EP0889900A1 - Fur endothelzell-cadherine spezifische monoklonale antikorper und ihre verwendung - Google Patents

Fur endothelzell-cadherine spezifische monoklonale antikorper und ihre verwendung

Info

Publication number
EP0889900A1
EP0889900A1 EP97948160A EP97948160A EP0889900A1 EP 0889900 A1 EP0889900 A1 EP 0889900A1 EP 97948160 A EP97948160 A EP 97948160A EP 97948160 A EP97948160 A EP 97948160A EP 0889900 A1 EP0889900 A1 EP 0889900A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antibody
leu
protein
cells
cadherin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97948160A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Elisabetta Dejana
Paola Telo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ImClone LLC
Original Assignee
ImClone Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ImClone Systems Inc filed Critical ImClone Systems Inc
Publication of EP0889900A1 publication Critical patent/EP0889900A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P9/00—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
    • C07K14/70596—Molecules with a "CD"-designation not provided for elsewhere
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K2217/00—Genetically modified animals
    • A01K2217/05—Animals comprising random inserted nucleic acids (transgenic)
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K2217/00—Genetically modified animals
    • A01K2217/07—Animals genetically altered by homologous recombination
    • A01K2217/075—Animals genetically altered by homologous recombination inducing loss of function, i.e. knock out
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides

Definitions

  • Endothelial cells constitute an important interface lining the internal vascular surface and regulating the passage of plasma proteins and circulating cells from blood to tissues. (Caveda et al., J. Clin. Invest. 98(4): 886-893, August, 1996).
  • Endothelial permeability is regulated by intercellular junctions. These junctions are complex structures formed by transmembrane adhesive molecules, such as cadherins, linked to a network of cytoplasmic and cytoskeletal proteins. Adhesive molecules regulate leukocyte extravasation, endothelial cell growth, and permeability. (Dejana, E. et al , Review: Endothelial Cell-to-Cell Junctions, FASEB J., 9:910-918 (1995). Cadherins are adhesive glycoproteins that mediate homotypic cell-to-cell adhesion, are calcium-dependent, and protease-sensitive.
  • cadherins All cell types that form solid tissues express some members of the cadherin family and each member displays a homophilic binding specificity.
  • Members of the cadherin superfamily share a common basic structure.
  • the common structures of cadherins include an N-terminal extracellular domain that determines binding specificity; a ydrophobic transmembrane domain; and a C- terminal cytoplasmic domain.
  • the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain which is highly conserved among the superfamily members, interacts with the cytoskeleton through catenins and other proteins.
  • Some cadherins however, lack a cytoplasmic domain.
  • cadherins The most important biological role of cadherins is to support homotypic cell aggregation and segregation, which during embryogenesis promote the formation of defined tissues and organs. (Brevario, F., et al., Arterioscler. Thromb. Vase. Biol. 15:1229-1239 (1995)).
  • each cadherin is characterized by a different spatiotemporal pattern of expression and cell binding specificity.
  • E-cadherin or uvomorulin
  • N-cadherin is expressed in the nervous system and in skeletal and cardiac muscles
  • P-cadherin exhibits a widespread distribution.
  • VE-cadherins are endothelial-specific cadherins strictly localized at intercellular junctions of essentially all types of endothelium.
  • VE-cadherins are constitutive endothelial-specific markers distinguishes these molecules from the majority of other cadherins as well as other endothelial markers. With the exception of M-cadherin, which is specifically found in skeletal muscle cells, most of the other cadherins described are quite widespread and are simultaneously expressed in different cell types during development. Other endothelial markers have different features from VE- cadherins. Some of them, such as QH-1, PECAM-1 , von Willebrand factor, CD34, and P-selectin are not strictly endothelial-specific but may be found in blood cells or hematopoietic precursors. Other markers depend on the functional state of the cells.
  • the receptor protein tyrosine kinases flk-1 , tie-1 and tie-2/tek are developmentally regulated and their appearance is a function of the maturation of the cell.
  • Another endothelial marker, Meca 32 is not ubiquitous, but can be found only in the microvasculature of some organs. Unlike most endothelial markers, VE-cadherins are not found in blood cells or in hematopoietic precursors. The observation that VE-cadherins are constitutively expressed by the endothelium of most organs and tissues suggests that their biologic properties are required for the early assembly and integrity of blood vessels. (Breier, G. et al., Blood, 87(2)L630-641 (1996)).
  • angiogenesis is generally absent in healthy adult or mature tissues, although it does occur in wound healing and in the corpous luteum growth cycle. See, for example, Moses et al., Science, 248:1408-1410 (1990).
  • Angiogenesis is required for tumor proliferation because tumors need an adequate blood perfusion to obtain nutrients. Inhibition of angiogenesis by limiting vessel growth or selectively destroying proliferating endothelium would be a useful therapy for restricting tumor growth.
  • angiogenic molecules such as basic-FGF (basic fibroblast growth factor)
  • neutralization of angiogenic molecules such as basic-FGF by the use of anti-basic -FGF antibodies
  • inhibition of endothelial cell response to angiogenic stimuli are examples of endothelial cell response to angiogenic stimuli.
  • An object of this invention is to provide membrane markers of proliferating endothelial cells, i.e., VE-cadherins, which are useful in quantifying the degree of angiogenesis, and thus as diagnostic tools in evaluating the invasive state and other properties of a tumor.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide antibodies against VE-cadherins, which participate in angiogenesis.
  • Another object of this invention is to use such antibodies against VE-cadherins to inhibit angiogenesis to treat or prevent angiogenic diseases, such as tumor angiogenesis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy and psoriasis.
  • Such antibodies against VE-cadherins can also be useful as diagnostic tools to evaluate the invasive state and properties of a tumor.
  • the present invention provides a glycosylated or unglycosylated protein comprising an amino-acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or a homologous sequence having at least 70% homology to the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1.
  • the present invention provides monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to VE-cadherin molecules and modify their activity. Further, the invention provides a method of modifying VE-cadherin activity in endothelial cells comprising contacting the cells with a monoclonal antibody of the invention.
  • the invention also provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis in a mammal comprising administering an effective amount of any one of the antibodies of the invention to the mammal.
  • the invention provides a method of inhibiting tumor growth in a mammal comprising administering an effective amount of any one of the antibodies of the invention to the mammal.
  • the invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising any one of the antibodies of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • the present invention provides new transmembrane cadherin proteins located at cell-to-cell junctions in endothelial cells.
  • these cadherin proteins found on vascular endothelial cells, are called VE- cadherins.
  • VE-cadherins One such VE-cadherin protein is VE-cadherin-1 (also known as cadherin-5, as well as VE-cadherin), whose amino acid sequence is presented in Lampugnani, M. et al., J.Cell Biol. 118:1511 -1522 (1992).
  • the present invention provides a pcdh-4 protein in glycosylated or unglycosylated form comprising an amino-acid sequence selected from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 and homologous sequences having at least 70% homoiogy to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • the percentage of homology may for instance be at least 75%, 80% or as high as 85%, or even higher such as 90% or 95%, especially if the homologous sequence originates from a transmembrane protein of the same or closely related species.
  • proteins which have at least 70 % homology to the amino- acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 will share both diagnostic and medical properties to such a high degree that they can be used for the various applications of the present invention.
  • proteins may be included both naturally occurring analogs and variants of the same protein from the same or from different species as well as synthetic or recombinant equivalents of these proteins.
  • the synthetically or recombinantly produced proteins of the invention function as competitors in cell-cell adhesion processes at cell-to-cell junctions.
  • the DNA of the invention can be any DNA that encodes the protein of the invention. Such DNA can be genomic or synthetic.
  • Another aspect of the invention is directed to a cDNA sequence coding for a protein of the present invention.
  • a specific embodiment of this aspect of the invention is the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 coding for the protein having the amino-acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • the cDNA molecules of the invention may be used in gene therapy. For example, they may be used as oncosuppressors by transfection in carcinoma cells lacking this molecule.
  • a further aspect of the invention is directed to a structural gene coding for a protein of the present invention or a peptide derived from the protein.
  • the structural gene may be used in the production of a protein or peptide of the invention.
  • the flanking regions such as promoter or leader sequences, are preferably chosen with regard to the expression system to be used to promote good production.
  • the codons used in the structural gene may be selected with regard to the codons most frequently used by the selected expression host, in order to optimize the expression yield. For instance, if yeast is selected as the expression host, the codons may be optimized for yeast.
  • the specific example of a structural gene of the invention is the protein coding region of a cDNA of the invention, namely the structural gene having the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 coding for the protein having the amino-acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.
  • the present invention is also directed to a recombinant protein or peptide expressed by a structural gene or a fragment of a gene provided by the invention.
  • the invention is further directed to a modifier of the homophilic binding of VE- cadherins at cell-to-cell junctions.
  • modifier is to be interpreted broadly and comprises both inhibitors and activators of the binding of the VE- cadherins.
  • the modifiers of the invention either prevent or promote binding of pcdh-4 molecules at cell-to-cell junctions.
  • the modifiers of the invention either prevent or promote binding of VE-cadherin-1 (cadherin-5) or pcdh-4 (VE-cadherin-2) molecules at cell-to- cell junctions.
  • the present invention provides antibodies that bind specifically to a VE-cadherin protein molecule of the invention or to a part of the VE-cadherin.
  • the antibodies of the invention may be polyclonal, but preferably are monoclonal and preferably bind to the extracellular domain of a VE-cadherin molecule.
  • the VE-cadherin molecule may be any cadherin molecule that is an endothelial-specific cadherin localized at intercellular junctions of essentially all types of endothelium, and that has adhesive properties, restrict endothelial permeability, and mediate homotypic cell adhesion.
  • the VE-cadherin molecule is called VE-cadhehn-1 , previously described as cadherin-5 or VE-cadherin, whose amino acid sequence is presented in Lampugnani, M. et al., J.Cell Biol. 118.15 1-1522 (1992)).
  • the VE-cadherin is pcdh-4, which is alternatively named VE-cadherin-2.
  • the antibodies of the invention modify the activity of a VE-cadherin molecule.
  • One way of modifying such activity is by interfering with or preventing cell-to-cell binding of the VE-cadherin's extracellular binding domain.
  • Another way of modifying such activity is by inducing or promoting such cell-to-cell binding.
  • the antibodies of the invention will either prevent or promote homophilic binding of VE-cadherin molecules at cell-to-cell junctions. Accordingly, modification of VE-cadherin activity encompasses both inhibition of and activation of VE-cadherin activity.
  • Methods of administration to a mammal include, for example, oral, intravenous, intrape ⁇ toneal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular administration
  • the in vivo neutralization method is a useful therapeutic method, such as for preventing or inhibiting angiogenesis associated with pathological conditions such as tumor growth in a mammal
  • the modifiers, and more specifically, the antibodies, of the invention are anti-angiogenic immunotherapeutic agents
  • a cocktail of at least two monoclonal antibodies of the invention provides an especially efficient treatment for inhibiting angiogenesis and thus the growth of tumor cells
  • Any number of antibodies that is effective may be used, the upper limit is determined by cost; preferably 10, more preferably 6, and most preferably not higher than 4.
  • the combined treatment of one or more of the antibodies of the invention with an anti-neoplastic or anti-chemotherapeutic drug such as doxorubicin, cisplatin or taxol provides an efficient treatment for inhibiting the growth of tumor cells.
  • an anti-neoplastic or anti-chemotherapeutic drug such as doxorubicin, cisplatin or taxol
  • the pharmaceutical composition comprises the antibody and carrier with an anti-chemotherapeutic drug attached thereto.
  • Preventing or inhibiting angiogenesis is also useful to treat non-neoplastic angiogenic pathologic conditions such as neovascular glaucoma, proliferative retinopathy including proliferative diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, hemangiomas, angiofibromas, and psoriasis.
  • non-neoplastic angiogenic pathologic conditions such as neovascular glaucoma, proliferative retinopathy including proliferative diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, hemangiomas, angiofibromas, and psoriasis.
  • modifiers of the invention include the prevention or inhibition of leukocyte infiltration, tumor cell metastasis, or endothelial permeability. Further applications include using the modifiers as vaccines and for making endothelial junctions more permeable to antigens, thus indicating use of the modifiers for treatment or prevention of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, organ transplantation, myocardial ischemia, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and intestinal infection.
  • the antibodies of the invention may be labeled and used for detecting early endothelial cell damage in vivo.
  • the labeled antibodies can be used to detect and/or isolate cells that express the VE-cadherin molecules both in vivo and in vitro.
  • Standard methods for labeling and using labeled antibodies are know in the art, such as standard blot and ELISA formats. These formats are normally based on incubating an antibody with a sample suspected of containing the protein and detecting the presence of a complex between the antibody and the protein.
  • the antibody is labeled either before, during, or after the incubation step.
  • the protein is preferably immobilized prior to detection.
  • the invention provides a method of modifying VE-cadherin activity in a sample of endothelial cells comprising contacting the sample with an antibody of the invention before, simultaneously with, or after, adding VE-cadherin to the cell sample.
  • the antibodies of the present invention may be used to isolate and purify VE- cadherins, and cells expressing VE-cadherins, using conventional methods such as affinity chromatography (Dean, P.D.G. et al., Affinity Chromatography: A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Arlington, VA (1985)).
  • affinity chromatography Dean, P.D.G. et al., Affinity Chromatography: A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Arlington, VA (1985)
  • Other methods well known in the art include magnetic separation with antibody-coated magnetic beads, "panning" with an antibody attached to a solid matrix, and flow cytometry.
  • Modifiers of VE-cadherin-1 can bind to the extracellular domain of the protein. In some cases the antibodies bind between amino acid residues 343 and 351. These antibodies block angiogenesis.
  • the specific amino acid sequence to which these antibodies bind is TIDLRYMSP.
  • the antibodies of the invention may be used to monitor levels of VE-cadherin in vitro or in vivo in biological samples using standard assays and methods known in the art.
  • biological samples include solid tissues, such as vascular tissue.
  • Standard assays involve, for example, labeling the antibodies and conducting standard irnmunoassays, such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and radioimmunoassays, as is well known in the art.
  • ELISA enzyme linked immunosorbent assays
  • a preferred embodiment of the invention is a diagnostic kit comprising as a diagnostic reagent an antibody according to the invention or a modifier according to the invention. The actual diagnostic method, such as ELISA, to be used will determine any additional components in the kit.
  • the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies of the invention that specifically bind to the VE-cadherins may be produced by methods known in the art. These methods include the immunological method described by Kohler and Milstein in Nature 256, 495-497 (1975) and Campbell in "Monoclonal Antibody Technology, The Production and Characterization of Rodent and Human Hybridomas" in Burdon et al., Eds., Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Volume 13, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam (1985); as well as by the recombinant DNA method described by Huse et al in Science 246, 1275- 1281 (1989).
  • Such antibody techniques include immunizing an animal, preferably a mouse, with an amount of a VE-cadherin molecule to cause an immune response.
  • the spleen of an immunized animal which demonstrates a proper antibody titre, is removed and a fused with an immortal cell line such as a myeloma cell line.
  • the resultant hybridoma line is then screened for antibody producing cells; said cells are then clonally isolated.
  • the antibody may be prepared in any mammal, including mice, rats, rabbits, goats and humans.
  • the antibody may be a member of one of the following immunoglobulin classes: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, or IgE, and the subclasses thereof, and preferably is an IgG antibody.
  • the invention also includes functional equivalents of the antibodies described in this specification.
  • Functional equivalents have binding characteristics comparable to those of the antibodies, and include, for example, chime zed, humanized and single chain antibodies as well as fragments thereof.
  • Diabodies may also be functional equivalents of the antibodies of this invention. Methods of producing such functional equivalents are disclosed in PCT Application No. WO 93/21319, European Patent Application No. EPO 239,400; PCT Application Wo 89/09622; European Patent Application No. 338,745; and European Patent Application EPO 332,424.
  • Functional equivalents include polypeptides with amino acid sequences substantially the same as the amino acid sequence of the variable or hypervariable regions of the antibodies of the invention. "Substantially the same" amino acid sequence is defined herein as a sequence with at least 70% percent homology to an amino acid sequence of an antibody of the invention, as determined by the FASTA search method in accordance with Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 2444-2448 (1988).
  • Chimerized antibodies preferably have constant regions derived substantially or exclusively from human antibody constant regions and variable regions derived substantially or exclusively from the sequence of the variable region from a mammal other than a human.
  • Humanized antibodies are commonly created by transplanting the antigen binding segments, known as complementarity determining regions (CDRs), from rodent antibodies into human antibodies. (Carter and Merchant, Current Opinions in Biotechnology (8):449-454, 1997.) Humanized antibodies preferably have constant regions and variable regions other than the hypervariable region derived substantially or exclusively from the corresponding human antibody regions and complementarity determining regions (CDRs) derived substantially or exclusively from a mammal other than a human. The extent to which an antibody is substantially or exclusively modified can be determined by standard methods for optimizing the humanization methodology.
  • Suitable mammals other than a human include any mammal from which monoclonal antibodies may be made, such as a rabbit, rat, mouse, horse, goat, or primate.
  • Single chain antibodies or Fv fragments are polypeptides which consist of the variable (V) region of the heavy chain of the antibody linked to the variable (V) region of the light chain with or without an interconnecting linker. This comprises the entire antibody combining site, and is the minimal antibody binding site. These chains may be produced in bacteria.
  • Functional equivalents further include fragments of antibodies that have the same or binding characteristics comparable to those of the whole antibody.
  • Such fragments may contain one or both Fab fragments or the F(ab') 2 fragment.
  • the antibody fragments Preferably contain all six complementarity determining regions of the whole antibody, although fragments containing fewer than all of such regions, such as three, four or five CDRs, may also be functional.
  • a diabody is an antibody fragment which has two antigen binding sites and can be a bivalent or bispecific fragment.
  • Bispecific diabodies are heterodimers of two 'crossover' scFv fragments in which the variable light and variable heavy domains of the two antibodies are present on different polypeptide chains.
  • the functional equivalents may be or may combine members of any one of the following immunoglobulin classes: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, or IgE, and the subclasses thereof.
  • Intracellularly expressed antibodies can be designed to bind and inactivate target molecules inside cells.
  • the genes encoding can be expressed intracellularly.
  • VE-cadherins of the invention may be used as immunogens against which an antibody can be raised, particularly the antibodies of the invention.
  • antibodies can be generated using as immunogens both synthetic peptides and VE-cadherin fragments.
  • fragments and synthetic peptides are provided by the VE-cadherin amino acid sequences provided herein and by, for example, Lampugnani, M. et al., J.Cell Biol. 118:1511-1522 (1992)).
  • DNA encoding a VE-cadherin such as a cDNA or a fragment thereof, may be cloned and expressed and the resulting polypeptide recovered and used as an immunogen to raise an antibody of the invention.
  • nucleic acid molecules that encode the VE-cadherins of the invention, or portions thereof, especially the extracellular portions thereof may be inserted into known vectors for expression in host cells using standard recombinant DNA techniques. Standard recombinant DNA techniques are described in Sambrook et al., "Molecular Cloning," Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1987) and by Ausubel et al. (Eds) "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,” Green Publishing Associates/ Wiley-lnterscience, New York (1990).
  • a suitable source of cells containing nucleic acid molecules that express the VE- cadherin includes vascular endothelial cells.
  • Total RNA or mRNA is prepared by standard procedures from endothelial tissue, or alternatively, from isolated endothelial cells. Standard methods may be used for Isolation of endothelial cells.
  • RNA or mRNA is used to direct cDNA synthesis.
  • Standard methods for isolating RNA and synthesizing cDNA are provided in standard manuals of molecular biology such as, for example, in Sambrook et al., "Molecular Cloning," Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1987) and in Ausubel et al., (Eds), "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,” Greene Associates/Wiley Interscience, New York (1990).
  • the upstream PCR oligonucleotide primer is complementary to the sequence at the 5' end, preferably encompassing the ATG start codon and at least 5-10 nucleotides upstream of the start codon.
  • the downstream PCR oligonucleotide primer is complementary to the sequence at the 3' end of the desired DNA sequence.
  • the desired DNA sequence preferably encodes the entire extracellular portion of the VE-cadherin, and optionally encodes all or part of the transmembrane region, and/or all or part of the intracellular region, including the stop codon.
  • a mixture of upstream and downstream oligonucleotides are used in the PCR amplification. The conditions are optimized for each particular primer pair according to standard procedures.
  • the PCR product is analyzed by electrophoresis for cDNA having the correct size, corresponding to the sequence between the primers.
  • the coding region may be amplified in two or more overlapping fragments.
  • the overlapping fragments are designed to include a restriction site permitting the assembly of the intact cDNAfrom the fragments.
  • the DNA encoding the VE-cadherins may also be replicated in a wide variety of cloning vectors in a wide variety of host cells.
  • the host cell may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
  • the vector into which the DNA is spliced may comprise segments of chromosomal, non-chromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences.
  • suitable prokaryotic cloning vectors include plasmids from E. coli, such as colE1 , pCR1 , DBR322, ⁇ MB9, pUC, pKSM, and RP4.
  • Prokaryotic vectors also include derivatives of phage DNA such as M13 and other filamentous single-stranded DNA phages.
  • DNA encoding the VE-cadherins of the invention are inserted into a suitable expression vector and expressed in a suitable prokaryotic or eucaryotic host.
  • the DNA inserted into a host may encode the entire extracellular portion of the VE-cadherin, or a soluble fragment of the extracellular portion of the VE- cadherin.
  • the extracellular portion of the VE-cadherin encoded by the DNA is optionally attached at either, or both, the 5' end or the 3' end to additional amino acid sequences.
  • the additional amino acid sequence may be attached to the VE-cadherin extracellular region in nature, such as the leader sequence, the transmembrane region and/or the intracellular region of the VE-cadherin.
  • the additional amino acid sequences may also be sequences not attached to the VE- cadherin in nature. Preferably, such additional amino acid sequences serve a particular purpose, such as to improve expression levels, secretion, solubility, or immunogenicity
  • Vectors for expressing proteins in bacteria are known.
  • Such vectors include the PATH vectors described by Dieckmann and Tzagoloff in J. Biol. Chem. 260, 1513-1520 ( 985). These vectors contain DNA sequences that encode anthranilate synthetase (TrpE) followed by a polylinker at the carboxy terminus.
  • Other expression vector systems are based on beta-galactosidase (pEX); lambda P ; maltose binding protein (pMAL); and glutathione S-transferase (pGST) -see Gene 67, 31 (1988) and Peptide Research 3, 167 (1990).
  • Vectors useful in yeast are available.
  • a suitable example is the 2 ⁇ plasmid.
  • Suitable vectors for use in mammalian cells are also known.
  • Such vectors include well-known derivatives of SV-40, adenovirus, retrovirus-derived DNA sequences and shuttle vectors derived from combination of functional mammalian vectors, such as those described above, and functional plasmids and phage DNA.
  • the expression vectors useful in the present invention contain at least one expression control sequence that is operatively linked to the DNA sequence or fragment to be expressed.
  • the control sequence is inserted in the vector in order to control and to regulate the expression of the cloned DNA sequence.
  • useful expression control sequences are the lac system, the trp_ system, the tac system, the trc system, major operator and promoter regions of phage lambda, the control region of fd coat protein, the glycolytic promoters of yeast, e.g., the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, the promoters of yeast acid phosphatase, e.g., Pho5, the promoters of the yeast alpha-mating factors, and promoters derived from polyoma, adenovirus, retrovirus, and simian virus, e.g., the early and late promoters or SV40, and other sequences known to control the expression of genes of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells and
  • the VE- cadherins may be isolated from the medium, and purified by methods known in the art. If the VE-cadherins are not secreted into the culture medium, the host cells are lysed prior to isolation and purification.
  • the antibodies of the invention may also be prepared from VE-cadherins expressed by endothelial cells, or alternatively a cell into which the DNA encoding a VE-cadherin has been transfected, such as 3T3 cells.
  • a Igt10 library from P4-P8 postnatal mouse brain capillary was screened as previously described (Breviario et al. 1992) using a 130 bp cDNA probe obtained by means of RT-PCR.
  • RT-PCR was carried out using, as primers, degenerated oligonucleotides (Sano et al. 1993) and a cDNA preparation from endothelioma H5V cells (Garlanda et al. 1991). Plaques showing a strong positive hybridization signal were screened three times to obtain a single clone. Phage inserts were rescued in pBluescript vector and sequenced by use of the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method.
  • Recombinant fragments and polyclonal antibodies were produced in the laboratory using Qiaexpressionist Kit, Qiagen.
  • the cDNA corresponding to EC1 (aa 74)-EC3 (recombinant fragment Extra 1 ) and to EC1-EC4 (recombinant fragment Extra 2) of pcdh-4 were prepared by PCR and subcloned into the BamHI-Hindlll site of the expression vector pQE30 in the correct reading frame.
  • the plasmid DNAs were then introduced into M15 (pREP4) cells by a single-step transformation method.
  • the fusion proteins were induced by the addition of IPTG and were purified from the extract by Ni-NTA resin affinity chromatography, as described by the manufacturer (Qiaexpressionist Kit, Qiagen).
  • Polyclonal antibodies against pcdh-4 were produced in rabbits by injecting 0.5 mg of the fusion protein in Freund's complete adjuvant at three subcutaneous sites. Subsequent injections were in Freund's incomplete adjuvant with 0.5 mg of the fusion protein. The resultant antibodies were purified with a protein A column.
  • pECE-pcdh-4 construct Preparation and transfection procedure were performed according to Breviario et al. 1995. Briefly, the mouse pcdh-4 cDNA cloned in pBluescript vector was cut with EcoRI, and the insert was subcloned into the pECE eucaryotic expression vector to give the pECE-pcdh-4 construct. The construct was checked for correct orientation by sequence analysis. CHO cells were plated at 3-4x10 6 cells per 100 mm petri dish in DMEM with 10% FCS. After 24 hrs cells were transfected by calcium phosphate precipitation with 20 ⁇ g pECE-pcdh-4 and 2 ⁇ g pSV2neo plasmid.
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy Cells were seeded on glass coverslips and grown to confluence in D-MEM medium containing 10% fetal calf serum before immunofluorescence staining. Cells were fixed with MeOH for 4 min. and processed for indirect immunofluorescence microscopy as previously described in detail by Lampugnani et al. (1992). Briefly, incubation with the primary antibody (Extral or Extra 2 and others) was followed by rhodamine-conjugated secondary antibody (Dakopatts) with several washes with 0.1 % BSA in PBS between the various steps. Coverslips were then mounted in Mowiol 4-88 (Calbiochem). A Zeiss Axiophot microscope was used for observation and image recording on Kodak TMax P3200 films.
  • Pcdh-4 distributes selectively at cell-cell contacts in cultured mouse endothelial cells and in transfectant cells.
  • Staining of different tissues indicate that pcdh-4 antibodies stain endothelial cells of the microvasculature, with higher staining intensity in proliferating vessels of tumors. Extra 1 also cross reacts with human tissues.
  • the polyclonal Ab Extra 1 can be used to detect pcdh-4 in ELISA assay
  • Microtiter wells of confluent cells were washed three times with DMEM+2.5% horse serum +0.01 % sodium azide and incubated for 1h at 37°C with 100 ⁇ l/well of rabbit anti-pcdh-4 serum, diluted 1/100 in PBS+2.5% horse serum. After incubation, cells were washed three times with PBS+2.5% horse serum (washing buffer). Then, cells were fixed with glutaraldehyde 0.025% in washing buffer for 5 min., washed two times and incubated for 1 h with washing buffer. Fixation was required to prevent cells detaching from the culture wells during the following washes.
  • pcdh-4 transfectant cells, while it gave negative values using cells which do not express pcdh-4 such as CHO parental and L929 fibroblast.
  • Non-immune serum was used as dilution 1/100. Absorbance values are means ⁇ SD of five replicates of a typical experiment out of four performed. *P ⁇ 0.01 in comparison to CHO-parental by analysis of variance and Duncan's test.
  • the ab Extra 1 can be used to detect proliferating endothelial cells
  • ELISA assay was used to detect pcdh-4 in subconfluent proliferating endothelial cells 1.2x10 4 cells/cm 2 in comparison to non-proliferating confluent cells 1.2 x10 5 cells/cm 2 .
  • Pcdh-4 expression is higher in endothelial cells in growth than in cells at confluence.
  • Protocadherin 4 mediates homotypic adhesion between cells
  • Trypsin was neutralized by adding DMEM with 10% FCS and 0.1 % soybean trypsin inhibitor.
  • the cell suspensions were centrifuged and resuspended in HBSS without Ca++ and Mg++ and then centrifuged and resuspended in 1 % BSA in HBSS Ca++ and Mg++ free at a concentration of 4x10 5 ml.
  • cytochalasin D was added at 1 ⁇ g/ml after the first centrifugation, and the cells were incubated at 37°C for 30 min. and processed as described.
  • Aggregation assays were performed after mixing parental CHO cells and pcdh-4 transfectants. To distinguish the two cell types, parental cells were labeled with 5 ⁇ g/ml of the fluorescent dye calcein in HBSS for 10 min. at 37°C, immediately after the first centrifugation and processed as described above. Aggregates were examined by fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that aggregation is essentially homophilic: only pcdh-4 transfectants were present in the aggregates whereas control cells remained mostly single.
  • Cells in monolayers were obtained by culturing control cells and CHO-pcdh-4 transfectants (5x10 3 /well at the seeding) in 96-well plates for 4 - 5 days to confluence.
  • Cells to be used in suspension were labeled 1h with 51 Cr (1 ⁇ Ci/10 6 cells). Detachment was as described above for the cell aggregation assay.
  • Labeled cell suspensions (4x10 4 cells in 100 ⁇ l DMEM with 10% FCS for each well) were added on the top of adherent cells (from which culture medium had been removed with no rinsing). Incubation was for 30 min. at 37°C.
  • Non-adherent cells were removed by three washes with Ca++ and Mg++-PBS containing 10% FCS. The well content was then solubilized with 1 M NaOH/0.1% SDS (50 ⁇ l) and counted for radioactivity.
  • Thr Leu Asp Arg Glu Gin Trp Pro lie Tyr Thr Leu Thr Val Phe Ala 420 425 430
  • GCCAGATCAT TCTGCGCCAA
  • GCCCTAGATT ACGAGAAGAA
  • CCCTGCCTAT GAGGTGGATG 1260
  • ACTCAGGAAA CAACGGTCTC GTCCACTGTT GGCTGAATCA AGAGCTGGGC CACTTCAGAC 1500
  • ATGCCTCCAC GGGCCACCTT CTGTTGCCCA TTGAGAATCC CAGTGGCATG GATCCAGCAG 2100
  • AAATGTTGTT GGGGCAGCAC ACGGTACCAG TGGAAGCTGC GTCCGCGGCT TTGCGGAGGC 3720
  • AATCCCCCTA AGTCAGGAAT CAGCGTGGTC AAGGTCAATG TCCTGGACTC CAATGACAAT 720
  • CTGAGCCCAA CAGGCACGCG CCTGGCCAGC ACTTTCGTCT CGGAGATGAG CTCTCTGCTG 3360

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Proteomics, Peptides & Aminoacids (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
  • Cardiology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Cell Biology (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
  • Peptides Or Proteins (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)
EP97948160A 1996-12-12 1997-11-05 Fur endothelzell-cadherine spezifische monoklonale antikorper und ihre verwendung Withdrawn EP0889900A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9604731 1996-12-12
SE9604731A SE9604731D0 (sv) 1996-12-20 1996-12-20 A component of intercellular junctions in the endothelium
PCT/US1997/020006 WO1998025946A1 (en) 1996-12-12 1997-11-05 Monoclonal antibodies specific to endothelial cell cadherins and uses thereof

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0889900A1 true EP0889900A1 (de) 1999-01-13

Family

ID=20405090

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97948160A Withdrawn EP0889900A1 (de) 1996-12-12 1997-11-05 Fur endothelzell-cadherine spezifische monoklonale antikorper und ihre verwendung

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0889900A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2002512505A (de)
AU (1) AU5428398A (de)
CA (1) CA2245956A1 (de)
SE (1) SE9604731D0 (de)
WO (1) WO1998025946A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001052904A2 (en) * 2000-01-19 2001-07-26 Gill Parkash S Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment based on vegf antisense oligonucleotides
US7481999B2 (en) 1998-05-05 2009-01-27 Adherex Technologies, Inc. Compounds and methods for modulating OB-cadherin-mediated function
US6638911B1 (en) 1998-05-05 2003-10-28 Adherex Technologies Inc. Compounds and methods for modulating desmosomal cadherin-mediated functions
US6472367B1 (en) 1998-05-05 2002-10-29 Adherex Technologies, Inc. Compounds and methods for modulating OB-cadherin mediated cell adhesion
US6787136B1 (en) 1999-09-03 2004-09-07 The Brigham And Women's Hospital, Inc. Methods and compositions for treatment of inflammatory disease using cadherin-11 modulating agents
AU2001233702A1 (en) * 2000-01-25 2001-08-07 Novartis Ag Disease-associated gene
AU2001253669A1 (en) * 2000-04-18 2001-10-30 Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Human cadherin molecules and uses therefor
GB0010630D0 (en) * 2000-05-04 2000-06-21 Univ Wales Medicine Sequence
AU2002320264B2 (en) * 2001-06-05 2008-05-01 Exelixis, Inc. GFATs as modifiers of the p53 pathway and methods of use
AU2003229627A1 (en) * 2002-04-08 2003-10-20 Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Ve-ptp as regulator of ve-cadherin mediated processes or disorders
CA2506037A1 (en) 2002-11-14 2004-06-10 Adherex Technologies, Inc. Compounds and methods for modulating desmosomal and atypical cadherin-mediated cell adhesion
US20040167076A1 (en) 2003-02-14 2004-08-26 Stamer W. Daniel Modulation of aqueous humor outflow by targeting vascular-endothelial-cadherin in schlemm's canal cells
EA012970B1 (ru) 2005-04-26 2010-02-26 Пфайзер Инк. Антитела против р-кадгерина
WO2008039525A2 (en) * 2006-09-27 2008-04-03 Adherex Technologies, Inc. Cadherin antagonists in combination with anticancer agents for use in cancer treatment
US8877188B2 (en) 2010-05-04 2014-11-04 The Brigham And Women's Hospital, Inc. Detection and treatment of non-dermal fibrosis
US20140045199A1 (en) 2011-04-08 2014-02-13 Universite Joseph Fournier Anti-ve-cadherin autoantibodies as a biomarker of vascular alterations associated with disorders
WO2016100301A1 (en) 2014-12-15 2016-06-23 The Brigham And Women's Hospital, Inc. Use of cadherin-11 antagonists to treat obesity-associated conditions and other metabolic disorders
CN117479957A (zh) * 2021-07-19 2024-01-30 卫材R&D管理有限公司 用于包含血管生成抑制剂的疗法的生物标志物

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9825946A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE9604731D0 (sv) 1996-12-20
JP2002512505A (ja) 2002-04-23
AU5428398A (en) 1998-07-03
WO1998025946A1 (en) 1998-06-18
CA2245956A1 (en) 1998-06-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5597725A (en) Cadherin-specific antibodies and hybridoma cell lines
US5646250A (en) Cadherin polypeptides
EP0889900A1 (de) Fur endothelzell-cadherine spezifische monoklonale antikorper und ihre verwendung
US20020192724A1 (en) Methods and compositions for modulating heterotypic E-cadherin interactions with T lymphocytes
US20110003971A1 (en) Modulators and modulation of the interaction between rgm and neogenin
US20070065875A1 (en) NTB-A, a surface molecule involved in natural killer cells activity
EP1074618A2 (de) Materialien und Methoden zur Herstellung von Cadherinen
CA2305385A1 (en) Human toll homologues
WO2003011908A2 (en) Mutant forms of the tgf-b type ii receptor which bind all tgf-b isoforms and the use thereof
JPH08504577A (ja) ＴＧＦ−βの制御活性を改変するための組成物および方法
US6635421B1 (en) Neuropilins and use thereof in methods for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer
AU2002325333A1 (en) NTB-A, a surface molecule involved in natural killer cells activity
CA2273202A1 (en) Junctional adhesion molecule (jam), a transmembrane protein of tight junctions
WO2011140391A2 (en) Egfr-related polypeptides and methods of use
JP2001506481A (ja) ブラジキニンｂ▲下１▼レセプターをコードするｄｎａ
WO2001015729A9 (en) Connective tissue growth factor receptor, its agonists and antagonists, and their therapeutic and diagnostic uses
US20020094966A1 (en) 88kDa tumorigenic growth factor and antagonists
WO1992016623A2 (en) Receptors for bombesin-like peptides
PL188612B1 (pl) Oczyszczony i wyizolowany DNA, chimeryczny polinukleotyd, wektor ekspresyjny i komórka gospodarza transformowana tym wektorem
KR20120140097A (ko) 암 진단 및 치료용 조성물 및 방법
AU6624500A (en) G protein-coupled receptor expressed in brain
JP2003052384A (ja) 新規レセプタータンパク質及びそのｄｎａ
MXPA00000356A (en) Isolated dendritic cell membrane protein genes
CZ473699A3 (cs) Téměř čistý nebo rekombinantní polypeptid DCMP1 a DCMP2, fúzní protein, vazebná ■ sloučenina, nukleová kyselina, kódující DCMP1 nebo DCMP2, expresní vektor, hostitelská , buňka pro expresní vektor a způsob rekombinantní přípravy polypeptidu

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19981020

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Effective date: 20040203