8-P

Abstract

Degraded or denatured HLA proteins can contribute to false positive, false negative, and inconsistent MFI signals. To provide recommendations for improvements in the manufacturing process, HLA protein degradation was systematically studied from the perspective of physical instability; changes in higher order structure following acid and base hydrolysis, thermal degradation, reagent changes, and freeze-thaw cycles were analyzed. The goal was to identify optimal physical conditions for maintaining HLA integrity. To detect significant changes in the quality and function of soluble HLA, specific bead sets loaded with different allele specificities were created and tested under stress conditions using the Luminex platform. Various monoclonal antibodies as well as sera specimen were used to probe the effects of pH variations and temperature ranges, specific chemical agents, or working conditions. These HLA stress studies showed that the exposure of soluble HLA loaded beads tolerated temperatures up to 50°C with no detectable loss of activity. Freezing did cause a reduction in activity that could be overcome by using stabilizers such as glycerol. Favorable results were also found while investigating the pH range, with optimal performance up to pH 10.5; a basic environment is preferred. Acidic environments down to pH 5.5 were accepted, but bead activity declined below pH 5.5. Stress testing can identify optimal conditions and prevent deleterious conditions. Here, a number of analytical techniques characterized alterations in HLA protein primary structure, physical stability, and activity. Our results indicate optimal conditions, propose stability-indicating methodologies, and provide a means for testing HLA protein activity and potency. The question of how much degradation is acceptable is still pending – we found that a level above 90% intact HLA is preferred. Overall, this study provides valuable information to improve future formulations and manufacturing processes.