Preparation Of Immunotoxins Research Articles

Large scale preparation of immunotoxins constructed with the Fab′ fragment of IgG1 murine monoclonal antibodies and chemically deglycosylated ricin A chain

In this report, we describe a method for the preparation of large amounts (grams) of immunotoxins (ITs) consisting of Fab′ fragments of murine IgG1 monoclonal antibodies conjugated to chemically deglycosylated ricin A chain (dgA). The preparation of Fab′ and dgA chain and the purification of the Fab′-dgA IT were accomplished by gel filtrations and affinity chromatography utilizing six Pharmacia Bioprocess columns (Sephadex G-25M, Sephacryl S-200HR and Blue Sepharose CL-4B) integrated into a semi-automatic chromatography system controlled by a Pharmacia C3-process controller. The final Fab′-dgA ITs were highly purified, potent, sterile and low in endotoxin concentration.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins from plants inhibit ribosome activity of Trypanosoma and Leishmania.

Ribosomes from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and from Leishmania infantum were isolated and optimal conditions for in vitro translation were established. The effect of ribosome-inactivating proteins extracted from several plants was then assessed in order to identify those suitable for the preparation of immunotoxins against these organisms. Ribosomes from both species were inactivated by some ribosome-inactivating proteins (dianthins, saporins, pokeweed antiviral proteins, and the ribosome-inactivating chain of abrin). The similarity of the effects on the ribosomes from the two species examined indicates that ribosome-inactivating proteins should also be effective in a similar way on ribosomes from other species of Trypanosoma and Leishmania.

The antileukemic efficacy of an immunotoxin composed of a monoclonal anti-Thy-1 antibody disulfide linked to the ribosome-inactivating protein gelonin.

We prepared an immunoconjugate consisting of a monoclonal antibody recognizing the Thy-1 antigen and the ribosome-inactivating protein gelonin linked by a disulfide bond. This immunotoxin preparation was judged to contain less than 5% free antibody or gelonin. It was highly toxic in vitro in an antigen-specific fashion to the Thy-1 expressing RADA leukemia of A/J mice. The IC50 of this preparation on RADA in vitro was 10(-12) M, while the IC50 on the Thy-1 negative S1509a fibrosarcoma of A/J mice was 10(-7) M. The toxicity of this immunoconjugate was also measured in a direct proliferation and it was found that a 4-h exposure and a 24-h exposure of RADA cells to a 1 nM concentration of immunotoxin killed 90% and 99.9% of cells, respectively. Furthermore, efficacy in vitro was not due to the intrinsic susceptibility of RADA cells to tis type of immunotoxin, as one prepared with gelonin and an antibody recognizing the TLa determinant on this leukemia had no efficacy in vitro. Clearance of the anti-Thy-1-gelonin immunoconjugate from the circulation of A/J mice after i.v. injection was rapid, especially during the first 8 h after injection, possibly because of binding to Thy-1 expressing tissue. Delivery of immunoconjugate to ascitic tumor in vivo was substantially better if the immunoconjugate was given by i.p. injection, rather than by the i.v. route. When given either i.v. or i.p. at the time of i.p. tumor inoculation in vivo, the anti-Thy-1-gelonin immunotoxin showed potency in an antigen-specific fashion; while this immunoconjugate prolonged survival and frequently cured RADA-inoculated mice, neither anti-Thy-1 antibody, gelonin, a combination of the two, nor immunotoxin of irrelevant specificity had any significant effect on survival. Anti-Thy-1-gelonin also had no effect on survival of A/J mice inoculated i.p. with S1509a. Furthermore, it was determined that a single i.p. dose of anti-Thy-1-gelonin killed 90% to 99% cells in vivo, and that the immunoconjugate was about as effective in this model as either adriamycin or cytoxan.

Biochemical aspects of immunotoxin preparation

The preparation of immunotoxins, hybrid proteins formed by disulfide bonding an antibody and the A-chain of ricin, has been studied in detail. Optimal conditions, both for the modification of the antibody and the coupling reaction between the modified antibodies and the toxin subunit, have been determined. Conditions of time, temperature and stoichiometry studied suggested 2 protocols for each of the 2 steps of this preparation. Purification and analysis of the physiochemical and biochemical properties of the products yielded well-characterized agents, likely to be of value in clinical studies.

The immunological activity of plant toxins used in the preparation of immunotoxins—II. The immunodepressive activity of gelonin

The immunological activity of Gelonin, a 30,000 dalton plant protein possessing close similarity to Ricin chain A as a protein synthesis inhibitor which may be of interest for the preparation of antibody-toxin conjugates, was studied in mice. At in vitro concentrations not affecting baseline radioactivity uptake, this substance reduced mitogen responses with the following order of sensitivity PHA < ConA < LPS. In μg/ml concentrations it also markedly reduced macrophage-dependent cytotoxicity while not affecting NK activity. Macrophagic (but not NK) cytotoxicity and mitogen responses were similarly depressed after in vivo treatment. When given before (but not after) stimulus, Gelonin also reduced the primary responses to a T-dependent and, although to a lower degree, to a T-independent antigen, and decreased resistance to allogeneic tumor grafts and L. monocytogenes challenges. The immunopharmacological activity of this and similar substances should be considered in the design of antibody-toxin conjugates and in the evaluation of their therapeutic activity.