U.S. patent application number 11/441644 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for monoclonal antibodies to tacrolimus and immunoassay methods for tacrolimus.
Invention is credited to Dariush Davalian, Henry Jeong, Kenneth Cornell Kasper, Hshiou-tinh Liu, Paul Levi Miller, Denise Leah Williams.
Application Number | 20060216770 11/441644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23449512 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060216770 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kasper; Kenneth Cornell ; et
al. |
September 28, 2006 |
Monoclonal antibodies to tacrolimus and immunoassay methods for
tacrolimus
Abstract
An IgG.sub.1 .lamda. monoclonal antibody to the
immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus has improved properties. In
particular, this monoclonal antibody, designated 1H6, has reduced
cross-reactivity to several tacrolimus metabolites. This antibody
is suitable for performance of immunoassays such as homogeneous
immunoassays to detect or determine the presence or concentration
of tacrolimus in samples such as blood samples. The invention
further includes derivatives of tacrolimus derivatized at a
non-binding portion of the molecule useful in immunizing
antibody-producing animals and in producing such monoclonal
antibodies, as well as labeled derivatives of tacrolimus useful as
tacrolimus analogues in such assays. The invention further includes
immunoassay methods for the detection of tacrolimus and test kits
useful in performing such immunoassays.
Inventors: |
Kasper; Kenneth Cornell;
(Monte Sereno, CA) ; Jeong; Henry; (Palo Alto,
CA) ; Davalian; Dariush; (San Jose, CA) ; Liu;
Hshiou-tinh; (Milpitas, CA) ; Miller; Paul Levi;
(South San Francisco, CA) ; Williams; Denise Leah;
(San Jose, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DADE BEHRING INC.;LEGAL DEPARTMENT
1717 DEERFIELD ROAD
DEERFIELD
IL
60015
US
|
Family ID: |
23449512 |
Appl. No.: |
11/441644 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09368010 |
Aug 3, 1999 |
7078495 |
|
|
11441644 |
May 26, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
435/7.92 ;
435/188.5; 435/326; 530/387.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 436/815 20130101;
A61K 51/1093 20130101; C07K 16/1292 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/007.92 ;
435/188.5; 530/387.1; 435/326 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/53 20060101
G01N033/53; C12N 9/00 20060101 C12N009/00; C12N 5/06 20060101
C12N005/06; C07K 16/18 20060101 C07K016/18 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus that: (a) competes with the
IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody designated 1H6 at least about
80% as effectively on a molar basis as compared with the
IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody designated 1H6 as measured by
competition assays; and (b) has less than about 10%
cross-reactivity with each of 15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl
tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus, and 12-hydroxy tacrolimus.
3. The monoclonal antibody of claim 2 wherein the antibody competes
at least about 90% as effectively on a molar basis as the
monoclonal antibody designated 1H6 and has less than about 8%
cross-reactivity with each of 15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl
tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus and 12-hydroxy tacrolimus.
4. (canceled)
5. A hybridoma producing the monoclonal antibody of claim 2.
6. The monoclonal antibody of claim 2 wherein at least some of the
constant regions of the antibody are replaced by human constant
regions so that the monoclonal antibody is humanized.
7. The monoclonal antibody of claim 6 wherein the antibody competes
at least about 90% as effectively on a molar basis as compared with
the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody designated 1H6 and wherein
the antibody has less than about 8% cross-reactivity with each of
15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, and 12-hydroxy
tacrolimus.
8-18. (canceled)
19. A conjugate comprising the antibody of claim 2 conjugated
directly or indirectly to a detectable label.
20. The conjugate of claim 19 wherein the detectable label is
selected from the group consisting of an enzyme label, a
radioactive label, a fluorescent label, a chemiluminescent label, a
bioluminescent label, and a particulate label.
21. The conjugate of claim 20 wherein the label is an enzyme
label.
22. A conjugate comprising the antibody of claim 6 conjugated
directly or indirectly to a detectable label.
23. The conjugate of claim 22 wherein the detectable label is
selected from the group consisting of an enzyme label, a
radioactive label, a fluorescent label, a chemiluminescent label, a
bioluminescent label, and a particulate label.
24. The conjugate of claim 23 wherein the label is an enzyme
label.
25-41. (canceled)
42. A method of detecting or determining tacrolimus comprising the
steps of: (a) providing a sample suspected of containing
tacrolimus; (b) reacting the sample with: (i) the antibody of claim
2; and (ii) optionally, a tacrolimus analogue; wherein one of the
antibody or the tacrolimus analogue is labeled with a label
producing a detectable signal; and (c) observing or measuring one
of: (i) the signal associated with tacrolimus bound to antibody;
(ii) the signal associated with tacrolimus unbound to antibody; or
(iii) the total signal present; in order to detect or determine the
presence or concentration of tacrolimus in the sample.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein the sample is reacted with a
tacrolimus analogue labeled with an enzyme label and the total
signal present is observed or measured to detect or determine the
presence or concentration of tacrolimus in the sample.
44-56. (canceled)
57. A test kit comprising, packaged in separate containers: (a) the
antibody of claim 2; and (b) a tacrolimus analogue labeled directly
or indirectly with an enzyme label.
58-82. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is directed to monoclonal antibodies to
tacrolimus, methods for producing such monoclonal antibodies, and
derivatives of tacrolimus useful for producing such monoclonal
antibodies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tacrolimus is a macrolide isolated from Streptomyces
tsukubaensis. (butt) Tacrolimus has the chemical name
[3S-[3R*[E(1S*,3S*,4S*)],4S*,5R*,8S*,9E,
12R*,14R*,15S*,16R*,18S*,19S*,26aR*]]-5,6,8,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,24-
,25,26,26a-hexadecahydro-5,19-dihydroxy-3-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxycylohexyl-
)-1-methylethenyl]-14,16-dimethoxy-4,10,12,18-tetramethyl-8-(2-propenyl)-1-
5,19-epoxy-3H-pyrido[2,1-c][1,4]-oxaazacyclotricosine-1,7,20,21
(4H, 23H) tetrone. The structure of tacrolimus, giving the
numbering, is shown below in FIG. 16.
[0003] Tacrolimus is also known as FR-900506 or FK-506. Tacrolimus
has immunosuppressive activity and antimicrobial activity.
[0004] The immunosuppressive activity of tacrolimus is particularly
important and has led to the increasingly wide use of this drug.
Immunosuppression is used clinically in a number of contexts, most
importantly in preventing rejection in organ transplantation.
Immunosuppressive drugs are also administered in prevention of Rh
hemolytic disease of the newborn and in the treatment of autoimmune
disorders. Tacrolimus inhibits T-cell activation by binding to a
cytosolic protein known as FKBP (FK506 binding protein). The
drug-binding protein complex stably associates with calcineurin.
This inhibits the serine-threonine phosphatase activity of this
Ca.sup.2+-dependent enzyme. This inhibits calcineurin-dependent
activation of lymphokine expression, apopotosis, and degranulation
(G. Wiederrecht et al., "The Mechanism of Action of FK-506 and
Cyclosporin A," Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 696:9-19 (1993)).
[0005] Tacrolimus can be administered intravenously in a short or
continuous infusion or orally. Tacrolimus, like other
immunosuppressant agents, has a spectrum of toxicity. The major
toxicity associated with clinical use of the drug is
nephrotoxicity. In addition, neurotoxicity can develop, associated
with headache, tremor, insomnia, pain, or other symptoms.
Additionally, gastrointestinal toxicity manifested by diarrhea or
nausea can develop, as can cardiovascular toxicity manifested by
hypertension.
[0006] Additionally, metabolic toxicity can develop as manifested
by the development of such symptoms as hyperkalemia,
hypomagnesemia, or hyperglycemia. In addition, long-term
immunosuppression with tacrolimus can produce increased risk of all
types of infections, not only the usual bacterial, viral, and
fungal pathogens, but also various unusual opportunistic infections
as well.
[0007] Additionally, there is an increased risk of lymphomas and
related malignancies associated with the administration of
tacrolimus (M. L. Cleary & J. Sklar, "Lymphoproliferative
Disorders in Cardiac Transplant Recipients are Multiclonal
Lymphomas," Lancet 2:49-493 (1984); L. J. Swinnen et al.,
"Increased Incidence of Lymphoproliferative Disorder After
Immunosuppression with a Monoclonal Antibody OKT3 in
Cardiac-Transplant Recipients," N. Engl. J. Med. 323:1723-1728
(1990)). At least some of these malignancies are related to
impaired immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus (B. Z. Katz et al.,
"Latent and Replicating Forms of Epstein-Barr virus DNA and
Lymphomas in Lymphoproliferative Diseases," J. Infect. Dis.,
160:589-598 (1989)).
[0008] The potency and the spectrum of toxicities of tacrolimus
requires sensitive, reproducible, and reliable methods for
monitoring the blood concentration of these compounds after
administration to a patient, such a patient undergoing organ
transplantation. It is important that such methods be sensitive
enough to detect low concentrations of tacrolimus. It is also
important that such methods be reliable and reproducible, and avoid
interference from compounds such as metabolites of tacrolimus.
[0009] Although antibodies and immunoassays to tacrolimus exist,
and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,137 to Niwa
et al., incorporated herein by this reference, there is still a
need for the development of improved antibodies and immunoassays
specific for tacrolimus. There is, particularly, a need for
improved monoclonal antibodies to tacrolimus that can be used in
developing a sensitive, reliable, and reproducible immunoassay for
tacrolimus.
[0010] The development of a reliable immunoassay for tacrolimus is
complicated by the fact that tacrolimus has a number of metabolites
that are found in the blood of an individual being treated with
tacrolimus. The conversion of tacrolimus to these metabolites
involve demethylation, hydroxylation, and ring formation. It is
important that antibodies to tacrolimus have as little
cross-reactivity with these derivatives as possible.
[0011] There is therefore a need for the development of improved
monoclonal antibodies to tacrolimus that are useful for
immunoassays for tacrolimus and that possess a minimal degree of
cross-reactivity to tacrolimus metabolites. There is also a need
for improved immunoassays using such monoclonal antibodies for the
detection and determination of tacrolimus in the blood of patients
being administered tacrolimus.
SUMMARY
[0012] We have discovered that tacrolimus, when derivatized in the
non-binding domain, can be coupled to a high molecular weight
carrier such as a protein for immunization to produce antibodies.
The resulting antibody-producing cells can be used to generate
monoclonal antibodies by cell fusion. These monoclonal antibodies
have desirable properties, including reduced cross-reactivity with
tacrolimus metabolites.
[0013] One embodiment of the present invention is a monoclonal
antibody to tacrolimus that is a monoclonal antibody designated 1H6
and which has less than about 8% cross-reactivity with each of
15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus and 12-hydroxy
tacrolimus.
[0014] Another embodiment of the present invention is a monoclonal
antibody to tacrolimus that:
[0015] (1) competes with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 at least about 80% as effectively on a molar basis
as compared with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 as measured by competition assays; and
[0016] (2) has less than about 10% cross-reactivity with each of
15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, and 12-hydroxy tacrolimus.
Preferably, the monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus competes at least
about 90% as effectively on a molar basis as the monoclonal
antibody designated 1H6 and has less than about 8% cross-reactivity
with each of 15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus,
13,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus and
12-hydroxy tacrolimus.
[0017] Another embodiment of the present invention is a hybridoma
producing the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus
designated 1H6 as described above.
[0018] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a
hybridoma producing a monoclonal antibody that:
[0019] (1) competes with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 at least about 80% as effectively on a molar basis
as compared with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 as measured by competition assays; and
[0020] (2) has less than about 10% cross-reactivity with each of
15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, and 12-hydroxy
tacrolimus.
[0021] Another embodiment of the present invention is a monoclonal
antibody that:
[0022] (1) competes with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 at least about 80% as effectively on a molar basis
as compared with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 as measured by competition assays; and
[0023] (2) has less than about 10% cross-reactivity with each of
15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, and 12-hydroxy tacrolimus,
wherein at least some of the constant regions of the antibody are
replaced by human constant regions so that the monoclonal antibody
is humanized.
[0024] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a
single-chain recombinant antibody (sFv) including therein the
variable regions of an antibody to tacrolimus that:
[0025] (1) competes with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 at least about 80% as effectively on a molar basis
as compared with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 as measured by competition assays; and
[0026] (2) has less than about 10% cross-reactivity with each of
15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, and 12-hydroxy
tacrolimus.
[0027] Still another embodiment of the present invention is a
monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus produced by fusion of
antibody-producing cells from an antibody-producing mammal
immunized with tacrolimus derivatized with a carboxymethyl oxime
moiety at a carbon atom in the non-binding domain of tacrolimus
conjugated to a high molecular weight protein with a suitable
fusion partner. Preferably, the carbon atom in the non-binding
domain of tacrolimus is carbon 22. Preferably, the high molecular
weight protein is keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
[0028] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a
monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus that is an IgG.sub.1.lamda.
monoclonal antibody, that has a binding affinity for tacrolimus of
about 3.7.times.10.sup.9 liters/mole, that cross-reacts with
13-demethyl tacrolimus, and that has less than about 8%
cross-reactivity to all of the following tacrolimus metabolites:
15-demethyl tacrolimus; 31-demethyl tacrolimus; 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus; 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus; and 12-hydroxy
tacrolimus.
[0029] Another aspect of the present invention is antibodies,
including polyclonal antibodies, produced by immunization of an
antibody-producing mammal with tacrolimus derivatized with a
carboxymethyl oxime moiety at a carbon atom in the non-binding
domain of tacrolimus conjugated to a high molecular weight protein.
Preferably, the carbon atom in the non-binding domain of tacrolimus
is carbon 22. Preferably, the high molecular weight protein is
keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
[0030] Another aspect of the present invention is a conjugate
comprising an antibody according to the present invention directly
or indirectly conjugated to a detectable label. The detectable
label can be selected from the group consisting of an enzyme label,
a radioactive label, a fluorescent label, a chemiluminescent label,
a bioluminescent label, and a particulate label. In many
applications, the label is preferably an enzyme label.
[0031] Still another aspect of the present invention is a method of
detecting or determining tacrolimus comprising the steps of:
[0032] (1) providing a sample suspected of containing
tacrolimus;
[0033] (2) reacting the sample with: [0034] (a) an antibody
according to the present invention; and [0035] (b) optionally, a
tacrolimus analogue; wherein one of the antibody or the tacrolimus
analogue is labeled with a label producing a detectable signal;
and
[0036] (3) observing or measuring one of: [0037] (a) the signal
associated with tacrolimus bound to antibody; [0038] (b) the signal
associated with tacrolimus unbound to antibody; or [0039] (c) the
total signal present; in order to detect or determine the presence
or concentration of tacrolimus in the sample.
[0040] Typically, in this method, the sample is reacted with a
tacrolimus analogue labeled with an enzyme label and the total
signal present is observed or measured to detect or determine the
presence or concentration of tacrolimus in the sample.
[0041] Another aspect of he present invention is a test kit
comprising, packaged in separate containers:
[0042] (1) an antibody according to the present invention; and
[0043] (2) a tacrolimus analogue labeled directly or indirectly
with an enzyme label.
[0044] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a derivative
of tacrolimus comprising tacrolimus that is derivatized with a
carboxymethyl oxime moiety at a carbon atom in the non-binding
domain of tacrolimus. Preferably, the carbon atom in the
non-binding domain of tacrolimus is carbon 22.
[0045] Still another aspect of the present invention is a conjugate
comprising a derivative of tacrolimus as described above conjugated
to a high molecular weight protein. Preferably, the high molecular
weight protein is keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
[0046] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method of
derivatizing tacrolimus comprising reacting tacrolimus with
carboxymethoxylamine to produce a carboxymethyl oxime derivative of
tacrolimus, the carboxymethyl oxime moiety being located at carbon
atom 22.
[0047] Still another aspect of the present invention is a method of
producing a conjugate of tacrolimus with a high molecular weight
protein comprising:
[0048] (1) reacting tacrolimus with carboxymethoxylamine to produce
a carboxymethyl oxime derivative of tacrolimus, the carboxymethyl
oxime moiety being located at carbon atom 22;
[0049] (2) activating the carboxymethyl oxime to produce a reactive
N-hydroxysuccinimide ester; and
[0050] (3) reacting the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester with the high
molecular weight protein to produce the conjugate.
[0051] Another aspect of the present invention is a derivative of
tacrolimus comprising tacrolimus substituted with a carboxymethyl
oxime moiety at carbon atom 22 linked through a linker to a biotin
moiety. In one preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present
invention, the linker has the structure
NH.sub.2--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2--NH--CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.5--NH.sub.2,
and one amine group of the linker forms an amide bond with the
carboxyl group of the carboxymethyl oxime and the other amine group
of the linker forms an amide bond with the carboxyl group of the
biotin.
[0052] Still another aspect of the present invention is a method of
derivatizing tacrolimus comprising:
[0053] (1) reacting tacrolimus with carboxymethoxylamine to produce
a carboxymethyl oxime derivative of tacrolimus, the carboxymethyl
oxime derivative being located at position 22;
[0054] (2) activating the carboxymethyl oxime to produce a reactive
N-hydroxysuccinimide ester; and
[0055] (3) reacting the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester with the
carboxyl group of biotin or a biotin derivative or analogue.
[0056] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a derivative
of tacrolimus comprising tacrolimus that is derivatized with a
bromoacetyl moiety at a carbon atom in the non-binding domain of
tacrolimus. Preferably, the carbon atom in the non-binding domain
is carbon atom 22. These derivatives can then be reacted with an
enzyme or other protein to produce a conjugate containing the
derivative conjugated to a protein, such as an enzyme. In one
preferred embodiment, the protein is a cysteine-containing mutein
of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
[0057] Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention is a
method of derivatizing tacrolimus comprising:
[0058] (1) reacting tacrolimus with carboxymethoxylamine to produce
a carboxymethyl oxime derivative of tacrolimus, the carboxymethyl
oxime derivative being located at position 22;
[0059] (2) activating the carboxymethyl oxime to produce a reactive
N-hydroxysuccinimide ester; and
[0060] (3) reacting the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester with the
trifluoroacetic acid salt of bromoacetyl ethylenediamine to produce
a bromoacetyl derivative of tacrolimus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0061] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings where:
[0062] FIG. 1 is a mass spectrogram of the product resulting from
the reaction of carboxymethoxylamine with the macrolide antibiotic
FK-520, closely related in structure to tacrolimus;
[0063] FIG. 2 is a portion of the mass spectrogram of FIG. 1, shown
in expanded resolution centered around the predominant peak;
[0064] FIG. 3 is a mass spectrogram of the product resulting from
the reaction of carboxymethoxylamine with tacrolimus;
[0065] FIG. 4 is a portion of the mass spectrogram of FIG. 3, shown
in expanded resolution centered around the predominant peak;
[0066] FIG. 5 is a .sup.1H NMR spectrum at 250 MHz in CDCl.sub.3 of
the product resulting from the reaction of carboxymethoxylamine
with tacrolimus;
[0067] FIG. 6 is a .sup.13C NMR spectrum at 250 MHz in CDCl.sub.3
of the product resulting from the reaction of carboxymethoxylamine
with tacrolimus;
[0068] FIG. 7 is a .sup.3C NMR spectrum at 500 MHz in CDCl.sub.3 of
tacrolimus shown as a reference;
[0069] FIG. 8 is a mass spectrogram of the product resulting from
the reaction of LC-biotin with tacrolimus monooxime;
[0070] FIG. 9 is a portion of the mass spectrogram of FIG. 8, shown
in expanded resolution centered around the predominant peak
[0071] FIG. 10 is a .sup.1H NMR spectrum at 250 MHz in CDCl.sub.3
of the product resulting from the reaction of LC-biotin with
tacrolimus monooxime;
[0072] FIG. 11 is a calibration curve of a homogeneous enzyme
immunoassay of tacrolimus using a monoclonal antibody produced by
immunization of mice with a conjugate of tacrolimus derivatized at
position 22 with a carboxymethyl oxime linked to keyhole limpet
hemocyanin and cell fusion of the resulting antibody-producing
cells with a fusion partner;
[0073] FIG. 12 is a graph showing the correlation between the
results for the assay of tacrolimus using a homogeneous enzyme
immunoassay with the monoclonal antibody for which the calibration
curve is shown in FIG. 11 and the results for the assay of
tacrolimus using a method employing gas chromatography and tandem
mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS);
[0074] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the correlation between the
results for the assay of tacrolimus using the homogeneous enzyme
immunoassay and using LC/MS/MS on a panel of 70 patients with liver
damage to whom tacrolimus had been administered;
[0075] FIG. 14 is a graph showing the correlation between the
results for the assay of tacrolimus using the homogeneous enzyme
immunoassay and using a commercially available immunoassay for
tacrolimus for the panel of 70 patients of FIG. 13;
[0076] FIG. 15 is a graph showing a Bland-Altman difference
analysis plot for the results of FIGS. 13-14; and
[0077] FIG. 16 is a drawing of the structural formula for
tacrolimus, showing the numbering of the molecule.
DESCRIPTION
Definitions
[0078] As used herein, the terms defined below have the following
meanings unless otherwise indicated:
[0079] "Antibody": As used herein the term "antibody" includes both
intact antibody molecules of the appropriate specificity, and
antibody fragments (including Fab, F(ab'), Fv and F(ab').sub.2), as
well as chemically modified intact antibody molecules and antibody
fragments, including hybrid antibodies assembled by in vitro
association of subunits. Also included are single-chain antibody
molecules generally denoted by the term sFv and humanized
antibodies in which some or all of the originally non-human
constant regions are replaced with constant regions originally
derived from human antibody sequences. Both polyclonal and
monoclonal antibodies are included unless otherwise specified; in a
number of contexts, monoclonal antibodies are specifically
specified. Additionally included are modified antibodies or
antibodies conjugated to labels or other molecules that do not
block or alter the binding capacity of the antibody.
[0080] "Nucleic Acid Sequence": The term "nucleic acid sequence"
includes both DNA and RNA unless otherwise specified, and, unless
otherwise specified, includes both double-stranded and
single-stranded nucleic acids. Also included are hybrids such as
DNA-RNA hybrids. In particular, reference to DNA includes RNA that
has either the equivalent base sequence except for the substitution
of uracil in RNA for thymine in DNA, or has a complementary base
sequence except for the substitution of uracil for thymine,
complementarity being determined according to the Watson-Crick base
pairing rules. Additionally, a reference to a nucleic acid sequence
includes its complement according to the Watson-Crick base pairing
rules unless otherwise specified.
[0081] We have developed an improved monoclonal antibody to
tacrolimus based on the use of tacrolimus derivatized at a carbon
atom within the non-binding domain, preferably carbon-22.
Polyclonal antibodies produced by immunization of
antibody-producing animals with this immunogen are first made. The
resulting antibody-producing cells are then used for cell fusion
with a suitable fusion partner to produce hybridomas. The resulting
monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridomas are particularly
useful in immunoassays for the detection of tacrolimus.
I. Derivatives of Tacrolimus
[0082] Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is
derivatives of tacrolimus derivatized at a carbon atom within the
non-binding domain of tacrolimus. Preferably, the derivative is
derivatized at the carbon-22 position. One particularly preferred
class of derivatives involves reacting the keto group at the 22
position with an amine to produce an oxime. A particularly
preferred amine is carboxymethoxylamine. The reaction of tacrolimus
with carboxymethoxylamine produces a carboxymethyl oxime.
[0083] This reaction involves reacting tacrolimus with
carboxymethoxylamine in methanol in the presence of sodium acetate
to give the oxime. Accordingly, another aspect of the present
invention is a method of derivatizing tacrolimus comprising
reacting tacrolimus with carboxymethoxylamine to produce a
carboxymethyl oxime derivative of tacrolimus, the oxime moiety
being located at carbon-22. Further details of this reaction are
given in Example 1.
[0084] Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention is a
conjugate comprising the derivative of tacrolimus which comprises
tacrolimus derivatized with a carboxymethyl oxime moiety at
position 22 conjugated to a high molecular weight protein through
the oxime moiety. Typically, the high molecular weight protein is a
protein that is a suitable carrier for haptens and can be, but is
not necessarily limited to, proteins such as bovine serum albumin,
thyroglobulin, ovalbumin, fibrinogen, or keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
A particularly preferred carrier is keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
Alternatively, the high molecular weight protein can be an enzyme,
such as an enzyme producing a detectable signal, such as
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or alkaline phosphatase. Such
conjugates are particularly useful in immunoassays for tacrolimus,
as discussed below.
[0085] The preparation of these conjugates is set out in more
detail below in Example 2. In general however, a method of
preparation of the conjugate of tacrolimus with the high molecular
weight protein is as follows: (1) preparation of the carboxymethyl
oxime of tacrolimus as described above; (2) activating the
carboxymethyl oxime to produce a reactive N-hydroxysuccinimide
ester; and (3) reacting the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester with the
high molecular weight protein to produce the conjugate. This
reaction is discussed in detail in Example 2. The activation of the
carboxymethyl oxime to produce the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester
typically is performed using a coupling agent such as a
water-soluble carbodiimide. A preferred water-soluble carbodiimide
is -3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl
1-ethyl-3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC).
Other water-soluble carbodiimides are known in the art and can also
be used.
[0086] In addition to forming conjugates with high molecular weight
proteins such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin, the present invention
also encompasses derivatives of tacrolimus substituted with a
carboxymethyl oxime moiety at carbon 22 linked through a linker to
a biotin moiety. The linker can take one of a number of forms and
can have different lengths. The use of linkers between biotin and a
hapten or antigen is well known in the art and need not be
described further in detail here. In one particularly preferred
derivative, the linker has the structure
NH.sub.2--CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2--NH--CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.5--NH.sub.2.
One of the amine groups of the linker forms an amide bond with the
carboxyl group of the carboxymethyl oxime, and the other amine
group forms an amide bond with the carboxyl group of the
biotin.
[0087] The length of this spacer can be changed by inserting or
deleting one or more CH.sub.2 (methylene) groups at the two places
in the spacer that have 2 or more methylene groups.
[0088] The derivatives can be formed by reacting a
N-hydroxysuccinimide ester as described above with the carboxyl
group of biotin or a biotin derivative or analogue.
[0089] This reaction can be performed as described above.
[0090] In general, the method of forming such biotin derivatives
comprises:
[0091] (1) reacting tacrolimus with carboxymethoxylamine to produce
a carboxymethyl oxime derivative of tacrolimus, the carboxymethyl
oxime derivative being located at position 22;
[0092] (2) activating the carboxymethyl oxime to produce a reactive
N-hydroxysuccinimide ester; and
[0093] (3) reacting the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester with the
carboxyl group of biotin or a biotin derivative or analogue.
[0094] In one preferred alternative, as discussed below in Example
3, the oxime is reacted with EDAC and N-hydroxysuccinimide in
dimethylformamide (DMF). The activated product is then reacted with
the biotin containing the linker, such as LC-biotin.
[0095] Still another embodiment of conjugates of tacrolimus
derivatized at a carbon atom within the non-binding domain of
tacrolimus, preferably position 22, is a bromoacetyl derivative.
The preparation of bromoacetyl derivatives of tacrolimus
derivatized at position 22 is described in Example 4. In general,
the preparation of such derivatives comprises:
[0096] (1) reacting tacrolimus with carboxymethoxylamine to produce
a carboxymethyl oxime derivative of tacrolimus, the carboxymethyl
oxime derivative being located at position 22;
[0097] (2) activating the carboxymethyl oxime to produce a reactive
N-hydroxysuccinimide ester; and
[0098] (3) reacting the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester with the
trifluoroacetic acid salt of bromoacetyl ethylenediamine to produce
a bromoacetyl derivative.
[0099] The carboxymethyl oxime derivative used in this method is
prepared as described above.
[0100] Such bromoacetyl derivatives can be used to produce enzyme
conjugates of tacrolimus by reacting the bromoacetyl moiety with a
sulfhydryl group of an enzyme, such as a mutein of glucose
6-phosphate dehydrogenase that contains a cysteine residue. The
bromoacetyl derivative can react with other cysteine groups in
other enzymes or proteins to produce other enzyme or protein
conjugates of tacrolimus.
II. Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies and Hybridomas
[0101] Another aspect of the present invention is monoclonal
antibodies and hybridomas producing them, as well as polyclonal
antibodies produced by immunization of antibody-producing animals
with tacrolimus derivatives as described above.
[0102] One preferred embodiment of a monoclonal antibody to the
present invention is a murine monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus
that is a IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody designated 1H6. This
monoclonal antibody reacts with 13-demethyl tacrolimus but has less
than about 8% cross-reactivity to all of the following tacrolimus
metabolites: 15-demethyl tacrolimus; 31-demethyl tacrolimus;
13,31-didemethyl tacrolimus; 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus; and
12-hydroxy tacrolimus. This monoclonal antibody has an estimated
affinity for binding to tacrolimus of 3.7.times.10.sup.9
liters/mole.
[0103] Another monoclonal antibody according to the present
invention is a monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus that: (1) competes
with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody designated 1H6 at
least about 80% as effectively on a molar basis as compared with
the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody designated 1H6 as measured
by competition assays; and (2) has less than about 10% cross
reactivity with each of the following tacrolimus metabolites:
15-demethyl tacrolimus; 31-demethyl tacrolimus; 13,31-didemethyl
tacrolimus; 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus; and 12-hydroxy
tacrolimus.
[0104] Preferably, the monoclonal antibody competes at least about
90% as effectively on a molar basis as the monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 and has less than about 8% cross reactivity with
each of these tacrolimus metabolites.
[0105] Another aspect of the present invention is a hybridoma
producing a monoclonal antibody as described above. This includes a
hybridoma producing the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody to
tacrolimus designated as 1H6. This also includes a hybridoma
producing a monoclonal antibody as described above which competes
at least about 80% as effectively on a molar basis with that
antibody and has a limited degree of cross-reactivity with
tacrolimus metabolites as described above.
[0106] Another embodiment of the present invention is humanized
monoclonal antibodies. In some applications it is preferred to have
humanized monoclonal antibodies in which at least some of the
constant regions of the antibody are replaced by human constant
regions so that the monoclonal antibody is humanized. Typically,
such procedures involve the grafting of the murine
complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) onto a human antibody.
Additional alterations of individual amino acids within the
framework may be necessary to recreate the antigen-binding site.
Typically, this technique involves amplification of cDNA for the
heavy and light variable chains of the murine hybridoma using the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a subset of synthetic
oligonucleotide primers with a small level of degeneracy.
Mutagenesis, if required, can be carried out by standard methods.
Typically, humanized V genes carrying the variable regions are
cloned into suitable expression vectors and expressed in cells such
as COS cells or CHO-K1 cells. Other mutations can be made as
needed. The preparation of such humanized monoclonal antibodies is
generally known in the art and is described, for example in C. A.
K. Borrebaeck, "Antibody Engineering" 2d. ed., Oxford University
Press, New York, 1995), incorporated herein by this reference.
[0107] Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention is a
single-chain recombinant antibody (sFv) including therein the
variable regions of an antibody to tacrolimus that: (1) competes
with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody designated 1H6 and
described above at least about 80% as effectively on a molar basis
as compared with the IgG.sub.1.lamda. monoclonal antibody
designated 1H6 as measured by competition assays; and (2) has less
than about 10% cross-reactivity with each of 15-demethyl
tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus, 13,31-didemethyl tacrolimus,
15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, and 12-hydroxy tacrolimus.
[0108] Strategies for producing sFv single-chain antibodies are
well known in the art and are described, for example, in C. A. K.
Borrebaeck, "Antibody Engineering," supra, incorporated herein by
this reference. In general, constructing an sFv involves
manipulation of heavy- and light-chain variable regions, which must
be connected at the gene level by an oligonucleotide sequence of
codons for an appropriate peptide linker. The linker must connect
the V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains of the chosen Fv without perturbing
interdomain contacts or interfering with domain folding. A
typically used linker is a 15-residue peptide that consists of 3
repeating units, each of which has four glycine residues followed
by a serine residue (J. S. Huston et al., "Protein Engineering of
Antibody Binding Sites: Recovery of Specific Activity in an
Anti-Digoxin Single-Chain Fv Analog Produced in Escherichia coli,"
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883 (1988)). Typically, such
single-chain antibodies are produced in inclusion bodies in
bacteria. Activity typically requires refolding of the expressed
polypeptides from inclusion bodies; conditions for performing this
are generally well known.
[0109] Accordingly, such single-chain antibodies or sFv are also
within the scope of the present invention.
[0110] Another embodiment of the present invention is a monoclonal
antibody to tacrolimus produced by fusion of antibody-producing
cells from an antibody-producing mammal immunized with tacrolimus
derivatized with a carboxymethyl oxime moiety at a carbon atom in
the non-binding domain of tacrolimus conjugated to a high molecular
weight protein with a suitable fusion partner. Preferably, the
carbon atom in the non-binding domain of tacrolimus is carbon 22.
As indicated above, typically, the high molecular weight protein
used for immunization is keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
[0111] The preparation of monoclonal antibodies is well known in
the art and need not be described further here. For example, the
production of monoclonal antibodies is described in J. W. Goding,
"Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice" (2d. ed., Academic
Press, London, 1986), incorporated herein by this reference.
[0112] In general, the first step in the procedure is the
production of polyclonal antibodies by standard techniques, such as
immunization of an antibody-producing animal such as a mouse, a
rat, a goat, a sheep, or a cow with the antigen. The antigen is
typically coupled to a high molecular weight carrier such as a high
molecular weight protein as discussed above. Immunization can be
performed with or without an adjuvant such as complete Freund's
adjuvant or other adjuvants such as monophosphoryl lipid A and
synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate adjuvant; it is generally
preferred to immunize with an adjuvant. The next step is to isolate
spleen cells from antibody-producing animals and fuse the
antibody-producing spleen cells with an appropriate fusion partner,
typically a myeloma cell, such as by the use of polyethylene glycol
or other techniques. Typically, the myeloma cells used are those
that grow normally in hypoxanthine-thymidine (HT) medium but cannot
grow in hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) medium, used for
selection of the fused cells. The next step is selection of the
fused cells, typically by selection in HAT medium. The next step is
to screen the cloned hybrids for appropriate antibody production
using immunoassays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA) or other immunoassays appropriate for screening. Again,
these steps are well known in the art and need not be described in
further detail.
[0113] Another embodiment of the present invention is an antibody,
which can be polyclonal antibody, to tacrolimus produced by
immunization of an antibody-producing mammal with tacrolimus
derivatized with a carboxymethyl oxime moiety at a carbon atom in
the non-binding domain of tacrolimus conjugated to a high molecular
weight protein as described above. Preferably, the carbon atom in
the non-binding domain of tacrolimus is carbon 22.
[0114] Another aspect of the present invention is a conjugate
comprising an antibody of the present invention as described above
conjugated directly or indirectly to a detectable label. The
antibody can be conjugated directly to the detectable label so that
a covalent link exists between the label and the antibody. Such
methods are well known in the art; such techniques are described,
for example, in G. T. Hermanson, "Bioconjugate Techniques"
(Academic Press, San Diego, 1996), incorporated herein by this
reference. In general, such techniques link reactive groups on the
antibody and the label, typically through a linker or spacer. The
length of the linker or spacer can be adjusted to preserve the
activity and specificity of the antibody and to ensure that the
label produces the detectable signal without interfering with the
activity of the antibody.
[0115] Such labels are well known in the art and need not be
described in detail. Such labels can include, but are not limited
to, an enzyme label, a radioactive label, a fluorescent label, a
chemiluminescent label, a bioluminescent label, or a particulate
label.
[0116] Enzyme labels are well known in the art. Typically, the
enzyme used is one that produces a visually detectable signal such
as a colored product or an insoluble product. Among the enzymes
that can be used are horseradish peroxidase, .beta.-galactosidase,
alkaline phosphatase, glucose oxidase, urease, catalase, lysozyme,
malate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and
ribonuclease A. Other enzymes that can be used for immunoassays are
well known in the art.
[0117] Among the particulate labels that can be used are latex
labels and colloidal metal labels such as colloidal gold, silver,
tin, and other metals.
[0118] A large variety of radioactive, fluorescent,
chemiluminescent, and bioluminescent labels are known in the art.
These labels need not be described further here.
[0119] As an alternative to a direct covalent linkage between the
antibody and the label, the linkage can be indirect such as through
a biotin-avidin linkage. The binding of biotin to avidin or its
bacterial analog streptavidin is well understood in the art. This
binding is highly specific and has an extremely high affinity.
Typically, the antibody is conjugated to a biotin moiety and the
label is bound to avidin or streptavidin. Other arrangements can
also be used. The use of an avidin-biotin linkage is described, for
example, in G. T. Hermanson, supra, pp. 570-592.
III. Immunoassays
[0120] Another aspect of the present invention is immunoassays for
tacrolimus using the antibodies described above. In general, such
an immunoassay is a method of detecting or determining tacrolimus.
The term "detecting" is used herein to refer to a qualitative assay
that detects the presence or absence of tacrolimus in a sample,
while the term "determining" refers to a quantitative or
semiquantitative assay that determines the concentration of
tacrolimus in the sample.
[0121] In general, such an immunoassay method comprises the steps
of:
[0122] (1) providing a sample suspected of containing
tacrolimus;
[0123] (2) reacting the sample with: [0124] (a) an antibody against
tacrolimus as described above; and [0125] (b) optionally, with a
tacrolimus analogue; wherein one of the antibody or the tacrolimus
analog is labeled with a label producing a detectable signal;
and
[0126] (3) observing or measuring one of: [0127] (a) a signal
associated with tacrolimus bound to antibody; [0128] (b) a signal
associated with tacrolimus unbound to antibody; or [0129] (c) total
signal present to detect or determine the presence or concentration
of tacrolimus in the sample.
[0130] Such assays are described as either homogeneous or
heterogeneous. In a heterogeneous assay, the antibody bound to
antigen is separated from antibody unbound to antigen. This
separation can be done by a number of steps well known in the art,
such as differential solubility, reactivity with another antibody,
or other properties. Such assays are well known in the art and need
not be described further in detail here. If either the signal
associated with tacrolimus bound to antibody or the signal
associated with tacrolimus unbound to antibody is to be detected or
determined, a heterogeneous assay is performed. By contrast, in a
homogeneous assay, the total signal present is detected or
determined. In a homogeneous assay, the existence of an
antigen-antibody complex modulates the signal so that the signal
level changes without a requirement of separating antigen bound to
antibody from antigen unbound to antibody.
[0131] Although many heterogeneous immunoassay formats are well
known in the art, in the context of the present invention, it is
generally preferred to use a homogeneous immunoassay system. An
example of a preferred homogeneous immunoassay system for the
immunoassay of tacrolimus using antibodies according to the present
invention is the homogeneous assay system known as EMIT, as
described in D. D. Schottelius, "Homogeneous Immunoassay System
(EMIT) for Quantitation of Antiepileptic Drugs in Biological
Fluids" in Antiepileptic Drugs: Quantitative Analysis and
Interpretation (C. E. Pippenger et al., Raven Press, New York,
1978, Ch. 10, pp: 98-101, incorporated herein by this reference,
and further described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,837 to Rubenstein et
al., incorporated herein by this reference.
[0132] In general, in this assay, an enzyme such as
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is conjugated to the analyte
(here, tacrolimus) to be assayed in such a fashion that it does not
significantly alter the activity of the enzyme. However, when this
analyte-enzyme conjugate is bound to the antibody for the analyte,
the configuration is such that the active site of the enzyme is
blocked and thus excludes the substrate. This results in the enzyme
activity being reduced. When the complex is not bound, the active
site is available to interact with the substrate. If free analyte
is present in the unknown sample, the free analyte then binds to
the antibody. This prevents the binding of the analyte-enzyme
conjugate and decreases the antibody-induced in activation of the
enzyme activity in proportion to the concentration of analyte in
the sample. Thus, in such a homogeneous assay, the greater the
concentration analyte in the sample, the greater the signal
produced by the enzyme label. This is a homogeneous assay as
described above.
IV. Test Kits
[0133] Another aspect of the present invention is a test kit,
particularly for use in the EMIT homogeneous immunoassay described
above.
[0134] Such a test kit comprises, packaged in separate
containers:
[0135] (1) an antibody as described above; and
[0136] (2) a tacrolimus analogue labeled directly or indirectly
with an enzyme label.
[0137] The tacrolimus analogue can be labeled either directly or
indirectly; it is generally preferred that the tacrolimus analogue
is labeled indirectly with a biotinylated tacrolimus molecule and a
streptavidinylated enzyme. However, the tacrolimus can be coupled
at carbon 22 with an enzyme suitable for use in the EMIT assay as
described above.
[0138] Test kits can also include, in separately packaged
containers, other ingredients such as substrates, buffers,
stabilizers, coenzymes, and other ingredients required for the
performance of the immunoassay.
[0139] The invention is illustrated by the following Examples. The
Examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to
limit the invention.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Preparation of Carbon-22-Substituted Derivatives of Tacrolimus
[0140] To determine the feasibility of derivatizing tacrolimus at
carbon 22, as a model for this molecule, derivatization of the
closely related molecule FK-520 was performed. FK-520 has the same
structure as tacrolimus except that is has an ethyl instead of an
allyl group at carbon 21.
[0141] For these experiments, reagents and solvents were commercial
grades and were used as supplied without further purification. The
reaction with FK-520 on a small scale (0.9 mg) was performed as
follows: To a solution of FK-520 (0.9 mg, 1.1 .mu.mol) in 0.23 mL
of methanol was added sodium acetate (1.5 mg, 18.3 .mu.mol, 16
equiv.) and carboxymethoxylamine hydrochloride (3.0 mg, 13.7
.mu.mol, 12 equiv.). The reaction was stirred at room temperature
for 3 hours under argon. Solvent was then evaporated by purging
with a stream of argon. Thin layer chromatography in 5:6:1.1:0.5%
(CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2/EtOAc/MeOH/HOAc) on plates from Analtech (scored
10.times.20 cm, 250 microns) of the residue afforded 2 geometric
isomers of FK-520 mono-oximes, enough to be analyzed by fast atom
bombardment mass spectroscopy. LSIMS of
C.sub.45H.sub.72N.sub.2O.sub.14 would be expected to give a
[M-H].sup.- of 863.3. The relevant portions of the mass
spectroscopy results are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is an
portion of the spectrum shown in FIG. 1 expanded around the central
peak.
[0142] Subsequently an analogous procedure was used to prepare the
monooxime of tacrolimus. Tacrolimus was provided as a solid mixture
in a capsule containing 1.02 mg of tacrolimus monohydrate and
approximately a 6-fold excess of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The
solid mixture from 30 capsules was combined and extracted 4 times
with 12 ml each time of ethyl acetate. The combined organic
extracts were concentrated under a vacuum to give 49 mg of crude
tacrolimus which was used directly in the following reaction.
[0143] To the 49 mg of crude tacrolimus (theoretically 36.5
.mu.mol) in 3.5 ml of methanol was added sodium acetate (16.7 mg,
204 .mu.mol, 5.6 equiv.), and carboxymethoxylamine hydrochloride
(40 mg, 183 .mu.mol, 5 equiv.). The reaction was stirred at room
temperature for 12 hours under argon. Solvent and volatile
materials were removed at reduced pressure to give crude solid
residue. Preparative thin layer chromatography on pre-coated silica
gel plates from Analtech (20.times.20 cm, 1000 microns) with
30:70:11:0.6 (CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2/EtOAc/MeOH/HOAc) of the crude
product afforded geometric isomers of tacrolimus monooximes at
white solid. LSIMS on C.sub.46H.sub.72N.sub.2O.sub.14 was expected
to yield 899.4 as [M+Na].sup.+ and 915.4 as [N+K].sup.+. Results
are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 4 represents the data of FIG. 3 at
higher resolution centered around the relevant portion of the
spectrum.
[0144] .sup.1H NMR at 250 MHz in CDCl.sub.3 of the product of the
reaction of carboxymethoxylamine hydrochloride with tacrolimus is
shown in FIG. 5. .sup.13C NMR at 250 MHz in CDCl.sub.3 of the
product of the reaction of carboxymethoxylamine hydrochloride with
tacrolimus is shown in FIG. 6. .sup.13CNMR at 500 MHz in CDCl.sub.3
shown in FIG. 7 was that of tacrolimus as a reference (i.e.
underivatized tacrolimus). All NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker
instruments.
Example 2
Preparation of Tacrolimus-Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin Conjugate
[0145] To a solution of tacrolimus monooxime (32.3 mg, 36.8
.mu.mol) in 1.05 mL of anhydrous dimethylformamide was added
l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC)
(11 mg, 57.4 .mu.mol, 1.5 equiv.) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (7.3 mg,
63.4 .mu.mol, 1.7 equiv.). The reaction was stirred at room
temperature for 1 hour under argon. The mixture was then added
dropwise via a syringe to a solution of keyhole limpet hemocyanin
(74 mg, 54% pure) in 5.0 mL of phosphate buffered saline (0.1 M, pH
8.0) and 0.25 mL of dimethylformamide. After stirring at room
temperature for 2 hours, the resulting suspension was dialyzed
(1.times.4 L, 4.degree. C., 2 h) against PBS (10 mM, pH 7.0).
[0146] The resulting mixture was then extracted 3.times. with
CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 to remove any trace amount of unreacted tacrolimus
monooximes. Quantitative analysis of the mixture was conducted
using bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay solution to give 50 mg
of immunogen in 8 ml of PBS (10 mM, pH 7.0).
[0147] Determination of the hapten number using the TNBS method (A.
F. S. A. Habeeb, Anal. Biochem. 14:328 (1966)) gave a hapten number
of 1300. The immunogen was immediately frozen using a dry
ice-acetone bath and kept at -20.degree. C. for storage.
Example 3
Preparation of Tacrolimus-Biotin Conjugate
[0148] To a solution of tacrolimus monooxime (12 mg, 13.7 .mu.mol)
in 0.3 mL of anhydrous dimethylformamide was added EDAC (4 mg, 20.9
.mu.mol, 1.5 equiv.) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (2.7 mg, 23.4
.mu.mol, 1.7 equiv.). The reaction was stirred at room temperature
for 1 h under argon. To this was added triethylamine (10 .mu.L, 75
.mu.mol) and a solution of LC-biotin (10 mg, 25 .mu.mol, 2 equiv.)
in 1.0 mL of DMF. Stirring was continued for another 3 h and the
mixture was concentration under high vacuum to give a colorless
residue. Reversed phase preparative thin-layer chromatography
(PTLC) of the crude product on a C-18 plate from Whatman
(PKLC.sub.18F, 20.times.20 cm, 1000 microns) (13:7 MeOH/H.sub.2O)
afforded 8 mg of the product as a white solid. The expected result
from LSIMS of C.sub.64H.sub.103N.sub.7O.sub.16S is [M+H].sup.+ of
1258.5. The mass spectroscopy results are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
FIG. 9 represents a section of the spectrum of FIG. 8 at higher
resolution centered around the region of interest. .sup.1H NMR at
350 MHz in CDCl.sub.3 was performed; the results are shown in FIG.
10.
[0149] This is an example of derivatization of tacrolimus at
position 22.
Example 4
Preparation of Bromoacetyl Derivative of Tacrolimus
[0150] Another derivative of tacrolimus derivatized at position 22
is a bromoacetyl derivative. The bromoacetyl derivative can react a
sulfhydryl residue of an enzyme or another protein to produce a
tacrolimus-enzyme conjugate.
[0151] To form the bromoacetyl derivative of tacrolimus, first, to
a solution of succinimidyl bromoacetate (740 mg, 3.14 mmol) in 6 ml
of tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 4.degree. C. under argon was added,
dropwise via a syringe, neat mono-N-BOC-ethylenediamine. After the
addition was complete, the reaction was warmed to room temperature
and stirred for 3 h. The reaction solution was then concentrated in
vacuo, and the residue dissolved in ethyl acetate. The ethyl
acetate layer was washed with H.sub.2O once, saturated aqueous
NaHCO.sub.3 twice, and brine once, dried over MgSO.sub.4, and
evaporated to dryness to give 440 mg of crude white solid.
Purification on silica gel using Chromatotron (1:19
MeOH/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2) afforded 386 mg of pure bromoacetyl
ethylenediamine-mono-t-BOC as a white solid.
[0152] To a solution of bromoacetyl ethylenediamine-mono-t-BOC (50
mg, 0.178 mmol) in 2 ml of CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 at room temperature was
added dropwise via a syringe neat trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (0.29
ml, 3.76 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 3 h and then
concentrated under vacuum. Trace amounts of TFA were azeotropically
removed with toluene, and the resulting yellow oily product, the
TFA salt of bromoacetyl ethylenediamine, was used directly in the
next reaction.
[0153] To a solution of the carboxymethyloxime derivative of
tacrolimus (derivatized at position 22) (100 mg, 0.14 mmol) and
N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) (19 mg, 0.165 mmol) in 2 ml of THF under
argon was added via a syringe neat diisopropyl carbodiimide (DIC)
(23 .mu.l, 0.147 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room
temperature for 3 h and was then transferred via a syringe to a
solution of the TFA salt of bromoacetyl ethylenediamine (0.178
mmol) in 3 mL of THF. To this reaction solution was then added neat
diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) (40 .mu.l), 0.23 mmol). Stirring was
continued for 2.5 h, and the reaction was concentrated in vacuo to
give a crude oil. Purification on preparative thin-layer
chromatography (TLC) (7:3:1 EtOAc/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2/MeOH) afforded
44 mg (37%) of bromoacetyl tacrolimus as a colorless solid.
Example 5
Preparation of Monoclonal Antibody to Tacrolimus
[0154] Preparation of monoclonal antibody to tacrolimus was
performed as follows. The immunogen was the tacrolimus conjugate
with keyhole limpet hemocyanin of Example 2. This immunogen was
used to immunize Balb/c mice. The first immunization was 25 .mu.g
in a volume of 200 .mu.l with monophosphoryl lipid A and synthetic
trehalose dicorynomycolate adjuvant (RIBI MPL+TDM Emulsion, RIBI
ImmunoChem Research Inc.) intraperitoneally. Five weeks later a
boost immunization was given with 25 .mu.g of the immunogen in 200
.mu.l of monophosphoryl lipid A and synthetic trehalose
dicorynomycolate adjuvant intraperitoneally. Subsequently, after
another 8 weeks, a prefusion boost was given of the 25 .mu.g of the
immunogen in 200 .mu.l of Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution
intravenously and intraperitoneally.
[0155] Three days later the fusion was performed by standard
methods using a nonsecreting murine myeloma designated
P3.times.63-AG8.653.
[0156] Cloning was done by standard methods.
[0157] The clones were screened by the following reverse ELISA
immunoassay procedure according to the following protocol. Plates
were coated with polyclonal goat anti-mouse IgG (IgG+IgA+IgM)
(Zymed) at 5 .mu.g/ml in phosphate buffered saline at 100 .mu.l per
well. Plate coating was performed for 2 hours or more at room
temperature or overnight at about 4.degree. C.; the plates could be
stored wrapped in film at about 4.degree. C. for several days. The
plates were then flicked dry and blocked with 300 .mu.l per well of
blocking buffer diluent (0.5% bovine serum albumin, 0.05% Tween 20
in PBS). Plate blocking was performed by incubation for 15 minutes
or more at room temperature with plate shaking. The plates were
then flicked dry. The monoclonal antibody to be screened was then
added to each well as follows: 50 .mu.l per well of blocking buffer
diluent was added along with 50 .mu.l per well culture supernatant
transferred from the corresponding well in the fusion growth plate.
Incubation was for about 1 hour at room temperature with plates
shaking. The plate was washed using a Titerteck Plus plate washer
with S20 stacker with the washing buffer being PBS with 0.05% Tween
20. An enzyme conjugate of tacrolimus covalently coupled to
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase diluted in blocking buffer
diluent to 1:4000 was added at 100 .mu.l per well. Incubation was
performed for about 1 hour at room temperature with shaking. The
plate was then washed and a chromogenic solution was added at a
volume of 100 .mu.l per well. The chromogenic solution contained
0.593 mM p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet, 0.02 M NAD, 0.033 M
glucose-6-phosphate, 0.055 M Tris, 0.02% sodium azide, and a 1:4000
dilution of diaphorase (lipoyl dehydrogenase) (Sigma, St. Louis,
Mo.). BSA was present at 1% (vol/vol) of a 5% w/vol BSA solution.
BSA was used to help prevent rapid precipitation of reduced
p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet.
[0158] From the screening a hybridoma producing a suitable
monoclonal antibody was selected. This is designated as 1H6 and is
a IgG.sub.1.lamda. antibody. This antibody has a binding affinity
for tacrolimus of about 3.7.times.10.sup.9 liters/mole, that
cross-reacts with 13-demethyl tacrolimus, and that has less than
about 8% cross-reactivity to all of the following tacrolimus
metabolites: 15-demethyl tacrolimus; 31-demethyl tacrolimus;
13,31-didemethyl tacrolimus; 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus; and
12-hydroxy tacrolimus.
Example 6
Comparison of Cross-Reactivity with Tacrolimus Metabolites for
Monoclonal Antibody of Example 4 and Other Antibodies
[0159] The antibody of Example 5, another antibody resulting from
the cloning and designated 14H04, and other antibodies, were tested
for cross-reactivity of tacrolimus metabolites (13-demethyl
tacrolimus, 15-demethyl tacrolimus, 31-demethyl tacrolimus,
13,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, 15,31-didemethyl tacrolimus, and
12-hydroxy tacrolimus). All of these metabolites except 12-hydroxy
tacrolimus were tested at various levels in hemolysate containing
10 ng/ml of tacrolimus; 12-hydroxy tacrolimus was tested at 10
ng/ml with no tacrolimus in the sample. Methanolic extracts were
used in this testing. The standard curve generated for this testing
were verified using MORE immunosuppressive drug controls level 1-4,
a standard control for these assays (More Diagnostics, Los Osos,
Calif.).
[0160] All antibodies showed cross-reactivity to 13-demethyl
tacrolimus to varying degrees. Cross-reactivity was calculated by
the following formula: (cross-reaction value ng/ml)-solvent control
value (ng/ml).times.100)/metabolite spiked target (ng/ml)=%
cross-reactivity.
[0161] The results are shown in Table 1. With the exception of
13-demethyl tacrolimus, the 1H6 antibody of Example 5 had less than
8% cross-reactivity with the other analytes tested. TABLE-US-00001
TABLE 1 CROSS-REACTIVITY OF ANTIBODIES WITH TACROLIMUS METABOLITES
Metabolite in Tacrolimus Hemolysate Present 14H04 1H6 6D5-D11
6D5-D12 6D5-F12 13-demethyl 10 ng/mL 227% 78% 120% 87% 65%
tacrolimus 5.0 ng/mL 15-demethyl 10 ng/mL 8% 5% 9% 4% 0 tacrolimus
5.0 ng/mL 31-demethyl 10 ng/mL 31% 7% 13% 8% 0 tacrolimus 5.0 ng/mL
13, 31 di 10 ng/mL 10% 0 42% 0 0 demethyl tacrolimus 5.0 ng/mL 15,
31 di 10 ng/mL 0 0 29% 14% 0 demethyl tacrolimus 5.0 ng/mL 12-OH
tacrolimus 0 ng/mL 0 0 0 0 0 10 ng/mL
Example 7
Homogeneous Immunoassay Using Monoclonal Antibody to Tacrolimus
[0162] A homogeneous immunoassay to tacrolimus based on the EMIT
procedure was carried out according to the following protocol. A
volume (200 .mu.l) of sample or calibration standard was pipetted
into a microfuge tube. Into the same tube, 50 .mu.l of 300 mM
CuSO.sub.4 was pipetted along with 200 .mu.l of methanol. The
mixture was capped and vortexed for 10 seconds and centrifuged for
5 minutes at 20800.times.g. The supernatant was decanted into a
sample cup of a Roche Cobas Mira analyzer according to standard
parameters for that analyzer. The following reagents were placed
into the reagent rack of the analyzer: Reagent A contained NaCl,
Na.sub.2EDTA, anti-tacrolimus monoclonal antibody (1H6),
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), glucose-6-phosphate,
detergent (Pluronic 25R2), sodium azide, and n-methylisothiazolone
at pH 5.5. Reagent B was Tris, pH 8.2, with Na.sub.2EDTA, detergent
(Pluronic 25R2), sodium azide, and n-methylisothiazolone. Reagent C
was a tacrolimus-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase conjugate at pH
7.0, in Na.sub.2HPO4, Na.sub.2EDTA, bovine serum albumin, detergent
(Pluronic 25R2), and sodium azide. The sample and reagent racks are
loaded onto the analyzer and the run is started according to the
parameters that have been preset. The enzyme rates are printed out
during the run in terms of milli-od/min. The calibration curves are
shown in FIG. 11 for 1H6 and another monoclonal antibody designated
as 14H04.
Example 8
Correlation Between Assay for Tacrolimus Using Monoclonal Antibody
of the Present Invention and EMIT Assay with LC-MS/MS Method
[0163] A series of samples from 70 patients to whom tacrolimus had
been administered was assayed with the EMIT-homogeneous immunoassay
using the 1H6 monoclonal antibody of the present invention as
compared with the LC/MS/MS method. The LC/MS/MS method is an assay
method for tacrolimus that employs liquid chromatography followed
by tandem mass spectroscopy (P. J. Taylor et al., "Sensitive,
Specific Quantitative Analysis of Tacrolimus (FK506) in Blood by
Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry," Clin.
Chem. 42: 279-285 (1996)). The results are shown in FIG. 12. The
results show a very high correlation with a correlation coefficient
of 0.929.
Example 9
Comparison of Results Using EMIT Homogeneous Immunoassay and
LC/MS/MS Using Specimens from Patients with Liver Dysfunction
[0164] Although monoclonal antibody 1H6 has substantially minimized
cross-reactivity to metabolites of tacrolimus other than
13-demethyl tacrolimus, some cross-reactivity remains with
13-demethyl tacrolimus. In order to determine whether or not the
cross-reactivity with 13-demethyl tacrolimus would interfere with
use of this antibody in an immunoassay, a panel of specimens from
70 patients who had severe liver dysfunction and were awaiting
transplantation while on tacrolimus was assayed with the EMIT
immunoassay using the 1H6 monoclonal antibody, with the LC/MS/MS
method, and with another commercially available immunoassay for
tacrolimus, the IMx immunoassay produced by Abbott. Such samples
typically contain higher levels of tacrolimus metabolites than do
those from patients who have undergone organ transplantation but
have normal liver function. Tacrolimus levels were measured on the
panel of samples using these three assays.
[0165] The results are shown in FIG. 13 for the comparison between
the EMIT assay and the LC/MS/MS assay and in FIG. 14 for the
comparison between the EMIT assay and the IMx assay (Abbott).
Deming's regression analysis was used to interpret the results; the
results are shown in Table 2. The EMIT assay using the 1H6
monoclonal antibody had closer agreement with LC/MS/MS than the
Abbott IMx assay based on the slope of the results (see Table 2)
with the slope of 1.11 for EMIT and 1.45 for IMx. Average
concentration of the 70 samples of 6.79 ng/ml by MC/MS/MS, 6.96 ng
by EMIT using the 1H6 monoclonal antibody, and 7.93 ng/ml by Abbott
IMx. Two samples tested above range by IMx only. Bland-Altman
analysis of the 70 results are shown in FIG. 15 for EMIT using
monoclonal antibody 1H6 and Abbott IMx versus LC/MS/MS. These plots
illustrate that in general noticeable variability of results versus
LC/MS/MS occurs with samples about 10 ng/ml. The pattern of
difference for LC/MS/MS by immunoassay was similar for the EMIT
assay using monoclonal antibody 1H6 and the Abbott IMx assay.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Correlation Between Results of Assays for
Tacrolimus in Patients with Liver Damage Comparison Slope/Intercept
Correlation EMIT vs. LC/MS/MS y = 1.11x - 0.66 0.910 IMx vs.
LC/MS/MS y = 1.47x - 2.11 0.925 EMIT vs. IMx y = 0.77x + 0.87
0.953
[0166] Even in these patients containing high levels of tacrolimus
metabolites, the assay using the monoclonal antibody 1H6 in an EMIT
homogeneous immunoassay showed a high degree of correlation
relative to other methods. Therefore, liver dysfunction may not
cause a severe impact on this assay using this antibody and the
results imply that clinical management of patients by immunoassay
can be accomplished similarly by using the EMIT immunoassay with
the 1H6 monoclonal antibody or the previously-available Abbott IMx
immunoassay for tacrolimus. This shows the clinical capability of
the 1H6 monoclonal antibody.
Advantages of the Present Invention
[0167] The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody to
tacrolimus that minimizes cross-reactivity with tacrolimus
metabolites. The monoclonal antibody of the present invention can
be used in an improved immunoassay for tacrolimus that correlates
well with other immunoassay methods and non-immunological assay
methods for tacrolimus. An immunoassay employing a monoclonal
antibody is suitable for clinical monitoring of patients receiving
tacrolimus, including patients with impaired liver function who are
expected to have high levels of tacrolimus metabolites in their
serum.
[0168] Although the present invention has been described with
considerable detail, with reference to certain preferred versions
thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and
scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the
description of the preferred versions contained herein.
* * * * *