Simultaneous removal of T and B cell epitope in recombinant staphylokinase by structure-based mutagenesis of immuno-dominant Arg77 and Glu80 residues

Abstract

Objective: To reduce immunogenicity of recombined staphylokinase (r-Sak) , site-directed mutagenesis of Arg77 and Glu80 residue was performed to simultaneously remove T and B cell epitope in r-Sak molecule.

Methods: The solvent accessible surface areas of residues 77 and 80 in r-Sak were used to analyze rational design of Sak mutation. The Sak mutants were expressed in E coli DH5alpha. After purified by a 3-step chromatography, their fibrinolytic activities and immunological properties were analyzed.

Results: Immunogenicity tests suggested that Sak induced a Th2-type immune response. Substitution of Glu80 with alanine or serine successfully reduced its solvent accessible surface area while simultaneously removing part of the T and B cell epitope. Changing Arg77 to glutamine, asparagine, or lysine removed only part of the T cell epitope. Of six dually substituted variants, Sak (R77Q/E80A) and Sak(R77Q/E80S) variants effectively eliminated part of the B and T cell epitopes, which markedly reduced their immunogenicity.