Properties of human IgG1s engineered for enhanced binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)

J Biol Chem. 2006 Aug 18;281(33):23514-24. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M604292200. Epub 2006 Jun 21.

Abstract

We describe here the functional implications of an increase in IgG binding to the neonatal Fc receptor. We have defined in a systematic fashion the relationship between enhanced FcRn binding of a humanized anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody (MEDI-524) and the corresponding biological consequences in cynomolgus monkeys. The triple mutation M252Y/S254T/T256E (YTE) was introduced into the Fc portion of MEDI-524. Whereas these substitutions did not affect the ability of MEDI-524 to bind to its cognate antigen and inhibit RSV replication, they resulted in a 10-fold increase in its binding to both cynomolgus monkey and human FcRn at pH 6.0. MEDI-524-YTE was efficiently released from FcRn at pH 7.4 in both cases. We show that MEDI-524-YTE consistently exhibited a nearly 4-fold increase in serum half-life in cynomolgus monkeys when compared with MEDI-524. This constituted the largest half-life improvement described to date for an IgG in a primate. For the first time, we demonstrate that these sustained serum levels resulted in an up to 4-fold increase in lung bioavailability. Importantly, we also establish that our non-human primate model is relevant to human. Finally, we report that the YTE triple substitution provided a means to modulate the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of a humanized IgG1 directed against the human integrin alpha(v)beta3. Therefore, the YTE substitutions allow the simultaneous modulation of serum half-life, tissue distribution and activity of a given human IgG1.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / blood
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibody Diversity
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
  • Binding Sites, Antibody*
  • Half-Life
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / blood
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / administration & dosage
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / chemistry*
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism*
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Organ Specificity
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Engineering* / methods
  • Receptors, Fc / blood
  • Receptors, Fc / metabolism*
  • Receptors, IgG / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • FCGR3A protein, human
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Fc
  • Receptors, IgG
  • motavizumab
  • Fc receptor, neonatal