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  • 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
  • C07K14/70503—Immunoglobulin superfamily
  • C07K14/7051—T-cell receptor (TcR)-CD3 complex
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
  • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
  • A61K47/62—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being a protein, peptide or polyamino acid
  • A61K47/64—Drug-peptide, drug-protein or drug-polyamino acid conjugates, i.e. the modifying agent being a peptide, protein or polyamino acid which is covalently bonded or complexed to a therapeutically active agent
  • A61K47/6425—Drug-peptide, drug-protein or drug-polyamino acid conjugates, i.e. the modifying agent being a peptide, protein or polyamino acid which is covalently bonded or complexed to a therapeutically active agent the peptide or protein in the drug conjugate being a receptor, e.g. CD4, a cell surface antigen, i.e. not a peptide ligand targeting the antigen, or a cell surface determinant, i.e. a part of the surface of a cell
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
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  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P13/00—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system
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• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
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  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P21/00—Drugs for disorders of the muscular or neuromuscular system
  • A61P21/04—Drugs for disorders of the muscular or neuromuscular system for myasthenia gravis
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P27/00—Drugs for disorders of the senses
  • A61P27/02—Ophthalmic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P29/00—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
  • A61P3/08—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis
  • A61P3/10—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
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  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
  • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P7/00—Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
  • A61P7/02—Antithrombotic agents; Anticoagulants; Platelet aggregation inhibitors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P7/00—Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
  • A61P7/06—Antianaemics
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide

Definitions

• T cell receptors containing a non-native disulfide interchain bond linked to therapeutic agents include T cell receptors containing a non-native disulfide interchain bond linked to therapeutic agents
• the present invention relates to T cell receptors (TCRs) containing a non-native disulphide interchain, bond associated with therapeutic agents.
• novel TCR therapeutic combinations disclosed herein will be of use in the treatment of autoimmune disease, organ rejection, Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) and cancer.
• the TCR portion of the TCR therapeutic agent combinations disclosed herein are targeting moieties.
• This invention makes available for the first time a dimeric TCR (dTCR) or single- chain TCR (scTCR) associated with a therapeutic agent, wherein said agent is selected from IL-I, IL- l ⁇ , IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-I l, IL-12, IL-13, IL- 15, IL-21, IL-23, TGF- ⁇ , IFN- ⁇ , Lymphotoxin, TNF ⁇ , Anti-CD2 antibody, Anti- CD3 antibody, Anti-CD4 antibody, Anti-CD8 antibody, Anti-CD44 antibody, Anti- CD45RA antibody, Anti-CD45RB antibody, Anti-CD45RO antibody, Anti-Thy 1.2 antibody, Antilympliocyte globulin, Anti- ⁇ TCR antibody, Anti- ⁇ TCR antibody, Anti-CD49a antibody, Anti-CD49b antibody, Anti-CD49c antibody, Anti-CD49d antibody, Anti-CD49e antibody, Anti-CD49f antibody,
• TCR comprises a first segment constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a T
• the present invention provides a dimeric TCR (dTCR) or single-chain TCR (scTCIR) associated with a therapeutic agent, wherein said agent selected from one of IL-I, IL- l ⁇ , IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-Il, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-21, IL-23, TGF- ⁇ , IFN- ⁇ , Lymphotoxin, TNF ⁇ , Anti-CD2 antibody, Anti-CD3 antibody, Anti-CD4 antibody, Anti-CD8 antibody, Anti-CD44 antibody, Anti-CD45RA antibody, Anti- CD45RB antibody, Anti-CD45RO antibody, Anti-Thy 1.2 antibody, Antilymphocyte globulin, Anti- ⁇ TCR antibody, Anti- ⁇ TCR antibody, Anti-CD49a antibody, Anti- CD49b antibody, Anti-CD49c antibody, Anti-CD49d antibody, Anti-CD49e antibody, Anti-CD49f antibody, Anti-TCR
• Immunomodulators (Linomide, Ling-zhi-8, D-Glucan, Multi-functional protein 14, Ciamexon, Cholera toxin B, Vanadate or Vitamin D3 analogue, small molecule CD80 inhibitors, Androgens, IGF-I, Immunomanipulation (Natural antibodies), Lupus idiotype, Lipopolysaccaride), Sulfatide, Bee venom, Kampo formulation, Silica, Ganglioside, Antiasialo GM-I antibody, Hyaluronidase, Concanavalin A, Anti-Class I MHC antibody, or Anti-Class II MHC antibody, Cyclosporin, FK-506, Azathioprine, Rapamycin or Deoxyspergualin, PE38 Pseudomonas exotoxin, or a functional variant or fragment of any of the foregoing, and wherein said TCR comprises a first segment constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence fused to the
• a dimeric TCR (dTCR) or single-chain TCR (scTCR) associated with an therapeutic agent is understood to refer to a TCR covalently or otherwise linked to an therapeutic agent.
• the therapeutic agent may either be directly linked to the TCR, or indirectly via a linker moiety.
• the term "functional variant” is understood to refer to analogues of the disclosed therapeutic agents which have the same therapeutic effect.
• Such trivial variants are included in the scope of this invention.
• Antibody fragments and variants/analogues which are suitable for use in the compositions and methods described herein include, but are not limited to, the following.
• Minibodies - These constructs consist of antibodies with a truncated Fc portion. As such they retain the complete binding domains of the antibody from which are derived.
• Fab fragments These comprise a single immunoglobulin light chain covalently- linked to part of an immunoglobulin heavy chain. As such, Fab fragments comprise a single antigen combining site. Fab fragments are defined by the portion of an IgG that can be liberated by treatment with papain. Such fragments are commonly produced via recombinant DNA techniques. (Reeves et ah, (2000) Lecture Notes on Immunology (4th Edition) Published by Blackwell Science)
• F(ab') 2 fragments comprise both antigen combining sites and the hinge region from a single antibody.
• F(ab') 2 fragments are defined by the portion of an IgG that can be liberated by treatment with pepsin. Such fragments are commonly produced via recombinant DNA techniques. (Reeves et al, (2000) Lecture Notes on Immunology (4tth Edition) Published by Blackwell Science)
• Fv fragments - comprise an immunoglobulin variable heavy domain linked to an immunoglobulin variable light domain.
• Fv designs have been produced. These include dsFvs, in which the association between the two domains is enhanced by an introduced disulfide bond.
• scFVs can be formed using a peptide linker to bind the two domains together as a single polypeptide.
• Fvs constructs containing a variable domain of a heavy or light immunoglobulin chain associated to the variable and constant domain of the corresponding immunoglobulin heavy or light chain have also been produced. FV have also been multimerised to form diabodies and triabodies (Maynard et al., (2000) Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2 339-376)
• NanobodiesTM - These constructs comprise synthetic single immunoglobulin variable heavy domain derived from a camelid (e.g. camel or llama) antibody.
• Domantis (Belgium) comprise an affinity matured single immunoglobulin variable heavy domain or immunoglobulin variable light domain.
• the defining functional characteristic of antibodies in the context of the present invention is their ability to bind specifically to a target ligand. As is known to those skilled in the art it is possible to engineer such binding characteristics into a range of other proteins.
• Examples of antibody variants and analogues suitable for use in the compositions and methods of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the following.
• Protein scaffold-based binding polypeptides - This family of binding constructs comprise mutated analogues of proteins which contain native binding loops.
• Affibodies marketed by Affibody (Sweden), which are based on a three-helix motif derived from one of the IgG binding domains of Staphylococcus aureus Protein A.
• Evibodies marketed by EvoGenix (Australia) which are based on the extracellular domains of CTLA-4into which domains similar to antibody binding loops are grafted.
• Cytokine Traps marketed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (US), graft cytokine receptor domains into antibody scaffolds.
• anti-CD3 antibodies can be raised to any of the polypeptide chains from which this complex is formed (i.e. ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , and ⁇ CD3 chains)
• Antibodies which bind to the ⁇ CD3 chain are the preferred anti-CD3 antibodies for use in the compositions and methods of the present invention.
• Another aspect of the invention provides a dTCR or scTCR associated with a therapeutic agent, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from IL-I, IL- l ⁇ , IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-Il, IL-12, TGF- ⁇ , Lymphotoxin, TNF ⁇ , Anti-CD2 antibody, Anti-CD4 antibody, Anti-CD8 antibody, Anti-CD44 antibody, Anti-CD45RA antibody, Anti-CD45RB antibody, Anti-CD45RO antibody, Anti-Thy 1.2 antibody, Antilymphocyte globulin, Anti- ⁇ TCR antibody, Anti- ⁇ TCR antibody, Anti-CD49a antibody, Anti-CD49b antibody, Anti-CD49c antibody, Anti-CD49d antibody, Anti- CD49e antibody, Anti-CD49f antibody, Anti-TCR V ⁇ 8 antibody, Anti-CD 16 antibody, Anti-CD28 antibody, CTLA-4-Ig, Anti-B7.2 antibody, Anti-CD40L antibody, Anti-ICAM-1 antibody, ICAM
• Anti-T cell antibodies or functional fragments or variants/analogues thereof which bind epitopes presented only by T cells or Natural Killer (NK) cells.
• NK Natural Killer
• T cells and/or NK cells are targeted by the majority of the above antibodies. Only anti-CD3 antibodies will target all NK cells and T cells.
• Such antibodies linked to a soluble TCR to form a bifunctional composition of the invention, will cause T cells and/or NK cells to be localised to the cells expressing the cognate peptide-MHC ligand for the soluble TCR. Without wishing to be limited by theory, the binding of these antibodies to the T cells or NK cells may cause these cells to be activated.
• Another aspect of the invention provides a dTCR or scTCR associated with a therapeutic agent selected from IL-IO, IL-4 or IL-13 or a functional variant or fragment of any of the foregoing.
• the dTCR or scTCR is tissue-specific.
• the dTCR or scTCR is specific for a tissue which is a target for auto-reactive T cells in autoimmune disease, organ rejection or Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD).
• GVHD Graft Versus Host Disease
• the dTCR or scTCR islet cell-specific.
• the NY8.3 T cell clone is specific for a glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP)-derived peptide presented by the murine H2-K d MHC and the G9C8 T cell clone is specific for an insulin-derived peptide presented by the murine H2-K d MHC.
• IGRP glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein
• a fuxther aspect of the invention provides a dTCR or scTCR associated with a therapeutic agent, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from IL-15, IL-21, IL-23, PE38 Pseudomonas exotoxin, IFN- ⁇ or Anti-CD3 antibody or a functional variant or fragment of any of the foregoing.
• the TCR associated with a therapeutic agent is a dTCR. In an alternative aspect of the invention the TCR associated with a therapeutic agent is a scTCR.
• TCR linker There are two classes of linker that are preferred for the association of TCRs and therapeutic agents of the present invention.
• a TCR of the invention in which the TCR is linked by a polyalkylene glycol chain to the therapeutic agent provides one embodiment of the present aspect.
• Peptidic linkers are the other class of TCR linkers. These two classes of linker are discussed in detail below in relation to their use in the formation of TCR multimers.
• Example 6 herein provides two examples of peptidic linkers which may be used to form the association between the TCR and therapeutic agent. As is known to those skilled in the art a variety of peptide linkers may be suitable to link the TCR ⁇ chains to the required therapeutic agents. The following are additional examples linker sequences which may be used for this purpose
• ggcggtccg which encodes a Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• cccggg which encodes a Pro-Gly linker including a Xmal restriction enzyme site
• the TCR portions of the TCR therapeutic agent combinations disclosed herein are targeting moieties.
• the TCRs of the invention target TCR ligands such as peptide-MHC or CDl -antigen complexes. As such, it would be desirable if these TCR had a higher affinity and/or a slower off-rate for the TCR ligands than native TCRs specific for that ligand.
• the inventors co-ending application WO 2004/044004 details methods of producing TCR having a higher affinity and/or a slower off-rate for the TCR ligand than native TCRs specific for that ligand.
• the affinity (K D ) of the TCR for the TCR ligand is higher than 1 ⁇ M, and/or the off-rate (ko FF ) is slower than 1 x 10 "3 S "1 . More preferably, the affinity (K D ) of the TCR for the TCR ligand is higher than 1OnM, and/or the off-rate (k off ) is slower than 1 x 10 "4 S "1 . Most preferably, the affinity (K D ) of the TCR for the TCR ligand is higher than InM, and/or the off-rate (k off ) is slower than 1 x 10 "5 S " .
• the affinity (K D ) and/or off-rate (k Off ) measurement can be made by any of the known methods.
• a preferred method is the Surface Plasmon Resonance (Biacore) method of Example 3.
• the TCRs of the invention are in the form of either single chain TCRs (scTCRs) or dimeric TCRs (dTCRs) as described in WO 04/033685 and WO 03/020763.
• a suitable scTCR form comprises a first segment constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain, a second segment constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence fused to the N terminus of an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence, and a linker sequence linking the C terminus of the first segment to the N terminus of the second segment.
• the first segment may be constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain
• the second segment may be constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence fused to the N terminus of an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence
• the first segment may be constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence fused to the N terminus of an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence
• the second segment may be constituted by an amino acid sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain fused to the N terminus of an amino acid sequence corresponding to TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence
• a disulfide bond may be provided between the first and second chains, said disulfide bond being one which has no equivalent in native ⁇ T cell receptors.
• the linker sequence may link the C terminus of the first segment to the N terminus of the second segment, and may have the formula -PGGG- (SGGGG) 5 -P- (SEQ ID NO: 1) or -PGGG-(SGGGG) 6 -P- (SEQ ID NO: 2) wherein P is proline, G is glycine and S is serine.
• a suitable dTCR form of the TCRs of the present invention comprises a first polypeptide wherein a sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence is fused to the N terminus of a sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence, and a second polypeptide wherein a sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence fused to the N terminus a sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence, the first and second polypeptides being linked by a disulfide bond which has no equivalent in native ⁇ T cell receptors.
• the first polypeptide may comprise a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence is fused to the N terminus of a sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence, and a second polypeptide wherein a sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain variable domain sequence is fused to the N terminus a sequence corresponding to a TCR ⁇ chain constant domain extracellular sequence, the first and second polypeptides being linked by a disulfide bond between cysteine residues substituted for Thr 48 of exon 1 of TRAC*01 and Ser 57 of exon 1 of TRBC1*O1 or TRBC2*01 or the non-human equivalent thereof.
• TR-AC etc. nomenclature herein as per T cell receptor Factsbook, (2001) LeFranc and LeFranc, Academic Press, ISBN 0-12-441352-8)
• the dTCR or scTCR form of the TCRs of the invention may have amino acid sequences corresponding to human ⁇ TCR extracellular constant and variable domain sequences, and a disulfide bond may link amino acid residues of the said constant domain sequences, which disulfide bond has no equivalent in native TCRs.
• the disulfide bond is between cysteine residues corresponding to amino acid residues whose ⁇ carbon atoms are less than 0.6 nm apart in native TCRs, for example between cysteine residues substituted for Thr 48 of exon 1 of THAC*01 and Ser 57 of exon 1 of TRBCl*01 or TRBC2*01 or the non-human equivalent thereof.
• Other sites where cysteines can be introduced to form the disulfide bond are the following residues in exon 1 of TRAC*01 for the TCR ⁇ chain and TRBCl*01 or TRBC2*01 for the TCR ⁇ chain:
• the dTCR_ or scTCR form of the TCRs of the invention may include a disulfide bond between residues corresponding to those linked by a disulfide bond in native TCRs.
• the dTCR or scTCR form of the TCRs of the invention preferably does not contain a sequence corresponding to transmembrane or cytoplasmic sequences of native TCRs.
• One embodiment of the invention provides a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent, wherein said therapeutic agent is a PE38 exotoxin.
• PE38 exotoxin is a truncated form of a Pseudomonas exotoxin.
• the native polypeptide is a 66kDa protein consisting of domains IA, II, IB and III.
• the PE38 derivative consists of domain II, amino acids 380-399 of domain IB and domain III.
• other truncated forms of Pseudomonas exotoxin may be of use in the present invention.
• the preferred variant of PE38 for use in the present invention contains mutations in trie domain III thereof such that the C-terminus amino acids are KDEL. These C -terminal mutations have previously been shown to increase the toxicity of the Pseudomonas exotoxin. (Kreitman et al (1995) JBiochem 307 29-37)
• said TCR associated with a PE38 exotoxin comprises the amino acid sequences of (SEQ ED NO: 73) and (SEQ ID NO: 71). ( Figures 29b and 28b respectively).
• a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent of the invention is associated with at least one polyalkylene glycol chain(s). This association may be cause in a number of ways known to those skilled in the art. Bi a preferred embodiment the polyalkylene chain(s) is/are covalently linked to the TCR. In a further embodiment the polyethylene glycol chains of the present aspect of the invention comprise at least two polyethylene repeating units. Multivalent TCR Complexes
• One aspect of the invention provides a multivalent TCR complex comprising at least two TCRs associated with a therapeutic agent.
• at least two TCR molecules are linked via linker moieties to form multivalent complexes.
• Such multivalent TCR complexes may be linked by either a non-peptidic polymer chain or a peptidic linker sequence.
• the complexes are water soluble, so the linker moiety should be selected accordingly.
• the linker moiety should be capable of attachment to defined positions on the TCR molecules, so that the structural diversity of the complexes formed is minimised.
• One embodiment of the present aspect is provided by a TCR complex of the invention wherein the polymer chain or peptidic linker sequence extends between amino acid residues of each TCR which are not located in a variable region sequence of the TCR.
• the linker moieties should be chosen with due regard to their pharmaceutical suitability, for example their immunogenicity.
• linker moieties which fulfil the above desirable criteria are known in the art, for example the art of linking antibody fragments.
• a TCR complex of the invention in which the TCRs are linked by a polyalkylene glycol chain provides one embodiment of the present aspect.
• hydrophilic polymers such as polyalkylene glycols.
• the most commonly used of this class are based on polyethylene glycol or PEG, the structure of which is shown below.
• n is greater than two.
• suitable, optionally substituted, polyalkylene glycols include polypropylene glycol, and copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.
• Such polymers may be used to treat or conjugate therapeutic agents, particularly polypeptide or protein therapeutics, to achieve beneficial changes to the PK profile of the therapeutic.
• therapeutic agents particularly polypeptide or protein therapeutics
• Such improvements in the PK profile of the PEG-therapeutic conjugate are believe to result from the PEG molecule or molecules forming a 'shell' around the therapeutic which sterically hinders the reaction with the immune system and reduces proteolytic degradation.
• the size of the hydrophilic polymer used my in particular be selected on the basis of the intended therapeutic use of the TCR complex.
• the polymer used can have a linear or branched conformation.
• Branched PEG molecules, or derivatives thereof, can be induced by the addition of branching moieties including glycerol and glycerol oligomers, pentaerythritol, sorbitol and lysine.
• the polymer will have a chemically reactive group or groups in its structure, for example at one or both termini, and/or on branches from the backbone, to enable the polymer to link to target sites in the TCR.
• This chemically reactive group or groups may be attached directly to the hydrophilic polymer, or there may be a spacer group/moiety between the hydrophilic polymer and the reactive chemistry as shown below:
• Reactive chemistry-Hydrophilic polymer-Reactive chemistry Reactive chemistry-Spacer-Hydrophilic polymer-Spacer-Reactive chemistry
• spacer used in the formation of constructs of the type outlined above may be any organic moiety that is a non-reactive, chemically stable, chain, Such spacers include, by are not limited to the following:
• n 2 to 5 -(CH 2 ) 3 NHCO(CH 2 ) 2
• a multivalent TCR complex of the invention in which a divalent alkylene spacer radical is located between the polyalkylene glycol chain and its point of attachment to a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent provides a further embodiment of the present aspect.
• a multivalent TCR complex of the invention in which the polyalkylene glycol chain comprises at least two polyethylene glycol repeating units provides a further embodiment of the present aspect.
• a wide variety of coupling chemistries can be used to couple polymer molecules to protein and peptide therapeutics.
• the choice of the most appropriate coupling chemistry is largely dependant on the desired coupling site.
• N- maleimide, Vinyl sulfone, Benzotriazole carbonate, Succinimidyl proprionate, Succinimidyl butanoate, Thio-ester, Acetaldehyde, Acrylate, Biotin and Primary amine coupling chemistries have been used attached to one or more of the termini of PEG molecules (Source: Nektar Molecular Engineering Catalogue 2003):
• non-PEG based polymers also provide suitable linkers for multimerising the TCRs of the present invention.
• linkers for multimerising the TCRs of the present invention.
• moieties containing maleimide termini linked by aliphatic chains such as BMH and BMOE (Pierce, products Nos. 22330 and 22323) can be used.
• Peptidic linkers are the other class of TCR linkers. These linkers are comprised of chains of amino acids, and function to produce simple linkers or multimerisation domains onto which TCR molecules can be attached.
• the biotin / streptavidin system has previously been used to produce TCR tetramers (see WO/99/60119) for in-vitro binding studies.
• strepavidin is a microbially-derived polypeptide and as such not ideally suited to use in a therapeutic.
• a TCR complex of the invention in which the TCRs are linked by a peptidic linker derived from a human multimerisation domain provides a further embodiment of the present aspect.
• a number of human proteins that contain a multimerisation domain that could be used in the production of multivalent TCR complexes.
• the tetramerisation domain of p53 which has been utilised to produce tetramers of scFv antibody fragments which exhibited increased serum persistence and significantly reduced off-rate compared to the monomelic scFV fragment.
• Haemoglobin also has a tetramerisation domain that could potentially be used for this kind of application.
• Soluble TCRs or multivalent TCR complexes of the invention may be linked to an enzyme capable of converting a prodrug to a drug. This allows the prodrug to be converted to the drug only at the site where it is required (i.e. targeted by the sTCR).
• the invention also provides a method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target cell, which method comprises contacting potential target cells with a TCR or multivalent TCR complex in accordance with the invention under conditions to allow attachment of the TCR or multivalent TCR complex to the target cell, said TCR or multivalent TCR complex being specific for a given peptide-MHC complex.
• the soluble TCR or multivalent TCR complex of the present invention can be used to deliver therapeutic agents to the location of cells presenting a particular antigen. This would be useful in many situations, for example, against tumours or sites of autoimmune disease. A therapeutic agent could be delivered such that it would exercise its effect locally but not only on the cell to which it binds.
• one particular strategy envisages immunostimulatory molecules linked to TCRs or multivalent TCR complexes according to the invention specific for tumour antigens. For cancer treatment, the localisation in the vicinity of tumours or metastasis would enhance the effect of toxins or immunostimulants.
• the soluble TCR or multivalent TCR complex of the present invention can be used to deliver immunoinhibitory agents to the location of cells presenting a particular antigen related to an autoimmune disease.
• an Islet cell-specific TCR could be used to deliver an immunoinhibitory agent, such as IL-IO, IL-4 or IL- 13 or a functional variant or fragment of any of the foregoing to the Islet cells of a patient suffering from diabetes.
• the vaccine antigen could be localised in the vicinity of antigen presenting cells, thus enhancing the efficacy of the antigen.
• an interferon such as IFN- ⁇
• the administration of an interferon (IFN) to a patient prior to, and/or simultaneously with, the administration of the TCR associated with a therapeutic agent may increase levels of peptide-MHC expression on the target cells. This may be of particular benefit in the treatment of cancer.
• IFN interferon
• compositions comprising a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent or a multivalent TCR complex thereof together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• the invention also provides a method of treatment of cancer comprising administering to a subject suffering such cancer disease an effective amount of a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent or a multivalent TCR complex thereof.
• the invention provides for the use of a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent or a multivalent TCR complex thereof, in the preparation of a composition for the treatment of cancer.
• IL-15, IL-21 or Anti-CD3 antibody or a functional variant or fragment of the foregoing are particularly preferred therapeutic agents for use in the treatment of cancer.
• the invention also provides a method of treatment of autoimmune disease, organ rejection or GVHD comprising administering to a subject suffering such an autoimmune disease, organ rejection or GVHD an effective amount of a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent or a multivalent TCR complex thereof.
• the invention provides for the use of a TCR associated with a therapeutic agent or a multivalent TCR complex thereof, in the preparation of a composition for the treatment of autoimmune disease, organ rejection or GVHD.
• Preferred therapeutic agents for use in the treatment of autoimmune disease, organ rejection or GVHD are IL-IO, IL-4 and IL- 13 or a functional variant or fragment of any of the foregoing.
• the dTCR or scTCR of the invention is tissue-specific, hi further related embodiment the dTCR or scTCR is specific for a tissue which is a target for auto-reactive T cells in autoimmune disease, organ rejection or Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD).
• the invention provides a method of treating diabetes, wherein the dTCR or scTCR is islet cell-specific.
• Cancers which may benefit the methods of the present invention include: leukaemia, head, neck, lung, breast, colon, cervical, liver, pancreatic, ovarian and testicular)
• Auto-immune diseases which may benefit the methods of the following invention include:
• Systemic necrotizing vasculitides Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
• compositions in accordance with the invention will usually be supplied as part of a sterile, pharmaceutical composition which will normally include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• This pharmaceutical composition may be in any suitable form, (depending upon the desired method of administering it to a patient). It may be provided in unit dosage form, will generally be provided in a sealed container and may be provided as part of a kit. Such a kit would normally (although not necessarily) include instructions for use. It may include a plurality of said unit dosage forms.
• the pharmaceutical composition may be adapted for administration by any appropriate route, for example parenteral, transdermal or via inhalation, preferably a parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, or, most preferably intravenous) route.
• Such compositions may be prepared by any method known in the art of pharmacy, for example by mixing the active ingredient with the carrier(s) or excipient(s) under sterile conditions.
• Dosages of the substances of the present invention can vary between wide limits, depending upon the disease or disorder to be treated, the age and condition of the individual to be treated, etc. and a physician will ultimately determine appropriate dosages to be used.
• a scTCR or dTCR associated with a therapeutic agent may be provided in substantially pure form, or as a purified or isolated preparation. For example, it may be provided in a form which is substantially free of other proteins.
• Figures Ia and Ib show respectively the nucleic acid sequences of the ⁇ and ⁇ chains of a soluble A6 TCR, mutated so as to introduce a cysteine codon. The shading indicates the introduced cysteine codon;
• Figure 2a shows the A6 TCR ⁇ chain extracellular amino acid sequence, including the T 48 — » C mutation (underlined) used to produce the novel disulphide inter-chain bond, and
• Figure 2b shows the A6 TCR ⁇ chain extracellular amino acid sequence, including the S 57 — » C mutation (underlined.) used to produce the novel disulphide inter-chain bond;
• Figure 3 a shows the A6 TCR ⁇ chain sequence including novel cysteine residue mutated to incorporate a BamHl restriction site. Shading indicates the mutations introduced to form the BamHl restriction site.
• Figures 3b and 3 c show the DNA sequence of ⁇ and ⁇ chain of the JM22 TCR mutated to include additional cysteine residues to form a non-native disulphide bond;
• Figures 4a and 4b show respectively the J1VI22 TCR ⁇ and ⁇ chain extracellular amino acid sequences produced from the DNA sequences of Figures 3b and 3c;
• Figures 5 a and 5b show respectively the DNA sequences of the ⁇ and ⁇ chains of a soluble AH- 1.23 TCR 5 mutated so as to introduce a novel cysteine codon (indicated by shading).
• Figures 6a and 6b show respectively the AH-1.23 TCR ⁇ and ⁇ chain extracellular amino acid sequences produced from the DNA sequences of Figures 5a and 5b;
• Figure 7a DNA sequence of mature human IL- 10.
• Figure 7b Amino acid sequence of mature human IL-10.
• Figure 8a DNA sequence of AHl .23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-10 via a Pro-Gly linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the Pro-Gly linker is underlined.
• Figure 8b Amino acid sequence of AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain corxtaining a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-10 via a Pro-Gly linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Pro-Gly linker is underlined.
• Figure 9a DNA sequence of AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-10 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 9b Amino acid sequence of AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-10 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 10b Amino acid sequence of AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-10 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly- Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is xmderlined.
• Figure 11 a - DNA sequence of mature human IL-4.
• Figure 1 Ib Amino acid sequence of mature human IL-4.
• Figure 12a DNA sequence of AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-4 via a Pro-Gly linker. The introduced cysteine is indicated by shading. The DNA sequence encoding the Pro-Gly linker is underlined.
• Figure 12b Amino acid sequence of AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-4 via a Pro-Gly linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Pro-Gly linker is underlined.
• Figure 13a DNA sequence of AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-4 via a GIy-S er-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the GIy-S er-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 13b Amino acid sequence of AHl .23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-4 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 14a DNA sequence of AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-4 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the GIy- Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 14b Amino acid sequence of AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-4 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly- Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 15a DNA sequence of mature human IL-13.
• Figure 15b Amino acid sequence of mature human IL-13.
• Figure 16a DNA sequence of AH1.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-13 via a Pro-Gly linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the Pro-Gly linker is underlined.
• Figure 16b Amino acid sequence of AHl .23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-13 via a Pro-Gly linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Pro-Gly linker is underlined.
• Figure 17a DNA sequence of AHl .23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-13 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 17b Amino acid sequence of AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-13 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 18 a- DNA sequence of AH1.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-13 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the DNA sequence encoding the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 18b Amino acid sequence of AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain containing a non-native cysteine codon involved in the formation of a novel interchain bond linked to mature human IL-13 via a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gry-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly- Pro linker.
• the introduced cysteine is indicated by shading.
• the Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly- Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro linker is underlined.
• Figure 19 details the DNA sequence of the pEX821 plasmid.
• Figure 20 provides a plasmid map of the pEX821 vector, the DNA sequence of which is provided by Figure 19.
• Figure 21 details the DNA sequence of the pEX954 plasmid.
• Figure 22 provides a plasmid map of the pEX954 plasmid, the DNA sequence of which is provided by Figure 21.
• Figure 23 a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain and Figure 23b details the AA sequence encoded by the DNA sequence of Figure 23 a.
• Figure 24a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to IL-18.
• Figure 24b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 25 a details the DNA sequence encoding IL- 18 pro-protein linked at the C- terminus thereof via a peptide linker to the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain.
• the pro-IL-18 DNA has been altered to encode a Factor X cleavage site.
• Figure 25b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 26a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to IL-IO.
• Figure 26b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 27a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to IL-13.
• Figure 27b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 28a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to the "KDEL" variant of the PE38 exotoxin.
• Figure 28b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 29a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c58 NY-ESO MTCR alpha chain and Figure 29b details the AA sequence encoded by the DNA sequence of Figure 29a.
• Example 1 Design of primers and mutagenesis ofA6 Tax TCR a and ⁇ chains
• Expression plasmids containing the genes for the A6 Tax TCR ⁇ or ⁇ chain were mutated using the ⁇ -chain primers or the ⁇ -chain primers respectively, as follows. 100 ng of plasmid was mixed with 5 ⁇ l 10 mM dNTP, 25 ⁇ l lOxPfu-buffer (Stratagene), 10 units Pfu polymerase (Stratagene) and the final volume was adjusted to 240 ⁇ l with H 2 O. 48 ⁇ l of this mix was supplemented with primers diluted to give a final concentration of 0.2 ⁇ M in 50 ⁇ l final reaction volume.
• the reaction mixture was subjected to 15 rounds of denaturation (95 0 C, 30 sec), annealing (55°C, 60 sec), and elongation (73°C, 8 min.) in a Hybaid PCR express PCR machine.
• the product was then digested for 5 hours at 37°C with 10 units of Dpnl restriction enzyme (New England Biolabs). 10 ⁇ l of the digested reaction was transformed into competent XLl -Blue bacteria and grown for 18 hours at 37 0 C.
• Plasmid DNA was purified on a Qiagen mini-prep column according to the manufacturer's instructions and the sequence was verified by automated sequencing. The respective mutated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are shown in Figures Ia and 2a for the ⁇ chain and Figures Ib and 2b for the ⁇ chain.
• the expression plasmids containing the mutated ⁇ -chain and ⁇ -chain respectively were transformed separately into E.coli strain BL21pLysS, and single ampicillin- resistant colonies were grown at 37°C in TYP (ampicillin lOO ⁇ g/ml) medium to OD 600 of 0.4 before inducing protein expression with 0.5mM IPTG.
• Cells were harvested three hours post-induction by centrifugation for 30 minutes at 4000rpm in a Beckman J-6B. Cell pellets were re-suspended in a buffer containing 5OmM Tris- HCI, 25% (w/v) sucrose, ImMNaEDTA, 0.1% (w/v) NaAzide, 1OmM DTT, pH 8.0.
• re-suspended cells were sonicated in 1 minute bursts for a total of around 10 minutes in a Milsonix XL2020 sonicator using a standard 12mm diameter probe. Inclusion body pellets were recovered by centrifugation for 30 minutes at 13000rpm in a Beckman J2-21 centrifuge. Three detergent washes were then carried out to remove cell debris and membrane components.
• the inclusion body pellet was homogenised in a Triton buffer (5OmM Tris-HCL 0.5% Triton-XIOO, 20OmM NaCI, 1OmM NaEDTA, 0.1% (w/v) NaAzide, 2mM DTT, pH 8.0) before being pelleted by centrifugation for 15 minutes at 13000rpm in a Beckman J2-21. Detergent and salt was then removed by a similar wash in the following buffer: 5OmM Tris-HCl, ImM NaEDTA, 0.1% (w/v) NaAzide, 2mM DTT, pH 8.0. Finally, the inclusion bodies were divided into 30 mg aliquots and frozen at -70°C. Inclusion body protein yield was quantitated by solubilising with 6M guanidine-HCl and measurement with a Bradford dye-binding assay (PerBio).
• Triton buffer 5OmM Tris-HCL 0.5% Triton-XIOO, 20OmM NaCI, 1OmM NaED
• Denaturation of soluble TCRs 30mg of the solubilised TCR ⁇ -chain inclusion body and 60mg of the solubilised TCR ⁇ -chain inclusion body was thawed from frozen stocks.
• the inclusion bodies were diluted to a final concentration of 5mg/ml in 6M guanidine solution, and DTT (2M stock) was added to a final concentration of 1OmM. The mixture was incubated at 37°C for 30 min.
• Refolding of soluble TCRs 1 L refolding buffer was stirred vigorously at 5 0 C ⁇ 3 0 C.
• the redox couple (2-mercaptoethylamine and cystamine (to final concentrations of 6.6mM and 3.7mM, respectively) were added approximately 5 minutes before addition of the denatured TCR chains.
• the protein was then allowed to refold for approximately 5 hours ⁇ 15 minutes with stirring at 5 0 C ⁇ 3 0 C.
• Dialysis of refolded soluble TCRs The refolded TCR was dialysed in Spectrapor 1 membrane (Spectrum; Product No. 132670) against 10 L 10 mM Tris pH 8.1 at 5°C ⁇ 3 0 C for 18-20 hours. After this time, the dialysis buffer was changed to fresh 10 mM Tris pH 8.1 (10 L) and dialysis was continued at 5 0 C ⁇ 3°C for another 20-22 hours.
• a surface plasmon resonance biosensor (BIAcore 3000TM ) was used to analyse the binding of a sTCR to its peptide-MHC ligand. This was facilitated by producing single pMHC complexes (described below) which were immobilised to a streptavidin- coated binding surface in a semi-oriented fashion, allowing efficient testing of the binding of a soluble T-cell receptor to up to four different pMHC (immobilised on separate flow cells) simultaneously. Manual injection of HLA complex allows the precise level of immobilised class I molecules to be manipulated easily. Such immobilised complexes are capable of binding both T-cell receptors and the coreceptor CD8 ⁇ , both of which may be injected in the soluble phase.
• TCR Specific binding of TCR is obtained even at low concentrations (at least 40 ⁇ g/ml), implying the TCR is relatively stable.
• the pMHC binding properties of sTCR are observed to be qualitatively and quantitatively similar if sTCR is used either in the soluble or immobilised phase. This is an important control for partial activity of soluble species and also suggests that biotinylated pMHC complexes are biologically as active as non-biotinylated complexes.
• Biotinylated class I HLA- A2 - peptide complexes were refolded in vitro from bacterially-expressed inclusion bodies containing the constituent subunit proteins and synthetic peptide, followed by purification and in vitro enzymatic biotinylation (O'Callaghan et al. (1999) Anal. Biochem. 266: 9-15).
• HLA-heavy chain was expressed with a C-terminal biotinylation tag which replaces the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the protein in an appropriate construct.
• Inclusion body expression levels of ⁇ 75 mg/litre bacterial culture were obtained.
• the HLA light- chain or ⁇ 2-microglobulin was also expressed as inclusion bodies in E.coli from an appropriate construct, at a level of ⁇ 500 mg/litre bacterial culture.
• E. coli cells were lysed and inclusion bodies are purified to approximately 80% purity. Protein from inclusion bodies was denatured in 6 M guanidine-HCl, 50 niM Tris pH 8.1, 100 rnM NaCl, 10 mM DTT, 10 mM EDTA, and was refolded at a concentration of 30 mg/litre heavy chain, 30 mg/litre ⁇ 2m into 0.4 M L-Arginine-HCl, 100 mM Tris pH 8.1, 3.7 mM cystamine, mM cysteamine, 4 mg/ml peptide (e.g. tax 11-19), by addition of a single pulse of denatured protein into refold buffer at ⁇ 5°C. Refolding was allowed to reach completion at 4 0 C for at least 1 hour.
• Buffer was exchanged by dialysis in 10 volumes of 10 mM Tris pH 8.1. Two changes of buffer were necessary to reduce the ionic strength of the solution sufficiently.
• the protein solution was then filtered through a 1.5 ⁇ m cellulose acetate filter and loaded onto a POROS 50HQ anion exchange column (8 ml bed volume). Protein was eluted with a linear 0-500 mM NaCl gradient. HLA- A2 -peptide complex eluted at approximately 250 rtiM NaCl, and peak fractions were collected, a cocktail of protease inhibitors (Calbiochem) was added and the fractions were chilled on ice.
• Biotinylation tagged HLA complexes were buffer exchanged into 10 niM Tris pH 8.1, 5 mM NaCl using a Pharmacia fast desalting column equilibrated in the same buffer. Immediately upon elution, the protein-containing fractions were chilled on ice and protease inhibitor cocktail (Calbiochem) was added. Biotinylation reagents were then added: 1 mM biotin, 5 mM ATP (buffered to pH 8), 7.5 mM MgC12, and 5 ⁇ g/ml BirA enzyme (purified according to O'Callaghan et al. (1999) Anal. Biochem. 266: 9- 15). The mixture was then allowed to incubate at room temperature overnight.
• Biotinylated HLA complexes were purified using gel filtration chromatography. A Pharmacia Superdex 75 HR 10/30 column was pre-equilibrated with filtered PBS and 1 ml of the biotinylation reaction mixture was loaded and the column was developed with PBS at 0.5 ml/min. Biotinylated HLA complexes eluted as a single peak at approximately 15 ml. Fractions containing protein were pooled, chilled on ice, and protease inhibitor cocktail was added. Protein concentration was determined using a Coomassie-binding assay (PerBio) and aliquots of biotinylated HLA complexes were stored frozen at -2O 0 C. Streptavidin was immobilised by standard amine coupling methods.
• PerBio Coomassie-binding assay
• the assay was then performed by passing sTCR over the surfaces of the different flow cells at a constant flow rate, measuring the SPR response in doing so. Initially, the specificity of the interaction was verified by passing sTCR at a constant flow rate of 5 ⁇ l min-1 over two different surfaces; one coated with -5000 RU of specific peptide-HLA complex, the second coated with -5000 RU of non-specific peptide-HLA complex . Injections of soluble sTCR at constant flow rate and different concentrations o ⁇ ver the peptide-HLA complex were used to define the background resonance.
• the Kd value obtained (1.8 ⁇ M) is close to that reported for the interaction between A6 Tax sTCR without the novel di-sulphide bond and pMHC (0.91 ⁇ M - Ding et al, 1999, Immunity 11:45-56).
• Example 4 Production of soluble JM22 TCR containing a novel disulphide bond.
• the ⁇ chain of the soluble A6 TCR prepared in Example 1 contains in the native sequence a BgIII restriction site (AAGCTT) suitable for use as a ligation site.
• AAGCTT BgIII restriction site
• PCR mutagenesis was carried as detailed below to introduce a BamHl restriction site (GGATCC) into the ⁇ chain of soluble A6 TCR 5 , 5' of the novel cysteine codon.
• GGATCC BamHl restriction site
• plasmid 100 ng of plasmid was mixed with 5 ⁇ l 10 niM dNTP, 25 ⁇ l lOxPfu-buffer (Stratagene), 10 units PfU polymerase (Stratagerie) and the final volume was adjusted to 240 ⁇ l with H 2 O. 48 ⁇ l of this mix was supplemented with primers diluted to give a final concentration of 0.2 ⁇ M in 50 ⁇ l final reaction volume. After an initial denaturation step of 30 seconds at 95°C, the reaction mixture was subjected to 15 rounds of denaturation (95 0 C, 30 sec), annealing (55°C, 60 sec), and elongation (73 °C, 8 min.) in a Hybaid PCR express PCR machine.
• A6 TCR plasmids containing the ⁇ chain BamHl and ⁇ chain BgIII restriction sites were used as templates.
• the following primers were used:
• JM22 TCR ⁇ and ⁇ -chain constructs were obtained by PCR cloning as follows. PCR reactions were performed using the primers as shown above, and templates containing the JM22 TCR chains. The PCR products were restriction digested with the relevant restriction enzymes, and cloned into pGMT7 to obtain expression plasmids. The sequence of the plasmid inserts were confirmed by automated DNA sequencing.
• Figures 3b and 3c show the DNA sequence of the mutated ⁇ and ⁇ chains of the JM22 TCR respectively, and Figures 4a and 4b show the resulting amino acid sequences.
• TCR chains were expressed, co-refolded and purified as described in Examples 1 and 2.
• cDNA encoding AH- 1.23 TCR was isolated from T cells supplied by Hill Gaston (Medical School, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge) according to known techniques. cDNA encoding NY-ESO TCR was produced by treatment of the HiRNA with reverse transcriptase.
• TCR plasmids containing the ⁇ chain BamHI and ⁇ chain BgIII restriction sites were used as a framework as described in Example 4. The following primers were used:
• TCR chains were expressed, co-refolded and purified as described in Example 2.
• Example 6 Production of a soluble AH- 1.23 TCR - IL-IO fusion protein.
• Synthetic genes including the mature human IL-10 DNA sequence detailed in Figure 7a and one of a number of DNA extensions at the 5' end of the IL-10 DNA sequence can then be produced.
• the 5' DNA extensions are linker sequences used to attach the IL-IO DNA to that encoding the AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain.
• cccggg which encodes a Pro-Gly linker including a Xmal restriction enzyme site ggatccggcggtccg - (SEQ ID NO: 17) which encodes a Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 18) linker including a BamHl restriction enzyme site.
• One of the above synthetic genes is then sub-cloned into the pGMT7 plasmid containing the AHl .23 TCR ⁇ chain, produced as described in Example 5 to form a DNA sequence encoding the TCR ⁇ chain-linker-IL-10 fusion protein.
• the DNA and amino acid sequence of the AHl .23 TCR ⁇ chain - Pro-Gly - IL- 10 fusion is detailed in Figures 8a and 8b respectively.
• AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain - Linker- IL-IO fusion proteins are then refolded with the AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain using the methods detailed in Example 2 to produce the complete soluble AHl.23 TCR-IL-10 fusion protein.
• IL-10 is often found in the form of a homodimer. Therefore, it may be advantageous to dimerise the IL-10 polypeptide attached to the soluble AHl.23 TCR. This can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, a single-chain version of the mature form human IL-10 homodimer can be fused to the TCR ⁇ prior to refolding with the TCR ⁇ chain.
• mature form human IL-10 can be added in solution to either the TCR ⁇ Chain-IL-10 fusion proteins formed as described above prior to refolding with the soluble TCR ⁇ chain, or to the refolded ⁇ TCR-IL-10 fusion proteins.
• an additional IL-10 molecule can be added to the TCR ⁇ chain as a fusion protein using the methods described in this example for the production of the TCR ⁇ chain - IL-10 fusion protein.
• the two TCR chain-EL-10 fusion proteins can then be re-folded together using the methods described in Example 2.
• complexes comprising two TCR, each containing a single IL-10 polypeptide linked to the TCR ⁇ chain, may be formed by homo-dimerisation of the IL-10 polypeptides. This would result in the formation of a complex of the following type:
• Example 6 The methods detailed in Example 6 can also be used to produce fusion proteins containing the soluble AH-1.23 TCR linked to other polypeptides.
• Synthetic genes including the mature human IL-4 DNA sequence detailed in Figure 11a and one of the 5' DNA extension sequences listed in Example 6 can be constructed and sub-cloned into the pGMT7 plasmid containing the AHl.23 TCR ⁇ chain, produced as described in Example 5 to form a DNA sequence encoding the TCR ⁇ chain-linker- IL-4 fusion proteins.
• Synthetic genes including the mature human IL- 13 DNA sequence detailed in Figure 15a and one of the 5' DNA extension sequences listed in Example 6 can be constructed and sub-cloned into the pGMT7 plasmid containing the AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain, produced as described in Example 5 to form a DNA sequence encoding the TCR ⁇ chain-linker- IL-4 fusion proteins.
• AH 1.23 TCR ⁇ chain - Linker- interleukin fusion proteins are then refolded with the AHl .23 TCR ⁇ chain using the methods detailed in Example 2 to produce the complete soluble AH 1.23 TCR-interleukin fusion protein.
• Example 10 Thymidine incorporation assay for assessing the ability of AHl.23 TCR-IL-10 fusion proteins to cause Mast cell proliferation.
• AH 1.23 TCR-IL-10 fusion protein compared to that seen in the absence of the fusion protein indicates that the IL-IO part of the fusion protein is active and causing D36 mast cell proliferation.
• Example 11 Preparation of high affinity NY-ESO MTCR — therapeutic agent fusion proteins.
• Synthetic genes comprising the DNA sequence encoding the soluble high affinity c61 NY-ESO TCR ⁇ chain detailed in Figure 23 a linked via a DNA sequence encoding a peptide linker to DNA encoding a number of imunomodulaotory agents were synthesised:
• Figure 24a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to IL-18.
• Figure 24b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 25 a details the DNA sequence encoding IL- 18 pro-protein linked at the C- terminus thereof via a peptide linker to the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain.
• the pro-IL-18 DNA sequence has been altered to encode a Factor X cleavage site which facilitates post translation removal of the amino acids within the pro- sequence.
• Figure 25b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 26a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to IL-IO.
• Figure 26b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 27a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to IL-13.
• Figure 27b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein, the peptide linker is underlined.
• Figure 28a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO MTCR beta chain linked at the C-terminus thereof via a peptide linker to the "KDEL" variant of the PE38 exotoxin.
• Figure 28b details the AA sequence of this fusion protein the peptide linker is underlined.
• the DNA sequences above c61 NY-ESO TCR beta chain can be ligated into the pEX821 vector. (See Figures 19 and 20 for the DNA sequence and plasmid map of this vector respectively)
• Disulfide-linked ⁇ TCR-therapeutic agents are then produced following the methods substantially as described in Example 2. Briefly, DNA encoding the high affinity c61 NY-ESO alpha chain detailed in Figure 29a is synthesised and ligated into the pEX954 vector. (See Figures 21 and 22 for the DNA sequence and plasmid map of this vector respectively) The TCR beta chain fusion proteins described above are then refolded in the presence of the c61 NY-ESO TCR alpha chain.
• Figure 29a details the DNA sequence encoding the high affinity c58 NY-ESO MTCR alpha chain and Figure 29b details the AA sequence encoded by the DNA sequence of Figure 29a.
• Example 12 -MTCR-P E- 38 fusion protein cytotoxicity assay.
• 1x10 "6 of trie required target cells e.g. SK-MEL tumour cells or J82 cells
• target cells e.g. SK-MEL tumour cells or J82 cells
• FCS fetal calf serum
• the target cells were then pulsed with 10 ⁇ M of cognate peptide for 2 hours at 37°C.
• the samples were then washed three times in RPMI + 10% FCS, centrifuging at 1200 rpm for 5 min in between each wash.
• the washed cells were then re-counted and re- suspended in the appropriate volume of RPMI + 10% FCS media to provide a final cell density of 2 x 10 5 cells/ml.
• the MTCR-PE38 fusion proteins prepared as described in Example 11 were diluted in RPMI media + 10% FCS to a final concentration of 2 x 10 "6 M to provide a working standard. This working standard was then used to prepare a set of serial dilutions.
• Experimental sample wells were filled with 50 ⁇ l mTCR-PE38 in media and 50 ⁇ l cells in medium. To produce a total volume of 100 ⁇ l in 96 well flat bottom white opaque walled plates (Nunc 136101). The mTCR-PE38 serial dilutions prepared above were used to provide a range of mTCR-PE38 concentrations in these wells.
• Control sample wells were prepared using either 100 ⁇ l of cells (cell-only controls) or 100 ⁇ l of mTCR-PE38 and media (effector-only controls).
• the experimental and control samples were then incubated at 37 0 C, 5% CO 2 for 48 or 96 hours.
• the number of viable cells remaining in each well was then assessed using a CellTiter-Glo ® Luminescent assay (Promega Cat No: G7572) following the manufacturers instructions.
• Figures 30a and 30b demonstrate that the NY-ESO + SK-MEL 37 and Mel 624 tumour cell lines can be killed by the 1G4 MTCR-PE38 fusion protein.
• Figures 30a and 30b both demonstrate that pulsing the J82 target cells with the cognate SLLMWITQC NY-ESO peptide leads to more efficient killing of these cells by the NY-ESO TCR-PE38 construct compared to that observed with unpulsed J82 target cells.

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