CA1240669A - Conjugates of leukotrienes with proteins - Google Patents

Abstract

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
CONJUGATES OF LEUKOTRIENES WITH PROTEINS

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
Leukotrienes may be conjugated with various proteins such as Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and Hemocyanin from Giant Keyhole Limpets (KLH) using 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene or 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride as coupling agents.
These conjugates are useful as reagents in a newly developed immunoassay for leukotrienes, as well as having potential utility as chemical immunotherapeutic agents in the treatment of various allergic and chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin, lung, and airways, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
CONJUGATES OF LEUKOTRIENES WITH PROTEINS

RELATIONSHIP TO THE PRIOR _ The concept of using conjugates of leukotrienes in a radioimmunoassay was described, by L. Levine, R. A. Morgan, R. A. Lewis, K. F. Austin, D. A. Clark, A. Marfat, and E. J. Corey, Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., Vol. 78, No. 12 7692 (1981). This method uses direct coupling through an activated acid derivative to the protein.
This method is much less effective than the presen~
invention.
Bifunctional cross-linking reagents useful ~n preparation of protein-hapten conjugates have also been prepared, see Kitagawa, J. Biochem. 79, 233-236;
and Kitagawa, Chem. Pharm. Bull. 29(4), 1130-1135;

describing maleimido-succinimide derivatives. The present invention relates to conjugates of leukotrienes C4, B4, D4 or E4 (preferably C4 and B4) with a protein selected from hemo-cyanine from giant keyhole limpets (KLH~, bovineserum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin, tetanus antigen, diphtheriae toxoid, or CRM 197 (a diphtheriae toxoid produced by a mutant of Corvnebacterium diphtheriae), through the coupling agents 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene or 6-N-maleimido-alkanoic acid chloride, preferably 6-N-maleimido-hexanoic acid chloride, wherein the alkanoic moiety has 2 to 8 carbon atoms. The conjugates are useful in a sensitive and specific immunoassay and are also useful immunotherapeutic agents in the treatment of various allergic and chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin, lung and airways, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. The present invention also relates to useful reagents for preparing such conjugates.
Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) has the following structure:

25~ COOH
S ~ COOH

~/I\NH

~/ \~\COOH LTC4_ lZ4~i69 Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) has the following structure:

HO ~ CO2H
H~ ~ OH LTB4_ Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) has the following structure:

S/~N~\CO 2H

~ CO2H

LTD4_ Leukotriene E4 (LTE4) has the following structure:

~C02H

~02H

LTE4_ lZ4~669 The present invention also relates to the following compounds which are useful in preparing the conjugates (especially the conjugates of LTB4):

1) H ~\CONH (CH2 ) nNH2 wherein n is 0 to 10, preferably 0 or 2 to 10, more preferably 0 or 3.

2) HO~

~\CONH (C32) nNH~Fo2 wherein n is 0 to 10, preferably 0 or 2 to 10, more preferably 0 or 3.

3) HO~

~\coN~(cH2)nN3 1~Z4066'~

wherein n is 0 to 10, preferably 0 or 2 to 10, more preferably 0 or 3.

In the above three compounds, the compounds where n is 1 are likely to be less stable than the other compounds having the same generic formula.
The preparation of the conjugates of the present invention may be illustrated by reference to conjugates of LTC4 and LTB4.
For LTC4, coupling procedures were selected so that the reactions took place on the free amino group of the glutamyl residue, thus retaining the most important parts of the LTC4 molecule unchanged.
The general conjugation procedure utilized a stepwise method with well characterized intermediates. The strong W absorption of the triene chromophore in LTC4 ( = 40,000 at 280 nm) was used as a probe for determining coupling efficiencies and for monitoring the state of the LTC4 molecules throughout the procedures.
Coupling ratios in the ranges of S to 15 equivalents of LTC4 per 100,000 daltons of protein were desired.
Conjugates of LTC4 Conjugations using 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as coupling agent:
The reagent, 1,S-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DFDNB) reacts quite specifically with amino functions, allowing clean stepwise replacement of the two fluorine atoms (the second fluorine being lZ406~9 replaced at a much slower rate). In addition, the strong and characteristic W absorptions of the reagent, and its mono- and diamino substituted derivatives allows one to follow the course of the coupling procedure and to quantitate the final adducts by W spectroscopy.
LTC4 was found to react essentially quantitatively with excess DFDNB in pH 7.2 buffered aqueous methanol within 30 minutes. The intermediates thus formed cou d be characterized by HPLC analysis, by the appearance of a strong W band at 345 nm characteristic of 1-amino-5-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzenes. After removal of methanol from the reaction the excess DFDNB could be removed by ether extraction. The intermediates could be further purified by HPLC but this was found to not offer any advantage and, in general, the crude reaction mixture was then allowed to react with protein in pH 8.5 buffer for two days in the dark. Final separation of the conjugates from unreacted LTC4 or reagents was achieved by filtration on Sephadex G-50. The derived coupled products now showed W absorptions at 342 and 420 nm characteristic of 1,5-diaminodinitrobenzenes as well as the characteristic absorptions of the triene system at 271, 282, and 291 nm in the case of the LTC4 conjugates. In this manner, S-p-chloro-phenacylglutathione when reacted in 10:1 molar ratio with BSA gave a conjugate with about 6 moles of hapten per mole of BSA.
Similarly, LTC4 in 30 fold mol r excess gave a conjugate with BSA with 9-10 moles LTC4 per mole BSA, and LTC4 in ca. 30 fold molar excess lZ406~i9 (calculated per 100,000 daltons protein~, gave a conjugate with KLH with 11-12 equivalents LTC4 per 100,000 daltons KLH.

Conjugation using 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride as coupling agent Since this invention provides a second LTC4 protein conjugate using a different spacer group, a number of potential coupling methods were examined. A direct coupling using a reagent such as DCC or ECDI (6) was considered but quickly rejected due to the expectation that a heterogeneous mixture of adducts would be formed. Also, preliminary experiments indicated that the efficiency of such a coupling would be low. The known agents, toluene diisocyanate and m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxy-succinimide ester were not used due to the possibility of immunological cross reactivity with respect to the spacer units between the two conjugates.
The coupling agent 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride provides rapid, selective functionalization of the glutamyl amino group of LTC4, as well as high coupling efficiency.
The agent chosen was 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride which was readily prepared from 6-aminohexanoic acid. Other analogous reagents having from 2-8 carbon atoms in the chain can be used, e.g., 2-aminoacetic acid up to 8-amino octanoic acid.
The 6-N-"laleimidohexanoic acid amide of LTC4 was prepared by reacting a methanolic solution ~Z~Q66~

of LTC4 tripotassium salt with the reagent (1.5 equivalents in dry THF) in the presence of excess Et3N. HPLC analysis showed essentially complete conversion to the amide (eluting before LTC4 on RP-HPLC). A portion of this adduct, isolated from HPLC, had W characteristics essentially unchanged from those of LTC4. For subsequent coupling with thiolated protein (KLH) the crude mixture (in pH 7.2 borate buffer) was used as such.
The thiolated protein used, in this case derived from KLH, was prepared by reaction with S-acetylmercaptosuccinic anhydride. As no report of thiolation of KLH could be found in the literature, trials were done to determine conditions for obtaining KLH with about 20 S-acetyl groups per 100,000 daltons protein [thio] content, after hydrolysis of the acetyl groups, was determined by Elleman's method. The S-acetylmercaptosuccinyl derivatized XLH was highly unstable to oxygen until further reacted with N-ethyl maleimide (NEM).
However, once any free SH groups were thus reacted, the material could be handled and purified by Sephadex~G-50 filtration.
Concentration of the resulting purified protein was accomplished by dialysis against a packing of anhydrous Sephadex~G-200 resin. Just prior to coupling with derivatized LTC4, the thiol groups were liberated by hydrolysis of the rigorously deoxygenated solution at pH 11.5 followed by reducti~n of the pH to 7.2.
This mixture was then reacted with the deoxygenated solution of the 6-N-maleimidohexanoic ~24~669 acid amide of LTC4 in a ratio of 80 equivalents LTC4 per 100,000 daltons KLH. After stabilization with NEM and purification by Sephadex G-50, the protein conjugate showed 7-10 moles LTC4 per 100,000 daltons KLH by W analysis.
The protein solution has proven to be very stable during several months storage frozen at -78C.
More detailed examples follow. It is noted that IR spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 267 Grating Spectrophotometer. PMR spectra were recorded on a Varian EM-390 spectrometer. UV spectra were recorded on a Cary 210 spectrophotometer. Spectra were recorded in water unless otherwise indicated.
Sephadex~G-50 (medium grade) was obtained from Pharmacia Fine Chemicals.
Bovine Serum Albumin was obtained as crystalli~ed and lyophilized grade from Sigma Chemical Co. and Hemocyanin (Keyhole Limpet) was obtained as lyophilized powder from Calbiochem Behring Corp. Leukotriene C4 was synthetic material prepared in our laboratories using known procedures, Rokach _ al., Tet. Lett., 21, 1485 (1980)._ Preparation of LTB4 conjugates is illustrated by the following reaction schemes:

124~669 Scheme 1 HO~=\~\C02Et H~ O~Ph II

H 2N~NH 2 HO~CON~\NH2 III

2 ~NO2 H.~/\CON~ N~,~F

124~69 r N ~ 2 ~ ~2 This method makes use of the immediate synthetic precursor to LTB4, Ethyl 5(S)benzoyloxy-12 (R) -hydroxy-6 , 14 (z) -8 ,10 (E)-eicosatetraenoate (II). We reasoned that reaction of II with a volatile diamine such as 1,3-diaminopropane would at the same time remove the benzoate protecting group and convert the ethyl ester to the ~-aminopropyl-lS amide, all under mild weakly basic conditions. The solvents could then be removed under vacuum leaving only a mixture of the product (III) and N-~-amino-propylbenzamide. In model studies, using ethyl 5-(4-octylphenyl)-~-benzoyloxypentanoate this reaction was found to be extremely sluggish, even in neat 1,3-diaminopropane. However, when a catalytic amount of 2-hydroxypyridine was added to the reaction mixture, the diester was smoothly converted to the desired aminoamide. When applied to the protected LTB4 (II) a similar smooth conversion to III was effected. III could be reacted directly in the next step, after removal of the volatile components. The aminoamide (III) was reacted with excess 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in the presence of triethylamine to provide the dduct IV in high yield. This product was purified by reverse phase HPLC and was fully characterized by W and PMR spectroscopy. Finally, ~2406~i9 IV reacted smoothly with bovine serum albumin (BSA) (mole ratio-12:1) in a mixture of dimethylformamide and pH 8.5 borate buffer to provide the conjugate V
which was purified by chromatography on Sephadex G-50. W spectral analysis indicated that the triene chromophore was unchanged and allowed the estimation that 5.5-8.3 moles of LTB4 were coupled per mole of BSA. (45-70~ coupling efficiency).
The aminoamide III could also be prepared by direct reaction of LTB4 -lactone with 1,3-diaminopropane at room temperature. This provided III in quantitative yield free of side products.

124()~;~;9 Scheme 2 ~K 1~=~ \COGH
H ~ CH 6 2 H' ~

10 R.T. ~ ~ HO~=~( 2 H~ ~ H O

VI VII

20~

~eaH, Et3N VIII

~ ~W~ W

~24~6g Another type of LTB4 conjugate could be ~repared as illustrated in Scheme 2.
Lact one VI reacted cleanly with hydrazine to provide the hydrazide (VII) in quantitative yield.
VII was reacted further with 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride to give the diacyl hydrazide (VIII).
This material could be purified by reverse phase HPLC
to remove the excess reagent byproducts. However, attempts to concentrate the product in order to obtain a PMR spectrum led to partial decomposition apparently due to hydration or methanolysis of the maleimide system. It was found however, that the crude reaction product could be used in the subsequent coupling reaction. VIII was reacted with thiolated KLH in a ratio of 50 moles of VIII per 100,000 daltons KLH, to provide the desired conjugate IX which was purified by filtration through Sephadex~
~-50. UV analysis indicated that 12 equivalents of LTB4 were bound per 100,000 daltons of KLH.

Conjugates of LTC4 Using 1,5-Difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as Coupling Agent A. Conjugation of S-p-Chlorophenacylgluta-thione and 80vine Serum Albumin (BSA) 1,5-Difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (120 mg, 0.59 mmol) in methanol (6 ml) was added to a solution of S-p-chlorophenacylglutathione (88 mg, 0.19 mmol) in 9 mL of phosphate buffer (pH 7.2, O.lN). After stirring 12 hours at ro~ temperature the methanol was removed in vacuo and the resulting aqueous solution was washed with ether. The aqueous layer ~If , ~' ;, 1~4~)6~9 was chromatographed on C-18 Silica Gel (eluting with methanol:water (1:1) to provide the pure adduct intermediate (105 mg). UV: ~max (~) 260 (24,000), 347 nm (19,000). PMR (D2O): ~ 8.62 (lH, d, J ~ 7.5 Hz), 7.6 (2H, d, J = 9Hz, A of AB), 7.1 (2H, d, J =
9Hz, B of AB), 6.7 (lH, d, J = 15Hz), 3.9 (2H, s, phenacyl CH2).
The adduct (1.05 mg, 1.63 X 10 6 mol) in water (0.1 mL) was added to a solution of BSA (10 mg, 1.49 X 10 7 mGl) in borate buffer (pH 8.5, 0.2 N, 1 mL). After standing in the dark at room temperature for 71 hours the solution was centrifuged and filtered on Sephadex~G-50 (1.5 X 75 cm) eluting with water. Fractions (10.5 mL) eluting after the void volume (55 mL) contained protein and were analyzed by UV. A sample of this solution diluted 5 times had a W spectrum (in H2O) ~max (Absorbance) 342 (0.3S9), 425 nm (0.133). Assuming 8 mg of protein were recovered and assuming for the 1,5-diamino-2,4-dinitrobenzene chromophor of ca. 27,000 (3) at 342 nm the W indicated 6 moles of S-~-chlorophenacyl-glutathione were conjugated per mole of BSA.

B. Conjugation of Leukotriene C4 and Bovine Serum Albumin:
Leukotriene C4 (tripotassium salt) (2.5 mg) was dissolved in 1 mL of phosphate buffer (pH 7.2, 0.1 N). 1,5-Difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (1 mg) in methanol (0.6 mL) was added and the mixture was left 3( min. at room temperature. The methanol was removed under a stream of N2 and then ln vacuo to ~240669 rémove final traces followed by extraction with ether (3 x 2 mL) to remove unreacted reagent. The last traces of ether were removed under N2 and in vacuo. To this mixture was added bovine serum albumin (BSA) (10 mg) in borate buffer (0.2M, pH 8.5, 1 mL), and the mixture was left to stand at room temperature in the dark for two days. The reaction mixture was filtered on a column of Sephadex G-50 (1.5 x 75 cm) eluting with water and the yellow protein eluting in 18 mL, after the void volume, of ca. 55 mL, was collected. At about the 140 mL dead volume a peak considered to contain unreacted LTC4 eluted. Direct W analysis on the protein fractions tcombined) gave a spectrum ~max (A) 271 (sh), 282 15 (3.57), 291, 342 (1.835) and 420 nm (0.91). Assuming about 9 mg of protein were recovered, and assuming for the l,5-diamino 2,4-dinitrobenzene of about 27,000 at 340 nm and for LTC4 at 280 nm of 40,000, calculations based on the 282 nm absorption about 10.0 mole of LTC4 per mole BSA while calculations based on the absorption of 342 nm indicated 9.1 moles LTC4 per mole BSA.

C. Conjugation of Leukotriene C4 and Hemocyanin from Giant Keyhole Limpets (KLH):
Leukotriene C4 (tripotassium salt) (2.1 mg), and 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (8 mg) were reacted as in reaction A. To the resultant adduct 30 was added KLH (15 mg) in borate buffer (pH 3.5, 0.2M, 0.83 mL) and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature 60 hours. At this time a precipitate of 124U61~9 denatured KLH had formed which was removed by centrifugation (6 mg, dry weight). The supernatant was filtered on Sephadex G-50 as before yielding a yellow protein fraction eluting in 17 mL following the void volume which by W analysis indicated 11-12 equivalents of LTC4 per 100,000 daltons of KLH.

D. Conjugation of 2,4(E),6,9(7)-Penta-decatetraen-l-ol with BSA
A solution of DFDN~ t2.04 9, 10 mmol) in dioxane (20 mL) was added to L-proline (0.58 g, 5 mmol) in phosphate buffer tpH 7.5, 0.1 N, 5 mL) and the mixture was stirred 2 hours at room temperature.
The mixture was reduced to dryness and the residue was chromatographed on silica gel (eluting with chloroform:methanol (9:1) to yield N-2,4-dinitro-5-fluorophenylproline as a foam (1.1 g).
PMR (CDC13): ~9.43 (lH, broad, exchanged by D2O, COOH), 8.55 (lH, d, JH F = 7.5 Hz, H-3 of phenyl), 6.62 (lH, d, JH F = 15 Hz, H-6 of phenyl),

4.5 (lH, broad t, J = 6Hz, proline methyne), 3.7-3.1 t2H, m), 2.7-1.9 ppm (4H, m).
To a mixture of 2,4(E),6,9(Z)-pentadeca-tetraen-1-ol (123 mg, 0.56 mmol) and the proline derivative above (170 mg, 0.57 mmol) in methylene chloride, at -10 C, were added successively, l-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl) carbodiimide methyl-~-toluenesulphonate (266 mg, 0.63 mmol) and pyrrolidinopyridine (9 mg, 0.06 mmol). The solution was stirred under N2 at room tem; !rature for 7 hours. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was washed with water, 5% NaHCO3, brine and dried over 124~6~g Na2SO4. The residue after concentration was chromatographed on silica gel [eluting with chloroform:ethano] (99.25:0.75)] to yield the pure adduct as an oil.
PMR (CDC13): ~ 8.57 ~lH, d, J = 7.5 Hz), 6.55 (lH, d, J = 15 Hz), 6.7-5.2 ~8H, m, olefinic), 4.65 (2H, d, J = 6Hz, -COOCH2-), 4.47 (lH, t, J =
6Hz , proline methyne), 3 . 4 5 (2H, m), 2 . 95 (2E, m) 2.7-1.8 (6H, m), l.S-1.2 (6H, m), 0.88 ~3H, t).
W (dioxane: ~max (~) 275 (48,700), 347nm (18,450).
Anal- calcd for C26H32N36F C, 62-26; H~ 6-43;
N, 8.38; F, 3.7g. Found: C, 61.88; H, 6.72 N, 8.48; F, 3.47.
A suspension of the add~ct (5 mg, 1 X 10 5 mol) and BSA (10 mg, 1.5 X 10 7 mol) in dioxane (1 mL) and borate buffer (pH 8.5, 0.2M, 3 mL) was slowly stirred at room temperature for 4 days in the dark.
The mixture was centrifuged and the suspernatant was filtered on Sephadex~G-50 (1.5 X 75 cm), eluting with water. The protein fraction eluting in 7 ml after the void volume analyzed by W for approximately 4 moles hapten per mole of BSA.

Conjugates of LTC4 Using 6-N-Maleimidohexanoic Acid Chloride as Couplinq Agent A. Preparation of 6-N-Maleimidohexanoic Acid Chloride 6-Aminohexanoic acid (2 g, 0.02 mol) and maleic anh;dride (2 g, 0.02 mol) were refluxed together in xylene (20 mL) under a Dean-Stark water separator such that the internal temperature reached ~Z~V669 ca. 165C. The mixture was cooled, diluted with chloroform-methanol and washed with lN hydrochloric acid. The orqanic layers were washed with water, dried, and reduced to dryness to yield a residue (1 g) which after chromatography on silica gel (eluting with 5% methanol-chloroform) provided pure 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid, m.p. 84-85C.
IR(KBr): 3300-2500 (COOH), 1700 cm 1 (maleimide and COOH). PMR (CDC13): ~ 11.10 (lH, s, exchanged by D2O, COOH), 6.72 (2H, s, maleimide CH), 3.53 (2H, t, J = 7Hz), 2.34 (2H, t, J = 7Hz), 1.6 ppm (6~, m).
Mass spectrum: m/e 211 (M ).
Anal. Calcd for CloH13NO4: C, 56.87; H, 6.20;
N, 6.63. Found: C, 56.87; H, 6.24; N, 6.62.
6-_-Maleimidohexanoic acid (50 mg, 0.23 mmol) and a,a-dichloromethyl methyl ether (150 ~1, 1.5 mmol) were refluxed together in anhydrous dichloromethane (1 mL) overnight. The mixture was reduced to dryness and the resultant highly hygroscopic solid (6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride (54 mg) was used, freshly prepared, in the coupling reactions.
IR (film): 1795 (COCl), 1700 cm 1 (maleimide).
PMR (CDC13): ~ 6.60 (2H, s, maleimide CH), 3.53 (2H, t, J = 7Hz), 2.90 (2H, t, J = 7Hz), 1.6 ppm (6H, m).

B. Reaction of 6-N-Maleimidohexanoic Acid Chloride with Leukotriene C4 LTC4 tripot~ssium salt (5 mg) was dissolved in anhydrous methanol (1 mL) and triethylamine (80 ~L) under nitrogen and the acid chloride (25 ~L of a solution of 10 mg acid chloride in 100 ~L anhydrous THF) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature and was followed by HPLC
(Whatman Partisil M9 10/25 ODS, eluting with MeOH:H2O:HOAc; 70:30:0.01, 4 mL/min). The adduct eluted at 4.8 min. and LTC4 eluted at 6.6 min.
After 10 and 30 min. about 15% of unreacted LTC4 remained. More of the acid chloride solution (5 ~L) was added and after a further lO min. 5% unreacted LTC4 remained. The reaction mixture was concentrated to 0.2 mL under a stream of N2, diluted with borate buffer (pH 7.2, 0.1M, 0.5 mL) and the residual methanol was removed in vacuo. This solution had W spectrum essentially unchanged from LTC4 itself, and was used as such in reaction with thiolated KLH (see following).

C. Reaction of KLH with S-Acetylmercapto-succinic Anhvdride KLH (60 mg) was dissolved in borate buffer (0.2M, pH 8, 1.5 mL) and centrifuged to remove denatured protein. The resultant solution analyzed for 24.6 mg/mL by W [E278(mg/mL) = 1.36]. The solution was deoxygenated (by three purges alternating high vacuum and pure N2 flush) then treated under N2 with S-acetylmercaptosuccinic anhydride (45 mg added in 5 mg portions over one hour). The pH was maintained at 8 by addition of lN
NaOH (total 400 ~L). After s-anding one hour more, N-ethylmaleimide (20 mg in 0. mL MeOH) was added to bind any free thiol groups and stabilize the solution to air. After standing 1.5 hours more the solution lZ4~66~

was centrifuged and applied to a column Sephadex G-50 (1.5 x 75 cm) eluting with 0.1N saline buffered with 0.01N pH 6.2 phosphate buffer. Two fractions (7 mL) eluting after the void volume contained the bulk of the protein (2.4 mg/mL). An aliquot analyzed for thiol content, after hydrolysis at pH 11.5 for one hour, indicated 18 thiol groups per 100,000 daltons protein.

D. Coupling of 6-N-Maleimidohexanoic Acid Amide of LTC4 and Thiolated KLH
A solution of S-acetylmercaptosuccinate derivative of KLH (from reaction C) (10.8 mg, in 4.5 mL 0.1N saline, buffered to pH 6.2 with 0.01N
phosphate) was rigorously deoxygenated and then the pH was raised to 11.5 with lN NaOH (150 ~L) under N2 and the mixture was left at room temperature for one hour. The pH was then reduced to 7.2 by addition of deoxygenated lN HCl (150 ~L) and the solution of the 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid amide derivative of LTC4 from reaction B was added. After standing 2 hours at room temperature, _-ethylmaleimide (1 mg in 10 ~L methanol) was added and the mix~ure was left one hour more at room temperature. This solution was 25 applied to a Sephadex~G-50 column (1.5 x 7.5 cm) eluting with 0.lN saline buffered to pH 6 with 0.01N
phosphate. The protein fraction eluted with 85% in 11 mL after the void volume. Unreacted reagents eluted at the dead volume (150 mL). The protein solution was adjustad to pH 7.2 with lN NaOH for storage.

~r lZ4066~

Analysis of the protein solution by UV
indicated 7-10 equivalents of LTC4 were coupled per 100,000 daltons protein.
The conjugates of LTC4 with the proteins BSA and KLH have been used to raise antibodies with rabbits, at a dose of 200 ~g/rabbit, approximately weighing 1 kg; the antibodies specifically recognize Leukotrienes C4, D4, and E4. A detailed description of the antibody production, specificity, and the use of these conjugates in an immunoassay for the leukotrienes follows.
In addition to LTC4 and the specific proteins used, it will be appreciated that other leukotrienes, such as LTD4 and LTE4 can be conjugated with other antigenic proteins such as tetanus antigen, human serum albumin (HSA), as well as diphtheriae toxide, tetanus antigen, and CRM 197 (from coryne bacterium diphtheriae) and other similar antigenic materials.

Immunization Using LTC4 Conjugates The following is the immunization regime used employing KLH-maleimido-LTC4 as the immunogen.
Three 4 month old New Zealand White rabbits each received sub-cutaneous injections at multiple sites of 200 ~g KLH-LTC4 in complete Freunds adjuvant followed in three weeks by sub-cutaneous injections at multiple sites with 100 ~g LKH-LTC4 in incomplete Freunds adjuvank . The rabbits were bled 10 days after the second injection and every three weeks thereafter. When a significant decline ~Z4(~669 in the level of antibody was observed, the animals were boosted with 200 ~g KLH-LTC4 in incomplete Freunds adjuvant and the animals bled again on the same schedule.
The antigen BSA-DNP-LTC4 was employed in a solid-phase-immuno-radioassay (SPIRA) in order to be used for the dectection of leukotrienes.
Polyvinyl chloride - 96 well microtiter plates (Dynatech Laboratories) were coated with antigen (BSA-DNP-LTC4) by incubating 100 ~1 aliquotes of the antigen at 0.1 mg protein/ml in PBS
for 18 h at 4C. The wells were washed three times with 200 ~1 PBS and then unreacted sites in the wells were blocked by incubating a 200 ~l aliqout of 10%
horse serum in PBS in the wells for 2 h at 22C. The wells were then washed three times with 200 ~l of PBS-1.5 H.S.(1.5% horse serum in PBS). One hundred (100)~1 of a reaction mixture containing a dilution - of the immune or pre-immune rabbit serum was added to the wells and the plates incubated for 4 h at 22C.
The 100 ~l reaction employed for the titration of rabbit serum consisted of 50 ~l of dilutions of the sera in PBS-l. 5 H.S. and 50 ~l of PBS-l. 5 H.S. For competition analysis this reaction mixture consisted of 50 ~l of a dilution of immune se~um in PBS-1.5 H.S. which contained a limiting amount of leukotriene specific antibody and 50 ~1 of PBS-1.5. H.S~
containing various concentrations of leukotrienes or chemically related compounds. This lon ~1 reaction mixture was preincubated l h at 22C I fore it was added to the well of the microtiter plate.

12~06ti9 The wells of the microtiter plate were then washed three times with 200 ~1 PBS-1.5 H.S. and then 100 ~1 of 125I-labeled rabbit anti-mouse [F(ab)2 fragments of rabbit anti-mouse IgG (H +
L)] in PBS containing 10% horse serum was added to the wells and the plates incubated 4 h at 22C.
Approximately 2 X 104 cpm of the iodinated reagent was added to each well. After the incubation period, the wells were washed five times with 200 ~1 PBS-1.5 H.S. and once with 200 ~1 PBS. The wells were then cut from the plate and the radioactivity in each well was determined in a gamma counter.
The advantage of this assay is that, although the rabbits were immunized with KLH-maleimido-LTC4, therefore antibodies are present in these animals against KLH, against the maleimido linker and against the hapten-LTC4, however, antibodies directed against the KLH and the maleimido linker do not cross react or bind to the BSA or DNP linker of the material coated onto the the surface of the wells. Therefore the only antibodies that bind to the material coated on the wells (LTC4-DNP-BSA) are directed against the LTC4.
These rabbit LTC4 antibodies bind to the LTC4 portion of the conjugate and they in turn are detected by adding a second species of antibody (125I-labeled goat anti rabbit antibodies). There antibodies are radio-labeled with iodine and will bind to the rabbit antibodies which in turn are bound to LTC4. The ne~ result is, the more antibodies directed against LTC4, the more radioactivity associated with the well.

lZ~669 In order to determine if free LTC4 is in a biological sample, an aliquot is added to the plastic well. Some of this free LTC4 will bind to the rabbit anti LTC4 displacing if from the antigen coating which is bound to the surface. This results in a decrease in the number of counts (125I) bound to the surface of the well and by comparing this decrease to the decrease in a standard curve where known amounts of free LTC4 are added, the amount of LTC4 in the sample can be determined.
The other compounds described in Examples 1 and 2 can be similarly used in an assay system, as reagents.
The antisera produced in rabbits by immunization with these conjugates can also be used in conjunction with radio-labelled leukotrienes C4, D4, or E4 as the basis of a radioimmunoassay for Leukotrienes C4, D4, and E4.
These con~ugates are useful as chemical immunotherapeutic agents in the treatment various allergic and chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin, lung, and airways, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.

In a standard Guinea Pig Ileum assay, 4 tissues were set up in 10 ml baths of Kreb's buffer with atropine and pyrilamine both at 10 6M.
Standard contractions were observed using 10 ~1 of 2.7 x 10 6 M LTC4 solution in a 10 ml bath, for a final concentration of 2.7 x 10 M LTC4.

lZ40669 The standard response tension was 1.1-2.0 grams.
20 ~1 of stock LTC4 solution was mixed with a varying amount (10 ~1, 40 ~1, 100 ~1 and 400 ~1) of anti-LTC4 serum (rabbit).
(1 ml of serum contained 7.9 x 10 M of specific anti-LTC4 antibody).
The serum was incubated on ice (in the dark) for 1/2 hour before use.
Control samples were run using similar amounts of normal rabbit serum.
The mixed samples (15 ~1, 30 ~1, 60 ~1 and 210 ~1 respecitvely) were added to baths and the response recorded.

RESULTS

Volume of Antibody Serum % of Control Response 205 ~1 100.0 20 ~1 72.7 50 ~1 92.3 200 ~1 64.7 Volume of Normal Serum

5 ~1 108.6 20 ~1 85.7 50 ~1 102.6 30200 ~1 114.3 lZ40~G9 From the above results, clearly the anti-LTC4 serum diminished the effect of LTC4 in each sample. Thus the conjugates can be used to raise antibodies to LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, in humans (in a manner similar to that employed herein in rabbits). The resulting circulating levels of antibodies would serve to diminish plasma levels of LTC4, and LTD4 and LTE4 released during an asthmatic anaphylactic response and thus serve to alleviate the symptoms. Since the antibodies would be present during long periods of time, this would represent a long term asthma therapy.

EXAMPLE 4 - Conju~ates of LTB4 Materials and Conditions PMR spectra were recorded on a Varian EM-390 or Bruker WM-400 spectrometer. W spectra were recorded on a Cary 210 spectrophotometer. Optical rotations were measured using a Perkin Elmer Model 241 Polarimeter. Sephadex G-50 (medium grade) was obtained from Pharmacia Fine Chemicals.
Bovine serum albumin was obtained as crystallized and lyophilized grade from Sigma Chemical Co. and Hemocyanin (Keyhole Limpet) was obtained as lyophilized powder from Calbiochem Behring Corp.

1. Conjugation of LTB4 with Bovine Serum Albumin A. 5(S),12(R)-dihydroxy-6,14(Z)-8,10(E)-eicosatetra-z- 30 eonic acid ~-lactone (LTB4 -lactone) (VI):
5(S),12(R)-dihydroxy-6,14(Z)-8,10(E)-eico satetraenoate (12 mg) was stirred under nitrogen in 1240~i69 methanol (1.5 mL) and water (0.4 mL) with postassium carbonate (22 mg) for 2.5 days at ambient temperature. Most of the methanol was removed under a stream of nitrogen (to leave about 0.4 mL volume) and the mixture was diluted with 0.lN pH 6.2 phosphate buffer (2.5 mL). The mixture was extracted with ether (5 x 2 mL) and the combined ether extracts were dried (Na2SO4) and reduced to dryness. uv analysis of the resulting oil indicated that 8 mg of LTB4 free acid was thus obtained. The oil was dissolved in anhydrous ether (5 mL) and treated with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) (20 mg) at 0 under nitrogen for 24 hours. TLC analysis (ethyl acetate:
hexane 2:3) indicated about 50% conversion of LTB4 to the ~-lactone (Rf LTB4 = 0, Rf LTB4 lactone = 0.6). More DCC (30 mg) was added and after 2 days at 0 TLC indicated essentially complete conversion to the ~-lactone. The mixture was concentrated to 1 mL under N2, filtered, reduced to dryness, taken up in ethyl acetate:hexane (2:3) (1 mL) and chromatographed on silica gel column (10 g) eluting with the same solvent ot provide the ~-lactone contaminated with a small amount of dicyclohexylurea. This material was further purified by HPLC (Waters 10~, ~-porasil; ethylacetate:hexane;
(1:2) 4 mL/min) to provide the pure LTb4 r-lactone (VI) eluting at 5.7 min (6.3 mg, 77% yield from II).
The lactone crystallized as fine needles from ether:hexane, mp 50.0-50.5 [a]RDT = +231.0 ( 0.3, CHC13) W : ~max (~)(MeOH) 260 (37,200), 270 (~0,000), 280 nm ~39,400). S PMR (400 MHz) (CDC13~:
0.87 (3H, t), 1.2-1.4 (6H, m), 1.65 (2H, m), 1.93 lZ40669 (2H, m), 2.03 (2H, q, CH2, C-16), 2.32 (2H, m, CH, C-13), 2.48 ~lH, dt, J=17.5, 7 Hz, one of CH2, C-2), 2.62 (lH, dt, J=18, 5 Hz, one of CH2, C-2), 4.22 (lH, m, methine, C-12), 5.23 (lH, dt, J=10.5, 2Hz, methine, C-5), 5.35 (lH, dd), 5.45 (lH, t), 5.58 (lH, dd), 5.81 (lH, dd), 6.15 (lH, t), 6.29 (2H, m), 6.41 (1~, dd).

B. N- (3-aminopropyl) -5- (S) ,12 (R) -dihydroxy-6,14 (Z) -8,10(E)-eicosatetraenoic acid amide (III):
Method 1. LTB4 ~-lactone (VI) 1.75 mg) was dissolved in redistilled 1,3-diaminopropane (0.5 mL) and the mixture was left at room temperature for 18 hours. The excess diaminopropane was removed under high vacuum to give the amide III, quantitative yield, [a]DR = -2 (C=0.17, CHC13).
W: ~max (~) (MeOH) 259.5 (29,800) 269.5 (46,500), 280 (36,500). ~PMR (400 MHz): 2.03 (2H, q, CH2 C-16), 2.21 (2H, t, -CH2-CONH-), 2.31 ~2H, m, CH2, C-13), 2.76 (2H, t, -CH2-NH2), 3.33 (2H, q, -CONH-CH2-), 4.20 (lH, q, methine, C-12), 4.58 (lH, q, methine, C-5), 5.3-5.43 (2H, m), 5.55 (lH, dd), 5.78 (lH, dd), 6.05 (lH, t), 6.18-6.31 (2H, m),

6.36 (lH, broad NH, amide), 6.47 (lH, dd).
Method 2. Ethyl 5(S)-benzoyloxy-12(R)-hydroxy-6,14(Z)-8,10(E)-eicosatetraenoate (2.5 mg) and 2-hydroxypyridine (1.5 mg) were dissolved in 1,3-diaminopropane (0.5 mL) and the mixture was left at room temperature, under nitrogen, for 3 days. The excess diaminopropane was removed under high vacuum lZ4066g at room temperature to provide crude III which was used as such in the next reaction (W : ~ max 227, 260, 270, 280, 298 mm).

C. N-(3-[2,4-dinitro-5-fluorophenyl]aminopropyl)-5(S), 12(R)-dihydroxy-6,14 (Z)-8,10(E)-eicosatetraenoic acid amide (IV):
The crude amino amide (III) from Step B, Method 2 (2 mg) in anhydrous methanol (400 ~) and triethylamine (8 ~1) was treated with 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (4 mg) in methanol 200 ~1) at room temperature for 15 minutes at which time reverse phase TLC (RPTLC) (acetonitrile:water, 85:15:) indicated complete reaction of III (Rf=0.1) and the appearance of a new yellow product (Rf=0.7). The mixture was chromatographed on RPHPLC (Waters, 10 ~
~bondapak, C-18, acetonitrile:water, 70:30, 1 mL/min) to provide the product IV (1.8 mg) []RT =18.9 ~C=0.37, MeOH).
20 W : ~ max (MeOH) 260, 270, 280, 335, 380 (sh). PMR
(400 MHz) (acetone-d6: r 3.34 (2H, q, -CONH-CH2-), 3-61 (2H~ m~ -CH2-)~ 3-61 (2H, m, -CH2-NH-Ar)~
3.84 (2H, m, 2-OH), 4.14 (lH, m, methine, C-12) 4.58 (lH, m, methine, C-5), 5.42 (3H, m), 5.78 (lH, dd, 25 J=14, 6Hz, H-ll), 6.00 (lH, t, J=llHz, H-7), 6.21 (lH, dd, J=14, llHz, H-10), 6.30 (lH, dd, J=14, llHz, H-9), 6.57 (lH, dd, J=14, llHz, H-8), 7.15 (lH, d, JHF=15Hz), 7.27 (lH, broad, NH, amide), 9.00 (lH, d, JH, F=8Hz), 9.15 (lH, ~road, MH, amine).
.-124~i9 D. Coupling of compound IV with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) A solution of compound IV (from step C) (1.5 mg) in dimethylformamide (0.5 mL) was added to a solution of BSA (15 mg) in 0.2~ pH 8.5 borate buffer (0.75 mL) and the mixture was allowed to stand in the dark under nitrogen and at room temperature for 4 days. The mixture was centrifuged and the clear supernatant was applied to a column of Sephadex G-50 (1.5 x 75 cm) eluting with water. The yellow protein fraction eluted cleanly in 20 mL, after the void volume of about 55 mL. At about the 140 mL dead volume a peak containing unreacted IV and byproducts eluted. W analysis of the protein fractions gave a spectrum max 266, (sH), 273, 283, 336, 420 nn.
Assuming 100% recovery of BSA from the column, calculations based on the peak at 273 nm, correcting for contributions due to BSA and to the dinitrobenzene chromophore, indicated that 5.5 moles of LTB4 were coupled per mole of BSA. The absorption at 336 nm (assuming for the 1,5-diamino-2,4-dinitrobenzene chromophor of about 27,000) indicated that 8.3 moles of LTB4 were coupled per mole BSA.
2. Conjugation of LTB4 with Hemocyanin from Keyhole LimPets (KLH) LTB4 ~-lactone (VI) (4 mg) was dissolved in a mixture of THF (1 mL) and 99% hydrazine hydrate (0.5 mL) and the mixtui~ was stirred vigorously under nitrogen at room temperature for 0.5 hours. The mixture was extracted with ether (3 x 2 mL) and the 1~4~669 combined organic layers were dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated to dryness under a stream of nitrogen and then in vacuo to provide the hydrazide VII (4.2 mg).
[]D =8.9 (C=0.28, MeOH). UV ~max (~)=260 (37,000) 269.5 (50,000), 280 (3g,000). PMR (400 MHz) acetone-d6): ~ 2.1 (2H, t), 2.27 (2H, m), 3.82 (lH, m, NH2), 3.99 ~lH, broad NH2), 4.14 (lH, m, methine, c-12), 4.56 (lH, m, methine, C-5), 5.3-5.5 (3H, m), 5.77 (lH, dd, J=14, 6Hz, H-ll), 6.00 (lH, t, J=llHz), 6.22 (lH, dd, J=14, llHz, H-10), 6.31 (lH, dd, J=14, llHz, H-9), 6.56 (lH, dd, J=14, 11 Hz, H-8), 8.22 (lH, broad, -CO-NH-).

B. Reaction of LTB4 hydrazide (VII) with 6-N-Maleimidohexanoic acid chloride:
LTB4 hydrazine (VII) 2.5 mg, 7 x 10 6 moles), in anhydrous methanol (1 mL) and triethylamine (20 ~L) was treated with a solution of 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride (8) (3.3 mg, 1.4 x 10 5 moles) in anhydrous THF (100 ~L) under nitrogen at room temperature. TLC analysis (chloroform:methanol, 85:15) indicated complete conversion to a less polar product. The mixture was reduced to dryness, and the residue was taken up in deoxygenated methanol (1.2 mL) and used as such in the next reaction. The product could be purified if desired by reverse phase HPLC (Waters 10~, ~-Bondapak C-18; methanol:water; 75:25, 2mL/min), to give the pure adduct VIII eluting at 4.5 min. UV ~max (MeOH) (~): 260 (36,300), 270 (50,000), 280.5 nm (39,400).
On concentration to obtain PMR spectra some decomposition was noted by TLC. However the spectrum 1;~4~)669 (400 MHz) (acetone d6) contained a weak signal at 6.82 ppm indicating that the malemide unit was present although partially reacted.

C. Coupling of Compound VIII with Thiolated KLH:
S-Acetylmercaptosuccinylated KLH was prepared as previously described (8). The derivatized protein SKLHSAc) (10 mg) in 0.~ N Saline buffered with 0.01 N pH 6.2 phosphate buffer (PBS) (5 mL~ was rigorously deoxygenated; then the pH was raised ~o 11.5 by addition of 0.lN NaOH. After standing 1 hour nitrogen at room temperature, the pH
was reduced to 7.2 by addition of 0.lN HCl. The adduct VIII in methanol (1.2 mL) from reaction B
above, was added and the mixture was stirred slowly under nitrogen for 18 hours. N-ethylmalemide (5 mg) in methanol (0.1 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred 1 hour more. The methanol was removed under a stream of nitrogen during 1 hour, the mixture was~
centrifuged and the supernatant was filtered on Sephadex G-50 eluting with pH 6.2 PBS. The protein eluted with 95% in 19 ml after the void volume and gave a W spectrum: ~max 264 (sH), 273.5, 283.5 nm.
Assuming 9 mg of protein was recovered from the column and correcting the absorption at 273.5 nm for contributions due to coupled per 100,000 daltons KLH.

Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A conjugate compound of LTB4 hydrazide or LTB4 aminoalkylamide coupled via a free amino group with either KLH, BSA, human serum albumin, tetanus antigen, diphtheriae toxoid, or CRM 197, through the coupling agents 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene or 6-N-maleimido-alkanoic acid chloride, wherein alkanoic means 2 to 8 carbon atoms.

2. The compound of Claim 1, wherein 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride is used.