U.S. patent application number 16/517776 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-16 for method of producing antibodies with n-glycoside-linked sugar chains lacking fucosylation.
This patent application is currently assigned to KYOWA HAKKO KIRIN CO., LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is KYOWA HAKKO KIRIN CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Hideharu ANAZAWA, Nobuo HANAI, Emi HOSAKA, Susumu IMABEPPU, Yutaka KANDA, Kazuyasu NAKAMURA, Toyohide SHINKAWA, Kazuhisa UCHIDA, Naoko YAMANE, Motoo YAMASAKI.
Application Number | 20200017593 16/517776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 14346708 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-16 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200017593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HANAI; Nobuo ; et
al. |
January 16, 2020 |
METHOD OF PRODUCING ANTIBODIES WITH N-GLYCOSIDE-LINKED SUGAR CHAINS
LACKING FUCOSYLATION
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for controlling the activity
of an immunologically functional molecule, such as an antibody, a
protein, a peptide or the like, an agent of promoting the activity
of an immunologically functional molecule, and an immunologically
functional molecule having the promoted activity.
Inventors: |
HANAI; Nobuo; (Machida-shi,
JP) ; NAKAMURA; Kazuyasu; (Machida-shi, JP) ;
HOSAKA; Emi; (Machida-shi, JP) ; YAMASAKI; Motoo;
(Machida-shi, JP) ; UCHIDA; Kazuhisa;
(Machida-shi, JP) ; SHINKAWA; Toyohide;
(Machida-shi, JP) ; IMABEPPU; Susumu;
(Machida-shi, JP) ; KANDA; Yutaka; (Machida-shi,
JP) ; YAMANE; Naoko; (Machida-shi, JP) ;
ANAZAWA; Hideharu; (Chiyoda-ku, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KYOWA HAKKO KIRIN CO., LTD |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KYOWA HAKKO KIRIN CO., LTD
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
14346708 |
Appl. No.: |
16/517776 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15460790 |
Mar 16, 2017 |
|
|
|
16517776 |
|
|
|
|
14173305 |
Feb 5, 2014 |
10233247 |
|
|
15460790 |
|
|
|
|
12645613 |
Dec 23, 2009 |
8679491 |
|
|
14173305 |
|
|
|
|
11686458 |
Mar 15, 2007 |
7708997 |
|
|
12645613 |
|
|
|
|
11126176 |
May 11, 2005 |
7214775 |
|
|
11686458 |
|
|
|
|
09958307 |
Oct 9, 2001 |
|
|
|
PCT/JP2000/002260 |
Apr 7, 2000 |
|
|
|
11126176 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07K 16/3084 20130101;
C07K 2319/00 20130101; C07K 2317/52 20130101; C07K 2317/21
20130101; A61P 37/06 20180101; C07K 2317/73 20130101; A61P 31/00
20180101; G01N 33/53 20130101; A61P 9/00 20180101; C12P 21/005
20130101; A61P 29/00 20180101; C07K 2317/24 20130101; C07K 2317/41
20130101; C07K 16/2866 20130101; A61K 2039/505 20130101; C07K
2317/565 20130101; A61P 37/00 20180101; A61P 37/08 20180101; C07K
16/30 20130101; C07K 2317/732 20130101; A61P 35/00 20180101 |
International
Class: |
C07K 16/28 20060101
C07K016/28; C07K 16/30 20060101 C07K016/30; G01N 33/53 20060101
G01N033/53; C12P 21/00 20060101 C12P021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 9, 1999 |
JP |
11/103158 |
Claims
1-4. (canceled)
5. A method for producing an antibody composition, said method
comprising: (1) introducing a vector comprising a nucleotide
sequence encoding an antibody into a host cell; (2) culturing the
antibody-producing host cell; and (3) recovering the antibody from
the culture supernatant, wherein said antibody composition
comprises antibody molecules having complex-type and/or hybrid-type
N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in a Fc region, wherein all of said
antibody molecules have two N-glycoside-linked sugar chains in
which fucose is not bound (FO).
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said antibody molecules
comprise N-glycoside-linked sugar chains in which at least one
N-acetylglucosamine is bound to a mannose at the non-reducing end
of the following structure: ##STR00007##
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said antibody molecules
comprise the complex-type N-glycoside-linked sugar chains in which
two N-acetylglucosamine are respectively bound to two mannoses at
the non-reducing end of the following structure: ##STR00008##
8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said antibody molecules
have an increased antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity
(ADCC).
9. The method according to claim 5, wherein said antibody molecules
are molecules of a human antibody, a humanized antibody, a chimeric
antibody or a human CDR-grafted antibody.
10. The method according to claim 5, wherein said antibody
molecules are molecules of an IgG class antibody.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No.
14/173,305 filed Feb. 5, 2014 (now allowed); which is a
continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/645,613 filed Dec. 23, 2009 (now
U.S. Pat. No. 8,679,491); which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
11/686,458, filed Mar. 15, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,977);
which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 11/126,176, filed May 11,
2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,775); which is a divisional of U.S.
Ser. No. 09/958,307, filed Oct. 9, 2001 (now abandoned); which is a
371 U.S. national phase of PCT/JP00/02260, filed Apr. 7, 2000;
which claims benefit of JP P. Hei. 11-103158, filed Apr. 9, 1999;
the entire contents of each application is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for controlling
the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, such as an
antibody, a protein, a peptide or the like, an agent of promoting
the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, and an
immunologically functional molecule having the promoted
activity.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Since antibodies have high binding activity, binding
specificity and high stability in blood, their applications to the
diagnosis, prevention and treatment of various human diseases have
been attempted (Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Applications,
Wiley-Liss, Inc., Chapter 2.1 (1995)). However, an antibody derived
from an animal other than human, such as a mouse antibody, is
recognized as a foreign material when administered to a human,
which thereby induces a human antibody against the mouse antibody
(human anti-mouse antibody: hereinafter referred to as "HAMA") in
the human body, and it is known that the HAMA causes side effects
by reaction with the administered mouse antibody (J. Clin. Oncol.,
2, 881 (1984); Blood, 65, 1349 (1985); J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 80,
932 (1988); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 82, 1242 (1985)),
promotes disappearance of the administered mouse antibody from
blood (J. Nuc. Med., 26, 1011 (1985); Blood, 65, 1349 (1985); J.
Natl. Cancer Inst., 80, 937 (1988)) and reduces diagnostic,
preventive and therapeutic effects of the mouse antibody (J.
Immunol., 135, 1530 (1985); Cancer Res., 46, 6489 (1986)).
[0004] For the purpose of solving these problems, attempts have
been made to convert an antibody derived from an animal other than
human into a humanized antibody, such as a human chimeric antibody
or a human complementarity determining region (hereinafter referred
to as "CDR") a grafted antibody, using gene recombination
techniques. The human chimeric antibody is an antibody in which its
antibody variable region (hereinafter referred to as "V region") is
of an antibody of an animal other than human and its constant
region (hereinafter referred to as "C region") is of a human
antibody (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 81, 6851 (1984)). It has
been reported that administration of such chimeric antibodies to
humans eliminate serious side effects and the half-life in blood
was prolonged about 6 times compared to a mouse antibody (Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 86, 4220 (1989)). The human CDR-grafted
antibody is an antibody in which CDR of a human antibody is
replaced by CDR of an antibody other than human (Nature, 321, 522
(1986)). It has been reported that, in an experimentation using
monkey, the immunogenicity of a human CDR-grafted antibody was
reduced and its half-life in blood was prolonged 4 to 5 times
compared to a mouse antibody (J. Immunol., 147, 1352 (1991)). These
reports show that a humanized antibody is expected to have
sufficient effects, as an antibody to be applied to the diagnosis,
prevention and treatment of various human diseases, even though it
is not a completely human antibody. Actually, clinical tests have
been performed with anti-tumor antibodies, such as an anti-CD20
human chimeric antibody, Rituxan (IDEC, Inc.), and an anti-HER2/neu
human CDR-grafted antibody, Herceptin (Genentech, Inc.). The safety
and therapeutic effects of the anti-CD20 human chimeric antibody
and of the anti-HER2/neu human CDR-grafted antibody, to a certain
degree, have been confirmed in B lymphoma and breast cancer,
respectively (J. Clin. Oncol., 16, 2825 (1998); J. National Cancer
Institute, 90, 882 (1998)). Moreover, a fragment (Fab') of an
anti-GPllb/IIIa human chimeric antibody, ReoPro (Centocor, Inc.),
is commercially available in Europe and America as a secondary
disease preventing drug after percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty. Currently, a large number of clinical tests are being
conducted with other humanized antibodies. Most of these humanized
antibodies have been prepared using gene recombination techniques
and produced using appropriate animal cells.
[0005] It has been revealed that five classes of antibodies, i.e.,
IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA and IgE, are present in mammals. Antibodies of
human IgG class are mainly used in the diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of various human diseases because of their long half-life
in blood and functional characteristics, such as various effector
functions and the like (Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and
Applications, Wiley-Liss, Inc., Chapter 2.1 (1995)). The human IgG
class antibody is further classified into the following 4
subclasses: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4. A large number of studies
have so far been carried out for the antibody-dependent cellular
cytotoxicity activity (hereinafter referred to as "ADCC activity")
and complement-dependent cytotoxicity activity (hereinafter
referred to as "CDC") as effector functions of the IgG class
antibody, and it has been reported that antibodies of the IgG1
subclass have the greatest ADCC activity and CDC activity among the
human IgG class antibodies (Chemical Immunology, 65, 88 (1997)).
Therefore, most of the anti-tumor humanized antibodies which
require a high effector function are antibodies of human IgG1
subclass, including the above Rituxan and Herceptin.
[0006] Expression of ADCC activity and CDC activity of human IgG1
subclass antibodies requires binding of the Fc region of antibody
to an antibody receptor existing on the surface of an effector
cell, such as a killer cell, a natural killer cell, an activated
macrophage or the like (hereinafter referred to as "Fc.gamma.R")
and various complement components. It has been suggested that
several amino acid residues in the second domain of the antibody
hinge region and C region (hereinafter referred to as "Cy2 domain")
(Eur. J. Immunol., 23, 1098 (1993), Immunology, 86, 319 (1995),
Chemical Immunology, 55, 88 (1997)) and a sugar chain linked to the
Cy2 domain are also important for this binding reaction (Chemical
Immunology, 65, 88 (1997)). Regarding the sugar chain, Boyd et al.
have examined effects of a sugar chain on the ADCC activity and CDC
activity, by treating a human CDR-grafted antibody, CAMPATH-1H
(human IgG1 subclass), produced using Chinese hamster ovary cell
(CHO cell) or mouse myeloma NS0 cell with various sugar hydrolyzing
enzymes, and reported that elimination of sialic acid of the
non-reducing terminal does not have influence upon both activities.
Further elimination of galactose residue however was reported to
exert influence upon only the CDC activity, decreasing about 50% of
its activity. Complete elimination of the sugar, chain was reported
to cause disappearance of both activities (Molecular Immunol., 32,
1311 (1995)). Moreover, Lifely et al. have analyzed the sugar chain
of a human CDR-grafted antibody, CAMPATH-1H (human IgG1 subclass)
which was produced using CHO cell, NS0 cell or rat myeloma YO cell,
measured its ADCC activity and reported that the CAMPATH-1H derived
from YO cell shows the greatest ADCC activity, suggesting that
N-acetylglucosamine at the bisecting position is important for the
activity (Glycobiology, 5, 813 (1995): WO 99/54342). These reports
show that the structure of sugar chain plays an important role in
the effector function of human IgG1 subclass antibodies, and that
it may be possible to prepare an antibody having greater effector
function by changing the sugar chain structure. Actually, however,
structures of sugar chains are complex and vary greatly. There
exists a need therefore to further study the structure in order to
obtain greater effector function.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to specify a sugar
chain which increases the ADCC activity, by analyzing sugar chains
of human IgG1 subclass antibodies produced by various animal cells,
and to thereby also provide a method for controlling the activity
of an immunologically functional molecule. Since the ADCC activity
is improved in such antibodies, increase in the therapeutic effect
for various human diseases can be expected by use of not only
anti-tumor antibodies but also anti-other diseases antibodies, as
well as proteins or peptides against various diseases.
Particularly, in the clinical application of anti-tumor antibodies,
the anti-tumor effect of an antibody alone is insufficient in many
of current cases. The insufficiencies of known antibodies have
required the concomitant use of chemotherapy (Science, 280, 1197,
1998). The dependency on chemotherapy however will be reduced, with
a reduction of side effects, if a stronger anti-tumor effect of an
antibody alone is provided by the improvement of ADCC activity. The
present inventors have evaluated in vitro activity of various
humanized antibodies of human IgG1 subclass produced by two kinds
of Chinese hamster ovary cells, CHO/dhFr cell (ATCC CRL 9096) and
CHO/DG44 cell (Somatic Cell and Molecular Genetics, 12, 555
(1986)), mouse myeloma NS0 cell (RCB 0213, BIO/TECHNOLOGY, 10, 169
(1992)), mouse myeloma SP2/0-Ag14 cell (hereinafter referred to as
"SP2/0 cell"; ATCC CRL 1581) and rat myeloma YB2/3HL.P2.G11.16Ag,20
cell (hereinafter referred to as "YB2/O cell"; ATCC CRL 1662) and
have discovered, as a result, that the ADCC activity of a humanized
antibody produced by the rat myeloma YB2/O cell is considerably
higher than that of the humanized antibodies produced by other
cells. Further, as a result of an in vivo activity evaluation using
Macaca faseicularis, it has been discovered that the humanized
antibody produced by YB2/0 cell shows the greatest effect,
suggesting the utility of an antibody having elevated ADCC activity
in a human clinical application. In addition, a sugar chain having
the ability to increase the ADCC activity has been identified by
analyzing and comparing structures of the sugar chains of humanized
antibodies produced by various animal cells in detail, and the
present invention has been accomplished.
[0008] More specifically, the present invention relates to the
following (1) to (62).
[0009] (1) A method for controlling the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule, which comprises regulating the
presence or absence of binding of fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of
the reducing terminal of an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain which
binds to the immunologically functional molecule.
[0010] (2) The method according to (1), wherein the
N-glycoside-linked sugar chain which binds to the immunologically
functional molecule comprises:
##STR00001##
[0011] (3) A method for enhancing the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule, which comprises binding a
sugar chain in which fucose is not present in N-acetylglucosamine
of the reducing terminal of an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain to
the immunologically functional molecule.
[0012] (4) The method according to (3), wherein the sugar chain
comprises:
##STR00002##
[0013] (5) The method according to (3), wherein the sugar chain is
synthesized in a cell which has a low enzyme activity of adding
fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing terminal or does not
have said enzyme activity.
[0014] (6) The method according to (5), wherein the enzyme which
adds fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing terminal is a
fucosyltransferase.
[0015] (7) The method according to (6), wherein the
fucosyltransferase is al, 6-fucosyltransferase.
[0016] (8) The method according to (3), wherein the sugar chain is
synthesized in a rat myeloma cell.
[0017] (9) The method according to (8), wherein the rat myeloma
cell is YB2/3HL.P2.G11.16Ag.20 cell (ATCC CRL 1662).
[0018] (10) A method for inhibiting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule, which comprises binding a
sugar chain in which fucose is present in N-acetylglucosamine of
the reducing terminal of an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain to an
immunologically functional molecule.
[0019] (11) The method according to (10), wherein the sugar chain
comprises:
##STR00003##
[0020] (12) The method according to (10), wherein the sugar chain
is synthesized in a cell which has a high enzyme activity of adding
fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing terminal.
[0021] (13) The method according to (12), wherein the enzyme which
adds fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing terminal is a
fucosyltransferase.
[0022] (14) The method according to (13), wherein the
fucosyltransferase is al, 6-fucosyltransferase.
[0023] (15) The method according to (1) to (14), wherein the
immunologically functional molecule is an antibody, a protein or a
peptide.
[0024] (16) An agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule, comprising a sugar chain in
which fucose is not present in N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing
terminal of an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain.
[0025] (17) The agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule according to (16), wherein the
sugar chain comprises:
##STR00004##
[0026] (18) The agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule according to (16), wherein the
sugar chain is synthesized in a cell which has a low-enzyme
activity of adding fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing
terminal or does not have said enzyme activity.
[0027] (19) The agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule according to (18), wherein the
enzyme which adds fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing
terminal is a fucosyltransferase.
[0028] (20) The agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule according to (19), wherein the
fucosyltransferase is .alpha.1,6-fucosyltransferase.
[0029] (21) The agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule according to (16), wherein the
sugar chain is synthesized in a rat myeloma cell.
[0030] (22) The agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule according to (21), wherein the
rat myeloma cell is YB2/3HL.P2.G11.16Ag.20 cell (ATCC CRL
1662).
[0031] (23) The agent of promoting the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule according to any one of (16) to
(22), wherein the immunologically functional molecule is an
antibody, a protein or a peptide.
[0032] (24) An immunologically functional molecule having a
promoted immunologically functional activity, to which molecule a
sugar chain in which fucose is not present in N-acetylglucosamine
of the reducing terminal of an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain is
bound.
[0033] (25) An immunologically functional molecule having an
inhibited immunologically functional activity, to which molecule a
sugar chain in which fucose is present in N-acetylglucosamine of
the reducing terminal of an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain is
bound.
[0034] (26) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(24), wherein the immunologically functional molecule is an
antibody, a protein or a peptide.
[0035] (27) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(25), wherein the immunologically functional molecule is an
antibody, a protein or a peptide.
[0036] (28) A method for producing the immunologically functional
molecule according to (24), which comprises using a cell which has
a low enzyme activity of adding fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of
the reducing terminal or does not have said enzyme activity.
[0037] (29) The method according to (28), wherein the enzyme which
adds fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing terminal is a
fucosyltransferase.
[0038] (30) The method according to (29), wherein the
fucosyltransferase is .alpha.1,6-fucosyltransferase.
[0039] (31) A method for producing the immunologically functional
molecule according to (24), wherein a rat myeloma cell is used in
the method for producing an immunologically functional molecule
having a promoted immunologically functional activity.
[0040] (32) The method according to (31), the rat myeloma cell is
YB2/3HL.P2.G11.16Ag.20 cell.
[0041] (33) A method for producing the immunologically functional
molecule according to (25), wherein a cell having a high enzyme
activity of adding fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing
terminal is used.
[0042] (34) The method according to (33), wherein the enzyme which
adds fucose to N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing terminal is a
fucosyltransferase.
[0043] (35) The method according to (34), wherein the
fucosyltransferase is .alpha.1,6-fucosyltransferase.
[0044] (36) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(26), wherein the antibody recognizes a tumor-related antigen.
[0045] A tumor-related antigen of the present invention is an
antigen which is expressed in a tumor cell in greater amount in
comparison with normal cells. Examples include ganglioside GD2, GD3
and GM2 (Cancer Immunol. Immunother., 43, 152 (1996)), HER2 (J.
Surgical Research, 77, 85 (1998)), CD52 (Leukemia Research, 22, 185
(1998)), MAGE (APMIS, 106, 665 (1998)) and the like. In addition, a
factor which induces growth of a tumor cell and its receptor are
also tumor-related antigens. Examples include a basic fibroblast
growth factor and its receptor (Pancreas, 17, 169 (1998)), a
vascular endothelial cell growth factor and its receptor (Pathology
International, 48, 499 (1998)) and the like.
[0046] (37) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(36), wherein the tumor-related antigen is ganglioside GD3.
[0047] (38) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(36), wherein the antibody is produced by 7-9-51 (FERM
BP-6691).
[0048] (39) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(26), wherein the antibody recognizes an antigen related to an
allergy or inflammation.
[0049] An antigen related to an allergy or inflammation according
to the present invention is an antigen which induces an allergy or
inflammation and an antigen which is induced accompanied by an
allergy or inflammation. Examples include interleukin 5 and its
receptor (International Archives. Allergy. Immunol., 112, 11.
(1998)), a tumor necrosis factor and its receptor (Cytokine, 8, 651
(1996)) and the like.
[0050] (40) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(39), wherein the antigen related to an allergy or inflammation is
human interleukin 5 receptor a chain.
[0051] (41) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(39), wherein the antibody is produced by No. 3 (FERM BP-6690).
[0052] (42) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(26), wherein the antibody recognizes an antigen related to a
cardiovascular disease.
[0053] An antigen related to a cardiovascular disease according to
the present invention is an antigen which is concerned in a
cardiovascular disease induced by thrombus, vascular re-stricture
or the like. Examples include platelet GpIIb/IIIa (Thrombosis
Research, 89, 129 (1998)), a platelet-derived growth factor and its
receptor (American J. Physiology, 269, 1641 (1995)), a blood
coagulation factor (Thrombosis Haemostasis, 79, 14 (1998)) and the
like.
[0054] (43) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(27), wherein the antibody recognizes an antigen related to an
autoimmune disease.
[0055] An antigen related to an autoimmune disease according to the
present invention is an autoantigen which induces an immune
response as the cause of a disease and an antigen that enhances the
response. Examples include auto-DNA (Rheumatology International,
17, 223 (1998)), CD4 (Rheumatic Diseases Clinics North America, 24,
567 (1998)) and the like.
[0056] (44) The immunologically functional molecule according to
(26), wherein the antibody recognizes an antigen related to a viral
or bacterial infection.
[0057] An antigen related to a viral or bacterial infection
according to the present invention is an antigen related to its
infection and growth in a viral or bacterial target cell and also
includes a viral or bacterial product. Examples include gp120
(Virology, 248, 394 (1998)), CXCR4 (J. Virology, 72, 8453 (1998)),
Vero toxin (J. Clinical Microbiology, 34, 2053 (1996)) and the
like.
[0058] (45) An agent for diagnosing a cancer, comprising the
immunologically functional molecule according to (36) as an active
ingredient.
[0059] (46) An agent for treating a cancer, comprising the
immunologically functional molecule according to (36) as an active
ingredient.
[0060] (47) An agent for preventing a cancer, comprising the
immunologically functional molecule according to (36) as an active
ingredient.
[0061] (48) An agent for diagnosing an allergy or inflammation,
comprising the antibody according to (39) as an active
ingredient.
[0062] (49) An agent for treating an allergy or inflammation,
comprising the antibody according to (39) as an active
ingredient.
[0063] (50) An agent for preventing an allergy or inflammation,
comprising the antibody according to (39) as an active
ingredient.
[0064] (51) An agent for diagnosing a cardiovascular disease,
comprising the antibody according to (42) as an active
ingredient.
[0065] (52) An agent for treating a cardiovascular disease,
comprising the antibody according to (42) as an active
ingredient.
[0066] (53) An agent for preventing a cardiovascular disease,
comprising the antibody according to (42) as an active
ingredient.
[0067] (54) An agent for diagnosing an autoimmune disease,
comprising the antibody according to (43) as an active
ingredient.
[0068] (55) An agent for treating an autoimmune disease, comprising
the antibody according to (43) as an active ingredient.
[0069] (56) An agent for preventing an autoimmune disease,
comprising the antibody according to (43) as an active
ingredient.
[0070] (57) An agent for diagnosing a viral or bacterial infection,
comprising the antibody according to (44) as an active
ingredient.
[0071] (58) An agent for treating a viral or bacterial infection,
comprising the antibody according to (44) as an active
ingredient.
[0072] (59) An agent for preventing a viral or bacterial infection,
comprising the antibody according to (44) as an active
ingredient.
[0073] (60) An agent for diagnosing various diseases, comprising
the peptide or protein according to (26) or (27) as an active
ingredient.
[0074] Examples of the various diseases according to the present
invention include a cancer, an allergic disease, an inflammatory
disease, a cardiovascular disease, an autoimmune disease, a viral
or bacterial infection and the like.
[0075] (61) An agent for treating various diseases, comprising the
peptide or protein according to (60) as an active ingredient.
[0076] (62) An agent for preventing various diseases, comprising
the peptide or protein according to (60) as an active
ingredient.
[0077] Based on the binding form of immunologically functional
molecules, the sugar chain is roughly classified into two kinds,
namely a sugar chain which binds to asparagine (veiled
N-glycoside-linked sugar chain) and a sugar chain which binds to
serine, threonine and the like (called N-glycoside-linked sugar
chain).
[0078] The N-glycoside-linked sugar chain according to the present
invention has various structures (Biochemical Experimentation
Method 23--Method for Studying Glycoprotein Sugar Chains (Gakkai
Shuppan Center), edited by Reiko Takahashi (1989)), but each case
has the following common basic core structure.
##STR00005##
[0079] In the above structure, the sugar chain terminal which binds
to asparagine is called a reducing terminal, and the opposite side
is called a non-reducing terminal. The fucose may be bound to
N-acetylglucosamine of the reducing terminal by, for example, an
.alpha.1,3 bond, an .alpha.1,6 bond or the like.
[0080] Examples of the N-glycoside-linked sugar chains include a
high mannose type, in which only mannose binds to the non-reducing
terminal of the core structure; a complex type, in which the
non-reducing terminal side of the core structure has one or more
branches of galactose-N-acetylglucosamine (hereinafter referred to
as "Gal-GlcNAc") and the non-reducing terminal side of Gal-GlcNAc
further has a structure such as a sialic acid, bisecting
N-acetylglucosamine or the like; a hybrid type, in which the
non-reducing terminal side of the core structure has both branches
of the high mannose N-glycoside-linked sugar chain and complex
N-glycoside-linked sugar chain; and the like.
[0081] An immunologically functional molecule is a molecule which
is originally derived from the living body and is involved in
various immune responses.
[0082] Specifically, it includes antibodies, proteins, peptides and
the like.
[0083] An antibody is a protein which is produced in vivo, by an
immune response as a result of the stimulation by a foreign antigen
and has an activity to specifically bind to the antigen. Examples
of the antibody include an antibody secreted by a hybridoma cell
prepared from spleen cells of an immunized animal after
immunization of the animal with an antigen, as well as an antibody
prepared by gene recombination techniques, namely an antibody
obtained by introducing an antibody encoding gene-inserted antibody
expression vector into a host cell. Examples include an antibody
produced by a hybridoma, a humanized antibody, a human antibody and
the like.
[0084] A hybridoma is a cell which produces a monoclonal antibody
having a desired antigen specificity and is obtained by cell fusion
of a B cell prepared by immunizing a mammal other than human with
an antigen, with a myeloma cell derived from a mouse or the
like.
[0085] Humanized antibodies includes a human chimeric antibody, a
human complementarity determining region (hereinafter referred to
as "CDR")-grafted antibody and the like.
[0086] A human chimeric antibody is an antibody comprising an
antibody heavy chain variable region (hereinafter referred also to
as "HV" or "VH", wherein the heavy chain is an H chain and the
variable region is a V region) and an antibody light chain variable
region (hereinafter referred to also as "LV" or "VL", wherein the
light chain is an L chain) derived from an animal other than human,
a heavy chain constant region (hereinafter referred to also as
"CH", wherein the constant region is a C region) of a human
antibody and a light chain constant region (hereinafter referred to
also as "CL") of a human antibody. Animals other than human may be
any of mouse, rat, hamster, rabbit and the like, so long as a
hybridoma can be prepared from the same.
[0087] The human chimeric antibody can be produced by obtaining
cDNAs encoding VH and VL from a hybridoma which produces a
monoclonal antibody, inserting each of the cDNAs into an expression
vector for a host cell having a gene encoding human antibody CH and
human antibody CL to construct a human chimeric antibody expression
vector, and then introducing the vector into a host cell to express
the antibody.
[0088] Any CH of the human chimeric antibody may be used, so long
as it belongs to a human immunoglobulin (hereinafter referred to as
"hIg"), but those of the hIgG class are preferred and any of
subclasses belonging to the hIgG class, such as, hIgG1, hIgG2,
hIgG3 and hIgG4, can be used. Moreover, any CL of the human
chimeric antibody may be used, so long as it belongs to hIg, and
those of .kappa. class or A class can be used.
[0089] A human CDR-grafted antibody is an antibody in which amino
acid sequences of CDRs of the VH and VL of an antibody derived from
an animal other than human are grafted to appropriate human
antibody.
[0090] The human CDR-grafted antibody can be produced by
constructing cDNAs encoding V regions in which CDR sequences of the
VH and VL of an antibody derived from an animal other than human
are grafted to CDR sequences of the VH and VL of a human antibody,
inserting each of the cDNAs into an expression vector for a host
cell having a gene encoding the CH of a human antibody and the CL
of a human antibody to construct a human CDR-grafted antibody
expression vector, and introducing the expression vector into a
host cell to express the human CDR-grafted antibody.
[0091] The CH of the human CDR-grafted antibody may be any region
which belongs to hag, but those of the hIgG class are-preferred.
Any of subclasses belonging to the hIgG class such as hIgG1, hIgG2,
hIgG3, hIgG4 and the like can be used. Also, the CL of the human
CDR-grafted antibody may be any region which belongs to hIg, and
those of .kappa. class or .lamda. class can be used.
[0092] A human antibody is originally meant to be an antibody
naturally. existing in the human body, but it also includes
antibodies obtained from a human antibody phage library and a human
antibody-producing transgenic animal or a human antibody-producing
transgenic plant, which are prepared based on recent advances in
genetic engineering, cell engineering and developmental engineering
techniques.
[0093] The antibody existing in the human body can be obtained, for
example, by isolating a human peripheral blood lymphocyte,
immortalizing it by its infection with EB virus or the like,
followed by cloning, culturing a lymphocyte capable of producing
the antibody, and purifying the antibody from the culture
mixture.
[0094] The human antibody phage library is a library in which an
antibody fragment, such as Fab, a single chain antibody or the
like, is expressed on the phage surface by inserting an antibody
gene prepared from human B cell into a phage gene. A phage
expressing an antibody fragment having the desired antigen binding
activity can be recovered from this library, using its activity to
bind to an antigen-immobilized substrate as the marker. The
antibody fragment can be converted further into a human antibody
molecule comprising two full H chains and two full L chains by
genetic engineering techniques.
[0095] A human antibody-producing transgenic non-human animal is an
animal in which a human antibody-encoding gene is integrated into
cells. Specifically, a human antibody producing transgenic animal
can be prepared by introducing a human antibody-encoding gene into
a mouse ES cell, transplanting the ES cell into an early stage
embryo of another mouse, and developing an animal. The human
antibody may be prepared and accumulated in a culture mixture of
the human antibody-producing transgenic animal by obtaining a human
antibody-producing hybridoma according to a hybridoma preparation
method usually carried out in mammals other than human and then
culturing the hybridoma.
[0096] An activity of antibodies of the present invention includes
ADCC activity.
[0097] ADCC activity as used herein refers to an activity to injury
a tumor cell or the like by activating an effector cell via the
binding of the Fc region of an antibody to an Fc receptor existing
on the surface of an effector cell such as a killer cell, a natural
killer cell, an activated macrophage or the like (Monoclonal
Antibodies: Principles and Applications, Wiley-Liss, Inc., Chapter
2.1 (1995)).
[0098] Any protein and peptide can be used, so long as they can
activate various immune response. Examples include interferon
molecules, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) (Science, 193, 1007 (1976))
and interleukin-12 (IL-12) (J. Leuc. Biol., 55, 280 (1994));
colony-stimulating factors, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating
factor (G-CSF) (J. Biol. Chem., 256, 9017 (1983)), macrophage
colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (J. Exp. Med., 173, 269 (1992))
and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MG-GCSF) (J.
Biol. Chem., 252, 1998 (1977)); growth factors, such as
erythropoietin (EPO) (J. Biol. Chem., 252, 5558 (1977)) and
thrombopoietin (TPO) (Nature, 369, 533 (1994)); and the like.
[0099] The activities of protein and peptide of the present
invention are activities of various immunocompetent cells including
lymphocytes (T cell, B cell and the like) and macrophage, or
various immune response reactions, when the sugar chain-containing
protein and peptide are administered into the living body.
[0100] The promotion of activities of protein and peptide of the
present invention includes activation of NYC cell and T cell by
IL-2 and IL-12, promotion activities of erythrocyte production by
EPO and the like which are further increased.
1. Method for Analyzing Sugar Chain of Immunologically Functional
Molecule
[0101] (1) Compositional Analysis of Neutral Sugar and
Aminosugar
[0102] As described above, the sugar chain of IgG comprises a
neutral sugar, such as galactose, mannose, fucose or the like, an
aminosugar, such as N-acetylglucosamine or the like, and an acidic
sugar, such as sialic acid or the like.
[0103] Regarding compositional analysis of the sugar chain of an
antibody, the compositional ratio can be analyzed by releasing
neutral sugars or amino sugars by acid hydrolysis of the sugar
chain.
[0104] Specific methods include a method using a sugar composition
analyzer (BioLC) manufactured by Dionex. The BioLC is an apparatus
for analyzing sugar composition by HPAEC-PAD (high performance
anion-exchange chromatography pulsed amperometric detection) method
(J. Litz. Chromatogr., 6, 1577 (1983)).
[0105] The compositional ratio can also be analyzed by a
fluorescence labeling method using 2-aminopyridine. Specifically,
the compositional ratio can be calculated by fluorescence-labeling
an acid-hydrolyzed sample with 2-aminopyridine in accordance with a
known method (Agric. Biol. Chem., 55(1), 283-284 (1991)) and
carrying out HPLC analysis.
(2) Sugar Chain Structure Analysis
[0106] The structure of the sugar chain of an antibody can be
analyzed by a two-dimensional sugar chain mapping method (Anal.
Biochem., 171, 73 (1988), Biochemical Experimentation Method
23--Method for Studying Glycoprotein Sugar Chains (Gakkai Shuppan
Center), edited by Reiko Takahashi (1989)). The two-dimensional
sugar chain mapping method is a method in which the sugar chain
structure is estimated, for example, by plotting the retention time
or eluting position of the sugar chain by reverse phase
chromatography as the X axis and the retention time or eluting
position of the sugar chain by a normal phase chromatography as the
Y axis, and comparing the results with those of known sugar
chains.
[0107] Specifically, the sugar chain is released from the antibody
by hydrazinolysis of the antibody, fluorescence labeling of the
sugar chain with 2-aminopyridine (hereinafter referred to as "PA")
(J. Biochem., 95, 197 (1984)) is carried out, and then the sugar
chain is separated from an excess PA reagent and the like by gel
filtration and subjected to reverse phase chromatography.
Subsequently, each peak of the fractionated sugar chain is analyzed
by normal phase chromatography. Based on these results, the sugar
chain structure can be estimated by plotting the spots on a
two-dimensional sugar chain map and comparing them with those of
sugar chain standards (manufactured by Takara Shuzo) or a reference
(Anal. Biochem., 171, 73 (1988)).
[0108] In addition, the structure estimated by the two-dimensional
sugar chain mapping method can be confirmed by mass spectrometry,
such as MALDI-TOF-MS or the like, of each sugar chain.
2. Method for Controlling the Activity of Immunologically
Functional Molecule
[0109] The method of the present invention for controlling the
activity of an immunologically functional molecule is described
below using immunoglobulin G (hereinafter referred to as "IgG") as
an example.
[0110] The N-glycoside-linked sugar chain which binds to IgG is a
biantennary composite sugar chain mainly having the following
structure (hereinafter referred to as "biantennary").
##STR00006##
[0111] The present invention also includes similar sugar chains
wherein an acidic sugar, sialic acid, is further added to Gal of
the non-reducing terminal of N-glycoside-linked sugar chain or a
bisecting N-acetylglucosamine is added to the N-glycoside-linked
sugar chain.
[0112] In an IgG type, an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain is bound
to one position in the Fc region. Since an IgG type comprises two H
chains, the Fc moiety is present at two positions in one antibody
molecule. Accordingly, the sugar chain binding region is also
present at two positions.
[0113] The activity of IgG changes depending on the number of
N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in which fucose is not bound to
N-acetylglucosamine, to be added to the above two sugar chain
binding regions. That is, when the N-glycoside-linked sugar chain
in which fucose is not bound to N-acetylglueosamine is added to at
least one of the sugar chain binding regions, the activity of the
immunologically functional molecule is increased. As an example,
the degree of the activity of IgG will be as follows: FO antibody
>F1 antibody >F2 antibody, wherein the FO antibody designates
an antibody in which the N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in which
fucose is not bound to N-acetylglucosamine is added to both of the
two sugar chain binding regions; the F1 antibody designates an
antibody in which the N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in which
fucose is not bound to N-acetylglucosamine is added to one of the
sugar chain binding regions; and the F2 antibody designates an
antibody in which the N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in which
fucose is bound to N-acetylglucosamine is added to both of the
sugar chain binding regions.
[0114] The produced antibody may not always have a single sugar
chain structure, and the FO antibody, F1 antibody and F2 antibody
may be present as a mixture when the presence or absence of fucose
is taken into consideration. In order to control ADCC activity of
the produced antibody, the sugar chain bound to the antibody is
analyzed using the above method for analyzing the sugar chain of an
immunologically functional molecule, and using the analyzed result
as an index.
[0115] ADCC activity of the produced antibody may be promoted by
increasing the existing ratio of the F1 antibody and FO antibody.
Specifically, the F1 antibody and FO antibody may be purified, or
expression in a host cell may be regulated in such a manner that
the N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in which fucose is not bound to
N-acetylglucosamine is added to the immunologically functional
molecule.
[0116] ADCC activity of the produced antibody may be inhibited by
increasing the existing ratio of the F2 antibody. Specifically, the
F2 antibody may be purified, or expression in a host cell may be
regulated in such a manner that the N-glycoside-linked sugar chain
in which fucose is bound to N-acetylglucossmine is added to the
immunologically functional molecule.
[0117] As described above, strength of the desired activity can be
controlled by regulating the existing ratio of FO antibody, F1
antibody and F2 antibody.
3. Method for Producing Immunologically Functional Molecule
[0118] A method for producing. an immunologically functional
molecule having an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in which fucose
is not bound to N-acetylglucosamine or an immunologically
functional molecule having an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in
which fucose is bound to N-acetylglucosamine is described
below.
[0119] In order to bind a desired sugar chain to an antibody, a
peptide or a protein, it can be produced by introducing a gene
encoding the antibody, peptide or protein of interest into a host
cell and culturing the resulting cell. Alternatively, it can also
be produced by introducing a gene encoding the antibody, peptide or
protein of interest into an animal or a plant and culturing the
resulting animal or plant.
[0120] The host cell, animal or plant useful in the production of
an immunologically functional molecule having an N-glycoside-linked
sugar chain in which fucose is not bound to N-acetylglucosamine may
be any cell, animal or plant, so long as, for example, it has a low
enzyme activity of adding fucose to the N-acetylglucosamine which
binds to the Fc region of an antibody or does not have the enzyme
activity. Examples of the cell which has a low enzyme activity of
adding fucose to the N-acetylglucosamine that binds to the Fc
region of the antibody or does not have the enzyme activity include
a rat myeloma cell, YB2/3HL.P2.G11.16Ag.20 cell (ATCC CRL 1662
(hereinafter referred to as "YB2/0 cell")), and the like.
[0121] Also, a cell, animal or plant having a low or no enzyme
activity related to an .alpha.1,6 bond may be made, for example, by
deleting a gene encoding the .alpha.1,6 bond-related enzyme in the
host cell, animal or plant or by adding a mutation to the gene to
reduce or eliminate the enzyme activity, and may be used as a host
cell, animal or plant. The .alpha.1,6 bond-related enzyme includes
fucosyltransferases, and is preferably
.alpha.1,6-fucosyltransferase (hereinafter referred to as
"FUT8").
[0122] The host cell, animal or plant for use in the production of
an immunologically functional molecule having an N-glycoside-linked
sugar chain in which fucose is bound to N-acetylglucosamine may be
any cell, animal or plant, so long as, for example, it has a high
enzyme activity of adding fucose to the N-acetylglucosamine which
binds to the Fc region of an antibody.
[0123] Also, a cell, animal or plant which has a high enzyme
activity related to an .alpha.1,6 bond can be prepared by
introducing a gene encoding the .alpha.1,6 bond-related enzyme in
the host cell, animal or plant or by adding a mutation to the gene
to increase the enzyme activity, and may be used as a host cell,
animal or plant. The .alpha.1,6 bond-related enzyme includes
fucosyltransferases, and is preferably FUT8.
[0124] Host cells may be any of bacteria, yeast, animal cells,
insect cells, plant cells and the like, so long as they can express
the gene of interest.
[0125] Examples of bacterial host cells include microorganisms
belonging to the genus Esaherichia, the genus Serratia, the genus
Bacillus, the genus Brevibacterium, the genus Corynebacterium, the
genus Microbacterium, the genus Pseudomonas and the like, such as
Escherichia coli XL1-Blue, Escherichia coli XL2-Blue, Escherichia
coli DB1, Escherichia coli MC1000, Escherichia coli KY3276,
Escherichia coli W1485, Escherichia coli JM109, Escherichia coli
HB101, Escherichia coli No. 49, Escherichia coli W3110, Escherichia
coli NY49, Escherichia coli GI698, Escherichia coli TB1, Serratia
ficaria, Serratia fonticola, Serratia liquefaciens, Serratia
marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,
Brevibacterium ammoniagenes, Brevibacterium immariophilum ATCC
14068, Brevibacterium saccharolytieum ATCC 14066, Brevibacterium
flavum ATCC 14067, Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869,
Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032, Corynebacterium glutamicum
ATCC 13869, Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum ATCC 13870,
Microbacterium ammoniaphilum ATCC 15354, Pseudomonas putida,
Pseudomonas sp. D-0110 and the like.
[0126] Examples of yeast host cells includes microorganisms
belonging to the genus Saccharamyces, the genus
Schizosaccharomyces, the genus Kluyveromyces, the genus
Trichosporon, the genus Schwanniomyces, the genus Pichia, the genus
Candida and the like, such as Saccharamyces cerevisiae,
Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis, Trichosporon
pullulans, Schwanniomyces alluvius, Candida utilis and the
like.
[0127] Examples of animal host cells include mouse myeloma cells,
such as NS0 cell and SP2/0 cell; Chinese hamster ovary cells, such
as CHO/dhfr.sup.- cell and CHO/DG44 cell; rat myeloma cells, such
as YB2/0 cell and IR983F cell; monkey cells, such as COS cell;
human myeloma cells, such as Namalwa cell; and the like.
Preferably, Chinese hamster ovary cells, such as CHO/DC44 cell and
the like, can be used.
[0128] Examples of insect host cells include Spodoptera frugiperda
ovary cells, such as Sf9 and Sf21 (Baculovirus Expression Vectors,
A Laboratory Manual, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York (1992)); a
Trichoplusia ni ovary cell such as High 5 (manufactured by
Invitrogen); and the like.
[0129] Examples of plant host cells include plant cells of tobacco,
potato, tomato, carrot, soybean, rape, alfalfa, rice, wheat, barley
and the like.
[0130] An immunologically functional molecule can be produced by
culturing the obtained transformant in a medium to form and
accumulate the immunologically functional molecule in the resulting
culture, and then recovering it from the culture.
[0131] In addition, an immunologically functional molecule can also
be produced by constructing a transgenic animal or plant and
culturing the resulting animal or plant.
[0132] The animal or plant for the production of an immunologically
functional molecule having an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in
which fucose is not bound to N-acetylglucosamine may be any animal
or plant, so long as, for example, it has a low enzyme activity of
adding fucose to the N-acetylglucosamine which binds to the Fc
region of an antibody or does not have the enzyme activity.
[0133] Also, a knockout non-human animal or knockout plant having a
low or no enzyme activity related to an .alpha.1,6 bond may be
prepared by deleting a gene encoding the .alpha.1,6 bond-related
enzyme in the animal or plant or by adding a mutation to the gene
to reduce or eliminate the enzyme activity, and may be used. The
al, 6 bond-related enzyme includes fucosyltransferases, and is
preferably FUT8.
[0134] Any animal or plant may be used as an animal or plant for
use in the production of an immunologically functional molecule
having an N-glycoside-linked sugar chain in which fucose is bound
to N-acetylglucosamine, so long as, for example, with regard to an
antigen, it has a high enzyme activity of adding fucose to the
N-acetylglucosamine which binds to the Fc region of the
antibody.
[0135] Also, a transgenic non-human animal or transgenic plant
which has a high enzyme activity related to an .alpha.1,6 bond may
be prepared by introducing a gene encoding the .alpha.1,6
bond-related enzyme in the animal or plant or by adding a mutation
to the gene to increase the enzyme activity, and may be used. The
.alpha.1,6 bond-related enzyme includes fucosyltransferases, and is
preferably FUT8.
[0136] The transgenic non-human animal can be obtained by directly
injecting a desired gene into a fertilized egg (Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA., 77, 7380 (1980)).
[0137] The transgenic non-human animals include mouse, rat, rabbit,
fowl, goat, cattle and the like.
[0138] Also, a transgenic non-human animal or knockout non-human
animal having a desired gene can be obtained by introducing the
desired gene into an embryonic stem cell and preparing the animal
by an aggregation chimera method or injection chimera method
(Manipulating the Mouse Embryo, A Laboratory Manual, Second
Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1994); Gene
Targeting, A Practical Approach, IRL Press at Oxford University
Press (1993); Biomaterial Series 8, Gene Targeting, Preparation of
mutation mouse using ES cell, Yodo-sha {1995)).
[0139] Examples of the embryonic stem cell include embryonic stem
cells of mouse (Nature, 292, 154 (1981)), rat, fowl, pig, monkey,
goat, cattle and the like.
[0140] In addition, the transgenic non-human animal or knockout
non-human animal can also be prepared using a clonal technique in
which a nucleus into which a desired gene is introduced is
transplanted into an enucleated egg (Science, 280, 1256; {1998);
Science, 278, 824, (1997)).
[0141] An immunologically functional molecule can be produced by
introducing DNA encoding the immunologically functional molecule
into an animal prepared by the above method to thereby form and
accumulate the immunologically functional molecule in the animal,
and then collecting the immunologically functional molecule from
the animal. The immunologically functional molecule may be made to
be formed and accumulated in the milk (Japanese Published
Unexamined Patent Application No. 309192/88), egg or the like of
the animal.
[0142] The method for producing a transgenic plant is described,
for example, in a reference (Biol. Chem., 380, 825 (1999)) and the
like. The method for producing a knockout plant is described, for
example, in a reference (Plant Journal, 11, 1195 (1997)).
[0143] Regarding the method for producing an immunologically
functional molecule using a plant, the immunologically functional
molecule can be produced, for example, by culturing a transgenic
plant into which DNA encoding the immunologically functional
molecule is introduced, in accordance with a known method (Tissue
Culture, 20, (1994); Tissue Culture, 21, (1995); Trends in
Biotechnology, 15, 45 (1997)) to thereby form and accumulate the
immunologically functional molecule in the plant, and then
collecting the immunologically functional molecule from the
plant.
[0144] In addition, a gene-modified animal capable of producing an
immunologically functional molecule having an N-glycoside-linked
sugar chain in which fucose is not bound to N-acetylglucosamine or
an immunologically functional molecule having an N-glycoside-linked
sugar chain in which fucose is bound to N-acetylglucosamine can be
obtained by crossing a transgenic non-human animal or knockout
non-human animal of a fucosyltransferase, preferably FUT8, with a
homologous but different line of the transgenic animal of a desired
immunologically functional molecule. The crossing method includes
natural crossing, in vitro fertilization and the like.
[0145] Also, it is possible to carry out mass production of the
sugar chain by introducing a group of genes encoding the isolated
enzymes and the like into yeast, E. coli and the like (Nature
Biotechnology, 16, 847 (1998)). Further, the produced enzyme can be
used in the modification of an antibody, peptide or protein with
the sugar chain or production thereof.
[0146] In addition, a sugar chain which promotes the activity of an
immunologically functional molecule, according to the present
invention, can be substituted with a peptide (J. Immunol., 160, 293
(1998)). Such a peptide has utility in the above method for
utilizing sugar chains and is also excellent in view of
convenience, because it can be, easily fused with an
immunologically functional molecule.
[0147] A method for producing an immunologically functional
molecule having a promoted immunologically functional activity is
described below. While a method for producing a humanized antibody
is described herein as an example, other immunologically functional
molecules can be prepared by the above-mentioned method or in
accordance with a method similar thereto.
4. Method for Producing Humanized Antibody
(1) Construction of Vector for Humanized Antibody Expression
[0148] The vector for humanized antibody expression is an
expression vector for use in an animal cell into which genes
encoding the heavy chain (hereinafter referred to as "H chain") and
light Chain (hereinafter referred to as "L chain") C regions of a
human antibody are inserted, and can be constructed by cloning each
of genes encoding the H chain and L chain C regions of a human
antibody into an expression vector for animal cell.
[0149] The C regions of a human antibody may be H chain and L chain
C regions of a suitable human antibody, and examples include the C
region of an IgG1 subclass of a human antibody H chain (hereinafter
referred to as "hC.gamma.1"), the C region of an .kappa. class of a
human antibody L chain (hereinafter referred to as "hC.kappa.") and
the like.
[0150] The genes encoding the H chain and L chain C regions of a
human antibody may be a chromosomal DNA comprising exon and intron,
or a cDNA.
[0151] The expression vector for animal cell may be any vector, so
long as a gene encoding the C region of a human antibody can be
inserted and expressed. Examples include pAGE107 (Cytotechnology,
3, 133 (1990)), pAGE103 (J. Biochem., 101, 1307 (1987)), pHSG274
(Gene, 27, 223 (1984)), pKCR (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78, 1527
{1981), pSG1 .beta. d2-4 (Cytotechnology, 4, 173 (1990)) and the
like. The promoter and enhancer to be used in the expression vector
for animal cell include SV40 early promoter and enhancer (J.
Biochem., 101, 1307 (1987)), Moloney mouse leukemia virus LTR
(Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comun., 149, 960 (1987)), immunoglobulin H
chain promoter (Cell, 41, 479 (1985)) and enhancer (Cell, 33, 717
(1983)) and the like.
[0152] The vector for humanized antibody expression may be any of a
vector in which the antibody H chain and L chain are present on
separate vectors or a vector in which they are present on the same
vector (hereinafter referred to as "tandem vector"); however, a
tandem vector for humanized antibody expression is preferable
because such tandem humanized antibody expression vectors are
easily constructed and introduced into an animal cell and
expression amounts of the antibody H chain and L chain in the
animal cell can be balanced (J. Immunol. Methods, 167, 271
(1994)).
[0153] The constructed vector for humanized antibody expression can
be used for the expression of a human chimeric antibody and a human
CDR-grafted antibody in animal cells.
[0154] (2) Preparation of cDNA Encoding V Region of Antibody
Derived from Animal Other than Human
[0155] cDNA encoding the H chain and L chain V regions of an
antibody derived from an animal other than human, such as a mouse
antibody, can be obtained as described below.
[0156] cDNA is synthesized by extracting mRNA from a hybridoma cell
capable of producing the mouse antibody of interest. The
synthesized cDNA is cloned into a vector, such as a phage, a
plasmid or the like, to prepare a cDNA library. A recombinant phage
or recombinant plasmid containing a cDNA encoding the H chain V
region and a recombinant phage or recombinant plasmid containing a
cDNA encoding the L chain V region are respectively isolated from
the library using a C region moiety or V region moiety of a known
mouse antibody as the probe. Complete nucleotide sequences of the
mouse antibody H chain and L chain V regions of interest on the
recombinant phage or recombinant plasmid are determined, and full
amino acid sequences of the H chain and L chain V regions are
deduced from the nucleotide sequences.
[0157] The animal other than human may be any animal, such as
mouse, rat, hamster, rabbit or the like, so long as a hybridoma
cell can be produced therefrom.
[0158] The method for preparing total RNA from a hybridoma cell
includes a guanidine thiocyanate-cesium trifluoroacetate method
(Methods in Enzymol., 154, 3 (1987)). The method for preparing mRNA
from total RNA includes an oligo (dT) immobilized cellulose column
method (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor
Lab. Press, New York, 1989) and the like. Also, Fast Track mRNA
Isolation Kit (manufactured by Invitrogen), Quick Prep mRNA
Purification Kit (manufactured by Pharmacia) and the like can be
exemplified as a kit for preparing mRNA from a hybridoma cell.
[0159] Examples of the method for synthesizing cDNA and preparing a
cDNA library include conventional methods (Molecular Cloning: A
Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, New York, 1989;
Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Supplement 1-34), a method
which uses a commercially available kit, such as Super Script.TM.
Plasmid System for cDNA Synthesis and Plasmid Cloning (manufactured
by GIBCO NRL) or ZAP-cDNA Kit (manufactured by Stratagene) and the
like.
[0160] The vector into which the cDNA synthesized using mRNA
extracted from a hybridoma cell is inserted in preparing a cDNA
library may be any vector, so long as the cDNA can be inserted.
Examples include ZAP Express (Strategies, 5, 58 (1992)),
pBluescript II SK(+) (Nucleic Acids Research, 17, 9494 (1989)),
.lamda.zapII; (manufactured by Stratagene), .lamda.gt10 and
.lamda.gt11 (DNA Cloning: A Practical Approach, I, 49 (1985)),
Lambda BlueMid (manufactured by Clontech), .lamda.ExCell and pT7T3
18U (manufactured by Pharmacia), pcD2 (Mol. Cell. Biol., 3, 280
(1983)), pUC18 (Gene, 33, 103 (1985)) and the like.
[0161] The E. coli to be used for introducing the cDNA library
constructed by a phage or plasmid vector may be any strain, so long
as the cDNA library can be introduced, expressed and maintained.
Examples include XL1-Blue MRF' (Strategies, 5, 81 (1992)), C600
(Genetics, 39, 440 (1954)), Y1088 and Y1090 (Science, 222, 778
(1983)), NM522 (J. Mol. Biol., 166, 1 (1983)), K802 (J. Mol. Biol.,
16, 118 (1966)), JM105 (Gene, 38, 275 (1985)) and the like.
[0162] A colony hybridization or plaque hybridization method which
uses an isotope- or fluorescence-labeled probe may be used for
selecting a cDNA clone encoding the H chain and L chain V regions
of an antibody derived from an animal other than human from the
cDNA library (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring
Harbor Lab. Press, New York, 1989). Also, the cDNA encoding the H
chain and L chain V regions can be prepared through polymerase
chain reaction (hereinafter referred to as "PCR"; Molecular
Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, New
York, 1989; Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Supplement
1-34) by preparing primers and using cDNA prepared from mRNA or a
cDNA library as the template.
[0163] The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA selected by the above
method can be determined by digesting the cDNA with appropriate
restriction enzymes and the like, cloning the fragments into a
plasmid, such as pBluescript SK(-) (manufactured by Stratagene) or
the like, carrying out the reaction by a usually used nucleotide
analyzing method, such as, the dideoxy method of Sanger et al.
(Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 74, 5463 (1977)) or the like, and then
analyzing the sequence using an automatic nucleotide sequence
analyzer such as A.L.F. DNA sequencer (manufactured by Pharmacia)
or the like.
[0164] Whether the obtained cDNA encodes the full amino acid
sequence of the H chain and L chain V regions of the antibody
containing a secretion signal sequence can be confirmed by
estimating the full amino acid sequence of the H chain and L chain
V regions from the determined nucleotide sequence and comparing it
with full amino acid sequences of the H chain and L chain V regions
of known antibodies (Sequences of Proteins of Immunological
Interest, US Dept. Health and Human Services, 1991).
(3) Analysis of V Region Amino Acid Sequence of Antibody Derived
from Animal Other than Human
[0165] Regarding the full amino acid sequence of the H chain and L
chain V regions of the antibody comprising a secretion signal
sequence, the length and N-terminal amino acid sequence of the
secretion signal sequence can be estimated and subgroups to which
they belong can be known by comparing it with full amino acid
sequences of the H chain and L chain V regions of known antibodies
(Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, US Dept. Health
and Human Services, 1991). Each CDR amino acid sequence of the H
chain and L chain V regions can also be identified by comparing it
with amino acid sequences of the H chain and L chain V regions of
known antibodies (Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest,
US Dep. Health and Human Services, 1991).
(4) Construction of Human Chimeric Antibody Expression Vector
[0166] A human chimeric antibody expression vector can be
constructed by cloning cDNA encoding the H chain and L Chain V
regions of an antibody derived from an animal other than human into
the upstream of a gene encoding the H chain and L chain c regions
of a human antibody on the humanized antibody expression vector
described in the item 4(1). For example, a human chimeric antibody
expression vector can be produced by connecting cDNAs encoding the
H chain and L chain V regions derived from an antibody of an animal
other than human respectively with a synthetic cDNA which comprises
a 3'-terminal side nucleotide sequences of the H chain and L chain
V regions of an antibody derived from an animal other than human, a
N-terminal side nucleotide sequence of the H chain and L chain C
regions derived from a human antibody and appropriate restriction
enzyme recognizing sequences on both termini, and cloning them into
the upstream of a gene encoding the H chain and L chain C regions
of a human antibody on the humanized antibody expression vector
described in the item 4(1) in such a manner that they are expressed
in a suitable form.
(5) Construction of cDNA Encoding V Region of Human CDR-Grafted
Antibody
[0167] The CDNA encoding the H chain and L chain V regions derived
from a human CDR-grafted antibody can be obtained as described
below. First, the amino acid sequence of the framework (hereinafter
referred to as "FR") of the H chain and L chain V regions of a
human antibody for grafting CDR of the H chain and L chain V
regions of an antibody derived from an animal other than human is
selected. Any sequence can be used as the amino acid sequence of FR
of the H chain and L chain V regions of a human antibody, so long
as it is derived from a human antibody. For example, amino acid
sequences of FR of the H chain and L chain V regions of human
antibodies registered at a data base, such as Protein Data Sank or
the like, an amino acid sequence common in each subgroup of FR of
the B chain and L chain V regions of human antibodies (Sequences of
Proteins of Immunological Interest, US Dept. Health and Human
Services, 1991) and the like can be used, but in order to prepare a
human CDR-grafted antibody having sufficient activity, it is
desirable to select an amino acid sequence having a high homology
(at least 60% or more) with the objective amino acid sequence of
the H chain and L chain V regions of an antibody derived from an
animal other than human.
[0168] Next, the objective amino acid sequence of CDR of the H
chain and L chain V regions of an antibody derived from an animal
other than human is grafted to the selected amino acid sequence of
FR of the H chain and L chain V regions a human antibody, and amino
acid sequences of the H chain and L chain V regions of the human
CDR-grafted antibody are designed. Taking the codon usage found in
nucleotide sequence of the antibody gene (Sequences of Proteins of
Immunological Interest, US Dept. Health and Human Services, 1991)
into consideration, the designed amino acid sequences are converted
into DNA sequences and the DNA sequences encoding the amino acid
sequences of the H chain and L chain V regions of the human
CDR-grafted antibody are designed. Based on the designed DNA
sequences, several synthetic DNA fragments having a length about
100 bases are synthesized, and PCR is carried out using these
fragments. In this case, based on the reaction efficiency in the
PCR and the length of DNA which can be synthesized, it is desirable
to design 6 synthetic DNA fragments for each of the H chain and L
chain.
[0169] Also, cloning into the vector. for humanized antibody
expression constructed in the item 4(1) can be easily carried out
by introducing appropriate restriction enzyme recognizing sequences
into 5'-termini of the synthetic DNA positioned at both termini.
After the PCR, a plasmid having a DNA sequence encoding the amino
acid sequence of the H chain and L chain V regions of the desired
human CDR-grafted antibody is obtained by cloning the amplified
product into plasmid, such as pBluescript SK(-) (manufactured by
Stratagene) or the like, and determining the nucleotide sequence by
the method described in the item 4(2).
(6) Modification of Amino Acid Sequence of V Region of Human
CDR-Grafted Antibody
[0170] It is known that when only the CDR of the H chain and L
chain V regions of an antibody derived from an animal other than
human of interest is simply grafted to the FR of the H chain and L
chain V regions of a human antibody, the antigen binding activity
of the human CDR-grafted antibody is reduced in comparison with the
activity of the original antibody derived from an animal other than
human (BIO/TECHNOLOGY, 9, 266 (1991)). As the cause of this, it is
considered that not only amino acid sequences of CDR but also
several amino acid sequences of FR in the H chain and L chain V
regions of the original antibody derived from an animal other than
the human are directly or indirectly related to the antigen binding
activity, and these amino acid residues are changed into different
amino acid residues of FR of the H chain and L chain V regions of
the human antibody accompanied by the CDR grafting. In order to
resolve this problem, in human CDR-grafted antibodies, attempts
have been made to identify, among amino acid sequences of PR of the
H chain and L chain V regions of a human antibody, an amino acid
residue directly related to the binding to the antibody, an amino
acid residue interacting with an amino acid residue of CDR and/or
an amino acid residue which keeps three-dimensional structure of
the antibody and is directly related to its binding to the antigen,
and to increase the reduced antigen binding activity by changing
these amino acid residues into amino acid residues found in the
original antibody derived from an animal other than human
(BIO/TECHNOLOGY, 9, 266 (1991)).
[0171] In preparing a human CDR-grafted antibody, it is preferable
to efficiently identify these FR amino acid residues related to the
antigen binding activity, such that construction and analysis of
the three-dimensional structure of antibodies is preferably carried
out using an x-ray crystal analysis (J. Mol Biol., 112, 535
(1977)), computer modeling (Protein Engineering, 7, 1501 (1994))
and the like. Although information on these three-dimensional
structures of antibodies has provided useful information for the
preparation of human CDR-grafted antibodies, a method for producing
a human CDR-grafted antibody applicable to every antibody has not
ye been established. It is preferable therefore to carry out
various trial and error experiments on individual antibody, e.g.,
by preparing several modified products thereof and examining their
correlation to the respective antigen binding activities.
[0172] Modification of the amino acid residues of the FR of the H
chain and L chain V regions of a human antibody can be achieved by
the PCR described in the item 4(5) using synthetic DNA for further
modification. Achievement of the objective modification is
confirmed by determining nucleotide sequence of the amplified
fragment after PCR, by the method described in the item 4(2).
(7) Construction, of Human CDR-Grafted Antibody Expression
Vector
[0173] A human CDR-grafted antibody expression vector can be
constructed by cloning the cDNA encoding the H chain and L chain V
regions of human CDR-grafted antibody constructed in the items 4(5)
and 4(6) into the upstream of the gene encoding the H chain and L
chain C regions of a human antibody in the humanized antibody
expression vector described in the item 4(1). For example, among
the synthetic DNA fragments used in constructing the H chain and L
chain V regions of human CDR-grafted antibody in (5) and (6) of the
item 4, appropriate restriction enzyme recognizing sequences are
introduced into 5'-termini of a synthetic DNA fragment positioned
at both termini, and cloned into the upstream of the gene encoding
the H chain and L chain C regions of a human antibody in the vector
for humanized antibody expression described in the item 4(1), in
such a manner that they can be expressed in a suitable form to
thereby construct a human CDR-grafted antibody expression
vector.
(8) Stable Production of Humanized Antibody
[0174] A transformant capable of producing a humanized antibody
stably can be obtained by introducing the humanized antibody
expression vector described in the items 4(4) and 4(7) into an
appropriate animal cell.
[0175] The method for introducing an expression vector into an
animal cell includes an electroporation method (Japanese Published
Unexamined Patent Application No. 257891/90, Cytotechnology, 3, 133
(1990)) and the like.
[0176] The animal cell into which a humanized antibody expression
vector is introduced may be any cell, so long as it is an animal
cell which can produce the humanized antibody. Preferred examples
include a cell which has a low enzyme activity of adding fucose to
N-acetylglucosamine to be bound to the Fc region of the produced
antibody and a cell which has no such enzyme activity.
[0177] The cell which has a low enzyme activity of adding fucose to
N-acetylglucosamine to be bound to the Fc region of the antibody or
has no such enzyme activity is a cell having less or no enzymes
related to the .alpha.1,6-bond. Examples include a cell which has a
low fucosyltransferase activity, preferably FUT8 activity, and a
cell which has no such activity.
[0178] Examples of the cell which has a low enzyme activity of
adding fucose to N-acetylglucosamine to be bound to the Fc region
of the antibody or has no enzyme activity include a rat myeloma
cell, YB2/0 cell, and the like. A cell in which a gene involved in
the .alpha.1,6 bond-related enzyme is deleted or the enzyme
activity is reduced or eliminated by adding a mutation to the gene
can also be used as an antibody producing cell.
[0179] Specific examples include mouse myeloma cells, such as NS0
cell and SP2/0 cell; Chinese hamster ovary cells, such as
CHO/dhfr.sup.- cell and CHO/DG44 cell; rat myeloma cells, such as
YB2/0 cell and IR983F cell; human myeloma cells, such as Namalwa
cell; and the like. Preferably, Chinese hamster ovary cells, such
as CHO/DG44 cell and the like, can be used.
[0180] After introduction of the expression vector, the trans
ferment capable of stably producing the humanized antibody can be
selected using a medium for animal cell culture containing a drug,
such as G418 sulfate (hereinafter referred to as "G418";
manufactured by SIGMA) or the like by the method disclosed in
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 257891/90. The
medium for animal cell culture includes RPMI 1640 medium
(manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical), GIT medium (manufactured
by Nippon Pharmaceutical), EX-CELL 302 medium (manufactured by
JRH), IMDM medium (manufactured by GIBCO BRL), Hybridoma-SFM medium
(manufactured by GIBCO BRL), or a medium prepared by adding various
additives, such as fetal bovine serum (hereinafter referred to as
"PBS") and the like, to each of these media, and the like. The
humanized antibody can be produced by culturing the obtained
transformant in a medium, and accumulated in a culture supernatant.
The produced amount and antigen binding activity of the humanized
antibody in the culture supernatant can be measured by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (hereinafter referred to as
"ELISA"; Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory, Chapter 14, 1998; Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and
Practice, Academic Press Limited, 1996) and the like. Also,
production of the humanized antibody by the transformant can be
increased using a DHFR gene amplification system or the like by the
method disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Application No. 257891/90.
[0181] The humanized antibody can be purified from a
transformant-containing culture supernatant using a protein A
column (Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory, Chapter 8, 1988; Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and
Practice, Academic Press Limited, 1996). Also, other purification
methods generally used for the purification of protein can be used.
For example, it can be purified by a combination of gel filtration,
ion exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and the like. The
molecular weight of the H chain, L chain or whole antibody molecule
of the purified humanized antibody can be measured by
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (hereinafter referred to as
"SDS-PAGE"; Nature, 227, 680 (1970)), Western blotting method
(Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,
Chapter 12, 1988; Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice,
Academic Press Limited, 1996) and the like.
[0182] An antibody production method has been shown in the above
using an animal cell as the host, and as described in the above
item 3, it can also be produced by a bacterium, a yeast, an insect
cell, a plant cell, an animal or a plant.
(9) Activity Evaluation of Humanized Antibody
[0183] The activity of the purified humanized antibody to bind to
an antigen or to an antigen-positive cultured cell line can be
measured by the ELISA and fluorescence antibody method (Cancer
Immunol. Immunother., 36, 373 (1993)) and the like. The cytotoxic
activity for antigen-positive cultured cell lines can be evaluated
by measuring its CDC activity, ADCC activity and the like (Cancer
Immunol. Immunother., 36, 373 (1993)). In addition, safety and
therapeutic effects of the humanized antibody in humans can be
evaluated using an appropriate model of an animal species
relatively close to human, such as Macaca faseicularis or the
like.
5. Application Method of Immunologically Functional Molecule
[0184] As shown in the humanized antibody described in the above
item 4, an antibody having high ADCC activity is useful in the
prevention and treatment of various diseases including a cancer, an
allergy, a cardiovascular disease and a viral or bacterial
infection.
[0185] In cancer, namely a malignant tumor, cancer cells
proliferate. Conventional anticancer agents have a characteristic
in inhibiting proliferation of cancer cells. On the other hand,
since an antibody having high ADCC activity can treat cancers by
injuring proliferation of the cancer cells through its cytotoxic
effect, it is more effective as a therapeutic drug than
conventional anticancer agents.
[0186] Since the allergic reaction is induced by the release of a
mediator molecule from immune cells, the allergic reaction can be
inhibited by removing the immune cells using an antibody having
high ADCC activity.
[0187] The cardiovascular disease includes arteriosclerosis and the
like. Arterosclerosis is currently treated by balloon catheter, but
cardiovascular diseases can be prevented and treated by inhibiting
proliferation of arterial cells in re-stricture after the
treatment, by using an antibody having high ADCC activity.
[0188] Various diseases including viral or bacterial infections can
be prevented and treated by inhibiting proliferation of the virus-
or bacterium-infected cells using an antibody having high ADCC
activity.
[0189] Also, an antibody having inhibited ADCC activity is useful
in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The
antibody having inhibited ADCC activity is also useful in the
prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases from the viewpoint
of suppressing the immune response promoted in autoimmune
diseases.
[0190] The medicament containing the antibody according to the
present invention can be administered as a therapeutic drug alone,
but generally, it is desirable to provide it as a pharmaceutical
preparation produced by an appropriate method well known in the
technical field of manufacturing pharmacy, by mixing it with one or
more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
[0191] It is desirable to select a route of administration which is
most effective in carrying out a treatment. Examples include oral
administration and parenteral administration, such as buccal,
airway, rectal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or the
like. In an antibody preparation, intravenous administration is
preferred.
[0192] The dosage form includes sprays, capsules, tablets,
granules, syrups, emulsions, suppositories, injections, ointments,
tapes and the like.
[0193] Liquid preparations, such as emulsions and syrups, can be
produced using, as additives, water; saccharides, such as sucrose,
sorbitol, fructose, etc.; glycols, such as polyethylene glycol,
propylene glycol, etc.; oils, such as sesame oil, olive oil,
soybean oil, etc.; antiseptics, such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid
esters, etc.; flavors, such as strawberry flavor, peppermint, etc.;
and the like.
[0194] Capsules, tablets, powders, granules and the like can be
produced using, as additive, fillers, such as lactose, glucose,
sucrose, mannitol, etc.; disintegrating agents, such as starch,
sodium alginate, etc.; lubricants, such as magnesium stearate,
talc, etc.; binders, such as polyvinyl alcohol,
hydroxypropylcellulose, gelatin, etc.; surfactants, such as fatty
acid ester, etc.; plasticizers, such as glycerol, etc.; and the
like.
[0195] Examples of the pharmaceutical preparation suitable for
parenteral administration include injections, suppositories, sprays
and the like.
[0196] Injections may be prepared using a carrier, such as a salt
solution, a glucose solution, a mixture of both thereof or the
like. Alternatively, powdered injections can be prepared by
freeze-drying the humanized antibody in the usual way and adding
sodium chloride thereto.
[0197] Suppositories may be prepared using a carrier such as cacao
butter, a hydrogenated fat or carboxylic acid.
[0198] Also, sprays may be prepared using the compound as such or
using a carrier which does not stimulate the buccal or airway
mucous membrane of the patient and can facilitate absorption of the
compound by dispersing it as fine particles.
[0199] Examples of the carrier include lactose, glycerol and the
like. Depending on the properties of the compound and the carrier
to be used, it is possible to produce pharmaceutical preparations
such as aerosols, dry powders and the like. In addition, the
components exemplified as additive agents for oral preparations can
also be added to these parenteral preparations.
[0200] Although the clinical dose or the frequency of
administration varies depending on the objective therapeutic
effect, administration method, treating period, age, body weight
and the like, it is usually from 10 .mu.g/kg to 20 mg/kg per day
and per adult.
[0201] Also, regarding the method for examining antitumor effect of
the antibody on various tumor cells, in vitro tests include CDC
activity measuring method, ADCC activity measuring method and the
like, and in vivo tests include an antitumor experiment using a
tumor system in an experimental animal such as a mouse or the
like.
[0202] CDC activity and ADCC activity measurements and antitumor
experiments can be carried out in accordance with the methods
described in references (Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy, 36, 373
(1993); Cancer Research, 54, 1511 (1994)) and the like.
6. Method for Promoting or Inhibiting Activity of Immunologically
Functional Molecule
[0203] The activity of an immunologically functional molecule can
be promoted by producing an antibody, peptide or protein to which a
fucose-free sugar chain is bound by the above method.
[0204] When the immunologically functional molecule having the
promoted activity is administered to the living body, various
immune cells including cells such as killer cells, natural killer
cells, activated macrophages and the like as effector cells
relating to the ADCC activity are activated in the living body, so
that it becomes possible to control various immune responses.
[0205] Also, the activity of an immunologically functional molecule
can be inhibited by producing an antibody, a peptide or a protein
to which a fucose-existing sugar chain is bound by the above
method.
[0206] When the immunologically functional molecule having the
inhibited activity is administered to the living body, activities
of various immune cells involved in the ADCC activity are weakened
in the living body, so that it becomes possible to control various
immune responses.
[0207] Examples of the present invention are shown below, but the
scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0208] FIG. 1 is a graph showing electrophoresis patterns of
SDS-PAGE of five purified anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies (using
gradient gel from 4 to 15%). The upper drawing and the lower
drawing show a result of the electrophoresis under non-reducing
conditions and that under reducing conditions, respectively. Lanes
1 to 7 show an electrophoresis pattern of high molecular weight
markers, an electrophoresis pattern of YB2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody,
an electrophoresis pattern of CHO/DG44-GD3 chimeric antibody, an
electrophoresis pattern of SP2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody, an
electrophoresis pattern of NSO-GD3 chimeric antibody (302), an
electrophoresis pattern of NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody (GIT), and an
electrophoresis pattern of low molecular weight markers,
respectively.
[0209] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the activity of five purified
anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies to bind to GD3, measured by changing
the antibody concentration. The axis of ordinates and the axis of
abscissas show the binding activity with GD3 and the antibody
concentration, respectively. Open circles, closed circles, open
squares, closed squares, and open triangles show the activity of
YB2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody, the activity of CHO/DG44-GD3 chimeric
antibody, the activity of SP2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody, the activity
of NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody (302), and the activity of NS0-GD3
chimeric antibody (GIT), respectively.
[0210] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the ADCC activity of five purified
anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies for a human melanoma cell line G-361.
The axis of ordinates and the axis of abscissas show the cytotoxic
activity and the antibody concentration, respectively. Open
circles, closed circles, open squares, closed squares, and open
triangles show the activity of YB2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody, the
activity of CHO/DG44-GD3 chimeric antibody, the activity of
SP2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody, the activity of NS0-GD3 chimeric
antibody (302), and the activity of NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody
(GIT), respectively.
[0211] FIG. 4 is a graph showing electrophoresis patterns of
SDS-PAGE of three purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted
antibodies (using gradient gel from 4 to 15%). The upper drawing
and the lower drawing show results of the electrophoresis carried
out under non-reducing conditions and those under reducing
conditions, respectively. Lanes 1 to 5 show an electrophoresis
pattern of high molecular weight markers, an electrophoresis
pattern of YB2/0-hIL-5RCDR antibody, an electrophoresis pattern of
CHO/d-hIL-SRCDR antibody, an electrophoresis pattern of
NS0-hIL-5RCDR antibody, and an electrophoresis pattern of low
molecular weight markers, respectively.
[0212] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the activity of three purified
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies to bind to hIL-5R.alpha.,
measured by changing the antibody concentration. The axis of
ordinates and the axis of abscissas show the binding activity with
hIL-5R.alpha. and the antibody concentration, respectively. Open
circles, closed circles, and open squares show the activity of
YB2/0-hIL-5R.alpha.CDR antibody, the activity of CHO/d-hIL-5RCDR
antibody, and the activity of NS0-hIL-5RCDR antibody,
respectively.
[0213] FIG. 6 is a graph showing the ADCC activity of three
purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies for an hIL-5R
expressing mouse T cell line CTLL-2(h5R). The axis of ordinates and
the axis of abscissas show the cytotoxic activity and the antibody
concentration, respectively. Open circles, closed circles, and open
squares show the activity of YB2/0-hIL-5R.alpha.CDR antibody, the
activity of CBO/d-hIL-5RCDR antibody, and the activity of
NS0-hIL-5RCDR antibody, respectively.
[0214] FIG. 7 is a graph showing the inhibition activity of three
purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies in an
hIL-5-induced eosinophil increasing model of Macaca faseicularis.
The axis of ordinates and the axis of abscissas show the number of
eosinophils in peripheral blood and the number of days (the day of
the commencement of antibody and hIL-5 administration was defined
as 0 day). Results in the antibody non-administration group are
shown by 101 and 102, results in the YB2/0-hIL-5RCDR antibody
administered group are shown by 301, 302 and 303, results in the
CHO/d-hIL-5RCDR antibody administered group are shown by 401, 402
and 403, and results in the NS0-hIL-5RCDR antibody administered
group are shown by 501, 502 and 503.
[0215] FIG. 8 is, a graph showing an elution pattern of reverse
phase HPLC elution of a PA-treated sugar chain (left side), and an
elution pattern obtained by treating the PA-treated sugar chain
with .alpha.-L-fucosidase and then analyzed by reverse phase HPLC
(right side), of the purified anti-hIL-5RO CDR-grafted antibody
produced by YB2/0 (upper side) and the purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody produced by NS0 (lower side). The axis of
ordinates and the axis of abscissas show relative the fluorescence
intensity and the elution time, respectively.
[0216] FIG. 9 is a graph showing an elution pattern obtained by
preparing a PA-treated sugar chain from the purified
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody produced by CBO/d cell and
analyzing it by reverse phase HPLC. The axis of ordinates and the
axis of abscissas show the relative fluorescence intensity and the
elution time, respectively.
[0217] FIG. 10 is a graph showing the GD3-binding activity of
non-adsorbed fraction and a part of adsorbed fraction, measured by
changing the antibody concentration. The axis of ordinates and the
axis of abscissas show the binding activity with GD3 and the
antibody concentration, respectively. Closed circles and open
circles show the non-adsorbed fraction and a part of the adsorbed
fraction, respectively. The lower graph shows the ADCC activity of
non-adsorbed fraction and a part of adsorbed fraction for a human
melanoma line G-361. The axis of ordinates and the axis of
abscissas show the cytotoxic activity and the antibody
concentration, respectively. Closed circles and open circles show
the non-adsorbed fraction and a part of the adsorbed fraction,
respectively.
[0218] FIG. 11 is a graph showing elution patterns obtained by
analyzing PA-treated sugar chains prepared from non-adsorbed
fraction and a part of adsorbed fraction by a reverse HPLC. The
left side drawing and the right side drawing show an elution
pattern of the non-adsorbed fraction and an elution pattern of a
part of the adsorbed fraction, respectively. The axis of ordinates
and the axis of abscissas show the relative fluorescence strength
and the elution, time, respectively.
[0219] FIG. 12 is a graph showing the amount of PUTS transcription
product by respective host cell lines when a rat FUT8 sequence is
used as the standard internal control. Closed circle and open
circles show the result when CHO cell line was used and the result
when YS2/0 cell line was used, as the host cell, respectively.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Example 1
[0220] Production of anti-ganglioside GD3 human chimeric
antibody:
1. Construction of Tandem Expression Vector, pChiLHGM4, for
Anti-Ganglioside GD3 Human Chimeric Antibody
[0221] A plasmid, pChi641LGM40, was constructed by ligating a
fragment of about 4.03 kb containing an L chain CDNA, obtained by
digesting an L chain expression vector, pChi641LGM4 (J. Immunol.
Methods, 167, 271 (1994)) for anti-ganglioside GD3 human chimeric
antibody (hereinafter referred to as "anti-GD3 chimeric antibody")
with restriction enzymes, MulI (manufactured by Takara Shuzo) and
SalI (manufactured by Takara Shuzo), with a fragment of about 3.40
kb containing a G418-resistant gene and a splicing signal, obtained
by digesting an expression vector pAGE107 (Cytotechnology, 3, 133
(1990)) for animal cell with restriction enzymes, MulI
(manufactured by Takara Shuzo) and SalIl (manufactured by Takara
Shuzo), using DNA Ligation Kit (manufactured by Takara Shuzo), and
then transforming E. coli HB101 (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory
Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, New York, 19B9) with the
ligated product using DNA Ligation Kit (manufactured by Takara
Shuzo).
[0222] Next, a fragment of about 5.68 kb containing an L chain
cDNA, obtained by digesting the constructed plasmid pChi641LGM40
with a restriction enzyme, ClaI (manufactured by Takara Shuzo),
blunt-ending it using DNA Blunting Kit (manufactured by Takara
Shuzo) and further digesting it with MluI (manufactured by Takara
Shuzo), was ligated with a fragment of about 8.40 kb containing an
H chain cDNA, obtained by digesting an anti-GD3 chimeric antibody H
chain expression vector, pChi641HGM4 (J. Immunol. Methods, 167, 271
(1994)) with a restriction enzyme, XhoI (manufactured by Takara
Shuzo), blunt-ending it using DNA Blunting Kit (manufactured by
Takara Shuzo) and further digesting it with MluI (manufactured by
Takara Shuzo), using DNA Ligation Kit (manufactured by Takara
Shuzo), and then E. coli HB101 (Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory
Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Press, New York, 1989) was
transformed with the ligated product to thereby construct a tandem
expression vector, pChi641LRGM4, for anti-GD3 chimeric
antibody.
2. Production of Cells Stably Producing Anti-GD3 Chimeric
Antibody
[0223] Using the tandem expression vector, pChi641LHGM4, for
anti-GD3 chimeric antibody constructed in the item 1 of Example 1,
cells capable of stably producing an anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
were prepared as described below.
(1) Production of Producer Cell Using Rat Myeloma YB2/0 Cell
[0224] After introducing 5 .mu.g of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
expression vector, pChi641LHGM4, into 4.times.10.sup.6 cells of rat
myeloma YB2/0 by electroporation (Cytotechnology, 3, 133 (1990)),
the cells were suspended in 40 ml of RPMI1640-FBS(10) (RPMI1640
medium containing 10% FBS (manufactured by GIBCO BRL)) and
dispensed in 200 .mu.l/well into a 96 well culture plate
(manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite). Twenty-four hours after
culturing at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator, G418 was
added to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml, followed by culturing for 1
to 2 weeks. The culture supernatant was recovered from respective
well in which colonies of transformants showing G418 resistance
were formed and growth of colonies was observed, and the antigen
binding activity of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody in the
supernatant was measured by the ELISA shown in the item 3 of
Example 1.
[0225] Regarding the transformants in wells in which production of
the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was observed in culture
supernatants, in order to, increase amount of the antibody
production using a DHFR gene amplification system; each of them was
suspended in the RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium containing 0.5 mg/ml of
G418 and 50 nM DHFR inhibitor, methotrexate (hereinafter referred
to as "MTX"; manufactured by SIGMA) to give a density of 1 to
2.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml, and the suspension was dispensed in 2 ml
into wells of a 24 well plate (manufactured by Greiner).
Transformants showing 50 nM MTX resistance were induced by
culturing at 37.degree. C. for 1 to 2 weeks in a 5% CO.sub.2
incubator. The antigen binding activity of the anti-GD3 chimeric
antibody in culture supernatants in wells in which growth of
transformants was observed was measured by the ELISA shown in the
item 3 of Example 1. Regarding the transformants in wells in which
production of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was observed in
culture supernatants, the MTX concentration was increased to 100 nM
and then to 200 nM, and a transformant capable of growing in the
RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418 and 200 nM MTX
and of producing the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody in a large amount
was finally obtained by the same method as described above. The
obtained transformant was made into a single cell (cloning) by
limiting dilution twice.
[0226] The obtained anti-GD3 chimeric antibody-producing
transformed cell clone 7-9-51 has been deposited on Apr. 5, 1999,
as FERM BP-6691 in National Institute of Bioscience and Human
Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (Higashi
1-1-3, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan).
(2) Production of Producer Cell Using CHO/DG44 Cell
[0227] After introducing 4 .mu.g of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
expression vector, pChi641LHGM4, into 1.6.times.10.sup.6 cells of
CHO/DG44 by electroporation (Cytotecbnology, 3, 133 (1990)), the
cells were suspended in 10 ml of IMDM-FBS(10) (IMDM medium
containing 10% FBS and 1.times. concentration of HT supplement
(manufactured by GIBCO BRL)) and dispensed in 200 .mu.l/well into a
96 well culture plate (manufactured by Iwaki Glass). Twenty-four
hours after culturing at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator,
G418 was added to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml, followed by
culturing for 1 to 2 weeks. The culture supernatant was recovered
from respective well in which colonies of transformants showing
G418 resistance were formed and growth of colonies was observed,
and the antigen binding activity of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
in the supernatant was measured by the ELISA shown in the item 3 of
Example 1.
[0228] Regarding the transformants in wells in which production of
the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was observed in culture
supernatants, in order to increase amount of the antibody
production using a DHFR gene amplification system, each of them was
suspended in an IMDM-dFBS(10) medium (IMDM medium containing 10%
dialyzed fetal bovine serum (hereinafter referred to as "dFBS";
manufactured by GIBCO BRL)) containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418 and 10 nM
MTX to give a density of 1 to 2.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml, and the
suspension was dispensed in 0.5 ml into wells of a 24 well plate
(manufactured by Iwaki Glass). Transformants showing 10 nM MTX
resistance were induced by culturing at 37.degree. C. for 1 to 2
weeks in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator. Regarding the transformants in
wells in which their growth was observed, the MTX concentration was
increased to 100 nM, and a transformant capable of growing in the
IMDN-dPBS(10) medium containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418 and 100 nM MTX
and of producing the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody in a large amount
was finally obtained by the same method as described above. The
obtained transformant was made into a single cell (cloning) by
limiting dilution twice.
(3) Production of Producer Cell Using Mouse Myeloma NS0 Cell
[0229] After introducing 5 .mu.g of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
expression vector pChi64ILHGM4 into 4.times.10.sup.6 cells of mouse
myeloma NS0 by electroporation (Cytotechnology, 3, 133 (1990)), the
cells were suspended in 40 ml of EX-CELL302-FBS(10) (EX-CELL302
medium containing 10% FBS and 2 mM L-glutamine (hereinafter
referred to as "L-Gln"; manufactured by GIBCO BRL)) and dispensed
in 200 .mu.l/well into a 96 well culture plate (manufactured by
Sumitomo Bakelite). Twenty-four hours after culturing at 37.degree.
C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator, G418 was added to a concentration of
0.5 mg/ml, followed by culturing for 1 to 2 weeks. The culture
supernatant was recovered from respective well in which colonies of
transformants showing G418 resistance were formed and growth of
colonies was observed, and the antigen binding activity of the
anti-GD3 chimeric antibody in the supernatant was measured by the
ELISA shown in the item 3 of Example 1.
[0230] Regarding the transformants in wells in which production of
the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was observed in culture
supernatants, in order to increase amount of the antibody
production using a DHFR gene amplification system, each of them was
suspended in an EX-CELL302-dFBS(10) medium (EX-CELL302 medium
containing 10% dFBS and 2 mM L-Gln) containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418
and 50 nM MTX to give a density of 1 to 2.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml,
and the suspension was dispensed in 2 ml; into wells of a 24 well
plate (manufactured by Greiner). Transformants showing 50 nM MTX
resistance were induced by culturing at 37.degree. C. for 1 to 2
weeks in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator. The antigen binding activity of
the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody in culture supernatants in wells in
which growth of transformants was observed was measured by the
ELISA shown in the item 3 of Example 1. Regarding the transformants
in wells in which production of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was
observed in culture supernatants, the MTX concentration was
increased to 100 nM and then to 200 nM, and a transformant capable
of growing in the EX-CELL302-dFBS(10) medium containing 0.5 mg/ml
of G418 and 200 nM MTX and of producing the anti-GD3 chimeric
antibody in a large amount was finally obtained by the same method
as described above. The obtained transformant was made into a
single cell (cloning) by limiting dilution twice.
3. Measurement of Binding Activity of Antibody to GD3 (ELISA)
[0231] The binding activity of the antibody to GD3 was measured as
described below.
[0232] In 2 ml of ethanol solution containing 10 .mu.g of
dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (manufactured by SIGMA) and 5 .mu.g
of cholesterol (manufactured by SIGMA), 4 nmol of GD3 was
dissolved. Into each well of a 96 well plate for ELISA
(manufactured by Greiner), 20 .mu.l of the solution (40 pmol/well
in final concentration) was dispensed, followed by air-drying, 1%
bovine serum albumin (hereinafter referred to as "BSA";
manufactured by SIGMA)-containing PBS (hereinafter referred to as
"1% BSA-PBS") was dispensed in 100 .mu.l/well, and then the
reaction was carried out at room temperature for 1 hour for
blocking remaining active groups. After discarding 1% BSA-PBS, a
culture supernatant of a transformant or a diluted solution of a
human chimeric antibody was dispensed in 50 .mu.l/well to carry out
the reaction at room temperature for 1 hour. After the reaction,
each well was washed with 0.05% Tween 20 (manufactured by Wake Pure
Chemical Industries)-containing PBS (hereinafter referred to as
"Teen-PBS"), a peroxidase-labeled goat anti-human IgG (H & L)
antibody solution (manufactured by American Qualex) diluted 3,000
times with 1% BSA-PBS was dispensed in 50 .mu.l/well as a secondary
antibody solution, and then the reaction was carried out at room
temperature for 1 hour. After the reaction and subsequent washing
with Tween-PBS, ABTS substrate solution (a solution prepared by
dissolving 0.55 g of
2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) ammonium
salt in 1 liter of 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.2) and adding 1
.mu.l/ml of hydrogen peroxide to the solution just before use) was
dispensed in 50 .mu.l/well for color development, and then
absorbance at 415 nm (hereinafter referred to as "0D415") was
measured.
4. Purification of Anti-GD3 Chimeric Antibody
(1) Culturing of YB2/0 Cell-Derived Producer Cell and Purification
of Antibody
[0233] The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody-producing transformed cell
clone obtained in the above item 2 (1) of Example 1 was suspended
in the Hybridoma-SFM Medium containing 0.2% BSA, 200 nM MTX and 100
nM triiodothyronine (hereinafter referred to as "T3"; manufactured
by SIGMA) to give a density of 3.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml and
cultured using a 2.0 liter capacity spinner bottle (manufactured by
Iwaki Glass) under agitating at a rate of 50 rpm. Ten days after
culturing at 37.degree. C. in a temperature-controlling room, the
culture supernatant was recovered. The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
was purified from the culture supernatant using a Prosep-A
(manufactured by Bioprocessing) column in accordance with the
manufacture's instructions. The purified anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
was named YB2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody.
(2) Culturing of CHO/DG44 Cell-Derived Producer Cell and
Purification of Antibody
[0234] The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody-producing transformed cell
clone obtained in the above item 2(2) of Example 1 was suspended in
the EX-CELL302 medium containing 3 mM L-Gln, 0.5% fatty acid
concentrated solution (hereinafter referred to as "CDLC";
manufactured by GIBCO BRL) and 0.3% Pluronic F68 (hereinafter
referred to as "PF68"; manufactured by GIBCO BRL) to give a density
of 1.times.10.sup.4 cells/ml, and the suspension was dispensed in
50 ml into 175 mm.sup.2 flasks (manufactured by Greiner). Four days
after culturing at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator, the
culture supernatant was recovered. The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
was purified from the culture supernatant using a Prosep-A
(manufactured by Bioprocessing) column in accordance with the
manufacture's instructions. The purified anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
was named CHO/DG44-GD3 chimeric antibody.
(3) Culturing of NS0 Cell-Derived Producer Cell and Purification of
Antibody
[0235] The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody-producing transformed cell
clone obtained in the above item 2(3) of Example 1 was suspended in
the EX-CELL302 medium containing 2 mM L-Gln, 0.5 mg/ml of G418, 200
nM MTX and 1% FBS, to give a density of 1.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml,
and the suspension was dispensed in 200 ml into 175 mm.sup.2 flasks
(manufactured by Greiner). Four days after culturing at 37.degree.
C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator, the culture supernatant was
recovered. The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was purified from the
culture supernatant using a Prosep-A (manufactured by
Bioprocessing) column in accordance with the manufacture's
instructions. The purified anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was named
NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody (302). Also, the transformed cell clone
was suspended in the GIT medium containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418 and
200 nM MTX to give a density of 3.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml, and the
suspension was dispensed in 200 ml into 175 mm.sup.2 flasks
(manufactured by Greiner). Ten days after culturing at 37.degree.
C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator, the culture supernatant was
recovered. The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was purified from the
culture supernatant using a Prosep-A (manufactured by
Bioprocessing) column in accordance with the manufacture's
instructions. The purified anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was named
NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody (GIT).
(4) Culturing of SP2/0 Cell-Derived Producer Cell and Purification
of Antibody
[0236] The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody-producing transformed cell
clone described in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application
No. 304989/93 was suspended in the GIT medium containing 0.5 mg/ml
of G418 and 200 nM MTX to give a density of 3.times.10.sup.5
cells/ml and the suspension was dispensed in 200 ml into 175
mm.sup.2 flasks (manufactured by Greiner). Eight days after
culturing at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator, the culture
supernatant was recovered. The anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was
purified from the culture supernatant using a Prosep-A
(manufactured by Bioprocessing) column in accordance with the
manufacture's instructions. The purified anti-GD3 chimeric antibody
was named SP2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody.
5. Analysis of the Purified Anti-CD3 Chimeric Antibodies
[0237] In accordance with a known method (Nature, 227, 680, 1970),
4 .mu.g of each of the five anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies produced
by and purified from respective animal cells, obtained in the above
item 4 of Example 1, was subjected to SDS-PAGE to analyze the
molecular weight and purification degree. The results are shown in
FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a single band of about 150 kilodaltons
(hereinafter referred to as "Kd") in molecular weight was found
under non-reducing conditions, and two bands of about 50 Kd and
about 25 Kd under reducing conditions, in each of the purified
anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies. These molecular weights almost
coincided with the molecular weights deduced from the cDNA
nucleotide sequences of H chain and L chain of the antibody (H
chain: about 49 Kd, L chain: about 23 Kd, whole molecule: about 144
Kd), and also coincided with the reports stating that the IgG
antibody has a molecular weight of about 150 Kd under non-reducing
conditions and is degraded into H chains having a molecular weight
of about 50 Kd and L chains having a molecular weight of about 25
Kd under reducing conditions due to cutting of the disulfide bond
(hereinafter referred to as "S--S bond") in the molecule
(Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,
Chapter 14, 1998; Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice,
Academic Press Limited, 1996), so that it was confirmed that each
anti-GD3 chimeric antibody was expressed and purified as an
antibody molecule having the true structure.
Example 2
Activity Evaluation of Anti-GD3 Chimeric Antibody:
1. Binding Activity of Anti-GD3 Chimeric Antibodies to GD3
(ELISA)
[0238] The activity of the five purified anti-GD3 chimeric
antibodies obtained in the above item 4 of Example 1 to bind to GD3
(manufactured by Snow Brand Milk Products} was measured by the
ELISA shown in the item 3 of Example 1. FIG. 2 shows a result of
the examination of the binding activity measured by changing the
concentration of the anti-GD3 chimeric antibody to be added. As
shown in FIG. 2, the five anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies showed
almost the same binding activity to GD3. This result shows that
antigen binding activities of these antibodies are constant
independently of the antibody producing animal cells and their
culturing methods. Also, it was suggested from the comparison of
the NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody (302) with the NS0-GD3 chimeric
antibody (GIT) that the antigen binding activities are constant
independently of the media used in the culturing.
2. In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity (ADCC Activity) of Anti-GD3 Chimeric
Antibody
[0239] In order to evaluate in vitro cytotoxic activity of the five
purified anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies obtained in the above item 4
of Example 1, the ADCC activity was measured in accordance with the
following method.
(1) Preparation of Target Cell Solution
[0240] A human melanoma cultured cell line G-361 (ATCC CRL 1424)
was cultured using the RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium to prepare.
1.times.10.sup.6 cells, and the cells were radioisotope-labeled by
reacting them with 3.7 MBq equivalents of a radioactive substance
Na.sub.2.sup.51CrO.sub.4 at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. After the
reaction, the cells were washed three times through their
suspension in the RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium and centrifugation,
re-suspended in the medium and then allowed to stand at 4.degree.
C. for 30 minutes in ice for spontaneous dissolution of the
radioactive substance. After centrifugation, the precipitate was
adjusted to 2.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml by adding 5 ml of the
RPMI1640-FBS (10) medium and used as the target cell solution.
(2) Preparation of Effector Cell Solution
[0241] From a healthy person, 50 ml of vein blood was collected,
and gently mixed with 0.5 ml of heparin sodium (manufactured by
Takeda Pharmaceutical). The mixture was centrifuged to isolate a
mononuclear cell layer using Lymphoprep (manufactured by Nycomed
Pharma AS) in accordance with the manufactures instructions. After
washing with the RPMI1640-FDS(10) medium by centrifugation three
times, the resulting precipitate was re-suspended to give a density
of 2.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml using the medium and used as the
effector cell solution.
(3) Measurement of ADCC Activity
[0242] Into each well of a 96 well U-shaped bottom plate
(manufactured by Falcon), 50 of the target cell solution prepared
in the above (1) (1.times.10.sup.4 cells/well) was dispensed. Next,
100 .mu.l of the effector cell solution prepared in the above (2)
was added thereto (2.times.10.sup.5 cells/well, the ratio of
effector cells to target cells becomes 20:1). Subsequently, each of
the anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies was added to give a final
concentration from 0.0025 to 2.5 .mu.g/ml, followed by reaction at
37.degree. C. for 4 hours. After the reaction, the plate was
centrifuged, and the amount of .sup.51Cr in the supernatant was
measured using a .gamma.-counter. The amount of spontaneously
released .sup.51Cr was calculated by the same operation using only
the medium instead of the effector cell solution and the antibody
solution and measuring the amount of .sup.51Cr in the supernatant.
The amount of total released .sup.51Cr was calculated by the same
operation using only the medium instead of the antibody solution
and adding 1 N hydrochloric acid instead of the effector cell
solution, and measuring the amount of .sup.51Cr in the supernatant.
The ADCC activity was calculated from the following equation.
ADCC activity ( % ) = 51 Cr in sample supernatant spontaneously
released 51 Cr total released 51 Cr spontaneously released 51 Cr
.times. 100 ##EQU00001##
[0243] The results are shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, among
the five anti-GD3 chimeric antibodies, the YB2/0-GD3 chimeric
antibody showed the highest ADCC activity, followed by the
SP2/0-GD3 chimeric antibody, NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody and CHO-GD3
chimeric antibody in that order. No difference in the ADCC activity
was found between the NS0-GD3 chimeric antibody (302) and NS0-GD3
chimeric antibody (GIT) prepared using different media in the
culturing. The above results show that the ADCC activity of
antibodies greatly varies depending on the animal cells to be used
in their production. As its mechanism, since their antigen binding
activities were identical, it was considered that it is caused by a
difference in the structure of the antibody Fc region.
Example 3
Production of Anti-Human Interleukin 5 Receptor a Chain Human
CDR-Grafted Antibody:
1. Production of Cells Stably Producing Anti-Human Interleukin 5
Receptor a Chain Human CDR-Grafted Antibody
(1) Production of Producer Cell Using Rat Myeloma YB2/0 Cell
[0244] Using the anti-human interleukin 5 receptor a chain human
CDR-grafted antibody (hereinafter referred to as
"anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody") expression vector,
pKANTEX1259HV3LV0, described in WO 97/10354, cells capable of
stably producing anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody were
prepared as described below.
[0245] After introducing 5 .mu.g of the anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody expression vector, pKANTEX1259HV3LV0, into
4.times.10.sup.6 cells of rat myeloma YB2/0 by electroporation
(Cytotechnology, 3, 133 (1990)), the cells were suspended in 40 ml
of RPMI1640-FBS(10) and dispensed in 200 .mu.l/well into a 96 well
culture plate (manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite). Twenty-four
hours after culturing at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator,
G418 was added to give a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml, followed by
culturing for 1 to 2 weeks. The culture supernatant was recovered
from respective well in which colonies of transformants showing
G418 resistance were formed and growth of colonies was observed,
and the antigen binding activity of the anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody in the supernatant was measured by the ELISA
shown in the item 2 of Example 3.
[0246] Regarding the transformants in wells in which production of
the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was observed in culture
supernatants, in order to increase amount of the antibody
production using a DHFR gene amplification system, each of the them
was suspended in the RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium containing 0.5 mg/ml
of G418 and 50 nM MTX to give a density of 1 to 2.times.10.sup.5
cells/ml, and the suspension was dispensed in 2 ml into wells of a
24 well plate (manufactured by Greiner). Transformants showing 50
nM MTX resistance were induced by culturing at 37.degree. C. for 1
to 2 weeks in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator. The antigen binding activity
of the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody in culture
supernatants in wells in which growth of transformants was observed
was measured by the ELISA shown in the item 2 of Example 3.
Regarding the transformants in wells in which production of the
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was observed in culture
supernatants, the MTX concentration was increased to 100 nM and
then to 200 nM, and a transformant capable of growing in the
RPMI1640-FBS (10) medium containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418 and 200 nM
MTX and of producing the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody in
a large amount was finally obtained in the same manner as described
above. The obtained transformant was made into a single cell
(cloning) by limiting dilution twice. The obtained
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody-producing transformed cell
clone No. 3 has been deposited on Apr. 5, 1999, as FERM BP-6690 in
National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, Agency of
Industrial Science and Technology (Higashi 1-1-3, Tsukuba, Ibaraki,
Japan).
(2) Production of Producer Cell Using CHO/Dhfr.sup.- Cell
[0247] After introducing 4 .mu.g of the anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody expression vector, pKANTEX1259HV3LV0,
described in WO 97/10354 into 1.6.times.10.sup.6 cells of
CHO/dhfr.sup.- by electroporation (Cytotechnology, 3, 133 (1990)),
the cells were suspended in 10 ml of IMDM-FBS(10) and dispensed in
200 .mu.l/well into a 96 well culture plate (manufactured by Iwaki
Glass).
[0248] Twenty-four hours after culturing at 37.degree. C. in a 5%
CO.sub.2 incubator, G418 was added to give a concentration of 0.5
mg/ml, followed by culturing for 1 to 2 weeks. The culture
supernatant was recovered from respective well in which colonies of
transformants showing G418 resistance were formed and growth of
colonies was observed, and the antigen binding activity of the
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody in the supernatant was
measured by the ELISA shown in the item 2 of Example 3.
[0249] Regarding the transformants in wells in which production of
the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was observed in culture
supernatants, in order to increase amount of the antibody
production using a DHFR gene amplification system, each of the
transformants was suspended in an IMDM-dFBS(10) medium containing
0.5 mg/ml of G418 and 10 nM MTX to give a density of 1 to
2.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml, and the suspension was dispensed in 0.5
ml into wells of a 24 well plate (manufactured by Iwaki Glass).
Transformants showing 10 nMMTX resistance were induced by culturing
at 37.degree. C. for 1 to 2 weeks in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator.
Regarding the transformants in wells in which their growth was
observed, the MTX concentration was increased to 100 nM and then to
500 nM, and a transformant capable of growing in the IMDM-dFBS(10)
medium containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418 and 500 nM MTX and of producing
the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody in a large amount was
finally obtained in the same manner as described above. The
obtained transformant was made into a single cell (cloning) by
limiting dilution twice.
(3) Production of Producer Cell Using Mouse Myeloma NS0 Cell
[0250] An anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody expression vector
was prepared is accordance with the method of Yarranton et al.
(BIO/TECHNOLOGY, 10, 169 (1992)) and using the antibody H chain and
L chain cDNA on the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody
expression vector, pKANTEX1259HV3LV0, described in WO 97/10354, and
NS0 cell was transformed to obtain a transformant capable of
producing the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody in a large:
amount. The obtained transformant was made into a single cell
(cloning) by limiting dilution twice.
2. Measurement of Binding Activity of Antibody to hIL-5R.alpha.
(ELISA)
[0251] The binding activity of the antibody to hIL-5R.alpha. was
measured as described below.
[0252] A solution was prepared by diluting the anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
mouse antibody, KM1257, described in WO 97/10354 with PBS to give a
concentration of 10 .mu.g/ml, and 50 .mu.l of the resulting
solution was dispensed into each well of a 96 well plate for ELISA
(manufactured by Greiner), followed by reaction at 4.degree. C. for
20 hours. After the reaction, 1% BSA-PBS was dispensed in 100
.mu.l/well, and then the reaction was carried out at room
temperature for 1 hour for blocking remaining active groups. After
discarding 1% BSA-PBS, a solution prepared by diluting the soluble
hIL-5R.alpha. described in WO 97/10354 with 1% BSA-PBS to give a
concentration of 0.5 .mu.g/ml was dispensed in 50 .mu.l/well,
followed by reaction at 4.degree. C. for 20 hours. After the
reaction, each well was washed with Tween-PBS, culture supernatants
of transformants or diluted solutions of a purified human
CDR-grafted antibodies were dispensed in 50 .mu.g/well to carry out
the reaction at room temperature for 2 hours. After the reaction,
each well was washed with Tween-PBS, a peroxidase-labeled goat
anti-human IgG (H & L) antibody solution (manufactured by
American Qualex) diluted 3,000 times with 1% BSA-PBS was dispensed
in 50 .mu.l/well as a secondary antibody solution, followed by
reaction at room temperature for 1 hour. After the reaction and
subsequent washing with Tween-PBS, ABTS substrate solution (a
solution prepared by dissolving 0.55 g of
2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) ammonium
salt in 1 liter of 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.2) and adding 1
.mu.l/ml of hydrogen peroxide to the solution just before use) was
dispensed in 50 .mu.l/well for color development, and then the
absorbance at OD415 was measured.
3. Purification of Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted Antibody
(1) Culturing of YB2/0 Cell-Derived Producer Cell and Purification
of Antibody
[0253] The anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody-producing
transformed cell clone obtained in the above item 1(1) of Example 3
was suspended in the GIT medium containing 0.5 mg/ml of G418 and
200 nM MTx to give a density of 3.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml and
dispensed in 200 ml into 175 mm.sup.2 flasks (manufactured by
Greiner). Eight days after culturing at 37.degree. C. in a 5%
CO.sub.2 incubator, the culture supernatant was recovered. The
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was purified from the
culture supernatant using ion exchange chromatography and a gel
filtration method. The purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted
antibody was named YB2/0-hIL-5RCDR antibody.
(2) Culturing of CHO/Dhfr.sup.- Cell-Derived Producer Cell and
Purification of Antibody
[0254] The anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody-producing
transformed cell clone obtained in the above item 1(2) of Example 3
was suspended in the EX-CELL302 medium containing 3 mM L-Gln, 0.5%
CDLC and 0.3% PF68 to give a density of 3.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml
and cultured using a 4.0 liter capacity spinner bottle
(manufactured by Iwaki Glass) under agitating at a rate of 100 rpm.
Ten days after culturing at 37.degree. C. in a
temperature-controlling room, the culture supernatant was
recovered. The anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was purified
from the culture supernatant using ion exchange chromatography and
a gel filtration method. The purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody was named CHO/d-hIL-5RCDR antibody.
(3) Culturing of NS0 Cell-Derived Producer Cell and Purification of
Antibody
[0255] The anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody-producing
transformed cell clone obtained in the above item 1(3) of Example 3
was cultured in accordance with the method of Yarranton at al.
(BIO/TECHNOLOGY, 10, 169 {1992)) and then a culture supernatant was
recovered. The anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was purified
from the culture supernatant using ion exchange chromatography and
the gel filtration method. The purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody was named NS0-hIL-5RCDR antibody.
4. Analysis of Purified Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted
Antibodies
[0256] In accordance with a known method (Nature, 227, 680,
(1970)), 4 .mu.g of each of the three anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibodies produced by and purified from respective
animal cells, obtained in the above item 3 of Example 3, was
subjected to SDS-PAGE to analyze the molecular weight and
purification degree. The results are shown in FIG. 4. As shown in
FIG. 4, a single band of about 150 Kd in molecular weight was found
under non-reducing conditions, and two bands of about 50 Kd and
about 25 Kd under reducing conditions, in each of the purified
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies. These molecular weights
almost coincided with the molecular weights deduced from the cDNA
nucleotide sequences of H chain and L chain of the antibody (H
chain: about 49 Kd, L chain: about 23 Kd, whole molecule: about 144
Kd), and also coincided with the reports stating that the IgG
antibody has a molecular weight of about 150 Kd under non-reducing
conditions and is degraded into H chains having a molecular weight
of about 50 Kd and L chains having a molecular weight of about 25
Kd under reducing conditions due to cutting of the disulfide bond
(hereinafter referred to as "S--S bond") in the molecule
(Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,
Chapter 14, 1998; Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice,
Academic Press Limited, 1996), so that it was confirmed that each
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was expressed and purified
as an antibody molecule having the true structure.
Example 4
Activity Evaluation of Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted Antibody:
[0257] 1. Binding Activity of Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted
Antibody to hIL-5R.alpha. (ELISA)
[0258] The activity of the three purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibodies obtained in the above item 2 of Example 3 to
bind to hIL-5R.alpha. was measured by the ELISA shown in the item 2
of Example 3. FIG. 5 shows a result of the examination of the
binding activity measured by changing concentration of the
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody to be added. As shown in
FIG. 5, the three anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies showed
almost the same binding activity to hIL-5R.alpha.. This result
shows that the antigen binding activities of these antibodies are
constant independently of the antibody producing animal cells and
their culturing methods, similar to the result of the item 1 of
Example 2.
2. In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity (ADCC Activity) of
Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted Antibody
[0259] In order to evaluate in vitro cytotoxic activity of the
three purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies obtained
in the above item 3 of Example 3, the ADCC activity was measured in
accordance with the following method.
(1) Preparation of Target Cell Solution
[0260] A mouse T cell line CTLL-2(h5R) expressing the hIL-5R.alpha.
chain and .beta. chain described in WO 97/10354 was cultured using
the RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium to prepare a 1.times.10.sup.6 cells/0.5
ml suspension, and the cells were radioisotope-labeled by reacting
them with 3.7 MBq equivalents of a radioactive substance
Na.sub.2.sup.51CrO.sub.4 at 37.degree. C. for 1.5 hours. After the
reaction, the cells were washed three times through their
suspension in the RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium and centrifugation,
re-suspended in the medium and then allowed to stand at 4.degree.
C. for 30 minutes in ice for spontaneous dissolution of the
radioactive substance. After centrifugation, the precipitate was
adjusted to 2.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml by adding 5 ml of the
RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium and used as the target cell solution.
(2) Preparation of Effector Cell Solution
[0261] From a healthy person, 50 ml of vein blood was collected and
gently mixed with 0.5 ml of heparin sodium (manufactured by Takeda
Pharmaceutical). The mixture was centrifuged to separate a
mononuclear cell layer using Polymorphprep (manufactured by Nycomed
Pharma AS) and in accordance with the manufacture's instructions.
After washing with the RPMI1640-FBS(10) medium by centrifugation
three times, the resulting cells were re-suspended to give a
density of 9.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml using the medium and used as
the effector cell solution.
(3) Measurement of ADCC Activity
[0262] Into each well of a 96 well U-shaped bottom plate
(manufactured by Falcon), 50 .mu.l of the target cell solution
prepared in the above (1) (1.times.10.sup.4 cells/well) was
dispensed. Next, 100 .mu.l of the effector cell solution prepared
in the above (2) was dispensed (9.times.10.sup.5 cells/well, the
ratio of effector cells to target cells becomes 90:1) Subsequently,
each of the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies was added to
give a final concentration from 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.g/ml, followed by
reaction at 37.degree. C. for 4 hours. After the reaction, the
plate was centrifuged, and the amount of .sup.51Cr in the
supernatant was measured using a .gamma.-counter. The amount of
spontaneously released .sup.51Cr was calculated by the same
operation using only the medium instead of the effect cell solution
and the antibody solution and measuring the amount of .sup.51Cr in
the supernatant. The amount of total released .sup.51Cr was
calculated by the same operation using only the medium instead of
the antibody solution and adding 1 N hydrochloric acid instead of
the effector cell solution, and measuring the amount of .sup.51Cr
in the supernatant.
[0263] The ADCC activity was calculated from the following
equation.
ADCC activity ( % ) = 51 Cr in sample supernatant spontaneously
released 51 Cr total released 51 Cr spontaneously released 51 Cr
.times. 100 ##EQU00002##
[0264] The results are shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, among
the three anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies, the
YB2/0-hIL-5RCDR antibody showed the highest ADCC activity, followed
by the CHO/d-hIL-5RCDR antibody and the NS0-hIL-5RCDR antibody in
this order. Similar to the result of the item 2 of Example 2, the
above results show that the ADCC activity of antibodies greatly
varies depending on the animal cells to be used in their
production. In addition, since the antibodies produced by the YB2/0
cell showed the highest ADCC activity in both cases of the two
humanized antibodies, it was revealed that an antibody having high
ADCC activity can be produced by the use of the YB2/0 cell.
3. In Vivo Activity Evaluation of Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted
Antibody
[0265] In order to evaluate in vivo activity of the three purified
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies obtained in the above
item 3 of Example 3, the inhibition activity in an hIL-5-induced
eosinophilia increasing model of Macaca faseicularis was examined
in accordance with the following method.
[0266] The hIL-5 (preparation method is described in WO 97/10354)
was administered to Macaca faseicularis under the dorsal skin at a
dose of 1 .mu.g/kg, starting on the first day and once a day for a
total of 14 times. Each anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody was
intravenously administered at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg one hour before
the hIL-5 administration on the day zero. An antibody-non-added
group was used as the control. In the antibody-administered groups,
three animals of Macaca faseicularis were used in each group (No.
301, No. 302, No. 303, No. 401, No. 402, to 403, No. 501, No. 502
and No. 503), and two animals (No. 101 and No. 102) were used in
the antibody-non-added group. Starting 7 days before commencement
of the administration and until 42 days after the administration,
about 1 ml of blood was periodically collected from a saphena or a
femoral vein, and the number of eosinophils in 1 .mu.l of
peripheral blood was measured. The results are shown in FIG. 7. As
shown in FIG. 7, increase in the blood eosinophil was completely
inhibited in the group to which the YB2/0-hIL-5RCDR antibody was
administered. On the other hand, complete inhibition activity was
found in one animal in the group to which the CHO/d-hIL-5RCDR
antibody was administered, but the inhibition activity was not
sufficient in two animals. In the group to which NS0-hIL-5RCDR
antibody was administered, complete inhibition activity was not
found and its effect was not sufficient. The above results show
that the in vivo activity of antibodies greatly varies depending on
the animal cells to be used in their production. In addition, since
a positive correlation was found between the degree of the in vivo
activity of the anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody and the
degree of its ADCC activity described in the item 2 of Example 4,
it was indicated that the degree of ADCC activity is markedly
important for its activity expression.
[0267] Based on the above results, it is expected that an antibody
having high ADCC activity is useful also in the clinical field for
various diseases in human.
Example 5
Analysis of ADCC Activity-Increasing Sugar Chain:
1. Preparation of 2-Aminopyridine-Labeled Sugar Chain (PA-Treated
Sugar Chain)
[0268] The humanized antibody of the present invention was
acid-hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid to remove sialic acid. After
hydrochloric acid was completely removed, the sugar chain was cut
off from the protein by hydrazinolysis (Method of Enzymology, 83,
263, 1982). Hydrazine was removed, and N-acetylation was carried
out by adding an ammonium acetate aqueous solution and acetic
anhydride. After freeze-drying, fluorescence labeling with
2-aminopyridine was carried out (J. Biochem., 95, 197 (1984)). The
fluorescence-labeled sugar chain (PA-treated sugar chain) was
separated as an impurity using Surperdex Peptide HR 10/30 Column
(manufactured by Pharmacia). The sugar chain fraction was dried
using a centrifugal concentrator and used as a purified PA-treated
sugar chain.
2. Reverse Phase HPLC Analysis of PA-Treated Sugar Chain of
Purified Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted Antibody
[0269] Using respective anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody
PA-treated sugar chains prepared in the above item 1 of Example 5,
reverse phase HPLC analysis was carried out by CLC-ODS column
(manufactured by Shimadzu) An excess amount of .alpha.-L-fucosidase
(derived from bovine kidney, manufactured by SIGMA) was added to
the PA-treated sugar chain for digestion (37.degree. C., 15 hours),
and then the products were analyzed by reverse phase HPLC (FIG. 8).
Using PA-treated sugar chain standards manufactured by Takara Shuzo
it was confirmed that the asparagine-linked sugar chain is eluted
during a period of from 30 minutes to 80 minutes. The ratio of
sugar chains whose reverse phase HPLC elution positions were
shifted (sugar chains eluted during a period from 48 minutes to 78
minutes) by the .alpha.-L-fucasidase digestion was calculated. The
results are shown in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Antibody- .alpha.-1,6-Fucose-linked
producing cell sugar chain (%) YB2/0 47 NS0 73
[0270] About 47% of the anti-hIL-5RCDR-grafted antibody produced by
the YB2/0 cell and about 73% of the anti-hIL-5RCDR-grafted antibody
produced by the NS0 cell were sugar chains having
.alpha.-1,6-fucose. Thus, sugar chains having no .alpha.-1,6-fucose
were more frequent in the antibody produced by the YB2/0 cell in
comparison with the antibody produced by the NS0 cell.
3. Analysis of Monosaccharide Composition of Purified
Anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-Grafted Antibody
[0271] Sugar chains of anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibodies
produced by the YB2/0 cell, NS0 cell and CHO/d cell were hydrolyzed
into monosaccharides by acid hydrolysis with trifluoroacetic acid,
and monosaccharide composition analysis was carried out using BioLC
(manufactured by Dionex).
[0272] Among N-glycoside-linked sugar chains, there are 3 mannose
units in one sugar chain in the complex type N-glycoside-linked
sugar chain. A relative ratio of each monosaccharide obtained by
calculating the number of mannose as 3 is shown in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Antibody- ADCC producer cell Fuc GlcNAc Gal
Man activity (%)* YB2/0 0.60 4.98 0.30 3.00 42.27 NS0 1.06 3.94
0.66 3.00 16.22 CHO/dhFr.sup.- 0.85 3.59 0.49 3.00 25.73 0.91 3.80
0.27 3.00 *: Antibody concentration: 0.01 .mu.g/ml
[0273] Since the relative ratios of fucose were in an order of
YB2/0<CHO/d<NS0, the sugar chain produced in the antibody
produced by YB2/0 cell showed the lowest fucose content as also
shown in the present results.
Example 6
Sugar Chain Analysis of Antibody Produced by CHO/Dhfr Cell:
[0274] PA-treated sugar chains were prepared from purified
anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody produced by CHO/dhfr cell,
and reverse phase HFLC analysis was carried out using CLC-ODS
column (manufactured by Shimadzu) (FIG. 9) In FIG. 9, an elution
time from 35 to 45 minutes corresponded to sugar chains having no
fucose and an elution time from 45 to 60 minutes corresponded to
sugar chains having fucose. Similar to the case of the antibody
produced by mouse myeloma NS0 cell, the anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody produced by CHO/dhfr.sup.- cell had less
fucose-free sugar chain content than the antibody produced by rat
myeloma YB2/0 cell.
Example 7
Separation of High ADCC Activity Antibody:
[0275] The anti-hIL-5R.alpha. CDR-grafted antibody produced by rat
myeloma YB2/0 cell was separated using a lectin column which binds
to sugar chains having fucose. HPLC was carried out using LC-6A
manufactured by Shimadzu at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and at room
temperature as the column temperature. After equilibration with 50
mM Tris-sulfate buffer (pH 7.3), the purified anti-hIL-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody was injected and then eluted by a linear
density gradient (60 minutes) of 0.2 M .alpha.-methylmannoside
(manufactured by Nakalai Tesque). The anti-hit-5R.alpha.
CDR-grafted antibody was separated into non-adsorbed fraction and
adsorbed fraction. When the non-adsorbed fraction and a portion of
the adsorbed fraction were sampled and their binding activity to
hIL-5R.alpha. was measured, they showed similar binding activity
(FIG. 10, upper graph). When the ADCC activity was measured, the
non-adsorbed fraction showed higher ADCC activity than that of the
portion of adsorbed fraction (FIG. 10, lower graph). In addition,
PA-treated sugar chains were prepared from the non-adsorbed
fraction and a portion of the adsorbed fraction, and reverse HPLC
analysis was carried out using CLC-ODS column (manufactured by
Shimadau) (FIG. 11). The non-adsorbed fraction was an antibody
mainly having fucose-free sugar chains, and the portion of adsorbed
fraction was an antibody mainly having fucose-containing sugar
chains.
Example 8
Determination of Transcription Product of
.alpha.1,6-Fucosyltransferase (FUT8) Gene in Host Cell Line:
[0276] (1) Preparation of Single-Stranded cDNA Derived from Various
Cell Lines
[0277] Chinese hamster ovary-derived CHO/DG44 cell was suspended in
the IMDM medium (manufactured. by Life Technologies) supplemented
with 10% FES (manufactured by Life Technologies) and 1.times.
concentration of HT supplement (manufactured by Life Technologies)
and inoculated into a T75 flask for adhesion cell culture
(manufactured by Grainer) at a density of 2.times.10.sup.5
cells/ml. Also, the rat myeloma-derived YB2/0 cell was suspended in
the RPMI1640 medium (manufactured by Life Technologies)
supplemented with 10% FBS (manufactured by Life Technologies) and 4
mM glutamine (manufactured by Life Technologies) and inoculated
into a T75 flask for suspension cell culture (manufactured by
Greiner) at a density of 2.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml. These cells
were cultured at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator, and
1.times.10.sup.7 cells of each host cell were recovered on the 1st,
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day to extract total RNA using RNAeasy
(manufactured by QUIAGEN).
[0278] The total, RNA was dissolved in 45 .mu.l of sterile water,
mixed with 0.5 U/.mu.l of RQ1 RNase-Free DNase (manufactured by
Promega) and 5 .mu.l of attached 10.times. Dnase buffer and 0.5
.mu.l of RNasin Ribonuclease inhibitor (manufactured by Promega),
followed by reaction at 37.degree. C. for 30 minutes. After the
reaction, the total RNA was again purified using RNAeasy
(manufactured by QUIAGEN). and dissolved in 50 .mu.l of sterile
water.
[0279] According to SUPERSCRIPT.TM. Preamplification System for
First Strand cDNA Synthesis (manufactured by Life Technology), 3
.mu.g of the obtained total RNA each was subjected to a reverse
transcription reaction in a 20 .mu.l system using oligo(dT) as a
primer to, thereby synthesize cDNA. A solution of 1.times.
concentration of the solution after the reverse transcription
reaction was used for cloning of FUT8 and .beta.-actin derived from
each host cell, and a solution after the reverse transcription
reaction further diluted 50 times with water was used for the
determination of the transcription quantity of each gene using the
competitive PCR, and each of the solutions was stored at
-80.degree. C. until use.
(2) Preparation of Respective cDNA Partial Fragments of Chinese
Hamster FUT8 and Rat FUT8
[0280] Respective cDNA partial fragments of Chinese hamster FUT8
and of rat FUT8 were obtained as described below. First, primers
(shown in SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2) specific for nucleotide
sequences common in a human FUT8 cDNA (Journal of Biochemistry,
121, 626 (1997)) and a swine FUT8 cDNA (Journal of Biological
Chemistry, 271, 27810 (1996)) were designed.
[0281] Next, using a DNA polymerase ExTaq (manufactured by Takara
Shuzo), 25 .mu.l of a reaction solution constituted by ExTaq buffer
(manufactured by Takara Shuzo), 0.2 mm dNTPs, 0.5 pM of each of the
above specific primers (SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2), and 1 .mu.l
of each of the cDNA derived from CHO cell and the cDNA derived from
YB2/0 cell, each obtained on the 2nd day of culturing in (1), was
prepared, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out. The
PCR was carried out under conditions in which, after heating at
94.degree. C. for 1 minute, a cycle consisting of reactions at
94.degree. C. for 30 seconds, 55.degree. C. for 30 seconds and
72.degree. C. for 2 minutes is repeated 30 cycles and then the
reaction solution is heated at 72.degree. C. for 10 minutes. Each
specific amplified fragment of 979 bp obtained by the PCR was
connected to a plasmid pCR2.1 using TOPO TA Cloning Kit
(manufactured by Invitrogen) to obtain a plasmid containing
respective cDNA partial fragment of Chinese hamster FUT8 or rat
FUT8 (CHFT8-pCR2.1 or YBFT8-pCR2.1).
[0282] The nucleotide sequence of each cDNA obtained was determined
using DNA Sequencer 377 (manufactured by Parkin Elmer) and BigDye
Terminator Cycle Sequencing FS Ready Reaction Kit (manufactured by
Parkin Elmer) to confirm that the obtained cDNAS encode open
reading frame (ORF) partial sequences of Chinese hamster FUT8 and
rat FUT8 (shown in SEQ ID NOs:3 and 4).
(3) Preparation of Chinese Hamster .beta.-Actin and Rat
.beta.-Actin cDNA
[0283] Since it is considered that the .beta.-actin gene is
constantly transcribed in each cell and its transcription quantity
is almost the same among cells, transcription quantity of the
.beta.-actin gene is determined as a standard of the efficiency, of
synthesis reaction of cDNA derived from respective cells.
[0284] Chinese hamster .beta.-actin and rat .beta.-actin were
obtained by the following method. First, a forward primer (shown in
SEQ ID NO:5) specific for a common sequence containing a
translation initiation codon and reverse primers (shown in SEQ ID
NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:7) specific for the respective sequence
containing a translation termination codon were designed from a
Chinese hamster .beta.-actin genomic sequence (GenBank, U20114) and
a rat .beta.-actin genomic sequence (Nucleic Acid Research, 11,
1759 (1983)).
[0285] Next, using a DNA polymerase, KOD (manufactured by TOYOBO),
25 .mu.l of a reaction solution constituted by KOD buffer #1
(manufactured by TOYOBO), 0.2 mM dNTPs, 1 mm MgCl.sub.2, 0.4 .mu.M
of each of the above gene specific primers (SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID
NO:6, or SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:7), 5% DMSO, and 1 .mu.l of each
of the cDNA derived from CHO cell and the cDNA derived from YB2/0
cell, each obtained on the 2nd day of culturing in (1), was
prepared, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out. The
PCR was carried out under a condition in which, after heating at
94.degree. C. for 4 minutes, a cycle consisting of reactions at
98.degree. C. for 15 seconds, 65.degree. C. for 2 seconds and
74.degree. C. for 30 seconds is repeated 25 cycles. The 5'-terminal
of each specific ampl