Extending half-life by indirect targeting of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) using a minimal albumin binding domain

J Biol Chem. 2011 Feb 18;286(7):5234-41. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.164848. Epub 2010 Dec 7.

Abstract

The therapeutic and diagnostic efficiency of engineered small proteins, peptides, and chemical drug candidates is hampered by short in vivo serum half-life. Thus, strategies to tailor their biodistribution and serum persistence are highly needed. An attractive approach is to take advantage of the exceptionally long circulation half-life of serum albumin or IgG, which is attributed to a pH-dependent interaction with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) rescuing these proteins from intracellular degradation. Here, we present molecular evidence that a minimal albumin binding domain (ABD) derived from streptococcal protein G can be used for efficient half-life extension by indirect targeting of FcRn. We show that ABD, and ABD recombinantly fused to an Affibody molecule, in complex with albumin does not interfere with the strictly pH-dependent FcRn-albumin binding kinetics. The same result was obtained in the presence of IgG. An in vivo study performed in rat confirmed that the clinically relevant human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-targeting Affibody molecule fused to ABD has a similar half-life and biodistribution profile as serum albumin. The proof-of-concept described may be broadly applicable to extend the in vivo half-life of short lived biological or chemical drugs ultimately resulting in enhanced therapeutic or diagnostic efficiency, a more favorable dosing regimen, and improved patient compliance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology
  • Half-Life
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism*
  • Immunoglobulin G / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Fc / genetics
  • Receptors, Fc / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Schistosoma japonicum
  • Serum Albumin / genetics
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism*
  • Serum Albumin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • IgG Fc-binding protein, Streptococcus
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Fc
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Serum Albumin
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Fc receptor, neonatal