Generation and analysis of novel plant-derived antibody-based therapeutic molecules against West Nile virus

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 27;9(3):e93541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093541. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Previously, our group engineered a plant-derived monoclonal antibody (MAb) (pHu-E16) that efficiently treated West Nile virus (WNV) infection in mice. In this study, we developed several pHu-E16 variants to improve its efficacy. These variants included a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of pHu-E16 fused to the heavy chain (HC) constant domains (CH(1-3)) of human IgG (pHu-E16scFv-CH(1-3)) and a tetravalent molecule (Tetra pHu-E16) assembled from pHu-E16scFv-CH(1-3) with a second pHu-E16scFv fused to the light chain (LC) constant region. pHu-E16scFv-CH(1-3) and Tetra pHu-E16 were efficiently expressed and assembled in plants. To assess the impact of differences in N-linked glycosylation on pHu-E16 variant assembly and function, we expressed additional pHu-E16 variants with various combinations of HC and LC components. Our study revealed that proper pairing of HC and LC was essential for the complete N-glycan processing of antibodies in both plant and animal cells. Associated with their distinct N-glycoforms, pHu-E16, pHu-E16scFv-CH(1-3) and Tetra pHu-E16 exhibited differential binding to C1q and specific Fcγ receptors (FcγR). Notably, none of the plant-derived Hu-E16 variants showed antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) activity in CD32A+ human cells, suggesting the potential of plant-produced antibodies to minimize the adverse effect of ADE. Importantly, all plant-derived MAb variants exhibited at least equivalent in vitro neutralization and in vivo protection in mice compared to mammalian cell-produced Hu-E16. This study demonstrates the capacity of plants to express and assemble a large, complex and functional IgG-like tetravalent mAb variant and also provides insight into the relationship between MAb N-glycosylation, FcγR and C1q binding, and ADE. These new insights may allow the development of safer and cost effective MAb-based therapeutics for flaviviruses, and possibly other pathogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / biosynthesis*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies, Viral / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis*
  • Antibodies, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Complement C1q / immunology
  • Complement C1q / metabolism
  • Glycosylation
  • Immunization, Passive*
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry
  • Immunoconjugates / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nicotiana / genetics*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, IgG / immunology
  • Receptors, IgG / metabolism
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / administration & dosage
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / isolation & purification
  • Survival Analysis
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
  • West Nile Fever / immunology
  • West Nile Fever / mortality
  • West Nile Fever / prevention & control*
  • West Nile Fever / virology
  • West Nile virus / immunology
  • West Nile virus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, IgG
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Complement C1q