Removal of B-cell epitopes for decreasing immunogenicity in recombinant immunotoxin against B-cell malignancies

J BUON. 2016 Nov-Dec;21(6):1374-1378.

Abstract

Recombinant immunotoxin HA22, composed of an anti- CD22 Fv fragment fused to PE38, a truncated portion of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A (PE), has been developed for targeted treatment of various B-cell malignancies. As a foreign, internalized macromolecule, PE38 often induces lysosomal degradation and neutralizing antibodies to limit the efficacy of treating B-cell malignancies. The region of PE38 containing lysosomal protease cleavage sites deleted, leaving only furin processing site. The resulting immunotoxin HA22-LR (lysosome resistant) retains excellent biologic activity and removes immunogenic epitopes as an additional benefit. Another approach for avoiding immunogenicity is to identify B-cell epitopes and remove them by mutagenesis. Previously, to determine B-cell epitopes on PE38, murine Ab as a model, 7 major mouse-specific B-cell epitope groups with 13 subgroups were identified and located through a series of point mutations. Two new mutants, HA22-8X and HA22-LR-8X, were prepared, containing 8 epitope-silencing mutations which greatly reduced immunogenicity in mice. Later, by phage-display assay, human Fvs against PE toxin were isolated and human-specific B-cell epitopes were located by alanine scanning mutagenesis. HA22-LR as a scaffold, HA22-LR-LO10 with 7 point mutations was constructed, has low reactivity with human antisera, yet has high cytotoxic and antitumor activity. In this review, theoretical aspects and experimental evidence for the removal of B-cell epitope is discussed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Immunotoxins / adverse effects
  • Immunotoxins / genetics
  • Immunotoxins / immunology
  • Immunotoxins / therapeutic use*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / drug effects*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Immunotoxins
  • Recombinant Proteins