A cytokine-neutralizing antibody as a structural mimetic of 2 receptor interactions

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Dec 23;105(51):20251-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0807200106. Epub 2008 Dec 10.

Abstract

TGF-beta isoforms are key modulators of a broad range of biological pathways and increasingly are exploited as therapeutic targets. Here, we describe the crystal structures of a pan-TGF-beta neutralizing antibody, GC-1008, alone and in complex with TGF-beta3. The antibody is currently in clinical evaluation for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, melanoma, and renal cell cancer. GC-1008 recognizes an asymmetric binding interface across the TGF-beta homodimer with high affinity. Whereas both cognate receptors, TGF-beta-receptor types I and II, are required to recognize all 3 TGF-beta isoforms, GC-1008 has been engineered to bind with high affinity to TGF-beta1, 2, and 3 via a single interaction surface. Comparison with existing structures and models of TGF-beta interaction with its receptors suggests that the antibody binds to a similar epitope to the 2 receptors together and is therefore a structurally different but functionally identical mimic of the binding mode of both receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Epitopes
  • Humans
  • Molecular Mimicry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Cytokines
  • Epitopes
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta2
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II

Associated data

  • PDB/3EO0
  • PDB/3EO1