Background: IgA constitutes a promising antibody isotype, which requires optimization before immunotherapeutic application.Results: P221R-mutated and wild type IgA2m(1) antibodies were similarly effective in killing tumor cells and in recruiting myeloid effector cells.Conclusion: Improved IgA antibodies constitute promising next generation antibodies for tumor therapy.Significance: These studies support the clinical development of therapeutic IgA antibodies. Background: IgA constitutes a promising antibody isotype, which requires optimization before immunotherapeutic application. Results: P221R-mutated and wild type IgA2m(1) antibodies were similarly effective in killing tumor cells and in recruiting myeloid effector cells. Conclusion: Improved IgA antibodies constitute promising next generation antibodies for tumor therapy. Significance: These studies support the clinical development of therapeutic IgA antibodies.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term that comprises Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both entities are characterized by a disturbed mucosal immune response and an imbalance of intestinal microbiota composition. The complement system (C) plays a critical role in the detection, and clearance of bacteria and dysregulation of single complement components has been linked to IBD. Here, we asked if the C contributes to distinct subtypes of inflammation observed in CD and UC. We performed systematical expression analyses of the intestinal C in IBD patients and controls. Immunohistochemistry or immunoblot experiments were performed to verify qPCR data. Activity of the three activation pathways of C was studied in sera samples. In CD patients a strong upregulation of the C was observed enabling the definition of unique expression patterns being associated either with remission or active disease. These data were reflected by an enhanced C activation in sera and fecal samples. An excessive mucosal presence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and CR2/CD21 positive B cells in concert with decreased fecal IgA level was identified in CD patients in remission. These findings point to an exacerbated induction of the intestinal C that may potentially be involved in the etiology of CD.
<p>EGFR Expression on target cells were evaluated using 1 µg/ml cetuximab and FITC-labeled goat-anti human IgG antibody by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.</p>
Background & Aims: To enable rapid proliferation, colorectal tumor cells up-regulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and perform high level of aerobic glycolysis, resulting in substantial lactate release into the tumor microenvironment and impaired anti-tumor immune responses. We hypothesized that an optimized nutritional intervention designed to reduce aerobic glycolysis of tumor cells may boost EGFR-directed antibody (Ab)-based therapy of pre-existing colitis-driven colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Methods: CRC development was induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) administration to C57BL/6 mice. AOM/DSS treated mice were fed a glucose-free, high-protein diet (GFHPD) or an isoenergetic control diet (CD) in the presence or absence of i.p. injection of PBS, an irrelevant control mIgG2a or an anti-EGFR mIgG2a. Ex vivo, health status, tumor load, metabolism, colonic epithelial cell differentiation and immune cell infiltration were studied. Functional validation was performed in murine and human CRC cell lines MC-38 or HT29-MTX. Results: AOM/DSS treated mice on GFHPD displayed reduced systemic glycolysis, resulting in improved tumoral energy homeostasis and diminished tumor load. Comparable but not additive to an anti-EGFR-Ab therapy, GFHPD was accompanied by enhanced tumoral differentiation and decreased colonic PD-L1 and splenic PD-1 immune checkpoint expression, presumably promoting intestinal barrier function and improved anti-tumor immune responses. In vitro, glucose-free, high-amino acid culture conditions reduced proliferation but improved differentiation of CRC cells in combination with down-regulation of PD-L1 expression. Conclusion: We here found GFHPD to metabolically reprogram colorectal tumors towards balanced OXPHOS, thereby improving anti-tumor T-cell responses and reducing CRC progression with a similar efficacy as EGFR-directed antibody therapy.
Antibodies of IgA isotype effectively engage myeloid effector cells for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe preclinical studies with an Fc engineered IgA2m(1) antibody containing the variable regions of the EGFR antibody cetuximab. Compared with wild-type IgA2m(1), the engineered molecule lacked two N-glycosylation sites (N166 and N337), two free cysteines (C311 and C472), and contained a stabilized heavy and light chain linkage (P221R mutation). This novel molecule displayed improved production rates and biochemical properties compared with wild-type IgA. In vitro, Fab- and Fc-mediated effector functions, such as inhibition of ligand binding, receptor modulation, and engagement of myeloid effector cells for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, were similar between wild-type and engineered IgA2. The engineered antibody displayed lower levels of terminal galactosylation leading to reduced asialoglycoprotein-receptor binding and to improved pharmacokinetic properties. In a long-term in vivo model against EGFR-positive cancer cells, improved serum half-life translated into higher efficacy of the engineered molecule, which required myeloid cells expressing human FcαRI for its full efficacy. However, Fab-mediated effector functions contributed to the in vivo efficacy because the novel IgA antibody demonstrated therapeutic activity also in non-FcαRI transgenic mice. Together, these results demonstrate that engineering of an IgA antibody can significantly improve its pharmacokinetics and its therapeutic efficacy to inhibit tumor growth in vivo.
