increased death of tumor-specific T lymphocytes. Dong et al., Nat. Med. 8: 793-800 (2006); Hirano et al., Cancer Res. 65: 1089-96 (2005).
[0366] Thus, inhibition of PD-L1 signaling using anti-PDL1 antibodies of the invention, and thus to enhance T-cell function, is promising in weakening tumor resistance and, consequently, can be an effective treatment for cancer.
F. Combination therapies [0367] The method disclosed herein can be combined with known methods of treating chronic infection or cancer as combined or additional treatment steps or as additional components of a therapeutic preparation.
1. Cancer:
[0368] Enhancing the host's immune function to combat cancer is of increasing interest. Conventional methods include (i) enhancement of APCs such as (a) tumor injection of DNA encoding MHC alloantigens or (b) transfecting tumor cells after biopsy genes that increase the probability of immunological recognition of the antigen (e.g., cytokines that stimulate the immune system, GM-CSF) , co-stimulatory molecules B7.1, B7.2) of the tumor, (iii) adoptive cellular immunotherapy or treatment with activated tumor-specific T lymphocytes. Adoptive cellular immunotherapy involves isolating host T cell lymphocytes, multiplying the in vitro population, such as by IL-2 stimulation or cancer or both. Additionally, isolated T lymphocytes, which are dysfunctional, may also be activated by in vitro use of the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention. The activated T cells can then be re-administered to the host.
[0369] Traditional cancer therapies include: (i) radiation therapy (e.g., radiation therapy, X-ray therapy, irradiation), i.e. using ionizing radiation to kill tumor cells and reduce tumors. Radiation therapy can be administered externally using external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or internally by brachytherapy; (ii) chemotherapy, i.e. the use of a cytotoxic drug that normally affects rapidly dividing cells; (iii) targeted therapies, i.e. agents that specifically affect deregulated proteins from tumor cells (e.g., imatinib tyrosine kinase inhibitors, gefitinib, monoclonal antibodies, photodynamic therapy); (iv) immunotherapy, i.e. enhancing the immune response of the host (e.g., a vaccine); (v) hormone therapy, i.e. hormone blockage (e.g. when the cancer is hormone sensitive), (vi) angiogenesis inhibitor, i.e. blocking the formation and growth of blood vessels, and (vii) palliative care, i.e. treatment aimed at improving the quality of care in order to reduction of pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and haemorrhage. Analgesics such as morphine and oxycodone, antiemetics such as ondansetron and aprepitant, may allow more aggressive treatment regimens.
[0370] Any of the previously described conventional methods for treating cancer immunity before, after or concurrent with the administration of anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be used in the treatment of cancer. In addition, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be administered before, after, or concurrently with conventional methods for the treatment of cancer, such as administration of tumor-binding antibodies (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies conjugated to a toxin) and / or administration of chemotherapeutic agents.
2. Infection:
[0371] For the treatment of infections (e.g., acute and / or chronic), the administration of anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be combined with conventional therapies in addition to or instead of stimulating natural host defense immune mechanisms. The host's natural immune defense mechanisms against infection include, but are not limited to, inflammation, fever, antibody-mediated host defense, T-cell mediated defense, including lymphokine secretion and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (especially during viral infection), complement-dependent lysis and opsonization. (facilitated phagocytosis) and phagocytosis. The ability of anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention to reactivate dysfunctional T lymphocytes would be particularly useful in the treatment of chronic infections, especially those
a. bacteria [0372] In the case of infections resulting from a bacterial infection, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention can be combined by co-administration with, before or after standard therapies for the treatment of a bacterial infection. Bacterial infections are currently most often treated with antibacterial antibiotics, but serum from immunized hosts containing pathogen-specific antibodies may also be effective.
[0373] For bacteria that are pathogenic as a result of toxin secretion, (toxicogenic bacteria), inactivated toxin vaccination and / or the administration of therapeutic agents that block the toxicity of toxins (e.g., polyclonal serum, antibodies, antibiotics, etc.) are usually effective. These organisms include Clostridium spp., Bacillus spp.,
Corynebacterium spp., Vibrio chloerae, Bordetella pertussis, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. Gram-negative bacteria, which also usually respond to such traditional therapies, include Enterobacteria (e.g. Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Yersinia, Er84 wine), Salmonella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Capsule bacteria that are resistant to phagocytosis and opsonization and thus often prevent a more significant challenge to immune clearance include: Streptococcus spp., Haemophilus spp. Neisseria spp., Klebsiella spp. And Bacterioides fragillis.
[0374] Bacteria that avoid host defense mechanisms by attacking lymphocytes to avoid antibodies and complement pose a particular challenge. The removal of these infections is almost completely dependent on the T-cell mediated immunity and is particularly susceptible to chronic infections. Specific examples include Salmonella (S. typhi, S. choleraesuis, S. enteritidis), Legionella spp., Listeria spp., Brucella spp. And Mycobacterium, including M. tuberculosis, M. avium and M. leprae.
[0375] The spirochettes, including Treponema spp., Borrelia spp. And Leptospira spp are bacteria that cause persistent and latent infections. Treponema palladium, a pathogen that causes syphilis, which is a sexually transmitted disease and can have serious pathological consequences if it is not treated. This disease goes through different stages. The initial clinical stage is an ulcer or atheroma at the site of the spirochete inoculation. Then there is a period of presence of spirochetes and metastatic distribution of microorganisms, which is continued, including repeated cycles of infection and regression of symptoms in a state known as secondary syphilis. After the secondary symptoms of secondary syphilis disappear, the disease enters an asymptomatic latent period, which may end with a tertiary tine, which is a serious and often fatal condition. Tertiary syphilis may manifest itself in (i) heart as aortic inflammation with aneurysm formation and secondary aortic valve insufficiency, (ii) central nervous system (spinal cord injury, general paresis), (iii) eyes (interstitial keratitis) or (iv) (nervous deafness). Non-generic forms resemble the clinical symptoms of venereal forms, but are transmitted mainly through direct contact and poor hygiene. These include raspberry (T. pallidum subp. Pertenue), pint (T. carateum) and bejel (T. pallidum subsp. Endemicum). Non-generic forms resemble the clinical symptoms of venereal forms, but are transmitted mainly through direct contact and poor hygiene. These include raspberry (T. pallidum subp. Pertenue), pint (T. carateum) and bejel (T. pallidum subsp. Endemicum). Non-generic forms resemble the clinical symptoms of venereal forms, but are transmitted mainly through direct contact and poor hygiene. These include raspberry (T. pallidum subp. Pertenue), pint (T. carateum) and bejel (T. pallidum subsp. Endemicum).
[0376] Treatment of syphilis includes penicillin (e.g., G. penicillin), tetracycline, doxycycline, ceftriaxone and azithromycin. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention will most preferably be administered during treatment during latent infection.
[0377] Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans by tick bites. This disease is initially manifested as a localized rash followed by flu-like symptoms, including malaise, fever, headache, stiff neck and joint pain. Subsequent symptoms may include wandering and arthritis involving multiple joints, involvement of the nervous system and the heart with cranial nerve palsies and radiculopathy, myocarditis and arrhythmias. Some cases of Lyme disease become persistent, causing irreversible damage analogous to tertiary syphilis.
[0378] Currently, the treatment of Lyme disease mainly involves the administration of antibiotics. Antibiotic-resistant strains can be treated with hydroxychloroquine or methotrexate. Patients refractory to antibiotics with neuropathic pain may be treated with gabapentin. Minocycline may be helpful in late / chronic Lyme disease with neurological symptoms or other inflammatory symptoms. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies will be most preferably administered for treatment during latent infection.
[0379] Other forms of Lyme disease, such as those resulting from B. recurentis, B. hermsii, B. turicatae, B. parikeri., B. hispanica, B. duttonii and B. persica, as well as leptospirosis (e.g., L. interrogans ) usually disappear spontaneously, unless the blood titers reach levels that cause intrahepatic occlusion.
b. virus [0380] For infections due to viral causes, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention can be combined by using simultaneously with, before or after, standard therapies for the treatment of viral infections. Such standard therapies vary depending on the type of virus, although in almost all cases it may be effective to administer human serum containing antibodies (e.g., IgA,
IgG) specific for the virus.
1) Influenza [0381] Influenza infection causes fever, cough, muscle pain, headache and malaise, which often occur in seasonal epidemics. Influenza is also associated with many post-infection disorders such as encephalitis, myocarditis, Goodpasture's syndrome and Reye's syndrome. Influenza infection also inhibits the normal antibacterial defenses of the lungs, so that a patient recovering from influenza has an increased risk of developing bacterial pneumonia.
[0382] Surface proteins of the influenza virus show pronounced antigenic variation resulting from mutation and recombination. Thus, cytolytic T lymphocytes are the main carrier of the host to eliminate the virus after infection. Influenza is classified into three main types: A, B and C. Influenza A is unique in that it infects both humans and many other animals (eg pigs, horses, birds and seals) and is the main cause of pandemic flu. Furthermore, when the cell is infected with two different strains of influenza A, the segmented RNA genomes of the two parent virus types are mixed during replication to form a hybrid replicant, which generates new epidemic strains. Influenza B does not replicate in animals, and therefore has less genetic variability, and C influenza has only a single serotype.
[0383] Most conventional therapies relieve the symptoms of infection, while the host's immune response actually removes the disease. However, some strains (e.g., influenza A) may cause more serious illness and death. Influenza A can be treated both clinically and prophylactically by administering cyclic amine inhibitors of amantadine and rimantadine that inhibit viral replication. However, the clinical usefulness of these drugs is limited due to the relatively high incidence of side effects, their narrow antiviral spectrum (influenza A only) and the tendency of the virus to acquire resistance. Serum IgG antibody administration against major surface proteins of influenza, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase can prevent lung infection, whereas mucus IgA is required to prevent upper respiratory tract infection and trachea. The most effective treatment for influenza is vaccination with administration of a virus inactivated with formalin or β-propiolactone.
2) Oder virus [0384] After incubation for 9-11 days, hosts infected with measles virus develop fever, cough, rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Within 1-2 days, the erythematous, maculopapular rash develops and spreads rapidly throughout the body. As the infection also inhibits cellular immunity, the host is more likely to develop overlapping bacterial infections, including otitis media, pneumonia and postinfective encephalomyelitis. Acute infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in malnourished adolescents. [0385] Treatment of measles involves passive administration of linked human IgGs, which can prevent infection in individuals without immunity, even if administered up to one week after exposure. However, early immunization with living people, attenuated virus is the most effective treatment and prevents the disease in more than 95% of those vaccinated. Because there is one serotype of this virus, a single immunization or infection usually leads to life-long protection before the next infection.
[0386] In a small proportion of infected hosts, measles may develop in SSPE, which is a chronic progressive neurological disorder caused by persistent infection of the central nervous system. SSPE is caused by clonal variants of the measles virus with defects that interfere with the assembly and budding of the virion. In these patients, it would be desirable to reactivate T lymphocytes with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention to facilitate viral clearance.
3) Hepatitis B virus [0387] Hepatitis B virus (HB-V) is the most infectious known blood-borne pathogen. It is the main cause of acute and chronic hepatitis and liver cancer, as well as a persistent chronic infection throughout life. After infection, the virus is replicated in hepatocytes, which then secrete the HBsAg surface antigen. Detection of excessive levels of HBsAg in the serum is a standard way to diagnose hepatitis B virus infection. Acute infection may subside or may develop into a persistent chronic infection.
[0388] Current treatment of chronic HBV includes α-inteferon that increases the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I on the surface of hepatocytes, thereby facilitating their recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In addition, nucleoside analogs, ganciclovir, famciclovir and lamivudine have also shown some efficacy in the treatment of HBV infection in clinical trials. Additional HBV treatment includes pegylated α-interferon, adenfovir, entecavir and telbivudine. While passive immunity may be induced by parenteral administration of anti-HBsAg serum antibodies, inactivated or recombinant HBsAg vaccination also imparts immunity to infection. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be combined with conventional methods of treating hepatitis B virus infection to obtain therapeutic benefits.
4) Hepatitis C virus [0389] Hepatitis C virus (HC-V) infection can lead to a chronic form of hepatitis causing cirrhosis. While the symptoms are similar to infections caused by the hepatitis B virus, unlike HB-V, infected hosts may be asymptomatic for 10-20 years. Treatment of HC-V infection involves the administration of a combination of α-interferon and ribavirine. A promising potential therapy for HCV infection is the telaprevir protease inhibitor (VX-960). Additional treatments include: anti-PD-1 antibody (MDX-1106, Medarex), buffiticimab (anionic phospholipid-binding antibody, phosphatidylserine in a B2 glycoprotein dependent manner, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals), antibody (s) directed against the HPV coat protein of HPV (e.g. ATL 6865 - Ab68 + Ab65, XTL Pharmaceuticals) and Civacir® (polyclonal human anti-HCV immunoglobulin). The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention can be combined with one or more of these methods of treating hepatitis C virus infection to provide therapeutic benefits.
[0390] Protease, polymerase and NS5A inhibitors that can be used in combination with the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention for specifically treating hepatitis C virus infection include the following identified in Table B
Table B
Hepatitis C virus protease and polymerase inhibitors
<td>The type of inhibitor</td><td>The name of the inhibitor</td><td>Manufacturer (s)</td>
<td>protease</td><td>R7227 / ITMN 191</td><td>Roche / InterMune</td>
<td></td><td>CTS-1027</td><td>Roche Biosciences</td>
<td></td><td>VX500, VX813, VX985</td><td>Vertex</td>
<td></td><td>Telaprevir (VX950)</td><td>Vertex / Tibotec</td>
<td></td><td>TMC435350 / TMC 435</td><td>Medivir / Tibotec</td>
<td></td><td>Boceprevir (SCH503034), Narlaprevir (SCH900518 / SP900518)</td><td>Schering-Plow</td>
<td></td><td>BI201335, BILN 2061</td><td>Boehringer Ingelheim</td>
<td></td><td>MK7009</td><td>Merck</td>
<td></td><td>IDX-136, IDX-316</td><td>Idenix</td>
<td></td><td>BMS-790052, BMS-791325</td><td>Bristol Myers Squibb</td>
<td></td><td>PHX-1766</td><td>Phenomix</td>
<td></td><td>ACH-806</td><td>Achillion / Gilead</td>
<td></td><td>ACH-1625</td><td>Achillion</td>
<td></td><td>ABT-450</td><td>Abbott Labs</td>
<td></td><td>VBY 376</td><td>Virobay</td>
<td>Polymerase inhibitors</td><td>R1626</td><td>Roche</td>
<td></td><td>R7128</td><td>Roche / Pharmasset</td>
<td></td><td>NM283</td><td>Idenix</td>
<td></td><td>HCV796</td><td>Wyeth</td>
<td></td><td>BILB 1941, BI-207127</td><td>Boehringer Ingelheim</td>
<td></td><td>GL60667, GS9190</td><td>Gilead</td>
<td></td><td>PF-00868554</td><td>Pfizer</td>
<td></td><td>VCH757, VCH916</td><td>Virochem</td>
<td></td><td>VX222, VX759</td><td>Vertex</td>
<td></td><td>MK-3281</td><td>Merck</td>
<td></td><td>ANA598</td><td>Anadys</td>
<td></td><td>IDX184, IDX375</td><td>Idenix</td>
<td></td><td>PSI-7851</td><td>Pharmasset</td>
<td></td><td>ABT-072, ABT-333</td><td>Abbott Labs</td>
<td></td><td>BMS650032</td><td>Bristol Myers Squibb</td>
<td>NS5A inhibitors</td><td>BMS790052, BMX824393</td><td>Bristol Myers Squibb</td>
<td></td><td>AZD 2836, AZD 7295</td><td>Arrow Therapeutics</td>
<td></td><td>GSK 625433</td><td>Glaxo Smith Kline</td>
5) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [0391] HIV attacks CD4 + cells, including T-lymphocytes, monocytes-macrophages, vesicular dendritic cells and Langerhans cells, and reduces CD4 + helper / inducer cell levels. As a result, the host acquires a serious disadvantage of cellularity. HIV infection causes AIDS in at least 50% of individuals and is transmitted through sexual intercourse, administration of infected blood or blood products, artificial insemination of infected semen, exposure to needles or blood-containing syringes and transfer from an infected mother to a baby during delivery.
[0392] Infection of the HIV host may be asymptomatic or an acute mononuclear-like disease may develop - fever, headache, sore throat, malaise and rash. Symptoms may occur in the direction of progressive immune dysfunction, including persistent fever, night sweats, weight loss, unexplained diarrhea, eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, shingles, oropharyngeal candidiasis, and hairy leukoplakia. Opportunistic infections by many parasites are common in patients whose infections develop into AIDS.
[0393] Methods of treating HIV include antiviral therapies comprising nucleoside analogs, zidovudine (AST) alone or in combination with didanosine or zalcitabine, dideoxyinosine, dideoxycytidine, lamidvudine, stavudine; reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as delavirdine, nevirapine, lowiryd, and proteinase inhibitors such as saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir and nelfinavir. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be combined with conventional methods of treating HIV infection for therapeutic benefit.
6) Cytomegalovirus [0394] Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is often associated with persistent, latent and recurrent infection. CMV infects and remains latent in monocytes and granulocyte-monocyte progenitor cells. Clinical symptoms of CMV include symptoms reminiscent of mononucleosis (ie fever, swollen lymph nodes, malaise) and a tendency to induce allergic skin rashes for antibiotics. The virus spreads through direct contact. The virus is secreted in urine, saliva, semen and to a lesser extent in other body fluids. Transmission can also occur from an infected mother to her fetus or newborn and through blood transfusion and organ transplants. CMV infection causes a general impairment of cellular immunity,
[0395] Treatment of CMV infection includes antivirals, ganciclovir, foscarnet and cidovir, but these drugs are usually prescribed only in immunocompromised patients. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be combined with conventional methods of treatment of cytomegalovirus infections to provide a therapeutic benefit.
7) Epstein-Barr virus [0396] Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause persistent and latent infections and mainly attacks B lymphocytes. EBV infection causes a clinical condition of infectious mononucleosis, including fever, sore throat, often exudate, generalized nodular enlargement absorbent and enlarged spleen. There is also inflammation of the liver that can develop into jaundice.
[0397] While typical treatments for EBV infections are for symptomatic relief, EBV is associated with the development of certain cancers, such as Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal cancer. Therefore, it would be very beneficial to remove the virus infection prior to these complications. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention can be combined with conventional methods of treating Epstein-Barr virus infections to obtain therapeutic benefits.
8) Herpesvirus [0398] Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is transmitted by direct contact with the infected host. Direct infection can be asymptomatic, but usually causes blisters containing infectious particles. The disease manifests as cycles of active periods of disease during which changes occur, and disappears when the virus in a latent way infects the nerve ganglia for later appearance. Changes can occur on the face, genitals, eyes and / or hands. In some cases, the infection can also cause encephalitis.
[0399] Methods for treating herpes infections are directed to the removal of emerging symptoms and include systemic antiviral drugs such as: acyclovir (e.g., Zovirax®), valaciclovir, famciclovir, penciclovir, and topical medications such as docosanol (Abreva®), Tromantadine and zilactin. The removal of occult herpes infections would have great clinical benefits. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be combined with conventional therapies for herpesvirus infections for therapeutic benefit.
9) HTLV [0400] Human T-lymphotropin virus (HTLV-1, HTLV-2) is transmitted by sexual contact, breastfeeding or exposure to contaminated blood. The virus activates a subset of TH lymphocytes, called Th1 lymphocytes, causing their excessive proliferation and overproduction of Th1-associated cytokines (eg, IFN-γ and TNF-α). This in turn results in suppression of Th2 lymphocytes and a decrease in the production of Th2 cytokines (e.g., IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL13), resulting in reduced ability of the infected host to create an adequate immune response to attacking organisms requiring the Th2-dependent response to be removed. (e.g., parasitic infection, production of mucosal and humoral antibodies).
[0401] HTLV infections lead to opportunistic infections, causing bronchiectasis, dermatitis and overlapping infections of Staphylococcus spp. And Strongyloides spp., Resulting in death due to sepsis induced by many microorganisms. HTLV infection can also lead directly to leukemia / adult T-cell lymphoma and progressive demyelinating disease of the upper motoneuron known as HAM / TSP. Removal of latent HTLV infections would have great clinical benefits. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention can be combined with conventional therapies for HTLV infections to achieve a therapeutic benefit.
10) HPV [0402] Human papillomavirus (HPV) mainly affects keratinocytes and occurs in two forms: cutaneous and genital. Transmission is believed to occur through direct contact and / or sexual activity. HPV infection in both the skin and the genital organs can cause warts and latent infection, and sometimes recurrent infections, which are controlled by the host's resistance, controlling the symptoms and blocking the appearance of warts, but this causes the host to remain able to carry the infection on other.
[0403] HPV infection can also lead to certain cancers such as cervical, anal, vulva, penile and oral-throat cancer. There are no known drugs for HPV infection, but currently the treatment involves the local use of Imiquimod, which stimulates the immune system to attack the busy area. Removal of latent HPV infections would have great clinical benefits. The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention can be combined with conventional therapies for HPV infections to provide a therapeutic benefit.
c. fungus [0404] Fungal infections or fungal infections may result from primary infection or from opportunistic colonization of hosts with weakened immune systems by endogenous flora. Mycosis resistance is mainly cellular, including neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and possibly natural killer (NK) cells. Mycoses are usually not susceptible to direct killing by the antibody and complement. Systemic invasive mycoses arising as a result of primary infection include blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis and paracoccidioidomycosis. In the case of chronic infections caused by fungal infections, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be administered before, concurrently with or after any conventional method of treatment of these fungal infections.
[0405] Blastomycosis, caused by Blastomyces dermatitis, is inhaled and leads to primary lung infection or a disease that is spread with blood that mainly affects the skin, bones and male urogenital system. The original exposure may be asymptomatic or may cause a flu-like syndrome. This disease can manifest itself as a chronic mild form. This disease is also associated with weakened immunity, as in patients with AIDS. Conventional treatment for B. dermatitis includes itraconazole, ketoconazole or intravenous injection of amphotericin B.
[0406] Coccidioidomycosis, caused by Coccidioides immitis, is inhaled and can cause primary lung infection, progressive lung disease or a disease that spreads with the blood mainly covering the skin, subcutaneous tissues, bones, joints and tires. The original exposure may be asymptomatic (60%) or associated with a flu-like syndrome. There may be pneumonia, pleurisy and lung formation. Metastatic manifestations include cutaneous lesions, including nodules, ulcers, fistulas from deeper sites, and granulomatous-papillary lesions, affecting bones, joints, tendon and meninges, including meningitis. This disease is also associated with weakened immunity, as in patients with AIDS. Treatment of coccidioidomycosis includes ketoconazole, intraconazole and fluconazole, especially for long-term maintenance therapy for non-brain disease. The forms of the meninges are usually treated by intrathecal administration of Amphotericin B.
[0407] Histoplasmosis, caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, is an inhalation-acquired disease of the reticuloendothelial system in which small yeasts are located in macrophages. It can cause primary lung infection, progressive lung disease or a disease spreading through the blood, mainly involving the reticuloendothelial system, mucosal and adrenal surfaces. Reactivation of latent infections is often found in immunocompromised patients, as in AIDS patients. Primary exposure may be asymptomatic or associated with an influenza-like syndrome, including pneumonia, pleurisy, lung formation and mediastinal adenopathy. Metastasis sites include the reticuloendothelial system (enlargement of the liver and spleen, enlargement of lymph nodes, anemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia), mucous membranes (mouth-nasopharyngeal ulcers), gastrointestinal tract (malabsorption) and adrenal insufficiency. While most primary infections are spontaneously cured when they are associated with immune deficiencies, such as in AIDS patients, recurrence persists and is often associated with hematopoietic pneumonia, ARDS, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), blood-borne macrovascular changes. pustular and meningitis. Histoplasmosis is treated with Amphotericin B (especially in immunocompromised patients with acute disseminated blood disease), intraconazole and ketoconazole. as in AIDS patients, recurrence persists and is often associated with hematologic pneumonia, ARDS, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), blood-borne maculopapular lesions and meningitis. Histoplasmosis is treated with Amphotericin B (especially in immunocompromised patients with acute disseminated blood disease), intraconazole and ketoconazole. as in AIDS patients, recurrence persists and is often associated with hematologic pneumonia, ARDS, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), blood-borne maculopapular lesions and meningitis. Histoplasmosis is treated with Amphotericin B (especially in immunocompromised patients with acute disseminated blood disease), intraconazole and ketoconazole.
[0408] Paracocidioidomycosis, caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, is an inhaled-acquired fungus that can produce primary lung infection or a disease spreading with blood, mainly involving the skin, mucous membranes, reticulo-adrenals and adrenals. The infection may initially be asymptomatic but dormant and then come alive. Ketoconazole, intraconazole and sulfonamides are used to treat this infection.
[0409] Systemic invasive mycoses arising from opportunistic pathogens that occur in immunocompromised hosts include candidiasis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis and pneumocystosis. By increasing the immune response in a weakened immune system, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may also have therapeutic value in the treatment of these conditions, especially in combination with conventional therapies.
[0410] Treatment of candidiasis (caused by Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata), cryptococcosis (caused by Cryptococcus neoformans), aspergillosis (caused by Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. tereus and A. niger) and mucormycosis ( triggered by Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizomuco, Absidia, Cunninghamella, Mortierella, Saksenaea spp.) can be carried out using one or more of imidazole, ketoconazole, intraconazole, fluconazole, amphotericin B with and without flucytosine. Pneumocystosis (caused by Penumocystis carnii), recently reclassified from protozoa to fungi, is treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP SMZ) and intravenous pentamidine isethionate, as well as with dapson, TMP-dapson, trimetrexate, clindamycin-prymachine and atovantone.
[0411] Microsporidiosis caused by parasites from the Microsporidia family has recently been reclassified from a fungal mycotic disease. They are single-celled organisms that contain mitosomes instead of mitochondria. Organisms that can cause disease in humans include: Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon hellem, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Pleistophora spp, Trachipleistophora hominis, Trachipleistophora anthropophthera, Nosema connori, Nosema ocularum, Brachiola vesicularum, Vittaforma corneae, Microsporidium ceylonensis, Microsporidium africanum, Brachiola algerae.
[0412] Infections are thought to be transmitted to humans through direct contact with animals, contaminated water or other infected host. After infection of the host cells, the sporoplasm grows, dividing or creating a multinuclear dressing, which can have complex life cycles involving both asexual and gender reproduction. Self-infection by successive generations and chronic, debilitating diseases are often characterized by microsporidus infections.
[0413] Clinical symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the host's species and immune status and include conjunctivitis (e.g., V. corneae), chronic diarrhea, malabsorption and cachexia (e.g., E. bieneusi, E. intestinalis).
[0414] Treatment of ophthalmic, intestinal and disseminated microsporosis involves the administration of albendazole. Topical use of fumagillin can also be effectively used to treat microsporidic keratoconjunctivitis. Other medications include anti-helminthic agents (eg, albendazole), antibiotics (e.g., fumagillin), immunomodulators (e.g., thalidomide), antiprotozoal agents (e.g., metronidazole).
d. protozoa [0415] Disease resulting from parasitic disorders such as malaria, schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis is one of the most widespread and important health problems in developing countries. These diseases pose particular challenges because they can avoid host resistance in various ways, including: 1) living inside host cells (e.g., Leishmania), 2) rapidly changing surface antigens (e.g., trypansomes), and 3) "disguising" from the host cell by presentation of host antigens (e.g., schistosomiasis). The use of immunosuppressive drugs in the treatment of cancer and organ transplants as well as the overall incidence of AIDS may reactivate latent or subclinical infections of Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma spp., Leishmania spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Trypanosoma spp.
[0416] For chronic infections due to parasitic protozoan infections, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention can be combined by administration in combination with, before or after standard antiprotozoal therapies.
[0417] Malaria, caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium (e.g., P. ovale, P. malariae, P. falciparum, P. vivax), begins the infectious cycle as sporozoite, which develops in the gut of a female Anopheles mosquito. After transferring to humans, these sporozoites attack and multiply inside the liver cells without causing an inflammatory reaction. Then the offspring of these organisms, called merozoites, attack erythrocyte cells and start the clinical phase of the disease, usually characterized by fever and chills. In regions of the world where infection is endemic, almost all inhabitants show a constant low level of chronic infections with low or moderate pathogenicity, with an increase in IgG antibody levels providing protection against the entry of merozoite into erythrocytes.
[0418] Currently available antimalarial drugs used both for the treatment of clinical diseases as well as prophylactically include: artemether-lumefanthrine (therapy, e.g. Coartem® and Riamet®), artesunat-amodiaquine (therapy), artesunate-mefloquine (therapy), artesunate sulfadoxine / pyrimethamine (therapy), atovaquone-proguanil (therapy and prophylaxis, e.g. Malarone®), quinine (therapy), chloroquine (therapy and prophylaxis), cotrifazid (therapy and prophylaxis), doxycycline (therapy and prophylaxis), mefloquine (therapy) and prophylaxis, e.g. Lariam®), primachin (therapy only with P. vivax and P. ovale, not for prophylaxis), proguanil (prophylaxis), sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (therapy and prophylaxis), hydroxychloroquine (therapy and prophylaxis, e.g.Plaquenil®) [0419] By reactivating anergic T-lymphocytes, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be particularly therapeutically useful in facilitating the removal of malaria-associated parasites.
[0420] Toxoplasma toxoids, caused by Toxoplasma parasites, are often asymptomatic, but a small part can develop a clinical disease that can range from mild lymphadenopathy to acute to fatal infection of the central nervous system. Sources of infection include cysts in raw or partially cooked pork or mutton and oocytes transmitted in the stools of infected cats. Infection occurs in humans usually through the digestive tract, and protozoa can penetrate and proliferate (like tachyzoites) in virtually every cell of the body. These tachyzoites can produce cysts filled with tiny slow-growing infectious agents (bradyzoites), which remain viable for a long period of time, resulting in latent chronic infections. Hosts with weakened immune systems,
[0421] Drugs used to treat primary toxoplasmosis include: pyrimethamine, with or without the included antibiotics (e.g., sulfadiazine, clindamycin, spiramycin and minocycline). Latent toxoplasmosis can be treated with atovaquone antibiotic, both with and without clindamycin.
[0422] Leishmaniosis, caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, infects macrophages of the skin and internal organs and is transmitted to humans by flyflies. Because there is little or no specific antibodies in the serum, cellular immunity through activated T-lymphocytes seems to be the critical route through which the infection is removed. Leishmaniasis of the Old World, also known as white sore, is caused by several species of Leishmania: L: L. tropica, L. major and L. aethiopica. Leishmaniasis of the New World is caused by various subspecies L. Mexicana and L. braziliensis. These parasites induce a strong cellular immune response, but the course of the clinical disease is also partly due to the host response. If the host produces an inhibited or inappropriate cellular response, the result is dispersed chronic cutaneous leishmaniosis with little hope for spontaneous healing (eg L. aethiopica, L. Mexicana). If the host produces an excessive cellular response, the response is leishmaniasis with tuberculous lesions or recurrent, with persistent, non-ulcerous lymphatic nodules, occurring on the edge of primary lesions (e.g., L. tropica). Recurrent leishmaniasis may occur from 1 to 10 years after the initial change. There are two forms of the disease, dermal and visceral, with the dermal form manifested by skin lesions, where cellular immunity is key to its removal. In the visceral form, cellular immunity is insufficient or non-existent and the disease is clinically manifested as hypergammaglobulinemia with polyclonal B-cells, leukopenia,
[0423] Miltefosin (e.g., Impavido®) and paramyocin are currently available drugs for both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.
[0424] Cryptosporidiosis is caused by Crytosporidia protozoa and results from direct human contact with faeces of infected hosts. Infection of intestinal mucous membranes can cause diarrhea. The disease is usually manifested as an acute infection, but it can become chronic, especially in people with reduced immunity. Treatment is usually palliative, especially hydration, but paromomycin, azithromycin and serum Ig (e.g., Lactobin-R)<sup>®</sup>) were effective in removing infection.
[0425] Trypanosomiasis caused by the Trypanosoma parasite (eg T. brucei, subsp. Gambiense, rodesiense infects humans and cattle by tsetse fly bites. The challenge posed by this pathogen is that subsequent generations of the population present other surface antigens Infections are characterized by an increased level of non-specific and non-protective immunoglobulins in the serum.
[0426] Treatment of Trypanosomiasis includes intravenous administration of: pentamidine (for Tb gambiense), intravenous suramine (for Tb rhodesiense), eflornithine, melarsoprol, both with and without nifurtimoc.
[0427] Infection with worms parasitizing in the gut, caused by flukes (e.g., Schistomsoma spp.), Tapeworms and nematodes, shares common immune responses of eosinophilia and responses of reactin antibodies that are dependent on T lymphocytes.
[0428] Schistosomiasis (otherwise, bilharzia), caused by Shistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum, S. haematobium and S. mekongi, begins its life cycle as eggs in water, which then hatch into miracidia, which penetrate the gastropods and form many generations sporocysts. These, in turn, produce cerchie with a split tail that can infect the bloodstream of a human host as a schistosomul, which migrates initially to the lungs and then to the liver. These flukes eventually form pairs, cross each other and lay eggs in the mesentery veins. While many of these eggs migrate to the intestines and are excreted, some are trapped in the submucosa, portal veins, and other organs of the body. Granulomatous inflammation associated with trapped eggs is a definitive symptom of chronic schistosomiasis.
[0429] Treatment of schistosomiasis includes the administration of Praziquantel®, antimony, Oxamnichine (S. mansoni) and Mirazid®.
[0430] Tapeworm infections can be divided into two groups, one being tapeworms living as adults in the intestine, such as Diphyllobothrium latum and Taenia saginata, which exert a limited, inhuman immunological effect. The second group describes migrating resident cyst-like larval stages of worms such as Hymenolepis nana, Echinococcus granulosus and Taenia solium, which produce strong parenteral host responses and protective serum antibodies. The most important infection with tapeworms in humans is echinococcosis, which, when implanted in the liver, lungs, brain, kidneys or other parts of the body, can cause cystic tuber cysts.
[0431] Treatment of echinococcosis involves the administration of metronidazole, albendazole and surgical intervention, such as removal, aspiration, marsupialysis or omentopexy. [0432] Nematodes are the most diverse and widespread worms that infect humans, causing disorders such as trichinellosis, ascariasis, filariasis and hirsutism. Trichinella, caused by Trichinella spiralis, may arise from the consumption of T. spiralis larvae in raw meat or partially cooked meat such as pork. In humans, infections cause a strong humoral response with elevated levels of IgM, followed by IgG production, followed by rapid removal of worms damaged by antibodies by T lymphocytes.
[0433] The only known treatment for the killing of adult worms in the intestine is thiabendazole, whereas there is no known killing larva therapy.
[0434] Ascaris, also known as human ascas (Ascaris lumbricoides), is a common parasite in humans resulting from the ingestion of substances contaminated with faeces. While patients may remain asymptomatic for very long periods when the larval stages move through the body, they can cause damage to internal organs, inflammation of the peritoneum and inflammation, enlargement of the liver or spleen, toxicity and pneumonia.
[0435] Treatment of ascariasis includes the administration of mebendazole (e.g., Vermox®), piperazine, pyrantel pamoate (e.g., Antiminth®, Pin-Rid®, Pin-X®), albendazole, thiabendazole with or without piperazine, hexylresorcinol, santonine and vulva oil . The anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention may be administered in combination with, before or after administration of these therapies for the treatment of ascariasis.
[0436] Filariosis, caused by nematode pillar, is introduced into humans by insect vectors. Onchocerca volvulus, which caused onchocerciasis or river blindness, is transmitted by bite fits. Infectious larvae are placed subcutaneously and develop into adults, causing a fibrogenic host response and secrete a large number of microfilariae that disperse subcutaneously and in the eyes, further causing keratitis or retinitis, which further causes the cornea to become dull. Lymphatic pharynosis is caused by infection with Bruges spp. And Wuchereria spp. Over time, scarring of the lymphatic tissue, especially in the groin, can prevent lymph drainage, causing a state of deformation of the elephantiasis.
[0437] The primary treatment for filariasis is the administration of antibiotic ivermectin, abendazole and diethylcarbamate citrate (DEC, Hetrazan®) with or without ivermectin or albendazole. Other treatment prospects include doxycycline, which kills symbiotic bacteria, wolbochia.
[0438] Hungarian callidice, caused by Strongyloides parasites (e.g. S. stercoralis, S. fiilleborni) is a disease that is transmitted to humans through soil contaminated with feces. They can occur both in the free-living life cycle (rabid-like larvae maturing to adult worms), as well as in the parasitic cycle (filari-like larvae ripening in adult worms) that penetrates the skin, moves to the lungs, then throat and eventually colonizes. It is also known that self-infection with Strongyloides, which is essentially a recurrent infection by successive generations of filari-like larvae.
[0439] Infections may be asymptomatic or may be characterized by pain and diarrhea in the gastrointestinal tract, Loffler's syndrome in the lungs (i.e., eosinophilia) and urticaria. Blood eosinophilia may also occur. Because persistent Strongyloides infection can mimic peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder disease and Crohn's disease, there is often an incorrect diagnosis. This is a particular problem in immunodeficient hosts.
[0440] Known methods of treatment of the carbohydrates are ivermectin, albenazole or thiabendazole, but since this treatment only kills adult worms, multiple administrations are necessary.
e. vaccination [0441] Vaccination or administration of antigenic material to induce disease resistance is routinely used to prevent or mitigate the effects of pathogen infection. The severity of the host's immunity can be applied to undesirable antigens found not only on infectious pathogens, but also on host tissue that has been altered by disease (e.g., cancer). Traditionally, vaccines are derived from weakened or killed whole pathogens, but they can also be peptides representing epitopes on an intact pathogen that are specifically recognized by human molecules of the major histocompatibility complex of class I or class II (MHC). Particularly interesting peptide antigens are those that are specifically recognized by T-lymphocytes.
[0442] Recently, a combination of therapeutic vaccination and administration of PD-L1 blockade on depleted CD8 + T lymphocytes has been shown to induce enhanced activity and virus control in a mouse model of chronic infection. Ha et al., J.Exp.Med. 205 (3): 543-555 (2008). As a result, the anti-PD-L1 antibodies described herein can also be combined with antigen vaccination (e.g., administered previously, simultaneously or after) to treat an infection (e.g., acute and chronic) caused by viral, bacterial, fungal or protozoal invasion, as well as cancer resistance.
G. Pharmaceutical doses:
[0443] Doses and the desired drug concentration in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may vary depending on the particular intended use. It is within the skill of the ordinary specialist to determine the appropriate dose or route of administration. Animal experiments provide reliable guidelines for determining effective doses for human therapy. Interspecific scaling of effective doses can be carried out in accordance with the principles set forth by Mordenti, J. and Chappell, W. "The Use of Interspecies Scaling in Toxicokinetics," in Toxicokinetics and New Drug Development, Yacobi et al., Ed., Pergamon Press, New York 1989, pp. 42-46.
[0444] For the in vivo administration of the polypeptides or antibodies described herein, the normal dosage amounts may vary from about 10 ng / kg to about 100 mg / kg of body weight of the mammal or more per day, preferably about 1 mg / kg / day to 10 mg / kg / day, depending on the route of administration. Guidance on specific doses and how to administer them can be found in the literature; see, for example, US Patent Nos. 4657760; 5206344; or 522,5212. The scope of the invention includes that various formulations will be effective in various therapies and various disorders, and administration intended for the treatment of a particular organ or tissue may require administration in a different way from that of another organ or tissue. In addition, the doses may be administered in one or more separate administrations or by continuous infusion. In the case of repeated administrations for several days or longer, depending on the condition, treatment is maintained until the desired suppression of disease symptoms occurs. However, other dosing schedules may be useful. The progress of this therapy can be easily monitored by conventional techniques and tests.
H. Administration of the Formulation [0445] The formulations of the present invention, including but not limited to reconstituted and liquid preparations, are administered to a mammal in need of treatment with anti-PD-L1 antibodies, preferably a human, according to known methods, such as intravenous administration in the form of bolus or continuous infusion over a period of time, by intramuscular, intraperitoneal, cerebrospinal fluid, subcutaneous, intraarticular, intra-synovial, intrathecal, oral, local or inhalation.
[0446] In preferred embodiments, the formulations are administered to the mammal by subcutaneous (i.e., subcutaneous) administration. For such purposes, the preparation can be injected using a syringe. However, other devices for the administration of the preparation are available, such as injection devices (e.g., INJECT-EASE ™ and GENJECT ™ devices); pen-type injectors (such as GENPEN ™); automatic injection devices, needleless devices (e.g., MEDIJECTOR ™ and BIOJECTOR ™); and subcutaneous delivery systems in the form of patches.
[0447] In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to kits for a unit of administration in a single dose form. Such kits comprise a container of an aqueous therapeutic preparation of a protein or antibody, including both disposable and multi-compartment pre-filled syringes. Examples of pre-filled syringes are available from Vetter GmbH, Ravensburg, Germany.
[0448] The appropriate dosage ("therapeutically effective amount") of the protein will depend, for example, on the condition being treated, the severity and the course of the condition, whether the protein is administered for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes, prior therapy, clinical history of the patient and response to the anti-antibody -PD-L1, the format of the preparation used and the recognition of the attending physician. The anti-PD-L1 antibody is administered to the patient one time or in the treatment cycle, and can be administered to the patient at any time after the diagnosis. The anti-PD-L1 antibody may be administered as the sole treatment or in combination with other drugs or therapies useful in treating the condition.
[0449] For anti-PD-L1 antibodies, the proposed starting dose can range from about 0.1-20 mg / kg for administration to a patient, which can take the form of one or more separate administrations. However, other dosage regimens may be useful. The progress of such therapy can be easily monitored by conventional techniques.
I. Articles [0450] The disclosure also relates to an article that contains a formulation and preferably provides instructions for its use. The product contains a container. Suitable containers include, for example, bottles, vials (e.g., two-compartment vials), syringes (such as one- or two-chamber syringes) and test tubes. The container may be formed from a variety of materials, such as glass or plastic. The container contains a preparation. The label that is on or connected to the container may include instructions on reproduction and / or use. The label may further indicate that the formulation is useful or intended for subcutaneous administration and / or for the treatment of a T-cell dysfunction disorder. The container containing the formulation may be a re-usable vial, which enables multiple administration (e.g., 2-6 administrations) of reconstituted product. The article may further comprise a second container containing a suitable diluent (e.g., BWFI). After mixing the diluent and lyophilized preparation, the final protein concentration in the reconstituted formulation will typically be at least 50 mg / ml. The article may further comprise other materials desirable from a commercial and user standpoint, including other buffers, diluents, filters, needles, syringes and information leaflets with instructions for use.
[0451] The invention will be understood more fully by reference to the following examples. However, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
[0452] The disclosure also relates to an article comprising the formulations described herein for administration in an automatic injection device. The autosampler can be described as an injection device which, upon activation, will provide its contents without additional necessary action from the patient or the person giving the injection. They are particularly suitable for the self-administration of medicinal preparations when the rate of administration must be constant and the time of administration is longer than a few minutes.
EXAMPLE 1
Identification of anti-PD-LI antibodies in phage libraries
Sorting and screening of the library to identify anti-PD-L1 antibodies [0453] As antigens for the alternate sorting of libraries, human fusions (R & D Systems cat. No. 156-B7) and mouse (R & D Systems, cat. No. 1019-B7) PD were used -L1 from Fc. In particular, phage libraries were first sorted for human antigen, then for mouse, human and murine antigen in the next three rounds. Nunc 96 Maxisorp® immunomodules were coated overnight at 4 ° C with the target antigen (10 μg / ml) and blocked for 1 hour at room temperature with blocking buffer for PBST phages (phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and 1% (w / v) .) bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0.05% (v / v) tween-20). VH phage libraries (see, e.g., Lee et al., J. Immunol. Meth 284: 119-132, 2004) and VH / VL antibodies (see Liang et al. J. Mol. Biol. 366: 815-829, 2007) were added separately to the antigen coated plates and incubated overnight at room temperature. The next day, antigen coated plates were washed ten times with PBT (PBS with 0.05% Tween-20) and bound phage were eluted with 50 mM HCl and 500 mM NaCl for 30 minutes and neutralized with the same volume of 1 M Tris base (pH 7.5). The recovered phages were propagated in E. coli XL-1 Blue cells. During subsequent rounds of selection, the incubation of the phages with the antibody with the antigen coated plates was reduced to 2-3 hours and the severity of the plate elution was gradually increased. 05% Tween-20) and bound phage were eluted with 50 mM HCl and 500 mM NaCl for 30 minutes and neutralized with an equal volume of 1 M Tris base (pH 7.5). The recovered phages were propagated in E. coli XL-1 Blue cells. During subsequent rounds of selection, the incubation of the phages with the antibody with the antigen coated plates was reduced to 2-3 hours and the severity of the plate elution was gradually increased. 05% Tween-20) and bound phage were eluted with 50 mM HCl and 500 mM NaCl for 30 minutes and neutralized with an equal volume of 1 M Tris base (pH 7.5). The recovered phages were propagated in E. coli XL-1 Blue cells. During subsequent rounds of selection, the incubation of the phages with the antibody with the antigen coated plates was reduced to 2-3 hours and the severity of the plate elution was gradually increased.
[0454] After 4 rounds of panning, significant enrichment was observed. From the sorting of each of the VH and VH / VL libraries, 96 clones were collected to determine whether they bind specifically both human and mouse PD-L1-Fc. The variable regions of these clones were sequenced by PCR to identify clones with a unique sequence.
[0455] The format of the parent clones of interest for IgG was changed by cloning the VL and VH regions of individual clones into the LPG3 and LPG4 vector respectively (Lee et al., Supra), transient expression in CHO mammalian cells and purification on the protein A column. The 13 phage antibodies were evaluated for their ability to block the interaction between the soluble PD-1-Fc fusion protein and human or mouse PD-L1 expressed in 293 cells (IC 50 values are given in the upper half of Table 1). YW243.55, the antibody with the lowest IC50 in blocking the binding of human PD-L1 to PD-1 was selected for further affinity maturation to improve its affinity for both human and mouse PD-L1. (Table 1). Antibody with comparable cross-reactivity to molecules from both primate, as well as mice (as well as with affinity for human molecules) would provide a drug of elevated value in that the same antibody that will be well characterized in experimental models will be able to be used in clinical trials in humans. This allows you to avoiduncertainty resulting from the use of a model-specific substitute.
Constructing libraries to improve the affinity of clones derived from the VH library [0456] Phagemid pW0703 (derived from the pV0350-2b phagemid (Lee et al., J Mol. Biol 340: 1073-1093 (2004)), containing a stop codon (TAA) in all positions of CDR-L3 and presenting a monovalent Fab on the surface of bacteriophage M13) served as a library template for the transplantation of heavy-chain variable (VH) domains of the clones of interest from the VH library to affinity maturation. Both hard and soft randomization strategies were used for affinity maturation. For hard randomization, one light chain library with selected positions of the three CDRs of the light chain was randomized using amino acids designed to mimic natural human antibodies and the degeneracy of the designed DNA was as described in Lee et al. (J Mol. Biol 340, 1073-1093 (2004)). For soft randomization, residues at positions 91-94 and 96 of CDR-L3, 28-31 and 34-35 CDR-H1, 50, 52 and 53-58 CDR-H2, 95-99 and 100A CDR-H3 were selected; and two different combinations of CDR, L3 / H1 / H2 and L3 / H3 loops were selected for randomization. To obtain the soft randomization conditions, which introduced a mutation frequency of about 50% at selected positions, mutagenic DNA was synthesized with 70-10-10-10 base mixtures favored by wild-type nucleotides (Gallop et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 37: 12331251 (1994) ). 1073-1093 (2004)). For soft randomization, residues at positions 91-94 and 96 of CDR-L3, 28-31 and 34-35 CDR-H1, 50, 52 and 53-58 CDR-H2, 95-99 and 100A CDR-H3 were selected; and two different combinations of CDR, L3 / H1 / H2 and L3 / H3 loops were selected for randomization. To obtain the soft randomization conditions, which introduced a mutation frequency of about 50% at selected positions, mutagenic DNA was synthesized with 70-10-10-10 base mixtures favored by wild-type nucleotides (Gallop et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 37: 12331251 (1994) ). 1073-1093 (2004)). For soft randomization, residues at positions 91-94 and 96 of CDR-L3, 28-31 and 34-35 CDR-H1, 50, 52 and 53-58 CDR-H2, 95-99 and 100A CDR-H3 were selected; and two different combinations of CDR, L3 / H1 / H2 and L3 / H3 loops were selected for randomization. To obtain the soft randomization conditions, which introduced a mutation frequency of about 50% at selected positions, mutagenic DNA was synthesized with 70-10-10-10 base mixtures favored by wild-type nucleotides (Gallop et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 37: 12331251 (1994) ).
Sorting phages to improve affinity [0457] Previously identified phage clones were sorted on plates in the first round, followed by five or six sorting rounds in solution. Libraries were sorted separately from human and mouse PD-L1-Fc (R & D Systems, cat. No. 156-B7, cat. No. 1019-B7, respectively). For the human PD-L1-Fc target, in the first round of sorting the plates, three libraries were sorted against the target coated plate (NISC Maxisorp® plate) separately with the phage introduction at about 3 OD / ml in 1% BSA and 0.05% Tween. 20 for 2 hours at room temperature. After the first round of sorting, the plates were sorted in solution to increase the sharpness of the selection. For sorting in 1 OD solution / ml of phage amplified from the first round of sorting on the plates were incubated with 20 nM biotinylated target protein (the concentration is based on the IC50 value of the parent maple phage) in 100 μl buffer containing 1% Superblock (Pierce Biotechnology) and 0.05% Tween-20 for 30 minutes at room temperature. The mixture was then diluted with 10X 1% Superblock and 100 μl / well was added to neutravidin coated wells (5 μg / ml) for 15 minutes at room temperature with gentle shaking, so that the biotinylated target bound phage. The wells were washed with 10X PBS-0.05% Tween-20. To determine the background binding, control wells containing phage with targets that were not biotinylated were captured on neutravidin coated plates. The bound phage were eluted with 0.1 N HCl for 20 minutes, neutralized with 1/10 volume of 1M Tris (pH-11), the name was denominated and propagated to the next round. Five successive sorting rounds were then carried out in solution together with two methods of increasing the sharpness of the selection. The first of these methods was selection for solid association by reducing the concentration of biotinylated target protein from 4 nM to 0.5 nM, and the other one was selection for dissociation constant by adding excess amounts of non-biotinylated target protein (100 ~ 2000-fold higher) that the binding molecules are less likely to be rejected on a competitive basis at room temperature or 37 ° C. In addition, the entry phage amount was lowered (0.1 ~ 0.5 OD / ml) to lower the phage binding as a background. For the PD-L1-Fc mouse target, the phage sorting method is similar to that described above for the human PD-L1 Fc antigen with several modifications. In particular, 100 nM biotinylated mouse PD-L1-Fc was used for panning in solution immediately after the first panning round on the plate. In the next four rounds of panning in the solution, the biotinylated concentration of the target was lowered from 10 nM to 1 nM and 200-500 excess of non-biotinylated excess was added at room temperature.
[0458] Affinity matched clones were then subjected to further screening using the high-throughput ELISA screen for affinity testing described in the following example.
High-throughput ELISA for Affinity Screening (Single-Blot Competition) [0459] Colonies were picked from the seventh and sixth round of screening for the PD-L1 human and mouse target respectively. Colonies were grown overnight at 37 ° C in 150 μl / well 2YT medium with 50 μg / ml carbenicillin and 1E10 / ml KO7 in a 96-well plate (Falcon). From the same plate, a XL-1 colony infected with parental phage was selected as a control. 96-well Nunc Maxisorp® plates were coated with 100 μl / well of human and mouse PD-L1-Fc protein (2 μg / ml) separately in PBS at 4 ° C overnight or at room temperature for hours. The plates were blocked with 65 μl of 1% BSA for 30 min and 40 μl of 1% Tween 20 for a further 30 minutes.
[0460] The phage supernatant was diluted 1:10 in ELISA buffer (enzyme immunoassay) (PBS with 0.5% BSA, 0.05% Tween-20) with or without 10 nM target protein in 100 μl total volume and incubated with at least 1 hour at room temperature on plate F (NUNC). 75 μl of the mixture with or without the target protein were transferred side by side to the plates coated with the target protein. The plate was gently shaken for 15 min to allow the unbound phage to be captured on the plate coated with the target protein. The plate was washed at least five times with PBS-0.05% Tween-20. Binding was quantified by the addition of anti-M13 antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in ELISA buffer (1: 5000) and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. The plates were washed with PBS-0.05% Tween 20 at least five times. Then 100 μl / well of 3,3 ', 5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine peroxidase (TMB) substrate and Peroxidase B (H2O2) solution (Kirkegaard-Perry Laboratories (Gaithersburg, MD)) was added to the well in a 1: 1 ratio and incubated for 5 minutes at room temperature. The reaction was stopped by adding 100 μl of 1M phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to each well and allowed to incubate for 5 minutes at room temperature. The OD (optical density) of the yellow color in each well was determined using a standard ELISA plate reader The reaction was stopped by adding 100 μl of 1M phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to each well and allowed to incubate for 5 minutes at room temperature. The OD (optical density) of the yellow color in each well was determined using a standard ELISA plate reader The reaction was stopped by adding 100 μl of 1M phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to each well and allowed to incubate for 5 minutes at room temperature. The OD (optical density) of the yellow color in each well was determined using a standard ELISA plate reader
450 nm. The OD reduction (%) was calculated using the following equation.
reduction OD450nm (%) = [(OD450 wells with competing molecule) / (OD450 wells without competing molecule)] x 100 [0461] Compared with a decrease OD450nm (%) relative to the well with parent phage (100%) clones that showed a decrease OD450nm (%) less than 50% for both human and mouse targets were selected for sequence analysis. Unique clones were selected to generate phages to determine the binding affinity (IC50 phage) relative to both human and mouse PD-L-Fc by comparison with the parent clones. Materials [0462] hPD-1-Fc, hPD-L1-Fc, hB7.1-Fc, mPD-1-Fc, mPD-L1-Fc and mB7.1 were purchased from R & D Systems. 293 cells expressing hPD-L1 were generated in Genentech using conventional techniques. Goat F (ab ') 2 against Fc human IgG was purchased from Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories.
Protein Coupling [0463] The PD-1-Fc and B7.1-Fc proteins were biotinylated with sulfo-NHS-LC-LC-biotin EZ-Link (Pierce) for 30 minutes at room temperature, as described by the manufacturer. Excess unreacted biotin was removed using Quick Spin High Capacity columns, G50Sephadex (Roche), as described by the manufacturer.
[0464] Goat F (ab ') 2 against Fc human IgG was labeled with ruthenium using the NHS Sulfo-Tag MSD ester (Meso Scale Discovery) as described by the manufacturer, and excess unreacted Sulfo-Tag was removed using a Quick Spin High Capacity column, G50- Sephadex.
Cell ECL binding assay for testing phage antibodies. [0465] Antibody concentrations causing 50% inhibition (IC50) of hPD-1-Fc binding to 293 cells expressing hPD-L1 were measured using an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) cellular binding assay. HPD-L1 expressing cells 293 were washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and plated at 25,000 cells per well in 25 μl PBS on a 96-well High Bind (Meso Scale Discovery) plate. Incubate the plate at room temperature to allow the cells to attach to the carbon surface of the plate. Add 25 μl of 30% FBS to each well and incubate the plate for 30 minutes with gentle agitation to block non-specific binding sites. Rinse the plate three times with PBS on an ELISA microplate washer (ELx405 Select, Bio-Tek Instruments) in the conditions of gentle dosing and suction. Remove the excess PBS in the wells by drying the plate on paper towels. 12.5 μL of 2X antibody concentration in 3% FBS in PBS (assay buffer) was added to each well followed by 12.5 μL 4 μg / mL (2X concentration) of hPD-1-biotin in assay buffer and incubation of the plate by one hour with gentle mixing. Rinse 3X PBS on a microplate washer and dry the plate on paper towels. Add 25 μl 2 μg / ml of Streptavidin-Ruthenium (Meso Scale Discovery) and incubate in assay buffer at room temperature for 30 minutes with gentle agitation. Rinse 3X PBS on a microplate washer and dry the plate on paper towels. Add 150 μl of 1X Meso Scale Discovery MSD Read Buffer. Read the emitted luminescence light at 620 nm on the Sector Imager 6000 (Meso Scale Discovery). ECL values were analyzed with the concentrations of the test antibodies used in the assay using a four parameter non-linear least-squares fit, obtaining IC50 values for each molecule competing in the assay.
Results and discussion:
[0466] Fifteen unique phage antibodies derived from YW243.55 were selected that bound both human and mouse PD-L1 and their format was changed to antibodies
Full length IgG1 for further evaluation. The sequences of the light and heavy chain variable regions of these antibodies are shown in Figures 11A and B.
[0467] Fifteen Abs of altered format were tested for their ability to block the binding of PD-1 to 293 cells expressing human or mouse PD-L1 using an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) cellular binding assay. (Table 1 - lower half: in Table 1 "Format 1" describes the binding of soluble human PD-1Fc to 293 cells transfected with human PD-L1, "Format 2" describes the binding of my PD-1-Fc to 293 cells transfected with mouse PD-L1 L1 and "Format 3" describes the binding of human PD-1 to 293 cells transfected with mouse PD-L1. While all fifteen Ab with improved affinity acquired significant cross-reactivity to mouse PD-L1, YW243.55S70 was chosen as the primary candidate for further study based on its ability to block both human binding,
Table 1
<td rowspan="2">Maple</td><td>Format 1</td><td>Format 2</td><td>Format 3</td>
<td>hPD1-Fcbiotyna / hPDL1-293 IC50 in nM</td><td>mPD1-Fcbiotyna / mPDL1-293 IC50 in nM</td><td>hPD1-Fcbiotyna / mPDL1-293 IC50 in nM</td>
<td>YW251.11</td><td>8.6</td><td></td><td></td>
<td>YW 243.1</td><td>0.234</td><td></td><td></td>
<td>YW243.55</td><td>0.099</td><td></td><td>> 100</td>
<td>YW254.1</td><td>> 100</td><td>0.795</td><td></td>
<td>YW254.2</td><td>> 100</td><td>3.76</td><td></td>
<td>YW254.3</td><td>> 100</td><td>> 100</td><td></td>
<td>YW254.4</td><td>1.73</td><td>15.6</td><td></td>
<td>YW254.9</td><td>> 100</td><td>0.224</td><td></td>
<td>YW254.33</td><td>2.2</td><td>> 100</td><td></td>
<td>YW262.4</td><td>50</td><td>1.42</td><td></td>
<td>YW262.5</td><td>90</td><td>25</td><td></td>
<td>YW262.16</td><td>7.5</td><td>0.626</td><td></td>
<td>YW262.64</td><td>0.256</td><td>100</td><td></td>
<td>YW243.55.5</td><td>0.104</td><td></td><td>0.141</td>
<td>YW243.55.8</td><td>0.061</td><td></td><td>0.063</td>
<td>YW243.55.30</td><td>0,108</td><td></td><td>0,100</td>
<td>YW243.55.34</td><td>0.084</td><td></td><td>0.049</td>
<td>YW243.55.49</td><td>0.08</td><td></td><td>0.032</td>
<td>YW243.55.51</td><td>0.078</td><td></td><td>0.031</td>
<td>YW243.55.62</td><td>0.096</td><td></td><td>0.066</td>
101
<td>YW243.55.84</td><td>0.124</td><td></td><td>0.051</td>
<td>YW243.55.89</td><td>0.066</td><td></td><td>0.13</td>
<td>YW243.55.H12</td><td>0.103</td><td></td><td>0.156</td>
<td>YW243.55.H37</td><td>0.109</td><td></td><td>0.163</td>
<td>YW243.55.H70</td><td>0.084</td><td></td><td>0.042</td>
<td>YW243.55.S1</td><td>0.114</td><td></td><td>0.074</td>
<td>YW243.55.S37</td><td>0,100</td><td></td><td>0,024</td>
<td>YW243.55.S70</td><td>0.049</td><td></td><td>0,022</td>
EXAMPLE 2
Characterization of anti-PD-LI antibodies (BIAcore) [0468] The binding affinities of YW243.55 and YW243.55S70 anti-PD-L1 phage antibodies to recombinant human and mouse PD-L1 were measured by surface plasmon resonance (SRP) using a BIAcore ™ instrument. 3000. Recombinant human PD-L1-Fc (R & D Systems, cat. # 156-B7) and recombinant mouse PD-L1-Fc (R & D Systems, cat. No. 1019-B7) were coated directly with CM5 biosensor chips yielding approximately 500 response units (RU) . For kinetic measurements, two-fold serial dilutions (3.9 nm to 500 nm) were injected in buffer
PBT (PBS with 0.05% Tween-20) at 25 ° C at a flow rate of 30 μΐ / min. Association rates (k on) and dissociation constant (k off) were calculated using a simple one-to-one Languir binding model (BIAcore Evaluation Software version 3.2). The equilibrium dissociation constant (kD) was calculated as the koff / kon ratio.
[0469] The measured binding affinities of phage clones of anti-PD-L1 antibodies
YW243.55 and YW243.55.S70 are shown below in Table 2.
Table 2
<td colspan="7">BIAcore binding affinities</td>
<td></td><td colspan="3">Immobilized rhPD-L1 Fc</td><td colspan="3">Immobilized rmPD-L1 Fc</td>
<td>Maple</td><td>kon / (1 / Ms)</td><td>koff / (1 / s)</td><td>kD (M)</td><td>kon / (1 / Ms)</td><td>koff / (1 / s)</td><td>kD (M)</td>
<td>YW243.55 (Fab)</td><td>5.80 x 10<sup>5</sup></td><td>7.30 x 10 <sup>3</sup></td><td>1.26 x 10 <sup>8</sup></td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>> 1 x 10 <sup>6</sup></td>
<td>YW243.55 (IgG)</td><td>2.70 x 10<sup>5</sup></td><td>2.60 x 10<sup>4</sup></td><td>9.63 x 10 '</td><td>5.80 x 10<sup>4</sup></td><td>9.20 x 10 <sup>3</sup></td><td>1.59 x 10 <sup>7</sup></td>
<td>YW243.55.S70 (Fab)</td><td>5.30 x 10<sup>5</sup></td><td>1.00 x 10<sup>-4</sup></td><td>1.89 x 10<sup>-10</sup></td><td>4.80 x 10<sup>5</sup></td><td>1.40 x 10-<sup>3</sup></td><td>2.92 x 10-<sup>9</sup></td>
<td>YW243.55.S70 (IgG)</td><td>3.90 x 10<sup>5</sup></td><td>6.30 x 10-<sup>5</sup></td><td>1.62 x 10<sup>-10</sup></td><td>2.80 x 10<sup>5</sup></td><td>1.80 x 10<sup>-4</sup></td><td>6.43 x 10<sup>-10</sup></td>
EXAMPLE 3A
Ab-specificity of anti-PD-LI against human, rhesus and mouse PD-L1 FACS and cellular radioligand binding assay [0470] This example demonstrates the specificity of the anti-PD-L1 antibody of the invention against human, rhesus and mouse PD-L1. In addition, it exhibits the affinity of Ab for mouse and human PD-L1 expressed on the cell membrane of 293 transfected cells.
[0471] Human and mouse PD-L1 were stably transfected into 293 cells. Cells were harvested and seeded at 150,000 cells per well of a 96-well plate for binding studies.
[0472] Rhesus blood was obtained from the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (San
Antonio, Texas). The blood was diluted with the same volume of PBS and applied to 96% Ficoll-Paque (GE Healthcare) to separate mononuclear cells. In a mononuclear cell preparation, the red blood cells were lysed using erythrocyte lysis buffer (Qiagen) and cultured overnight at 1.5 x 10<sup>6</sup> cells / ml with 5 μg / ml PMA plus 1 μΜ ionomycin in 6-well plates. The culture medium was RPMI 1640 with 10% fetal bovine serum, 20 μΜ HEPES and a 1: 100 dilution of the following Gibco supplements: Gluta-MAX, sodium pyruvate, penicillin / streptomycin and non-essential amino acids. Cells were harvested the next day and aliquoted into a 96-well plate for binding studies (about 120,000 cells per well).
[0473] YW243.55.S70 anti-PD-L1 antibody or Herceptin control antibody<sup>® </sup>titrated starting at 10 μg / ml in triplicate serial dilutions and bound to cells in 50 μl for 25 minutes on ice. The cells were washed and then bound to anti-human IgG PE (Caltag) at 20 μg / ml for 25 minutes on ice. Rhesus cells were simultaneously stained with CD3 FITC and CD4 APC (BD Biosciences) to distinguish CD4 + T lymphocytes.
[0474] All samples were tested on Beckman Dickinson FACSCalibur and PD-L1 binding data in terms of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) plotted as a function of anti-PD-L1 antibody concentration were analyzed using Tree Star, Inc. software. FlowJo<sup>®</sup>; EC50 values (concentration of bound Ab when half maximal binding) were calculated using Kaleidagraph. In addition, binding equilibrium studies were performed to determine the exact affinities (Kd) for binding of YW24355S70 to human and mouse PD-L1 expressed on 293 cells (Example 3B). These values are summarized below in Table 3:
Table 3
Summary EC50
<td>Type</td><td>EC 50 (nm) FACS</td><td>Radioligand binding equilibrium Kd (nM)</td>
<td>Man</td><td>0.4</td><td>0.4</td>
<td>Rhesus</td><td>0.3</td><td></td>
<td>Mouse</td><td>0.3</td><td>0.13</td>
<td>Rat</td><td>0.8</td><td></td>
EXAMPLE 3B
Ab-anti-PD-L1 affinity measurement of human and mouse PD-L1 - radioligand binding equilibrium in a cell binding assay [0475] 293 cells transfected with human or mouse PD-L1 were grown in growth medium that consisted of RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 2 mM L-glutamine, 1X penicillin-streptomycin at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2. The cells were washed with binding buffer (50:50 DMEM / F12 with 2% FBS and 50 mM Hepes, pH 7.2) and placed in 96-well plates at approximately 2,300,000 cells in 0.2 ml binding buffer. The anti-PD-L1 antibody, YW243.55.S70.hIgG, iodized using the Iodogen method. Anti-PD-L1 antibodies labeled with radioisotope were cleared of free<sup>125</sup>I-NA by gel filtration using a NAP-5 column; purified Ab had specific activity of 17 μCi / μg. Mixtures for a 50 μl competitive reaction containing a constant concentration of iodinated antibody and declining concentrations of serially diluted unlabelled antibody were plated in 96-well plates. Stably transfected 293 cell lines expressing human PD-L1 and mouse PD-L1 were grown in growth medium that contained a 50:50 mix of DMEM / F12 media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamine, 1X penicillin-pentreptomycin, in 37 ° C in 5% CO2. The cells were washed with binding buffer (50:50 DMEM / F12 with 2% FBS, 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.2 and 2 mM sodium azide) and added at a density of approximately 200,000 cells in 0.2 ml binding buffer to 50 μl mixtures for reaction
103 competition. The final concentration of iodinated antibody in each competitor reaction with cells was ~ 150 pM (~ 120,000 cpm per 0.25 ml), and the final concentration of unlabeled antibody in the competitive reaction with the cells varied from 500 nM, and then decreased 2-fold. for 10 concentrations. Competitive reactions with cells were incubated for 2 hours at room temperature. The competition reaction with cells for each concentration of unlabelled antibody was tested in triplicate. After incubation for 2 hours, the competition reactions were transferred to a Millipore Multiscreen filter plate and washed 4X with binding buffer to separate the iodinated antibody from bound. The filters were counted on a Wallac Wizard 1470 gamma counter (PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences Inc. Wellesley, MA). Binding data was evaluated using NewLigand (Genentech) software, which uses the Munson and Robard matching algorithm to determine the antibody binding affinity. Musson et al., Anal. Biochem. 107: 220-39 (1980).
[0476] Kd values determined using Scatchard analysis confirm the EC50 values of binding of anti-PD-L1 antibody to human and mouse PD-L1 shown in Table 3.
EXAMPLE 4
Selectivity and affinity Ab anti-PD-L1 (IC50) [0477] This example demonstrates the selectivity and binding affinity assay (as IC50) used to assess the full-length anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the present invention for their ability to block PD-binding. L1 with both PD-1 and B7.1.
methods:
The hB7.1-Fc-biotin and hPD-1-Fc-biotin binding ELISAs with hPD-L1-Fc (Format 4):
[0478] The 384-well Nunc Maxisorp plate was coated with 25 μΐ of 250 ng / ml hPD-L1-Fc in PBS overnight. Wash the wells three times with 0.05% Tween in PBS (washing buffer) on a microplate washer and set wells of 0.5% BSA in PBS. Add 12.5 μΐ of 2X antibody concentration in 0.05% Tween, 0.5% BSA in PBS (test diluent) and then 12.5 μΐ 250 ng / mL (2X concentration) hB7.1-Fc to each well. -biotin in the diluent for the test and incubate the plate for one and a half hours with stirring. Wash the wells six times with washing buffer and add 25 μl of Streptavidin-HRP (1: 40,000 in diluent for the test, GE Healthcare). Incubate the plate for 30 minutes with stirring and wash the wells six times with washing buffer. Add 25 μl of TMB substrate (Kirkegaard and Perry Laboratories) for one hour and stop the reaction with 25 μl of 1 M phosphoric acid. The absorbance is read at 450 nm and the IC50 values analyzed as described for the ECL binding assay of Example 1.
Formats 5, 6, 7:
[0479] For the binding of hPD-1-Fc-biotin to hPD-L1-Fc (Format 5), the format is similar to the above assay except that hPD-1-Fc-biotin was used for binding instead of hB7.1-Fc -biotyny. The reaction time with the TMB substrate was 17 minutes.
[0480] For mB7.1-Fc-biotin binding to mPD-L1-Fc (Format 6), the format is similar to Format 5 except that mPD-L1-Fc was used to coat the plate instead of hPD-L1-Fc and mB7.1-Fc-biotin was used for binding instead of hB7.1-Fc-biotin. The reaction time with the TMB substrate was 7 minutes.
[0481] For the binding of mPD-1-Fc-biotin to mPD-L1-Fc (Format 7), the format is similar to the above-mentioned mouse ELISA except that mPD-1-Fc-biotin was used for binding instead of mB7. 1-Fc-biotin. The reaction time with the TMB substrate was 5 minutes.
Results:
[0482] Evaluation of the IC50 of the YW243.55.S70 affinity matched anti-PD-L1 affinity virus in blocking interactions between the designated binding pairs is shown in Table 4. YW243.55S70 was able to block the binding of human PD-L1 to hB7.1 Fc with a concentration causing a half-maximal inhibition of 38 pM, which concentration is relatively comparable to its IC50 value for blocking the effect of PD-L1 / PD-1 (42 pM). Biacore's studies measuring the ability of YW243.55S70 in blocking PD-L1 interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 were consistent with these ELISA results (data not shown).
Table 4
<td>Antibody</td><td>Format 4 hB7.1-biotin / hPD-L1 IC50 in pM</td><td>Format 5 hPD-1-biotine / hPD-L1 IC50 in pM</td><td>Format 6 mB7.1-biotin / mPD-L1 IC50 in pM</td><td>Format 7 mPD-1-biotin / mPD-L1 IC50 in pM</td>
<td>YW243.55.S70</td><td>38</td><td>42</td><td>29</td><td>48</td>
EXAMPLE 5
Intensification of CD4 + and CD8 + T cell activity in vitro in an anti-PD-L1 antibody YP243.55.S70 PMEL / B16 in vitro antibody assay [0483] This example demonstrates the effect of anti-PD-L1 antibodies of the invention following CD8 T cell activation<sup>+</sup> T cell PM8 receptor transgenic, as measured by potentiation of γ-IFN production in response to the melanocyte peptide, gp100. In this procedure, CD8 + T lymphocytes were obtained from PMEL transgenic mice TCR whose CD8 + T lymphocytes express a TCR specific for the gp100 peptide. After purification of CD8 + T lymphocytes, multiple stimulation rounds are performed to generate and multiply activated CD8 + T lymphocytes, which then in turn increase expression of PD-1. In parallel, B16 melanoma cells are treated with IFN-γ to increase their expression of PD-L1. The cells are then cultured jointly in the presence of anti-PD-LI antibody and the effect on IFN-γ production is evaluated. B16 cells were selected for tertiary stimulation, because they endogenously express low levels of gp100 peptide (in contrast to the exogenous use of this peptide). In addition, since these cells do not express PD-L2, B7.1 or B7.2, the effect of additional signal transduction unrelated to PD-L1 is minimized (e.g., signal transduction by CD28 or CTLA-4 or PD-L2 induced signal transduction through PD -1).
PMEL test:
[0484] As shown in Figure 3, anti-PD-L1 antibodies increase both the percentage of IFN-γ producing PM8 PM8 lymphocytes and the average level of IFN-γ produced in response to the indicated amounts of gp100 peptide.
In vitro test D.011.10:
[0485] A similar assay employing Ov-specific TCR Tg CD4 + T cells shows increased T-cell proliferation in the presence of anti-PD-L1 Ab after prior stimulation with the Ova peptide in the induction of PD-1 expression (Fig 4). In the final stimulation, irradiated B lymphocytes expressing PD-L1 were used to present the indicated concentrations of the Ova peptide to DO.11.10 T lymphocytes. As can be seen, the effect of the PD-1 / PD-L1 axis is more clearly marked at lower degrees of receptor antigen stimulation, which levels more closely reflect the physiologically significant amount of stimulation.
Materials and methods:
PMEL test
Primary Stimulation (day 0-4) [0486] Spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected from PMEL T-cell transgenic mice. The organs were dispersed into single cell suspensions and lysed in red blood cells. CD8 T lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> was isolated using the CD8 T cell isolation kit<sup>+</sup> and an AutoMACS cell separator (Miltenyi Biotec) according to the manufacturer's instructions.
[0487] The spleen was isolated from non-transgenic sex-matched mice and disrupted into a single cell suspension and lysed in red blood cells therein. The cells were pulsed with 0.1 μg / ml gp100 peptide for two hours at 37 ° C and washed.
[0488] Cells were co-cultured in a 96-well flat-bottomed plate of 200,000 PM8 PM8 CD8 T cells<sup>+</sup> and 75,000 splenic lymphocytes treated with a gp100 pulse for 4 days. The culture medium was Dulbecco's Iscove modification medium + 10% fetal bovine serum + 20 μΜ HEPES and 1: 100 dilution of the following additions with Gibco: Gluta-MAX, sodium pyruvate, penicillin / streptomycin and non-essential amino acids.
Secondary stimulation (day 4-7) [0489] PMEL cultures were centrifuged and the medium was aspirated using a multichannel pipette. Fresh medium was added and mixed to wash the cells and then centrifuged again. Most of the medium was removed and antibodies (Herceptin<sup>®</sup>, YW243.55.S70 or none) to a final concentration of 10 μg / ml. The conditions were set in duplicate wells so that the average IFN-γ production for the endpoint could be tested.
[0490] DC-1 cells were pulsed with 0.1 μg / ml gp100 peptide for 2 hours at 37 ° C and washed. DC-1 cells exposed to the gp100 pulse were added to washed PMEL cultures at 40,000 cells / well. PMEL and DC-1 + antibody were co-cultured for 3 days.
Third stimulation (days 7-8) [0491] One day before the stimulation on day 6, B16 melanoma cells were incubated with 20 ng / ml mouse IFN-γ (R & D Systems) overnight to increase their expression of PDL1.
[0492] On day 7, the PMEL cultures were centrifuged and the medium was aspirated using a multichannel pipette. Fresh medium was added and mixed, and then centrifuged again. Most of the medium was removed and antibodies were added to a final concentration of 10 μg / ml.
[0493] Following overnight stimulation with IFN-γ, B16 cells were washed and divided into three groups for a two-hour incubation with gp100, gp100 at 1 ng / ml (high amount of gp100) and gp100 at 10 ng / ml (low amount of gp100). The cells were washed and then added to the washed PMEL + Ab cultures at 40,000 cells per well and incubated together overnight.
Day 8 staining for intracellular IFN-γ [0494] Golgi-Plug (BD Biosciences) was added for the last 5 hours of culture according to the manufacturer's instructions. Intracellular IFN-γ staining was performed using the BD Biosciences Cytofix / Cytoperm Fixation / Permeabilization Solution kit according to the manufacturer's instructions and all staining antibodies were also from BD Biosciences. The cells were stained on the surface of CD8a PE and Thy1.1 FITC and intracellularly stained with IFN-γ APC in saturation concentrations.
[0495] All samples were tested on Beckman Dickinson FACSCalibur and the data was analyzed using Tree Star, Inc. software. FLOWJO ™.
In vitro D011.10 Assay [0496] Spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes from DO11.10 transgenic mice were collected, disrupted into single cell suspension, and red blood cells were lysed therein. The cells were cultured for 72 hours at a density of 1 x 10<sup>6</sup> cells per ml in 6-well plates with Ova peptide at 0.3 μΜ. The culture medium was RPMI 1640 + 10% fetal bovine serum + 20 μΜ HEPES and 1: 100 dilution of the following additives from Gibco: Gluta-MAX, sodium pyruvate, penicillin / streptomycin and non-essential amino acids.
[0497] After primary stimulation, cells were harvested and CD4 T cells were purified<sup>+</sup> using the CD4 T cell purification kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (Miltenyi Biotec). Purified CD4 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> left for the night.
[0498] The next day, the cells were collected, washed and grown together with irradiated A20 cells (10,000 rads). The co-culture was set up in 96-well U-shaped bottom plates in triplicate with 50,000 CD4 T-lymphocytes<sup>+</sup> up to 40,000 A20 cells with the titrated Ova peptide and the antibody at a final concentration of 20 μg / ml. After 48 hours, the cultures were pulsed with 1 μθ / well of 3 H-thymidine overnight and frozen on the next day. Later, the plates were thawed, harvested in a cell harvester, and read in a beta counter.
EXAMPLE 6
Intensification of CD8 + T cell proliferation in reaction with mixed lymphocytes by anti-PD-Ll [0499] Figure 5 shows the ability of anti-PD-L1 (e.g., YW243.55.S1) to enhance the proliferation of human CD8 T cells in response to donor cells unmatched in terms of MHC. Corresponding CD8 + T lymphocytes were enriched from donor A whole blood first using RosetteSep<sup>®</sup> for CD8 + T lymphocytes (StemCell Technologies) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The cells were then diluted with the same volume of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and separated by gradient centrifugation onto Ficoll-Paque Plus (GE Healthcare). After separation, the cells were stained with CD8 APC (BD Biosciences) and found to be 78% CD8 + T lymphocytes. The cells were fluorescently labeled with 2.5 μΜ of CFSE indicator dye (Molecular Probes).
[0500] To serve as allogeneic antigen presenting cells (APCs), mononuclear cells were first isolated from whole blood from Donor B, and then CD3 + T cells were removed therefrom. The blood was diluted with the same volume of PBS and mononuclear cells were isolated after gradient centrifugation on Ficoll. Cells were stained with CD3 FITC (BD Biosciences), washed, and then incubated with anti-FITC microspheres (Miltenyi Biotec). The positive CD3 FITC cells were then removed on an AutoMACS cell separator (Miltenyi Biotec). The cells were then irradiated with 2,500 rads using a cesium radiation source.
[050] Cells were co-cultured in a 96-well flat bottom plate of 150,000 CD8 + T cells and 150000 APC for 5 days with antibodies at 10 μg / ml. The culture medium was RPMI 1640 + 10% fetal bovine serum + 20 μΜ HEPES and 1: 100 dilution of the following additives from Gibco: Gluta-MAX, sodium pyruvate, penicillin / streptomycin and non-essential amino acids.
[0502] On day 5, the cells were harvested, washed and stained with CD8-biotin followed by streptavidin-PerCp (BD Biosciences). Samples were tested on Beckman Dickinson FACSCalibur and the data was analyzed using Tree Star, Inc. software. FlowJo.
[0503] In the presence of anti-PD-L1, about 45% of the CD8 T cell proliferation was observed to respond to donor cells with unmatched MHC.
EXAMPLE 7
Effect of PD-L1 Blockage in the In Vivo LCMV Model [0504] T lymphocytes under the conditions of chronic stimulation have been shown to increase and sustain the expression of the inhibitory PD-1 receptor. The binding of PD-1 through any of its two ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 contributes to the refractory state of chronically activated T lymphocytes, weakening its response to its related antigen. In mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choroid plexus and meningitis virus (LCMV) blocking PD-1 or its PD-L1 ligand is sufficient to revive chronic refractory T-lymphocytes, increasing the intensity and functional quality of T-cell antiviral response. HIV or HCV infected T cells are resistant to stimulation, which may be potentiated in vitro by blocking PD-1 or PD-L1. Thus, the activity of the PD-L1 block in the LCMV model suggests a therapeutic potential for enhancing antiviral and anti-tumor immunity.
[0505] In mouse in vivo LCMV experiments, we changed the format of the humanized anti-PD-L1 antibody (YW243.55S70) by cloning the heavy and light chain variable region sequences from phage in front of the mouse IgG2a heavy chain constant domains and the kappa mouse light chain. To prevent the cytotoxicity of antibody-expressing PD-L1 cells by inhibiting Fcy receptor binding, positions 265 (aspartic acid) and 297 (asparagine) were alanine (DANA). Shields, RL et al. J. Biol Chem 2001 276 (9): 6591-6604. To test the ability of the anti-PD-L1 antibody to enhance antiviral immunity in chronic infection, mice were infected on Day 0 using 2 x 10<sup>6</sup> plaque forming units (pfu) of Clone 13 LCMV or strain Armstrong LCMV as a reference control. The experimental design scheme is shown in Figure 6. Infection with Clone 13 results in a chronic infection characterized by T lymphocytes that proliferate but are unable to effectively remove the virus, whereas Armstrong LCMV is removed within 810 days of infection. On day 14, anti-PD-L1 mice or control mIgG mice started at doses of 10 mg / kg 3 x / week. On days 21 and 28, analysis of the effects of CD8 T lymphocytes and viral titers in blood and tissues was performed.
[0506] According to published data in Barber et al., Nature 439: 682-7 (2006), this example demonstrates the ability of anti-PD-L1 Ab to potentiate cytotoxic lymphocyte responses on LCMV after a 2 week treatment regime for chronic LCMV infection. Figure 7A shows the% CD8 T cells expressing CD107a on their cell surface in response to the LCMV-specific peptide gp33. Expression of CD107a on the cell membrane, normally expressed intracellularly, accompanies the degranulation process and thus acts as a substitute marker for degranulation. Compared to the response of cells from acute Armstrong LCMV infection, cells from animals infected with the chronic strain, clone 13, show impaired degranulation (Ig control group), while blocking PD-L1 was able to restore CD8 + degranulation to levels comparable to those seen in Armstrong infection. Similarly, 7B shows an increased% of IFN-γ producing CD8 T cells in response to LCMV gp33 in the anti-PD-L1 treated group relative to the control Ig.
[0507] Next, the effect of anti-PD-L1 Ab on the reduction or elimination of LCMV virus in blood and tissues was examined. In Figure 8A the graphs depict logarithms of virus titers in the indicated tissue of animals treated with control Ig and PD-L1 on days 21 and 28 after infection with LCMV clone 13. Antibody treatment was started on Day 14 post infection. Blockage of PD-L1 caused a very significant reduction in viral load in the blood, liver, brain, lungs and kidneys. Significantly, 3 out of 5 Ab α-PD-L1 mice reduced LCMV blood titers to below detectable levels (<1 x 10<sup>-5</sup>). In a subsequent experiment with a comparable system, removal of the virus in the blood and liver was observed in 5/5 mice treated for 2 weeks with anti-PD-L1 at doses of 10 mg / kg or 2 mg / kg 3 x / week (data not shown). The bottom graph shows the kinetics of blood viral titers and shows a mean reduction of 96.8% in the antiPD-L1 group on Day 28 relative to the control. These data support the importance of the PD1 / PD-L1 pathway in inhibiting T cell responses in chronic infections and are consistent with the in-vitro inhibition of PD-L1 on T lymphocytes obtained from people with chronic infections such as hepatitis C virus and HIV.
Materials and methods:
Determination of% IFN-gamma production by CD8 T cells in response to the LCMV gp33 peptide
[0508] Spleens were isolated from infected mice and a single cell suspension was prepared by organ disruption in complete medium: IMDM (Invitrogen Inc., Carlsbad, CA) containing 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U / ml penicillin / streptomycin and 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. The red blood cells were lysed using ACK lysis buffer (0.15 M NH 4 Cl, 10 mM KHCO 3, 0.1 mM EDTA). To measure the CD8-specific CD8 responses, spleen lymphocytes were washed in complete medium and re-stimulated in vitro for 4 hours using GP33 LCMV peptide (KAVYNFATC, ProImmune Inc., Bradenton, FL). 1 x 10<sup>6</sup> splenic lymphocytes were cultured in 96-well flat bottom plates with 100 ng / ml GP33 peptide in the presence of 100 units / ml human interleukin-2 (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), 1 μ / ml brefeldyn A and 1 μΐ / ml ( dilution 1: 1000) of monensin (BD Pharmingen) and anti-CD107a FITC (clone ID4B, BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA). After incubation, cells were washed once in PBS containing 2% fetal bovine serum and cell surface markers were stained with fluorochrome conjugated antibodies: anti-CD8 APC (clone 53.67, BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA), anti-CD4 PerCp-Cy5.5 ( clone RM4-5, BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) and antiPD-1 PE (clone J43, BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA). Intracellular IFN-γ staining was performed using the Cytofix Cytoperm Plus kit (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions using anti-IFN-γ PE-Cy7 (clone XMG1.2, eBioscience Inc. San Diego, CA). To detect the number of CD8 specific CD8 T lymphocytes, fresh splenic lymphocytes were stained with GP33 pentamers (H2-Db coupled to APC, ProImmune Inc., Bradenton, FL) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Data were collected using BD FACSAria (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) and analyzed using FlowJo software (Tree Star Inc. Ashland OR).
Designation of LCMV virus titers:
[0509] MC57 fibrosarcoma cells were infected with 10-fold serial dilutions of blood or tissue homogenate containing LCMV in complete IMDM. The reaction was then incubated for 2-6 hours at 37 ° C in a tissue culture incubator, followed by DMEM with 1% methylcellulose. The incubation was continued for 3-5 days, after which the methylcellulose layer was aspirated. Cells were fixed with PBS / 4% paraformaldehyde, then permeabilized with 0.5% Triton-x for 20 minutes, washed with PBS, further blocked in 10% FCS for 1 hour with gentle rocking. LCMV staining was carried out with the VL4 antibody (1 hour), washed 2x with anti-purging HRP (1: 400) in blocking buffer. Then it was washed 3x, then the o-phenylene diamine substrate (SIGMA P8806-50TAB 3 mg / tablet) was added to the wells for induction.
EXAMPLE 8
Blocking PD-L1 in a tumor [0510] It is now known that many cancers use the expression of PD-1 ligands as a way to suppress anti-tumor T cell responses. Several human tumors have been characterized that express elevated levels of PD-L1 both on tumors and on infiltrating leukocytes tumors, and this elevated expression of PD-L1 is often associated with worse prognosis. Murine tumor models show a similar increase in PD-L1 expression in tumors and demonstrate the role of the PD-1 / PDL1 pathway in inhibiting tumor immunity.
[0511] Experiment demonstrating the effect of PD-L1 blocking on the growth of the orthotopic tumor from mouse MC38.Ova colorectal cancer cells in syngeneic C57B6 mice (Figure 9A) is provided herein. These cells express ovalbumin via retroviral transduction and express PD-L1, but not PD-L2 on their cell surface, as examined by flow cytometry (histogram - Figure 10A). Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 0.5 million MC38.Ova cells on Day 0. On Day 1 or on Day 14 mice (when the tumors reached an average size of 250 mm<sup>3</sup>) 10 mice / group treated with 10 mg / kg anti-PD-L1 (YW243.55S70-mouse IgG2a-DANA), control Ig or anti-CTLA4 blocking Ab, (UC10-4F10-11) 3x / week at all times duration of the test. Blocking PD-L1 early or late is highly effective as single agent therapy in preventing tumor growth. In contrast, blocking CTLA4, another inhibitory molecule expressed on T lymphocytes, did not show evidence of inhibition of tumor growth. These results demonstrate the unique role of the PD-1 / PD-L1 axis in relation to CTLA4 / B7 in inhibiting the anti-tumor immune response and confirm the potential in the treatment of human tumors with antibodies that block the PD-L1 interaction with PD-1 and B7.1.
[0512] Syngeneic MC38.Ova tumor model: methods. On Day 0, 70 animals were inoculated subcutaneously with 0.5 million MC38.Ova cells in 100 microliters of HBSS + matrigel. Starting from D1, 20 mice were recruited into one of the 2 treatment groups (see below for Group 1 or Group 2). The remaining 40 mice were allowed to grow tumors by Day 14. Of these 40, 30 mice with tumors of similar size were recruited into one of the three treatment groups (Groups 3-5). Tumors were measured and mice were weighed 2x / week. Mice that were not recruited into the following treatment groups were euthanized due to the different tumor volume:
Group 1: anti-gp120 antibody, 10 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, D1, 3x / week Group 2: anti-PD-L1 antibody, 10 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, D1, 3x / week Group 3: antibody anti-gp120, 10 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, D14, 3x / week Group 4: anti-PD-L1 antibody, 10 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, D14, 3x / week Group 5: anti-CTLA antibody 4, 10 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, D14, 3x / week *** In groups 1 and 2, dosing was started in D1; In groups 3, 4 and 5 in D14.
EXAMPLE 9
Anti-PD-LI combinations with other agents providing anti-tumor activity or immunosuppressive therapy - model MC38.Ova [0513] On Day 0, 150 animals were inoculated subcutaneously with 0.5 million MC38.Ova cells in 100 microliters of HBSS + matrigel. Mice were allowed to grow tumors. Mice were weighed and measured 2 times / week until Day 11 (when the tumor volume was between 100-200 mm<sup>3</sup>). On Day 11, after measuring the tumor, mice were recruited into one of the 12 treatment groups below. Mice that were not recruited into the following treatment groups were euthanized due to different tumor volumes. Treatment with gemcitabine (Group 4) starts on Day 12, while the treatment in the remaining antibody groups starts on Day 14. All volumes are 100 μl in an inert carrier, and additional details are given below:
Group 1: anti-gp120 antibody, 10 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, 3 x / week x 5, n = 10 Group 2: anti-PD-L1 antibody, 10 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, 3 x / week x 5, n = 10 Group 3: anti-VEGF antibody, 5 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, 2 x / week x 5, n = 10 Group 4: Gemcitabine, 40 mg / kg IP, 100 μl, day 12, 16, 20, n = 10 Group 5: anti-PD-L1 antibody + anti-gp120 antibody, n = 10 Group 6: anti-PD-L1 antibody + anti-VEGF antibody, n = 10 Group 7: anti-PD antibody -L1 + Gemcitabine, n = 10
Group 8: anti-gp120 antibody + Gemcitabine, n = 10 Group 9: anti-gp120 antibody + anti-VEGF, n = 10
Day 12: Blood from the Group 1 mice (100 microliters) was collected from the retro-orbital sinus, under anesthesia, for CBC analysis.
Day 14 and Day 22: Blood from the Group 4 mice (100 microliters) was collected from the retro-orbital sinus, under anesthesia, for CBC analysis.
Day 19: All mice, except for Group 4, were collected blood (100 microliters) from the retro-orbital sinus back under anesthesia for CBC analysis.
Day 26: All mice, except for Group 4, were collected blood (100 microliters) from the retro-orbital sinus, under anesthesia, for PK analysis.
[0514] Tumors are measured and the mice are weighed 2x / week. Animals with weight loss> 15% will be weighted daily and will be euthanized if they lose> 20% body weight. Mice will be euthanized when the tumor volume exceeds 3000 mm<sup>3</sup> or after 3 months when tumors fail to form.
[0515] The present study shows (Figure 10) that blocking PD-L1 was more effective than α-VEGF and the induction regimen itself with gemcitabine.
EXAMPLE 10
Expression of the anti-PD-L1 antibody in mammalian cells [0516] This example illustrates the production of potentially glycosylated forms of the anti-PD-L1 antibody by recombinant expression in mammalian cells.
[0517] The pRK5 vector (see EP 307247, published March 15, 1989) is used as the expression vector. Alternatively, DNA encoding the light and / or heavy chain of the antibody is ligated to pRK5 using selected restriction enzymes to allow the insertion of such DNA using ligation methods, as described in Sambrook et al., Supra.
[0518] In one embodiment, the selected host cells may be 293 cells. Human 293 cells (ATCC CCL 1573) are grown to confluence in tissue culture plates in a medium such as DMEM supplemented with fetal calf serum and optionally nutrients and / or antibiotics. About 10 μg if the DNA encoding the pRK5-antibody is mixed with about 1 μg DNA encoding the VA RNA gene [Thimmappaya et al., Cell, 31: 543 (1982)] and dissolved in 500 μl 1 mM Tris-HCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 0.227 M CaCl 2. 500 μl of 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.35), 280 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM NaPO4 are added dropwise to this mixture and allowed to precipitate for 10 minutes at 25 ° C. The pellet is suspended and added to 293 cells and allowed to settle for approximately four hours at 37 ° C. The culture medium is aspirated and 2 ml of 20% glycerol in PBS is added for 30 seconds.
[0519] Approximately 24 hours after transfection, the culture medium is removed and replaced with culture medium (alone) or culture medium containing 200 gCi / ml. <sup>35</sup>S-cysteine and 200 gCi / ml <sup>35</sup>S-methionine. After 12 hours of incubation, the conditioned medium is harvested, concentrated on a centrifugal filter and applied to a 15% SDS gel. The gel after electrophoresis can be dried and irradiated with the film for a selected period of time to reveal the presence of the antibody. Cultures containing transfected cells can be further incubated (in medium without serum) and the medium is tested in selected biological assays.
[0520] In an alternative technique, the antibody may be transiently introduced into 293 cells using the dextran sulfate method described by Somparyrac et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 12: 7575 (1981). 293 cells are grown to maximum density in a stir bar and 700 μg of DNA encoding the pRK5-antibody is added. The cells are first concentrated from the stirrer bar by centrifugation and washed with PBS. The DNA-dextran pellet is incubated on the cell pellet for four hours. Cells are treated with 20% glycerol for 90 seconds, washed with tissue culture medium and returned to the flask with a stir bar containing tissue culture medium, 5 μg / ml bovine insulin and 0.1 μg / ml bovine transferrin. After about four days, the conditioned medium is centrifuged and filtered to remove cells and residues.
[0521] In another embodiment, the antibody may be expressed in CHO cells. The DNA encoding the antibody ligated into pRK5 can be transfected into CHO cells using known reagents such as CaPO4 or DEAE-dextran. As described above, cell cultures can be incubated and the medium replaced with culture medium (alone) or medium containing a radioactive label, such as<sup>35</sup>S-methionine. After determining the presence of the antibody, the culture medium can be replaced with the medium without
111 serum. Preferably, the cultures are incubated for approximately 6 days and then the conditioned medium is harvested. The medium containing the expressed antibody may then be concentrated and purified by any selected method.
[0522] Epitopic tagged antibody variants may also be expressed in CHO host cells. The DNA encoding the antibody ligated into pRK5 can be subcloned from the pRK5 vector. The subclone insert may be subjected to PCR to fuse in frame with a selected epitope tag, such as its poly-his tag, to the baculovirus expression vector. The DNA encoding the poly-his labeled insert may then be subcloned into a SV40-directed vector containing a selection marker, such as DHFR, for the selection of stable clones. Finally, CHO cells can be transfected (as described above) with a vector directed by SV40. The labeling can be performed as described above to confirm expression.<sup>2+</sup>.
[0523] The antibody may also be expressed in CHO and / or COS cells by a transient expression procedure or in CHO cells using another stable expression procedure.
[0524] Stable expression in CHO cells is carried out using the following procedure. Proteins are expressed as an IgG (immunoadhesin) construct in which the coding sequences for soluble (e.g. extracellular) forms of the respective proteins are fused to the IgG1 constant region sequence containing the hinge domain, CH2 and CH2 and / or it is a poly-His tagged form. .
[0525] Following amplification by PCR, the relevant DNA is subcloned in a CHO expression vector using standard techniques as described in Ausubel et al., Current Protocols of Molecular Biology, Chapter 3.16, John Wiley and Sons (1997). The CHO expression vectors are designed to have compatible restriction sites 5 = and 3 = DNA of interest to allow convenient transfer of cDNA =. The vector used in CHO cells for expression is as described in Lucas et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 24: 9 (1774-1779 (1996)) and uses the SV40 early promoter / enhancer to direct the expression of cDNA of interest and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR expression allows selection for stable retention of the plasmid after transfection.
[0526] Twelve micrograms of desired plasmid DNA are loaded into about 10 million CHO cells using commercially available SUPERFECT® transfection reagents (Quiagen), DOSPER® or FUGENE® (Boehringer Mannheim). The cells are cultured as described in Lucas et al., Supra. About 3 x 10<sup>-7</sup> the cells are frozen in an ampoule for further growth and production, as described below.
[0527] Ampoules containing plasmid DNA are thawed by being placed in a water bath and mixed by vortexing. The contents are pipetted into a centrifuge tube containing 10 ml of medium and centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 5 minutes. The supernatant is removed and the cells are resuspended in 10 ml of selective medium (filtered through 0.2 μm PS20 with 5% fetal bovine serum diafiltered by 0.2 Om). The cells are then dispensed into a 100 ml bottle with a stir bar containing 90 ml of selection medium. After 1-2 days, the cells are transferred to a 250 ml bottle with a stirrer filled with 150 ml of selective growth medium and incubated at 37 ° C. After 2-3 days, it is sown into bottles with a 250 ml, 500 ml and 2000 ml 3 x 10 stirrers.<sup>5</sup> cells / ml. The cell medium is exchanged for fresh by centrifugation and resuspension in the production medium. Although any suitable CHO media can be used, it is in fact possible to use the production medium described in US Pat. No. 5,122,469, published June 16, 1992. A production bottle with a 3 L stirrer is sown
112 cells in an amount of 1.2 x 10<sup>6</sup> cells / ml. On Day 0, the number of cells and pH are determined. On Day 1, samples are taken from a stirrer bottle and bubbled with filtered air. On Day 2 samples are taken from the stirrer bottle, the temperature is changed to 33 ° C and 30 ml of 500 g / l of glucose and 0.6 ml of 10% defoamer are added (e.g., 35% of a polydimethylsiloxane emulsion, Dow Corning 365 Medical Grade Emulsion ). Throughout the production process, the pH is adjusted as needed to keep it at about 7.2. After 10 days or if the viability drops below 70%, the cell culture is harvested by centrifugation and filtered through a 0.22 μm filter. The filtrate was stored at 4 ° C or directly applied to the purification columns.
[0528] For poly-His tagged constructs, the proteins are purified using a Ni-NTA column (Qiagen). Prior to purification, imidazole is added to the conditioned medium to a concentration of 5 mM. The conditioned media is pumped into a 6 ml NiNTA column equilibrated at 4 ° C in 20 mM Hepes buffer, pH 7.4 containing 0.3 M NaCl and 5 mM imidazole at a flow rate of 4-5 ml / min. After application, the column is washed with additional equilibration buffer and the protein eluted with a equilibration buffer containing 0.25 M imidazole. The highly purified protein is then desalted into a storage buffer containing 10 mM Hepes, 0.14 M NaCl and 4% mannitol, pH 6.8, using a 25 ml Superfine G25 column (Pharmacia) and stored at -80 ° C.
[0529] Immunoadhesin constructs (containing Fc) are purified from the conditioned media in the following manner. The conditioned medium is pumped onto a 5 ml Protein A column (Pharmacia) which has been equilibrated in 20 mM Na phosphate buffer, pH 6.8. After application, the column is washed with a large amount of equilibration buffer, before washing with 100 mM citric acid, pH 3.5. The eluted protein is immediately neutralized by collecting 1 ml of the fraction in tubes containing 275 μl Tris buffer, pH 9. The highly purified protein is then desalted into a storage buffer as described above for the poly-His tagged proteins. Homogeneity is assessed on SDS polyacrylamide gels and by N-terminal amino acid sequencing by Edman degradation.
EXAMPLE 11
Expression of anti-PD-LI antibody in E. coli [0530] This example illustrates the production of a non-glycosylated form of the antiPD-L1 antibody by recombinant expression in E. coli.
[0531] The DNA sequence encoding the anti-PD-L1 antibody is first amplified using selected PCR primers. The primers should contain restriction enzyme sites corresponding to sites for the restriction enzyme on the selected expression vector. Various expression vectors can be used. An example of a suitable vector is pBR322 (derived from E. coli, see Bolivar et al., Gene, 2:95 (1977)), which contains ampicillin and tetracycline resistance genes. The vector is digested with a restriction enzyme and dephosphorylated. Then the sequences amplified by PCR are ligated with the vector. The vector will preferably contain sequences encoding the antibiotic resistance gene, the trp promoter, the polyhis leader (comprising the first six STII codons, the polyhis sequence and the enterokinase cleavage site), the NPOR coding region,
[0532] The ligation mixture is then used to transform the selected E. coli strain using methods described in Sambrook et al., Supra. Transformants are identified based on their ability to grow on LB plates, and then antibiotic resistant colonies are selected. Plasmid DNA can be isolated and checked by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing.
[0533] Selected clones can be cultured overnight in liquid culture medium, such as LB broth supplemented with antibiotics. The overnight culture can then be used to inoculate on a larger scale. The cells are then grown to the desired optical density when the expression promoter is included.
[0534] After culturing the cells for several consecutive hours, the cells can be harvested by centrifugation. The cell pellet obtained by centrifugation can be solubilized using various agents known in the art, and then the solubilized antibody can be purified using a metal chelating column under conditions that allow tight binding of the antibody.
[0535] The anti-PD-L1 antibody may also be expressed in E. coli in a poly-His labeled form using the following procedure. The DNA encoding the antibody is initially amplified using selected PCR primers. The primers contain restriction enzyme sites corresponding to the restriction enzyme sites on the selected expression vector and other useful sequences that provide efficient and reliable translation initiation, rapid purification on a metal chelate column, and proteolytic removal with enterokinase. The PCR amplified poly-His tagged sequences are then ligated with an expression vector that is used to transform an E. coli host from strain 52 (W3110 fuhA (tonA) lon galE ropHts (htpRts) clpP (lacIq). First, the transformants are cultured in LB. containing 50 mg / ml carbenicillin at 30 / C with shaking, until the OD600 reaches 3-5. The cultures are then diluted 50-100 times in CRAP medium (prepared by mixing 3.57 g (NH 4) 2 SO 4, 0.71 g sodium citrate A2H 2 O, 1.07 g KCl, 5.36 g Difco yeast extract, 5.36 g). g HyCase SF from Sheffield in 500 ml of water, as well as 110 mM MPOS, pH 7.3, 0.55% (w / v) glucose and 7 mM MgSO4) and grown for about 20-30 hours at 30 / C with shaking. Samples are taken to check expression using SDSPAGE analysis, and bulk culture is centrifuged to pellet cells. The cell pellets are frozen until clean and refold. 36 g HyCase SF from Sheffield in 500 ml of water, as well as 110 mM MPOS, pH 7.3, 0.55% (w / v) glucose and 7 mM MgSO4) and grown for about 20-30 hours at 30 / C with shaking. Samples are taken to check expression using SDSPAGE analysis, and bulk culture is centrifuged to pellet cells. The cell pellets are frozen until clean and refold. 36 g HyCase SF from Sheffield in 500 ml of water, as well as 110 mM MPOS, pH 7.3, 0.55% (w / v) glucose and 7 mM MgSO4) and grown for about 20-30 hours at 30 / C with shaking. Samples are taken to check expression using SDSPAGE analysis, and bulk culture is centrifuged to pellet cells. The cell pellets are frozen until clean and refold.
[0536] The E. coli paste from fermentation in a volume of 0.5 to 1 L (precipitates of 6-10 g) is resuspended in 10 volumes (w / v) in a buffer with 7 Μ guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 8. Add solid sodium sulfite and sodium tetrathionate to obtain final concentrations of 0.1 μ and 0.02 odpowiednio, respectively, and stir the solution overnight at 4 ° C. This step produces a denatured protein with all the cysteine residues blocked by sulphination. The solution is centrifuged at 40,000 rpm in a Beckman ultracentrifuge for 30 min. The supernatant is diluted with 3-5 volumes of metal chelate column buffer (6 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4) and filtered through 0.22 μm filters for clarification. Depending on the state, the clarified extract is applied to a 5 ml Qiagen Ni-NTA metal chelating column equilibrated in a metal chelating column buffer. The column is washed with additional buffer containing 50 mM imidazole (Calbiochem, quality Utrol), pH 7.4. The protein is eluted with a 250 mM imidazole buffer. Fractions containing the desired protein were pooled and stored at 4 / C. Protein concentration is estimated by absorbance at 280 nm using the calculated extinction coefficient based on its amino acid sequence.
[0537] Proteins are refolded by slowly diluting the sample with freshly prepared refolding buffer containing: 20 mM Tris, pH 8.6, 0.3 M NaCl, 2.5 M urea, 5 mM cysteine, 20 mM glycine and 1 mM EDTA. The refolding volumes are chosen such that the final protein concentration is from 50 to 100 micrograms / ml. The refolding solution is mixed gently at 4 ° C for 12-36 hours. The refolding reaction is terminated by the addition of TFA to a final concentration of 0.4% (pH around 3). Before further purification of the protein, the solution is filtered through a 0.22 micron filter and acetonitrile is added to a final concentration of 210%. The refolded protein is chromatographed on a Poros R1 / H reversed phase column using mobile phase 0 buffer, 1% TFA eluting with a gradient of acetonitrile from 10 to 80%. Portions of the A280 absorbance fractions are analyzed on SDS polyacrylamide gels and fractions containing homogeneous refolded proteins are pooled. Normally, correctly refolded molecules of most proteins are eluted at the lowest concentrations of acetonitrile because these molecules are
The most compact and their hydrophobic interiors are shielded from interaction with the resin in the reversed phase system. The aggregated molecules are usually eluted at higher concentrations of acetonitrile. In addition to separating the incorrectly folded protein form from the desired form, the reverse phase chromatography step also removes endotoxins from the samples.
[0538] Fractions containing the desired folded anti-PD-L1 antibodies are combined, and acetonitrile is removed using a gentle stream of nitrogen directed to the solution. Proteins are formulated in 20 mM Hepes, pH 6.8 with 0.14 M sodium chloride and 4% mannitol by dialysis or gel filtration using G25 Superfine resins (Pharmacia) equilibrated in formulation buffer and sterile filtered.
Sequence listing [0539] <110> Genentech, Inc. and others
<120> ANTI-PD-L1 ANTIBODY AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR THE LYMPHOCYT ACTIVITY T <130> P4192R2 WO <150> US 61/121092 <151> 2008-12-09 <160> 40 <210> 1 <211> 10 < 212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <220>
<221> variable residual <222> 6 <223> the rest is D or G <400> 1
Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Xaa Ser Trp Ile His 5 10 <210> 2 <211> 18 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <220>
<221> residual variables <222> 4 <223> the rest is S or L <220>
<221> residual variable <222> 10 <223> the rest is T or S <400> 2
Ala Trp Ile Xaa Pro Tyr Gly Gly Ser Xaa Tyr Tyr Ala Asp Ser 15 10 15
Val Lys Gly <210> 3 <211> 9 <212> PRT ll5 <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 3
Arg His Trp Pro Gly Gly Phe Asp Tyr 5 <210> 4 <211> 25 <212> PRT <213> Artificial Sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 4
<td>Glu 1</td><td>val</td><td>Gln</td><td colspan="2">Leu Val 5</td><td>Glu</td><td>Cheese</td><td colspan="3">Gly Gly Gly Leu Val 10</td><td>Gln Pro Gly 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Arg</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cys</td><td>ala</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td></td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td>
<210> 5 <211> 13 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 5
Trp Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val 5 10 <210> 6 <211> 32 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 6
<td>Arg 1</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Cheese 5</td><td>ala</td><td>Asp</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>lys 10</td><td>own</td><td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Leu 15</td>
<td>Gln</td><td>Underworld</td><td>own</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>Yal</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
Ala Arg <210> 7 <211> 11 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 7
Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ala 5 10 <210> 8 <211> 11 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <220>
116 <221> variable residual <222> 5 <223> the rest is D or V <220>
<221> variable remainder <222> 6 <223> the rest is V or I <220>
<221> residual variable <222> 7 <223> the rest is S or N <220>
<221> variable residual <222> 9 <223> the rest is A or F <220>
<221> variable residual <222> 10 <223> the rest is V or L <400> 8
Arg Ala Ser Gin Xaa Xaa Xaa Thr Xaa Xaa Ala 5 10 <210> 9 <211> 7 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <220>
<221> variable remainder <222> 4 <223> the rest is F or T <220>
<221> variable residual <222> 6 <223> the rest is Y or A <400> 9
Ser Ala Ser Xaa cheese Leu Xaa Ser 5 <210> 10 <211> 9 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <220>
<221> variable rest <222> 3 <223> the rest is Y, G, F or S <220>
<221> residual variable <222> 4 <223> the rest is L, Y, F or W
117 <220>
<221> variable residual <222> 5 <223> the rest is Y, N, A, T, G, F or I <220>
<221> variable rest <222> 6 <223> the rest is H, V, P, T or I <220>
<221> variable residual <222> 8 <223> the rest is A, W, R, P or T <400> 10
Gin Gin Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Xaa Thr 5 <210> 11 <211> 23 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 11
Asp Ile Gin Met Thr Gin Cheese Pro Cheese Cheese Leu Cheese Ala Cheese Val 15 15 15
Gly Asp Arg Val Thr Ile Thr Cys 20 <210> 12 <211> 15 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 12
Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr 15 10 15 <210> 13 <211> 32 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 13
<td>Gly 1</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Arg 5</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly 10</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe 15</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
Tyr Cys <210> 14 <211> 11 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 14
118
Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Val Glu Ile Lys Arg 5 10 <210> 15 <211> 10 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 15
Gly Phe Thr Phe Cheese Asp Ser Trp Ile His 5 10 <210> 16 <211> 18 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 16
<img file="PL2376535T3_D0001.tif" />
<210> 17 <211> 11 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 17
Arg Ala Ser Gin Asp Val Ser Thr Ala Val Ala 5 10 <210> 18 <211> 7 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 18
Ser Ala Ser Phe Leu Tyr Ser 5 <210> 19 <211> 9 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 19
Gin Gin Tyr Leu Tyr His Pro Ala Thr 5 <210> 20 <211> 118 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 20
119
Glu Val Gin Leu Val Glu Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Gin Pro Gly 15 10 15
Gly Cheese Leu Arg Leu Cheese Cys Ala Ala Cheese Gly Phe Thr Phe Cheese
25 30
Asp Ser Trp. Ile Trp. Val Arg. Gin. Ala. Pro Gly Lys. Gly Leu
40 45
Glu Trp Val Ala Trp Ile Ser Pro Tyr Gly Gly Ser Thr Tyr Tyr
55 60
Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr Ile Ser Ala Asp Thr Ser
70 75
Lys Asn Thr Ala Tyr Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp
85 90
Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Arg Arg His Trp Pro Gly Gly Phe
100 105
Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gin Gly Thr Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ala
110 115 <210> 21 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 21
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>His</td><td>Pro</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 22 <211> 113 <212> PRT <213> Homo sapiens <400> 22
120
<td>Glu 1</td><td>val</td><td>Gin</td><td>Leu</td><td>val 5</td><td>Glu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>val</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Arg</td><td>Leu 20</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cys</td><td>ala</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese 25</td><td>Gly</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese thirty</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Tyr</td><td>ala</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Cheese 35</td><td>Trp</td><td>val</td><td>Arg</td><td>Gin</td><td>ala 40</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>Gly</td><td>Leu 45</td>
<td>Glu</td><td>Trp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 50</td><td>How much</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Gly 55</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr 60</td>
<td>ala</td><td>Asp</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Yal</td><td>lys</td><td>Gly</td><td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Arg</td><td>Asp</td><td>own</td><td>Cheese</td>
70 75
Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gin Met Asn Ser Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp 80 85 90
Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Arg Gly Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gin 95 100 105
Gly Thr Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ala 110 <210> 23 <211> 118 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 23
<td>Glu 1</td><td>val</td><td>Gin</td><td>Leu</td><td>val 5</td><td>Glu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>val</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Arg</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cys</td><td>ala</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Asp</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Trp</td><td>How much</td><td>His</td><td>Trp</td><td>val</td><td>Arg</td><td>Gin</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>Gly</td><td>Leu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Glu</td><td>Trp</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>How much</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>ala</td><td>Asp</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val</td><td>lys</td><td>Gly</td><td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Asp</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>lys</td><td>own</td><td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>own</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>ala</td><td>Arg</td><td>Arg</td><td>His</td><td>Trp</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly</td><td>phe</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>Asp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Trp</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Yal</td><td>Thr</td><td>Yal</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>110</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>115</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 24 <211> 118 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 24
<td>Glu 1</td><td>val</td><td>Gin</td><td colspan="2">Leu Val 5</td><td>Glu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>val</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Arg</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cys</td><td>ala</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Trp</td><td>How much</td><td>His</td><td>Trp</td><td>Yal</td><td>Arg</td><td>Gin</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>Gly</td><td>Leu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
121
<td colspan="3">Glu Trp Yal</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp 50</td><td>How much</td><td>Leu</td><td>Pro</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gly 55</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr 60</td>
<td>ala</td><td>Asp</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val</td><td>lys</td><td>Gly</td><td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Asp</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>lys</td><td>own</td><td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>own</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>ala</td><td>Arg</td><td>Arg</td><td>His</td><td>Trp</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gly</td><td>phe</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>Asp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Trp</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Yal</td><td>Thr</td><td>Yal</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>110</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>115</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 25 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Homo sapiens <400> 25
Asp Ile Gin Met Thr Gin Cheese Pro Cheese Cheese Leu Cheese Ala Cheese Val 15 15 15
Gly Asp Arg Val Thr Ile Thr Cys Arg Ala Ser Gin Ser Ile Ser 20 25 30
Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gin Gin Lys Pro Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys 35 40 45
Leu Leu Ile Tyr Ala Ala Cheese Cheese Leu Glu Cheese Gly Val Pro Ser 50 55 60
Arg Phe Cheese Gly Cheese Gly Cheese Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile 65 70 75
Cheese Ser Leu Gin Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin 80 85 90
Tyr Asn Ser Leu Pro Trp Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Val Glu 95 100 105
How many Lys Arg <210> 26 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 26
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>Yal</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
122
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese 50</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr 55</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese 60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese 65</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp 70</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much 75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro 80</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr 85</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin 90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>own</td><td>Yal</td><td>Pro 95</td><td>Trp</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin 100</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu 105</td>
Ile Lys Arg <210> 27 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 27
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>Pro</td><td>Trp</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 28 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 28
Asp Ile Gin Met Thr Gin Cheese Pro Cheese Cheese Leu Cheese Ala Cheese Val 15 15 15
123
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr 20</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala 25</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp 35</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro 40</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys 45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese 50</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr 55</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese 60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese 65</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp 70</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much 75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro 80</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr 85</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin 90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Thr</td><td>Yal</td><td>Pro 95</td><td>Trp</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin 100</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu 105</td>
How many Lys Arg <210> 29 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 29
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>val</td><td>How much</td><td>own</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Thr</td><td>Yal</td><td>Pro</td><td>Arg</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 30 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 30
124
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>Yal</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
40 45
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese 50</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr 55</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese 60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
85 90
Gly Tyr Gly Val Pro Arg Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Val Glu 95 100 105
How many Lys Arg <210> 31 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence 5 <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 31
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>Leu</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Pro</td><td>Pro</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 32 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 32 l25
<td>Asp</td><td>How much</td><td>Gln</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr</td><td>Gln</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val</td>
<td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>5</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gln</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gln</td><td>Gln</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gln</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gln</td><td>Gln</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>phe</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Pro</td><td>Thr</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gln</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 33 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 33
<td>Asp</td><td>How much</td><td>Gln</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr</td><td>Gln</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val</td>
<td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>5</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gln</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gln</td><td>Gln</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gln</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gln</td><td>Gln</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Thr</td><td>Pro</td><td>Pro</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gln</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
How many Lys Arg <210> 34 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 34
126
<td>Asp</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val</td>
<td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>5</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>phe</td><td>phe</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Thr</td><td>Pro</td><td>Pro</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 35 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 35
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>Yal</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
Leu Leu Ile Tyr Ser Ala Ser Phe Leu Tyr Cheese Gly Val Pro Ser 50 55 60
Arg Phe Cheese Gly Cheese Gly Cheese Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile 65 70 75
Cheese Ser Leu Gin Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin 80 85 90
Leu Phe Thr Pro Pro Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Val Glu 95 100 105
How many Lys Arg <210> 36 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 36
127
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Thr</td><td>Pro</td><td>Pro</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 37 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial Sequence 5 <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 37
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr 20</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala 25</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp 35</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro 40</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys 45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Yal</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
55 60
Arg Phe Cheese Gly Cheese Gly Cheese Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile 65 70 75
Cheese Ser Leu Gin Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin 80 85 90
Trp Tyr His Pro Pro Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Val Glu 95 100 105
How many Lys Arg <210> 38 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 38
128
<td>Asp</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val</td>
<td>1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>5</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>10</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>15</td>
<td>Gly</td><td>Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Tyr</td><td>phe</td><td>Tyr</td><td>How much</td><td>Pro</td><td>Pro</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
<td>How much</td><td>lys</td><td>Arg</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<210> 39 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 39
Asp Ile Gin Met Thr Gin Cheese Pro Cheese Cheese Leu Cheese Ala Cheese Val 15 15 15
Gly Asp Arg Val Thr Ile Thr Cys Arg Ala Cheese Gin Asp Val Ser 20 25 30
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp 35</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro 40</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys 45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
70 75
Cheese Ser Leu Gin Pro Glu Asp Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gin Gin 80 85 90
Tyr Trp Tyr Thr Pro Thr Thr Phe Gly Gin Gly Thr Lys Val Glu 95 100 105
How many Lys Arg <210> 40 <211> 108 <212> PRT <213> Artificial sequence <220>
<223> the sequence is synthesized <400> 40
129
<td>Asp 1</td><td>How much</td><td>Gin</td><td>Underworld</td><td>Thr 5</td><td>Gin</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese 10</td><td>Leu</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>val 15</td>
<td colspan="2">Gly Asp</td><td>Arg</td><td>val</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td><td>Thr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Arg</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gin</td><td>Asp</td><td>val</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>25</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>thirty</td>
<td>Thr</td><td>ala</td><td>val</td><td>ala</td><td>Trp</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td><td>lys</td><td>Pro</td><td>Gly</td><td>lys</td><td>ala</td><td>Pro</td><td>lys</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>40</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>45</td>
<td>Leu</td><td>Leu</td><td>How much</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>ala</td><td>Cheese</td><td>phe</td><td>Leu</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>val</td><td>Pro</td><td>Cheese</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>50</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>55</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>60</td>
<td>Arg</td><td>phe</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>Thr</td><td>Leu</td><td>Thr</td><td>How much</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>65</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>70</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>75</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Cheese</td><td>Leu</td><td>Gin</td><td>Pro</td><td>Glu</td><td>Asp</td><td>phe</td><td>ala</td><td>Thr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Tyr</td><td>Cys</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gin</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>80</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>90</td>
<td>Cheese</td><td>Tyr</td><td>phe</td><td>How much</td><td>Pro</td><td>Pro</td><td>Thr</td><td>phe</td><td>Gly</td><td>Gin</td><td>Gly</td><td>Thr</td><td>lys</td><td>Yal</td><td>Glu</td>
<td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>95</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>100</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>105</td>
Ile Lys Arg
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Numbers
- Publication
- 2376535
- Application
- 9764997
Titles2
- English
- ANTI-PD-L1 ANTIBODIES AND THEIR USE TO ENHANCE T-CELL FUNCTION
- Polish
- Przeciwciała ANTY-PD-L1 i ich zastosowanie do nasilania działania limfocytów T
Classification
- CPC, 37
- C07K16/2827
- A61K39/3955
- A61K2039/505
- A61K2039/507
- C07K16/22
- C07K2317/56
- C07K2317/565
- C07K2317/567
- C07K2317/71
- C07K2317/92
- C07K2317/73
- C07K2317/74
- C07K2317/76
- A61P31/00
- A61P31/04
- A61P31/10
- A61P31/12
- A61P33/00
- A61P33/02
- A61P35/00
- A61P37/00
- A61P37/02
- A61P37/04
- A61P43/00
- Y02A50/30
- A61K39/00
- C07K16/1145
- C07K16/28
- A61K39/39558
- C07K16/3046
- C07K2317/14
- C07K2317/52
- C07K2317/24
- C07K16/30
- A61K45/06
- A61K2300/00
- A61K31/7068
- IPC, 3
- C07K16 28
- A61K39 395
- A61P35 00