Generation of an artificial human B cell line test system using Transpo-mAbTM technology to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of novel antigen-specific fusion proteins

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 13;12(7):e0180305. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180305. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The antigen-specific targeting of autoreactive B cells via their unique B cell receptors (BCRs) is a novel and promising alternative to the systemic suppression of humoral immunity. We generated and characterized cytolytic fusion proteins based on an existing immunotoxin comprising tetanus toxoid fragment C (TTC) as the targeting component and the modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA') as the cytotoxic component. The immunotoxin was reconfigured to replace ETA' with either the granzyme B mutant R201K or MAPTau as human effector domains. The novel cytolytic fusion proteins were characterized with a recombinant human lymphocytic cell line developed using Transpo-mAb™ technology. Genes encoding a chimeric TTC-reactive immunoglobulin G were successfully integrated into the genome of the precursor B cell line REH so that the cells could present TTC-reactive BCRs on their surface. These cells were used to investigate the specific cytotoxicity of GrB(R201K)-TTC and TTC-MAPTau, revealing that the serpin proteinase inhibitor 9-resistant granzyme B R201K mutant induced apoptosis specifically in the lymphocytic cell line. Our data confirm that antigen-based fusion proteins containing granzyme B (R201K) are suitable candidates for the depletion of autoreactive B cells.

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Engineering / methods*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Granzymes / genetics*
  • Granzymes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunotoxins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / metabolism
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology*
  • Tetanus Toxoid / metabolism

Substances

  • Immunotoxins
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • GZMB protein, human
  • Granzymes

Grants and funding

The company NBE-Therapeutics AG provided support in the form of salaries for authors RRB and UG as well as study material (cell line REH, expression vectors pPB-EGFP-LC-Ac10/pPB-EGFP-HC-Ac10 and pcDNA3.1-hy-mPB), but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.