A single chain variant of factor VIII Fc fusion protein retains normal in vivo efficacy but exhibits altered in vitro activity

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 21;9(11):e113600. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113600. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Recombinant factor VIII Fc (rFVIIIFc) is a fusion protein consisting of a single B-domain-deleted (BDD) FVIII linked recombinantly to the Fc domain of human IgG1 to extend half-life. To determine if rFVIIIFc could be further improved by maintaining the heavy and light chains within a contiguous single chain (SC), we evaluated the activity and function of SC rFVIIIFc, an isoform that is not processed at residue R1648. SC rFVIIIFc showed equivalent activity in a chromogenic assay compared to rFVIIIFc, but approximately 40% activity by the one-stage clotting assay in the presence of von Willebrand Factor (VWF), with full activity in the absence of VWF. Moreover, SC rFVIIIFc demonstrated markedly delayed thrombin-mediated release from VWF, but an activity similar to that of rFVIIIFc upon activation in FXa generation assays. Therefore, the apparent reduction in specific activity in the aPTT assay appears to be primarily due to delayed release of FVIII from VWF. To assess whether stability and activity of SC rFVIIIFc were affected in vivo, a tail vein transection model in Hemophilia A mice was utilized. The results demonstrated similar pharmacokinetic profiles and comparable efficacy for SC rFVIIIFc and rFVIIIFc. Thus, while the single chain configuration did not promote enhanced half-life, it reduced the rate of release of FVIII from VWF required for activation. This impaired release may underlie the observed reduction in the one-stage clotting assay, but does not appear to affect the physiological activity of SC rFVIIIFc.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Factor VIII / chemistry
  • Factor VIII / genetics*
  • Factor VIII / pharmacokinetics*
  • Factor VIII / therapeutic use
  • Half-Life
  • Hemophilia A / blood
  • Hemophilia A / drug therapy*
  • Hemorrhage
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacokinetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Thrombin / metabolism
  • von Willebrand Factor / metabolism

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • Factor VIII
  • Thrombin

Grants and funding

The funder (Biogen Idec) provided support in the form of salaries for all authors and funding of research, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.