U.S. patent application number 14/812325 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-26 for compositions and methods for binding lysophosphatidic acid.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lpath, Inc.. Invention is credited to William Arthur GARLAND, Genevieve HANSEN, Roger A. SABBADINI, James Stephen SWANEY.
Application Number | 20160146844 14/812325 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40094082 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160146844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SABBADINI; Roger A. ; et
al. |
May 26, 2016 |
COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR BINDING LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID
Abstract
Compositions and methods for making and using anti-LPA agents,
for example, monoclonal antibodies, are described.
Inventors: |
SABBADINI; Roger A.; (Bend,
OR) ; HANSEN; Genevieve; (San Diego, CA) ;
GARLAND; William Arthur; (San Clemente, CA) ; SWANEY;
James Stephen; (Carlsbad, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lpath, Inc. |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
40094082 |
Appl. No.: |
14/812325 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13448269 |
Apr 16, 2012 |
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14812325 |
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12129109 |
May 29, 2008 |
8158124 |
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13448269 |
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60940964 |
May 30, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/7.94 ;
435/7.1; 435/7.92; 436/501 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 35/00 20180101;
A61P 17/00 20180101; A61P 37/06 20180101; A61P 37/02 20180101; G01N
33/92 20130101; A61P 27/02 20180101; A61P 3/04 20180101; A61P 25/04
20180101; A61P 1/16 20180101; C07K 2317/73 20130101; A61P 15/00
20180101; A61P 25/28 20180101; C07K 2317/76 20130101; A61K 2039/505
20130101; C07K 16/44 20130101; A61P 9/00 20180101; A61P 43/00
20180101; A61P 25/00 20180101; A61P 11/00 20180101; C07K 16/3076
20130101; G01N 2405/04 20130101; A61P 13/12 20180101; C07K 2317/24
20130101; G01N 33/54386 20130101; A61P 3/10 20180101; A61P 37/00
20180101; A61P 29/02 20180101; C07K 2317/92 20130101; A61P 41/00
20180101; G01N 33/577 20130101; A61P 17/02 20180101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/92 20060101
G01N033/92; G01N 33/543 20060101 G01N033/543; G01N 33/577 20060101
G01N033/577 |
Claims
1. A method of detecting LPA or a metabolite thereof in a sample
obtained from a subject, comprising detecting binding of LPA or a
metabolite thereof in a sample to an antibody, or antigen-binding
fragment thereof, that specifically binds LPA or a metabolite
thereof, under conditions that allow the antibody or
antigen-binding fragment thereof to bind to the LPA or metabolite
thereof if present in the sample, wherein the antibody or
antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises at least one
immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain and at least one
immunoglobulin light chain variable domain, wherein: (i) each
immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain comprises first, second,
and third heavy chain complementarity determining regions (CDRs),
wherein the first heavy chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 56, 68, and 91,
the second heavy chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 57, 69, 79, and
92, and the third heavy chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 58, 70, 80, 84,
and 93; and (ii) each immunoglobulin light chain variable domain
comprises first, second, and third light chain CDRs, wherein the
first light chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence selected
from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 59, 71, 81, and 94, the
second light chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence selected
from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO; 60, 72, 82, and 95, and the
third light chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence selected
from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 61 and 96.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sample is an
animal-derived sample, and optionally wherein the subject is a
mammal, optionally a human.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the animal-derived sample
is selected from the group consisting of a tissue sample and a
bodily fluid sample.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the tissue sample is a
biopsy sample.
5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the bodily fluid sample is
selected from the group consisting of whole blood, plasma, serum,
urine, semen, bile, aqueous humor, vitreous humor, mucus,
bronchioalveolar lavage fluid, and sputum.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the antibody or
antigen-binding fragment thereof is a monoclonal antibody or
antigen-binding fragment thereof.
7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising measuring an
amount of LPA or metabolite thereof in the sample.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the method further
comprises comparing a level of LPA or metabolite thereof in the
sample to a reference level of LPA or metabolite thereof obtained
from a normal animal of the same species as the subject, wherein
the presence of an increased level of LPA or metabolite thereof
relative to the reference level correlates with the presence of
disease.
9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the method further
comprises comparing a level of LPA or metabolite thereof in the
sample to a desired level of LPA or metabolite thereof, and, if
necessary, altering a therapeutic dosage of an anti-LPA agent
administered to the subject, wherein the anti-LPA agent modulates
the effective concentration of LPA, in order to regulate the
effective concentration of LPA in the subject.
10. A diagnostic kit for detecting lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) for
use in a method according to claim 1, comprising: (a) a diagnostic
reagent comprising a derivatized LPA that comprises a hydrocarbon
chain, wherein a carbon atom within the hydrocarbon chain is
derivatized with a reactive group; and (b) an antibody, or
antigen-binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds LPA,
wherein the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises
at least one immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain and at
least one immunoglobulin light chain variable domain, wherein: (i)
each immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain comprises first,
second, and third heavy chain complementarity determining regions
(CDRs), wherein the first heavy chain CDR comprises an amino acid
sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 56, 68,
and 91, the second heavy chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 57, 69, 79, and
92, and the third heavy chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 58, 70, 80, 84,
and 93; and (ii) each immunoglobulin light chain variable domain
comprises first, second, and third light chain CDRs, wherein the
first light chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence selected
from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 59, 71, 81, and 94, the
second light chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence selected
from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO; 60, 72, 82, and 95, and the
third light chain CDR comprises an amino acid sequence selected
from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 61 and 96.
11. A diagnostic kit according to claim 10 wherein the antibody or
antigen-binding fragment thereof is a monoclonal antibody or
antigen-binding fragment thereof.
12. A diagnostic kit according to claim 10 wherein the reactive
group is selected from the group consisting of a sulfhydryl (thiol)
group, a carboxylic acid group, a cyano group, an ester, a hydroxy
group, an alkene, an alkyne, an acid chloride group, and a halogen
atom.
13. A diagnostic kit according to claim 10 wherein the derivatized
LPA is associated with a solid support.
14. A diagnostic kit according to claim 13 wherein the derivatized
LPA is covalently associated with the solid support.
15. A diagnostic kit according to claim 10 wherein the derivatized
LPA is conjugated to a carrier moiety selected from the group
consisting of polyethylene glycol, colloidal gold, adjuvant, a
silicone bead, and a protein.
16. A diagnostic kit according to claim 15 wherein the protein is
selected from the group consisting of keyhole limpet hemocyanin,
albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, and soybean trypsin inhibitor.
17. A diagnostic kit according to claim 10 wherein the diagnostic
reagent is a thiolated LPA conjugated to bovine serum albumin or
keyhole limpet hemocyanin.
18. A diagnostic kit according to claim 15 wherein the carrier
moiety is associated with a solid support.
19. A diagnostic kit according to claim 10 that is an ELISA kit.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to
commonly owned, co-pending U.S. non-provisional patent application
Ser. No. 13/448,269, filed 16 Apr. 2012, of which this application
is a divisional and which is a continuation of commonly owned,
co-pending U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No.
12/129,109, filed 30 May 2008, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,158,124,
and now-expired U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/940,964,
filed 30 May 2007, each of which is herein incorporated by
reference in its entirety for any and all purposes.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0002] The instant application contains a Sequence Listing
submitted as an ASCII text file via the Electronic Filing System on
29 Jul. 2015, which Sequence Listing is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety. Said ASCII file, created on 29 Jul.
2015, is named LPT3200CT1DV.txt, and is 36,377 bytes in size.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present invention relates to agents that bind
lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and its variants, particularly to
monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, and antibody derivatives
specifically reactive to LPA under physiological conditions. Such
agents can be used in the treatment and/or prevention of various
diseases or disorders through the delivery of pharmaceutical
compositions that contain such agents.
[0004] LPA is a bioactive lipid mediating multiple cellular
responses including proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis,
motility, and protection from apoptosis in a variety of cell
types.
[0005] LPA is involved in the establishment and progression of
cancer by providing a pro-growth tumor microenvironment and
promoting angiogenesis. In addition, LPA has been implicated in
fibrosis, ocular diseases such as macular degeneration, and
pain-related disorders. Therefore, an antibody-based approach to
the neutralization of LPA offers the potential to increase the
arsenal of current therapies for these indications.
[0006] The inventors have invented a family of high-affinity,
specific monoclonal antibodies to LPA, one of which is known as
Lpathomab or LT3000. The efficacy of Lpathomab in various animal
models of cancer, fibrosis, and ocular disorders highlights the
utility of this class of anti-LPA antibodies (and molecules derived
therefrom), for example, in the treatment of malignancies,
angiogenesis, and fibrosis-related disorders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0007] 1. Introduction
[0008] The following description includes information that may be
useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an
admission that any of the information provided herein, or any
publication specifically or implicitly referenced herein, is prior
art, or even particularly relevant, to the presently claimed
invention.
[0009] 2. Background
[0010] A. Bioactive Signaling Lipids
[0011] Lipids and their derivatives are now recognized as important
targets for medical research, not as just simple structural
elements in cell membranes or as a source of energy for
.beta.-oxidation, glycolysis or other metabolic processes. In
particular, certain bioactive lipids function as signaling
mediators important in animal and human disease. Although most of
the lipids of the plasma membrane play an exclusively structural
role, a small proportion of them are involved in relaying
extracellular stimuli into cells. These lipids are referred to as
"bioactive lipids" or, alternatively, "bioactive signaling lipids."
"Lipid signaling" refers to any of a number of cellular signal
transduction pathways that use cell membrane lipids as second
messengers, as well as referring to direct interaction of a lipid
signaling molecule with its own specific receptor. Lipid signaling
pathways are activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli,
ranging from growth factors to inflammatory cytokines, and regulate
cell fate decisions such as apoptosis, differentiation and
proliferation. Research into bioactive lipid signaling is an area
of intense scientific investigation as more and more bioactive
lipids are identified and their actions characterized.
[0012] Examples of bioactive lipids include the eicosanoids
(including the cannabinoids, leukotrienes, prostaglandins,
lipoxins, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, and isoeicosanoids),
non-eicosanoid cannabinoid mediators, phospholipids and their
derivatives such as phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylglycerol
(PG), platelet activating factor (PAF) and cardiolipins as well as
lysophospholipids such as lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and various
lysophosphatidic acids (LPA). Bioactive signaling lipids also
include the sphingolipids such as sphingomyelin, ceramide,
ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingosine, sphingosylphosphoryl choline,
sphinganine, sphinganine-1-phosphate (dihydro-S1P) and
sphingosine-1-phosphate. Sphingolipids and their derivatives
represent a group of extracellular and intracellular signaling
molecules with pleiotropic effects on important cellular processes.
Other examples of bioactive signaling lipids include
phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylethanolamine (PEA),
diacylglyceride (DG), sulfatides, gangliosides, and
cerebrosides.
[0013] 1. Lysolipids
[0014] Lysophospholipids (LPLs), also known as lysolipids, are low
molecular weight (typically less than about 500 dalton) lipids that
contain a single hydrocarbon backbone and a polar head group
containing a phosphate group. Some lysolipids are bioactive
signaling lipids. Two particular examples of medically important
bioactive lysolipids are LPA (glycerol backbone) and S1P (sphingoid
backbone). The structures of selected LPAs, S1P, and dihydro S1P
are presented below.
##STR00001##
[0015] The structural backbone of LPA is derived from
glycerol-based phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) or
phosphatidic acid (PA). In the case of lysosphingolipids such as
S1P, the fatty acid of the ceramide backbone is missing. The
structural backbone of S1P, dihydro S1P (DHS1P), and
sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is based on sphingosine, which is
derived from sphingomyelin.
[0016] LPA and S1P regulate various cellular signaling pathways by
binding to the same class of multiple transmembrane domain G
protein-coupled (GPCR) receptors. The S1P receptors are designated
as S1P1, S1P2, S1P3, S1P4 and S1P5 (formerly EDG-1, EDG-5/AGR16,
EDG-3, EDG-6 and EDG-8) and the LPA receptors designated as LPA1,
LPA2, LPA3 (formerly, EDG-2, EDG-4, and EDG-7). A fourth LPA
receptor of this family has been identified for LPA (LPA4), and
other putative receptors for these lysophospholipids have also been
reported.
[0017] LPA and S1P have been shown to play a role in the immune
response through modulation of immune-related cells such as T- and
B-lymphocytes. These lipids promote T-cell migration to sites of
immune response and regulate proliferation of T cells as well as
secretion of various cytokines. In particular, S1P is thought to
control egress of lymphocytes into the peripheral circulation. Thus
agents which bind LPA and S1P are believed to be useful in methods
for decreasing an undesired, excessive or aberrant immune response,
and for treating diseases and conditions, including certain
hematological cancers and autoimmune disorders that are associated
with an undesired, excessive or aberrant involvement of lymphocytes
and or an aberrant immune response.
[0018] a. Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA)
[0019] Lysophosphatidic acid (mono-acylglycerol-3-phosphate,
<500 Dalton) consists of a single hydrocarbon backbone and a
polar head group containing a phosphate group. LPA is not a single
molecular entity but a collection of endogenous structural variants
with fatty acids of varied lengths and degrees of saturation.
Biologically relevant variants of LPA include 18:2, 18:1, 18:0,
16:0 and 20:4. LPA species with both saturated fatty acids (16:0
and 18:0) and unsaturated fatty acids (16:1, 18:1, 18:2, and 20:4)
have been detected in serum and plasma. The 16:0, 18:1, 18:2 and
20:4 LPA isoforms are the predominant species in blood. Significant
levels (>1 .mu.M) of bioactive LPA are detectable in various
body fluids, including serum, saliva, follicular fluid and
malignant effusions.
[0020] The present invention provides among its aspects anti-LPA
agents that are useful for treating or preventing
hyperproliferative disorders and various other disorders, as
described in greater detail below. In particular, certain
embodiments of the invention is drawn to antibodies targeted to LPA
including but not limited to 18:2, 18:1, 18:0, 16:0, and 20:4
variants of LPA.
[0021] LPAs have long been known as precursors of phospholipid
biosynthesis in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, but LPAs
have emerged only recently as signaling molecules that are rapidly
produced and released by activated cells, notably platelets, to
influence target cells by acting on specific cell-surface receptor.
Besides being synthesized and processed to more complex
phospholipids in the endoplasmic reticulum, LPA can be generated
through the hydrolysis of pre-existing phospholipids following cell
activation; for example, the sn-2 position is commonly missing a
fatty acid residue due to de-acylation, leaving only the sn-3
hydroxyl esterified to a fatty acid. Moreover, a key enzyme in the
production of LPA, autotaxin (lysoPLD/NPP2), may be the product of
an oncogene, as many tumor types up-regulate autotoxin. The
concentrations of LPA in human plasma and serum have been reported,
including determinations made using sensitive and specific LC/MS
procedures. For example, in freshly prepared human serum allowed to
sit at 25.degree. C. for one hour, LPA concentrations have been
estimated to be approximately 1.2 mM, with the LPA analogs 16:0,
18:1, 18:2, and 20:4 being the predominant species. Similarly, in
freshly prepared human plasma allowed to sit at 25.degree. C. for
one hour, LPA concentrations have been estimated to be
approximately 0.7 mM, with 18:1 and 18:2 LPA being the predominant
species.
[0022] LPA mediates its biological functions predominantly by
binding to a class of multiple transmembrane G protein-coupled
receptors (GPCR). Five LPA-specific GPCRs, termed LPA1-5, have been
identified to date; they show both overlapping and distinct
signaling properties and tissue expression. The LPA1-3 receptors
belong to the so-called EDG subfamily (EGD2/LPA1, EDG4/LPA2, and
EDG7/LPA3) of GPCRs with 50% sequence similarity to each other.
Their closest relative is the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, which binds
the bioactive lipids 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) and
arachidonoyl-ethanolamine. Two newly identified LPA receptors,
termed LPA4 (formerly GPR23/p2y9) and LPA5 (formerly GPR92) are
more closely related to the P2Y nucleotide receptors. In addition,
LPA recognizes the intracellular receptor, PPRgamma.
[0023] LPA1 is expressed in a wide range of tissues and organs
whereas LPA2 and LPA3 show more restricted expression profile.
However, LPA2 and LPA3 expressions were shown to be increased in
ovarian and colon cancers and inflammation, suggesting that the
main role of LPA2 and LPA3 is in pathophysiological conditions.
[0024] The role of these receptors has been in part elucidated by
receptor knockout studies in mice. LPA1-deficient mice show partial
postnatal lethality due to a suckling defect resulting from
impaired olfaction. LPA1-deficient mice are also protected from
lung fibrosis in response to bleomycin-induced lung injury.
Furthermore, mice lacking the LPA1 receptor gene lose the nerve
injury-induced neuropathic pain behaviors and phenomena.
[0025] In contrast, mice lacking LPA2 receptors appear to be
normal. LPA3 receptor knockout mice have reduced litter size due to
delayed blastocyst implantation and altered embryo spacing, and
LPA3-deficient uteri show reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
expression and prostaglandin synthesis; while exogenous
administration of PGE2 into LPA3-deficient female mice has been
reported to rescue the implantation defect.
[0026] LPAs influence a wide range of biological responses,
including induction of cell proliferation, stimulation of cell
migration and neurite retraction, gap junction closure, and even
slime mold chemotaxis. The body of knowledge about the biology of
LPA continues to grow as more and more cellular systems are tested
for LPA responsiveness. The major physiological and
pathophysiological effects of LPA include, for example:
[0027] Wound healing: It is now known that, in addition to
stimulating cell growth and proliferation, LPA promote cellular
tension and cell-surface fibronectin binding, which are important
events in wound repair and regeneration.
[0028] Apoptosis: Recently, anti-apoptotic activity has also been
ascribed to LPA, and it has recently been reported that peroxisome
proliferation receptor gamma is a receptor/target for LPA.
[0029] Blood vessel maturation: Autotaxin, a secreted
lysophospholipase D responsible for producing LPAs, is essential
for blood vessel formation during development. In addition,
unsaturated LPAs were identified as major contributors to the
induction of vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation.
[0030] Edema and vascular permeability: LPA induces plasma
exudation and histamine release in mice.
[0031] Inflammation: LPA acts as inflammatory mediator in human
corneal epithelial cells. LPA participates in corneal wound healing
and stimulates the release of ROS in lens. LPA can also re-activate
HSV-1 in rabbit cornea.
[0032] The bite of the venomous spider, Loxosceles reclusa (brown
recluse spider), causes necrotic ulcers that can cause serious and
long lasting tissue damage, and occasionally death. The pathology
of wounds generated from the bite of this spider consists of an
intense inflammatory response mediated by AA and prostaglandins.
The major component of the L. reclusa spider venom is the
phospholipase D enzyme often referred to as sphingomyelinase D
(SMase D), which hydrolyzes sphingomyelin to produce C1P. It has
been found, however, that lysophospholipids with a variety of
headgroups are hydrolysed by the L. reclusa enzyme to release LPA.
It is believed that anti-LPA agents such as those of the invention
will be useful in reducing or treating inflammation of various
types, including but not limited to inflammation resulting from L.
reclusa envenomation.
[0033] Fibrosis and scar formation: LPA inhibits TGF-mediated
stimulation of type I collagen mRNA stability via an ERK-dependent
pathway in dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, LPA have some direct
fibrogenic effects by stimulating collagen gene expression and
proliferation of fibroblasts.
[0034] Immune response: LPA, like S1P, has been shown to play a
role in the immune response through modulation of immune-related
cells. These lipids promote T-cell migration to sites of immune
response and regulate proliferation of T cells as well as secretion
of various cytokines.
[0035] Thus agents that reduce the effective concentration of LPA,
such as Lpath's anti-LPA mAb, are believed to be useful in methods
for treating diseases and conditions such as those associated with
wound healing and fibrosis, apoptosis, angiogenesis and
neovascularization, vascular permeability and inflammation, that
are associated with an undesired, excessive or aberrant level of
LPA.
[0036] Recently, the applicants have developed several monoclonal
antibodies against LPAs. These anti-LPA antibodies can neutralize
various LPAs and mitigate their biologic and pharmacologic action.
Anti-LPA antibodies are, therefore, believed to be useful in
prevention and/or treatment of various diseases and conditions
associated with excessive, unwanted or aberrant levels of LPA.
[0037] Rapid and specific methods of detecting LPA are also
desired. Methods for separating and semi-quantitatively measuring
phospholipids such as LPA using techniques such as thin-layer
chromatography (TLC) followed by gas chromatography (GC) and/or
mass spectrometry (MS) are known. For example, lipids may be
extracted from the test sample of bodily fluid. Alternatively,
thin-layer chromatography may be used to separate various
phospholipids. Phospholipids and lysophospholipids can then be
visualized on plates, for example, using ultraviolet light.
Alternatively, lysophospholipid concentrations can be identified by
NMR or HPLC following isolation from phospholipids or as part of
the phospholipid. LPA levels have also been determined in ascites
from ovarian cancer patients using an assay that relies on
LysoPA-specific effects on eukaryotic cells in culture. However,
these prior procedures are time-consuming, expensive and variable
and typically only semi-quantitative. Enzymatic methods for
detecting lysophospholipids such as LPA in biological fluids, and
for correlating and detecting conditions associated with altered
levels of lysophospholipids, are also known. U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,255,063 and 6,248,553, originally assigned to Atairgin
Technologies, Inc. and now commonly owned with the instant
invention.
[0038] 3. Definitions
[0039] Before describing the instant invention in detail, several
terms used in the context of the present invention will be defined.
In addition to these terms, others are defined elsewhere in the
specification, as necessary. Unless otherwise expressly defined
herein, terms of art used in this specification will have their
art-recognized meanings.
[0040] The term "aberrant" means excessive or unwanted, for example
in reference to levels or effective concentrations of a cellular
target such as a protein or bioactive lipid.
[0041] The term "antibody" ("Ab") or "immunoglobulin" (Ig) refers
to any form of a peptide, polypeptide derived from, modeled after
or encoded by, an immunoglobulin gene, or fragment thereof, that is
capable of binding an antigen or epitope. See, e.g., Immunobiology,
Fifth Edition, C. A. Janeway, P. Travers, M., Walport, M. J.
Shlomchiked., ed. Garland Publishing (2001). The term "antibody" is
used herein in the broadest sense, and encompasses monoclonal,
polyclonal or multispecific antibodies, minibodies,
heteroconjugates, diabodies, triabodies, chimeric, antibodies,
synthetic antibodies, antibody fragments, and binding agents that
employ the CDRs (or variant thereof that retain antigen binding
activity) of the parent antibody. Antibodies are defined herein as
retaining at least one desired activity of the parent antibody.
Desired activities can include the ability to bind the antigen
specifically, the ability to inhibit proliferation in vitro, the
ability to inhibit angiogenesis in vivo, and the ability to alter
cytokine profile(s) in vitro. Herein, antibodies and antibody
fragments, variants, and derivatives may also be referred to as
"immune-derived moieties", in that such molecules, or at least the
antigen-binding portion(s) thereof, have been derived from an
anti-LPA antibody.
[0042] Native antibodies (native immunoglobulins) are usually
heterotetrameric glycoproteins of about 150,000 Daltons, typically
composed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy
(H) chains. Each light chain is typically linked to a heavy chain
by one covalent disulfide bond, while the number of disulfide
linkages varies among the heavy chains of different immunoglobulin
isotypes. Each heavy and light chain also has regularly spaced
intrachain disulfide bridges. Each heavy chain has at one end a
variable domain (VH) followed by a number of constant domains. Each
light chain has a variable domain at one end (VL) and a constant
domain at its other end; the constant domain of the light chain is
aligned with the first constant domain of the heavy chain, and the
light-chain variable domain is aligned with the variable domain of
the heavy chain. Particular amino acid residues form an interface
between the light- and heavy-chain variable domains.
[0043] The light chains of antibodies (immunoglobulins) from any
vertebrate species can be assigned to one of two clearly distinct
types, called kappa (.kappa.) and lambda (.lamda.), based on the
amino acid sequences of their constant domains.
[0044] Depending on the amino acid sequence of the constant domain
of their heavy chains, immunoglobulins can be assigned to different
classes. There are five major classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD,
IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these may be further divided into
subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, and IgA2.
The heavy-chain constant domains that correspond to the different
classes of immunoglobulins are called alpha, delta, epsilon, gamma,
and mu, respectively. The subunit structures and three-dimensional
configurations of different classes of immunoglobulins are well
known.
[0045] An "antibody derivative" is an immune-derived moiety, i.e.,
a molecule that is derived from an antibody. This comprehends, for
example, antibody variants, antibody fragments, chimeric
antibodies, humanized antibodies, multivalent antibodies, antibody
conjugates and the like, which retain a desired level of binding
activity for antigen.
[0046] As used herein, "antibody fragment" refers to a portion of
an intact antibody that includes the antigen binding site or
variable regions of an intact antibody, wherein the portion can be
free of the constant heavy chain domains (e.g., CH2, CH3, and CH4)
of the Fc region of the intact antibody. Alternatively, portions of
the constant heavy chain domains (e.g., CH2, CH3, and CH4) can be
included in the "antibody fragment". Antibody fragments retain
antigen-binding and include Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, Fd, and Fv
fragments; diabodies; triabodies; single-chain antibody molecules
(sc-Fv); minibodies, nanobodies, and multispecific antibodies
formed from antibody fragments. Papain digestion of antibodies
produces two identical antigen-binding fragments, called "Fab"
fragments, each with a single antigen-binding site, and a residual
"Fc" fragment, whose name reflects its ability to crystallize
readily. Pepsin treatment yields an F(ab')2 fragment that has two
antigen-combining sites and is still capable of cross-linking
antigen. By way of example, a Fab fragment also contains the
constant domain of a light chain and the first constant domain
(CH1) of a heavy chain. "Fv" is the minimum antibody fragment that
contains a complete antigen-recognition and -binding site. This
region consists of a dimer of one heavy chain and one light chain
variable domain in tight, non-covalent association. It is in this
configuration that the three hypervariable regions of each variable
domain interact to define an antigen-binding site on the surface of
the VH-VL dimer. Collectively, the six hypervariable regions confer
antigen-binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a single
variable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three
hypervariable regions specific for an antigen) has the ability to
recognize and bind antigen, although at a lower affinity than the
entire binding site. "Single-chain Fv" or "sFv" antibody fragments
comprise the VH and VL domains of antibody, wherein these domains
are present in a single polypeptide chain. Generally, the Fv
polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide linker between the VH
and VL domains that enables the sFv to form the desired structure
for antigen binding. For a review of sFv, see Pluckthun in The
Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and
Moore, eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315 (1994).
[0047] The Fab fragment also contains the constant domain of the
light chain and the first constant domain (CH1) of the heavy chain.
Fab' fragments differ from Fab fragments by the addition of a few
residues at the carboxyl terminus of the heavy chain CH1 domain
including one or more cysteine(s) from the antibody hinge region.
Fab'-SH is the designation herein for Fab' in which the cysteine
residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group. F(ab')2
antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab'
fragments which have hinge cysteines between them. Other chemical
couplings of antibody fragments are also known.
[0048] A "variant" anti-LPA antibody, refers herein to a molecule
which differs in amino acid sequence from a native anti-LPA
antibody amino acid sequence by virtue of addition, deletion and/or
substitution of one or more amino acid residue(s) in the antibody
sequence and which retains at least one desired activity of the
parent anti-binding antibody. Desired activities can include the
ability to bind the antigen specifically, the ability to inhibit
proliferation in vitro, the ability to inhibit angiogenesis in
vivo, and the ability to alter cytokine profile in vitro. The amino
acid change(s) in an antibody variant may be within a variable
region or a constant region of a light chain and/or a heavy chain,
including in the Fc region, the Fab region, the CH1 domain, the CH2
domain, the CH3 domain, and the hinge region. In one embodiment,
the variant comprises one or more amino acid substitution(s) in one
or more hypervariable region(s) of the parent antibody. For
example, the variant may comprise at least one, e.g. from about one
to about ten, and preferably from about two to about five,
substitutions in one or more hypervariable regions of the parent
antibody. Ordinarily, the variant will have an amino acid sequence
having at least 65% amino acid sequence identity with the parent
antibody heavy or light chain variable domain sequences, more
preferably at least 75%, more preferably at 80%, more preferably at
least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at
least 95%. In some situations a sequence identity of at least 50%
is preferred, where other characteristics of the molecule convey
desired attributes such as binding and specificity. Identity or
homology with respect to this sequence is defined herein as the
percentage of amino acid residues in the candidate sequence that
are identical with the parent antibody residues, after aligning the
sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the
maximum percent sequence identity. None of N-terminal, C-terminal,
or internal extensions, deletions, or insertions into the antibody
sequence shall be construed as affecting sequence identity or
homology. The variant retains the ability to bind LPA and
preferably has desired activities that are superior to those of the
parent antibody. For example, the variant may have a stronger
binding affinity, enhanced ability to reduce angiogenesis and/or
halt tumor progression. To analyze such desired properties (for
example les immunogenic, longer half-life, enhanced stability,
enhanced potency), one should compare a Fab form of the variant to
a Fab form of the parent antibody or a full length form of the
variant to a full length form of the parent antibody, for example,
since it has been found that the format of the anti-sphingolipid
antibody impacts its activity in the biological activity assays
disclosed herein. The variant antibody of particular interest
herein can be one that displays at least about 10 fold, preferably
at least about % 5, 25, 59, or more of at least one desired
activity. The preferred variant is one that has superior
biophysical properties as measured in vitro or superior activities
biological as measured in vitro or in vivo when compared to the
parent antibody.
[0049] An "anti-LPA agent" refers to any therapeutic agent that
binds LPA, and includes antibodies, antibody variants,
antibody-derived molecules or non-antibody-derived moieties that
bind LPA and its variants.
[0050] A "bioactive lipid" refers to a lipid signaling molecule.
Bioactive lipids are distinguished from structural lipids (e.g.,
membrane-bound phospholipids) in that they mediate extracellular
and/or intracellular signaling and thus are involved in controlling
the function of many types of cells by modulating differentiation,
migration, proliferation, secretion, survival, and other processes.
In vivo, bioactive lipids can be found in extracellular fluids,
where they can be complexed with other molecules, for example serum
proteins such as albumin and lipoproteins, or in "free" form, i.e.,
not complexed with another molecule species. As extracellular
mediators, some bioactive lipids alter cell signaling by activating
membrane-bound ion channels or GPCRs or enzymes or factors that, in
turn, activate complex signaling systems that result in changes in
cell function or survival. As intracellular mediators, bioactive
lipids can exert their actions by directly interacting with
intracellular components such as enzymes, ion channels, or
structural elements such as actin.
[0051] Examples of bioactive lipids include sphingolipids such as
ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), sphingosine, sphinganine,
sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) and sphingosine-1-phosphate
(S1P). Sphingolipids and their derivatives and metabolites are
characterized by a sphingoid backbone (derived from sphingomyelin).
Sphingolipids and their derivatives and metabolites represent a
group of extracellular and intracellular signaling molecules with
pleiotropic effects on important cellular processes. They include
sulfatides, gangliosides and cerebrosides. Other bioactive lipids
are characterized by a glycerol-based backbone; for example,
lysophospholipids such as lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and various
lysophosphatidic acids (LPA), as well as phosphatidylinositol (PI),
phosphatidylethanolamine (PEA), phosphatidic acid, platelet
activating factor (PAF), cardiolipin, phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and
diacylglyceride (DG). Yet other bioactive lipids are derived from
arachidonic acid; these include the eicosanoids (including the
eicosanoid metabolites such as the HETEs, cannabinoids,
leukotrienes, prostaglandins, lipoxins, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids,
and isoeicosanoids), non-eicosanoid cannabinoid mediators. Other
bioactive lipids, including other phospholipids and their
derivatives, may also be used according to the instant
invention.
[0052] In some embodiments of the invention it may be preferable to
target glycerol-based bioactive lipids (those having a
glycerol-derived backbone, such as the LPAs) for antibody
production, as opposed to sphingosine-based bioactive lipids (those
having a sphingoid backbone, such as sphingosine and SIP). In other
embodiments it may be desired to target arachidonic acid-derived
bioactive lipids for antibody generation, and in other embodiments
arachidonic acid-derived and glycerol-derived bioactive lipids but
not sphingoid-derived bioactive lipids are preferred. Together the
arachidonic acid-derived and glycerol-derived bioactive lipids may
be referred to herein as "non-sphingoid bioactive lipids."
[0053] Specifically excluded from the class of bioactive lipids
according to the invention are phosphatidylcholine and
phosphatidylserine, as well as their metabolites and derivatives
that function primarily as structural members of the inner and/or
outer leaflet of cellular membranes.
[0054] The term "biologically active," in the context of an
antibody or antibody fragment or variant, refers to an antibody or
antibody fragment or antibody variant that is capable of binding
the desired epitope and in some ways exerting a biologic effect.
Biological effects include, but are not limited to, the modulation
of a growth signal, the modulation of an anti-apoptotic signal, the
modulation of an apoptotic signal, the modulation of the effector
function cascade, and modulation of other ligand interactions.
[0055] A "biomarker" is a specific biochemical in the body that has
a particular molecular feature that makes it useful for measuring
the progress of disease or the effects of treatment. For example,
S1P is a biomarker for certain hyperproliferative and/or
cardiovascular conditions.
[0056] "Cardiovascular therapy" encompasses cardiac therapy
(treatment of myocardial ischemia and heart failure) as well as the
prevention and/or treatment of other diseases associated with the
cardiovascular system, such as heart disease. The term "heart
disease" encompasses any type of disease, disorder, trauma or
surgical treatment that involves the heart or myocardial tissue. Of
particular interest are conditions associated with tissue
remodeling. The term "cardiotherapeutic agent" refers to an agent
that is therapeutic to diseases and diseases caused by or
associated with cardiac and myocardial diseases and disorders.
[0057] A "carrier" refers to a moiety adapted for conjugation to a
hapten, thereby rendering the hapten immunogenic. A representative,
non-limiting class of carriers is proteins, examples of which
include albumin, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, hemaglutanin, tetanus,
and diptheria toxoid. Other classes and examples of carriers
suitable for use in accordance with the invention are known in the
art. These, as well as later discovered or invented naturally
occurring or synthetic carriers, can be adapted for application in
accordance with the invention.
[0058] As used herein, the expressions "cell," "cell line," and
"cell culture" are used interchangeably and all such designations
include progeny. Thus, the words "transformants" and "transformed
cells" include the primary subject cell and cultures derived there
from without regard for the number of transfers. It is also
understood that all progeny may not be precisely identical in DNA
content, due to deliberate or inadvertent mutations. Mutant progeny
that have the same function or biological activity as screened for
in the originally transformed cell are included. Where distinct
designations are intended, it will be clear from the context.
[0059] The term "chemotherapeutic agent" means anti-cancer and
other anti-hyperproliferative agents. Thus chemotherapeutic agents
are a subset of therapeutic agents in general. Chemotherapeutic
agents include, but are not limited to: DNA damaging agents and
agents that inhibit DNA synthesis: anthracyclines (doxorubicin,
donorubicin, epirubicin), alkylating agents (bendamustine,
busulfan, carboplatin, carmustine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide,
dacarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, ifosphamide, lomustine,
mechlorethamine, melphalan, mitotane, mytomycin, pipobroman,
procarbazine, streptozocin, thiotepa, and triethylenemelamine),
platinum derivatives (cisplatin, carboplatin, cis
diammine-dichloroplatinum), and topoisomerase inhibitors
(Camptosar.TM.); anti-metabolites such as capecitabine,
chlorodeoxyadenosine, cytarabine (and its activated form, ara-CMP),
cytosine arabinoside, dacabazine, floxuridine, fludarabine,
5-fluorouracil, 5-DFUR, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, 6-mercaptopurine,
methotrexate, pentostatin, trimetrexate, 6-thioguanine);
anti-angiogenics (bevacizumab, thalidomide, sunitinib,
lenalidomide, TNP-470, 2-methoxyestradiol, ranibizumab, sorafenib,
erlotinib, bortezomib, pegaptanib, endostatin); vascular disrupting
agents (flavonoids/flavones, DMXAA, combretastatin derivatives such
as CA4DP, ZD6126, AVE8062A, etc.); biologics such as antibodies
(Herceptin.TM., Avastin.RTM., Panorex.TM., Rituxin.RTM.,
Zevalin.RTM., Mylotarg.TM., Campath.TM., Bexxar.RTM.,
Erbitux.RTM.); endocrine therapy: aromatase inhibitors
(4-hydroandrostendione, exemestane, aminoglutehimide, anastrazole,
letozole), anti-estrogens (Tamoxifen, Toremifine, Raoxifene,
Faslodex.RTM.), steroids such as dexamethasone; immuno-modulators:
cytokines such as IFN-beta and IL2), inhibitors to integrins, other
adhesion proteins and matrix metalloproteinases); histone
deacetylase inhibitors like suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid;
inhibitors of signal transduction such as inhibitors of tyrosine
kinases like imatinib (Gleevec.RTM.); inhibitors of heat shock
proteins like 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin; retinoids
such as all trans retinoic acid; inhibitors of growth factor
receptors or the growth factors themselves; anti-mitotic compounds
and/or tubulin-depolymerizing agents such as the taxoids
(paclitaxel, docetaxel, taxotere, BAY 59-8862), navelbine,
vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine and vinorelbine;
anti-inflammatories such as COX inhibitors and cell cycle
regulators, e.g., check point regulators and telomerase
inhibitors.
[0060] The term "chimeric" antibody (or immunoglobulin) refers to a
molecule comprising a heavy and/or light chain which is identical
with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived
from a particular species or belonging to a particular antibody
class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical
with or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived
from another species or belonging to another antibody class or
subclass, as well as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they
exhibit the desired biological activity (Cabilly, et al., infra;
Morrison, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., vol. 81:6851
(1984)). Antibody sequences may be vertebrate or invertebrate in
origin, e.g., from mammal, bird or fish, including cartilaginous
fish, rodents, canines, felines, ungulate animals and primates,
including humans.
[0061] The term "combination therapy" refers to a therapeutic
regimen that involves the provision of at least two distinct
therapies to achieve an indicated therapeutic effect. For example,
a combination therapy may involve the administration of two or more
chemically distinct active ingredients, for example, a fast-acting
chemotherapeutic agent and an anti-lipid antibody. Alternatively, a
combination therapy may involve the administration of an anti-lipid
antibody and/or one or more chemotherapeutic agents, alone or
together with the delivery of another treatment, such as radiation
therapy and/or surgery. In the context of the administration of two
or more chemically distinct active ingredients, it is understood
that the active ingredients may be administered as part of the same
composition or as different compositions. When administered as
separate compositions, the compositions comprising the different
active ingredients may be administered at the same or different
times, by the same or different routes, using the same of different
dosing regimens, all as the particular context requires and as
determined by the attending physician. Similarly, when one or more
anti-lipid antibody species, for example, an anti-LPA antibody,
alone or in conjunction with one or more chemotherapeutic agents
are combined with, for example, radiation and/or surgery, the
drug(s) may be delivered before or after surgery or radiation
treatment.
[0062] The expression "control sequences" refers to DNA sequences
necessary for the expression of an operably linked coding sequence
in a particular host organism. The control sequences that are
suitable for prokaryotes, for example, include a promoter,
optionally an operator sequence, and a ribosome binding site.
Eukaryotic cells are known to utilize promoters, polyadenylation
signals, and enhancers.
[0063] A "derivatized bioactive lipid" is a bioactive lipid, e.g.,
LPA, which has a polar head group and at least one hydrocarbon
chain, wherein a carbon atom within the hydrocarbon chain is
derivatized with a pendant reactive group [e.g., a sulfhydryl
(thiol) group, a carboxylic acid group, a cyano group, an ester, a
hydroxy group, an alkene, an alkyne, an acid chloride group or a
halogen atom] that may or may not be protected. This derivatization
serves to activate the bioactive lipid for reaction with a
molecule, e.g., for conjugation to a carrier.
[0064] A "derivatized bioactive lipid conjugate" refers to a
derivatized bioactive lipid that is covalently conjugated to a
carrier. The carrier may be a protein molecule or may be a moiety
such as polyethylene glycol, colloidal gold, adjuvants or silicone
beads. A derivatized bioactive lipid conjugate may be used as an
immunogen for generating an antibody response according to the
instant invention, and the same or a different bioactive lipid
conjugate may be used as a detection reagent for detecting the
antibody thus produced. In some embodiments the derivatized
bioactive lipid conjugate is attached to a solid support when used
for detection.
[0065] The term "diabodies" refers to small antibody fragments with
two antigen-binding sites, which fragments comprise a heavy chain
variable domain (VH) connected to a light chain variable domain
(VL) in the same polypeptide chain (VH-VL). By using a linker that
is too short to allow pairing between the two domains on the same
chain, the domains are forced to pair with the complementary
domains of another chain and create two antigen-binding sites.
Diabodies are described more fully in, for example, EP 404,097; WO
93/11161; and Hollinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
90:6444-6448 (1993).
[0066] "Effective concentration" refers to the absolute, relative,
and/or available concentration and/or activity, for example of
certain undesired bioactive lipids. In other words, the effective
concentration of a bioactive lipid is the amount of lipid
available, and able, to perform its biological function. In the
present invention, an immune-derived moiety such as, for example, a
monoclonal antibody directed to a bioactive lipid (such as, for
example, C1P) is able to reduce the effective concentration of the
lipid by binding to the lipid and rendering it unable to perform
its biological function. In this example, the lipid itself is still
present (it is not degraded by the antibody, in other words) but
can no longer bind its receptor or other targets to cause a
downstream effect, so "effective concentration" rather than
absolute concentration is the appropriate measurement. Methods and
assays exist for directly and/or indirectly measuring effective
concentrations of bioactive lipids.
[0067] An "epitope" or "antigenic determinant" refers to that
portion of an antigen that reacts with an antibody antigen-binding
portion derived from an antibody.
[0068] The term "expression cassette" refers to a nucleotide
molecule capable of affecting expression of a structural gene
(i.e., a protein coding sequence, such as an antibody of the
invention) in a host compatible with such sequences. Expression
cassettes include at least a promoter operably linked with the
polypeptide-coding sequence, and, optionally, with other sequences,
e.g., transcription termination signals. Additional regulatory
elements necessary or helpful in effecting expression may also be
used, e.g., enhancers. Thus, expression cassettes include plasmids,
expression vectors, recombinant viruses, any form of recombinant
"naked DNA" vector, and the like.
[0069] A "fully human antibody" can refer to an antibody produced
in a genetically engineered (i.e., transgenic) animal, typically a
mammal, usually a mouse (e.g., as can be obtained from Medarex)
that, when presented with a suitable immunogen, can produce a human
antibody that does not necessarily require CDR grafting. These
antibodies are fully "human" in that they generated from an animal
(e.g., a transgenic mouse) in which the non-human antibody genes
are replaced or suppressed and replaced with some or all of the
human immunoglobulin genes. In other words, antibodies of the
invention include those generated against bioactive lipids,
specifically LPA, when presented in an immunogenic form to mice or
other animals genetically engineered to produce human frameworks
for relevant CDRs.
[0070] A "hapten" is a substance that is non-immunogenic but can
react with an antibody or antigen-binding portion derived from an
antibody. In other words, haptens have the property of antigenicity
but not immunogenicity. A hapten is generally a small molecule that
can, under most circumstances, elicit an immune response (i.e., act
as an antigen) only when attached to a carrier, for example, a
protein, polyethylene glycol (PEG), colloidal gold, silicone beads,
or the like. The carrier may be one that also does not elicit an
immune response by itself.
[0071] The term "heteroconjugate antibody" can refer to two
covalently joined antibodies. Such antibodies can be prepared using
known methods in synthetic protein chemistry, including using
crosslinking agents. As used herein, the term "conjugate" refers to
molecules formed by the covalent attachment of one or more antibody
fragment(s) or binding moieties to one or more polymer
molecule(s).
[0072] "Humanized" forms of non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies are
chimeric antibodies that contain minimal sequence derived from
non-human immunoglobulin. Or, looked at another way, a humanized
antibody is a human antibody that also contains selected sequences
from non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies in place of the human
sequences. A humanized antibody can include conservative amino acid
substitutions or non-natural residues from the same or different
species that do not significantly alter its binding and/or biologic
activity. Such antibodies are chimeric antibodies that contain
minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulins. For the
most part, humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins
(recipient antibody) in which residues from a
complementary-determining region (CDR) of the recipient are
replaced by residues from a CDR of an antibody from a non-human
species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, camel, bovine, goat,
or rabbit having the desired properties. In some instances,
framework region (FR) residues of the human immunoglobulin are
replaced by corresponding residues from the non-human antibody.
[0073] Furthermore, humanized antibodies can comprise residues that
are found neither in the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR
or framework sequences. These modifications are made to further
refine and maximize antibody performance. Thus, in general, a
humanized antibody will comprise all of at least one, and in one
aspect two, variable domains, in which all or all of the
hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human
immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are
those of a human immunoglobulin sequence. The humanized antibody
optionally also will comprise at least a portion of an
immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), or that of a human
immunoglobulin. See, e.g., Cabilly, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,816,567; Cabilly, et al., European patent no. 0,125,023 B1; Boss,
et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,397; Boss, et al., European patent no.
0,120,694 B1; Neuberger, et al., WO 86/01533; Neuberger, et al.,
European patent no. 0,194,276 B1; Winter, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,539;
Winter, European patent no. 0,239,400 B1; Padlan, et al., European
patent application no. 0,519,596 A1; Queen, et al. (1989), Proc.
Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 86:10029-10033). For further details,
see Jones, et al., Nature, vol. 321:522-525 (1986); Reichmann, et
al., Nature, vol. 332:323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct.
Biol., vol. 2:593-596 (1992), and Hansen, WO2006105062.
[0074] The term "hyperproliferative disorder" refers to diseases
and disorders associated with, the uncontrolled proliferation of
cells, including but not limited to uncontrolled growth of organ
and tissue cells resulting in cancers and benign tumors.
Hyperproliferative disorders associated with endothelial cells can
result in diseases of angiogenesis such as angiomas, endometriosis,
obesity, age-related macular degeneration and various
retinopathies, as well as the proliferation of endothelial cells
and smooth muscle cells that cause restenosis as a consequence of
stenting in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Hyperproliferative
disorders involving fibroblasts (i.e., fibrogenesis) include,
without limitation, disorders of excessive scarring (i.e.,
fibrosis) such as age-related macular degeneration, cardiac
remodeling and failure associated with myocardial infarction, as
well as excessive wound healing such as commonly occurs as a
consequence of surgery or injury, keloids, and fibroid tumors and
stenting.
[0075] An "immunogen" is a molecule capable of inducing a specific
immune response, particularly an antibody response in an animal to
whom the immunogen has been administered. In the instant invention,
the immunogen is a derivatized bioactive lipid conjugated to a
carrier, i.e., a "derivatized bioactive lipid conjugate". The
derivatized bioactive lipid conjugate used as the immunogen may be
used as capture material for detection of the antibody generated in
response to the immunogen. Thus the immunogen may also be used as a
detection reagent. Alternatively, the derivatized bioactive lipid
conjugate used as capture material may have a different linker
and/or carrier moiety from that in the immunogen.
[0076] To "inhibit," particularly in the context of a biological
phenomenon, means to decrease, suppress or delay. For example, a
treatment yielding "inhibition of tumorigenesis" may mean that
tumors do not form at all, or that they form more slowly, or are
fewer in number than in the untreated control.
[0077] An "isolated" composition is one that has been identified
and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural
environment. Contaminant components of its natural environment are
materials that would interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses
for the antibody, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other
proteinaceous or nonproteinaceous solutes. In preferred
embodiments, the composition is an antibody and will be purified
(1) to greater than 95% by weight of antibody as determined by the
Lowry method, and most preferably more than 99% by weight, (2) to a
degree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or
internal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator,
or (3) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or nonreducing
conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain.
Isolated antibody includes the antibody in situ within recombinant
cells since at least one component of the antibody's natural
environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolated
antibody will be prepared by at least one purification step.
[0078] The word "label" when used herein refers to a detectable
compound or composition, such as one that is conjugated directly or
indirectly to the antibody. The label may itself be detectable by
itself (e.g., radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels) or, in the
case of an enzymatic label, may catalyze chemical alteration of a
substrate compound or composition that is detectable.
[0079] A "liposome" is a small vesicle composed of various types of
lipids, phospholipids and/or surfactant that is useful for delivery
of a drug (such as the anti-sphingolipid antibodies disclosed
herein and, optionally, a chemotherapeutic agent) to a mammal. The
components of the liposome are commonly arranged in a bilayer
formation, similar to the lipid arrangement of biological
membranes. An "isolated" nucleic acid molecule is 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 natural source of the antibody nucleic acid. An
isolated nucleic acid molecule is other than in the form or setting
in which it is found in nature. Isolated nucleic acid molecules
therefore are distinguished from the nucleic acid molecule as it
exists in natural cells. However, an isolated nucleic acid molecule
includes a nucleic acid molecule contained in cells that ordinarily
express the antibody where, for example, the nucleic acid molecule
is in a chromosomal location different from that of non-engineered
cells.
[0080] In the context of this invention, a "liquid composition"
refers to one that, in its filled and finished form as provided
from a manufacturer to an end user (e.g., a doctor or nurse), is a
liquid or solution, as opposed to a solid. Here, "solid" refers to
compositions that are not liquids or solutions. For example, solids
include dried compositions prepared by lyophilization,
freeze-drying, precipitation, and similar procedures.
[0081] The expression "linear antibodies" when used throughout this
application refers to the antibodies described in Zapata, et al.
Protein Eng. 8(10):1057-1062 (1995). Briefly, these antibodies
comprise a pair of tandem Fd segments (VH-CH1-VH-CH1) that form a
pair of antigen binding regions. Linear antibodies can be
bispecific or monospecific.
[0082] The term "metabolites" refers to compounds from which LPAs
are made, as well as those that result from the degradation of
LPAs; that is, compounds that are involved in the lysophospholipid
metabolic pathways. The term "metabolic precursors" may be used to
refer to compounds from which sphingolipids are made.
[0083] The term "monoclonal antibody" (mAb) as used herein refers
to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially
homogeneous antibodies, or to said population of antibodies. The
individual antibodies comprising the population are essentially
identical, except for possible naturally occurring mutations that
may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly
specific, being directed against a single antigenic site.
Furthermore, in contrast to conventional (polyclonal) antibody
preparations that typically include different antibodies directed
against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody
is directed against a single determinant on the antigen. The
modifier "monoclonal" indicates the character of the antibody as
being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of
antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of
the antibody by any particular method. For example, the monoclonal
antibodies to be used in accordance with the present invention may
be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler, et al.,
Nature, vol. 256:495 (1975), or may be made by recombinant DNA
methods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567). The "monoclonal
antibodies" may also be isolated from phage antibody libraries
using the techniques described in Clackson, et al., Nature, vol.
352:624-628 (1991) and Marks, et al., J. Mol. Biol., vol.
222:581-597 (1991), for example, or by other methods known in the
art. The monoclonal antibodies herein specifically include chimeric
antibodies in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is
identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in
antibodies derived from a particular species or belonging to a
particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the
chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences
in antibodies derived from another species or belonging to another
antibody class or subclass, as well as fragments of such
antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity
(U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA, vol. 81:6851-6855 (1984)).
[0084] "Monotherapy" refers to a treatment regimen based on the
delivery of one therapeutically effective compound, whether
administered as a single dose or several doses over time.
[0085] The term "multispecific antibody" can refer to an antibody,
or a monoclonal antibody, having binding properties for at least
two different epitopes. In one embodiment, the epitopes are from
the same antigen. In another embodiment, the epitopes are from two
or more different antigens. Methods for making multispecific
antibodies are known in the art. Multispecific antibodies include
bispecific antibodies (having binding properties for two epitopes),
trispecific antibodies (three epitopes) and so on. For example,
multispecific antibodies can be produced recombinantly using the
co-expression of two or more immunoglobulin heavy chain/light chain
pairs. Alternatively, multispecific antibodies can be prepared
using chemical linkage. One of skill can produce multispecific
antibodies using these or other methods as may be known in the art.
Multispecific antibodies include multispecific antibody fragments.
One example of a multispecific (in this case, bispecific) antibody
comprehended by this invention is an antibody having binding
properties for an S1P epitope and a C1P epitope, which thus is able
to recognize and bind to both S1P and C1P. Another example of a
bispecific antibody comprehended by this invention is an antibody
having binding properties for an epitope from a bioactive lipid and
an epitope from a cell surface antigen. Thus the antibody is able
to recognize and bind the bioactive lipid and is able to recognize
and bind to cells, e.g., for targeting purposes.
[0086] "Neoplasia" or "cancer" refers to abnormal and uncontrolled
cell growth. A "neoplasm", or tumor or cancer, is an abnormal,
unregulated, and disorganized proliferation of cell growth, and is
generally referred to as cancer. A neoplasm may be benign or
malignant. A neoplasm is malignant, or cancerous, if it has
properties of destructive growth, invasiveness, and metastasis.
Invasiveness refers to the local spread of a neoplasm by
infiltration or destruction of surrounding tissue, typically
breaking through the basal laminas that define the boundaries of
the tissues, thereby often entering the body's circulatory system.
Metastasis typically refers to the dissemination of tumor cells by
lymphatics or blood vessels. Metastasis also refers to the
migration of tumor cells by direct extension through serous
cavities, or subarachnoid or other spaces. Through the process of
metastasis, tumor cell migration to other areas of the body
establishes neoplasms in areas away from the site of initial
appearance.
[0087] Nucleic acid is "operably linked" when it is placed into 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 if it is expressed as a preprotein
that participates in the secretion of the polypeptide; a promoter
or enhancer is operably linked to a coding sequence if it affects
the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosome binding site is
operably linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as to
facilitate translation. Generally, "operably linked" means that the
DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in the case of a
secretory leader, contiguous and in reading phase. However,
enhancers do not have to be contiguous. Linking is accomplished by
ligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites do not
exist, the synthetic oligonucleotide adaptors or linkers are used
in accordance with conventional practice.
[0088] The "parent" antibody herein is one that is encoded by an
amino acid sequence used for the preparation of the variant. The
parent antibody may be a native antibody or may already be a
variant, e.g., a chimeric antibody. For example, the parent
antibody may be a humanized or human antibody.
[0089] A "patentable" composition, process, machine, or article of
manufacture according to the invention means that the subject
matter satisfies all statutory requirements for patentability at
the time the analysis is performed. For example, with regard to
novelty, non-obviousness, or the like, if later investigation
reveals that one or more claims encompass one or more embodiments
that would negate novelty, non-obviousness, etc., the claim(s),
being limited by definition to "patentable" embodiments,
specifically exclude the non-patentable embodiment(s). Also, the
claims appended hereto are to be interpreted both to provide the
broadest reasonable scope, as well as to preserve their validity.
Furthermore, the claims are to be interpreted in a way that (1)
preserves their validity and (2) provides the broadest reasonable
interpretation under the circumstances, if one or more of the
statutory requirements for patentability are amended or if the
standards change for assessing whether a particular statutory
requirement for patentability is satisfied from the time this
application is filed or issues as a patent to a time the validity
of one or more of the appended claims is questioned.
[0090] The term "pharmaceutically acceptable salt" refers to a
salt, such as used in formulation, which retains the biological
effectiveness and properties of the agents and compounds of this
invention and which are is biologically or otherwise undesirable.
In many cases, the agents and compounds of this invention are
capable of forming acid and/or base salts by virtue of the presence
of charged groups, for example, charged amino and/or carboxyl
groups or groups similar thereto. Pharmaceutically acceptable acid
addition salts may be prepared from inorganic and organic acids,
while pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts can be
prepared from inorganic and organic bases. For a review of
pharmaceutically acceptable salts (see Berge, et al. (1977), J.
Pharm. Sci., vol. 66, 1-19).
[0091] A "plurality" means more than one.
[0092] The term "promoter" includes all sequences capable of
driving transcription of a coding sequence in a cell. Thus,
promoters used in the constructs of the invention include
cis-acting transcriptional control elements and regulatory
sequences that are involved in regulating or modulating the timing
and/or rate of transcription of a gene. For example, a promoter can
be a cis-acting transcriptional control element, including an
enhancer, a promoter, a transcription terminator, an origin of
replication, a chromosomal integration sequence, 5' and 3'
untranslated regions, or an intronic sequence, which are involved
in transcriptional regulation. Transcriptional regulatory regions
suitable for use in the present invention include but are not
limited to the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early
enhancer/promoter, the SV40 early enhancer/promoter, the E. coli
lac or trp promoters, and other promoters known to control
expression of genes in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or their
viruses.
[0093] The term "recombinant DNA" refers to nucleic acids and gene
products expressed therefrom that have been engineered, created, or
modified by man. "Recombinant" polypeptides or proteins are
polypeptides or proteins produced by recombinant DNA techniques,
for example, from cells transformed by an exogenous DNA construct
encoding the desired polypeptide or protein. "Synthetic"
polypeptides or proteins are those prepared by chemical
synthesis.
[0094] The terms "separated", "purified", "isolated", and the like
mean that one or more components of a sample contained in a
sample-holding vessel are or have been physically removed from, or
diluted in the presence of, one or more other sample components
present in the vessel. Sample components that may be removed or
diluted during a separating or purifying step include, chemical
reaction products, non-reacted chemicals, proteins, carbohydrates,
lipids, and unbound molecules.
[0095] By "solid phase" is meant a non-aqueous matrix such as one
to which the antibody of the present invention can adhere. Examples
of solid phases encompassed herein include those formed partially
or entirely of glass (e.g. controlled pore glass), polysaccharides
(e.g., agarose), polyacrylamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol
and silicones. In certain embodiments, depending on the context,
the solid phase can comprise the well of an assay plate; in others
it is a purification column (e.g. an affinity chromatography
column). This term also includes a discontinuous solid phase of
discrete particles, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,275,149.
[0096] The term "species" is used herein in various contexts, e.g.,
a particular species of chemotherapeutic agent. In each context,
the term refers to a population of chemically indistinct molecules
of the sort referred in the particular context.
[0097] The term "specific" or "specificity" in the context of
antibody-antigen interactions refers to the selective, non-random
interaction between an antibody and its target epitope. Here, the
term "antigen" refers to a molecule that is recognized and bound by
an antibody molecule or other immune-derived moiety. The specific
portion of an antigen that is bound by an antibody is termed the
"epitope". This interaction depends on the presence of structural,
hydrophobic/hydrophilic, and/or electrostatic features that allow
appropriate chemical or molecular interactions between the
molecules. Thus an antibody is commonly said to "bind" (or
"specifically bind") or be "reactive with" (or "specifically
reactive with), or, equivalently, "reactive against" (or
"specifically reactive against") the epitope of its target antigen.
Antibodies are commonly described in the art as being "against" or
"to" their antigens as shorthand for antibody binding to the
antigen. Thus an "antibody that binds C1P," an "antibody reactive
against C1P," an "antibody reactive with C1P," an "antibody to C1P"
and an "anti-C1P antibody" all have the same meaning in the art.
Antibody molecules can be tested for specificity of binding by
comparing binding to the desired antigen to binding to unrelated
antigen or analogue antigen or antigen mixture under a given set of
conditions. Preferably, an antibody according to the invention will
lack significant binding to unrelated antigens, or even analogs of
the target antigen.
[0098] Herein, "stable" refers to an interaction between two
molecules (e.g., a peptide and a TLR molecule) that is sufficiently
stable such that the molecules can be maintained for the desired
purpose or manipulation. For example, a "stable" interaction
between a peptide and a TLR molecule refers to one wherein the
peptide becomes and remains associated with a TLR molecule for a
period sufficient to achieve the desired effect.
[0099] A "subject" or "patient" refers to an animal in need of
treatment that can be effected by molecules of the invention.
Animals that can be treated in accordance with the invention
include vertebrates, with mammals such as bovine, canine, equine,
feline, ovine, porcine, and primate (including humans and non-human
primates) animals being particularly preferred examples.
[0100] A "surrogate marker" refers to laboratory measurement of
biological activity within the body that indirectly indicates the
effect of treatment on disease state. Examples of surrogate markers
for hyperproliferative and/or cardiovascular conditions include
SPHK and/or S1PRs.
[0101] A "therapeutic agent" refers to a drug or compound that is
intended to provide a therapeutic effect including, but not limited
to: anti-inflammatory drugs including COX inhibitors and other
NSAIDS, anti-angiogenic drugs, chemotherapeutic drugs as defined
above, cardiovascular agents, immunomodulatory agents, agents that
are used to treat neurodegenerative disorders, ophthalmic drugs,
etc.
[0102] A "therapeutically effective amount" (or "effective amount")
refers to an amount of an active ingredient, e.g., an agent
according to the invention, sufficient to effect treatment when
administered to a subject in need of such treatment. Accordingly,
what constitutes a therapeutically effective amount of a
composition according to the invention may be readily determined by
one of ordinary skill in the art. In the context of cancer therapy,
a "therapeutically effective amount" is one that produces an
objectively measured change in one or more parameters associated
with cancer cell survival or metabolism, including an increase or
decrease in the expression of one or more genes correlated with the
particular cancer, reduction in tumor burden, cancer cell lysis,
the detection of one or more cancer cell death markers in a
biological sample (e.g., a biopsy and an aliquot of a bodily fluid
such as whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, etc.), induction of
induction apoptosis or other cell death pathways, etc. Of course,
the therapeutically effective amount will vary depending upon the
particular subject and condition being treated, the weight and age
of the subject, the severity of the disease condition, the
particular compound chosen, the dosing regimen to be followed,
timing of administration, the manner of administration and the
like, all of which can readily be determined by one of ordinary
skill in the art. It will be appreciated that in the context of
combination therapy, what constitutes a therapeutically effective
amount of a particular active ingredient may differ from what
constitutes a therapeutically effective amount of the active
ingredient when administered as a monotherapy (i.e., a therapeutic
regimen that employs only one chemical entity as the active
ingredient).
[0103] The compositions of the invention are used in methods of
bioactive lipid-based therapy. As used herein, the terms "therapy"
and "therapeutic" encompasses the full spectrum of prevention
and/or treatments for a disease, disorder or physical trauma. A
"therapeutic" agent of the invention may act in a manner that is
prophylactic or preventive, including those that incorporate
procedures designed to target individuals that can be identified as
being at risk (pharmacogenetics); or in a manner that is
ameliorative or curative in nature; or may act to slow the rate or
extent of the progression of at least one symptom of a disease or
disorder being treated; or may act to minimize the time required,
the occurrence or extent of any discomfort or pain, or physical
limitations associated with recuperation from a disease, disorder
or physical trauma; or may be used as an adjuvant to other
therapies and treatments.
[0104] The term "treatment" or "treating" means any treatment of a
disease or disorder, including preventing or protecting against the
disease or disorder (that is, causing the clinical symptoms not to
develop); inhibiting the disease or disorder (i.e., arresting,
delaying or suppressing the development of clinical symptoms;
and/or relieving the disease or disorder (i.e., causing the
regression of clinical symptoms). As will be appreciated, it is not
always possible to distinguish between "preventing" and
"suppressing" a disease or disorder because the ultimate inductive
event or events may be unknown or latent. Those "in need of
treatment" include those already with the disorder as well as those
in which the disorder is to be prevented. Accordingly, the term
"prophylaxis" will be understood to constitute a type of
"treatment" that encompasses both "preventing" and "suppressing".
The term "protection" thus includes "prophylaxis".
[0105] The term "therapeutic regimen" means any treatment of a
disease or disorder using chemotherapeutic and cytotoxic agents,
radiation therapy, surgery, gene therapy, DNA vaccines and therapy,
siRNA therapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, immunotherapy, bone marrow
transplants, aptamers and other biologics such as antibodies and
antibody variants, receptor decoys and other protein-based
therapeutics.
[0106] The term "variable" region (of an antibody) comprises
framework and complementarity regions or CDRs (otherwise known as
hypervariable regions) refers to certain portions of the variable
domains that differ extensively in sequence among antibodies and
are used in the binding and specificity of each particular antibody
for its particular antigen. However, the variability is not evenly
distributed throughout the variable domains of antibodies. It is
concentrated in three segments called hypervariable regions (CDRs)
both in the light chain and the heavy chain variable domains. The
more highly conserved portions of variable domains are called the
framework region (FR). The variable domains of native heavy and
light chains each comprise four FRs (FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4,
respectively), largely adopting a .beta.-sheet configuration,
connected by three hypervariable regions, which form loops
connecting, and in some cases forming part of, the beta-sheet
structure. The term "hypervariable region" when used herein refers
to the amino acid residues of an antibody which are responsible for
antigen binding. The hypervariable region comprises amino acid
residues from a "complementarity determining region" or "CDR" (for
example residues 24-34 (L1), 50-56 (L2) and 89-97 (L3) in the light
chain variable domain and 31-35 (H1), 50-65 (H2) and 95-102 (H3) in
the heavy chain variable domain; Kabat, et al., Sequences of
Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service,
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)) and/or those
residues from a "hypervariable loop" (for example residues 26-32
(L1), 50-52 (L2) and 91-96 (L3) in the light chain variable domain
and 26-32 (H1), 53-55 (H2) and 96-101 (H3) in the heavy chain
variable domain; Chothia and Lesk, J. Mol. Biol., vol. 196:901-917
(1987)). "Framework" or "FR" residues are those variable domain
residues other than the hypervariable region residues as herein
defined.
[0107] The hypervariable regions in each chain are held together in
close proximity by the FRs and, with the hypervariable regions from
the other chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding
site of antibodies (see Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of
Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National
Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991), pages 647-669). The
constant domains are not involved directly in binding an antibody
to an antigen, but exhibit various effector functions, such as
participation of the antibody in antibody-dependent cellular
toxicity.
[0108] A "vector" or "plasmid" or "expression vector" refers to a
nucleic acid that can be maintained transiently or stably in a cell
to effect expression of one or more recombinant genes. A vector can
comprise nucleic acid, alone or complexed with other compounds. A
vector optionally comprises viral or bacterial nucleic acids and/or
proteins, and/or membranes. Vectors include, but are not limited,
to replicons (e.g., RNA replicons, bacteriophages) to which
fragments of DNA may be attached and become replicated. Thus,
vectors include, but are not limited to, RNA, autonomous
self-replicating circular or linear DNA or RNA and include both the
expression and non-expression plasmids. Plasmids can be
commercially available, publicly available on an unrestricted
basis, or can be constructed from available plasmids as reported
with published protocols. In addition, the expression vectors may
also contain a gene to provide a phenotypic trait for selection of
transformed host cells such as dihydrofolate reductase or neomycin
resistance for eukaryotic cell culture, or such as tetracycline or
ampicillin resistance in E. coli.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0109] The instant application provides anti-LPA agents that bind
LPA and comprise at least one CDR peptide of defined identity with
sequences as described. The anti-LPA agents may be antibodies,
including chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, full-length
antibodies, affinity matured antibodies, antibody derivatives or
antibody fragments, or may be non-antibody-derived moieties. The
anti-LPA agents may be conjugated to a moiety selected from the
group consisting of a polymer, a radionuclide, a chemotherapeutic
agent, and a detection agent and may be provided in a carrier,
optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further, the
anti-LPA agent may be provided in combination with a second agent
which may be an antibody, an antibody fragment, an antibody
derivative or an antibody variant, and which may bind a molecule
other than LPA. The anti-LPA agent and the second agent may be
linked, optionally by a covalent linkage.
[0110] Also provided are isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising
a sequence of defined identity with nucleotide sequences described,
which encode at least one CDR peptide. The nucleic acid molecules
may encode a fragment of an immunoglobulin heavy or light chain or
a full-length immunoglobulin heavy or light chain, and may be
derived from a fish, bird or mammal, optionally a primate,
optionally a human. Vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic
acid molecules are provided.
[0111] Further provided are isolated polypeptides comprising at
least one framework region from an animal immunoglobulin heavy
chain or light chain and at least one CDR peptide of defined
identity with sequences provided. The polypeptides may be
full-length variable domains of an immunoglobulin heavy or light
chains, full-length immunoglobulin heavy or light chains or
fragments of an immunoglobulin heavy or light chains. Also provided
are isolated antibody molecules, comprising two immunoglobulin
heavy chains that binds LPA in a physiological context and comprise
at least one framework region from a variable domain of an
immunoglobulin heavy chain and at least one CDR peptide of defined
identity with sequences provided, and, functionally associated with
the two immunoglobulin heavy chains, two immunoglobulin light
chains that binds LPA in a physiological context and comprise at
least one framework region from a variable domain of an
immunoglobulin light chain and at least one CDR peptide of defined
identity with sequences provided. These isolated antibody molecules
may be humanized antibody molecules.
[0112] In addition, the instant invention provides multivalent
binding molecules that comprise at least first and second ligand
binding elements, wherein the first ligand binding element binds
LPA and comprises at least one CDR peptide of defined identity with
sequences provided. The multivalent binding molecule may be a
full-length immunoglobulin heavy or light chain or a fragment
thereof. The second binding element may also bind LPA and there may
be more than two ligand-binding elements. The multivalent binding
molecule may comprise a scaffold to which the ligand binding
elements are linked.
[0113] Provided in the instant application are isolated anti-LPA
antibody heavy chains with a variable domain of defined sequence,
as well as isolated anti-LPA antibody light chains with a variable
domain of defined sequence. The combination of two such heavy
chains and two such light chains into an isolated anti-LPA antibody
is also disclosed, as well as compositions containing such an
antibody in a carrier which may be a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier.
[0114] Also provided are methods of treating or preventing a
disease or disorder associated with aberrant levels of LPA, which
methods comprise administering to a subject one of the compositions
of the invention, including an anti-LPA antibody, in an amount
effective to reduce the effective concentration of LPA. The disease
or disorder may be a hyperproliferative disease, including cancer;
an immune-related disease, including an autoimmune disease,
allograft rejection and graft-vs-host disease; a neurodegenerative
disease; obesity; type 2 diabetes; an ocular disease, including
macular degeneration; pain; or a disease associated with aberrant
angiogenesis or neovascularization; apoptosis; fibrogenesis or
fibrosis, including scleroderma, pulmonary fibrosis, renal
fibrosis, skin fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis and hepatic fibrosis;
wound repair and healing; or spider bite. Methods of decreasing
aberrant hyperproliferation, immune response, neurodegeneration,
angiogenesis, neovascularization, apoptosis, fibrogenesis or
fibrosis in an animal with the compositions of the invention are
also claimed. The fibrosis to be treated may be hepatic, renal,
pulmonary, cardiac, uterine or skin fibrosis. It may be desirable
to detect at least one fibrosis marker as well as LPA in a sample
from the animal, including a human.
[0115] Further provided are diagnostic reagents comprising a
derivatized lysophosphatidic acid which comprises a polar head
group and at least one hydrocarbon chain, wherein a carbon atom
within at least one of said at least one hydrocarbon chain is
derivatized with an optionally protected pendant reactive group.
The pendant reactive group may be a sulfhydryl (thiol) group, a
carboxylic acid group, a cyano group, an ester, a hydroxy group, an
alkene, an alkyne, an acid chloride group or a halogen atom, and
the derivatized lysophosphatidic acid may be associated with a
solid support. The derivatized lysophosphatidic acid may further be
conjugated to a carrier moiety which is optionally, polyethylene
glycol, colloidal gold, adjuvant, a silicone bead or a protein, and
wherein the protein is optionally keyhole limpet hemocyanin,
albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, or soybean trypsin inhibitor. This
conjugate may be attached to a solid support. Methods of detecting
an anti-LPA agent in a sample are provided, comprising detecting
binding of an anti-LPA agent in a sample to a diagnostic reagent
that comprises a derivatized LPA. The anti-LPA agent may be an
antibody, optionally a human anti-LPA antibody. a polyclonal
antibody; a monoclonal antibody; a chimeric antibody; an antibody
fragment; an antibody derivative; or a non-antibody-derived moiety,
and the sample may be a biological sample including a tissue
sample, such as a biopsy sample, and a liquid sample, which is
optionally whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, semen, bile, aqueous
humor, vitreous humor, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, mucous, or
sputum. The method of detection may further include detection of at
least one fibrosis marker. Detection of LPA may also include
comparison of a level of LPA in the sample to a reference level of
LPA to indicate the presence of disease or to monitor a therapeutic
regimen for modulation of the effective concentration of LPA. The
method of detection may also involve use of a diagnostic device
bearing a diagnostic reagent comprising derivatized LPA. Further
disclosed are ELISA kits for detecting LPA.
[0116] The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become
more apparent from the following detailed description, accompanying
drawings, and the claims.
[0117] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.
Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the
present invention, suitable methods and materials are described
below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other
references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their
entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including
definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and
examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0118] A brief summary of each of the figures and tables described
in this specification are provided below, as is a list of various
nucleotide and amino acid sequences described herein.
[0119] FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C show an organic synthesis
scheme for making of a typical thiolated-S1P analog that was used
as a key component of an immunogen according to the invention, as
well as a key component of the laydown material for the ELISA and
BiaCore assays.
[0120] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show an organic synthesis scheme for
making the thiolated-related fatty acid used in the synthesis of
the thiolated-LPA analog of FIG. 3.
[0121] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show an organic synthesis scheme for
making the thiolated-LPA analog that is a key component of an
immunogen according to the invention, as well as a key component of
the laydown material for the ELISA and other assays.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0122] A. Derivatized and/or Conjugated LPA
[0123] 1. Compositions
[0124] The present invention provides LPA that has been derivatized
in such a way as to facilitate the immunogenic response (i.e.,
antibody production). In one embodiment, the LPA may be derivatized
in order to allow conjugation of the LPA molecule to a carrier
molecule. In one embodiment, a carbon atom within the hydrocarbon
chain of the LPA is derivatized with a pendant reactive group
[e.g., a sulfhydryl (thiol) group, a carboxylic acid group, a cyano
group, an ester, a hydroxy group, an alkene, an alkyne, an acid
chloride group or a halogen atom] that may or may not be protected.
This derivatization serves to activate the bioactive lipid for
reaction with a molecule, e.g., for conjugation to a carrier. In
one embodiment, the derivatized LPA is thiolated LPA. In one
embodiment, the derivatized LPA is derivatized C12 or C18 LPA. In
one embodiment, the thiolated LPA is conjugated via a crosslinker,
e.g., a bifunctional crosslinker such as IOA or SMCC, to a carrier,
which may be a protein. It may be useful to conjugate the LPA in
this way to a protein or other carrier that is immunogenic in the
species to be immunized, e.g., keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH),
serum albumin (including bovine serum albumin or BSA), bovine
thyroglobulin, or soybean trypsin inhibitor, using a bifunctional
or derivatizing agent, for example, maleimidobenzoyl
sulfosuccinimide ester (conjugation through cysteine residues),
N-hydroxysuccinimide (through lysine residues), glutaraldehyde,
succinic anhydride, SOCl.sub.2, or R.sup.1N.dbd.C.dbd.NR, where R
and R.sup.1 are different alkyl groups. Non-protein carriers (e.g.,
colloidal gold) are also known in the art for use in antibody
production.
[0125] The derivatized or derivatized and conjugated LPA may be
used to generate anti-LPA antibodies (polyclonal and/or
monoclonal). The derivatized or derivatized and conjugated LPA may
also be used in the methods of the invention, particularly in
diagnostic methods.
[0126] 2. Research and Diagnostic Uses for Derivatized LPA
[0127] The derivatized LPAs of the invention may be used to detect
and/or purify anti-LPA antibodies and may be conjugated to a
carrier as described above. The derivatives and conjugates are
preferably conjugated to a solid support for use in diagnostic
methods, including clinical diagnostic methods. For example,
detection and/or quantitation of LPA antibodies may be used in
diagnosing various medical conditions in LPA plays a role.
Quantitation of LPA antibodies is also useful in a clinical setting
to evaluate dosing, halflife and drug levels after treatment with,
e.g., an anti-LPA antibody such as LT3000 described herein.
[0128] In one embodiment, the derivatized LPA conjugate (e.g.,
thiolated LPA conjugated to BSA or KLH) is used as laydown material
in ELISAs that are used to detect anti-LPA antibodies. In one
embodiment the LPA is thiolated C12 LPA or thiolated C18 LPA
conjugated to BSA. This embodiment is useful, for example, as
laydown material (to coat the plate) in ELISA assays for detection
of LPA. For example, in an LPA competitive ELISA, the plate is
coated with derivatized and/or derivatized and conjugated LPA. A
set of one or more LPA standards and one or more samples (e.g.,
serum or cell culture supernatant) is mixed with the mouse anti-LPA
antibody of the invention and added to the derivatized-LPA-coated
plate. The antibody competes for binding to either plate-bound LPA
or LPA in the sample or standard. Following incubation and several
ELISA steps, the absorbance at 450 nm is measured and the LPA
concentration in the samples is determined by comparison to the
standard curve.
[0129] The derivatized or derivatized and conjugated LPA may also
be coupled to a solid support (e.g., resin or other column matrix,
beads, membrane, plate) and used to isolate and/or purify anti-LPA
antibodies, e.g., from blood or serum. Such anti-LPA antibodies may
be newly generated antibodies such as those of the invention (e.g.,
mammalian monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to LPA) or may be
native human anti-LPA antibodies.
[0130] Thus the derivatized LPA and derivatized and conjugated LPA
of the invention are useful both for research and in clinical
diagnostics.
[0131] 3. Diagnostic Kits Incorporating the Derivatized LPA of the
Invention
[0132] As a matter of convenience, the derivatized LPAs of the
present invention can be provided in a kit, for example, a packaged
combination of reagents in predetermined amounts with instructions
for performing the diagnostic assay.
[0133] As described above, in one embodiment, the derivatized LPA
conjugate (e.g., thiolated LPA conjugated to BSA or KLH) is used as
laydown material (to coat the plate) in ELISA kits that are used to
detect anti-LPA antibodies. Such kits are useful for detection of
LPA. For example, in an LPA competitive ELISA kit, the plate
(provided) is coated with derivatized and/or derivatized and
conjugated LPA. A set of one or more LPA standards (generally
provided in the kit) and one or more samples (e.g., serum or cell
culture supernatant) is mixed with the mouse anti-LPA antibody of
the invention and added to the derivatized-LPA-coated plate. The
antibody competes for binding to either plate-bound LPA or LPA in
the sample or standard. Following incubation and several ELISA
steps (instructions and reagents for which are provided in the
kit), the absorbance at 450 nm is measured and the LPA
concentration in the samples is determined by comparison to the
standard curve. In one embodiment the LPA used for laydown material
in the ELISA kit is thiolated C12 LPA or thiolated C18 LPA
conjugated to BSA. The antibody used in the kit may be polyclonal
or monoclonal antibody, preferably a monoclonal antibody.
[0134] A kit incorporating an Lpath derivatized and conjugated LPA
of the invention and an Lpath anti-LPA antibody of the invention is
commercially available from Echelon Biosciences, Inc., Salt Lake
City, Utah (Lysophosphatidic Assay Kit, Cat. No. K-2800).
[0135] B. Anti-LPA Agents, Including Anti-LPA Antibodies
[0136] 1. Introduction
[0137] The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as a therapeutic
treatment for a variety of diseases and disorders is rapidly
increasing because they have been shown to be safe and efficacious
therapeutic agents. Approved therapeutic monoclonal antibodies
include Avastin.RTM., Erbitux.RTM., and Rituxan.RTM.. Additional
monoclonal antibodies are in various phases of clinical development
for a variety of diseases with the majority targeting various forms
of cancer. In general, monoclonal antibodies are generated in
non-human mammals. The therapeutic utility of murine monoclonal
antibodies may be improved with chimerization or humanization of
non-human mammalian antibodies. Humanization greatly lessens the
development of an immune response against the administered
therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and thereby avoids the reduction
of half-life and therapeutic efficacy consequent on such a
response. For the most part, the humanization process consists of
grafting the murine complementary determining regions (CDRs) into
the framework region (FR) of a human immunoglobulin. Backmutation
to murine amino acid residues of selected residues in the FR is
often required to improve or regain affinity that is lost in the
initial grafted construct.
[0138] The manufacture of monoclonal antibodies is a complex
process that stems from the variability of the immunoglobulin
protein itself. The heterogeneity can be attributed to the
formation of alternative disulfide pairings, deamidation and the
formation of isoaspartyl residues, methionine and cysteine
oxidation, cyclization of N-terminal glutamine residues to
pyroglutamate and partial enzymatic cleavage of C-terminal lysines
by mammalian carboxypeptidases. Engineering is commonly applied to
antibody molecules to improve their properties, such as enhanced
stability, resistance to proteases, aggregation behavior and
enhance the expression level in heterologous systems.
[0139] 2. Disease Associations of LPA and Therapeutic Uses for
Anti-LPA Agents
[0140] LPA has been associated with a number of diseases and
disorders. For review, see Gardell, et al., (2006), Trends Mol
Med., vol. 12(2):65-75 and Chun J. and Rosen, H., (2006) Curr.
Pharma. Design 12:161-171. These include autoimmune disorders such
as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and scleroderma; hyperproliferative
disorders including cancer; disorders associated with angiogenesis
and neovascularization; obesity; neurodegenerative diseases
including Alzheimer's disease; schizophrenia, immune-related
disorders such as transplant rejection and graft-vs-host disease,
and others.
[0141] a. Hyperproliferative Disorders
[0142] One aspect of the invention concerns methods for treating
hyperproliferative disorders. These methods comprise administering
to a mammal (e.g., a bovine, canine, equine, ovine, or porcine
animal, particularly a human) known or suspected to suffer from an
LPA-associated hyperproliferative disorder a therapeutically
effective amount of a composition comprising an agent that
interferes with LPA concentration and/or activity, preferably in a
pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable carrier, as the
intended application may require. LPA-associated hyperproliferative
disorders include neoplasias, disorders associated with endothelial
cell proliferation, and disorders associated with fibrogenesis.
Most often, the neoplasia will be a cancer. Typical disorders
associated with endothelial cell proliferation are
angiogenesis-dependent disorders, for example, cancers caused by a
solid tumors, hematological tumors, and age-related macular
degeneration. Disorders associated with fibrogenesis include those
than involve aberrant cardiac remodeling, such as cardiac
failure.
[0143] There are many known hyperproliferative disorders, in which
cells of various tissues and organs exhibit aberrant patterns of
growth, proliferation, migration, signaling, senescence, and death.
While a number of treatments have been developed to address some of
these diseases, many still remain largely untreatable with existing
technologies, while in other cases, while treatments are available,
they are frequently less than optimal and are seldom curative.
[0144] Cancer represents perhaps the most widely recognized class
of hyperproliferative disorders. Cancers are a devastating class of
diseases, and together, they have a mortality rate second only to
cardiovascular disease. Many cancers are not fully understood on a
molecular level. As a result, cancer is a major focus of research
and development programs for both the United States government and
pharmaceutical companies. The result has been an unprecedented
R&D effort and the production of many valuable therapeutic
agents to help in the fight against cancer.
[0145] Unfortunately the enormous amount of cancer research has not
been enough to overcome the significant damage caused by cancer.
There are still over one million new cases of cancer diagnosed
annually and over five hundred thousand deaths in the United States
alone. This is a dramatic demonstration that even though an
enormous effort has been put forth to discover new therapeutics for
cancer, effective therapeutic agents to combat the disease remain
elusive.
[0146] Cancer is now primarily treated with one or a combination of
three types of therapies, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Surgery involves the bulk removal of diseased tissue. While surgery
is sometimes effective in removing tumors located at certain sites,
for example, in the breast, colon, and skin, it cannot be used in
the treatment of tumors located in other areas, such as the
backbone, nor in the treatment of disseminated neoplastic
conditions such as leukemia. Radiation therapy involves the
exposure of living tissue to ionizing radiation causing death or
damage to the exposed cells. Side effects from radiation therapy
may be acute and temporary, while others may be irreversible.
Chemotherapy involves the disruption of cell replication or cell
metabolism.
[0147] Further insult is that current therapeutic agents usually
involve significant drawbacks for the patient in the form of
toxicity and severe side effects. Therefore, many groups have
recently begun to look for new approaches to fighting the war
against cancer. These new so-called "innovative therapies" include
gene therapy and therapeutic proteins such as monoclonal
antibodies.
[0148] The first monoclonal antibody used in the clinic for the
treatment of cancer was Rituxan (rituximab) which was launched in
1997, and has demonstrated the utility of monoclonal antibodies as
therapeutic agents. Thus, not surprisingly, twenty monoclonal
antibodies have since been approved for use in the clinic,
including nine that are prescribed for cancer. The success of these
products, as well as the reduced cost and time to develop
monoclonal antibodies as compared with small molecules has made
monoclonal antibody therapeutics the second largest category of
drug candidates behind small molecules. Further, the exquisite
specificity of antibodies as compared to small molecule
therapeutics has proven to be a major advantage both in terms of
efficacy and toxicity. For cancer alone there are currently more
than 270 industry antibody R&D projects with more than 50
companies involved in developing new cancer antibody therapeutics.
Consequently, monoclonal antibodies are poised to become a major
player in the treatment of cancer and they are estimated to capture
an increasing share of the cancer therapeutic market. Generally
therapeutic mAbs are targeted to proteins; only recently has it
been feasible to raise mAbs to bioactive lipids (for example,
antibodies to S1P, see Applicants' US Application Serial No.
20070148168).
[0149] The identification of extracellular mediators that promote
tumor growth and survival is a critical step in discovering
therapeutic interventions that will reduce the morbidity and
mortality of cancer. As described below, LPA is considered to be a
pleiotropic, tumorigenic growth factor. LPA promotes tumor growth
by stimulating cell proliferation, cell survival, and metastasis.
LPA also promotes tumor angiogenesis by supporting the migration
and survival of endothelial cells as they form new vessels within
tumors. Taken together, LPA initiates a proliferative,
pro-angiogenic, and anti-apoptotic sequence of events contributing
to cancer progression. Thus, therapies that modulate, and, in
particular, reduce LPA levels in vivo will be effective in the
treatment of cancer.
[0150] Typically, the methods of the invention for treating or
preventing a hyperproliferative disorder such as cancer involve
administering to a subject suffering from a hyperproliferative
disorder an effective amount of each of an agent (or a plurality of
different agent species) according to the invention and a cytotoxic
agent. Cytotoxic agents include chemotherapeutic drugs.
[0151] A related aspect concerns methods of reducing toxicity of a
therapeutic regimen for treatment or prevention of a
hyperproliferative disorder. Such methods comprise administering to
a subject suffering from a hyperproliferative disorder an effective
amount of an agent (or a plurality of different agent species)
according to the invention before, during, or after administration
of a therapeutic regimen intended to treat or prevent the
hyperproliferative disorder. It is believed that by sensitizing
cells, e.g., cancer cells, to chemotherapeutic drugs, efficacy can
be achieved at lower doses and hence lower toxicity due to
chemotherapeutic drugs.
[0152] Yet another aspect of the invention concerns methods of
enhancing a survival probability of a subject treated for a
hyperproliferative disorder by administering to a subject suffering
from a hyperproliferative disorder an agent (or a plurality of
different agent species) according to the invention before, during,
or after administration of a therapeutic regimen intended to treat
or prevent the hyperproliferative disorder to enhance the subject's
survival probability.
[0153] 3. Fibrosis, Wound Healing and Scar Formation
[0154] Fibroblasts, particularly myofibroblasts, are key cellular
elements in scar formation in response to cellular injury and
inflammation (Tomasek, et al. (2002), Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, vol.
3: 349-63; Virag and Murry (2003), Am J Pathol, vol. 163: 2433-40).
Collagen gene expression by myofibroblasts is a hallmark of
remodeling and necessary for scar formation (Sun and Weber (2000),
Cardiovasc Res, vol. 46: 250-6; Sun and Weber (1996), J Mol Cell
Cardiol, vol. 28: 851-8).
[0155] Fibrosis can be described as the formation or development of
excess or aberrant fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue
as part of a pathological reparative or reactive process, in
contrast to normal wound healing or development. The most common
forms of fibrosis are: liver, lung, kidney, skin, uterine, and
ovarian fibroses. Some conditions, such as scleroderma, sarcoidosis
and others, are characterized by fibrosis in multiple organs and
tissues.
[0156] Recently, the bioactive lysophospholipid lysophosphatidic
acid (LPA) has been recognized for its role in tissue repair and
wound healing. Watterson, et al., Wound Repair Regen. (2007), vol.
15:607-16. As a biological mediator, LPA has been recognized for
its role in tissue repair and wound healing (Watterson, 2007). In
particular, LPA is linked to pulmonary and renal inflammation and
fibrosis. LPA is detectable in human bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
fluids at baseline and its expression increases during allergic
inflammation (Georas, et al. (2007), Clin Exp Allergy, vol. 37:
311-22). Furthermore, LPA promotes inflammation in airway
epithelial cells. Barekzi, et al. (2006), Prostaglandins Leukot
Essent Fatty Acids, vol. 74:357-63. Recently, pulmonary and renal
fibrosis have been linked to increased LPA release and signaling
though the LPA type 1 receptor (LPA1). LPA levels were elevated in
bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from IPF patients and
bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice was dependent on activation
of LPA1. Tager, et al. (2008), Proc Am Thorac Soc., vol. 5: 363.
(2008). Following unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice,
tubulointerstitial fibrosis was reduced in LPA1 knock-out mice and
pro-fibrotic cytokine expression was attenuated in wild-type mice
treated with an LPA1 antagonist. Pradere, et al. (2007), J. Am.
Soc. Nephrol., vol. 18:3110-3118. LPA has been shown to have direct
fibrogenic effects in cardiac fibroblasts by stimulating collagen
gene expression and proliferation. Chen, et al. (2006), FEBS Lett.,
vol. 580:4737-45. Combined, these studies demonstrate a role for
LPA in tissue repair and fibrosis, and identify bioactive lipids as
a previously unrecognized class of targets in the treatment of
fibrotic disorders.
[0157] a. Scleroderma
[0158] The compositions and methods of the invention will be useful
in treating disorders and diseases characterized, at least in part,
by aberrant neovascularization, angiogenesis, fibrogenesis,
fibrosis, scarring, inflammation, and immune response. One such
disease is scleroderma, which is also referred to as systemic
sclerosis.
[0159] Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes scarring or
thickening of the skin, and sometimes involves other areas of the
body, including the lungs, heart, and/or kidneys. Scleroderma is
characterized by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the
skin and organs of the body, which can lead to thickening and
firmness of involved areas, with consequent reduction in function.
Today, about 300,000 Americans have scleroderma, according to the
Scleroderma Foundation. One-third or less of those affected have
widespread disease, while the remaining two-thirds primarily have
skin symptoms. When the disease affects the lungs and causing
scarring, breathing can become restricted because the lungs can no
longer expand as they should. To measure breathing capability,
doctors use a device that assesses forced vital capacity (FVC). In
people with an FVC of less than 50 percent of the expected reading,
the 10-year mortality rate from scleroderma-related lung disease is
about 42 percent. One reason the mortality rate is so high is that
no effective treatment is currently available.
[0160] Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is
believed that inappropriate concentrations of lipids such as S1P
and/or LPA, and/or their metabolites, cause or contribute to the
development of scleroderma. As such, the compositions and methods
of the invention can be used to treat scleroderma, particularly by
decreasing the effective in vivo concentration of a particular
target lipid, for example, LPA.
[0161] Evidence indicates that LPA is a pro-fibrotic growth factor
that can contribute to fibroblast activation, proliferation, and
the resulting increased fibroblast activity associated with
maladaptive scarring and remodeling. Moreover, potential roles for
LPA in skin fibroblast activity have been demonstrated. For
example, it has been shown that LPA stimulates the migration of
murine skin fibroblasts (Hama, et al., J Biol Chem. (2004), April
23, vol. 279(17):17634-9).
[0162] b. Pulmonary Fibrosis
[0163] Pulmonary fibrosis, sometimes referred to as interstitial
lung disease or ILD, affects more than 5 million people worldwide.
Within the USA the prevalence of the disease seems to be
under-estimated and vary from 3 to 6 cases for 100,000 inhabitants
to 28 per 100,000. Within Europe; the numbers vary depending on the
countries, and is reported around 1 to 24 cases per 100,000 without
a clear gender effect. The disease is usually diagnosed between 40
and 70 years of age. The median survival is 3 to 5 years. Despite
its prevalence, there are no therapies available to halt or reverse
the progression of IPF and there are no FDA-approved courses of
treatment. Thus, there is an unmet need for new therapeutic
strategies to treat IPF as well as other diseases that involve
pathological tissue fibrosis.
[0164] Interstitial lung disease, or ILD, includes more than 180
chronic lung disorders, which are chronic, nonmalignant and
noninfectious. Interstitial lung diseases are named for the tissue
between the air sacs of the lungs called the interstitium--the
tissue affected by fibrosis (scarring). Interstitial lung diseases
may also be called interstitial pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary
fibrosis. The symptoms and course of these diseases may vary from
person to person, but the common link between the many forms of ILD
is that they all begin with an inflammation, e.g.:
bronchiolitis--inflammation that involves the bronchioles (small
airways); alveolitis--inflammation that involves the alveoli (air
sacs); vasculitis--inflammation that involves the small blood
vessels (capillaries)
[0165] More than 80% of interstitial lung diseases are diagnosed as
pneumoconiosis, drug-induced disease, or hypersensitivity
pneumonitis. The other types are:
[0166] Occupational and environmental exposures: Many jobs,
particularly those that involve working with asbestos, ground
stone, or metal dust, can cause pulmonary fibrosis. The small
particles are inhaled, damage the alveoli, and cause fibrosis. Some
organic substances, such as moldy hay can also initiate pulmonary
fibrosis; this is known as farmer's lung.
[0167] Asbestosis is usually caused when small needle-like
particles of asbestos are inhaled into the lungs. This can cause
lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis) and in addition can lead to lung
cancer. The key to asbestosis is prevention. In manufacturing
asbestos products, both employer and employee must be aware of
government standards and should take all precautions against
inhaling the particles. The paramount danger in working with
asbestos comes when old, friable (crumbly) asbestos-containing
products are replaced or destroyed. In those circumstances,
particles can be released into the air and breathed into the lungs.
Today however, the asbestos fibres usually are "locked in" by
binders such as cement, rubber or plastics, thus preventing the
particles from floating free in the air. Cigarette smoking has an
interactive relationship with asbestos--the asbestos worker who
smokes has a much higher chance of developing lung cancer than does
the non-smoker.
[0168] Silicosis is another disease producing pulmonary fibrosis in
which the cause is known. It is a disease that results from
breathing in free crystalline silica dust. All types of mining in
which the ore is extracted from quartz rock can produce silicosis
if precautions are not taken. This includes the mining of gold,
lead, zinc, copper, iron, anthracite (hard) coal, and some
bituminous (soft) coal. Workers in foundries, sandstone grinding,
tunneling, sandblasting, concrete breaking, granite carving, and
china manufacturing also encounter silica.
[0169] Large silica particles are stopped in the upper airways. But
the tiniest specks of silica can be carried down to the alveoli
where they lead to pulmonary fibrosis. Silicosis can be either mild
or severe, in direct proportion to the percentage and concentration
of silica in the air and the duration of exposure. Silicosis can be
prevented by measures specifically designed for each industry and
each job. Dust control is essential. Sometimes this is accomplished
by the wetting down of mines, improved ventilation, or the wearing
of masks.
[0170] Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Although a number of separate
diseases can initiate pulmonary fibrosis, many times the cause is
unknown. When this is so, the condition is called "idiopathic (of
unknown origin) pulmonary fibrosis". In idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis, careful examination of the patient's environmental and
occupational history gives no clues to the cause. Some physicians
and scientists believe that the disease is an infectious or
allergic condition, however bacteria and other microorganisms are
not routinely found in the lungs of such patients. On the other
hand, the condition does sometimes appear to follow a viral-like
illness. Thus, although the cause of pulmonary fibrosis is known in
many cases, the idiopathic variety still remains a mystery.
[0171] Sarcoidosis is disease characterized by the formation of
granulomas (areas of inflammatory cells), which can attack any area
of the body but most frequently affects the lungs.
[0172] Certain medicines may have the undesirable side effect of
causing pulmonary fibrosis; for example, Nitrofurantoin (sometimes
used for urinary tract infections); Amiodarone (sometimes
prescribed for an irregular heart rate); Bleomycin,
cyclophosphamide, and methotrexate (sometimes prescribed to fight
cancer).
[0173] Radiation, such as given as treatment for breast cancer, may
also cause pulmonary fibrosis. Other diseases characterized, at
least in part, by pulmonary fibrosis include tuberculosis,
rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis, systemic
sclerosis, grain handler's lung, mushroom worker's lung,
bagassosis, detergent worker's lung, maple bark stripper's lung,
malt worker's lung, paprika splitter's lung, bird breeder's lung
and Hermansky Pudlak syndrome. Pulmonary fibrosis can also be
genetically inherited.
[0174] Clinical Features:
[0175] Breathlessness is the hallmark of pulmonary fibrosis. Many
lung diseases show breathlessness as the main symptom--a fact that
can complicate and confuse diagnosis. Usually the breathlessness
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis first appears during exercise. The
condition may progress to the point where any exertion is
impossible. A dry cough is a common symptom. The fingertips may
enlarge at the ends and take on a bulbous appearance. This is often
referred to as "clubbing".
[0176] Additional symptoms may include: shortness of breath,
especially with exertion, fatigue and weakness, loss of appetite,
loss of weight, dry cough that does not produce phlegm, discomfort
in chest, labored breathing and hemorrhage in lungs.
[0177] Diagnosis
[0178] In addition to a complete medical history and physical
examination, the following tests may be required to refine and/or
confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis: pulmonary function
tests--to determine characteristics and capabilities of the lungs;
spirometry--to measure the amount of air that can be forced out;
peak flow meter--to evaluate changes in breathing and response to
medications; blood tests--to analyze the amount of carbon dioxide
and oxygen in the blood; X-ray; computerized axial tomography (CAT)
scan; bronchoscopy--to examine the lung using a long, narrow tube
called a bronchoscope; bronchoalveolar lavage--to remove cells from
lower respiratory tract to help identify inflammation and exclude
certain causes; and lung biopsy--to remove tissue from the lung for
examination in the pathology laboratory.
[0179] Treatment
[0180] If one of the known causes of pulmonary fibrosis exists,
then treatment of that underlying disease or removal of the patient
from the environment causing the disease can be effective. This may
include treatment with: oral medications, including
corticosteroids; influenza vaccine; pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine,
oxygen therapy from portable tanks and/or lung transplantation.
[0181] Many times treatment is limited only to treating the
inflammatory response that occurs in the lungs. This is done in the
hope that stopping the inflammation will prevent the laying down of
scar tissue or fibrosis in the lungs and thus stop the progression
of the disease.
[0182] Corticosteroids are the drugs which are usually administered
in an attempt to stop the inflammation. The advantage of this
treatment has not been proven in every case, although it does
appear that if the drugs are given early on in the course of the
disease, there is a better chance of improvement. Corticosteroid
medications can have various side effects and so patients taking
these medications must be frequently reassessed by their physicians
in order to judge the safety and benefit of this therapy.
[0183] Other drugs have been tried but convincing evidence of their
efficacy is lacking. Although drug therapy of pulmonary fibrosis
may not always be successful, there is much that can be done in the
way of supportive therapy that will ease the breathlessness that
accompanies this condition. Rehabilitation and education programs
can help considerably in teaching patients how to breathe more
efficiently and to perform their activities of daily living with
less breathlessness. Sometimes supplemental oxygen therapy is
required in order to treat breathlessness. Early treatment of chest
infections is required. Smoking must be discontinued, as the
effects of tobacco will aggravate the shortness of breath.
[0184] Outcome
[0185] Many times the disease is mild with few symptoms and does
not progress significantly with the years. In other cases, when
pulmonary fibrosis is due to some other underlying disease such as
rheumatoid arthritis, progression of the lung condition may reflect
progression of the underlying diseases. Very rarely pulmonary
fibrosis has a sudden onset and rapidly progresses to death from
respiratory failure over a period of weeks. However, the usual
course of pulmonary fibrosis, particularly idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis, is one of slowly progressive scarring of the lungs. The
duration and speed of this process is variable. Some patients
respond to therapy. In other cases, patients do not respond to
therapy and have a slow deterioration over months to years,
eventually ending in death when lungs can no longer function
adequately.
[0186] LPA and Pulmonary Fibrosis
[0187] Although the exact etiology is not known, IPF is believed to
result from an aberrant wound healing response following pulmonary
injury. Scotton, C. J. and Chambers, R. C. (2007), Chest, vol.
132:1311-21. In particular, increased proliferation and migration
of lung fibroblasts as well as the formation of scar
tissue-producing myofibroblasts are key events in the pathogenesis
of IPF. Myofibroblasts are smooth muscle-like fibroblasts that
express alpha-smooth muscle actin (.alpha.-SMA) and contain a
contractile apparatus composed of actin filaments and associated
proteins that are organized into prominent stress fibers. In
addition to their normal role in tissue homeostasis and repair,
myofibroblasts are pathological mediators in numerous fibrotic
disorders. Hinz, B. (2007), J Invest Dermatol., vol. 127:526-37.
Increased number and density of myofibroblasts has been
demonstrated in the fibrotic foci of animal models of lung
fibrosis. Myofibroblasts are formed following tissue injury whereby
increased levels of growth factors, cytokines and mechanical
stimuli promote transformation of resident tissue fibroblasts into
contractile, scar tissue-producing myofibroblasts. In the lung and
other tissues, persistent, elevated levels of biochemical mediators
including TGF.beta., CTGF, PDGF and various inflammatory cytokines,
promotes myofibroblast formation and exaggerated scar tissue
production which leads to tissue fibrosis (Scotton, 2007). Thus,
current clinical strategies for treating IPF and other fibrotic
disorders have targeted biochemical factors that promote
myofibroblast formation and subsequent fibrous tissue
production.
[0188] Recently, the bioactive lysophospholipid lysophosphatidic
acid (LPA) has been recognized for its role in tissue repair and
wound healing (Watterson, 2007). LPA is a bioactive
lysophospholipid (<500 Dalton) with a single hydrocarbon
backbone and a polar head group containing a phosphate group. LPA
elicits numerous cellular effects through the interaction with
specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), designated
EGD2/LPA.sub.1, EDG4/LPA.sub.2, EDG7/LPA.sub.3, and LPA4. Anliker
B. and J. Chun (2004), Seminars in Cell & Developmental
Biology, vol. 15: 457-465. As a biological mediator, LPA has been
recognized for its role in tissue repair and wound healing
(Watterson, 2007). In particular, LPA is linked to pulmonary and
renal inflammation and fibrosis. LPA is detectable in human
bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids at baseline and its expression
increases during allergic inflammation (Georas, 2007). Furthermore,
LPA promotes inflammation in airway epithelial cells (Barekzi,
2006). Recently, pulmonary and renal fibrosis have been linked to
increased LPA release and signaling though the LPA type 1 receptor
(LPA1). LPA levels were elevated in bronchialveolar lavage (BAL)
samples from IPF patients and bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in
mice was dependent on activation of LPA1 (Tager, 2008). Following
unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice, tubulointerstitial
fibrosis was reduced in LPA1 knock-out mice and pro-fibrotic
cytokine expression was attenuated in wild-type mice treated with
an LPA1 antagonist (Pradere, 2007). Combined, these studies
demonstrate a role for LPA in tissue repair and fibrosis, and
identify bioactive lipids as a previously unrecognized class of
targets in the treatment of IPF and other fibrotic disorders.
[0189] c. Hepatic (Liver) Fibrosis
[0190] The liver possesses a remarkable regenerative capacity,
therefore the process of repair by regeneration proceeds to
complete restitutio ad integrum (full restoration). If however the
damage has affected the reticular framework, the repair will occur
by scar formation (fibrosis) that may lead to rearrangement of the
blood circulation and to cirrhosis.
[0191] The reaction to injury proceeds as is follows: Damage
(necrosis), accompanied by cellular changes and tissue changes;
inflammatory reaction; and repair (either by regeneration
(restitutio ad integrum) or by scarring (fibrosis).
[0192] Chronic liver diseases lead to fibrosis that leads to
disturbance of the architecture, portal hypertension and may
produce such an irreversible rearrangement of the circulation as to
cause cirrhosis. There is a fine line between fibrosis and
cirrhosis. Fibrosis is not only the result of necrosis, collapse
and scar formation but also the result of disturbances in the
synthesis and degradation of matrix by injured mesenchymal cells
that synthesize the various components of the matrix which in the
liver are the following categories: collagens, glycoproteins and
proteoglycans.
[0193] Evaluation of Liver Fibrosis
[0194] Evaluation of Liver Fibrosis can be histological, e.g., with
Masson trichrome stain, silver reticulin stain, specific antibodies
for collagen types, desmin and vimentin for lipocytes, or vimentin
for myofibroblasts, or may be biochemical, e.g., by: determination
of various enzymes in matrix or of serum laminin in benign
fibrosis.
[0195] Classifications of Liver Fibrosis
[0196] There are 2 main types, congenital and acquired liver
fibrosis. The former is a genetic disorder, which causes polycystic
liver diseases. The latter has many different categories and is
mainly caused by liver cell injuries. Pathologically, fibrosis can
be classified as:
[0197] Portal Area Fibrosis:
[0198] There is fibroblasts proliferation and fibers expansion from
the portal areas to the lobule. Finally, these fibers connected to
form bridging septa. This kind of fibrosis is mainly seen in viral
hepatitis and malnutritional liver fibrosis.
[0199] Intra-Lobular Fibrosis:
[0200] There is almost no fibroblast found in normal lobule. When
large numbers of liver cells degenerate and undergo necrosis, the
reticular fiber frame collapses and becomes thick collagen fibers.
At the same time, intra lobule fibrotic tissue proliferates and
surrounds the liver cells.
[0201] Central Fibrosis:
[0202] Proliferated fibrotic tissue mainly surrounds the center
vein and causes the thickening of the wall of the center vein.
[0203] Peri-Micro-Bile-Duct Fibrosis:
[0204] Type fibrosis mainly caused by long-term bile retention and
mainly happens around the bile ducts. Microscopically, there are
connective tissues surrounding the newly formed bile canaliculus
and bile-plugs. The base-membrane of the bile canaliculus becomes
fibrotic.
[0205] Immunologically, liver fibrosis can be classified as:
[0206] Passive Fibrosis:
[0207] There is extensive necrosis of the liver cells and secondary
liver structure collapse and scar formation, which causes
connective tissue proliferation.
[0208] Active Fibrosis:
[0209] Lymph cells and other inflammatory cells infiltration and
recurrent and consistent inflammation promote the connective tissue
to invade the lobule.
[0210] Causally, liver fibrosis can be classified as:
[0211] Viral Hepatitis Fibrosis:
[0212] Usually caused by chronic hepatitis B, C, and D. Worldwide,
there are three hundred fifty million of hepatitis B virus
carriers, and one hundred seventy million of hepatitis C infected
people. About 15% of HBV and 85% of HCV infected persons will
develop chronic hepatitis and lead to fibrosism, in which the liver
shows peri-portal area inflammation and piecemeal necrosis and
fibrosis. With such large population being affected, this is the
most important category of the liver fibrosis.
[0213] Parasitic Infection Fibrosis:
[0214] This kind of liver fibrosis is mainly happening in
developing countries and is caused by schistosomiasis. There are
two hundred and twenty million people in Asia, Africa, South and
Center America suffering from this infection. The recurrent
infection and the eggs of schistosome accumulated in the liver can
cause liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
[0215] Alcoholic Fibrosis:
[0216] It is mainly caused by the oxidized metabolite of alcohol,
acetaldehyde. In western countries, the incidence of this disorder
is positively related to the amount of alcohol consumption. The
total cases of alcoholic fibrosis in the USA is about three times
higher than the number of hepatitis C. Alcoholic fibrosis causes
two morphological changes in the liver: fatty liver and cellular
organelles deterioration. The fibrosis first appears around the
center veins and at the same time, the liver parenchymal
inflammation. Gradually the fibrosis expends to the whole
liver.
[0217] Biliary Fibrosis:
[0218] There is primary and secondary biliary fibrosis. Primary
biliary hepatic fibrosis (PBHF) is an autoimmune disorder in which
chronic intra-liver bile retention caused the liver fibrosis. It is
more often affect female around the age 40 to 60. In serum tests,
elevated gamma globulin and positive for the anti-mitochondria
antibody. Pathological studies found that the fibrosis mainly
around the micro-bile ducts and periportal area fibrosis and
inflammation. Secondary biliary fibrosis happens following the
obstruction of the bile ducts, which causes peri-portal
inflammation and progressive fibrosis.
[0219] Metabolic Fibrosis:
[0220] This category is not common and has fewer cases. Wilson's
disease or liver lenticular degeneration and hemochromatosis are
the main disorders that cause metabolic fibrosis. The former is a
genetic disorder and causes cooper metabolism disorder and deposits
in the liver. The latter is an iron metabolic disorder and causes
hemoglobin deposits in the liver. Both of these metabolic disorders
can cause liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
[0221] Intoxication Fibrosis:
[0222] When long-term contact with liver-toxic substances, such as
carbon-tetrachloride, organophosphorus, dimethyl nitrosamine,
thioacetamide, or taking liver toxic medications, such as
isoniazid, thio-oxidizing pyrimidine, wintermin, tetracycline,
acetaminophen etc. can all cause various degrees of liver cell
injuries, necrosis, bile retention, or allergic inflammation and
cause liver fibrosis.
[0223] Malnutritional Fibrosis:
[0224] This type is mainly caused by insufficient or imbalanced
nutritional intake. A long-term low protein or high fat diet can
cause fatty liver and lead to fibrosis.
[0225] Cardiogenic Fibrosis:
[0226] Chronic congestive heart failure can cause long lasting
liver vein stagnancy causing ischemic degeneration of the liver
cells. In this type of liver fibrosis, the connective tissue
hypertrophy starts at the center of the liver lobule and gradually
expands to rest of the lobule.
[0227] Diagnosis and Staging of Liver Fibrosis
[0228] The gold standard for assessing the health of the liver is
the liver biopsy. However since the procedure requires that a
needle be inserted through the skin there is a potential for
complications even though the incidence of complications is
extremely low. The complications of a liver biopsy can include
internal bleeding, and puncturing another organ such as the lungs,
stomach, intestines, or any other organs that are close to the
liver. In regards to accuracy of the biopsy the sample liver tissue
size is important for correctly staging and grading a liver biopsy.
Another problem is that the tissue taken from one part of the liver
may not be 100% representative of the entire liver. Once the liver
tissue sample is collected it is graded and staged by a specialist
(pathologist), which could lead to possible human error in
interpreting the results. In addition there is no standardized
interpretation protocol so it is difficult to compare the results
of different biopsies read by different pathologists. Price is also
an issue since a typical liver biopsy can cost between $1,500 and
$2,000.
[0229] Given these potential problems it is not surprising that
there is a lot of research that is being conducted on the
development of non-invasive tests. The tests that have been
developed so far have had mixed results in accuracy when compared
to the results of a liver biopsy. There have been few prospective
clinical trials that have compared the results from various
non-invasive markers to the results from a liver biopsy.
[0230] In order to objectively evaluate the stage of fibrosis,
liver biopsy, especially a series of biopsies, is the main method
used today. From the biopsy, it is possible to diagnose the liver
inflammation grade and also the stage of the fibrosis. The most
commonly used scoring system is Kanel scoring system, which stages
the fibrosis from 0 to 5. (At the same time the biopsy diagnosis
also give a ranking of inflammation grade, which is from 0 to 4)
Stage 0: normal; Stage 1: portal expansion with fibrosis (<1/3
tracts with wisps of bridging.); Stage 2: bridging fibrosis; Stage
3: marked bridging fibrosis or early cirrhosis (with thin septa
fibrosis); Stage 4: definite cirrhosis with <50% of biopsy
fibrosis; Stage 5: definite cirrhosis with >50% of biopsy
fibrosis.
[0231] Blood tests to diagnose liver fibrosis: Because biopsy is an
invasive procedure, many patients are wary of the procedure. Blood
tests are being studied as a method to evaluate the fibrosis
progression. The most commonly used serum chemical analysis method
is by measuring the amount of HA (hyaluronic acid), LN (Laminin),
CIV (collagen IV), PCIII (procollagen type III) in the serum. They
can be used as a reference index of fibrosis activities. From the
blood tests, the ratio of AST/ALT is found and when it is greater
than 1, it often shows that the degree of fibrosis is relatively
advanced. Combined with whether is there an enlarged spleen and
depletion of platelets count and albumin level, we can also
estimate the stage of the fibrosis. In advanced fibrosis, the
spleen is usually enlarged with platelets counts lower than 100 and
albumin lower than 3.5. With blood test results, the evaluation of
the severity of fibrosis is only useful to access the stage 0, 1
and 3, 4, and 5. It is not able to distinguish the stages between 2
and 3.
[0232] Medical imagery diagnosis B-ultrasonic, CT, and MRI can also
be used to evaluate the liver fibrosis. The B-ultrasonic image is
often used to check the size of the spleen, measure the diameter of
the main stem of the portal vein, the diameters of right and left
portal vein branches, the diameter of vein at the portal of the
spleen, and the blood flow speed of the portal vein. GI endoscopies
can be used to see whether varices exists in the stomach and
esophagus. These can be used as a reference for the hepatologist to
evaluate the stage of fibrosis.
[0233] In general, the term fibrosis refers to the abnormal
formation of fibrous (scar) tissue. For hepatitis patients,
fibrosis means that the liver has been under assault by the
hepatitis for some time. Early stages of fibrosis are identified by
discrete, localized areas of scarring in one portal (zone) of the
liver. Later stages of fibrosis are identified by "bridging"
fibrosis, which is scar tissue that crosses across zones of the
liver. The rate at which people progress from inflammation to
fibrosis, and eventually to cirrhosis seems to vary tremendously,
but in most people the progression is very slow. There is a growing
body of evidence that people who respond to interferon therapy for
HCV infection may experience a decrease in the amount of tissue
scarring. This speaks to the liver's ability to regenerate itself.
If fibrosis advances far enough, it is described as Cirrhosis.
Liver biopsy is conducted to assess the degree of inflammation
(grade) and degree of scarring (stage). Diagnosis: One of the major
clinical problems facing the hepatology and gastroenterology
community is how best to evaluate and manage the increasing numbers
of patients identified with hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the last
decade, advances in serologic and virologic testing for HCV and
improvements in therapy have led more patients to be identified and
to seek treatment. However, little progress has been made in
improving either our ability to determine the degree of hepatic
injury, particularly fibrosis, or to predict the risk of disease
progression for the individual patient.
[0234] The clinician relies on the biopsy results for both
prognostic and therapeutic decision making, which can have a major
impact on the patient's life. A single-pass liver biopsy is able to
correctly diagnose the stage of fibrosis or presence of cirrhosis
in 80% of patients. Factors that improve the diagnostic accuracy of
liver biopsy include the presence of a uniform disease throughout
the liver such as HCV, multiple passes, type of needle used, and an
unfragmented biopsy core of 2 cm or greater in length. Even with
experienced physicians performing the liver biopsy and expert
pathologists interpreting the biopsy, this gold standard has up to
a 20% error rate in staging disease.
[0235] d. Renal (Kidney) Fibrosis
[0236] LPA is linked to renal inflammation and fibrosis. Recently,
renal fibrosis has been linked to increased LPA release and
signaling though the LPA type 1 receptor (LPA1). Following
unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice, tubulointerstitial
fibrosis was reduced in LPA1 knock-out mice and pro-fibrotic
cytokine expression was attenuated in wild-type mice treated with
an LPA1 antagonist (Pradere, 2007).
[0237] e. Other Fibroses
[0238] Uterine fibroses are non-malignant tumors known as uterine
leiomyomata (commonly called fibroids). They can be isolated or
grow in clusters, with sizes varying from the size of an apple seed
to the size of a grapefruit or larger. Diagnosis of uterine
fibroids is generally achieved by ultrasound, X-rays, CAT scan,
laparoscopy, and/or hysteroscopy. Treatment of uterine fibroids can
be either medical (drug treatment, e.g., non-steroid
anti-inflammatory drugs or gonadotropin release hormone agonists)
or surgical (e.g., myomectomy, hysterectomy, endometrial ablation
or myolysis, with recent development of less invasive methods such
as uterine fibroid embolization and thermal ultrasound
ablation.
[0239] Fibrosis of the skin can be described as a thickening or
hardening of the skin, and occurs in scleroderma and other fibrotic
skin diseases. When severe, fibrosis can limit movement and normal
function. A keloid is an excessive scar that forms in response to
trauma, sometimes minor trauma such as ear piercing or acne. Unlike
normal scar formation, keloids have disproportionate proliferation
of fibroblasts resulting in masses of collagenous tissue. The scar
therefore protrudes above the surface of the surrounding skin and
infiltrates skin that was not originally traumatized. Roles for LPA
in skin fibroblast activity have been demonstrated. For example, it
has been shown that LPA stimulates the migration of murine skin
fibroblasts (Hama et al., J Biol Chem. 2004 Apr. 23;
279(17):17634-9). Thus it is believed that anti-LPA agents such as
antibodies are useful for treatment of aberrant skin fibrosis such
as keloids or skin fibrosis.
[0240] Cardiac Fibrosis
[0241] LPA has also been shown to have direct fibrogenic effects in
cardiac fibroblasts by stimulating collagen gene expression and
fibroblast proliferation. Chen, et al. (2006), FEBS Lett., vol.
580:4737-45. Thus anti-LPA agents such as antibodies are expected
to have anti-fibrotic effects in cardiac cells as well, and thus to
be effective in treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
[0242] Agents that reduce the effective concentration of LPA, such
as Lpath's anti-LPA mAb, are believed to be useful in methods for
treating diseases and conditions characterized by aberrant
fibrosis.
[0243] 4. Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disorders
[0244] Because LPA is involved in fibrogenesis and wound healing of
liver tissue (Davaille, et al., J. Biol. Chem., vol.
275:34268-34633, 2000; Ikeda, et al., Am J. Physiol. Gastrointest.
Liver Physiol, vol. 279:G304-G310, 2000), healing of wounded
vasculatures (Lee, et al., Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol., vol.
278:C612-C618, 2000), and other disease states, or events
associated with such diseases, such as cancer, angiogenesis and
inflammation (Pyne, et al., Biochem. J., vol. 349:385-402, 2000),
the compositions and methods of the disclosure may be applied to
treat not only these diseases but cardiac diseases as well,
particularly those associated with tissue remodeling. LPA have some
direct fibrogenic effects by stimulating collagen gene expression
and proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts. Chen, et al. (2006), FEBS
Lett., vol. 580:4737-45.
[0245] 5. Obesity and Diabetes
[0246] Autotaxin, a phospholipase D responsible for LPA synthesis,
has been found to be secreted by adipocytes and its expression is
up-regulated in adipocytes from obese-diabetic db/db mice as well
as in massively obese women subjects and human patients with type 2
diabetes, independently of obesity (Ferry, et al. (2003), JBC, vol.
278:18162-18169; Boucher, et al. (2005) Diabetologia, vol.
48:569-577, cited in Pradere, et al. (2007), BBA, vol. 1771:93-102.
LPA itself has been shown to influence proliferation and
differentiation of preadipocytes. Pradere, et al., 2007. Together
this suggests a role for anti-LPA agents in treatment of obesity
and diabetes.
[0247] 3. Antibody Generation and Characterization
[0248] The examples hereinbelow describe the production of anti-LPA
agents, particularly anti-LPA antibodies, with desirable properties
from a therapeutic perspective including: (a) binding affinity for
LPA and/or its variants, including 18:2, 18:1, 18:0, 16:0, 12:0 and
20:4 LPA. Antibody affinities may be determined as described in the
examples herein below. Preferably antibodies bind LPA with a high
affinity, e.g., a K.sub.d value of no more than about
1.times.10.sup.-7 M; possibly no more than about 1.times.10.sup.-8
M; and possibly no more than about 5.times.10.sup.-9 M. In a
physiological context, it is preferable for an antibody to bind LPA
with an affinity that is higher than the LPA's affinity for an LPA
receptor. It will be understood that this need not necessarily be
the case in a nonphysiological context such as a diagnostic
assay.
[0249] Aside from antibodies with strong binding affinity for LPA,
it is also desirable to select chimeric, humanized or variant
antibodies that have other beneficial properties from a therapeutic
perspective. For example, the antibody may be one that reduces scar
formation or alters tumor progression. One assay for determining
the activity of the anti-LPA antibodies of the invention is ELISA.
Preferably the humanized or variant antibody fails to elicit an
immunogenic response upon administration of a therapeutically
effective amount of the antibody to a human patient. If an
immunogenic response is elicited, preferably the response will be
such that the antibody still provides a therapeutic benefit to the
patient treated therewith.
[0250] According to one embodiment of the invention, humanized
anti-LPA antibodies bind the epitope as herein defined. To screen
for antibodies that bind to the epitope on an LPA bound by an
antibody of interest (e.g., those that block binding of the
antibody to LPA), a routine cross-blocking assay such as that
described in Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory, Ed Harlow and David Lane (1988), can be performed.
Alternatively, epitope mapping, e.g., as described in Champe, et
al., J. Biol. Chem., vol. 270:1388-1394 (1995), can be performed to
determine whether the antibody binds an epitope of interest.
[0251] The antibodies of the invention have a heavy chain variable
domain comprising an amino acid sequence represented by the
formula: FR1-CDRH1-FR2-CDRH2-FR3-CDRH3-FR4, wherein "FR1-4"
represents the four framework regions and "CDRH1-3" represents the
three hypervariable regions of an anti-LPA antibody variable heavy
domain. FR1-4 may be derived from a consensus sequence (for example
the most common amino acids of a class, subclass or subgroup of
heavy or light chains of human immunoglobulins) or may be derived
from an individual human antibody framework region or from a
combination of different framework region sequences. Many human
antibody framework region sequences are compiled in Kabat et al.,
supra, for example. In one embodiment, the variable heavy FR is
provided by a consensus sequence of a human immunoglobulin subgroup
as compiled by Kabat et al., supra.
[0252] The human variable heavy FR sequence may have substitutions
therein, e.g. wherein the human FR residue is replaced by a
corresponding nonhuman residue (by "corresponding nonhuman residue"
is meant the nonhuman residue with the same Kabat positional
numbering as the human residue of interest when the human and
nonhuman sequences are aligned), but replacement with the nonhuman
residue is not necessary. For example, a replacement FR residue
other than the corresponding nonhuman residue may be selected by
phage display.
[0253] The antibodies of the preferred embodiment herein have a
light chain variable domain comprising an amino acid sequence
represented by the formula: FR1-CDRL1-FR2-CDRL2-FR3-CDRL3-FR4,
wherein "FR1-4" represents the four framework regions and "CDRL1-3"
represents the three hypervariable regions of an anti-LPA antibody
variable light domain. FR1-4 may be derived from a consensus
sequence (for example the most common amino acids of a class,
subclass or subgroup of heavy or light chains of human
immunoglobulins) or may be derived from an individual human
antibody framework region or from a combination of different
framework region sequences. In one preferred embodiment, the
variable light FR is provided by a consensus sequence of a human
immunoglobulin subgroup as compiled by Kabat et al., supra.
[0254] The human variable light FR sequence may have substitutions
therein, e.g., wherein a human FR residue is replaced by a
corresponding mouse residue, but replacement with the nonhuman
residue is not necessary. For example, a replacement residue other
than the corresponding nonhuman residue may be selected by phage
display. Methods for generating humanized anti-LPA antibodies of
interest herein are elaborated in more detail below.
[0255] a. Antibody Preparation
[0256] Methods for generating anti-LPA antibodies and variants of
anti-LPA antibodies are described in the Examples below. Humanized
anti-LPA antibodies may be prepared, based on a nonhuman anti-LPA
antibody. Fully human antibodies may also be prepared, e.g, in a
genetically engineered (i.e., transgenic) mouse (e.g. from Medarex)
that, when presented with an immunogen, can produce a human
antibody that does not necessarily require CDR grafting. These
antibodies are fully human (100% human protein sequences) from
animals such as mice in which the non-human antibody genes are
suppressed and replaced with human antibody gene expression. The
applicants believe that antibodies could be generated against
bioactive lipids when presented to these genetically engineered
mice or other animals that might be able to produce human
frameworks for the relevant CDRs.
[0257] Where a variant is to be generated, the parent antibody is
prepared. Exemplary techniques for generating such nonhuman
antibody and parent antibodies will be described in the following
sections.
[0258] (i) Antigen Preparation.
[0259] The antigen to be used for production of antibodies may be,
e.g., intact LPA or a portion of an LPA (e.g. an LPA fragment
comprising the epitope). Other forms of antigens useful for
generating antibodies will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
[0260] (ii) Polyclonal Antibodies.
[0261] Polyclonal antibodies are preferably raised in animals
(vertebrate or invertebrates, including mammals, birds and fish,
including cartilaginous fish) by multiple subcutaneous (sc) or
intraperitoneal (ip) injections of the relevant antigen and an
adjuvant. It may be useful to conjugate the relevant antigen to a
protein or other carrier that is immunogenic in the species to be
immunized, e.g., keyhole limpet hemocyanin, serum albumin, bovine
thyroglobulin, or soybean trypsin inhibitor using a bifunctional or
derivatizing agent, for example, maleimidobenzoyl sulfosuccinimide
ester (conjugation through cysteine residues), N-hydroxysuccinimide
(through lysine residues), glutaraldehyde, succinic anhydride,
SOCl.sub.2, or R.sup.1N.dbd.C.dbd.NR, where R and R.sup.1 are
different alkyl groups. Non-protein carriers (e.g., colloidal gold)
are also known in the art for antibody production.
[0262] Animals are immunized against the antigen, immunogenic
conjugates, or derivatives by combining, e.g., 100 ug or 5 ug of
the protein or conjugate (for rabbits or mice, respectively) with
three volumes of Freund's complete adjuvant and injecting the
solution intradermally at multiple sites. One month later the
animals are boosted with one-fifth to one-tenth of the original
amount of peptide or conjugate in Freund's complete adjuvant by
subcutaneous injection at multiple sites. Seven to 14 days later
the animals are bled and the serum is assayed for antibody titer.
Animals are boosted until the titer plateaus. Preferably, the
animal is boosted with the conjugate of the same antigen, but
conjugated to a different protein and/or through a different
cross-linking reagent. Conjugates also can be made in recombinant
cell culture as protein fusions. Also, aggregating agents such as
alum are suitably used to enhance the immune response.
[0263] (iii) Monoclonal Antibodies.
[0264] Monoclonal antibodies may be made using the hybridoma method
first described by Kohler, et al., Nature, vol. 256:495 (1975), or
may be made by other methods such as recombinant DNA methods (U.S.
Pat. No. 4,816,567). In the hybridoma method, a mouse or other
appropriate host animal, such as a hamster or macaque monkey, is
immunized as hereinabove described to elicit lymphocytes that
produce or are capable of producing antibodies that will
specifically bind to the protein used for immunization.
Alternatively, lymphocytes may be immunized in vitro. Lymphocytes
then are fused with myeloma cells using a suitable fusing agent,
such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell (Goding,
Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, pp. 59-103
(Academic Press, 1986)).
[0265] 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,
parental myeloma cells. For example, if the parental myeloma cells
lack the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase
(HGPRT or HPRT), the culture medium for the hybridomas typically
will include hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (HAT medium),
which substances prevent the growth of HGPRT-deficient cells.
[0266] Preferred myeloma cells are those that fuse efficiently,
support stable high-level production of antibody by the selected
antibody-producing cells, and are sensitive to a medium such as HAT
medium. Among these, preferred myeloma cell lines are murine
myeloma lines, such as those derived from MOP-21 and M.C.-11 mouse
tumors available from the Salk Institute Cell Distribution Center,
San Diego, Calif. USA, and SP-2 or X63-Ag8-653 cells available from
the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md. USA. Human
myeloma and mouse-human heteromyeloma cell lines also have been
described for the production of human monoclonal antibodies
(Kozbor, J. Immunol., vol. 133:3001 (1984); Brodeur, et al.,
Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, pp.
51-63 (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1987)).
[0267] Culture medium in which hybridoma cells are growing is
assayed for production of monoclonal antibodies directed against
the antigen. Preferably, the binding specificity of monoclonal
antibodies produced by hybridoma cells is determined by
immunoprecipitation or by an in vitro binding assay, such as
radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay
(ELISA).
[0268] The binding affinity of the monoclonal antibody can, for
example, be determined by the Scatchard analysis of Munson, et al.,
Anal. Biochem., vol. 107:220 (1980).
[0269] After hybridoma cells are identified that produce antibodies
of the desired specificity, affinity, and/or activity, the clones
may be subcloned by limiting dilution procedures and grown by
standard methods (Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and
Practice, pp. 59-103 (Academic Press, 1986)). Suitable culture
media for this purpose include, for example, D-MEM or RPMI-1640
medium. In addition, the hybridoma cells may be grown in vivo as
ascites tumors in an animal.
[0270] The monoclonal antibodies secreted by the subclones are
suitably separated from the culture medium, ascites fluid, or serum
by conventional immunoglobulin purification procedures such as, for
example, protein A-Sepharose.RTM., hydroxylapatite chromatography,
gel electrophoresis, dialysis, or affinity chromatography.
[0271] DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies is readily isolated
and sequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., by using
oligonucleotide probes that are capable of binding specifically to
genes encoding the heavy and light chains of the monoclonal
antibodies). The hybridoma cells serve as a preferred source of
such DNA. Once isolated, the DNA may be placed into expression
vectors, which are well known in the art, and which are then
transfected into host cells such as E. coli cells, simian COS
cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, or myeloma cells that do
not otherwise produce immunoglobulin protein, to obtain the
synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in the recombinant host cells.
Recombinant production of antibodies will be described in more
detail below.
[0272] (iv) Humanization and Amino Acid Sequence Variants.
[0273] General methods for humanization of antibodies are described
in the following U.S. patents and published patent applications:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,155, US19960652558 19960606, U.S. Pat. No.
6,479,284, US20000660169 20000912, U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,213,
US19930146206 19931117, U.S. Pat. No. 6,639,055, US20000705686
20001102, U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,931, US19950435516 19950504, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,530,101, U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089, US19950477728
19950607, U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,761, US19950474040 19950607, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,693,762, US19950487200 19950607, U.S. Pat. No.
6,180,370, US19950484537 19950607, US2003229208, US20030389155
20030313, U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,350, US19950372262 19950113, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,350,861, US19970862871 19970523, U.S. Pat. No.
5,777,085, US19950458516 19950517, U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,597,
US19960656586 19960531, U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,644, US19960621751
19960322, U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,448, US19910801798 19911129, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,013,256, US19970934841 19970922, U.S. Pat. No.
6,129,914, US19950397411 19950301, U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,671, v, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,329,511, US19990450520 19991129, US2003166871,
US20020078757 20020219, U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,539, US19910782717
19911025, U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,640, US19950452462 19950526, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,624,821, and US19950479752 19950607. In certain
embodiments, it may be desirable to generate amino acid sequence
variants of these humanized antibodies, particularly where these
improve the binding affinity or other biological properties of the
antibody.
[0274] Amino acid sequence variants of the anti-LPA antibody are
prepared by introducing appropriate nucleotide changes into the
anti-LPA antibody DNA, or by peptide synthesis. Such variants
include, for example, deletions from, and/or insertions into and/or
substitutions of, residues within the amino acid sequences of the
anti-LPA antibodies of the examples herein. Any combination of
deletion, insertion, and substitution is made to arrive at the
final construct, provided that the final construct possesses the
desired characteristics. The amino acid changes also may alter
post-translational processes of the humanized or variant anti-LPA
antibody, such as changing the number or position of glycosylation
sites.
[0275] A useful method for identification of certain residues or
regions of the anti-LPA antibody that are preferred locations for
mutagenesis is called "alanine scanning mutagenesis," as described
by Cunningham and Wells Science, vol. 244:1081-1085 (1989). Here, a
residue or group of target residues are identified (e.g., charged
residues such as arg, asp, his, lys, and glu) and replaced by a
neutral or negatively charged amino acid (most preferably alanine
or polyalanine) to affect the interaction of the amino acids with
LPA antigen. Those amino acid locations demonstrating functional
sensitivity to the substitutions then are refined by introducing
further or other variants at, or for, the sites of substitution.
Thus, while the site for introducing an amino acid sequence
variation is predetermined, the nature of the mutation per se need
not be predetermined. For example, to analyze the performance of a
mutation at a given site, alanine scanning or random mutagenesis is
conducted at the target codon or region and the expressed anti-LPA
antibody variants are screened for the desired activity. Amino acid
sequence insertions include amino- and/or carboxyl-terminal fusions
ranging in length from one residue to polypeptides containing a
hundred or more residues, as well as intrasequence insertions of
single or multiple amino acid residues. Examples of terminal
insertions include an N-terminal methionyl residue or the antibody
fused to an epitope tag. Other insertional variants include the
fusion of an enzyme or a polypeptide that increases the serum
half-life of the antibody to the N- or C-terminus of the
antibody.
[0276] Another type of variant is an amino acid substitution
variant. These variants have at least one amino acid residue
removed from the antibody molecule and a different residue inserted
in its place. The sites of greatest interest for substitutional
mutagenesis include the hypervariable regions, but FR alterations
are also contemplated. Conservative substitutions are preferred,
but more substantial changes may be introduced and the products may
be screened. Examples of substitutions are listed below:
[0277] Exemplary Amino Acid Residue Substitutions [0278] Ala (A)
val; leu; ile val [0279] Arg (R) lys; gln; asn lys [0280] Asn (N)
gln; his; asp, lys; gln arg [0281] Asp (D) glu; asn glu [0282] Cys
(C) ser; ala ser [0283] Gln (Q) asn; glu asn [0284] Glu (E) asp;
gln asp [0285] Gly (G) ala ala [0286] His (H) asn; gln; lys; arg
arg [0287] Ile (I) leu; val; met; ala; leu phe; norleucine [0288]
Leu (L) norleucine; ile; val; ile met; ala; phe [0289] Lys (K) arg;
gln; asn arg [0290] Met (M) leu; phe; ile leu [0291] Phe (F) leu;
val; ile; ala; tyr tyr [0292] Pro (P) ala ala [0293] Ser (S) thr
thr [0294] Thr (T) ser ser [0295] Trp (W) tyr; phe tyr [0296] Tyr
(Y) trp; phe; thr; ser phe [0297] Val (V) ile; leu; met; phe; leu
ala; norleucine
[0298] Substantial modifications in the biological properties of
the antibody are accomplished by selecting substitutions that
differ significantly in their effect on maintaining (a) the
structure of the polypeptide backbone in the area of the
substitution, for example, as a sheet or helical conformation, (b)
the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site, or
(c) the bulk of the side chain. Naturally occurring residues are
divided into groups based on common side-chain properties:
[0299] (1) hydrophobic: norleucine, met, ala, val, leu, ile;
[0300] (2) neutral hydrophilic: cys, ser, thr;
[0301] (3) acidic: asp, glu;
[0302] (4) basic: asn, gln, his, lys, arg;
[0303] (5) residues that influence chain orientation: gly, pro;
and
[0304] (6) aromatic: trp, tyr, phe.
Non-conservative substitutions will entail exchanging a member of
one of these classes for another class.
[0305] Any cysteine residue not involved in maintaining the proper
conformation of the antibody also may be substituted, to improve
the oxidative stability of the molecule and prevent aberrant
crosslinking. Conversely, cysteine bond(s) may be added to the
antibody to improve its stability (particularly where the antibody
is an antibody fragment such as an Fv fragment).
[0306] One type of substitutional variant involves substituting one
or more hypervariable region residues of a parent antibody (e.g., a
humanized or human antibody). Generally, the resulting variant(s)
selected for further development will have improved biological
properties relative to the parent antibody from which they are
generated. A convenient way for generating such substitutional
variants is affinity maturation using phage display. Briefly,
several hypervariable region sites (e.g., 6-7 sites) are mutated to
generate all possible amino substitutions at each site. The
antibody variants thus generated are displayed in a monovalent
fashion from filamentous phage particles as fusions to the gene III
product of M13 packaged within each particle. The phage-displayed
variants are then screened for their biological activity (e.g.,
binding affinity) as herein disclosed. In order to identify
candidate hypervariable region sites for modification, alanine
scanning mutagenesis can be performed to identify hypervariable
region residues contributing significantly to antigen binding.
Alternatively, or in addition, it may be beneficial to analyze a
crystal structure of the antigen-antibody complex to identify
contact points between the antibody and antigen. Such contact
residues and neighboring residues are candidates for substitution
according to the techniques elaborated herein. Once such variants
are generated, the panel of variants is subjected to screening as
described herein and antibodies with superior properties in one or
more relevant assays may be selected for further development.
[0307] Another type of amino acid variant of the antibody alters
the original glycosylation pattern of the antibody. By altering is
meant deleting one or more carbohydrate moieties found in the
antibody, and/or adding one or more glycosylation sites that are
not present in the antibody.
[0308] Glycosylation of antibodies is typically either N-linked
and/or or O-linked. N-linked refers to the attachment of the
carbohydrate moiety to the side chain of an asparagine residue. The
tripeptide sequences asparagine-X-serine and
asparagine-X-threonine, where X is any amino acid except proline,
are the most common recognition sequences for enzymatic attachment
of the carbohydrate moiety to the asparagine side chain. Thus, the
presence of either of these tripeptide sequences in a 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 may also be used.
[0309] 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 above-described tripeptide
sequences (for N-linked glycosylation sites). The alteration may
also be made by the addition of, or substitution by, one or more
serine or threonine residues to the sequence of the original
antibody (for O-linked glycosylation sites).
[0310] Nucleic acid molecules encoding amino acid sequence variants
of the anti-sphingolipid antibody are prepared 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 preparation by
oligonucleotide-mediated (or site-directed) mutagenesis, PCR
mutagenesis, and cassette mutagenesis of an earlier prepared
variant or a non-variant version of the anti-sphingolipid
antibody.
[0311] (v) Human Antibodies.
[0312] As an alternative to humanization, human antibodies can be
generated. 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 the homozygous deletion of the antibody heavy-chain
joining region (J.sub.H) gene in chimeric and germ-line mutant mice
results in complete inhibition of endogenous antibody production.
Transfer of the human germ-line immunoglobulin gene array into such
germ-line mutant mice will result in the production of human
antibodies upon 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); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,669, 5,589,369, and
5,545,807. Human antibodies can also be derived from phage-display
libraries (Hoogenboom, et al., J. Mol. Biol., vol. 227:381 (1991);
Marks, et al., J. Mol. Biol., vol. 222:581-597 (1991); and U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,565,332 and 5,573,905). Human antibodies may also be
generated by in vitro activated B cells (see U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,567,610 and 5,229,275).
[0313] (vi) Antibody Fragments.
[0314] In certain embodiments, the anti-LPA agent is an antibody
fragment which retains at least one desired activity, including
antigen binding. Various techniques have been developed for the
production of antibody fragments. Traditionally, these fragments
were derived via proteolytic digestion of intact antibodies (see,
e.g., Morimoto, et al., Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical
Methods, vol. 24:107-117(1992), and Brennans, et al., Science, vol.
229:81 (1985)). However, these fragments can now be produced
directly by recombinant host cells. For example, Fab'-SH fragments
can be directly recovered from E. coli and chemically coupled to
form F(ab')2 fragments (Carter, et al., Bio/Technology, vol.
10:163-167 (1992)). In another embodiment, the F(ab')2 is formed
using the leucine zipper GCN4 to promote assembly of the F(ab')2
molecule. According to another approach, Fv, Fab or F(ab')2
fragments can be isolated directly from recombinant host cell
culture. Other techniques for the production of antibody fragments
will be apparent to the skilled practitioner.
[0315] (vii) Multispecific Antibodies and Other Agents.
[0316] In some embodiments, the anti-LPA agent will comprise a
first binding moiety and a second binding moiety, wherein the first
binding moiety is specifically reactive with a first molecule that
is an LPA or LPA metabolite and the second binding moiety is
specifically reactive with a second molecule that is a molecular
species different from the first molecule. Such agents may comprise
a plurality of first binding moieties, a plurality of second
binding moieties, or a plurality of first binding moieties and a
plurality of second binding moieties. Preferably, the ratio of
first binding moieties to second binding moieties is about 1:1,
although it may range from about 1000:1 to about 1:1000, wherein
the ratio is preferably measured in terms of valency.
[0317] In those embodiments wherein the first moiety is an
antibody, the binding moiety may also be an antibody. In preferred
embodiments, the first and second moieties are linked via a linker
moiety, which may have two to many 100's or even thousands of
valencies for attachment of first and second binding moieties by
one or different chemistries. Examples of bispecific antibodies
include those that are reactive against two different epitopes; in
some embodiment one epitope is an LPA epitope and the second
epitope is another bioactive lipid, e.g., S1P. In other embodiments
the bispecific antibody is reactive against an epitope on LPA and
against an epitope found on the cell surface. This serves to target
the LPA-specific antibody moiety to the cell.
[0318] The compositions of the invention may also comprise a first
agent and a second agent, wherein the first agent comprises a first
binding moiety specifically reactive with a first molecule selected
from the group consisting of an LPA and an LPA metabolite and the
second agent comprises a second binding moiety specifically
reactive with a second molecule that is a molecular species
different than the first molecule. The first and/or second agent
may be an antibody. The ratio of first agent to second agent may
range from about 1,000:1 to 1:1,000, although the preferred ratio
is about 1:1. In preferred embodiments, the agent that interferes
with LPA activity is an antibody specifically reactive with LPA. In
some embodiments, it may be desirable to generate multispecific
(e.g. bispecific) anti-LPA antibodies having binding specificities
for at least two different epitopes. Exemplary bispecific
antibodies may bind to two different epitopes of the LPA.
Alternatively, an anti-LPA arm (of the antibody) may be combined
with an arm which binds to a different molecule; for example, S1P
or a cell-surface specific antigen for localization of the antibody
to the cell surface. Bispecific antibodies can be prepared as
full-length antibodies or antibody fragments (e.g., F(ab').sub.2
bispecific antibodies).
[0319] According to another approach for making bispecific
antibodies, the interface between a pair of antibody molecules can
be engineered to maximize the percentage of heterodimers that are
recovered from recombinant cell culture. The preferred interface
comprises at least a part of the C.sub.H3 domain of an antibody
constant domain. In this method, one or more small amino acid side
chains from the interface of the first antibody molecule are
replaced with larger side chains (e.g., tyrosine or tryptophan).
Compensatory "cavities" of identical or similar size to the large
side chain(s) are created on the interface of the second antibody
molecule by replacing large amino acid side chains with smaller
ones (e.g., alanine or threonine). This provides a mechanism for
increasing the yield of the heterodimer over other unwanted
end-products such as homodimers. See WO96/27011, published Sep. 6,
1996.
[0320] Bispecific antibodies include cross-linked or
"heteroconjugate" antibodies. For example, one of the antibodies in
the heteroconjugate can be coupled to avidin, the other to biotin.
Heteroconjugate antibodies may be made using any convenient
cross-linking methods. Suitable cross-linking agents are well known
in the art, and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980, along
with a number of cross-linking techniques.
[0321] Techniques for generating bispecific antibodies from
antibody fragments have also been described in the literature. For
example, bispecific antibodies can be prepared using chemical
linkage. Brennan, et al., Science, vol. 229:81 (1985), describe a
procedure wherein intact antibodies are proteolytically cleaved to
generate F(ab')2 fragments. These fragments are reduced in the
presence of the dithiol complexing agent sodium arsenite to
stabilize vicinal dithiols and prevent intermolecular disulfide
formation. The Fab' fragments generated are then converted to
thionitrobenzoate (TNB) derivatives. One of the Fab'-TNB
derivatives is then reconverted to the Fab'-thiol by reduction with
mercaptoethylamine and is mixed with an equimolar amount of the
other Fab'-TNB derivative to form the bispecific antibody. The
bispecific antibodies produced can be used as agents for the
selective immobilization of enzymes. In yet a further embodiment,
Fab'-SH fragments directly recovered from E. coli can be chemically
coupled in vitro to form bispecific antibodies. Shalaby, et al., J.
Exp. Med., vol. 175:217-225 (1992).
[0322] Various techniques for making and isolating bispecific
antibody fragments directly from recombinant cell culture have also
been described. For example, bispecific antibodies have been
produced using leucine zippers. Kostelny, et al., J. Immunol., vol.
148(5):1547-1553 (1992). The leucine zipper peptides from the Fos
and Jun proteins were linked to the Fab' portions 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. This method can also be utilized for the
production of antibody homodimers. The "diabody" technology
described by Hollinger, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, vol.
90:6444-6448 (1993), has provided an alternative mechanism for
making bispecific antibody fragments. The fragments comprise a
heavy-chain variable domain (V.sub.H) connected to a light-chain
variable domain (V.sub.L) by a linker that is too short to allow
pairing between the two domains on the same chain. Accordingly, the
V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains of one fragment are forced to pair with
the complementary V.sub.L and V.sub.H domains of another fragment,
thereby forming two antigen-binding sites. Another strategy for
making bispecific antibody fragments by the use of single-chain Fv
(sFv) dimers has also been reported. See Gruber, et al., J.
Immunol., vol. 152:5368 (1994). Alternatively, the bispecific
antibody may be a "linear antibody" produced as described in
Zapata, et al., Protein Eng., vol. 8(10):1057-1062 (1995).
[0323] Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated.
For example, trispecific antibodies can be prepared. Tutt, et al.,
J. Immunol., vol. 147:60 (1991).
[0324] The antibody (or polymer or polypeptide) of the invention
comprising one or more binding sites per arm or fragment thereof
will be referred to herein as "multivalent" antibody. For example a
"bivalent" antibody of the invention comprises two binding sites
per Fab or fragment thereof whereas a "trivalent" polypeptide of
the invention comprises three binding sites per Fab or fragment
thereof. In a multivalent polymer of the invention, the two or more
binding sites per Fab may be binding to the same or different
antigens. For example, the two or more binding sites in a
multivalent polypeptide of the invention may be directed against
the same antigen, for example against the same parts or epitopes of
said antigen or against two or more same or different parts or
epitopes of said antigen; and/or may be directed against different
antigens; or a combination thereof. Thus, a bivalent polypeptide of
the invention for example may comprise two identical binding sites,
may comprise a first binding sites directed against a first part or
epitope of an antigen and a second binding site directed against
the same part or epitope of said antigen or against another part or
epitope of said antigen; or may comprise a first binding sites
directed against a first part or epitope of an antigen and a second
binding site directed against the a different antigen. However, as
will be clear from the description hereinabove, the invention is
not limited thereto, in the sense that a multivalent polypeptide of
the invention may comprise any number of binding sites directed
against the same or different antigens. In one embodiment the
multivalent polypeptide comprises at least two ligand-binding
elements, one of which contains one or more CDR peptide sequences
shown herein. In another embodiment there multivalent polypeptide
comprises three ligand-binding sites, each independently selected
from the CDR sequences disclosed herein.
[0325] At least one of the ligand binding elements binds LPA. In
one embodiment at least one of the ligand binding elements binds
another target. In one embodiment there are up to 10,000 binding
elements in a multivalent binding molecule, and the ligand binding
elements may be linked to a scaffold.
[0326] The antibody (or polymer or polypeptide) of the invention
that contains at least two binding sites per Fab or fragment
thereof, in which at least one binding site is directed against a
first antigen and a second binding site directed against a second
antigen different from the first antigen, will also be referred to
as "multispecific". Thus, a "bispecific" polymer comprises at least
one site directed against a first antigen and at least one a second
site directed against a second antigen, whereas a "trispecific" is
a polymer that comprises at least one binding site directed against
a first antigen, at least one further binding site directed against
a second antigen, and at least one further binding site directed
against a third antigen; etc. Accordingly, in their simplest form,
a bispecific polypeptide of the invention is a bivalent polypeptide
(per Fab) of the invention. However, as will be clear from the
description hereinabove, the invention is not limited thereto, in
the sense that a multispecific polypeptide of the invention may
comprise any number of binding sites directed against two or more
different antigens.
[0327] (viii) Other Modifications.
[0328] Other modifications of the anti-LPA antibody are
contemplated. For example, the invention also pertains to
immunoconjugates comprising the antibody described herein
conjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as a toxin (e.g., an
enzymatically active toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal
origin, or fragments thereof), or a radioactive isotope (for
example, a radioconjugate). Conjugates are made using a variety of
bifunctional protein coupling agents such as
N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP),
iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such
as dimethyl adipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl
suberate), aldehydes (such as glutaraldehyde), bis-azido compounds
(such as bis(p-azidobenzoyl)hexanediamine), bis-diazonium
derivatives (such as bis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine),
diisocyanates (such as tolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active
fluorine compounds (such as 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene).
[0329] The anti-LPA antibodies disclosed herein may also be
formulated as immunoliposomes. Liposomes containing the antibody
are prepared by methods known in the art, such as described in
Epstein, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 82:3688 (1985);
Hwang, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 77:4030 (1980); and
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545. Liposomes with enhanced
circulation time are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,556. For
example, liposomes can be generated by the reverse phase
evaporation method with a lipid composition comprising
phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and PEG-derivatized
phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded through
filters of defined pore size to yield liposomes with the desired
diameter. Fab' fragments of the antibody of the present invention
can be conjugated to the liposomes as described in Martin, et al.,
J. Biol. Chem., vol. 257:286-288 (1982), via a disulfide
interchange reaction. Another active ingredient is optionally
contained within the liposome.
[0330] Enzymes or other polypeptides can be covalently bound to the
anti-LPA antibodies by techniques well known in the art such as the
use of the heterobifunctional crosslinking reagents discussed
above. Alternatively, fusion proteins comprising at least the
antigen binding region of an antibody of the invention linked to at
least a functionally active portion of an enzyme of the invention
can be constructed using recombinant DNA techniques well known in
the art (see, e.g., Neuberger, et al., Nature, vol. 312:604-608
(1984)).
[0331] In certain embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable
to use an antibody fragment, rather than an intact antibody, to
increase penetration of target tissues and cells, for example. In
this case, it may be desirable to modify the antibody fragment in
order to increase its serum half-life. This may be achieved, for
example, by incorporation of a salvage receptor binding epitope
into the antibody fragment (e.g., by mutation of the appropriate
region in the antibody fragment or by incorporating the epitope
into a peptide tag that is then fused to the antibody fragment at
either end or in the middle, e.g., by DNA or peptide synthesis).
See WO96/32478 published Oct. 17, 1996.
[0332] Covalent modifications of the anti-LPA antibody are also
included within the scope of this invention. They may be made by
chemical synthesis or by enzymatic or chemical cleavage of the
antibody, if applicable. Other types of covalent modifications of
the antibody are introduced into the molecule by reacting targeted
amino acid residues of the antibody with an organic derivatizing
agent that is capable of reacting with selected side chains or the
N- or C-terminal residues. Exemplary covalent modifications of
polypeptides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,615, specifically
incorporated herein by reference. A preferred type of covalent
modification of the antibody comprises linking the antibody to one
of a variety of nonproteinaceous polymers, e.g., polyethylene
glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyoxyalkylenes, in the manner
set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,835; 4,496,689; 4,301,144;
4,670,417; 4,791,192; or 4,179,337.
[0333] b. Vectors, Host Cells and Recombinant Methods
[0334] The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid encoding
the anti-LPA antibody, vectors and host cells comprising the
nucleic acid, and recombinant techniques for the production of the
antibody.
[0335] For recombinant production of the antibody, the nucleic acid
encoding it may be isolated and inserted into a replicable vector
for further cloning (amplification of the DNA) or for expression.
In another embodiment, the antibody may be produced by homologous
recombination, e.g. as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,244,
specifically incorporated herein by reference. DNA encoding the
monoclonal antibody is readily isolated and sequenced using
conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotide probes that
are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding the heavy and
light chains of the antibody). Many vectors are available. The
vector components generally include, but are not limited to, one or
more of the following: a signal sequence, an origin of replication,
one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a
transcription termination sequence, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,534,615 issued Jul. 9, 1996 and specifically incorporated
herein by reference.
[0336] Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing the DNA in the
vectors herein are the prokaryote, yeast, or higher eukaryote cells
described above. Suitable prokaryotes for this purpose include
eubacteria, such as Gram-negative or Gram-positive organisms, for
example, Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia, e.g., E. coli,
Enterobacter, Erwinia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Salmonella, e.g.,
Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia, e.g., Serratia marcescans, and
Shigella, as well as Bacilli such as B. subtilis and B.
licheniformis (e.g., B. licheniformis 41P disclosed in DD 266,710
published 12 Apr. 1989), Pseudomonas such as P. aeruginosa, and
Streptomyces. One preferred E. coli cloning host is E. coli 294
(ATCC 31,446), although other strains such as E. coli B, E. coli
X1776 (ATCC 31,537), and E. coli W3110 (ATCC 27,325) are suitable.
These examples are illustrative rather than limiting.
[0337] In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes such as
filamentous fungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts
for anti-sphingolipid antibody-encoding vectors. Saccharomyces
cerevisiae, or common baker's yeast, is the most commonly used
among lower eukaryotic host microorganisms. However, a number of
other genera, species, and strains are commonly available and
useful herein, such as Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Kluyveromyces
hosts such as, e.g., K. lactis, K. fragilis (ATCC 12,424), K.
bulgaricus (ATCC 16,045), K. wickeramii (ATCC 24,178), K. waltii
(ATCC 56,500), K. drosophilarum (ATCC 36,906), K. thermotolerans,
and K. marxianus; yarrowia (EP 402,226); Pichia pastoris (EP
183,070); Candida; Trichoderma reesia (EP 244,234); Neurospora
crassa; Schwanniomyces such as Schwanniomyces occidentalis; and
filamentous fungi such as, e.g., Neurospora, Penicillium,
Tolypocladium, and Aspergillus hosts such as A. nidulans and A.
niger.
[0338] Suitable host cells for the expression of glycosylated
anti-sphingolipid antibodies are derived from multicellular
organisms. Examples of invertebrate cells include plant and insect
cells. Numerous baculoviral strains and variants and corresponding
permissive insect host cells from hosts such as Spodoptera
frugiperda (caterpillar), Aedes aegypti (mosquito), Aedes
albopictus (mosquito), Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly), and
Bombyx mori have been identified. A variety of viral strains for
transfection are publicly available, e.g., the L-1 variant of
Autographa californica NPV and the Bm-5 strain of Bombyx mori NPV,
and such viruses may be used as the virus herein according to the
present invention, particularly for transfection of Spodoptera
frugiperda cells. Plant cell cultures of cotton, corn, potato,
soybean, petunia, tomato, and tobacco can also be utilized as
hosts.
[0339] However, interest has been greatest in vertebrate cells, and
propagation of vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has
become a routine procedure. Examples of useful mammalian host cell
lines are monkey kidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC
CRL 1651); human embryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subcloned
for growth in suspension culture, Graham, et al., J. Gen Virol.
36:59 (1977)); baby hamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL 10);
Chinese hamster ovary cells/-DHFR (CHO, Urlaub, et al., Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 77:4216 (1980)); mouse Sertoli cells (TM4,
Mather, Biol. Reprod., vol. 23:243-251 (1980)); monkey kidney cells
(CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC
CRL-1587); human cervical carcinoma cells (HELA, ATCC CCL 2);
canine 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 N.Y. Acad.
Sci. 383:44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and a human
hepatoma line (Hep G2).
[0340] Host cells are transformed with the above-described
expression or cloning vectors for antibody production and cultured
in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for inducing
promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the genes
encoding the desired sequences.
[0341] The host cells used to produce the antibody of this
invention may be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially
available media such as Ham's F10 (Sigma), Minimal Essential Medium
((MEM), (Sigma), RPMI-1640 (Sigma), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's
Medium ((DMEM), Sigma) are suitable for culturing the host cells.
In addition, any of the media described in Ham, et al., Meth. Enz.,
vol. 58:44 (1979), Barnes, et al., Anal. Biochem., vol. 102:255
(1980), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,767,704; 4,657,866; 4,927,762; 4,560,655;
and 5,122,469; WO 90/03430; WO 87/00195; or U.S. Pat. reissue No.
30,985 may be used as culture media for the host cells. Any of
these media may be supplemented as necessary with hormones and/or
other growth factors (such as insulin, transferrin, or epidermal
growth factor), salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium,
and phosphate), buffers (such as HEPES), nucleotides (such as
adenosine and thymidine), antibiotics (such as GENTAMYCIN.TM.),
trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds usually present at
final concentrations in the micromolar range), and glucose or an
equivalent energy source. Any other necessary supplements may also
be included at appropriate concentrations that would be known to
those skilled in the art. The culture conditions, such as
temperature, pH, and the like, are those previously used with the
host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the
ordinarily skilled artisan.
[0342] When using recombinant techniques, the antibody can be
produced intracellularly, in the periplasmic space, or directly
secreted into the medium. If the antibody is produced
intracellularly, as a first step, the particulate debris, either
host cells or lysed fragments, is removed, for example, by
centrifugation or ultrafiltration. Carter, et al., Bio/Technology,
vol. 10:163-167 (1992) describe a procedure for isolating
antibodies that are secreted to the periplasmic space of E. coli.
Briefly, cell paste is thawed in the presence of sodium acetate (pH
3.5), EDTA, and phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF) over about 30
min. Cell debris can be removed by centrifugation. Where the
antibody is secreted into the medium, supernatants from such
expression systems are generally first concentrated using a
commercially available protein concentration filter, for example,
an Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration unit. A protease
inhibitor such as PMSF may be included in any of the foregoing
steps to inhibit proteolysis and antibiotics may be included to
prevent the growth of adventitious contaminants.
[0343] The antibody composition prepared from the cells can be
purified using, for example, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel
electrophoresis, dialysis, and affinity chromatography, with
affinity chromatography being the 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 heavy chains (Lindmark, et al., J. Immunol.
Meth., vol. 62:1-13 (1983)). Protein G is recommended for all mouse
isotypes and for human .gamma.3 (Guss et al., EMBO J. 5:15671575
(1986)). The matrix to which the affinity ligand is attached is
most often agarose, but other matrices are available. Mechanically
stable matrices such as controlled pore glass or
poly(styrenedivinyl)benzene allow for faster flow rates and shorter
processing times than can be achieved with agarose. Where the
antibody comprises a C.sub.H3 domain, the Bakerbond ABX.TM. resin
(J. T. Baker, Phillipsburg, N.J.) is useful for purification. Other
techniques for protein purification, such as fractionation on an
ion-exchange column, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC,
chromatography on silica, chromatography on heparin Sepharose.RTM.,
chromatography on an anion or cation exchange resin (such as a
polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing, SDS-PAGE, and ammonium
sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody
to be recovered.
[0344] Following any preliminary purification step(s), the mixture
comprising the antibody of interest and contaminants may be
subjected to low pH hydrophobic interaction chromatography using an
elution buffer at a pH between about 2.5-4.5, preferably performed
at low salt concentrations (e.g., from about 0-0.25M salt).
[0345] c. Pharmaceutical Formulations, Dosing and Routes of
Administration
[0346] The present invention provides anti-LPA antibodies and
related compositions and methods to reduce blood and tissue levels
of the bioactive lipid, LPA.
[0347] The therapeutic methods and compositions of the invention
are said to be "LPA-based" in order to indicate that these
therapies can change the relative, absolute or effective
concentration(s) of undesirable or toxic lipids "Undesirable
lipids" include toxic bioactive lipids, as well as metabolites,
particularly metabolic precursors, of toxic lipids. One example of
an undesirable bioactive lipid of particular interest is LPA.
[0348] One way to control the amount of undesirable LPA in a
patient is by providing a composition that comprises one or more
anti-LPA antibodies to bind one or more LPAs, thereby acting as
therapeutic "sponges" that reduce the level of free undesirable
LPA. When a compound is stated to be "free," the compound is not in
any way restricted from reaching the site or sites where it exerts
its undesirable effects. Typically, a free compound is present in
blood and tissue, which either is or contains the site(s) of action
of the free compound, or from which a compound can freely migrate
to its site(s) of action. A free compound may also be available to
be acted upon by any enzyme that converts the compound into an
undesirable compound.
[0349] Anti-LPA antibodies may be formulated in a pharmaceutical
composition that is useful for a variety of purposes, including the
treatment of diseases, disorders or physical trauma. Pharmaceutical
compositions comprising one or more anti-LPA antibodies of the
invention may be incorporated into kits and medical devices for
such treatment. Medical devices may be used to administer the
pharmaceutical compositions of the invention to a patient in need
thereof, and according to one embodiment of the invention, kits are
provided that include such devices. Such devices and kits may be
designed for routine administration, including self-administration,
of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Such devices
and kits may also be designed for emergency use, for example, in
ambulances or emergency rooms, or during surgery, or in activities
where injury is possible but where full medical attention may not
be immediately forthcoming (for example, hiking and camping, or
combat situations).
[0350] Therapeutic formulations of the antibody are prepared for
storage by mixing the antibody having the desired degree of purity
with optional physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients or
stabilizers (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition,
Osol, A. Ed. (1980)), in the form of lyophilized formulations or
aqueous solutions. Acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers
are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations
employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other
organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid and methionine;
preservatives (such as octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride;
hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium
chloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as
methyl or propyl paraben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol;
3-pentanol; and m-cresol); low molecular weight (less than about 10
residues) polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin,
or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as
polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine,
asparagine, histidine, arginine, or lysine; monosaccharides,
disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose,
or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugars such as sucrose,
mannitol, trehalose or sorbitol; salt-forming counter-ions such as
sodium; metal complexes (e.g., Zn-protein complexes); and/or
non-ionic surfactants such as TWEEN.TM., PLURONICS.TM., or
polyethylene glycol (PEG).
[0351] The formulation herein may also contain more than one active
compound as necessary for the particular indication being treated,
preferably those with complementary activities that do not
adversely affect each other. Such molecules are suitably present in
combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose
intended.
[0352] The active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsule
prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacial
polymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose or
gelatin-microcapsule and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsule,
respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example,
liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles and
nanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed
in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed.
(1980).
[0353] The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must
be sterile. This is readily accomplished for instance by filtration
through sterile filtration membranes.
[0354] Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable
examples of sustained-release preparations include semipermeable
matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the antibody,
which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or
microcapsule. Examples of sustained-release matrices include
polyesters, hydrogels (for example,
poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinyl alcohol)),
polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic
acid and gamma-ethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl
acetate, degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as
the Lupron Depot.TM. (injectable microspheres composed of lactic
acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate), and
poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. While polymers such as
ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid enable release
of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins
for shorter time periods. When encapsulated antibodies remain in
the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as a
result of exposure to moisture at 37.degree. C., resulting in a
loss of biological activity and possible changes in immunogenicity.
Rational strategies can be devised for stabilization depending on
the mechanism involved. For example, if the aggregation mechanism
is discovered to be intermolecular S--S bond formation through
thio-disulfide interchange, stabilization may be achieved by
modifying sulfhydryl residues, lyophilizing from acidic solutions,
controlling moisture content, using appropriate additives, and
developing specific polymer matrix compositions.
[0355] For therapeutic applications, the anti-LPA agents, e.g.,
antibodies, of the invention are administered to a mammal,
preferably a human, in a pharmaceutically acceptable dosage form
such as those discussed above, including those that may be
administered to a human intravenously as a bolus or by continuous
infusion over a period of time, or by intramuscular,
intraperitoneal, intra-cerebrospinal, subcutaneous,
intra-articular, intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral, topical, or
inhalation routes.
[0356] For the prevention or treatment of disease, the appropriate
dosage of antibody will depend on the type of disease to be
treated, as defined above, the severity and course of the disease,
whether the antibody is administered for preventive or therapeutic
purposes, previous therapy, the patient's clinical history and
response to the antibody, and the discretion of the attending
physician. The antibody is suitably administered to the patient at
one time or over a series of treatments.
[0357] Depending on the type and severity of the disease, about 1
mug/kg to about 50 mg/kg (e.g., 0.1-20 mg/kg) of antibody is an
initial candidate dosage for administration to the patient,
whether, for example, by one or more separate administrations, or
by continuous infusion. A typical daily or weekly dosage might
range from about 1 .mu.g/kg to about 20 mg/kg or more, depending on
the factors mentioned above. For repeated administrations over
several days or longer, depending on the condition, the treatment
is repeated until a desired suppression of disease symptoms occurs.
However, other dosage regimens may be useful. The progress of this
therapy is easily monitored by conventional techniques and assays,
including, for example, radiographic imaging. Detection methods
using the antibody to determine LPA levels in bodily fluids or
tissues may be used in order to optimize patient exposure to the
therapeutic antibody.
[0358] According to another embodiment of the invention, the
composition comprising an agent, e.g, a mAb, that interferes with
LPA activity is administered as a monotherapy, while in other
preferred embodiments, the composition comprising the agent that
interferes with LPA activity is administered as part of a
combination therapy. In some cases the effectiveness of the
antibody in preventing or treating disease may be improved by
administering the antibody serially or in combination with another
agent that is effective for those purposes, such as a
chemotherapeutic drug for treatment of cancer. In other cases, the
anti-LPA agent may serve to enhance or sensitize cells to
chemotherapeutic treatment, thus permitting efficacy at lower doses
and with lower toxicity. Preferred combination therapies include,
in addition to administration of the composition comprising an
agent that interferes with LPA activity, delivering a second
therapeutic regimen selected from the group consisting of
administration of a chemotherapeutic agent, radiation therapy,
surgery, and a combination of any of the foregoing.
[0359] Such other agents may be present in the composition being
administered or may be administered separately. Also, the antibody
is suitably administered serially or in combination with the other
agent or modality, e.g., chemotherapeutic drug or radiation for
treatment of cancer.
[0360] d. Research and Diagnostic, Including Clinical Diagnostic,
Uses for the Anti-LPA Agents of the Invention
[0361] The anti-LPA agents, e.g., antibodies, of the invention may
be used to detect and/or purify LPA, e.g., from bodily
fluid(s).
[0362] For use of anti-LPA antibodies as affinity purification
agents, the antibodies are immobilized on a solid support such as
beads, a Sephadex resin or filter paper, using methods well known
in the art. The immobilized antibody is contacted with a sample
containing the LPA to be purified, and thereafter the support is
washed with a suitable solvent that will remove substantially all
the material in the sample except the LPA, which is bound to the
immobilized antibody. Finally, the support is washed with another
suitable solvent, such as glycine buffer, for instance between pH 3
to pH 5.0, that will release the LPA from the antibody.
[0363] Anti-LPA antibodies may also be useful in diagnostic assays
for LPA, e.g., detecting its presence in specific cells, tissues,
or bodily fluids. Such diagnostic methods may be useful in
diagnosis, e.g., of a hyperproliferative disease or disorder. Thus
clinical diagnostic uses as well as research uses are comprehended
by the invention. In these methods, the anti-LPA antibody is
preferably attached to a solid support, e.g., bead, column, plate,
gel, filter, membrane, etc.
[0364] For diagnostic applications, the antibody may be labeled
with a detectable moiety. Numerous labels are available which can
be generally grouped into the following categories:
[0365] (a) Radioisotopes, such as .sup.35S, .sup.14C, .sup.125I,
.sup.3H, and .sup.131I. The antibody can be labeled with the
radioisotope using the techniques described in Current Protocols in
Immunology, Volumes 1 and 2, Coligen, et al., Ed.
Wiley-Interscience, New York, N.Y., Pubs. (1991), for example, and
radioactivity can be measured using scintillation counting.
[0366] (b) Fluorescent labels such as rare earth chelates (europium
chelates) or fluorescein and its derivatives, rhodamine and its
derivatives, dansyl, Lissamine, phycoerythrin and Texas Red are
available. The fluorescent labels can be conjugated to the antibody
using the techniques disclosed in Current Protocols in Immunology,
supra, for example. Fluorescence can be quantified using a
fluorimeter.
[0367] (c) Various enzyme-substrate labels are available and U.S.
Pat. No. 4,275,149 provides a review of some of these. The enzyme
generally catalyzes a chemical alteration of the chromogenic
substrate that can be measured using various techniques. For
example, the enzyme may catalyze a color change in a substrate,
which can be measured spectrophotometrically. Alternatively, the
enzyme may alter the fluorescence or chemiluminescence of the
substrate. Techniques for quantifying a change in fluorescence are
described above. The chemiluminescent substrate becomes
electronically excited by a chemical reaction and may then emit
light that can be measured (using a chemiluminometer, for example)
or donates energy to a fluorescent acceptor. Examples of enzymatic
labels include luciferases (e.g., firefly luciferase and bacterial
luciferase; U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,456), luciferin,
2,3-dihydrophthalazinediones, malate dehydrogenase, urease,
peroxidase such as horseradish peroxidase (HRPO), alkaline
phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, glucoamylase, lysozyme, saccharide
oxidases (e.g., glucose oxidase, galactose oxidase, and
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), heterocyclicoxidases (such as
uricase and xanthine oxidase), lactoperoxidase, microperoxidase,
and the like. Techniques for conjugating enzymes to antibodies are
described in O'Sullivan et al., Methods for the Preparation of
Enzyme-Antibody Conjugates for use in Enzyme Immunoassay, in
Methods in Enzym. (ed J. Langone & H. Van Vunakis), Academic
press, New York, vol. 73:147-166 (1981).
[0368] Examples of enzyme-substrate combinations include, for
example:
[0369] (i) Horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) with hydrogen peroxidase
as a substrate, wherein the hydrogen peroxidase oxidizes a dye
precursor (e.g., orthophenylene diamine (OPD) or
3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl benzidine hydrochloride (TMB));
[0370] (ii) alkaline phosphatase (AP) with para-Nitrophenyl
phosphate as chromogenic substrate; and (iii)
.beta.-D-galactosidase (beta-D-Gal) with a chromogenic substrate
(e.g., p-nitrophenyl-.beta.-D-galactosidase) or fluorogenic
substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactosidase.
[0371] Numerous other enzyme-substrate combinations are available
to those skilled in the art. For a general review of these, see
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,275,149 and 4,318,980.
[0372] Sometimes, the label is indirectly conjugated with the
antibody. The skilled artisan will be aware of various techniques
for achieving this. For example, the antibody can be conjugated
with biotin and any of the three broad categories of labels
mentioned above can be conjugated with avidin, or vice versa.
Biotin binds selectively to avidin and thus, the label can be
conjugated with the antibody in this indirect manner.
Alternatively, to achieve indirect conjugation of the label with
the antibody, the antibody is conjugated with a small hapten (e.g.,
digoxin) and one of the different types of labels mentioned above
is conjugated with an anti-hapten antibody (e.g., anti-digoxin
antibody). Thus, indirect conjugation of the label with the
antibody can be achieved.
[0373] In another embodiment of the invention, the anti-LPA
antibody need not be labeled, and the presence thereof can be
detected, e.g., using a labeled antibody that binds to the anti-LPA
antibody.
[0374] The antibodies of the present invention may be employed in
any known assay method, such as competitive binding assays, direct
and indirect sandwich assays, and immunoprecipitation assays. Zola,
Monoclonal Antibodies: A Manual of Techniques, pp. 147-158 (CRC
Press, Inc. 1987).
[0375] Competitive binding assays rely on the ability of a labeled
standard to compete with the test sample analyte for binding with a
limited amount of antibody. The amount of LPA in the test sample is
inversely proportional to the amount of standard that becomes bound
to the antibodies. To facilitate determining the amount of standard
that becomes bound, the antibodies generally are insoluble before
or after the competition, so that the standard and analyte that are
bound to the antibodies may conveniently be separated from the
standard and analyte that remain unbound.
[0376] Sandwich assays involve the use of two antibodies, each
capable of binding to a different immunogenic portion, or epitope,
of the protein to be detected. In a sandwich assay, the test sample
analyte is bound by a first antibody that is immobilized on a solid
support, and thereafter a second antibody binds to the analyte,
thus forming an insoluble three-part complex. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.
No. 4,376,110. The second antibody may itself be labeled with a
detectable moiety (direct sandwich assays) or may be measured using
an anti-immunoglobulin antibody that is labeled with a detectable
moiety (indirect sandwich assay). For example, one type of sandwich
assay is an ELISA assay, in which case the detectable moiety is an
enzyme.
[0377] For immunohistochemistry, the blood or tissue sample may be
fresh or frozen or may be embedded in paraffin and fixed with a
preservative such as formalin, for example.
[0378] The antibodies may also be used for in vivo diagnostic
assays. Generally, the antibody is labeled with a radionuclide
(such as .sup.111In, .sup.99Tc, .sup.14C, .sup.131I, .sup.125I,
.sup.3H, .sup.32P, or .sup.35S) so that the bound target molecule
can be localized using immunoscintillography.
[0379] e. Diagnostic Kits Incorporating the Anti-LPA Agents of the
Invention
[0380] As a matter of convenience, the antibody of the present
invention can be provided in a kit, for example, a packaged
combination of reagents in predetermined amounts with instructions
for performing the diagnostic assay. Where the antibody is labeled
with an enzyme, the kit will include substrates and cofactors
required by the enzyme (e.g., a substrate precursor which provides
the detectable chromophore or fluorophore). In addition, other
additives may be included such as stabilizers, buffers (e.g., a
block buffer or lysis buffer) and the like. The relative amounts of
the various reagents may be varied widely to provide for
concentrations in solution of the reagents that substantially
optimize the sensitivity of the assay. Particularly, the reagents
may be provided as dry powders, usually lyophilized, including
excipients that on dissolution will provide a reagent solution
having the appropriate concentration.
[0381] f. Articles of Manufacture
[0382] In another aspect of the invention, an article of
manufacture containing materials useful for the treatment of the
disorders described above is provided. The article of manufacture
comprises a container and a label. Suitable containers include, for
example, bottles, vials, syringes, and test tubes. The containers
may be formed from a variety of materials such as glass or plastic.
The container holds a composition that is effective for treating
the condition and may have a sterile access port (for example the
container may be an intravenous solution bag or a vial having a
stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle). The active
agent in the composition is the anti-sphingolipid antibody. The
label on, or associated with, the container indicates that the
composition is used for treating the condition of choice. The
article of manufacture may further comprise a second container
comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer, such as
phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer's solution and dextrose solution.
It may further include other materials desirable from a commercial
and user standpoint, including other buffers, diluents, filters,
needles, syringes, and package inserts with instructions for
use.
[0383] The invention will be better understood by reference to the
following Examples, which are intended to merely illustrate the
best mode now known for practicing the invention. The scope of the
invention is not to be considered limited thereto.
EXAMPLES
[0384] The invention will be further described by reference to the
following detailed examples. These Examples are in no way to be
considered to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
Example 1
Synthetic Scheme for Making a Representative Thiolated Analog of
S1P
[0385] The synthetic approach described in this example results in
the preparation of an antigen by serial addition of structural
elements using primarily conventional organic chemistry. A scheme
for the approach described in this example is provided in FIG. 1,
and the compound numbers in the synthetic description below refer
to the numbered structures in FIG. 1.
[0386] This synthetic approach began with the commercially
available 15-hydroxyl pentadecyne, 1, and activation by methyl
sulphonyl chloride of the 15-hydroxy group to facilitate hydroxyl
substitution to produce the sulphonate, 2. Substitution of the
sulphonate with t-butyl thiol yielded the protected thioether, 3,
which was condensed with Garner's aldehyde to produce 4. Gentle
reduction of the alkyne moiety to an alkene (5), followed by acid
catalyzed opening of the oxazolidene ring yielded S-protected and
N-protected thiol substituted sphingosine, 6. During this last
step, re-derivatization with di-t-butyl dicarbonate was employed to
mitigate loss of the N-BOC group during the acid-catalyzed ring
opening.
[0387] As will be appreciated, compound 6 can itself be used as an
antigen for preparing haptens to raise antibodies to sphingosine,
or, alternatively, as starting material for two different synthetic
approaches to prepare a thiolated S1P analog. In one approach,
compound 6 phosphorylation with trimethyl phosphate produced
compound 7. Treatment of compound 7 with trimethylsilyl bromide
removed both methyl groups from the phosphate and the
t-butyloxycarbonyl group from the primary amine, leaving compound 8
with the t-butyl group on the sulfur as the only protecting group.
To remove this group, the t-butyl group was displaced by NBS to
form the disulfide, 9, which was then reduced to form the thiolated
S1P analog, 10.
[0388] Another approach involved treating compound 6 directly with
NBSCl to form the disulfide, 11, which was then reduced to form the
N-protected thiolated S1P analog, 12. Treatment of this compound
with mild acid yielded the thiolated sphingosine analog, 13, which
can be phosphorylated enzymatically with, e.g., sphingosine kinase,
to yield the thiolated S1P analog, 10.
[0389] Modifications of the presented synthetic approach are
possible, particularly with regard to the selection of protecting
and de-protecting reagents, e.g., the use of trimethyl disulfide
triflate described in Example 3 to de-protect the thiol.
[0390] Compound 2.
[0391] DCM (400 mL) was added to a 500 mL RB flask charged with 1
(10.3 g, 45.89 mmol), and the resulting solution cooled to
0.degree. C. Next, TEA (8.34 g, 82.60 mmol, 9.5 mL) was added all
at once followed by MsCl (7.88 g, 68.84 mmol, 5.3 mL) added drop
wise over 10 min. The reaction was allowed to stir at RT for 0.5 h
or until the disappearance of starting material (R.sub.f=0.65, 5:1
hexanes: EtOAc). The reaction was quenched with NH.sub.4Cl (300 mL)
and extracted (2.times.200 mL) DCM. The organic layers were dried
over MgSO.sub.4, filtered and the filtrate evaporated to a solid
(13.86 g, 99.8% yield). .sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3) .delta. 4.20 (t,
J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 2.98 (s, 3H), 2.59 (td, J=7 Hz, 3 Hz, 2H), 1.917 (t,
J=3 Hz, 1H), 1.72 (quintet, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.505 (quintet, J=7.5
Hz, 2H), 1.37 (br s, 4H), 1.27 (br s, 14H). .sup.13C{.sup.1H} NMR
(CDCl.sub.3) .delta. 85.45, 70.90, 68.72, 46.69, 38.04, 30.22,
30.15, 30.14, 30.07, 29.81, 29.76, 29.69, 29.42, 29.17, 26.09,
19.06, 9.31. The principal ion observed in a HRMS analysis (ES-TOF)
of compound 2 was m/z=325.1804 (calculated for
C.sub.16H.sub.30O.sub.3S: M+Na.sup.+ 325.1808).
[0392] Compound 3.
[0393] A three-neck 1 L RB flask was charged with t-butylthiol
(4.54 g, 50.40 mmol) and THF (200 mL) and then placed into an ice
bath. n-BuLi (31.5 mL of 1.6 M in hexanes) was added over 30 min.
Next, compound 2 (13.86 g, 45.82 mmol), dissolved in THF (100 mL),
was added over 2 min. The reaction is allowed to stir for 1 hour or
until starting material disappeared (R.sub.f=0.7, 1:1
hexanes/EtOAc). The reaction was quenched with saturated NH.sub.4Cl
(500 mL) and extracted with EtO.sub.2 (2.times.250 mL), dried over
MgSO.sub.4, filtered, and the filtrate evaporated to yield a yellow
oil (11.67 g, 86% yield). .sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3) .delta. 2.52 (t,
J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.18 (td, J=7 Hz, 2.5 Hz, 2H), 1.93 (t, J=2.5 Hz,
1H), 1.55 (quintet, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.51 (quintet, J=7 Hz, 2H), 1.38
(br s, 4H), 1.33 (s, 9H), 1.26 (s, 14H). .sup.13C{.sup.1H} NMR
(CDCl.sub.3) .delta. 85.42, 68.71, 68.67, 54.07, 42.37, 31.68,
30.58, 30.28, 30.26, 30.19, 30.17, 29.98, 29.78, 29.44, 29.19,
29.02, 19.08.
[0394] Compound 4.
[0395] A 250 mL Schlenk flask charged with compound 3 (5.0 g, 16.85
mmol) was evacuated and filled with nitrogen three times before dry
THF (150 mL) was added. The resulting solution cooled to
-78.degree. C. Next, n-BuLi (10.5 mL of 1.6M in hexanes) was added
over 2 min. and the reaction mixture was stirred for 18 min. at
-78.degree. C. before the cooling bath was removed for 20 min. The
dry ice bath was returned. After 15 min., Garners aldeyde (3.36 g,
14.65 mmol) in dry THF (10 mL) was then added over 5 min. After 20
min., the cooling bath was removed. Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
after 2.7 hr. showed that the Garners aldehyde was gone. The
reaction was quenched with saturated aqueous NH.sub.4Cl (300 mL)
and extracted with Et.sub.2O (2.times.250 mL). The combined
Et.sub.2O phases were dried over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, filtered, and
the filtrate evaporated to give crude compound 4 and its syn
diastereomer (not shown in FIG. 1) as a yellow oil (9.06 g). This
material was then used in the next step without further
purification.
[0396] Compound 5.
[0397] To reduce the triple bond in compound 4, the oil was
dissolved in dry Et.sub.2O (100 mL) under nitrogen. RED-Al (20 mL,
65% in toluene) was slowly added to the resulting solution at RT to
control the evolution of hydrogen gas (H2). The reaction was
allowed to stir at RT overnight or when TLC showed the
disappearance of the starting material (R.sub.f=0.6 in 1:1
EtOAc:hexanes) and quenched slowly with cold MeOH or aqueous
NH.sub.4Cl to control the evolution of H2. The resulting white
suspension was filtered through a Celite.TM. pad and the filtrate
was extracted with EtOAc (2.times.400 mL). Combined EtOAc extracts
were dried over MgSO.sub.4, filtered, and the filtrate evaporated
to leave crude compound 5 and its syn diastereomer (not shown in
FIG. 1) as a yellow oil (7.59 g).
[0398] Compound 6.
[0399] The oil containing compound 5 was dissolved in MeOH (200
mL), PTSA hydrate (0.63 g) was added, and the solution stirred at
RT for 1 day and then at 50.degree. C. for 2 days, at which point
TLC suggested that all starting material (5) was gone. However,
some polar material was present, suggesting that the acid had
partially cleaved the BOC group. The reaction was worked up by
adding saturated aqueous NH.sub.4Cl (400 mL), and extracted with
ether (3.times.300 mL). The combined ether phases were dried over
Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, filtered, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness,
leaving 5.14 g of oil. In order to re-protect whatever amine had
formed, the crude product was dissolved in CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 (150
mL), to which was added BOC.sub.2O (2.44 g) and TEA (1.7 g). When
TLC (1:1 hexanes/EtOAc) showed no more material remaining on the
baseline, saturated aqueous NH.sub.4Cl (200 mL) was added, and,
after separating the organic phase, the mixture was extracted with
CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 (3.times.200 mL). Combined extracts were dried
over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, filtered, and the filtrated concentrated to
dryness to yield a yellow oil (7.7 g) that was chromatographed on a
silica column using a gradient of hexanes/EtOAc (up to 1:1) to
separate the diastereomers. By TLC using 1:1 PE/EtOAc, the R.sub.f
for the anti isomer, compound 6, was 0.45. For the syn isomer (not
shown in FIG. 1) the R.sub.f was 0.40. The yield of compound 6 was
2.45 g (39% overall based on Garner's aldehyde). .sup.1H NMR of
anti isomer (CDCl.sub.3) .delta. 1.26 (br s, 20H), 1.32 (s, 9H),
1.45 (s, 9H), 1.56 (quintet, 2H, J=8 Hz), 2.06 (q, 2H, J=7 Hz),
2.52 (t, 2H, J=7 Hz), 2.55 (br s, 2H), 3.60 (br s, 1H), 3.72 (ddd,
1H, J=11.5 Hz, 7.0 Hz, 3.5 Hz), 3.94 (dt, 1H, J=11.5 Hz, 3.5 Hz),
4.32 (d, 1H, J=4.5 Hz), 5.28 (br s, 1H), 5.54 (dd, 1H, J=15.5 Hz,
6.5 Hz), 5.78 (dt, 1H, J=15.5 Hz, 6.5 Hz). .sup.13C {.sup.1H} NMR
(CDCl.sub.3) .delta. 156.95, 134.80, 129.66, 80.47, 75.46, 63.33,
56.17, 42.44, 32.98, 31.70, 30.58, 30.32, 30.31, 30.28, 30.20,
30.16, 30.00, 29.89, 29.80, 29.08, 29.03.
[0400] Anal. Calculated for C.sub.27H.sub.53NO.sub.4S: C, 66.48; H,
10.95; N, 2.87. Found: C, 65.98; H, 10.46; N, 2.48.
[0401] Compound 7.
[0402] To a solution of the alcohol compound 6 (609.5 mg, 1.25
mmol) dissolved in dry pyridine (2 mL) was added CBr.sub.4 (647.2
mg, 1.95 mmol, 1.56 equiv). The flask was cooled in an ice bath and
P(OMe).sub.3 (284.7 mg, 2.29 mmol, 1.84 equiv) was added drop wise
over 2 min. After 4 min. the ice bath was removed and after 12 hr.
the mixture was diluted with ether (20 mL). The resulting mixture
washed with aqueous HCl (10 mL, 2 N) to form an emulsion which
separated on dilution with water (20 mL). The aqueous phase was
extracted with ether (2.times.10 mL), then EtOAc (2.times.10 mL).
The ether extracts and first EtOAc extract were combined and washed
with aqueous HCl (10 mL, 2 N), water (10 mL), and saturated aqueous
NaHCO.sub.3 (10 mL). The last EtOAc extract was used to
back-extract the aqueous washes. Combined organic phases were dried
over MgSO.sub.4, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated to leave
crude product (1.16 g), which was purified by flash chromatography
over silica (3.times.22 cm column) using CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2, then
CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2-EtOAc (1:20, 1:6, 1:3, and 1:1-product started to
elute, 6:4, 7:3). Early fractions contained 56.9 mg of oil. Later
fractions provided product (compound 7, 476.6 mg, 64%) as clear,
colorless oil.
[0403] Anal. Calculated for C.sub.29H.sub.58NO.sub.7PS (595.82): C,
58.46; H, 9.81; N, 2.35. Found: C, 58.09; H, 9.69; N, 2.41.
[0404] Compound 8.
[0405] A flask containing compound 7 (333.0 mg, 0.559 mmol) and a
stir bar was evacuated and filled with nitrogen. Acetonitrile (4
mL, distilled from CaH.sub.2) was injected by syringe and the flask
now containing a solution was cooled in an ice bath. Using a
syringe, (CH.sub.3).sub.3SiBr (438.7 mg, 2.87 mmol, 5.13 equiv.)
was added over the course of 1 min. After 35 min., the upper part
of the flask was rinsed with an additional portion of acetonitrile
(1 mL) and the ice bath was removed. After another 80 min., an
aliquot was removed, the solution dried by blowing nitrogen gas
over it, and the residue analyzed by .sup.1H NMR in CDCl.sub.3,
which showed only traces of peaks ascribed to P--OCH.sub.3
moieties. After 20 min., water (0.2 mL) was added to the reaction
mixture, followed by the CDCl.sub.3 solution used to analyze the
aliquot, and the mixture was concentrated to ca. 0.5 mL volume on a
rotary evaporator. Using acetone (3 mL) in portions the residue was
transferred to a tared test tube, forming a pale brown solution.
Water (3 mL) was added in portions. After addition of 0.3 mL,
cloudiness was seen. After a total of 1 mL, a gummy precipitate had
formed. As an additional 0.6 mL of water was added, more cloudiness
and gum separated, but the final portion of water seemed not to
change the appearance of the mixture. Overall, this process was
accomplished over a period of several hours. The tube was
centrifuged and the supernatant removed by pipet. The solid, no
longer gummy, was dried over P.sub.4O.sub.10 in vacuo, leaving
compound 8 (258.2 mg, 95%) as a monohydrate.
[0406] Anal. Calculated. for C.sub.22H.sub.46NO.sub.5PS+H.sub.2O
(485.66): C, 54.40; H, 9.96; N, 2.88. Found: C, 54.59; H, 9.84; N,
2.95.
[0407] Compound 9.
[0408] Compound 8 (202.6 mg, 0.417 mmol) was added in a glove box
to a test tube containing a stir bar, dry THF (3 mL) and glacial
HOAc (3 mL). NBSCl (90 mg, 0.475 mmol, 1.14 equiv) were added, and
after 0.5 hr., a clear solution was obtained. After a total of 9
hr., an aliquot was evaporated to dryness and the residue analyzed
by .sup.1H NMR in CDCl.sub.3. The peaks corresponding to
CH.sub.2StBu and CH.sub.2SSAr suggested that reaction was about 75%
complete, and comparison of the spectrum with that of pure NBSCl in
CDCl.sub.3 suggested that none of the reagent remained in the
reaction. Therefore, an additional portion (24.7 mg, 0.130 mmol,
0.31 equiv) was added, followed 3 hr. later by an additional
portion (19.5 mg, 0.103 mmol, 0.25 equiv). After another 1 hr., the
mixture was transferred to a new test tube using THF (2 mL) to
rinse and water (1 mL) was added.
[0409] Compound 10.
[0410] PMe.sub.3 (82.4 mg, 1.08 mmol, 1.52 times the total amount
of 2-nitrobenzenesulfenyl chloride added) was added to the clear
solution compound 9 described above. The mixture grew warm and
cloudy, with precipitate forming over time. After 4.5 hr., methanol
was added, and the tube centrifuged. The precipitate settled with
difficulty, occupying the bottom 1 cm of the tube. The clear yellow
supernatant was removed using a pipet. Methanol (5 mL, deoxygenated
with nitrogen) was added, the tube was centrifuged, and the
supernatant removed by pipet. This cycle was repeated three times.
When concentrated, the final methanol wash left only 4.4 mg of
residue. The bulk solid residue was dried over P4010 in vacuo,
leaving compound 10 (118.2 mg, 68%) as a monohydrochloride.
[0411] Anal. Calculated for C.sub.18H.sub.38NO.sub.5S+HCl (417.03):
C, 51.84; H, 9.43; N, 3.36. Found: C, 52.11; H, 9.12; N, 3.30.
[0412] Compound 11.
[0413] Compound 6 (1.45 g, 2.97 mmol) was dissolved in AcOH (20
mL), and NBSCl (0.56 g, 2.97 mmol) was added all at once. The
reaction was allowed to stir for 3 hr. or until the disappearance
of the starting material and appearance of the product was observed
by TLC [product R.sub.f=0.65, starting material R.sub.f=0.45, 1:1
EtOAc/hexanes]. The reaction was concentrated to dryness on a high
vacuum line and the residue dissolved in THF/H.sub.2O (100 mL of
10:1).
[0414] Compound 12.
[0415] Ph.sub.3P (0.2.33 g, 8.91 mmol) was added all at once to the
solution above that contained compound 11 and the reaction was
allowed to stir for 3 hr. or until the starting material
disappeared. The crude reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness
on a high vacuum line, leaving a residue that contained compound
12.
[0416] Compound 13.
[0417] The residue above containing compound 12 was dissolved in
DCM (50 mL) and TFA (10 mL). The mixture was stirred at RT for 5
hr. and concentrated to dryness. The residue was the loaded onto a
column with silica gel and chromatographed with pure DCM, followed
by DCM containing 5% MeOH, then 10% MeOH, to yield the final
product, compound 13, as a sticky white solid (0.45 g, 46% yield
from 5). .sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3) .delta. 1.27 (s), 1.33 (br m,),
1.61 (p, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 2.03 (br d, 2H, J=7 Hz), 2.53 (q, 2H, J=7.5
Hz), 3.34 (br s, 1H), 3.87 (br d, 2H, J=12 Hz), 4.48 (br s, 2H),
4.58 (br s, 2H), 5.42 (dd, 1H, J=15 Hz, 5.5 Hz), 5.82 (dt, 1H, J=15
Hz, 5.5 Hz), 7.91 (br s, 4H). .sup.13C{.sup.1H} NMR (CDCl.sub.3)
.delta. 136.85, 126.26, 57.08, 34.76, 32.95, 30.40, 30.36, 30.34,
30.25, 30.19, 30.05, 29.80, 29.62, 29.09, 25.34.
Example 2
Synthetic Schemes for Making Thiolated Fatty Acids
[0418] The synthetic approach described in this example details the
preparation of a thiolated fatty acid to be incorporated into a
more complex lipid structure that could be further complexed to a
protein or other carrier and administered to an animal to elicit an
immune response. The approach uses using conventional organic
chemistry. A scheme showing the approach taken in this example is
provided in FIG. 2, and the compound numbers in the synthetic
description below refer to the numbered structures in FIG. 2.
[0419] Two syntheses are described. The first synthesis, for a C-12
thiolated fatty acid, starts with the commercially available
12-dodecanoic acid, compound 14. The bromine is then displaced with
t-butyl thiol to yield the protected C-12 thiolated fatty acid,
compound 15. The second synthesis, for a C-18 thiolated fatty acid,
starts with the commercially available 9-bromo-nonanol (compound
16). The hydroxyl group in compound 16 is protected by addition of
a dihydropyran group and the resulting compound, 17, is dimerized
through activation of half of the brominated material via a
Grignard reaction, followed by addition of the other half. The
18-hydroxy octadecanol (compound 18) produced following
acid-catalyzed removal of the dihydropyran protecting group is
selectively mono-brominated to form compound 19. During this
reaction approximately half of the alcohol groups are activated for
nucleophilic substitution by formation of a methane sulfonic acid
ester. The alcohol is then oxidized to form the 18-bromocarboxylic
acid, compound 20, which is then treated with t-butyl thiol to
displace the bromine and form the protected, thiolated C-18 fatty
acid, compound 21.
[0420] The protected thiolated fatty acids, each a t-butyl
thioether, can be incorporated into a complex lipid and the
protecting group removed using, e.g., one of the de-protecting
approaches described in Examples 1 and 3. The resulting free thiol
then can be used to complex with a protein or other carrier prior
to inoculating animal with the hapten.
[0421] A. Synthesis of a C-12 Thiolated Fatty Acid
[0422] Compound 15.
[0423] t-Butyl thiol (12.93 g, 143 mmol) was added to a dry Schlenk
flask, and Schlenk methods were used to put the system under
nitrogen. Dry, degassed THF (250 mL) was added and the flask cooled
in an ice bath. n-BuLi (55 mL of 2.5 M in hexanes, 137.5 mmol) was
slowly added over 10 min by syringe. The mixture was allowed to
stir at 0.degree. C. for an hour. The bromoacid, compound 14 (10 g,
36 mmol), was added as a solid and the reaction heated and stirred
at 60.degree. C. for 24 hr. The reaction was quenched with 2 M HCl
(250 mL), and extracted with ether (2.times.300 mL). The combined
ethereal layers were dried with magnesium sulfate, filtered, and
the filtrate concentrated by rotary evaporation to yield the
thioether acid, compound 15 (10 g, 99% yield) as a beige powder.
.sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3, 500 MHz) .delta. 1.25-1.35 (br s, 12H),
1.32 (s, 9H), 1.35-1.40 (m, 2H), 1.50-1.60 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.65 (m,
2H), 2.35 (t, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 2.52 (t, 2H, J=7.5 Hz). Principal ion
in HRMS (ES-TOF) was observed at m/z 311.2020, calculated for
M+Na.sup.+ 311.2015.
[0424] B. Synthesis of a C-12 Thiolated Fatty Acid
[0425] Compound 17.
[0426] A dry Schlenk flask was charged with compound 16 (50 g,
224.2 mmol) and dissolved in dry degassed THF (250 mL) distilled
from sodium/benzophenone. The flask was cooled in an ice bath and
then PTSA (0.5 g, 2.6 mmol) was added. Dry, degassed DHP (36 g,
42.8 mmol) was then added slowly over 5 min. The mixture was
allowed to warm up to RT and left to stir overnight and monitored
by TLC (10:1 PE: EtOAc) until the reaction was deemed done by the
complete disappearance of the spot for the bromoalcohol. TEA (1 g,
10 mmol) was then added to quench the PTSA. The mixture was then
washed with cold sodium bicarbonate solution and extracted with
EtOAc (3.times.250 mL). The organic layers were then dried with
magnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield 68.2 g of crude product
that was purified by column chromatography (10:1 PE: EtOAc) to
yield 60 g (99% yield) of a colorless oil. .sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3,
500 MHz) .delta. 1.31 (br s, 6H), 1.41-1.44 (m, 2H), 1.51-1.62
(obscured multiplets, 6H), 1.69-1.74 (m, 1H), 1.855 (quintet, J=7.6
Hz, 2H), 3.41 (t, J=7 Hz, 2H), 3.48-3.52 (m, 2H), 3.73 (dt, 2H,
J=6.5 Hz), 3.85-3.90 (m, 2H), 4.57 (t, 2H, J=3 Hz).
[0427] Compound 18.
[0428] Magnesium shavings (2.98 g, 125 mmol) were added to a
flame-dried Schlenk flask along with a crystal of iodine. Dry THF
(200 mL) distilled from sodium was then added and the system was
degassed using Schlenk techniques. Compound 17 (30 g, 97 mmol) was
then slowly added to the magnesium over 10 min. and the solution
was placed in an oil bath at 65.degree. C. and allowed to stir
overnight. The reaction was deemed complete by TLC by quenching an
aliquot with acetone and observing the change in RF in a 10:1
PE:EtOAc mixture. The Grignard solution was then transferred by
cannula to a three-necked flask under nitrogen containing
additional compound 17 (30 g, 97 mmol). The flask containing the
resulting mixture was then cooled to 0.degree. C. in an ice bath
and a solution of Li.sub.2CuCl.sub.4 (3 mL of 1 M) was then added
via syringe. The reaction mixture turned a very dark blue within a
few minutes. This mixture was left to stir overnight. The next
morning the reaction was deemed complete by TLC (10:1 PE:EtOAc),
quenched with a saturated NH.sub.4Cl solution, and then extracted
into ether (3.times.250 mL). The ether layers were dried with
magnesium sulfate and concentrated to yield crude product (40 g),
which was dissolved in MeOH. Concentrated HCl (0.5 mL) was then
added, which resulted in the formation of a white emulsion, which
was left to stir for 3 hr. The white emulsion was then filtered to
yield 16 g (58% yield) of the pure diol, compound 18. .sup.1H NMR
(CDCl.sub.3, 200 MHz) .delta. 1.26 (br s, 24H), 1.41-1.42 (m, 4H),
1.51-1.68 (m, 4H), 3.65 (t, 4H, J=6.5 Hz).
[0429] Compound 19.
[0430] The symmetrical diol, compound 18 (11 g, 38.5 mmol), was
added to a dry Schlenk flask under nitrogen, then dry THF (700 mL)
distilled from sodium was added. The system was degassed and the
flask put in an ice bath. Diisopropylethylamine (6.82 mL, 42.3
mmol) was added via syringe, followed by MsCl (3.96 g, 34.4 mmol)
added slowly, and the mixture was left to stir for 1 hr. The
reaction was quenched with saturated NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4 solution
(300 mL), and then extracted with EtOAc (3.times.300 mL). The
organic layers were then combined, dried with MgSO.sub.4, and
concentrated to yield 14 g of a mixture of the diol, monomesylate,
and dimesylate. NMR showed a 1:0.8 mixture of CH.sub.2OH:
CH.sub.2OMs protons. The mixture was then dissolved in dry THF (500
mL), deoxygenated, and to it was added LiBr (3.5 g, 40.23 mmol).
This mixture was allowed reflux overnight, upon which the reaction
was quenched with water (150 mL), and extracted with EtOAc
(3.times.250 mL). The organic layer was then dried with MgSO.sub.4,
and concentrated to yield a mixture of brominated products that
were then purified by flash chromatography (DCM) to yield compound
19 (3.1 g, 25% yield) as a white powder. .sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3,
500 MHz) .delta. 1.26 (br s, 26H), 1.38-1.46 (m, 2H), 1.55
(quintet, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 1.85 (quintet, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 3.403 (t,
2H, J=6.8 Hz), 3.66 (t. 2H, J=6.8 Hz).
[0431] Compound 20.
[0432] A round bottom flask was charged with compound 19 (2.01 g,
5.73 mmol) and the solid dissolved in reagent grade acetone (150
mL). Simultaneously, Jones reagent was prepared by dissolving
CrO.sub.3 (2.25 g, 22 mmol) in H.sub.2SO.sub.4 (4 mL) and then
slowly adding 10 mL of cold water and letting the solution stir for
10 min. The cold Jones reagent was then added to the round bottom
flask slowly over 5 min., after which the solution stirred for 1
hr. The resulting orange solution turned green within several
minutes. The mixture was then quenched with water (150 mL)
extracted twice in ether (3.times.150 mL). The ether layers were
then dried with magnesium sulfate, and concentrated to yield
compound 20 (2.08 g, 98% yield) as a white powder. .sup.1H NMR
(CDCl.sub.3, 200 MHz) .delta. 1.27 (br s, 26H), 1.58-1.71 (m, 2H),
1.77-1.97 (m, 2H), 2.36 (t, 2H, J=7.4 Hz), 3.42 (t, 2H, J=7
Hz).
[0433] Compound 21.
[0434] t-Butylthiol (11.32 g, 125 mmol) was added to a dry Schlenk
flask and dissolved in dry THF (450 mL) distilled from sodium. The
solution was deoxygenated by bubbling nitrogen through it before
the flask was placed in an ice bath. n-BuLi solution in hexanes (70
mL of 1.6 M) was then added slowly via syringe over 10 min. This
mixture was allowed to stir for 1 hr., then compound 20 (5.5 g,
16.2 mmol) was added and the solution was left to reflux at
60.degree. C. overnight. The next morning an aliquot was worked up,
analyzed by NMR, and the reaction deemed complete. The reaction was
quenched with HCl (200 mL of 2 M) and extracted with ether
(3.times.250 mL). The ethereal layers were then dried with
magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated to yield
the product, compound 21, as a white solid (5 g, 90% yield).
.sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3, 200 MHz) .delta. 1.26 (br s, 26H), 1.32
(br s, 9H), 1.48-1.70 (m, 4H), 2.35 (t, 2H, J=7.3 Hz), 2.52 (t, 2H,
J=7.3 Hz). .sup.13C NMR (CDCl.sub.3, 200 MHz) .delta. 24.69, 28.35,
29.05, 29.21, 29.28, 29.39, 29.55, 29.89, 31.02(3C), 33.98, 41.75,
179.60.
Example 3
Synthetic Scheme for Making a Thiolated Analog of LPA
[0435] The synthetic approach described in this example results in
the preparation of thiolated LPA. The LPA analog can then be
further complexed to a carrier, for example, a protein carrier,
which can then be administered to an animal to elicit an
immunogenic response to LPA. This approach uses both organic
chemistry and enzymatic reactions, the synthetic scheme for which
is provided in FIG. 3. The compound numbers in the synthetic
description below refer to the numbered structures in FIG. 3.
[0436] The starting materials were compound 15 in Example 2 and
enantiomerically pure glycerophosphocholine (compound 22). These
two chemicals combined to yield the di-acetylated product, compound
23, using DCC to facilitate the esterification. In one synthetic
process variant, the resulting di-acylated glycerophosphocholine
was treated first with phospholipase-A2 to remove the fatty acid at
the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone to produce compound 24.
This substance was further treated with another enzyme,
phospholipase-D, to remove the choline and form compound 26. In
another synthetic process variant, the phospholipase-D treatment
preceded the phospholipase-A2 treatment to yield compound 25, and
treatment of compound 25 with phospholipase-D then yields compound
26. Both variants lead to the same product, the phosphatidic acid
derivative, compound 26. The t-butyl protecting group in compound
26 is then removed, first using trimethyl disulfide triflate to
produce compound 27, followed by a disulfide reduction to produce
the desired LPA derivative, compound 28. As those in the art will
appreciate, the nitrobenzyl sulfenyl reaction sequence described in
Example 1 can also be used to produce compound 28.
[0437] Compound 23.
[0438] To a flame-dried Schlenk flask were added the thioether
acid, compound 15 (10 g, 35.8 mmol), compound 22
(glycerophosphocholine-CdCl2 complex, 4.25 g, 8.9 mmol), DCC (7.32
g, 35.8 mmol), and DMAP (2.18 g, 17.8 mmol), after which the flask
was evacuated and filled with nitrogen. A minimal amount of dry,
degassed DCM was added (100 mL), resulting in a cloudy mixture. The
flask was covered with foil and then left to stir until completed,
as by TLC (silica, 10:5:1 DCM:MeOH: concentrated NH4OH). The
insolubility of compound 16 precluded monitoring its disappearance
by TLC, but the reaction was stopped when the product spot of Rf
0.1 was judged not to be increasing in intensity. This typically
required 3 to 4 days, and in some cases, addition of more DCC and
DMAP. Upon completion, the reaction mixture was filtered, and the
filtrate concentrated to yield a yellow oil, which was purified
using flash chromatography using the solvent system described above
to yield 3.6 g (50% yield) of a clear wax containing a mixture of
compound 23 and monoacylated products in a ratio of 5 to 1, as
estimated from comparing the integrals for the peaks for the
(CH3)3N--, --CH2StBu and --CH2COO-- moieties. Analysis of the oil
by HRMS (ESI-TOF) produced a prominent ion at m/z 820.4972,
calculated for M+Na.sup.+=C.sub.40H.sub.80NNaO.sub.8PS.sub.2.sup.+
820.4960.
[0439] A. Synthesis Variant 1--Phospholipase-A2 Treatment
[0440] Compound 24.
[0441] A mixture of compound 23 and monoacetylated products as
described above (3.1 g, 3.9 mmol) was dissolved in Et.sub.2O (400
mL) and methanol (30 mL). Borate buffer (100 mL, pH 7.4 0.1 M,
0.072 mM in CaCl2) was added, followed by phospholipase-A2 (from
bee venom, 130 units, Sigma). The resulting mixture was left to
stir for 10 hr., at which point TLC (silica, MeOH:water 4:1--the
previous solvent system 10:5:1 DCM:MeOH: concentrated NH4OH proved
ineffective) showed the absence of the starting material (Rf=0.7)
and the appearance of a new spot (Rf=0.2). The organic and aqueous
layers were separated and the aqueous layer was washed with ether
(2.times.250 mL). The product was extracted from the aqueous layer
with a mixture of DCM:MeOH (2:1, 2.times.50 mL). The organic layers
were then concentrated by rotary evaporation to yield product as a
white wax (1.9 g, 86% yield) that NMR showed to be a pure product
(compound 24). .sup.1H NMR (CDCl.sub.3, 500 MHz) .delta. 1.25-1.27
(br s, 12H), 1.31 (s, 9H), 1.35-1.45 (m, 2H), 1.52-1.60 (m, 4H),
2.31 (t, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 2.51 (t, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 3.28 (br s, 9H)
3.25-3.33 (br s, 2H), 3.78-3.86 (m, 1H), 3.88-3.96 (m, 2H),
4.04-4.10 (m, 2H), 4.26-4.34 (m, 2H). Analysis of the wax by HRMS
(ESI-TOF) produced a prominent ion at m/z 550.2936, calculated for
M+Na.sup.+ 550.2943 (C.sub.24H.sub.50NNaO.sub.7PS.sub.2.sup.+), and
an m/z at 528.3115, calculated for MH.sup.+ 528.3124
(C.sub.24H.sub.51NO.sub.7PS.sub.2.sup.+).
[0442] Anal. Calculated. for C24H50NO7PS+2H2O (563.73): C, 51.13;
H, 9.66; N, 2.48. Found: C, 50.90; H, 9.37; N, 2.76.
[0443] Compound 26.
[0444] The lyso compound 24 (1.5 g, 2.7 mmol) was dissolved in a
mixture of sec-butanol (5 mL) and Et.sub.2O (200 mL), and the
resulting cloudy mixture was sonicated until the cloudiness
dissipated. Buffer (200 mL, pH 5.8, 0.2 M NaOAc, 0.08 M CaCl2) was
added, followed by cabbage extract (80 mL of extract from savoy
cabbage (which contains phospholipase-D), containing 9 mg of
protein/mL). The reaction was stirred for 1 day and monitored by
TLC (C18 RP SiO2, 5:1 ACN: water), Rf of starting material and
product=0.3 and 0.05, respectively. In order to push the reaction
to completion, as needed an additional portion of cabbage extract
(50 mL) was added and the reaction stirred a further day. This
process was repeated twice more, as needed to complete the
conversion. When the reaction was complete, the mixture was
concentrated on the rotary evaporator to remove the ether, and then
EDTA solution (0.5 M, 25 mL) was added and the product extracted
into a 5:4 mixture of MeOH: DCM (300 mL). Concentration of the
organic layer followed by recrystallization of the residue from DCM
and acetone afforded pure product (0.9 g, 75% yield). .sup.1H NMR
(CDCl3, 200 MHz) .delta. 1.25-1.27 (br s, 12H), 1.33 (s, 9H),
1.52-1.60 (m, 4H), 2.34 (t, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 2.52 (t, 2H, J=7.5 Hz),
3.6-3.8 (br s, 1H), 3.85-3.97 (br s, 2H), 4.02-4.18 (m, 2H).
[0445] Compound 27.
[0446] The protected sample LPA, compound 26 (, 0.150 g, 0.34
mmol), was methanol washed and added to a vial in the glove box.
This was then suspended in a mixture of AcOH:THF (1:1, 10 mL),
which never fully dissolved even after 1 hr. of sonication. Solid
[Me2SSMe]OTf (0.114 g, 0.44 mmol) was then added. This was left to
stir for 18 hr. The reaction was monitored by removing an aliquot,
concentrating it to dryness under vacuum, and re-dissolving or
suspending the residue in CD.sub.3OD for observing the .sup.1H NMR
shift of the CH.sub.2 peak closest to the sulfur. The starting
material had a peak at 2.52 ppm, whereas the unsymmetrical
disulfide formed at this juncture had a peak at around 2.7 ppm.
This material (compound 27) was not further isolated or
characterized.
[0447] Compound 28.
[0448] The mixture containing compound 27 was treated with water
(100 .mu.L) immediately followed by PMe3 (0.11 g, 1.4 mmol). After
stirring for 3 hr. the solvent was removed by vacuum to yield an
insoluble white solid. Methanol (5 mL) was added, the mixture
centrifuged, and the mother liquor decanted. Vacuum concentration
yielded 120 mg (91% yield) of compound 28, a beige solid. Compound
28 is a thiolated LPA hapten that can be conjugated to a carrier,
for example, albumin or KLH, via disulfide bond formation.
Characterization of compound 28: .sup.1H NMR (1:1
CD.sub.3OD:CD.sub.3CO.sub.2D, 500 MHz) .delta. 1.25-1.35 (br s,
12H), 1.32-1.4 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.6 (m, 4H), 2.34 (t, 2H, J=7), 2.47
(t, 2H, J=8.5), 3.89-3.97 (br s, 2H), 3.98-4.15 (m, 2H), 4.21 (m,
1H). Negative ion ES of the sample dissolved in methanol produced a
predominant ion at m/z=385.1.
Example 4
Antibodies to S1P
[0449] One type of therapeutic antibody specifically binds
undesirable sphingolipids to achieve beneficial effects such as,
e.g., (1) lowering the effective concentration of undesirable,
toxic sphingolipids (and/or the concentration of their metabolic
precursors) that would promote an undesirable effect such as a
cardiotoxic, tumorigenic, or angiogenic effect; (2) to inhibit the
binding of an undesirable, toxic, tumorigenic, or angiogenic
sphingolipids to a cellular receptor therefore, and/or to lower the
concentration of a sphingolipid that is available for binding to
such a receptor. Examples of such therapeutic effects include, but
are not limited to, the use of anti-S1P antibodies to lower the in
vivo serum concentration of available S1P, thereby blocking or at
least limiting S1P's tumorigenic and angiogenic effects and its
role in post-MI heart failure, cancer, or fibrogenic diseases.
[0450] Thiolated S1P (compound 10 of FIG. 1) was synthesized to
contain a reactive group capable of cross-linking the essential
structural features of S1P to a carrier moiety such as KLH. Prior
to immunization, the thio-S1P analog was conjugated via IOA or SMCC
cross-linking to protein carriers (e.g., KLH) using standard
protocols. SMCC is a heterobifunctional crosslinker that reacts
with primary amines and sulfhydryl groups, and represents a
preferred crosslinker.
[0451] Swiss Webster or BALB-C mice were immunized four times over
a two month period with 50 .mu.g of immunogen (SMCC facilitated
conjugate of thiolated-S1P and KLH) per injection. Serum samples
were collected two weeks after the second, third, and fourth
immunizations and screened by direct ELISA for the presence of
anti-S1P antibodies. Spleens from animals that displayed high
titers of the antibody were subsequently used to generate
hybridomas per standard fusion procedures. The resulting hybridomas
were grown to confluency, after which the cell supernatant was
collected for ELISA analysis. Of the 55 mice that were immunized, 8
were good responders, showing significant serum titers of
antibodies reactive to S1P. Fusions were subsequently carried out
using the spleens of these mice and myeloma cells according to
established procedures. The resulting 1,500 hybridomas were then
screened by direct ELISA, yielding 287 positive hybridomas. Of
these 287 hybridomas screened by direct ELISA, 159 showed
significant titers. Each of the 159 hybridomas was then expanded
into 24-well plates. The cell-conditioned media of the expanded
hybridomas were then re-screened to identify stable hybridomas
capable of secreting antibodies of interest. Competitive ELISAs
were performed on the 60 highest titer stable hybridomas.
[0452] Of the 55 mice and almost 1,500 hybridomas screened, one
hybridoma was discovered that displayed performance characteristics
that justified limited dilution cloning, as is required to
ultimately generate a true monoclonal antibody. This process
yielded 47 clones, the majority of which were deemed positive for
producing S1P antibodies. Of these 47 clones, 6 were expanded into
24-well plates and subsequently screened by competitive ELISA. From
the 4 clones that remained positive, one was chosen to initiate
large-scale production of the S1P monoclonal antibody. SCID mice
were injected with these cells and the resulting ascites was
protein A-purified (50% yield) and analyzed for endotoxin levels
(<3 EU/mg). For one round of ascites production, 50 mice were
injected, producing a total of 125 mL of ascites. The antibodies
were isotyped as IgG1 kappa, and were deemed >95% pure by HPLC.
The antibody was prepared in 20 mM sodium phosphate with 150 mM
sodium chloride (pH 7.2) and stored at -70.degree. C.
[0453] The positive hybridoma clone (designated as clone
306D326.26) was deposited with the ATCC (safety deposit storage
number SD-5362), and represents the first murine mAb
(Sphingomab.TM.) directed against S1P. The clone also contains the
variable regions of the antibody heavy and light chains that could
be used for the generation of a "humanized" antibody variant, as
well as the sequence information needed to construct a chimeric
antibody.
[0454] Screening of serum and cell supernatant for S1P-specific
antibodies was by direct ELISA using the thiolated SIP analog
described in Example 1 (i.e., compound 10) as the antigen. A
standard ELISA was performed, as described below, except that 50 ul
of sample (serum or cell supernatant) was diluted with an equal
volume of PBS/0.1% Tween-20 (PBST) during the primary incubation.
ELISAs were performed in 96-well high binding ELISA plates (Costar)
coated with 0.1 .mu.g of chemically-synthesized compound 10
conjugated to BSA in binding buffer (33.6 mM Na2CO3, 100 mM NaHCO3;
pH 9.5). The thiolated-S1P-BSA was incubated at 37.degree. C. for 1
hr. at 4.degree. C. overnight in the ELISA plate wells. The plates
were then washed four times with PBS (137 mM NaCl, 2.68 mM KCl,
10.14 mM Na2HPO4, 1.76 mM KH2PO4; pH 7.4) and blocked with PBST for
1 hr. at room temperature. For the primary incubation step, 75 uL
of the sample (containing the S1P to be measured), was incubated
with 25 uL of 0.1 ug/mL anti-S1P mAb diluted in PBST and added to a
well of the ELISA plate. Each sample was performed in triplicate
wells. Following a 1 hr. incubation at room temperature, the ELISA
plates were washed four times with PBS and incubated with 100 ul
per well of 0.1 ug/mL HRP goat anti-mouse secondary (Jackson
Immunoresearch) for 1 hr. at room temperature. Plates were then
washed four times with PBS and exposed to tetramethylbenzidine
(Sigma) for 1-10 minutes. The detection reaction was stopped by the
addition of an equal volume of 1M H2SO4. Optical density of the
samples was determined by measurement at 450 nm using an EL-X-800
ELISA plate reader (Bio-Tech).
[0455] For cross reactivity, a competitive ELISA was performed as
described above, except for the following alterations. The primary
incubation consisted of the competitor (S1P, SPH, LPA, etc.) and a
biotin-conjugated anti-S1P mAb. Biotinylation of the purified
monoclonal antibody was performed using the EZ-Link
Sulfo-NHS-Biotinylation kit (Pierce). Biotin incorporation was
determined as per kit protocol and ranged from 7 to 11 biotin
molecules per antibody. The competitor was prepared as follows:
lipid stocks were sonicated and dried under argon before
reconstitution in DPBS/BSA [1 mg/ml fatty acid-free BSA
(Calbiochem) in DPBS (Invitrogen 14040-133)]. Purified anti-S1P mAb
was diluted as necessary in PBS/0.5% Triton X-100. Competitor and
antibody solutions were mixed together so to generate 3 parts
competitor to 1 part antibody. A HRP-conjugated streptavidin
secondary antibody (Jackson Immunoresearch) was used to generate
signal.
[0456] Another aspect of the competitive ELISA data is that it
shows that the anti-S1P mAb was unable to distinguish the
thiolated-S1P analog (compound 10) from the natural S1P that was
added in the competition experiment. It also demonstrates that the
antibody does not recognize any oxidation products because the
analog was constructed without any double bonds (as is also true
for the LPA analog described in Example 3). The anti-S1P mAb was
also tested against natural product containing the double bond that
was allowed to sit at room temperature for 48 hours. Reverse phase
HPLC of the natural S1P was performed according to methods reported
previously (Deutschman, et al. (July 2003), Am Heart J., vol.
146(1):62-8), and the results showed no difference in retention
time. Further, a comparison of the binding characteristics of the
monoclonal antibody to the various lipids tested indicates that the
epitope recognized by the antibody do not involve the hydrocarbon
chain in the region of the double bond of natural SIP. On the other
hand, the epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody is the
region containing the amino alcohol on the sphingosine base
backbone plus the free phosphate. If the free phosphate is linked
with a choline (as is the case with SPC), then the binding was
somewhat reduced. If the amino group is esterified to a fatty acid
(as is the case with C1P), no antibody binding was observed. If the
sphingosine amino alcohol backbone was replaced by a glycerol
backbone (as is the case with LPA), there the SIP-specific
monoclonal exhibited no binding. These epitope mapping data
indicate that there is only one epitope on S1P recognized by the
monoclonal antibody, and that this epitope is defined by the unique
polar headgroup of S1P.
[0457] In a similar experiment using ELISA measurements, suitable
control materials were evaluated to ensure that this anti-S1P
monoclonal antibody did not recognize either the protein carrier or
the crosslinking agent. For example, the normal crosslinker SMCC
was exchanged for IOA in conjugating the thiolated-S1P to BSA as
the laydown material in the ELISA. When 10A was used, the
antibody's binding characteristics were nearly identical to when
BSA-SMCC-thiolated-S1P was used. Similarly, KLH was exchanged for
BSA as the protein that was complexed with thiolated-S1P as the
laydown material. In this experiment, there was also no significant
difference in the binding characteristics of the antibody.
[0458] Binding kinetics: The binding kinetics of S1P to its
receptor or other moieties has, traditionally, been problematic
because of the nature of lipids. Many problems have been associated
with the insolubility of lipids. For BIAcore measurements, these
problems were overcome by directly immobilizing S1P to a BIAcore
chip. Antibody was then flowed over the surface of the chip and
alterations in optical density were measured to determine the
binding characteristics of the antibody to S1P. To circumvent the
bivalent binding nature of antibodies, S1P was coated on the chip
at low densities. Additionally, the chip was coated with various
densities of S1P (7, 20, and 1000 RU) and antibody binding data was
globally fit to a 1:1 interaction model. Changes in optical density
resulted due to the binding of the monoclonal antibody to S1P at
three different densities of SIP. Overall, the affinity of the
monoclonal antibody to S1P was determined to be very high, in the
range of approximately 88 picomolar (pM) to 99 nM, depending on
whether a monovalent or bivalent binding model was used to analyze
the binding data.
Example 5
Chimeric mAb to S1P
[0459] As used herein, the term "chimeric" antibody (or
"immunoglobulin") refers to a molecule comprising a heavy and/or
light chain which is identical with or homologous to corresponding
sequences in antibodies derived from a particular species or
belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the
remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to
corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from another species
or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well as
fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired
biological activity (Cabilly et al., supra; Morrison, et al., Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 81:6851 (1984)). Antibody sequences may
be vertebrate or invertebrate in origin, including mammal, bird or
fish, including cartilaginous fish.
[0460] A chimeric antibody to S1P was generated using the variable
regions (Fv) containing the active S1P binding regions of the
murine antibody from a particular hybridoma (ATCC safety deposit
storage number SD-5362) with the Fc region of a human IgG1
immunoglobulin. The Fc regions contained the CL, ChL, and Ch3
domains of the human antibody. Without being limited to a
particular method, chimeric antibodies could also have been
generated from Fc regions of human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, or
IgM. As those in the art will appreciate, "humanized" antibodies
can be generated by grafting the complementarity determining
regions (CDRs, e.g. CDR1-4) of the murine anti-S1P mAb with human
antibody framework regions (e.g., Fr1, Fr4, etc.) such as the
framework regions of an IgG1.
[0461] For the direct ELISA experiments, the chimeric antibody to
S1P had similar binding characteristics to the fully murine
monoclonal antibody. ELISAs were performed in 96-well high-binding
ELISA plates (Costar) coated with 0.1 ug of chemically-synthesized,
thiolated S1P conjugated to BSA in binding buffer (33.6 mM Na2CO3,
100 mM NaHCO3; pH 9.5). The thiolated S1P-BSA was incubated at
37.degree. C. for 1 hr. or at 4.degree. C. overnight in the ELISA
plate. Plates were then washed four times with PBS (137 mM NaCl,
2.68 mM KCl, 10.14 mM Na2HPO4, 1.76 mM KH2PO4; pH 7.4) and blocked
with PBST for 1 hr. at room temperature. For the primary incubation
step, 75 uL of the sample (containing the S1P to be measured), was
incubated with 25 .mu.L of 0.1 .mu.g/mL anti-S1P monoclonal
antibody diluted in PBST and added to a well of the ELISA plate.
Each sample was performed in triplicate wells. Following a 1 hr
incubation at room temperature, the ELISA plates were washed four
times with PBS and incubated with 100 ul per well of 0.1 ug/mL HRP
goat anti-mouse secondary (Jackson Immunoresearch) for 1 hr. at
room temperature. Plates were then washed four times with PBS and
exposed to tetramethylbenzidine (Sigma) for 1-10 minutes. The
detection reaction was stopped by the addition of an equal volume
of 1M H2SO4. Optical density of the samples was determined by
measurement at 450 nm using an EL-X-800 ELISA plate reader
(Bio-Tech).
[0462] The preferred method of measuring either antibody titer in
the serum of an immunized animal or in cell-conditioned media
(i.e., supernatant) of an antibody-producing cell such as a
hybridoma, involves coating the ELISA plate with a target ligand
(e.g., a thiolated analog of S1P, LPA, etc.) that has been
covalently linked to a protein carrier such as BSA.
Example 6
Monoclonal Antibodies to LPA
[0463] Antibody Production
[0464] Although polyclonal antibodies against naturally-occurring
LPA have been reported in the literature (Chen J H, et al., Bioorg
Med Chem Lett., 2000 Aug. 7, vol. 10(15):1691-3), monoclonal
antibodies have not been described. Using an approach similar to
that described in Example 4, a C-12 thio-LPA analog (compound 28 in
Example 3) as the key component of a hapten formed by the
cross-linking of the analog via the reactive SH group to a protein
carrier (KLH) via standard chemical cross-linking using either IOA
or SMCC as the cross-linking agent, monoclonal antibodies against
LPA were generated. To do this, mice were immunized with the
thio-LPA-KLH hapten (in this case, thiolated-LPA:SMCC:KLH) using
methods described in Example 4 for the generation of anti-S1P
monoclonal antibodies. Of the 80 mice immunized against the LPA
analog, the five animals that showed the highest titers against LPA
(determined using an ELISA in which the same LPA analog (compound
28) as used in the hapten was conjugated to BSA using SMCC and laid
down on the ELISA plates) were chosen for moving to the hybridoma
phase of development.
[0465] The spleens from these five mice were harvested and
hybridomas were generated by standard techniques. Briefly, one
mouse yielded hybridoma cell lines (designated 504A). Of all the
plated hybridomas of the 504A series, 66 showed positive antibody
production as measured by the previously described screening
ELISA.
[0466] Table 1, below, shows the antibody titers in cell
supernatants of hybridomas created from the spleens of two of mice
that responded to an LPA analog hapten in which the thiolated LPA
analog was cross-linked to KLH using heterobifunctional
cross-linking agents. These data demonstrate that the anti-LPA
antibodies do not react either to the crosslinker or to the protein
carrier. Importantly, the data show that the hybridomas produce
antibodies against LPA, and not against S1P.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 LPA hybridomas LPA S1P 3rd bleed binding
binding Cross mouse titer OD at Supernatants OD at OD at reactivity
# 1:312,500 from 24 well 1:20 1:20 w/S1P* 1 1.242 1.A.63 1.197
0.231 low 1.A.65 1.545 0.176 none 2 0.709 2.B.7 2.357 0.302 low
2.B.63 2.302 0.229 low 2.B.83 2.712 0.175 none 2.B.104 2.57 0.164
none 2.B.IB7 2.387 0.163 none 2.B.3A6 2.227 0.134 none *Cross
reactivity with S1P from 24 well supernatants: high = OD >
1.0-2.0 at [1:20]; mid = OD 0.4-1.0 at [1:20]; low = OD 0.4-0.2 at
[1:20]; none = OD < 0.2 OD at [1:20].
[0467] The development of anti-LPA mAbs in mice was monitored by
ELISA (direct binding to 12:0 and 18:1 LPA and competition ELISA).
A significant immunological response was observed in at least half
of the immunized mice and five mice with the highest antibody titer
were selected to initiate hybridoma cell line development following
spleen fusion.
[0468] After the initial screening of over 2000 hybridoma cell
lines generated from these 5 fusions, a total of 29 anti-LPA
secreting hybridoma cell lines exhibited high binding to 18:1 LPA.
Of these hybridoma cell lines, 24 were further subcloned and
characterized in a panel of ELISA assays. From the 24 clones that
remained positive, six hybridoma clones were selected for further
characterization. Their selection was based on their superior
biochemical and biological properties. Mouse hybridoma cell lines
504B3-6C2, 504B7.1, 504B58/3F8, 504A63.1 and 504B3A6 (corresponding
to clones referred to herein as B3, B7, B58, A63, and B3A6,
respectively) were received on May 8, 2007 by the American Type
Culture Collection (ATCC Patent Depository, 10801 University Blvd.,
Manassas, Va. 20110) for patent deposit purposes on behalf of LPath
Inc. and were granted deposit numbers PTA-8417, PTA-8420, PTA-8418,
PTA-8419 and PTA-8416, respectively.
[0469] All anti-LPA antibodies and portions thereof referred to
herein were derived from these cell lines.
[0470] Direct Binding Kinetics
[0471] The binding of 6 anti-LPA mAbs (B3, B7, B58, A63, B3A6, D22)
to 12:0 and 18:1 LPA (0.1 uM) was measured by ELISA. EC.sub.50
values were calculated from titration curves using 6 increasing
concentrations of purified mAbs (0 to 0.4 ug/ml). EC.sub.50
represents the effective antibody concentration with 50% of the
maximum binding. Max denotes the maximal binding (expressed as
OD450). Results are shown in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Direct Binding Kinetics of Anti-LPA mAbs B3
B7 B58 D22 A63 B3A6 12:0 LPA EC.sub.50 (nM) 1.420 0.413 0.554 1.307
0.280 0.344 Max (OD450) 1.809 1.395 1.352 0.449 1.269 1.316 18:1
LPA EC.sub.50 (nM) 1.067 0.274 0.245 0.176 0.298 0.469 Max (OD450)
1.264 0.973 0.847 0.353 1.302 1.027
[0472] The kinetics parameters k.sub.a (association rate constant),
k.sub.d (disassociation rate constant) and K.sub.D (association
equilibrium constant) were determined for the 6 lead candidates
using the BIAcore 3000 Biosensor machine. In this study, LPA was
immobilized on the sensor surface and the anti-LPA mAbs were flowed
in solution across the surface. As shown, all six mAbs bound LPA
with similar K.sub.D values ranging from 0.34 to 3.8 pM and similar
kinetic parameters.
[0473] The Anti-LPA Murine mAbs Exhibit High Affinity to LPA
[0474] LPA was immobilized to the sensor chip at densities ranging
150 resonance units. Dilutions of each mAb were passed over the
immobilized LPA and kinetic constants were obtained by nonlinear
regression of association/dissociation phases. Errors are given as
the standard deviation using at least three determinations in
duplicate runs. Results are shown in Table 3. Apparent affinities
were determined by K.sub.D=k.sub.a/k.sub.d.
[0475] k.sub.a=Association rate constant in
M.sup.-1s.sup.-1k.sub.d=Dissociation rate constant in s.sup.-1
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Affinity of anti-LPA mAb for LPA mAbs
k.sub.a (M.sup.-1 s.sup.-1) k.sub.d (s.sup.-1) K.sub.D (pM) A63 4.4
.+-. 1.0 .times. 10.sup.5 1 .times. 10.sup.-6 2.3 .+-. 0.5 B3 7.0
.+-. 1.5 .times. 10.sup.5 1 .times. 10.sup.-6 1.4 .+-. 0.3 B7 6.2
.+-. 0.1 .times. 10.sup.5 1 .times. 10.sup.-6 1.6 .+-. 0.1 D22 3.0
.+-. 0.9 .times. 10.sup.4 1 .times. 10.sup.-6 33 .+-. 10 B3A6 1.2
.+-. 0.9 .times. 10.sup.6 1.9 .+-. 0.4 .times. 10.sup.-5 16 .+-.
1.2
[0476] Specificity Profile of Six Anti-LPA mAbs.
[0477] Many isoforms of LPA have been identified to be biologically
active and it is preferable that the mAb recognize all of them to
some extent to be of therapeutic relevance. The specificity of the
anti-LPA mAbs was evaluated utilizing a competition assay in which
the competitor lipid was added to the antibody-immobilized lipid
mixture.
[0478] Competition ELISA assays were performed with 6 mAbs to
assess their specificity. 18:1 LPA was captured on ELISA plates.
Each competitor lipid (up to 10 uM) was serially diluted in BSA (1
mg/ml)-PBS and then incubated with the mAbs (3 nM). Mixtures were
then transferred to LPA coated wells and the amount of bound
antibody was measured with a secondary antibody. Data are
normalized to maximum signal (A450) and are expressed as percent
inhibition. Assays were performed in triplicate. IC.sub.50: Half
maximum inhibition concentration; MI: Maximum inhibition (% of
binding in the absence of inhibitor); ---: not estimated because of
weak inhibition. A high inhibition result indicates recognition of
the competitor lipid by the antibody. As shown in Table 4, all the
anti-LPA mAbs recognized the different LPA isoforms.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Specificity profile of six anti-LPA mAbs.
14:0 LPA 16:0 LPA 18:1 LPA 18:2 LPA 20:4 LPA IC.sub.50 MI IC.sub.50
MI IC.sub.50 MI IC.sub.50 MI IC.sub.50 MI uM % uM % uM % uM % uM %
B3 0.02 72.3 0.05 70.3 0.287 83 0.064 72.5 0.02 67.1 B7 0.105 61.3
0.483 62.9 >2.0 100 1.487 100 0.161 67 B58 0.26 63.9 5.698
>100 1.5 79.3 1.240 92.6 0.304 79.8 B104 0.32 23.1 1.557 26.5
28.648 >100 1.591 36 0.32 20.1 D22 0.164 34.9 0.543 31 1.489
47.7 0.331 31.4 0.164 29.5 A63 1.147 31.9 5.994 45.7 -- -- -- --
0.119 14.5 B3A6 0.108 59.9 1.151 81.1 1.897 87.6 -- -- 0.131
44.9
[0479] Interestingly, the anti-LPA mAbs were able to discriminate
between 12:0 (lauroyl), 14:0 (myristoyl), 16:0 (palmitoyl), 18:1
(oleoyl), 18:2 (linoleoyl) and 20:4 (arachidonoyl) LPAs. The rank
order for EC.sub.50 was for the unsaturated 18:2>18:1>20:4
and for the saturated lipids 14:0>16:0>18:0. Monoclonal Abs
with high specificity are desirable for ultimate drug development.
The specificity of the anti-LPA mAbs was assessed for their binding
to LPA related biolipids such as distearoyl-phosphatidic acid,
lysophosphatidylcholine, S1P, ceramide and ceramide-1-phosphate.
None of the six antibodies demonstrated cross-reactivity to
distearoyl PA and LPC, the immediate metabolic precursor of
LPA.
Example 7
Anti-Cancer Activities of Anti-LPA Monoclonal Antibodies
[0480] Cancer Cell Proliferation
[0481] LPA is a potent growth factor supporting cell survival and
proliferation by stimulation of G.sub.i, G.sub.q and G.sub.12/13
via GPCR-receptors and activation of downstream signaling events.
Cell lines were tested for their proliferative response to LPA
(0.01 mM to 10 mM). Cell proliferation was assayed by using the
cell proliferation assay kit from Chemicon (Temecula Calif.)
(Panc-1) and the CellTiter-Blue.TM. from Pierce (Caki-1). Each data
point is the mean of three independent experiments. LPA increased
proliferation of 7 human-derived tumor cell lines in a dose
dependent manner including SKOV3 and OVCAR3 (ovarian cancer),
Panc-1 (pancreatic cancer), Caki-1 (renal carcinoma cell), DU-145
(prostate cancer), A549 (lung carcinoma), and HCT-116 (colorectal
adenocarcinoma) cells and one rat-derived tumor cell line, RBL-2H3
(rat leukemia cells). Even though tumor-derived cells normally have
high basal levels of proliferation, LPA appears to further augment
proliferation in most tumor cell lines. Anti-LPA mAbs (B7 and B58)
were assessed for the ability to inhibit LPA-induced proliferation
in selected human cancer cell lines. The increase in proliferation
induced by LPA was shown to be mitigated by the addition of
anti-LPA mAb.
[0482] Anti-LPA mAb Sensitizes Tumor Cells to Chemotherapeutic
Agents
[0483] The ability of LPA to protect ovarian tumor cells against
apoptosis when exposed to clinically relevant levels of the
chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel (Taxol) was investigated. SKVO3
cells were treated with 1% FBS (S), Taxol (0.5 mM), +/-anti-LPA
mAbs for 24 h. LPA protected SKVO3 cells from Taxol-induced
apoptosis. Apoptosis was assayed by measurement of the caspase
activity as recommended by the manufacturer (Promega). As
anticipated, LPA protected most of the cancer cell lines tested
from taxol-induced cell death. When the anti-LPA antibody LT3000
was added to a selection of the LPA responsive cells, it blocked
the ability of LPA to protect cells from death induced by the
cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent. Moreover, the anti-LPA antibody
was able to remove the protection provided by serum. Serum is
estimated to contain about 5-20 uM LPA. Taxol induced caspase-3,7
activation in SKOV3 cells and the addition of serum to cells
protected cells from apoptosis. Taxol-induced caspase activation
was enhanced by the addition of LT3000 to the culture medium. This
suggests that the protective and anti-apoptotic effects of LPA were
removed by the selective antibody mediated neutralization of the
LPA present in serum.
[0484] Anti-LPA mAb Inhibits LPA-Mediated Migration of Tumor
Cells
[0485] An important characteristic of metastatic cancers is that
the tumor cells escape contact inhibition and migrate away from
their tissue of origin. LPA has been shown to promote metastatic
potential in several cancer cell types. Accordingly, we tested the
ability of anti-LPA mAb to block LPA-dependent cell migration in
several human cancer cell lines by using the cell monolayer scratch
assay. Cells were seeded in 96 well plates and grown to confluence.
After 24 h of starvation, the center of the wells was scratched
with a pipette tip. In this art-accepted "scratch assay," the cells
respond to the scratch wound in the cell monolayer in a
stereotypical fashion by migrating toward the scratch and close the
wound. Progression of migration and wound closure are monitored by
digital photography at 10.times. magnification at desired
timepoints. Cells were not treated (NT), treated with LPA (2.5 mM)
with or w/o mAb B7 (10 .mu.g/ml) or an isotype matching
non-specific antibody (NS) (10 .mu.g/ml). In untreated cells, a
large gap remains between the monolayer margins following the
scratch. LPA-treated cells in contrast, have only a small gap
remaining at the same timepoint, and a few cells are making contact
across the gap. In cells treated with both LPA and the anti-LPA
antibody B7, the gap at this timepoint was several fold larger than
the LPA-only treatment although not as large as the untreated
control cells. This shows that the anti-LPA antibody had an
inhibitory effect on the LPA-stimulated migration of renal cell
carcinoma (Caki-1) cells. Similar data were obtained with mAbs B3
and B58. This indicates that the anti-LPA mAb can reduce
LPA-mediated migration of cell lines originally derived from
metastatic carcinoma.
[0486] Anti-LPA mAbs Inhibit Release of Pro-Tumorigenic Cytokines
from Tumor Cells
[0487] LPA is involved in the establishment and progression of
cancer by providing a pro-growth tumor microenvironment and
promoting angiogenesis. In particular, increases of the pro-growth
factors such as IL-8 and VEGF have been observed in cancer cells.
IL-8 is strongly implicated in cancer progression and prognosis.
IL-8 may exert its effect in cancer through promoting
neovascularization and inducing chemotaxis of neutrophils and
endothelial cells. In addition, overexpression of IL-8 has been
correlated to the development of a drug resistant phenotype in many
human cancer types.
[0488] Three anti-LPA mAbs (B3, B7 and B58) were tested for their
abilities to reduce in vitro IL-8 production compared to a
non-specific antibody (NS). Caki-1 cells were seeded in 96 well
plates and grown to confluency. After overnight serum starvation,
cells were treated with 18:1 LPA (0.2 mM) with or without anti-LPA
mAb B3, B7, B58 or NS (Non-Specific). After 24 h, cultured
supernatants of renal cancer cells (Caki-1), treated with or
without LPA and in presence of increasing concentrations of the
anti-LPA mAbs B3, B7 and B58, were collected and analyzed for IL-8
levels using a commercially available ELISA kit (Human
Quantikine.TM. Kit, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). In cells
pre-treated with the anti-LPA mAbs, IL-8 expression was
significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.1-30
.mu.g/mL mAb) whereas LPA increased the expression of IL-8 by an
average of 100% in non-treated cells. Similar results were obtained
with the other well-known pro-angiogenic factor, VEGF. The
inhibition of IL-8 release by the anti-LPA mAbs was also observed
in other cancerous cell lines such as the pancreatic cell line
Panc-1. These data suggest that the blockade of the pro-angiogenic
factor release is an additional and potentially important effect of
these anti-LPA mAbs.
[0489] Anti-LPA mAbs Inhibit Angiogenesis In Vivo
[0490] One of the anti-LPA mAbs (B7) was tested for its ability to
mitigate angiogenesis in vivo using the Matrigel.RTM. Plug assay.
This assay utilizes Matrigel.RTM., a proprietary mixture of tumor
remnants including basement membranes derived from murine tumors.
When Matrigel.RTM., or its derivate growth factor-reduced (GFR)
Matrigel.RTM., is injected sc into an animal, it solidifies and
forms a `plug.` If pro-angiogenic factors are mixed with the matrix
prior to placement, the plug will be invaded by vascular
endothelial cells that eventually form blood vessels. Matrigel.RTM.
can be prepared either alone or mixed with recombinant growth
factors (bFGF, VEGF), or tumor cells and then injected sc in the
flanks of 6-week old nude (NCr Nu/Nu) female mice. In this example,
Caki-1 (renal carcinoma) cells were introduced inside the
Matrigel.RTM. and are producing sufficient levels of VEGF and/or
IL8 and LPA. Matrigel.RTM. plugs were prepared containing
5.times.10.sup.5 Caki-1 cells from mice treated with saline or with
10 mg/kg of anti-LPA mAb-B7, every 3 days starting 1 day prior to
Matrigel.RTM. implantation. Plugs were stained for endothelial
CD31, followed by quantitation of the micro-vasculature formed in
the plugs. Quantitation data were means+/-SEM of at least 16
fields/section from 3 plugs. The plugs from mice treated with the
anti-LPA mAb B7 demonstrated a prominent reduction in blood vessel
formation, as assayed by endothelial staining for CD31, compared to
the plugs from saline-treated mice. Quantification of stained
vessels demonstrates a greater than 50% reduction in angiogenesis
in Caki-1-containing plugs from animals treated with mAb B7
compared to saline-treated animals. This was a statistically
significant reduction (p<0.05 for mAb B7 vs. Saline as
determined by Student's T-test) in tumor cell angiogenesis as a
result of anti-LPA mAb treatment.
[0491] Anti-LPA mAbs Reduces Tumor Progression in Renal and
Pancreatic Xenografts
[0492] The anti-LPA antibodies have been shown (above) to be
effective in reducing LPA-induced tumor cell proliferation,
migration, protection from cell death and cytokine release in
multiple human tumor cell lines. mAbs B58 and B7 were next tested
in a xenograft model of renal and pancreatic cancer. Below are
preliminary results that demonstrate the potential anti-tumorigenic
effects of the anti-LPA antibody approach.
[0493] Tumors were developed by subcutaneous injection of Caki-1
and Panc-1 human tumor cells into the left flank of 4 week old
female nude (NCr Nu/Nu) mice using standard protocols. After 10
days for Caki-1 and 30 days for Panc-1, when solid tumors had
formed (.about.200 mm3), mice were randomized into treatment
groups. Treatment was initiated by i.p. administration of 25 mg/kg
of the anti-LPA mAbs or vehicle (saline solution). Antibodies were
administered every three days for the duration of the study.
Treatments consisted of 25 mg/kg of the anti-LPA mAb B58 for Caki-1
tumors, mAb B7 for Panc-1 or Saline. Data are the mean+/-SEM of 7
saline and 6 B58-treated mice for the Caki-1 study and 4 saline and
5 B7-treated mice for the Panc-1 study. Tumor volumes were measured
every other day using electronic calipers and the tumor volume
determined by the formula, W.sup.2.times.L/2. Animals were
subsequently sacrificed after tumors reached 1500 mm.sup.3 in the
saline group. Final tumor volumes and weights were recorded.
[0494] In this preliminary experiment, the ability of the anti-LPA
mAbs to reduce tumor volume was apparent after the tumors reached
approximately 400-500 mm.sup.3. At this point, the tumors from the
control animals continued to grow, while the tumors from the
anti-LPA mAb-treated animals exhibited a slower rate growth in both
xenograft models. Data demonstrates that the anti-LPA mAb also
reduced the final tumor weights of Caki-1 and Panc-1 tumors when
compared to tumor weights from saline-treated animals.
[0495] Anti-LPA mAbs Modulate Levels of Circulating Pro-Angiogenic
Cytokines in Animals with Tumors
[0496] The anti-LPA mAbs (B58 and B7) also influenced the levels of
circulating pro-angiogenic cytokine. In animals treated with the
anti-LPA mAb7 (Panc-1), the serum level of interleukin-8 (IL-8) was
not detectable in any antibody-treated animals, whereas IL-8 serum
levels were detectable in Panc-1 and Caki-1 xenografts after 85 and
63 days, respectively. More importantly there was a strong
correlation (r=0.98) between tumor size and IL-8 levels. In the
animals bearing Caki-1 tumors the serum levels of human IL-8 were
also reduced by the treatment with anti-LPA mAb58 (r=0.34) when
compared to saline treatment (r=0.55). As mentioned above, the
reduction of circulating cytokine levels is believed to be due to a
direct inhibition of cytokine release from the tumor cells
themselves. These data demonstrates the ability of the anti-LPA mAb
to reduce tumor progression while also reducing the levels of
circulating pro-angiogenic compounds.
[0497] Anti-LPA mAbs Reduces Tumor Progression in a Murine Model of
Metastasis
[0498] One important characteristic of tumor progression is the
ability of a tumor to metastasize and form secondary tumor nodules
at remote sites. In vitro studies described hereinabove have
demonstrated the ability of LPA to induce tumor cells to escape
contact inhibition and promote migration in a scratch assay for
cell motility. In these studies, the anti-LPA mAbs also inhibited
LPA's tumor growth promoting effectors. The efficacy of the
anti-LPA mAb to inhibit tumor metastasis in vivo was also
evaluated. The phenomenon of tumor metastasis has been difficult to
mimic in animal models. Many investigators utilize an
"experimental" metastasis model in which tumor cells are directly
injected into the blood stream.
[0499] Blood vessel formation is an integral process of metastasis
because an increase in the number of blood vessels means cells have
to travel a shorter distance to reach circulation. It is believed
that anti-LPA mAb will inhibit in vivo tumor cell metastasis, based
on the finding that the anti-LPA mAb can block several integral
steps in the metastatic process.
[0500] Study: The highly metastatic murine melanoma (B16-F10) was
used to examine the therapeutic effect of three anti-LPA mAbs on
metastasis in vivo. This model has demonstrated to be highly
sensitive to cPA inhibitors of autotaxin. Four week old female
(C57BL/6) mice received an injection of B16-F10 murine melanoma
tumor cells (100 uL of 5.times.10.sup.4 cells/animal) via the tail
vein. Mice (10 per group) were administered 25 mg/kg of the
anti-LPA mAb (either B3 or B7) or saline every three days by i.p.
injection. After 18 days, lungs were harvested and analyzed. The
pulmonary organs are the preferred metastatic site of the melanoma
cells, and were therefore closely evaluated for metastatic nodules.
The lungs were inflated with 10% buffered formalin via the trachea,
in order to inflate and fix simultaneously, so that even small foci
could be detectable on histological examination. Lungs were
separated into five lobes and tumors were categorized by dimension
(large .gtoreq.5 mm; medium 1-4 mm; small <1 mm) and counted
under a dissecting microscope. Upon examination of the lungs, the
number of tumors was clearly reduced in antibody-treated animals.
For animals treated with mAb B3, large tumors were reduced by 21%,
medium tumors by 17% and small tumors by 22%. Statistical analysis
by student's T-test gave a p<0.05 for number of small tumors in
animals treated with mAb B3 vs saline.
[0501] As shown in the above examples, it has now been shown that
the tumorigenic effects of LPA are extended to renal carcinoma
(e.g., Caki-1) and pancreatic carcinoma (Panc-1) cell lines. LPA
induces tumor cell proliferation, migration and release of
pro-angiogenic and/or pro-metastatic agents, such as VEGF and IL-8,
in both cell lines. It has now been shown that three high-affinity
and specific monoclonal anti-LPA antibodies demonstrate efficacy in
a panel of in vitro cell assays and in vivo tumor models of
angiogenesis and metastasis.
Example 8
Cloning of the Murine Anti-LPA Antibodies--Overview
[0502] Chimeric antibodies to LPA were generated using the variable
regions (Fv) containing the active LPA binding regions of one of
three murine antibodies from hybridomas with the Fc region of a
human IgG1 immunoglobulin. The Fc regions contained the CH1, CH2,
and CH3 domains of the human antibody. Without being limited to a
particular method, chimeric antibodies could also have been
generated from Fc regions of human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, or
IgM. As those in the art will appreciate, "humanized" antibodies
can be generated by grafting the complementarity determining
regions (CDRs, e.g., CDR1-4) of the murine anti-LPA mAbs with human
antibody framework regions (e.g., Fr1, Fr4, etc.) such as the
framework regions of an IgG1.
[0503] The overall strategy for cloning of the murine mAb against
LPA consisted of cloning the murine variable domains of both the
light chain (VL) and the heavy chain (VH) from each antibody. The
consensus sequences of the genes show that the constant region
fragment is consistent with a gamma isotype and that the light
chain is consistent with a kappa isotype. The murine variable
domains were cloned together with the constant domain of the light
chain (CL) and with the constant domain of the heavy chain (CH1,
CH2, and CH3), resulting in a chimeric antibody construct.
[0504] The variable domains of the anti-LPA antibodies were cloned
into an expression system consisting of the Glutamine Synthetase
(GS) expression pCON vector (Lonza Inc, Allendale N.J.) with human
antibody constant regions. This expression system consists of an
expression vector carrying the constant domains of the antibody
genes and the selectable marker GS. Glutamine synthetase (GS) is
the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of glutamine from
glutamate and ammonia. The vector carrying both the antibody genes
and the selectable marker is transfected into the Chinese hamster
ovary (CHO) cell line providing sufficient glutamine for the cell
to survive without exogenous glutamine. In addition, the specific
GS inhibitor, methionine sulphoximine (MSX), is supplemented in the
medium to inhibit endogenous GS activity such that only the cell
lines with GS activity provided by the vector can survive. The
transfected cells are selected for their ability to grow in
glutamine-free medium in the presence of MSX.
[0505] The constant region genes of the pCON vectors were isolated
from genomic DNA of human peripheral blood cells. The vector
pCONgamma1f contains the heavy chain of an IgG1f constant region
and the vector pCONkappa2 contains the kappa light chain constant
domain.
[0506] The variable domains of the light chain and the heavy chain
were amplified by PCR. The amplified fragments were cloned into an
intermediate vector (pTOPO). After verification of the sequences,
the variable domains were then assembled together with their
respective constant domains. The humanized variable domain of the
light chain was cloned into pCONkappa2 and the humanized variable
domain of the heavy chain was cloned into pCONgamma1f. The cloning
procedure included the design of an upstream primer to include a
signal peptide sequence, a consensus Kozak sequence preceding the
ATG start codon to enhance translation initiation, and the 5' cut
site, HindIII. The downstream primer was designed to include the 3'
cut site ApaI for the heavy chain and BsiWI for the light
chain.
[0507] The vectors containing the variable domains together with
their respective constant domains were transfected into mammalian
cells. Three days after transfections, supernatants were collected
and analyzed by ELISA for binding to LPA. Binding characteristics
for the chimeric antibodies are shown in Table 5. "HC" and "LC"
indicate the identities of the heavy chain and light chain,
respectively.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Binding characteristics of the chimeric
anti-LPA antibodies B3, B7, and B58. Titer EC50 HC x LC (ug/ml)
(ng/ml) Max OD 1 B7 B7 3.54 43.24 2.237 2 B7 B58 1.84 25.79 1.998 3
B7 B3 2.58 24.44 2.234 4 B58 B7 3.80 38.99 2.099 5 B58 B58 3.42
41.3 2.531 6 B58 B3 2.87 29.7 2.399 7 B3 B7 4.18 49.84 2.339 8 B3
B58 0.80 20.27 2.282 9 B3 B3 4.65 42.53 2.402
[0508] It can be seen from Table 5 that it is possible to optimize
antibody binding to LPA by recombining light chains and heavy
chains from different hybridomas (i.e., different clones) into
chimeric molecules.
[0509] Materials and Methods for the Cloning, Expression and
Characterization of the Anti-LPA Antibody Variable Regions
[0510] Cloning of the Variable Regions from Hybridoma Cell
Lines
[0511] Clones from the anti-LPA hybridoma cell lines were grown in
DMEM (Dulbecco's Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium with GlutaMAX.TM.
I, 4500 mg/L D-Glucose, Sodium Pyruvate; Gibco/Invitrogen,
Carlsbad, Calif., 111-035-003), 10% FBS (Sterile Fetal Clone I,
Perbio Science), and 1.times. glutamine/Penicillin/Streptomycin
(Gibco/Invitrogen). Total RNA was isolated from 10.sup.7 hybridoma
cells using a procedure based on the RNeasy Mini kit (Qiagen,
Hilden Germany). The RNA was used to generate first strand cDNA
following the manufacturer's protocol for SMART.TM. RACE cDNA
Amplification Kit (Clonetech).
[0512] The immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) cDNA was
amplified by PCR using primers listed in Table 6. Heavy Chain
variable region PCR set-up was as follows: MHCG1 (known IgG1
constant region primer) combined with Group 1 and Group 2 V region
primers for all five antibodies. The product of each reaction was
ligated into the pCR2.1.RTM.-TOPO.RTM. vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad
Calif.) using the TOPO-TA Cloning.RTM. kit and sequence.
[0513] Similarly, the immunoglobulin light chain variable regions
(VK) were amplified using the primers listed in Table 7. The light
chain variable region PCR set-up was as follows: Two constant
region primers were each combined with Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3
V region primers for all five antibodies. The product of each
reaction was ligated into the pCR2.1.RTM.-TOPO.RTM. vector using
the TOPO-TA Cloning.RTM. kit and sequence.
[0514] The list of oligonucleotides was designed according to the
literature (Dattamajumdar, et al. (1991), "Rapid cloning of any
rearranged mouse immunoglobulin variable genes", Immunogenetics,
vol. 43(3):141-51; Coloma, et al. (1992), "Novel vectors for the
expression of antibody molecules using variable regions generated
by polymerase chain reaction", J Immunol Methods, vol.
152(1):89-104; Coronella, et al. (2000), "Amplification of IgG VH
and VL (Fab) from single human plasma cells and B cells", Nucleic
Acids Res., vol. 28(20):E85.).
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 List of oligonucleotides for the cloning of
the heavy chain variable domains from the anti-LPA monoclonal
antibodies. Heavy Chain SEQ ID NO: Variable Group 1 MHV1
ATGAAATGCAGCTGGGGCATSTTCTTC 1 MHV2 ATGGGATGGAGCTRTATCATSYTCTT 2
MHV3 ATGAAGWTGTGGTTAAACTGGGTTTTT 3 MHV4 ATGRACTTTGGGYTCAGCTTGRTTT 4
MHV5 ATGGACTCCAGGCTCAATTTAGTTTTCCTT 5 MHV6
ATGGCTGTCYTRGSGCTRCTCTTCTGC 6 Group 2 MHV7
ATGGRATGGAGCKGGRTCTTTMTCTT 7 MHV8 ATGAGAGTGCTGATTCTTTTGTG 8 MHV9
ATGGMTTGGGTGTGGAMCTTGCTATTCCTG 9 MHV10 ATGGGCAGACTTACATTCTCATTCCTG
10 MHV11 ATGGATTTTGGGCTGATTTTTTTTATTG 11 MHV12
ATGATGGTGTTAAGTCTTCTGTACCTG 12 MH1: ATATCCACCA TGGRATGSAG
CTGKGTMATS CTCTT 13 Constant MHCG1 CAGTGGATAGACAGATGGGGG 14 MHCG2a
CAGTGGATAGACCGATGGGGC 15 MHCG2b CAGTGGATAGACTGATGGGGG 16 MHCG3
CAAGGGATAGACAGATGGGGC 17 MVG1R 5'-GGCAGCACTAGTAGGGGCCAGTGGATA-3'
18
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 List of oligonucleotides used for the
cloning of the light chain variable domains from the anti-LPA
monoclonal antibodies. Light chain SEQ ID NO: Variable Group 1
MLALT1 GGGCACCATGGAGACAGACACACTCCTGCTAT 19 MLALT2
GGGCACCATGGATTTTCAAGTGCAGATTTTCAG 20 MLALT3
GGGCACCATGGAGWCACAKWCTCAGGTCTTTRTA 21 MLALT4
GGGCACCATGKCCCCWRCTCAGYTYCTKGT 22 MLALT5
5'-CACCATGAAGTTGCCTGTTAGGCTGTTG-3' 23 Group 2 MKV1a
ATGAAGTTGVVTGTTAGGCTGTTGGTGCTG 24 MKV2
ATGGAGWCAGACACACTCCTGYTATGGGTG 25 MKV3
ATGAGTGTGCTCACTCAGGTCCTGGSGTTG 26 MKV4
ATGAGGRCCCCTGCTCAGWTTYTTGGMWTCTTG 27 MKV5
ATGGATTTWAGGTGCAGATTWTCAGCTTC 28 MKV6 ATGAGGTKCKKTGKTSAGSTSCTGRGG
29 MKV7 ATGGGCWTCAAGATGGAGTCACAKWYYCWGG 30 MKV8
ATGTGGGGAYCTKTTTYCMMTTTTTCAATTG 31 MKV9 ATGGTRTCCWCASCTCAGTTCCTTG
32 MKV10 ATGTATATATGTTTGTTGTCTATTTCT 33 MKV11
ATGGAAGCCCCAGCTCAGCTTCTCTTCC 34 VK8 TGGGTATCTGGTRCSTGTG 35 MKV20
ATGGAGWCAGACACACTSCTG 36 Group 3 CL12A ATGRAGTYWCAGACCCAGGTCTTYRT
37 CL12B ATGGAGACACATTCTCAGGTCTTTGT 38 CL13
ATGGATTCACAGGCCCAGGTTCTTAT 39 CL14 ATGATGAGTCCTGCCCAGTTCCTCTT 40
CL15 ATGAATTTGCCTGTTCATCTCTTGGTGCT 41 CL16
ATGGATTTTCAATTGGTCCTCATCTCCTT 42 CL17A ATGAGGTGCCTARCTSAGTTCCTGRG
43 CL17B ATGAAGTACTCTGCTCAGTTTCTAGG 44 CL17C
ATGAGGCATTCTCTTCAATTCTTGGG 45 Constant MKC ACTGGATGGTGGGAAGATGG 46
33615: 5'GAAGATCTAGACTTACTA TGCAGCATCAGC-3' 47
[0515] TOPO2.1 clones containing the heavy and light chain variable
regions were sequenced and CDR regions were determined. The
variable domain of the light chain was then amplified by PCR adding
a leader sequence and cut sites suggested by Lonza for cloning into
the Lonza light chain expression vector, pCONkappa2 (5' HindIII, 3'
BsiWI, LC leader sequence: ATG TCT GTG CCT ACC CAG GTG CTG GGA CTG
CTG CTG CTG TGG CTG ACA GAC GCC CGC TGT, SEQ ID NO: 48). The
variable domain of the heavy chain was then amplified by PCR adding
a leader sequence and cut sites suggested by Lonza for cloning into
the Lonza heavy chain expression vector, pCONgamma1f (5' HindIII,
3' ApaI, HC leader sequence: ATG GAA TGG AGC TGG GTG TTC CTG TTC
TTT CTG TCC GTG ACC ACA GGC GTG CAT TCT, SEQ ID NO: 49). Final
products were then inserted into light or heavy chain expression
vectors, containing the constant regions, with digestion and
ligation the Rapid Ligation Kit (Roche).
[0516] The heavy and light chain plasmids were transformed into One
Shot.RTM. TOP10 chemically competent bacterial cells (Invitrogen)
and stocked in glycerol. Large-scale plasmid DNA was prepared as
described by the manufacturer (Qiagen, endotoxin-free MAXIPREP.TM.
kit). DNA samples, purified using Qiagen's QlAprep Spin Miniprep
Kit or EndoFree Plasmid Mega/Maxi Kit, were sequenced using an ABI
3730xl automated sequencer, which also translates the fluorescent
signals into their corresponding nucleobase sequence. Primers were
designed at the 5' and 3' ends so that the sequence obtained would
overlap.
[0517] PCR Amplification of the Variable Regions
[0518] The Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) were performed using
Invitrogen's Pfx DNA polymerase kit with 10.times. buffer and 50 mM
MgSO4 (cat#11708-013) and 10 mM dNTPs (Invitrogen, cat#18427-013).
The reaction mixture consisted of 5 ul 10.times. pfx amplification
buffer, 1.5 ul 10 mM dNTPs, 1 ul 50 mM MgSO4, 1.5 ul
oligonucleotide 1, 1.5 ul oligonucleotide 2, 0.5 ul template
(.about.50 ng), 0.5 ul Pfx DNA polymerase, 38.5 ul sterile water.
All reagents were added minus Pfx and then Pfx was added
immediately before starting the thermocycler. After denaturation of
the templates at 95.degree. C. for 3 minutes, 35 cycles of
95.degree. C. for 30 seconds, annealing at 58.degree. C. with a
5.degree. C.+/-gradient and extension at 68.degree. C. for 30
seconds were performed. After a final extension at 68.degree. C.
for 5 minutes, the samples were kept at 4.degree. C.
[0519] Restriction Digest and Ligation Reactions to Clone the
Variable Regions
[0520] The restriction digests were performed on DNA to prepare
fragment for ligation or for cloning verification prior to checking
the molecular sequence. All restriction enzymes were purchased from
Invitrogen or New England Biolabs that come with the corresponding
buffers required for each enzyme. The DNA (usually 5-10 ul to check
for positive clones and 20-26 ul for DNA to be ligated) were mixed
with the enzyme buffer, 0.5 to 1.0 ul of the restriction enzyme,
and sterile water (to a total of 30 ul reaction). The reactions
were incubated at appropriate temperature for the enzyme for 1 hr.
Most enzymes were active at 37.degree. C. however the incubation
temperature could vary from room temperature to 55.degree. C.
depending on the enzymes. After adequate restriction enzyme digest,
the GeneClean kit was used to clean the insert fragment and vector
from agarose gel and any enzymes and buffers. Ligations were
performed using Roche Rapid Ligation Kit (catalog #11635379001)
that included T4 DNA 2.times. Ligation buffer, 5.times.DNA dilution
buffer, and T4 DNA ligase. Inserts and vectors were ligated in a
final 3:1 molar ratio for best results. Insert fragments were
diluted appropriately for efficient ligations. 5 to 7 ul of the
reaction was used to transformed E. coli TOP10 chemically competent
cells.
[0521] Quantitative ELISA
[0522] Microtiter ELISA plates (Costar, Cat No. 3361) were coated
with rabbit anti-mouse IgG, F(ab').sub.2 fragment specific antibody
(Jackson, 315-005-047) diluted in 1M Carbonate Buffer (pH 9.5) at
37.degree. C. for 1 h. Plates were washed with PBS and blocked with
PBS/BSA/Tween-20 for 1 hr at 37.degree. C. For the primary
incubation, dilutions of non-specific mouse IgG or human IgG, whole
molecule (used for calibration curve) and samples to be measured
were added to the wells. Plates were washed and incubated with 100
ul per well of HRP conjugated anti-human diluted 1:50,000 (Jackson
109-035-003) for 1 hr at 37.degree. C. After washing, the enzymatic
reaction was detected with tetramethylbenzidine (Sigma, cat No
T0440) and stopped by adding 1 M H2504. The optical density (OD)
was measured at 450 nm using a Thermo Multiskan EX. Raw data were
transferred to GraphPad software for analysis.
[0523] Direct ELISA
[0524] Microtiter ELISA plates (Costar, Cat No. 3361) were coated
with LPA-BSA diluted in 1M Carbonate Buffer (pH 9.5) at 37.degree.
C. for 1 h. Plates were washed with PBS (137 mM NaCl, 2.68 mM KCl,
10.1 mM Na.sub.2HPO4, 1.76 mM KH2PO4; pH 7.4) and blocked with
PBS/BSA/Tween-20 for 1 h at room temperature or overnight at
4.degree. C. The samples to be tested were diluted at 0.4 ug/mL,
0.2 ug/mL, 0.1 ug/mL, 0.05 ug/mL, 0.0125 ug/mL, and 0 ug/mL and 100
ul added to each well. Plates were washed and incubated with 100 ul
per well of HRP anti-human diluted 1:50,000 (Jackson 109-035-003)
for 1 hr at 37.degree. C. After washing, the enzymatic reaction was
detected with tetramethylbenzidine (Sigma, Cat No T0440) and
stopped by adding 1 M H2504. The optical density (OD) was measured
at 450 nm using a Thermo Multiskan EX. Raw data were transferred to
GraphPad software for analysis.
[0525] Transient Expression
[0526] The vectors were transfected into the human embryonic kidney
cell line 293F using 293Fectin.TM. and using 293F-FreeStyle.TM.
Media for culture. Transfections were performed at a cell density
of 10.sup.6 cells/mL with 0.5 .mu.g/mL. Supernatants were collected
by centrifugation at 1100 rpm for 5 minutes at 25.degree. C. 3 days
after transfection. Expression levels were quantified by
quantitative ELISA and binding was measured in a binding ELISA as
described above.
[0527] The mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains were sequenced using
standard methods. Tables 8-17 show nucleic acid and amino acid
sequences for the mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for five clones
of mouse anti-LPA monoclonal antibody. For each CDRH1 amino acid
sequence, the CDR defined according to Kabat is the 10-amino acid
sequence shown. The five-amino acid portion of the Kabat sequence
that is shown in bold is the canonical CDRH1 sequence.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Mouse LPA CDR nucleic acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone B3 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR B3
GGAGACGCCTTCACAAATTACTTAATAGAG CDRH1 50 B3
CTGATTTATCCTGATAGTGGTTACATTAACTA CDRH2 51 CAATGAGAACTTCAAGGGC B3
AGATTTGCTTACTACGGTAGTGGCTACTACT CDRH3 52 TTGACTAC V.sub.L CDR B3
AGATCTAGTCAGAGCCTTCTAAAAACTAATG CDRL1 53 GAAACACCTATTTACAT B3
AAAGTTTCCAACCGATTTTCTGGG CDRL2 54 B3 TCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACG
CDRL3 55
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Mouse LPA CDR amino acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone B3 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody CLONE CDR SEQ ID NO: V.sub.H CDR B3 GDAFTNYLIE*
CDRH1 56 B3 LIYPDSGYINYNENFKG CDRH2 57 B3 RFAYYGSGYYFDY CDRH3 58
V.sub.L CDR B3 RSSQSLLKTNGNTYLH CDRL1 59 B3 KVSNRFSG CDRL2 60 B3
SQSTHFPFT CDRL3 61 *The CDRH1 defined according to Kabat is the
10-amino acid sequence shown. The five-amino acid portion of the
Kabat sequence shown in bold (NYLIE; SEQ ID NO: 62) is the
canonical CDRH1 sequence.
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Mouse LPA CDR nucleic acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone B7 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR B7
GGATACGGCTTCATTAATTACTTAATAGAG CDRH1 63 B7
CTGATTAATCCTGGAAGTGATTATACTAA CDRH2 64 CTACAATGAGAACTTCAAGGGC B7
AGATTTGGTTACTACGGTAGCGGCAACT CDRH3 65 ACTTTGACTAC V.sub.L CDR B7
ACATCTGGTCAGAGCCTTGTCCACATTA CDRL1 66 ATGGAAACACCTATTTACAT B7
AAAGTTTCCAACCTATTTTCT CDRL2 67 B7 TCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACG CDRL3
68
TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 11 Mouse LPA CDR amino acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone B7 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR B7 GYGFINYLIE*
CDRH1 69 B7 LINPGSDYTNYNENFKG CDRH2 70 B7 RFGYYGSGNYFDY CDRH3 71
V.sub.L CDR B7 TSGQSLVHINGNTYLH CDRL1 72 B7 KVSNLFS CDRL2 73 B7
SQSTHFPFT CDRL3 74 *The CDRH1 defined according to Kabat is the
10-amino acid sequence shown. The five-amino acid portion of the
Kabat sequence shown in bold (NYLIE; SEQ ID NO: 62) is the
canonical CDRH1 sequence.
TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 12 Mouse LPA CDR nucleic acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone B58 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR B58
GGAGACGCCTTCACTAATTACTTGATCGAG CDRH1 75 B58
CTGATTATTCCTGGAACTGGTTATACTAACTACA CDRH2 76 ATGAGAACTTCAAGGGC B58
AGATTTGGTTACTACGGTAGTAGCAACTACTTTG CDRH3 77 ACTAC V.sub.L CDR B58
AGATCTAGTCAGAGCCTTGTACACAGTAATGGA CDRL1 78 AACACCTATTTACAT B58
AAAGTTTCCAACCGATTTTCT CDRL2 79 B58 TCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACT
CDRL3 80
TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 13 Mouse LPA CDR amino acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone B58 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody CLONE CDR SEQ ID NO: V.sub.H CDR B58
GDAFTNYLIE* CDRH1 81 B58 LIIPGTGYTNYNENFKG CDRH2 82 B58
RFGYYGSSNYFDY CDRH3 83 V.sub.L CDR B58 RSSQSLVHSNGNTYLH CDRL1 84
B58 KVSNRFS CDRL2 85 B58 SQSTHFPFT CDRL3 86 *The CDRH1 defined
according to Kabat is the 10-amino acid sequence shown. The
five-amino acid portion of the Kabat sequence shown in bold (NYLIE;
SEQ ID NO: 62) is the canonical CDRH1 sequence.
TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 14 Mouse LPA CDR nucleic acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone 3A6 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR 3A6
GGAGACGCCTTCACTAATTACTTGATCGAG CDRH1 87 3A6
CTGATTATTCCTGGAACTGGTTATACTAAC CDRH2 88 TACAATGAGAACTTCAAGGGC 3A6
AGATTTGGTTACTACGGTAGTGGCTACTAC CDRH3 89 TTTGACTAC V.sub.L CDR 3A6
AGATCTAGTCAGAGCCTTGTACACAGTAAT CDRL1 90 GGAAACACCTATTTACAT 3A6
AAAGTTTCCAACCGATTTTCT CDRL2 91 3A6 TCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACG
CDRL3 92
TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 15 Mouse LPA CDR amino acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone 3A6 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR 3A6
GDAFTNYLIE* CDRH1 93 3A6 LIIPGTGYTNYNENFKG CDRH2 94 3A6
RFGYYGSGYYFDY CDRH3 95 V.sub.L CDR 3A6 RSSQSLVHSNGNTYLH CDRL1 96
3A6 KVSNRFS CDRL2 97 3A6 SQSTHFPFT CDRL3 98 *The CDRH1 defined
according to Kabat is the 10-amino acid sequence shown. The
five-amino acid portion of the Kabat sequence shown in bold (NYLIE;
SEQ ID NO: 62) is the canonical CDRH1 sequence.
TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 16 Mouse LPA CDR nucleic acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone A63 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR A63
GGCTTCTCCATCACCAGTGGTTATTACTGGACC CDRH1 99 A63
TACATAGGCTACGATGGTAGCAATGACTCCAAC CDRH2 100 CCATCTCTCAAAAAT A63
GCGATGTTGCGGCGAGGATTTGACTAC CDRH3 101 V.sub.L CDR A63
AGTGCCAGCTCAAGTTTAAGTTACATGCAC CDRL1 102 A63 GACACATCCAAACTGGCTTCT
CDRL2 103 A63 CATCGGCGGAGTAGTTACACG CDRL3 104
TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 17 Mouse LPA CDR amino acid sequences of the
mouse V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains for clone A63 of mouse anti-LPA
monoclonal antibody SEQ ID CLONE CDR NO: V.sub.H CDR A63
GFSITSGYYWT* CDRH1 105 A63 YIGYDGSNDSNPSLKN CDRH2 106 A63 AMLRRGFDY
CDRH3 107 V.sub.L CDR A63 SASSSLSYMH CDRL1 108 A63 DTSKLAS CDRL2
109 A63 HRRSSYT CDRL3 110 *The CDRH1 defined according to Kabat is
the 10-amino acid sequence shown. The five-amino acid portion of
the Kabat sequence shown in bold (GYYWT; SEQ ID NO: 111) is the
canonical CDRH1 sequence.
[0528] Tables 18-27 show nucleotide and amino acid sequences of
V.sub.H and V.sub.L anti-LPA antibodies.
TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 18 Clone B3 nucleic acid sequences with leader
sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: B3 Heavy Chain
AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTGTTCCTGTTCTTTCTGTCCGTGAC 112
CACAGGCGTGCATTCTCAGGTCAAGCTGCAGCAGTCTGGACCTGAGCTGGTAAGG
CCTGGGACTTCAGTGAAGGTGTCCTGCACGGCTTCTGGAGACGCCTTCACAAATTA
CTTAATAGAGTGGGTAAAACAGAGGCCTGGACAGGGCCTTGAGTGGATTGGACTG
ATTTATCCTGATAGTGGTTACATTAACTACAATGAGAACTTCAAGGGCAAGGCAACA
CTGACTGCAGACAGATCCTCCAGCACTGCCTACATGCAGCTCAGCAGCCTGACATC
TGAGGACTCTGCGGTCTATTTCTGTGCAAGAAGATTTGCTTACTACGGTAGTGGCTA
CTACTTTGACTACTGGGGCCAAGGCACCACTCTCACAGTCTCCTCAGCCTCCACCA AGGGCCC B3
Light Chain AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGTCTGTGCCTACCCAGGTGCTGGGACTGCTGCTGCTGT
113 GGCTGACAGACGCCCGCTGTGATGTTGTGATGACCCAAACTCCACTCTCCCTGCCT
GTCAGTCTTGGAGATCAAGCCTCCATCTCTTGCAGATCTAGTCAGAGCCTTCTAAAA
ACTAATGGAAACACCTATTTACATTGGTACCTGCAGAAGCCAGGCCAGTCTCCAAAA
CTCCTAATCTTCAAAGTTTCCAACCGATTTTCTGGGGTCCCGGACAGGTTCAGTGG
CAGTGGATCAGGGACAGACTTCACACTCAAGATCAGCAGAGTGGAGGCTGAGGAT
CTGGGAGTTTATTTCTGCTCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACGTTCGGCACGGGG
ACAAAATTGGAAATAAAACGTACG
TABLE-US-00019 TABLE 19 Clone B3 amino acid sequences with leader
sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: B3 Heavy Chain
KLAATMEWSWVFLFFLSVTTGVHSQVKLQQSGPELVRPGTSVKVSCTASGDAFTNYLI 114
EWVKQRPGQGLEWIGLIYPDSGYINYNENFKGKATLTADRSSSTAYMQLSSLTSEDSA
VYFCARRFAYYGSGYYFDYWGQGTTLTVSSASTKG B3 Light Chain
KLAATMSVPTQVLGLLLLWLTDARCDVVMTQTPLSLPVSLGDQASISCRSSQSLLKTNG 115
NTYLHWYLQKPGQSPKLLIFKVSNRFSGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISRVEAEDLGVYFC
SQSTHFPFTFGTGTKLEIKRT
TABLE-US-00020 TABLE 20 Clone B7 nucleic acid sequences with leader
sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: B7 Heavy Chain
AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTGTTCCTGTTCTTTCTGTCCGTGAC 116
CACAGGCGTGCATTCTCAGGTCCAACTGCAGCAGTCTGGAGCTGAGCTGGTAAGG
CCTGGGACTTCAGTGAAGGTGTCCTGCAAGGCTTCTGGATACGGCTTCATTAATTA
CTTAATAGAGTGGATAAAACAGAGGCCTGGACAGGGCCTTGAGTGGATTGGACTGA
TTAATCCTGGAAGTGATTATACTAACTACAATGAGAACTTCAAGGGCAAGGCAACAC
TGACTGCAGACAAGTCCTCCAGCACTGCCTACATGCACCTCAGCAGCCTGACATCT
GAGGACTCTGCGGTCTATTTCTGTGCAAGAAGATTTGGTTACTACGGTAGCGGCAA
CTACTTTGACTACTGGGGCCAAGGCACCACTCTCACAGTCTCCTCAGCCTCCACCA AGGGCCC B7
Light Chain AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGTCTGTGCCTACCCAGGTGCTGGGACTGCTGCTGCTGT
117 GGCTGACAGACGCCCGCTGTGATGTTGTGATGACCCAAACTCCACTCTCCCTGCCT
GTCAGTCTTGGAGATCAAGCCTCCATCTCTTGCACATCTGGTCAGAGCCTTGTCCA
CATTAATGGAAACACCTATTTACATTGGTACCTGCAGAAGCCAGGCCAGTCTCCAAA
GCTCCTCATCTACAAAGTTTCCAACCTATTTTCTGGGGTCCCAGACAGGTTCAGTGG
CAGTGGATCAGGGACAGATTTCACACTCAAGATCAGCAGAGTGGAGGCTGAGGAT
CTGGGAGTTTATTTCTGCTCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACGTTCGGCACGGGG
ACAAAATTGGAAATAAAACGTACG
TABLE-US-00021 TABLE 21 Clone B7 amino acid sequences with leader
sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: B7 Heavy Chain
KLAATMEWSWVFLFFLSVTTGVHSQVQLQQSGAELVRPGTSVKVSCKASGYGFINYLI 118
EWIKQRPGQGLEWIGLINPGSDYTNYNENFKGKATLTADKSSSTAYMHLSSLTSEDSAV
YFCARRFGYYGSGNYFDYWGQGTTLTVSSASTKG B7 Light Chain
KLAATMSVPTQVLGLLLLWLTDARCDVVMTQTPLSLPVSLGDQASISCTSGQSLVHING 119
NTYLHWYLQKPGQSPKLLIYKVSNLFSGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISRVEAEDLGVYFC
SQSTHFPFTFGTGTKLEIKRT
TABLE-US-00022 TABLE 22 Clone B58 nucleic acid sequences with
leader sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: B58 Heavy
Chain AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTGTTCCTGTTCTTTCTGTCCGTGAC 120
CACAGGCGTGCATTCTCAGGTCCAGCTGCAGCAGTCTGGAGCTGAGCTGGTCAGG
CCTGGGACTTCAGTGAAGGTGTCCTGCAAGGCTTCTGGAGACGCCTTCACTAATTA
CTTGATCGAGTGGGTAAAGCAGAGGCCTGGACAGGGCCTTGAGTGGATTGGACTG
ATTATTCCTGGAACTGGTTATACTAACTACAATGAGAACTTCAAGGGCAAGGCAACA
CTGACTGCAGACAAATCCTCCAGCACTGCCTACATGCAGCTCAGCAGCCTGACATC
TGAGGACTCTGCGGTCTATTTCTGTGCAAGAAGATTTGGTTACTACGGTAGTAGCAA
CTACTTTGACTACTGGGGCCAAGGCACCACTCTCACAGTCTCCTCAGCCTCCACCA AGGGCCC
B58 Light Chain
AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGTCTGTGCCTACCCAGGTGCTGGGACTGCTGCTGCTGT 121
GGCTGACAGACGCCCGCTGTGATGTTGTGATGACCCAAACTCCACTCTCCCTGCCT
GTCAGTCTTGGAGATCAAGCCTCCATCTCTTGCAGATCTAGTCAGAGCCTTGTACA
CAGTAATGGAAACACCTATTTACATTGGTACCTGCAGAAGCCAGGCCAGTCTCCAA
AGCTCCTGATCTACAAAGTTTCCAACCGATTTTCTGGGGTCCCAGACAGGTTCAGT
GGCAGTGGACCAGGGACAGATTTCACACTCAAGATCAGCAGAGTGGAGGCTGAGG
ATCTGGGAATTTATTTCTGCTCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACTTTCGGCACGG
GGACAAAATTGGAAATAAAACGTACG
TABLE-US-00023 TABLE 23 Clone B58 amino acid sequences with leader
sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: B58 Heavy Chain
KLAATMEWSWVFLFFLSVTTGVHSQVQLQQSGAELVRPGTSVKVSCKASGDAFTNYLI 122
EWVKQRPGQGLEWIGLIIPGTGYTNYNENFKGKATLTADKSSSTAYMQLSSLTSEDSAV
YFCARRFGYYGSSNYFDYWGQGTTLTVSSASTKG B58 Light Chain
KLAATMSVPTQVLGLLLLWLTDARCDVVMTQTPLSLPVSLGDQASISCRSSQSLVHSN 123
GNTYLHWYLQKPGQSPKLLIYKVSNRFSGVPDRFSGSGPGTDFTLKISRVEAEDLGIYF
CSQSTHFPFTFGTGTKLEIKRT
TABLE-US-00024 TABLE 24 Clone 3A6 nucleic acid sequences with
leader sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: 3A6 Heavy
Chain AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTGTTCCTGTTCTTTCTGTCCGTGAC 124
CACAGGCGTGCATTCTCAGGTCCAGCTGCAGCAGTCTGGAGCTGAGCTGGTCAGG
CCTGGGACTTCAGTGAAGTTGTCCTGCAAGGCTTCTGGAGACGCCTTCACTAATTA
CTTGATCGAGTGGGTAAAGCAGAGGCCTGGACAGGGCCTTGAGTGGATTGGACTG
ATTATTCCTGGAACTGGTTATACTAACTACAATGAGAACTTCAAGGGCAAGGCAACA
CTGACTGCAGACAAGTCCTCCAGCACTGCCTACATGCAGCTCAGCAGCCTGACATC
TGAGGACTCTGCGGTCTATTTCTGTGCAAGAAGATTTGGTTACTACGGTAGTGGCT
ACTACTTTGACTACTGGGGCCAAGGCACCACTCTCACAGTCTCCTCAGCCTCCACC AAGGGCCC
3A6 Light Chain
AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGTCTGTGCCTACCCAGGTGCTGGGACTGCTGCTGCTGT 125
GGCTGACAGACGCCCGCTGTGATGTTGTGATGACCCAAACTCCACTCTCCCTGCCT
GTCAGTCTTGGAGATCAAGCCTCCATCTCTTGCAGATCTAGTCAGAGCCTTGTACA
CAGTAATGGAAACACCTATTTACATTGGTACCTGCAGAAGCCAGGCCAGTCTCCAA
AGCTCCTGATCTACAAAGTTTCCAACCGATTTTCTGGGGTCCCAGACAGGTTCAGT
GGCAGTGGACCAGGGACAGATTTCACACTCAAGATCAGCAGAGTGGAGGCTGAGG
ATCTGGGAGTTTATTTCTGCTCTCAAAGTACACATTTTCCATTCACGTTCGGCACGG
GCACAAAATTGGAAATAAAACGTACG
TABLE-US-00025 TABLE 25 Clone 3A6 amino acid sequences with leader
sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: 3A6 Heavy Chain
KLAATMEWSWVFLFFLSVTTGVHSQVQLQQSGAELVRPGTSVKLSCKASGDAFTNYLI 126
EWVKQRPGQGLEWIGLIIPGTGYTNYNENFKGKATLTADKSSSTAYMQLSSLTSEDSAV
YFCARRFGYYGSGYYFDYWGQGTTLTVSSASTKG 3A6 Light Chain
KLAATMSVPTQVLGLLLLWLTDARCDVVMTQTPLSLPVSLGDQASISCRSSQSLVHSN 217
GNTYLHWYLQKPGQSPKLLIYKVSNRFSGVPDRFSGSGPGTDFTLKISRVEAEDLGVYF
CSQSTHFPFTFGTGTKLEIKRT
TABLE-US-00026 TABLE 26 Clone A63 nucleic acid sequences with
leader sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: A63 Heavy
Chain AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTGTTCCTGTTCTTTCTGTCCGTGAC 128
CACAGGCGTGCATTCTGATATACAGCTTCAGGAGTCAGGACCTGGCCTCGTGAAAC
CTTCTCAGTCTCTGTCTCTCACCTGCTCTGTCACTGGCTTCTCCATCACCAGTGGTT
ATTACTGGACCTGGATCCGGCAGTTTCCAGGAAACAAACTGGAGTGGGTGGCCTAC
ATAGGCTACGATGGTAGCAATGACTCCAACCCATCTCTCAAAAATCGAATCTCCATC
ACCCGTGACACATCTAAGAACCAGTTTTTCCTGAAGTTGAATTCTGTGACTACTGAG
GACACAGCCACATATTACTGTGCAAGAGCGATGTTGCGGCGAGGATTTGACTACTG
GGGCCAAGGCACCACTCTCACAGTCTCCTCAGCCTCCACCAAGGGCCC A63 Light Chain
AAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGTCTGTGCCTACCCAGGTGCTGGGACTGCTGCTGCTGT 129
GGCTGACAGACGCCCGCTGTCAAATTGTTCTCACCCAGTCTCCAGCAATCATGTCT
GCATCTCCAGGGGAGAAGGTCACCATGACCTGCAGTGCCAGCTCAAGTTTAAGTTA
CATGCACTGGTACCAGCAGAAGCCAGGCACCTCCCCCAAAAGATGGATTTATGACA
CATCCAAACTGGCTTCTGGAGTCCCTGCTCGCTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGAC
CTCTTATTCTCTCACAATCAGCAGCATGGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCCACTTATTACTG
CCATCGGCGGAGTAGTTACACGTTCGGAGGGGGGACCAAGCTGGAAATAAAACGT ACG
TABLE-US-00027 TABLE 27 Clone A63 amino acid sequences with leader
sequence and cut sites added SEQ ID Sequence NO: A63 Heavy Chain
KLAATMEWSWVFLFFLSVTTGVHSDIQLQESGPGLVKPSQSLSLTCSVTGFSITSGYYW 130
TWIRQFPGNKLEWVAYIGYDGSNDSNPSLKNRISITRDTSKNQFFLKLNSVTTEDTATYY
CARAMLRRGFDYWGQGTTLTVSSASTKG A63 Light Chain
KLAATMSVPTQVLGLLLLWLTDARCQIVLTQSPAIMSASPGEKVTMTCSASSSLSYMHW 131
YQQKPGTSPKRWIYDTSKLASGVPARFSGSGSGTSYSLTISSMEAEDAATYYCHRRSS
YTFGGGTKLEIKRT
Example 9
Loath's Lead Murine Antibody, Loathomab.TM. (LT3000)--Overview
[0529] Murine antibody clone B7 was chosen as the lead compound and
renamed Lpathomab.TM., also known as LT3000. As described above,
this murine anti-LPA mAb was derived from a hybridoma cell line
following immunization of mice with a protein-derivatized LPA
immunogen. A hybridoma cell line with favorable properties was
identified and used to produce a monoclonal antibody using standard
hybridoma culture techniques.
[0530] Applicant has performed a comprehensive series of
pre-clinical efficacy studies to confirm the potential therapeutic
utility of an anti-LPA-antibody-based approach. It is believed that
antibody neutralization (e.g., reduction in effective
concentration) of extracellular LPA could result in a marked
decrease in disease progression in humans. For cancer, LPA
neutralization could result in inhibition of tumor proliferation
and the growing vasculature needed to support tumor growth.
Furthermore, recent research suggests that many angiogenesis
inhibitors may also act as anti-invasive and anti-metastatic
compounds that could also mitigate the spread of cancer to sites
distant from the initial tumor. For fibrosis, LPA neutralization
could result in a reduction of the inflammation and fibrosis
associated with the aberrant wound-healing response following
tissue injury. Thus, Lpathomab.TM. could have several mechanisms of
action, including: [0531] A direct effect on tumor cell growth,
migration and susceptibility to chemotherapeutic agents [0532] An
indirect effect on tumors through anti-angiogenic effects [0533] An
additional indirect effect on tumors by preventing the release and
neutralization of synergistic pro-angiogenic growth factors [0534]
A direct effect on proliferation, migration, and transformation of
fibroblasts to the myofibroblast phenotype and collagen production
by myofibroblasts [0535] An indirect effect on tissue fibrosis by
preventing the expression and release of synergistic
pro-angiogenic, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic growth
factors
Example 10
Biophysical Properties of Lpathomab/LT3000
[0536] Lpathomab/LT3000 has high affinity for the signaling lipid
LPA (K.sub.D of 1-50 pM); in addition, LT3000 demonstrates high
specificity for LPA, having shown no binding affinity for over 100
different bioactive lipids and proteins, some of which are
structurally similar. The murine antibody is a full-length IgG1k
isotype antibody composed of two identical light chains and two
identical heavy chains with a total molecular weight of 144 kDa.
The biophysical properties are summarized in Table 28.
TABLE-US-00028 TABLE 28 General Properties of Lpathomab (LT3000)
Identity LT3000 Antibody isotype Murine IgG1k Specificity
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) Molecular weight 155.5 Daltons OD of 1
mg/mL 1.22 (solution at 280 nm) K.sub.D 1-50 pM Apparent Tm
67.degree. C. at pH 7.4 Appearance Clear if dissolved in 1x PBS
buffer (6.6 mM phosphate, 154 mM sodium chloride, pH 7.4)
Solubility >40 mg/mL in 6.6 mM phosphate, 154 mM sodium
chloride, pH 7.4
[0537] The potent and specific binding of Lpathom ab/LT3000 to LPA
results in reduced availability of extracellular
LPA with potentially therapeutic effects against cancer-,
angiogenic- and fibrotic-related disorders. Selected studies
conducted with Lpathomab/LT3000 are described in the following
examples.
Example 11
Lpathomab.TM. in Cancer and Angiogenesis Models
[0538] The pleiotropic effects of LPA suggest that reduced
availability (effective concentration) of extracellular LPA will
(i) reduce growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of primary tumors
and (ii) counter-act LPA's protective anti-apoptotic effect on
tumor. Because of Lpathomab.TM./LT3000's potent and specific
binding to LPA, we hypothesized that in vivo treatment of LT3000 in
preclinical models of cancer would result in various therapeutic
benefits.
[0539] Preclinical studies were conducted using a variety of in
vitro and in vivo systems, demonstrating that Lpathomab.TM./LT3000
(administered every 3 days at doses of 10-50 mg/kg) exhibits a
profile of activity that is consistent with various mechanisms of
action, including:
[0540] inhibition of tumor growth in a variety of human tumor
xenograft models in vivo;
[0541] reduction in LPA-dependent cell proliferation and invasion
of human tumor and endothelial cell lines in vitro;
[0542] reduction in tumor angiogenesis, together with reductions in
circulating levels of tumorigenic/angiogenic growth factors
including IL6, IL8, GM-CSF, MMP2, and VEGF in vivo;
[0543] reduced metastatic potential; and
[0544] neutralization of LPA-induced protection against tumor-cell
death.
[0545] In In Vitro Models:
[0546] reduced proliferation of OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells;
[0547] neutralization of LPA-induced release of IL-8, IL-6 and VEGF
from Panc-1 (pancreatic), OVCAR3, and SKOV3 (ovarian) tumor cells
in vitro;
[0548] mitigation of LPA's effects in protecting SKOV3 and Panc-1
tumor cells from apoptosis (which suggests enhanced efficacy when
used in combination with standard chemotherapeutic agents);
[0549] neutralization of LPA-induced release of IL-8, IL-6 and VEGF
from tumor Inhibition of LPA-induced tumor cell migration,
proliferation and protection from chemotherapeutic agents; and
[0550] neutralization of LPA-induced endothelial cell-tube
formation, migration and protection from cell death in various in
vitro assays.
[0551] In In Vivo Models:
[0552] inhibition of progression of several orthotopic and
subcutaneous human tumors implanted in nude mice; including SKOV3
(ovarian; see example below), COLO205 (colorectal; see example
below), DU145 (prostate), B16 F10 (murine melanoma; see example
below), and Lewis Lung cancer cells (see example below);
[0553] rramatic reduction of tumor-associated angiogenesis in
subcutaneous SKOV3 xenograft models and in prostate DU145 cancer
cells;
[0554] neutralization of bFGF- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis in the
murine Matrigel.RTM. plug assay (see example below); and
[0555] reduced choroidal neovascularization in a model of
laser-induced injury of Bruch's membrane in the eye (see example
below).
Example 12
Anti-Angiogenic Efficacy of LT3000 in the Matrigel.RTM. Model
[0556] LT3000 administered q2d by intraperitoneal (IP) injection
mitigates FGF- and VEGF-induced vascularization of Matrigel.RTM.
plugs implanted in female C57BL/6 mice. This study was conducted at
Southern Research Institute (Birmingham, Ala.).
[0557] Objective.
[0558] To determine the anti-angiogenic efficacy of LT3000 to
retard vascularization of FGF- and VEGF-supplemented Matrigel.RTM.
plugs implanted in female C57/BL6 mice.
[0559] Study Design.
[0560] Matrigel.RTM. alone or supplemented with bFGF or VEGF (N=5
mice/treatment group) was injected subcutaneously (SC) into the
flank of each mouse. One day prior to Matrigel.RTM.-plug
implantation, treatment with 10 mg/kg of LT3000 or saline was
initiated by IP administration. Treatments were administered every
other day (q2d). Upon sacrifice, the Matrigel.RTM. plugs were
harvested and processed for microvascular density (MVD) analysis by
CD-31 staining.
[0561] Results.
[0562] Microvascular density was reduced by approximately 41% in
bFGF- and VEGF-supplemented plugs in mice treated with LT3000 when
compared with mice treated with saline. This reduction was
statistically significant (p<0.0001) and was confirmed
histologically by CD31 staining.
[0563] Conclusion.
[0564] This study shows that the anti-angiogenic efficacy of
systemically administered LT3000 resulted in a significant decrease
in neovascularization of Matrigel.RTM. plugs supplemented with bFGF
and VEGF.
Example 13
Anti-Angiogenic Efficacy of LT3000 in the CNV Model
[0565] LT3000 administered by intravitreal injection reduced
choroidal neovascularization in a model of laser-induced injury of
Bruch's membrane in female C57BL/6 mice. This study was performed
at the University of Florida, Gainesville (laboratory of Maria
Grant, M.D.).
[0566] Objective.
[0567] To investigate the efficacy of LT3000 to limit new
blood-vessel formation in choroidal vasculature.
[0568] Study Design.
[0569] Mice were subjected to laser-induced ruptures of Bruch's
membrane. Mice were treated with 0.5 .mu.g of the anti-LPA antibody
LT3000, 0.5 .mu.g of an isotype-matched non-specific monoclonal
antibody (NSA) or an equal volume of saline.
[0570] Treatments were administered by intravitreal injection after
laser rupture and once per week (q7d) for the duration of the
study. Two to four weeks after rupture of Bruch's membrane, the
mice were sacrificed and their eyes removed. The RPE-choroid-sclera
complex was isolated from the neural retina and stained with
rhodamine-conjugated R. communis agglutinin I to evaluate CNV. All
determinations were performed for 2 to 3 burns per animal.
[0571] Results.
[0572] Vascularization of CNV lesions was reduced from
2185014.+-.377010 (mean CNV volume.+-.SEM) to 697924.+-.92182 in
mice treated with LT3000 (n=5) when compared with NSA-treated mice
(n=4). This is a 68% reduction in the LT3000-treated mice compared
to NSA-treated mice (p.ltoreq.0.05).
[0573] Conclusion.
[0574] This study shows that intravitreal administration of
anti-LPA antibody significantly reduced new blood-vessel formation
in choroidal tissue in response to injury.
Example 14
Anti-Tumorigenic Efficacy of LT3000
[0575] Studies in multiple human tumor xenograft models and rodent
syngeneic models demonstrated that LT3000 exhibits anti-tumorigenic
activity.
[0576] A. Human SKOV3 Ovarian Cancer
[0577] LT3000 administered by IP injection (10 mg/kg q3d) greatly
inhibited tumor progression in an orthotopic SKOV3 ovarian tumor
model in nude Ncr mice. This study was conducted at Lpath.
[0578] Objective.
[0579] To determine the efficacy of LT3000 to block the progression
of human ovarian (SKOV3) tumors grafted into the abdominal cavity
of female athymic nude mice.
[0580] Study Design.
[0581] Nude mice were engrafted with SKOV3 tumor cells into their
peritoneal cavity. Once the tumors were established, the mice were
treated, on an IP basis, with either 10 mg/kg LT3000 q3d, PBS
(vehicle) q3d, or 15 mg/kg paclitaxel daily for 4 days (Taxol). At
the termination of the study on day 52, serum and ascites fluids
were collected and analyzed for cytokine levels. Tumors were
harvested and final tumor weights were determined.
[0582] Results.
[0583] This study demonstrates the ability of LT3000 to reduce
progression of SKOV3 tumors (Table 29). 10 mg/kg of LT3000 induced
statistically significant reductions in tumor burden (50%). As
anticipated, paclitaxel-treated animals showed a large (88%)
reduction in tumor burden compared with PBS-treated animals. In
this experiment fewer animals in the LT3000 group had ascites fluid
in the peritoneal cavity (6/14) than did animals in the PBS control
group (11/13). There was also a statistically significant reduction
in the volume of ascites accumulation in the LT3000 group compared
with PBS-treated animals. Furthermore, LT3000 induced a decrease in
serum concentration of the pro-angiogenic cytokines IL-8, IL-6,
GM-CSF and VEGF compared with vehicle-treated animals. Finally,
LT3000 reduced the total amount of MMP2 (human and murine) in
ascites. Selected tumor sections stained for H&E and CD31 were
analyzed by a certified pathologist. There was a reduction in
tissue disruption (omentum, skeletal muscle and lymph nodes) and a
reduction of micro-vessel density in the LT3000-treated group.
[0584] Conclusion.
[0585] The study shows systemic administration of anti-LPA antibody
results in significant inhibition of SKOV3 tumor progression.
TABLE-US-00029 TABLE 29 Numerical summary of findings for the
murine SKOV3 model to assess anti-tumorigenic activity of LT3000
Analysis # mAb LT3000 PBS 10 mg/kg Paclitaxel Tumor Burden (mg)
1510.1 .+-. 94.9 761.0 .+-. 81.9*** 185.9 .+-. 21.7*** % Reduction
na 49.6 87.7 Ascites presence 11/13 6/14 0/14 Ascites volume (ml)
1336.2 .+-. 428.5 31.1 .+-. 12.9 # IL-8-ascites (pg/ml) 2368.4 .+-.
346.3 611.5 .+-. 121.2** # IL-6-ascites (pg/ml) 368.0 .+-. 48.3
145.7 .+-. 31.0* # GM-CSF-ascites (pg/ml) 80.2 .+-. 10.5 19.0 .+-.
6.0** # VEGF-ascites (pg/ml) 5441.1 .+-. 662.3 3521.7 .+-. 768.9 #
MMP2-ascites (pg/ml) 980.1 .+-. 37.6 418.1 .+-. 82.6*** # IL-8
-plasma (pg/ml) 1516.9 .+-. 179.7 423.6 .+-. 67.8** 7.1 .+-. 2.2***
IL-6 -plasma (pg/ml) 72.5 .+-. 13.2 16.6 .+-. 3.7* 2.0 .+-. 0**
GM-CSF-plasma (pg/ml) 34.5 .+-. 6.9 8.3 .+-. 1.7* 2.5 .+-. 0.27**
VEGF in plasma (pg/ml) 15.3 .+-. 2.3 14.5 .+-. 1.5 13.0 .+-. 0.0
MMP2-plasma (pg/ml) 231.6 .+-. 15.3 230.0 .+-. 10.9 170.3 .+-. 6.4*
Mean .+-. SEM # No ascites present in test animals ***p .ltoreq.
0.001; **p .ltoreq. 0.01; *p .ltoreq. 0.05
[0586] B. Human Lewis Lung Cancer Metastasis Model
[0587] LT3000 administered by IP injection (20 mg/kg q3d) greatly
inhibited tumor progression in an intravenous Lewis lung tumor in
nude mice. This study was conducted at Lpath.
[0588] Objective.
[0589] LT3000 has been shown to decrease tumor cell migration in
vitro and to significantly reduce endothelial cell infiltration and
angiogenesis in vivo. The objective of this study was to determine
the efficacy of LT3000 to retard the metastasis of tumors in the
lungs of female Ncr (nu/nu) mice inoculated intravenously (IV) with
Lewis lung carcinoma cells.
[0590] Study Design.
[0591] Nude mice were inoculated IV with Lewis lung carcinoma cells
in order to seed the lungs and initiate tumors. Treatment with 20
mg/kg of LT3000 or vehicle (saline) was started on the same day.
Mice were treated q3d until the study was terminated on day 19. At
the end of the study surviving animals were sacrificed, and body
weights and lung weights (as a measure of tumor burden) were
recorded.
[0592] Results.
[0593] Results were expressed as the ratio of lung weight to body
weight (LW/BW). Tumor burden was reduced by 26.5% and body weight
was 16.5% higher in the LT3000-treated animals when compared with
saline controls. The LW/BW ratio in the LT3000 animals was 36.5%
lower than that of the saline controls (Table 30). Analysis of
these data demonstrates a significant difference in lung weight,
LW/BW ratio, and body weight between the mice treated with LT3000
and the controls injected with saline only.
[0594] Conclusion.
[0595] This study shows that systemic administration of anti-LPA
antibody results in a decrease in lung tumor burden, an increase in
body weight and a lower LW/BW ratio.
TABLE-US-00030 TABLE 30 Numerical summary of findings for the
murine Lewis Lung model to assess the anti-tumorigenic activity of
LT3000 Analysis Saline * LT3000 * Lung Weight (mg) 768.8 .+-. 139.2
(n = 6) 565.4 .+-. 153.6 (n = 7) Body Weight (g) 15.8 .+-. 1.2 (n =
6) 18.4 .+-. 1.7 (n = 7) Ratio (LW/BW) 49.4 .+-. 11.8 (n = 6) 31.4
.+-. 11.9 (n = 7) * Mean .+-. SD. [p < 0.05]
[0596] C. Human COLO205 Colorectal Cancer
[0597] LT3000 administered by IP injection (30 mg/kg q3d) inhibited
tumor progression in a subcutaneous COLO205 (colorectal) tumor
xenograft in nude Ncr mice. This study was conducted at Southern
Research Institute (Birmingham, Ala.).
[0598] Objective.
[0599] To determine the efficacy of LT3000 alone to retard the
progression of human colorectal (COLO205) carcinoma tumors grafted
subcutaneously (sc) and established in female Ncr (nu/nu) mice.
[0600] Study Design.
[0601] Nude mice were engrafted sc with COLO205 tumor fragments and
tumors were allowed to establish. The mice were then treated with
either 30 mg/kg of LT3000, 40 mg/kg Avastin.TM., 15 mg/kg
Paclitaxel.TM. or vehicle (saline). LT3000 was administered every
three days (q3d) by IP injection, Avastin.TM. was administered
every 7 days (q7d) and Paclitaxel was administered every day for 5
days (q1dx5) by ip injection. During the course of the study tumor
growth was monitored by measuring the sc tumors on three axes and
calculating the weight.
[0602] Results.
[0603] LT3000 significantly (p<0.012) inhibited tumor
progression by 24% when compared with tumors from saline-treated
animals. At study end, LT3000 was as effective as Avastin
(p<0.002) in reducing final tumor weights (24% versus 32%
reduction, respectively). The positive control, Paclitaxel,
eliminated the pre-established tumors.
[0604] Conclusion.
[0605] The study suggests that systemic administration of anti-LPA
antibody can inhibit tumor progression of COLO205 tumor cells.
TABLE-US-00031 TABLE 31 Numerical summary of findings for the
murine COLO205 xenograft model to assess the anti-tumorigenic
activity of LT3000 % Reduction compared Mean tumor weight
Significance to Vehicle- Analysis (mg) .+-. SD (p-value) Treated
Mice Vehicle 2378.5 .+-. 422.2 (n = 8) N/A N/A LT3000 1808.1 .+-.
338.2 (n = 7) 0.012 24.0 *Mean .+-. SD. [p < 0.012]
[0606] D. Allograft Melanoma Metastasis Model
[0607] This model measured the response of murine melanoma C56Bl/6
mice to treatment with 50 mg/kg LT3000 alone administered q3d by
intraperitoneal injection. This study was conducted at Lpath.
[0608] Objective.
[0609] To determine the efficacy of LT3000 to reduce the
progression of pulmonary metastases induced by the murine melanoma
cell line B16-F10.
[0610] Study Design.
[0611] C57BL/6 mice were injected with a suspension of B16-F10
tumors cells intravenously (IV) by tail vein. After randomization,
animals were divided into two groups and treated with vehicle
(saline) or 10 mg/kg of LT3000 administrated via IP q3d, starting
the day of cell inoculation. After 20 days, animals were
sacrificed, plasma samples were collected by heart puncture and
lungs were isolated. Final lung weights were determined and
correlated to body weights. In addition, the peritoneal cavity and
organs (liver, stomach, ovaries, intestine etc.) of each animal
were analyzed for the presence of metastatic foci as well.
[0612] Results.
[0613] The metastatic volume in the lungs was reduced by 27% in the
LT3000-treated mice versus the saline-treated mice, as shown in
Table 32, below.
[0614] Conclusion.
[0615] The study shows that systemic administration of anti-LPA
antibody can result in the reduction of B16-F10 pulmonary
metastases.
TABLE-US-00032 TABLE 32 Numerical summary of findings for the
murine melanoma model to assess the anti-metastatic activity of
LT3000 Saline- LT3000- Percentage Analysis Treated Mice* Treated
Mice* Reduction Pulmonary Index 67.00 .+-. 4.35 48.57 .+-. 6.44
27.5% lung weight (n = 11) (n = 9).sup.# (mg)/body weight (g) *Mean
.+-. SD. [p < 0.002]
Example 15
Anti-Fibrosis Activity of Loathomab (LT3000) in Lung
Fibroblasts
[0616] Cell Culture and Reagents.
[0617] WI-38 human lung fibroblasts were purchased from ATCC
(Manassas, Va.). Lung fibroblasts were maintained at 37.degree. C.
in 5% CO2 in minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal
bovine serum (FBS) and Penicillin/Streptomycin (100 units/ml).
Alpha-smooth muscle actin (.alpha.-SMA) and FAK Y397 antibodies
were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, Mo.). LPA was purchased from
Avanti Polar Lipids (Alabaster, Ala.) and prepared according to
manufacturer's recommendations.
[0618] PCR.
[0619] Cells from a single, confluent T150 flask were removed using
trypsin, pelleted by centrifugation and frozen at -80.degree. C.
for RNA isolation. Total RNA isolation was performed using the
Qiagen RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) following the
manufacturers protocol for total RNA isolation in animal cells.
Briefly, two micrograms of total RNA was used to make first-strand
cDNA using Superscript III.TM. First-Strand Synthesis System for
RT-PCR (Invitrogen; Carlsbad, Calif.) according to the
manufacturers protocol using random hexamers as the first strand
primer. Two microliters of first-strand cDNA were amplified using
oligos for LPA.sub.1-3 receptors and GAPDH was a control in each
reaction. PCR was set up using Platinum.TM. Pfx DNA Polymerase
(Invitrogen; Carlsbad, Calif.). PCR products were then run on a 1%
agarose gel and imaged using UVP BioImaging Systems EpiChemi.sup.3
Darkroom with ethidium bromide filter (UVP Inc. Upland,
Calif.).
[0620] Cell Proliferation, Collagen Production and .alpha.-SMA
Expression by Cell-Based ELISA.
[0621] Lung fibroblasts were plated overnight on 96 well plates at
a density of 5.times.10.sup.3 cells/well. Plated cells were
serum-starved for 48 hr in basal media (Minimum Essential
Media/0.1% Fatty acid free BSA/100 units/mL penicillin
streptomycin) and then stimulated for 72 hr with basal media alone
(control) or containing the indicated concentrations of LPA. Cell
proliferation was assessed using the CellTiter 96.TM. Aqueous cell
proliferation assay (Promega, Madison, Wis.) according to
manufacturers protocol. Absorbance was measured at OD450 and data
are expressed as the fold change relative to control. Absorbance
measurements were performed in quadruplicate. For collagen
production, the concentration of C-Terminal Propeptide of Type I
Collagen (PICP) in the conditioned media was measured with a PICP
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, according to the
manufacturers protocol (TaKaRa Biochemicals Co., Osaka, Japan). For
.alpha.-SMA expression, cell based ELISA was performed as
previously described {Micera, 2005 #8093} with the following
modifications. Cells were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin,
permeabilized with PBS/0.1% Triton X-100 and endogenous peroxidases
were quenched with 0.3% H.sub.2O.sub.2 The cell monolayer was
blocked using PBS/10% FBS and then primary antibody to .alpha.-SMA
was diluted in PBS/1% BSA/0.1% Tween 20 (1:1000 dilution) and
incubated with cells overnight at 4.degree. C. Following primary
antibody incubation, plates were washed 3 times with of PBS/0.1%
Tween and incubated with the HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse
antibody, diluted in PBS/1% BSA/0.1% Tween 20 (1:1000 dilution),
for 1 hr at room temperature. Plates were washed 4 times with PBS
and incubated with TMB colorimetric solution for 1-3 min. The
reaction was stopped using an equal volume of 1M H2504 and
absorbances were read on a plate reader at 450 nm. All cell
proliferation, collagen production, and .alpha.-SMA expression
assays were performed in triplicate.
[0622] Cell Migration.
[0623] Lung fibroblasts were plated overnight on 96 well plates at
a density of 1.5.times.10.sup.4 cells/well.
[0624] Plated cells were synchronized for 24 hr in basal media
(Minimum Essential Media/0.1% fatty acid free BSA/100 units/mL
Penicillin Streptomycin). At time 0, cells were scratched with a
p200 pipet tip down the center of each well, washed with minimal
media and pictures were taken prior to treatment. Cells were then
treated with LPA (C18:1) at 0.1-10 .mu.M concentrations or positive
control (10% FBS). Cells were stimulated for 17 hrs at 37.degree.
C. in a 5% CO2 incubator. Pictures were again taken at 17 hr
post-treatment and % wound closure was measured by adjusting
pictures to the same size and measuring the width of the scratch at
time 0 and time 17 hr with a ruler.
[0625] LPA.sub.1-3 Receptor Expression and in Lung Fibroblasts.
[0626] RT-PCR analysis of lung fibroblasts revealed prominent
expression of LPA.sub.1-3 receptors, with LPA1 and LPA3 receptors
being the most highly expressed.
[0627] LPA Stimulates Proliferation and Migration by Lung
Fibroblasts.
[0628] LPA is implicated in the regulation of wound healing.
Therefore the dose-dependent effects of LPA on fibroblast
proliferation and migration, two cellular mechanisms that
contribute to wound repair, were examined. LPA stimulated
fibroblast proliferation in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal
increase at 10 .mu.M LPA. The effects of LPA on cell migration were
also investigated using an in vitro wound healing assay. In
contrast to the dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation, LPA
appeared to stimulate cell migration at the low (0.1 .mu.M) LPA
concentration. At increasing concentrations of LPA, a
dose-dependent reduction in cell migration back to basal levels was
observed. These data suggest that there is an inverse relationship
between concentration-dependent effects of LPA proliferation and
migration of lung fibroblasts.
[0629] LPA Promotes Myofibroblast Transformation and Collagen Type
1 Production by Lung Fibroblasts.
[0630] To assess the pro-fibrotic potential of LPA the lung,
LPA-mediated stimulation of myofibroblast transformation and
collagen type I production by lung fibroblasts was examined using
ELISA and immunohistochemistry. LPA promoted .alpha.-SMA
(myofibroblast marker) expression and pro-collagen type I
C-terminal peptide (PICP) release in a dose-dependent manner
resulting in maximal stimulation at the 10 .mu.M LPA concentration.
In addition, LPA increased the incorporation of .alpha.-SMA into
cytoskeletal stress fibers and stimulated focal adhesion kinase
(FAK.sup.Y397) phosphorylation, events which are required for
myofibroblast transformation. Consistently, these transformed cells
also exhibited increased cellular expression of collagen type I
following LPA stimulation, which is indicative of their
transformation to the pro-fibrotic cellular phenotype.
Example 16
LT3000 Reduces Inflammation and Fibrosis Following Bleomycin Injury
in Animals
[0631] Animals.
[0632] Female, 20-25 g, C57BL/6J mice were obtained from Harlan.
Animals were treated in accordance with the Bioquant (San Diego,
Calif.) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Mice
were housed in an air-conditioned room with a 12 hr light-dark
cycle and given standard chow with free access to tap water.
Animals were supplied with ad libitum access to normal chow
(autoclaved) and water.
[0633] Induction of Lung Injury by Bleomycin.
[0634] Mice were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine (20 mg/kg)
and xylazine (2 mg/kg) and received a single intratracheal
instillation (50 .mu.l volume) of saline (0.9%) alone or containing
bleomycin (2.5 mg/kg) via a 20-gauge feeding needle. Mice were
killed 14 days later.
[0635] Experimental Groups.
[0636] Mice were randomly assigned to the following treatment
groups. (i) Saline. Mice were subjected to intratracheal (IT)
instillation of saline and received i.p injection of sterile PBS
(vehicle). (ii) BLEO group. Mice were subjected to IT instillation
of bleomycin and received i.p injection of sterile PBS (vehicle).
(iii) BLEO+25 mg/kg group. Mice were subjected to IT instillation
of bleomycin and received i.p injection of LT3000 (25 mg/kg). (iv)
25 mg/kg group. Mice were subjected to IT instillation of saline
and received i.p injection of LT3000 (25 mg/kg). All antibody
treatments were administered via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection
every 2 days. The effects of each treatment on body weight and
mouse mortality were recorded over the study period.
[0637] Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) Isolation.
[0638] Mice were killed and then mice intubated with a 20 gauge
angiocatheter attached to a 1 ml syringe. The catheter was secured
in place using nylon thread tied around the trachea. Lungs were
lavaged once with 1.0 ml of saline and then again with 0.8 ml of
saline. Lavages were pooled and the BALF was centrifuged for 5 min
at 1200 rpm. The supernatant was removed and frozen at -80.degree.
C. for subsequent analysis. The pellet was re-suspended in 0.3 ml
of PBS/2% fetal bovine serum and cells were sorted and counted by
flow cytometry. Protein levels in the BALF were assessed using the
BCA protein assay reagent (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.).
[0639] Analysis of BALF Cells by Flow Cytometry.
[0640] Individual populations of inflammatory cells were identified
and quantitated using TruCount.TM. tubes (BD Biosciences,
cat#340334) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Briefly, a
single-cell suspension was prepared with staining buffer (PBS/2%
FCS). Approximately 300 .mu.l of the cell suspension was placed
into 12.times.75 polypropylene TruCount.TM. tubes. Tubes were
centrifuged at 250-300.times.g for 5 minutes at 4.degree. C. Liquid
was aspirated using a pipet, being careful not to disturb the
pellet. The following monoclonal antibodies were then added to each
tube. PE-conjugated anti-CD16 (BD Biosciences cat#555407),
FITC-conjugated anti-CD14 (BD Biosciences cat #555397), and
PE-Cy5-conjugated anti-CD5 (BD Biosciences cat #555354) to yield a
three color cocktail. The antibody amount was provided by the
manufacturer. The tubes were vortex and kept on ice in a covered
bucket (in the dark) for approximately 30 minutes. The suspension
was washed by adding 2 ml of staining buffer. The suspension was
vortexed and then centrifuged at 250-300.times.g for 5 minutes at
4.degree. C. to remove the supernatant. Step 6 was repeated 2
times. The pellet was then re-suspended in 1 ml of staining buffer
and the individual cell populations were analyzed by Fluorescence
Assisted Cell Sorting (FACS) analysis. For FACS analyses, stained
cells were analyzed by flow cytometry using BD FACScan (San Jose,
Calif.) with 1 laser (488 nm argon laser) and 3 detectors. 10,000
cells were collected, and data were analyzed with CellQuest version
3.3 software.
[0641] Histological Examination.
[0642] Lungs were excised, separated into individual lobes and
fixed overnight in 10% buffered formalin at room temperature.
Individual lobes were cut into 3 horizontal sections and embedded
in paraffin. Lobes were sectioned at a thickness of 5 .mu.m and
stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). All sections were
studied by light microscopy (10.times. magnification) and the
severity of fibrosis was semiquantitatively assessed suing the
Ashcroft methods, as previously described (Ashcroft, et al. (1988),
J Clin Pathol., vol. 41:467-70). Briefly, the severity of fibrosis
in the horizontal sections from each lobe was scored on a scale
from 0 to 8. The grading criterion are as follows: grade 0, normal
lung; grade 1, minimal fibrous thickening of alveolar or
bronchiolar walls; grade 3, moderate thickening of walls without
obvious damage to lung architecture; grade 5, increased fibrosis
with definite damage to lung structure and formation of fibrous
bands or small fibrous masses; grade 7, severe distortion of
structure and large fibrous areas; and grade 8, total fibrous
obliteration of the fields. Values were averaged for the different
sections from each lobe and then the values for all of the lobes
were averaged to provide a representative fibrosis score for each
animal.
[0643] Immunohistochemistry.
[0644] Lung sections were deparaffinized in 3 washes of Xylene
(Richard Allen Scientific, Cat #9900) for 5 min each. Rehydration
of slides was performed by a series of washes in alcohols for 5 min
each: 100% alcohol (Richard Allen Scientific, Cat #8101), 95%
alcohol (Richard Allen Scientific, Cat #8201), and 80% alcohol
(Richard Allen Scientific, Cat #8301R). Rehydration was completed
by washing slides in running tap water for 5 min. Exogenous
peroxidases were then quenched for 13 min in 3% H.sub.2O.sub.2 (30%
diluted in water, Sigma, Cat # H1009). H.sub.2O.sub.2was removed by
washing slides in running tap water for 15 min. Meanwhile, Citrate
Buffer (10 mM Citric Acid, pH 6.0 (Fisher, Cat # A940)) was
prewarmed to 95.degree. C. in a steamer (Black and Decker, Sku #
HS900) for 40 min. For antigen retrieval slides were transferred to
pre-warmed Citrate Buffer and heated for 35 min at 95.degree. C. in
the steamer. Subsequently, slides were washed twice for 5 min in
PBS (Cellgro, Cat #21-040-CM). Slides were stained for
.alpha.-smooth muscle actin (.alpha.-SMA) or connective tissue
growth factor (CTGF) using Mouse IgG Vectastain ABC Kit (Vector,
Cat #6102) or Goat IgG Vectastain ABC Kit (Vector, Cat # PK-6105)
according to manufacturer's protocol. For all steps requiring a
buffer, PBS was used. Avidin/Biotin Blocking Kit (Vector, Cat #
SP-2001) was used in conjunction with ABC Kit to block endogenous
biotin signals according to manufacturers suggested protocol.
Primary antibodies directed against .alpha.-Smooth Muscle Actin
(Sigma, Cat # A2547) diluted 1:5000 or primary antibody directed
again CTGC (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Cat # sc-14939) diluted 1:50
were applied as directed. The signal was detected using Peroxidase
Substrate Kit DAB (Vector, Cat # SK-4100) prepared as directed by
the manufacturer and applied to slides for 2 min. Slides were
washed in diH.sub.2O. Counterstaining was performed by staining
with Hematoxylin (Sigma, Cat # HHS32) for 30 sec. Slides were
rinsed in tap water to remove Hematoxylin and then dehydrated by
reversing the alcohol to xylenes used to hydrate them originally.
Finally, slides were mounted with glass cover slips using 20 .mu.l
of Permount (Fisher, Cat # SP15-100) per slide.
[0645] Data Analysis.
[0646] The study was completely blinded to all those collecting and
analyzing the data until all data were finalized. Data was analyzed
using GraphPad software. Statistical significance of the
differences between experimental groups was calculated by an
unpaired Student's t-test.
[0647] Results
[0648] LT3000 Reduces Inflammation and Fibrosis Following Bleomycin
Injury.
[0649] Using the murine bleomycin model, we examined the role of
LPA in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis following lung injury
and the efficacy of a novel, monoclonal mouse LPA antibody (LT3000)
to mitigate these effects. Histological examination of mouse lungs
following bleomycin-instillation revealed significant damage to the
lung tissue, including thickening of the alveolar septae,
pneumonitis and fibrous obliteration of the lung parenchyma. In
mice treated with LT3000 there was a dramatic reduction in
inflammation and fibrosis and maintenance of normal lung
morphology. Semi-quantitative analysis of lung inflammation and
fibrosis in these mice revealed a 56% and 48% reduction,
respectively, in these parameters as a result of LT3000 treatment.
No inflammation, fibrosis or changes in normal lung morphology were
seen healthy mice treated with LT3000 alone.
[0650] LT3000 Reduces Cellularity and Protein Levels in BAL Fluid
and Maintains Body Weight in Mice Following Bleomycin Lung
Injury.
[0651] Consistent with the degree of tissue injury, the number of
inflammatory cells was nearly double that of controls and the
amount of protein in the BAL fluid of bleomycin-instilled mice was
significantly increased about tenfold. Administration of LT3000
reduced the cellularity of BAL fluid by about 95%, both in control
and bleomycin-treated mice. In addition, protein levels in the BAL
fluid were decreased by 40% in bleomycin-instilled mice that
received LT3000. Consistent with the degree of lung injury, a 16%
reduction in body weight was observed in bleomycin-instilled mice,
compared to control mice at the 14 day timepoint. In contrast, the
body weights of bleomycin-instilled mice that were treated with
LT3000 treated mice were not significantly different than
controls.
[0652] LT3000 Decreases Macrophage and Myofibroblast Density in
Lung Tissue Following Bleomycin Injury.
[0653] To further investigate the ability of LT3000 to reduce lung
inflammation and fibrosis, we examined macrophage infiltration and
myofibroblast density in mouse lung tissue. Similarly,
myofibroblast density, as indicated by .alpha.-SMA staining, was
increased in the fibrotic area of bleomycin-instilled mice. LT3000
treatment also decreased myofibroblast density, in the lungs of
bleomycin-instilled mice. The effects on lung fibrosis and
inflammation were confirmed following semi-quantitative grading of
lung fibrosis (Ashcroft score) and inflammation (inflammatory
score) using previously described methods. LT3000 treatment reduced
lung fibrosis and inflammation by 48% and 56%, respectively.
Example 17
LT3000 Reduces Inflammation and Fibrosis Following Bleomycin Injury
in an Interventional Study
[0654] Findings outlined in the previous examples demonstrated both
anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of LT3000 in the
bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model. Therefore, additional
studies were conducted to assess the ability of LT3000 to prevent
or intervene in the progression of lung fibrosis following
bleomycin injury. For this experiment, mice were randomly assigned
to the following treatment groups (Table 33). (i) Saline. Mice were
subjected to intratracheal (IT) instillation of saline and received
i.p injection of sterile PBS (vehicle). (ii) BLEO group. Mice were
subjected to IT instillation of bleomycin and received i.p
injection of sterile PBS (vehicle). (iii) Prevention group. Mice
were subjected to IT instillation of bleomycin and received i.p
injection of LT3000 (50 mg/kg) q2d for 6 days starting on the same
day as bleomycin instillation. (iv) Intervention group. Mice were
subjected to IT instillation of bleomycin and received i.p
injection of LT3000 (50 mg/kg) q2d starting on day 6 after
bleomycin instillations. All antibody treatments were administered
via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. At the termination of the
study (day 14), mice were sacrificed and the effects of LT3000 on
bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis were assessed
as flows: (i) tissue fibrosis was assessed semi-quantitatively in
H&E stained lung sections using the methods of Ashcroft, et al.
(J Clin Pathol., 1988 April, vol. 41(4):467-70); (ii) inflammatory
cells in Lung Lavage Fluid were measured using flow cytometry;
(iii) protein levels in lung lavage fluid were assessed using the
BCA protein assay reagent (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) and (iv) body
weight was measured in each mouse on day 14 after bleomycin
instillation. A numerical summary of the effects of LT3000 on
bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis is shown in
Table 34.
TABLE-US-00033 TABLE 33 Dosing schedule. Intratracheal Group Dose
Number of instillation Treatment (n) (mg/kg) Doses Route Treatment
Saline PBS 10 -- 7 IP Start Day 0 q2d dosing Bleomycin PBS 13 -- 7
IP Start Day 0 q2d dosing Bleomycin Intervention 13 LT3000 4 IP
Start Day 0 (50 mg/kg) End day 6 q2d dosing Bleomycin Prevention 13
LT3000 4 IP Start Day 6 (50 mg/kg) End day 12 q2d dosing
TABLE-US-00034 TABLE 34 Summary of Pathophysiological Findings
Percent Reduction Compared to Bleomycin Alone Prevention
Intervention study study Tissue Fibrosis 20% (p > 0.05) 22% (p
> 0.05) Inflammatory cells in Lung Lavage 50% (p < 0.01) 41%
(p < 0.05) Fluid Protein Levels in Lung Lavage Fluid 35% (p >
0.05) 67% (p > 0.05) Body weight Same as saline Same as saline
control control
[0655] Thus anti-LPA antibody (LT3000, Lpathomab) was shown to be
effective both prophylactically and interventionally in a
well-accepted animal model of pulmonary fibrosis. These findings
demonstrate a profound role for the bioactive lipid LPA in the
extracellular matrix production and tissue remodeling following
injury. Furthermore these studies identify LPA as a novel clinical
target in treating fibrosis associated with a number of diseases
and organ systems. Monoclonal antibodies to LPA are believed to
have great clinical potential for treatment of fibrosis.
Example 18
Modulation of Cytokines and Growth Factors by LT3000
[0656] There is a long-felt need for less invasive ways to monitor
fibrosis (especially, but not limited to, lung and liver fibrosis)
than the biopsies that are currently the standard of care.
Researchers have tried to correlate circulating levels of cytokines
and growth factors with extent of fibrosis in order to allow less
invasive monitoring of disease progression and/or of treatment
efficacy through monitoring of markers for disease. See Morais, et
al. (2006), Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, vol. 101(Suppl.
I): 353-354. A method for detecting fibrosis is a patient sample by
correlating LPA levels with levels of one or more fibrogenic
markers (e.g., cytokines or growth factors) is believed to be
useful for monitoring fibrosis in the clinical setting.
[0657] In order to further investigate the anti-inflammatory
effects of LT3000, the level of cytokine and growth factors was
assessed in BAL fluid using the pathways specific cytokine protein
arrays (Raybiotech Inc., Norcross Ga.). Table 35 summarizes the
preliminary (n=3) findings regarding inflammatory cytokines that
exhibited the greatest degree of regulation by LT3000.
TABLE-US-00035 TABLE 35 Summary of Cytokine Expression Levels in
BAL Fluid. Percent Reduction Compared to Bleomycin Alone Prevention
Intervention Cytokin Study Study Interleukin 6 79% (p > 0.05) ND
MIP-3 beta 23% (p > 0.05) 28% (p > 0.05) Eotaxin 63% (p >
0.05) 53% (p > 0.05) Interleukin 13 28% (p > 0.05) 11% (p
> 0.05) Granulocyte-colony Stimulating Factor 45% (p > 0.05)
24% (p > 0.05) Thymus and Activation-Regulated 18% (p > 0.05)
ND Chemokine (TARC) Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 82% (p
< 0.01) 86% (p < 0.01) (TIMP-1) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNFa) 82% (p > 0.05) 86% (p > 0.05) (ND = No significant
different compared to bleomycin-treated group)
[0658] It can be seen from Table 35 that mice with bleomycin lung
injury demonstrated a decrease of IL-13 and TIMP-1 levels, as well
as reduction in other relevant growth factors, after treatment with
the anti-LPA antibody Lpathomab (LT3000) and consequent reduction
in lung fibrosis. It is believed that the pattern of cytokine and
growth factor levels shown in Table 35 is indicative of a decrease
in fibrosis in response to treatment. Thus a panel of cytokine and
growth factor changes, including those shown in Table 35, is
believed to be a useful clinical assay and marker for effective
treatment of fibrosis, including pulmonary fibrosis, e.g., with the
anti-LPA agents of the invention. This would be a minimally
invasive clinical assay, and less expensive and risky than tissue
biopsy.
Example 19
LPA in Renal Fibrosis
[0659] Because LPA can mediate a number of processes involved in
fibrosis and kidney disease, it and its receptors were studied in
an animal model of renal fibrosis. The unilateral ureteral
obstruction (UUO) model mimics the development of renal fibrosis in
accelerated form, including inflammation, fibroblast activation and
accumulation of extracellular matrix. J. P. Pradere et al., (2007)
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 18:3110-3118, J.-P. Pradere, et al.,
Lysophosphatidic acid and renal fibrosis, Biochim. Biophys. Acta
(2008), doi:10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.04.001.
[0660] After UUO, LPA.sub.1 receptor expression was induced and
renal LPA production was increased 3.3-fold. This indicated a role
for LPA and the LPA.sub.1 receptor in renal fibrosis caused by the
UUO. This was confirmed by the finding that the development of
renal fibrosis in mice was attenuated in LPA.sub.1-/- mutants. In a
different, slower model of renal fibrosis, the nephrotoxic serum
nephritis model, which more closely mimics the slow progression of
human disease, LPA.sub.1 expression was also increased. Thus the
evidence points to a role for LPA in renal fibrosis and thus an
anti-LPA agent such as the anti-LPA monoclonal antibodies of the
invention is believed to be a good candidate for treatment of renal
fibrosis.
[0661] Lpathomab (LT3000) is tested in the mouse UUO model
according to Pradere et al., 2007. Reduction in inflammation and
extracellular matrix after LT3000 treatment compared to control is
examined histologically and quantitated.
Example 20
Humanization of Lpathomab (LT3000)
[0662] Materials
[0663] 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine liquid substrate (TMB) was
from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo.). Fatty acid-free bovine serum
albumin (BSA) was from Calbiochem (La Jolla, Calif.). Immobilized
Protein A, Immobilized Papain and protein desalting spin column
were from Pierce (Rockford, Ill.). Anti-human IgG (Fc specific)
antibody was purchased from Bethyl (Montgomery, Tex.). Reference
IgGs (non-specific human IgG and mouse IgG), anti-human IgG
(H+L)-horseradish peroxidase conjugate and anti-mouse IgG
(H+L)-horseradish peroxidase conjugate were from Jackson
ImmunoResearch Laboratories (West Grove, Pa.). Lysophosphatidic
acid (LPA) and other lipids used in the competition ELISA were
purchased from Avanti Polar Lipids (Alabaster, Ala.). Biotinylated
LPA was purchased from Echelon Biosciences (Salt Lake City,
Utah).
[0664] Humanization of LT3000
[0665] The variable domains of the murine anti-LPA monoclonal
antibody, LT3000 (Lpathomab) were humanized by grafting the murine
CDRs into human framework regions (FR). Lefranc, M. P, (2003).
Nucleic Acids Res, 31: 307-10; Martin, A. C. and J. M. Thornton,
(1996) J Mol Biol, 1996. 263: 800-15; Morea, V., A. M. Lesk, and A.
Tramontano (2000) Methods, 20: 267-79; Foote, J. and G. Winter,
(1992) J Mol Biol, 224: 487-99; Chothia, C., et al., (1985). J Mol
Biol, 186:651-63.
[0666] Suitable acceptor human FR sequences were selected from the
IMGT and Kabat databases based on a homology to LT3000 using a
sequence alignment and analysis program (SR v7.6). Sequences with
high identity at FR, vernier, canonical and VH-VL interface
residues (VCI) were initially selected. From this subset, sequences
with the most non-conservative VCI substitutions, unusual proline
or cysteine residues and somatic mutations were excluded for
humanization. A three-dimensional (3D) model containing the
humanized VL and VH sequences was constructed to identify FR
residues juxtaposed to residues that form the CDRs. These FR
residues potentially influence the CDR loop structure and the
ability of the antibody to retain high affinity and specificity for
the antigen. Based on this analysis, 6 residues in AJ002773 and 3
residues in DQ187679 were identified, deemed significantly
different from LT3000, and considered for mutation back to the
murine sequence.
[0667] Antibody Expression and Production in Mammalian Cells
[0668] The murine antibody genes were cloned from hybridomas.
Synthetic genes containing the human framework sequences and the
murine CDRs were assembled from synthetic oligonucleotides and
cloned into pCR4Blunt-TOPO.TM. using blunt restriction sites. After
sequencing and observing 100% sequence congruence, the heavy and
light chains were cloned and expressed as a full-length IgG1
chimeric antibody using the pConGamma vector for the heavy chain
gene and pConKappa vector for the light chain gene (Lonza
Biologics, Portsmouth N.H.). The expression cassette for each of
these genes contained a promoter, a kozak sequence, and a
terminator. These plasmids were transformed into E. coli (One
Shot.TM. Top 10 chemically competent E. coli cells, Invitrogen, Cat
No. C4040-10), grown in LB media and stocked in glycerol. Large
scale plasmid DNA was prepared as described by the manufacturer
(Qiagen, endotoxin-free MAXIPREP.TM. kit, Cat. No 12362). Plasmids
were transfected into the human embryonic kidney cell line 293F
using 293Fectin.TM. and using 293F-FreeStyle.TM. Media for culture.
The transfected cultures expressed approximately 2-12 mg/L of
humanized antibody.
[0669] Antibody Purification
[0670] Monoclonal antibodies were purified from culture
supernatants using protein A affinity chromatography. Aliquots
containing 0.5 ml of ProSep.TM.-vA-Ultra resin (Millipore, Cat. No
115115827) were added to gravity-flow disposable columns (Pierce,
Cat. No 29924) and equilibrated with 10-15 ml of binding buffer
(Pierce, Cat. No 21001). Culture supernatants containing
transiently expressed humanized antibody were diluted 1:1 with
binding buffer and passed over the resin. The antibody retained on
the column was washed with 15 ml of binding buffer, eluted with low
pH elution buffer (Pierce, Cat. No 21004) and collected in 1 ml
fractions containing 100 ul of binding buffer to neutralize the pH.
Fractions with absorbance (280 nm)>0.1 were dialyzed overnight
(Slide-A-Lyzer.TM. Cassettes, 3500 MWCO, Pierce, Cat. No 66382)
against 1 liter of PBS buffer (Cellgro, Cat. No 021-030). The
dialyzed samples were concentrated using centricon-YM50 (Amicon,
Cat. No 4225) concentrators and filtered through 0.22 uM cellulose
acetate membranes (Costar, Cat. No 8160). The purity of each
preparation was accessed using SDS-PAGE.
[0671] SDS-PAGE Electrophoresis
[0672] Each antibody sample was diluted to 0.5 ug/ul using gel
loading buffer with (reduced) or without (non-reduced)
2-mercaptoethanol (Sigma, Cat. No M-3148). The reduced samples were
heated at 95.degree. C. for 5 min while the non-reduced samples
were incubated at room temperature. A 4-12% gradient gel
(Invitrogen, Cat. No NP0322) was loaded with 2 ug of antibody per
lane and ran at 170 volts for 1 hour at room temperature in
1.times. NuPAGE.TM. MOPS SDS running buffer (Invitrogen, Cat. No
NP0001). After electrophoresis, the antibodies were fixed by
soaking the gel in 50% methanol, 10% acetic acid for .about.10 min.
The gel was then washed with 3.times.200 ml distilled water.
Finally, the bands were visualized by staining the gel overnight in
GelCode.RTM. Blue Stain (Pierce, Cat. No 2490) and destaining with
water.
[0673] Quantitative ELISA
[0674] The antibody titer was determined using a quantitative
ELISA. Goat-anti human IgG-Fc antibody (Bethyl A80-104A, 1 mg/ml)
was diluted 1:100 in carbonate buffer (100 mM NaHCO.sub.3, 33.6 mM
Na.sub.2CO3, pH 9.5). Plates were coated by incubating 100 ul/well
of coating solution at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. The plates were
washed 4.times. with TBS-T (50 mM Tris, 0.14 M NaCl, 0.05%
tween-20, pH 8.0) and blocked with 200 ul/well TBS/BSA (50 mM Tris,
0.14 M NaCl, 1% BSA, pH 8.0) for 1 hour at 37.degree. C. Samples
and standard were prepared on non-binding plates with enough volume
to run in duplicate. The standard was prepared by diluting human
reference serum (Bethyl RS10-110; 4 mg/ml) in TBS-T/BSA (50 mM
Tris, 0.14 NaCl, 1% BSA, 0.05% Tween-20, pH 8.0) to the following
concentrations: 500 ng/ml, 250 ng/ml, 125 ng/ml, 62.5 ng/ml, 31.25
ng/ml, 15.625 ng/ml, 7.8125 ng/ml, and 0.0 ng/ml. Samples were
prepared by making appropriate dilutions in TBS-T/BSA, such that
the optical density (OD) of the samples fell within the range of
the standard; the most linear range being from 125 ng/ml 15.625
ng/ml. After washing the plates 4.times. with TBS-T, 100 ul of the
standard/samples preparation was added to each well and incubated
at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. Next the plates were washed 4.times.
with TBS-T and incubated for 1 hour at 37.degree. C. with 100
ul/well of HRP-goat anti-human IgG antibody (Bethyl A80-104P, 1
mg/ml) diluted 1:150,000 in TBS-T/BSA. The plates were washed
4.times. with TBS-T and developed using 100 ul/well of TMB
substrate chilled to 4.degree. C. After 7 minutes, the reaction was
stopped with 1M H.sub.2SO.sub.4 (100 ul/well). The OD was measured
at 450 nm, and the data was analyzed using Graphpad Prism software.
The standard curve was fit using a four parameter equation and used
to calculate the human IgG content in the samples.
[0675] Direct Binding ELISA
[0676] The LPA-binding affinities of the humanized antibodies were
determined using a direct binding ELISA assay. Microtiter ELISA
plates (Costar) were coated overnight with 1.0 ug/ml C12:0 LPA
conjugated to Imject maleimide activated bovine serum albumin (BSA)
(Pierce Co.) diluted in 0.1 M carbonate buffer (pH 9.5) at
37.degree. C. for 1 h. Plates were washed with PBS (137 mM NaCl,
2.68 mM KCl, 10.1 mM Na.sub.2HPO4, 1.76 mM KH2PO4; pH 7.4) and
blocked with PBS/BSA/tween-20 for 1 hr at room temp or overnight at
4.degree. C. For the primary incubation (1 hr at room temperature),
a dilution series of the anti-LPA antibodies (0.4 ug/mL, 0.2 ug/mL,
0.1 ug/mL, 0.05 ug/mL, 0.0125 ug/mL, and 0 ug/mL) was added to the
microplate (100 ml per well). Plates were washed and incubated with
100 ul per well of HRP conjugated goat anti-human (H+L) diluted
1:20,000 (Jackson, cat#109-035-003) for 1 hr at room temperature.
After washing, the peroxidase was developed with
tetramethylbenzidine substrate (Sigma, cat No T0440) and stopped by
adding 1 M H2504. The optical density (OD) was measured at 450 nm
using a Thermo Multiskan EX. The EC.sub.50 (half-maximal binding
concentration) was determined by a least-squares fit of the
dose-response curves with a four parameter equation using the
Graphpad Prism software.
[0677] LPA Competition ELISA
[0678] The specificity of the humanized antibody was determined by
competition ELISA. C18:0 LPA coating material was diluted to 0.33
ug/ml with carbonate buffer (100 mM NaHCO3, 33.6 mM Na2CO3, pH
9.5). Plates were coated with 100 ul/well of coating solution and
incubated at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. The plates were washed 4
times with PBS (100 mM Na2HPO4, 20 mM KH2PO4, 27 mM KCl, 1.37 mM
NaCl, pH 7.4) and blocked with 150 ul/well of PBS, 1% BSA, 0.1%
tween-20 for 1 h at room temperature. The humanized, anti-LPA
antibodies were tested against lipid competitors (14:0 LPA (Avanti,
Cat. No 857120), 18:1 LPA (Avanti, Cat. No 857130), 18:1 LPC
(Avanti, Cat. No 845875), cLPA (Avanti, Cat. No 857328), 18:1 PA
(Avanti, Cat. No 840875), PC (Avanti, Cat. No 850454) at 5 uM, 2.5
uM, 1.25 uM, 0.625 uM, and 0.0 uM. The antibody was diluted to 0.5
ug/ml in PBS, 0.1% tween-20 and combined with the lipid samples at
a 1:3 ratio of antibody to sample on a non-binding plate. The
plates were washed 4 times with PBS and incubated for 1 hour at
room temperature with 100 ul/well of the primary antibody/lipid
complex. Next the plates were washed 4 times with PBS and incubated
for 1 h at room temperature with 100 ul/well of HRP-conjugated goat
anti-human antibody diluted 1:20,000 in PBS, 1% BSA, 0.1% tween-20.
Again the plates were washed 4 times with PBS and developed using
TMB substrate (100 ul/well) at 4.degree. C. After 8 minutes, the
reaction was stopped with 100 ul/well of 1M H2SO4. The optical
density (OD) was measured at 450 nm using a Thermo Multiskan EX.
Raw data were transferred to GraphPad software for analysis.
[0679] Thermostability
[0680] The thermostability of the humanized antibodies was studied
by measuring their LPA-binding affinity (EC50) after heating using
the direct binding ELISA. Antibodies dissolved in PBS (Cellgo, cat.
no, 021-040) were diluted to 25 ug/ml and incubated at 60.degree.
C., 65.degree. C., 70.degree. C., 75.degree. C. and 80.degree. C.
for 10 min. Prior to increasing the temperature, 10 ul of each
sample was removed and diluted with 90 ul of PBS and stored on ice.
The samples were then vortexed briefly and the insoluble material
was removed by centrifugation for 1 min at 13,000 rpm. The binding
activity of the supernatant was determined using the direct
LPA-binding ELISA and compared to a control, which consisted of the
same sample without heat treatment.
[0681] Surface Plasmon Resonance
[0682] All binding data were collected on a ProteOn.TM. optical
biosensor (BioRad, Hercules Calif.). 12:0 LPA-thiol and 18:0
LPA-thiol were coupled to a maleimide modified GLC sensor chip
(cat. no. 176-5011). First, the GLC chip was activated with an
equal mixture of sulfo-NHS/EDC for seven minutes followed by a 7
minute blocking step with ethyldiamine. Next sulfo-MBS (Pierce Co.,
cat #22312) was passed over the surfaces at a concentration of 0.5
mM in HBS running buffer (10 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 0.005%
tween-20, pH 7.4). LPA-thiol was diluted into the HBS running
buffer to a concentration of 10, 1 and 0.1 uM and injected for 7
minutes producing 3 different density LPA surfaces (.about.100,
.about.300 and .about.1400 RU). Next, binding data for the
humanized antibodies was collected using a 3-fold dilution series
starting with 25 nM as the highest concentration (original stocks
were each diluted 1 to 100). Surfaces were regenerated with a 10
second pulse of 100 mM HCl. All data were collected at 25.degree.
C. Controls were processed using a reference surface as well as
blank injections. The response data from each surface showed
complex binding behavior that a likely caused by various degrees of
multivalent binding. In order to extract estimates of the binding
constants, data from the varying antibody concentrations were
globally fit using 1-site and 2-site models. This produced
estimates of the affinity for the bivalent (site 1) and monovalent
site (site 2).
[0683] LPA Molar Binding Capacity
[0684] The molar ratio of LPA:mAb was determined using a
displacement assay. Borosilicate tubes (Fisherbrand, Cat. No
14-961-26) were coated with 5 nanomoles of biotinylated LPA (50 ug
of lipid (Echelon Biosciences, Cat. No L-012B, Lot No F-66-136 were
suspended in 705 ul of 1:1 chloroform:methanol yielding a 100 uM
solution) using a dry nitrogen stream. The coated tubes were
incubated with 75 ul (125 pmoles) of antibody dissolved in PBS
(Cellgro, Cat. No 021-030) at room temperature. After 3 hours of
incubation, the LPA:mAb complexes were separated from free lipid
using protein desalting columns (Pierce, Cat, No 89849), and the
molar concentration of bound biotinylated LPA was determined using
the HABA/Avidin displacement assay (Pierce, Cat. No 28010)
according to the manufacturers instructions.
[0685] Measurement of LPA-Induced IL-8 Release in SKOV3 Cells
[0686] Anti-LPA antibodies inhibit the LPA-dependent release of
human CXCL8/IL-8 in conditioned media of SKOV3 ovarian cells. SKOV3
cells (Lot. No. 4255558, passage 14) were harvested with 2 ml of
1.times. Trypsin EDTA (Mediatech Inc, Cat. No 25-053-CV) and
resuspended in 8 ml of complete medium (10% FBS, Mediatech Inc.
Cat. no 35-011-CV). The cells were centrifuged for 5 min (11,000
rpm) and re-suspended in 5 ml of complete medium. Cells were
counted in duplicate with 0.4% Trypan blue (10 ul cells plus 90 ul
Trypan blue, Invitrogen, Cat. No 15250-061) using a hemocytometer.
In a 96-well plate, 1.times.10.sup.5cells per well were seeded
(final volume 100 ul/well). The cells were allowed to attach and
form a confluent monolayer by incubating overnight at 37.degree. C.
On the following day, cells were gently washed two times with
minimum media (1 mg/ml BSA in McCoy's medium with L-glutamine,
Mediatech, Cat. No 10-050-CV). The media was adjusted to 1%
penicillin/streptomycin (Mediatech, Cat. No 30-002 CI) and 2.2 g/L
sodium-bicarbonate (Mediatech, Cat. No 25-035-CI). Next, the cells
were serum-starved at 3TC for exactly 24 h, followed by cytokine
stimulation with 100 uM C18:1 LPA (Avanti, Cat. No 857130)
dissolved in 1 mg/ml BSA/PBS (Calbiochem, Cat. No 126575) in
presence or absence of LPA antibody. After 22 h of stimulation, the
cells were centrifuged for 5 min (13,500 rpm) at 4.degree. C. and
the supernatants were collected. The CXCL8/IL-8 levels in each
supernatant were measured using the Quantikine.TM. human CXCL8/IL-8
kit according to vendor instructions (R&D Systems, Cat. No
D8000C).
[0687] Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration in the Scratch Assay
[0688] SKOV3 cells were plated at 15,000 cells per well in a
96-well plate. The following day the cells were serum starved in
minimal media (McCoy's Media 5a, adjusted to contain L-Glutamine,
2.2 g/L Sodium Bicarbonate, 1% penicillin/streptomycin and 1 mg/ml
BSA) for 24 hrs. At time 0 cells were scratched with a p200 pipet
tip down the center of each well, washed with minimal media and
pictures were taken prior to treatment. Cells were then treated
with LPA (C18:1) at 0.2 uM, 1.0 uM and 10 uM concentrations which
were pre-incubated at 37.degree. C. with 1.0 uM LPA in the presence
or absence of antibody at 150 ug/ml. Positive control (10% FBS
treated cells) and antibody alone were also tested. Cells were
stimulated for 17 hrs at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO2 incubator.
Pictures were taken again 17 hr post-treatment and % wound closure
was measured by adjusting pictures to the same size and measuring
the width of the scratch at time 0 and time 17 hr with a ruler.
[0689] Matrigel.RTM. Assays
[0690] Female C57BL/6 mice around 8 to 10-weeks old and
Matrigel.RTM. Matrix High Concentration purchased from BD
BioSciences (Franklin Lakes, N.J. (from BD) mixed with 50 ng/ml
VEGF and 50 ng/ml bFGF, heparin 3 ng/ml as angiogenic stimuli were
used for this study. There were five groups of mice, 10
Matrigel.RTM. plugs were inoculated into five mice for each group
on Day 0. One mouse group served as a control; four others receive
drug treatment in four different doses by ip injection every other
day. All treatments start at Day -1 and finish at Day 8.
[0691] Thirty C57bl/6 mice were implanted with Matrigel.RTM. plugs
in order to obtain 25 healthy mice with two well-shaped
Matrigel.RTM. plugs per mouse. On Day 0, 500 ul Matrigel.RTM. at
40.degree. C. was subcutaneously injected to each side of the
mouse, injection area was shaved. To increase the contact area of
injected Matrigel.RTM. into subcutaneous tissues and form a round
shape plug, a wide subcutaneous pocket was formed by swaying the
needlepoint right and left after a routine subcutaneous insertion.
The injection was done rapidly with an appropriate size needle
(21G-25G) to ensure the entire content was delivered in one plug.
The injected Matrigel.RTM. rapidly formed a single solid gel
plug.
[0692] Animals were treated with 8 or 2 mg/kg of antibody or saline
beginning 1 day prior to the implantation of Matrigel.RTM. plugs or
with the vehicle. Treatments were administered ip, on a q2d
schedule.
[0693] Plugs from each group were collected at Day 12. The mice
were euthanized and mouse skin was pulled back to expose the plug.
The plugs was dissected out and fixed for histological analysis.
Sections of 5 .mu.m from paraffin-embedded plugs were stained with
anti-CD-31 antibodies. Blood vessel density in a cross sectional
area of each Matrigel.RTM. plugs were analyzed. For each treatment
group, at least six or more Matrigel.RTM. plugs were quantitatively
analyzed to assess any statistical significant difference of
microvessel density between groups.
[0694] Results
[0695] The sequence of the murine anti-LPA mAb LT3000 was humanized
with the goal of producing an antibody that retains high affinity,
specificity and binding capacity for LPA.
[0696] Engineering of the Humanized Variants
[0697] The murine anti-LPA antibody was humanized by grafting of
the Kabat CDRs from LT3000 V.sub.H and V.sub.L into acceptor human
frameworks. Seven humanized variants were transiently expressed in
HEK 293 cells in serum-free conditions, purified and then
characterized in a panel of assays. Plasmids containing sequences
of each light chain and heavy chain were transfected into mammalian
cells for production. After 5 days of culture, the mAb titer was
determined using quantitative ELISA. All combinations of the heavy
and light chains yielded between 2-12 ug of antibody per ml of cell
culture.
[0698] Characterization of the Humanized Variants
[0699] All the humanized anti-LPA mAb variants exhibited binding
affinity in the low picomolar range similar to the chimeric
anti-LPA antibody (also known as LT3010) and the murine antibody
LT3000. All of the humanized variants exhibited a TM similar to or
higher than that of LT3000. With regard to specificity, the
humanized variants demonstrated similar specificity profiles to
that of LT3000. For example, LT3000 demonstrated no
cross-reactivity to lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), phosphatidic
acid (PA), various isoforms of lysophosphatidic acid (14:0 and 18:1
LPA, cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA), and phosphatidylcholine
(PC).
[0700] Activity of the Humanized Variants
[0701] Five humanized variants were further assessed in in vitro
cell assays. LPA is known to play an important role in eliciting
the release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) from cancer cells. LT3000
reduced IL-8 release from ovarian cancer cells in a
concentration-dependent manner. The humanized variants exhibited a
similar reduction of IL-8 release compared to LT3000.
[0702] Some humanized variants were also tested for their effect on
microvessel density (MVD) in a Matrigel.RTM. tube formation assay
for neovascularization. Both were shown to decrease MVD
formation.
TABLE-US-00036 TABLE 36 Quantitation of microblood vessel density
using CD31 immunostain with H&E counterstaining in Matrigel
.RTM. plugs. LT3000 LT3000 Humanized Humanized Humanized murine
murine variant #1 variant #1 variant #2 Control (8 mg/kg) (2 mg/kg)
(8 mg/kg) (2 mg/kg) (2 mg/kg) Average 64.2 41.5 34 34.4 49 50.8
S.E. 8.0 14.2 13.7 4.2 31.5 18.8 N = 5 4 5 5 5 6 Percent Inhibition
35.4 47.0 46.4 23.7 20.8
[0703] All of the compositions and methods described and claimed
herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in
light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods
of this invention have been described in terms of preferred
embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that
variations may be applied to the compositions and methods. All such
similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in
the art are deemed to be within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0704] All patents, patent applications, and publications mentioned
in the specification are indicative of the levels of those of
ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. All
patents, patent applications, and publications, including those to
which priority or another benefit is claimed, are herein
incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual
publication was specifically and individually indicated to be
incorporated by reference.
[0705] The invention illustratively described herein suitably may
be practiced in the absence of any element(s) not specifically
disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of
the terms "comprising", "consisting essentially of", and
"consisting of" may be replaced with either of the other two terms.
The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as
terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no
intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of
excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or
portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications
are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it
should be understood that although the present invention has been
specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional
features, modification and variation of the concepts herein
disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that
such modifications and variations are considered to be within the
scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
Sequence CWU 1
1
117127DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 1atgaaatgca gctggggcat sttcttc
27226DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 2atgggatgga gctrtatcat sytctt
26327DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 3atgaagwtgt ggttaaactg ggttttt
27425DNAArtificialOligonucleotide 4atgractttg ggytcagctt grttt
25530DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 5atggactcca ggctcaattt agttttcctt
30627DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 6atggctgtcy trgsgctrct cttctgc
27726DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 7atggratgga gckggrtctt tmtctt
26823DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 8atgagagtgc tgattctttt gtg
23930DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 9atggmttggg tgtggamctt gctattcctg
301027DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 10atgggcagac ttacattctc attcctg
271128DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 11atggattttg ggctgatttt ttttattg
281227DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 12atgatggtgt taagtcttct gtacctg
271335DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 13atatccacca tggratgsag
ctgkgtmats ctctt 351421DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 14cagtggatag
acagatgggg g 211521DNAArtificialoligonucleotide 15cagtggatag
accgatgggg c 211621DNAartificialoligonucleotide 16cagtggatag
actgatgggg g 211721DNAartificialoligonucleotide 17caagggatag
acagatgggg c 211827DNAartificialoligonucleotide 18ggcagcacta
gtaggggcca gtggata 271932DNAartificialoligonucleotide 19gggcaccatg
gagacagaca cactcctgct at 322033DNAartificialoligonucleotide
20gggcaccatg gattttcaag tgcagatttt cag
332134DNAartificialoligonucleotide 21gggcaccatg gagwcacakw
ctcaggtctt trta 342230DNAartificialoligonucleotide 22gggcaccatg
kccccwrctc agytyctkgt 302328DNAartificialoligonucleotide
23caccatgaag ttgcctgtta ggctgttg 282430DNAartificialoligonucleotide
24atgaagttgv vtgttaggct gttggtgctg
302530DNAartificialoligonucleotide 25atggagwcag acacactcct
gytatgggtg 302630DNAartificialoligonucleotide 26atgagtgtgc
tcactcaggt cctggsgttg 302733DNAartificialoligonucleotide
27atgaggrccc ctgctcagwt tyttggmwtc ttg
332829DNAartificialoligonucleotide 28atggatttwa ggtgcagatt
wtcagcttc 292927DNAartificialoligonucleotide 29atgaggtkck
ktgktsagst sctgrgg 273031DNAartificialoligonucleotide 30atgggcwtca
agatggagtc acakwyycwg g 313131DNAartificialoligonucleotide
31atgtggggay ctktttycmm tttttcaatt g
313225DNAartificialoligonucleotide 32atggtrtccw casctcagtt ccttg
253327DNAartificialoligonucleotide 33atgtatatat gtttgttgtc tatttct
273428DNAartificialoligonucleotide 34atggaagccc cagctcagct tctcttcc
283519DNAartificialoligonucleotide 35tgggtatctg gtrcstgtg
193621DNAartificialoligonucleotide 36atggagwcag acacactsct g
213726DNAartificialoligonucleotide 37atgragtywc agacccaggt cttyrt
263826DNAartificialoligonucleotide 38atggagacac attctcaggt ctttgt
263926DNAartificialoligonucleotide 39atggattcac aggcccaggt tcttat
264026DNAartificialoligonucleotide 40atgatgagtc ctgcccagtt cctctt
264129DNAartificialoligonucleotide 41atgaatttgc ctgttcatct
cttggtgct 294229DNAartificialoligonucleotide 42atggattttc
aattggtcct catctcctt 294326DNAartificialoligonucleotide
43atgaggtgcc tarctsagtt cctgrg 264426DNAartificialoligonucleotide
44atgaagtact ctgctcagtt tctagg 264526DNAartificialoligonucleotide
45atgaggcatt ctcttcaatt cttggg 264620DNAartificialoligonucleotide
46actggatggt gggaagatgg 204730DNAartificialoligonucleotide
47gaagatctag acttactatg cagcatcagc 304860DNAartificialleader
48atgtctgtgc ctacccaggt gctgggactg ctgctgctgt ggctgacaga cgcccgctgt
604957DNAartificialleader 49atggaatgga gctgggtgtt cctgttcttt
ctgtccgtga ccacaggcgt gcattct 575030DNAMus musculus 50ggagacgcct
tcacaaatta cttaatagag 305151DNAMus musculus 51ctgatttatc ctgatagtgg
ttacattaac tacaatgaga acttcaaggg c 515239DNAMus musculus
52agatttgctt actacggtag tggctactac tttgactac 395348DNAMus musculus
53agatctagtc agagccttct aaaaactaat ggaaacacct atttacat 485424DNAMus
musculus 54aaagtttcca accgattttc tggg 245527DNAMus musculus
55tctcaaagta cacattttcc attcacg 275610PRTMus musculus 56Gly Asp Ala
Phe Thr Asn Tyr Leu Ile Glu 1 5 10 5717PRTMus musculus 57Leu Ile
Tyr Pro Asp Ser Gly Tyr Ile Asn Tyr Asn Glu Asn Phe Lys 1 5 10 15
Gly 5813PRTMus musculus 58Arg Phe Ala Tyr Tyr Gly Ser Gly Tyr Tyr
Phe Asp Tyr 1 5 10 5916PRTMus musculus 59Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu
Leu Lys Thr Asn Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His 1 5 10 15 608PRTMus
musculus 60Lys Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser Gly 1 5 619PRTMus musculus
61Ser Gln Ser Thr His Phe Pro Phe Thr 1 5 625PRTMus musculus 62Asn
Tyr Leu Ile Glu 1 5 6330DNAMus musculus 63ggatacggct tcattaatta
cttaatagag 306451DNAMus musculus 64ctgattaatc ctggaagtga ttatactaac
tacaatgaga acttcaaggg c 516539DNAMus musculus 65agatttggtt
actacggtag cggcaactac tttgactac 396648DNAMus musculus 66acatctggtc
agagccttgt ccacattaat ggaaacacct atttacat 486721DNAMus musculus
67aaagtttcca acctattttc t 216810PRTMus musculus 68Gly Tyr Gly Phe
Ile Asn Tyr Leu Ile Glu 1 5 10 6917PRTMus musculus 69Leu Ile Asn
Pro Gly Ser Asp Tyr Thr Asn Tyr Asn Glu Asn Phe Lys 1 5 10 15 Gly
7013PRTMus musculus 70Arg Phe Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Ser Gly Asn Tyr Phe
Asp Tyr 1 5 10 7116PRTMus musculus 71Thr Ser Gly Gln Ser Leu Val
His Ile Asn Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His 1 5 10 15 727PRTMus musculus
72Lys Val Ser Asn Leu Phe Ser 1 5 7330DNAMus musculus 73ggagacgcct
tcactaatta cttgatcgag 307451DNAMus musculus 74ctgattattc ctggaactgg
ttatactaac tacaatgaga acttcaaggg c 517539DNAMus musculus
75agatttggtt actacggtag tagcaactac tttgactac 397648DNAMus musculus
76agatctagtc agagccttgt acacagtaat ggaaacacct atttacat 487721DNAMus
musculus 77aaagtttcca accgattttc t 217827DNAMus musculus
78tctcaaagta cacattttcc attcact 277917PRTMus musculus 79Leu Ile Ile
Pro Gly Thr Gly Tyr Thr Asn Tyr Asn Glu Asn Phe Lys 1 5 10 15 Gly
8013PRTMus musculus 80Arg Phe Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Ser Ser Asn Tyr Phe
Asp Tyr 1 5 10 8116PRTMus musculus 81Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Val
His Ser Asn Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His 1 5 10 15 827PRTMus musculus
82Lys Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser 1 5 8339DNAMus musculus 83agatttggtt
actacggtag tggctactac tttgactac 398413PRTMus musculus 84Arg Phe Gly
Tyr Tyr Gly Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Asp Tyr 1 5 10 8533DNAMus musculus
85ggcttctcca tcaccagtgg ttattactgg acc 338648DNAMus musculus
86tacataggct acgatggtag caatgactcc aacccatctc tcaaaaat 488727DNAMus
musculus 87gcgatgttgc ggcgaggatt tgactac 278830DNAMus musculus
88agtgccagct caagtttaag ttacatgcac 308921DNAMus musculus
89gacacatcca aactggcttc t 219021DNAMus musculus 90catcggcgga
gtagttacac g 219111PRTMus musculus 91Gly Phe Ser Ile Thr Ser Gly
Tyr Tyr Trp Thr 1 5 10 9216PRTMus musculus 92Tyr Ile Gly Tyr Asp
Gly Ser Asn Asp Ser Asn Pro Ser Leu Lys Asn 1 5 10 15 939PRTMus
musculus 93Ala Met Leu Arg Arg Gly Phe Asp Tyr 1 5 9410PRTMus
musculus 94Ser Ala Ser Ser Ser Leu Ser Tyr Met His 1 5 10 957PRTMus
musculus 95Asp Thr Ser Lys Leu Ala Ser 1 5 967PRTMus musculus 96His
Arg Arg Ser Ser Tyr Thr 1 5 975PRTMus musculus 97Gly Tyr Tyr Trp
Thr 1 5 98455DNAMus musculus 98aagcttgccg ccaccatgga atggagctgg
gtgttcctgt tctttctgtc cgtgaccaca 60ggcgtgcatt ctcaggtcaa gctgcagcag
tctggacctg agctggtaag gcctgggact 120tcagtgaagg tgtcctgcac
ggcttctgga gacgccttca caaattactt aatagagtgg 180gtaaaacaga
ggcctggaca gggccttgag tggattggac tgatttatcc tgatagtggt
240tacattaact acaatgagaa cttcaagggc aaggcaacac tgactgcaga
cagatcctcc 300agcactgcct acatgcagct cagcagcctg acatctgagg
actctgcggt ctatttctgt 360gcaagaagat ttgcttacta cggtagtggc
tactactttg actactgggg ccaaggcacc 420actctcacag tctcctcagc
ctccaccaag ggccc 45599417DNAMus musculus 99aagcttgccg ccaccatgtc
tgtgcctacc caggtgctgg gactgctgct gctgtggctg 60acagacgccc gctgtgatgt
tgtgatgacc caaactccac tctccctgcc tgtcagtctt 120ggagatcaag
cctccatctc ttgcagatct agtcagagcc ttctaaaaac taatggaaac
180acctatttac attggtacct gcagaagcca ggccagtctc caaaactcct
aatcttcaaa 240gtttccaacc gattttctgg ggtcccggac aggttcagtg
gcagtggatc agggacagac 300ttcacactca agatcagcag agtggaggct
gaggatctgg gagtttattt ctgctctcaa 360agtacacatt ttccattcac
gttcggcacg gggacaaaat tggaaataaa acgtacg 417100151PRTMus musculus
100Lys Leu Ala Ala Thr Met Glu Trp Ser Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Phe Leu
1 5 10 15 Ser Val Thr Thr Gly Val His Ser Gln Val Lys Leu Gln Gln
Ser Gly 20 25 30 Pro Glu Leu Val Arg Pro Gly Thr Ser Val Lys Val
Ser Cys Thr Ala 35 40 45 Ser Gly Asp Ala Phe Thr Asn Tyr Leu Ile
Glu Trp Val Lys Gln Arg 50 55 60 Pro Gly Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ile
Gly Leu Ile Tyr Pro Asp Ser Gly 65 70 75 80 Tyr Ile Asn Tyr Asn Glu
Asn Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Thr Ala 85 90 95 Asp Arg Ser Ser
Ser Thr Ala Tyr Met Gln Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Ser 100 105 110 Glu Asp
Ser Ala Val Tyr Phe Cys Ala Arg Arg Phe Ala Tyr Tyr Gly 115 120 125
Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Thr Leu Thr Val 130
135 140 Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly 145 150 101139PRTMus musculus
101Lys Leu Ala Ala Thr Met Ser Val Pro Thr Gln Val Leu Gly Leu Leu
1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Trp Leu Thr Asp Ala Arg Cys Asp Val Val Met Thr
Gln Thr 20 25 30 Pro Leu Ser Leu Pro Val Ser Leu Gly Asp Gln Ala
Ser Ile Ser Cys 35 40 45 Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Leu Lys Thr Asn
Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His 50 55 60 Trp Tyr Leu Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln
Ser Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Phe Lys 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser
Gly Val Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly 85 90 95 Ser Gly Thr Asp
Phe Thr Leu Lys Ile Ser Arg Val Glu Ala Glu Asp 100 105 110 Leu Gly
Val Tyr Phe Cys Ser Gln Ser Thr His Phe Pro Phe Thr Phe 115 120 125
Gly Thr Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Thr 130 135 102455DNAMus
musculus 102aagcttgccg ccaccatgga atggagctgg gtgttcctgt tctttctgtc
cgtgaccaca 60ggcgtgcatt ctcaggtcca actgcagcag tctggagctg agctggtaag
gcctgggact 120tcagtgaagg tgtcctgcaa ggcttctgga tacggcttca
ttaattactt aatagagtgg 180ataaaacaga ggcctggaca gggccttgag
tggattggac tgattaatcc tggaagtgat 240tatactaact acaatgagaa
cttcaagggc aaggcaacac tgactgcaga caagtcctcc 300agcactgcct
acatgcacct cagcagcctg acatctgagg actctgcggt ctatttctgt
360gcaagaagat ttggttacta cggtagcggc aactactttg actactgggg
ccaaggcacc 420actctcacag tctcctcagc ctccaccaag ggccc
455103417DNAMus musculus 103aagcttgccg ccaccatgtc tgtgcctacc
caggtgctgg gactgctgct gctgtggctg 60acagacgccc gctgtgatgt tgtgatgacc
caaactccac tctccctgcc tgtcagtctt 120ggagatcaag cctccatctc
ttgcacatct ggtcagagcc ttgtccacat taatggaaac 180acctatttac
attggtacct gcagaagcca ggccagtctc caaagctcct catctacaaa
240gtttccaacc tattttctgg ggtcccagac aggttcagtg gcagtggatc
agggacagat 300ttcacactca agatcagcag agtggaggct gaggatctgg
gagtttattt ctgctctcaa 360agtacacatt ttccattcac gttcggcacg
gggacaaaat tggaaataaa acgtacg 417104151PRTMus musculus 104Lys Leu
Ala Ala Thr Met Glu Trp Ser Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Phe Leu 1 5 10 15
Ser Val Thr Thr Gly Val His Ser Gln Val Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly 20
25 30 Ala Glu Leu Val Arg Pro Gly Thr Ser Val Lys Val Ser Cys Lys
Ala 35 40 45 Ser Gly Tyr Gly Phe Ile Asn Tyr Leu Ile Glu Trp Ile
Lys Gln Arg 50 55 60 Pro Gly Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ile Gly Leu Ile
Asn Pro Gly Ser Asp 65 70 75 80 Tyr Thr Asn Tyr Asn Glu Asn Phe Lys
Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Thr Ala 85 90 95 Asp Lys Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala
Tyr Met His Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Ser 100 105 110 Glu Asp Ser Ala Val
Tyr Phe Cys Ala Arg Arg Phe Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 115 120 125 Ser Gly Asn
Tyr Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Thr Leu Thr Val 130 135 140 Ser
Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly 145 150 105139PRTMus musculus 105Lys Leu
Ala Ala Thr Met Ser Val Pro Thr Gln Val Leu Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 15
Leu Leu Trp Leu Thr Asp Ala Arg Cys Asp Val Val Met Thr Gln Thr 20
25 30 Pro Leu Ser Leu Pro Val Ser Leu Gly Asp Gln Ala Ser Ile Ser
Cys 35 40 45 Thr Ser Gly Gln Ser Leu Val His Ile Asn Gly Asn Thr
Tyr Leu His 50 55 60 Trp Tyr Leu Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Ser Pro Lys
Leu Leu Ile Tyr Lys 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Asn Leu Phe Ser Gly Val Pro
Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly 85 90 95 Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu
Lys Ile Ser Arg Val Glu Ala Glu Asp 100 105 110 Leu Gly Val Tyr Phe
Cys Ser Gln Ser Thr His Phe Pro Phe Thr Phe 115 120 125 Gly Thr Gly
Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Thr 130 135 106455DNAMus musculus
106aagcttgccg ccaccatgga atggagctgg gtgttcctgt tctttctgtc
cgtgaccaca 60ggcgtgcatt ctcaggtcca gctgcagcag tctggagctg agctggtcag
gcctgggact 120tcagtgaagg tgtcctgcaa ggcttctgga gacgccttca
ctaattactt gatcgagtgg 180gtaaagcaga ggcctggaca gggccttgag
tggattggac tgattattcc tggaactggt 240tatactaact acaatgagaa
cttcaagggc aaggcaacac tgactgcaga caaatcctcc 300agcactgcct
acatgcagct cagcagcctg acatctgagg actctgcggt ctatttctgt
360gcaagaagat ttggttacta cggtagtagc aactactttg actactgggg
ccaaggcacc 420actctcacag tctcctcagc ctccaccaag ggccc
455107417DNAMus musculus 107aagcttgccg ccaccatgtc tgtgcctacc
caggtgctgg gactgctgct gctgtggctg 60acagacgccc gctgtgatgt tgtgatgacc
caaactccac tctccctgcc tgtcagtctt 120ggagatcaag cctccatctc
ttgcagatct agtcagagcc ttgtacacag taatggaaac 180acctatttac
attggtacct gcagaagcca ggccagtctc caaagctcct
gatctacaaa 240gtttccaacc gattttctgg ggtcccagac aggttcagtg
gcagtggacc agggacagat 300ttcacactca agatcagcag agtggaggct
gaggatctgg gaatttattt ctgctctcaa 360agtacacatt ttccattcac
tttcggcacg gggacaaaat tggaaataaa acgtacg 417108151PRTMus musculus
108Lys Leu Ala Ala Thr Met Glu Trp Ser Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Phe Leu
1 5 10 15 Ser Val Thr Thr Gly Val His Ser Gln Val Gln Leu Gln Gln
Ser Gly 20 25 30 Ala Glu Leu Val Arg Pro Gly Thr Ser Val Lys Val
Ser Cys Lys Ala 35 40 45 Ser Gly Asp Ala Phe Thr Asn Tyr Leu Ile
Glu Trp Val Lys Gln Arg 50 55 60 Pro Gly Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ile
Gly Leu Ile Ile Pro Gly Thr Gly 65 70 75 80 Tyr Thr Asn Tyr Asn Glu
Asn Phe Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Thr Ala 85 90 95 Asp Lys Ser Ser
Ser Thr Ala Tyr Met Gln Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Ser 100 105 110 Glu Asp
Ser Ala Val Tyr Phe Cys Ala Arg Arg Phe Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 115 120 125
Ser Ser Asn Tyr Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Thr Leu Thr Val 130
135 140 Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly 145 150 109139PRTMus musculus
109Lys Leu Ala Ala Thr Met Ser Val Pro Thr Gln Val Leu Gly Leu Leu
1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Trp Leu Thr Asp Ala Arg Cys Asp Val Val Met Thr
Gln Thr 20 25 30 Pro Leu Ser Leu Pro Val Ser Leu Gly Asp Gln Ala
Ser Ile Ser Cys 35 40 45 Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Val His Ser Asn
Gly Asn Thr Tyr Leu His 50 55 60 Trp Tyr Leu Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln
Ser Pro Lys Leu Leu Ile Tyr Lys 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser
Gly Val Pro Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly 85 90 95 Pro Gly Thr Asp
Phe Thr Leu Lys Ile Ser Arg Val Glu Ala Glu Asp 100 105 110 Leu Gly
Ile Tyr Phe Cys Ser Gln Ser Thr His Phe Pro Phe Thr Phe 115 120 125
Gly Thr Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Thr 130 135 110455DNAMus
musculus 110aagcttgccg ccaccatgga atggagctgg gtgttcctgt tctttctgtc
cgtgaccaca 60ggcgtgcatt ctcaggtcca gctgcagcag tctggagctg agctggtcag
gcctgggact 120tcagtgaagt tgtcctgcaa ggcttctgga gacgccttca
ctaattactt gatcgagtgg 180gtaaagcaga ggcctggaca gggccttgag
tggattggac tgattattcc tggaactggt 240tatactaact acaatgagaa
cttcaagggc aaggcaacac tgactgcaga caagtcctcc 300agcactgcct
acatgcagct cagcagcctg acatctgagg actctgcggt ctatttctgt
360gcaagaagat ttggttacta cggtagtggc tactactttg actactgggg
ccaaggcacc 420actctcacag tctcctcagc ctccaccaag ggccc
455111417DNAMus musculus 111aagcttgccg ccaccatgtc tgtgcctacc
caggtgctgg gactgctgct gctgtggctg 60acagacgccc gctgtgatgt tgtgatgacc
caaactccac tctccctgcc tgtcagtctt 120ggagatcaag cctccatctc
ttgcagatct agtcagagcc ttgtacacag taatggaaac 180acctatttac
attggtacct gcagaagcca ggccagtctc caaagctcct gatctacaaa
240gtttccaacc gattttctgg ggtcccagac aggttcagtg gcagtggacc
agggacagat 300ttcacactca agatcagcag agtggaggct gaggatctgg
gagtttattt ctgctctcaa 360agtacacatt ttccattcac gttcggcacg
ggcacaaaat tggaaataaa acgtacg 417112151PRTMus musculus 112Lys Leu
Ala Ala Thr Met Glu Trp Ser Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Phe Leu 1 5 10 15
Ser Val Thr Thr Gly Val His Ser Gln Val Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly 20
25 30 Ala Glu Leu Val Arg Pro Gly Thr Ser Val Lys Leu Ser Cys Lys
Ala 35 40 45 Ser Gly Asp Ala Phe Thr Asn Tyr Leu Ile Glu Trp Val
Lys Gln Arg 50 55 60 Pro Gly Gln Gly Leu Glu Trp Ile Gly Leu Ile
Ile Pro Gly Thr Gly 65 70 75 80 Tyr Thr Asn Tyr Asn Glu Asn Phe Lys
Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Thr Ala 85 90 95 Asp Lys Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala
Tyr Met Gln Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Ser 100 105 110 Glu Asp Ser Ala Val
Tyr Phe Cys Ala Arg Arg Phe Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 115 120 125 Ser Gly Tyr
Tyr Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Thr Leu Thr Val 130 135 140 Ser
Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly 145 150 113139PRTMus musculus 113Lys Leu
Ala Ala Thr Met Ser Val Pro Thr Gln Val Leu Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 15
Leu Leu Trp Leu Thr Asp Ala Arg Cys Asp Val Val Met Thr Gln Thr 20
25 30 Pro Leu Ser Leu Pro Val Ser Leu Gly Asp Gln Ala Ser Ile Ser
Cys 35 40 45 Arg Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Val His Ser Asn Gly Asn Thr
Tyr Leu His 50 55 60 Trp Tyr Leu Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Ser Pro Lys
Leu Leu Ile Tyr Lys 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Asn Arg Phe Ser Gly Val Pro
Asp Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly 85 90 95 Pro Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu
Lys Ile Ser Arg Val Glu Ala Glu Asp 100 105 110 Leu Gly Val Tyr Phe
Cys Ser Gln Ser Thr His Phe Pro Phe Thr Phe 115 120 125 Gly Thr Gly
Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile Lys Arg Thr 130 135 114443DNAMus musculus
114aagcttgccg ccaccatgga atggagctgg gtgttcctgt tctttctgtc
cgtgaccaca 60ggcgtgcatt ctgatataca gcttcaggag tcaggacctg gcctcgtgaa
accttctcag 120tctctgtctc tcacctgctc tgtcactggc ttctccatca
ccagtggtta ttactggacc 180tggatccggc agtttccagg aaacaaactg
gagtgggtgg cctacatagg ctacgatggt 240agcaatgact ccaacccatc
tctcaaaaat cgaatctcca tcacccgtga cacatctaag 300aaccagtttt
tcctgaagtt gaattctgtg actactgagg acacagccac atattactgt
360gcaagagcga tgttgcggcg aggatttgac tactggggcc aaggcaccac
tctcacagtc 420tcctcagcct ccaccaaggg ccc 443115393DNAMus musculus
115aagcttgccg ccaccatgtc tgtgcctacc caggtgctgg gactgctgct
gctgtggctg 60acagacgccc gctgtcaaat tgttctcacc cagtctccag caatcatgtc
tgcatctcca 120ggggagaagg tcaccatgac ctgcagtgcc agctcaagtt
taagttacat gcactggtac 180cagcagaagc caggcacctc ccccaaaaga
tggatttatg acacatccaa actggcttct 240ggagtccctg ctcgcttcag
tggcagtggg tctgggacct cttattctct cacaatcagc 300agcatggagg
ctgaagatgc tgccacttat tactgccatc ggcggagtag ttacacgttc
360ggagggggga ccaagctgga aataaaacgt acg 393116147PRTMus musculus
116Lys Leu Ala Ala Thr Met Glu Trp Ser Trp Val Phe Leu Phe Phe Leu
1 5 10 15 Ser Val Thr Thr Gly Val His Ser Asp Ile Gln Leu Gln Glu
Ser Gly 20 25 30 Pro Gly Leu Val Lys Pro Ser Gln Ser Leu Ser Leu
Thr Cys Ser Val 35 40 45 Thr Gly Phe Ser Ile Thr Ser Gly Tyr Tyr
Trp Thr Trp Ile Arg Gln 50 55 60 Phe Pro Gly Asn Lys Leu Glu Trp
Val Ala Tyr Ile Gly Tyr Asp Gly 65 70 75 80 Ser Asn Asp Ser Asn Pro
Ser Leu Lys Asn Arg Ile Ser Ile Thr Arg 85 90 95 Asp Thr Ser Lys
Asn Gln Phe Phe Leu Lys Leu Asn Ser Val Thr Thr 100 105 110 Glu Asp
Thr Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Ala Arg Ala Met Leu Arg Arg Gly 115 120 125
Phe Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr Thr Leu Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser 130
135 140 Thr Lys Gly 145 117131PRTMus musculus 117Lys Leu Ala Ala
Thr Met Ser Val Pro Thr Gln Val Leu Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu
Trp Leu Thr Asp Ala Arg Cys Gln Ile Val Leu Thr Gln Ser 20 25 30
Pro Ala Ile Met Ser Ala Ser Pro Gly Glu Lys Val Thr Met Thr Cys 35
40 45 Ser Ala Ser Ser Ser Leu Ser Tyr Met His Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys
Pro 50 55 60 Gly Thr Ser Pro Lys Arg Trp Ile Tyr Asp Thr Ser Lys
Leu Ala Ser 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Pro Ala Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser
Gly Thr Ser Tyr Ser 85 90 95 Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser Met Glu Ala Glu
Asp Ala Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys 100 105 110 His Arg Arg Ser Ser Tyr Thr
Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu Ile 115 120 125 Lys Arg Thr 130
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