U.S. patent application number 15/334081 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-17 for methods for treating conditions associated with masp-2 dependent complement activation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Omeros Corporation, University of Leicester. Invention is credited to Teizo Fujita, James Brian Parent, Hans-Wilhelm Schwaeble, Cordula Margaret Stover, Clark E. Tedford.
Application Number | 20170233493 15/334081 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38581755 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170233493 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwaeble; Hans-Wilhelm ; et
al. |
August 17, 2017 |
Methods for Treating Conditions Associated with MASP-2 Dependent
Complement Activation
Abstract
In one aspect, the invention provides methods of inhibiting the
effects of MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a living
subject. The methods comprise the step of administering, to a
subject in need thereof, an amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent
effective to inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement activation. In
some embodiments, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent inhibits cellular
injury associated with MASP-2-mediated alternative complement
pathway activation, while leaving the classical (C1q-dependent)
pathway component of the immune system intact. In another aspect,
the invention provides compositions for inhibiting the effects of
lectin-dependent complement activation, comprising a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent and a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
Inventors: |
Schwaeble; Hans-Wilhelm;
(Mountsorrel, GB) ; Stover; Cordula Margaret;
(Wigston Meadows, GB) ; Tedford; Clark E.;
(Poulsbo, WA) ; Parent; James Brian; (Bainbrdige
Island, WA) ; Fujita; Teizo; (Fukushima, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
University of Leicester
Omeros Corporation |
Leicestershire
Seattle |
WA |
GB
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
38581755 |
Appl. No.: |
15/334081 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12896754 |
Oct 1, 2010 |
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15334081 |
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12561202 |
Sep 16, 2009 |
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12896754 |
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11645359 |
Dec 22, 2006 |
7919094 |
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12561202 |
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11150883 |
Jun 9, 2005 |
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11645359 |
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60578847 |
Jun 10, 2004 |
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11150883 |
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60788876 |
Apr 3, 2006 |
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11645359 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/133.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07K 2317/76 20130101;
C07K 2317/24 20130101; A61K 39/395 20130101; A61P 19/00 20180101;
C12Y 304/21104 20130101; A61K 2039/505 20130101; A01K 2217/00
20130101; A61P 1/00 20180101; A61P 27/02 20180101; A01K 2267/03
20130101; A61P 21/00 20180101; C12N 9/6408 20130101; A61P 25/14
20180101; A61P 35/00 20180101; A61P 3/00 20180101; A01K 2207/15
20130101; A01K 2267/0375 20130101; A61P 21/04 20180101; A61P 3/10
20180101; A61P 11/00 20180101; C07K 2317/71 20130101; C12N 9/6424
20130101; A61K 49/0008 20130101; A61P 17/00 20180101; A61P 37/06
20180101; C07K 16/40 20130101; A61P 9/00 20180101; A61P 9/10
20180101; A61P 13/10 20180101; A61P 37/00 20180101; A61P 1/06
20180101; A61P 19/06 20180101; A61P 17/02 20180101; C07K 2317/55
20130101; A61P 5/00 20180101; A61P 7/06 20180101; A01K 2227/105
20130101; Y10S 514/912 20130101; A61P 7/00 20180101; A61P 29/00
20180101; A61P 15/00 20180101; A61P 19/02 20180101; C07K 2317/21
20130101; C07K 2317/92 20130101; A61P 13/00 20180101; A61P 37/02
20180101; C07K 2317/54 20130101; A01K 2217/075 20130101; A61P 1/18
20180101; A61P 13/12 20180101; A61P 25/00 20180101; A01K 67/0276
20130101 |
International
Class: |
C07K 16/40 20060101
C07K016/40; A01K 67/027 20060101 A01K067/027 |
Claims
1. A method of treating a subject suffering from, or at risk of
developing, an ischemia-reperfusion injury comprising administering
to the subject a monoclonal MASP-2 inhibitory-antibody, or
antigen-binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to a
portion of SEQ ID NO:6 and inhibits MASP-2-dependent complement
activation
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the MASP-2 inhibitory antibody,
or antigen-binding fragment thereof, selectively inhibits
MASP-2-dependent complement activation without substantially
inhibiting C1q-dependent classical complement pathway
activation.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the MASP-2 inhibitory monoclonal
antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, specifically binds
to a portion of SEQ ID NO:6, wherein said portion does not include
the CUBI-EGF-CUBII domains (amino acid residues 1-293 of SEQ ID
NO:6).
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the MASP-2 inhibitory monoclonal
antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, specifically binds
to a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:6 with an affinity of at
least 10 times greater than it binds to a different antigen in the
complement system.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monoclonal antibody or
antigen-binding fragment thereof is recombinant.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monoclonal antibody, or
antigen-binding fragment thereof, has reduced effector
function.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monoclonal antibody, or
antigen-binding fragment thereof, is a chimeric, humanized or
human.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ischemia-reperfusion injury
is associated with cardiopulmonary bypass.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ischemia-reperfusion injury
is associated with an organ transplant.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ischemia-reperfusion injury
is associated with extremity or digit replantation.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ischemia-reperfusion injury
is associated with myocardial infarction.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the ischemia-reperfusion injury
is associated with gastrointestinal ischemia-reperfusion.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the ischemia-reperfusion injury
is associated with hemodynamic resuscitation following shock or
surgical procedures.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/896,754, filed Oct. 1, 2010, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/561,202, filed Sep.
16, 2009, now abandoned, which is a divisional of U.S. application
Ser. No. 11/645,359, filed Dec. 22, 2006, issued as U.S. Pat. No.
7,919,094, which is a continuation-in part of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/150,883, filed Jun. 9, 2005, priority from which is claimed
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120, which claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/578,847, filed Jun. 10, 2004, under
35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) and also claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/788,876, filed Apr. 3, 2006, under
35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e).
STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING
[0002] The sequence listing associated with this application is
provided in text format in lieu of a paper copy and is hereby
incorporated by reference into the specification. The name of the
text file containing the sequence listing is
MP_1_0064_US4_SequenceListingasFiled_20161025.txt. The text file is
109 KB; was created on Oct. 25, 2016; and is being submitted via
EFS-Web with the filing of the specification.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting the
adverse effects of MASP-2-dependent complement activation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The complement system provides an early acting mechanism to
initiate and amplify the inflammatory response to microbial
infection and other acute insults (M. K. Liszewski and J. P.
Atkinson, 1993, in Fundamental Immunology, Third Edition, edited by
W. E. Paul, Raven Press, Ltd., New York). While complement
activation provides a valuable first-line defense against potential
pathogens, the activities of complement that promote a protective
inflammatory response can also represent a potential threat to the
host (K. R. Kalli, et al., Springer Semin. Immunopathol.
15:417-431, 1994; B. P. Morgan, Eur. J. Clinical Investig.
24:219-228, 1994). For example, C3 and C5 proteolytic products
recruit and activate neutrophils. These activated cells are
indiscriminate in their release of destructive enzymes and may
cause organ damage. In addition, complement activation may cause
the deposition of lytic complement components on nearby host cells
as well as on microbial targets, resulting in host cell lysis.
[0005] The complement system has been implicated as contributing to
the pathogenesis of numerous acute and chronic disease states,
including: myocardial infarction, revascularization following
stroke, ARDS, reperfusion injury, septic shock, capillary leakage
following thermal burns, postcardiopulmonary bypass inflammation,
transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis,
myasthenia gravis, and Alzheimer's disease. In almost all of these
conditions, complement is not the cause but is one of several
factors involved in pathogenesis. Nevertheless, complement
activation may be a major pathological mechanism and represents an
effective point for clinical control in many of these disease
states. The growing recognition of the importance of
complement-mediated tissue injury in a variety of disease states
underscores the need for effective complement inhibitory drugs. No
drugs have been approved for human use that specifically target and
inhibit complement activation.
[0006] Currently, it is widely accepted that the complement system
can be activated through three distinct pathways: the classical
pathway, the lectin pathway, and the alternative pathway. The
classical pathway is usually triggered by antibody bound to a
foreign particle (i.e., an antigen) and thus requires prior
exposure to that antigen for the generation of specific antibody.
Since activation of the classical pathway is associated with
development of an immune response, the classical pathway is part of
the acquired immune system. In contrast, both the lectin and
alternative pathways are independent of clonal immunity and are
part of the innate immune system.
[0007] The first step in activation of the classical pathway is the
binding of a specific recognition molecule, C1q, to antigen-bound
IgG and IgM. The activation of the complement system results in the
sequential activation of serine protease zymogens. C1q is
associated with the C1r and C1s serine protease proenzymes as a
complex called C1 and, upon binding of C1q to an immune complex,
autoproteolytic cleavage of the Arg-Ile site of C1r is followed by
C1r activation of C1s, which thereby acquires the ability to cleave
C4 and C2. The cleavage of C4 into two fragments, designated C4a
and C4b, allows the C4b fragments to form covalent bonds with
adjacent hydroxyl or amino groups and the subsequent generation of
C3 convertase (C4b2b) through noncovalent interaction with the C2b
fragment of activated C2. C3 convertase (C4b2b) activates C3
leading to generation of the C5 convertase (C4b2b3b) and formation
of the membrane attack complex (C5b-9) that can cause microbial
lysis. The activated forms of C3 and C4 (C3b and C4b) are
covalently deposited on the foreign target surfaces, which are
recognized by complement receptors on multiple phagocytes.
[0008] Independently, the first step in activation of the
complement system by the lectin pathway is also the binding of
specific recognition molecules, which is followed by the activation
of associated serine proteases. However, rather than the binding of
immune complexes by C1q, the recognition molecules in the lectin
pathway are carbohydrate-binding proteins (mannan-binding lectin
(MBL), H-ficolin, M-ficolin, and L-ficolin) (J. Lu et al., Biochim.
Biophys. Acta 1572:387-400, 2002; Holmskov et al., Annu. Rev.
Immunol. 21:547-578 (2003); Teh et al., Immunology 101:225-232
(2000)). Ikeda et al. first demonstrated that, like C1q, MBL could
activate the complement system upon binding to yeast mannan-coated
erythrocytes in a C4-dependent manner (K. Ikeda et al., J. Biol.
Chem. 262:7451-7454, 1987). MBL, a member of the collectin protein
family, is a calcium-dependent lectin that binds carbohydrates with
3- and 4-hydroxy groups oriented in the equatorial plane of the
pyranose ring. Prominent ligands for MBL are thus D-mannose and
N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, while carbohydrates not fitting this steric
requirement have undetectable affinity for MBL (Weis, W. I., et
al., Nature 360:127-134, 1992). The interaction between MBL and
monovalent sugars is extremely weak, with dissociation constants
typically in the 2 mM range. MBL achieves tight, specific binding
to glycan ligands by interaction with multiple monosaccharide
residues simultaneously (Lee, R. T., et al., Archiv. Biochem.
Biophys. 299:129-136, 1992). MBL recognizes the carbohydrate
patterns that commonly decorate microorganisms such as bacteria,
yeast, parasites and certain viruses. In contrast, MBL does not
recognize D-galactose and sialic acid, the penultimate and ultimate
sugars that usually decorate "mature" complex glycoconjugates
present on mammalian plasma and cell surface glycoproteins. This
binding specificity is thought to help protect from self
activation. However, MBL does bind with high affinity to clusters
of high-mannose "precursor" glycans on N-linked glycoproteins and
glycolipids sequestered in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi of
mammalian cells (Maynard, Y., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 257:3788-3794,
1982). Therefore, damaged cells are potential targets for lectin
pathway activation via MBL binding.
[0009] The ficolins possess a different type of lectin domain than
MBL, called the fibrinogen-like domain. Ficolins bind sugar
residues in a Ca.sup.++-independent manner. In humans, three kinds
of ficolins, L-ficolin, M-ficolin and H-ficolin, have been
identified. Both serum ficolins L-ficolin and H-ficolin have in
common a specificity for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine; however, H-ficolin
also binds N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. The difference in sugar
specificity of L-ficolin, H-ficolin and MBL means that the
different lectins may be complementary and target different, though
overlapping, glycoconjugates. This concept is supported by the
recent report that, of the known lectins in the lectin pathway,
only L-ficolin binds specifically to lipoteichoic acid, a cell wall
glycoconjugate found on all Gram-positive bacteria (Lynch, N. J.,
et al., J. Immunol. 172:1198-1202, 2004). The collectins (i.e.,
MBL) and the ficolins bear no significant similarity in amino acid
sequence. However, the two groups of proteins have similar domain
organizations and, like C1q, assemble into oligomeric structures,
which maximize the possibility of multisite binding. The serum
concentrations of MBL are highly variable in healthy populations
and this is genetically controlled by the polymorphism/mutations in
both the promoter and coding regions of the MBL gene. As an acute
phase protein, the expression of MBL is further upregulated during
inflammation. L-ficolin is present in serum at similar
concentrations as MBL. Therefore, the L-ficolin arm of the lectin
pathway is potentially comparable to the MBL arm in strength. MBL
and ficolins can also function as opsonins, which require
interaction of these proteins with phagocyte receptors (Kuhlman,
M., et al., J. Exp. Med. 169:1733, 1989; Matsushita, M., et al., J.
Biol. Chem. 271:2448-54, 1996). However, the identities of the
receptor(s) on phagocytic cells have not been established.
[0010] Human MBL forms a specific and high affinity interaction
through its collagen-like domain with unique C1r/C1s-like serine
proteases, termed MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs). To date,
three MASPs have been described. First, a single enzyme "MASP" was
identified and characterized as the enzyme responsible for the
initiation of the complement cascade (i.e., cleaving C2 and C4)
(Ji, Y. H., et al., J. Immunol. 150:571-578, 1993). Later, it
turned out that MASP is in fact a mixture of two proteases: MASP-1
and MASP-2 (Thiel, S., et al., Nature 386:506-510, 1997). However,
it was demonstrated that the MBL-MASP-2 complex alone is sufficient
for complement activation (Vorup-Jensen, T., et al., J. Immunol.
165:2093-2100, 2000). Furthermore, only MASP-2 cleaved C2 and C4 at
high rates (Ambrus, G., et al., J. Immunol. 170:1374-1382, 2003).
Therefore, MASP-2 is the protease responsible for activating C4 and
C2 to generate the C3 convertase, C4b2b. This is a significant
difference from the C1 complex, where the coordinated action of two
specific serine proteases (C1r and C1s) leads to the activation of
the complement system. Recently, a third novel protease, MASP-3,
has been isolated (Dahl, M. R., et al., Immunity 15:127-35, 2001).
MASP-1 and MASP-3 are alternatively spliced products of the same
gene. The biological functions of MASP-1 and MASP-3 remain to be
resolved.
[0011] MASPs share identical domain organizations with those of C1r
and C1s, the enzymatic components of the C1 complex (Sim, R. B., et
al., Biochem. Soc. Trans. 28:545, 2000). These domains include an
N-terminal C1r/C1s/sea urchin Vegf/bone morphogenic protein (CUB)
domain, an epidermal growth factor-like domain, a second CUB
domain, a tandem of complement control protein domains, and a
serine protease domain. As in the C1 proteases, activation of
MASP-2 occurs through cleavage of an Arg-Ile bond adjacent to the
serine protease domain, which splits the enzyme into
disulfide-linked A and B chains, the latter consisting of the
serine protease domain. Recently, a genetically determined
deficiency of MASP-2 was described (Stengaard-Pedersen, K., et al.,
New Eng. J. Med. 349:554-560, 2003). The mutation of a single
nucleotide leads to an Asp-Gly exchange in the CUB1 domain and
renders MASP-2 incapable of binding to MBL.
[0012] MBL is also associated with a nonenzymatic protein referred
to as MBL-associated protein of 19 kDa (MAp19) (Stover, C. M., J.
Immunol. 162:3481-90, 1999) or small MBL-associated protein (sMAP)
(Takahashi, M., et al., Int. Immunol. 11:859-863, 1999). MAp19 is
formed by alternative splicing of the MASP 2 gene product and
comprises the first two domains of MASP-2, followed by an extra
sequence of four unique amino acids. The MASP 1 and MASP 2 genes
are located on chromosomes 3 and 1, respectively (Schwaeble, W., et
al., Immunobiology 205:455-466, 2002).
[0013] Several lines of evidence suggest that there are different
MBL-MASPs complexes and a large fraction of the total MASPs in
serum is not complexed with MBL (Thiel, S., et al., J. Immunol.
165:878-887, 2000). Both H- and L-ficolin are associated with MASP
and activate the lectin complement pathway, as does MBL (Dahl, M.
R., et al., Immunity 15:127-35, 2001; Matsushita, M., et al., J.
Immunol. 168:3502-3506, 2002). Both the lectin and classical
pathways form a common C3 convertase (C4b2b) and the two pathways
converge at this step.
[0014] The lectin pathway is widely thought to have a major role in
host defense against infection. Strong evidence for the involvement
of MBL in host defense comes from analysis of patients with
decreased serum levels of functional MBL (Kilpatrick, D. C.,
Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1572:401-413, 2002). Such patients display
susceptibility to recurrent bacterial and fungal infections. These
symptoms are usually evident early in life, during an apparent
window of vulnerability as maternally derived antibody titer wanes,
but before a full repertoire of antibody responses develops. This
syndrome often results from mutations at several sites in the
collagenous portion of MBL, which interfere with proper formation
of MBL oligomers. However, since MBL can function as an opsonin
independent of complement, it is not known to what extent the
increased susceptibility to infection is due to impaired complement
activation.
[0015] Although there is extensive evidence implicating both the
classical and alternative complement pathways in the pathogenesis
of non-infectious human diseases, the role of the lectin pathway is
just beginning to be evaluated. Recent studies provide evidence
that activation of the lectin pathway can be responsible for
complement activation and related inflammation in
ischemia/reperfusion injury. Collard et al. (2000) reported that
cultured endothelial cells subjected to oxidative stress bind MBL
and show deposition of C3 upon exposure to human serum (Collard, C.
D., et al., Am. J. Pathol. 156:1549-1556, 2000). In addition,
treatment of human sera with blocking anti-MBL monoclonal
antibodies inhibited MBL binding and complement activation. These
findings were extended to a rat model of myocardial
ischemia-reperfusion in which rats treated with a blocking antibody
directed against rat MBL showed significantly less myocardial
damage upon occlusion of a coronary artery than rats treated with a
control antibody (Jordan, J. E., et al., Circulation 104:1413-1418,
2001). The molecular mechanism of MBL binding to the vascular
endothelium after oxidative stress is unclear; a recent study
suggests that activation of the lectin pathway after oxidative
stress may be mediated by MBL binding to vascular endothelial
cytokeratins, and not to glycoconjugates (Collard, C. D., et al.,
Am. J. Pathol. 159:1045-1054, 2001). Other studies have implicated
the classical and alternative pathways in the pathogenesis of
ischemia/reperfusion injury and the role of the lectin pathway in
this disease remains controversial (Riedermann, N.C., et al., Am.
J. Pathol. 162:363-367, 2003).
[0016] In contrast to the classical and lectin pathways, no
initiators of the alternative pathway have been found to fulfill
the recognition functions that C1q and lectins perform in the other
two pathways. Currently it is widely accepted that the alternative
pathway is spontaneously triggered by foreign or other abnormal
surfaces (bacteria, yeast, virally infected cells, or damaged
tissue). There are four plasma proteins directly involved in the
alternative pathway: C3, factors B and D, and properdin.
Proteolytic generation of C3b from native C3 is required for the
alternative pathway to function. Since the alternative pathway C3
convertase (C3bBb) contains C3b as an essential subunit, the
question regarding the origin of the first C3b via the alternative
pathway has presented a puzzling problem and has stimulated
considerable research.
[0017] C3 belongs to a family of proteins (along with C4 and
.alpha.-2 macroglobulin) that contain a rare posttranslational
modification known as a thioester bond. The thioester group is
composed of a glutamine whose terminal carbonyl group is bound to
the sulfhydryl group of a cysteine three amino acids away. This
bond is unstable and the electrophilic carbonyl group of glutamine
can form a covalent bond with other molecules via hydroxyl or amino
groups. The thioester bond is reasonably stable when sequestered
within a hydrophobic pocket of intact C3. However, proteolytic
cleavage of C3 to C3a and C3b results in exposure of the highly
reactive thioester bond on C3b and by this mechanism C3b covalently
attaches to a target. In addition to its well-documented role in
covalent attachment of C3b to complement targets, the C3 thioester
is also thought to have a pivotal role in triggering the
alternative pathway. According to the widely accepted "tick-over
theory", the alternative pathway is initiated by the generation of
a fluid-phase convertase, iC3Bb, which is formed from C3 with
hydrolyzed thioester (iC3; C3(H.sub.2O)) and factor B (Lachmann, P.
J., et al., Springer Semin. Immunopathol. 7:143-162, 1984). The
C3b-like iC3 is generated from native C3 by a slow spontaneous
hydrolysis of the internal thioester in the protein (Pangburn, M.
K., et al., J. Exp. Med. 154:856-867, 1981). Through the activity
of the iC3Bb convertase, C3b molecules are deposited on the target
surface thereby initiating the alternative pathway.
[0018] Very little is known about the initiators of activation of
the alternative pathway. Activators are thought to include yeast
cell walls (zymosan), many pure polysaccharides, rabbit
erythrocytes, certain immunoglobulins, viruses, fungi, bacteria,
animal tumor cells, parasites, and damaged cells. The only feature
common to these activators is the presence of carbohydrate, but the
complexity and variety of carbohydrate structures has made it
difficult to establish the shared molecular determinants, which are
recognized.
[0019] The alternative pathway can also provide a powerful
amplification loop for the lectin/classical pathway C3 convertase
(C4b2b) since any C3b generated can participate with factor B in
forming additional alternative pathway C3 convertase (C3bBb). The
alternative pathway C3 convertase is stabilized by the binding of
properdin. Properdin extends the alternative pathway C3 convertase
half-life six to ten fold. Addition of C3b to the C3 convertase
leads to the formation of the alternative pathway C5
convertase.
[0020] All three pathways (i.e., the classical, lectin and
alternative) have been thought to converge at C5, which is cleaved
to form products with multiple proinflammatory effects. The
converged pathway has been referred to as the terminal complement
pathway. C5a is the most potent anaphylatoxin, inducing alterations
in smooth muscle and vascular tone, as well as vascular
permeability. It is also a powerful chemotaxin and activator of
both neutrophils and monocytes. C5a-mediated cellular activation
can significantly amplify inflammatory responses by inducing the
release of multiple additional inflammatory mediators, including
cytokines, hydrolytic enzymes, arachidonic acid metabolites and
reactive oxygen species. C5 cleavage leads to the formation of
C5b-9, also known as the membrane attack complex (MAC). There is
now strong evidence that sublytic MAC deposition may play an
important role in inflammation in addition to its role as a lytic
pore-forming complex.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of
inhibiting the adverse effects of MASP-2-dependent complement
activation in a living subject. The method includes the step of
administering to a subject in need thereof, an amount of a MASP-2
inhibitory agent effective to inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement
activation. In this context, the phrase "MASP-2-dependent
complement activation" refers to alternative pathway complement
activation that occurs via the lectin-dependent MASP-2 system. In
another aspect of the invention, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent
inhibits complement activation via the lectin-dependent MASP-2
system without substantially inhibiting complement activation via
the classical or C1q-dependent system, such that the C1q-dependent
system remains functional.
[0022] In some embodiments of these aspects of the invention, the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent is an anti-MASP-2 antibody or fragment
thereof. In further embodiments, the anti-MASP-2 antibody has
reduced effector function. In some embodiments, the MASP-2
inhibitory agent is a MASP-2 inhibitory peptide or a non-peptide
MASP-2 inhibitor.
[0023] In another aspect, the present invention provides
compositions for inhibiting the adverse effects of MASP-2-dependent
complement activation, comprising a therapeutically effective
amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent and a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier. Methods are also provided for manufacturing a
medicament for use in inhibiting the adverse effects of
MASP-2-dependent complement activation in living subjects in need
thereof, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2
inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier. Methods are also
provided for manufacturing medicaments for use in inhibiting
MASP-2-dependent complement activation for treatment of each of the
conditions, diseases and disorders described herein below.
[0024] The methods, compositions and medicaments of the invention
are useful for inhibiting the adverse effects of MASP-2-dependent
complement activation in vivo in mammalian subjects, including
humans suffering from an acute or chronic pathological condition or
injury as further described herein. Such conditions and injuries
include without limitation MASP-2 mediated complement activation in
associated autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory conditions.
[0025] In one aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the
treatment of ischemia reperfusion injuries by treating a subject
experiencing ischemic reperfusion, including without limitation,
after aortic aneurysm repair, cardiopulmonary bypass, vascular
reanastomosis in connection with, for example, organ transplants
(e.g., heart, lung, liver, kidney) and/or extremity/digit
replantation, stroke, myocardial infarction, hemodynamic
resuscitation following shock and/or surgical procedures, with a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a
pharmaceutical carrier.
[0026] In one aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the
inhibition of atherosclerosis by treating a subject suffering from
or prone to atherosclerosis with a therapeutically effective amount
of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier.
[0027] In one aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
experiencing a vascular condition, including without limitation
cardiovascular conditions, cerebrovascular conditions, peripheral
(e.g., musculoskeletal) vascular conditions, renovascular
conditions, mesenteric/enteric vascular, and revascularization to
transplants and/or replants, by treating such patient with a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent. Such
conditions include without limitation the treatment of: vasculitis,
including Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis, systemic lupus
erythematosus-associated vasculitis, vasculitis associated with
rheumatoid arthritis (also called malignant rheumatoid arthritis),
immune complex vasculitis, and Takayasu's disease; dilated
cardiomyopathy; diabetic angiopathy; Kawasaki's disease
(arteritis); venous gas embolus (VGE); and/or restenosis following
stent placement, rotational atherectomy and/or percutaneous
transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
[0028] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, including
but not limited to pancreatitis, diverticulitis and bowel disorders
including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel
syndrome.
[0029] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from a pulmonary condition including but not limited to
acute respiratory distress syndrome, transfusion-related acute lung
injury, ischemia/reperfusion acute lung injury, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, asthma, Wegener's granulomatosis, antiglomerular
basement membrane disease (Goodpasture's disease), meconium
aspiration syndrome, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury secondary to burn,
non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, transfusion-related respiratory
depression, and emphysema.
[0030] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject that
has undergone, is undergoing or will undergo an extracorporeal
reperfusion procedure, including but not limited to hemodialysis,
plasmapheresis, leukopheresis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
(ECMO), heparin-induced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation LDL
precipitation (HELP) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
[0031] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from a musculoskeletal condition, including but not
limited to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis, gout, neuropathic arthropathy, psoriatic
arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or other spondyloarthropathies
and crystalline arthropathies, muscular dystrophy or systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE).
[0032] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from renal conditions including but not limited to
mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous
glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
(mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis), acute postinfectious
glomerulonephritis (poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis),
cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis,
Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis or IgA nephropathy.
[0033] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from a skin condition, including but not limited to
psoriasis, autoimmune bullous dermatoses, eosinophilic spongiosis,
bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and herpes
gestationis and other skin disorders, or from a thermal or chemical
burn injury involving capillary leakage.
[0034] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject that
has received an organ or other tissue transplant, including but not
limited to allotransplantation or xenotransplantation of whole
organs (e.g., kidney, heart, liver, pancreas, lung, cornea, etc.)
or grafts (e.g., valves, tendons, bone marrow, etc.).
[0035] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from a central nervous system disorder or injury or a
peripheral nervous system disorder or injury, including but not
limited to multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis (MG),
Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
Guillain Barre syndrome, reperfusion following stroke, degenerative
discs, cerebral trauma, Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's
disease (AD), Miller-Fisher syndrome, cerebral trauma and/or
hemorrhage, demyelination and meningitis.
[0036] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from a blood disorder including but not limited to sepsis
or a condition resulting from sepsis including without limitation
severe sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome
resulting from sepsis, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
Related methods are provided for the treatment of other blood
disorders, including hemorrhagic shock, hemolytic anemia,
autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), hemolytic
uremic syndrome (HUS) or other marrow/blood destructive
conditions.
[0037] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from a urogenital condition including but not limited to
painful bladder disease, sensory bladder disease, chronic
abacterial cystitis and interstitial cystitis, male and female
infertility, placental dysfunction and miscarriage and
pre-eclampsia.
[0038] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from nonobese diabetes (Type-1 diabetes or Insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus) or from angiopathy, neuropathy or
retinopathy complications of Type-1 or Type-2 (adult onset)
diabetes.
[0039] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
being treated with chemotherapeutics and/or radiation therapy,
including without limitation for the treatment of cancerous
conditions, by administering a MASP-2 inhibitor to such a patient
perichemotherapeutically or periradiation therapy, i.e., before
and/or during and/or after the administration of
chemotherapeutic(s) and/or radiation therapy. Perichemotherapeutic
or periradiation therapy administration of MASP-2 inhibitors may be
useful for reducing the side-effects of chemotherapeutic or
radiation therapy. In a still further aspect of the invention,
methods are provided for the treatment of malignancies by
administering a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier to a patient suffering from a malignancy.
[0040] In another aspect of the invention methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from an endocrine disorder, by administering a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a
pharmaceutical carrier to such a subject. Conditions subject to
treatment in accordance with the present invention include, by way
of nonlimiting example, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, stress, anxiety
and other potential hormonal disorders involving regulated release
of prolactin, growth or insulin-like growth factor, and
adrenocorticotropin from the pituitary.
[0041] In another aspect of the invention methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from age-related macular degeneration or other complement
mediated ophthalmologic condition by administering a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a
pharmaceutical carrier to a subject suffering from such a
condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same
become better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0043] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the new discovery that
the alternative complement pathway requires lectin
pathway-dependent MASP-2 activation for complement activation;
[0044] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the genomic structure of
human MASP-2;
[0045] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating the domain
structure of human MASP-2 protein;
[0046] FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the domain
structure of human MAp19 protein;
[0047] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the murine MASP-2 knockout
strategy;
[0048] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the human MASP-2 minigene
construct;
[0049] FIG. 6A presents results demonstrating that
MASP-2-deficiency leads to the loss of lectin-pathway-mediated C4
activation as measured by lack of C4b deposition on mannan;
[0050] FIG. 6B presents results demonstrating that
MASP-2-deficiency leads to the loss of lectin-pathway-mediated C4
activation as measured by lack of C4b deposition on zymosan;
[0051] FIG. 6C presents results demonstrating the relative C4
activation levels of serum samples obtained from MASP-2+/-;
MASP-2-/- and wild-type strains as measure by C4b deposition on
mannan and on zymosan;
[0052] FIG. 7A presents results demonstrating that
MASP-2-deficiency leads to the loss of both lectin-pathway-mediated
and alternative pathway mediated C3 activation as measured by lack
of C3b deposition on mannan;
[0053] FIG. 7B presents results demonstrating that
MASP-2-deficiency leads to the loss of both lectin-pathway-mediated
and alternative pathway mediated C3 activation as measured by lack
of C3b deposition on zymosan;
[0054] FIG. 8 presents results demonstrating that the addition of
murine recombinant MASP-2 to MASP-2-/- serum samples recovers
lectin-pathway-mediated C4 activation in a protein concentration
dependant manner, as measured by C4b deposition on mannan;
[0055] FIG. 9 presents results demonstrating that the classical
pathway is functional in the MASP-2-/- strain;
[0056] FIG. 10 presents results demonstrating that the
MASP-2-dependent complement activation system is activated in the
ischemia/reperfusion phase following abdominal aortic aneurysm
repair;
[0057] FIG. 11A presents results demonstrating that anti-MASP-2
Fab2 antibody #11 inhibits C3 convertase formation, as described in
Example 24;
[0058] FIG. 11B presents results demonstrating that anti-MASP-2
Fab2 antibody #11 binds to native rat MASP-2, as described in
Example 24;
[0059] FIG. 11C presents results demonstrating that anti-MASP-2
Fab2 antibody #41 inhibits C4 cleavage, as described in Example
24;
[0060] FIG. 12 presents results demonstrating that all of the
anti-MASP-2 Fab2 antibodies tested that inhibited C3 convertase
formation also were found to inhibit C4 cleavage, as described in
Example 24;
[0061] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the recombinant
polypeptides derived from rat MASP-2 that were used for epitope
mapping of the anti-MASP-2 blocking Fab2 antibodies, as described
in Example 25;
[0062] FIG. 14 presents results demonstrating the binding of
anti-MASP-2 Fab2 #40 and #60 to rat MASP-2 polypeptides, as
described in Example 25;
[0063] FIG. 15 presents results demonstrating the blood urea
nitrogen clearance for wild type (+/+) and MASP-2 (-/-) mice at 24
and 48 hours after reperfusion in a renal ischemia/reperfusion
injury model, as described in Example 26;
[0064] FIG. 16A presents results demonstrating the infarct size for
wild type (+/+) and reduced infarct size in MASP-2 (-/-) mice after
injury in a coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion model, as
described in Example 27;
[0065] FIG. 16B presents results showing the distribution of the
individual animals tested in the coronary artery occlusion and
reperfusion model, as described in Example 27;
[0066] FIG. 17A presents results showing the baseline VEGF protein
levels in RPE-choroid complex isolated from wild type (+/+) and
MASP-2 (-/-) mice, as described in Example 28;
[0067] FIG. 17B presents results showing the VEGF protein levels in
RPE-choroid complex at day 3 in wild type (+/+) and MASP-2 (-/-)
mice following laser induced injury in a macular degeneration
model, as described in Example 28;
[0068] FIG. 18 presents results showing the mean choroidal
neovascularization (CNV) volume at day seven following laser
induced injury in wild type (+/+) and MASP-2 (-/-) mice, as
described in Example 28;
[0069] FIG. 19 presents results showing the mean clinical arthritis
score of wild type (+/+) and MASP-2 (-/-) mice over time following
Col2 mAb-induced rheumatoid arthritis, as described in Example
29;
[0070] FIG. 20A is a diagram showing the targeted disruption of the
sMAP (Map19) gene, as described in Example 30;
[0071] FIG. 20B presents Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA
isolated from offspring derived from mating male sMAP (-/-)
chimeric mice with female C57BL/6 mice, as described in Example
30;
[0072] FIG. 20C presents PCR genotyping analysis of wild type (+/+)
and sMAP (-/-) mice, as described in Example 30;
[0073] FIG. 21A presents Northern blot analysis of sMAP and MASP-2
mRNA in sMAP (-/-) mice, as described in Example 30;
[0074] FIG. 21B presents quantitative RT-PCR analysis of cDNA
encoding MASP-2 H-chain, MASP-2 L-chain and sMAP, in wild type
(+/+) and sMAP (-/-) mice, as described in Example 30;
[0075] FIG. 22A presents an immunoblot of sMAP (-/-), i.e., MAp19
(-/-), demonstrating deficiency of MASP-2 and sMAP in mouse serum,
as described in Example 30;
[0076] FIG. 22B presents results demonstrating that MASP-2 and sMAP
were detected in the MBL-MASP-sMAP complex, as described in Example
30;
[0077] FIG. 23A presents results showing C4 deposition on
mannan-coated wells in wild type (+/+) and sMAP (-/-) mouse serum,
as described in Example 30;
[0078] FIG. 23B presents results showing C3 deposition on
mannan-coated wells in wild type (+/+) and sMAP (-/-) mouse serum,
as described in Example 30;
[0079] FIG. 24A presents results showing reconstitution of the
MBL-MASP-sMAP complex in sMAP (-/-) serum, as described in Example
30;
[0080] FIGS. 24B-D present results showing competitive binding of
rsMAP and MASP-2i to MBL, as described in Example 30;
[0081] FIGS. 25A-B present results showing restoration of the C4
deposition activity by the addition of rMASP-2, but not rsMAP, as
described in Example 30;
[0082] FIGS. 26A-B present results showing reduction of the C4
deposition activity by addition of rsMAP, as described in Example
30; and
[0083] FIGS. 27A-C presents results showing that MASP-2 is
responsible for the C4 bypass activation of C3, as described in
Example 31.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTING
[0084] SEQ ID NO:1 human MAp19 cDNA [0085] SEQ ID NO:2 human MAp19
protein (with leader) [0086] SEQ ID NO:3 human MAp19 protein
(mature) [0087] SEQ ID NO:4 human MASP-2 cDNA [0088] SEQ ID NO:5
human MASP-2 protein (with leader) [0089] SEQ ID NO:6 human MASP-2
protein (mature) [0090] SEQ ID NO:7 human MASP-2 gDNA (exons 1-6)
ANTIGENS: (IN REFERENCE TO THE MASP-2 MATURE PROTEIN) [0091] SEQ ID
NO:8 CUBI sequence (aa 1-121) [0092] SEQ ID NO:9 CUBEGF sequence
(aa 1-166) [0093] SEQ ID NO:10 CUBEGFCUBII (aa 1-293) [0094] SEQ ID
NO:11 EGF region (aa 122-166) [0095] SEQ ID NO:12 serine protease
domain (aa 429-671) [0096] SEQ ID NO:13 serine protease domain
inactive (aa 610-625 with Ser618 to Ala mutation) [0097] SEQ ID
NO:14 TPLGPKWPEPVFGRL (CUB1 peptide) [0098] SEQ ID NO:15
TAPPGYRLRLYFTHFDLELSHLCEYDFVKLSSGAKVLATLC GQ (CUBI peptide) [0099]
SEQ ID NO:16 TFRSDYSN (MBL binding region core) [0100] SEQ ID NO:17
FYSLGSSLDITFRSDYSNEKPFTGF (MBL binding region) [0101] SEQ ID NO:18
IDECQVAPG (EGF PEPTIDE) [0102] SEQ ID NO:19
ANMLCAGLESGGKDSCRGDSGGALV (serine protease binding core) Detailed
Description
Peptide Inhibitors:
[0102] [0103] SEQ ID NO:20 MBL full length cDNA [0104] SEQ ID NO:21
MBL full length protein [0105] SEQ ID NO:22 OGK-X-GP (consensus
binding) [0106] SEQ ID NO:23 OGKLG [0107] SEQ ID NO:24 GLR GLQ GPO
GKL GPO G [0108] SEQ ID NO:25 GPO GPO GLR GLQ GPO GKL GPO GPO GPO
[0109] SEQ ID NO:26 GKDGRDGTKGEKGEPGQGLRGLQGPOGKLGPOG [0110] SEQ ID
NO:27 GAOGSOGEKGAOGPQGPOGPOGKMGPKGEOGDO (human h-ficolin) [0111]
SEQ ID NO:28 GC OGLOGAOGDKGEAGTNGKRGERGPOGPOGKAGPOGPN GAOGEO (human
ficolin p35) [0112] SEQ ID NO:29 LQRALEILPNRVTIKANRPFLVFI (C4
cleavage site)
Expression Inhibitors:
[0112] [0113] SEQ ID NO:30 cDNA of CUBI-EGF domain (nucleotides
22-680 of SEQ ID NO:4) [0114] SEQ ID NO:31 5'
CGGGCACACCATGAGGCTGCTGACCCTCCTGGGC 3' Nucleotides 12-45 of SEQ ID
NO:4 including the MASP-2 translation start site (sense) [0115] SEQ
ID NO:32 5'GACATTACCTTCCGCTCCGACTCCAACGAGAAG3' Nucleotides 361-396
of SEQ ID NO:4 encoding a region comprising the MASP-2 MBL binding
site (sense) [0116] SEQ ID NO:33
5'AGCAGCCCTGAATACCCACGGCCGTATCCCAAA3' Nucleotides 610-642 of SEQ ID
NO:4 encoding a region comprising the CUBII domain
Cloning Primers:
[0116] [0117] SEQ ID NO:34 CGGGATCCATGAGGCTGCTGACCCTC (5' PCR for
CUB) [0118] SEQ ID NO:35 GGAATTCCTAGGCTGCATA (3' PCR FOR CUB)
[0119] SEQ ID NO:36 GGAATTCCTACAGGGCGCT (3' PCR FOR CUBIEGF) [0120]
SEQ ID NO:37 GGAATTCCTAGTAGTGGAT (3' PCR FOR CUBIEGFCUBII) [0121]
SEQ ID NOS:38-47 are cloning primers for humanized antibody [0122]
SEQ ID NO:48 is 9 aa peptide bond
Expression Vector:
[0122] [0123] SEQ ID NO:49 is the MASP-2 minigene insert [0124] SEQ
ID NO: 50 is the murine MASP-2 cDNA [0125] SEQ ID NO: 51 is the
murine MASP-2 protein (w/leader) [0126] SEQ ID NO: 52 is the mature
murine MASP-2 protein [0127] SEQ ID NO: 53 the rat MASP-2 cDNA
[0128] SEQ ID NO: 54 is the rat MASP-2 protein (w/leader) [0129]
SEQ ID NO: 55 is the mature rat MASP-2 protein [0130] SEQ ID NO:
56-59 are the oligonucleotides for site-directed mutagenesis of
human MASP-2 used to generate human MASP-2A [0131] SEQ ID NO: 60-63
are the oligonucleotides for site-directed mutagenesis of murine
MASP-2 used to generate murine MASP-2A [0132] SEQ ID NO: 64-65 are
the oligonucleotides for site-directed mutagenesis of rat MASP-2
used to generate rat MASP-2A
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0133] The present invention is based upon the surprising discovery
by the present inventors that MASP-2 is needed to initiate
alternative complement pathway activation. Through the use of a
knockout mouse model of MASP-2-/-, the present inventors have shown
that it is possible to inhibit alternative complement pathway
activation via the lectin mediated MASP-2 pathway while leaving the
classical pathway intact, thus establishing the lectin-dependent
MASP-2 activation as a requirement for alternative complement
activation in absence of the classical pathway. The present
invention also describes the use of MASP-2 as a therapeutic target
for inhibiting cellular injury associated with lectin-mediated
alternative complement pathway activation while leaving the
classical (C1q-dependent) pathway component of the immune system
intact.
I. Definitions
[0134] Unless specifically defined herein, all terms used herein
have the same meaning as would be understood by those of ordinary
skill in the art of the present invention. The following
definitions are provided in order to provide clarity with respect
to the terms as they are used in the specification and claims to
describe the present invention.
[0135] As used herein, the term "MASP-2-dependent complement
activation" refers to alternative pathway complement activation
that occurs via lectin-dependent MASP-2 activation.
[0136] As used herein, the term "alternative pathway" refers to
complement activation that is triggered, for example, by zymosan
from fungal and yeast cell walls, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from
Gram negative outer membranes, and rabbit erythrocytes, as well as
from many pure polysaccharides, rabbit erythrocytes, viruses,
bacteria, animal tumor cells, parasites and damaged cells, and
which has traditionally been thought to arise from spontaneous
proteolytic generation of C3b from complement factor C3.
[0137] As used herein, the term "lectin pathway" refers to
complement activation that occurs via the specific binding of serum
and non-serum carbohydrate-binding proteins including
mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and the ficolins.
[0138] As used herein, the term "classical pathway" refers to
complement activation that is triggered by antibody bound to a
foreign particle and requires binding of the recognition molecule
C1q.
[0139] As used herein, the term "MASP-2 inhibitory agent" refers to
any agent that binds to or directly interacts with MASP-2 and
effectively inhibits MASP-2-dependent complement activation,
including anti-MASP-2 antibodies and MASP-2 binding fragments
thereof, natural and synthetic peptides, small molecules, soluble
MASP-2 receptors, expression inhibitors and isolated natural
inhibitors, and also encompasses peptides that compete with MASP-2
for binding to another recognition molecule (e.g., MBL, H-ficolin,
M-ficolin, or L-ficolin) in the lectin pathway, but does not
encompass antibodies that bind to such other recognition molecules.
MASP-2 inhibitory agents useful in the method of the invention may
reduce MASP-2-dependent complement activation by greater than 20%,
such as greater than 50%, such as greater than 90%. In one
embodiment, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent reduces MASP-2-dependent
complement activation by greater than 90% (i.e., resulting in
MASP-2 complement activation of only 10% or less).
[0140] As used herein, the term "antibody" encompasses antibodies
and antibody fragments thereof, derived from any antibody-producing
mammal (e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, and primate including human),
that specifically bind to MASP-2 polypeptides or portions thereof.
Exemplary antibodies include polyclonal, monoclonal and recombinant
antibodies; multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies);
humanized antibodies; murine antibodies; chimeric, mouse-human,
mouse-primate, primate-human monoclonal antibodies; and
anti-idiotype antibodies, and may be any intact molecule or
fragment thereof.
[0141] As used herein, the term "antibody fragment" refers to a
portion derived from or related to a full-length anti-MASP-2
antibody, generally including the antigen binding or variable
region thereof. Illustrative examples of antibody fragments include
Fab, Fab', F(ab).sub.2, F(ab').sub.2 and Fv fragments, scFv
fragments, diabodies, linear antibodies, single-chain antibody
molecules and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody
fragments.
[0142] As used herein, a "single-chain Fv" or "scFv" antibody
fragment comprises the V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains of an antibody,
wherein these domains are present in a single polypeptide chain.
Generally, the Fv polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide
linker between the V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains, which enables the
scFv to form the desired structure for antigen binding.
[0143] As used herein, a "chimeric antibody" is a recombinant
protein that contains the variable domains and
complementarity-determining regions derived from a non-human
species (e.g., rodent) antibody, while the remainder of the
antibody molecule is derived from a human antibody.
[0144] As used herein, a "humanized antibody" is a chimeric
antibody that comprises a minimal sequence that conforms to
specific complementarity-determining regions derived from non-human
immunoglobulin that is transplanted into a human antibody
framework. Humanized antibodies are typically recombinant proteins
in which only the antibody complementarity-determining regions are
of non-human origin.
[0145] As used herein, the term "mannan-binding lectin" ("MBL") is
equivalent to mannan-binding protein ("MBP").
[0146] As used herein, the "membrane attack complex" ("MAC") refers
to a complex of the terminal five complement components (C5-C9)
that inserts into and disrupts membranes. Also referred to as
C5b-9.
[0147] As used herein, "a subject" includes all mammals, including
without limitation humans, non-human primates, dogs, cats, horses,
sheep, goats, cows, rabbits, pigs and rodents.
[0148] As used herein, the amino acid residues are abbreviated as
follows: alanine (Ala;A), asparagine (Asn;N), aspartic acid
(Asp;D), arginine (Arg;R), cysteine (Cys;C), glutamic acid (Glu;E),
glutamine (Gln;Q), glycine (Gly;G), histidine (His;H), isoleucine
(Ile;I), leucine (Leu;L), lysine (Lys;K), methionine (Met;M),
phenylalanine (Phe;F), proline (Pro;P), serine (Ser;S), threonine
(Thr;T), tryptophan (Trp;W), tyrosine (Tyr;Y), and valine
(Val;V).
[0149] In the broadest sense, the naturally occurring amino acids
can be divided into groups based upon the chemical characteristic
of the side chain of the respective amino acids. By "hydrophobic"
amino acid is meant either Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Trp, Tyr, Val, Ala,
Cys or Pro. By "hydrophilic" amino acid is meant either Gly, Asn,
Gln, Ser, Thr,
[0150] Asp, Glu, Lys, Arg or His. This grouping of amino acids can
be further subclassed as follows. By "uncharged hydrophilic" amino
acid is meant either Ser, Thr, Asn or Gln. By "acidic" amino acid
is meant either Glu or Asp. By "basic" amino acid is meant either
Lys, Arg or His.
[0151] As used herein the term "conservative amino acid
substitution" is illustrated by a substitution among amino acids
within each of the following groups: (1) glycine, alanine, valine,
leucine, and isoleucine, (2) phenylalanine, tyrosine, and
tryptophan, (3) serine and threonine, (4) aspartate and glutamate,
(5) glutamine and asparagine, and (6) lysine, arginine and
histidine.
[0152] The term "oligonucleotide" as used herein refers to an
oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. This term also covers those
oligonucleobases composed of naturally-occurring nucleotides,
sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as
oligonucleotides having non-naturally-occurring modifications.
II. The Alternative Pathway: A New Understanding
[0153] The alternative pathway of complement was first described by
Louis Pillemer and his colleagues in early 1950s based on studies
in which zymosan made from yeast cell walls was used to activate
complement (Pillemer, L. et al., J. Exp. Med. 103:1-13, 1956;
Lepow, I. H., J. Immunol. 125:471-478, 1980). Ever since then,
zymosan is considered as the canonical example of a specific
activator of the alternative pathway in human and rodent serum
(Lachmann, P. J., et al., Springer Semin. Immunopathol. 7:143-162,
1984; Van Dijk, H., et al., J. Immunol. Methods 85:233-243, 1985;
Pangburn, M. K., Methods in Enzymol. 162:639-653, 1988). A
convenient and widely used assay for alternative pathway activation
is to incubate serum with zymosan coated onto plastic wells and to
determine the amount of C3b deposition onto the solid phase
following the incubation. As expected, there is substantial C3b
deposition onto zymosan-coated wells following incubation with
normal mouse serum (FIG. 7B). However, incubation of serum from
homozygous MASP-2-deficient mice with zymosan-coated wells results
in a substantial reduction in C3b deposition compared to that of
normal serum. Furthermore, use of serum from mice heterozygous for
deficiency in the MASP 2 gene in this assay results in levels of
C3b deposition that are intermediate between those obtained with
serum from homozygous MASP-2-deficient mice and normal mouse serum.
Parallel results are also obtained using wells coated with mannan,
another polysaccharide known to activate the alternative pathway
(FIG. 7A). Since the normal and MASP-2 deficient mice share the
same genetic background, except for the MASP 2 gene, these
unexpected results demonstrate that MASP-2 plays an essential role
in activation of the alternative pathway.
[0154] These results provide strong evidence that the alternative
pathway is not an independent, stand-alone pathway of complement
activation as described in essentially all current medical
textbooks and recent review articles on complement. The current and
widely held scientific view is that the alternative pathway is
activated on the surface of certain particulate targets (microbes,
zymosan, rabbit erythrocytes) through the amplification of
spontaneous "tick-over" C3 activation. However, the absence of
significant alternative pathway activation in serum from MASP-2
knockout mice by two well-known "activators" of the alternative
pathway makes it unlikely that the "tick-over theory" describes an
important physiological mechanism for complement activation.
[0155] Since MASP-2 protease is known to have a specific and
well-defined role as the enzyme responsible for the initiation of
the lectin complement cascade, these results implicate activation
of the lectin pathway by zymosan and mannan as a critical first
step for subsequent activation of the alternative pathway. C4b is
an activation product generated by the lectin pathway but not by
the alternative pathway. Consistent with this concept, incubation
of normal mouse serum with zymosan- or mannan-coated wells results
in C4b deposition onto the wells and this C4b deposition is
substantially reduced when the coated wells are incubated with
serum from MASP-2-deficient mice (FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C).
[0156] The alternative pathway, in addition to its widely accepted
role as an independent pathway for complement activation, can also
provide an amplification loop for complement activation initially
triggered via the classical and lectin pathways (Liszewski, M. K.
and J. P. Atkinson, 1993, in Fundamental Immunology, Third Edition,
edited by W. E. Paul, Raven Press, Ltd., New York; Schweinie, J.
E., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 84:1821-1829, 1989). In this
alternative pathway-mediated amplification mechanism, C3 convertase
(C4b2b) generated by activation of either the classical or lectin
complement cascades cleaves C3 into C3a and C3b, and thereby
provides C3b that can participate in forming C3bBb, the alternative
pathway C3 convertase. The likely explanation for the absence of
alternative pathway activation in MASP-2 knockout serum is that the
lectin pathway is required for initial complement activation by
zymosan, mannan, and other putative "activators" of the alternative
pathway, while the alternative pathway plays a crucial role for
amplifying complement activation. In other words, the alternative
pathway is a feedforward amplification loop dependent upon the
lectin and classical complement pathways for activation, rather
than an independent linear cascade.
[0157] Rather than the complement cascade being activated through
three distinct pathways (classical, alternative and lectin
pathways) as previously envisioned, our results indicate that it is
more accurate to view complement as being composed of two major
systems, which correspond, to a first approximation, to the innate
(lectin) and acquired (classical) wings of the complement immune
defense system. Lectins (MBP, M-ficolin, H-ficolin, and L-ficolin)
are the specific recognition molecules that trigger the innate
complement system and the system includes the lectin pathway and
the associated alternative pathway amplification loop. C1q is the
specific recognition molecule that triggers the acquired complement
system and the system includes the classical pathway and associated
alternative pathway amplification loop. We refer to these two major
complement activation systems as the lectin-dependent complement
system and the C1q-dependent complement system, respectively.
[0158] In addition to its essential role in immune defense, the
complement system contributes to tissue damage in many clinical
conditions. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop
therapeutically effective complement inhibitors to prevent these
adverse effects. With recognition that complement is composed of
two major complement activation systems comes the realization that
it would be highly desirable to specifically inhibit only the
complement activation system causing a particular pathology without
completely shutting down the immune defense capabilities of
complement. For example, in disease states in which complement
activation is mediated predominantly by the lectin-dependent
complement system, it would be advantageous to specifically inhibit
only this system. This would leave the C1q-dependent complement
activation system intact to handle immune complex processing and to
aid in host defense against infection.
[0159] The preferred protein component to target in the development
of therapeutic agents to specifically inhibit the lectin-dependent
complement system is MASP-2. Of all the protein components of the
lectin-dependent complement system (MBL, H-ficolin, M-ficolin,
L-ficolin, MASP-2, C2-C9, Factor B, Factor D, and properdin), only
MASP-2 is both unique to the lectin-dependent complement system and
required for the system to function. The lectins (MBL, H-ficolin,
M-ficolin and L-ficolin) are also unique components in the
lectin-dependent complement system. However, loss of any one of the
lectin components would not necessarily inhibit activation of the
system due to lectin redundancy. It would be necessary to inhibit
all four lectins in order to guarantee inhibition of the
lectin-dependent complement activation system. Furthermore, since
MBL and the ficolins are also known to have opsonic activity
independent of complement, inhibition of lectin function would
result in the loss of this beneficial host defense mechanism
against infection. In contrast, this complement-independent lectin
opsonic activity would remain intact if MASP-2 was the inhibitory
target. An added benefit of MASP-2 as the therapeutic target to
inhibit the lectin-dependent complement activation system is that
the plasma concentration of MASP-2 is among the lowest of any
complement protein (.apprxeq.500 ng/ml); therefore, correspondingly
low concentrations of high-affinity inhibitors of MASP-2 may be
required to obtain full inhibition (Moller-Kristensen, M., et al.,
J. Immunol Methods 282:159-167, 2003).
III. Role of MASP-2 in Various Diseases and Conditions and
Therapeutic Methods Using MASP-2 Inhibitory Agents
[0160] Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
[0161] Ischemia reperfusion injury (I/R) occurs when blood flow is
restored after an extended period of ischemia. It is a common
source of morbidity and mortality in a wide spectrum of diseases.
Surgical patients are vulnerable after aortic aneurysm repair,
cardiopulmonary bypass, vascular reanastomosis in connection with,
for example, organ transplants (e.g., heart, lung, liver, kidney)
and digit/extremity replantation, stroke, myocardial infarction and
hemodynamic resuscitation following shock and/or surgical
procedures. Patients with atherosclerotic diseases are prone to
myocardial infarctions, strokes, and emboli-induced intestinal and
lower-extremity ischemia. Patients with trauma frequently suffer
from temporary ischemia of the limbs. In addition, any cause of
massive blood loss leads to a whole-body I/R reaction.
[0162] The pathophysiology of I/R injury is complex, with at least
two major factors contributing to the process: complement
activation and neutrophil stimulation with accompanying oxygen
radical-mediated injury. In I/R injury, complement activation was
first described during myocardial infarction over 30 years ago, and
has led to numerous investigations on the contribution of the
complement system to I/R tissue injury (Hill, J. H., et al., J.
Exp. Med. 133:885-900, 1971). Accumulating evidence now points to
complement as a pivotal mediator in I/R injury. Complement
inhibition has been successful in limiting injury in several animal
models of I/R. In early studies, C3 depletion was achieved
following infusion of cobra venom factor, reported to be beneficial
during I/R in kidney and heart (Maroko, P. R., et al., 1978, J.
Clin Invest. 61:661-670, 1978; Stein, S. H., et al., Miner
Electrolyte Metab. 11:256-61, 1985). However, the soluble form of
complement receptor 1 (sCR1) was the first complement-specific
inhibitor utilized for the prevention of myocardial I/R injury
(Weisman, H. F., et al., Science 249:146-51, 1990). sCR1 treatment
during myocardial I/R attenuates infarction associated with
decreased deposition of C5b-9 complexes along the coronary
endothelium and decreased leukocyte infiltration after
reperfusion.
[0163] In experimental myocardial I/R, C1 esterase inhibitor (C1
INH) administered before reperfusion prevents deposition of C1q and
significantly reduced the area of cardiac muscle necrosis (Buerke,
M., et al., 1995, Circulation 91:393-402, 1995). Animals
genetically deficient in C3 have less local tissue necrosis after
skeletal muscle or intestinal ischaemia (Weiser, M. R., et al., J.
Exp. Med. 183:2343-48, 1996).
[0164] The membrane attack complex is the ultimate vehicle of
complement-directed injury and studies in C5-deficient animals have
shown decreased local and remote injury in models of I/R injury
(Austen, W. G. Jr., et al., Surgery 126:343-48, 1999). An inhibitor
of complement activation, soluble Crry (complement receptor-related
gene Y), has been shown to be effective against injury when given
both before and after the onset of murine intestinal reperfusion
(Rehrig, S., et al., J. Immunol. 167:5921-27, 2001). In a model of
skeletal muscle ischemia, the use of soluble complement receptor 1
(sCR1) also reduced muscle injury when given after the start of
reperfusion (Kyriakides, C., et al., Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.
281:C244-30, 2001). In a porcine model of myocardial I/R, animals
treated with monoclonal antibody ("MoAb") to the anaphylatoxin C5a
prior to reperfusion showed attenuated infarction (Amsterdam, E.
A., et al., Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 268:H448-57,
1995). Rats treated with C5 MoAb demonstrated attenuated infarct
size, neutrophil infiltration and apoptosis in the myocardium
(Vakeva, A., et al., Circulation 97:2259-67, 1998). These
experimental results highlight the importance of complement
activation in the pathogenesis of I/R injury.
[0165] It is unclear which complement pathway (classical, lectin or
alternative) is predominantly involved in complement activation in
I/R injury. Weiser et al. demonstrated an important role of the
lectin and/or classical pathways during skeletal I/R by showing
that C3- or C4-knockout mice were protected against I/R injury
based on a significant reduction in vascular permeability (Weiser,
M. R., et al., J. Exp. Med. 183:2343-48, 1996). In contrast, renal
I/R experiments with C4 knockout mice demonstrate no significant
tissue protection, while C3-, C5-, and C6-knockout mice were
protected from injury, suggesting that complement activation during
renal I/R injury occurs via the alternative pathway (Zhou, W., et
al., J. Clin. Invest. 105:1363-71, 2000). Using factor D deficient
mice, Stahl et al. recently presented evidence for an important
role of the alternative pathway in intestinal I/R in mice (Stahl,
G., et al., Am. J. Pathol. 162:449-55, 2003). In contrast, Williams
et al. suggested a predominant role of the classical pathway for
initiation of I/R injury in the intestine of mice by showing
reduced organ staining for C3 and protection from injury in C4 and
IgM (Rag1-/-) deficient mice (Williams, J. P., et al., J. Appl.
Physiol. 86:938-42, 1999).
[0166] Treatment of rats in a myocardial I/R model with monoclonal
antibodies against rat mannan-binding lectin (MBL) resulted in
reduced postischemic reperfusion injury (Jordan, J. E., et al.,
Circulation 104:1413-18, 2001). MBL antibodies also reduced
complement deposition on endothelial cells in vitro after oxidative
stress indicating a role for the lectin pathway in myocardial I/R
injury (Collard, C. D., et al., Am. J. Pathol. 156:1549-56, 2000).
There is also evidence that I/R injury in some organs may be
mediated by a specific category of IgM, termed natural antibodies,
and activation of the classical pathway (Fleming, S. D., et al., J.
Immunol. 169:2126-33, 2002; Reid, R. R., et al., J. Immunol.
169:5433-40, 2002).
[0167] Several inhibitors of complement activation have been
developed as potential therapeutic agents to prevent morbidity and
mortality resulting from myocardial I/R complications. Two of these
inhibitors, sCR1 (TP10) and humanized anti-C5 scFv (Pexelizumab),
have completed Phase II clinical trials. Pexelizumab has
additionally completed a Phase III clinical trial. Although TP10
was well tolerated and beneficial to patients in early Phase I/II
trials, results from a Phase II trial ending in February 2002
failed to meet its primary endpoint. However, sub-group analysis of
the data from male patients in a high-risk population undergoing
open-heart procedures demonstrated significantly decreased
mortality and infarct size. Administration of a humanized anti-C5
scFv decreased overall patient mortality associated with acute
myocardial infarction in the COMA and COMPLY Phase II trials, but
failed to meet the primary endpoint (Mahaffey, K. W., et al.,
Circulation 108:1176-83, 2003). Results from a recent Phase III
anti-C5 scFv clinical trial (PRIMO-CABG) for improving surgically
induced outcomes following coronary artery bypass were recently
released. Although the primary endpoint for this study was not
reached, the study demonstrated an overall reduction in
postoperative patient morbidity and mortality.
[0168] Dr. Walsh and colleagues have demonstrated that mice lacking
MBL, and hence devoid of MBL-dependent lectin pathway activation
but with fully-active classical complement pathways, are protected
from cardiac reperfusion injury with resultant preservation of
cardiac function (Walsh et al., J. Immunol. 175:541-46, 2005).
Significantly, mice that lack C1q, the recognition component of the
classical complement pathway, but that have intact MBL complement
pathway, are not protected from injury. These results indicate that
the lectin pathway has a major role in the pathogenesis of
myocardial reperfusion ischemic injury.
[0169] Complement activation is known to play an important role in
tissue injury associated with gastrointestinal ischemia-reperfusion
(I/R). Using a murine model of GI/R, a recent study by Hart and
colleagues reports that mice genetically deficient in MBL are
protected from gut injury after gastrointestinal I/R (Hart et al.,
J. Immunol. 174:6373-80, 2005). Addition of recombinant MBL to
MBL-deficient mice significantly increased injury compared to
untreated MBL-deficient mice after gastrointestinal I/R. In
contrast, mice that genetically lack C1q, the classical pathway
recognition component, are not protected from tissue injury after
gastrointestinal I/R.
[0170] Kidney I/R is an important cause of acute renal failure. The
complement system appears to be essentially involved in renal I/R
injury. In a recent study, de Vries and colleagues report that the
lectin pathway is activated in the course of experimental as well
as clinical renal I/R injury (de Vries et al., Am. J. Path.
165:1677-88, 2004). Moreover, the lectin pathway precedes and
co-localizes with complement C3, C6, and C9 deposition in the
course of renal I/R. These results indicate that the lectin pathway
of complement activation is involved in renal I/R injury.
[0171] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
treatment of ischemia reperfusion injuries by treating a subject
experiencing ischemic reperfusion with a therapeutically effective
amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier.
The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to the subject by
intra-arterial, intravenous, intracranial, intramuscular,
subcutaneous, or other parenteral administration, and potentially
orally for non-peptidergic inhibitors, and most suitably by
intra-arterial or intravenous administration. Administration of the
MASP-2 inhibitory compositions of the present invention suitably
commences immediately after or as soon as possible after an
ischemia reperfusion event. In instances where reperfusion occurs
in a controlled environment (e.g., following an aortic aneurism
repair, organ transplant or reattachment of severed or traumatized
limbs or digits), the MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered
prior to and/or during and/or after reperfusion. Administration may
be repeated periodically as determined by a physician for optimal
therapeutic effect.
[0172] Atherosclerosis
[0173] There is considerable evidence that complement activation is
involved in atherogenesis in humans. A number of studies have
convincingly shown that, although no significant complement
activation takes place in normal arteries, complement is
extensively activated in atherosclerotic lesions and is especially
strong in vulnerable and ruptured plaques. Components of the
terminal complement pathway are frequently found in human atheromas
(Niculescu, F., et al., Mol. Immunol. 36:949-55.10-12, 1999; Rus,
H. G., et al., Immunol. Lett. 20:305-310, 1989; Torzewski, M., et
al., Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 18:369-378, 1998). C3 and C4
deposition in arterial lesions has also been demonstrated (Hansson,
G. K., et al., Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Immunol. Scand. (A)
92:429-35, 1984). The extent of C5b-9 deposition was found to
correlate with the severity of the lesion (Vlaicu, R., et al.,
Atherosclerosis 57:163-77, 1985). Deposition of complement iC3b,
but not C5b-9, was especially strong in ruptured and vulnerable
plaques, suggesting that complement activation may be a factor in
acute coronary syndromes (Taskinen S., et al., Biochem. J.
367:403-12, 2002). In experimental atheroma in rabbits, complement
activation was found to precede the development of lesions (Seifer,
P. S., et al., Lab Invest. 60:747-54, 1989).
[0174] In atherosclerotic lesions, complement is activated via the
classic and alternative pathways, but there is little evidence, as
yet, of complement activation via the lectin pathway. Several
components of the arterial wall may trigger complement activation.
The classical pathway of complement may be activated by C-reactive
protein (CRP) bound to enzymatically degraded LDL (Bhakdi, S., et
al., Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 19:2348-54, 1999).
Consistent with this view is the finding that the terminal
complement proteins colocalize with CRP in the intima of early
human lesions (Torzewski, J., et al., Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc.
Biol. 18:1386-92, 1998). Likewise, immunoglobulin M or IgG
antibodies specific for oxidized LDL within lesions may activate
the classical pathway (Witztum, J. L., Lancet 344:793-95, 1994).
Lipids isolated from human atherosclerotic lesions have a high
content of unesterified cholesterol and are able to activate the
alternative pathway (Seifert P. S., et al., J. Exp. Med.
172:547-57, 1990). Chlamydia pneumoniae, a Gram-negative bacteria
frequently associated with atherosclerotic lesions, may also
activate the alternative pathway of complement (Campbell L. A., et
al., J. Infect. Dis. 172:585-8, 1995). Other potential complement
activators present in atherosclerotic lesions include cholesterol
crystals and cell debris, both of which can activate the
alternative pathway (Seifert, P. S., et al., Mol. Immunol.
24:1303-08, 1987).
[0175] Byproducts of complement activation are known to have many
biological properties that could influence the development of
atherosclerotic lesions. Local complement activation may induce
cell lysis and generate at least some of the cell debris found in
the necrotic core of advanced lesions (Niculescu, F. et al., Mol.
Immunol. 36:949-55.10-12, 1999). Sublytic complement activation
could be a significant factor contributing to smooth muscle cell
proliferation and to monocyte infiltration into the arterial intima
during atherogenesis (Torzewski J., et al., Arterioscler. Thromb.
Vasc. Biol. 18:673-77, 1996). Persistent activation of complement
may be detrimental because it may trigger and sustain inflammation.
In addition to the infiltration of complement components from blood
plasma, arterial cells express messenger RNA for complement
proteins and the expression of various complement components is
upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions (Yasojima, K., et al.,
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 21:1214-19, 2001).
[0176] A limited number of studies on the influence of complement
protein deficiencies on atherogenesis have been reported. The
results in experimental animal models have been conflicting. In the
rat, the formation of atherosclerotic-like lesions induced by toxic
doses of vitamin D was diminished in complement-depleted animals
(Geertinger P., et al., Acta. Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. (A)
78:284-88, 1970). Furthermore, in cholesterol-fed rabbits,
complement inhibition either by genetic C6 deficiency (Geertinger,
P., et al., Artery 1:177-84, 1977; Schmiedt, W., et al.,
Arterioscl. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 18:1790-1795, 1998) or by
anticomplement agent K-76 COONa (Saito, E., et al., J. Drug Dev.
3:147-54, 1990) suppressed the development of atherosclerosis
without affecting the serum cholesterol levels. In contrast, a
recent study reported that C5 deficiency does not reduce the
development of atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)
deficient mice (Patel, S., et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.
286:164-70, 2001). However, in another study the development of
atherosclerotic lesions in LDLR-deficient (ldlr-) mice with or
without C3 deficiency was evaluated (Buono, C., et al., Circulation
105:3025-31, 2002). They found that the maturation of atheromas to
atherosclerotic-like lesions depends in part of the presence of an
intact complement system.
[0177] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
treatment or prevention of atherosclerosis by treating a subject
suffering from or prone to atherosclerosis with a therapeutically
effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical
carrier. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to the
subject by intra-arterial, intravenous, intrathecal, intracranial,
intramuscular, subcutaneous or other parenteral administration, and
potentially orally for non-peptidergic inhibitors. Administration
of the MASP-2 inhibitory composition may commence after diagnosis
of atherosclerosis in a subject or prophylactically in a subject at
high risk of developing such a condition. Administration may be
repeated periodically as determined by a physician for optimal
therapeutic effect.
[0178] Other Vascular Diseases and Conditions
[0179] The endothelium is largely exposed to the immune system and
is particularly vulnerable to complement proteins that are present
in plasma. Complement-mediated vascular injury has been shown to
contribute to the pathophysiology of several diseases of the
cardiovascular system, including atherosclerosis (Seifert, P. S.,
et al., Atherosclerosis 73:91-104, 1988), ischemia-reperfusion
injury (Weisman, H. F., Science 249:146-51, 1990) and myocardial
infarction (Tada, T., et al., Virchows Arch 430:327-332, 1997).
Evidence suggests that complement activation may extend to other
vascular conditions.
[0180] For example, there is evidence that complement activation
contributes to the pathogenesis of many forms of vasculitis,
including: Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis, systemic lupus
erythematosus-associated vasculitis, vasculitis associated with
rheumatoid arthritis (also called malignant rheumatoid arthritis),
immune complex vasculitis, and Takayasu's disease. Henoch-Schonlein
purpura nephritis is a form of systemic vasculitis of the small
vessels with immune pathogenesis, in which activation of complement
through the lectin pathway leading to C5b-9-induced endothelial
damage is recognized as an important mechanism (Kawana, S., et al.,
Arch. Dermatol. Res. 282:183-7, 1990; Endo, M., et al., Am J.
Kidney Dis. 35:401-7, 2000). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is
an example of systemic autoimmune diseases that affects multiple
organs, including skin, kidneys, joints, serosal surfaces, and
central nervous system, and is frequently associated with severe
vasculitis. IgG anti-endothelial antibodies and IgG complexes
capable of binding to endothelial cells are present in the sera of
patients with active SLE, and deposits of IgG immune complexes and
complement are found in blood vessel walls of patients with SLE
vasculitis (Cines, D. B., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 73:611-25,
1984). Rheumatoid arthritis associated with vasculitis, also called
malignant rheumatoid arthritis (Tomooka, K., Fukuoka Igaku Zasshi
80:456-66, 1989), immune-complex vasculitis, vasculitis associated
with hepatitis A, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and the arteritis
known as Takayasu's disease, form another pleomorphic group of
human diseases in which complement-dependent cytotoxicity against
endothelial and other cell types plays a documented role (Tripathy,
N. K., et al., J. Rheumatol. 28:805-8, 2001).
[0181] Evidence also suggests that complement activation plays a
role in dilated cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a
syndrome characterized by cardiac enlargement and impaired systolic
function of the heart. Recent data suggests that ongoing
inflammation in the myocardium may contribute to the development of
disease. C5b-9, the terminal membrane attack complex of complement,
is known to significantly correlate with immunoglobulin deposition
and myocardial expression of TNF-alpha. In myocardial biopsies from
28 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial accumulation of
C5b-9 was demonstrated, suggesting that chronic
immunoglobulin-mediated complement activation in the myocardium may
contribute in part to the progression of dilated cardiomyopathy
(Zwaka, T. P., et al., Am. J. Pathol. 161(2):449-57, 2002).
[0182] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
treatment of a vascular condition, including cardiovascular
conditions, cerebrovascular conditions, peripheral (e.g.,
musculoskeletal) vascular conditions, renovascular conditions, and
mesenteric/enteric vascular conditions, by administering a
composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a
MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier. Conditions for
which the invention is believed to be suited include, without
limitation: vasculitis, including Henoch-Schonlein purpura
nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus-associated vasculitis,
vasculitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis (also called
malignant rheumatoid arthritis), immune complex vasculitis, and
Takayasu's disease; dilated cardiomyopathy; diabetic angiopathy;
Kawasaki's disease (arteritis); and venous gas embolus (VGE). Also,
given that complement activation occurs as a result of luminal
trauma and the foreign-body inflammatory response associated with
cardiovascular interventional procedures, it is believed that the
MASP-2 inhibitory compositions of the present invention may also be
used in the inhibition of restenosis following stent placement,
rotational atherectomy and/or percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty (PTCA), either alone or in combination with other
restenosis inhibitory agents such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,492,332 to Demopulos.
[0183] The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to the
subject by intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, intrathecal,
intracranial, subcutaneous or other parenteral administration, and
potentially orally for non-peptidergic inhibitors. Administration
may be repeated periodically as determined by a physician for
optimal therapeutic effect. For the inhibition of restenosis, the
MASP-2 inhibitory composition may be administered before and/or
during and/or after the placement of a stent or the atherectomy or
angioplasty procedure. Alternately, the MASP-2 inhibitory
composition may be coated on or incorporated into the stent.
[0184] Gastrointestinal Disorders
[0185] Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic
inflammatory disorders of the bowel that fall under the banner of
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is characterized by
spontaneously occurring, chronic, relapsing inflammation of unknown
origin. Despite extensive research into the disease in both humans
and experimental animals, the precise mechanisms of pathology
remain to be elucidated. However, the complement system is believed
to be activated in patients with IBD and is thought to play a role
in disease pathogenesis (Kolios, G., et al.,
Hepato-Gastroenterology 45:1601-9, 1998; Elmgreen, J., Dan. Med.
Bull. 33:222, 1986).
[0186] It has been shown that C3b and other activated complement
products are found at the luminal face of surface epithelial cells,
as well as in the muscularis mucosa and submucosal blood vessels in
IBD patients (Halstensen, T. S., et al., Immunol. Res. 10:485-92,
1991; Halstensen, T. S., et al., Gastroenterology 98:1264, 1990).
Furthermore, polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, usually a result
of C5a generation, characteristically is seen in the inflammatory
bowel (Kohl, J., Mol. Immunol. 38:175, 2001). The multifunctional
complement inhibitor K-76, has also been reported to produce
symptomatic improvement of ulcerative colitis in a small clinical
study (Kitano, A., et al., Dis. Colon Rectum 35:560, 1992), as well
as in a model of carrageenan-induced colitis in rabbits (Kitano,
A., et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 94:348-53, 1993).
[0187] A novel human C5a receptor antagonist has been shown to
protect against disease pathology in a rat model of IBD (Woodruff,
T. M., et al., J. Immunol. 171:5514-20, 2003). Mice that were
genetically deficient in decay-accelerating factor (DAF), a
membrane complement regulatory protein, were used in a model of IBD
to demonstrate that DAF deficiency resulted in markedly greater
tissue damage and increased proinflammatory cytokine production
(Lin, F., et al., J. Immunol. 172:3836-41, 2004). Therefore,
control of complement is important in regulating gut homeostasis
and may be a major pathogenic mechanism involved in the development
of IBD.
[0188] The present invention thus provides methods for inhibiting
MASP-2-dependent complement activation in subjects suffering from
inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, including but not limited
to pancreatitis, diverticulitis and bowel disorders including
Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome,
by administering a composition comprising a therapeutically effect
amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier to
a patient suffering from such a disorder. The MASP-2 inhibitory
agent may be administered to the subject by intra-arterial,
intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrathecal, intracranial
or other parenteral administration, and potentially orally for
non-peptidergic inhibitors. Administration may suitably be repeated
periodically as determined by a physician to control symptoms of
the disorder being treated.
[0189] Pulmonary Conditions
[0190] Complement has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many
lung inflammatory disorders, including: acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS) (Ware, I., et al., N Engl. J. Med. 342:1334-49,
2000); transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) (Seeger, W.,
et al., Blood 76:1438-44, 1990); ischemia/reperfusion acute lung
injury (Xiao, F., et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 82:1459-65, 1997);
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Marc, M. M., et al.,
Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. (Epub ahead of print), Mar. 23,
2004); asthma (Krug, N., et al., Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.
164:1841-43, 2001); Wegener's granulomatosis (Kalluri, R., et al.,
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 8:1795-800, 1997); and antiglomerular basement
membrane disease (Goodpasture's disease) (Kondo, C., et al., Clin.
Exp. Immunol. 124:323-9, 2001).
[0191] It is now well accepted that much of the pathophysiology of
ARDS involves a dysregulated inflammatory cascade that begins as a
normal response to an infection or other inciting event, but
ultimately causes significant autoinjury to the host (Stanley, T.
P., Emerging Therapeutic Targets 2:1-16, 1998). Patients with ARDS
almost universally show evidence of extensive complement activation
(increased plasma levels of complement components C3a and C5a), and
the degree of complement activation has been correlated with the
development and outcome of ARDS (Hammerschmidt, D. F., et al.,
Lancet 1:947-49, 1980; Solomkin, J. S., et al., J. Surgery
97:668-78, 1985).
[0192] Various experimental and clinical data suggest a role for
complement activation in the pathophysiology of ARDS. In animal
models, systemic activation of complement leads to acute lung
injury with histopathology similar to that seen in human ARDS
(Till, G. O., et al., Am. J. Pathol. 129:44-53, 1987; Ward, P. A.,
Am. J. Pathol. 149:1081-86, 1996). Inhibiting the complement
cascade by general complement depletion or by specific inhibition
of C5a confers protection in animal models of acute lung injury
(Mulligan, M. S., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 98:503-512, 1996). In
rat models, sCR1 has a protective effect in complement- and
neutrophil-mediated lung injury (Mulligan, M. S., Yeh, et al., J.
Immunol. 148:1479-85, 1992). In addition, virtually all complement
components can be produced locally in the lung by type II alveolar
cells, alveolar macrophages and lung fibroblasts (Hetland, G., et
al., Scand. J. Immunol. 24:603-8, 1986; Rothman, B. I., et al., J.
Immunol. 145:592-98, 1990). Thus the complement cascade is well
positioned to contribute significantly to lung inflammation and,
consequently, to lung injury in ARDS.
[0193] Asthma is, in essence, an inflammatory disease. The cardinal
features of allergic asthma include airway hyperresponsiveness to a
variety of specific and nonspecific stimuli, excessive airway mucus
production, pulmonary eosinophilia, and elevated concentration of
serum IgE. Although asthma is multifactorial in origin, it is
generally accepted that it arises as a result of inappropriate
immunological responses to common environmental antigens in
genetically susceptible individuals. The fact that the complement
system is highly activated in the human asthmatic lung is well
documented (Humbles, A. A., et al., Nature 406:998-01, 2002; van de
Graf, E. A., et al., J. Immunol. Methods 147:241-50, 1992).
Furthermore, recent data from animal models and humans provide
evidence that complement activation is an important mechanism
contributing to disease pathogenesis (Karp, C. L., et al., Nat.
Immunol. 1:221-26, 2000; Bautsch, W., et al., J. Immunol.
165:5401-5, 2000; Drouin, S. M., et al., J. Immunol. 169:5926-33,
2002; Walters, D. M., et al., Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol.
27:413-18, 2002). A role for the lectin pathway in asthma is
supported by studies using a murine model of chronic fungal asthma.
Mice with a genetic deficiency in mannan-binding lectin develop an
altered airway hyperresponsiveness compared to normal animals in
this asthma model (Hogaboam, C. M., et al., J. Leukoc. Biol.
75:805-14, 2004).
[0194] Complement may be activated in asthma via several pathways,
including: (a) activation through the classical pathway as a result
of allergen-antibody complex formation; (b) alternative pathway
activation on allergen surfaces; (c) activation of the lectin
pathway through engagement of carbohydrate structures on allergens;
and (d) cleavage of C3 and C5 by proteases released from
inflammatory cells. Although much remains to be learned about the
complex role played by complement in asthma, identification of the
complement activation pathways involved in the development of
allergic asthma may provide a focus for development of novel
therapeutic strategies for this increasingly important disease.
[0195] A number of studies using animal models have demonstrated a
critical role for C3 and its cleavage product, C3a, in the
development of the allergic phenotype. Drouin and colleagues used
C3-deficient mice in the ovalbumin (OVA)/Aspergillus fumigatus
asthma model (Drouin et al., J. Immunol. 167:4141-45, 2001). They
found that, when challenged with allergen, mice deficient in C3
exhibit strikingly diminished AHR and lung eosinophilia compared to
matched wild type control mice. Furthermore, these C3-deficient
mice had dramatically reduced numbers of IL-4 producing cells and
attenuated Ag-specific IgE and IgG1 responses. Taube and colleagues
obtained similar results in the OVA model of asthma by blocking
complement activation at the level of C3 and C4 using a soluble
recombinant form of the mouse complement receptor Crry (Taube et
al., Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 168:1333-41, 2003). Humbles and
colleagues deleted the C3aR in mice to examine the role of C3a in
eosinophil function (Humbles et al., Nature 406:998-1001, 2000).
Using the OVA model of asthma, they observed near complete
protection from the development of AHR to aerosolized methacholine.
Drouin and colleagues (2002) have used C3aR-deficient mice in the
OVA/A. fumigatus asthma model and demonstrated an attenuated
allergic response very similar to C3-deficient animals with
diminished AHR, eosinophil recruitment, TH2 cytokine production,
and mucus secretion in the lung, as well as reduced Ag-specific IgE
and IgG1 responses (Drouin et al., J. Immunol. 169:5926-33, 2002).
Bautsch and colleagues performed investigations using a strain of
guinea pigs that have a natural deletion of C3aR (Bautsch et al.,
J. Immunol. 165:5401-05, 2000). Using an OVA model of allergic
asthma, they observed significant protection from airway
bronchoconstriction following antigen challenge.
[0196] A number of recent studies using animal models have
demonstrated a critical role for C5 and its cleavage product C5a,
in the development of the allergic phenotype. Abe and colleagues
have reported evidence that links C5aR activation to airway
inflammation, cytokine production and airway responsiveness (Abe et
al., J. Immunol. 167:4651-60, 2001). In their studies, inhibition
of complement activation by soluble CR1, futhan (an inhibitor of
complement activation) or synthetic hexapeptide C5a antagonist
blocked the inflammatory response and airway responsiveness to
methacholine. In studies using a blocking anti-05 monoclonal
antibody Peng and colleagues found that C5 activation contributed
substantially to both airway inflammation and AHR in the OVA model
of asthma (Peng et al., J. Clin. Invest. 115:1590-1600, 2005).
Also, Baelder and colleagues reported that blockade of the C5aR
substantially reduced AHR in the A. fumigatus model of asthma
(Baelder et al., J. Immunol. 174:783-89, 2005). Furthermore,
blockade of both the C3aR and the C5aR significantly reduced airway
inflammation as demonstrated by reduced numbers of neutrophils and
eosinophils in BAL.
[0197] Although the previously listed studies highlight the
importance of complement factors C3 and C5 and their cleavage
products in the pathogenesis of experimental allergic asthma, these
studies provide no information about the contribution of each of
the three complement activation pathways since C3 and C5 are common
to all three activation pathways. However, a recent study by
Hogaboam and colleagues indicates that the lectin pathway may have
a major role in the pathogenesis of asthma (Hogaboam et al., J.
Leukocytye Biol. 75:805-814, 2004). These studies used mice
genetically deficient in mannan-binding lectin-A (MBL-A), a
carbohydrate binding protein that functions as the recognition
component for activation of the lectin complement pathway. In a
model of chronic fungal asthma, MBL-A(+/+) and MBL-A(-/-) A.
fumigatus-sensitized mice were examined at days 4 and 28 after an
i.t. challenge with A. fumigatus conidia. AHR in sensitized
MBL-A(-/-) mice was significantly attenuated at both times after
conidia challenge compared with the sensitized MBL-A (+/+) group.
They found that lung TH2 cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13)
were significantly lower in A. fumigatus-sensitized MBL-A(-/-) mice
compared to the wild-type group at day 4 after conidia. Their
results indicate that MBL-A and the lectin pathway have a major
role in the development and maintenance of AHR during chronic
fungal asthma.
[0198] Results from a recent clinical study in which the
association between a specific MBL polymorphism and development of
asthma provides further evidence that the lectin pathway may play
an important pathological role in this disease (Kaur et al., Clin.
Experimental Immunol. 143:414-19, 2006). Plasma concentrations of
MBL vary widely between individuals, and this is primarily
attributable to the genetic polymorphisms within the MBL gene. They
found that individuals who carry at least one copy of a specific
MBL polymorphism that up regulates MBL expression two- to four-fold
have an almost five-fold increased risk of developing bronchial
asthma. There was also an increased severity of disease markers in
bronchial asthma patients who carry this MBL polymorphism.
[0199] An aspect of the invention thus provides a method for
treating pulmonary disorders, by administering a composition
comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2
inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier to a subject suffering
from pulmonary disorders, including without limitation, acute
respiratory distress syndrome, transfusion-related acute lung
injury, ischemia/reperfusion acute lung injury, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, asthma, Wegener's granulomatosis, antiglomerular
basement membrane disease (Goodpasture's disease), meconium
aspiration syndrome, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury secondary to burn,
non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, transfusion-related respiratory
depression, and emphysema. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be
administered to the subject systemically, such as by
intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, inhalational, nasal,
subcutaneous or other parenteral administration, or potentially by
oral administration for non-peptidergic agents. The MASP-2
inhibitory agent composition may be combined with one or more
additional therapeutic agents, including anti-inflammatory agents,
antihistamines, corticosteroids or antimicrobial agents.
Administration may be repeated as determined by a physician until
the condition has been resolved.
[0200] Extracorporeal Circulation
[0201] There are numerous medical procedures during which blood is
diverted from a patient's circulatory system (extracorporeal
circulation systems or ECC). Such procedures include hemodialysis,
plasmapheresis, leukopheresis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenator
(ECMO), heparin-induced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation LDL
precipitation (HELP) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). These
procedures expose blood or blood products to foreign surfaces that
may alter normal cellular function and hemostasis. In pioneering
studies Craddock et al. identified complement activation as the
probable cause of granulocytopenia during hemodialysis (Craddock,
P. R., et al., N Engl. J. Med. 296:769-74, 1977). The results of
numerous studies between 1977 and the present time indicate that
many of the adverse events experienced by patients undergoing
hemodialysis or CPB are caused by activation of the complement
system (Chenoweth, D. E., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 516:306-313, 1987;
Hugli, T. E., Complement 3:111-127, 1986; Cheung, A. K., J. Am.
Soc. Nephrol. 1:150-161, 1990; Johnson, R. J., Nephrol. Dial.
Transplant 9:36-45 1994). For example, the complement activating
potential has been shown to be an important criterion in
determination of the biocompatibility of hemodialyzers with respect
to recovery of renal function, susceptibility to infection,
pulmonary dysfunction, morbidity, and survival rate of patients
with renal failure (Hakim, R. M., Kidney Int 44:484-4946,
1993).
[0202] It has been largely believed that complement activation by
hemodialysis membranes occurs by alternative pathway mechanisms due
to weak C4a generation (Kirklin, J. K., et al., J. Thorac.
Cardiovasc. Surg. 86:845-57, 1983; Vallhonrat, H., et al., ASAIO J.
45:113-4, 1999), but recent work suggests that the classical
pathway may also be involved (Wachtfogel, Y. T., et al., Blood
73:468-471, 1989). However, there is still inadequate understanding
of the factors initiating and controlling complement activation on
artificial surfaces including biomedical polymers. For example,
Cuprophan membrane used in hemodialysis has been classified as a
very potent complement activator. While not wishing to be limited
by theory, the inventors theorize that this could perhaps be
explained in part by its polysaccharide nature. The
MASP-2-dependent complement activation system identified in this
patent provides a mechanism whereby activation of the lectin
pathway triggers alternative pathway activation.
[0203] Patients undergoing ECC during CPB suffer a systemic
inflammatory reaction, which is partly caused by exposure of blood
to the artificial surfaces of the extracorporeal circuit, but also
by surface-independent factors like surgical trauma and
ischemia-reperfusion injury (Butler, J., et al., Ann. Thorac. Surg.
55:552-9, 1993; Edmunds, L. H., Ann. Thorac. Surg. 66(Suppl):
S12-6, 1998; Asimakopoulos, G., Perfusion 14:269-77, 1999). The
CPB-triggered inflammatory reaction can result in postsurgical
complications, generally termed "postperfusion syndrome." Among
these postoperative events are cognitive deficits (Fitch, J., et
al., Circulation 100(25):2499-2506, 1999), respiratory failure,
bleeding disorders, renal dysfunction and, in the most severe
cases, multiple organ failure (Wan, S., et al., Chest 112:676-692,
1997). Coronary bypass surgery with CPB leads to profound
activation of complement, in contrast to surgery without CPB but
with a comparable degree of surgical trauma (E. Fosse, 1987).
Therefore, the primary suspected cause of these CPB-related
problems is inappropriate activation of complement during the
bypass procedure (Chenoweth, K., et al., N Engl. J. Med.
304:497-503, 1981; P. Haslam, et al., Anaesthesia 25:22-26, 1980;
J. K. Kirklin, et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 86:845-857,
1983; Moore, F. D., et al., Ann. Surg 208:95-103, 1988; J.
Steinberg, et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg 106:1901-1918,
1993). In CPB circuits, the alternative complement pathway plays a
predominant role in complement activation, resulting from the
interaction of blood with the artificial surfaces of the CPB
circuits (Kirklin, J. K., et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.,
86:845-57, 1983; Kirklin, J. K., et al., Ann. Thorac. Surg.
41:193-199, 1986; Vallhonrat H., et al., ASAIO J. 45:113-4, 1999).
However, there is also evidence that the classical complement
pathway is activated during CPB (Wachtfogel, Y. T., et al., Blood
73:468-471, 1989).
[0204] Primary inflammatory substances are generated after
activation of the complement system, including anaphylatoxins C3a
and C5a, the opsonin C3b, and the membrane attack complex C5b-9.
C3a and C5a are potent stimulators of neutrophils, monocytes, and
platelets (Haeffner-Cavaillon, N., et al., J. Immunol., 139:794-9,
1987; Fletcher, M. P., et al., Am. J. Physiol. 265:H1750-61, 1993;
Rinder, C. S., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 96:1564-72, 1995; Rinder,
C. S., et al., Circulation 100:553-8, 1999). Activation of these
cells results in release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6,
IL-8, TNF alpha), oxidative free radicals and proteases (Schindler,
R., et al., Blood 76:1631-8, 1990; Cruickshank, A. M., et al., Clin
Sci. (Load) 79:161-5, 1990; Kawamura, T., et al., Can. J. Anaesth.
40:1016-21, 1993; Steinberg, J. B., et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc.
Surg. 106:1008-1, 1993; Finn, A., et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc.
Surg. 105:234-41, 1993; Ashraf, S. S., et al., J. Cardiothorac.
Vasc. Anesth. 11:718-22, 1997). C5a has been shown to upregulate
adhesion molecules CD11b and CD18 of Mac-1 in polymorphonuclear
cells (PMNs) and to induce degranulation of PMNs to release
proinflammatory enzymes. Rinder, C., et al., Cardiovasc Pharmacol.
27(Suppl 1): S6-12, 1996; Evangelista, V., et al., Blood 93:876-85,
1999; Kinkade, J. M., Jr., et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.
114:296-303, 1983; Lamb, N.J., et al., Crit. Care Med. 27:1738-44,
1999; Fujie, K., et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 374:117-25, 1999. C5b-9
induces the expression of adhesion molecule P-selectin (CD62P) on
platelets (Rinder, C. S., et al., J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.
118:460-6, 1999), whereas both C5a and C5b-9 induce surface
expression of P-selectin on endothelial cells (Foreman, K. E., et
al., J Clin. Invest. 94:1147-55, 1994). These adhesion molecules
are involved in the interaction among leukocytes, platelets and
endothelial cells. The expression of adhesion molecules on
activated endothelial cells is responsible for sequestration of
activated leukocytes, which then mediate tissue inflammation and
injury (Evangelista, V., Blood 1999; Foreman, K. E., J. Clin.
Invest. 1994; Lentsch, A. B., et al., J. Pathol. 190:343-8, 2000).
It is the actions of these complement activation products on
neutrophils, monocytes, platelets and other circulatory cells that
likely lead to the various problems that arise after CPB.
[0205] Several complement inhibitors are being studied for
potential applications in CPB. They include a recombinant soluble
complement receptor 1 (sCR1) (Chai, P. J., et al., Circulation
101:541-6, 2000), a humanized single chain anti-C5 antibody
(h5G1.1-scFv or Pexelizumab) (Fitch, J. C. K., et al., Circulation
100:3499-506, 1999), a recombinant fusion hybrid (CAB-2) of human
membrane cofactor protein and human decay accelerating factor
(Rinder, C. S., et al., Circulation 100:553-8, 1999), a 13-residue
C3-binding cyclic peptide (Compstatin) (Nilsson, B., et al., Blood
92:1661-7, 1998) and an anti-factor D MoAb (Fung, M., et al., J
Thoracic Cardiovasc. Surg. 122:113-22, 2001). SCR1 and CAB-2
inhibit the classical and alternative complement pathways at the
steps of C3 and C5 activation. Compstatin inhibits both complement
pathways at the step of C3 activation, whereas h5G1.1-scFv does so
only at the step of C5 activation. Anti-factor D MoAb inhibits the
alternative pathway at the steps of C3 and C5 activation. However,
none of these complement inhibitors would specifically inhibit the
MASP-2-dependent complement activation system identified in this
patent.
[0206] Results from a large prospective phase 3 clinical study to
investigate the efficacy and safety of the humanized single chain
anti-C5 antibody (h5G1.1-scFv, pexelizu mab) in reducing
perioperative MI and mortality in coronary artery bypass graft
(CABG) surgery has been reported (Verrier, E. D., et al., JAMA
291:2319-27, 2004). Compared with placebo, pexelizu mab was not
associated with a significant reduction in the risk of the
composite end point of death or MI in 2746 patients who had
undergone CABG surgery. However, there was a statistically
significant reduction 30 days after the procedure among all 3099
patients undergoing CABG surgery with or without valve surgery.
Since pexelizu mab inhibits at the step of C5 activation, it
inhibits C5a and sCSb-9 generation but has no effect on generation
of the other two potent complement inflammatory substances, C3a and
opsonic C3b, which are also known to contribute to the
CPB-triggered inflammatory reaction.
[0207] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
prevention or treatment of extracorporeal exposure-triggered
inflammatory reaction by treating a subject undergoing an
extracorporeal circulation procedure with a composition comprising
a therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in
a pharmaceutical carrier, including patients undergoing
hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, leukopheresis, extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation (ECMO), heparin-induced extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation LDL precipitation (HELP) and cardiopulmonary
bypass (CPB). MASP-2 inhibitory agent treatment in accordance with
the methods of the present invention is believed to be useful in
reducing or preventing the cognitive dysfunction that sometimes
results from CPB procedures. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be
administered to the subject preprocedurally and/or
intraprocedurally and/or postprocedurally, such as by
intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or other
parenteral administration. Alternately, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent
may be introduced to the subject's bloodstream during
extracorporeal circulation, such as by injecting the MASP-2
inhibitory agent into tubing or a membrane through or past which
the blood is circulated or by contacting the blood with a surface
that has been coated with the MASP-2 inhibitory agent such as an
interior wall of the tubing, membrane or other surface such as a
CPB device.
[0208] Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Arthritides and Other
Musculoskeletal Diseases
[0209] Activation of the complement system has been implicated in
the pathogenesis of a wide variety of rheumatological diseases;
including rheumatoid arthritis (Linton, S. M., et al., Molec.
Immunol. 36:905-14, 1999), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (Mollnes,
T. E., et al., Arthritis Rheum. 29:1359-64, 1986), osteoarthritis
(Kemp, P. A., et al., J. Clin. Lab. Immunol. 37:147-62, 1992),
systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) (Molina, H., Current Opinion in
Rheumatol. 14:492-497, 2002), Behcet's syndrome (Rumfeld, W. R., et
al., Br. J. Rheumatol. 25:266-70, 1986) and Sjogren's syndrome
(Sanders, M. E., et al., J. Immunol. 138:2095-9, 1987).
[0210] There is compelling evidence that immune-complex-triggered
complement activation is a major pathological mechanism that
contributes to tissue damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There
are numerous publications documenting that complement activation
products are elevated in the plasma of RA patients (Morgan, B. P.,
et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol, 73:473-478, 1988; Auda, G., et al.,
Rheumatol. Int. 10:185-189, 1990; Rumfeld, W. R., et al., Br. J.
Rheumatol. 25:266-270, 1986). Complement activation products such
as C3a, C5a, and sC5b-9 have also been found within inflamed
rheumatic joints and positive correlations have been established
between the degree of complement activation and the severity of RA
(Makinde, V. A., et al., Ann. Rheum. Dis. 48:302-306, 1989;
Brodeur, J. P., et al., Arthritis Rheumatism 34:1531-1537, 1991).
In both adult and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, elevated serum and
synovial fluid levels of alternative pathway complement activation
product Bb compared to C4d (a marker for classical pathway
activation), indicate that complement activation is mediated
predominantly by the alternative pathway (El-Ghobarey, A. F. et
al., J. Rheumatology 7:453-460, 1980; Agarwal, A., et al.,
Rheumatology 39:189-192, 2000). Complement activation products can
directly damage tissue (via C5b-9) or indirectly mediate
inflammation through recruitment of inflammatory cells by the
anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a.
[0211] Animal models of experimental arthritis have been widely
used to investigate the role of complement in the pathogenesis of
RA. Complement depletion by cobra venom factor in animal models of
RA prevents the onset of arthritis (Morgan, K., et al., Arthritis
Rheumat. 24:1356-1362, 1981; Van Lent, P. L., et al., Am. J.
Pathol. 140:1451-1461, 1992). Intra-articular injection of the
soluble form of complement receptor 1 (sCR1), a complement
inhibitor, suppressed inflammation in a rat model of RA
(Goodfellow, R. M., et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 110:45-52, 1997).
Furthermore, sCR1 inhibits the development and progression of rat
collagen-induced arthritis (Goodfellow, R. M., et al., Clin Exp.
Immunol. 119:210-216, 2000). Soluble CR1 inhibits the classical and
alternative complement pathways at the steps of C3 and C5
activation in both the alternative pathway and the classical
pathway, thereby inhibiting generation of C3a, C5a and sCSb-9.
[0212] In the late 1970s it was recognized that immunization of
rodents with heterologous type II collagen (CII; the major collagen
component of human joint cartilage) led to the development of an
autoimmune arthritis (collagen-induced arthritis, or CIA) with
significant similarities to human RA (Courtenay, J. S., et al.,
Nature 283:666-68 (1980), Banda et al., J. of Immunol.
171:2109-2115 (2003)). The autoimmune response in susceptible
animals involves a complex combination of factors including
specific major histocompatability complex (MHC) molecules,
cytokines and CII-specific B- and T-cell responses (reviewed by
Myers, L. K., et al., Life Sciences 61:1861-78, 1997). The
observation that almost 40% of inbred mouse strains have a complete
deficiency in complement component C5 (Cinader, B., et al., J. Exp.
Med. 120:897-902, 1964) has provided an indirect opportunity to
explore the role of complement in this arthritic model by comparing
CIA between C5-deficient and sufficient strains. Results from such
studies indicate that C5 sufficiency is an absolute requirement for
the development of CIA (Watson et al., 1987; Wang, Y., et al., J.
Immunol. 164:4340-4347, 2000). Further evidence of the importance
of C5 and complement in RA has been provided by the use of anti-C5
monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). Prophylactic intraperitoneal
administration of anti-C5 MoAbs in a murine model of CIA almost
completely prevented disease onset while treatment during active
arthritis resulted in both significant clinical benefit and milder
histological disease (Wang, Y., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
92:8955-59, 1995).
[0213] Additional insights about the potential role of complement
activation in disease pathogenesis have been provided by studies
using K/B.times.N T-cell receptor transgenic mice, a recently
developed model of inflammatory arthritis (Korganow, A. S., et al.,
Immunity 10:451-461, 1999). All K/B.times.N animals spontaneously
develop an autoimmune disease with most (although not all) of the
clinical, histological and immunological features of RA in humans.
Furthermore, transfer of serum from arthritic K/B.times.N mice into
healthy animals provokes arthritis within days via the transfer of
arthritogenic immunoglobulins. To identify the specific complement
activation steps required for disease development, serum from
arthritic K/B.times.N mice was transferred into various mice
genetically deficient for a particular complement pathway product
(Ji, H., et al., Immunity 16:157-68, 2002). Interestingly, the
results of the study demonstrated that alternative pathway
activation is critical, whereas classical pathway activation is
dispensable. In addition, the generation of C5a is critical since
both C5-deficient mice and C5aR-deficient mice were protected from
disease development. Consistent with these results, a previous
study reported that genetic ablation of C5a receptor expression
protects mice from arthritis (Grant, E. P., et al., J. Exp. Med.
196:1461-1471, 2002).
[0214] A humanized anti-C5 MoAb (5G1.1) that prevents the cleavage
of human complement component C5 into its pro-inflammatory
components is under development by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
New Haven, Conn., as a potential treatment for RA.
[0215] Two research groups have independently proposed that the
lectin pathway promotes inflammation in RA patients via interaction
of MBL with specific IgG glycoforms (Malhotra et al., Nat. Med.
1:237-243, 1995; Cuchacovich et al., J. Rheumatol. 23:44-51, 1996).
RA is associated with a marked increase in IgG glycoforms that lack
galactose (referred to as IgG0 glycoforms) in the Fc region of the
molecule (Rudd et al., Trends Biotechnology 22:524-30, 2004). The
percentage of IgG0 glycoforms increases with disease progression,
and returns to normal when patients go into remission. In vivo,
IgG0 is deposited on synovial tissue and MBL is present at
increased levels in synovial fluid in individuals with RA.
Aggregated agalactosyl IgG (IgG0) on the clustered IgG associated
with RA can bind mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and activate the
lectin pathway of complement. Furthermore, results from a recent
clinical study looking at allelic variants of MBL in RA patients
suggest that MBL may have an inflammatory-enhancing role in the
disease (Garred et al., J. Rheumatol. 27:26-34, 2000). Therefore,
the lectin pathway may have an important role in the pathogenesis
of RA.
[0216] Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease
of undefined etiology that results in production of autoantibodies,
generation of circulating immune complexes, and episodic,
uncontrolled activation of the complement system. Although the
origins of autoimmunity in SLE remain elusive, considerable
information is now available implicating complement activation as
an important mechanism contributing to vascular injury in this
disease (Abramson, S. B., et al., Hospital Practice 33:107-122,
1998). Activation of both the classical and alternative pathways of
complement are involved in the disease and both C4d and Bb are
sensitive markers of moderate-to-severe lupus disease activity
(Manzi, S., et al., Arthrit. Rheumat. 39:1178-1188, 1996).
Activation of the alternative complement pathway accompanies
disease flares in systemic lupus erythematosus during pregnancy
(Buyon, J. P., et al., Arthritis Rheum. 35:55-61, 1992). In
addition, the lectin pathway may contribute to disease development
since autoantibodies against MBL have recently been identified in
sera from SLE patients (Seelen, M. A., et al., Clin Exp. Immunol.
134:335-343, 2003).
[0217] Immune complex-mediated activation of complement through the
classic pathway is believed to be one mechanism by which tissue
injury occurs in SLE patients. However, hereditary deficiencies in
complement components of the classic pathway increase the risk of
lupus and lupus-like disease (Pickering, M. C., et al., Adv.
Immunol. 76:227-324, 2000). SLE, or a related syndrome occurs in
more than 80% of persons with complete deficiency of C1q, C1r/C1s,
C4 or C3. This presents an apparent paradox in reconciling the
harmful effects with the protective effects of complement in
lupus.
[0218] An important activity of the classical pathway appears to be
promotion of the removal of immune complexes from the circulation
and tissues by the mononuclear phagocytic system (Kohler, P. F., et
al., Am. J. Med. 56:406-11, 1974). In addition, complement has
recently been found to have an important role in the removal and
disposal of apoptotic bodies (Mevorarch, D., et al., J. Exp. Med.
188:2313-2320, 1998). Deficiency in classical pathway function may
predispose subjects to the development of
[0219] SLE by allowing a cycle to develop in which immune complexes
or apoptotic cells accumulate in tissues, cause inflammation and
the release of autoantigens, which in turn stimulate the production
of autoantibodies and more immune complexes and thereby evoke an
autoimmune response (Botto, M., et al., Nat. Genet. 19:56-59, 1998;
Botto, M., Arthritis Res. 3:201-10, 2001). However, these
"complete" deficiency states in classical pathway components are
present in approximately one of 100 patients with SLE. Therefore,
in the vast majority of SLE patients, complement deficiency in
classical pathway components does not contribute to the disease
etiology and complement activation may be an important mechanism
contributing to SLE pathogenesis. The fact that rare individuals
with permanent genetic deficiencies in classical pathway components
frequently develop SLE at some point in their lives testifies to
the redundancy of mechanisms capable of triggering the disease.
[0220] Results from animal models of SLE support the important role
of complement activation in pathogenesis of the disease. Inhibiting
the activation of C5 using a blocking anti-C5 MoAb decreased
proteinuria and renal disease in NZB/NZW F1 mice, a mouse model of
SLE (Wang Y., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:8563-8, 1996).
Furthermore, treatment with anti-05 MoAb of mice with severe
combined immunodeficiency disease implanted with cells secreting
anti-DNA antibodies results in improvement in the proteinuria and
renal histologic picture with an associated benefit in survival
compared to untreated controls (Ravirajan, C. T., et al.,
Rheumatology 43:442-7, 2004). The alternative pathway also has an
important role in the autoimmune disease manifestations of SLE
since backcrossing of factor B-deficient mice onto the MRL/lpr
model of SLE revealed that the lack of factor B lessened the
vasculitis, glomerular disease, C3 consumption and IgG3 RF levels
typically found in this model without altering levels of other
autoantibodies (Watanabe, H., et al., J. Immunol. 164:786-794,
2000). A humanized anti-C5 MoAb is under investigation as a
potential treatment for SLE. This antibody prevents the cleavage of
C5 to C5a and C5b. In Phase I clinical trials, no serious adverse
effects were noted, and more human trials are under way to
determine the efficacy in SLE (Strand, V., Lupus 10:216-221,
2001).
[0221] Results from both human and animal studies support the
possibility that the complement system contributes directly to the
pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy. Studies of human dystrophic
biopsies have shown that C3 and C9 are deposited on both necrotic
and non-necrotic fibers in dystrophic muscle (Comelio and Dones,
Ann. Neurol. 16:694-701, 1984; Spuler and Engel, A. G., Neurology
50:41-46, 1998). Using DNA microarray methods, Porter and
colleagues found markedly enhanced gene expression of numerous
complement-related mRNAs in dystrophin-deficient (mdx) mice
coincident with development of the dystrophic disease (Porter et
al., Hum. Mol. Genet. 11:263-72, 2002).
[0222] Mutations in the human gene encoding dysferlin, a
transmembrane muscle protein, have been identified as major risk
factors for two forms of skeletal muscle disease, namely limb
girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) and Miyoshi myopathy (Liu et al.,
Nat. Genet. 20:31-6, 1998). Several mouse model with mutations in
dysferlin have been developed and they also develop progressive
muscular dystrophy. Activation of the complement cascade has been
identified on the surface of nonnecrotic muscle fibers in some
patients with LGMD (Spuler and Engel., Neurology 50:41-46, 1998).
In a recent study, Wenzel and colleagues showed that both murine
and human dysferlin-deficient muscle fibers lack the complement
inhibitory factor, CD33/DAF, a specific inhibitor of C5b-9 MAC
(membrane attack complex) (Wenzel et al., J. Immunol. 175:6219-25,
2005). As a consequence, dysferlin-deficient nonnecrotic muscle
cells are more susceptible to complement-mediated cell lysis.
Wenzel and colleagues suggest that complement-mediated lysis of
skeletal muscle cells may be a major pathological mechanism
involved in the development of LGMD and Miyoshi myopathy in
patients. Connolly and colleagues studied the role of complement C3
in the pathogenesis of a severe model of congenital dystrophy, the
dy-/- mouse, which is laminin .alpha.2-deficient (Connolly et al.,
J. Neuroimmunol. 127:80-7, 2002). They generated animals
genetically deficient in both C3 and laminin .alpha.2 and found
that the absence of C3 prolonged survival in the dy-/- model of
muscular dystrophy. Furthermore, the double knockout (C3-/-, dy-/-)
mice demonstrated more muscular strength than the dy-/- mice. This
work suggests that the complement system may contribute directly to
the pathogenesis of this form of congenital dystrophy.
[0223] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
prevention or treatment of inflammatory and non-inflammatory
arthritides and other musculoskeletal disorders, including but not
limited to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis, gout, neuropathic arthropathy, psoriatic
arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or other spondyloarthropathies
and crystalline arthropathies, muscular dystrophy or systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE), by administering a composition comprising a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a
pharmaceutical carrier to a subject suffering from such a disorder.
The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to the subject
systemically, such as by intra-arterial, intravenous,
intramuscular, subcutaneous or other parenteral administration, or
potentially by oral administration for non-peptidergic agents.
Alternatively, administration may be by local delivery, such as by
intra-articular injection. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be
administered periodically over an extended period of time for
treatment or control of a chronic condition, or may be by single or
repeated administration in the period before, during and/or
following acute trauma or injury, including surgical procedures
performed on the joint.
[0224] Renal Conditions
[0225] Activation of the complement system has been implicated in
the pathogenesis of a wide variety of renal diseases; including,
mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (IgA-nephropathy, Berger's
disease) (Endo, M., et al., Clin. Nephrology 55:185-191, 2001),
membranous glomerulonephritis (Kerjashki, D., Arch B Cell Pathol.
58:253-71, 1990; Brenchley, P. E., et al., Kidney Int., 41:933-7,
1992; Salant, D. J., et al., Kidney Int. 35:976-84, 1989),
membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (mesangiocapillary
glomerulonephritis) (Bartlow, B. G., et al., Kidney Int.
15:294-300, 1979; Meri, S., et al., J. Exp. Med. 175:939-50, 1992),
acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis (poststreptococcal
glomerulonephritis), cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (Ohsawa,
I., et al., Clin Immunol. 101:59-66, 2001), lupus nephritis
(Gatenby, P. A., Autoimmunity 11:61-6, 1991), and Henoch-Schonlein
purpura nephritis (Endo, M., et al., Am. J. Kidney Dis. 35:401-407,
2000). The involvement of complement in renal disease has been
appreciated for several decades but there is still a major
discussion on its exact role in the onset, the development and the
resolution phase of renal disease. Under normal conditions the
contribution of complement is beneficial to the host, but
inappropriate activation and deposition of complement may
contribute to tissue damage.
[0226] There is substantial evidence that glomerulonephritis,
inflammation of the glomeruli, is often initiated by deposition of
immune complexes onto glomerular or tubular structures which then
triggers complement activation, inflammation and tissue damage.
Kahn and Sinniah demonstrated increased deposition of C5b-9 in
tubular basement membranes in biopsies taken from patients with
various forms of glomerulonephritis (Kahn, T. N., et al.,
Histopath. 26:351-6, 1995). In a study of patients with IgA
nephrology (Alexopoulos, A., et al., Nephrol. Dial. Transplant
10:1166-1172, 1995), C5b-9 deposition in the tubular
epithelial/basement membrane structures correlated with plasma
creatinine levels. Another study of membranous nephropathy
demonstrated a relationship between clinical outcome and urinary
sC5b-9 levels (Kon, S. P., et al., Kidney Int. 48:1953-58, 1995).
Elevated sC5b-9 levels were correlated positively with poor
prognosis. Lehto et al., measured elevated levels of CD59, a
complement regulatory factor that inhibits the membrane attack
complex in plasma membranes, as well as C5b-9 in urine from
patients with membranous glomerulonephritis (Lehto, T., et al.,
Kidney Int. 47:1403-11, 1995). Histopathological analysis of biopsy
samples taken from these same patients demonstrated deposition of
C3 and C9 proteins in the glomeruli, whereas expression of CD59 in
these tissues was diminished compared to that of normal kidney
tissue. These various studies suggest that ongoing
complement-mediated glomerulonephritis results in urinary excretion
of complement proteins that correlate with the degree of tissue
damage and disease prognosis.
[0227] Inhibition of complement activation in various animal models
of glomerulonephritis has also demonstrated the importance of
complement activation in the etiology of the disease. In a model of
membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), infusion of
anti-Thy1 antiserum in C6-deficient rats (that cannot form C5b-9)
resulted in 90% less glomerular cellular proliferation, 80%
reduction in platelet and macrophage infiltration, diminished
collagen type IV synthesis (a marker for mesangial matrix
expansion), and 50% less proteinuria than in C6+ normal rats
(Brandt, J., et al., Kidney Int. 49:335-343, 1996). These results
implicate C5b-9 as a major mediator of tissue damage by complement
in this rat anti-thymocyte serum model. In another model of
glomerulonephritis, infusion of graded dosages of rabbit anti-rat
glomerular basement membrane produced a dose-dependent influx of
polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) that was attenuated by prior
treatment with cobra venom factor (to consume complement)
(Scandrett, A. L., et al., Am. J. Physiol. 268:F256-F265, 1995).
Cobra venom factor-treated rats also showed diminished
histopathology, decreased long-term proteinuria, and lower
creatinine levels than control rats. Employing three models of GN
in rats (anti-thymocyte serum, Con A anti-Con A, and passive
Heymann nephritis), Couser et al., demonstrated the potential
therapeutic efficacy of approaches to inhibit complement by using
the recombinant sCR1 protein (Couser, W. G., et al., J. Am. Soc.
Nephrol. 5:1888-94, 1995). Rats treated with sCR1 showed
significantly diminished PMN, platelet and macrophage influx,
decreased mesangiolysis, and proteinuria versus control rats.
Further evidence for the importance of complement activation in
glomerulonephritis has been provided by the use of an anti-C5 MoAb
in the NZB/W F1 mouse model. The anti-C5 MoAb inhibits cleavage of
C5, thus blocking generation of C5a and C5b-9. Continuous therapy
with anti-C5 MoAb for 6 months resulted in significant amelioration
of the course of glomerulonephritis. A humanized anti-C5 MoAb
monoclonal antibody (5G1.1) that prevents the cleavage of human
complement component C5 into its pro-inflammatory components is
under development by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New Haven,
Conn., as a potential treatment for glomerulonephritis.
[0228] Direct evidence for a pathological role of complement in
renal injury is provided by studies of patients with genetic
deficiencies in specific complement components. A number of reports
have documented an association of renal disease with deficiencies
of complement regulatory factor H (Ault, B. H., Nephrol.
14:1045-1053, 2000; Levy, M., et al., Kidney Int. 30:949-56, 1986;
Pickering, M. C., et al., Nat. Genet. 31:424-8, 2002). Factor H
deficiency results in low plasma levels of factor B and C3 and in
consumption of C5b-9. Both atypical membranoproliferative
glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and idiopathic hemolytic uremic syndrome
(HUS) are associated with factor H deficiency. Factor H deficient
pigs (Jansen, J. H., et al., Kidney Int. 53:331-49, 1998) and
factor H knockout mice (Pickering, M. C., 2002) display MPGN-like
symptoms, confirming the importance of factor H in complement
regulation. Deficiencies of other complement components are
associated with renal disease, secondary to the development of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Walport, M. J., Davies, et al.,
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 815:267-81, 1997). Deficiency for C1q, C4 and
C2 predispose strongly to the development of SLE via mechanisms
relating to defective clearance of immune complexes and apoptotic
material. In many of these SLE patients lupus nephritis occurs,
characterized by the deposition of immune complexes throughout the
glomerulus.
[0229] Further evidence linking complement activation and renal
disease has been provided by the identification in patients of
autoantibodies directed against complement components, some of
which have been directly related to renal disease (Trouw, L. A., et
al., Mol. Immunol. 38:199-206, 2001). A number of these
autoantibodies show such a high degree of correlation with renal
disease that the term nephritic factor (NeF) was introduced to
indicate this activity. In clinical studies, about 50% of the
patients positive for nephritic factors developed MPGN (Spitzer, R
E., et al., Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 64:177-83, 1992). C3NeF is
an autoantibody directed against the alternative pathway C3
convertase (C3bBb) and it stabilizes this convertase, thereby
promoting alternative pathway activation (Daha, M. R., et al., J.
Immunol. 116:1-7, 1976). Likewise, autoantibody with a specificity
for the classical pathway C3 convertase (C4b2a), called C4NeF,
stabilizes this convertase and thereby promotes classical pathway
activation (Daha, M. R. et al., J. Immunol. 125:2051-2054, 1980;
Halbwachs, L., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 65:1249-56, 1980). Anti-C1q
autoantibodies have been described to be related to nephritis in
SLE patients (Hovath, L., et al., Clin. Exp. Rheumatol. 19:667-72,
2001; Siegert, C., et al., J. Rheumatol. 18:230-34, 1991; Siegert,
C., et al., Clin. Exp. Rheumatol. 10:19-23, 1992), and a rise in
the titer of these anti-C1q autoantibodies was reported to predict
a flare of nephritis (Coremans, I. E., et al., Am. J. Kidney Dis.
26:595-601, 1995). Immune deposits eluted from postmortem kidneys
of SLE patients revealed the accumulation of these anti-C1q
autoantibodies (Mannick, M., et al., Arthritis Rheumatol.
40:1504-11, 1997). All these facts point to a pathological role for
these autoantibodies. However, not all patients with anti-C1q
autoantibodies develop renal disease and also some healthy
individuals have low titer anti-C1q autoantibodies (Siegert, C. E.,
et al., Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 67:204-9, 1993).
[0230] In addition to the alternative and classical pathways of
complement activation, the lectin pathway may also have an
important pathological role in renal disease. Elevated levels of
MBL, MBL-associated serine protease and complement activation
products have been detected by immunohistochemical techniques on
renal biopsy material obtained from patients diagnosed with several
different renal diseases, including Henoch-Schonlein purpura
nephritis (Endo, M., et al., Am. J. Kidney Dis. 35:401-407, 2000),
cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (Ohsawa, I., et al., Clin.
Immunol. 101:59-66, 2001) and IgA neuropathy (Endo, M., et al.,
Clin. Nephrology 55:185-191, 2001). Therefore, despite the fact
that an association between complement and renal diseases has been
known for several decades, data on how complement exactly
influences these renal diseases is far from complete.
[0231] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
treatment of renal conditions including but not limited to
mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous
glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
(mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis), acute postinfectious
glomerulonephritis (poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis),
cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis,
Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis or IgA nephropathy, by
administering a composition comprising a therapeutically effective
amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier to
a subject suffering from such a disorder. The MASP-2 inhibitory
agent may be administered to the subject systemically, such as by
intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or other
parenteral administration, or potentially by oral administration
for non-peptidergic agents. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be
administered periodically over an extended period of time for
treatment or control of a chronic condition, or may be by single or
repeated administration in the period before, during or following
acute trauma or injury.
[0232] Skin Disorders
[0233] Psoriasis is a chronic, debilitating skin condition that
affects millions of people and is attributed to both genetic and
environmental factors. Topical agents as well as UVB and PUVA
phototherapy are generally considered to be the first-line
treatment for psoriasis. However, for generalized or more extensive
disease, systemic therapy is indicated as a primary treatment or,
in some cases, to potentiate UVB and PUVA therapy.
[0234] The underlying etiology of various skins diseases such as
psoriasis support a role for immune and proinflammatory processes
including the involvement of the complement system. Moreover, the
role of the complement system has been established as an important
nonspecific skin defense mechanism. Its activation leads to the
generation of products that not only help to maintain normal host
defenses, but also mediate inflammation and tissue injury.
Proinflammatory products of complement include large fragments of
C3 with opsonic and cell-stimulatory activities (C3b and C3bi), low
molecular weight anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a, and C5a), and membrane
attack complexes. Among them, C5a or its degradation product C5a
des Arg, seems to be the most important mediator because it exerts
a potent chemotactic effect on inflammatory cells. Intradermal
administration of C5a anaphylatoxin induces skin changes quite
similar to those observed in cutaneous hypersensitivity vasculitis
that occurs through immune complex-mediated complement activation.
Complement activation is involved in the pathogenesis of the
inflammatory changes in autoimmune bullous dermatoses. Complement
activation by pemphigus antibody in the epidermis seems to be
responsible for the development of characteristic inflammatory
changes termed eosinophilic spongiosis. In bullous pemphigoid (BP),
interaction of basement membrane zone antigen and BP antibody leads
to complement activation that seems to be related to leukocytes
lining the dermoepidermal junction. Resultant anaphylatoxins not
only activate the infiltrating leukocytes but also induce mast cell
degranulation, which facilitates dermoepidermal separation and
eosinophil infiltration. Similarly, complement activation seems to
play a more direct role in the dermoepidermal separation noted in
epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and herpes gestationis.
[0235] Evidence for the involvement of complement in psoriasis
comes from recent experimental findings described in the literature
related to the pathophysiological mechanisms for the inflammatory
changes in psoriasis and related diseases. A growing body of
evidence has indicated that T-cell-mediated immunity plays an
important role in the triggering and maintenance of psoriatic
lesions. It has been revealed that lymphokines produced by
activated T-cells in psoriatic lesions have a strong influence on
the proliferation of the epidermis. Characteristic neutrophil
accumulation under the stratum corneum can be observed in the
highly inflamed areas of psoriatic lesions. Neutrophils are
chemotactically attracted and activated there by synergistic action
of chemokines, IL-8 and Gro-alpha released by stimulated
keratinocytes, and particularly by C5a/C5a des-arg produced via the
alternative complement pathway activation (Terui, T., Tahoku J.
Exp. Med. 190:239-248, 2000; Terui, T., Exp. Dermatol. 9:1-10,
2000).
[0236] Psoriatic scale extracts contain a unique chemotactic
peptide fraction that is likely to be involved in the induction of
rhythmic transepidermal leukocyte chemotaxis. Recent studies have
identified the presence of two unrelated chemotactic peptides in
this fraction, i.e., C5a/C5a des Arg and interleukin 8 (IL-8) and
its related cytokines. To investigate their relative contribution
to the transepidermal leukocyte migration as well as their
interrelationship in psoriatic lesions, concentrations of
immunoreactive C5a/C5a desArg and IL-8 in psoriatic lesional scale
extracts and those from related sterile pustular dermatoses were
quantified. It was found that the concentrations of C5a/C5a desArg
and IL-8 were more significantly increased in the horny-tissue
extracts from lesional skin than in those from non-inflammatory
orthokeratotic skin. The increase of C5a/C5a desArg concentration
was specific to the lesional scale extracts. Based on these
results, it appears that C5a/C5a desArg is generated only in the
inflammatory lesional skin under specific circumstances that
preferentially favor complement activation. This provides a
rationale for the use of an inhibitor of complement activation to
ameliorate psoriatic lesions.
[0237] While the classical pathway of the complement system has
been shown to be activated in psoriasis, there are fewer reports on
the involvement of the alternative pathway in the inflammatory
reactions in psoriasis. Within the conventional view of complement
activation pathways, complement fragments C4d and Bb are released
at the time of the classical and alternative pathway activation,
respectively. The presence of the C4d or Bb fragment, therefore,
denotes a complement activation that proceeds through the classical
and/or alternative pathway. One study measured the levels of C4d
and Bb in psoriatic scale extracts using enzyme immunoassay
techniques. The scales of these dermatoses contained higher levels
of C4d and Bb detectable by enzyme immunoassay than those in the
stratum corneum of noninflammatory skin (Takematsu, H., et al.,
Dermatologica 181:289-292, 1990). These results suggest that the
alternative pathway is activated in addition to the classical
pathway of complement in psoriatic lesional skin.
[0238] Additional evidence for the involvement of complement in
psoriasis and atopic dermatitis has been obtained by measuring
normal complement components and activation products in the
peripheral blood of 35 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and 24
patients with psoriasis at a mild to intermediate stage. Levels of
C3, C4 and C1 inactivator (C1 INA) were determined in serum by
radial immunodiffusion, whereas C3a and C5a levels were measured by
radioimmunoassay. In comparison to healthy non-atopic controls, the
levels of C3, C4 and C1 INA were found to be significantly
increased in both diseases. In AD, there was a tendency towards
increased C3a levels, whereas in psoriasis, C3a levels were
significantly increased. The results indicate that, in both AD and
psoriasis, the complement system participates in the inflammatory
process (Ohkonohchi, K., et al., Dermatologica 179:30-34,
1989).
[0239] Complement activation in psoriatic lesional skin also
results in the deposition of terminal complement complexes within
the epidermis as defined by measuring levels of SC5b-9 in the
plasma and horny tissues of psoriatic patients. The levels of
SC5b-9 in psoriatic plasma have been found to be significantly
higher than those of controls or those of patients with atopic
dermatitis. Studies of total protein extracts from lesional skin
have shown that, while no SC5b-9 can be detected in the
noninflammatory horny tissues, there were high levels of SC5b-9 in
lesional horny tissues of psoriasis. By immunofluorescence using a
monoclonal antibody to the C5b-9 neoantigen, deposition of C5b-9
has been observed only in the stratum corneum of psoriatic skin. In
summary, in psoriatic lesional skin, the complement system is
activated and complement activation proceeds all the way to the
terminal step, generating membrane attack complex.
[0240] New biologic drugs that selectively target the immune system
have recently become available for treating psoriasis. Four
biologic drugs that are either currently FDA approved or in Phase 3
studies are: alefacept (Amevive.RTM.) and efalizuMoAb
(Raptiva.RTM.) which are T-cell modulators; etanercept
(Enbrel.RTM.), a soluble TNF-receptor; and inflixiMoAb
(Remicade.RTM.), an anti-TNF monoclonal antibody. Raptiva is an
immune response modifier, wherein the targeted mechanism of action
is a blockade of the interaction between LFA-1 on lymphocytes and
ICAM-1 on antigen-presenting cells and on vascular endothelial
cells. Binding of CD11a by Raptiva results in saturation of
available CD11a binding sites on lymphocytes and down-modulation of
cell surface CD11a expression on lymphocytes. This mechanism of
action inhibits T-cell activation, cell trafficking to the dermis
and epidermis and T-cell reactivation. Thus, a plurality of
scientific evidence indicates a role for complement in inflammatory
disease states of the skin and recent pharmaceutical approaches
have targeted the immune system or specific inflammatory processes.
None, however, have identified MASP-2 as a targeted approach. Based
on the inventors' new understanding of the role of MASP-2 in
complement activation, the inventors believe MASP-2 to be an
effective target for the treatment of psoriasis and other skin
disorders.
[0241] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
treatment of psoriasis, autoimmune bullous dermatoses, eosinophilic
spongiosis, bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita,
atopic dermatitis, herpes gestationis and other skin disorders, and
for the treatment of thermal and chemical burns including capillary
leakage caused thereby, by administering a composition comprising a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a
pharmaceutical carrier to a subject suffering from such a skin
disorder. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to the
subject topically, by application of a spray, lotion, gel, paste,
salve or irrigation solution containing the MASP-2 inhibitory
agent, or systemically such as by intra-arterial, intravenous,
intramuscular, subcutaneous or other parenteral administration, or
potentially by oral administration for non-peptidergic inhibitors.
Treatment may involve a single administration or repeated
applications or dosings for an acute condition, or by periodic
applications or dosings for control of a chronic condition.
[0242] Transplantation
[0243] Activation of the complement system significantly
contributes to the inflammatory reaction after solid organ
transplantation. In allotransplantation, the complement system may
be activated by ischemia/reperfusion and, possibly, by antibodies
directed against the graft (Baldwin, W. M., et al., Springer
Seminol Immunopathol. 25:181-197, 2003). In xenotransplantation
from nonprimates to primates, the major activators for complement
are preexisting antibodies. Studies in animal models have shown
that the use of complement inhibitors may significantly prolong
graft survival (see below). Thus, there is an established role of
the complement system in organ injury after organ transplantation,
and therefore the inventors believe that the use of complement
inhibitors directed to MASP-2 may prevent damage to the graft after
allo- or xenotransplantation.
[0244] Innate immune mechanisms, particularly complement, play a
greater role in inflammatory and immune responses against the graft
than has been previously recognized. For example, alternative
complement pathway activation appears to mediate renal
ischemia/reperfusion injury, and proximal tubular cells may be both
the source and the site of attack of complement components in this
setting. Locally produced complement in the kidney also plays a
role in the development of both cellular and antibody-mediated
immune responses against the graft.
[0245] C4d is the degradation product of the activated complement
factor C4, a component of the classical and lectin-dependent
pathways. C4d staining has emerged as a useful marker of humoral
rejection both in the acute and in the chronic setting and led to
renewed interest in the significance of anti-donor antibody
formation. The association between C4d and morphological signs of
acute cellular rejection is statistically significant. C4d is found
in 24-43% of Type I episodes, in 45% of type II rejection and 50%
of type III rejection (Nickeleit, V., et al., J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.
13:242-251, 2002; Nickeleit, V., et al., Nephrol. Dial. Transplant
18:2232-2239, 2003). A number of therapies are in development that
inhibit complement or reduce local synthesis as a means to achieve
an improved clinical outcome following transplantation.
[0246] Activation of the complement cascade occurs as a result of a
number of processes during transplantation. Present therapy,
although effective in limiting cellular rejection, does not fully
deal with all the barriers faced. These include humoral rejection
and chronic allograft nephropathy or dysfunction. Although the
overall response to the transplanted organ is a result of a number
of effector mechanisms on the part of the host, complement may play
a key role in some of these. In the setting of renal
transplantation, local synthesis of complement by proximal tubular
cells appears of particular importance.
[0247] The availability of specific inhibitors of complement may
provide the opportunity for an improved clinical outcome following
organ transplantation. Inhibitors that act by a mechanism that
blocks complement attack may be particularly useful, because they
hold the promise of increased efficacy and avoidance of systemic
complement depletion in an already immuno-compromised
recipient.
[0248] Complement also plays a critical role in xenograft
rejection. Therefore, effective complement inhibitors are of great
interest as potential therapeutic agents. In pig-to-primate organ
transplantation, hyperacute rejection (HAR) results from antibody
deposition and complement activation. Multiple strategies and
targets have been tested to prevent hyperacute xenograft rejection
in the pig-to-primate combination. These approaches have been
accomplished by removal of natural antibodies, complement depletion
with cobra venom factor, or prevention of C3 activation with the
soluble complement inhibitor sCR1. In addition, complement
activation blocker-2 (CAB-2), a recombinant soluble chimeric
protein derived from human decay accelerating factor (DAF) and
membrane cofactor protein, inhibits C3 and C5 convertases of both
classical and alternative pathways. CAB-2 reduces
complement-mediated tissue injury of a pig heart perfused ex vivo
with human blood. A study of the efficacy of CAB-2 when a pig heart
was transplanted heterotopically into rhesus monkeys receiving no
immunosuppression showed that graft survival was markedly prolonged
in monkeys that received CAB-2 (Salerno, C. T., et al.,
Xenotransplantation 9:125-134, 2002). CAB-2 markedly inhibited
complement activation, as shown by a strong reduction in generation
of C3a and SC5b-9. At graft rejection, tissue deposition of iC3b,
C4 and C9 was similar or slightly reduced from controls, and
deposition of IgG, IgM, C1q and fibrin did not change. Thus, this
approach for complement inhibition abrogated hyperacute rejection
of pig hearts transplanted into rhesus monkeys. These studies
demonstrate the beneficial effects of complement inhibition on
survival and the inventors believe that MASP-2 inhibition may also
be useful in xenotransplantation.
[0249] Another approach has focused on determining if
anti-complement 5 (C5) monoclonal antibodies could prevent
hyperacute rejection (HAR) in a rat-to-presensitized mouse heart
transplantation model and whether these MoAb, combined with
cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide, could achieve long-term graft
survival. It was found that anti-05 MoAb prevents HAR (Wang, H., et
al., Transplantation 68:1643-1651, 1999). The inventors thus
believe that other targets in the complement cascade, such as
MASP-2, may also be valuable for preventing HAR and acute vascular
rejection in future clinical xenotransplantation.
[0250] While the pivotal role of complement in hyperacute rejection
seen in xenografts is well established, a subtler role in
allogeneic transplantation is emerging. A link between complement
and the acquired immune response has long been known, with the
finding that complement-depleted animals mounted subnormal antibody
responses following antigenic stimulation. Opsonization of antigen
with the complement split product C3d has been shown to greatly
increase the effectiveness of antigen presentation to B cells, and
has been shown to act via engagement of complement receptor type 2
on certain B cells. This work has been extended to the
transplantation setting in a skin graft model in mice, where C3-
and C4-deficient mice had a marked defect in allo-antibody
production, due to failure of class switching to high-affinity IgG.
The importance of these mechanisms in renal transplantation is
increased due to the significance of anti-donor antibodies and
humoral rejection.
[0251] Previous work has already demonstrated upregulation of C3
synthesis by proximal tubular cells during allograft rejection
following renal transplantation. The role of locally synthesized
complement has been examined in a mouse renal transplantation
model. Grafts from C3-negative donors transplanted into
C3-sufficient recipients demonstrated prolonged survival (>100
days) as compared with control grafts from C3-positive donors,
which were rejected within 14 days. Furthermore, the anti-donor
T-cell proliferative response in recipients of C3-negative grafts
was markedly reduced as compared with that of controls, indicating
an effect of locally synthesized C3 on T-cell priming.
[0252] These observations suggest the possibility that exposure of
donor antigen to T-cells first occurs in the graft and that locally
synthesized complement enhances antigen presentation, either by
opsonization of donor antigen or by providing additional signals to
both antigen-presenting cells and T-cells. In the setting of renal
transplantation, tubular cells that produce complement also
demonstrate complement deposition on their cell surface.
[0253] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
prevention or treatment of inflammatory reaction resulting from
tissue or solid organ transplantation by administering a
composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a
MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier to the
transplant recipient, including subjects that have received
allotransplantation or xenotransplantation of whole organs (e.g.,
kidney, heart, liver, pancreas, lung, cornea, etc.) or grafts
(e.g., valves, tendons, bone marrow, etc.). The MASP-2 inhibitory
agent may be administered to the subject by intra-arterial,
intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or other parenteral
administration, or potentially by oral administration for
non-peptidergic inhibitors. Administration may occur during the
acute period following transplantation and/or as long-term
posttransplantation therapy. Additionally or in lieu of
posttransplant administration, the subject may be treated with the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent prior to transplantation and/or during the
transplant procedure, and/or by pretreating the organ or tissue to
be transplanted with the MASP-2 inhibitory agent. Pretreatment of
the organ or tissue may entail applying a solution, gel or paste
containing the MASP-2 inhibitory agent to the surface of the organ
or tissue by spraying or irrigating the surface, or the organ or
tissue may be soaked in a solution containing the MASP-2
inhibitor.
[0254] Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders and
Injuries
[0255] Activation of the complement system has been implicated in
the pathogenesis of a variety of central nervous system (CNS) or
peripheral nervous system (PNS) diseases or injuries, including but
not limited to multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis (MG),
Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
Guillain Barre syndrome, reperfusion following stroke, degenerative
discs, cerebral trauma, Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's
disease (AD). The initial determination that complement proteins
are synthesized in CNS cells including neurons, astrocytes and
microglia, as well as the realization that anaphylatoxins generated
in the CNS following complement activation can alter neuronal
function, has opened up the potential role of complement in CNS
disorders (Morgan, B. P., et al., Immunology Today 17:10: 461-466,
1996). It has now been shown that C3a receptors and C5a receptors
are found on neurons and show widespread distribution in distinct
portions of the sensory, motor and limbic brain systems (Barum, S.
R., Immunologic Research 26:7-13, 2002). Moreover, the
anaphylatoxins C5a and C3a have been shown to alter eating and
drinking behavior in rodents and can induce calcium signaling in
microglia and neurons. These findings raise possibilities regarding
the therapeutic utility of inhibiting complement activation in a
variety of CNS inflammatory diseases including cerebral trauma,
demyelination, meningitis, stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
[0256] Brain trauma or hemorrhage is a common clinical problem, and
complement activation may occur and exacerbate resulting
inflammation and edema. The effects of complement inhibition have
been studied in a model of brain trauma in rats (Kaczorowski et
al., J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 15:860-864, 1995). Administration
of sCR1 immediately prior to brain injury markedly inhibited
neutrophil infiltration into the injured area, indicating
complement was important for recruitment of phagocytic cells.
Likewise, complement activation in patients following cerebral
hemorrhage is clearly implicated by the presence of high levels of
multiple complement activation products in both plasma and
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Complement activation and increased
staining of C5b-9 complexes have been demonstrated in sequestered
lumbar disc tissue and could suggest a role in disc herniation
tissue-induced sciatica (Gronblad, M., et al., Spine 28(2):114-118,
2003).
[0257] MS is characterized by a progressive loss of myelin
ensheathing and insulating axons within the CNS. Although the
initial cause is unknown, there is abundant evidence implicating
the immune system (Prineas, J. W., et al., Lab Invest. 38:409-421,
1978; Ryberg, B., J. Neurol. Sci. 54:239-261, 1982). There is also
clear evidence that complement plays a prominent role in the
pathophysiology of CNS or PNS demyelinating diseases including MS,
Guillain-Barre syndrome and Miller-Fisher syndrome (Gasque, P., et
al., Immunopharmacology 49:171-186, 2000; Barnum, S. R. in Bondy S.
et al. (eds.) Inflammatory events in neurodegeneration, Prominent
Press 139-156, 2001). Complement contributes to tissue destruction,
inflammation, clearance of myelin debris and even remyelination of
axons. Despite clear evidence of complement involvement, the
identification of complement therapeutic targets is only now being
evaluated in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an
animal model of multiple sclerosis. Studies have established that
EAE mice deficient in C3 or factor B showed attenuated
demyelination as compared to EAE control mice (Barnum, Immunologic
Research 26:7-13, 2002). EAE mouse studies using a soluble form of
a complement inhibitor coined "sCrry" and C3-/- and factor B-/-
demonstrated that complement contributes to the development and
progression of the disease model at several levels. In addition,
the marked reduction in EAE severity in factor B-/- mice provides
further evidence for the role of the alternative pathway of
complement in EAE (Nataf et al., J. Immunology 165:5867-5873,
2000).
[0258] MG is a disease of the neuromuscular junction with a loss of
acetylcholine receptors and destruction of the end plate. sCR1 is
very effective in an animal model of MG, further indicating the
role of complement in the disease (Piddelesden et al., J.
Neuroimmunol. 1997).
[0259] The histological hallmarks of AD, a neurodegenerative
disease, are senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (McGeer et
al., Res. Immunol. 143:621-630, 1992). These pathological markers
also stain strongly for components of the complement system.
Evidence points to a local neuroinflammatory state that results in
neuronal death and cognitive dysfunction. Senile plaques contain
abnormal amyloid-.quadrature..quadrature. peptide
(A.quadrature..quadrature., a peptide derived from amyloid
precursor protein. A.quadrature. has been shown to bind C1 and can
trigger complement activation (Rogers et al., Res. Immunol.
143:624-630, 1992). In addition, a prominent feature of AD is the
association of activated proteins of the classical complement
pathway from C1q to C5b-9, which have been found highly localized
in the neuritic plaques (Shen, Y., et al., Brain Research
769:391-395, 1997; Shen, Y., et al., Neurosci. Letters
305(3):165-168, 2001). Thus, A.quadrature. not only initiates the
classical pathway, but a resulting continual inflammatory state may
contribute to the neuronal cell death. Moreover, the fact that
complement activation in AD has progressed to the terminal C5b-9
phase indicates that the regulatory mechanisms of the complement
system have been unable to halt the complement activation
process.
[0260] Several inhibitors of the complement pathway have been
proposed as potential therapeutic approaches for AD, including
proteoglycan as inhibitors of C1Q binding, Nafamstat as an
inhibitor of C3 convertase, and C5 activation blockers or
inhibitors of C5a receptors (Shen, Y., et al., Progress in
Neurobiology 70:463-472, 2003). The role of MASP-2 as an initiation
step in the innate complement pathway, as well as for alternative
pathway activation, provides a potential new therapeutic approach
and is supported by the wealth of data suggesting complement
pathway involvement in AD.
[0261] In damaged regions in the brains of PD patients, as in other
CNS degenerative diseases, there is evidence of inflammation
characterized by glial reaction (especially microglia), as well as
increased expression of HLA-DR antigens, cytokines, and components
of complement. These observations suggest that immune system
mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of neuronal damage in
PD. The cellular mechanisms of primary injury in PD have not been
clarified, however, but it is likely that mitochondrial mutations,
oxidative stress and apoptosis play a role. Furthermore,
inflammation initiated by neuronal damage in the striatum and the
substantial nigra in PD may aggravate the course of the disease.
These observations suggest that treatment with complement
inhibitory drugs may act to slow progression of PD (Czlonkowska,
A., et al., Med. Sci. Monit. 8:165-177, 2002).
[0262] One aspect of the invention is thus directed to the
treatment of peripheral nervous system (PNS) and/or central nervous
system (CNS) disorders or injuries by treating a subject suffering
from such a disorder or injury with a composition comprising a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a
pharmaceutical carrier. CNS and PNS disorders and injuries that may
be treated in accordance with the present invention are believed to
include but are not limited to multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia
gravis (MG), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), Guillain Bane syndrome, reperfusion following
stroke, degenerative discs, cerebral trauma, Parkinson's disease
(PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Miller-Fisher syndrome, cerebral
trauma and/or hemorrhage, demyelination and, possibly,
meningitis.
[0263] For treatment of CNS conditions and cerebral trauma, the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to the subject by
intrathecal, intracranial, intraventricular, intra-arterial,
intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, or other parenteral
administration, and potentially orally for non-peptidergic
inhibitors. PNS conditions and cerebral trauma may be treated by a
systemic route of administration or alternately by local
administration to the site of dysfunction or trauma. Administration
of the MASP-2 inhibitory compositions of the present invention may
be repeated periodically as determined by a physician until
effective relief or control of the symptoms is achieved.
[0264] Blood Disorders
[0265] Sepsis is caused by an overwhelming reaction of the patient
to invading microorganisms. A major function of the complement
system is to orchestrate the inflammatory response to invading
bacteria and other pathogens. Consistent with this physiological
role, complement activation has been shown in numerous studies to
have a major role in the pathogenesis of sepsis (Bone, R. C.,
Annals. Internal. Med. 115:457-469, 1991). The definition of the
clinical manifestations of sepsis is ever evolving. Sepsis is
usually defined as the systemic host response to an infection.
However, on many occasions, no clinical evidence for infection
(e.g., positive bacterial blood cultures) is found in patients with
septic symptoms. This discrepancy was first taken into account at a
Consensus Conference in 1992 when the term "systemic inflammatory
response syndrome" (SIRS) was established, and for which no
definable presence of bacterial infection was required (Bone, R.
C., et al., Crit. Care Med. 20:724-726, 1992). There is now general
agreement that sepsis and SIRS are accompanied by the inability to
regulate the inflammatory response. For the purposes of this brief
review, we will consider the clinical definition of sepsis to also
include severe sepsis, septic shock, and SIRS.
[0266] The predominant source of infection in septic patients
before the late 1980s was Gram-negative bacteria.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the main component of the Gram-negative
bacterial cell wall, was known to stimulate release of inflammatory
mediators from various cell types and induce acute infectious
symptoms when injected into animals (Haeney, M. R., et al.,
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 41(Suppl. A):41-6, 1998). Interestingly,
the spectrum of responsible microorganisms appears to have shifted
from predominantly Gram-negative bacteria in the late 1970s and
1980s to predominantly Gram-positive bacteria at present, for
reasons that are currently unclear (Martin, G. S., et al., N Eng.
J. Med. 348:1546-54, 2003).
[0267] Many studies have shown the importance of complement
activation in mediating inflammation and contributing to the
features of shock, particularly septic and hemorrhagic shock. Both
Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms commonly precipitate
septic shock. LPS is a potent activator of complement,
predominantly via the alternative pathway, although classical
pathway activation mediated by antibodies also occurs (Fearon, D.
T., et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 292:937-400, 1975). The major
components of the Gram-positive cell wall are peptidoglycan and
lipoteichoic acid, and both components are potent activators of the
alternative complement pathway, although in the presence of
specific antibodies they can also activate the classical complement
pathway (Joiner, K. A., et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 2:461-2,
1984).
[0268] The complement system was initially implicated in the
pathogenesis of sepsis when it was noted by researchers that
anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a mediate a variety of inflammatory
reactions that might also occur during sepsis. These anaphylatoxins
evoke vasodilation and an increase in microvascular permeability,
events that play a central role in septic shock (Schumacher, W. A.,
et al., Agents Actions 34:345-349, 1991). In addition, the
anaphylatoxins induce bronchospasm, histamine release from mast
cells, and aggregation of platelets. Moreover, they exert numerous
effects on granulocytes, such as chemotaxis, aggregation, adhesion,
release of lysosomal enzymes, generation of toxic super oxide anion
and formation of leukotrienes (Shin, H. S., et al., Science
162:361-363, 1968; Vogt, W., Complement 3:177-86, 1986). These
biologic effects are thought to play a role in development of
complications of sepsis such as shock or acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS) (Hammerschmidt, D. E., et al., Lancet 1:947-949,
1980; Slotman, G. T., et al., Surgery 99:744-50, 1986).
Furthermore, elevated levels of the anaphylatoxin C3a is associated
with a fatal outcome in sepsis (Hack, C. E., et al., Am. J. Med.
86:20-26, 1989). In some animal models of shock, certain
complement-deficient strains (e.g., C5-deficient ones) are more
resistant to the effects of LPS infusions (Hseuh, W., et al.,
Immunol. 70:309-14, 1990).
[0269] Blockade of C5a generation with antibodies during the onset
of sepsis in rodents has been shown to greatly improve survival
(Czermak, B. J., et al., Nat. Med. 5:788-792, 1999). Similar
findings were made when the C5a receptor (C5aR) was blocked, either
with antibodies or with a small molecular inhibitor (Huber-Lang, M.
S., et al., FASEB J. 16:1567-74, 2002; Riedemann, N.C., et al., J.
Clin. Invest. 110:101-8, 2002). Earlier experimental studies in
monkeys have suggested that antibody blockade of C5a attenuated E.
coli-induced septic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome
(Hangen, D. H., et al., J. Surg. Res. 46:195-9, 1989; Stevens, J.
H., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 77:1812-16, 1986). In humans with
sepsis, C5a was elevated and associated with significantly reduced
survival rates together with multiorgan failure, when compared with
that in less severely septic patients and survivors (Nakae, H., et
al., Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol. 84:189-95, 1994; Nakae,
et al., Surg. Today 26:225-29, 1996; Bengtson, A., et al., Arch.
Surg. 123:645-649, 1988). The mechanisms by which C5a exerts its
harmful effects during sepsis are yet to be investigated in greater
detail, but recent data suggest the generation of C5a during sepsis
significantly compromises innate immune functions of blood
neutrophils (Huber-Lang, M. S., et al., J. Immunol. 169:3223-31,
2002), their ability to express a respiratory burst, and their
ability to generate cytokines (Riedemann, N.C., et al., Immunity
19:193-202, 2003). In addition, C5a generation during sepsis
appears to have procoagulant effects (Laudes, I. J., et al., Am. J.
Pathol. 160:1867-75, 2002). The complement-modulating protein CI
INH has also shown efficacy in animal models of sepsis and ARDS
(Dickneite, G., Behring Ins. Mitt. 93:299-305, 1993).
[0270] The lectin pathway may also have a role in pathogenesis of
sepsis. MBL has been shown to bind to a range of clinically
important microorganisms including both Gram-negative and
Gram-positive bacteria, and to activate the lectin pathway (Neth,
O., et al., Infect. Immun. 68:688, 2000). Lipoteichoic acid (LTA)
is increasingly regarded as the Gram-positive counterpart of LPS.
It is a potent immunostimulant that induces cytokine release from
mononuclear phagocytes and whole blood (Morath, S. et al., J. Exp.
Med. 195:1635, 2002; Morath, S. et al., Infect. Immun. 70:938,
2002). Recently it was demonstrated that L-ficolin specifically
binds to LTA isolated from numerous Gram-positive bacteria species,
including Staphylococcus aureus, and activates the lectin pathway
(Lynch, N. J., et al., J. Immunol. 172:1198-02, 2004). MBL also has
been shown to bind to LTA from Enterococcus spp in which the
polyglycerophosphate chain is substituted with glycosyl groups),
but not to LTA from nine other species including S. aureus
(Polotsky, V. Y., et al., Infect. Immun. 64:380, 1996).
[0271] An aspect of the invention thus provides a method for
treating sepsis or a condition resulting from sepsis, by
administering a composition comprising a therapeutically effective
amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier to
a subject suffering from sepsis or a condition resulting from
sepsis including without limitation severe sepsis, septic shock,
acute respiratory distress syndrome resulting from sepsis, and
systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Related methods are
provided for the treatment of other blood disorders, including
hemorrhagic shock, hemolytic anemia, autoimmune thrombotic
thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or
other marrow/blood destructive conditions, by administering a
composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a
MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier to a subject
suffering from such a condition. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent is
administered to the subject systemically, such as by
intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, inhalational
(particularly in the case of ARDS), subcutaneous or other
parenteral administration, or potentially by oral administration
for non-peptidergic agents. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent composition
may be combined with one or more additional therapeutic agents to
combat the sequelae of sepsis and/or shock. For advanced sepsis or
shock or a distress condition resulting therefrom, the MASP-2
inhibitory composition may suitably be administered in a
fast-acting dosage form, such as by intravenous or intra-arterial
delivery of a bolus of a solution containing the MASP-2 inhibitory
agent composition. Repeated administration may be carried out as
determined by a physician until the condition has been
resolved.
[0272] Urogenital Conditions
[0273] The complement system has been implicated in several
distinct urogenital disorders including painful bladder disease,
sensory bladder disease, chronic abacterial cystitis and
interstitial cystitis (Holm-Bentzen, M., et al., J. Urol.
138:503-507, 1987), infertility (Cruz, et al., Biol. Reprod.
54:1217-1228, 1996), pregnancy (Xu, C., et al., Science
287:498-507, 2000), fetomaternal tolerance (Xu, C., et al., Science
287:498-507, 2000), and pre-eclampsia (Haeger, M., Int. J. Gynecol.
Obstet. 43:113-127, 1993).
[0274] Painful bladder disease, sensory bladder disease, chronic
abacterial cystitis and interstitial cystitis are ill-defined
conditions of unknown etiology and pathogenesis, and, therefore,
they are without any rational therapy. Pathogenetic theories
concerning defects in the epithelium and/or mucous surface coating
of the bladder, and theories concerning immunological disturbances,
predominate (Holm-Bentzen, M., et al., J. Urol. 138:503-507, 1987).
Patients with interstitial cystitis were reported to have been
tested for immunoglobulins (IgA, G, M), complement components (C1q,
C3, C4) and for C1-esterase inhibitor. There was a highly
significant depletion of the serum levels of complement component
C4 (p less than 0.001) and immunoglobulin G was markedly elevated
(p less than 0.001). This study suggests classical pathway
activation of the complement system, and supports the possibility
that a chronic local immunological process is involved in the
pathogenesis of the disease (Manila, J., et al., Eur. Urol.
9:350-352, 1983). Moreover, following binding of autoantibodies to
antigens in bladder mucosa, activation of complement could be
involved in the production of tissue injury and in the chronic
self-perpetuating inflammation typical of this disease (Helin, H.,
et al., Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 43:88-96, 1987).
[0275] In addition to the role of complement in urogenital
inflammatory diseases, reproductive functions may be impacted by
the local regulation of the complement pathway. Naturally occurring
complement inhibitors have evolved to provide host cells with the
protection they need to control the body's complement system. Crry,
a naturally-occurring rodent complement inhibitor that is
structurally similar to the human complement inhibitors, MCP and
DAF, has been investigated to delineate the regulatory control of
complement in fetal development. Interestingly, attempts to
generate Crry-/- mice were unsuccessful. Instead, it was discovered
that homozygous Crry-/- mice died in utero. Crry-/- embryos
survived until about 10 days post coitus, and survival rapidly
declined with death resulting from developmental arrest. There was
also a marked invasion of inflammatory cells into the placental
tissue of Crry-/- embryos. In contrast, Crry+/+ embryos appeared to
have C3 deposited on the placenta. This suggests that complement
activation had occurred at the placenta level, and in the absence
of complement regulation, the embryos died. Confirming studies
investigated the introduction of the Crry mutation onto a C3
deficient background. This rescue strategy was successful.
Together, these data illustrate that the fetomaternal complement
interface must be regulated. Subtle alterations in complement
regulation within the placenta might contribute to placental
dysfunction and miscarriage (Xu, C., et al., Science 287:498-507,
2000).
[0276] Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorder
in which complement system activation has been implicated but
remains controversial (Haeger, M., Int. J. Gynecol. Obstet.
43:113-127, 1993). Complement activation in systemic circulation is
closely related to established disease in pre-eclampsia, but no
elevations were seen prior to the presence of clinical symptoms
and, therefore, complement components cannot be used as predictors
of pre-eclampsia (Haeger, et al., Obstet. Gynecol. 78:46, 1991).
However, increased complement activation at the local environment
of the placenta bed might overcome local control mechanisms,
resulting in raised levels of anaphylatoxins and C5b-9 (Haeger, et
al., Obstet. Gynecol. 73:551, 1989).
[0277] One proposed mechanism of infertility related to antisperm
antibodies (ASA) is through the role of complement activation in
the genital tract. Generation of C3b and iC3b opsonin, which can
potentiate the binding of sperm by phagocytic cells via their
complement receptors as well as formation of the terminal C5b-9
complex on the sperm surface, thereby reducing sperm motility, are
potential causes associated with reduced fertility. Elevated C5b-9
levels have also been demonstrated in ovarian follicular fluid of
infertile women (D'Cruz, O. J., et al., J. Immunol. 144:3841-3848,
1990). Other studies have shown impairment in sperm migration, and
reduced sperm/egg interactions, which may be complement associated
(D'Cruz, O. J., et al., J. Immunol. 146:611-620, 1991; Alexander,
N.J., Fertil. Steril. 41:433-439, 1984). Finally, studies with sCR1
demonstrated a protective effect against ASA- and complement
mediated injury to human sperm (D'Cruz, O. J., et al., Biol.
Reprod. 54:1217-1228, 1996). These data provide several lines of
evidence for the use of complement inhibitors in the treatment of
urogenital disease and disorders.
[0278] An aspect of the invention thus provides a method for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a patient
suffering from a urogenital disorder, by administering a
composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a
MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutical carrier to a subject
suffering from such a disorder. Urogenital disorders believed to be
subject to therapeutic treatment with the methods and compositions
of the present invention include, by way of nonlimiting example,
painful bladder disease, sensory bladder disease, chronic
abacterial cystitis and interstitial cystitis, male and female
infertility, placental dysfunction and miscarriage and
pre-eclampsia. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to
the subject systemically, such as by intra-arterial, intravenous,
intramuscular, inhalational, subcutaneous or other parenteral
administration, or potentially by oral administration for
non-peptidergic agents. Alternately, the MASP-2 inhibitory
composition may be delivered locally to the urogenital tract, such
as by intravesical irrigation or instillation with a liquid
solution or gel composition. Repeated administration may be carried
out as determined by a physician to control or resolve the
condition.
[0279] Diabetes and Diabetic Conditions
[0280] Diabetic retinal microangiopathy is characterized by
increased permeability, leukostasis, microthrombosis, and apoptosis
of capillary cells, all of which could be caused or promoted by
activation of complement. Glomerular structures and endoneurial
microvessels of patients with diabetes show signs of complement
activation. Decreased availability or effectiveness of complement
inhibitors in diabetes has been suggested by the findings that high
glucose in vitro selectively decreases on the endothelial cell
surface the expression of CD55 and CD59, the two inhibitors that
are glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane proteins,
and that CD59 undergoes nonenzymatic glycation that hinders its
complement-inhibitory function.
[0281] Studies by Zhang et al. (Diabetes 51:3499-3504, 2002),
investigated complement activation as a feature of human
nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and its association with
changes in inhibitory molecules. It was found that deposition of
C5b-9, the terminal product of complement activation, occurs in the
wall of retinal vessels of human eye donors with type-2 diabetes,
but not in the vessels of age-matched nondiabetic donors. C1q and
C4, the complement components unique to the classical pathway, were
not detected in the diabetic retinas, which indicates that C5b-9
was generated via the alternative pathway. The diabetic donors
showed a prominent reduction in the retinal levels of CD55 and
CD59, the two complement inhibitors linked to the plasma membrane
by GPI anchors. Similar complement activation in retinal vessels
and selective reduction in the levels of retinal CD55 and CD59 were
observed in rats with a 10 week duration of streptozotocin-induced
diabetes. Thus, diabetes appears to cause defective regulation of
complement inhibitors and complement activation that precede most
other manifestations of diabetic retinal microangiopathy.
[0282] Gerl et al. (Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
43:1104-08, 2000) determined the presence of activated complement
components in eyes affected by diabetic retinopathy.
Immunohistochemical studies found extensive deposits of complement
C5b-9 complexes that were detected in the choriocapillaris
immediately underlying the Bruch membrane and densely surrounding
the capillaries in all 50 diabetic retinopathy specimens. Staining
for C3d positively correlated with C5b-9 staining, indicative of
the fact that complement activation had occurred in situ.
Furthermore, positive staining was found for vitronectin, which
forms stable complexes with extracellular C5b-9. In contrast, there
was no positive staining for C-reactive protein (CRP),
mannan-binding lectin (MBL), C1q, or C4, indicating that complement
activation did not occur through a C4-dependent pathway. Thus, the
presence of C3d, C5b-9, and vitronectin indicates that complement
activation occurs to completion, possibly through the alternative
pathway in the choriocapillaris in eyes affected by diabetic
retinopathy. Complement activation may be a causative factor in the
pathologic sequelae that can contribute to ocular tissue disease
and visual impairment. Therefore, the use of a complement inhibitor
may be an effective therapy to reduce or block damage to
microvessels that occurs in diabetes.
[0283] Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM, also referred to
as Type-I diabetes) is an autoimmune disease associated with the
presence of different types of autoantibodies (Nicoloff et al.,
Clin. Dev. Immunol. 11:61-66, 2004). The presence of these
antibodies and the corresponding antigens in the circulation leads
to the formation of circulating immune complexes (CIC), which are
known to persist in the blood for long periods of time. Deposition
of CIC in the small blood vessels has the potential to lead to
microangiopathy with debilitating clinical consequences. A
correlation exists between CIC and the development of microvascular
complications in diabetic children. These findings suggest that
elevated levels of CIC IgG are associated with the development of
early diabetic nephropathy and that an inhibitor of the complement
pathway may be effective at blocking diabetic nephropathy (Kotnik,
et al., Croat. Med. J. 44:707-11, 2003). In addition, the formation
of downstream complement proteins and the involvement of the
alternative pathway is likely to be a contributory factor in
overall islet cell function in IDDM, and the use of a complement
inhibitor to reduce potential damage or limit cell death is
expected (Caraher, et al., J. Endocrinol. 162:143-53, 1999).
[0284] Circulating MBL concentrations are significantly elevated in
patients with type 1 diabetes compared to healthy controls, and
these MBL concentrations correlate positively with urinary albumin
excretion (Hansen et al., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 88:4857-61,
2003). A recent clinical study found that the frequencies of high-
and low-expression MBL genotypes were similar between patients with
type 1 diabetes and healthy controls (Hansen et al., Diabetes
53:1570-76, 2004). However, the risk of having nephropathy among
the diabetes patients was significantly increased if they had a
high MBL genotype. This indicates that high MBL levels and lectin
pathway complement activation may contribute to the development of
diabetic nephropathy. This conclusion is supported by a recent
prospective study in which the association between MBL levels and
the development of albuminuria in a cohort of newly diagnosed type
1 diabetic patients was examined (Hovind et al., Diabetes
54:1523-27, 2005). They found that high levels of MBL early in the
course of type 1 diabetes were significantly associated with later
development of persistent albuminuria. These results suggest that
MBL and the lectin pathway may be involved in the specific
pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications more than merely
causing an acceleration of existing alterations. In a recent
clinical study (Hansen et al., Arch. Intern. Med. 166:2007-13,
2006), MBL levels were measured at baseline in a well-characterized
cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes who received more than 15
years of follow up. They found that even after adjustment for known
confounders, the risk of dying was significantly higher among
patients with high MBL plasma levels (>1000 .mu.g/L) than among
patients with low MBL levels (<1000 .mu.g/L).
[0285] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
suffering from nonobese diabetes (IDDM) or from angiopathy,
neuropathy or retinopathy complications of IDDM or adult onset
(Type-2) diabetes, by administering a composition comprising a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitor in a
pharmaceutical carrier. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be
administered to the subject systemically, such as by
intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or other
parenteral administration, or potentially by oral administration
for non-peptidergic agents. Alternatively, administration may be by
local delivery to the site of angiopathic, neuropathic or
retinopathic symptoms. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be
administered periodically over an extended period of time for
treatment or control of a chronic condition, or by a single or
series of administrations for treatment of an acute condition.
[0286] Perichemotherapeutic Administration and Treatment of
Malignancies
[0287] Activation of the complement system may also be implicated
in the pathogenesis of malignancies. Recently, the neoantigens of
the C5b-9 complement complex, IgG, C3, C4, S-protein/vitronectin,
fibronectin, and macrophages were localized on 17 samples of breast
cancer and on 6 samples of benign breast tumors using polyclonal or
monoclonal antibodies and the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase
technique. All the tissue samples with carcinoma in each the TNM
stages presented C5b-9 deposits on the membranes of tumor cells,
thin granules on cell remnants, and diffuse deposits in the
necrotic areas (Niculescu, F., et al., Am. J. Pathol.
140:1039-1043, 1992).
[0288] In addition, complement activation may be a consequence of
chemotherapy or radiation therapy and thus inhibition of complement
activation would be useful as an adjunct in the treatment of
malignancies to reduce iatrogenic inflammation. When chemotherapy
and radiation therapy preceded surgery, C5b-9 deposits were more
intense and extended. The C5b-9 deposits were absent in all the
samples with benign lesions. S-protein/vitronectin was present as
fibrillar deposits in the connective tissue matrix and as diffuse
deposits around the tumor cells, less intense and extended than
fibronectin. IgG, C3, and C4 deposits were present only in
carcinoma samples. The presence of C5b-9 deposits is indicative of
complement activation and its subsequent pathogenetic effects in
breast cancer (Niculescu, F., et al., Am. J. Pathol. 140:1039-1043,
1992).
[0289] Pulsed tunable dye laser (577 nm) (PTDL) therapy induces
hemoglobin coagulation and tissue necrosis, which is mainly limited
to blood vessels. In a PTDL-irradiated normal skin study, the main
findings were as follows: 1) C3 fragments, C8, C9, and MAC were
deposited in vessel walls; 2) these deposits were not due to
denaturation of the proteins since they became apparent only 7 min
after irradiation, contrary to immediate deposition of transferrin
at the sites of erythrocyte coagulates; 3) the C3 deposits were
shown to amplify complement activation by the alternative pathway,
a reaction which was specific since tissue necrosis itself did not
lead to such amplification; and 4) these reactions preceded the
local accumulation of polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Tissue necrosis
was more pronounced in the hemangiomas. The larger angiomatous
vessels in the center of the necrosis did not fix complement
significantly. By contrast, complement deposition in the vessels
situated at the periphery was similar to that observed in normal
skin with one exception: C8, C9, and MAC were detected in some
blood vessels immediately after laser treatment, a finding
consistent with assembly of the MAC occurring directly without the
formation of a C5 convertase. These results indicate that
complement is activated in PTDL-induced vascular necrosis, and
might be responsible for the ensuing inflammatory response.
[0290] Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors elicits a strong host
immune response, and one of its manifestations is a pronounced
neutrophilia. In addition to complement fragments (direct
mediators) released as a consequence of PDT-induced complement
activation, there are at least a dozen secondary mediators that all
arise as a result of complement activity. The latter include
cytokines IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, G-CSF and KC,
thromboxane, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, histamine, and
coagulation factors (Cecic, I., et al., Cancer Lett. 183:43-51,
2002).
[0291] Finally, the use of inhibitors of MASP-2-dependent
complement activation may be envisioned in conjunction with the
standard therapeutic regimen for the treatment of cancer. For
example, treatment with rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal
antibody, can be associated with moderate to severe first-dose
side-effects, notably in patients with high numbers of circulating
tumor cells. Recent studies during the first infusion of rituximab
measured complement activation products (C3b/c and C4b/c) and
cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6
(IL-6) and IL-8) in five relapsed low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
(NHL) patients. Infusion of rituximab induced rapid complement
activation, preceding the release of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8.
Although the study group was small, the level of complement
activation appeared to be correlated both with the number of
circulating B cells prior to the infusion (r=0.85; P=0.07), and
with the severity of the side-effects. The results indicated that
complement plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of side-effects
of rituximab treatment. As complement activation cannot be
prevented by corticosteroids, it may be relevant to study the
possible role of complement inhibitors during the first
administration of rituximab (van der Kolk, L. E., et al., Br. J.
Haematol. 115:807-811, 2001).
[0292] In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a subject
being treated with chemotherapeutics and/or radiation therapy,
including without limitation for the treatment of cancerous
conditions. This method includes administering a composition
comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitor
in a pharmaceutical carrier to a patient perichemotherapeutically,
i.e., before and/or during and/or after the administration of
chemotherapeutic(s) and/or radiation therapy. For example,
administration of a MASP-2 inhibitor composition of the present
invention may be commenced before or concurrently with the
administration of chemo- or radiation therapy, and continued
throughout the course of therapy, to reduce the detrimental effects
of the chemo- and/or radiation therapy in the non-targeted, healthy
tissues. In addition, the MASP-2 inhibitor composition can be
administered following chemo- and/or radiation therapy. It is
understood that chemo- and radiation therapy regimens often entail
repeated treatments and, therefore, it is possible that
administration of a MASP-2 inhibitor composition would also be
repetitive and relatively coincident with the chemotherapeutic and
radiation treatments. It is also believed that MASP-2 inhibitory
agents may be used as chemotherapeutic agents, alone or in
combination with other chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation
therapy, to treat patients suffering from malignancies.
Administration may suitably be via oral (for non-peptidergic),
intravenous, intramuscular or other parenteral route.
[0293] Endocrine Disorders
[0294] The complement system has also been recently associated with
a few endocrine conditions or disorders including Hashimoto's
thyroiditis (Blanchin, S., et al., Exp. Eye Res. 73(6):887-96,
2001), stress, anxiety and other potential hormonal disorders
involving regulated release of prolactin, growth or insulin-like
growth factor, and adrenocorticotropin from the pituitary (Francis,
K., et al., FASEB J. 17:2266-2268, 2003; Hansen, T. K.,
Endocrinology 144(12):5422-9, 2003).
[0295] Two-way communication exists between the endocrine and
immune systems using molecules such as hormones and cytokines.
Recently, a new pathway has been elucidated by which C3a, a
complement-derived cytokine, stimulates anterior pituitary hormone
release and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a
reflex central to the stress response and to the control of
inflammation. C3a receptors are expressed in
pituitary-hormone-secreting and non-hormone-secreting
(folliculostellate) cells. C3a and C3adesArg (a non-inflammatory
metabolite) stimulate pituitary cell cultures to release prolactin,
growth hormone, and adrenocorticotropin. Serum levels of these
hormones, together with adrenal corticosterone, increase dose
dependently with recombinant C3a and C3adesArg administration in
vivo. The implication is that complement pathway modulates
tissue-specific and systemic inflammatory responses through
communication with the endocrine pituitary gland (Francis, K., et
al., FASEB J. 17:2266-2268, 2003).
[0296] An increasing number of studies in animals and humans
indicate that growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I
(IGF-I) modulate immune function. GH therapy increased the
mortality in critically ill patients. The excessive mortality was
almost entirely due to septic shock or multi-organ failure, which
could suggest that a GH-induced modulation of immune and complement
function was involved. Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a plasma
protein that plays an important role in innate immunity through
activation of the complement cascade and inflammation following
binding to carbohydrate structures. Evidence supports a significant
influence from growth hormone on MBL levels and, therefore,
potentially on lectin-dependent complement activation (Hansen, T.
K., Endocrinology 144(12):5422-9, 2003).
[0297] Thyroperoxidase (TPO) is one of the main autoantigens
involved in autoimmune thyroid diseases. TPO consists of a large
N-terminal myeloperoxidase-like module followed by a complement
control protein (CCP)-like module and an epidermal growth
factor-like module. The CCP module is a constituent of the
molecules involved in the activation of C4 complement component,
and studies were conducted to investigate whether C4 may bind to
TPO and activate the complement pathway in autoimmune conditions.
TPO via its CCP module directly activates complement without any
mediation by Ig. Moreover, in patients with Hashimoto's
thyroiditis, thyrocytes overexpress C4 and all the downstream
components of the complement pathway. These results indicate that
TPO, along with other mechanisms related to activation of the
complement pathway, may contribute to the massive cell destruction
observed in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (Blanchin, S., et al.,
2001).
[0298] An aspect of the invention thus provides a method for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation to treat an
endocrine disorder, by administering a composition comprising a
therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in a
pharmaceutical carrier to a subject suffering from an endocrine
disorder. Conditions subject to treatment in accordance with the
present invention include, by way of nonlimiting example,
Hashimoto's thyroiditis, stress, anxiety and other potential
hormonal disorders involving regulated release of prolactin, growth
or insulin-like growth factor, and adrenocorticotropin from the
pituitary. The MAS-2 inhibitory agent may be administered to the
subject systemically, such as by intra-arterial, intravenous,
intramuscular, inhalational, nasal, subcutaneous or other
parenteral administration, or potentially by oral administration
for non-peptidergic agents. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent composition
may be combined with one or more additional therapeutic agents.
Administration may be repeated as determined by a physician until
the condition has been resolved.
[0299] Ophthalmologic Conditions
[0300] Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a blinding disease
that afflicts millions of adults, yet the sequelae of biochemical,
cellular, and/or molecular events leading to the development of AMD
are poorly understood. AMD results in the progressive destruction
of the macula which has been correlated with the formation of
extracellular deposits called drusen located in and around the
macula, behind the retina and between the retina pigment epithelium
(RPE) and the choroid. Recent studies have revealed that proteins
associated with inflammation and immune-mediated processes are
prevalent among drusen-associated constituents. Transcripts that
encode a number of these molecules have been detected in retinal,
RPE, and choroidal cells. These data also demonstrate that
dendritic cells, which are potent antigen-presenting cells, are
intimately associated with drusen development, and that complement
activation is a key pathway that is active both within drusen and
along the RPE-choroid interface (Hageman, G. S., et al., Prog.
Retin. Eye Res., 20:705-732, 2001).
[0301] Several independent studies have shown a strong association
between AMD and a genetic polymorphism in the gene for complement
factor H (CFH) in which the likelihood of AMD is increased by a
factor of 7.4 in individuals homozygous for the risk allele (Klein,
R. J. et al., Science, 308:362-364, 2005; Haines et al., Science
308:362-364. 2005; Edwards et al., Science 308:263-264, 2005). The
CFH gene has been mapped to chromosome 1q31 a region that had been
implicated in AMD by six independent linkage scans (see, e.g., D.
W. Schultz et al., Hum. Mol. Genet. 12:3315, 2003). CFH is known to
be a key regulator of the complement system. It has been shown that
CFH on cells and in circulation regulates complement activity by
inhibiting the activation of C3 to C3a and C3b, and by inactivating
existing C3b. Deposition of C5b-9 has been observed in Brusch's
membrane, the intercapillary pillars and within drusen in patients
with AMD (Klein et al.). Immunofluorescence experiments suggest
that in AMD, the polymorphism of CFH may give rise to complement
deposition in chorodial capillaries and chorodial vessels (Klein et
al.).
[0302] The membrane-associated complement inhibitor, complement
receptor 1, is also localized in drusen, but it is not detected in
RPE cells immunohistochemically. In contrast, a second
membrane-associated complement inhibitor, membrane cofactor
protein, is present in drusen-associated RPE cells, as well as in
small, spherical substructural elements within drusen. These
previously unidentified elements also show strong immunoreactivity
for proteolytic fragments of complement component C3 that are
characteristically deposited at sites of complement activation. It
is proposed that these structures represent residual debris from
degenerating RPE cells that are the targets of complement attack
(Johnson, L. V., et al., Exp. Eye Res. 73:887-896, 2001).
[0303] Identification and localization of these multiple complement
regulators as well as complement activation products (C3a, C5a,
C3b, C5b-9) have led investigators to conclude that chronic
complement activation plays an important role in the process of
drusen biogenesis and the etiology of AMD (Hageman et al., Progress
Retinal Eye Res. 20:705-32, 2001). Identification of C3 and C5
activation products in drusen provides no insight into whether
complement is activated via the classical pathway, the lectin
pathway or the alternative amplification loop, as understood in
accordance with the present invention, since both C3 and C5 are
common to all three. However, two studies have looked for drusen
immuno-labeling using antibodies specific to C1q, the essential
recognition component for activation of the classical pathway
(Mullins et al., FASEB J. 14:835-846, 2000; Johnson et al., Exp.
Eye Res. 70:441-449, 2000). Both studies concluded that C1q
immuno-labelling in drusen was not generally observed. These
negative results with C1q suggest that complement activation in
drusen does not occur via the classical pathway. In addition,
immuno-labeling of drusen for immune-complex constituents (IgG
light chains, IgM) is reported in the Mullins et al., 2000 study as
being weak to variable, further indicating that the classical
pathway plays a minor role in the complement activation that occurs
in this disease process.
[0304] Two recent published studies have evaluated the role of
complement in the development of laser-induced choroidal
neovascularization (CNV) in mice, a model of human CNV. Using
immunohistological methods, Bora and colleagues (2005) found
significant deposition of the complement activation products C3b
and C5b-9 (MAC) in the neovascular complex following laser
treatment (Bora et al., J. Immunol. 174:491-7, 2005). Importantly,
CNV did not develop in mice genetically deficient in C3 (C3-/-
mice), the essential component required in all complement
activation pathways. RNA message levels for VEGF, TGF-.beta..sub.2,
and .beta.-FGF, three angiogenic factors implicated in CNV, were
elevated in eye tissue from mice after laser-induced CNV.
Significantly, complement depletion resulted in a marked reduction
in the RNA levels of these angiogenic factors.
[0305] Using ELISA methods, Nozaki and colleagues demonstrated that
the potent anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a are generated early in the
course of laser-induced CNV (Nozaki et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
U.S.A. 103:2328-33, 2006). Furthermore, these two bioactive
fragments of C3 and C5 induced VEGF expression following
intravitreal injection in wild-type mice. Consistent with these
results Nozaki and colleagues also showed that genetic ablation of
receptors for C3a and C5a reduces VEGF expression and CNV formation
after laser injury, and that antibody-mediated neutralization of
C3a or C5a or pharmacologic blockade of their receptors also
reduces CNV. Previous studies have established that recruitment of
leukocytes, and macrophages in particular, plays a pivotal role in
laser-induced CNV (Sakurai et al., Invest. Opthomol. Vis. Sci.
44:3578-85, 2003; Espinosa-Heidmann, et al., Invest. Opthomol. Vis.
Sci. 44:3586-92, 2003). In their 2006 paper, Nozaki and colleagues
report that leukocyte recruitment is markedly reduced in C3aR(-/-)
and C5aR(-/-) mice after laser injury.
[0306] An aspect of the invention thus provides a method for
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation to treat
age-related macular degeneration or other complement mediated
ophthalmologic condition by administering a composition comprising
a therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in
a pharmaceutical carrier to a subject suffering from such a
condition or other complement-mediated ophthalmologic condition.
The MASP-2 inhibitory composition may be administered locally to
the eye, such as by irrigation or application of the composition in
the form of a gel, salve or drops. Alternately, the MASP-2
inhibitory agent may be administered to the subject systemically,
such as by intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular,
inhalational, nasal, subcutaneous or other parenteral
administration, or potentially by oral administration for
non-peptidergic agents. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent composition may
be combined with one or more additional therapeutic agents, such as
are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2004-0072809-A1. Administration may be repeated as determined by a
physician until the condition has been resolved or is
controlled.
IV. MASP-2 Inhibitory Agents
[0307] In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of
inhibiting the adverse effects of MASP-2-dependent complement
activation. MASP-2 inhibitory agents are administered in an amount
effective to inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a
living subject. In the practice of this aspect of the invention,
representative MASP-2 inhibitory agents include: molecules that
inhibit the biological activity of MASP-2 (such as small molecule
inhibitors, anti-MASP-2 antibodies or blocking peptides which
interact with MASP-2 or interfere with a protein-protein
interaction), and molecules that decrease the expression of MASP-2
(such as MASP-2 antisense nucleic acid molecules, MASP-2 specific
RNAi molecules and MASP-2 ribozymes), thereby preventing MASP-2
from activating the alternative complement pathways. The MASP-2
inhibitory agents can be used alone as a primary therapy or in
combination with other therapeutics as an adjuvant therapy to
enhance the therapeutic benefits of other medical treatments.
[0308] The inhibition of MASP-2-dependent complement activation is
characterized by at least one of the following changes in a
component of the complement system that occurs as a result of
administration of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in accordance with the
methods of the invention: the inhibition of the generation or
production of MASP-2-dependent complement activation system
products C4b, C3a, C5a and/or C5b-9 (MAC) (measured, for example,
as described in Example 2), the reduction of alternative complement
activation assessed in a hemolytic assay using unsensitized rabbit
or guinea pig red blood cells, the reduction of C4 cleavage and C4b
deposition (measured, for example as described in Example 2), or
the reduction of C3 cleavage and C3b deposition (measured, for
example, as described in Example 2).
[0309] According to the present invention, MASP-2 inhibitory agents
are utilized that are effective in inhibiting the MASP-2-dependent
complement activation system. MASP-2 inhibitory agents useful in
the practice of this aspect of the invention include, for example,
anti-MASP-2 antibodies and fragments thereof, MASP-2 inhibitory
peptides, small molecules, MASP-2 soluble receptors and expression
inhibitors. MASP-2 inhibitory agents may inhibit the
MASP-2-dependent complement activation system by blocking the
biological function of MASP-2. For example, an inhibitory agent may
effectively block MASP-2 protein-to-protein interactions, interfere
with MASP-2 dimerization or assembly, block Ca.sup.2+ binding,
interfere with the MASP-2 serine protease active site, or may
reduce MASP-2 protein expression.
[0310] In some embodiments, the MASP-2 inhibitory agents
selectively inhibit MASP-2 complement activation, leaving the
C1q-dependent complement activation system functionally intact.
[0311] In one embodiment, a MASP-2 inhibitory agent useful in the
methods of the invention is a specific MASP-2 inhibitory agent that
specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:6 with an
affinity of at least 10 times greater than to other antigens in the
complement system. In another embodiment, a MASP-2 inhibitory agent
specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:6 with a
binding affinity of at least 100 times greater than to other
antigens in the complement system. The binding affinity of the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent can be determined using a suitable binding
assay.
[0312] The MASP-2 polypeptide exhibits a molecular structure
similar to MASP-1, MASP-3, and C1r and C1s, the proteases of the C1
complement system. The cDNA molecule set forth in SEQ ID NO:4
encodes a representative example of MASP-2 (consisting of the amino
acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5) and provides the human
MASP-2 polypeptide with a leader sequence (aa 1-15) that is cleaved
after secretion, resulting in the mature form of human MASP-2 (SEQ
ID NO:6). As shown in FIG. 2, the human MASP 2 gene encompasses
twelve exons. The human MASP-2 cDNA is encoded by exons B, C, D, F,
G, H, I, J, K AND L. An alternative splice results in a 20 kDa
protein termed MBL-associated protein 19 ("MAp19", also referred to
as "sMAP") (SEQ ID NO:2), encoded by (SEQ ID NO:1) arising from
exons B, C, D and E as shown in FIG. 2. The cDNA molecule set forth
in SEQ ID NO:50 encodes the murine MASP-2 (consisting of the amino
acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:51) and provides the murine
MASP-2 polypeptide with a leader sequence that is cleaved after
secretion, resulting in the mature form of murine MASP-2 (SEQ ID
NO:52). The cDNA molecule set forth in SEQ ID NO:53 encodes the rat
MASP-2 (consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID
NO:54) and provides the rat MASP-2 polypeptide with a leader
sequence that is cleaved after secretion, resulting in the mature
form of rat MASP-2 (SEQ ID NO:55).
[0313] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the sequences
disclosed in SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:50 and SEQ ID NO:53 represent
single alleles of human, murine and rat MASP-2 respectively, and
that allelic variation and alternative splicing are expected to
occur. Allelic variants of the nucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID
NO:4, SEQ ID NO:50 and SEQ ID NO:53, including those containing
silent mutations and those in which mutations result in amino acid
sequence changes, are within the scope of the present invention.
Allelic variants of the MASP-2 sequence can be cloned by probing
cDNA or genomic libraries from different individuals according to
standard procedures.
[0314] The domains of the human MASP-2 protein (SEQ ID NO:6) are
shown in FIG. 3A and include an N-terminal C1r/C1s/sea urchin
Vegf/bone morphogenic protein (CUBI) domain (aa 1-121 of SEQ ID
NO:6), an epidermal growth factor-like domain (aa 122-166), a
second CUBI domain (aa 167-293), as well as a tandem of complement
control protein domains and a serine protease domain. Alternative
splicing of the MASP 2 gene results in MAp19 shown in FIG. 3B.
MAp19 is a nonenzymatic protein containing the N-terminal CUB1-EGF
region of MASP-2 with four additional residues (EQSL) derived from
exon E as shown in FIG. 2.
[0315] Several proteins have been shown to bind to, or interact
with MASP-2 through protein-to-protein interactions. For example,
MASP-2 is known to bind to, and form Ca.sup.2+ dependent complexes
with, the lectin proteins MBL, H-ficolin and L-ficolin. Each
MASP-2/lectin complex has been shown to activate complement through
the MASP-2-dependent cleavage of proteins C4 and C2 (Ikeda, K., et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:7451-7454, 1987; Matsushita, M., et al., J.
Exp. Med. 176:1497-2284, 2000; Matsushita, M., et al., J. Immunol.
168:3502-3506, 2002). Studies have shown that the CUB1-EGF domains
of MASP-2 are essential for the association of MASP-2 with MBL
(Thielens, N. M., et al., J. Immunol. 166:5068, 2001). It has also
been shown that the CUBIEGFCUBII domains mediate dimerization of
MASP-2, which is required for formation of an active MBL complex
(Wallis, R., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275:30962-30969, 2000).
Therefore, MASP-2 inhibitory agents can be identified that bind to
or interfere with MASP-2 target regions known to be important for
MASP-2-dependent complement activation.
Anti-MASP-2 Antibodies
[0316] In some embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent comprises an anti-MASP-2 antibody that
inhibits the MASP-2-dependent complement activation system. The
anti-MASP-2 antibodies useful in this aspect of the invention
include polyclonal, monoclonal or recombinant antibodies derived
from any antibody producing mammal and may be multispecific,
chimeric, humanized, anti-idiotype, and antibody fragments.
Antibody fragments include Fab, Fab', F(ab).sub.2, F(ab').sub.2, Fv
fragments, scFv fragments and single-chain antibodies as further
described herein.
[0317] Several anti-MASP-2 antibodies have been described in the
literature, some of which are listed below in TABLE 1. These
previously described anti-MASP-2 antibodies can be screened for the
ability to inhibit the MASP-2-dependent complement activation
system using the assays described herein. For example, anti rat
MASP-2 Fab2 antibodies have been identified that block MASP-2
dependent complement activation, as described in more detail in
Examples 24 and 25 herein. Once an anti-MASP-2 antibody is
identified that functions as a MASP-2 inhibitory agent, it can be
used to produce anti-idiotype antibodies and used to identify other
MASP-2 binding molecules as further described below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 MASP-2 SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES FROM THE
LITERATURE ANTIGEN ANTIBODY TYPE REFERENCE Recombinant Rat
Polyclonal Peterson, S. V., et al., MASP-2 Mol. Immunol. 37:
803-811, 2000 Recombinant human Rat MoAb Moller-Kristensen,
CCP1/2-SP fragment (subclass IgG1) M., et al., J. of (MoAb 8B5)
Immunol. Methods 282: 159-167, 2003 Recombinant human Rat MoAb
Moller-Kristensen, MAp19 (MoAb (subclass IgG1) M., et al., J. of I
6G12) (cross reacts mmunol. Methods with MASP-2) 282: 159-167, 2003
hMASP-2 Mouse MoAb (S/P) Peterson, S. V., Mouse MoAb (N-term) et
al., Mol. Immunol. 35: 409, April 1998 hMASP-2 rat MoAb: Nimoab101,
WO 2004/106384 (CCP1-CCP2-SP produced by hybridoma domain cell line
03050904 (ECACC) hMASP-2 (full murine MoAbs: WO 2004/106384
length-his tagged) NimoAb104, produced by hybridoma cell line
M0545YM035 (DSMZ) NimoAb108, produced by hybridoma cell line
M0545YM029 (DSMZ) NimoAb109 produced by hybridoma cell line
M0545YM046 (DSMZ) NimoAb110 produced by hybridoma cell line
M0545YM048 (DSMZ)
[0318] Anti-MASP-2 Antibodies with Reduced Effector Function
[0319] In some embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the
anti-MASP-2 antibodies have reduced effector function in order to
reduce inflammation that may arise from the activation of the
classical complement pathway. The ability of IgG molecules to
trigger the classical complement pathway has been shown to reside
within the Fc portion of the molecule (Duncan, A. R., et al.,
Nature 332:738-740 1988). IgG molecules in which the Fc portion of
the molecule has been removed by enzymatic cleavage are devoid of
this effector function (see Harlow, Antibodies: A Laboratory
Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1988).
Accordingly, antibodies with reduced effector function can be
generated as the result of lacking the Fc portion of the molecule
by having a genetically engineered Fc sequence that minimizes
effector function, or being of either the human IgG.sub.2 or
IgG.sub.4 isotype.
[0320] Antibodies with reduced effector function can be produced by
standard molecular biological manipulation of the Fc portion of the
IgG heavy chains as described in Example 9 herein and also
described in Jolliffe, et al., Int'l Rev. Immunol. 10:241-250,
11993, and Rodrigues, et al., J. Immunol. 151:6954-6961, 1998.
Antibodies with reduced effector function also include human IgG2
and IgG4 isotypes that have a reduced ability to activate
complement and/or interact with Fc receptors (Ravetch, J. V., et
al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 9:457-492, 1991; Isaacs, J. D., et al., J.
Immunol. 148:3062-3071, 1992; van de Winkel, J. G., et al.,
Immunol. Today 14:215-221, 1993). Humanized or fully human
antibodies specific to human MASP-2 comprised of IgG2 or IgG4
isotypes can be produced by one of several methods known to one of
ordinary skilled in the art, as described in Vaughan, T. J., et
al., Nature Biotechnical 16:535-539, 1998.
[0321] Production of Anti-MASP-2 Antibodies
[0322] Anti-MASP-2 antibodies can be produced using MASP-2
polypeptides (e.g., full length MASP-2) or using antigenic MASP-2
epitope-bearing peptides (e.g., a portion of the MASP-2
polypeptide). Immunogenic peptides may be as small as five amino
acid residues. For example, the MASP-2 polypeptide including the
entire amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 may be used to induce
anti-MASP-2 antibodies useful in the method of the invention.
Particular MASP-2 domains known to be involved in protein-protein
interactions, such as the CUBI, and CUBIEGF domains, as well as the
region encompassing the serine-protease active site, may be
expressed as recombinant polypeptides as described in Example 5 and
used as antigens. In addition, peptides comprising a portion of at
least 6 amino acids of the MASP-2 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:6) are
also useful to induce MASP-2 antibodies. Additional examples of
MASP-2 derived antigens useful to induce MASP-2 antibodies are
provided below in TABLE 2. The MASP-2 peptides and polypeptides
used to raise antibodies may be isolated as natural polypeptides,
or recombinant or synthetic peptides and catalytically inactive
recombinant polypeptides, such as MASP-2A, as further described in
Examples 5-7. In some embodiments of this aspect of the invention,
anti-MASP-2 antibodies are obtained using a transgenic mouse strain
as described in Examples 8 and 9 and further described below.
[0323] Antigens useful for producing anti-MASP-2 antibodies also
include fusion polypeptides, such as fusions of MASP-2 or a portion
thereof with an immunoglobulin polypeptide or with maltose-binding
protein. The polypeptide immunogen may be a full-length molecule or
a portion thereof. If the polypeptide portion is hapten-like, such
portion may be advantageously joined or linked to a macromolecular
carrier (such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum
albumin (BSA) or tetanus toxoid) for immunization.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 MASP-2 DERIVED ANTIGENS SEQ ID NO: Amino
Acid Sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 Human MASP-2 protein SEQ ID NO: 51
Murine MASP-2 protein SEQ ID NO: 8 CUBI domain of human MASP-2 (aa
1-121 of SEQ ID NO: 6) SEQ ID NO: 9 CUBIEGF domains of human MASP-2
(aa 1-166 of SEQ ID NO: 6) SEQ ID NO: 10 CUBIEGFCUBII domains of
human MASP-2 (aa 1-293 of SEQ ID NO: 6) SEQ ID NO: 11 EGF domain of
human MASP-2 (aa 122-166 of SEQ ID NO: 6) SEQ ID NO: 12
Serine-Protease domain of human MASP-2 (aa 429-671 of SEQ ID NO: 6)
SEQ ID NO: 13 Serine-Protease inactivated mutant form
GKDSCRGDAGGALVFL (aa 610-625 of SEQ ID NO: 6 with mutated Ser 618)
SEQ ID NO: 14 Human CUBI peptide TPLGPKWPEPVFGRL SEQ ID NO: 15:
Human CUBI peptide TAPPGYRLRLYFTHFDLEL SHLCEYDFVKLSSGAKVL ATLCGQ
SEQ ID NO: 16: MBL binding region in human CUBI domain TFRSDYSN SEQ
ID NO: 17: MBL binding region in human CUBI domain
FYSLGSSLDITFRSDYSNEK PFTGF SEQ ID NO: 18 EGF peptide IDECQVAPG SEQ
ID NO: 19 Peptide from serine-protease active site
ANMLCAGLESGGKDSCRG DSGGALV
[0324] Polyclonal Antibodies
[0325] Polyclonal antibodies against MASP-2 can be prepared by
immunizing an animal with MASP-2 polypeptide or an immunogenic
portion thereof using methods well known to those of ordinary skill
in the art. See, for example, Green, et al., "Production of
Polyclonal Antisera," in Immunochemical Protocols (Manson, ed.),
page 105, and as further described in Example 6. The immunogenicity
of a MASP-2 polypeptide can be increased through the use of an
adjuvant, including mineral gels, such as aluminum hydroxide or
Freund's adjuvant (complete or incomplete), surface active
substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, oil
emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanin and dinitrophenol. Polyclonal
antibodies are typically raised in animals such as horses, cows,
dogs, chicken, rats, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, or sheep.
Alternatively, an anti-MASP-2 antibody useful in the present
invention may also be derived from a subhuman primate. General
techniques for raising diagnostically and therapeutically useful
antibodies in baboons may be found, for example, in Goldenberg et
al., International Patent Publication No. WO 91/11465, and in
Losman, M. J., et al., Int J. Cancer 46:310, 1990. Sera containing
immunologically active antibodies are then produced from the blood
of such immunized animals using standard procedures well known in
the art.
[0326] Monoclonal Antibodies
[0327] In some embodiments, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent is an
anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibody. Anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibodies
are highly specific, being directed against a single MASP-2
epitope. As used herein, the modifier "monoclonal" indicates the
character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially
homogenous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as
requiring production of the antibody by any particular method.
Monoclonal antibodies can be obtained using any technique that
provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous
cell lines in culture, such as the hybridoma method described by
Kohler, G., et al., Nature 256:495, 1975, or they may be made by
recombinant DNA methods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567 to
Cabilly). Monoclonal antibodies may also be isolated from phage
antibody libraries using the techniques described in Clackson, T.,
et al., Nature 352:624-628, 1991, and Marks, J. D., et al., J. Mol.
Biol. 222:581-597, 1991. Such antibodies can be of any
immunoglobulin class including IgG, IgM, IgE, IgA, IgD and any
subclass thereof.
[0328] For example, monoclonal antibodies can be obtained by
injecting a suitable mammal (e.g., a BALB/c mouse) with a
composition comprising a MASP-2 polypeptide or portion thereof.
After a predetermined period of time, splenocytes are removed from
the mouse and suspended in a cell culture medium. The splenocytes
are then fused with an immortal cell line to form a hybridoma. The
formed hybridomas are grown in cell culture and screened for their
ability to produce a monoclonal antibody against MASP-2. An example
further describing the production of anti-MASP-2 monoclonal
antibodies is provided in Example 7. (See also Current Protocols in
Immunology, Vol. 1., John Wiley & Sons, pages 2.5.1-2.6.7,
1991.)
[0329] Human monoclonal antibodies may be obtained through the use
of transgenic mice that have been engineered to produce specific
human antibodies in response to antigenic challenge. In this
technique, elements of the human immunoglobulin heavy and light
chain locus are introduced into strains of mice derived from
embryonic stem cell lines that contain targeted disruptions of the
endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain and light chain loci. The
transgenic mice can synthesize human antibodies specific for human
antigens, such as the MASP-2 antigens described herein, and the
mice can be used to produce human MASP-2 antibody-secreting
hybridomas by fusing B-cells from such animals to suitable myeloma
cell lines using conventional Kohler-Milstein technology as further
described in Example 7. Transgenic mice with a human immunoglobulin
genome are commercially available (e.g., from Abgenix, Inc.,
Fremont, Calif., and Medarex, Inc., Annandale, N.J.). Methods for
obtaining human antibodies from transgenic mice are described, for
example, by Green, L. L., et al., Nature Genet. 7:13, 1994;
Lonberg, N., et al., Nature 368:856, 1994; and Taylor, L. D., et
al., Int. Immun. 6:579, 1994.
[0330] Monoclonal antibodies can be isolated and purified from
hybridoma cultures by a variety of well-established techniques.
Such isolation techniques include affinity chromatography with
Protein-A Sepharose, size-exclusion chromatography, and
ion-exchange chromatography (see, for example, Coligan at pages
2.7.1-2.7.12 and pages 2.9.1-2.9.3; Baines et al., "Purification of
Immunoglobulin G (IgG)," in Methods in Molecular Biology, The
Humana Press, Inc., Vol. 10, pages 79-104, 1992).
[0331] Once produced, polyclonal, monoclonal or phage-derived
antibodies are first tested for specific MASP-2 binding. A variety
of assays known to those skilled in the art may be utilized to
detect antibodies which specifically bind to MASP-2. Exemplary
assays include Western blot or immunoprecipitation analysis by
standard methods (e.g., as described in Ausubel et al.),
immunoelectrophoresis, enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays, dot
blots, inhibition or competition assays and sandwich assays (as
described in Harlow and Land, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1988). Once antibodies are
identified that specifically bind to MASP-2, the anti-MASP-2
antibodies are tested for the ability to function as a MASP-2
inhibitory agent in one of several assays such as, for example, a
lectin-specific C4 cleavage assay (described in Example 2), a C3b
deposition assay (described in Example 2) or a C4b deposition assay
(described in Example 2).
[0332] The affinity of anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibodies can be
readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g.,
Scatchard, A., NY Acad. Sci. 51:660-672, 1949). In one embodiment,
the anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibodies useful for the methods of the
invention bind to MASP-2 with a binding affinity of <100 nM,
preferably <10 nM and most preferably <2 nM.
[0333] Chimeric/Humanized Antibodies
[0334] Monoclonal antibodies useful in the method of the invention
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 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567 to Cabilly,
and Morrison, S. L., et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad Sci. USA
81:6851-6855, 1984).
[0335] One form of a chimeric antibody useful in the invention is a
humanized monoclonal anti-MASP-2 antibody. Humanized forms of
non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies are chimeric antibodies, which
contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin.
Humanized monoclonal antibodies are produced by transferring the
non-human (e.g., mouse) complementarity determining regions (CDR),
from the heavy and light variable chains of the mouse
immunoglobulin into a human variable domain. Typically, residues of
human antibodies are then substituted in the framework regions of
the non-human counterparts. Furthermore, humanized antibodies may
comprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or
in the donor antibody. These modifications are made to further
refine antibody performance. In general, the humanized antibody
will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two
variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the
hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human
immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the Fv framework
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), typically that of a human
immunoglobulin. For further details, see Jones, P. T., et al.,
Nature 321:522-525, 1986; Reichmann, L., et al., Nature
332:323-329, 1988; and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2:593-596,
1992.
[0336] The humanized antibodies useful in the invention include
human monoclonal antibodies including at least a MASP-2 binding
CDR3 region. In addition, the Fc portions may be replaced so as to
produce IgA or IgM as well as human IgG antibodies. Such humanized
antibodies will have particular clinical utility because they will
specifically recognize human MASP-2 but will not evoke an immune
response in humans against the antibody itself. Consequently, they
are better suited for in vivo administration in humans, especially
when repeated or long-term administration is necessary.
[0337] An example of the generation of a humanized anti-MASP-2
antibody from a murine anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibody is provided
herein in Example 10. Techniques for producing humanized monoclonal
antibodies are also described, for example, by Jones, P. T., et
al., Nature 321:522, 1986; Carter, P., et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad.
Sci. USA 89:4285, 1992; Sandhu, J. S., Crit. Rev. Biotech. 12:437,
1992; Singer, I. I., et al., J. Immun. 150:2844, 1993; Sudhir
(ed.), Antibody Engineering Protocols, Humana Press, Inc., 1995;
Kelley, "Engineering Therapeutic Antibodies," in Protein
Engineering: Principles and Practice, Cleland et al. (eds.), John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., pages 399-434, 1996; and by U.S. Pat. No.
5,693,762 to Queen, 1997. In addition, there are commercial
entities that will synthesize humanized antibodies from specific
murine antibody regions, such as Protein Design Labs (Mountain
View, Calif.).
[0338] Recombinant Antibodies
[0339] Anti-MASP-2 antibodies can also be made using recombinant
methods. For example, human antibodies can be made using human
immunoglobulin expression libraries (available for example, from
Stratagene, Corp., La Jolla, Calif.) to produce fragments of human
antibodies (V.sub.H, V.sub.L, Fv, Fd, Fab or F(ab').sub.2). These
fragments are then used to construct whole human antibodies using
techniques similar to those for producing chimeric antibodies.
[0340] Anti-Idiotype Antibodies
[0341] Once anti-MASP-2 antibodies are identified with the desired
inhibitory activity, these antibodies can be used to generate
anti-idiotype antibodies that resemble a portion of MASP-2 using
techniques that are well known in the art. See, e.g., Greenspan, N.
S., et al., FASEB J. 7:437, 1993. For example, antibodies that bind
to MASP-2 and competitively inhibit a MASP-2 protein interaction
required for complement activation can be used to generate
anti-idiotypes that resemble the MBL binding site on MASP-2 protein
and therefore bind and neutralize a binding ligand of MASP-2 such
as, for example, MBL.
[0342] Immunoglobulin Fragments
[0343] The MASP-2 inhibitory agents useful in the method of the
invention encompass not only intact immunoglobulin molecules but
also the well known fragments including Fab, Fab', F(ab).sub.2,
F(ab').sub.2 and Fv fragments, scFv fragments, diabodies, linear
antibodies, single-chain antibody molecules and multispecific
antibodies formed from antibody fragments.
[0344] It is well known in the art that only a small portion of an
antibody molecule, the paratope, is involved in the binding of the
antibody to its epitope (see, e.g., Clark, W. R., The Experimental
Foundations of Modern Immunology, Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY,
1986). The pFc' and Fc regions of the antibody are effectors of the
classical complement pathway, but are not involved in antigen
binding. An antibody from which the pFc' region has been
enzymatically cleaved, or which has been produced without the pFc'
region, is designated an F(ab').sub.2 fragment and retains both of
the antigen binding sites of an intact antibody. An isolated
F(ab').sub.2 fragment is referred to as a bivalent monoclonal
fragment because of its two antigen binding sites. Similarly, an
antibody from which the Fc region has been enzymatically cleaved,
or which has been produced without the Fc region, is designated a
Fab fragment, and retains one of the antigen binding sites of an
intact antibody molecule.
[0345] Antibody fragments can be obtained by proteolytic
hydrolysis, such as by pepsin or papain digestion of whole
antibodies by conventional methods. For example, antibody fragments
can be produced by enzymatic cleavage of antibodies with pepsin to
provide a 5S fragment denoted F(ab').sub.2. This fragment can be
further cleaved using a thiol reducing agent to produce 3.5S Fab'
monovalent fragments. Optionally, the cleavage reaction can be
performed using a blocking group for the sulfhydryl groups that
result from cleavage of disulfide linkages. As an alternative, an
enzymatic cleavage using pepsin produces two monovalent Fab
fragments and an Fc fragment directly. These methods are described,
for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,647 to Goldenberg; Nisonoff, A.,
et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 89:230, 1960; Porter, R. R.,
Biochem. J. 73:119, 1959; Edelman, et al., in Methods in
Enzymology, 1:422, Academic Press, 1967; and by Coligan at pages
2.8.1-2.8.10 and 2.10.-2.10.4.
[0346] In some embodiments, the use of antibody fragments lacking
the Fc region are preferred to avoid activation of the classical
complement pathway which is initiated upon binding Fc to the
Fc.gamma. receptor. There are several methods by which one can
produce a MoAb that avoids Fc.gamma. receptor interactions. For
example, the Fc region of a monoclonal antibody can be removed
chemically using partial digestion by proteolytic enzymes (such as
ficin digestion), thereby generating, for example, antigen-binding
antibody fragments such as Fab or F(ab).sub.2 fragments (Mariani,
M., et al., Mol. Immunol. 28:69-71, 1991). Alternatively, the human
.gamma.4 IgG isotype, which does not bind Fc.gamma. receptors, can
be used during construction of a humanized antibody as described
herein. Antibodies, single chain antibodies and antigen-binding
domains that lack the Fc domain can also be engineered using
recombinant techniques described herein.
[0347] Single-Chain Antibody Fragments
[0348] Alternatively, one can create single peptide chain binding
molecules specific for MASP-2 in which the heavy and light chain Fv
regions are connected. The Fv fragments may be connected by a
peptide linker to form a single-chain antigen binding protein
(scFv). These single-chain antigen binding proteins are prepared by
constructing a structural gene comprising DNA sequences encoding
the V.sub.H and V.sub.L domains which are connected by an
oligonucleotide. The structural gene is inserted into an expression
vector, which is subsequently introduced into a host cell, such as
E. coli. The recombinant host cells synthesize a single polypeptide
chain with a linker peptide bridging the two V domains. Methods for
producing scFvs are described for example, by Whitlow, et al.,
"Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology" 2:97, 1991; Bird,
et al., Science 242:423, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778 to Ladner;
Pack, P., et al., Bio/Technology 11:1271, 1993.
[0349] As an illustrative example, a MASP-2 specific scFv can be
obtained by exposing lymphocytes to MASP-2 polypeptide in vitro and
selecting antibody display libraries in phage or similar vectors
(for example, through the use of immobilized or labeled MASP-2
protein or peptide). Genes encoding polypeptides having potential
MASP-2 polypeptide binding domains can be obtained by screening
random peptide libraries displayed on phage or on bacteria such as
E. coli. These random peptide display libraries can be used to
screen for peptides which interact with MASP-2. Techniques for
creating and screening such random peptide display libraries are
well known in the art (U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409 to Lardner; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,946,778 to Ladner; U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,484 to Lardner;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,698 to Lardner; and Kay et al., Phage Display
of Peptides and Proteins Academic Press, Inc., 1996) and random
peptide display libraries and kits for screening such libraries are
available commercially, for instance from CLONTECH Laboratories,
Inc. (Palo Alto, Calif.), Invitrogen Inc. (San Diego, Calif.), New
England Biolabs, Inc. (Beverly, Mass.), and Pharmacia LKB
Biotechnology Inc. (Piscataway, N. J.).
[0350] Another form of an anti-MASP-2 antibody fragment useful in
this aspect of the invention is a peptide coding for a single
complementarity-determining region (CDR) that binds to an epitope
on a MASP-2 antigen and inhibits MASP-2-dependent complement
activation. CDR peptides ("minimal recognition units") can be
obtained by constructing genes encoding the CDR of an antibody of
interest. Such genes are prepared, for example, by using the
polymerase chain reaction to synthesize the variable region from
RNA of antibody-producing cells (see, for example, Larrick et al.,
Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology 2:106, 1991;
Courtenay-Luck, "Genetic Manipulation of Monoclonal Antibodies," in
Monoclonal Antibodies: Production, Engineering and Clinical
Application, Ritter et al. (eds.), page 166, Cambridge University
Press, 1995; and Ward et al., "Genetic Manipulation and Expression
of Antibodies," in Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and
Applications, Birch et al. (eds.), page 137, Wiley-Liss, Inc.,
1995).
[0351] The MASP-2 antibodies described herein are administered to a
subject in need thereof to inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement
activation. In some embodiments, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent is a
high-affinity human or humanized monoclonal anti-MASP-2 antibody
with reduced effector function.
[0352] Peptide Inhibitors
[0353] In some embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent comprises isolated MASP-2 peptide
inhibitors, including isolated natural peptide inhibitors and
synthetic peptide inhibitors that inhibit the MASP-2-dependent
complement activation system. As used herein, the term "isolated
MASP-2 peptide inhibitors" refers to peptides that inhibit MASP-2
dependent complement activation by binding to, competing with
MASP-2 for binding to another recognition molecule (e.g., MBL,
H-ficolin, M-ficolin, or L-ficolin) in the lectin pathway, and/or
directly interacting with MASP-2 to inhibit MASP-2-dependent
complement activation that are substantially pure and are
essentially free of other substances with which they may be found
in nature to an extent practical and appropriate for their intended
use.
[0354] Peptide inhibitors have been used successfully in vivo to
interfere with protein-protein interactions and catalytic sites.
For example, peptide inhibitors to adhesion molecules structurally
related to LFA-1 have recently been approved for clinical use in
coagulopathies (Ohman, E. M., et al., European Heart J. 16:50-55,
1995). Short linear peptides (<30 amino acids) have been
described that prevent or interfere with integrin-dependent
adhesion (Murayama, O., et al., J. Biochem. 120:445-51, 1996).
Longer peptides, ranging in length from 25 to 200 amino acid
residues, have also been used successfully to block
integrin-dependent adhesion (Zhang, L., et al., J. Biol. Chem.
271(47):29953-57, 1996). In general, longer peptide inhibitors have
higher affinities and/or slower off-rates than short peptides and
may therefore be more potent inhibitors. Cyclic peptide inhibitors
have also been shown to be effective inhibitors of integrins in
vivo for the treatment of human inflammatory disease (Jackson, D.
Y., et al., J. Med. Chem. 40:3359-68, 1997). One method of
producing cyclic peptides involves the synthesis of peptides in
which the terminal amino acids of the peptide are cysteines,
thereby allowing the peptide to exist in a cyclic form by disulfide
bonding between the terminal amino acids, which has been shown to
improve affinity and half-life in vivo for the treatment of
hematopoietic neoplasms (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,592 to
Larson).
[0355] Synthetic MASP-2 Peptide Inhibitors
[0356] MASP-2 inhibitory peptides useful in the methods of this
aspect of the invention are exemplified by amino acid sequences
that mimic the target regions important for MASP-2 function. The
inhibitory peptides useful in the practice of the methods of the
invention range in size from about 5 amino acids to about 300 amino
acids. TABLE 3 provides a list of exemplary inhibitory peptides
that may be useful in the practice of this aspect of the present
invention. A candidate MASP-2 inhibitory peptide may be tested for
the ability to function as a MASP-2 inhibitory agent in one of
several assays including, for example, a lectin specific C4
cleavage assay (described in Example 2), and a C3b deposition assay
(described in Example 2).
[0357] In some embodiments, the MASP-2 inhibitory peptides are
derived from MASP-2 polypeptides and are selected from the full
length mature MASP-2 protein (SEQ ID NO:6), or from a particular
domain of the MASP-2 protein such as, for example, the CUBI domain
(SEQ ID NO:8), the CUBIEGF domain (SEQ ID NO:9), the EGF domain
(SEQ ID NO:11), and the serine protease domain (SEQ ID NO:12). As
previously described, the CUBEGFCUBII regions have been shown to be
required for dimerization and binding with MBL (Thielens et al.,
supra). In particular, the peptide sequence TFRSDYN (SEQ ID NO:16)
in the CUBI domain of MASP-2 has been shown to be involved in
binding to MBL in a study that identified a human carrying a
homozygous mutation at Asp105 to Gly105, resulting in the loss of
MASP-2 from the MBL complex (Stengaard-Pedersen, K., et al., New
England J. Med. 349:554-560, 2003).
[0358] MASP-2 inhibitory peptides may also be derived from MAp19
(SEQ ID NO:3). As described in Example 30, MAp19 (SEQ ID NO:3)
(also referred to as sMAP), has the ability to down-regulate the
lectin pathway, which is activated by the MBL complex. Iwaki et
al., J. Immunol. 177:8626-8632, 2006. While not wishing to be bound
by theory, it is likely that sMAP is able to occupy the MASP-2/sMAP
binding site in MBL and prevent MASP-2 from binding to MBL. It has
also been reported that sMAP competes with MASP-2 in association
with ficolin A and inhibits complement activation by the ficolin
A/MASP-2 complex. Endo Y. et al., Immunogenetics 57: 837-844
(2005).
[0359] In some embodiments, MASP-2 inhibitory peptides are derived
from the lectin proteins that bind to MASP-2 and are involved in
the lectin complement pathway. Several different lectins have been
identified that are involved in this pathway, including
mannan-binding lectin (MBL), L-ficolin, M-ficolin and H-ficolin.
(Ikeda, K., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:7451-7454, 1987; Matsushita,
M., et al., J. Exp. Med. 176:1497-2284, 2000; Matsushita, M., et
al., J. Immunol. 168:3502-3506, 2002). These lectins are present in
serum as oligomers of homotrimeric subunits, each having N-terminal
collagen-like fibers with carbohydrate recognition domains. These
different lectins have been shown to bind to MASP-2, and the
lectin/MASP-2 complex activates complement through cleavage of
proteins C4 and C2. H-ficolin has an amino-terminal region of 24
amino acids, a collagen-like domain with 11 Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats, a
neck domain of 12 amino acids, and a fibrinogen-like domain of 207
amino acids (Matsushita, M., et al., J. Immunol. 168:3502-3506,
2002). H-ficolin binds to GlcNAc and agglutinates human
erythrocytes coated with LPS derived from S. typhimurium, S.
minnesota and E. coli. H-ficolin has been shown to be associated
with MASP-2 and MAp19 and activates the lectin pathway. Id.
L-ficolin/P35 also binds to GlcNAc and has been shown to be
associated with MASP-2 and MAp19 in human serum and this complex
has been shown to activate the lectin pathway (Matsushita, M., et
al., J. Immunol. 164:2281, 2000). Accordingly, MASP-2 inhibitory
peptides useful in the present invention may comprise a region of
at least 5 amino acids selected from the MBL protein (SEQ ID
NO:21), the H-ficolin protein (Genbank accession number NM 173452),
the M-ficolin protein (Genbank accession number 000602) and the
L-ficolin protein (Genbank accession number NM 015838).
[0360] More specifically, scientists have identified the MASP-2
binding site on MBL to be within the 12 Gly-X-Y triplets "GKD GRD
GTK GEK GEP GQG LRG LQG POG KLG POG NOG PSG SOG PKG QKG DOG KS"
(SEQ ID NO:26) that lie between the hinge and the neck in the
C-terminal portion of the collagen-like domain of MBP (Wallis, R.,
et al., J. Biol. Chem. 279:14065, 2004). This MASP-2 binding site
region is also highly conserved in human H-ficolin and human
L-ficolin. A consensus binding site has been described that is
present in all three lectin proteins comprising the amino acid
sequence "OGK-X-GP" (SEQ ID NO:22) where the letter "0" represents
hydroxyproline and the letter "X" is a hydrophobic residue (Wallis
et al., 2004, supra). Accordingly, in some embodiments, MASP-2
inhibitory peptides useful in this aspect of the invention are at
least 6 amino acids in length and comprise SEQ ID NO:22. Peptides
derived from MBL that include the amino acid sequence "GLR GLQ GPO
GKL GPO G" (SEQ ID NO:24) have been shown to bind MASP-2 in vitro
(Wallis, et al., 2004, supra). To enhance binding to MASP-2,
peptides can be synthesized that are flanked by two GPO triplets at
each end ("GPO GPO GLR GLQ GPO GKL GPO GGP OGP 0" SEQ ID NO:25) to
enhance the formation of triple helices as found in the native MBL
protein (as further described in Wallis, R., et al., J. Biol. Chem.
279:14065, 2004).
[0361] MASP-2 inhibitory peptides may also be derived from human
H-ficolin that include the sequence "GAO GSO GEK GAO GPQ GPO GPO
GKM GPK GEO GDO" (SEQ ID NO:27) from the consensus MASP-2 binding
region in H-ficolin. Also included are peptides derived from human
L-ficolin that include the sequence "GCO GLO GAO GDK GEA GTN GKR
GER GPO GPO GKA GPO GPN GAO GEO" (SEQ ID NO:28) from the consensus
MASP-2 binding region in L-ficolin.
[0362] MASP-2 inhibitory peptides may also be derived from the C4
cleavage site such as "LQRALEILPNRVTIKANRPFLVFI" (SEQ ID NO:29)
which is the C4 cleavage site linked to the C-terminal portion of
antithrombin III (Glover, G. I., et al., Mol. Immunol. 25:1261
(1988)).
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 EXEMPLARY MASP-2 INHIBITORY PEPTIDES SEQ ID
NO Source SEQ ID NO: 6 Human MASP-2 protein SEQ ID NO: 8 CUBI
domain of MASP-2 (aa 1-121 of SEQ ID NO: 6) SEQ ID NO: 9 CUBIEGF
domains of MASP-2 (aa 1-166 of SEQ ID NO: 6) SEQ ID NO: 10
CUBIEGFCUBII domains of MASP-2 (aa 1-293 of SEQ ID NO: 6) SEQ ID
NO: 11 EGF domain of MASP-2 (aa 122-166) SEQ ID NO: 12
Serine-protease domain of MASP-2 (aa 429-671) SEQ ID NO: 16 MBL
binding region in MASP-2 SEQ ID NO: 3 Human MAp19 SEQ ID NO: 21
Human MBL protein SEQ ID NO: 22 Synthetic peptide Consensus binding
site from Human OGK-X-GP, MBL and Human ficolins Where "O" =
hydroxyproline and "X" is a hydrophobic amino acid residue SEQ ID
NO: 23 Human MBL core binding site OGKLG SEQ ID NO: 24 Human MBP
Triplets 6-10- demonstrated binding to GLR GLQ GPO GKL MASP-2 GPO G
SEQ ID NO: 25 Human MBP Triplets with GPO added to enhance
GPOGPOGLRGLQGPO formation of triple helices GKLGPOGGPOGPO SEQ ID
NO: 26 Human MBP Triplets 1-17 GKDGRDGTKGEKGEP GQGLRGLQGPOGKLG
POGNOGPSGSOGPKG QKGDOGKS SEQ ID NO: 27 Human H-Ficolin (Hataka)
GAOGSOGEKGAOGPQ GPOGPOGKMGPKGEO GDO SEQ ID NO: 28 Human L-Ficolin
P35 GCOGLOGAOGDKGE AGTNGKRGERGPOGP OGKAGPOGPNGAOGE O SEQ ID NO: 29
Human C4 cleavage site LQRALEILPNRVTIKA NRPFLVFI Note: The letter
"O" represents hydroxyproline. The letter "X" is a hydrophobic
residue.
[0363] Peptides derived from the C4 cleavage site as well as other
peptides that inhibit the MASP-2 serine protease site can be
chemically modified so that they are irreversible protease
inhibitors. For example, appropriate modifications may include, but
are not necessarily limited to, halomethyl ketones (Br, Cl, I, F)
at the C-terminus, Asp or Glu, or appended to functional side
chains; haloacetyl (or other a-haloacetyl) groups on amino groups
or other functional side chains; epoxide or imine-containing groups
on the amino or carboxy termini or on functional side chains; or
imidate esters on the amino or carboxy termini or on functional
side chains. Such modifications would afford the advantage of
permanently inhibiting the enzyme by covalent attachment of the
peptide. This could result in lower effective doses and/or the need
for less frequent administration of the peptide inhibitor.
[0364] In addition to the inhibitory peptides described above,
MASP-2 inhibitory peptides useful in the method of the invention
include peptides containing the MASP-2-binding CDR3 region of
anti-MASP-2 MoAb obtained as described herein. The sequence of the
CDR regions for use in synthesizing the peptides may be determined
by methods known in the art. The heavy chain variable region is a
peptide that generally ranges from 100 to 150 amino acids in
length. The light chain variable region is a peptide that generally
ranges from 80 to 130 amino acids in length. The CDR sequences
within the heavy and light chain variable regions include only
approximately 3-25 amino acid sequences that may be easily
sequenced by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0365] Those skilled in the art will recognize that substantially
homologous variations of the MASP-2 inhibitory peptides described
above will also exhibit MASP-2 inhibitory activity. Exemplary
variations include, but are not necessarily limited to, peptides
having insertions, deletions, replacements, and/or additional amino
acids on the carboxy-terminus or amino-terminus portions of the
subject peptides and mixtures thereof. Accordingly, those
homologous peptides having MASP-2 inhibitory activity are
considered to be useful in the methods of this invention. The
peptides described may also include duplicating motifs and other
modifications with conservative substitutions. Conservative
variants are described elsewhere herein, and include the exchange
of an amino acid for another of like charge, size or hydrophobicity
and the like.
[0366] MASP-2 inhibitory peptides may be modified to increase
solubility and/or to maximize the positive or negative charge in
order to more closely resemble the segment in the intact protein.
The derivative may or may not have the exact primary amino acid
structure of a peptide disclosed herein so long as the derivative
functionally retains the desired property of MASP-2 inhibition. The
modifications can include amino acid substitution with one of the
commonly known twenty amino acids or with another amino acid, with
a derivatized or substituted amino acid with ancillary desirable
characteristics, such as resistance to enzymatic degradation or
with a D-amino acid or substitution with another molecule or
compound, such as a carbohydrate, which mimics the natural
confirmation and function of the amino acid, amino acids or
peptide; amino acid deletion; amino acid insertion with one of the
commonly known twenty amino acids or with another amino acid, with
a derivatized or substituted amino acid with ancillary desirable
characteristics, such as resistance to enzymatic degradation or
with a D-amino acid or substitution with another molecule or
compound, such as a carbohydrate, which mimics the natural
confirmation and function of the amino acid, amino acids or
peptide; or substitution with another molecule or compound, such as
a carbohydrate or nucleic acid monomer, which mimics the natural
conformation, charge distribution and function of the parent
peptide. Peptides may also be modified by acetylation or
amidation.
[0367] The synthesis of derivative inhibitory peptides can rely on
known techniques of peptide biosynthesis, carbohydrate biosynthesis
and the like. As a starting point, the artisan may rely on a
suitable computer program to determine the conformation of a
peptide of interest. Once the conformation of peptide disclosed
herein is known, then the artisan can determine in a rational
design fashion what sort of substitutions can be made at one or
more sites to fashion a derivative that retains the basic
conformation and charge distribution of the parent peptide but
which may possess characteristics which are not present or are
enhanced over those found in the parent peptide. Once candidate
derivative molecules are identified, the derivatives can be tested
to determine if they function as MASP-2 inhibitory agents using the
assays described herein.
[0368] Screening for MASP-2 Inhibitory Peptides
[0369] One may also use molecular modeling and rational molecular
design to generate and screen for peptides that mimic the molecular
structures of key binding regions of MASP-2 and inhibit the
complement activities of MASP-2. The molecular structures used for
modeling include the CDR regions of anti-MASP-2 monoclonal
antibodies, as well as the target regions known to be important for
MASP-2 function including the region required for dimerization, the
region involved in binding to MBL, and the serine protease active
site as previously described. Methods for identifying peptides that
bind to a particular target are well known in the art. For example,
molecular imprinting may be used for the de novo construction of
macromolecular structures such as peptides that bind to a
particular molecule. See, for example, Shea, K. J., "Molecular
Imprinting of Synthetic Network Polymers: The De Novo synthesis of
Macromolecular Binding and Catalytic Sties," TRIP 2:(5) 1994.
[0370] As an illustrative example, one method of preparing mimics
of MASP-2 binding peptides is as follows. Functional monomers of a
known MASP-2 binding peptide or the binding region of an
anti-MASP-2 antibody that exhibits MASP-2 inhibition (the template)
are polymerized. The template is then removed, followed by
polymerization of a second class of monomers in the void left by
the template, to provide a new molecule that exhibits one or more
desired properties that are similar to the template. In addition to
preparing peptides in this manner, other MASP-2 binding molecules
that are MASP-2 inhibitory agents such as polysaccharides,
nucleosides, drugs, nucleoproteins, lipoproteins, carbohydrates,
glycoproteins, steroid, lipids and other biologically active
materials can also be prepared. This method is useful for designing
a wide variety of biological mimics that are more stable than their
natural counterparts because they are typically prepared by free
radical polymerization of function monomers, resulting in a
compound with a nonbiodegradable backbone.
[0371] Peptide Synthesis
[0372] The MASP-2 inhibitory peptides can be prepared using
techniques well known in the art, such as the solid-phase synthetic
technique initially described by Merrifield, in J. Amer. Chem. Soc.
85:2149-2154, 1963. Automated synthesis may be achieved, for
example, using Applied Biosystems 431A Peptide Synthesizer (Foster
City, Calif.) in accordance with the instructions provided by the
manufacturer. Other techniques may be found, for example, in
Bodanszky, M., et al., Peptide Synthesis, second edition, John
Wiley & Sons, 1976, as well as in other reference works known
to those skilled in the art.
[0373] The peptides can also be prepared using standard genetic
engineering techniques known to those skilled in the art. For
example, the peptide can be produced enzymatically by inserting
nucleic acid encoding the peptide into an expression vector,
expressing the DNA, and translating the DNA into the peptide in the
presence of the required amino acids. The peptide is then purified
using chromatographic or electrophoretic techniques, or by means of
a carrier protein that can be fused to, and subsequently cleaved
from, the peptide by inserting into the expression vector in phase
with the peptide encoding sequence a nucleic acid sequence encoding
the carrier protein. The fusion protein-peptide may be isolated
using chromatographic, electrophoretic or immunological techniques
(such as binding to a resin via an antibody to the carrier
protein). The peptide can be cleaved using chemical methodology or
enzymatically, as by, for example, hydrolases.
[0374] The MASP-2 inhibitory peptides that are useful in the method
of the invention can also be produced in recombinant host cells
following conventional techniques. To express a MASP-2 inhibitory
peptide encoding sequence, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the
peptide must be operably linked to regulatory sequences that
control transcriptional expression in an expression vector and then
introduced into a host cell. In addition to transcriptional
regulatory sequences, such as promoters and enhancers, expression
vectors can include translational regulatory sequences and a marker
gene, which are suitable for selection of cells that carry the
expression vector.
[0375] Nucleic acid molecules that encode a MASP-2 inhibitory
peptide can be synthesized with "gene machines" using protocols
such as the phosphoramidite method. If chemically synthesized
double-stranded DNA is required for an application such as the
synthesis of a gene or a gene fragment, then each complementary
strand is made separately. The production of short genes (60 to 80
base pairs) is technically straightforward and can be accomplished
by synthesizing the complementary strands and then annealing them.
For the production of longer genes, synthetic genes
(double-stranded) are assembled in modular form from
single-stranded fragments that are from 20 to 100 nucleotides in
length. For reviews on polynucleotide synthesis, see, for example,
Glick and Pasternak, "Molecular Biotechnology, Principles and
Applications of Recombinant DNA", ASM Press, 1994; Itakura, K., et
al., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 53:323, 1984; and Climie, S., et al.,
Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 87:633, 1990.
[0376] Small Molecule Inhibitors
[0377] In some embodiments, MASP-2 inhibitory agents are small
molecule inhibitors including natural and synthetic substances that
have a low molecular weight, such as for example, peptides,
peptidomimetics and nonpeptide inhibitors (including
oligonucleotides and organic compounds). Small molecule inhibitors
of MASP-2 can be generated based on the molecular structure of the
variable regions of the anti-MASP-2 antibodies.
[0378] Small molecule inhibitors may also be designed and generated
based on the MASP-2 crystal structure using computational drug
design (Kuntz I.D., et al., Science 257:1078, 1992). The crystal
structure of rat MASP-2 has been described (Feinberg, H., et al.,
EMBO J. 22:2348-2359, 2003). Using the method described by Kuntz et
al., the MASP-2 crystal structure coordinates are used as an input
for a computer program such as DOCK, which outputs a list of small
molecule structures that are expected to bind to MASP-2. Use of
such computer programs is well known to one of skill in the art.
For example, the crystal structure of the HIV-1 protease inhibitor
was used to identify unique nonpeptide ligands that are HIV-1
protease inhibitors by evaluating the fit of compounds found in the
Cambridge Crystallographic database to the binding site of the
enzyme using the program DOCK (Kuntz, I. D., et al., J. Mol. Biol.
161:269-288, 1982; DesJarlais, R. L., et al., PNAS 87:6644-6648,
1990).
[0379] The list of small molecule structures that are identified by
a computational method as potential MASP-2 inhibitors are screened
using a MASP-2 binding assay such as described in Example 7. The
small molecules that are found to bind to MASP-2 are then assayed
in a functional assay such as described in Example 2 to determine
if they inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement activation.
[0380] MASP-2 Soluble Receptors
[0381] Other suitable MASP-2 inhibitory agents are believed to
include MASP-2 soluble receptors, which may be produced using
techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0382] Expression Inhibitors of MASP-2
[0383] In another embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent is a MASP-2 expression inhibitor capable of
inhibiting MASP-2-dependent complement activation. In the practice
of this aspect of the invention, representative MASP-2 expression
inhibitors include MASP-2 antisense nucleic acid molecules (such as
antisense mRNA, antisense DNA or antisense oligonucleotides),
MASP-2 ribozymes and MASP-2 RNAi molecules.
[0384] Anti-sense RNA and DNA molecules act to directly block the
translation of MASP-2 mRNA by hybridizing to MASP-2 mRNA and
preventing translation of MASP-2 protein. An antisense nucleic acid
molecule may be constructed in a number of different ways provided
that it is capable of interfering with the expression of MASP-2.
For example, an antisense nucleic acid molecule can be constructed
by inverting the coding region (or a portion thereof) of MASP-2
cDNA (SEQ ID NO:4) relative to its normal orientation for
transcription to allow for the transcription of its complement.
[0385] The antisense nucleic acid molecule is usually substantially
identical to at least a portion of the target gene or genes. The
nucleic acid, however, need not be perfectly identical to inhibit
expression. Generally, higher homology can be used to compensate
for the use of a shorter antisense nucleic acid molecule. The
minimal percent identity is typically greater than about 65%, but a
higher percent identity may exert a more effective repression of
expression of the endogenous sequence. Substantially greater
percent identity of more than about 80% typically is preferred,
though about 95% to absolute identity is typically most
preferred.
[0386] The antisense nucleic acid molecule need not have the same
intron or exon pattern as the target gene, and non-coding segments
of the target gene may be equally effective in achieving antisense
suppression of target gene expression as coding segments. A DNA
sequence of at least about 8 or so nucleotides may be used as the
antisense nucleic acid molecule, although a longer sequence is
preferable. In the present invention, a representative example of a
useful inhibitory agent of MASP-2 is an antisense MASP-2 nucleic
acid molecule which is at least ninety percent identical to the
complement of the MASP-2 cDNA consisting of the nucleic acid
sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4. The nucleic acid sequence set
forth in SEQ ID NO:4 encodes the MASP-2 protein consisting of the
amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5.
[0387] The targeting of antisense oligonucleotides to bind MASP-2
mRNA is another mechanism that may be used to reduce the level of
MASP-2 protein synthesis. For example, the synthesis of
polygalacturonase and the muscarine type 2 acetylcholine receptor
is inhibited by antisense oligonucleotides directed to their
respective mRNA sequences (U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,119 to Cheng, and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,829 to Shewmaker). Furthermore, examples of
antisense inhibition have been demonstrated with the nuclear
protein cyclin, the multiple drug resistance gene (MDG1), ICAM-1,
E-selectin, STK-1, striatal GABA.sub.A receptor and human EGF (see,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,154 to Baracchini; U.S. Pat. No.
5,789,573 to Baker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,709 to Considine; and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,610,288 to Reubenstein).
[0388] A system has been described that allows one of ordinary
skill to determine which oligonucleotides are useful in the
invention, which involves probing for suitable sites in the target
mRNA using Rnase H cleavage as an indicator for accessibility of
sequences within the transcripts. Scherr, M., et al., Nucleic Acids
Res. 26:5079-5085, 1998; Lloyd, et al., Nucleic Acids Res.
29:3665-3673, 2001. A mixture of antisense oligonucleotides that
are complementary to certain regions of the MASP-2 transcript is
added to cell extracts expressing MASP-2, such as hepatocytes, and
hybridized in order to create an RNAseH vulnerable site. This
method can be combined with computer-assisted sequence selection
that can predict optimal sequence selection for antisense
compositions based upon their relative ability to form dimers,
hairpins, or other secondary structures that would reduce or
prohibit specific binding to the target mRNA in a host cell. These
secondary structure analysis and target site selection
considerations may be performed using the OLIGO primer analysis
software (Rychlik, I., 1997) and the BLASTN 2.0.5 algorithm
software (Altschul, S. F., et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 25:3389-3402,
1997). The antisense compounds directed towards the target sequence
preferably comprise from about 8 to about 50 nucleotides in length.
Antisense oligonucleotides comprising from about 9 to about 35 or
so nucleotides are particularly preferred. The inventors
contemplate all oligonucleotide compositions in the range of 9 to
35 nucleotides (i.e., those of 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,
or 35 or so bases in length) are highly preferred for the practice
of antisense oligonucleotide-based methods of the invention. Highly
preferred target regions of the MASP-2 mRNA are those that are at
or near the AUG translation initiation codon, and those sequences
that are substantially complementary to 5' regions of the mRNA,
e.g., between the .about.10 and +10 regions of the MASP-2 gene
nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:4). Exemplary MASP-2 expression
inhibitors are provided in TABLE 4.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 EXEMPLARY EXPRESSION INHIBITORS OF MASP-2
SEQ ID NO: 30 (nucleotides 22-680 of Nucleic acid sequence of
MASP-2 cDNA SEQ ID NO: 4) (SEQ ID NO: 4) encoding CUBIEGF SEQ ID
NO: 31 Nucleotides 12-45 of SEQ ID NO: 4 5'CGGGCACACCATGAGGCTGCTG
including the MASP-2 translation start site ACCCTCCTGGGC3 (sense)
SEQ ID NO: 32 Nucleotides 361-396 of SEQ ID NO: 4
5'GACATTACCTTCCGCTCCGACTC encoding a region comprising the MASP-2
CAACGAGAAG3' MBL binding site (sense) SEQ ID NO: 33 Nucleotides
610-642 of SEQ ID NO: 4 5'AGCAGCCCTGAATACCCACGGCC encoding a region
comprising the CUBII GTATCCCAAA3' domain
[0389] As noted above, the term "oligonucleotide" as used herein
refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. This term also
covers those oligonucleobases composed of naturally occurring
nucleotides, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone)
linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally occurring
modifications. These modifications allow one to introduce certain
desirable properties that are not offered through naturally
occurring oligonucleotides, such as reduced toxic properties,
increased stability against nuclease degradation and enhanced
cellular uptake. In illustrative embodiments, the antisense
compounds of the invention differ from native DNA by the
modification of the phosphodiester backbone to extend the life of
the antisense oligonucleotide in which the phosphate substituents
are replaced by phosphorothioates. Likewise, one or both ends of
the oligonucleotide may be substituted by one or more acridine
derivatives that intercalate between adjacent basepairs within a
strand of nucleic acid.
[0390] Another alternative to antisense is the use of "RNA
interference" (RNAi). Double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can provoke
gene silencing in mammals in vivo. The natural function of RNAi and
co-suppression appears to be protection of the genome against
invasion by mobile genetic elements such as retrotransposons and
viruses that produce aberrant RNA or dsRNA in the host cell when
they become active (see, e.g., Jensen, J., et al., Nat. Genet.
21:209-12, 1999). The double-stranded RNA molecule may be prepared
by synthesizing two RNA strands capable of forming a
double-stranded RNA molecule, each having a length from about 19 to
25 (e.g., 19-23 nucleotides). For example, a dsRNA molecule useful
in the methods of the invention may comprise the RNA corresponding
to a sequence and its complement listed in TABLE 4. Preferably, at
least one strand of RNA has a 3' overhang from 1-5 nucleotides. The
synthesized RNA strands are combined under conditions that form a
double-stranded molecule. The RNA sequence may comprise at least an
8 nucleotide portion of SEQ ID NO:4 with a total length of 25
nucleotides or less. The design of siRNA sequences for a given
target is within the ordinary skill of one in the art. Commercial
services are available that design siRNA sequence and guarantee at
least 70% knockdown of expression (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.).
[0391] The dsRNA may be administered as a pharmaceutical
composition and carried out by known methods, wherein a nucleic
acid is introduced into a desired target cell. Commonly used gene
transfer methods include calcium phosphate, DEAE-dextran,
electroporation, microinjection and viral methods. Such methods are
taught in Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993.
[0392] Ribozymes can also be utilized to decrease the amount and/or
biological activity of MASP-2, such as ribozymes that target MASP-2
mRNA. Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules that can cleave nucleic
acid molecules having a sequence that is completely or partially
homologous to the sequence of the ribozyme. It is possible to
design ribozyme transgenes that encode RNA ribozymes that
specifically pair with a target RNA and cleave the phosphodiester
backbone at a specific location, thereby functionally inactivating
the target RNA. In carrying out this cleavage, the ribozyme is not
itself altered, and is thus capable of recycling and cleaving other
molecules. The inclusion of ribozyme sequences within antisense
RNAs confers RNA-cleaving activity upon them, thereby increasing
the activity of the antisense constructs.
[0393] Ribozymes useful in the practice of the invention typically
comprise a hybridizing region of at least about nine nucleotides,
which is complementary in nucleotide sequence to at least part of
the target MASP-2 mRNA, and a catalytic region that is adapted to
cleave the target MASP-2 mRNA (see generally, EPA No. 0 321 201;
WO88/04300; Haseloff, J., et al., Nature 334:585-591, 1988; Fedor,
M. J., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1668-1672, 1990; Cech,
T. R., et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 55:599-629, 1986).
[0394] Ribozymes can either be targeted directly to cells in the
form of RNA oligonucleotides incorporating ribozyme sequences, or
introduced into the cell as an expression vector encoding the
desired ribozymal RNA. Ribozymes may be used and applied in much
the same way as described for antisense polynucleotides.
[0395] Anti-sense RNA and DNA, ribozymes and RNAi molecules useful
in the methods of the invention may be prepared by any method known
in the art for the synthesis of DNA and RNA molecules. These
include techniques for chemically synthesizing
oligodeoxyribonucleotides and oligoribonucleotides well known in
the art, such as for example solid phase phosphoramidite chemical
synthesis. Alternatively, RNA molecules may be generated by in
vitro and in vivo transcription of DNA sequences encoding the
antisense RNA molecule. Such DNA sequences may be incorporated into
a wide variety of vectors that incorporate suitable RNA polymerase
promoters such as the T7 or SP6 polymerase promoters.
Alternatively, antisense cDNA constructs that synthesize antisense
RNA constitutively or inducibly, depending on the promoter used,
can be introduced stably into cell lines.
[0396] Various well known modifications of the DNA molecules may be
introduced as a means of increasing stability and half-life. Useful
modifications include, but are not limited to, the addition of
flanking sequences of ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides to
the 5' and/or 3' ends of the molecule or the use of
phosphorothioate or 2' O-methyl rather than phosphodiesterase
linkages within the oligodeoxyribonucleotide backbone.
V. Pharmaceutical Compositions and Delivery Methods
[0397] Dosing
[0398] In another aspect, the invention provides compositions for
inhibiting the adverse effects of MASP-2-dependent complement
activation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a
MASP-2 inhibitory agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
The MASP-2 inhibitory agents can be administered to a subject in
need thereof, at therapeutically effective doses to treat or
ameliorate conditions associated with MASP-2-dependent complement
activation. A therapeutically effective dose refers to the amount
of the MASP-2 inhibitory agent sufficient to result in amelioration
of symptoms of the condition.
[0399] Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of MASP-2 inhibitory
agents can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures
employing experimental animal models, such as the murine MASP-2 -/-
mouse model expressing the human MASP-2 transgene described in
Example 3. Using such animal models, the NOAEL (no observed adverse
effect level) and the MED (the minimally effective dose) can be
determined using standard methods. The dose ratio between NOAEL and
MED effects is the therapeutic ratio, which is expressed as the
ratio NOAEL/MED. MASP-2 inhibitory agents that exhibit large
therapeutic ratios or indices are most preferred. The data obtained
from the cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in
formulating a range of dosages for use in humans. The dosage of the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent preferably lies within a range of
circulating concentrations that include the MED with little or no
toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the
dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized.
[0400] For any compound formulation, the therapeutically effective
dose can be estimated using animal models. For example, a dose may
be formulated in an animal model to achieve a circulating plasma
concentration range that includes the MED. Quantitative levels of
the MASP-2 inhibitory agent in plasma may also be measured, for
example, by high performance liquid chromatography.
[0401] In addition to toxicity studies, effective dosage may also
be estimated based on the amount of MASP-2 protein present in a
living subject and the binding affinity of the MASP-2 inhibitory
agent. It has been shown that MASP-2 levels in normal human
subjects is present in serum in low levels in the range of 500
ng/ml, and MASP-2 levels in a particular subject can be determined
using a quantitative assay for MASP-2 described in
Moller-Kristensen M., et al., J. Immunol. Methods 282:159-167,
2003.
[0402] Generally, the dosage of administered compositions
comprising MASP-2 inhibitory agents varies depending on such
factors as the subject's age, weight, height, sex, general medical
condition, and previous medical history. As an illustration, MASP-2
inhibitory agents, such as anti-MASP-2 antibodies, can be
administered in dosage ranges from about 0.010 to 10.0 mg/kg,
preferably 0.010 to 1.0 mg/kg, more preferably 0.010 to 0.1 mg/kg
of the subject body weight. In some embodiments the composition
comprises a combination of anti-MASP-2 antibodies and MASP-2
inhibitory peptides.
[0403] Therapeutic efficacy of MASP-2 inhibitory compositions and
methods of the present invention in a given subject, and
appropriate dosages, can be determined in accordance with
complement assays well known to those of skill in the art.
Complement generates numerous specific products. During the last
decade, sensitive and specific assays have been developed and are
available commercially for most of these activation products,
including the small activation fragments C3a, C4a, and C5a and the
large activation fragments iC3b, C4d, Bb, and sC5b-9. Most of these
assays utilize monoclonal antibodies that react with new antigens
(neoantigens) exposed on the fragment, but not on the native
proteins from which they are formed, making these assays very
simple and specific. Most rely on ELISA technology, although
radioimmunoassay is still sometimes used for C3a and C5a. These
latter assays measure both the unprocessed fragments and their
`desArg` fragments, which are the major forms found in the
circulation. Unprocessed fragments and C5.sub.adesArg are rapidly
cleared by binding to cell surface receptors and are hence present
in very low concentrations, whereas C3.sub.adesArg does not bind to
cells and accumulates in plasma. Measurement of C3a provides a
sensitive, pathway-independent indicator of complement activation.
Alternative pathway activation can be assessed by measuring the Bb
fragment. Detection of the fluid-phase product of membrane attack
pathway activation, sC5b-9, provides evidence that complement is
being activated to completion. Because both the lectin and
classical pathways generate the same activation products, C4a and
C4d, measurement of these two fragments does not provide any
information about which of these two pathways has generated the
activation products.
[0404] Additional Agents
[0405] The compositions and methods comprising MASP-2 inhibitory
agents may optionally comprise one or more additional therapeutic
agents, which may augment the activity of the MASP-2 inhibitory
agent or that provide related therapeutic functions in an additive
or synergistic fashion. For example, one or more MASP-2 inhibitory
agents may be administered in combination with one or more
anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic agents. The inclusion and
selection of additional agent(s) will be determined to achieve a
desired therapeutic result. Suitable anti-inflammatory and/or
analgesic agents include: serotonin receptor antagonists; serotonin
receptor agonists; histamine receptor antagonists; bradykinin
receptor antagonists; kallikrein inhibitors; tachykinin receptor
antagonists, including neurokinin) and neurokinin.sub.2 receptor
subtype antagonists; calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)
receptor antagonists; interleukin receptor antagonists; inhibitors
of enzymes active in the synthetic pathway for arachidonic acid
metabolites, including phospholipase inhibitors, including
PLA.sub.2 isoform inhibitors and PLC isoform inhibitors,
cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors (which may be either COX-1, COX-2,
or nonselective COX-1 and -2 inhibitors), lipooxygenase inhibitors;
prostanoid receptor antagonists including eicosanoid EP-1 and EP-4
receptor subtype antagonists and thromboxane receptor subtype
antagonists; leukotriene receptor antagonists including leukotriene
B.sub.4 receptor subtype antagonists and leukotriene D.sub.4
receptor subtype antagonists; opioid receptor agonists, including
.mu.-opioid, .delta.-opioid, and .kappa.-opioid receptor subtype
agonists; purinoceptor agonists and antagonists including P.sub.2X
receptor antagonists and P.sub.2Y receptor agonists; adenosine
triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel openers; MAP kinase
inhibitors; nicotinic acetylcholine inhibitors; and alpha
adrenergic receptor agonists (including alpha-1, alpha-2, and
nonselective alpha-1 and 2 agonists).
[0406] When used in the prevention or treatment of restenosis, the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent of the present invention may be combined
with one or more anti-restenosis agents for concomitant
administration. Suitable anti-restenosis agents include:
antiplatelet agents including: thrombin inhibitors and receptor
antagonists, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonists (also
known as purinoceptor.sub.1 receptor antagonists), thromboxane
inhibitors and receptor antagonists and platelet membrane
glycoprotein receptor antagonists; inhibitors of cell adhesion
molecules, including selectin inhibitors and integrin inhibitors;
anti-chemotactic agents; interleukin receptor antagonists; and
intracellular signaling inhibitors including: protein kinase C
(PKC) inhibitors and protein tyrosine phosphatases, modulators of
intracellular protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, inhibitors of src
homology (SH2) domains, and calcium channel antagonists.
[0407] The MASP-2 inhibitory agents of the present invention may
also be administered in combination with one or more other
complement inhibitors. No complement inhibitors are currently
approved for use in humans, however some pharmacological agents
have been shown to block complement in vivo. Many of these agents
are also toxic or are only partial inhibitors (Asghar, S. S.,
Pharmacol. Rev. 36:223-44, 1984), and use of these has been limited
to use as research tools. K76COOH and nafamstat mesilate are two
agents that have shown some effectiveness in animal models of
transplantation (Miyagawa, S., et al., Transplant Proc. 24:483-484,
1992). Low molecular weight heparins have also been shown to be
effective in regulating complement activity (Edens, R. E., et al.,
Complement Today, pp. 96-120, Basel: Karger, 1993). It is believed
that these small molecule inhibitors may be useful as agents to use
in combination with the MASP-2 inhibitory agents of the present
invention.
[0408] Other naturally occurring complement inhibitors may be
useful in combination with the MASP-2 inhibitory agents of the
present invention. Biological inhibitors of complement include
soluble complement factor 1 (sCR1). This is a naturally-occurring
inhibitor that can be found on the outer membrane of human cells.
Other membrane inhibitors include DAF, MCP, and CD59. Recombinant
forms have been tested for their anti-complement activity in vitro
and in vivo. sCR1 has been shown to be effective in
xenotranplantation, wherein the complement system (both alternative
and classical) provides the trigger for a hyperactive rejection
syndrome within minutes of perfusing blood through the newly
transplanted organ (Platt J. L., et al., Immunol. Today 11:450-6,
1990; Marino I. R., et al., Transplant Proc. 1071:6, 1990;
Johnstone, P. S., et al., Transplantation 54:573-6, 1992). The use
of sCR1 protects and extends the survival time of the transplanted
organ, implicating the complement pathway in the pathogenesis of
organ survival (Leventhal, J. R. et al., Transplantation 55:857-66,
1993; Pruitt, S. K., et al., Transplantation 57:363-70, 1994).
[0409] Suitable additional complement inhibitors for use in
combination with the compositions of the present invention also
include, by way of example, MoAbs such as those being developed by
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New Haven, Conn., and anti-properdin
MoAbs.
[0410] When used in the treatment of arthritides (e.g.,
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), the MASP-2 inhibitory
agent of the present invention may be combined with one or more
chondroprotective agents, which may include one or more promoters
of cartilage anabolism and/or one or more inhibitors of cartilage
catabolism, and suitably both an anabolic agent and a catabolic
inhibitory agent, for concomitant administration. Suitable anabolic
promoting chondroprotective agents include interleukin (IL)
receptor agonists including IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, rhIL-4, rhIL-10 and
rhIL-13, and chimeric IL-4, IL-10, or IL-13; Transforming growth
factor-.beta. superfamily agonists, including TGF-.beta.,
TGF-.beta.1, TGF-.beta.2, TGF-.beta.3, bone morphogenic proteins
including BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7 (OP-1), and OP-2/BMP-8,
growth-differentiation factors including GDF-5, GDF-6 and GDF-7,
recombinant TGF-.beta.s and BMPs, and chimeric TGF-.beta.s and
BMPs; insulin-like growth factors including IGF-1; and fibroblast
growth factors including bFGF. Suitable catabolic inhibitory
chondroprotective agents include Interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor
antagonists (IL-lra), including soluble human IL-1 receptors
(shuIL-1R), rshuIL-1R, rhIL-lra, anti-ILl-antibody, AF11567, and
AF12198; Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor Antagonists
(TNF-.alpha.), including soluble receptors including sTNFR1 and
sTNFRII, recombinant TNF soluble receptors, and chimeric TNF
soluble receptors including chimeric rhTNFR:Fc, Fc fusion soluble
receptors and anti-TNF antibodies; cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2
specific) inhibitors, including DuP 697, SC-58451, celecoxib,
rofecoxib, nimesulide, diclofenac, meloxicam, piroxicam, NS-398,
RS-57067, SC-57666, SC-58125, flosulide, etodolac, L-745,337 and
DFU-T-614; Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors,
including inhibitors of ERK1, ERK2, SAPK1, SAPK2a, SAPK2b, SAPK2d,
SAPK3, including SB 203580, SB 203580 iodo, SB202190, SB 242235, SB
220025, RWJ 67657, RWJ 68354, FR 133605, L-167307, PD 98059, PD
169316; inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa B (NF.kappa.B),
including caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE), DM-CAPE, SN-50
peptide, hymenialdisine and pyrolidone dithiocarbamate; nitric
oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, including
N.sup.G-monomethyl-L-arginine, 1400W, diphenyleneiodium, S-methyl
isothiourea, S-(aminoethyl) isothiourea,
L-N.sup.6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine, 1,3-PBITU,
2-ethyl-2-thiopseudourea, aminoguanidine, N'''-nitro-L-arginine,
and N'''-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, inhibitors of matrix
metalloproteinases (MMPs), including inhibitors of MMP-1, MMP-2,
MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-10, MMP-11, MMP-12, MMP-13, MMP-14
and MMP-15, and including U-24522, minocycline,
4-Abz-Gly-Pro-D-Leu-D-Ala-NHOH,
Ac-Arg-Cys-Gly-Val-Pro-Asp-NH.sub.2, rhuman TIMP1, rhuman TIMP2,
and phosphoramidon; cell adhesion molecules, including integrin
agonists and antagonists including .alpha.V.beta.3 MoAb LM 609 and
echistatin; anti-chemotactic agents including F-Met-Leu-Phe
receptors, IL-8 receptors, MCP-1 receptors and MIP1-I/RANTES
receptors; intracellular signaling inhibitors, including (a)
protein kinase inhibitors, including both (i) protein kinase C
(PKC) inhibitors (isozyme) including calphostin C, G-6203 and GF
109203X, and (ii) protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors; (b)
modulators of intracellular protein tyrosine phosphatases
(PTPases); and (c) inhibitors of SH2 domains (src Homology.sub.2
domains).
[0411] For some applications, it may be beneficial to administer
the MASP-2 inhibitory agents of the present invention in
combination with a spasm inhibitory agent. For example, for
urogenital applications, it may be beneficial to include at least
one smooth muscle spasm inhibitory agent and/or at least one
anti-inflammation agent, and for vascular procedures it may be
useful to include at least one vasospasm inhibitor and/or at least
one anti-inflammation agent and/or at least one anti-restenosis
agent. Suitable examples of spasm inhibitory agents include:
serotonin.sub.2 receptor subtype antagonists; tachykinin receptor
antagonists; nitric oxide donors; ATP-sensitive potassium channel
openers; calcium channel antagonists; and endothelin receptor
antagonists.
[0412] Pharmaceutical Carriers and Delivery Vehicles
[0413] In general, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent compositions of the
present invention, combined with any other selected therapeutic
agents, are suitably contained in a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier. The carrier is non-toxic, biocompatible and is selected so
as not to detrimentally affect the biological activity of the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent (and any other therapeutic agents combined
therewith). Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for
peptides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,657 to Yamada. The
anti-MASP-2 antibodies and inhibitory peptides useful in the
invention may be formulated into preparations in solid, semi-solid,
gel, liquid or gaseous forms such as tablets, capsules, powders,
granules, ointments, solutions, depositories, inhalants and
injections allowing for oral, parenteral or surgical
administration. The invention also contemplates local
administration of the compositions by coating medical devices and
the like.
[0414] Suitable carriers for parenteral delivery via injectable,
infusion or irrigation and topical delivery include distilled
water, physiological phosphate-buffered saline, normal or lactated
Ringer's solutions, dextrose solution, Hank's solution, or
propanediol. In addition, sterile, fixed oils may be employed as a
solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any biocompatible
oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In
addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the
preparation of injectables. The carrier and agent may be compounded
as a liquid, suspension, polymerizable or non-polymerizable gel,
paste or salve.
[0415] The carrier may also comprise a delivery vehicle to sustain
(i.e., extend, delay or regulate) the delivery of the agent(s) or
to enhance the delivery, uptake, stability or pharmacokinetics of
the therapeutic agent(s). Such a delivery vehicle may include, by
way of non-limiting example, microparticles, microspheres,
nanospheres or nanoparticles composed of proteins, liposomes,
carbohydrates, synthetic organic compounds, inorganic compounds,
polymeric or copolymeric hydrogels and polymeric micelles. Suitable
hydrogel and micelle delivery systems include the PEO:PHB:PEO
copolymers and copolymer/cyclodextrin complexes disclosed in WO
2004/009664 A2 and the PEO and PEO/cyclodextrin complexes disclosed
in US 2002/0019369 A1. Such hydrogels may be injected locally at
the site of intended action, or subcutaneously or intramuscularly
to form a sustained release depot.
[0416] For intra-articular delivery, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent
may be carried in above-described liquid or gel carriers that are
injectable, above-described sustained-release delivery vehicles
that are injectable, or a hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid
derivative.
[0417] For oral administration of non-peptidergic agents, the
MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be carried in an inert filler or
diluent such as sucrose, cornstarch, or cellulose.
[0418] For topical administration, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent may
be carried in ointment, lotion, cream, gel, drop, suppository,
spray, liquid or powder, or in gel or microcapsular delivery
systems via a transdermal patch.
[0419] Various nasal and pulmonary delivery systems, including
aerosols, metered-dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and
nebulizers, are being developed and may suitably be adapted for
delivery of the present invention in an aerosol, inhalant, or
nebulized delivery vehicle, respectively.
[0420] For intrathecal (IT) or intracerebroventricular (ICV)
delivery, appropriately sterile delivery systems (e.g., liquids;
gels, suspensions, etc.) can be used to administer the present
invention.
[0421] The compositions of the present invention may also include
biocompatible excipients, such as dispersing or wetting agents,
suspending agents, diluents, buffers, penetration enhancers,
emulsifiers, binders, thickeners, flavouring agents (for oral
administration).
[0422] Pharmaceutical Carriers for Antibodies and Peptides
[0423] More specifically with respect to anti-MASP-2 antibodies and
inhibitory peptides, exemplary formulations can be parenterally
administered as injectable dosages of a solution or suspension of
the compound in a physiologically acceptable diluent with a
pharmaceutical carrier that can be a sterile liquid such as water,
oils, saline, glycerol or ethanol. Additionally, auxiliary
substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, surfactants, pH
buffering substances and the like can be present in compositions
comprising anti-MASP-2 antibodies and inhibitory peptides.
Additional components of pharmaceutical compositions include
petroleum (such as of animal, vegetable or synthetic origin), for
example, soybean oil and mineral oil. In general, glycols such as
propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol are preferred liquid
carriers for injectable solutions.
[0424] The anti-MASP-2 antibodies and inhibitory peptides can also
be administered in the form of a depot injection or implant
preparation that can be formulated in such a manner as to permit a
sustained or pulsatile release of the active agents.
[0425] Pharmaceutically Acceptable Carriers for Expression
Inhibitors
[0426] More specifically with respect to expression inhibitors
useful in the methods of the invention, compositions are provided
that comprise an expression inhibitor as described above and a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The composition may
further comprise a colloidal dispersion system.
[0427] Pharmaceutical compositions that include expression
inhibitors may include, but are not limited to, solutions,
emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions
may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are
not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and
self-emulsifying semisolids. The preparation of such compositions
typically involves combining the expression inhibitor with one or
more of the following: buffers, antioxidants, low molecular weight
polypeptides, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates including
glucose, sucrose or dextrins, chelating agents such as EDTA,
glutathione and other stabilizers and excipients. Neutral buffered
saline or saline mixed with non-specific serum albumin are examples
of suitable diluents.
[0428] In some embodiments, the compositions may be prepared and
formulated as emulsions which are typically heterogeneous systems
of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets (see,
Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Vol. 1, Rieger and Banker
(eds.), Marcek Dekker, Inc., N.Y., 1988). Examples of naturally
occurring emulsifiers used in emulsion formulations include acacia,
beeswax, lanolin, lecithin and phosphatides.
[0429] In one embodiment, compositions including nucleic acids can
be formulated as microemulsions. A microemulsion, as used herein
refers to a system of water, oil, and amphiphile, which is a single
optically isotropic and thermodynamically stable liquid solution
(see Rosoff in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Vol. 1). The method of
the invention may also use liposomes for the transfer and delivery
of antisense oligonucleotides to the desired site.
[0430] Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations of expression
inhibitors for topical administration may include transdermal
patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories,
sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers,
as well as aqueous, powder or oily bases and thickeners and the
like may be used.
[0431] Modes of Administration
[0432] The pharmaceutical compositions comprising MASP-2 inhibitory
agents may be administered in a number of ways depending on whether
a local or systemic mode of administration is most appropriate for
the condition being treated. Additionally, as described herein
above with respect to extracorporeal reperfusion procedures, MASP-2
inhibitory agents can be administered via introduction of the
compositions of the present invention to recirculating blood or
plasma. Further, the compositions of the present invention can be
delivered by coating or incorporating the compositions on or into
an implantable medical device.
[0433] Systemic Delivery
[0434] As used herein, the terms "systemic delivery" and "systemic
administration" are intended to include but are not limited to oral
and parenteral routes including intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous,
intravenous (IV), intra-arterial, inhalational, sublingual, buccal,
topical, transdermal, nasal, rectal, vaginal and other routes of
administration that effectively result in dispersement of the
delivered agent to a single or multiple sites of intended
therapeutic action. Preferred routes of systemic delivery for the
present compositions include intravenous, intramuscular,
subcutaneous and inhalational. It will be appreciated that the
exact systemic administration route for selected agents utilized in
particular compositions of the present invention will be determined
in part to account for the agent's susceptibility to metabolic
transformation pathways associated with a given route of
administration. For example, peptidergic agents may be most
suitably administered by routes other than oral.
[0435] MASP-2 inhibitory antibodies and polypeptides can be
delivered into a subject in need thereof by any suitable means.
Methods of delivery of MASP-2 antibodies and polypeptides include
administration by oral, pulmonary, parenteral (e.g., intramuscular,
intraperitoneal, intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous injection),
inhalation (such as via a fine powder formulation), transdermal,
nasal, vaginal, rectal, or sublingual routes of administration, and
can be formulated in dosage forms appropriate for each route of
administration.
[0436] By way of representative example, MASP-2 inhibitory
antibodies and peptides can be introduced into a living body by
application to a bodily membrane capable of absorbing the
polypeptides, for example the nasal, gastrointestinal and rectal
membranes. The polypeptides are typically applied to the absorptive
membrane in conjunction with a permeation enhancer. (See, e.g.,
Lee, V. H. L., Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carrier Sys. 5:69, 1988; Lee,
V. H. L., J. Controlled Release 13:213, 1990; Lee, V. H. L., Ed.,
Peptide and Protein Drug Delivery, Marcel Dekker, New York (1991);
DeBoer, A. G., et al., J. Controlled Release, 13:241, 1990.) For
example, STDHF is a synthetic derivative of fusidic acid, a
steroidal surfactant that is similar in structure to the bile
salts, and has been used as a permeation enhancer for nasal
delivery. (Lee, W. A., Biopharm. 22, November/December 1990.)
[0437] The MASP-2 inhibitory antibodies and polypeptides may be
introduced in association with another molecule, such as a lipid,
to protect the polypeptides from enzymatic degradation. For
example, the covalent attachment of polymers, especially
polyethylene glycol (PEG), has been used to protect certain
proteins from enzymatic hydrolysis in the body and thus prolong
half-life (Fuertges, F., et al., J. Controlled Release 11:139,
1990). Many polymer systems have been reported for protein delivery
(Bae, Y. H., et al., J. Controlled Release 9:271, 1989; Hori, R.,
et al., Pharm. Res. 6:813, 1989; Yamakawa, I., et al., J. Pharm.
Sci. 79:505, 1990; Yoshihiro, I., et al., J. Controlled Release
10:195, 1989; Asano, M., et al., J. Controlled Release 9:111, 1989;
Rosenblatt, J., et al., J. Controlled Release 9:195, 1989; Makino,
K., J. Controlled Release 12:235, 1990; Takakura, Y., et al., J.
Pharm. Sci. 78:117, 1989; Takakura, Y., et al., J. Pharm. Sci.
78:219, 1989).
[0438] Recently, liposomes have been developed with improved serum
stability and circulation half-times (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
5,741,516 to Webb). Furthermore, various methods of liposome and
liposome-like preparations as potential drug carriers have been
reviewed (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,434 to Szoka; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,552,157 to Yagi; U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,213 to Nakamori; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,738,868 to Shinkarenko; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,587 to
Gao).
[0439] For transdermal applications, the MASP-2 inhibitory
antibodies and polypeptides may be combined with other suitable
ingredients, such as carriers and/or adjuvants. There are no
limitations on the nature of such other ingredients, except that
they must be pharmaceutically acceptable for their intended
administration, and cannot degrade the activity of the active
ingredients of the composition. Examples of suitable vehicles
include ointments, creams, gels, or suspensions, with or without
purified collagen. The MASP-2 inhibitory antibodies and
polypeptides may also be impregnated into transdermal patches,
plasters, and bandages, preferably in liquid or semi-liquid
form.
[0440] The compositions of the present invention may be
systemically administered on a periodic basis at intervals
determined to maintain a desired level of therapeutic effect. For
example, compositions may be administered, such as by subcutaneous
injection, every two to four weeks or at less frequent intervals.
The dosage regimen will be determined by the physician considering
various factors that may influence the action of the combination of
agents. These factors will include the extent of progress of the
condition being treated, the patient's age, sex and weight, and
other clinical factors. The dosage for each individual agent will
vary as a function of the MASP-2 inhibitory agent that is included
in the composition, as well as the presence and nature of any drug
delivery vehicle (e.g., a sustained release delivery vehicle). In
addition, the dosage quantity may be adjusted to account for
variation in the frequency of administration and the
pharmacokinetic behavior of the delivered agent(s).
[0441] Local Delivery
[0442] As used herein, the term "local" encompasses application of
a drug in or around a site of intended localized action, and may
include for example topical delivery to the skin or other affected
tissues, ophthalmic delivery, intrathecal (IT),
intracerebroventricular (ICV), intra-articular, intracavity,
intracranial or intravesicular administration, placement or
irrigation. Local administration may be preferred to enable
administration of a lower dose, to avoid systemic side effects, and
for more accurate control of the timing of delivery and
concentration of the active agents at the site of local delivery.
Local administration provides a known concentration at the target
site, regardless of interpatient variability in metabolism, blood
flow, etc. Improved dosage control is also provided by the direct
mode of delivery.
[0443] Local delivery of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be achieved
in the context of surgical methods for treating a disease or
condition, such as for example during procedures such as arterial
bypass surgery, atherectomy, laser procedures, ultrasonic
procedures, balloon angioplasty and stent placement. For example, a
MASP-2 inhibitor can be administered to a subject in conjunction
with a balloon angioplasty procedure. A balloon angioplasty
procedure involves inserting a catheter having a deflated balloon
into an artery. The deflated balloon is positioned in proximity to
the atherosclerotic plaque and is inflated such that the plaque is
compressed against the vascular wall. As a result, the balloon
surface is in contact with the layer of vascular endothelial cells
on the surface of the blood vessel. The MASP-2 inhibitory agent may
be attached to the balloon angioplasty catheter in a manner that
permits release of the agent at the site of the atherosclerotic
plaque. The agent may be attached to the balloon catheter in
accordance with standard procedures known in the art. For example,
the agent may be stored in a compartment of the balloon catheter
until the balloon is inflated, at which point it is released into
the local environment. Alternatively, the agent may be impregnated
on the balloon surface, such that it contacts the cells of the
arterial wall as the balloon is inflated. The agent may also be
delivered in a perforated balloon catheter such as those disclosed
in Flugelman, M. Y., et al., Circulation 85:1110-1117, 1992. See
also published PCT Application WO 95/23161 for an exemplary
procedure for attaching a therapeutic protein to a balloon
angioplasty catheter. Likewise, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent may be
included in a gel or polymeric coating applied to a stent, or may
be incorporated into the material of the stent, such that the stent
elutes the MASP-2 inhibitory agent after vascular placement.
[0444] MASP-2 inhibitory compositions used in the treatment of
arthritides and other musculoskeletal disorders may be locally
delivered by intra-articular injection. Such compositions may
suitably include a sustained release delivery vehicle. As a further
example of instances in which local delivery may be desired, MASP-2
inhibitory compositions used in the treatment of urogenital
conditions may be suitably instilled intravesically or within
another urogenital structure.
[0445] Coatings on a Medical Device
[0446] MASP-2 inhibitory agents such as antibodies and inhibitory
peptides may be immobilized onto (or within) a surface of an
implantable or attachable medical device. The modified surface will
typically be in contact with living tissue after implantation into
an animal body. By "implantable or attachable medical device" is
intended any device that is implanted into, or attached to, tissue
of an animal body, during the normal operation of the device (e.g.,
stents and implantable drug delivery devices). Such implantable or
attachable medical devices can be made from, for example,
nitrocellulose, diazocellulose, glass, polystyrene,
polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, dextran, Sepharose,
agar, starch, nylon, stainless steel, titanium and biodegradable
and/or biocompatible polymers. Linkage of the protein to a device
can be accomplished by any technique that does not destroy the
biological activity of the linked protein, for example by attaching
one or both of the N-C-terminal residues of the protein to the
device. Attachment may also be made at one or more internal sites
in the protein. Multiple attachments (both internal and at the ends
of the protein) may also be used. A surface of an implantable or
attachable medical device can be modified to include functional
groups (e.g., carboxyl, amide, amino, ether, hydroxyl, cyano,
nitrido, sulfanamido, acetylinic, epoxide, silanic, anhydric,
succinimic, azido) for protein immobilization thereto. Coupling
chemistries include, but are not limited to, the formation of
esters, ethers, amides, azido and sulfanamido derivatives, cyanate
and other linkages to the functional groups available on MASP-2
antibodies or inhibitory peptides. MASP-2 antibodies or inhibitory
fragments can also be attached non-covalently by the addition of an
affinity tag sequence to the protein, such as GST (D. B. Smith and
K. S. Johnson, Gene 67:31, 1988), polyhistidines (E. Hochuli et
al., J. Chromatog. 411:77, 1987), or biotin. Such affinity tags may
be used for the reversible attachment of the protein to a
device.
[0447] Proteins can also be covalently attached to the surface of a
device body, for example, by covalent activation of the surface of
the medical device. By way of representative example, matricellular
protein(s) can be attached to the device body by any of the
following pairs of reactive groups (one member of the pair being
present on the surface of the device body, and the other member of
the pair being present on the matricellular protein(s)):
hydroxyl/carboxylic acid to yield an ester linkage;
hydroxyl/anhydride to yield an ester linkage; hydroxyl/isocyanate
to yield a urethane linkage. A surface of a device body that does
not possess useful reactive groups can be treated with
radio-frequency discharge plasma (RFGD) etching to generate
reactive groups in order to allow deposition of matricellular
protein(s) (e.g., treatment with oxygen plasma to introduce
oxygen-containing groups; treatment with propyl amino plasma to
introduce amine groups).
[0448] MASP-2 inhibitory agents comprising nucleic acid molecules
such as antisense, RNAi- or DNA-encoding peptide inhibitors can be
embedded in porous matrices attached to a device body.
Representative porous matrices useful for making the surface layer
are those prepared from tendon or dermal collagen, as may be
obtained from a variety of commercial sources (e.g., Sigma and
Collagen Corporation), or collagen matrices prepared as described
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,370 to Jefferies and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,527
to Koezuka. One collagenous material is termed UltraFiber and is
obtainable from Norian Corp. (Mountain View, Calif.).
[0449] Certain polymeric matrices may also be employed if desired,
and include acrylic ester polymers and lactic acid polymers, as
disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,909 to Urist and
4,563,489 to Urist. Particular examples of useful polymers are
those of orthoesters, anhydrides, propylene-cofumarates, or a
polymer of one or more a-hydroxy carboxylic acid monomers, (e.g.,
a-hydroxy acetic acid (glycolic acid) and/or a-hydroxy propionic
acid (lactic acid)).
[0450] Treatment Regimens
[0451] In prophylactic applications, the pharmaceutical
compositions are administered to a subject susceptible to, or
otherwise at risk of, a condition associated with MASP-2-dependent
complement activation in an amount sufficient to eliminate or
reduce the risk of developing symptoms of the condition. In
therapeutic applications, the pharmaceutical compositions are
administered to a subject suspected of, or already suffering from,
a condition associated with MASP-2-dependent complement activation
in a therapeutically effective amount sufficient to relieve, or at
least partially reduce, the symptoms of the condition. In both
prophylactic and therapeutic regimens, compositions comprising
MASP-2 inhibitory agents may be administered in several dosages
until a sufficient therapeutic outcome has been achieved in the
subject. Application of the MASP-2 inhibitory compositions of the
present invention may be carried out by a single administration of
the composition, or a limited sequence of administrations, for
treatment of an acute condition, e.g., reperfusion injury or other
traumatic injury. Alternatively, the composition may be
administered at periodic intervals over an extended period of time
for treatment of chronic conditions, e.g., arthritides or
psoriasis.
[0452] The methods and compositions of the present invention may be
used to inhibit inflammation and related processes that typically
result from diagnostic and therapeutic medical and surgical
procedures. To inhibit such processes, the MASP-2 inhibitory
composition of the present invention may be applied
periprocedurally. As used herein "periprocedurally" refers to
administration of the inhibitory composition preprocedurally and/or
intraprocedurally and/or postprocedurally, i.e., before the
procedure, before and during the procedure, before and after the
procedure, before, during and after the procedure, during the
procedure, during and after the procedure, or after the procedure.
Periprocedural application may be carried out by local
administration of the composition to the surgical or procedural
site, such as by injection or continuous or intermittent irrigation
of the site or by systemic administration. Suitable methods for
local perioperative delivery of MASP-2 inhibitory agent solutions
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,432 to Demopulos and U.S. Pat.
No. 6,645,168 to Demopulos. Suitable methods for local delivery of
chondroprotective compositions including MASP-2 inhibitory agent(s)
are disclosed in International PCT Patent Application WO 01/07067
A2. Suitable methods and compositions for targeted systemic
delivery of chondroprotective compositions including MASP-2
inhibitory agent(s) are disclosed in International PCT Patent
Application WO 03/063799 A2.
VI. Examples
[0453] The following examples merely illustrate the best mode now
contemplated for practicing the invention, but should not be
construed to limit the invention. All literature citations herein
are expressly incorporated by reference.
Example 1
[0454] This example describes the generation of a mouse strain
deficient in MASP-2 (MASP-2-/-) but sufficient of MAp19
(MAp19+/+).
[0455] Materials and Methods:
[0456] The targeting vector pKO-NTKV 1901 was designed to disrupt
the three exons coding for the C-terminal end of murine MASP-2,
including the exon that encodes the serine protease domain, as
shown in FIG. 4. PKO-NTKV 1901 was used to transfect the murine ES
cell line E14.1a (SV129 Ola). Neomycin-resistant and Thymidine
Kinase-sensitive clones were selected. 600 ES clones were screened
and, of these, four different clones were identified and verified
by southern blot to contain the expected selective targeting and
recombination event as shown in FIG. 4. Chimeras were generated
from these four positive clones by embryo transfer. The chimeras
were then backcrossed in the genetic background C57/BL6 to create
transgenic males. The transgenic males were crossed with females to
generate F1s with 50% of the offspring showing heterozygosity for
the disrupted MASP-2 gene. The heterozygous mice were intercrossed
to generate homozygous MASP-2 deficient offspring, resulting in
heterozygous and wild-type mice in the ration of 1:2:1,
respectively.
[0457] Results and Phenotype:
[0458] The resulting homozygous MASP-2-/- deficient mice were found
to be viable and fertile and were verified to be MASP-2 deficient
by southern blot to confirm the correct targeting event, by
Northern blot to confirm the absence of MASP-2 mRNA, and by Western
blot to confirm the absence of MASP-2 protein (data not shown). The
presence of MAp19 mRNA and the absence of MASP-2 mRNA were further
confirmed using time-resolved RT-PCR on a LightCycler machine. The
MASP-2-/- mice do continue to express MAp19, MASP-1, and MASP-3
mRNA and protein as expected (data not shown). The presence and
abundance of mRNA in the MASP-2-/- mice for Properdin, Factor B,
Factor D, C4, C2, and C3 was assessed by LightCycler analysis and
found to be identical to that of the wild-type littermate controls
(data not shown). The plasma from homozygous MASP-2-/- mice is
totally deficient of lectin-pathway-mediated complement activation
and alternative pathway complement activation as further described
in Example 2.
[0459] Generation of a MASP-2-/- strain on a pure C57BL6
Background: The MASP-2-/- mice are back-crossed with a pure C57BL6
line for nine generations prior to use of the MASP-2-/- strain as
an experimental animal model.
Example 2
[0460] This example demonstrates that MASP-2 is required for
complement activation via the alternative and the lectin
pathway.
[0461] Methods and Materials:
[0462] Lectin Pathway Specific C4 Cleavage Assay:
[0463] A C4 cleavage assay has been described by Petersen, et al.,
J. Immunol. Methods 257:107 (2001) that measures lectin pathway
activation resulting from lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from S. aureus,
which binds L-ficolin. The assay described in Example 11 was
adapted to measure lectin pathway activation via MBL by coating the
plate with LPS and mannan or zymosan prior to adding serum from
MASP-2 -/- mice as described below. The assay was also modified to
remove the possibility of C4 cleavage due to the classical pathway.
This was achieved by using a sample dilution buffer containing 1 M
NaCl, which permits high affinity binding of lectin pathway
recognition components to their ligands but prevents activation of
endogenous C4, thereby excluding the participation of the classical
pathway by dissociating the C1 complex. Briefly described, in the
modified assay serum samples (diluted in high salt (1 M NaCl)
buffer) are added to ligand-coated plates, followed by the addition
of a constant amount of purified C4 in a buffer with a
physiological concentration of salt. Bound recognition complexes
containing MASP-2 cleave the C4, resulting in C4b deposition.
[0464] Assay Methods:
[0465] 1) Nunc Maxisorb microtiter plates (Maxisorb, Nunc, Cat. No.
442404, Fisher Scientific) were coated with 1 .mu.g/ml mannan
(M7504 Sigma) or any other ligand (e.g., such as those listed
below) diluted in coating buffer (15 mM Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, 35 mM
NaHCO.sub.3, pH 9.6).
[0466] The following reagents were used in the assay: [0467] a.
mannan (1 .mu.g/well mannan (M7504 Sigma) in 100 .mu.l coating
buffer): [0468] b. zymosan (1 .mu.g/well zymosan (Sigma) in 100
.mu.l coating buffer); [0469] c. LTA (1 .mu.g/well in 100 .mu.l
coating buffer or 2 .mu.g/well in 20 .mu.l methanol) [0470] d. 1
.mu.g of the H-ficolin specific Mab 4H5 in coating buffer [0471] e.
PSA from Aerococcus viridans (2 .mu.g/well in 100 .mu.l coating
buffer) [0472] f 100 .mu.l/well of formalin-fixed S. aureus
DSM20233 (OD.sub.550=0.5) in coating buffer.
[0473] 2) The plates were incubated overnight at 4.degree. C.
[0474] 3) After overnight incubation, the residual protein binding
sites were saturated by incubated the plates with 0.1% HSA-TBS
blocking buffer (0.1% (w/v) HSA in 10 mM Tris-CL, 140 mM NaCl, 1.5
mM NaN.sub.3, pH 7.4) for 1-3 hours, then washing the plates
3.times. with TBS/tween/Ca.sup.2+ (TBS with 0.05% Tween 20 and 5 mM
CaCl.sub.2, 1 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 7.4).
[0475] 4) Serum samples to be tested were diluted in MBL-binding
buffer (1 M NaCl) and the diluted samples were added to the plates
and incubated overnight at 4.degree. C. Wells receiving buffer only
were used as negative controls. [0476] 5) Following incubation
overnight at 4.degree. C., the plates were washed 3.times. with
[0477] TBS/tween/Ca2+. Human C4 (100 .mu.l/well of 1 .mu.g/ml
diluted in BBS (4 mM barbital, 145 mM NaCl, 2 mM CaCl.sub.2, 1 mM
MgCl.sub.2, pH 7.4)) was then added to the plates and incubated for
90 minutes at 37.degree. C. The plates were washed again 3.times.
with TBS/tween/Ca.sup.2+.
[0478] 6) C4b deposition was detected with an alkaline
phosphatase-conjugated chicken anti-human C4c (diluted 1:1000 in
TBS/tween/Ca.sup.2+), which was added to the plates and incubated
for 90 minutes at room temperature. The plates were then washed
again 3.times. with TBS/tween/Ca.sup.2+.
[0479] 7) Alkaline phosphatase was detected by adding 100 .mu.l of
p-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate solution, incubating at room
temperature for 20 minutes, and reading the OD.sub.405 in a
microtiter plate reader.
[0480] Results:
[0481] FIGS. 6A-B show the amount of C4b deposition on mannan (FIG.
6A) and zymosan (FIG. 6B) in serum dilutions from
MASP-2+/+(crosses), MASP-2+/-(closed circles) and MASP-2-/- (closed
triangles). FIG. 6C shows the relative C4 convertase activity on
plates coated with zymosan (white bars) or mannan (shaded bars)
from MASP-2-/+ mice (n=5) and MASP-2-/- mice (n=4) relative to
wild-type mice (n=5) based on measuring the amount of C4b
deposition normalized to wild-type serum. The error bars represent
the standard deviation. As shown in FIGS. 6A-C, plasma from
MASP-2-/- mice is totally deficient in lectin-pathway-mediated
complement activation on mannan and on zymosan coated plates. These
results clearly demonstrate that MASP-2, but not MASP-1 or MASP-3,
is the effector component of the lectin pathway.
[0482] C3b Deposition Assay:
[0483] 1) Nunc Maxisorb microtiter plates (Maxisorb, Nunc, cat. No.
442404, Fisher Scientific) are coated with 1 .mu.g/well mannan
(M7504 Sigma) or any other ligand diluted in coating buffer (15 mM
Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, 35 mM NaHCO.sub.3, pH 9.6) and incubated
overnight at 4.degree. C.
[0484] 2) Residual protein binding sites are saturated by
incubating the plate with 0.1% HSA-TBS blocking buffer (0.1% (w/v)
HSA in 10 mM Tris-CL, 140 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM NaN.sub.3, pH 7.4) for
1-3 hours.
[0485] 3) Plates are washed in TBS/tw/Ca.sup.++ (TBS with 0.05%
Tween 20 and 5 mM
[0486] CaCl.sub.2) and diluted BBS is added to serum samples (4 mM
barbital, 145 mM NaCl, 2 mM CaCl.sub.2, 1 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 7.4).
Wells receiving only buffer are used as negative controls.
A control set of serum samples obtained from wild-type or MASP-2-/-
mice are C1q depleted prior to use in the assay. C1q-depleted mouse
serum was prepared using protein-A-coupled Dynabeads (Dynal
Biotech, Oslo, Norway) coated with rabbit anti-human C1q IgG (Dako,
Glostrup, Denmark), according to the supplier's instructions.
[0487] 4) Following incubation overnight at 4.degree. C., and
another wash with TBS/tw/Ca.sup.++, converted and bound C3 is
detected with a polyclonal anti-human-C3c Antibody (Dako A 062)
diluted in TBS/tw/Ca.sup.++ at 1:1000). The secondary antibody is
goat anti-rabbit IgG (whole molecule) conjugated to
alkaline-phosphatase (Sigma Immunochemicals A-3812) diluted
1:10,000 in TBS/tw/Ca.sup.++. The presence of alternative
complement pathway (AP) is determined by addition of 100 .mu.l
substrate solution (Sigma Fast p-Nitrophenyl Phosphate tablet sets,
Sigma) and incubation at room temperature. Hydrolysis is monitored
quantitatively by measuring the absorption at 405 nm in a
microtiter plate reader. A standard curve is prepared for each
analysis using serial dilutions of plasma/serum samples.
[0488] Results:
[0489] The results shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are from pooled serum
from several mice. The crosses represent MASP-2+/+ serum, the
filled circles represent C1q depleted MASP-2+/+ serum, the open
squares represent MASP-2-/- serum and the open triangles represent
C1q depleted MASP-2-/- serum. As shown in FIGS. 7A-B, serum from
MASP-2-/- mice tested in a C3b deposition assay results in very low
levels of C3 activation on mannan (FIG. 7A) and on zymosan (FIG.
7B) coated plates. This result clearly demonstrates that MASP-2 is
required to contribute the initial C3b generation from C3 to
initiate the alternative complement pathway. This is a surprising
result in view of the widely accepted view that complement factors
C3, factor B, factor D and properdin form an independent functional
alternative pathway in which C3 can undergo a spontaneous
conformational change to a "C3b-like" form which then generates a
fluid phase convertase iC3Bb and deposits C3b molecules on
activation surfaces such as zymosan.
[0490] Recombinant MASP-2 Reconstitutes Lectin Pathway-Dependent C4
Activation in Serum from the MASP-2-/- Mice
[0491] In order to establish that the absence of MASP-2 was the
direct cause of the loss of lectin pathway-dependent C4 activation
in the MASP-2-/- mice, the effect of adding recombinant MASP-2
protein to serum samples was examined in the C4 cleavage assay
described above. Functionally active murine MASP-2 and
catalytically inactive murine MASP-2A (in which the active-site
serine residue in the serine protease domain was substituted for
the alanine residue) recombinant proteins were produced and
purified as described below in Example 5. Pooled serum from 4
MASP-2 -/- mice was pre-incubated with increasing protein
concentrations of recombinant murine MASP-2 or inactive recombinant
murine MASP-2A and C4 convertase activity was assayed as described
above.
[0492] Results:
[0493] As shown in FIG. 8, the addition of functionally active
murine recombinant MASP-2 protein (shown as open triangles) to
serum obtained from the MASP-2 -/- mice restored lectin
pathway-dependent C4 activation in a protein concentration
dependent manner, whereas the catalytically inactive murine MASP-2A
protein (shown as stars) did not restore C4 activation. The results
shown in FIG. 8 are normalized to the C4 activation observed with
pooled wild-type mouse serum (shown as a dotted line).
Example 3
[0494] This example describes the generation of a transgenic mouse
strain that is murine MASP-2-/-, MAp19+/+ and that expresses a
human MASP-2 transgene (a murine MASP-2 knock-out and a human
MASP-2 knock-in).
[0495] Materials and Methods:
[0496] A minigene encoding human MASP-2 called "mini hMASP-2" (SEQ
ID NO:49) as shown in FIG. 5 was constructed which includes the
promoter region of the human MASP 2 gene, including the first 3
exons (exon 1 to exon 3) followed by the cDNA sequence that
represents the coding sequence of the following 8 exons, thereby
encoding the full-length MASP-2 protein driven by its endogenous
promoter. The mini hMASP-2 construct was injected into fertilized
eggs of MASP-2-/- in order to replace the deficient murine MASP 2
gene by transgenically expressed human MASP-2.
Example 4
[0497] This example describes the isolation of human MASP-2 protein
in proenzyme form from human serum.
[0498] Method of Human MASP-2 Isolation:
[0499] A method for isolating MASP-2 from human serum has been
described in Matsushita et al., J. Immunol. 165:2637-2642, 2000.
Briefly, human serum is passed through a yeast mannan-Sepharose
column using a 10 mM imidazole buffer (pH 6.0) containing 0.2 M
NaCl, 20 mM CaCl.sub.2, 0.2 mM NPGB, 20 .mu.M p-APMSF, and 2%
mannitol. The MASP-1 and MASP-2 proenzymes complex with MBL and
elute with the above buffer containing 0.3 M mannose. To separate
proenzymes MASP-1 and MASP-2 from MBL, preparations containing the
complex are applied to anti-MBL-Sepharose and then MASPs are eluted
with imidazole buffer containing 20 mM EDTA and 1 M NaCl. Finally,
proenzymes MASP-1 and MASP-2 are separated from each other by
passing through anti-MASP-1-Sepharose in the same buffer as used
for the anti-MBL-Sepharose. MASP-2 is recovered in the effluents,
whereas MASP-1 is eluted with 0.1 M glycine buffer (pH 2.2).
Example 5
[0500] This example describes the recombinant expression and
protein production of recombinant full-length human, rat and murine
MASP-2, MASP-2 derived polypeptides, and catalytically inactivated
mutant forms of MASP-2
[0501] Expression of Full-Length Human, Murine and Rat MASP-2:
[0502] The full length cDNA sequence of human MASP-2 (SEQ ID NO: 4)
was also subcloned into the mammalian expression vector pCI-Neo
(Promega), which drives eukaryotic expression under the control of
the CMV enhancer/promoter region (described in Kaufman R. J. et
al., Nucleic Acids Research 19:4485-90, 1991; Kaufman, Methods in
Enzymology, 185:537-66 (1991)). The full length mouse cDNA (SEQ ID
NO:50) and rat MASP-2 cDNA (SEQ ID NO:53) were each subcloned into
the pED expression vector. The MASP-2 expression vectors were then
transfected into the adherent Chinese hamster ovary cell line DXB1
using the standard calcium phosphate transfection procedure
described in Maniatis et al., 1989. Cells transfected with these
constructs grew very slowly, implying that the encoded protease is
cytotoxic.
[0503] In another approach, the minigene construct (SEQ ID NO:49)
containing the human cDNA of MASP-2 driven by its endogenous
promoter is transiently transfected into Chinese hamster ovary
cells (CHO). The human MASP-2 protein is secreted into the culture
media and isolated as described below.
[0504] Expression of Full-Length Catalytically Inactive MASP-2:
[0505] Rationale: MASP-2 is activated by autocatalytic cleavage
after the recognition subcomponents MBL or ficolins (either
L-ficolin, H-ficolin or M-ficolin) bind to their respective
carbohydrate pattern. Autocatalytic cleavage resulting in
activation of MASP-2 often occurs during the isolation procedure of
MASP-2 from serum, or during the purification following recombinant
expression. In order to obtain a more stable protein preparation
for use as an antigen, a catalytically inactive form of MASP-2,
designed as MASP-2A was created by replacing the serine residue
that is present in the catalytic triad of the protease domain with
an alanine residue in rat (SEQ ID NO:55 Ser617 to Ala617); in mouse
(SEQ ID NO:52 Ser617 to Ala617); or in human (SEQ ID NO:3 Ser618 to
Ala618).
[0506] In order to generate catalytically inactive human and murine
MASP-2A proteins, site-directed mutagenesis was carried out using
the oligonucleotides shown in TABLE 5. The oligonucleotides in
TABLE 5 were designed to anneal to the region of the human and
murine cDNA encoding the enzymatically active serine and
oligonucleotide contain a mismatch in order to change the serine
codon into an alanine codon. For example, PCR oligonucleotides SEQ
ID NOS:56-59 were used in combination with human MASP-2 cDNA (SEQ
ID NO:4) to amplify the region from the start codon to the
enzymatically active serine and from the serine to the stop codon
to generate the complete open reading from of the mutated MASP-2A
containing the Ser618 to Ala618 mutation. The PCR products were
purified after agarose gel electrophoresis and band preparation and
single adenosine overlaps were generated using a standard tailing
procedure. The adenosine tailed MASP-2A was then cloned into the
pGEM-T easy vector, transformed into E. coli.
[0507] A catalytically inactive rat MASP-2A protein was generated
by kinasing and annealing SEQ ID NO:64 and SEQ ID NO:65 by
combining these two oligonucleotides in equal molar amounts,
heating at 100.degree. C. for 2 minutes and slowly cooling to room
temperature. The resulting annealed fragment has Pst1 and Xba1
compatible ends and was inserted in place of the Pst1-Xba1 fragment
of the wild-type rat MASP-2 cDNA (SEQ ID NO:53) to generate rat
MASP-2A.
TABLE-US-00005 (SEQ ID NO: 64) 5'GAGGTGACGCAGGAGGGGCATTAGTGTTT 3'
(SEQ ID NO: 65) 5' CTAGAAACACTAATGCCCCTCCTGCGTCACCTCTGCA 3'
[0508] The human, murine and rat MASP-2A were each further
subcloned into either of the mammalian expression vectors pED or
pCI-Neo and transfected into the Chinese Hamster ovary cell line
DXB1 as described below.
[0509] In another approach, a catalytically inactive form of MASP-2
is constructed using the method described in Chen et al., J. Biol.
Chem., 276(28):25894-25902, 2001. Briefly, the plasmid containing
the full-length human MASP-2 cDNA (described in Thiel et al.,
Nature 386:506, 1997) is digested with Xho1 and EcoR1 and the
MASP-2 cDNA (described herein as SEQ ID NO:4) is cloned into the
corresponding restriction sites of the pFastBac1 baculovirus
transfer vector (Life Technologies, NY). The MASP-2 serine protease
active site at Ser618 is then altered to Ala618 by substituting the
double-stranded oligonucleotides encoding the peptide region amino
acid 610-625 (SEQ ID NO:13) with the native region amino acids 610
to 625 to create a MASP-2 full length polypeptide with an inactive
protease domain. Construction of Expression Plasmids Containing
Polypeptide Regions Derived from Human MASP-2.
[0510] The following constructs are produced using the MASP-2
signal peptide (residues 1-15 of SEQ ID NO:5) to secrete various
domains of MASP-2. A construct expressing the human MASP-2 CUBI
domain (SEQ ID NO:8) is made by PCR amplifying the region encoding
residues 1-121 of MASP-2 (SEQ ID NO:6) (corresponding to the
N-terminal CUB1 domain). A construct expressing the human MASP-2
CUBIEGF domain (SEQ ID NO:9) is made by PCR amplifying the region
encoding residues 1-166 of MASP-2 (SEQ ID NO:6) (corresponding to
the N-terminal CUBIEGF domain). A construct expressing the human
MASP-2 CUBIEGFCUBII domain (SEQ ID NO:10) is made by PCR amplifying
the region encoding residues 1-293 of MASP-2 (SEQ ID NO:6)
(corresponding to the N-terminal CUBIEGFCUBII domain). The above
mentioned domains are amplified by PCR using Vent.sub.R polymerase
and pBS-MASP-2 as a template, according to established PCR methods.
The 5' primer sequence of the sense primer
(5'-CGGGATCCATGAGGCTGCTGACCCTC-3' SEQ ID NO:34) introduces a BamHI
restriction site (underlined) at the 5' end of the PCR products.
Antisense primers for each of the MASP-2 domains, shown below in
TABLE 5, are designed to introduce a stop codon (boldface) followed
by an EcoRI site (underlined) at the end of each PCR product. Once
amplified, the DNA fragments are digested with BamHI and EcoRI and
cloned into the corresponding sites of the pFastBac1 vector. The
resulting constructs are characterized by restriction mapping and
confirmed by dsDNA sequencing.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 5 MASP-2 PCR PRIMERS MASP-2 domain 5' PCR
Primer 3' PCR Primer SEQ ID NO: 8 5'CGGGATCCATGA
5'GGAATTCCTAGGCTGCAT CUBI (aa 1-121 of SEQ GGCTGCTGACCCT A (SEQ ID
NO: 35) ID NO: 6) C-3' (SEQ ID NO: 34) SEQ ID NO: 9 5'CGGGATCCATGA
5'GGAATTCCTACAGGGCGC CUBIEGF (aa 1-166 of GGCTGCTGACCCT T-3' (SEQ
ID NO: 36) SEQ ID NO: 6) C-3' (SEQ ID NO: 34) SEQ ID NO: 10
5'CGGGATCCATGA 5'GGAATTCCTAGTAGTGGA CUBIEGFCUBII (aa GGCTGCTGACCCT
T 3' (SEQ ID NO: 37) 1-293 of SEQ ID NO: 6) C-3' (SEQ ID NO: 34)
SEQ ID NO: 4 51ATGAGGCTGCTG 5'TTAAAATCACTAATTATG human MASP-2
ACCCTCCTGGGCC TTCTCGATC 3' (SEQ ID NO: TTC 3' (SEQ ID NO: 59)
hMASP-2_reverse 56) hMASP-2_forward SEQ ID NO: 4 5'CAGAGGTGACGC
5'GTGCCCCTCCTGCGTCAC human MASP-2 cDNA AGGAGGGGCAC 3' CTCTG 3' (SEQ
ID NO: 57) (SEQ ID NO: 58) hMASP-2_ala_reverse hMASP-2_ala_forward
SEQ ID NO: 50 5'ATGAGGCTACTC 5'TTAGAAATTACTTATTAT Murine MASP-2
cDNA ATCTTCCTGG3' GTTCTCAATCC3' (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO: 60) NO: 63)
mMASP-2_reverse mMASP-2_forward SEQ ID NO: 50 5'CCCCCCCTGCGT
5'CTGCAGAGGTGACGCAG Murine MASP-2 cDNA CACCTCTGCAG3' GGGGGG 3' (SEQ
ID NO: 61) (SEQ ID NO: 62) mMASP-2_ala_reverse
mMASP-2_ala_forward
[0511] Recombinant Eukaryotic Expression of MASP-2 and Protein
Production of Enzymatically Inactive Mouse, Rat, and Human
MASP-2A.
[0512] The MASP-2 and MASP-2A expression constructs described above
were transfected into DXB1 cells using the standard calcium
phosphate transfection procedure (Maniatis et al., 1989). MASP-2A
was produced in serum-free medium to ensure that preparations were
not contaminated with other serum proteins. Media was harvested
from confluent cells every second day (four times in total). The
level of recombinant MASP-2A averaged approximately 1.5 mg/liter of
culture medium for each of the three species.
[0513] MASP-2A Protein Purification:
[0514] The MASP-2A (Ser-Ala mutant described above) was purified by
affinity chromatography on MBP-A-agarose columns. This strategy
enabled rapid purification without the use of extraneous tags.
MASP-2A (100-200 ml of medium diluted with an equal volume of
loading buffer (50 mM Tris-Cl, pH 7.5, containing 150 mM NaCl and
25 mM CaCl.sub.2) was loaded onto an MBP-agarose affinity column (4
ml) pre-equilibrated with 10 ml of loading buffer. Following
washing with a further 10 ml of loading buffer, protein was eluted
in 1 ml fractions with 50 mM Tris-Cl, pH 7.5, containing 1.25 M
NaCl and 10 mM EDTA. Fractions containing the MASP-2A were
identified by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Where
necessary, MASP-2A was purified further by ion-exchange
chromatography on a MonoQ column (HR 5/5). Protein was dialysed
with 50 mM Tris-Cl pH 7.5, containing 50 mM NaCl and loaded onto
the column equilibrated in the same buffer. Following washing,
bound MASP-2A was eluted with a 0.05-1 M NaCl gradient over 10
ml.
[0515] Results:
[0516] Yields of 0.25-0.5 mg of MASP-2A protein were obtained from
200 ml of medium. The molecular mass of 77.5 kDa determined by
MALDI-MS is greater than the calculated value of the unmodified
polypeptide (73.5 kDa) due to glycosylation. Attachment of glycans
at each of the N-glycosylation sites accounts for the observed
mass. MASP-2A migrates as a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gels,
demonstrating that it is not proteolytically processed during
biosynthesis. The weight-average molecular mass determined by
equilibrium ultracentrifugation is in agreement with the calculated
value for homodimers of the glycosylated polypeptide.
[0517] Production of Recombinant Human MASP-2 Polypeptides
[0518] Another method for producing recombinant MASP-2 and MASP2A
derived polypeptides is described in Thielens, N. M., et al., J.
Immunol. 166:5068-5077, 2001. Briefly, the Spodoptera frugiperda
insect cells (Ready-Plaque Sf9 cells obtained from Novagen,
Madison, Wis.) are grown and maintained in Sf900II serum-free
medium (Life Technologies) supplemented with 50 IU/ml penicillin
and 50 mg/ml streptomycin (Life Technologies). The Trichoplusia ni
(High Five) insect cells (provided by Jadwiga Chroboczek, Institut
de Biologie Structurale, Grenoble, France) are maintained in TC100
medium (Life Technologies) containing 10% FCS (Dominique Dutscher,
Brumath, France) supplemented with 50 IU/ml penicillin and 50 mg/ml
streptomycin. Recombinant baculoviruses are generated using the
Bac-to-Bac system (Life Technologies). The bacmid DNA is purified
using the Qiagen midiprep purification system (Qiagen) and is used
to transfect Sf9 insect cells using cellfectin in Sf900 II SFM
medium (Life Technologies) as described in the manufacturer's
protocol. Recombinant virus particles are collected 4 days later,
titrated by virus plaque assay, and amplified as described by King
and Possee, in The Baculovirus Expression System: A Laboratory
Guide, Chapman and Hall Ltd., London, pp. 111-114, 1992.
[0519] High Five cells (1.75.times.10.sup.7 cells/175-cm.sup.2
tissue culture flask) are infected with the recombinant viruses
containing MASP-2 polypeptides at a multiplicity of infection of 2
in Sf900 II SFM medium at 28.degree. C. for 96 h. The supernatants
are collected by centrifugation and diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate
is added to a final concentration of 1 mM.
[0520] The MASP-2 polypeptides are secreted in the culture medium.
The culture supernatants are dialyzed against 50 mM NaCl, 1 mM
CaCl.sub.2, 50 mM triethanolamine hydrochloride, pH 8.1, and loaded
at 1.5 ml/min onto a Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column (Amersham
Pharmacia Biotech) (2.8.times.12 cm) equilibrated in the same
buffer. Elution is conducted by applying a 1.2 liter linear
gradient to 350 mM NaCl in the same buffer. Fractions containing
the recombinant MASP-2 polypeptides are identified by Western blot
analysis, precipitated by addition of (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 to
60% (w/v), and left overnight at 4.degree. C. The pellets are
resuspended in 145 mM NaCl, 1 mM CaCl.sub.2, 50 mM triethanolamine
hydrochloride, pH 7.4, and applied onto a TSK G3000 SWG column
(7.5.times.600 mm) (Tosohaas, Montgomeryville, Pa.) equilibrated in
the same buffer. The purified polypeptides are then concentrated to
0.3 mg/ml by ultrafiltration on Microsep microconcentrators (m.w.
cut-off=10,000) (Filtron, Karlstein, Germany).
Example 6
[0521] This example describes a method of producing polyclonal
antibodies against MASP-2 polypeptides.
[0522] Materials and Methods:
[0523] MASP-2 Antigens:
[0524] Polyclonal anti-human MASP-2 antiserum is produced by
immunizing rabbits with the following isolated MASP-2 polypeptides:
human MASP-2 (SEQ ID NO:6) isolated from serum as described in
Example 4; recombinant human MASP-2 (SEQ ID NO:6), MASP-2A
containing the inactive protease domain (SEQ ID NO:13), as
described in Examples 4-5; and recombinant CUBI (SEQ ID NO:8),
CUBEGFI (SEQ ID NO:9), and CUBEGFCUBII (SEQ ID NO:10) expressed as
described above in Example 5.
[0525] Polyclonal Antibodies:
[0526] Six-week old Rabbits, primed with BCG (bacillus
Calmette-Guerin vaccine) are immunized by injecting 100 .mu.g of
MASP-2 polypeptide at 100 .mu.g/ml in sterile saline solution.
Injections are done every 4 weeks, with antibody titer monitored by
ELISA assay as described in Example 7. Culture supernatants are
collected for antibody purification by protein A affinity
chromatography.
Example 7
[0527] This example describes a method for producing murine
monoclonal antibodies against rat or human MASP-2 polypeptides.
[0528] Materials and Methods:
[0529] Male A/J mice (Harlan, Houston, Tex.), 8-12 weeks old, are
injected subcutaneously with 100 .mu.g human or rat rMASP-2 or
rMASP-2A polypeptides (made as described in Example 4 or Example 5)
in complete Freund's adjuvant (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.)
in 200 .mu.l of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) pH 7.4. At two-week
intervals the mice are twice injected subcutaneously with 50 .mu.g
of human or rat rMASP-2 or rMASP-2A polypeptide in incomplete
Freund's adjuvant. On the fourth week the mice are injected with 50
.mu.g of human or rat rMASP-2 or rMASP-2A polypeptide in PBS and
are fused 4 days later.
[0530] For each fusion, single cell suspensions are prepared from
the spleen of an immunized mouse and used for fusion with Sp2/0
myeloma cells. 5.times.10.sup.8 of the Sp2/0 and 5.times.10.sup.8
spleen cells are fused in a medium containing 50% polyethylene
glycol (M. W. 1450) (Kodak, Rochester, N.Y.) and 5%
dimethylsulfoxide (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.). The cells
are then adjusted to a concentration of 1.5.times.10.sup.5 spleen
cells per 200 .mu.l of the suspension in Iscove medium (Gibco,
Grand Island, N.Y.), supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100
units/ml of penicillin, 100 .mu.g/ml of streptomycin, 0.1 mM
hypoxanthine, 0.4 .mu.M aminopterin and 16 .mu.M thymidine. Two
hundred microliters of the cell suspension are added to each well
of about twenty 96-well microculture plates. After about ten days
culture supernatants are withdrawn for screening for reactivity
with purified factor MASP-2 in an ELISA assay.
[0531] ELISA Assay:
[0532] Wells of Immulon 2 (Dynatech Laboratories, Chantilly, Va.)
microtest plates are coated by adding 50 .mu.l of purified hMASP-2
at 50 .mu.g/ml or rat rMASP-2 (or rMASP-2A) overnight at room
temperature. The low concentration of MASP-2 for coating enables
the selection of high-affinity antibodies. After the coating
solution is removed by flicking the plate, 200 .mu.l of BLOTTO
(non-fat dry milk) in PBS is added to each well for one hour to
block the non-specific sites. An hour later, the wells are then
washed with a buffer PBST (PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20). Fifty
microliters of culture supernatants from each fusion well is
collected and mixed with 50 .mu.l of BLOTTO and then added to the
individual wells of the microtest plates. After one hour of
incubation, the wells are washed with PBST. The bound murine
antibodies are then detected by reaction with horseradish
peroxidase (HRP) conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (Fc specific)
(Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, Pa.) and diluted
at 1:2,000 in BLOTTO. Peroxidase substrate solution containing 0.1%
3,3,5,5 tetramethyl benzidine (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) and 0.0003%
hydrogen peroxide (Sigma) is added to the wells for color
development for 30 minutes. The reaction is terminated by addition
of 50 .mu.l of 2M H.sub.2SO.sub.4 per well. The Optical Density at
450 nm of the reaction mixture is read with a BioTek ELISA Reader
(BioTek Instruments, Winooski, Vt.).
[0533] MASP-2 Binding Assay:
[0534] Culture supernatants that test positive in the MASP-2 ELISA
assay described above can be tested in a binding assay to determine
the binding affinity the MASP-2 inhibitory agents have for MASP-2.
A similar assay can also be used to determine if the inhibitory
agents bind to other antigens in the complement system.
[0535] Polystyrene microtiter plate wells (96-well medium binding
plates, Corning Costar, Cambridge, Mass.) are coated with MASP-2
(20 .mu.g/100 .mu.l/well, Advanced Research Technology, San Diego,
Calif.) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) pH 7.4 overnight at
4.degree. C. After aspirating the MASP-2 solution, wells are
blocked with PBS containing 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA; Sigma
Chemical) for 2 h at room temperature. Wells without MASP-2 coating
serve as the background controls. Aliquots of hybridoma
supernatants or purified anti-MASP-2 MoAbs, at varying
concentrations in blocking solution, are added to the wells.
Following a 2 h incubation at room temperature, the wells are
extensively rinsed with PBS. MASP-2-bound anti-MASP-2 MoAb is
detected by the addition of peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-mouse
IgG (Sigma Chemical) in blocking solution, which is allowed to
incubate for 1 h at room temperature.
[0536] The plate is rinsed again thoroughly with PBS, and 100 .mu.l
of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) substrate (Kirkegaard and
Perry Laboratories, Gaithersburg, Md.) is added. The reaction of
TMB is quenched by the addition of 100 .mu.l of 1M phosphoric acid,
and the plate is read at 450 nm in a microplate reader (SPECTRA MAX
250, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.).
[0537] The culture supernatants from the positive wells are then
tested for the ability to inhibit complement activation in a
functional assay such as the C4 cleavage assay as described in
Example 2. The cells in positive wells are then cloned by limiting
dilution. The MoAbs are tested again for reactivity with hMASP-2 in
an ELISA assay as described above. The selected hybridomas are
grown in spinner flasks and the spent culture supernatant collected
for antibody purification by protein A affinity chromatography.
Example 8
[0538] This example describes the generation of a MASP-2-/-
knockout mouse expressing human MASP-2 for use as a model in which
to screen for MASP-2 inhibitory agents.
[0539] Materials and Methods:
[0540] A MASP-2-/- mouse as described in Example 1 and a MASP-2-/-
mouse expressing a human MASP-2 transgene construct (human MASP-2
knock-in) as described in Example 3 are crossed, and progeny that
are murine MASP-2-/-, murine MAp19+, human MASP-2+ are used to
identify human MASP-2 inhibitory agents.
[0541] Such animal models can be used as test substrates for the
identification and efficacy of MASP-2 inhibitory agents such as
human anti-MASP-2 antibodies, MASP-2 inhibitory peptides and
nonpeptides, and compositions comprising MASP-2 inhibitory agents.
For example, the animal model is exposed to a compound or agent
that is known to trigger MASP-2-dependent complement activation,
and a MASP-2 inhibitory agent is administered to the animal model
at a sufficient time and concentration to elicit a reduction of
disease symptoms in the exposed animal.
[0542] In addition, the murine MASP-2-/-, MAp19+, human MASP-2+
mice may be used to generate cell lines containing one or more cell
types involved in a MASP-2-associated disease which can be used as
a cell culture model for that disorder. The generation of
continuous cell lines from transgenic animals is well known in the
art, for example see Small, J. A., et al., Mol. Cell Biol.,
5:642-48, 1985.
Example 9
[0543] This example describes a method of producing human
antibodies against human MASP-2 in a MASP-2 knockout mouse that
expresses human MASP-2 and human immunoglobulins.
[0544] Materials and Methods:
[0545] A MASP-2-/- mouse was generated as described in Example 1. A
mouse was then constructed that expresses human MASP-2 as described
in Example 3. A homozygous MASP-2-/- mouse and a MASP-2-/- mouse
expressing human MASP-2 are each crossed with a mouse derived from
an embryonic stem cell line engineered to contain targeted
disruptions of the endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain and light
chain loci and expression of at least a segment of the human
immunoglobulin locus. Preferably, the segment of the human
immunoglobulin locus includes unrearranged sequences of heavy and
light chain components. Both inactivation of endogenous
immunoglobulin genes and introduction of exogenous immunoglobulin
genes can be achieved by targeted homologous recombination. The
transgenic mammals resulting from this process are capable of
functionally rearranging the immunoglobulin component sequences and
expressing a repertoire of antibodies of various isotypes encoded
by human immunoglobulin genes, without expressing endogenous
immunoglobulin genes. The production and properties of mammals
having these properties is described, for example see Thomson, A.
D., Nature 148:1547-1553, 1994, and Sloane, B. F., Nature
Biotechnology 14:826, 1996. Genetically engineered strains of mice
in which the mouse antibody genes are inactivated and functionally
replaced with human antibody genes is commercially available (e.g.,
XenoMouse.RTM., available from Abgenix, Fremont Calif.). The
resulting offspring mice are capable of producing human MoAb
against human MASP-2 that are suitable for use in human
therapy.
Example 10
[0546] This example describes the generation and production of
humanized murine anti-MASP-2 antibodies and antibody fragments.
[0547] A murine anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibody is generated in
Male A/J mice as described in Example 7. The murine antibody is
then humanized as described below to reduce its immunogenicity by
replacing the murine constant regions with their human counterparts
to generate a chimeric IgG and Fab fragment of the antibody, which
is useful for inhibiting the adverse effects of MASP-2-dependent
complement activation in human subjects in accordance with the
present invention.
[0548] 1. Cloning of Anti-MASP-2 Variable Region Genes from Murine
Hybridoma Cells.
[0549] Total RNA is isolated from the hybridoma cells secreting
anti-MASP-2 MoAb (obtained as described in Example 7) using RNAzol
following the manufacturer's protocol (Biotech, Houston, Tex.).
First strand cDNA is synthesized from the total RNA using oligo dT
as the primer. PCR is performed using the immunoglobulin constant C
region-derived 3' primers and degenerate primer sets derived from
the leader peptide or the first framework region of murine V.sub.H
or V.sub.K genes as the 5' primers. Anchored PCR is carried out as
described by Chen and Platsucas (Chen, P. F., Scand. J. Immunol.
35:539-549, 1992). For cloning the V.sub.K gene, double-stranded
cDNA is prepared using a Not1-MAK1 primer
(5'-TGCGGCCGCTGTAGGTGCTGTCTTT-3' SEQ ID NO:38). Annealed adaptors
AD1 (5'-GGAATTCACTCGTTATTCTCGGA-3' SEQ ID NO:39) and AD2
(5'-TCCGAGAATAACGAGTG-3' SEQ ID NO:40) are ligated to both 5' and
3' termini of the double-stranded cDNA. Adaptors at the 3' ends are
removed by Not1 digestion. The digested product is then used as the
template in PCR with the AD1 oligonucleotide as the 5' primer and
MAK2 (5'-CATTGAAAGCTTTGGGGTAGAAGTTGTTC-3' SEQ ID NO:41) as the 3'
primer. DNA fragments of approximately 500 bp are cloned into
pUC19. Several clones are selected for sequence analysis to verify
that the cloned sequence encompasses the expected murine
immunoglobulin constant region. The Not1-MAK1 and MAK2
oligonucleotides are derived from the V.sub.K region and are 182
and 84 bp, respectively, downstream from the first base pair of the
C kappa gene. Clones are chosen that include the complete V.sub.K
and leader peptide.
[0550] For cloning the V.sub.H gene, double-stranded cDNA is
prepared using the Not1 MAG1 primer
(5'-CGCGGCCGCAGCTGCTCAGAGTGTAGA-3' SEQ ID NO:42). Annealed adaptors
AD1 and AD2 are ligated to both 5' and 3' termini of the
double-stranded cDNA. Adaptors at the 3' ends are removed by Not1
digestion. The digested product are used as the template in PCR
with the AD1 oligonucleotide and MAG2
(5'-CGGTAAGCTTCACTGGCTCAGGGAAATA-3' SEQ ID NO:43) as primers. DNA
fragments of 500 to 600 bp in length are cloned into pUC19. The
Not1-MAG1 and MAG2 oligonucleotides are derived from the murine
Cy.7.1 region, and are 180 and 93 bp, respectively, downstream from
the first bp of the murine Cy.7.1 gene. Clones are chosen that
encompass the complete V.sub.H and leader peptide.
[0551] 2. Construction of Expression Vectors for Chimeric MASP-2
IgG and Fab.
[0552] The cloned V.sub.H and V.sub.K genes described above are
used as templates in a PCR reaction to add the Kozak consensus
sequence to the 5' end and the splice donor to the 3' end of the
nucleotide sequence. After the sequences are analyzed to confirm
the absence of PCR errors, the V.sub.H and V.sub.K genes are
inserted into expression vector cassettes containing human
C..gamma.1 and C. kappa respectively, to give pSV2neoV.sub.H-huCyl
and pSV2neoV-huC.gamma.. CsCl gradient-purified plasmid DNAs of the
heavy- and light-chain vectors are used to transfect COS cells by
electroporation. After 48 hours, the culture supernatant is tested
by ELISA to confirm the presence of approximately 200 ng/ml of
chimeric IgG. The cells are harvested and total RNA is prepared.
First strand cDNA is synthesized from the total RNA using oligo dT
as the primer. This cDNA is used as the template in PCR to generate
the Fd and kappa DNA fragments. For the Fd gene, PCR is carried out
using 5'-AAGAAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGGATTGGCTGTGGAACT-3' (SEQ ID NO:44) as
the 5' primer and a CH1-derived 3' primer
(5'-CGGGATCCTCAAACTTTCTTGTCCACCTTGG-3' SEQ ID NO:45). The DNA
sequence is confirmed to contain the complete V.sub.H and the CH1
domain of human IgG1. After digestion with the proper enzymes, the
Fd DNA fragments are inserted at the HindIII and BamHI restriction
sites of the expression vector cassette pSV2dhfr-TUS to give
pSV2dhfrFd. The pSV2 plasmid is commercially available and consists
of DNA segments from various sources: pBR322 DNA (thin line)
contains the pBR322 origin of DNA replication (pBR ori) and the
lactamase ampicillin resistance gene (Amp); SV40 DNA, represented
by wider hatching and marked, contains the SV40 origin of DNA
replication (SV40 ori), early promoter (5' to the dhfr and neo
genes), and polyadenylation signal (3' to the dhfr and neo genes).
The SV40-derived polyadenylation signal (pA) is also placed at the
3' end of the Fd gene.
[0553] For the kappa gene, PCR is carried out using
5'-AAGAAAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGTTCTCACTAGCTCT-3' (SEQ ID NO:46) as the 5'
primer and a C.sub.K-derived 3' primer
(5'-CGGGATCCTTCTCCCTCTAACACTCT-3' SEQ ID NO:47). DNA sequence is
confirmed to contain the complete V.sub.K and human C.sub.K
regions. After digestion with proper restriction enzymes, the kappa
DNA fragments are inserted at the HindIII and BamHI restriction
sites of the expression vector cassette pSV2neo-TUS to give
pSV2neoK. The expression of both Fd and kappa genes are driven by
the HCMV-derived enhancer and promoter elements. Since the Fd gene
does not include the cysteine amino acid residue involved in the
inter-chain disulfide bond, this recombinant chimeric Fab contains
non-covalently linked heavy- and light-chains. This chimeric Fab is
designated as cFab.
[0554] To obtain recombinant Fab with an inter-heavy and light
chain disulfide bond, the above Fd gene may be extended to include
the coding sequence for additional 9 amino acids (EPKSCDKTH SEQ ID
NO:48) from the hinge region of human IgG1. The BstEII-BamHI DNA
segment encoding 30 amino acids at the 3' end of the Fd gene may be
replaced with DNA segments encoding the extended Fd, resulting in
pSV2dhfrFd/9aa.
[0555] 3. Expression and Purification of Chimeric Anti-MASP-2
IgG
[0556] To generate cell lines secreting chimeric anti-MASP-2 IgG,
NSO cells are transfected with purified plasmid DNAs of
pSV2neoV.sub.H-huC..gamma.1 and pSV2neoV-huC kappa by
electroporation. Transfected cells are selected in the presence of
0.7 mg/ml G418. Cells are grown in a 250 ml spinner flask using
serum-containing medium.
[0557] Culture supernatant of 100 ml spinner culture is loaded on a
10-ml PROSEP-A column (Bioprocessing, Inc., Princeton, N.J.). The
column is washed with 10 bed volumes of PBS. The bound antibody is
eluted with 50 mM citrate buffer, pH 3.0. Equal volume of 1 M
Hepes, pH 8.0 is added to the fraction containing the purified
antibody to adjust the pH to 7.0. Residual salts are removed by
buffer exchange with PBS by Millipore membrane ultrafiltration (M.
W. cut-off: 3,000). The protein concentration of the purified
antibody is determined by the BCA method (Pierce).
[0558] 4. Expression and Purification of Chimeric Anti-MASP-2
Fab
[0559] To generate cell lines secreting chimeric anti-MASP-2 Fab,
CHO cells are transfected with purified plasmid DNAs of pSV2dhfrFd
(or pSV2dhfrFd/9aa) and pSV2neokappa, by electroporation.
Transfected cells are selected in the presence of G418 and
methotrexate. Selected cell lines are amplified in increasing
concentrations of methotrexate. Cells are single-cell subcloned by
limiting dilution. High-producing single-cell subcloned cell lines
are then grown in 100 ml spinner culture using serum-free
medium.
[0560] Chimeric anti-MASP-2 Fab is purified by affinity
chromatography using a mouse anti-idiotypic MoAb to the MASP-2
MoAb. An anti-idiotypic MASP-2 MoAb can be made by immunizing mice
with a murine anti-MASP-2 MoAb conjugated with keyhole limpet
hemocyanin (KLH) and screening for specific MoAb binding that can
be competed with human MASP-2. For purification, 100 ml of
supernatant from spinner cultures of CHO cells producing cFab or
cFab/9aa are loaded onto the affinity column coupled with an
anti-idiotype MASP-2 MoAb. The column is then washed thoroughly
with PBS before the bound Fab is eluted with 50 mM diethylamine, pH
11.5. Residual salts are removed by buffer exchange as described
above. The protein concentration of the purified Fab is determined
by the BCA method (Pierce).
[0561] The ability of the chimeric MASP-2 IgG, cFab, and cFAb/9aa
to inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement pathways may be determined
by using the inhibitory assays described in Example 2.
Example 11
[0562] This example describes an in vitro C4 cleavage assay used as
a functional screen to identify MASP-2 inhibitory agents capable of
blocking MASP-2-dependent complement activation via L-ficolin/P35,
H-ficolin, M-ficolin or mannan.
[0563] C4 Cleavage Assay:
[0564] A C4 cleavage assay has been described by Petersen, S. V.,
et al., J. Immunol. Methods 257:107, 2001, which measures lectin
pathway activation resulting from lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from S.
aureus which binds L-ficolin.
[0565] Reagents:
[0566] Formalin-fixed S. aureus (DSM20233) is prepared as follows:
bacteria is grown overnight at 37.degree. C. in tryptic soy blood
medium, washed three times with PBS, then fixed for 1 h at room
temperature in PBS/0.5% formalin, and washed a further three times
with PBS, before being resuspended in coating buffer (15 mM
Na.sub.2Co.sub.3, 35 mM NaHCO.sub.3, pH 9.6).
[0567] Assay:
[0568] The wells of a Nunc MaxiSorb microtiter plate (Nalgene Nunc
International, Rochester, N.Y.) are coated with: 100 .mu.l of
formalin-fixed S. aureus DSM20233 (OD.sub.550=0.5) in coating
buffer with 1 ug of L-ficolin in coating buffer. After overnight
incubation, wells are blocked with 0.1% human serum albumin (HSA)
in TBS (10 mM Tris-HCl, 140 mM NaCl, pH 7.4), then are washed with
TBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 and 5 mM CaCl.sub.2 (wash buffer).
Human serum samples are diluted in 20 mM Tris-HCl, 1 M NaCl, 10 mM
CaCl.sub.2, 0.05% Triton X-100, 0.1% HSA, pH 7.4, which prevents
activation of endogenous C4 and dissociates the C1 complex
(composed of C1q, C1r and C1s). MASP-2 inhibitory agents, including
anti-MASP-2 MoAbs and inhibitory peptides are added to the serum
samples in varying concentrations. The diluted samples are added to
the plate and incubated overnight at 4.degree. C. After 24 hours,
the plates are washed thoroughly with wash buffer, then 0.1 .mu.g
of purified human C4 (obtained as described in Dodds, A. W.,
Methods Enzymol. 223:46, 1993) in 100 .mu.l of 4 mM barbital, 145
mM NaCl, 2 mM CaCl.sub.2, 1 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 7.4 is added to each
well. After 1.5 h at 37.degree. C., the plates are washed again and
C4b deposition is detected using alkaline phosphatase-conjugated
chicken anti-human C4c (obtained from Immunsystem, Uppsala, Sweden)
and measured using the colorimetric substrate p-nitrophenyl
phosphate.
[0569] C4 Assay on Mannan:
[0570] The assay described above is adapted to measure lectin
pathway activation via MBL by coating the plate with LSP and mannan
prior to adding serum mixed with various MASP-2 inhibitory
agents.
[0571] C4 Assay on H-Ficolin (Hakata Ag):
[0572] The assay described above is adapted to measure lectin
pathway activation via H-ficolin by coating the plate with LPS and
H-ficolin prior to adding serum mixed with various MASP-2
inhibitory agents.
Example 12
[0573] The following assay demonstrates the presence of classical
pathway activation in wild-type and MASP-2-/- mice.
[0574] Methods:
[0575] Immune complexes were generated in situ by coating
microtiter plates (Maxisorb, Nunc, cat. No. 442404, Fisher
Scientific) with 0.1% human serum albumin in 10 mM Tris, 140 mM
NaCl, pH 7.4 for 1 hours at room temperature followed by overnight
incubation at 4.degree. C. with sheep anti whole serum antiserum
(Scottish Antibody Production Unit, Carluke, Scotland) diluted
1:1000 in TBS/tween/Ca.sup.2+. Serum samples were obtained from
wild-type and MASP-2-/- mice and added to the coated plates.
Control samples were prepared in which C1q was depleted from
wild-type and MASP-2-/- serum samples. C1q-depleted mouse serum was
prepared using protein-A-coupled Dynabeads (Dynal Biotech, Oslo,
Norway) coated with rabbit anti-human C1q IgG (Dako, Glostrup,
Denmark), according to the supplier's instructions. The plates were
incubated for 90 minutes at 37.degree. C. Bound C3b was detected
with a polyclonal anti-human-C3c Antibody (Dako A 062) diluted in
TBS/tw/Ca.sup.++ at 1:1000. The secondary antibody is goat
anti-rabbit IgG.
[0576] Results:
[0577] FIG. 9 shows the relative C3b deposition levels on plates
coated with IgG in wild-type serum, MASP-2-/- serum, C1q-depleted
wild-type and C1q-depleted MASP-2-/- serum. These results
demonstrate that the classical pathway is intact in the MASP-2-/-
mouse strain.
Example 13
[0578] The following assay is used to test whether a MASP-2
inhibitory agent blocks the classical pathway by analyzing the
effect of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent under conditions in which the
classical pathway is initiated by immune complexes.
[0579] Methods:
[0580] To test the effect of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent on
conditions of complement activation where the classical pathway is
initiated by immune complexes, triplicate 50 .mu.l samples
containing 90% NHS are incubated at 37.degree. C. in the presence
of 10 .mu.g/ml immune complex (IC) or PBS, and parallel triplicate
samples (+/-IC) are also included which contain 200 nM
anti-properdin monoclonal antibody during the 37.degree. C.
incubation. After a two hour incubation at 37.degree. C., 13 mM
EDTA is added to all samples to stop further complement activation
and the samples are immediately cooled to 5.degree. C. The samples
are then stored at -70.degree. C. prior to being assayed for
complement activation products (C3a and sC5b-9) using ELISA kits
(Quidel, Catalog Nos. A015 and A009) following the manufacturer's
instructions.
Example 14
[0581] This example demonstrates that the lectin-dependent MASP-2
complement activation system is activated in the
ischemia/reperfusion phase following abdominal aortic aneurysm
repair.
[0582] Experimental Rationale and Design:
[0583] Patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair
are subject to an ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is largely
mediated by complement activation. We investigated the role of the
MASP-2-dependent lectin pathway of complement activation in
ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing AAA repair. The
consumption of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) in serum was used to
measure the amount of MASP-2-dependent lectin pathway activation
that occurred during reperfusion.
[0584] Patient Serum Sample Isolation:
[0585] A total of 23 patients undergoing elective infrarenal AAA
repair and 8 control patients undergoing major abdominal surgery
were included in this study.
[0586] For the patients under going AAA repair, systemic blood
samples were taken from each patient's radial artery (via an
arterial line) at four defined time points during the procedure:
time point 1: induction of anaesthesia; time point 2: just prior to
aortic clamping; time point 3: just prior to aortic clamp removal;
and time point 4: during reperfusion.
[0587] For the control patients undergoing major abdominal surgery,
systemic blood samples were taken at induction of anaesthesia and
at two hours after the start of the procedure.
[0588] Assay for Levels of MBL:
[0589] Each patient plasma sample was assayed for levels of
mannan-binding lectin (MBL) using ELISA techniques.
[0590] Results:
[0591] The results of this study are shown in FIG. 10, which
presents a graph showing the mean percentage change in MBL levels
(y axis) at each of the various time points (x axis). Starting
values for MBL are 100%, with relative decreases shown thereafter.
As shown in FIG. 10, AAA patients (n=23) show a significant
decrease in plasma MBL levels, averaging an approximate 41%
decrease at time of ischemia/reperfusion following AAA. In
contrast, in control patients (n=8) undergoing major abdominal
surgery only a minor consumption of MBL was observed in the plasma
samples.
[0592] The data presented provides a strong indication that the
MASP-2-dependent lectin pathway of the complement system is
activated in the ischemia/reperfusion phase following AAA repair.
The decrease in MBL levels appears to be associated with
ischaemia-reperfusion injury because the MBL levels drop
significantly and rapidly when the clamped major vessel is
reperfused after the end of the operation. In contrast, control
sera of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery without a major
ischemia-reperfusion insult only show a slight decrease in MBL
plasma levels. In view of the well-established contribution of
complement activation in reperfusion injury, we conclude that
activation of the MASP-2-dependent lectin pathway on ischemic
endothelial cells is a major factor in the pathology of
ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, a specific transient
blockade or reduction in the MASP-2-dependent lectin pathway of
complement activation would be expected to have a significant
beneficial therapeutic impact to improve the outcome of clinical
procedures and diseases that involve a transient ischemic insult,
e.g., myocardial infarction, gut infarction, burns, transplantation
and stroke.
Example 15
[0593] This example describes the use of the MASP-2-/- strain as an
animal model for testing MASP-2 inhibitory agents useful to treat
Rheumatoid Arthritis.
[0594] Background and Rationale: Murine Arthritis Model:
K/B.times.N T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic (tg) mice, is a
recently developed model of inflammatory arthritis (Kouskoff, V.,
et al., Cell 87:811-822, 1996; Korganow, A. S., et al., Immunity
10:451-461, 1999; Matsumoto, I., et al., Science 286:1732-1735,
1999; Maccioni M. et al., J. Exp. Med. 195(8):1071-1077, 2002). The
K/B.times.N mice spontaneously develop an autoimmune disease with
most of the clinical, histological and immunological features of RA
in humans (Ji, H., et al., Immunity 16:157-168, 2002). The murine
disorder is joint specific, but is initiated then perpetuated by T,
then B cell autoreactivity to glucose-6-phosphate isomerase
("GPI"), a ubiquitously expressed antigen. Further, transfer of
serum (or purified anti-GPI Igs) from arthritic K/B.times.N mice
into healthy animals provokes arthritis within several days. It has
also been shown that polyclonal anti-GPI antibodies or a pool of
anti-GPI monoclonal antibodies of the IgG1 isotype induce arthritis
when injected into healthy recipients (Maccioni et al., 2002). The
murine model is relevant to human RA, because serum from RA
patients has also been found to contain anti-GPI antibodies, which
is not found in normal individuals. A C5-deficient mouse was tested
in this system and found to block the development of arthritis (Ji,
H., et al., 2002, supra). There was also strong inhibition of
arthritis in C3 null mice, implicating the alternative pathway,
however, MBP-A null mice did develop arthritis. In mice however,
the presence of MBP-C may compensate for the loss of MBP-A.
[0595] Based on the observations described herein that MASP-2 plays
an essential role in the initiation of both the lectin and
alternative pathways, the K/B.times.N arthritic model is useful to
screen for MASP-2 inhibitory agents that are effective for use as a
therapeutic agents to treat RA.
[0596] Methods:
[0597] Serum from arthritic K/B.times.N mice is obtained at 60 days
of age, pooled and injected (150-200 .mu.l i.p.) into MASP-2-/-
recipients (obtained as described in Example 1); and control
littermates with or without MASP-2 inhibitory agents (MoAb,
inhibitory peptides and the like as described herein) at days 0 and
2. A group of normal mice are also pretreated with a MASP-2
inhibitory agent for two days prior to receiving the injection of
serum. A further group of mice receive an injection of serum at day
0, followed by a MASP-2 inhibitory agent at day 6. A clinical index
is evaluated over time with one point scored for each affected paw,
1/2 point scored for a paw with only mild swelling. Ankle thickness
is also measured by a caliper (thickness is defined as the
difference from day 0 measurement).
Example 16
[0598] This example describes an assay for inhibition of
complement-mediated tissue damage in an ex vivo model of rabbit
hearts perfused with human plasma.
[0599] Background and Rationale:
[0600] Activation of the complement system contributes to
hyperacute rejection of xenografts. Previous studies have shown
that hyperacute rejection can occur in the absence of anti-donor
antibodies via activation of the alternative pathway (Johnston, P.
S., et al., Transplant Proc. 23:877-879, 1991).
[0601] Methods:
[0602] To determine whether isolated anti-MASP-2 inhibitory agents
such as anti-MASP-2 antibodies obtained as described in Example 7
are able to inhibit complement pathway in tissue damage, the
anti-MASP-2 MoAbs and antibody fragments may be tested using an ex
vivo model in which isolated rabbit hearts are perfused with
diluted human plasma. This model was previously shown to cause
damage to the rabbit myocardium due to the activation of the
alternative complement pathway (Gralinski, M. R., et al.,
Immunopharmacology 34:79-88, 1996).
Example 17
[0603] This example describes an assay that measures neutrophil
activation which is useful as a measure of an effective dose of a
MASP-2 inhibitory agent for the treatment of conditions associated
with the lectin-dependent pathway in accordance with the methods of
the invention.
[0604] Methods:
[0605] A method for measuring neutrophil elastase has been
described in Gupta-Bansal, R., et al., Molecular Immunol.
37:191-201, 2000. Briefly, the complex of elastase and serum
.alpha.1-antitrypsin is measured with a two-site sandwich assay
that utilizes antibodies against both elastase and
.alpha..sub.1-antitrypsin. Polystyrene microtiter plates are coated
with a 1:500 dilution of anti-human elastase antibody (The Binding
Site, Birmingham, UK) in PBS overnight at 4.degree. C. After
aspirating the antibody solution, wells are blocked with PBS
containing 0.4% HAS for 2 h at room temperature. Aliquots (100
.mu.l) of plasma samples that are treated with or without a MASP-2
inhibitory agent are added to the wells. Following a 2 h incubation
at room temperature, the wells are extensively rinsed with PBS.
Bound elastase-.alpha..sub.1-antitrypsin complex is detected by the
addition of a 1:500 dilution of peroxidase
conjugated-.alpha..sub.1-antitrypsin antibody in blocking solution
that is allowed to incubate for 1 h at room temperature. After
washing the plate with PBS, 100 .mu.l aliquots of TMB substrate are
added. The reaction of TMB is quenched by the addition of 100 .mu.l
of phosphoric acid, and the plate is read at 450 nm in a microplate
reader.
Example 18
[0606] This example describes an animal model for testing MASP-2
inhibitory agents useful to treat myocardial
ischemia/reperfusion.
[0607] Methods:
[0608] A myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model has been described
by Vakeva et al., Circulation 97:2259-2267, 1998, and Jordan et
al., Circulation 104(12):1413-1418, 2001. The described model may
be modified for use in MASP-2-/- and MASP-2+/+ mice as follows.
Briefly, adult male mice are anesthetized. Jugular vein and trachea
are cannulated and ventilation is maintained with 100% oxygen with
a rodent ventilator adjusted to maintain exhaled CO.sub.2 between
3.5% and 5%. A left thoracotomy is performed and a suture is placed
3 to 4 mm from the origin of the left coronary artery. Five minutes
before ischemia, animals are given a MASP-2 inhibitory agent, such
as anti-MASP-2 antibodies (e.g., in a dosage range of between 0.01
to 10 mg/kg). Ischemia is then initiated by tightening the suture
around the coronary artery and maintained for 30 minutes, followed
by four hours of reperfusion. Sham-operated animals are prepared
identically without tightening the suture.
[0609] Analysis of Complement C3 Deposition:
[0610] After reperfusion, samples for immunohistochemistry are
obtained from the central region of the left ventricle, fixed and
frozen at -80.degree. C. until processed. Tissue sections are
incubated with an HRP-conjugated goat anti-rat C3 antibody. Tissue
sections are analyzed for the presence of C3 staining in the
presence of anti-MASP-2 inhibitory agents as compared with
sham-operated control animals and MASP-2-/- animals to identify
MASP-2 inhibitory agents that reduce C3 deposition in vivo.
Example 19
[0611] This example describes the use of the MASP-2-/- strain as an
animal model for testing MASP-2 inhibitory agents for the ability
to protect transplanted tissue from ischemia/reperfusion
injury.
[0612] Background/Rationale:
[0613] It is known that ischemia/reperfusion injury occurs in a
donor organ during transplantation. The extent of tissue damage is
related to the length of ischemia and is mediated by complement, as
demonstrated in various models of ischemia and through the use of
complement inhibiting agents such as soluble receptor type 1 (CR1)
(Weisman et al., Science 249:146-151, 1990; Mulligan et al., J.
Immunol. 148:1479-1486, 1992; Pratt et al., Am. J. Path.
163(4):1457-1465, 2003). An animal model for transplantation has
been described by Pratt et al., Am. J. Path. 163(4):1457-1465,
which may be modified for use with the MASP-2-/- mouse model and/or
for use as a MASP-2+/+ model system in which to screen MASP-2
inhibitory agents for the ability to protect transplanted tissue
from ischemia/reperfusion injury. The flushing of the donor kidney
with perfusion fluid prior to transplantation provides an
opportunity to introduce anti-MASP-2 inhibitory agents into the
donor kidney.
[0614] Methods:
[0615] MASP-2-/- and/or MASP-2+/+ mice are anesthetized. The left
donor kidney is dissected and the aorta is ligated cephalad and
caudad to the renal artery. A portex tube catheter (Portex Ltd,
Hythe, UK) is inserted between the ligatures and the kidney is
perfused with 5 ml of Soltran Kidney Perfusion Solution (Baxter
Health Care, UK) containing MASP-2 inhibitory agents such as
anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibodies (in a dosage range of from 0.01
mg/kg to 10 mg/kg) for a period of at least 5 minutes. Renal
transplantation is then performed and the mice are monitored over
time. Analysis of Transplant Recipients: Kidney transplants are
harvested at various time intervals and tissue sections are
analyzed using anti-C3 to determine the extent of C3
deposition.
Example 20
[0616] This example describes the use of a collagen-induced
arthritis (CIA) animal model for testing MASP-2 inhibitory agents
useful to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
[0617] Background and Rationale:
[0618] Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) represents an autoimmune
polyarthritis inducible in susceptible strains of rodents and
primates after immunization with native type II collagen and is
recognized as a relevant model for human rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
(see Courtney et al., Nature 283: 666 (1980); Trenthan et al., J.
Exp. Med. 146: 857 (1977)). Both RA and CIA are characterized by
joint inflammation, pannus formation and cartilage and bone
erosion. The CIA susceptible murine strain DBA/1LacJ is a developed
model of CIA in which mice develop clinically severe arthritis
after immunization with Bovine type II collagen (Wang et al., J.
Immunol. 164: 4340-4347 (2000). A C5-deficient mouse strain was
crossed with DBA/1LacJ and the resulting strain was found to be
resistant to the development of CIA arthritis (Wang et al., 2000,
supra).
[0619] Based on the observations described herein that MASP-2 plays
an essential role in the initiation of both the lectin and
alternative pathways, the CIA arthritic model is useful to screen
for MASP-2 inhibitory agents that are effective for use as
therapeutic agents to treat RA.
[0620] Methods:
[0621] A MASP-2-/- mouse is generated as described in Example 1.
The MASP-2-/- mouse is then crossed with a mouse derived from the
DBA/1LacJ strain (The Jackson Laboratory). F1 and subsequent
offspring are intercrossed to produce homozygous MASP-2-/- in the
DBA/1LacJ line.
[0622] Collagen immunization is carried out as described in Wang et
al., 2000, supra. Briefly, wild-type DBA/1LacJ mice and MASP-2-/-
DBA/1LacJ mice are immunized with Bovine type II collagen (BCII) or
mouse type II collagen (MCII) (obtained from Elastin Products,
Owensville, Mo.), dissolved in 0.01 M acetic acid at a
concentration of 4 mg/ml. Each mouse is injected intradermally at
the base of the tail with 200 ug CII and 100 ug mycobacteria. Mice
are re-immunized after 21 days and are examined daily for the
appearance of arthritis. An arthritic index is evaluated over time
with respect to the severity of arthritis in each affected paw.
[0623] MASP-2 inhibitory agents are screened in the wild-type
DBA/1LacJ CIA mice by injecting a MASP-2 inhibitory agent such as
anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibodies (in a dosage range of from 0.01
mg/kg to 10 mg/kg) at the time of collagen immunization, either
systemically, or locally at one or more joints and an arthritic
index is evaluated over time as described above. Anti-hMASP-2
monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents can be easily evaluated
in a MASP-2-/-, hMASP-+/+ knock-in DBA/1LacJ CIA mouse model.
Example 21
[0624] This example describes the use of a (NZB/W) F.sub.1 animal
model for testing MASP-2 inhibitory agents useful to treat
immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis.
[0625] Background and Rationale:
[0626] New Zealand black.times.New Zealand white (NZB/W) F1 mice
spontaneously develop an autoimmune syndrome with notable
similarities to human immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis.
The NZB/W F1 mice invariably succumb to glomerulonephritis by 12
months of age. As discussed above, it has been demonstrated that
complement activation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis
of immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis. It has been further
shown that the administration of an anti-C5 MoAb in the NZB/W F1
mouse model resulted in significant amelioration of the course of
glomerulonepthritis (Wang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 93:
8563-8568 (1996)). Based on the observations described herein that
MASP-2 plays an essential role in the initiation of both the lectin
and alternative pathways, the NZB/W F.sub.1 animal model is useful
to screen for MASP-2 inhibitory agents that are effective for use
as therapeutic agents to treat glomerulonephritis.
[0627] Methods:
[0628] A MASP-2-/- mouse is generated as described in Example 1.
The MASP-2-/- mouse is then seperately crossed with a mouse derived
both from the NZB and the NZW strains (The Jackson Laboratory). F1
and subsequent offspring are intercrossed to produce homozygous
MASP-2-/- in both the NZB and NZW genetic backgrounds. To determine
the role of MASP-2 in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis in
this model, the development of this disease in F1 individuals
resulting from crosses of either wild-type NZB.times.NZW mice or
MASP-2-/-NZB.times.MASP-2-/-NZW mice are compared. At weekly
intervals urine samples will be collected from the MASP-2+/+ and
MASP-2-/- F1 mice and urine protein levels monitored for the
presence of anti-DNA antibodies (as described in Wang et al., 1996,
supra). Histopathological analysis of the kidneys is also carried
out to monitor the amount of mesangial matrix deposition and
development of glomerulonephritis.
[0629] The NZB/W F1 animal model is also useful to screen for
MASP-2 inhibitory agents that are effective for use as therapeutic
agents to treat glomerulonephritis. At 18 weeks of age, wild-type
NZB/W F1 mice are injected intraperitoneally with anti-MASP-2
inhibitory agents, such as anti-MASP-2 monoclonal antibodies (in a
dosage range of from 0.01 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg) at a frequency of
weekly or biweekly. The above-mentioned histopathological and
biochemical markers of glomerulonephritis are used to evaluate
disease development in the mice and to identify useful MASP-2
inhibitory agents for the treatment of this disease.
Example 22
[0630] This example describes the use of a tubing loop as a model
for testing MASP-2 inhibitory agents useful to prevent tissue
damage resulting from extracorporeal circulation (ECC) such as a
cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit.
[0631] Background and Rationale:
[0632] As discussed above, patients undergoing ECC during CPB
suffer a systemic inflammatory reaction, which is partly caused by
exposure of blood to the artificial surfaces of the extracorporeal
circuit, but also by surface-independent factors like surgical
trauma and ischemia-reperfusion injury (Butler, J., et al., Ann.
Thorac. Surg. 55:552-9, 1993; Edmunds, L. H., Ann. Thorac. Surg.
66(Suppl):S12-6, 1998; Asimakopoulos, G., Perfusion 14:269-77,
1999). It has further been shown that the alternative complement
pathway plays a predominant role in complement activation in CPB
circuits, resulting from the interaction of blood with the
artificial surfaces of the CPB circuits (see Kirklin et al., 1983,
1986, discussed supra). Therefore, based on the observations
described herein that MASP-2 plays an essential role in the
initiation of both the lectin and alternative pathways, the tubing
loop model is useful to screen for MASP-2 inhibitory agents that
are effective for use as therapeutic agents to prevent or treat an
extracorporeal exposure-triggered inflammatory reaction.
[0633] Methods:
[0634] A modification of a previously described tubing loop model
for cardiopulmonary bypass circuits is utilized (see Gong et al.,
J. Clinical Immunol.
[0635] 16(4):222-229 (1996)) as described in Gupta-Bansal et al.,
Molecular Immunol. 37:191-201 (2000). Briefly, blood is freshly
collected from a healthy subject in a 7 ml vacutainer tube
(containing 7 units of heparin per ml of whole blood). Polyethylene
tubing similar to what is used during CPB procedures (e.g., I.D.
2.92 mm; O.D. 3.73 mm, length: 45 cm) is filled with 1 ml of blood
and closed into a loop with a short piece of silicone tubing. A
control tubing containing heparinized blood with 10 mM EDTA was
included in the study as a background control. Sample and control
tubings were rotated vertically in a water bath for 1 hour at
37.degree. C. After incubation, the blood samples were transferred
into 1.7 ml microfuge tubes containing EDTA, resulting in a final
concentration of 20 mM EDTA. The samples were centrifuged and the
plasma was collected. MASP-2 inhibitory agents, such as anti-MASP-2
antibodies are added to the heparinized blood immediately before
rotation. The plasma samples are then subjected to assays to
measure the concentration C3a and soluble C5b-9 as described in
Gupta-Bansal et al., 2000, supra.
Example 23
[0636] This example describes the use of a rodent caecal ligation
and puncture (CLP) model system for testing MASP-2 inhibitory
agents useful to treat sepsis or a condition resulting from sepsis,
including severe sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress
syndrome resulting from sepsis and systemic inflammatory response
syndrome.
[0637] Background and Rationale:
[0638] As discussed above, complement activation has been shown in
numerous studies to have a major role in the pathogenesis of sepsis
(see Bone, R. C., Annals. Internal. Med. 115:457-469, 1991). The
CLP rodent model is a recognized model that mimics the clinical
course of sepsis in humans and is considered to be a reasonable
surrogate model for sepsis in humans (see Ward, P., Nature Review
Immunology Vol 4: 133-142 (2004). A recent study has shown that
treatment of CLP animals with anti-05a antibodies resulted in
reduced bacteremia and greatly improved survival Huber-Lang et al.,
J. of Immunol. 169: 3223-3231 (2002). Therefore, based on the
observations described herein that MASP-2 plays an essential role
in the initiation of both the lectin and alternative pathways, the
CLP rodent model is useful to screen for MASP-2 inhibitory agents
that are effective for use as therapeutic agents to prevent or
treat sepsis or a condition resulting from sepsis.
[0639] Methods:
[0640] The CLP model is adapted from the model described in
Huber-Lang et al., 2004, supra as follows. MASP-2-/- and MASP-2+/+
animals are anesthetized. A 2 cm midline abdominal incision is made
and the cecum is tightly ligated below the ileocecal valve,
avoiding bowel obstruction. The cecum is then punctured through and
through with a 21-gauge needle. The abdominal incision was then
closed in layers with silk suture and skin clips (Ethicon,
Summerville, N.J.). Immediately after CLP, animals receive an
injection of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent such as anti-MASP-2
monoclonal antibodies (in a dosage range of from 0.01 mg/kg to 10
mg/kg). Anti-hMASP-2 monoclonal antibodies as therapeutic agents
can be easily evaluated in a MASP-2-/-, hMASP-+/+ knock-in CLP
mouse model. The plasma of the mice are then analyzed for levels of
complement-derived anaphylatoxins and respiratory burst using the
assays described in Huber-Lang et al., 2004, supra.
Example 24
[0641] This example describes the identification of high affinity
anti-MASP-2 Fab2 antibody fragments that block MASP-2 activity.
[0642] Background and Rationale:
[0643] MASP-2 is a complex protein with many separate functional
domains, including: binding site(s) for MBL and ficolins, a serine
protease catalytic site, a binding site for proteolytic substrate
C2, a binding site for proteolytic substrate C4, a MASP-2 cleavage
site for autoactivation of MASP-2 zymogen, and two Ca.sup.++
binding sites. Fab2 antibody fragments were identified that bind
with high affinity to MASP-2, and the identified Fab2 fragments
were tested in a functional assay to determine if they were able to
block MASP-2 functional activity.
[0644] To block MASP-2 functional activity, an antibody or Fab2
antibody fragment must bind and interfere with a structural epitope
on MASP-2 that is required for MASP-2 functional activity.
Therefore, many or all of the high affinity binding anti-MASP-2
Fab2s may not inhibit MASP-2 functional activity unless they bind
to structural epitopes on MASP-2 that are directly involved in
MASP-2 functional activity.
[0645] A functional assay that measures inhibition of lectin
pathway C3 convertase formation was used to evaluate the "blocking
activity" of anti-MASP-2 Fab2s. It is known that the primary
physiological role of MASP-2 in the lectin pathway is to generate
the next functional component of the lectin-mediated complement
pathway, namely the lectin pathway C3 convertase. The lectin
pathway C3 convertase is a critical enzymatic complex (C4bC2a) that
proteolytically cleaves C3 into C3a and C3b. MASP-2 is not a
structural component of the lectin pathway C3 convertase (C4bC2a);
however, MASP-2 functional activity is required in order to
generate the two protein components (C4b, C2a) that comprise the
lectin pathway C3 convertase. Furthermore, all of the separate
functional activities of MASP-2 listed above appear to be required
in order for MASP-2 to generate the lectin pathway C3 convertase.
For these reasons, a preferred assay to use in evaluating the
"blocking activity" of anti-MASP-2 Fab2s is believed to be a
functional assay that measures inhibition of lectin pathway C3
convertase formation.
[0646] Generation of High Affinity Fab2s:
[0647] A phage display library of human variable light and heavy
chain antibody sequences and automated antibody selection
technology for identifying Fab2s that react with selected ligands
of interest was used to create high affinity Fab2s to rat MASP-2
protein (SEQ ID NO:55). A known amount of rat MASP-2 (.about.1 mg,
>85% pure) protein was utilized for antibody screening. Three
rounds of amplification were utilized for selection of the
antibodies with the best affinity. Approximately 250 different hits
expressing antibody fragments were picked for ELISA screening. High
affinity hits were subsequently sequenced to determine uniqueness
of the different antibodies.
[0648] Fifty unique anti-MASP-2 antibodies were purified and 250
.mu.g of each purified Fab2 antibody was used for characterization
of MASP-2 binding affinity and complement pathway functional
testing, as described in more detail below.
[0649] Assays Used to Evaluate the Inhibitory (Blocking) Activity
of Anti-MASP-2 Fab2s
[0650] 1. Assay to Measure Inhibition of Formation of Lectin
Pathway C3 Convertase:
[0651] Background: The lectin pathway C3 convertase is the
enzymatic complex (C4bC2a) that proteolytically cleaves C3 into the
two potent proinflammatory fragments, anaphylatoxin C3a and opsonic
C3b. Formation of C3 convertase appears to a key step in the lectin
pathway in terms of mediating inflammation. MASP-2 is not a
structural component of the lectin pathway C3 convertase (C4bC2a);
therefore anti-MASP-2 antibodies (or Fab2) will not directly
inhibit activity of preexisting C3 convertase. However, MASP-2
serine protease activity is required in order to generate the two
protein components (C4b, C2a) that comprise the lectin pathway C3
convertase. Therefore, anti-MASP-2 Fab2 which inhibit MASP-2
functional activity (i.e., blocking anti-MASP-2 Fab2) will inhibit
de novo formation of lectin pathway C3 convertase. C3 contains an
unusual and highly reactive thioester group as part of its
structure. Upon cleavage of C3 by C3 convertase in this assay, the
thioester group on C3b can form a covalent bond with hydroxyl or
amino groups on macromolecules immobilized on the bottom of the
plastic wells via ester or amide linkages, thus facilitating
detection of C3b in the ELISA assay.
[0652] Yeast mannan is a known activator of the lectin pathway. In
the following method to measure formation of C3 convertase, plastic
wells coated with mannan were incubated for 30 min at 37.degree. C.
with diluted rat serum to activate the lectin pathway. The wells
were then washed and assayed for C3b immobilized onto the wells
using standard ELISA methods. The amount of C3b generated in this
assay is a direct reflection of the de novo formation of lectin
pathway C3 convertase. Anti-MASP-2 Fab2s at selected concentrations
were tested in this assay for their ability to inhibit C3
convertase formation and consequent C3b generation.
[0653] Methods:
[0654] 96-well Costar Medium Binding plates were incubated
overnight at 5.degree. C. with mannan diluted in 50 mM carbonate
buffer, pH 9.5 at 1 ug/50 Tl/well. After overnight incubation, each
well was washed three times with 200 Tl PBS. The wells were then
blocked with 100 Tl/well of 1% bovine serum albumin in PBS and
incubated for one hour at room temperature with gentle mixing. Each
well was then washed three times with 200 Tl of PBS. The
anti-MASP-2 Fab2 samples were diluted to selected concentrations in
Ca.sup.++ and Mg.sup.++ containing GVB buffer (4.0 mM barbital, 141
mM NaCl, 1.0 mM MgCl.sub.2, 2.0 mM CaCl.sub.2, 0.1% gelatin, pH
7.4) at 5 C. A 0.5% rat serum was added to the above samples at 5 C
and 100 Tl was transferred to each well. Plates were covered and
incubated for 30 minutes in a 37 C waterbath to allow complement
activation. The reaction was stopped by transferring the plates
from the 37 C waterbath to a container containing an ice-water mix.
Each well was washed five times with 200 Tl with PBS-Tween 20
(0.05% Tween 20 in PBS), then washed two times with 200 Tl PBS. A
100 Tl/well of 1:10,000 dilution of the primary antibody (rabbit
anti-human C3c, DAKO A0062) was added in PBS containing 2.0 mg/ml
bovine serum albumin and incubated 1 hr at room temperature with
gentle mixing. Each well was washed 5.times.200 Tl PBS. 100 Tl/well
of 1:10,000 dilution of the secondary antibody
(peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG, American Qualex
A102PU) was added in PBS containing 2.0 mg/ml bovine serum albumin
and incubated for one hour at room temperature on a shaker with
gentle mixing. Each well was washed five times with 200 Tl with
PBS. 100 Tl/well of the peroxidase substrate TMB (Kirkegaard &
Perry Laboratories) was added and incubated at room temperature for
10 min. The peroxidase reaction was stopped by adding 100 Tl/well
of 1.0 M H.sub.3PO.sub.4 and the OD.sub.450. was measured.
[0655] 2. Assay to Measure Inhibition of MASP-2-Dependent C4
Cleavage
[0656] Background: The serine protease activity of MASP-2 is highly
specific and only two protein substrates for MASP-2 have been
identified; C2 and C4. Cleavage of C4 generates C4a and C4b.
Anti-MASP-2 Fab2 may bind to structural epitopes on MASP-2 that are
directly involved in C4 cleavage (e.g., MASP-2 binding site for C4;
MASP-2 serine protease catalytic site) and thereby inhibit the C4
cleavage functional activity of MASP-2.
[0657] Yeast mannan is a known activator of the lectin pathway. In
the following method to measure the C4 cleavage activity of MASP-2,
plastic wells coated with mannan were incubated for 30 minutes at
37 C with diluted rat serum to activate the lectin pathway. Since
the primary antibody used in this ELISA assay only recognizes human
C4, the diluted rat serum was also supplemented with human C4 (1.0
Tg/ml). The wells were then washed and assayed for human C4b
immobilized onto the wells using standard ELISA methods. The amount
of C4b generated in this assay is a measure of MASP-2 dependent C4
cleavage activity. Anti-MASP-2 Fab2 at selected concentrations were
tested in this assay for their ability to inhibit C4 cleavage.
[0658] Methods:
[0659] 96-well Costar Medium Binding plates were incubated
overnight at 5 C with mannan diluted in 50 mM carbonate buffer, pH
9.5 at 1.0 Tg/50 Tl/well. Each well was washed 3.times. with 200 Tl
PBS. The wells were then blocked with 100 Tl/well of 1% bovine
serum albumin in PBS and incubated for one hour at room temperature
with gentle mixing. Each well was washed 3.times. with 200 Tl of
PBS. Anti-MASP-2 Fab2 samples were diluted to selected
concentrations in Ca.sup.++ and Mg.sup.++ containing GVB buffer
(4.0 mM barbital, 141 mM NaCl, 1.0 mM MgCl.sub.2, 2.0 mM
CaCl.sub.2, 0.1% gelatin, pH 7.4) at 5 C. 1.0 Tg/ml human C4
(Quidel) was also included in these samples. 0.5% rat serum was
added to the above samples at 5 C and 100 Tl was transferred to
each well. The plates were covered and incubated for 30 min in a 37
C waterbath to allow complement activation. The reaction was
stopped by transferring the plates from the 37 C waterbath to a
container containing an ice-water mix. Each well was washed
5.times.200 Tl with PBS-Tween 20 (0.05% Tween 20 in PBS), then each
well was washed with 2.times. with 200 Tl PBS. 100 Tl/well of 1:700
dilution of biotin-conjugated chicken anti-human C4c (Immunsystem
AB, Uppsala, Sweden) was added in PBS containing 2.0 mg/ml bovine
serum albumin (BSA) and incubated one hour at room temperature with
gentle mixing. Each well was washed 5.times.200 Tl PBS. 100 Tl/well
of 0.1 Tg/ml of peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin (Pierce Chemical
#21126) was added in PBS containing 2.0 mg/ml BSA and incubated for
one hour at room temperature on a shaker with gentle mixing. Each
well was washed 5.times.200 Tl with PBS. 100 Tl/well of the
peroxidase substrate TMB (Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories) was
added and incubated at room temperature for 16 min. The peroxidase
reaction was stopped by adding 100 Tl/well of 1.0 M H.sub.3PO.sub.4
and the OD.sub.450 was measured.
[0660] 3. Binding Assay of Anti-Rat MASP-2 Fab2 to `Native` Rat
MASP-2
[0661] Background: MASP-2 is usually present in plasma as a MASP-2
dimer complex that also includes specific lectin molecules
(mannose-binding protein (MBL) and ficolins). Therefore, if one is
interested in studying the binding of anti-MASP-2 Fab2 to the
physiologically relevant form of MASP-2, it is important to develop
a binding assay in which the interaction between the Fab2 and
`native` MASP-2 in plasma is used, rather than purified recombinant
MASP-2. In this binding assay the `native` MASP-2-MBL complex from
10% rat serum was first immobilized onto mannan-coated wells. The
binding affinity of various anti-MASP-2 Fab2s to the immobilized
`native` MASP-2 was then studied using a standard ELISA
methodology.
[0662] Methods:
[0663] 96-well Costar High Binding plates were incubated overnight
at 5.degree. C. with mannan diluted in 50 mM carbonate buffer, pH
9.5 at 1 Tg/50 Tl/well. Each well was washed 3.times. with 200 Tl
PBS. The wells were blocked with 100 Tl/well of 0.5% nonfat dry
milk in PBST (PBS with 0.05% Tween 20) and incubated for one hour
at room temperature with gentle mixing. Each well was washed
3.times. with 200 Tl of TBS/Tween/Ca.sup.++ Wash Buffer
(Tris-buffered saline, 0.05% Tween 20, containing 5.0 mM
CaCl.sub.2, pH 7.4. 10% rat serum in High Salt Binding Buffer (20
mM Tris, 1.0 M NaCl, 10 mM CaCl.sub.2, 0.05% Triton-X100, 0.1%
(w/v) bovine serum albumin, pH 7.4) was prepared on ice. 100
Tl/well was added and incubated overnight at 5.degree. C. Wells
were washed 3.times. with 200 Tl of TBS/Tween/Ca.sup.++ Wash
Buffer. Wells were then washed 2.times. with 200 Tl PBS. 100
Tl/well of selected concentration of anti-MASP-2 Fab2 diluted in
Ca.sup.++ and Mg.sup.++ containing GVB Buffer (4.0 mM barbital, 141
mM NaCl, 1.0 mM MgCl.sub.2, 2.0 mM CaCl.sub.2, 0.1% gelatin, pH
7.4) was added and incubated for one hour at room temperature with
gentle mixing. Each well was washed 5.times.200 Tl PBS. 100 Tl/well
of HRP-conjugated goat anti-Fab2 (Biogenesis Cat No 0500-0099)
diluted 1:5000 in 2.0 mg/ml bovine serum albumin in PBS was added
and incubated for one hour at room temperature with gentle mixing.
Each well was washed 5.times.200 Tl PBS. 100 Tl/well of the
peroxidase substrate TMB (Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories) was
added and incubated at room temperature for 70 min. The peroxidase
reaction was stopped by adding 100 Tl/well of 1.0 M H.sub.3PO.sub.4
and OD.sub.450. was measured.
[0664] Results:
[0665] Approximately 250 different Fab2s that reacted with high
affinity to the rat MASP-2 protein were picked for ELISA screening.
These high affinity Fab2s were sequenced to determine the
uniqueness of the different antibodies, and 50 unique anti-MASP-2
antibodies were purified for further analysis. 250 ug of each
purified Fab2 antibody was used for characterization of MASP-2
binding affinity and complement pathway functional testing. The
results of this analysis is shown below in TABLE 6.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 6 ANTI-MASP-2 FAB2 THAT BLOCK LECTIN PATHWAY
COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION C3 Convertase C4 Cleavage Fab2 antibody #
(IC.sub.50 (nM) K.sub.d IC.sub.50 (nM) 88 0.32 4.1 ND 41 0.35 0.30
0.81 11 0.46 0.86 <2 nM 86 0.53 1.4 ND 81 0.54 2.0 ND 66 0.92
4.5 ND 57 0.95 3.6 <2 nM 40 1.1 7.2 0.68 58 1.3 2.6 ND 60 1.6
3.1 ND 52 1.6 5.8 <2 nM 63 2.0 6.6 ND 49 2.8 8.5 <2 nM 89 3.0
2.5 ND 71 3.0 10.5 ND 87 6.0 2.5 ND 67 10.0 7.7 ND
[0666] As shown above in TABLE 6, of the 50 anti-MASP-2 Fab2s
tested, seventeen Fab2s were identified as MASP-2 blocking Fab2
that potently inhibit C3 convertase formation with IC.sub.50 equal
to or less than 10 nM Fab2s (a 34% positive hit rate). Eight of the
seventeen Fab2s identified have IC.sub.50s in the subnanomolar
range. Furthermore, all seventeen of the MASP-2 blocking Fab2s
shown in TABLE 6 gave essentially complete inhibition of C3
convertase formation in the lectin pathway C3 convertase assay.
FIG. 11A graphically illustrates the results of the C3 convertase
formation assay for Fab2 antibody #11, which is representative of
the other Fab2 antibodies tested, the results of which are shown in
TABLE 6. This is an important consideration, since it is
theoretically possible that a "blocking" Fab2 may only fractionally
inhibit MASP-2 function even when each MASP-2 molecule is bound by
the Fab2.
[0667] Although mannan is a known activator of the lectin pathway,
it is theoretically possible that the presence of anti-mannan
antibodies in the rat serum might also activate the classical
pathway and generate C3b via the classical pathway C3 convertase.
However, each of the seventeen blocking anti-MASP-2 Fab2s listed in
this example potently inhibits C3b generation (>95%), thus
demonstrating the specificity of this assay for lectin pathway C3
convertase.
[0668] Binding assays were also performed with all seventeen of the
blocking Fab2s in order to calculate an apparent K.sub.d for each.
The results of the binding assays of anti-rat MASP-2 Fab2s to
native rat MASP-2 for six of the blocking Fab2s are also shown in
TABLE 6. FIG. 11B graphically illustrates the results of a binding
assay with the Fab2 antibody #11. Similar binding assays were also
carried out for the other Fab2s, the results of which are shown in
TABLE 6. In general, the apparent K.sub.ds obtained for binding of
each of the six Fab2s to `native` MASP-2 corresponds reasonably
well with the IC.sub.50 for the Fab2 in the C3 convertase
functional assay. There is evidence that MASP-2 undergoes a
conformational change from an `inactive` to an `active` form upon
activation of its protease activity (Feinberg et al., EMBO J
22:2348-59 (2003); Gal et al., J Biol. Chem. 280:33435-44 (2005)).
In the normal rat plasma used in the C3 convertase formation assay,
MASP-2 is present primarily in the `inactive` zymogen conformation.
In contrast, in the binding assay, MASP-2 is present as part of a
complex with MBL bound to immobilized mannan; therefore, the MASP-2
would be in the `active` conformation (Petersen et al., J. Immunol
Methods 257:107-16, 2001). Consequently, one would not necessarily
expect an exact correspondence between the IC.sub.50 and K.sub.d
for each of the seventeen blocking Fab2 tested in these two
functional assays since in each assay the Fab2 would be binding a
different conformational form of MASP-2. Never-the-less, with the
exception of Fab2 #88, there appears to be a reasonably close
correspondence between the IC.sub.50 and apparent Kd for each of
the other sixteen Fab2 tested in the two assays (see TABLE 6).
[0669] Several of the blocking Fab2s were evaluated for inhibition
of MASP-2 mediated cleavage of C4. FIG. 11C graphically illustrates
the results of a C4 cleavage assay, showing inhibition with Fab2
#41, with an IC.sub.50=0.81 nM (see TABLE 6). As shown in FIG. 12,
all of the Fab2s tested were found to inhibit C4 cleavage with
IC.sub.50s similar to those obtained in the C3 convertase assay
(see TABLE 6).
[0670] Although mannan is a known activator of the lectin pathway,
it is theoretically possible that the presence of anti-mannan
antibodies in the rat serum might also activate the classical
pathway and thereby generate C4b by C1s-mediated cleavage of C4.
However, several anti-MASP-2 Fab2s have been identified which
potently inhibit C4b generation (>95%), thus demonstrating the
specificity of this assay for MASP-2 mediated C4 cleavage. C4, like
C3, contains an unusual and highly reactive thioester group as part
of its structure. Upon cleavage of C4 by MASP-2 in this assay, the
thioester group on C4b can form a covalent bond with hydroxyl or
amino groups on macromolecules immobilized on the bottom of the
plastic wells via ester or amide linkages, thus facilitating
detection of C4b in the ELISA assay.
[0671] these studies clearly demonstrate the creation of high
affinity FAB2s to rat MASP-2 protein that functionally block both
C4 and C3 convertase activity, thereby preventing lectin pathway
activation.
Example 25
[0672] This Example describes the epitope mapping for several of
the blocking anti-rat
[0673] MASP-2 Fab2 antibodies that were generated as described in
Example 24.
[0674] Methods:
[0675] As shown in FIG. 13, the following proteins, all with
N-terminal 6.times. His tags were expressed in CHO cells using the
pED4 vector:
[0676] rat MASP-2A, a full length MASP-2 protein, inactivated by
altering the serine at the active center to alanine (S613A);
[0677] rat MASP-2K, a full-length MASP-2 protein altered to reduce
autoactivation (R424K);
[0678] CUBI-II, an N-terminal fragment of rat MASP-2 that contains
the CUBI, EGF-like and CUBII domains only; and
[0679] CUBI/EGF-like, an N-terminal fragment of rat MASP-2 that
contains the CUBI and EGF-like domains only.
[0680] These proteins were purified from culture supernatants by
nickel-affinity chromatography, as previously described (Chen et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 276:25894-02 (2001)).
[0681] A C-terminal polypeptide (CCPII-SP), containing CCPII and
the serine protease domain of rat MASP-2, was expressed in E. coli
as a thioredoxin fusion protein using pTrxFus (Invitrogen). Protein
was purified from cell lysates using Thiobond affinity resin. The
thioredoxin fusion partner was expressed from empty pTrxFus as a
negative control.
[0682] All recombinant proteins were dialyzed into TBS buffer and
their concentrations determined by measuring the OD at 280 nm.
Dot Blot Analysis:
[0683] Serial dilutions of the five recombinant MASP-2 polypeptides
described above and shown in FIG. 13 (and the thioredoxin
polypeptide as a negative control for CCPII-serine protease
polypeptide) were spotted onto a nitrocellulose membrane. The
amount of protein spotted ranged from 100 .mu.g to 6.4 pg, in
five-fold steps. In later experiments, the amount of protein
spotted ranged from 50 .mu.g down to 16 pg, again in five-fold
steps. Membranes were blocked with 5% skimmed milk powder in TBS
(blocking buffer) then incubated with 1.0 .mu.g/ml anti-MASP-2
Fab2s in blocking buffer (containing 5.0 mM Ca.sup.2+). Bound Fab2s
were detected using HRP-conjugated anti-human Fab (AbD/Serotec;
diluted 1/10,000) and an ECL detection kit (Amersham). One membrane
was incubated with polyclonal rabbit-anti human MASP-2 Ab
(described in Stover et al., J Immunol 163:6848-59 (1999)) as a
positive control. In this case, bound Ab was detected using
HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG (Dako; diluted 1/2,000).
[0684] MASP-2 Binding Assay
[0685] ELISA plates were coated with 1.0 .mu.g/well of recombinant
MASP-2A or CUBI-II polypeptide in carbonate buffer (pH 9.0)
overnight at 4.degree. C. Wells were blocked with 1% BSA in TBS,
then serial dilutions of the anti-MASP-2 Fab2s were added in TBS
containing 5.0 mM Ca.sup.2+. The plates were incubated for one hour
at RT. After washing three times with TBS/tween/Ca.sup.2+,
HRP-conjugated anti-human Fab (AbD/Serotec) diluted 1/10,000 in
TBS/Ca.sup.2+ was added and the plates incubated for a further one
hour at RT. Bound antibody was detected using a TMB peroxidase
substrate kit (Biorad).
[0686] Results:
[0687] Results of the dot blot analysis demonstrating the
reactivity of the Fab2s with various MASP-2 polypeptides are
provided below in TABLE 7. The numerical values provided in TABLE 7
indicate the amount of spotted protein required to give
approximately half-maximal signal strength. As shown, all of the
polypeptides (with the exception of the thioredoxin fusion partner
alone) were recognized by the positive control Ab (polyclonal
anti-human MASP-2 sera, raised in rabbits).
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 7 REACTIVITY WITH VARIOUS RECOMBINANT RAT
MASP-2 POLYPEPTIDES ON DOT BLOTS Fab2 CUBI/ Anti- EGF- body #
MASP-2A CUBI-II like CCPII-SP Thioredoxin 40 0.16 ng NR NR 0.8 ng
NR 41 0.16 ng NR NR 0.8 ng NR 11 0.16 ng NR NR 0.8 ng NR 49 0.16 ng
NR NR >20 ng NR 52 0.16 ng NR NR 0.8 ng NR 57 0.032 ng NR NR NR
NR 58 0.4 ng NR NR 2.0 ng NR 60 0.4 ng 0.4 ng NR NR NR 63 0.4 ng NR
NR 2.0 ng NR 66 0.4 ng NR NR 2.0 ng NR 67 0.4 ng NR NR 2.0 ng NR 71
0.4 ng NR NR 2.0 ng NR 81 0.4 ng NR NR 2.0 ng NR 86 0.4 ng NR NR 10
ng NR 87 0.4 ng NR NR 2.0 ng NR Positive <0.032 ng 0.16 ng 0.16
ng <0.032 ng NR Control NR = No reaction. The positive control
antibody is polyclonal anti-human MASP-2 sera, raised in
rabbits.
[0688] All of the Fab2s reacted with MASP-2A as well as MASP-2K
(data not shown). The majority of the Fab2s recognized the CCPII-SP
polypeptide but not the N-terminal fragments. The two exceptions
are Fab2 #60 and Fab2 #57. Fab2 #60 recognizes MASP-2A and the
CUBI-II fragment, but not the CUBI/EGF-like polypeptide or the
CCPII-SP polypeptide, suggesting it binds to an epitope in CUBII,
or spanning the CUBII and the EGF-like domain. Fab2 #57 recognizes
MASP-2A but not any of the MASP-2 fragments tested, perhaps
indicating that this Fab2 recognizes an epitope in CCP1. Fab2 #40
and #49 bound only to complete MASP-2A. In the ELISA binding assay
shown in FIG. 14, Fab2 #60 also bound to the CUBI-II polypeptide,
albeit with a slightly lower apparent affinity.
[0689] These finding demonstrate the identification of unique
blocking Fab2s to multiple regions of the MASP-2 protein
Example 26
[0690] This example describes the analysis of MASP-2-/- mice in a
Murine Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Model.
[0691] Background/Rationale:
[0692] Ischemia-Reperfusion (I/R) injury in kidney at body
temperature has relevance in a number of clinical conditions,
including hypovolaemic shock, renal artery occlusion and
cross-clamping procedures.
[0693] Kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is an important cause of
acute renal failure, associated with a mortality rate of up to 50%
(Levy et al., JAMA 275:1489-94, 1996; Thadhani et al., N Engl. J
Med. 334:1448-60, 1996). Post-transplant renal failure is a common
and threatening complication after renal transplantation (Nicholson
et al., Kidney Int 58:2585-91, 2000). Effective treatment for renal
I/R injury is currently not available and hemodialysis is the only
treatment available. The pathophysiology of renal I/R injury is
complicated. Recent studies have shown that the lectin pathway of
complement activation may have an important role in the
pathogenesis of renal I/R injury (deVries et al., Am. J. Path.
165:1677-88, 2004).
[0694] Methods:
[0695] A MASP-2(-/-) mouse was generated as described in Example 1
and backcrossed for at least 10 generations with C57Bl/6. Six male
MASP-2(-/-) and six wildtype (+/+) mice weighing between 22-25 g
were administered an intraperitoneal injection of Hypnovel (6.64
mg/kg; Roche products Ltd. Welwyn Garden City, UK), and
subsequently anaesthetized by inhalation of isoflurane (Abbott
Laboratories Ltd., Kent, UK). Isoflurane was chosen because it is a
mild inhalation anaesthetic with minimal liver toxicity; the
concentrations are produced accurately and the animal recovers
rapidly, even after prolonged anaesthesia. Hypnovel was
administered because it produces a condition of neuroleptanalgesia
in the animal and means that less isoflurane needs to be
administered. A warm pad was placed beneath the animal in order to
maintain a constant body temperature. Next, a midline abdominal
incision was performed and the body cavity held open using a pair
of retractors. Connective tissue was cleared above and below the
renal vein and artery of both right and left kidneys, and the renal
pedicle was clamped via the application of microaneurysm clamps for
a period of 55 minutes. This period of ischemia was based initially
on a previous study performed in this laboratory (Zhou et al., J.
Clin. Invest. 105:1363-71 (2000)). In addition, a standard ischemic
time of 55 minutes was chosen following ischemic titration and it
was found that 55 minutes gave consistent injury that was also
reversible, with low mortality, less than 5%. After occlusion, 0.4
ml of warm saline (37.degree. C.) was placed in the abdominal
cavity and then the abdomen was closed for the period of ischemia.
Following removal of the microaneurysm clamps, the kidneys were
observed until color change, an indication of blood re-flow to the
kidneys. A further 0.4 ml of warm saline was placed in the
abdominal cavity and the opening was sutured, whereupon animals
were returned to their cages. Tail blood samples were taken at 24
hours after removing the clamps, and at 48 hours the mice were
sacrificed and an additional blood sample was collected.
[0696] Assessment of Renal Injury:
[0697] Renal function was assessed at 24 and 48 hours after
reperfusion in six male MASP-2(-/-) and six WT (+/+) mice. Blood
creatinine measurement was determined by mass spectrometry, which
provides a reproducible index of renal function (sensitivity
<1.0 .mu.mol/L). FIG. 15 graphically illustrates the blood urea
nitrogen clearance for wildtype C57Bl/6 controls and MASP-2 (-/-)
at 24 hours and 48 hours after reperfusion. As shown in FIG. 15,
MASP-2(-/-) mice displayed a significant reduction in the amount of
blood urea at 24 and 48 hours, in comparison to wildtype control
mice, indicating a protective functional effect from renal damage
in the ischemia reperfusion injury model.
[0698] Overall, increased blood urea was seen in both the WT (+/+)
and MASP-2 (-/-) mice at 24 and 48 hours following the surgical
procedure and ischemic insult. Levels of blood urea in a
non-ischemic WT (+/+) surgery animal was separately determined to
be 5.8 mmol/L. In addition to the data presented in FIG. 15, one
MASP-2 (-/-) animal showed nearly complete protection from the
ischemic insult, with values of 6.8 and 9.6 mmol/L at 24 and 48
hours, respectively. This animal was excluded from the group
analysis as a potential outlier, wherein no ischemic injury may
have been present. Therefore, the final analysis shown in FIG. 15
included 5 MASP-2(-/-) mice and 6 WT (+/+) mice and a statistically
significant reduction in blood urea was seen at 24 and 48 hours in
the MASP-2 (-/-) mice (Student t-test p<0.05). These findings
indicate inhibition of MASP-2 activity would be expected to have a
protective or therapeutic effect from renal damage due to ischemic
injury.
Example 27
[0699] This example describes the analysis of MASP-2(-/-) mice in a
Mouse Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Model.
[0700] Background/Rationale:
[0701] The mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a circulating molecule
that initiates complement activation in an immune
complex-independent fashion, in response to a wide range of
carbohydrate structures. These structures can be components of
infectious agents or altered endogenous carbohydrate moieties
particularly within necrotic, oncotic or apoptotic cells. These
forms of cell death occur in reperfused myocardium where the
activation of complement likely extends injury beyond the boundary
that exists at the moment when ischemia is terminated by
reperfusion. Although there is compelling evidence that complement
activation aggravates myocardial reperfusion, the mechanism of such
activation is not well understood and inhibition of all known
pathways is likely to have intolerable adverse effects. A recent
study suggests that activation may involve the MBL, rather than
classical pathway or alternative amplification loop (as defined in
the present invention), since infarction was reduced in MBL(A/C)-,
but not C1q-, null mice (Walsh M. C. et al., Jour of Immunol.
175:541-546 (2005)). However, although encouraging, these mice
still harbor circulating components, such as Ficolin A, capable of
activating complement through the lectin pathway.
[0702] This study investigated MASP-2(-/-) mice versus wild type
(+/+) controls to determine if the MASP-2(-/-) would be less
sensitive to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury.
MASP-2(-/-) mice were subjected to regional ischemia and infarct
size was compared to their wild type littermates.
[0703] Methods: The following protocol was based on a procedure for
inducing ischemia/reperfusion injury previously described by Marber
et al., J. Clin Invest. 95:1446-1456 (1995)).
[0704] A MASP-2(-/-) mouse was generated as described in Example 1
and backcrossed for at least 10 generations with C57Bl/6. Seven
MASP-2 (-/-) mice and seven wildtype (+/+) mice were anesthetized
with ketamine/medetomidine (100 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg respectively)
and placed supine on a thermostatically controlled heating pad to
maintain rectal temperature at 37.+-.0.3.degree. C. The mice were
intubated under direct vision and ventilated with room air at a
respiratory rate of 110/min and a tidal volume of 225 .mu.l/min
(Ventilator--Hugo Sachs Elektronic MiniVent Type 845, Germany).
[0705] Fur hair was shaved and an anterolateral skin incision made
from the left axilla to the processus xiphoideus. The pectoralis
major muscle was dissected, cut at its sternal margin and moved
into the axillary pit. The pectoralis minor muscle was cut at its
cranial margin and moved caudally. The muscle was later used as a
muscle flap covering the heart during coronary artery occlusion.
Muscles of the 5th intercostal space and the pleura parietalis were
penetrated with tweezers at a point slightly medial to the margin
of the left lung, thus avoiding damage of the lung or the heart.
After penetration of the pleura the tweezers were carefully
directed beyond the pleura towards the sternum without touching the
heart, and pleura and intercostal muscles were dissected with a
battery driven cauterizer (Harvard Apparatus, UK). Special care was
exercised in avoiding any bleeding. Using the same technique, the
thoracotomy was extended to the mid axillary line. After cutting
the 4th rib at its sternal margin the intercostal space was widened
until the whole heart exposed from base to apex. With two small
artery forceps the pericardium was opened and a pericardial cradle
fashioned to move the heart slightly anterior. The left anterior
descending coronary artery (LAD) was exposed and a 8-0 monofilament
suture with a round needle was then passed under the LAD. The site
of ligation of the LAD lies just caudal of the tip of the left
atrium, about 1/4 along the line running from the atrioventricular
crest to the apex of the left ventricle.
[0706] All experiments were carried out in a blinded manner, with
the investigator being unaware of the genotype of each animal.
After completion of instrumentation and surgical procedures, mice
were allowed a 15 min equilibration period. Mice then underwent 30
min of coronary artery occlusion with 120 min of reperfusion
time.
[0707] Coronary Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion Model
[0708] Coronary artery occlusion was achieved using the hanging
weight system as previously described (Eckle et al., Am J Physiol
Heart Circ Physiol 291:H2533-H2540, 2006). Both ends of the
monofilament ligature were passed through a 2 mm long piece of a
polythene PE-10 tube and attached to a length of 5-0 suture using
cyanoacrylate glue. The suture was then directed over two
horizontally mounted movable metal rods, and masses of 1 g each
were attached to both ends of the suture. By elevation of the rods,
the masses were suspended and the suture placed under controlled
tension to occlude the LAD with a defined and constant pressure.
LAD occlusion was verified by paleness of the area at risk, turning
color of the LAD perfusion zone from bright red to violet,
indicating cessation of blood flow. Reperfusion was achieved by
lowering the rods until the masses lay on the operating pad and the
tension of the ligature was relieved. Reperfusion was verified by
the same three criteria used to verify occlusion. Mice were
excluded from further analysis if all three criteria were not met
at either start of coronary artery occlusion or within 15 min of
reperfusion, respectively. During coronary artery occlusion,
temperature and humidity of the heart surface were maintained by
covering the heart with the pectoralis minor muscle flap and by
sealing the thoracotomy with a 0.9% saline wet gauze.
[0709] Measurement of Myocardial Infarct Size:
[0710] Infarct size (INF) and area at risk (AAR) were determined by
planometry. After i.v. injection of 500 I.U. heparin the LAD was
re-occluded and 300 .mu.l 5% (w/vol) Evans Blue (Sigma-Aldrich,
Poole, UK) was slowly injected into the jugular vein to delineate
the area at risk (AAR). This causes dye to enter the non-ischemic
region of the left ventricle and leaves the ischemic AAR unstained.
After mice had been euthanized by cervical dislocation, the heart
was rapidly removed. The heart was cooled on ice and mounted in a
block of 5% agarose and then cut into 8 transverse slices of 800
.mu.m thickness. All slices were incubated at 37.degree. C. for 20
min with 3% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (Sigma Aldrich,
Poole, UK) dissolved in 0.1 M Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4/NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4
buffer adjusted to pH 7.4. Slices were fixed overnight in 10%
formaldehyde. Slices were placed between two cover slips and sides
of each slice were digitally imaged using a high-resolution optical
scanner. The digital images were then analyzed using SigmaScan
software (SPSS, US). The size of infarcted area (pale), left
ventricle (LV) area at risk (red) and normally perfused LV zone
(blue) were outlined in each section by identification of their
color appearance and color borders. Areas were quantified on both
sides of each slice and averaged by an investigator. Infarct size
was calculated as a % of risk zone for each animal.
[0711] RESULTS: The size of infarcted area (pale), LV area at risk
(red) and normally perfused LV zone (blue) were outlined in each
section by identification of their color appearance and color
borders. Areas were quantified on both sides of each slice and
averaged by an investigator. Infarct size was calculated as a % of
risk zone for each animal. FIG. 16A shows the evaluation of seven
WT (+/+) mice and seven MASP-2 (-/-) mice for the determination of
their infarct size after undergoing the coronary artery occlusion
and reperfusion technique described above. As shown in FIG. 16A,
MASP-2 (-/-) mice displayed a statistically significant reduction
(p<0.05) in the infarct size versus the wildtype (+/+) mice,
indicating a protective myocardial effect from damage in the
ischemia reperfusion injury model. FIG. 16B shows the distribution
of the individual animals tested, indicating a clear protective
effect for the MASP-2 (-/-) mice.
Example 28
[0712] This example describes the results of MASP-2-/- in a Murine
Macular Degeneration Model.
[0713] Background/Rationale:
[0714] Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause
of blindness after age 55 in the industrialized world. AMD occurs
in two major forms: neovascular (wet) AMD and atrophic (dry) AMD.
The neovascular (wet) form accounts for 90% of severe visual loss
associated with AMD, even though only .about.20% of individuals
with AMD develop the wet form. Clinical hallmarks of AMD include
multiple drusen, geographic atrophy, and choroidal
neovascularization (CNV). In December, 2004, the FDA approved
Macugen (pegaptanib), a new class of ophthalmic drugs to
specifically target and block the effects of vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF), for treatment of the wet (neovascular) form
of AMD (Ng et al., Nat Rev. Drug Discov 5:123-32 (2006)). Although
Macugen represents a promising new therapeutic option for a
subgroup of AMD patients, there remains a pressing need to develop
additional treatments for this complex disease. Multiple,
independent lines of investigation implicate a central role for
complement activation in the pathogenesis of AMD. The pathogenesis
of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), the most serious form of
AMD, may involve activation of complement pathways.
[0715] Over twenty-five years ago, Ryan described a laser-induced
injury model of CNV in animals (Ryan, S. J., Tr. Am. Opth. Soc.
LXXVII:707-745, 1979). The model was initially developed using
rhesus monkeys, however, the same technology has since been used to
develop similar models of CNV in a variety of research animals,
including the mouse (Tobe et al., Am. J. Pathol. 153:1641-46,
1998). In this model, laser photocoagulation is used to break
Bruch's membrane, an act which results in the formation of CNV-like
membranes. The laser-induced model captures many of the important
features of the human condition (for a recent review, see Ambati et
al., Survey Ophthalmology 48:257-293, 2003). The laser-induced
mouse model is now well established, and is used as an experimental
basis in a large, and ever increasing, number of research projects.
It is generally accepted that the laser-induced model shares enough
biological similarity with CNV in humans that preclinical studies
of pathogenesis and drug inhibition using this model are relevant
to CNV in humans.
[0716] Methods:
[0717] A MASP-2-/- mouse was generated as described in Example 1
and backcrossed for 10 generations with C57Bl/6. The current study
compared the results when MASP-2 (-/-) and MASP-2 (+/+) male mice
were evaluated in the course of laser-induced CNV, an accelerated
model of neovascular AMD focusing on the volume of laser-induced
CNV by scanning laser confocal microscopy as a measure of tissue
injury and determination of levels of VEGF, a potent angiogenic
factor implicated in CNV, in the retinal pigment epithelium
(RPE)/choroids by ELISA after laser injury.
[0718] Induction of Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV):
[0719] Laser photocoagulation (532 nm, 200 mW, 100 ms, 75 .mu.m;
Oculight GL, Iridex, Mountain View, Calif.) was performed on both
eyes of each animal on day zero by a single individual masked to
drug group assignment. Laser spots were applied in a standardized
fashion around the optic nerve, using a slit lamp delivery system
and a coverslip as a contact lens. The morphologic end point of the
laser injury was the appearance of a cavitation bubble, a sign
thought to correlate with the disruption of Bruch's membrane. The
detailed methods and endpoints that were evaluated are as
follows.
[0720] Fluorescein Angiography: Fluorescein angiography was
performed with a camera and imaging system (TRC 50 1A camera;
ImageNet 2.01 system; Topcon, Paramus, N.J.) at 1 week after laser
photocoagulation. The photographs were captured with a 20-D lens in
contact with the fundus camera lens after intraperitoneal injection
of 0.1 ml of 2.5% fluorescein sodium. A retina expert not involved
in the laser photocoagulation or angiography evaluated the
fluorescein angiograms at a single sitting in masked fashion.
[0721] Volume of Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV):
[0722] One week after laser injury, eyes were enucleated and fixed
with 4% paraformaldehyde for 30 min at 4.degree. C. Eye cups were
obtained by removing anterior segments and were washed three times
in PBS, followed by dehydration and rehydration through a methanol
series. After blocking twice with buffer (PBS containing 1% bovine
serumalbumin and 0.5% Triton X-100) for 30 minutes at room
temperature, eye cups were incubated overnight at 4.degree. C. with
0.5% FITC-isolectin B4 (Vector laboratories, Burlingame, Calif.),
diluted with PBS containing 0.2% BSA and 0.1% Triton X-100, which
binds terminal .beta.-D-galactose residues on the surface of
endothelial cells and selectively labels the murine vasculature.
After two washings with PBS containing 0.1% Triton X-100, the
neurosensory retina was gently detached and severed from the optic
nerve. Four relaxing radial incisions were made, and the remaining
RPE-choroid-sclera complex was flatmounted in antifade medium
(Immu-Mount Vectashield Mounting Medium; Vector Laboratories) and
cover-slipped.
[0723] Flatmounts were examined with a scanning laser confocal
microscope (TCS SP; Leica, Heidelberg, Germany). Vessels were
visualized by exciting with blue argon wavelength (488 nm) and
capturing emission between 515 and 545 nm. A 40.times.
oil-immersion objective was used for all imaging studies.
Horizontal optical sections (1 .mu.m step) were obtained from the
surface of the RPE-choroid-sclera complex. The deepest focal plane
in which the surrounding choroidal vascular network connecting to
the lesion could be identified was judged to be the floor of the
lesion. Any vessel in the laser-targeted area and superficial to
this reference plane was judged as CNV. Images of each section were
digitally stored. The area of CNV-related fluorescence was measured
by computerized image analysis with the microscope software (TCS
SP; Leica). The summation of whole fluorescent area in each
horizontal section was used as an index for the volume of CNV.
Imaging was performed by an operator masked to treatment group
assignment.
[0724] Because the probability of each laser lesion developing CNV
is influenced by the group to which it belongs (mouse, eye, and
laser spot), the mean lesion volumes were compared using a linear
mixed model with a split plot repeated-measures design. The whole
plot factor was the genetic group to which the animal belongs,
whereas the split plot factor was the eye. Statistical significance
was determined at the 0.05 level. Post hoc comparisons of means
were constructed with a Bonferroni adjustment for multiple
comparisons.
[0725] VEGF ELISA.
[0726] At three days after injury by 12 laser spots, the
RPE-choroid complex was sonicated in lysis buffer (20 mM imidazole
HCl, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCL.sub.2, 10 mM EGTA, 1% Triton X-100, 10 mM
NaF, 1 mM Na molybdate, and 1 mM EDTA with protease inhibitor) on
ice for 15 min. VEGF protein levels in the supernatant were
determined by an ELISA kit (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.)
that recognizes all splice variants, at 450 to 570 nm (Emax;
Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.), and normalized to total
protein. Duplicate measurements were performed in a masked fashion
by an operator not involved in photocoagulation, imaging, or
angiography. VEGF numbers were represented as the mean+/-SEM of at
least three independent experiments and compared using the
Mann-Whitney U test. The null hypothesis was rejected at
P<0.05.
[0727] Results:
[0728] Assessment of VEGF Levels:
[0729] FIG. 17A graphically illustrates the VEGF protein levels in
RPE-choroid complex isolated from C57B16 wildtype and MASP-2(-/-)
mice at day zero. As shown in FIG. 17A, the assessment of VEGF
levels indicate a decrease in baseline levels for VEGF in the
MASP-2 (-/-) mice versus the C57b1 wildtype control mice. FIG. 17B
graphically illustrates VEGF protein levels measured at day three
following laser induced injury. As shown in FIG. 17B VEGF levels
were significantly increased in the wildtype (+/+) mice three days
following laser induced injury, consistent with published studies
(Nozaki et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103:2328-33 (2006)).
However, surprisingly very low levels of VEGF were seen in the
MASP-2 (-/-) mice.
[0730] Assessment of Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV):
[0731] In addition to the reduction in VEGF levels following laser
induced macular degeneration, CNV area was determined before and
after laser injury. FIG. 18 graphically illustrates the CNV volume
measured in C57b1 wildtype mice and MASP-2(-/-) mice at day seven
following laser induced injury. As shown in FIG. 18, the MASP-2
(-/-) mice displayed about a 30% reduction in the CNV area
following laser induced damage at day seven in comparison to the
wildtype control mice.
[0732] These findings indicate a reduction in VEGF and CNV as seen
in the MASP (-/-) mice versus the wildtype (+/+) control and that
blockade of MASP-2 with an inhibitor would have a preventive or
therapeutic effect in the treatment of macular degeneration.
Example 29
[0733] This example describes the results of MASP-2(-/-) in a
Murine Monoclonal Antibody Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis Model
[0734] Background/Rationale:
[0735] The most commonly used animal model for rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) is the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) (for recent review,
see Linton and Morgan, Mol. Immunol. 36:905-14, 1999). Collagen
type II (CII) is one of the major constituents of the articular
matrix proteins and immunization with native CII in adjuvant
induces autoimmune polyarthritis by a cross-reactive autoimmune
response to CII in joint cartilage. As in RA, susceptibility to CIA
is linked to the expression of certain class II MHC alleles. Some
strains of mice, including the C57Bl/6 strain, are resistant to
classic CIA because they lack an appropriate MHC haplotype and
therefore do not generate high anti-CII antibody titers. However,
it has been found that consistent arthritis can be induced in all
strains of mice by the i.v. or i.p. administration into mice of a
cocktail of four specific monoclonal antibodies against type II
collagen. These arthridogenic monoclonal antibodies are
commercially available (Chondrex, Inc., Redmond, Wash.). This
passive transfer model of CIA has been used successfully in a
number of recent published reports using the C57Bl/6 mouse strain
(Kagan et al., J. Immunol. 169:1459-66, 2002; Kato et al., J.
Rheumatol. 30:247-55, 2003; Banda et al, J. Immunol. 177:1904-12,
2006). The following study compared the sensitivity of wild type
(+/+) (WT) and MASP-2 (-/-) mice, both sharing the C57Bl/6 genetic
background, to development of arthritis using the passive transfer
model of CIA.
[0736] Methods:
[0737] Animals: A MASP-2(-/-) mouse was generated as described in
Example 1 and backcrossed for 10 generations with C57Bl/6. Fourteen
male and female C57BL/6 wild type mice that were seven to eight
weeks old at the time of antibody injection and ten male and female
MASP-2(-/-) and wildtype (+/+) C57Bl/6 mice that were seven to
eight weeks old at time of antibody injection were used in this
study. Twenty mice were injected with a monoclonal antibody
cocktail to obtain 20 solid responders (two groups of ten). The
animals (ten/group) were housed with five animals/cage, and were
acclimated for five to seven days prior to initiating the
study.
[0738] Mice were injected intravenously with a monoclonal antibody
cocktail (Chondrex, Redmond Wash.) (5 mg) on day 0 and day 1. The
test agent was a monoclonal antibody+LPS from Chondrex. On day 2,
mice were dosed ip with LPS. Mice were weighed on days 0, 2, 4, 6,
8, 10, 12 and prior to termination on day 14. On day 14 the mice
were anesthetized with isoflurane and bled terminally for serum.
After blood collection, the mice were euthanized, with removal of
both fore and hind limbs with knees, which were placed into
formalin for future processing.
[0739] Treatment Groups:
[0740] Group 1 (control): 4 mice of strain C57/BL/6 WT (+/+);
[0741] Group 2 (test): 10 mice of strain C57/BL/6 WT (+/+)
(received mAb cocktail plus LPS); and
[0742] Group 3 (test): 10 mice of strain C57/BL/MASP-2K0/6Ai (-/-)
(received mAb cocktail plus LPS)
[0743] Clinical arthritic scores were assessed daily using the
following scoring system: 0=normal; 1=1 hind or fore paw joint
affected; 2=2 hind or fore paw joints affected; 3=3 hind or fore
paw joints affected; 4=moderate (erythema and moderate swelling, or
4 digit joints affected); 5=severe (diffuse erythema and severe
swelling entire paw, unable to flex digits)
[0744] Results:
[0745] FIG. 19 shows the group data plotted for the mean daily
clinical arthritis score for up to two weeks. No clinical arthritis
score was seen in the control group that did not receive the CoL2
MoAb treatment. The MASP (-/-) mice had a lower clinical arthritis
score from day 9 to day 14. The overall clinical arthritis score
with area under the curve analysis (AUC) indicated a 21% reduction
in the MASP-2 (-/-) group versus the WT (+/+) mice. However, C57B16
mouse background as discussed previously did not provide for a
robust overall arthritis clinical score. Due to the small incidence
rate and group size, while positively trending, the data provided
only trends (p=0.1) and was not statistically significant at the
p<0.05 level. Additional animals in the treatment groups would
be necessary to show statistical significance. Due to the reduced
incidence of arthritis, the affected paw scores were evaluated for
severity. No single incidence of a clinical arthritis score of
greater than 3 was seen in any of the MASP-2 (-/-) mice, which was
seen in 30% of the WT (+/+) mice, further suggesting that (1) the
severity of the arthritis may be related to complement pathway
activation and (2) that blockade of MASP-2 may have a beneficial
effect in arthritis.
Example 30
[0746] This Example demonstrates that Small Mannose-Binding
Lectin-Associated Protein (Map19 or sMAP) is an inhibitor of MASP-2
dependent complement activation.
Background/Rationale:
Abstract:
[0747] Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins are pattern
recognition proteins acting in innate immunity and trigger the
activation of the lectin complement pathway through MBL-associated
serine proteases (MASPs). Upon activation of the lectin pathway,
MASP-2 cleaves C4 and C2. Small MBL-associated protein (sMAP), a
truncated form of MASP-2, is also associated with MBL/ficolin MASP
complexes. To clarify the role of sMAP, we have generated
sMAP-deficient (sMAP-/-) mice by targeted disruption of the
sMAP-specific exon. Because of the gene disruption, the expression
level of MASP-2 was also decreased in sMAP-/- mice. When
recombinant sMAP (rsMAP) and recombinant MASP-2 (rMASP-2)
reconstituted the MBL-MASP-sMAP complex in deficient serum, the
binding of these recombinants to MBL was competitive, and the C4
cleavage activity of the MBL-MASP-sMAP complex was restored by the
addition of rMASP-2, whereas the addition of rsMAP attenuated the
activity. Therefore, MASP-2 is essential for the activation of C4
and sMAP plays a regulatory role in the activation of the lectin
pathway.
Introduction:
[0748] The complement system mediates a chain reaction of
proteolysis and assembly of protein complexes, playing a major role
in biodefense as a part of both the innate and adaptive immune
systems. The mammalian complement system consists of three
activation pathways, the classical pathway, alternative pathway,
and lectin pathway (Fujita, Nat. Rev. Immunol. 2: 346-353 (2002);
Walport, N Engl J Med 344: 1058-1066 (2001)). The lectin pathway
provides the primary line of defense against invading pathogens.
The pathogen recognition components of this pathway,
mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins, bind to arrays of
carbohydrates on the surfaces of bacteria, viruses, and parasites
and activate MBL-associated serum proteases (MASPs) to trigger a
downstream reaction cascade. The importance of the lectin pathway
for innate immune defense is underlined by a number of clinical
studies linking a deficiency of MBL with increased susceptibility
to a variety of infectious diseases, particularly in early
childhood before the adaptive immune system is established (Jack et
al., Immunol Rev 180: 86-99 (2001); Neth et al. Infect Immun 68:
688-693 (2000); Summerfield et al., Lancet 345: 886-889 (1995);
Super et al., Lancet 2: 1236-1239 (1989)). However, the lectin
pathway also contributes to the undesired activation of complement,
which is involved in inflammation and tissue damage in a number of
pathological conditions, including ischemia/perfusion injury in the
heart and kidneys (de Vries et al., Am J Pathol 165: 1677-1688
(2004); Fiane et al., Circulation 108: 849-856 (2003); Jordan et
al., Circulation 104: 1413-1418 (2001); Walsh et al., J Immunol
175: 541-546 (2005)).
[0749] As mentioned above, the lectin pathway involves carbohydrate
recognition by MBL and ficolins (Fujita et al, Immunol Rev 198:
185-202 (2004); Holmskov et al, Annu Rev Immunol 21: 547-578
(2003); Matsushita and Fujita, Immunobiology 205: 490-497 (2002)
and these lectins form complexes with MASP-1 (Matsushita and
Fujita, J Exp Med 176: 1497-1502 (1992); Sato et al, Int Immunol 6:
665-669 (1994); Takada et al, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 196:
1003-1009 (1993), MASP-2 (Thiel et al, Nature 386: 506-510 (1997),
MASP-3 (Dahl et al, Immunity 15: 127-135 (2001), and a truncated
protein of MASP-2 (small MBL-associated protein; sMAP or MAp19)
(Stover et al, J Immunol 162: 3481-3490 (1999); Takahashi et al,
Int Immunol 11: 8590863 (1999). The MASP family members consist of
six domains; two C1r/C1s/Uegf/bone morphogenetic protein (CUB)
domains, an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain, two
complement control protein (CCP) or short consensus repeats (SCR)
domains, and a serine protease domain (Matsushita et al, Curr Opin
Immunol 10: 29-35 (1998). MASP-2 and sMAP are generated by
alternative splicing from a single structural gene, and sMAP
consists of the first CUB (CUB1) domain, the EGF-like domain and an
extra 4 amino acids at the C-terminal end encoded by a
sMAP-specific exon. MASP-1 and MASP-3 are also generated from a
single gene by alternative splicing (Schwaeble et al, Immunobiology
205: 455-466 (2002). When MBL and ficolins bind to carbohydrates on
the surface of microbes, the proenzyme form of MASP is cleaved
between the second CCP and the protease domain, resulting in the
active form consisting of two polypeptides, called heavy (H)- and
light (L)-chains, and thus acquiring proteolytic activities against
complement components. Accumulated evidence shows that MASP-2
cleaves C4 and C2 (Matsushita et al, J Immunol 165: 2637-2642
(2000) which leads to the formation of the C3 convertase (C4bC2a).
We proposed that MASP-1 cleaves C3 directly and subsequently
activates the amplification loop (Matsushita and Fujita,
Immunobiology 194: 443-448 (1995), but this function is
controversial (Ambrus et al, J Immunol 170: 1374-1382 (2003).
Although MASP-3 also contains a serine protease domain in the
L-chain and exhibits its proteolytic activity against a synthetic
substrate (Zundel et al, J Immunol 172: 4342-4350 (2004), its
physiological substrates have not been identified. The function of
sMAP lacking the serine protease domain remains unknown.
[0750] In the present study, to clarify the role of sMAP in
activation of the lectin complement pathway, we have disrupted the
sMAP-specific exon that encodes 4 amino acid residues (EQSL) at the
C-terminal end of sMAP, and generated sMAP-/- mice. We report here
for the first time the ability of sMAP to down-regulate activation
of the lectin pathway.
Materials and Methods
Mice
[0751] A targeting vector was constructed containing exon 1-4 and
part of exon 6 of the 129/Sv mouse MASP-2 gene and a neomycin
resistance gene cassette instead of exon 5 (FIG. 20A). A DT-A gene
was inserted into the 3' end of the vector and three lox p sites
were inserted to perform conditional targeting to remove the
neomycin cassette and promoter region in the future. The targeting
vector was electroporated into 129/Sv ES cells. The targeted ES
clones were microinjected into C57BL/6J blastocysts which were
implanted into uteri of foster ICR mothers. Male chimeric mice were
mated with female C57BL/6J mice to produce heterozygous (+/-) mice.
Heterozygous (+/-) mice were screened by Southern blot analysis of
tail DNA digested with BamH I using the probe indicated in FIG.
20A. Southern blot analysis showed 6.5-kbp and 11-kbp bands in DNA
from heterozygous (+/-) mice (FIG. 20B). Heterozygous (+/-) mice
were backcrossed with C57BL/6J mice. To obtain homozygous (-/-)
mice, heterozygous (+/-) mice were intercrossed. Homozygous (-/-)
mice (C57BL/6J background) were identified by PCR-based genotyping
of tail DNA. PCR analysis was performed using a mixture of exon
4-specific and neo gene-specific sense primers and an exon
6-specific antisense primer. DNA from homozygous (-/-) mice yielded
a single 1.8-kbp band (FIG. 20C). In all experiments, 8 to 12 week
old mice were used according to the guidelines for animal
experimentation of Fukushima Medical University.
Northern Blot Analysis
[0752] Poly(A)+ RNA (1 .mu.g) from wild-type (+/+) and homozygous
(-/-) mouse livers was separated by electrophoresis, transferred to
a nylon membrane, and hybridized with a 32P-labeled cDNA probe
specific for sMAP, MASP-2 H-chain, MASP-2 L-chain, or the neo gene.
The same membrane was stripped and rehybridized with a probe
specific for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH).
Quantitative RT-PCR
[0753] Real-time PCR was performed with the LightCycler System
(Roche Diagnostics). cDNAs synthesized from 60 ng of poly(A)+ RNA
from wild-type (+/+) and homozygous (-/-) mouse livers were used as
templates for real-time PCR and cDNA fragments of MASP-2 H- and
L-chains and sMAP were amplified and monitored.
Immunoblotting
[0754] The sample was electrophoresed on 10 or 12%
SDS-polyacrylamide gels under reducing conditions and proteins were
transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. Proteins
on the membranes were detected with anti-MASP-1 antiserum raised
against the L-chain of MASP-1 or with anti-MASP-2/sMAP antiserum
raised against the peptide from the H-chain of MASP-2.
Detection of MASPs and sMAP in the MBL-MASP-sMAP complex
[0755] Mouse serum (20 .mu.l) was added to 480 .mu.l of TBS-Ca2+
buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 0.15 M NaCl, and 5 mM CaCl2)
containing 0.1% (w/v) BSA (TBS-Ca2+/BSA) and incubated with 40
.mu.l of 50% mannan-agarose gel slurry (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis,
Mo.) in TBS-Ca2+/BSA buffer at 4.degree. C. for 30 min. After
incubation each gel was washed with TBS-Ca2+ buffer and the
sampling buffer for SDS-PAGE was added to the gel. The gel was
boiled and the supernatant was subjected to SDS-PAGE, followed by
immunoblotting to detect MASP-1, MASP-2, and sMAP in the MBL
complex.
C4 Deposition Assay
[0756] Mouse serum was diluted with TBS-Ca2+/BSA buffer up to 100
.mu.l. The diluted sample was added to mannan-coated microtiter
wells and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. The wells were
washed with the chilled washing buffer (TBS-Ca2+ buffer containing
0.05% (v/v) Tween 20). After the washing, human C4 was added to
each well and incubated on ice for 30 min. The wells were washed
with the chilled washing buffer and HRP-conjugated anti-human C4
polyclonal antibody (Biogenesis, Poole, England) was added to each
well. Following incubation at 37.degree. C. for 30 min, the wells
were washed with the washing buffer and
3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) solution was added to each
well. After developing, 1 M H.sub.3PO.sub.4 was added and the
absorbance was measured at 450 nm.
C3 Deposition Assay
[0757] Mouse serum was diluted with BBS buffer (4 mM barbital, 145
mM NaCl, 2 mM CaCl2, and 1 mM MgCl2, pH 7.4) containing 0.1% (w/v)
HSA up to 100 .mu.l. The diluted sample was added to mannan-coated
microtiter wells and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 1 h. The wells
were washed with the washing buffer. After the washing,
HRP-conjugated anti-human C3c polyclonal antibody (Dako, Glostrup,
Denmark) was added to each well. Following incubation at room
temperature for 1 h, the wells were washed with the washing buffer
and TMB solution was added to each well. The color was measured as
described above.
Recombinants
[0758] Recombinant mouse sMAP (rsMAP), rMASP-2, and the inactive
mouse MASP-2 mutant (MASP-2i) whose active-site serine residue in
the serine protease domain was substituted for the alanine residue
were prepared as described previously (Iwaki and Fujita, 2005).
Reconstitution of the MBL-MASP-sMAP Complex
[0759] Homozygous (-/-) mouse serum (20 .mu.l) and various amounts
of MASP-2i and/or rsMAP were incubated in a total volume of 40
.mu.l in TBS-Ca2+ buffer on ice overnight. The mixture was
incubated with mannan-agarose gel slurry, and MASP-2i and rsMAP in
the MBL-MASP complex bound to the gel were detected as described in
"Detection of MASPs and sMAP in the MBL-MASP-sMAP complex".
Reconstitution of the C4 Deposition Activity
[0760] Homozygous (-/-) mouse serum (0.5 .mu.l) and various amounts
of rMASP-2 and/or rsMAP were incubated in a total volume of 20
.mu.l in TBS-Ca2+ on ice overnight. The mixture was diluted with 80
.mu.l of TBS-Ca2+/BSA buffer and added to mannan-coated wells. All
subsequent procedures were performed as described in "C4 deposition
assay".
Results
[0761] FIG. 20: Targeted disruption of the sMAP gene. (A) Partial
restriction maps of the MASP-2/sMAP gene, the targeting vector, and
the targeted allele. The sMAP-specific exon (exon 5) was replaced
with a neo gene cassette. (B) Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA
from offspring derived from mating male chimeric mice with female
C57BL/6J mice. Tail DNA was digested with BamH I and hybridized
with the probe depicted in (A). A 11-kbp band was derived from the
wild-type allele, and a 6.5-kbp band from the targeted allele. (C)
PCR genotyping analysis. Tail DNA was analyzed using a mixture of
exon 4-specific and neo gene-specific sense primers and an exon
6-specific antisense primer. A 2.5-kbp band was obtained from
wild-type allele, a 1.8-kb band from the targeted allele.
[0762] FIG. 21: The expression of sMAP and MASP-2 mRNAs in
homozygous (-/-) mice. (A) Northern blot analysis. Poly(A)+ RNAs
from wild-type (+/+) and homozygous (-/-) mouse livers was
electrophoresed, transferred to a nylon membrane, and hybridized
with a 32P-labeled probe specific for sMAP, MASP-2 H-chain, MASP-2
L-chain, or the neo gene. A specific band for neo (2.2 kb) was
observed in homozygous (-/-) mice. (B) Quantitative RT-PCR. MASP-2
H- and L-chains and sMAP cDNA fragments were amplified by real-time
PCR in a LightCycler instrument (Roche Diagnostics). cDNAs
synthesized from poly(A)+ RNAs from wild-type (+/+) and homozygous
(-/-) mouse livers were used as templates. The data shown are the
means of two experiments.
[0763] FIG. 22: Deficiency of MASP-2 in homozygous (-/-) mouse
serum. (A) Immunoblotting of MASP-2 and sMAP in mouse serum.
Wild-type (+/+) orhomozygous (-/-) mouse serum (2 .mu.l) was
subjected to immunoblotting and detected with anti-MASP-2/sMAP
antiserum. (B) Detection of MASPs and sMAP in the MBL-MASP-sMAP
complex. Mouse serum was incubated with mannan-agarose gel and
sMAP, MASP-1, and MASP-2 in the MBL complex bound to the gel were
detected as described in Materials and Methods.
[0764] FIG. 23: Decreased cleavage of C4 and C3 in homozygous (-/-)
mouse serum. (A) Deposition of C4 on mannan-coated wells. Mouse
serum was diluted 2-fold and incubated in mannan-coated wells at
room temperature for 30 min. After the washing of the wells, human
C4 was added to each well and incubated on ice for 30 min. The
amount of human C4 deposited on the wells was measured using
HRP-conjugated anti-human C4 polyclonal antibody. (B) Deposition of
C3 on mannan-coated wells. Diluted mouse serum was added to
mannan-coated wells and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 1 h. The
deposition of endogenous C3 on the wells was detected with
HRP-conjugated anti-human C3c polyclonal antibody.
[0765] FIG. 24: Competitive binding of sMAP and MASP-2 to MBL. (A)
Reconstitution of the MBL-MASP-sMAP complex in homozygous (-/-)
mouse serum. MASP-2i and/or rsMAP (4 .mu.g) were incubated with
homozygous (-/-) mouse serum (20 .mu.l). The mixture was further
incubated with mannan-agarose gel, and rsMAP and MASP-2i in the
fraction bound to the gel were detected by immunoblotting. (B)
Various amounts of MASP-2i (0-5 .mu.g) and a constant amount of
rsMAP (5 .mu.g) were incubated with homozygous (-/-) mouse serum
(20 .mu.l) and further incubated with mannan-agarose gel. (C) A
constant amount of MASP-2i (0.5 .mu.g) and various amounts of rsMAP
(0-20 .mu.g) were incubated with homozygous (-/-) mouse serum (20
.mu.l). (D) Various amounts of rsMAP (0-20 .mu.g) was incubated
with wild-type (+/+) mouse serum (20 .mu.l).
[0766] FIG. 25: Restoration of the C4 deposition activity by
addition of rMASP-2. Various amounts of rsMAP (0-5 .mu.g) (A) or
rMASP-2 (0-1.5 .mu.g) (B) were incubated with 0.5 .mu.l of
homozygous (-/-) mouse serum in a total volume of 20 .mu.l in
TBS-Ca2+ buffer on ice overnight. Then the mixture was diluted with
80 .mu.l of TBS-Ca2+/BSA buffer and added to mannan-coated wells
and the amount of C4 deposited on the wells was measured.
[0767] FIG. 26: Reduction of the C4 deposition activity by addition
of sMAP. (A) rMASP-2 (1 .mu.g) and various amounts of rsMAP (0-0.5
.mu.g) were incubated with 0.5 .mu.l of homozygous (-/-) mouse
serum. The mixture was added to mannan-coated wells and the amount
of C4 deposited on the wells was measured. (B) rsMAP (0-0.7 .mu.g)
was incubated with wild-type serum (0.5 .mu.l) and the amount of C4
deposited on mannan-coated wells was measured.
Results:
[0768] The Expression of sMAP and MASP-2 in Homozygous (-/.ltoreq.)
Mice
[0769] To clarify the role of sMAP in vivo, we established a gene
targeted mouse which lacks sMAP. A targeting vector was constructed
to replace the specific exon for sMAP (exon 5) with a neomycin
resistance gene cassette (FIG. 20A). Positive ES clones were
injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts, and the founder chimeras bred
with C57BL/6J females. Southern blot analysis of tail DNA from
agouti-color pups showed a germinal transmission of the targeted
allele (FIG. 20B). Heterozygous (+/-) mice were screened by
Southern blot analysis of tail DNA digested with BamH I using the
probe indicated in FIG. 20A. Southern blot analysis showed 6.5-kbp
and 11-kbp bands in DNA from heterozygous (+/-) mice (FIG. 20B).
Heterozygous (+/-) mice were backcrossed with C57BL/6J mice. To
obtain homozygous (-/-) mice, heterozygous (+/-) mice were
intercrossed. Homozygous (-/-) mice (C57BL/6J background) were
identified by PCR based genotyping of tail DNA, yielding a single
1.8-kbp band (FIG. 20C).
[0770] Homozygous (-/-) mice developed normally and showed no
significant difference in body weight from wild-type (+/+) mice.
There were no morphological differences between them either. In a
Northern blot analysis, the probe specific for sMAP detected a
single 0.9-kb band in wild-type (+/+) mice, whereas no specific
bands were detected in homozygous (-/-) mice (FIG. 21A). When the
probe specific for MASP-2 H- or L-chain was used, several specific
bands were detected in wild-type (+/+) mice as reported previously
(Stover et al, 1999) and the H-chain-specific probe also detected
the sMAP specific-band. However, in homozygous (-/-) mice the
corresponding bands were very weak and several extra bands were
detected. We also performed a quantitative RT-PCR analysis to check
the expression levels of sMAP and MASP-2 mRNAs. In homozygous (-/-)
mice, the expression of sMAP mRNA was completely abolished and that
of MASP-2 was also decreased markedly: it was quantitated as about
2% of that of wild-type (+/+) mice in both H- and L-chains by
real-time PCR (FIG. 21B). Furthermore, we examined the expression
of MASP-2 at the protein level. Both sMAP and MASP-2 were
undetectable in homozygous (-/-) mouse serum by immunoblotting
(FIG. 22A). After the incubation of homozygous (-/-) mouse serum
with mannan-agarose gel, both sMAP and MASP-2 were not detectable
in the fraction bound to the gels, although MASP-1 was detected in
the complex (FIG. 22B).
[0771] Cleaving Activities of C4 and C3 Through the Lectin Pathway
in Homozygous (-/-) Mouse Serum
[0772] When homozygous (-/-) mouse serum was incubated in
mannan-coated wells, the amount of human C4 deposited on the wells
was about 20% of that in normal serum at dilutions ranging from
1/400 to 1/50 (FIG. 23A). We also examined the C3 deposition
activity of the lectin pathway in homozygous (-/-) mouse serum. The
mouse serum was added to mannan-coated wells and the amount of
endogenous C3 deposited on the wells was measured. The amount was
decreased in the deficient serum and was 21% of that in normal
serum at a dilution of 1/10 (FIG. 23B).
Reconstitution of the MBL-MASP-sMAP Complex in Homozygous (-/-)
Mouse Serum
[0773] When recombinant mouse sMAP (rsMAP) or the inactive mouse
MASP-2 mutant (MASP-2i) was added to homozygous (-/-) mouse serum,
both recombinants were able to bind to MBL (FIG. 24A, lanes 3 and
4). When rsMAP and MASP-2i were simultaneously incubated with the
serum (FIG. 24A, lane 5), both recombinants were detected in the
MBL-MASP-sMAP complex. However the amount of sMAP bound to the
complex was less than that when only rsMAP was incubated with the
serum. Then we further investigated the competitive binding of sMAP
and MASP-2 to MBL. A constant amount of rsMAP and various amounts
of MASP-2i were added to the deficient serum. The binding of rsMAP
decreased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing amounts of
MASP-2i (FIG. 24B). Inversely, the amount of MASP-2i bound to MBL
decreased by the addition of rsMAP (FIG. 24C). When rsMAP was added
to wild-type serum, the binding both of endogenous sMAP and of
MASP-2 to MBL decreased in a dose-dependent manner (FIG. 24D).
Reconstitution of C4 Deposition Activity in Homozygous (-/-) Mouse
Serum
[0774] We performed a reconstitution experiment of the deposition
of C4 on mannan-coated wells using recombinants. When rsMAP was
added to the deficient serum, the amount of C4 deposited actually
decreased to basal levels in a dose-dependent manner (FIG. 25A).
When rMASP-2 was added to the serum, the amount of C4 was restored
by up to 46% of that of wild-type serum in a dose-dependent manner
and reached a plateau (FIG. 25B). Next, we investigated the effect
of sMAP on the C4 deposition. When a constant amount of rMASP-2 and
various amounts of rsMAP were added to the deficient serum, the
amount of C4 deposited decreased with the addition of rsMAP in a
dose-dependent manner (FIG. 26A) and the addition of rsMAP to
wild-type serum also decreased the amount of C4 deposited (FIG.
26B), suggesting that sMAP plays a regulatory role in the
activation of the lectin pathway.
DISCUSSION
[0775] We have generated sMAP-/- mice through targeted disruption
of the sMAP-specific exon. The expression level of MASP-2 was also
extremely decreased at both the mRNA and protein levels in these
mice (FIGS. 21 and 22). A Northern blot analysis with a MASP-2
probe showed only extra bands in poly(A)+ RNA from sMAP-/- mice,
suggesting that the normal splicing of the MASP-2 gene was altered
by the targeting of the sMAP gene and therefore, the expression
level of MASP-2 was markedly decreased. As a result, the cleavage
of C4 by the MBL-MASP complex in the deficient serum was decreased
by about 80% compared to that in the normal serum (FIG. 23A). In
the reconstitution experiments, the C4 cleavage activity was
restored by addition of rMASP-2 but not rsMAP (FIG. 25). The
reduction in the deposition of C4 observed in the deficient serum
should be caused by the deficiency of MASP-2 in the MBL-MASP
complex (FIG. 22B). Therefore, it is clear that MASP-2 is essential
for the activation of C4 by the MBL-MASP complex. However, addition
of rMASP-2 did not completely restore the cleavage activity and the
deposition of C4 reached a plateau. As reported previously (Cseh et
al, J Immunol 169: 5735-5743 (2002); Iwaki and Fujita, J Endotoxin
Res 11: 47-50 (2005), most rMASP-2 was converted to the active form
by autoactivation during the purification procedures and some lost
its protease activity. Since the active or inactive state of MASP-2
has no significant influence on its association with MBL (Zundel et
al, J Immunol 172: 4342-4350 (2004), it is possible that rMASP-2
which has lost its protease activity binds to MBL and competitively
prevents the association of the active form, thereby resulting in
an incomplete restoration of C4 deposition. The C3 cleavage
activity of the lectin pathway was also attenuated in the deficient
serum (FIG. 23B). The decline in the amount of C3 deposited is
probably due to the very low level of activity of the C3
convertase, which consists of C4b and C2a fragments generated by
MASP-2.
[0776] MASP and sMAP each associated as homodimers and formed
complexes with MBL or L-ficolin through their N-terminal CUB and
EGF-like domains (Chen and Wallis, J Biol Chem 276: 25894-25902
(2001); Cseh et al, J Immunol 169: 5735-5743 (2002); Thielens et
al, J Immunol 166: 5068-5077 (2001); Zundel et al, J Immunol 172:
4342-4350 (2004)). The crystal structures of sMAP and the
CUB1-EGF-CUB2 segment of MASP-2 reveal their homodimeric structure
(Feinberg et al, EMBO J 22: 2348-2359 (2003); Gregory et al, J Biol
Chem 278: 32157-32164 (2003)). The collagen-like domain of MBL is
involved in associating with MASPs (Wallis and Cheng, J Immunol
163: 4953-4959 (1999); Wallis and Drickamer, J Biol Chem 279:
14065-14073 (1999) and some mutations introduced into the domain
have decreased the binding of MBL to the CUB1-EGF-CUB2 segments of
MASP-1 and MASP-2 (Wallis and Dodd, J Biol Chem 275: 30962-30969
(2000)). The binding sites for MASP-2 and for MASP-1/3 overlap but
are not identical (Wallis et al, J Biol Chem 279: 14065-13073
(2004)). Although the sMAP-binding site of MBL has not been
identified yet, the binding sites for sMAP and MASP-2 are probably
identical, because the CUB1-EGF region is the same in sMAP and
MASP-2. Thus, it is reasonable that sMAP and MASP-2 compete with
each other to bind MBL in the reconstitution of the MBL-MASP-sMAP
complex (FIG. 24). The affinity of sMAP for MBL is lower than that
of MASP-2 (Cseh et al, J Immunol 169: 5735-5743 (2002); Thielens et
al, J Immunol 166: 5068-5077 (2001)). The concentration of sMAP in
mouse serum has not been determined. As shown in FIG. 22A, however,
the amount of sMAP in the wild-type serum is much greater than that
of MASP-2. Therefore sMAP is able to occupy the MASP-2/sMAP binding
site and prevent MASP-2 from binding to MBL and consequently the C4
cleavage activity of the MBL-MASP complex is reduced. The
regulatory mechanism of sMAP in the lectin pathway remains to be
investigated. It is still unknown whether sMAP plays its regulatory
role before or after complement activation. sMAP may prevent
inadvertent activation of the MBL-MASP complex before microbial
infection or suppress overactivation of the lectin pathway once
activated. There is another potential regulator in the lectin
pathway. MASP-3 is also a competitor of MASP-2 in binding to MBL
and down-regulates the C4 and C2 cleavage activity of MASP-2 (Dahl
et al, Immunity 15: 127-135 (2001)). Although the interaction
between sMAP and MASP-3 has not been investigated, it is possible
that they are able to down-regulate activation of the lectin
pathway cooperatively.
[0777] In this report we have demonstrated that sMAP and MASP-2
compete to bind MBL and sMAP has the ability to down-regulate the
lectin pathway, which is activated by the MBL-MASP complex. It is
reasonable that sMAP also regulates another route of the lectin
pathway activated by the ficolin-MASP complex. MASP-2 and sMAP are
also compete to bind mouse ficolin A and down-regulate the C4
cleavage activity of the ficolin A-MASP complex (Y Endo et al, in
preparation). A study of MBL null mice was recently reported (Shi
et al, J Exp Med 199: 1379-1390 (2004). MBL null mice have no C4
cleavage activity in the MBL lectin pathway and are susceptible to
Staphylococcus aureus infections. In the present study, sMAP-/-
mice, which are also deficient in MASP-2, showed reductions in C3
cleavage activity besides C4 cleavage activity in the lectin
pathway. Because of their impaired opsonizing activity, the
sMAP-deficient mice may be susceptible to bacterial infections.
Further investigation of the sMAP-deficient mice will clarify the
function of the lectin pathway in protection against infectious
diseases.
[0778] Another important finding is that the addition of rsMAP to
normal serum results in a reduction in the activation of C4 (FIG.
26B). The lectin pathway has been also demonstrated to regulate
inflammation and tissue damage in several organs (de Vries et al,
Am J Pathol 165: 1677-1688 (2004); Fiane et al, Circulation 108:
849-856 (2003); Jordan et al, Circulation 104: 1413-1418 (2001);
Walsh et al, J Immunol 175: 541-546 (2005)). In MBL-deficient
patients undergoing treatment for a thoracic abdominal aortic
aneurysm, complement was not activated and levels of
proinflammatory markers were reduced following surgery (Fiane et
al, Circulation 108: 849-856 (2003)). Accumulated evidences have
demonstrated the potential pathophysiologic role of MBL during
conditions of ischemia and reperfusion in a variety of vascular
beds. Therefore, the specific blockade of MBL or inhibition of the
lectin complement pathway may represent a therapeutically relevant
strategy for the prevention of ischemia/perfusion-associated
damage. Thus, it is possible that sMAP is one of the candidates for
such an inhibitor, since it acts as an attenuator of the lectin
pathway's activation.
Example 31
[0779] This Example demonstrates that MASP-2 is responsible for the
C4 bypass activation of C3.
[0780] Background/Rationale:
[0781] Most recently, it has been shown that inhibiting the
alternate pathway protects the kidney from ischemic acute failure
(Thurman et al., J. Immunol 170: 1517-1523 (2003)). The data
described herein imply that the lectin pathway instructs alternate
pathway-activation, which in turn amplifies complement activation
synergistically. We hypothesise that transient inhibition of the
lectin pathway may also affect alternate pathway-activation and
thus improve the long-term outcome in organ transplantation as
limiting complement-mediated graft damage and inflammation, and may
moderate the unwanted induction of an adaptive immune response
against the graft and reduce the risk of secondary graft rejection
through the adaptive immune system. This is supported by recent
clinical data showing that a partially impaired lectin pathway,
resulting from inherited MBL deficiencies (present in about 30% of
the human population), is associated with increased renal allograft
survival in humans (Berger, Am J Transplant 5: 1361-1366
(2005)).
[0782] The involvement of complement components C3 and C4 in
ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury was well established in models of
transient intestinal and muscular ischemia using gene targeted
mouse strains (Weiser et al., J Exp Med 183: 2342-2348 (1996);
Williams et al. J Appl Physiol 86: 938-42, (1999)). It is well
established that C3 has a prominent role in renal I/R injury and
secondary graft rejection (Zhou et al., J Clin Invest 105:
1363-1371 (2000); Pratt et al., Nat Med 8: 582-587 (2002); Farrar,
et al., Am J. Pathol 164: 133-141 (2004)). It was therefore
surprising that a phenotype for C4 deficiency was not observed in
the published models of mouse kidney allograft rejection (Lin, 2005
In Press). A subsequent analysis of sera and plasma of these C4
deficient mice, however, indicated that these mice retain a
residual functional activity showing LP-dependent cleavage of C3
and further downstream activation of complement (see FIG. 27C).
[0783] The existence of a functional C4-bypass (and C2-bypass) is a
phenomenon previously described (but not fully characterised) by
several investigators (Miller et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci 72: 418-22
(1975); Knutzen Steuer et al., J Immunol 143(7): 2256-61 (1989);
Wagner et al., J Immunol 163: 3549-3558 (1999) and relates to the
alternative pathway-independent C3-turnover in C4 (and C2)
deficient sera.
[0784] Methods:
[0785] Effects of the lectin pathway and the classical pathway on
C3 deposition. Mouse plasma (with EGTA/Mg.sup.2+ as anticoagulant)
was diluted and re-calcified in 4.0 mM barbital, 145 mM NaCl, 2.0
mM CaCl.sub.2, 1.0 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 7.4, then added to microtitre
plates coated with mannan (as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27C) or
zymosan (as shown in FIG. 27B), and incubated for 90 min at
37.degree. C. The plates were washed 3 times with 10 mM Tris-Cl,
140 mM NaCl, 5.0 mM CaCl.sub.2, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 7.4 then C3b
deposition was measured using an anti-mouse C3c antibody.
[0786] Results:
[0787] The results shown in FIG. 27A-C are representative of 3
independent experiments. When using the same sera in wells coated
with immunoglobulin complexes instead of mannan or zymosan, C3b
deposition and Factor B cleavage are seen in WT (+/+) mouse sera
and pooled MASP-2(-/-) sera, but not in C1q depleted sera (data not
shown). This indicates that alternative pathway activation can be
restored in MASP-2-/- sera when the initial C3b is provided via CP
activity. FIG. 27C depicts the surprising finding that C3 can
efficiently be activated in a lectin pathway-dependant fashion in
C4 (-/-) deficient plasma. This "C4 bypass" is abolished by the
inhibition of lectin pathway-activation through preincubation of
plasma with soluble mannan or mannose.
[0788] It can be seen that C3b deposition on mannan and zymosan is
severely compromised in MASP-2 (-/-) deficient mice, even under
experimental conditions that according to many previously published
papers on alternative pathway activation should be permissive for
all three pathways. As shown in FIG. 27A-C, MASP-2 (-/-) deficient
mouse plasma does not activate C4 via the lectin pathway and does
not cleave C3, neither via the lectin pathway nor the alternative
pathway. We therefore hypothesise that MASP-2 is required in this
C4-bypass. Further progress in the identification of components
likely to be involved in the lectin pathway-dependent C4-bypass was
most recently reported by Prof. Teizo Fujita. Plasma of C4
deficient mice crossed with Fujita's MASP-1/3 deficient mouse
strain loses the residual capacity of C4 deficient plasma to cleave
C3 via the lectin pathway. This was restored by adding recombinant
MASP-1 to the combined C4 and MASP-1/3 deficient plasma (Takahashi,
Mol Immunol 43: 153 (2006), suggesting that MASP-1 is involved in
the formation of lectin pathway-derived complexes that cleave C3 in
absence of C4 (recombinant MASP-1 does not cleave C3, but it
cleaves C2; Rossi et al., J Biol Chem 276: 40880-7 (2001); Chen et
al., J Biol Chem 279: 26058-65 (2004). We observed that MASP-2 is
required for this bypass to be formed.
[0789] Although more functional and quantitative parameters and
histology are required to consolidate this pilot study, its
preliminary results lend strong support to the hypothesis that
complement activation via the lectin pathway contributes
significantly to the pathophysiology of renal I/R injury, as
MASP-2-/- mice show a much quicker recovery of renal functions.
[0790] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various
changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
Sequence CWU 1
1
651725DNAHomo sapiensCDS(27)..(584) 1ggccaggcca gctggacggg cacacc
atg agg ctg ctg acc ctc ctg ggc ctt 53 Met Arg Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu
Gly Leu 1 5 ctg tgt ggc tcg gtg gcc acc ccc ttg ggc ccg aag tgg cct
gaa cct 101Leu Cys Gly Ser Val Ala Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro
Glu Pro 10 15 20 25 gtg ttc ggg cgc ctg gca tcc ccc ggc ttt cca ggg
gag tat gcc aat 149Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro Gly
Glu Tyr Ala Asn 30 35 40 gac cag gag cgg cgc tgg acc ctg act gca
ccc ccc ggc tac cgc ctg 197Asp Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp Thr Leu Thr Ala
Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu 45 50 55 cgc ctc tac ttc acc cac ttc gac
ctg gag ctc tcc cac ctc tgc gag 245Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His Phe Asp
Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu 60 65 70 tac gac ttc gtc aag ctg
agc tcg ggg gcc aag gtg ctg gcc acg ctg 293Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys Leu
Ser Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu 75 80 85 tgc ggg cag gag
agc aca gac acg gag cgg gcc cct ggc aag gac act 341Cys Gly Gln Glu
Ser Thr Asp Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys Asp Thr 90 95 100 105 ttc
tac tcg ctg ggc tcc agc ctg gac att acc ttc cgc tcc gac tac 389Phe
Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg Ser Asp Tyr 110 115
120 tcc aac gag aag ccg ttc acg ggg ttc gag gcc ttc tat gca gcc gag
437Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu
125 130 135 gac att gac gag tgc cag gtg gcc ccg gga gag gcg ccc acc
tgc gac 485Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Val Ala Pro Gly Glu Ala Pro Thr
Cys Asp 140 145 150 cac cac tgc cac aac cac ctg ggc ggt ttc tac tgc
tcc tgc cgc gca 533His His Cys His Asn His Leu Gly Gly Phe Tyr Cys
Ser Cys Arg Ala 155 160 165 ggc tac gtc ctg cac cgt aac aag cgc acc
tgc tca gag cag agc ctc 581Gly Tyr Val Leu His Arg Asn Lys Arg Thr
Cys Ser Glu Gln Ser Leu 170 175 180 185 tag cctcccctgg agctccggcc
tgcccagcag gtcagaagcc agagccagcc 634tgctggcctc agctccgggt
tgggctgaga tggctgtgcc ccaactccca ttcacccacc 694atggacccaa
taataaacct ggccccaccc c 7252185PRTHomo sapiens 2Met Arg Leu Leu Thr
Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Cys Gly Ser Val Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Pro Leu Gly
Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala Ser 20 25 30 Pro
Gly Phe Pro Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Asp Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp Thr 35 40
45 Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His Phe
50 55 60 Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys
Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln
Glu Ser Thr Asp 85 90 95 Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys Asp Thr Phe
Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser 100 105 110 Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg Ser Asp
Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr 115 120 125 Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr
Ala Ala Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Val 130 135 140 Ala Pro Gly Glu
Ala Pro Thr Cys Asp His His Cys His Asn His Leu 145 150 155 160 Gly
Gly Phe Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala Gly Tyr Val Leu His Arg Asn 165 170
175 Lys Arg Thr Cys Ser Glu Gln Ser Leu 180 185 3170PRTHomo sapiens
3Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala 1
5 10 15 Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Asp Gln Glu Arg Arg
Trp 20 25 30 Thr Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr
Phe Thr His 35 40 45 Phe Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr
Asp Phe Val Lys Leu 50 55 60 Ser Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr
Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr 65 70 75 80 Asp Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly
Lys Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser 85 90 95 Ser Leu Asp Ile Thr
Phe Arg Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe 100 105 110 Thr Gly Phe
Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln 115 120 125 Val
Ala Pro Gly Glu Ala Pro Thr Cys Asp His His Cys His Asn His 130 135
140 Leu Gly Gly Phe Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala Gly Tyr Val Leu His Arg
145 150 155 160 Asn Lys Arg Thr Cys Ser Glu Gln Ser Leu 165 170
42460DNAHomo sapiensCDS(22)..(2082) 4ggccagctgg acgggcacac c atg
agg ctg ctg acc ctc ctg ggc ctt ctg 51 Met Arg Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu
Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 tgt ggc tcg gtg gcc acc ccc ttg ggc ccg aag tgg
cct gaa cct gtg 99Cys Gly Ser Val Ala Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp
Pro Glu Pro Val 15 20 25 ttc ggg cgc ctg gca tcc ccc ggc ttt cca
ggg gag tat gcc aat gac 147Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro
Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Asp 30 35 40 cag gag cgg cgc tgg acc ctg act
gca ccc ccc ggc tac cgc ctg cgc 195Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp Thr Leu Thr
Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg 45 50 55 ctc tac ttc acc cac ttc
gac ctg gag ctc tcc cac ctc tgc gag tac 243Leu Tyr Phe Thr His Phe
Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr 60 65 70 gac ttc gtc aag
ctg agc tcg ggg gcc aag gtg ctg gcc acg ctg tgc 291Asp Phe Val Lys
Leu Ser Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys 75 80 85 90 ggg cag
gag agc aca gac acg gag cgg gcc cct ggc aag gac act ttc 339Gly Gln
Glu Ser Thr Asp Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys Asp Thr Phe 95 100 105
tac tcg ctg ggc tcc agc ctg gac att acc ttc cgc tcc gac tac tcc
387Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg Ser Asp Tyr Ser
110 115 120 aac gag aag ccg ttc acg ggg ttc gag gcc ttc tat gca gcc
gag gac 435Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala
Glu Asp 125 130 135 att gac gag tgc cag gtg gcc ccg gga gag gcg ccc
acc tgc gac cac 483Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Val Ala Pro Gly Glu Ala Pro
Thr Cys Asp His 140 145 150 cac tgc cac aac cac ctg ggc ggt ttc tac
tgc tcc tgc cgc gca ggc 531His Cys His Asn His Leu Gly Gly Phe Tyr
Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala Gly 155 160 165 170 tac gtc ctg cac cgt aac aag
cgc acc tgc tca gcc ctg tgc tcc ggc 579Tyr Val Leu His Arg Asn Lys
Arg Thr Cys Ser Ala Leu Cys Ser Gly 175 180 185 cag gtc ttc acc cag
agg tct ggg gag ctc agc agc cct gaa tac cca 627Gln Val Phe Thr Gln
Arg Ser Gly Glu Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr Pro 190 195 200 cgg ccg tat
ccc aaa ctc tcc agt tgc act tac agc atc agc ctg gag 675Arg Pro Tyr
Pro Lys Leu Ser Ser Cys Thr Tyr Ser Ile Ser Leu Glu 205 210 215 gag
ggg ttc agt gtc att ctg gac ttt gtg gag tcc ttc gat gtg gag 723Glu
Gly Phe Ser Val Ile Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe Asp Val Glu 220 225
230 aca cac cct gaa acc ctg tgt ccc tac gac ttt ctc aag att caa aca
771Thr His Pro Glu Thr Leu Cys Pro Tyr Asp Phe Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr
235 240 245 250 gac aga gaa gaa cat ggc cca ttc tgt ggg aag aca ttg
ccc cac agg 819Asp Arg Glu Glu His Gly Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu
Pro His Arg 255 260 265 att gaa aca aaa agc aac acg gtg acc atc acc
ttt gtc aca gat gaa 867Ile Glu Thr Lys Ser Asn Thr Val Thr Ile Thr
Phe Val Thr Asp Glu 270 275 280 tca gga gac cac aca ggc tgg aag atc
cac tac acg agc aca gcg cag 915Ser Gly Asp His Thr Gly Trp Lys Ile
His Tyr Thr Ser Thr Ala Gln 285 290 295 cct tgc cct tat ccg atg gcg
cca cct aat ggc cac gtt tca cct gtg 963Pro Cys Pro Tyr Pro Met Ala
Pro Pro Asn Gly His Val Ser Pro Val 300 305 310 caa gcc aaa tac atc
ctg aaa gac agc ttc tcc atc ttt tgc gag act 1011Gln Ala Lys Tyr Ile
Leu Lys Asp Ser Phe Ser Ile Phe Cys Glu Thr 315 320 325 330 ggc tat
gag ctt ctg caa ggt cac ttg ccc ctg aaa tcc ttt act gca 1059Gly Tyr
Glu Leu Leu Gln Gly His Leu Pro Leu Lys Ser Phe Thr Ala 335 340 345
gtt tgt cag aaa gat gga tct tgg gac cgg cca atg ccc gcg tgc agc
1107Val Cys Gln Lys Asp Gly Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Met Pro Ala Cys Ser
350 355 360 att gtt gac tgt ggc cct cct gat gat cta ccc agt ggc cga
gtg gag 1155Ile Val Asp Cys Gly Pro Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Ser Gly Arg
Val Glu 365 370 375 tac atc aca ggt cct gga gtg acc acc tac aaa gct
gtg att cag tac 1203Tyr Ile Thr Gly Pro Gly Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala
Val Ile Gln Tyr 380 385 390 agc tgt gaa gag acc ttc tac aca atg aaa
gtg aat gat ggt aaa tat 1251Ser Cys Glu Glu Thr Phe Tyr Thr Met Lys
Val Asn Asp Gly Lys Tyr 395 400 405 410 gtg tgt gag gct gat gga ttc
tgg acg agc tcc aaa gga gaa aaa tca 1299Val Cys Glu Ala Asp Gly Phe
Trp Thr Ser Ser Lys Gly Glu Lys Ser 415 420 425 ctc cca gtc tgt gag
cct gtt tgt gga cta tca gcc cgc aca aca gga 1347Leu Pro Val Cys Glu
Pro Val Cys Gly Leu Ser Ala Arg Thr Thr Gly 430 435 440 ggg cgt ata
tat gga ggg caa aag gca aaa cct ggt gat ttt cct tgg 1395Gly Arg Ile
Tyr Gly Gly Gln Lys Ala Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp 445 450 455 caa
gtc ctg ata tta ggt gga acc aca gca gca ggt gca ctt tta tat 1443Gln
Val Leu Ile Leu Gly Gly Thr Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Leu Tyr 460 465
470 gac aac tgg gtc cta aca gct gct cat gcc gtc tat gag caa aaa cat
1491Asp Asn Trp Val Leu Thr Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Glu Gln Lys His
475 480 485 490 gat gca tcc gcc ctg gac att cga atg ggc acc ctg aaa
aga cta tca 1539Asp Ala Ser Ala Leu Asp Ile Arg Met Gly Thr Leu Lys
Arg Leu Ser 495 500 505 cct cat tat aca caa gcc tgg tct gaa gct gtt
ttt ata cat gaa ggt 1587Pro His Tyr Thr Gln Ala Trp Ser Glu Ala Val
Phe Ile His Glu Gly 510 515 520 tat act cat gat gct ggc ttt gac aat
gac ata gca ctg att aaa ttg 1635Tyr Thr His Asp Ala Gly Phe Asp Asn
Asp Ile Ala Leu Ile Lys Leu 525 530 535 aat aac aaa gtt gta atc aat
agc aac atc acg cct att tgt ctg cca 1683Asn Asn Lys Val Val Ile Asn
Ser Asn Ile Thr Pro Ile Cys Leu Pro 540 545 550 aga aaa gaa gct gaa
tcc ttt atg agg aca gat gac att gga act gca 1731Arg Lys Glu Ala Glu
Ser Phe Met Arg Thr Asp Asp Ile Gly Thr Ala 555 560 565 570 tct gga
tgg gga tta acc caa agg ggt ttt ctt gct aga aat cta atg 1779Ser Gly
Trp Gly Leu Thr Gln Arg Gly Phe Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met 575 580 585
tat gtc gac ata ccg att gtt gac cat caa aaa tgt act gct gca tat
1827Tyr Val Asp Ile Pro Ile Val Asp His Gln Lys Cys Thr Ala Ala Tyr
590 595 600 gaa aag cca ccc tat cca agg gga agt gta act gct aac atg
ctt tgt 1875Glu Lys Pro Pro Tyr Pro Arg Gly Ser Val Thr Ala Asn Met
Leu Cys 605 610 615 gct ggc tta gaa agt ggg ggc aag gac agc tgc aga
ggt gac agc gga 1923Ala Gly Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg
Gly Asp Ser Gly 620 625 630 ggg gca ctg gtg ttt cta gat agt gaa aca
gag agg tgg ttt gtg gga 1971Gly Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Asp Ser Glu Thr
Glu Arg Trp Phe Val Gly 635 640 645 650 gga ata gtg tcc tgg ggt tcc
atg aat tgt ggg gaa gca ggt cag tat 2019Gly Ile Val Ser Trp Gly Ser
Met Asn Cys Gly Glu Ala Gly Gln Tyr 655 660 665 gga gtc tac aca aaa
gtt att aac tat att ccc tgg atc gag aac ata 2067Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys
Val Ile Asn Tyr Ile Pro Trp Ile Glu Asn Ile 670 675 680 att agt gat
ttt taa cttgcgtgtc tgcagtcaag gattcttcat ttttagaaat 2122Ile Ser Asp
Phe 685 gcctgtgaag accttggcag cgacgtggct cgagaagcat tcatcattac
tgtggacatg 2182gcagttgttg ctccacccaa aaaaacagac tccaggtgag
gctgctgtca tttctccact 2242tgccagttta attccagcct tacccattga
ctcaagggga cataaaccac gagagtgaca 2302gtcatctttg cccacccagt
gtaatgtcac tgctcaaatt acatttcatt accttaaaaa 2362gccagtctct
tttcatactg gctgttggca tttctgtaaa ctgcctgtcc atgctctttg
2422tttttaaact tgttcttatt gaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 24605686PRTHomo
sapiens 5Met Arg Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Cys Gly Ser Val
Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Pro Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly
Arg Leu Ala Ser 20 25 30 Pro Gly Phe Pro Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Asp
Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp Thr 35 40 45 Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg
Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His Phe 50 55 60 Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser His
Leu Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Ala Lys
Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr Asp 85 90 95 Thr Glu
Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser 100 105 110
Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr 115
120 125 Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln
Val 130 135 140 Ala Pro Gly Glu Ala Pro Thr Cys Asp His His Cys His
Asn His Leu 145 150 155 160 Gly Gly Phe Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala Gly
Tyr Val Leu His Arg Asn 165 170 175 Lys Arg Thr Cys Ser Ala Leu Cys
Ser Gly Gln Val Phe Thr Gln Arg 180 185 190 Ser Gly Glu Leu Ser Ser
Pro Glu Tyr Pro Arg Pro Tyr Pro Lys Leu 195 200 205 Ser Ser Cys Thr
Tyr Ser Ile Ser Leu Glu Glu Gly Phe Ser Val Ile 210 215 220 Leu Asp
Phe Val Glu Ser Phe Asp Val Glu Thr His Pro Glu Thr Leu 225 230 235
240 Cys Pro Tyr Asp Phe Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Arg Glu Glu His Gly
245 250 255 Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu Pro His Arg Ile Glu Thr Lys
Ser Asn 260 265 270 Thr Val Thr Ile Thr Phe Val Thr Asp Glu Ser Gly
Asp His Thr Gly 275 280 285 Trp Lys Ile His Tyr Thr Ser Thr Ala Gln
Pro Cys Pro Tyr Pro Met 290 295 300 Ala Pro Pro Asn Gly His Val Ser
Pro Val Gln Ala Lys Tyr Ile Leu 305 310 315
320 Lys Asp Ser Phe Ser Ile Phe Cys Glu Thr Gly Tyr Glu Leu Leu Gln
325 330 335 Gly His Leu Pro Leu Lys Ser Phe Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Lys
Asp Gly 340 345 350 Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Met Pro Ala Cys Ser Ile Val
Asp Cys Gly Pro 355 360 365 Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Ser Gly Arg Val Glu
Tyr Ile Thr Gly Pro Gly 370 375 380 Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala Val Ile
Gln Tyr Ser Cys Glu Glu Thr Phe 385 390 395 400 Tyr Thr Met Lys Val
Asn Asp Gly Lys Tyr Val Cys Glu Ala Asp Gly 405 410 415 Phe Trp Thr
Ser Ser Lys Gly Glu Lys Ser Leu Pro Val Cys Glu Pro 420 425 430 Val
Cys Gly Leu Ser Ala Arg Thr Thr Gly Gly Arg Ile Tyr Gly Gly 435 440
445 Gln Lys Ala Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp Gln Val Leu Ile Leu Gly
450 455 460 Gly Thr Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Leu Tyr Asp Asn Trp Val
Leu Thr 465 470 475 480 Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Glu Gln Lys His Asp
Ala Ser Ala Leu Asp 485 490 495 Ile Arg Met Gly Thr Leu Lys Arg Leu
Ser Pro His Tyr Thr Gln Ala 500 505 510 Trp Ser Glu Ala Val Phe Ile
His Glu Gly Tyr Thr His Asp Ala Gly 515 520 525 Phe Asp Asn Asp Ile
Ala Leu Ile Lys Leu Asn Asn Lys Val Val Ile 530 535 540 Asn Ser Asn
Ile Thr Pro Ile Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys Glu Ala Glu Ser 545 550 555 560
Phe Met Arg Thr Asp Asp Ile Gly Thr Ala Ser Gly Trp Gly Leu Thr 565
570 575 Gln Arg Gly Phe Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Tyr Val Asp Ile Pro
Ile 580 585 590 Val Asp His Gln Lys Cys Thr Ala Ala Tyr Glu Lys Pro
Pro Tyr Pro 595 600 605 Arg Gly Ser Val Thr Ala Asn Met Leu Cys Ala
Gly Leu Glu Ser Gly 610 615 620 Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp Ser
Gly Gly Ala Leu Val Phe Leu 625 630 635 640 Asp Ser Glu Thr Glu Arg
Trp Phe Val Gly Gly Ile Val Ser Trp Gly 645 650 655 Ser Met Asn Cys
Gly Glu Ala Gly Gln Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys Val 660 665 670 Ile Asn
Tyr Ile Pro Trp Ile Glu Asn Ile Ile Ser Asp Phe 675 680 685
6671PRTHomo sapiens 6Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val
Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro Gly Glu Tyr Ala
Asn Asp Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp 20 25 30 Thr Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly
Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His 35 40 45 Phe Asp Leu Glu Leu
Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys Leu 50 55 60 Ser Ser Gly
Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr 65 70 75 80 Asp
Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser 85 90
95 Ser Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe
100 105 110 Thr Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu
Cys Gln 115 120 125 Val Ala Pro Gly Glu Ala Pro Thr Cys Asp His His
Cys His Asn His 130 135 140 Leu Gly Gly Phe Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala
Gly Tyr Val Leu His Arg 145 150 155 160 Asn Lys Arg Thr Cys Ser Ala
Leu Cys Ser Gly Gln Val Phe Thr Gln 165 170 175 Arg Ser Gly Glu Leu
Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr Pro Arg Pro Tyr Pro Lys 180 185 190 Leu Ser Ser
Cys Thr Tyr Ser Ile Ser Leu Glu Glu Gly Phe Ser Val 195 200 205 Ile
Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe Asp Val Glu Thr His Pro Glu Thr 210 215
220 Leu Cys Pro Tyr Asp Phe Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Arg Glu Glu His
225 230 235 240 Gly Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu Pro His Arg Ile Glu
Thr Lys Ser 245 250 255 Asn Thr Val Thr Ile Thr Phe Val Thr Asp Glu
Ser Gly Asp His Thr 260 265 270 Gly Trp Lys Ile His Tyr Thr Ser Thr
Ala Gln Pro Cys Pro Tyr Pro 275 280 285 Met Ala Pro Pro Asn Gly His
Val Ser Pro Val Gln Ala Lys Tyr Ile 290 295 300 Leu Lys Asp Ser Phe
Ser Ile Phe Cys Glu Thr Gly Tyr Glu Leu Leu 305 310 315 320 Gln Gly
His Leu Pro Leu Lys Ser Phe Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Lys Asp 325 330 335
Gly Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Met Pro Ala Cys Ser Ile Val Asp Cys Gly 340
345 350 Pro Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Ser Gly Arg Val Glu Tyr Ile Thr Gly
Pro 355 360 365 Gly Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala Val Ile Gln Tyr Ser Cys
Glu Glu Thr 370 375 380 Phe Tyr Thr Met Lys Val Asn Asp Gly Lys Tyr
Val Cys Glu Ala Asp 385 390 395 400 Gly Phe Trp Thr Ser Ser Lys Gly
Glu Lys Ser Leu Pro Val Cys Glu 405 410 415 Pro Val Cys Gly Leu Ser
Ala Arg Thr Thr Gly Gly Arg Ile Tyr Gly 420 425 430 Gly Gln Lys Ala
Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp Gln Val Leu Ile Leu 435 440 445 Gly Gly
Thr Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Leu Tyr Asp Asn Trp Val Leu 450 455 460
Thr Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Glu Gln Lys His Asp Ala Ser Ala Leu 465
470 475 480 Asp Ile Arg Met Gly Thr Leu Lys Arg Leu Ser Pro His Tyr
Thr Gln 485 490 495 Ala Trp Ser Glu Ala Val Phe Ile His Glu Gly Tyr
Thr His Asp Ala 500 505 510 Gly Phe Asp Asn Asp Ile Ala Leu Ile Lys
Leu Asn Asn Lys Val Val 515 520 525 Ile Asn Ser Asn Ile Thr Pro Ile
Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys Glu Ala Glu 530 535 540 Ser Phe Met Arg Thr Asp
Asp Ile Gly Thr Ala Ser Gly Trp Gly Leu 545 550 555 560 Thr Gln Arg
Gly Phe Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Tyr Val Asp Ile Pro 565 570 575 Ile
Val Asp His Gln Lys Cys Thr Ala Ala Tyr Glu Lys Pro Pro Tyr 580 585
590 Pro Arg Gly Ser Val Thr Ala Asn Met Leu Cys Ala Gly Leu Glu Ser
595 600 605 Gly Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp Ser Gly Gly Ala Leu
Val Phe 610 615 620 Leu Asp Ser Glu Thr Glu Arg Trp Phe Val Gly Gly
Ile Val Ser Trp 625 630 635 640 Gly Ser Met Asn Cys Gly Glu Ala Gly
Gln Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys 645 650 655 Val Ile Asn Tyr Ile Pro Trp
Ile Glu Asn Ile Ile Ser Asp Phe 660 665 670 74900DNAHomo sapiens
7cctgtcctgc ctgcctggaa ctctgagcag gctggagtca tggagtcgat tcccagaatc
60ccagagtcag ggaggctggg ggcaggggca ggtcactgga caaacagatc aaaggtgaga
120ccagcgtagg actgcagacc aggccaggcc agctggacgg gcacaccatg
aggtaggtgg 180gcgccacagc ctccctgcag ggtgtggggt gggagcacag
gcctgggcct caccgcccct 240gccctgccca taggctgctg accctcctgg
gccttctgtg tggctcggtg gccaccccct 300taggcccgaa gtggcctgaa
cctgtgttcg ggcgcctggc atcccccggc tttccagggg 360agtatgccaa
tgaccaggag cggcgctgga ccctgactgc accccccggc taccgcctgc
420gcctctactt cacccacttc gacctggagc tctcccacct ctgcgagtac
gacttcgtca 480aggtgccgtc agacgggagg gctggggttt ctcagggtcg
gggggtcccc aaggagtagc 540cagggttcag ggacacctgg gagcaggggc
caggcttggc caggagggag atcaggcctg 600ggtcttgcct tcactccctg
tgacacctga ccccacagct gagctcgggg gccaaggtgc 660tggccacgct
gtgcgggcag gagagcacag acacggagcg ggcccctggc aaggacactt
720tctactcgct gggctccagc ctggacatta ccttccgctc cgactactcc
aacgagaagc 780cgttcacggg gttcgaggcc ttctatgcag ccgagggtga
gccaagaggg gtcctgcaac 840atctcagtct gcgcagctgg ctgtgggggt
aactctgtct taggccaggc agccctgcct 900tcagtttccc cacctttccc
agggcagggg agaggcctct ggcctgacat catccacaat 960gcaaagacca
aaacagccgt gacctccatt cacatgggct gagtgccaac tctgagccag
1020ggatctgagg acagcatcgc ctcaagtgac gcagggactg gccgggcgcg
gcagctcacg 1080cctgtaattc cagcactttg ggaggccgag gctggcttga
taatttgagg gtcaggagtt 1140caaggccagc cagggcaaca cggtgaaact
ctatctccac taaaactaca aaaattagct 1200gggcgtggtg gtgcgcacct
ggaatcccag ctactaggga ggctgaggca ggagaattgc 1260ttgaacctgc
gaggtggagg ctgcagtgaa cagagattgc accactacac tccacctggg
1320cgacagacta gactccgtct caaaaaacaa aaaacaaaaa ccacgcaggg
ccgagggccc 1380atttacaagc tgacaaagtg ggccctgcca gcgggagcgc
tgcaggatgt ttgattttca 1440gatcccagtc cctgcagaga ccaactgtgt
gacctctggc aagtggctca atttctctgc 1500tccttagaag ctgctgcaag
ggttcagcgc tgtagccccg ccccctgggt ttgattgact 1560cccctcatta
gctgggtgac ctcggccgga cactgaaact cccactggtt taacagaggt
1620gatgtttgca tctttctccc agcgctgctg ggagcttgca gcgaccctag
gcctgtaagg 1680tgattggccc ggcaccagtc ccgcacccta gacaggacct
aggcctcctc tgaggtccac 1740tctgaggtca tggatctcct gggaggagtc
caggctggat cccgcctctt tccctcctga 1800cggcctgcct ggccctgcct
ctcccccaga cattgacgag tgccaggtgg ccccgggaga 1860ggcgcccacc
tgcgaccacc actgccacaa ccacctgggc ggtttctact gctcctgccg
1920cgcaggctac gtcctgcacc gtaacaagcg cacctgctca ggtgagggag
gctgcctggg 1980ccccaacgca ccctctcctg ggatacccgg ggctcctcag
ggccattgct gctctgccca 2040ggggtgcgga gggcctgggc ctggacactg
ggtgcttcta ggccctgctg cctccagctc 2100cccttctcag ccctgcttcc
cctctcagca gccaggctca tcagtgccac cctgccctag 2160cactgagact
aattctaaca tcccactgtg tacctggttc cacctgggct ctgggaaccc
2220ctcatgtagc cacgggagag tcggggtatc taccctcgtt ccttggactg
ggttcctgtt 2280ccctgcactg ggggacgggc cagtgctctg gggcgtgggc
agccccaccc tgtggcgctg 2340accctgctcc cccgactcgg tttctcctct
cggggtctct ccttgcctct ctgatctctc 2400ttccagagca gagcctctag
cctcccctgg agctccggct gcccagcagg tcagaagcca 2460gagccaggct
gctggcctca gctccgggtt gggctgagat gctgtgcccc aactcccatt
2520cacccaccat ggacccaata ataaacctgg ccccacccca cctgctgccg
cgtgtctctg 2580gggtgggagg gtcgggaggc ggtggggcgc gctcctctct
gcctaccctc ctcacagcct 2640catgaacccc aggtctgtgg gagcctcctc
catggggcca cacggtcctt ggcctcaccc 2700cctgttttga agatggggca
ctgaggccgg agaggggtaa ggcctcgctc gagtccaggt 2760ccccagaggc
tgagcccaga gtaatcttga accaccccca ttcagggtct ggcctggagg
2820agcctgaccc acagaggaga caccctggga gatattcatt gaggggtaat
ctggtccccc 2880gcaaatccag gggtgattcc cactgcccca taggcacagc
cacgtggaag aaggcaggca 2940atgttggggc tcctcacttc ctagaggcct
cacaactcaa atgcccccca ctgcagctgg 3000gggtggggtg gtggtatggg
atggggacca agccttcctt gaaggataga gcccagccca 3060acaccccgcc
ccgtggcagc agcatcacgt gttccagcga ggaaggagag caccagactc
3120agtcatgatc actgttgcct tgaacttcca agaacagccc cagggcaagg
gtcaaaacag 3180gggaaagggg gtgatgagag atccttcttc cggatgttcc
tccaggaacc agggggctgg 3240ctggtcttgg ctgggttcgg gtaggagacc
catgatgaat aaacttggga atcactgggg 3300tggctgtaag ggaatttagg
ggagctccga aggggccctt aggctcgagg agatgctcct 3360ctcttttccc
gaattcccag ggacccagga gagtgtccct tcttcctctt cctgtgtgtc
3420catccacccc cgccccccgc cctggcagag ctggtggaac tcagtgctct
agcccctacc 3480ctggggttgc gactctggct caggacacca ccacgctccc
tgggggtgtg agtgagggcc 3540tgtgcgctcc atcccgagtg ctgcctgttt
cagctaaagc ctcaaagcaa gagaaacccc 3600ctctctaagc ggcccctcag
ccatcgggtg ggtcgtttgg tttctgggta ggcctcaggg 3660gctggccacc
tgcagggccc agcccaaccc agggatgcag atgtcccagc cacatccctg
3720tcccagtttc ctgctcccca aggcatccac cctgctgttg gtgcgagggc
tgatagaggg 3780cacgccaagt cactcccctg cccttccctc cttccagccc
tgtgctccgg ccaggtcttc 3840acccagaggt ctggggagct cagcagccct
gaatacccac ggccgtatcc caaactctcc 3900agttgcactt acagcatcag
cctggaggag gggttcagtg tcattctgga ctttgtggag 3960tccttcgatg
tggagacaca ccctgaaacc ctgtgtccct acgactttct caaggtctgg
4020ctcctgggcc cctcatcttg tcccagatcc tcccccttca gcccagctgc
accccctact 4080tcctgcagca tggcccccac cacgttcccg tcaccctcgg
tgaccccacc tcttcaggtg 4140ctctatggag gtcaaggctg gggcttcgag
tacaagtgtg ggaggcagag tggggagggg 4200caccccaatc catggcctgg
gttggcctca ttggctgtcc ctgaaatgct gaggaggtgg 4260gttacttccc
tccgcccagg ccagacccag gcagctgctc cccagctttc atgagcttct
4320ttctcagatt caaacagaca gagaagaaca tggcccattc tgtgggaaga
cattgcccca 4380caggattgaa acaaaaagca acacggtgac catcaccttt
gtcacagatg aatcaggaga 4440ccacacaggc tggaagatcc actacacgag
cacagtgagc aagtgggctc agatccttgg 4500tggaagcgca gagctgcctc
tctctggagt gcaaggagct gtagagtgta gggctcttct 4560gggcaggact
aggaagggac accaggttta gtggtgctga ggtctgaggc agcagcttct
4620aaggggaagc acccgtgccc tcctcagcag cacccagcat cttcaccact
cattcttcaa 4680ccacccattc acccatcact catcttttac ccacccaccc
tttgccactc atccttctgt 4740ccctcatcct tccaaccatt catcaatcac
ccacccatcc atcctttgcc acacaaccat 4800ccacccattc ttctacctac
ccatcctatc catccatcct tctatcagca tccttctacc 4860acccatcctt
cgttcggtca tccatcatca tccatccatc 49008136PRTHomo sapiens 8Met Arg
Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Cys Gly Ser Val Ala Thr 1 5 10 15
Pro Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala Ser 20
25 30 Pro Gly Phe Pro Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Asp Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp
Thr 35 40 45 Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe
Thr His Phe 50 55 60 Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr Asp
Phe Val Lys Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu
Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr Asp 85 90 95 Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys
Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser 100 105 110 Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe
Arg Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr 115 120 125 Gly Phe Glu
Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala 130 135 9181PRTHomo sapiens 9Met Arg Leu Leu
Thr Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Cys Gly Ser Val Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Pro Leu
Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala Ser 20 25 30
Pro Gly Phe Pro Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Asp Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp Thr 35
40 45 Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His
Phe 50 55 60 Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val
Lys Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly
Gln Glu Ser Thr Asp 85 90 95 Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys Asp Thr
Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser 100 105 110 Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg Ser
Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr 115 120 125 Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe
Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Val 130 135 140 Ala Pro Gly
Glu Ala Pro Thr Cys Asp His His Cys His Asn His Leu 145 150 155 160
Gly Gly Phe Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala Gly Tyr Val Leu His Arg Asn 165
170 175 Lys Arg Thr Cys Ser 180 10293PRTHomo sapiens 10Met Arg Leu
Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Leu Leu Cys Gly Ser Val Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Pro
Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Ala Ser 20 25
30 Pro Gly Phe Pro Gly Glu Tyr Ala Asn Asp Gln Glu Arg Arg Trp Thr
35 40 45 Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr
His Phe 50 55 60 Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe
Val Lys Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys
Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr Asp 85 90 95 Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Lys Asp
Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Ser Ser 100 105 110 Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg
Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr 115 120 125 Gly Phe Glu Ala
Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Val 130 135 140 Ala Pro
Gly Glu Ala Pro Thr Cys Asp His His Cys His Asn His Leu 145 150 155
160 Gly Gly Phe Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala Gly Tyr Val Leu His Arg Asn
165 170 175 Lys Arg Thr Cys Ser Ala Leu Cys Ser Gly Gln Val Phe Thr
Gln Arg
180 185 190 Ser Gly Glu Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr Pro Arg Pro Tyr Pro
Lys Leu 195 200 205 Ser Ser Cys Thr Tyr Ser Ile Ser Leu Glu Glu Gly
Phe Ser Val Ile 210 215 220 Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe Asp Val Glu
Thr His Pro Glu Thr Leu 225 230 235 240 Cys Pro Tyr Asp Phe Leu Lys
Ile Gln Thr Asp Arg Glu Glu His Gly 245 250 255 Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys
Thr Leu Pro His Arg Ile Glu Thr Lys Ser Asn 260 265 270 Thr Val Thr
Ile Thr Phe Val Thr Asp Glu Ser Gly Asp His Thr Gly 275 280 285 Trp
Lys Ile His Tyr 290 1141PRTHomo sapiens 11Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys
Gln Val Ala Pro Gly Glu Ala Pro Thr Cys 1 5 10 15 Asp His His Cys
His Asn His Leu Gly Gly Phe Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg 20 25 30 Ala Gly
Tyr Val Leu His Arg Asn Lys 35 40 12242PRTHomo sapiens 12Ile Tyr
Gly Gly Gln Lys Ala Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp Gln Val 1 5 10 15
Leu Ile Leu Gly Gly Thr Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Leu Tyr Asp Asn 20
25 30 Trp Val Leu Thr Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Glu Gln Lys His Asp
Ala 35 40 45 Ser Ala Leu Asp Ile Arg Met Gly Thr Leu Lys Arg Leu
Ser Pro His 50 55 60 Tyr Thr Gln Ala Trp Ser Glu Ala Val Phe Ile
His Glu Gly Tyr Thr 65 70 75 80 His Asp Ala Gly Phe Asp Asn Asp Ile
Ala Leu Ile Lys Leu Asn Asn 85 90 95 Lys Val Val Ile Asn Ser Asn
Ile Thr Pro Ile Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys 100 105 110 Glu Ala Glu Ser Phe
Met Arg Thr Asp Asp Ile Gly Thr Ala Ser Gly 115 120 125 Trp Gly Leu
Thr Gln Arg Gly Phe Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Tyr Val 130 135 140 Asp
Ile Pro Ile Val Asp His Gln Lys Cys Thr Ala Ala Tyr Glu Lys 145 150
155 160 Pro Pro Tyr Pro Arg Gly Ser Val Thr Ala Asn Met Leu Cys Ala
Gly 165 170 175 Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp Ser
Gly Gly Ala 180 185 190 Leu Val Phe Leu Asp Ser Glu Thr Glu Arg Trp
Phe Val Gly Gly Ile 195 200 205 Val Ser Trp Gly Ser Met Asn Cys Gly
Glu Ala Gly Gln Tyr Gly Val 210 215 220 Tyr Thr Lys Val Ile Asn Tyr
Ile Pro Trp Ile Glu Asn Ile Ile Ser 225 230 235 240 Asp Phe
1316PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 13Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly
Asp Ala Gly Gly Ala Leu Val Phe Leu 1 5 10 15 1415PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 14Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe
Gly Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 1543PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 15Thr Ala
Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His Phe Asp 1 5 10 15
Leu Glu Leu Ser His Leu Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys Leu Ser Ser 20
25 30 Gly Ala Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln 35 40
168PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 16Thr Phe Arg Ser Asp Tyr Ser
Asn 1 5 1725PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 17Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly
Ser Ser Leu Asp Ile Thr Phe Arg Ser Asp Tyr 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Glu
Lys Pro Phe Thr Gly Phe 20 25 189PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
18Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Val Ala Pro Gly 1 5 1925PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 19Ala Asn Met Leu Cys Ala Gly Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly
Lys Asp Ser Cys 1 5 10 15 Arg Gly Asp Ser Gly Gly Ala Leu Val 20 25
20960DNAHomo sapiensCDS(51)..(797) 20attaactgag attaaccttc
cctgagtttt ctcacaccaa ggtgaggacc atg tcc 56 Met Ser 1 ctg ttt cca
tca ctc cct ctc ctt ctc ctg agt atg gtg gca gcg tct 104Leu Phe Pro
Ser Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Met Val Ala Ala Ser 5 10 15 tac tca
gaa act gtg acc tgt gag gat gcc caa aag acc tgc cct gca 152Tyr Ser
Glu Thr Val Thr Cys Glu Asp Ala Gln Lys Thr Cys Pro Ala 20 25 30
gtg att gcc tgt agc tct cca ggc atc aac ggc ttc cca ggc aaa gat
200Val Ile Ala Cys Ser Ser Pro Gly Ile Asn Gly Phe Pro Gly Lys Asp
35 40 45 50 ggg cgt gat ggc acc aag gga gaa aag ggg gaa cca ggc caa
ggg ctc 248Gly Arg Asp Gly Thr Lys Gly Glu Lys Gly Glu Pro Gly Gln
Gly Leu 55 60 65 aga ggc tta cag ggc ccc cct gga aag ttg ggg cct
cca gga aat cca 296Arg Gly Leu Gln Gly Pro Pro Gly Lys Leu Gly Pro
Pro Gly Asn Pro 70 75 80 ggg cct tct ggg tca cca gga cca aag ggc
caa aaa gga gac cct gga 344Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Pro Gly Pro Lys Gly
Gln Lys Gly Asp Pro Gly 85 90 95 aaa agt ccg gat ggt gat agt agc
ctg gct gcc tca gaa aga aaa gct 392Lys Ser Pro Asp Gly Asp Ser Ser
Leu Ala Ala Ser Glu Arg Lys Ala 100 105 110 ctg caa aca gaa atg gca
cgt atc aaa aag tgg ctc acc ttc tct ctg 440Leu Gln Thr Glu Met Ala
Arg Ile Lys Lys Trp Leu Thr Phe Ser Leu 115 120 125 130 ggc aaa caa
gtt ggg aac aag ttc ttc ctg acc aat ggt gaa ata atg 488Gly Lys Gln
Val Gly Asn Lys Phe Phe Leu Thr Asn Gly Glu Ile Met 135 140 145 acc
ttt gaa aaa gtg aag gcc ttg tgt gtc aag ttc cag gcc tct gtg 536Thr
Phe Glu Lys Val Lys Ala Leu Cys Val Lys Phe Gln Ala Ser Val 150 155
160 gcc acc ccc agg aat gct gca gag aat gga gcc att cag aat ctc atc
584Ala Thr Pro Arg Asn Ala Ala Glu Asn Gly Ala Ile Gln Asn Leu Ile
165 170 175 aag gag gaa gcc ttc ctg ggc atc act gat gag aag aca gaa
ggg cag 632Lys Glu Glu Ala Phe Leu Gly Ile Thr Asp Glu Lys Thr Glu
Gly Gln 180 185 190 ttt gtg gat ctg aca gga aat aga ctg acc tac aca
aac tgg aac gag 680Phe Val Asp Leu Thr Gly Asn Arg Leu Thr Tyr Thr
Asn Trp Asn Glu 195 200 205 210 ggt gaa ccc aac aat gct ggt tct gat
gaa gat tgt gta ttg cta ctg 728Gly Glu Pro Asn Asn Ala Gly Ser Asp
Glu Asp Cys Val Leu Leu Leu 215 220 225 aaa aat ggc cag tgg aat gac
gtc ccc tgc tcc acc tcc cat ctg gcc 776Lys Asn Gly Gln Trp Asn Asp
Val Pro Cys Ser Thr Ser His Leu Ala 230 235 240 gtc tgt gag ttc cct
atc tga agggtcatat cactcaggcc ctccttgtct 827Val Cys Glu Phe Pro Ile
245 ttttactgca acccacaggc ccacagtatg cttgaaaaga taaattatat
caatttcctc 887atatccagta ttgttccttt tgtgggcaat cactaaaaat
gatcactaac agcaccaaca 947aagcaataat agt 96021248PRTHomo sapiens
21Met Ser Leu Phe Pro Ser Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Met Val Ala 1
5 10 15 Ala Ser Tyr Ser Glu Thr Val Thr Cys Glu Asp Ala Gln Lys Thr
Cys 20 25 30 Pro Ala Val Ile Ala Cys Ser Ser Pro Gly Ile Asn Gly
Phe Pro Gly 35 40 45 Lys Asp Gly Arg Asp Gly Thr Lys Gly Glu Lys
Gly Glu Pro Gly Gln 50 55 60 Gly Leu Arg Gly Leu Gln Gly Pro Pro
Gly Lys Leu Gly Pro Pro Gly 65 70 75 80 Asn Pro Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser
Pro Gly Pro Lys Gly Gln Lys Gly Asp 85 90 95 Pro Gly Lys Ser Pro
Asp Gly Asp Ser Ser Leu Ala Ala Ser Glu Arg 100 105 110 Lys Ala Leu
Gln Thr Glu Met Ala Arg Ile Lys Lys Trp Leu Thr Phe 115 120 125 Ser
Leu Gly Lys Gln Val Gly Asn Lys Phe Phe Leu Thr Asn Gly Glu 130 135
140 Ile Met Thr Phe Glu Lys Val Lys Ala Leu Cys Val Lys Phe Gln Ala
145 150 155 160 Ser Val Ala Thr Pro Arg Asn Ala Ala Glu Asn Gly Ala
Ile Gln Asn 165 170 175 Leu Ile Lys Glu Glu Ala Phe Leu Gly Ile Thr
Asp Glu Lys Thr Glu 180 185 190 Gly Gln Phe Val Asp Leu Thr Gly Asn
Arg Leu Thr Tyr Thr Asn Trp 195 200 205 Asn Glu Gly Glu Pro Asn Asn
Ala Gly Ser Asp Glu Asp Cys Val Leu 210 215 220 Leu Leu Lys Asn Gly
Gln Trp Asn Asp Val Pro Cys Ser Thr Ser His 225 230 235 240 Leu Ala
Val Cys Glu Phe Pro Ile 245 226PRTArtificial
SequenceSyntheticMISC_FEATURE(1)..(1)Wherein X at position 1
represents hydroxyprolineMISC_FEATURE(4)..(4)Wherein X at position
4 represents hydrophobic residue 22Xaa Gly Lys Xaa Gly Pro 1 5
235PRTArtificial SequenceSyntheticMISC_FEATURE(1)..(1)Wherein X
represents hydroxyproline 23Xaa Gly Lys Leu Gly 1 5
2416PRTArtificial SequenceSyntheticMISC_FEATURE(9)..(15)Wherein X
at positions 9 and 15 represents hydroxyproline 24Gly Leu Arg Gly
Leu Gln Gly Pro Xaa Gly Lys Leu Gly Pro Xaa Gly 1 5 10 15
2527PRTArtificial SequenceSyntheticMISC_FEATURE(3)..(27)Wherein X
at positions 3, 6, 15, 21, 24, 27 represents hydroxyproline 25Gly
Pro Xaa Gly Pro Xaa Gly Leu Arg Gly Leu Gln Gly Pro Xaa Gly 1 5 10
15 Lys Leu Gly Pro Xaa Gly Pro Xaa Gly Pro Xaa 20 25
2653PRTArtificial SequenceSyntheticmisc_feature(26)..(26)Xaa can be
any naturally occurring amino acidmisc_feature(32)..(32)Xaa can be
any naturally occurring amino acidmisc_feature(35)..(35)Xaa can be
any naturally occurring amino acidmisc_feature(41)..(41)Xaa can be
any naturally occurring amino acidmisc_feature(50)..(50)Xaa can be
any naturally occurring amino acid 26Gly Lys Asp Gly Arg Asp Gly
Thr Lys Gly Glu Lys Gly Glu Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 Gln Gly Leu Arg Gly
Leu Gln Gly Pro Xaa Gly Lys Leu Gly Pro Xaa 20 25 30 Gly Asn Xaa
Gly Pro Ser Gly Ser Xaa Gly Pro Lys Gly Gln Lys Gly 35 40 45 Asp
Xaa Gly Lys Ser 50 2733PRTArtificial
SequenceSyntheticMISC_FEATURE(3)..(33)Wherein X at positions 3, 6,
12, 18, 21, 30, 33 represents hydroxyproline 27Gly Ala Xaa Gly Ser
Xaa Gly Glu Lys Gly Ala Xaa Gly Pro Gln Gly 1 5 10 15 Pro Xaa Gly
Pro Xaa Gly Lys Met Gly Pro Lys Gly Glu Xaa Gly Asp 20 25 30 Xaa
2845PRTArtificial SequenceSyntheticMISC_FEATURE(3)..(45)Wherein X
at positions 3, 6, 9, 27, 30, 36, 42, 45 represents hydroxyproline
28Gly Cys Xaa Gly Leu Xaa Gly Ala Xaa Gly Asp Lys Gly Glu Ala Gly 1
5 10 15 Thr Asn Gly Lys Arg Gly Glu Arg Gly Pro Xaa Gly Pro Xaa Gly
Lys 20 25 30 Ala Gly Pro Xaa Gly Pro Asn Gly Ala Xaa Gly Glu Xaa 35
40 45 2924PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 29Leu Gln Arg Ala Leu Glu
Ile Leu Pro Asn Arg Val Thr Ile Lys Ala 1 5 10 15 Asn Arg Pro Phe
Leu Val Phe Ile 20 30559DNAHomo sapiens 30atgaggctgc tgaccctcct
gggccttctg tgtggctcgg tggccacccc cttgggcccg 60aagtggcctg aacctgtgtt
cgggcgcctg gcatcccccg gctttccagg ggagtatgcc 120aatgaccagg
agcggcgctg gaccctgact gcaccccccg gctaccgcct gcgcctctac
180ttcacccact tcgacctgga gctctcccac ctctgcgagt acgacttcgt
caagctgagc 240tcgggggcca aggtgctggc cacgctgtgc gggcaggaga
gcacagacac ggagcgggcc 300cctggcaagg acactttcta ctcgctgggc
tccagcctgg acattacctt ccgctccgac 360tactccaacg agaagccgtt
cacggggttc gaggccttct atgcagccga ggacattgac 420gagtgccagg
tggccccggg agaggcgccc acctgcgacc accactgcca caaccacctg
480ggcggtttct actgctcctg ccgcgcaggc tacgtcctgc accgtaacaa
gcgcacctgc 540tcagccctgt gctccggcc 5593134DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 31cgggcacacc atgaggctgc tgaccctcct gggc
343233DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 32gacattacct tccgctccga
ctccaacgag aag 333333DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 33agcagccctg
aatacccacg gccgtatccc aaa 333426DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
34cgggatccat gaggctgctg accctc 263519DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 35ggaattccta ggctgcata 193619DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 36ggaattccta cagggcgct 193719DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 37ggaattccta gtagtggat 193825DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 38tgcggccgct gtaggtgctg tcttt 253923DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 39ggaattcact cgttattctc gga 234017DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 40tccgagaata acgagtg 174129DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 41cattgaaagc tttggggtag aagttgttc
294227DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 42cgcggccgca gctgctcaga
gtgtaga 274328DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 43cggtaagctt
cactggctca gggaaata 284437DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
44aagaagcttg ccgccaccat ggattggctg tggaact 374531DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 45cgggatcctc aaactttctt gtccaccttg g
314636DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 46aagaaagctt gccgccacca
tgttctcact agctct 364726DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
47cgggatcctt ctccctctaa cactct 26489PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic
48Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr His 1 5 494960DNAHomo Sapiens
49ccggacgtgg tggcgcatgc ctgtaatccc agctactcgg gaggctgagg caggagaatt
60gctcgaaccc cggaggcaga ggtttggtgg ctcacacctg taatcccagc actttgcgag
120gctgaggcag gtgcatcgct ttggctcagg agttcaagac cagcctgggc
aacacaggga 180gacccccatc tctacaaaaa acaaaaacaa atataaaggg
gataaaaaaa aaaaaaagac 240aagacatgaa tccatgagga cagagtgtgg
aagaggaagc agcagcctca aagttctgga 300agctggaaga acagataaac
aggtgtgaaa taactgcctg gaaagcaact tctttttttt 360tttttttttt
tttgaggtgg agtctcactc tgtcgtccag gctggagtgc agtggtgcga
420tctcggatca ctgcaacctc cgcctcccag gctcaagcaa ttctcctgcc
tcagcctccc 480gagtagctgg gattataagt gcgcgctgcc acacctggat
gatttttgta tttttagtag 540agatgggatt tcaccatgtt ggtcaggctg
gtctcaaact cccaacctcg tgatccaccc 600accttggcct cccaaagtgc
tgggattaca ggtataagcc accgagccca gccaaaagcg 660acttctaagc
ctgcaaggga atcgggaatt ggtggcacca ggtccttctg acagggttta
720agaaattagc cagcctgagg ctgggcacgg tggctcacac ctgtaatccc
agcactttgg 780gaggctaagg caggtggatc acctgagggc aggagttcaa
gaccagcctg accaacatgg 840agaaacccca tccctaccaa aaataaaaaa
ttagccaggt gtggtggtgc tcgcctgtaa 900tcccagctac ttgggaggct
gaggtgggag gattgcttga acacaggaag tagaggctgc 960agtgagctat
gattgcagca ctgcactgaa gccggggcaa cagaacaaga tccaaaaaaa
1020agggaggggt gaggggcaga gccaggattt gtttccaggc tgttgttacc
taggtccgac 1080tcctggctcc cagagcagcc tgtcctgcct gcctggaact
ctgagcaggc tggagtcatg 1140gagtcgattc ccagaatccc agagtcaggg
aggctggggg caggggcagg tcactggaca 1200aacagatcaa aggtgagacc
agcgtagggc tgcagaccag gccaggccag ctggacgggc 1260acaccatgag
gtaggtgggc gcccacagcc tccctgcagg gtgtggggtg ggagcacagg
1320cctgggccct caccgcccct gccctgccca taggctgctg accctcctgg
gccttctgtg 1380tggctcggtg gccaccccct tgggcccgaa gtggcctgaa
cctgtgttcg ggcgcctggc 1440atcccccggc tttccagggg agtatgccaa
tgaccaggag cggcgctgga ccctgactgc 1500accccccggc taccgcctgc
gcctctactt cacccacttc gacctggagc tctcccacct
1560ctgcgagtac gacttcgtca aggtgccgtc aggacgggag ggctggggtt
tctcagggtc 1620ggggggtccc caaggagtag ccagggttca gggacacctg
ggagcagggg ccaggcttgg 1680ccaggaggga gatcaggcct gggtcttgcc
ttcactccct gtgacacctg accccacagc 1740tgagctcggg ggccaaggtg
ctggccacgc tgtgcgggca ggagagcaca gacacggagc 1800gggcccctgg
caaggacact ttctactcgc tgggctccag cctggacatt accttccgct
1860ccgactactc caacgagaag ccgttcacgg ggttcgaggc cttctatgca
gccgagggtg 1920agccaagagg ggtcctgcaa catctcagtc tgcgcagctg
gctgtggggg taactctgtc 1980ttaggccagg cagccctgcc ttcagtttcc
ccacctttcc cagggcaggg gagaggcctc 2040tggcctgaca tcatccacaa
tgcaaagacc aaaacagccg tgacctccat tcacatgggc 2100tgagtgccaa
ctctgagcca gggatctgag gacagcatcg cctcaagtga cgcagggact
2160ggccgggcgc agcagctcac gcctgtaatt ccagcacttt gggaggccga
ggctggctga 2220tcatttgagg tcaggagttc aaggccagcc agggcaacac
ggtgaaactc tatctccact 2280aaaactacaa aaattagctg ggcgtggtgg
tgcgcacctg gaatcccagc tactagggag 2340gctgaggcag gagaattgct
tgaacctgcg aggtggaggc tgcagtgaac agagattgca 2400ccactacact
ccagcctggg cgacagagct agactccgtc tcaaaaaaca aaaaacaaaa
2460acgacgcagg ggccgagggc cccatttaca gctgacaaag tggggccctg
ccagcgggag 2520cgctgccagg atgtttgatt tcagatccca gtccctgcag
agaccaactg tgtgacctct 2580ggcaagtggc tcaatttctc tgctccttag
gaagctgctg caagggttca gcgctgtagc 2640cccgccccct gggtttgatt
gactcccctc attagctggg tgacctcggg ccggacactg 2700aaactcccac
tggtttaaca gaggtgatgt ttgcatcttt ctcccagcgc tgctgggagc
2760ttgcagcgac cctaggcctg taaggtgatt ggcccggcac cagtcccgca
ccctagacag 2820gacgaggcct cctctgaggt ccactctgag gtcatggatc
tcctgggagg agtccaggct 2880ggatcccgcc tctttccctc ctgacggcct
gcctggccct gcctctcccc cagacattga 2940cgagtgccag gtggccccgg
gagaggcgcc cacctgcgac caccactgcc acaaccacct 3000gggcggtttc
tactgctcct gccgcgcagg ctacgtcctg caccgtaaca agcgcacctg
3060ctcagccctg tgctccggcc aggtcttcac ccagaggtct ggggagctca
gcagccctga 3120atacccacgg ccgtatccca aactctccag ttgcacttac
agcatcagcc tggaggaggg 3180gttcagtgtc attctggact ttgtggagtc
cttcgatgtg gagacacacc ctgaaaccct 3240gtgtccctac gactttctca
agattcaaac agacagagaa gaacatggcc cattctgtgg 3300gaagacattg
ccccacagga ttgaaacaaa aagcaacacg gtgaccatca cctttgtcac
3360agatgaatca ggagaccaca caggctggaa gatccactac acgagcacag
cgcacgcttg 3420cccttatccg atggcgccac ctaatggcca cgtttcacct
gtgcaagcca aatacatcct 3480gaaagacagc ttctccatct tttgcgagac
tggctatgag cttctgcaag gtcacttgcc 3540cctgaaatcc tttactgcag
tttgtcagaa agatggatct tgggaccggc caatgcccgc 3600gtgcagcatt
gttgactgtg gccctcctga tgatctaccc agtggccgag tggagtacat
3660cacaggtcct ggagtgacca cctacaaagc tgtgattcag tacagctgtg
aagagacctt 3720ctacacaatg aaagtgaatg atggtaaata tgtgtgtgag
gctgatggat tctggacgag 3780ctccaaagga gaaaaatcac tcccagtctg
tgagcctgtt tgtggactat cagcccgcac 3840aacaggaggg cgtatatatg
gagggcaaaa ggcaaaacct ggtgattttc cttggcaagt 3900cctgatatta
ggtggaacca cagcagcagg tgcactttta tatgacaact gggtcctaac
3960agctgctcat gccgtctatg agcaaaaaca tgatgcatcc gccctggaca
ttcgaatggg 4020caccctgaaa agactatcac ctcattatac acaagcctgg
tctgaagctg tttttataca 4080tgaaggttat actcatgatg ctggctttga
caatgacata gcactgatta aattgaataa 4140caaagttgta atcaatagca
acatcacgcc tatttgtctg ccaagaaaag aagctgaatc 4200ctttatgagg
acagatgaca ttggaactgc atctggatgg ggattaaccc aaaggggttt
4260tcttgctaga aatctaatgt atgtcgacat accgattgtt gaccatcaaa
aatgtactgc 4320tgcatatgaa aagccaccct atccaagggg aagtgtaact
gctaacatgc tttgtgctgg 4380cttagaaagt gggggcaagg acagctgcag
aggtgacagc ggaggggcac tggtgtttct 4440agatagtgaa acagagaggt
ggtttgtggg aggaatagtg tcctggggtt ccatgaattg 4500tggggaagca
ggtcagtatg gagtctacac aaaagttatt aactatattc cctggatcga
4560gaacataatt agtgattttt aacttgcgtg tctgcagtca aggattcttc
atttttagaa 4620atgcctgtga agaccttggc agcgacgtgg ctcgagaagc
attcatcatt actgtggaca 4680tggcagttgt tgctccaccc aaaaaaacag
actccaggtg aggctgctgt catttctcca 4740cttgccagtt taattccagc
cttacccatt gactcaaggg gacataaacc acgagagtga 4800cagtcatctt
tgcccaccca gtgtaatgtc actgctcaaa ttacatttca ttaccttaaa
4860aagccagtct cttttcatac tggctgttgg catttctgta aactgcctgt
ccatgctctt 4920tgtttttaaa cttgttctta ttgaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa
4960502090DNAMus musculusCDS(33)..(2090) 50ggcgctggac tgcagagcta
tggtggcaca cc atg agg cta ctc atc ttc ctg 53 Met Arg Leu Leu Ile
Phe Leu 1 5 ggt ctg ctg tgg agt ttg gtg gcc aca ctt ctg ggt tca aag
tgg cct 101Gly Leu Leu Trp Ser Leu Val Ala Thr Leu Leu Gly Ser Lys
Trp Pro 10 15 20 gaa cct gta ttc ggg cgc ctg gtg tcc cct ggc ttc
cca gag aag tat 149Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Val Ser Pro Gly Phe
Pro Glu Lys Tyr 25 30 35 gct gac cat caa gat cga tcc tgg aca ctg
act gca ccc cct ggc tac 197Ala Asp His Gln Asp Arg Ser Trp Thr Leu
Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr 40 45 50 55 cgc ctg cgc ctc tac ttc acc cac
ttt gac ctg gaa ctc tct tac cgc 245Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His
Phe Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser Tyr Arg 60 65 70 tgc gag tat gac ttt gtc
aag ttg agc tca ggg acc aag gtg ctg gcc 293Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val
Lys Leu Ser Ser Gly Thr Lys Val Leu Ala 75 80 85 aca ctg tgt ggg
cag gag agt aca gac act gag cag gca cct ggc aat 341Thr Leu Cys Gly
Gln Glu Ser Thr Asp Thr Glu Gln Ala Pro Gly Asn 90 95 100 gac acc
ttc tac tca ctg ggt ccc agc cta aag gtc acc ttc cac tcc 389Asp Thr
Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Pro Ser Leu Lys Val Thr Phe His Ser 105 110 115
gac tac tcc aat gag aag ccg ttc aca ggg ttt gag gcc ttc tat gca
437Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala
120 125 130 135 gcg gag gat gtg gat gaa tgc aga gtg tct ctg gga gac
tca gtc cct 485Ala Glu Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Arg Val Ser Leu Gly Asp
Ser Val Pro 140 145 150 tgt gac cat tat tgc cac aac tac ttg ggc ggc
tac tat tgc tcc tgc 533Cys Asp His Tyr Cys His Asn Tyr Leu Gly Gly
Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Cys 155 160 165 aga gcg ggc tac att ctc cac cag aac
aag cac acg tgc tca gcc ctt 581Arg Ala Gly Tyr Ile Leu His Gln Asn
Lys His Thr Cys Ser Ala Leu 170 175 180 tgt tca ggc cag gtg ttc aca
gga aga tct ggg tat ctc agt agc cct 629Cys Ser Gly Gln Val Phe Thr
Gly Arg Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ser Ser Pro 185 190 195 gag tac ccg cag cca
tac ccc aag ctc tcc agc tgc acc tac agc atc 677Glu Tyr Pro Gln Pro
Tyr Pro Lys Leu Ser Ser Cys Thr Tyr Ser Ile 200 205 210 215 cgc ctg
gag gac ggc ttc agt gtc atc ctg gac ttc gtg gag tcc ttc 725Arg Leu
Glu Asp Gly Phe Ser Val Ile Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe 220 225 230
gat gtg gag acg cac cct gaa gcc cag tgc ccc tat gac tcc ctc aag
773Asp Val Glu Thr His Pro Glu Ala Gln Cys Pro Tyr Asp Ser Leu Lys
235 240 245 att caa aca gac aag ggg gaa cac ggc cca ttt tgt ggg aag
acg ctg 821Ile Gln Thr Asp Lys Gly Glu His Gly Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys
Thr Leu 250 255 260 cct ccc agg att gaa act gac agc cac aag gtg acc
atc acc ttt gcc 869Pro Pro Arg Ile Glu Thr Asp Ser His Lys Val Thr
Ile Thr Phe Ala 265 270 275 act gac gag tcg ggg aac cac aca ggc tgg
aag ata cac tac aca agc 917Thr Asp Glu Ser Gly Asn His Thr Gly Trp
Lys Ile His Tyr Thr Ser 280 285 290 295 aca gca cgg ccc tgc cct gat
cca acg gcg cca cct aat ggc agc att 965Thr Ala Arg Pro Cys Pro Asp
Pro Thr Ala Pro Pro Asn Gly Ser Ile 300 305 310 tca cct gtg caa gcc
acg tat gtc ctg aag gac agg ttt tct gtc ttc 1013Ser Pro Val Gln Ala
Thr Tyr Val Leu Lys Asp Arg Phe Ser Val Phe 315 320 325 tgc aag aca
ggc ttc gag ctt ctg caa ggt tct gtc ccc ctg aaa tca 1061Cys Lys Thr
Gly Phe Glu Leu Leu Gln Gly Ser Val Pro Leu Lys Ser 330 335 340 ttc
act gct gtc tgt cag aaa gat gga tct tgg gac cgg ccg atg cca 1109Phe
Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Lys Asp Gly Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Met Pro 345 350
355 gag tgc agc att att gat tgt ggc cct ccc gat gac cta ccc aat ggc
1157Glu Cys Ser Ile Ile Asp Cys Gly Pro Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Asn Gly
360 365 370 375 cat gtg gac tat atc aca ggc cct caa gtg act acc tac
aaa gct gtg 1205His Val Asp Tyr Ile Thr Gly Pro Gln Val Thr Thr Tyr
Lys Ala Val 380 385 390 att cag tac agc tgt gaa gag act ttc tac aca
atg agc agc aat ggt 1253Ile Gln Tyr Ser Cys Glu Glu Thr Phe Tyr Thr
Met Ser Ser Asn Gly 395 400 405 aaa tat gtg tgt gag gct gat gga ttc
tgg acg agc tcc aaa gga gaa 1301Lys Tyr Val Cys Glu Ala Asp Gly Phe
Trp Thr Ser Ser Lys Gly Glu 410 415 420 aaa ctc ccc ccg gtt tgt gag
cct gtt tgt ggg ctg tcc aca cac act 1349Lys Leu Pro Pro Val Cys Glu
Pro Val Cys Gly Leu Ser Thr His Thr 425 430 435 ata gga gga cgc ata
gtt gga ggg cag cct gca aag cct ggt gac ttt 1397Ile Gly Gly Arg Ile
Val Gly Gly Gln Pro Ala Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe 440 445 450 455 cct tgg
caa gtc ttg ttg ctg ggt caa act aca gca gca gca ggt gca 1445Pro Trp
Gln Val Leu Leu Leu Gly Gln Thr Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala 460 465 470
ctt ata cat gac aat tgg gtc cta aca gcc gct cat gct gta tat gag
1493Leu Ile His Asp Asn Trp Val Leu Thr Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Glu
475 480 485 aaa aga atg gca gcg tcc tcc ctg aac atc cga atg ggc atc
ctc aaa 1541Lys Arg Met Ala Ala Ser Ser Leu Asn Ile Arg Met Gly Ile
Leu Lys 490 495 500 agg ctc tca cct cat tac act caa gcc tgg ccc gag
gaa atc ttt ata 1589Arg Leu Ser Pro His Tyr Thr Gln Ala Trp Pro Glu
Glu Ile Phe Ile 505 510 515 cat gaa ggc tac act cac ggt gct ggt ttt
gac aat gat ata gca ttg 1637His Glu Gly Tyr Thr His Gly Ala Gly Phe
Asp Asn Asp Ile Ala Leu 520 525 530 535 att aaa ctc aag aac aaa gtc
aca atc aac gga agc atc atg cct gtt 1685Ile Lys Leu Lys Asn Lys Val
Thr Ile Asn Gly Ser Ile Met Pro Val 540 545 550 tgc cta ccg cga aaa
gaa gct gca tcc tta atg aga aca gac ttc act 1733Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys
Glu Ala Ala Ser Leu Met Arg Thr Asp Phe Thr 555 560 565 gga act gtg
gct ggc tgg ggg tta acc cag aag ggg ctt ctt gct aga 1781Gly Thr Val
Ala Gly Trp Gly Leu Thr Gln Lys Gly Leu Leu Ala Arg 570 575 580 aac
cta atg ttt gtg gac ata cca att gct gac cac caa aaa tgt acc 1829Asn
Leu Met Phe Val Asp Ile Pro Ile Ala Asp His Gln Lys Cys Thr 585 590
595 acc gtg tat gaa aag ctc tat cca gga gta aga gta agc gct aac atg
1877Thr Val Tyr Glu Lys Leu Tyr Pro Gly Val Arg Val Ser Ala Asn Met
600 605 610 615 ctc tgt gct ggc tta gag act ggt ggc aag gac agc tgc
aga ggt gac 1925Leu Cys Ala Gly Leu Glu Thr Gly Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys
Arg Gly Asp 620 625 630 agt ggg ggg gca tta gtg ttt cta gat aat gag
aca cag cga tgg ttt 1973Ser Gly Gly Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Asp Asn Glu
Thr Gln Arg Trp Phe 635 640 645 gtg gga gga ata gtt tcc tgg ggt tcc
att aat tgt ggg gcg gca ggc 2021Val Gly Gly Ile Val Ser Trp Gly Ser
Ile Asn Cys Gly Ala Ala Gly 650 655 660 cag tat ggg gtc tac aca aaa
gtc atc aac tat att ccc tgg aat gag 2069Gln Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys
Val Ile Asn Tyr Ile Pro Trp Asn Glu 665 670 675 aac ata ata agt aat
ttc taa 2090Asn Ile Ile Ser Asn Phe 680 685 51685PRTMus musculus
51Met Arg Leu Leu Ile Phe Leu Gly Leu Leu Trp Ser Leu Val Ala Thr 1
5 10 15 Leu Leu Gly Ser Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Val
Ser 20 25 30 Pro Gly Phe Pro Glu Lys Tyr Ala Asp His Gln Asp Arg
Ser Trp Thr 35 40 45 Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu
Tyr Phe Thr His Phe 50 55 60 Asp Leu Glu Leu Ser Tyr Arg Cys Glu
Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Thr Lys Val Leu Ala
Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr Asp 85 90 95 Thr Glu Gln Ala Pro
Gly Asn Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Pro Ser 100 105 110 Leu Lys Val
Thr Phe His Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr 115 120 125 Gly
Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Arg Val 130 135
140 Ser Leu Gly Asp Ser Val Pro Cys Asp His Tyr Cys His Asn Tyr Leu
145 150 155 160 Gly Gly Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala Gly Tyr Ile Leu
His Gln Asn 165 170 175 Lys His Thr Cys Ser Ala Leu Cys Ser Gly Gln
Val Phe Thr Gly Arg 180 185 190 Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr
Pro Gln Pro Tyr Pro Lys Leu 195 200 205 Ser Ser Cys Thr Tyr Ser Ile
Arg Leu Glu Asp Gly Phe Ser Val Ile 210 215 220 Leu Asp Phe Val Glu
Ser Phe Asp Val Glu Thr His Pro Glu Ala Gln 225 230 235 240 Cys Pro
Tyr Asp Ser Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Lys Gly Glu His Gly 245 250 255
Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu Pro Pro Arg Ile Glu Thr Asp Ser His 260
265 270 Lys Val Thr Ile Thr Phe Ala Thr Asp Glu Ser Gly Asn His Thr
Gly 275 280 285 Trp Lys Ile His Tyr Thr Ser Thr Ala Arg Pro Cys Pro
Asp Pro Thr 290 295 300 Ala Pro Pro Asn Gly Ser Ile Ser Pro Val Gln
Ala Thr Tyr Val Leu 305 310 315 320 Lys Asp Arg Phe Ser Val Phe Cys
Lys Thr Gly Phe Glu Leu Leu Gln 325 330 335 Gly Ser Val Pro Leu Lys
Ser Phe Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Lys Asp Gly 340 345 350 Ser Trp Asp Arg
Pro Met Pro Glu Cys Ser Ile Ile Asp Cys Gly Pro 355 360 365 Pro Asp
Asp Leu Pro Asn Gly His Val Asp Tyr Ile Thr Gly Pro Gln 370 375 380
Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala Val Ile Gln Tyr Ser Cys Glu Glu Thr Phe 385
390 395 400 Tyr Thr Met Ser Ser Asn Gly Lys Tyr Val Cys Glu Ala Asp
Gly Phe 405 410 415 Trp Thr Ser Ser Lys Gly Glu Lys Leu Pro Pro Val
Cys Glu Pro Val 420 425 430 Cys Gly Leu Ser Thr His Thr Ile Gly Gly
Arg Ile Val Gly Gly Gln 435 440 445 Pro Ala Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro
Trp Gln Val Leu Leu Leu Gly Gln 450 455 460 Thr Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly
Ala Leu Ile His Asp Asn Trp Val Leu Thr 465 470 475 480 Ala Ala His
Ala Val Tyr Glu Lys Arg Met Ala Ala Ser Ser Leu Asn 485 490 495 Ile
Arg Met Gly Ile Leu Lys Arg Leu Ser Pro His Tyr Thr Gln Ala 500 505
510 Trp Pro Glu Glu Ile Phe Ile His Glu Gly Tyr Thr His Gly Ala Gly
515 520 525 Phe Asp Asn Asp Ile Ala Leu Ile Lys Leu Lys Asn Lys Val
Thr Ile 530 535 540 Asn Gly Ser Ile Met Pro Val Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys
Glu Ala Ala Ser 545 550 555 560 Leu Met Arg Thr Asp Phe Thr Gly Thr
Val Ala Gly Trp Gly Leu Thr
565 570 575 Gln Lys Gly Leu Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Phe Val Asp Ile
Pro Ile 580 585 590 Ala Asp His Gln Lys Cys Thr Thr Val Tyr Glu Lys
Leu Tyr Pro Gly 595 600 605 Val Arg Val Ser Ala Asn Met Leu Cys Ala
Gly Leu Glu Thr Gly Gly 610 615 620 Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp Ser
Gly Gly Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Asp 625 630 635 640 Asn Glu Thr Gln Arg
Trp Phe Val Gly Gly Ile Val Ser Trp Gly Ser 645 650 655 Ile Asn Cys
Gly Ala Ala Gly Gln Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys Val Ile 660 665 670 Asn
Tyr Ile Pro Trp Asn Glu Asn Ile Ile Ser Asn Phe 675 680 685
52670PRTMus musculus 52Thr Leu Leu Gly Ser Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val
Phe Gly Arg Leu Val 1 5 10 15 Ser Pro Gly Phe Pro Glu Lys Tyr Ala
Asp His Gln Asp Arg Ser Trp 20 25 30 Thr Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly
Tyr Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His 35 40 45 Phe Asp Leu Glu Leu
Ser Tyr Arg Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys Leu 50 55 60 Ser Ser Gly
Thr Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr 65 70 75 80 Asp
Thr Glu Gln Ala Pro Gly Asn Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Pro 85 90
95 Ser Leu Lys Val Thr Phe His Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe
100 105 110 Thr Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Val Asp Glu
Cys Arg 115 120 125 Val Ser Leu Gly Asp Ser Val Pro Cys Asp His Tyr
Cys His Asn Tyr 130 135 140 Leu Gly Gly Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Ala
Gly Tyr Ile Leu His Gln 145 150 155 160 Asn Lys His Thr Cys Ser Ala
Leu Cys Ser Gly Gln Val Phe Thr Gly 165 170 175 Arg Ser Gly Tyr Leu
Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr Pro Gln Pro Tyr Pro Lys 180 185 190 Leu Ser Ser
Cys Thr Tyr Ser Ile Arg Leu Glu Asp Gly Phe Ser Val 195 200 205 Ile
Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe Asp Val Glu Thr His Pro Glu Ala 210 215
220 Gln Cys Pro Tyr Asp Ser Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Lys Gly Glu His
225 230 235 240 Gly Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu Pro Pro Arg Ile Glu
Thr Asp Ser 245 250 255 His Lys Val Thr Ile Thr Phe Ala Thr Asp Glu
Ser Gly Asn His Thr 260 265 270 Gly Trp Lys Ile His Tyr Thr Ser Thr
Ala Arg Pro Cys Pro Asp Pro 275 280 285 Thr Ala Pro Pro Asn Gly Ser
Ile Ser Pro Val Gln Ala Thr Tyr Val 290 295 300 Leu Lys Asp Arg Phe
Ser Val Phe Cys Lys Thr Gly Phe Glu Leu Leu 305 310 315 320 Gln Gly
Ser Val Pro Leu Lys Ser Phe Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Lys Asp 325 330 335
Gly Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Met Pro Glu Cys Ser Ile Ile Asp Cys Gly 340
345 350 Pro Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Asn Gly His Val Asp Tyr Ile Thr Gly
Pro 355 360 365 Gln Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala Val Ile Gln Tyr Ser Cys
Glu Glu Thr 370 375 380 Phe Tyr Thr Met Ser Ser Asn Gly Lys Tyr Val
Cys Glu Ala Asp Gly 385 390 395 400 Phe Trp Thr Ser Ser Lys Gly Glu
Lys Leu Pro Pro Val Cys Glu Pro 405 410 415 Val Cys Gly Leu Ser Thr
His Thr Ile Gly Gly Arg Ile Val Gly Gly 420 425 430 Gln Pro Ala Lys
Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp Gln Val Leu Leu Leu Gly 435 440 445 Gln Thr
Thr Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Ile His Asp Asn Trp Val Leu 450 455 460
Thr Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Glu Lys Arg Met Ala Ala Ser Ser Leu 465
470 475 480 Asn Ile Arg Met Gly Ile Leu Lys Arg Leu Ser Pro His Tyr
Thr Gln 485 490 495 Ala Trp Pro Glu Glu Ile Phe Ile His Glu Gly Tyr
Thr His Gly Ala 500 505 510 Gly Phe Asp Asn Asp Ile Ala Leu Ile Lys
Leu Lys Asn Lys Val Thr 515 520 525 Ile Asn Gly Ser Ile Met Pro Val
Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys Glu Ala Ala 530 535 540 Ser Leu Met Arg Thr Asp
Phe Thr Gly Thr Val Ala Gly Trp Gly Leu 545 550 555 560 Thr Gln Lys
Gly Leu Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Phe Val Asp Ile Pro 565 570 575 Ile
Ala Asp His Gln Lys Cys Thr Thr Val Tyr Glu Lys Leu Tyr Pro 580 585
590 Gly Val Arg Val Ser Ala Asn Met Leu Cys Ala Gly Leu Glu Thr Gly
595 600 605 Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp Ser Gly Gly Ala Leu Val
Phe Leu 610 615 620 Asp Asn Glu Thr Gln Arg Trp Phe Val Gly Gly Ile
Val Ser Trp Gly 625 630 635 640 Ser Ile Asn Cys Gly Ala Ala Gly Gln
Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys Val 645 650 655 Ile Asn Tyr Ile Pro Trp Asn
Glu Asn Ile Ile Ser Asn Phe 660 665 670 532091DNARattus
norvegicusCDS(10)..(2067) 53tggcacaca atg agg cta ctg atc gtc ctg
ggt ctg ctt tgg agt ttg gtg 51 Met Arg Leu Leu Ile Val Leu Gly Leu
Leu Trp Ser Leu Val 1 5 10 gcc aca ctt ttg ggc tcc aag tgg cct gag
cct gta ttc ggg cgc ctg 99Ala Thr Leu Leu Gly Ser Lys Trp Pro Glu
Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu 15 20 25 30 gtg tcc ctg gcc ttc cca gag aag
tat ggc aac cat cag gat cga tcc 147Val Ser Leu Ala Phe Pro Glu Lys
Tyr Gly Asn His Gln Asp Arg Ser 35 40 45 tgg acg ctg act gca ccc
cct ggc ttc cgc ctg cgc ctc tac ttc acc 195Trp Thr Leu Thr Ala Pro
Pro Gly Phe Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr 50 55 60 cac ttc aac ctg
gaa ctc tct tac cgc tgc gag tat gac ttt gtc aag 243His Phe Asn Leu
Glu Leu Ser Tyr Arg Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys 65 70 75 ttg acc
tca ggg acc aag gtg cta gcc acg ctg tgt ggg cag gag agt 291Leu Thr
Ser Gly Thr Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser 80 85 90
aca gat act gag cgg gca cct ggc aat gac acc ttc tac tca ctg ggt
339Thr Asp Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Asn Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly
95 100 105 110 ccc agc cta aag gtc acc ttc cac tcc gac tac tcc aat
gag aag cca 387Pro Ser Leu Lys Val Thr Phe His Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn
Glu Lys Pro 115 120 125 ttc aca gga ttt gag gcc ttc tat gca gcg gag
gat gtg gat gaa tgc 435Phe Thr Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu
Asp Val Asp Glu Cys 130 135 140 aga aca tcc ctg gga gac tca gtc cct
tgt gac cat tat tgc cac aac 483Arg Thr Ser Leu Gly Asp Ser Val Pro
Cys Asp His Tyr Cys His Asn 145 150 155 tac ctg ggc ggc tac tac tgc
tcc tgc cga gtg ggc tac att ctg cac 531Tyr Leu Gly Gly Tyr Tyr Cys
Ser Cys Arg Val Gly Tyr Ile Leu His 160 165 170 cag aac aag cat acc
tgc tca gcc ctt tgt tca ggc cag gtg ttc act 579Gln Asn Lys His Thr
Cys Ser Ala Leu Cys Ser Gly Gln Val Phe Thr 175 180 185 190 ggg agg
tct ggc ttt ctc agt agc cct gag tac cca cag cca tac ccc 627Gly Arg
Ser Gly Phe Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr Pro Gln Pro Tyr Pro 195 200 205
aaa ctc tcc agc tgc gcc tac aac atc cgc ctg gag gaa ggc ttc agt
675Lys Leu Ser Ser Cys Ala Tyr Asn Ile Arg Leu Glu Glu Gly Phe Ser
210 215 220 atc acc ctg gac ttc gtg gag tcc ttt gat gtg gag atg cac
cct gaa 723Ile Thr Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe Asp Val Glu Met His
Pro Glu 225 230 235 gcc cag tgc ccc tac gac tcc ctc aag att caa aca
gac aag agg gaa 771Ala Gln Cys Pro Tyr Asp Ser Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr
Asp Lys Arg Glu 240 245 250 tac ggc ccg ttt tgt ggg aag acg ctg ccc
ccc agg att gaa act gac 819Tyr Gly Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu Pro
Pro Arg Ile Glu Thr Asp 255 260 265 270 agc aac aag gtg acc att acc
ttt acc acc gac gag tca ggg aac cac 867Ser Asn Lys Val Thr Ile Thr
Phe Thr Thr Asp Glu Ser Gly Asn His 275 280 285 aca ggc tgg aag ata
cac tac aca agc aca gca cag ccc tgc cct gat 915Thr Gly Trp Lys Ile
His Tyr Thr Ser Thr Ala Gln Pro Cys Pro Asp 290 295 300 cca acg gcg
cca cct aat ggt cac att tca cct gtg caa gcc acg tat 963Pro Thr Ala
Pro Pro Asn Gly His Ile Ser Pro Val Gln Ala Thr Tyr 305 310 315 gtc
ctg aag gac agc ttt tct gtc ttc tgc aag act ggc ttc gag ctt 1011Val
Leu Lys Asp Ser Phe Ser Val Phe Cys Lys Thr Gly Phe Glu Leu 320 325
330 ctg caa ggt tct gtc ccc ctg aag tca ttc act gct gtc tgt cag aaa
1059Leu Gln Gly Ser Val Pro Leu Lys Ser Phe Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Lys
335 340 345 350 gat gga tct tgg gac cgg ccg ata cca gag tgc agc att
att gac tgt 1107Asp Gly Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Ile Pro Glu Cys Ser Ile
Ile Asp Cys 355 360 365 ggc cct ccc gat gac cta ccc aat ggc cac gtg
gac tat atc aca ggc 1155Gly Pro Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Asn Gly His Val
Asp Tyr Ile Thr Gly 370 375 380 cct gaa gtg acc acc tac aaa gct gtg
att cag tac agc tgt gaa gag 1203Pro Glu Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala Val
Ile Gln Tyr Ser Cys Glu Glu 385 390 395 act ttc tac aca atg agc agc
aat ggt aaa tat gtg tgt gag gct gat 1251Thr Phe Tyr Thr Met Ser Ser
Asn Gly Lys Tyr Val Cys Glu Ala Asp 400 405 410 gga ttc tgg acg agc
tcc aaa gga gaa aaa tcc ctc ccg gtt tgc aag 1299Gly Phe Trp Thr Ser
Ser Lys Gly Glu Lys Ser Leu Pro Val Cys Lys 415 420 425 430 cct gtc
tgt gga ctg tcc aca cac act tca gga ggc cgt ata att gga 1347Pro Val
Cys Gly Leu Ser Thr His Thr Ser Gly Gly Arg Ile Ile Gly 435 440 445
gga cag cct gca aag cct ggt gac ttt cct tgg caa gtc ttg tta ctg
1395Gly Gln Pro Ala Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp Gln Val Leu Leu Leu
450 455 460 ggt gaa act aca gca gca ggt gct ctt ata cat gac gac tgg
gtc cta 1443Gly Glu Thr Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Ile His Asp Asp Trp
Val Leu 465 470 475 aca gcg gct cat gct gta tat ggg aaa aca gag gcg
atg tcc tcc ctg 1491Thr Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Gly Lys Thr Glu Ala
Met Ser Ser Leu 480 485 490 gac atc cgc atg ggc atc ctc aaa agg ctc
tcc ctc att tac act caa 1539Asp Ile Arg Met Gly Ile Leu Lys Arg Leu
Ser Leu Ile Tyr Thr Gln 495 500 505 510 gcc tgg cca gag gct gtc ttt
atc cat gaa ggc tac act cac gga gct 1587Ala Trp Pro Glu Ala Val Phe
Ile His Glu Gly Tyr Thr His Gly Ala 515 520 525 ggt ttt gac aat gat
ata gca ctg att aaa ctc aag aac aaa gtc aca 1635Gly Phe Asp Asn Asp
Ile Ala Leu Ile Lys Leu Lys Asn Lys Val Thr 530 535 540 atc aac aga
aac atc atg ccg att tgt cta cca aga aaa gaa gct gca 1683Ile Asn Arg
Asn Ile Met Pro Ile Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys Glu Ala Ala 545 550 555 tcc
tta atg aaa aca gac ttc gtt gga act gtg gct ggc tgg ggg tta 1731Ser
Leu Met Lys Thr Asp Phe Val Gly Thr Val Ala Gly Trp Gly Leu 560 565
570 acc cag aag ggg ttt ctt gct aga aac cta atg ttt gtg gac ata cca
1779Thr Gln Lys Gly Phe Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Phe Val Asp Ile Pro
575 580 585 590 att gtt gac cac caa aaa tgt gct act gcg tat aca aag
cag ccc tac 1827Ile Val Asp His Gln Lys Cys Ala Thr Ala Tyr Thr Lys
Gln Pro Tyr 595 600 605 cca gga gca aaa gtg act gtt aac atg ctc tgt
gct ggc cta gac cgc 1875Pro Gly Ala Lys Val Thr Val Asn Met Leu Cys
Ala Gly Leu Asp Arg 610 615 620 ggt ggc aag gac agc tgc aga ggt gac
agc gga ggg gca tta gtg ttt 1923Gly Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp
Ser Gly Gly Ala Leu Val Phe 625 630 635 cta gac aat gaa aca cag aga
tgg ttt gtg gga gga ata gtt tcc tgg 1971Leu Asp Asn Glu Thr Gln Arg
Trp Phe Val Gly Gly Ile Val Ser Trp 640 645 650 ggt tct att aac tgt
ggg ggg tca gaa cag tat ggg gtc tac acg aaa 2019Gly Ser Ile Asn Cys
Gly Gly Ser Glu Gln Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys 655 660 665 670 gtc acg
aac tat att ccc tgg att gag aac ata ata aat aat ttc taa 2067Val Thr
Asn Tyr Ile Pro Trp Ile Glu Asn Ile Ile Asn Asn Phe 675 680 685
tttgcaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 209154685PRTRattus norvegicus 54Met Arg
Leu Leu Ile Val Leu Gly Leu Leu Trp Ser Leu Val Ala Thr 1 5 10 15
Leu Leu Gly Ser Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Val Ser 20
25 30 Leu Ala Phe Pro Glu Lys Tyr Gly Asn His Gln Asp Arg Ser Trp
Thr 35 40 45 Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro Gly Phe Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe
Thr His Phe 50 55 60 Asn Leu Glu Leu Ser Tyr Arg Cys Glu Tyr Asp
Phe Val Lys Leu Thr 65 70 75 80 Ser Gly Thr Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu
Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr Asp 85 90 95 Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Asn
Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Pro Ser 100 105 110 Leu Lys Val Thr Phe
His Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro Phe Thr 115 120 125 Gly Phe Glu
Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Arg Thr 130 135 140 Ser
Leu Gly Asp Ser Val Pro Cys Asp His Tyr Cys His Asn Tyr Leu 145 150
155 160 Gly Gly Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg Val Gly Tyr Ile Leu His Gln
Asn 165 170 175 Lys His Thr Cys Ser Ala Leu Cys Ser Gly Gln Val Phe
Thr Gly Arg 180 185 190 Ser Gly Phe Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr Pro Gln
Pro Tyr Pro Lys Leu 195 200 205 Ser Ser Cys Ala Tyr Asn Ile Arg Leu
Glu Glu Gly Phe Ser Ile Thr 210 215 220 Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe
Asp Val Glu Met His Pro Glu Ala Gln 225 230 235 240 Cys Pro Tyr Asp
Ser Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Lys Arg Glu Tyr Gly 245 250 255 Pro Phe
Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu Pro Pro Arg Ile Glu Thr Asp Ser Asn 260 265 270
Lys Val Thr Ile Thr Phe Thr Thr Asp Glu Ser Gly Asn His Thr Gly 275
280 285 Trp Lys Ile His Tyr Thr Ser Thr Ala Gln Pro Cys Pro Asp Pro
Thr 290 295 300 Ala Pro Pro Asn Gly His Ile Ser Pro Val Gln Ala Thr
Tyr Val Leu 305 310
315 320 Lys Asp Ser Phe Ser Val Phe Cys Lys Thr Gly Phe Glu Leu Leu
Gln 325 330 335 Gly Ser Val Pro Leu Lys Ser Phe Thr Ala Val Cys Gln
Lys Asp Gly 340 345 350 Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Ile Pro Glu Cys Ser Ile
Ile Asp Cys Gly Pro 355 360 365 Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Asn Gly His Val
Asp Tyr Ile Thr Gly Pro Glu 370 375 380 Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala Val
Ile Gln Tyr Ser Cys Glu Glu Thr Phe 385 390 395 400 Tyr Thr Met Ser
Ser Asn Gly Lys Tyr Val Cys Glu Ala Asp Gly Phe 405 410 415 Trp Thr
Ser Ser Lys Gly Glu Lys Ser Leu Pro Val Cys Lys Pro Val 420 425 430
Cys Gly Leu Ser Thr His Thr Ser Gly Gly Arg Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln 435
440 445 Pro Ala Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp Gln Val Leu Leu Leu Gly
Glu 450 455 460 Thr Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Ile His Asp Asp Trp Val
Leu Thr Ala 465 470 475 480 Ala His Ala Val Tyr Gly Lys Thr Glu Ala
Met Ser Ser Leu Asp Ile 485 490 495 Arg Met Gly Ile Leu Lys Arg Leu
Ser Leu Ile Tyr Thr Gln Ala Trp 500 505 510 Pro Glu Ala Val Phe Ile
His Glu Gly Tyr Thr His Gly Ala Gly Phe 515 520 525 Asp Asn Asp Ile
Ala Leu Ile Lys Leu Lys Asn Lys Val Thr Ile Asn 530 535 540 Arg Asn
Ile Met Pro Ile Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys Glu Ala Ala Ser Leu 545 550 555
560 Met Lys Thr Asp Phe Val Gly Thr Val Ala Gly Trp Gly Leu Thr Gln
565 570 575 Lys Gly Phe Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Phe Val Asp Ile Pro
Ile Val 580 585 590 Asp His Gln Lys Cys Ala Thr Ala Tyr Thr Lys Gln
Pro Tyr Pro Gly 595 600 605 Ala Lys Val Thr Val Asn Met Leu Cys Ala
Gly Leu Asp Arg Gly Gly 610 615 620 Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp Ser
Gly Gly Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Asp 625 630 635 640 Asn Glu Thr Gln Arg
Trp Phe Val Gly Gly Ile Val Ser Trp Gly Ser 645 650 655 Ile Asn Cys
Gly Gly Ser Glu Gln Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys Val Thr 660 665 670 Asn
Tyr Ile Pro Trp Ile Glu Asn Ile Ile Asn Asn Phe 675 680 685
55670PRTRattus norvegicus 55Thr Leu Leu Gly Ser Lys Trp Pro Glu Pro
Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Val 1 5 10 15 Ser Leu Ala Phe Pro Glu Lys Tyr
Gly Asn His Gln Asp Arg Ser Trp 20 25 30 Thr Leu Thr Ala Pro Pro
Gly Phe Arg Leu Arg Leu Tyr Phe Thr His 35 40 45 Phe Asn Leu Glu
Leu Ser Tyr Arg Cys Glu Tyr Asp Phe Val Lys Leu 50 55 60 Thr Ser
Gly Thr Lys Val Leu Ala Thr Leu Cys Gly Gln Glu Ser Thr 65 70 75 80
Asp Thr Glu Arg Ala Pro Gly Asn Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Gly Pro 85
90 95 Ser Leu Lys Val Thr Phe His Ser Asp Tyr Ser Asn Glu Lys Pro
Phe 100 105 110 Thr Gly Phe Glu Ala Phe Tyr Ala Ala Glu Asp Val Asp
Glu Cys Arg 115 120 125 Thr Ser Leu Gly Asp Ser Val Pro Cys Asp His
Tyr Cys His Asn Tyr 130 135 140 Leu Gly Gly Tyr Tyr Cys Ser Cys Arg
Val Gly Tyr Ile Leu His Gln 145 150 155 160 Asn Lys His Thr Cys Ser
Ala Leu Cys Ser Gly Gln Val Phe Thr Gly 165 170 175 Arg Ser Gly Phe
Leu Ser Ser Pro Glu Tyr Pro Gln Pro Tyr Pro Lys 180 185 190 Leu Ser
Ser Cys Ala Tyr Asn Ile Arg Leu Glu Glu Gly Phe Ser Ile 195 200 205
Thr Leu Asp Phe Val Glu Ser Phe Asp Val Glu Met His Pro Glu Ala 210
215 220 Gln Cys Pro Tyr Asp Ser Leu Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Lys Arg Glu
Tyr 225 230 235 240 Gly Pro Phe Cys Gly Lys Thr Leu Pro Pro Arg Ile
Glu Thr Asp Ser 245 250 255 Asn Lys Val Thr Ile Thr Phe Thr Thr Asp
Glu Ser Gly Asn His Thr 260 265 270 Gly Trp Lys Ile His Tyr Thr Ser
Thr Ala Gln Pro Cys Pro Asp Pro 275 280 285 Thr Ala Pro Pro Asn Gly
His Ile Ser Pro Val Gln Ala Thr Tyr Val 290 295 300 Leu Lys Asp Ser
Phe Ser Val Phe Cys Lys Thr Gly Phe Glu Leu Leu 305 310 315 320 Gln
Gly Ser Val Pro Leu Lys Ser Phe Thr Ala Val Cys Gln Lys Asp 325 330
335 Gly Ser Trp Asp Arg Pro Ile Pro Glu Cys Ser Ile Ile Asp Cys Gly
340 345 350 Pro Pro Asp Asp Leu Pro Asn Gly His Val Asp Tyr Ile Thr
Gly Pro 355 360 365 Glu Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Ala Val Ile Gln Tyr Ser
Cys Glu Glu Thr 370 375 380 Phe Tyr Thr Met Ser Ser Asn Gly Lys Tyr
Val Cys Glu Ala Asp Gly 385 390 395 400 Phe Trp Thr Ser Ser Lys Gly
Glu Lys Ser Leu Pro Val Cys Lys Pro 405 410 415 Val Cys Gly Leu Ser
Thr His Thr Ser Gly Gly Arg Ile Ile Gly Gly 420 425 430 Gln Pro Ala
Lys Pro Gly Asp Phe Pro Trp Gln Val Leu Leu Leu Gly 435 440 445 Glu
Thr Thr Ala Ala Gly Ala Leu Ile His Asp Asp Trp Val Leu Thr 450 455
460 Ala Ala His Ala Val Tyr Gly Lys Thr Glu Ala Met Ser Ser Leu Asp
465 470 475 480 Ile Arg Met Gly Ile Leu Lys Arg Leu Ser Leu Ile Tyr
Thr Gln Ala 485 490 495 Trp Pro Glu Ala Val Phe Ile His Glu Gly Tyr
Thr His Gly Ala Gly 500 505 510 Phe Asp Asn Asp Ile Ala Leu Ile Lys
Leu Lys Asn Lys Val Thr Ile 515 520 525 Asn Arg Asn Ile Met Pro Ile
Cys Leu Pro Arg Lys Glu Ala Ala Ser 530 535 540 Leu Met Lys Thr Asp
Phe Val Gly Thr Val Ala Gly Trp Gly Leu Thr 545 550 555 560 Gln Lys
Gly Phe Leu Ala Arg Asn Leu Met Phe Val Asp Ile Pro Ile 565 570 575
Val Asp His Gln Lys Cys Ala Thr Ala Tyr Thr Lys Gln Pro Tyr Pro 580
585 590 Gly Ala Lys Val Thr Val Asn Met Leu Cys Ala Gly Leu Asp Arg
Gly 595 600 605 Gly Lys Asp Ser Cys Arg Gly Asp Ser Gly Gly Ala Leu
Val Phe Leu 610 615 620 Asp Asn Glu Thr Gln Arg Trp Phe Val Gly Gly
Ile Val Ser Trp Gly 625 630 635 640 Ser Ile Asn Cys Gly Gly Ser Glu
Gln Tyr Gly Val Tyr Thr Lys Val 645 650 655 Thr Asn Tyr Ile Pro Trp
Ile Glu Asn Ile Ile Asn Asn Phe 660 665 670 5628DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 56atgaggctgc tgaccctcct gggccttc
285723DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 57gtgcccctcc tgcgtcacct ctg
235823DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 58cagaggtgac gcaggagggg cac
235927DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 59ttaaaatcac taattatgtt
ctcgatc 276022DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 60atgaggctac
tcatcttcct gg 226123DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 61ctgcagaggt
gacgcagggg ggg 236223DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 62ccccccctgc
gtcacctctg cag 236329DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic 63ttagaaatta
cttattatgt tctcaatcc 296429DNAArtificial SequenceSynthetic
64gaggtgacgc aggaggggca ttagtgttt 296537DNAArtificial
SequenceSynthetic 65ctagaaacac taatgcccct cctgcgtcac ctctgca 37
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