JP2007302676A - HUMANIZED ANTI-beta7 ANTAGONIST AND USE THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an important therapeutic and diagnostic agent used for targeting pathological condition associated with abnormality through β7-integrin or undesirable signaling. <P>SOLUTION: The humanized anti-β7 antibody as a Fab fragment contains light-chain and heavy-chain variable domain sequences having specific amino acid sequences, comprises the variable domain sequences or has the substantially same binding affinity to human β7 as a mouse Fab fragment substantially composed thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 (e) to US Provisional Application No. 60 / 607,377, filed September 3, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 37 CFR § 1 A non-provisional application filed under .53 (b) (1).

(Technical field)
The present invention relates generally to the fields of molecular biology and growth factor regulation. More particularly, the present invention relates to modulators of integrin biological activity containing beta 7 subunits and the use of such modulators.

(background)
Integrins are α / β heterodimeric cell surface receptors that are involved in many cellular processes from cell adhesion to gene regulation (Non-patent Documents 1 and 2). Several integrins are associated with disease processes and have gained widespread attention as potential targets for drug discovery (Non-Patent Document 3). In the immune system, integrins are involved in leukocyte migration, adhesion and infiltration during the inflammatory process (Non-Patent Document 4). Differential expression of integrins regulates cell adhesion properties, and different integrins are involved in different inflammatory responses. Non-patent document 5. Beta 7 integrins (ie alpha 4 beta 7 (α4β7) and alpha E beta 7 (αEβ7)) are mainly expressed on monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and macrophages, but on neutrophils Is not expressed. Non-patent document 6. The main ligands of α4β7 integrin are endothelial surface protein mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) (Non-patent Document 7). Binding of α4β7 to MAdCAM and / or VCAM expressed on high endothelial venules (HEV) at sites of inflammation leads to tight adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium and subsequent overflow to inflamed tissues (Non-Patent Document 8). . The primary ligand for αEβ7 integrin is the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) surface protein, E-cadherin, which promotes adhesion of αEβ7-bearing cells to epithelial lymphocytes. Monoclonal antibodies directed against α4β7, MAdCAM or VCAM are chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma (Non-patent document 9), rheumatoid arthritis (RA; Non-patent document 10), colitis (Non-patent document 11) and It has been found to be an effective modulator in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Non-Patent Document 12; Non-Patent Document 13). Monoclonal antibodies directed against the beta 7 subunit have been found to bind to the integrin subunit (Non-Patent Document 14), but as non-human or non-humanized antibodies, they lack clinical utility. .

  Of a humanized antibody or binding fragment thereof that inhibits the interaction between alpha4beta7 integrin and its ligand MAdCAM and / or VCAM, and the interaction between alpha Ebeta7 integrin and its ligand E-cadherin Such highly specific compounds are desired. These compounds are useful for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, organ transplant complications and allograft related disorders.

All references cited herein, including patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Hynes, R.M. O. Cell, 1992, 69: 11-25. Hemler, M.C. E. , Annu. Rev. Immunol. , 1990, 8: 365-368. Sharar, S .; R. Et al., Springer Semin. Immunopathol. , 1995, 16: 359-378. Nakajima, H .; Et al. Exp. Med. , 1994, 179: 1145-1154. Butcher, E .; C. Science, 1996, 272: 60-66. Elices, M.M. J. et al. Cell, 1990, 60: 577-584. Makarem, R.A. Et al. Biol. Chem. 1994, 269: 4005-4011. Chuluyan, H.C. E. Et al., Springer Semin. Immunopathol. , 1995, 16: 391-404. Labele, S .; Et al., Am. J. et al. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 1995, 151: 822-829. Barbadillo, C.I. Et al., Springer Semin. Immunopathol. , 1995, 16: 375-379. Viney et al. Immunol. , 1996, 157: 2488-2497. Podalski, D.M. K. , N.M. Eng. J. et al. Med. 1991, 325: 928-937. Paulie, F.M. Ther. Immunol. , 1995, 2: 115-123. Tidswell, M .; Et al. Immunol. (1997) 159: 1497-1505.

(Disclosure of the Invention)
The present invention is based, in part, on various discoveries about antagonists of biological pathways involving beta7-containing integrins that are generally biological / cellular pathways that exist as important and convenient therapeutic targets. Yes. Such biological pathways include, for example, inflammation, particularly chronic inflammatory disorders such as asthma, allergies, IBD, diabetes, transplantation and graft versus host disease. The present invention involves binding of MAdCAM and VCAM-1 to the extracellular portion of alpha 4 beta 7 integrin and interfering with E-cadherin interaction with alpha E beta 7 integrin interaction. Compositions and methods based on interfering with cell adhesion and / or recruitment are provided. The antagonists of the invention described herein provide important therapeutic and diagnostic agents for use in targeting pathological conditions associated with abnormal or undesirable signaling through beta 7 integrin. Accordingly, the present invention relates to MAdCAM-alpha4beta7 binding and leukocyte recruitment to the gastrointestinal epithelium, binding and allergy, asthma, IBD (eg, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), diabetes, transplant-related inflammation, versus host transplantation Methods, compositions relating to modulating beta7 integrin-mediated pathways, including modulation of single disease and / or allograft disorders and other biological / physiological activities mediated by beta7 integrin; Kits and articles of manufacture are provided.

  In one aspect, the present invention provides anti-beta7 therapeutics that are suitable for use in therapy and that can induce various stages of disruption of the beta7 integrin-mediated pathway. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides that the antibody as a Fab fragment comprises or consists essentially of the light and heavy chain variable domain sequences shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B or FIGS. 9A and 9B. A humanized anti-beta7 antibody having substantially the same binding affinity to human beta7 as the mouse Fab fragment comprising this is provided. In another embodiment, the invention provides that the antibody as a Fab fragment comprises or consists of the light and heavy chain variable domain sequences shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B or the variable domain sequences shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. A binding affinity for human beta7 that is lower than a mouse or rat Fab fragment consisting essentially of, eg, at least one third, at least one fifth, at least one seventh, or at least one tenth A humanized anti-beta 7 antibody is provided that has sex. Alternatively, the humanized anti-beta7 antibody of the present invention or a beta7-binding fragment thereof shows monovalent affinity for human beta7, and the affinity is shown in FIG. 1A (SEQ ID NO: 10) and / or FIG. 1B (SEQ ID NO: 11) or substantially the same or more than the monovalent affinity for human beta 7 of an antibody comprising the light and heavy chain variable sequences shown in FIG. 9A (SEQ ID NO: 12) and / or FIG. 9B (SEQ ID NO: 13) large. Antibodies with high affinity for human beta 7 or binding fragments thereof are shown in FIG. 1A (SEQ ID NO: 10) and / or FIG. 1B (SEQ ID NO: 11) or FIG. 9A (SEQ ID NO: 12) and / or FIG. 9B (SEQ ID NO: 13). At least 2-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 10-fold, at least 50-fold, at least 100-fold, at least 500-fold, at least 1000-fold, at least 5000-fold, at least 10,000-fold. High affinity is shown.

  In another embodiment, the antibody as a Fab fragment comprises a rodent that consists of, consists essentially of, or consists essentially of the light and heavy chain variable domain sequences shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively. It has a binding affinity for human beta7 that is higher than, eg, rat or mouse Fab fragments, eg, at least 3, at least 5, at least 7, at least 9, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, or at least 100 times higher. In one embodiment, the rodent Fab fragment is a rat antibody variable domain sequence designated FIB504.64 produced by the hybridoma cell line deposited under the American Type Culture Collection Number ATCC HB-293. The binding affinity of the Fab fragment containing In another embodiment, the humanized Fab fragment of the invention has the binding affinity of a Fab fragment comprising the variable domain sequence of an antibody produced by any of the humanized anti-beta7 antibodies of the invention. As is well established in the art, the binding affinity of a ligand for its receptor can be measured using any of a variety of tests and can be displayed in various quantitative values. Thus, in one embodiment, binding affinity is expressed as a Kd value and reflects endogenous binding affinity (eg, with minimized avidity effects). In general, and preferably, binding affinity is measured in vitro regardless of whether it is a cell-free system or a cell-related situation. As detailed herein, the fold difference in binding affinity is determined by the binding affinity value of the humanized antibody in the Fab form and the reference / comparator Fab antibody (eg, a mouse antibody having a donor hypervariable region sequence). Can be quantified as a ratio of binding affinity values, wherein the binding affinity values are measured under similar test conditions. That is, in one embodiment, the fold difference in binding affinity is measured as the ratio of the Kd values of the humanized antibody in the Fab form and the Fab antibody of the reference / comparator above. By using any of a number of tests known in the art, including those described herein including, for example, Biacore® (Biacore International Ab, Uppsala, Sweden) and ELISA. Measurements can be obtained.

In various features and embodiments, the beta7 antagonist antibodies of the present invention comprise the following set of potential claims of the present application:
(A) The following:
(I) HVR-L1 comprising the sequence A1-A11, wherein A1-A11 is RASESVDTYLH (SEQ ID NO: 1),
(Ii) HVR-L2 comprising the sequence B1-B8, wherein B1-B8 is KYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 2),
(Iii) HVR-L3 comprising the sequence C1-C9, wherein C1-C9 is QQGNSLPNT (SEQ ID NO: 3),
(Iv) HVR-H1 comprising the sequence D1-D10, wherein D1-D10 is GFFITNNYWG (SEQ ID NO: 4),
(V) HVR-H2 comprising the sequence E1-E17, wherein E1-E17 is GYISYSGSTSYNPLSKS (SEQ ID NO: 5); and
(Vi) HVR-H3 comprising the sequence F2-F11, wherein F2-F11 is MTGSSSGYDFF (SEQ ID NO: 6),
At least 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 or hypervariable region (HVR) sequences selected from the group consisting of:
Directed against an anti-beta7 antibody comprising or an antibody comprising a beta7-binding fragment thereof.

  In an embodiment of the polypeptide or antibody of claim 1, the polypeptide or antibody comprises at least one variant HVR, wherein the sequence of the variant HVR is SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, At least one of the sequences shown in 6, 7, 8, and 9 contains at least one residue modification.

In another embodiment of claim 1 or 2, the present invention is 1, 2 selected from the group consisting of HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3. An anti-beta7 antibody or beta7-binding fragment thereof comprising 3, 4, 5 or 6 hypervariable regions (HVRs), wherein:
(I) HVR-L1 comprises the amino acid sequence RASESVDTYLH (SEQ ID NO: 1); RASESVDSLLL (SEQ ID NO: 7), RASESVDTLLH (SEQ ID NO: 8), or RASESVDDLLH (SEQ ID NO: 9);
(Ii) HVR-L2 comprises the amino acid sequence KYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 2), RYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 67) or XYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 68, where X represents any amino acid);
(Iii) HVR-L3 comprises the amino acid sequence QQGNSLPNT (SEQ ID NO: 3);
(Iv) HVR-H1 comprises the amino acid sequence GFFITNNYWG (SEQ ID NO: 4);
(V) HVR-H2 comprises the amino acid sequence GYISYSGSTSYNPSLKS (SEQ ID NO: 5); and
(Vi) HVR-H3 comprises the amino acid sequence MTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 6) or RTGSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 66) for the relative position F2-F11; or the amino acid sequence F1-F11, where F1-F11 is AMTGSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 63), ARTGSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 64) or AQTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 65).

In yet another embodiment or any of the embodiments of claim 1, the present invention is selected from the group consisting of HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3. An anti-beta7 antibody or beta7-binding fragment thereof comprising 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 hypervariable regions (HVRs), wherein:
(I) HVR-L1 comprises the amino acid sequence A1-A11, where A1-A11 is RASESVDTYLH (SEQ ID NO: 1); A variant of SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or 9, wherein amino acid A2 is selected from the group consisting of A, G, S, T and V and / or amino acid A3 is S, G, I, K , N, P, Q, R and T, and / or amino acid A4 is a group consisting of E, V, Q, A, D, G, H, I, K, L, N and R And / or amino acid A5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Y, A, D, G, H, I, K, N, P, R, T and V, and / or amino acid A6 is V , R, I, A, G, K Selected from the group consisting of L, M and Q, and / or amino acid A7 from the group consisting of D, V, S, A, E, G, H, L, K, L, N, P, S and T And / or amino acid A8 is selected from the group consisting of D, G, N, E, T, P and S, and / or amino acid A9 is selected from the group consisting of L, Y, I and M, and And / or amino acid A10 is selected from the group consisting of L, A, I, M and V, and / or amino acid A11 is selected from the group consisting of H, Y, F and S;
(Ii) HVR-L2 comprises the amino acid sequence B1-B8, where B1-B8 is KYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 2), RYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 67) or XYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 68, where X is any amino acid) Or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, 67 or 68, wherein amino acid B1 is from the group consisting of K, R, N, V, A, F, Q, H, P, I, L, Y and X And / or amino acid B4 is selected from the group consisting of S and D, and / or amino acid B5 is selected from the group consisting of Q and S, and / or Amino acid B6 is selected from the group consisting of S, D, L and R, and / or amino acid B7 is selected from the group consisting of I, V, E and K;
(Iii) HVR-L3 comprises amino acid sequence C1-C9, where C1-C9 is QQGNSLPNT (SEQ ID NO: 3) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein amino acid C8 is N, V, W, Y, Selected from the group consisting of R, S, T, A, F, H, I, L, M and Y;
(Iv) HVR-H1 comprises the amino acid sequence D1-D10, where D1-D10 is GFFITNNYWG (SEQ ID NO: 4);
(V) HVR-H2 comprises the amino acid sequence E1-E17, where E1-E17 is GYISYSGSTSYNPLSKS (SEQ ID NO: 5) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 5, wherein amino acid E2 is derived from Y, F, V and D And / or amino acid E6 is selected from the group consisting of S and G, and / or amino acid E10 is selected from the group consisting of S and Y, and / or amino acid E12 is N, T, A and And / or amino acid 13 is selected from the group consisting of P, H, D and A, and / or amino acid E15 is selected from the group consisting of L and V, and / or amino acid E17 is Selected from the group consisting of S and G; and
(Vi) HVR-H3 comprises the amino acid sequence F2-F11, where F2-F11 is MTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 6) or RTGSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 66); or comprises the amino acid sequence F1-F11, where F1 -F11 is AMTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 63), ARTGSSSYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 64) or AQTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 65) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 6, 63, 64, 65 or 66, wherein amino acid F2 is R, M, A, E, G, Q, S and / or the amino acid F11 is selected from the group consisting of F and Y.

  The amino acid at position 71 of the heavy chain framework (according to the Kabat numbering method) is selected from the group consisting of R, A and T in one embodiment of claim 1 or the antibody of the invention; and / or heavy chain The amino acid at framework position 73 (according to the Kabat numbering method) is selected from the group consisting of N and T; and / or the amino acid at position 78 of the heavy chain (according to the Kabat numbering method) is from the group consisting of F, A and L Selected.

  In one embodiment of claim 1 or any of the antibodies of the invention, the HVR-L1 of the antibody of the invention comprises SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment, the HVR-L2 of the antibody of the invention comprises SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment, the HVR-L3 of the antibody of the invention comprises SEQ ID NO: 3. In one embodiment, the HVR-H1 of the antibody of the invention comprises SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the HVR-H2 of the antibody of the invention comprises SEQ ID NO: 5. In one embodiment, an HVR-H3 of an antibody of the invention comprises SEQ ID NO: 6 or 66 at relative position F2-F11, or SEQ ID NO: 63, 64 or 65 at relative position F1-F11. In one embodiment, HVR-L1 comprises RASEVDSLLLH (SEQ ID NO: 7). In one embodiment, HVR-L1 comprises RASESVDTLLH (SEQ ID NO: 8). In one embodiment, HVR-L1 comprises RASESVDDLLH (SEQ ID NO: 9). In one embodiment, antibodies comprising these sequences (in combinations as described herein) are humanized or human.

  In one aspect, the invention provides an antibody comprising 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 HVRs, wherein each HVR is SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 And consists of, consists essentially of, or consists essentially of a sequence selected from the group consisting of 9 and 9, wherein SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or 9 corresponds to HVR-L1, No. 2 corresponds to HVR-L2, SEQ ID NO: 3 corresponds to HVR-L3, SEQ ID NO: 4 corresponds to HVR-H1, SEQ ID NO: 5 corresponds to HVR-H2, and SEQ ID NO: 6 corresponds to HVR- Corresponds to H3. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each in this order, SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, each in this order, SEQ ID NO: 7, 2 3, 4, 5 and 6. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, each in this order, SEQ ID NO: 8, 2 3, 4, 5 and 6. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, each in this order, SEQ ID NO: 9, 2 3, 4, 5 and 6. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, each in this order, SEQ ID NO: 9, 2 3, 4, 5 and 66, or SEQ ID NO: 9, 2, 3, 4, 5, 63, or SEQ ID NO: 9, 2, 3, 4, 5, 64 or SEQ ID NO: 9, 2, 3, 4, 5, 65, or SEQ ID NO: 9, 67, 3, 4, 5, 64, or SEQ ID NO: 9, 68, 3, 4, 5, 64.

  Variant HVRs in the antibodies of the invention may have modifications of one or more residues within the HVR and / or may humanize framework regions. Embodiments of the invention in which HVR and / or framework modifications exist include, for example, the following potential claims of the present application.

2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein in variant HVR-L1, A8 is S, D or T and A9 is L.
3. 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the antibody is humanized.
4). 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein at least part of the framework sequence is a human consensus framework sequence.
5). 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the modification is a substitution, insertion or deletion.
6). 6. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the HVR-L1 variant is in the following positions: A2 (G, S, T or V); A3 (G, I, K, N, P, Q, R Or T); A4 (A, D, G, H, I, K, L, N, Q, R, or V); A5 (A, D, G, H, I, K, N, P, R, T) , V or Y); A6 (A, G, I, K, L, M, Q or R); A7 (A, E, G, H, I, K, L, N, P, S, T or V) A8 (S, D, E, G, P or N); A9 (L, I or M); any combination of A10 (A, I, M or V) and A11 (F, S or Y) 1 to 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10) substitutions.
7). 12. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the HVR-L2 variant is in the following positions: B1 (N), B5 (S), B6 (R or L) and B7 (T, E, K or V ) Containing 1 to 4 (1, 2, 3 or 4) substitutions in any combination.
8). 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the HVR-L3 variant is at position C8 (W, Y, R, S, A, F, H, I, L, M, N, T or V). Including at least one substitution.
9. An antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the HVR-H2 variant is in the following positions: E2 (V, D or F), E6 (G), E10 (Y), E12 (A, D or T ), E13 (D, A or H), E15 (V), or E17 (G) in any combination comprising 1 to 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) substitution.
10. 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the HVR-H3 variant is 1 in any combination of the following positions: F2 (A, E, G, Q, R or S) and F11 (Y) Or those containing 2 substitutions.
11. 8. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, comprising HVR-L1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7.
12 9. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, comprising HVR-L1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.
13. 10. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, comprising HVR-L1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9.
14 14. The antibody of any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising a heavy chain subgroup III heavy chain consensus framework sequence comprising a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78.
15. 15. The antibody of claim 14 or one of its embodiments, wherein the substitution is R71A, N73T and / or N78A.
16. 4. The antibody of claim 1 or one of its embodiments, comprising HVR-L3 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
17. 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein A8 of variant HVR-L1 is S.
18. 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein A8 of variant HVR-L1 is D.
19. 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein A9 of mutant HVR-L1 is L.
20. 2. The antibody of claim 1 or an embodiment thereof, wherein the framework sequence between SEQ ID NOs: E1-E17 and F1-F11 is HFR3-1-HFR3-31, and HFR3-6 is A or R , HFR3-8 is N or T, and HFR3-13 is L or A or F.
21. A humanized anti-beta7 antibody, wherein the monovalent affinity of the antibody for human beta7 is substantially the same as the monovalent affinity of a rat antibody comprising the light and heavy chain variable sequences shown in FIG. What is.
22. A humanized anti-beta7 antibody wherein the monovalent affinity of the antibody for human beta7 is at least 3 times higher than the monovalent affinity of a rat antibody comprising the light and heavy chain variable sequences shown in FIG. What is.
23. 23. The humanized antibody of claim 21 or 22, wherein the rat antibody is produced by a hybridoma deposited under the American Type Culture Accession Number ATCC having the designation HB-293.
24. 24. The antibody according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the binding affinity is represented by a Kd value.
25. 25. The antibody according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the binding affinity is measured by Biacore ^™ or radioimmunoassay.
26. 2. The antibody of claim 1, comprising a human kappa subgroup light chain consensus framework sequence.
27. 2. The antibody of claim 1, comprising a human subgroup III heavy chain consensus framework sequence.
28. 28. The antibody of claim 27, wherein the framework sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78.
29. 29. The antibody of claim 28, wherein the substitution is in R71A, N73T and / or N78A, the substituted amino acid at position 71 is R or A, and / or the amino acid substitution at position 78 is N or T. , And / or the amino acid substitution at position 78 is L or A or F.
30. 30. The antibody of claim 28, wherein the substitution is L78F or A78F or A78L or L78A.
31. 31. A method of inhibiting the interaction of a human beta7 integrin subunit with a second integrin subunit and / or a ligand, wherein the antibody of any one of claims 1-30 is treated with the second integrin subunit and / or A method by contacting with a ligand.
32. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second integrin subunit is an alpha 4 integrin subunit and the ligand is MAdCAM, VCAM or fibronectin.
33. 34. The method of claim 32, wherein the alpha 4 integrin subunit is human.
34. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the ligand is human.
35. 34. The method of claim 32, wherein the second integrin subunit is an alpha E integrin subunit and the ligand is E-cadherin.
36. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the alpha E integrin subunit is human.
37. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the ligand is human.
38. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein inhibition, inflammation, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, inflammation due to organ transplantation, graft versus host disease, and allograft Those in which symptoms of a disorder selected from the group consisting of inflammation associated with a single disorder are reduced or alleviated.

  Another embodiment of the present invention includes the following.

  In one embodiment, the HVR-L1 variant is SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or 9 or the following positions: A2 (A, G, S, T or V); A3 (S, G, I , K, N, P, Q, R, or T); A4 (E, A, D, G, H, I, K, L, N, Q, R, or V); A5 (S, A, D, G) , H, I, K, N, P, R, T, V or Y); A6 (V, A, G, I, K, L, M, Q or R); A7 (D, A, E, G) , H, I, K, L, N, P, S, T or V); A8 (T, S, D, E, G, P or N); A9 (Y, L, I or M); A10 ( L, A, I, M, or V) and A11 (H, F, S, or Y) at 1 to 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) at relative positions A1 to A11. , 7, 8, 9 or 10) SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or 9 is a HVR-L1 variant of. In one embodiment, HVR-L2 is SEQ ID NO: 2, 67 or 68, or the following positions: B1 (K, R, N, V, A, F, Q, H, P, I, L , Y or X (X represents any amino acid)), B4 (S), B5 (Q or S), B6 (S, R or L) and B7 (I, T, E, K or V) The HVR-L2 variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, 67 or 68 comprising 1-4 (1, 2, 3, 4, 4 or 5) substitutions at relative positions B1-B8 in any combination. In one embodiment, HVR-L3 is SEQ ID NO: 3 or HVR-L3 is at position C8 (W, Y, R, S, A, F, H, I, L, M, N, T or V HVR-L3 variant of SEQ ID NO: 3 comprising at least one substitution at relative positions C1-C8 at positions such as In one embodiment, HVR-H1 is SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, HVR-H2 is SEQ ID NO: 5 or the following positions: E2 (Y, V, D or F), E6 (S or G), E10 (S or Y), E12 (N , A, D, or T), E13 (P, D, A, or H), E15 (L or V), or E17 (S or G) at any one of the relative positions E1 to E17 at 1 to 7 ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) variants of HVR-H2 containing substitutions. In one embodiment, HVR-H3 is SEQ ID NO: 6, 63, 64, 65 or 66, or the following positions: F2 (M, A, E, G, Q, R or S) and F11 ( F or Y) 1 or 2 at relative positions F1-F11 for SEQ ID NOs 63, 64 and 65 or at relative positions F2-F11 for SEQ ID NOs 6 and 66. HVR-H3 variants of SEQ ID NO: 6, 63, 64, 65 or 66 containing substitutions. In view of this specification, substituted amino acids are known in the art and / or can be routinely evaluated using the techniques described herein, so the letters in parentheses following each position are , Suitably indicated consensus familiar to those skilled in the art of other amino acids, or exemplified substitution (ie replacement) amino acids with respect to other amino acids.

  In one embodiment, HVR-L1 has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment, A8 in variant HVR-L1 is D. In one embodiment, A8 in variant HVR-L1 is S. In one embodiment, A9 in variant HVR-L1 is L. In one embodiment, A8 in mutant HVR-L1 is D and A9 in mutant HVR-L1 is L. In one embodiment, A8 in mutant HVR-L1 is S and A9 in mutant HVR-L1 is L. In one embodiment of the invention, these mutations in HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3 are in this order in SEQ ID NO: 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 or consist essentially of this. In some embodiments, HVR-H3 comprises SEQ ID NO: 6 or 66 (relative to position F2-F11) or SEQ ID NO: 63 or 64 or 65 (relative to position F1-F11), or Or consist essentially of this.

  In one embodiment, A8 in HVR-L1 is I, and A9 in HVR-L1 is L, and the variants are further HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR. -H3, and each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this order.

  In one embodiment, A8, A9 and A10 in variant HVR-L1 are D, L and V, respectively, which variants are further HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR. -H3, and each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this order.

  In one embodiment, A8 and A9 in variant HVR-L1 are N and L, respectively, and this variant further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3. Each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this order.

  In one embodiment, A8 and A9 in mutant HVR-L1 are P and L, respectively, and B6 and B7 in mutant HVR-L2 are R and T, respectively, and the mutant is further HVR-L2 , HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each HVR comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5, and 6 in this order. Become.

  In one embodiment, A2, A4, A8, A9 and A10 in variant HVR-L1 are S, D, S, L and V, respectively, and the variant is further HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR. -H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each HVR comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this order.

  In one embodiment, A5 and A9 in variant HVR-L1 are D and T, respectively, and this variant further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3. , Each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this order.

  In one embodiment, A5 and A9 in variant HVR-L1 are N and L, respectively, and this variant further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3. , Each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this order.

  In one embodiment, A9 in variant HVR-L1 is L, which variant further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each HVR being In this order, it comprises, consists of or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

  In one embodiment, an antibody or anti-beta7 binding polypeptide of the invention comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each HVR In order, it comprises, consists of or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 64. In another embodiment, each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 67, 3, 4, 5 and 64 in this order. In another embodiment, each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 68, 3, 4, 5 and 64 in this order. In another embodiment, each HVR comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs: 9, 2 or 67 or 68, 3, 4, 5 and 66 in this order.

  In some embodiments, the variant HVR-L1 antibody variant further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each of which The sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are included in this order. Where the antibody variant comprises HVR-L1A8 (P) and A9 (L) and HVR-L2B6 (R) and B7 (T), in some embodiments, the HVR-L1, HVR-L2 variant is Further included are HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, wherein each comprises the sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5 and 6 in this order.

  In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In one embodiment of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L1 comprising SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment, a variant antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L1 wherein A10 is V. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each of which is in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L3 comprising SEQ ID NO: 3. In one embodiment, a variant antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L3 in which C8 is L. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, wherein each in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L3, wherein C8 is W. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, wherein each in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In some embodiments, HVR-L1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-H3 comprising SEQ ID NO: 6. In one embodiment, the antibody variant comprises a variant HVR-H3, wherein F1 is Q. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1 and HVR-H2, wherein each in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Contains the sequence shown in this order. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H3 wherein F1 is R. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1 and HVR-H2, wherein each in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Contains the sequence shown in this order. In one embodiment, HVR-L1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L1 comprising SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment, a variant antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L1 wherein A4 is Q. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each of which is in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In one embodiment, a variant antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L1 wherein A6 is I. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each of which is in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In one embodiment, a variant antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L1, wherein A7 is S. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each of which is in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In one embodiment, a variant antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L1 wherein A8 is D or N. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, each of which is in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L2 comprising SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L2, wherein B1 is N. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L2 wherein B5 is S. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L2, wherein B6 is L. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L2, wherein B7 is V. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L2, wherein B7 is E or K. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3, wherein each in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Contains the sequence shown in this order. In some embodiments, HVR-L1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-L3 comprising SEQ ID NO: 3. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-L3 wherein C8 is W, Y, R or S. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-H1, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3, wherein each in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In some embodiments, HVR-L1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-H2 comprising SEQ ID NO: 5. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2, wherein E2 is F. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2, wherein E2 is V or D. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2, wherein E6 is G. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2 where E10 is Y. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2, wherein E12 is A, D or T. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2, wherein E13 is D, A or N. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2, wherein E15 is V. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H2, wherein E17 is G. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1 and HVR-H3, each of which is in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In some embodiments, HVR-L1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises HVR-H3 comprising SEQ ID NO: 6. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant HVR-H3 wherein F11 is Y. In one embodiment, the variant antibody further comprises HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1 and HVR-H3, each of which is in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. Contains the sequence shown in this order. In some embodiments, HVR-L1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, or 9. In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  In some embodiments, these antibodies further comprise a human subgroup III heavy chain framework consensus sequence. In some embodiments of these antibodies, the framework consensus sequence comprises a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78. In some embodiments of these antibodies, position 71 is A, position 73 is T and / or position 78 is A. In one embodiment of these antibodies, these antibodies further comprise a human κI light chain framework consensus sequence.

  A therapeutic agent for use in a host subject preferably elicits little or no immunogenic response to the agent in that host. In one embodiment, the present invention provides such an agent. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention provides SEQ ID NO: 10 and / or 11 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) or SEQ ID NO: 12 and / or 13 (FIGS. 9A and 9B showing the rat anti-mouse Fib504 amino acid sequence) in a host subject. Is expected to elicit and / or elicit a substantially reduced level of a human anti-rodent antibody response (eg, an anti-mouse or anti-rat response) or a human anti-human response compared to an antibody comprising a sequence comprising The humanized antibody is provided. In another embodiment, the present invention does not induce and / or is not expected to induce a human anti-rodent (eg, human anti-mouse (HAMA) or human anti-mouse) or human anti-human antibody response (HAHA) Humanized antibodies are provided.

  The humanized antibodies of the invention comprise one or more human and / or human consensus non-hypervariable regions (eg, frameworks) in the variable domain of their heavy and / or light chains. In some embodiments, one or more additional modifications are present in the human and / or human consensus non-hypervariable region sequences. In one embodiment, the heavy chain variable domain of an antibody of the invention comprises a human consensus framework, which in one embodiment is a subgroup III consensus framework sequence. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant subgroup III consensus framework sequence modified at at least one amino acid position. For example, in one embodiment, the variant subgroup III consensus framework sequence may include substitutions at one or more of positions 71, 73, 78, and / or 94. In one embodiment, such substitution is R71A, N73T, L78A and / or R94M in any combination.

  As is known in the art, and as described in more detail below, the boundaries that determine amino acid positions / antibody hypervariable regions can vary depending on aspects known in the art and various definitions ( See below). Some positions within the variable domain are considered to be within the hypervariable region under one set of criteria, but outside the hypervariable region under a different set of criteria. In that respect, it may be considered as a hybrid hypervariable position. One or more of these positions can also be present in the extended hypervariable region (see below). The present invention provides antibodies comprising modifications within these hybrid hypervariable positions. In one embodiment, the hybrid hypervariable position includes one or more of positions 26-30, 33-35B, 47-49, 49, 57-65, 93, 94 and 102 within the heavy chain variable domain. In one embodiment, these hybrid hypervariable positions include one or more of positions 24-29, 35-36, 46-49, 49, 56 and 97 within the light chain variable domain. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a mutant human subgroup consensus framework sequence modified at one or more hybrid hypervariable positions. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention is a variant human subgroup modified at one or more of positions 28-35, 49, 50, 52a, 53, 54, 58-61, 63, 65, 94 and 102. Contains the heavy chain variable domain containing the III consensus framework sequence. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises T28F, F29I, S30T, S31N, Y32N, A33Y, M34W and S35G substitutions. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a S49G substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a V50F or V50D or V50Y substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a G53Y substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a G54S substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y58S substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an A60N or A60D or A60T substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a D61P or D61A or D61H substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a V63L substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a G65S substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an R94M substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an R94A or R94E or R94G or R94Q or R94S substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a G95T substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody has one or more substitutions at positions 28-35, 49, 50, 52a, 53, 54, 58-61, 63, 65, 94 and 102, and further R71A or N73T or Includes one or more of L78A or L78F. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y102F substitution. It can be seen by referring to FIG. 1B that these substitutions are in the heavy chain HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and / or HVR-H3.

  In one embodiment, the antibody of the invention is a variant human subgroup I consensus framework sequence modified at one or more of positions 27, 29-31, 33, 34, 49, 50, 53-55, 91 and 96. A light chain variable domain comprising In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Q27E substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an I29V substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an S30D substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an N31T or N31S or N31D substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y32L substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an A34H substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y49K substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an A50Y substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an S53Q substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an L54S substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an E55I or E55V substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y91G substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a W96N or W96L substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an A25S substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an A25 to G, S, T or V substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a modification selected from one or more of the following groups of substitutions. For example, in one embodiment, the antibody comprises a substitution of S26 to G, I, K, N, P, Q or T. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a substitution from Q27 to E, A, D, G, H, I, K, L, N, Q, R or V. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a substitution of S28 to A, D, G, H, I, K, N, P, R, T, V, or Y. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a substitution of I29 to V, A, G, K, L, M, Q or R. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a substitution from S30 to D, A, E, G, H, I, K, L, N, P, S, T or V. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a N31 to D, T, E or G substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y32 to L, I or M substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a L33 to A, I, M or V substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a substitution of A34 to H, F, Y or S. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y49 to K or N substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an A50Y substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an S53Q substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an L54S substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises an E55 to V, I or K substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a Y91G substitution. In one embodiment, the antibody comprises a substitution of W96 to N, L, W, Y, R, S, A, F, H, I, M, N, R, S, T, V, or Y. It can be seen by referring to FIG. 1A that these substitutions are in the light chain HVR-L1, HVR-L2 and / or HVR-L3.

  The antibodies of the invention can include any suitable human or human consensus light chain framework sequence so long as the antibodies exhibit the desired biological properties (eg, desired binding affinity). In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a portion (or all) of the framework sequence of a human kappa light chain. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a portion (or all) of a human kappa subgroup I framework consensus sequence.

  In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention is as long as the calculated position 49 and position 94 of the heavy chain are encompassed by the extended HVR, and position 49 is K and position 94 is not necessary. As long as is preferably M and may also be R, it comprises heavy and / or light chain variable domains comprising SEQ ID NOs: 34-41 and the framework sequences shown in FIGS.

  The antagonists of the present invention may be of beta7 related manner, such as association with alpha4 integrin subunit, association with alphaE integrin subunit, binding of alpha4beta7 integrin to MAdCAM, VCAM-1 or fibronectin, and It can be used to modulate one or more characteristics of alpha Ebeta7 integrin binding to E-cadherin. These effects may be due to any biologically relevant mechanism, such as by cleavage of a ligand that binds to the beta 7 subunit or alpha 4 beta 7 or alpha E beta 72-mer integrin and / or dimer integrin. Can be regulated by disrupting the association between the alpha and beta integrin subunits such that the formation of is inhibited. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention provides a beta 7 antagonist antibody that inhibits alpha 4 binding to beta 7. In one embodiment, the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention disrupts alpha4beta7 binding to MAdCAM. In one embodiment, the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention disrupts alpha4beta7 binding to VCAM-1. In one embodiment, the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention disrupts alpha4beta7 binding to fibronectin. In one embodiment, a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention disrupts beta 7 binding to alpha E. In one embodiment, the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention disrupts the binding of alpha Ebeta7 integrin to E-cadherin. The interference can be direct or indirect. For example, a beta 7 antagonist antibody may bind to beta 7 within the sequence of the dimerization region of alpha 4 beta 7 or alpha E beta 7, thereby allowing integrin subunit interactions and integrin dimer interactions. Inhibits formation. In another example, a beta 7 antagonist antibody may bind to a sequence within the ligand binding domain of beta 7 so that its binding partner (eg, fibronectin, VCAN and / or MAdCAM for alpha 4 beta; or alpha E For beta 7 integrin, it prevents interaction of its binding domain with E-cadherin). In another example, the beta 7 antagonist antibody is not within the integrin subunit dimerization domain or ligand binding domain, but binding of the beta 7 antagonist antibody causes the beta 7 domain to bind to its binding partner (eg, alpha 4 or It may bind to sequences that interfere with the ability to interact with alpha E integrin subunits and / or ligands such as fibronectin, VCAM, MAdCAM or E-cadherin. In one embodiment, an antagonist antibody of the invention binds to beta 7 (eg, the extracellular domain) such that beta 7 dimerization with alpha 4 or alpha E subunits is prevented. In one embodiment, the antagonist antibody of the invention binds to beta 7 such that beta 7 and / or alpha 4 beta 7 and / or alpha E beta 7 integrin interferes with the ability to bind to the respective ligand. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides an antagonist antibody that inhibits dimerization of the molecule by binding to a beta 7 molecule. In one embodiment, the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention specifically binds to a sequence in the ligand binding domain of beta7. In one embodiment, a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention is a sequence in the ligand binding domain of beta 7 such that ligand binding to alpha 4 beta 7 integrin (ie, fibronectin, VCAM and / or MAdCAM) is prevented. Bind specifically. In one embodiment, a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention is specific for a sequence in the ligand binding domain of beta 7 such that binding of the ligand to alpha E beta 7 integrin (ie, E-cadherin) is prevented. Join.

  In one embodiment, an antagonist antibody of the invention interferes with beta7 dimerization (ie, beta7 dimerization with alpha4 or alphaE integrin subunit molecules), including heterodimerization. To do.

  In one embodiment, an antagonist antibody of the invention binds to an epitope on a beta 7 integrin subunit mapping amino acids 176-237. In another embodiment, an antagonist antibody of the invention binds to an epitope on beta7 integrin that is substantially the same epitope as Fib504.64 (ATCC HB-293). Epitope binding is measured by standard techniques such as competitive binding analysis.

  In one aspect, the invention provides an antibody comprising 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or any combination of HVR sequences shown in the amino acid substitution table of FIG.

  A therapeutic agent for use in a host subject preferably does not elicit any immunogenic response to the agent in that subject. In one embodiment, the present invention provides such an agent. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention relates to an antibody comprising the SEQ ID NO: 10, 11, 12, and / or SEQ ID NO: 13 (rat anti-mouse Fib504 (ATCC HB-293), FIGS. 1 and 9) in a host subject. Humanized antibodies that elicit and / or are expected to elicit human anti-rat or human anti-mouse or human anti-human antibody responses at a substantially reduced level compared to In another example, the invention provides a humanized antibody that does not elicit and / or is expected to elicit no human anti-mouse, human anti-rat or human anti-human antibody response.

  A humanized antibody of the invention may comprise one or more human and / or human consensus non-hypervariable region (eg, framework) sequences within its heavy and / or light chain variable domains. In some embodiments, one or more other modifications are present in the sequence of the human and / or human consensus non-hypervariable region. In one embodiment, the heavy chain variable domain of an antibody of the invention comprises a human consensus framework sequence, which in one embodiment is a subgroup III consensus framework sequence. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises a variant subgroup III consensus framework sequence modified at at least one amino acid position. For example, in one embodiment, the variant subgroup III consensus framework sequence is position 94, which is part of the extended heavy chain hypervariable region H3 of the present invention, but positions 71, 73, 78 and / or 94. One or more may contain substitutions. In one embodiment, the substitution is R71A, N73T, N78A and / or R94M in any combination.

  The antibodies of the invention can include any suitable human or human consensus light chain framework sequence so long as the antibodies exhibit the desired biological properties (eg, desired binding affinity). In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises at least a portion (or all) of the framework sequence of a human kappa light chain. In one embodiment, an antibody of the invention comprises at least a portion (or all) of a human kappa subgroup I framework consensus sequence.

  The antagonists of the present invention can be used to modulate one or more characteristics of beta 7 related effects. For example, a beta 7 antagonist antibody binds to beta 7 within the sequence of alpha 4 beta 7 or alpha E beta 72merization region and thereby inhibits integrin subunit interaction and integrin dimer formation. It's okay. In another example, a beta 7 antagonist antibody may bind to a sequence within the ligand binding domain of beta 7 so that its binding partner (eg, fibronectin, VCAM and / or MAdCAM for alpha 4 beta 7; or alpha For Ebeta7 integrin, it prevents interaction of its binding domain with E-cadherin). In another example, the beta 7 antagonist antibody is not within the integrin subunit dimerization domain or ligand binding domain, but binding of the beta 7 antagonist antibody causes the beta 7 domain to bind to its binding partner (eg, alpha 4 or It may bind to sequences that interfere with the ability to interact with alpha E integrin subunits and / or ligands such as fibronectin, VCAM, MAdCAM or E-cadherin. In one embodiment, an antagonist antibody of the invention binds to beta 7 (eg, the extracellular domain) such that beta 7 dimerization with alpha 4 or alpha E subunits is prevented. In one embodiment, the antagonist antibody of the invention binds to beta 7 such that beta 7 and / or alpha 4 beta 7 and / or alpha E beta 7 integrin interferes with the ability to bind to the respective ligand. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides an antagonist antibody that inhibits dimerization of the molecule by binding to a beta 7 molecule. In one embodiment, the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention specifically binds to a sequence in the ligand binding domain of beta7. In one embodiment, a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention is a sequence in the ligand binding domain of beta 7 such that ligand binding to alpha 4 beta 7 integrin (ie, fibronectin, VCAM and / or MAdCAM) is prevented. Bind specifically. In one embodiment, a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention is specific for a sequence in the ligand binding domain of beta 7 such that binding of the ligand to alpha E beta 7 integrin (ie, E-cadherin) is prevented. Join.

  In one embodiment, an antagonist antibody of the invention interferes with beta7 dimerization (ie, beta7 dimerization with alpha4 or alphaE integrin subunit molecules), including heterodimerization. To do.

  In some cases, a beta 7 subunit as part of an integrin, or a ligand to an alpha 4 beta 7 integrin or alpha E beta 7 integrin as a dimer (eg fibronectin, VCAM, MAdCAM or alpha E). It is advantageous to have a beta 7 antagonist antibody that does not interfere with binding. Thus, in one embodiment, beta 7 subunits and alpha sub-units do not bind to fibronectin, VCAM, MAdCAM or E-cadherin binding sites on beta 7, but instead form a biologically active integrin. Antibodies are provided that inhibit the interaction between units (eg, alpha 4 or alpha E integrin subunits). In one example, an antagonist antibody of the invention can be used with one or more other antagonist antibodies, in which case the antagonist is targeted to a different process and / or function within the beta 7 integrin axis. . That is, in one embodiment, a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention is another beta 7 or alpha / beta integrin antagonist (eg, alpha 4 beta 7 antibody), eg, a monoclonal antibody, or a humanized antibody, or a mouse It binds to an epitope on beta 7 that is different from the epitope bound by the antibody, such as a monoclonal antibody that is derived from or is the same as the derived antibody and has the same binding properties or specificity in action.

  In one embodiment, the present invention provides beta 7 antagonist antibodies that interfere with multimerization of beta 7-alpha 4 or -alpha E to the respective integrin as well as ligand binding. For example, an antagonist antibody of the invention that inhibits beta 7 dimerization with alpha 4 or alpha E integrin subunit may further have the ability to compete with a ligand for binding to beta 7 or integrin dimer. (Eg it interferes with the binding of fibronectin, VCAM and / or MAdCAM to beta 7 and / or alpha 4 beta 7; or interferes with the binding of E-cadherin to beta 7 or alpha E beta 7) May be).

  In one embodiment of the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention, binding of the antagonist to beta7 inhibits ligand binding activated cell adhesion. In another embodiment of the beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention, binding of the antagonist to intracellular beta7 inhibits cell recruitment to cells and / or tissues in which beta7-containing integrins are expressed. .

  In one embodiment, a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention comprises at least a portion of amino acids 176-250 (optionally amino acids 176-237) of the extracellular domain of beta 7 (Tidswell, M. et al. (1997) J. MoI. Immunol.159: 1497-1505) or variants thereof and reduces or blocks the binding of ligands MAdCAM, VCAM-1, fibronectin and / or E-cadherin. In one embodiment, such ligand binding blocking prevents, reduces and / or prevents attachment of cells expressing the ligand to cells expressing the beta 7 containing ligand. In one embodiment, an antagonist antibody of the invention specifically binds to an amino acid sequence of beta 7 comprising residues 176-237. In one embodiment, the antagonist antibody of the present invention specifically binds to a conformational epitope formed by part or all of at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 176-237 of beta 7 To do. In one embodiment, the antagonist antibody of the invention comprises at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least the sequence of residues 176-237 of human beta 7 or the amino acid sequence of residues 176-250 It specifically binds to an amino acid sequence having 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence identity or similarity. In one embodiment, the antagonist anti-beta7 antibody of the invention binds to the same epitope as the anti-beta7 antibody Fib504 produced by the hybridoma ATCC HB-293.

  In one aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising one or more antagonist antibodies of the invention and a carrier. In one embodiment, the carrier is pharmaceutically acceptable.

  In one aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid encoding a beta 7 antagonist antibody of the invention.

  In one aspect, the invention provides a vector comprising the nucleic acid of the invention.

  In one aspect, the invention provides a host cell comprising a nucleic acid or vector of the invention. The vector can be of any type, eg, a recombinant vector, eg, an expression vector. Any of a variety of host cells can be used. In one embodiment, the host cell is a prokaryotic cell, such as E. coli. E. coli. In one embodiment, the host cell is a eukaryotic cell, eg, a mammalian cell, eg, a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell.

  In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing the antagonists of the present invention. For example, the present invention provides a method for producing a beta 7 antagonist antibody (which herein includes the full length and fragments thereof), which method comprises the recombinant of the invention encoding the antibody (or fragment thereof). Expressing the vector in a suitable host cell and recovering the antibody.

  In one aspect, the invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a container; and a composition contained within the container, wherein the composition comprises one or more beta7 antagonist antibodies of the invention. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a nucleic acid of the invention. In one embodiment, the composition comprising the antagonist antibody further comprises a carrier, which in some embodiments is pharmaceutically acceptable. In one embodiment, the article of manufacture of the invention further comprises instructions for administering the composition (eg, antagonist antibody) to the subject.

  In one aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a first container comprising a composition comprising one or more beta7 antagonist antibodies of the invention; and a second container comprising a buffer. In one embodiment, the buffer is pharmaceutically acceptable. In one embodiment, the composition comprising the antagonist antibody further comprises a carrier, which in some embodiments is pharmaceutically acceptable. In one embodiment, the kit further comprises instructions for administering the composition (eg, antagonist antibody) to the subject.

  Beta7 integrin and its ligand are variably expressed in disease states. [MAdCAM-1 expression on the intestinal endothelium is increased at the site of mucosal inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (UC and CD), and the colon lamina propria of UC and CD patients is also increased compared to IBS controls CD3 + and a4b7 + cells (see Souza H., et al., Gut 45: 856 (1999)). MAdCAM-1 expression has been observed with liver disease portal inflammation and is important in the recruitment of alpha4beta7 + lymphocytes to the inflamed liver. (Hillan, K. et al., Liver. 19 (6): 509-18 (1999)). MAdCAM-1 on liver blood vessels supports adhesion of a4b7 + lymphocytes from patients with IBD and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Adhesion is inhibited by anti-MAdCAM-1, anti-alpha 4 beta 7 or anti-alpha 4 antibody (Grant AJ. Et al., Hepatology. 33 (5): 1065-72 (2001)). MAdCAM-1, VCAM, and E-cadherin are expressed on brain endothelial cells and / or on spread central nervous system microvessels. Beta7 integrin contributes to CNS demyelinating diseases (Kanwar et al., J. Neuroimmunology 103, 146 (2000)). Alpha4beta7 expression was significantly higher in CD LPL than in control and UC patients (Oshitani, N., et al., International Journal of Molecular Medicine 12, 715-719 (2003)). IELs from CD patients were chronically stimulated and recruited from the periphery (Merse, B., et al., Human Immunology, 62, 694-700 (2001)). In human liver disease, alpha Ebeta 7T cells (CD4 + and CD8 +) preferentially accumulate in the human liver expressing E-cadherin on hepatocytes and bile duct epithelium (Shimizu, Y., et al., Journal of Hepatology 39, 918-924 (2003)). In chronic pancreatitis, CD8 + CD103 + T cells, like intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, infiltrate the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis (Mattias, P., et al., Am J Gastroenterol 93: 2141-1247 (1998)). Upregulation of alpha Ebeta 7 has been observed in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with specific epithelial involvement (Pang et al., Arthritis & Rheumatism 41: 1456-1463 (1998)). In Sjogren's syndrome, CD8 + alpha Ebeta7 + T cells adhere to acinar epithelial cells and kill them by inducing apoptosis (Kroneld et al., Scand J Rheumatol 27: 215-218, 1998). Integrins alpha4beta7 and alphaEbeta7 play a role in T cell epidermal tropism during skin inflammation and contribute to skin allograft rejection (Sun et al., Transplantation 74, 1202, 2002). Teraki and Shiohara have shown preferential expression of aEb7 integrin on CD8 + T cells in psoriatic epithelium (Teraki and Shinohara, Br. J. Dermatology 147. 1118, 2002).喀 痰 T lymphocytes are activated IEL (CD69 + CD103 +) in asthma, COPD and normal subjects (Leckie et al., Thorax 58.23, 2003). CD103 + (aEb7 +) CTL accumulates with the graft epithelium during clinical kidney allograft rejection (Hadley et al., Transplantation 72, 1548, 2001)]. That is, in one embodiment, the present invention relates to a beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention for inhibiting beta7 integrin-ligand interaction to reduce or alleviate diseases such as one or more of the above mentioned disease states. Provide use. In one embodiment, the antibodies of the invention comprise inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), inflammatory liver disease, CNS inflammation, chronic pancreatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, psoriasis and skin inflammation, Of inflammatory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, allergy, autoimmune disease, transplant rejection, kidney transplant rejection, graft-versus-host disease, diabetes and cancer It is used in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and / or prevention of such diseases.

  In one aspect, the invention relates to immune (eg autoimmune or inflammatory) disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (eg Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and allergic reactions (eg respiratory system, skin, joint disorders, allergies). Provided is the use of the nucleic acids of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and / or prevention of diseases such as sex asthma and other organs affected by allergic reactions mediated by beta7-containing integrins.

  In one aspect, the invention relates to immune (eg autoimmune or inflammatory) disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (eg Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and allergic reactions (eg respiratory system, skin, joint disorders, allergies). The use of the expression vector of the present invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and / or prevention of diseases such as sex asthma and other organs affected by allergic reactions mediated by beta7-containing integrins is provided.

  In one aspect, the invention relates to immune (eg autoimmune or inflammatory) disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (eg Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and allergic reactions (eg respiratory system, skin, joint disorders, allergies). Provided is the use of the host cells of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and / or prevention of diseases such as sex asthma and other organs affected by allergic reactions mediated by beta7-containing integrins.

  In one aspect, the invention relates to immune (eg autoimmune or inflammatory) disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (eg Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and allergic reactions (eg respiratory system, skin, joint disorders, allergies). The use of the manufactured article of the present invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and / or prevention of diseases such as sex asthma and other organs affected by allergic reactions mediated by beta7-containing integrins.

  In one aspect, the invention relates to immune (eg autoimmune or inflammatory) disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (eg Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and allergic reactions (eg respiratory system, skin, joint disorders, allergies). The use of the kit of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and / or prevention of diseases such as sex asthma and other organs affected by allergic reactions mediated by beta7-containing integrins is provided.

  The present invention provides methods and compositions useful for modulating disease states associated with dysregulation of the process of beta7 integrin-mediated cell-cell interactions. Beta 7 integrins are involved in multiple biological and physiological functions, such as inflammatory disorders and allergic reactions. Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides a method comprising administering an antibody of the invention to a subject.

  In one aspect, the invention provides a method of inhibiting beta 7 integrin-mediated inflammation, the method comprising contacting a cell or tissue with an effective amount of an antibody of the invention to contact lymphocytes or B cells and beta 7 Inhibiting binding to integrin-expressing cells.

  In one aspect, the invention provides a method of treating a pathological condition associated with dysregulation of beta 7 integrin binding in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an antibody of the invention. Treatment of the condition.

  In one aspect, the invention relates to a lymphocyte that expresses a beta7 integrin ligand (eg, MAdCAM, VCAM, E-cadherin or fibronectin) to a cell that expresses a beta7 integrin (eg, alpha 4 beta 7 or alpha E beta 7 integrin). A method comprising inhibiting the adhesion of cells by inducing contact with the cells and inducing a reduction in inflammatory response. .

  In one aspect, the invention relates to inflammation involving increased expression or activity of beta 7 integrin, or increased interaction between beta 7 integrin on one cell and beta 7 integrin receptor on another cell. A method for treating or preventing sexual disorders is provided, which method effectively treats or prevents the inflammatory disorder by administering an effective amount of an antibody of the invention to a subject in need of such treatment. Including doing. In one embodiment, the inflammatory disorder is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In another embodiment, the inflammatory disorder is an allergic reaction.

  The methods of the invention can be used to affect any suitable pathological situation, such as cells and / or tissues involved in dysregulation of the beta 7 integrin binding pathway. Beta7 integrin is mainly expressed on leukocytes (Tidsell, M. et al. (1997) supra). In one embodiment, leukocytes are targeted in the methods of the invention and are prevented from binding to cells expressing a ligand for beta7 integrin. For example, intraepithelial lymphocytes expressing E-cadherin are prevented from binding to alpha Ebeta7 integrin expressing cells by the antagonist anti-beta7 antibody according to the present invention. Cells expressing MAdCAM, VCAM-1 or fibronectin are prevented from binding to leukocytes expressing alpha4beta7 by the antagonist anti-beta7 antibody of the present invention.

  The methods of the present invention can further include additional treatment steps. For example, in one embodiment, the method further comprises targeting the targeted cells and / or tissues (eg, endothelial cells of the intestinal lining) to anti-TNF antibodies, or small molecule therapeutics such as, but not limited to, 5-ASA compounds. A step of being exposed to.

As described herein, beta 7 integrin mediates important biological processes, and its dysregulation results in many pathological conditions. Thus, in one embodiment of the method of the invention, the targeted cell (eg, endothelial cell) is a cell that expresses a beta 7 integrin ligand of beta 7 integrin (where the cell may be, for example, a lymphocyte, and The ligand may be MAdCAM, VCAM or E-cadherin) adhesion is prevented, inhibited or prevented compared to cells in the absence of the anti-beta7 antagonist antibody of the invention. In one embodiment, the methods of the invention inhibit inflammation at the beta 7 integrin expression site by inhibiting lymphocyte homing. For example, contact with an antagonist of the present invention prevents cells from adhering to cells expressing a ligand for beta7 integrin.
Therefore, the present invention provides the following items.
(Item 1)
An anti-beta7 binding polypeptide or antibody, wherein the polypeptide or antibody is
(A) The following:
(I) HVR-L1 comprising the sequence A1-A11, wherein A1-A11 is RASESVDTYLH (SEQ ID NO: 1),
(Ii) HVR-L2 comprising the sequence B1-B8, wherein B1-B8 is KYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 2),
(Iii) HVR-L3 comprising the sequence C1-C10, wherein C1-C10 is QQGNSLLPNT (SEQ ID NO: 3),
(Iv) HVR-H1 comprising the sequence D1-D10, wherein D1-D10 is GFFITNNYWG (SEQ ID NO: 4),
(V) HVR-H2 comprising the sequence E1-E17, wherein E1-E17 is GYISYSGSTSYNPLSKS (SEQ ID NO: 5); and
(Vi) HVR-H3 comprising the sequence F1-F11, wherein F1-F11 is MTGSSYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 6),
At least one HVR sequence selected from the group consisting of:
An anti-beta7 binding polypeptide or antibody.
(Item 2)
The polypeptide or antibody according to item 1, comprising at least one mutant HVR, wherein the mutant HVR has at least one residue in any of the sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. A polypeptide or antibody comprising a modification of the group.
(Item 3)
The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, wherein A8 in the mutant HVR-L1 is S, D or T and A9 is L.
(Item 4)
HVR-L1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or 7 or 8 or 9, HVR-L2 comprises SEQ ID NO: 2 or 67 or 68, HVR-L3 comprises SEQ ID NO: 3, HVR-H1 comprises SEQ ID NO: 4, HVR-H2 comprises SEQ ID NO: 5 and HVR-H3 comprises SEQ ID NO: 6 or 66 relative to relative position F2-F11 or SEQ ID NO: 63 or 64 or 65 relative to position F1-F11 Item 3. The polypeptide or antibody according to Item 2.
(Item 5)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 hypervariables wherein the polypeptide or antibody is selected from the group consisting of HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3 Including region (HVR), where:
(I) HVR-L1 comprises the amino acid sequence A1-A11, where A1-A11 is RASESVDTYLH (SEQ ID NO: 1); A variant of SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or 9, wherein amino acid A2 is selected from the group consisting of A, G, S, T and V, and / or amino acid A3 is S, G, I, Selected from the group consisting of K, N, P, Q, R and T, and / or amino acid A4 consists of E, V, Q, A, D, G, H, I, K, L, N and R And / or amino acid A5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Y, A, D, G, H, I, K, N, P, R, T and V, and / or amino acid A6 Is V Selected from the group consisting of R, I, A, G, K, L, M and Q, and / or amino acid A7 is D, V, S, A, E, G, H, I, K, L, N , P, S and T, and / or amino acid A8 is selected from the group consisting of D, G, N, E, T, P and S, and / or amino acid A9 is L, Y , I and M and / or amino acid A10 is selected from the group consisting of L, A, I, M and V, and / or amino acid A11 consists of H, Y, F and S Selected from the group;
(Ii) HVR-L2 comprises the amino acid sequence B1-B8, where B1-B8 is KYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 2), RYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 67) or XYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 68, where X is any amino acid) Or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, 67 or 68, wherein amino acid B1 is from the group consisting of K, R, N, V, A, F, Q, H, P, I, L, Y and X And / or amino acid B4 is selected from the group consisting of S and D, and / or amino acid B5 is selected from the group consisting of Q and S, and / or And / or amino acid B6 is selected from the group consisting of S, D, L and R, and / or amino acid B7 is selected from the group consisting of I, V, E and K;
(Iii) HVR-L3 comprises amino acid sequence C1-C9, where C1-C9 is QQGNSLPNT (SEQ ID NO: 3) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein amino acid C8 is N, V, W, Y, Selected from the group consisting of R, S, T, A, F, H, I, L, M and Y;
(Iv) HVR-H1 comprises the amino acid sequence D1-D10, where D1-D10 is GFFITNNYWG (SEQ ID NO: 4);
(V) HVR-H2 comprises the amino acid sequence E1-E17, where E1-E17 is GYISYSGSTSYNPLSKS (SEQ ID NO: 5) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 5, wherein amino acid E2 is derived from Y, F, V and D And / or amino acid E6 is selected from the group consisting of S and G, and / or amino acid E10 is selected from the group consisting of S and Y, and / or amino acid E12 is N, T , A and D, and / or amino acid 13 is selected from the group consisting of P, H, D and A, and / or amino acid E15 is selected from the group consisting of L and V, and / Or amino acid E17 is selected from the group consisting of S and G; and
(Vi) HVR-H3 comprises the amino acid sequence F2-F11, where F2-F11 is MTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 6) or RTGSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 66); or comprises the amino acid sequence F1-F11, where F1 -F11 is AMTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 63), ARTGSSSYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 64) or AQTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 65) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 6, 63, 64, 65 or 66, wherein amino acid F2 is R, M, A, E, G, Q, S and / or the amino acid F11 is selected from the group consisting of F and Y.
Item 3. The polypeptide or antibody according to Item 2.
(Item 6)
Item 3. The polypeptide or antibody according to Item 2, wherein the antibody is humanized.
(Item 7)
Item 3. The polypeptide or antibody according to Item 2, wherein at least a part of the framework sequence is a human consensus framework sequence.
(Item 8)
3. The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, wherein the modification is substitution, insertion or deletion.
(Item 9)
The HVR-L1 variant has the following position: A2 (A, G, S, T or V);
A3 (S, G, I, K, N, P, Q, R, or T); A4 (E, A, D, G, H, I, K, L, N, Q, R, or V); A5 ( S, A, D, G, H, I, K, N, P, R, T, V or Y); A6 (V, A, G, I, K, L, M, Q or R); A7 ( D, A, E, G, H, I, K, L, N, P, S, T or V); A8 (S, D, E, G, P, T or N); A9 (L, Y, I or M); any combination of A10 (L, A, I, M or V) and A11 (H, F, S or Y) 1 to 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10) The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, comprising a substitution.
(Item 10)
The HVR-L2 variant has the following positions: B1 (K, R, N, V, A, F, Q, H, P, I, L, Y, T, H, S, E, C, D, G or 1-4) (1, 2, 3 or 4) substitution in any combination of M), B5 (Q or S), B6 (S, R or L) and B7 (I, T, E, K or V) Item 3. The polypeptide or antibody according to Item 2.
(Item 11)
The polypeptide or antibody of item 2, wherein the HVR-L3 variant comprises at least one substitution at position C8 (W, Y, R, S, A, F, H, I, L, M, N, T or V) .
(Item 12)
HVR-H2 variants are in the following positions: E2 (Y, V, D or F), E6 (S or G), E10 (S or Y), E12 (N, A, D or T), E13 (P, Item 2 containing 1 to 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) substitution in any combination of D, A or H), E15 (L or V), E17 (S or G) Polypeptide or antibody.
(Item 13)
Item 2. The HVR-H3 variant comprises 1 or 2 substitutions in any combination of the following positions: F2 (R, M, A, E, G, Q, R or S) and F11 (F or Y) Polypeptide or antibody.
(Item 14)
The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, comprising HVR-L1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7.
(Item 15)
The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, comprising HVR-L1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.
(Item 16)
The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, comprising HVR-L1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9.
(Item 17)
79. The polypeptide or antibody of item 2, further comprising at least one modification at a framework position, wherein the at least one modification is at heavy chain position 71 or 73 or 78.
(Item 18)
18. The polypeptide or antibody according to item 17, wherein the amino acid at position 71 is R or A, the amino acid at position 73 is N or T, and the amino acid at position 78 is F, A or L.
(Item 19)
18. A polypeptide or antibody according to item 17, comprising a heavy chain human subgroup III heavy chain consensus framework sequence comprising a substitution at positions 71, 73 and / or 78.
(Item 20)
Item 20. The antibody according to Item 19, wherein the substitution is R71A, N73T, L78A or L78F.
(Item 21)
The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, comprising HVR-L3 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
(Item 22)
3. The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, wherein A8 in the mutant HVR-L1 is S.
(Item 23)
Item 3. The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, wherein A8 in variant HVR-L1 is D.
(Item 24)
3. The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, wherein A9 in the mutant HVR-L1 is L.
(Item 25)
The framework sequence between position E1-E1 of sequence HVR-H2 and position F1-F11 of sequence HVR-H3 is HFR3-1-HFR3-31, and HFR3-6 is A or R, and HFR3-8 3. The polypeptide or antibody according to item 2, wherein N is N or T, and HFR3-13 is L or A or F.
(Item 26)
A humanized anti-beta7 antibody or a beta7-binding fragment thereof, wherein the monovalent affinity of the antibody or binding fragment for human beta7 is shown in FIG. 1A (SEQ ID NO: 10) and / or FIG. Or substantially the same or greater than the monovalent affinity of the antibody comprising the variable light and heavy chain sequences shown in FIG. 9A (SEQ ID NO: 12) and / or FIG. 9B (SEQ ID NO: 13), An antibody or binding fragment thereof.
(Item 27)
More than the antibody comprising the light and heavy chain sequences shown in FIG. 1A (SEQ ID NO: 10) and FIG. 1B (SEQ ID NO: 11) or FIG. 9A (SEQ ID NO: 12) and FIG. 27. The antibody or binding fragment thereof of item 26, wherein the antibody or binding fragment thereof is at least 2 times, at least 5 times, at least 10 times, at least 50 times, at least 100 times, at least 500 times, at least 1000 times, at least 5000 times, at least 10,000 times higher.
(Item 28)
The monovalent affinity of the antibody for human beta 7 is determined by the light chain and the heavy chain shown in FIG. 1A (SEQ ID NO: 10) and FIG. 1B (SEQ ID NO: 11) or FIG. 28. Antibody or binding fragment according to item 27, which is at least 3 times higher than the monovalent affinity of the antibody comprising the sequence of the chain.
(Item 29)
The antibody comprising the light and heavy chain sequences shown in FIG. 1A (SEQ ID NO: 10) and FIG. 1B (SEQ ID NO: 11) or FIG. 9A (SEQ ID NO: 12) and FIG. The antibody or fragment thereof according to item 26 or 27, produced by a hybridoma cell line deposited under the American Type Culture Collection Accession Number ATCC.
(Item 30)
27. The antibody or binding fragment according to item 26, wherein the binding affinity is expressed as a Kd value.
(Item 31)
27. The antibody or binding fragment according to item 26, wherein the binding affinity is measured by Biacore ^™ or radioimmunoassay.
(Item 32)
The polypeptide or antibody of item 1, comprising a human kappa subgroup I light chain consensus framework sequence.
(Item 33)
2. The polypeptide or antibody of item 1, comprising a heavy chain human subgroup III heavy chain consensus framework sequence.
(Item 34)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 hypervariables wherein the polypeptide or antibody is selected from the group consisting of HVR-L1, HVR-L2, HVR-L3, HVR-H1, HVR-H2 and HVR-H3 Including region (HVR), where:
(I) HVR-L1 comprises the amino acid sequence A1-A11, where A1-A11 is RASESVDTYLH (SEQ ID NO: 1); A variant of SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 8 or 9, wherein amino acid A2 is selected from the group consisting of A, G, S, T and V, and / or amino acid A3 is S, G, I, Selected from the group consisting of K, N, P, Q, R and T, and / or amino acid A4 consists of E, V, Q, A, D, G, H, I, K, L, N and R And / or amino acid A5 is selected from the group consisting of S, Y, A, D, G, H, I, K, N, P, R, T and V, and / or amino acid A6 Is V Selected from the group consisting of R, I, A, G, K, L, M and Q, and / or amino acid A7 is D, V, S, A, E, G, H, I, K, L, N , P, S and T, and / or amino acid A8 is selected from the group consisting of D, G, N, E, T, P and S, and / or amino acid A9 is L, Y , I and M and / or amino acid A10 is selected from the group consisting of L, A, I, M and V, and / or amino acid A11 consists of H, Y, F and S Selected from the group;
(Ii) HVR-L2 comprises the amino acid sequence B1-B8, where B1-B8 is KYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 2), RYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 67) or XYASQSIS (SEQ ID NO: 68, where X is any amino acid) Or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, 67 or 68, wherein amino acid B1 is from the group consisting of K, R, N, V, A, F, Q, H, P, I, L, Y and X And / or amino acid B4 is selected from the group consisting of S and D, and / or amino acid B5 is selected from the group consisting of Q and S, and / or And / or amino acid B6 is selected from the group consisting of S, D, L and R, and / or amino acid B7 is selected from the group consisting of I, V, E and K;
(Iii) HVR-L3 comprises amino acid sequence C1-C9, where C1-C9 is QQGNSLPNT (SEQ ID NO: 3) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein amino acid C8 is N, V, W, Y, Selected from the group consisting of R, S, T, A, F, H, I, L, M and Y;
(Iv) HVR-H1 comprises the amino acid sequence D1-D10, where D1-D10 is GFFITNNYWG (SEQ ID NO: 4);
(V) HVR-H2 comprises the amino acid sequence E1-E17, where E1-E17 is GYISYSGSTSYNPLSKS (SEQ ID NO: 5) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 5, wherein amino acid E2 is derived from Y, F, V and D And / or amino acid E6 is selected from the group consisting of S and G, and / or amino acid E10 is selected from the group consisting of S and Y, and / or amino acid E12 is N, T , A and D, and / or amino acid 13 is selected from the group consisting of P, H, D and A, and / or amino acid E15 is selected from the group consisting of L and V, and / Or amino acid E17 is selected from the group consisting of S and G; and
(Vi) HVR-H3 comprises the amino acid sequence F2-F11, where F2-F11 is MTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 6) or RTGSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 66); or comprises the amino acid sequence F1-F11, where F1 -F11 is AMTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 63), ARTGSSSYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 64) or AQTGSSSGYFDF (SEQ ID NO: 65) or a variant of SEQ ID NO: 6, 63, 64, 65 or 66, wherein amino acid F2 is R, M, A, E, G, Q, S and / or the amino acid F11 is selected from the group consisting of F and Y.
27. Antibody or binding fragment according to item 26.
(Item 35)
Heavy chain framework position 71 comprises amino acids R or A, and / or heavy chain framework position 73 comprises amino acids T or N, and / or heavy chain framework position 78 comprises amino acids F or A or L; 35. The antibody or binding fragment of item 34, wherein the sequence comprises heavy chain framework at position 71.
(Item 36)
A method for inhibiting the interaction between a human beta 7 integrin subunit and a second integrin subunit and / or a ligand by contacting the beta 7 integrin with the antibody of item 2.
(Item 37)
38. The method of item 36, wherein the second integrin subunit is an alpha 4 integrin subunit and the ligand is MAdCAM, VCAM or fibronectin.
(Item 38)
40. The method of item 37, wherein the alpha 4 integrin subunit is derived from a human.
(Item 39)
39. A method according to item 38, wherein the ligand is derived from human.
(Item 40)
37. The method of item 36, wherein the second integrin subunit is an alpha E integrin subunit and the ligand is E-cadherin.
(Item 41)
41. The method of item 40, wherein the alpha E integrin subunit is derived from a human.
(Item 42)
42. The method according to item 41, wherein the ligand is derived from human.
(Item 43)
Group consisting of inflammation, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, inflammation caused by organ transplantation, graft-versus-host disease, and inflammation related to allograft disorder 40. The method of item 36, wherein the symptoms of the more selected disorder are reduced or alleviated.
(Item 44)
A method of modulating beta 7 integrin-mediated cell adhesion and / or recruitment in a mammal experiencing a disorder by administering to the mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising the polypeptide or antibody of item 2 and a pharmaceutical carrier.
(Item 45)
From the group consisting of inflammation, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, inflammation due to organ transplantation, graft-versus-host disease, and inflammation associated with allograft disorder 45. Method according to item 44, selected.
(Item 46)
45. A method according to item 44, wherein the mammal is a human.
(Item 47)
45. The method of item 44, further comprising administering a second biopharmaceutical or chemotherapeutic agent.
(Item 48)
45. The method of item 44, wherein the modulation inhibits the interaction of beta 7 integrin with alpha 4 integrin, alpha E integrin, MAdCam, VCAM, E-cadherin and / or fibronectin.
(Item 49)
35. A composition comprising an anti-beta7 binding polypeptide according to any one of items 1, 2, 5, 26 or 34, an antibody or a binding fragment thereof and a pharmaceutical carrier.
(Item 50)
35. A composition comprising an anti-beta7 binding polypeptide, antibody or binding fragment thereof according to any of items 1, 2, 5, 26 or 34, a pharmaceutical carrier, and use of the composition in a method for treating a disorder. An article comprising a label indicating that the disorder is for inflammation, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, inflammation caused by organ transplantation, An article of manufacture selected from the group consisting of host-related graft disease and inflammation associated with allograft disorders.

(Mode for carrying out the invention)
The present invention provides methods, compositions, kits and articles of manufacture for discovering and / or using inhibitors of the beta 7 signaling pathway.

  Details of these methods, compositions, kits and articles of manufacture are described herein.

(General method)
The practice of the present invention uses conventional techniques of molecular biology (eg, recombinant techniques), microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry and immunology known in the art, unless otherwise specified. Such techniques have been described in the literature, for example, “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”, second edition (Sambrook et al., 1989); “Oligonucleotide Synthesis” (M. J. Gait, ed., 1984); R. I. Freshney, ed., 1987); “Methods in Enzymology” (Academic Press, Inc.); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” (F. M. Ausubel et al., Eds.); “PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction” (Mullis et al., Ed., 1994); “A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning” (Perbal Bernard V., 1988); “Purge Display: A Laboratory Manual” (Barbas et al., 2001).

(Definition)
By “beta7 subunit” or “β7 subunit” is meant the human β7 integrin subunit (Erle et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266: 11009-11016). The beta 7 subunit associates with an alpha 4 integrin subunit, such as the human α4 subunit (Kilger and Holzmann (1995) J. Mol. Biol. 73: 347-354). Alpha4beta7 integrin is expressed in the majority of mature lymphocytes, as well as in a subset of thymocytes, bone marrow cells and mast cells. (Kilshaw and Murant (1991) Eur. J. Immunol. 21: 2591-2597; Gurish et al., (1992) 149: 1964-1972; and Shaw, SK and Brenner, MB (1995) Semin. Immunol.7: 335). The beta 7 subunit also associates with an alpha E subunit, such as the human alpha E integrin subunit (Cepek, KL, et al. (1993) J. Immunol. 150: 3459). Alpha E beta 7 integrin is expressed on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIEL) (Cepek, KL (1993) supra). The beta 7 subunit that binds to the humanized anti-beta 7 antibody of the present invention is naturally occurring and either soluble or localized on the cell surface.

  “Alpha E subunit” or “alpha E integrin subunit” or “αE subunit” or “CD103” means an integrin subunit known to associate with beta 7 integrin on intraepithelial lymphocytes; This alpha Ebeta7 integrin mediates the binding of iEL to intestinal epithelium expressing E-cadherin (Cepek, KL et al. (1993) J. Immunol. 150: 3459; Shaw, SK and and. Brenner, MB (1995) Semin. Immunol. 7: 335).

  “MAdCAM” or “MAdCAM-1” are used interchangeably in the context of the present invention and refer to the protein mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1, which is an extracellular sequence consisting of a short protoplasmic tail and an immunoglobulin-like domain. Is a single-chain polypeptide. The cDNAs for mouse, human and macaque MAdCAM-1 have been cloned (Briskin, et al., (1993) Nature, 363; 461-464; Shyjan et al., (1996) J. Immunol. 156: 2851-2857).

  “VCAM-1” or “vascular cell adhesion molecule-1”, “CD106” refers to alpha4beta7 and alpha4beta1 ligands expressed on activated endothelium and inflamed leukocytes It is important in endothelial leukocyte interactions such as binding and translocation.

  “E-cadherin” is a member of the family of cadherins, and E-cadherin is expressed on epithelial cells. E-cadherin is a ligand for alpha Ebeta7 integrin and mediates the binding of iEL-expressed alpha Ebeta7 to the intestinal epithelium, but its function in lymphocyte homing is unknown (expression of E-cadherin is TGF- Up-regulated by beta 1).

  “Fibronectin” is involved in tissue repair, embryogenesis, blood clotting and cell migration / adhesion. It acts as a linker in the ECM (extracellular matrix) and exists as a dimer (plasma fibronectin) in plasma. Plasma types are synthesized by hepatocytes, whereas ECM types are produced by fibroblasts, chondrocytes, endothelial cells, macrophages and certain upper spleen cells. In this regard, it interacts with alpha4beta7 integrin and mediates lymphocyte homing or adhesion characteristics. The ECM form of fibronectin acts as a general cell adhesion molecule by anchoring cells to a collagen or proteoglycan substrate. Fibronectin also serves to organize cell interactions with ECM by binding to various components of the extracellular matrix and to membrane-bound fibronectin receptors on the cell surface. Finally, fibronectin is important in the event of cell migration during embryogenesis.

  “Gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders” are a group of chronic disorders that induce inflammation and / or ulcers in the mucosa. These disorders include, for example, inflammatory bowel disease (eg Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, unclassifiable colitis and infectious colitis), mucositis (eg oral mucositis, gastrointestinal mucositis, nasal mucositis and proctitis), Includes necrotizing enterocolitis and esophagitis.

  “Inflammatory bowel disease” or “IBD” are used interchangeably herein to refer to intestinal diseases that induce inflammation and / or ulcers, and include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

  “Crohn's disease (CD)” or “ulcerative colitis (UC)” is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology. Crohn's disease, unlike ulcerative colitis, can occur in any part of the intestine. The most prominent feature of Crohn's disease is granular reddish purple edematous thickening of the intestinal wall. As the inflammation develops, these granulomas often lose their outer boundary and become integrated with the surrounding tissue. Diarrhea and bowel obstruction are the main clinical features. Like ulcerative colitis, the process of Crohn's disease is persistent or recurrent, mild or severe, but unlike colitis, Crohn's disease is not cured by resection of the affected section of the intestine. Most patients with Crohn's disease require surgery at some point, but subsequent regressions are common and continuous medical treatment is common.

  Crohn's disease involves any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the oral cavity to the anus, but typically occurs in the ileum, small intestine and colon-anorectal areas. Histopathologically, the disease is manifested by intermittent granulomas, crypt abscesses, lacerations and aphthous ulcers. Inflammatory infiltration is mixed and consists of lymphocytes (both T and B cells), plasma cells, macrophages and neutrophils. With an unbalanced increase in IgM and IgG secreting plasma cells, macrophages and neutrophils.

  The anti-inflammatory agents sulfasalazine and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) are useful for treating mildly active colonic Crohn's disease and are commonly prescribed to maintain disease remission. Metroidazole and ciprofloxacin are similar in efficacy to sulfasalazine and are considered particularly useful for treating perianal disease. In more severe cases, corticosteroids are effective in treating active flare-ups and can maintain remission. Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine have also given good results in patients who require long-term administration of corticosteroids. These drugs can also play a role in long-term prevention. Unfortunately, in some patients there may be a very long delay (up to 6 months) before the action begins.

  Antidiarrheal drugs also provide symptomatic remission in some patients. Nutrition therapy or a unitary diet may improve the patient's nutritional status and induce symptomatic improvement in acute disease, but not a sustained clinical remission. Antibiotics are used to treat secondary small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and to treat purulent complications.

  “Ulcerative colitis (UC)” occurs in the large intestine. The disease process can be persistent or recurrent, mild or severe. The earliest trunk is an inflammatory infiltrate with the formation of an abscess in the base of the Liberkune crypt. These expanded and collapsed crypt adhesions disrupt the laminating mucosa from its blood supply, leading to ulcers. Symptoms of the disease include convulsions, lower abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and frequent loose stools, mainly from blood deficient in feces, pus and mucous membranes. Total colectomy may be required for acute, severe or chronic, non-remitting ulcerative colitis.

  The clinical features of UC are highly variable and the onset is insidious or sudden and may include diarrhea, tenesmus and recurrent rectal bleeding. If there is a sudden onset of the entire colon, an addictive giant colon, a fatal emergency may occur. Prominent features outside the bowel include arthritis, pus gangrene, uveitis and erythema nodosum.

  Treatment of UC uses sulfarazine and related salicylate-containing drugs in mild cases and corticosteroids in severe cases. Local administration of salicylates or corticosteroids is sometimes effective, especially when the disease is confined to the distal intestine and has reduced side effects compared to systemic use. Adjunctive treatment such as administration of iron and antidiarrheal agents is sometimes indicated. Azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate are sometimes prescribed in refractory corticosteroid dependent cases.

  A “modification” of an amino acid residue / position as used herein refers to a change in the primary amino acid sequence otherwise compared to the starting amino acid sequence, in which case the change involves that amino acid residue / position Due to sequence alterations. For example, typical modifications include substitution of a residue (or at that position) with another amino acid (eg, a conservative or non-conservative substitution), one or more amino acids adjacent to that residue / position (generally 5 or 3) insertions and deletions of that residue / position. An “amino acid substitution” or mutation thereof refers to the replacement of an existing amino acid residue within a given (starting) amino acid sequence by a different amino acid residue. In general, and preferably, the modification alters at least one physicobiochemical activity of the variant polypeptide relative to a polypeptide comprising the starting (or “wild-type”) amino acid. For example, in the case of antibodies, the physicobiochemical activity that is modified can be binding affinity, binding ability and / or binding action for the target molecule.

  The term “amino acid” is used within its broadest sense within the scope of this specification and is meant to encompass naturally occurring Lα-amino acids or residues. The commonly used one-letter and three-letter abbreviations for naturally occurring amino acids are used herein (Lehninger, AL, Biochemistry, 2d ed., Pp. 71-92, Worth Publishers, New York, New York, 1975). The term refers to D-amino acids as well as chemically modified amino acids such as amino acid analogs, naturally occurring amino acids that are not normally incorporated into proteins such as norleucine and amino acids that are known in the art to be characteristic. Including chemically synthesized compounds. For example, phenylalanine or proline analogs or mimetics that allow conformational restriction of the same peptide compound as natural Phe or Pro are also included in the definition of amino acids. Such analogs and mimetics are referred to herein as “functional equivalents” of amino acids. Other examples of amino acids are described in Roberts and Velaccio, The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology, Gross and Meiehofer, Eds., Incorporated herein by reference. , Vol. 5, p. 341 (Academic Press, Inc., New York, New York, 1983). When a single letter is used to mark one of the naturally occurring amino acids, the mark is similar to that generally listed in the relevant literature (eg Alberts, B. et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd ed., Garland Publishing, Inc. 1994, p. 57).

  An “isolated” antibody is one that has been discovered and separated and / or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Its natural environmental contaminant components can interfere with the diagnostic or therapeutic use of antibodies, and include enzymes, hormones and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous solutes. In a preferred embodiment, the purification of the antibody is (1) more than 95%, most preferably more than 99% by weight of the antibody as measured by the Lowry method, and (2) the N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by using a spinning cup sequencer. Until sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues, or (3) SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or preferably silver staining until homogenous. Isolated antibody includes the antibody in situ within recombinant cells since at least one component of the antibody's natural environment will also be absent. Ordinarily, however, isolated antibody will be prepared by at least one purification step.

  The terms “variable domain residue numbering in Kabat” or “amino acid position numbering in Kabat” and variations thereof are described in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. (1991) refers to the numbering system used for the editing heavy chain or light chain variable domains of antibodies. With this numbering system, the actual linear amino acid sequence may contain fewer or additional amino acids that correspond to the shortening of the FR or CDR of the variable domain or insertion into it. For example, the heavy chain variable domain is a single amino acid insert after residue 52 of H2 (residue 52a according to Kabat) and a residue inserted after heavy chain FR residue 82 (residue 82a according to Kabat. , 82b and 82c, etc.). Residue Kabat numbering may be determined for a given antibody by alignment in the region of sequence homology of the antibody with the “standard” Kabat number sequence.

  The terms “substantially similar” or “substantially the same” as used herein are two numerical values (generally one relates to an antibody of the invention and the other is a reference The difference between / related to the antibody of the comparison) is little or not biologically and / or statistically significant in terms of biological characteristics whose value (eg Kd value) is a measure. Refers to the similarity between two numbers that is high enough to be considered by those skilled in the art. The difference between the two numbers is preferably less than about 50%, preferably less than about 40%, preferably less than about 30%, preferably less than about 20%, as a function of the reference / comparator antibody value. Preferably it is less than about 10%.

  “Binding affinity” generally refers to the strength of the sum total of non-covalent interactions between a single binding site of a molecule (eg, an antibody) and its binding partner (eg, an antigen). As used herein, unless otherwise specified, “binding affinity” refers to endogenous binding affinity that reflects a 1: 1 interaction between a binding pair (eg, an antibody and an antigen). The affinity of a molecule X for its partner Y can generally be represented by a dissociation constant (Kd). Affinity can be measured by common methods known in the art, such as those described herein. Low-affinity antibodies generally bind antigen slowly and tend to dissociate, whereas high-affinity antibodies generally bind antigen rapidly and remain in a longer-bound state. Tend. Various methods for measuring binding affinity are known in the art, any of which can be used for the purposes of the present invention. Certain exemplary embodiments are described later.

In one embodiment, “Kd” or “Kd value”, according to the present invention, measures the solution binding affinity (RIA) of an Fab to an antigen using the Fab type of the antibody of interest and its antigen. The Fab is equilibrated with the minimum concentration of labeled antigen in the presence of a step titer of unlabeled antigen ( ^125I ) and then bound to the bound antigen using an anti-Fab antibody-coated plate, as illustrated by the test below. (Chen, et al., (1999) J. Mol. Biol. 293: 865-881). To establish the test conditions, microplates (Dynex) were coated overnight with 5 ug / ml of capture anti-Fab antibody (Cappel Labs) in 50 mM sodium carbonate (pH 9.6) and then at room temperature for 2-5 hours Blocked with 2% (w / v) bovine serum albumin in PBS (about 23 ° C.). Mix 100 pM or 26 pM [ ¹²⁵ I] -antigen with serial dilutions of Fab of interest (eg, Presta et al. (1997) Cancer Res. 57: 4593-4599) in non-adsorbed plates (Nunc # 269620) , Consistent with Fab-12 test). The target Fab is then incubated overnight, but the incubation may continue for a longer time (eg, 65 hours) to ensure that equilibrium is achieved. The mixture is then transferred to a capture plate for room temperature incubation (eg 1 hour). The solution is then removed and the plate is washed 8 times with 0.1% Tween-20 in PBS. When the plate is dry, 150 ul / well of scintillant (MicroScint-20; Packard) is added and the plate is counted for 10 minutes in a Topcount gamma counter (Packard). The concentration of each Fab that gives 20% or less of maximum binding is selected for use in competitive binding studies. According to another embodiment, the Kd or Kd value is measured using a BIAcore ^™ -2000 or BIAcore ^™ -3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway) at 25 ° C. using an antigen CM5 chip immobilized in -10 response units (RU). , NJ) by surface plasmon resonance test. In other words, a carboxymethylated dextran biosensor chip (CM5, BIAcore, Inc.) was obtained according to the manufacturer's instruction manual. N-ethyl-N ′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) -carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxy Activate with succinimide (NHS). Antigen is diluted with 10 mM sodium acetate pH 4.8 to 5 ug / ml (˜0.2 uM) and then injected at a flow rate of 5 ul / min to achieve approximately 10 response units (RU) of coupled protein. After antigen injection, 1M ethanolamine is injected to block unreacted groups. For kinetic measurements, a 2-fold serial dilution of Fab (0.78 nM to 500 nM) is injected in PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST) at a 25 ° C. flow rate of about 25 ug / min. Association rate (k _on ) and dissociation rate (k _off ) are calculated using a simple one-to-one long-muir binding model (BIAcore Evaluation Software version 3.2) by fitting the association and dissociation sensorgrams simultaneously. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) is calculated as the ratio k _off / k _on . For example, Chen, Y. et al. , Et al. (1999) J. MoI. See Mol Biol 293: 865-881. If the on-velocity according to the surface plasmon resonance test described above exceeds 10 ⁶ M ⁻¹ S ⁻¹ , the on-velocity is measured using a stop flow equipped spectrophotometer (Aviv Instrument) with a stirred red cuvette or 8000 series SLM-Aminco. Measure the increase or decrease in fluorescence emission intensity at 25 ° C. of 20 nM anti-antigen antibody (Fab type) in PBS, pH 7.2 in the presence of increasing concentrations of antigen as measured in a spectrometer such as a Thermospectrometer (ThermoSpectronic) Fluorescence quenching technique (excitation = 295 nm, emission = 340 nm, 16 nm bandpass).

The “on rate” or “association rate” or “association rate” or “k _on ” according to the present invention is also measured at 25 ° C. using an antigen CM5 chip immobilized at 10 response units (RU) at BIAcore ^™ -2000. Alternatively, it is measured by the surface plasmon resonance test using BIAcore ^™ -3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway, NJ). In other words, a carboxymethylated dextran biosensor chip (CM5, BIAcore, Inc.) was obtained according to the manufacturer's instruction manual. N-ethyl-N ′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) -carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxy Activate with succinimide (NHS). Antigen is diluted with 10 mM sodium acetate pH 4.8 to 5 ug / ml (˜0.2 uM) and then injected at a flow rate of 5 ul / min to achieve approximately 10 response units (RU) of coupled protein. After antigen injection, 1M ethanolamine is injected to block unreacted groups. For kinetic measurements, a 2-fold serial dilution of Fab (0.78 nM to 500 nM) is injected in PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST) at a 25 ° C. flow rate of about 25 ug / min. Association rate (k _on ) and dissociation rate (k _off ) are calculated using a simple one-to-one long-muir binding model (BIAcore Evaluation Software version 3.2) by fitting the association and dissociation sensorgrams simultaneously. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) is calculated as the ratio k _off / k _on . For example, Chen, Y. et al. , Et al. (1999) J. MoI. See Mol Biol 293: 865-881. However, if the on-rate by the surface plasmon resonance test described above exceeds 10 ⁶ M ⁻¹ S ⁻¹ , the on-rate is measured using a stop flow equipped spectrophotometer (Aviv Instrument) with a stirring cuvette or 8000 series SLM-Aminco. Measures the increase or decrease in fluorescence emission intensity at 25 ° C. of 20 nM anti-antigen antibody (Fab type) in PBS, pH 7.2 in the presence of increasing concentrations of antigen as measured in a spectrometer such as ThermoSpectronic Fluorescence quenching technique (excitation = 295 nm, issue = 340 nm, 16 nm bandpass). The “Kd” or “Kd value” according to the present invention, in one embodiment, is illustrated by a test described below that measures the solution binding affinity (RIA) of an Fab to an antigen using the Fab type of the antibody and the antigen molecule. As shown, by equilibrating the Fab with the minimum concentration of labeled antigen in the presence of a step titer of unlabeled antigen ( ^125I ) and then capturing the bound antigen using an anti-Fab antibody-coated plate. (Chen, et al. (1999) J. Mol. Biol. 293: 865-881). To establish the test conditions, microplates (Dynex) were coated overnight with 5 ug / ml of capture anti-Fab antibody (Cappel Labs) in 50 mM sodium carbonate (pH 9.6) and then at room temperature for 2-5 hours Blocked with 2% (w / v) bovine serum albumin in PBS (about 23 ° C.). In a non-adsorbed plate (Nunc # 269620), mix 100 pM or 26 pM [ ¹²⁵ I] -antigen with serial dilutions of the Fab of interest (Presta et al. (1997) Cancer Res. 57: 4593-4599, Consistent with Fab-12 test). The target Fab is then incubated overnight, but the incubation may continue for a longer time (eg, 65 hours) to ensure that equilibrium is achieved. The mixture is then transferred to a capture plate for 1 hour room temperature incubation. The solution is then removed and washed 8 times with 0.1% Tween-20 in plate wPBS. When the plate is dry, 150 ul / well of scintillant (MicroScint-20; Packard) is added and the plate is counted for 10 minutes in a Topcount gamma counter (Packard). The concentration of each Fab that gives 20% or less of maximum binding is selected for use in competitive binding studies. According to another embodiment, the Kd or Kd value is measured using a BIAcore ^™ -2000 or BIAcore ^™ -3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway) at 25 ° C. using an antigen CM5 chip immobilized in -10 response units (RU). , NJ) by surface plasmon resonance test. In other words, a carboxymethylated dextran biosensor chip (CM5, BIAcore, Inc.) was obtained according to the manufacturer's instruction manual. N-ethyl-N ′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) -carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxy Activate with succinimide (NHS). Antigen is diluted with 10 mM sodium acetate pH 4.8 to 5 ug / ml (˜0.2 uM) and then injected at a flow rate of 5 ul / min to achieve approximately 10 response units (RU) of coupled protein. After antigen injection, 1M ethanolamine is injected to block unreacted groups. For kinetic measurements, a 2-fold serial dilution of Fab (0.78 nM to 500 nM) is injected in PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST) at a 25 ° C. flow rate of about 25 ug / min. Association rate (k _on ) and dissociation rate (k _off ) are calculated using a simple one-to-one long-muir binding model (BIAcore Evaluation Software version 3.2) by fitting the association and dissociation sensorgrams simultaneously. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) is calculated as the ratio k _off / k _on . For example, Chen, Y. et al. , Et al. (1999) J. MoI. See Mol Biol 293: 865-881. If the on-velocity according to the surface plasmon resonance test described above exceeds 10 ⁶ M ⁻¹ S ⁻¹ , the on-velocity is measured using a stop flow equipped spectrophotometer (Aviv Instrument) with a stirred red cuvette or 8000 series SLM-Aminco. Measure the increase or decrease in fluorescence emission intensity at 25 ° C. of 20 nM anti-antigen antibody (Fab type) in PBS, pH 7.2 in the presence of increasing concentrations of antigen as measured in a spectrometer such as a Thermospectrometer (ThermoSpectronic) Fluorescence quenching technique (excitation = 295 nm, emission = 340 nm, 16 nm bandpass).

In one embodiment, the “on rate” or “association rate” or “association rate” or “k _on ” according to the present invention is also 25 using an antigen CM5 chip immobilized in 10 response units (RU). It is measured by the above surface plasmon resonance test using BIAcore ^™ -2000 or BIAcore ^™ -3000 (BIAcore, Inc., Piscataway, NJ) at ° C. In other words, a carboxymethylated dextran biosensor chip (CM5, BIAcore, Inc.) was obtained according to the manufacturer's instruction manual. N-ethyl-N ′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) -carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxy Activate with succinimide (NHS). Antigen is diluted with 10 mM sodium acetate pH 4.8 to 5 ug / ml (˜0.2 uM) and then injected at a flow rate of 5 ul / min to achieve approximately 10 response units (RU) of coupled protein. After antigen injection, 1M ethanolamine is injected to block unreacted groups. For kinetic measurements, a 2-fold serial dilution of Fab (0.78 nM to 500 nM) is injected in PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST) at a 25 ° C. flow rate of about 25 ul / min. Association rate (k _on ) and dissociation rate (k _off ) are calculated using a simple one-to-one long-muir binding model (BIAcore Evaluation Software version 3.2) by fitting the association and dissociation sensorgrams simultaneously. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) is calculated as the ratio k _off / k _on . For example, Chen, Y. et al. , Et al. (1999) J. MoI. See Mol Biol 293: 865-881. However, if the on speed by the surface plasmon resonance test described above exceeds 10 ⁶ M ⁻¹ S ⁻¹ , the on speed is measured by a stop flow equipped spectrophotometer (Aviv Instrument) with a stirring cuvette or 8000 series SLM-Aminco. Measure the increase or decrease in fluorescence emission intensity at 25 ° C. of 20 nM anti-antigen antibody (Fab type) in PBS, pH 7.2 in the presence of increasing concentrations of antigen as measured in a spectrometer such as a Thermospectrometer (ThermoSpectronic) Fluorescence quenching technique (excitation = 295 nm, emission = 340 nm, 16 nm bandpass).

  The expression “substantially reduced” or “substantially different” is used herein to refer to two numerical values (generally one relates to an antibody of the invention and the other A person skilled in the art believes that the difference between the reference / comparator antibodies) is statistically significant in terms of biological characteristics that are scaled by their numerical value (eg Kd value, HAMA response). Refers to the similarity between two numbers that is high enough to think. The difference between the two numbers is preferably greater than about 10%, preferably greater than about 20%, preferably greater than about 30%, preferably greater than about 40%, as a function of the reference / comparator antibody number. Preferably it is more than about 50%.

  “Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity” with respect to the sequence of a peptide or polypeptide, after aligning the sequences and achieving maximum percent sequence identity by introducing gaps as needed, and any Is also defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in a candidate sequence that are identical to amino acid residues in a particular peptide or polypeptide sequence, when considered as part of sequence identity. Alignments for the purpose of measuring percent amino acid sequence identity can be performed using various commercially known computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN, or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Can be achieved. One skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, for example, any algorithm necessary to achieve maximal alignment over the full length of the sequences being compared. For purposes herein, however,% amino acid identity values are obtained using the sequence comparison computer program ALIGN-2, in which case the complete source code for the ALIGN-2 program is As shown in Table A below. The ALIGN-2 sequence comparison computer program is available from Genentech, Inc. The source code shown in Table A below, together with user documentation within the US Copyright Office (Washington DC, 20559), registered under US copyright registration number TXU510087 Has been submitted. The ALINB-2 program is available from Genentech, Inc. , South San Francisco, California, or may be compiled from the source code shown in FIG. 8 below. The ALIGN-2 program must be compiled for use on a UNIX® operating system, preferably digital UNIX® V4.0D. All sequence comparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not change.

  In situations where ALIGN-2 is used for amino acid sequence comparison, the% amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acid A to, or against, or opposite a given amino acid B (this is to or from a given amino acid B) Alternatively, it can be expressed as a predetermined amino acid sequence A having or including a predetermined% amino acid sequence identity opposite it).

100 times the ratio X / Y, where X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matches in the program alignment of A and B by the sequence alignment program ALIGN-2, and Y is the amino acid in B The total number of residues. If the length of amino acid sequence A is not equal to the length of amino acid sequence B, the% amino acid sequence identity of A to B will not be equal to the% amino acid sequence identity of B to A.

  Unless otherwise noted, all% amino acid sequence identity values used herein were obtained as described in the immediately preceding paragraph using the ALIGN-2 computer program.

「ベクター」という用語は本明細書においては、自身が連結されている別の核酸を輸送することができる核酸分子を指す。１つの型のベクターは「プラスミド」であり、これは更に別のＤＮＡセグメントがライゲーションされていてよい環状の２本鎖ＤＮＡループを指す。別の型のベクターはウィルスベクターであり、その場合更に別のＤＮＡセグメントがウィルスゲノム内にライゲーションされていてよい。特定のベクターは自身が導入されている宿主細胞内において自己複製することができる（例えば複製の細菌起点を有する細菌ベクター及びエピソーム哺乳類ベクター）。他のベクター（例えば非エピソーム哺乳類ベクター）は宿主細胞内への導入により宿主細胞のゲノム内に組み込まれることができ、これにより宿主細胞ゲノムとともに複製される。更にまた特定のベクターは自身が作動可能に連結されている遺伝子の発現を指向することができる。このようなベクターは本明細書においては、「組み換え発現ベクター」（又は単に「組み換えベクター」）と称する。一般的に、組み換えＤＮＡ手法において利用される発現ベクターはプラスミドの形態である場合が多い。本明細書においては、「プラスミド」及び「ベクター」は、プラスミドがベクターの最も一般的に使用されている形態であるため、互換的に使用してよい。

The term “vector” as used herein refers to a nucleic acid molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has been linked. One type of vector is a “plasmid”, which refers to a circular double stranded DNA loop into which additional DNA segments may be ligated. Another type of vector is a viral vector, in which case further DNA segments may be ligated into the viral genome. Certain vectors are capable of self-replication in host cells into which they are introduced (eg, bacterial vectors having a bacterial origin of replication and episomal mammalian vectors). Other vectors (eg, non-episomal mammalian vectors) can be integrated into the genome of a host cell by introduction into the host cell, thereby replicating with the host cell genome. Furthermore, certain vectors can direct the expression of genes to which they are operably linked. Such vectors are referred to herein as “recombinant expression vectors” (or simply “recombinant vectors”). In general, expression vectors used in recombinant DNA techniques are often in the form of plasmids. In the present specification, “plasmid” and “vector” may be used interchangeably as the plasmid is the most commonly used form of vector.

As used herein, “polynucleotide” or “nucleic acid” refers to a polymer of nucleotides of any length, and includes DNA and RNA. Nucleotides can be deoxynucleotides, ribonucleotides, modified nucleotides or bases, and / or analogs thereof, or any substrate that can be incorporated into a polymer by DNA or RNA polymerase or by a synthetic reaction. it can. A polynucleotide may comprise modified nucleotides, such as methylated nucleotides and analogs thereof. If present, modifications to the nucleotide structure may be imparted before or after assembly of the polymer. The sequence of nucleotides may be interrupted by non-nucleotide components. A polynucleotide may be further modified after synthesis, such as by conjugation with a label. Other types of modifications include, for example, “cap” substitution with one or more naturally occurring nucleotide analogs, internucleotide modifications, such as uncharged linkages (eg, methylphosphonates, phosphotriesters, phosphoramidates, carbamates, etc. ) And charged linkages (eg phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate etc.), those containing pendant moieties, eg proteins (eg nucleases, toxins, antibodies, signal peptides, poly-L-lysine etc.), intercalators (Eg, acridine, psoralen, etc.), containing a chelating agent (eg, metal, radioactive metal, boron, oxidizing metal, etc.), containing an alkylating agent, having a modified linking part ( For example, alpha aromatic nucleic acids), as well as unmodified forms of polynucleotides It encompasses Reochido. Furthermore, any of the hydroxyl groups normally present in the sugar are replaced by, for example, phosphonate groups, phosphate groups, protected by standard protecting groups, or have additional linkages to other nucleotides. It may be activated to make, or it may be conjugated to a solid or semi-solid support. The 5 'and 3' terminal OH can be phosphorylated or substituted with amines or organic capping group moieties of 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Other hydroxyls may also be derivatized to standard protecting groups. Polynucleotides can also be analog forms of ribose or deoxyribose sugars commonly known in the art, such as 2'-O-methyl-, 2'-O-allyl, 2'-fluoro- or 2'-azido- It may contain ribose, carbocyclic sugar analogs, alpha-anomeric sugars, epimeric sugars such as arabinose, xylose or lyxose, pyranose sugars, furanose sugars, cedoheptulose, acyclic analogs and non-basic analogs such as methyl riboside. One or more phosphodiester linkages may be replaced by another linking group. These alternative linking groups include, for example, phosphates of P (O) S (thioate), P (S) S (dithioate), (O) NR ₂ (amidate), P (O) R, P (O) OR ′ , CO or CH ₂ (form acetal), wherein each R or R ′ is independently substituted or unsubstituted containing H or optionally an ether (—O—) bond Alkyl (1-20C), aryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or aralkyl. It is not necessary for all linkages in a polynucleotide to be the same. The above applies to all polynucleotides described herein, including RNA and DNA.

  An “oligonucleotide” as used herein generally refers to a short, generally single-stranded, generally synthesized polynucleotide that is generally, but not necessarily, less than about 200 nucleotides in length. . The terms “oligonucleotide” and “polynucleotide” are not mutually exclusive. Those described above for polynucleotides are equivalent and are fully applicable to oligonucleotides.

  The terms “antibody” and “immunoglobulin” are used interchangeably in the broadest sense and are monoclonal antibodies (eg, full-length or intact monoclonal antibodies), polyclonal antibodies, multivalent antibodies, multispecific antibodies (eg, Bispecific antibodies) as long as they exhibit the desired biological activity, and specific antibody fragments (described in more detail herein) may also be included. The antibody can be human, humanized and / or affinity matured.

  “Antibody fragments” comprise only a portion of an intact antibody, which portion preferably retains at least one, preferably most or all of the functions normally associated with that portion when present in an intact antibody. ing. In one embodiment, the antibody fragment comprises the antigen binding site of an intact antibody and thereby retains the ability to bind antigen. In another embodiment, an antibody fragment, such as one comprising an Fc region, is a biological function normally associated with the Fc region when present in an intact antibody, such as FcRn binding, antibody half-life regulation, ADCC function and Hold at least one such as complement binding. In one embodiment, the antibody fragment is a monovalent antibody having an in vivo half life substantially similar to an intact antibody. For example, such an antibody fragment may include a binding arm on the antigen linked to an Fc sequence that can confer in vivo stability to the fragment.

  The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein refers to an antibody that is obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, ie, the individual antibodies that make up the population can occur in small amounts. Identical except for existing mutations. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific and are directed against a single antigen. Furthermore, in contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations that typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody binds to a single determinant on the antigen. It is oriented against.

  In particular, the monoclonal antibodies described herein are identical or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies whose heavy and / or light chains are derived from a particular species or belong to a particular antibody class or subclass, The remaining portions of the chain can be derived from “chimeric” antibodies, as well as fragments of such antibodies, that are the same or homologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies from another species or belonging to another antibody class or subclass. As long as they exhibit the desired biological activity (US Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 6851-6855 (1984)).

  “Humanized” forms of non-human (eg, murine) antibodies are chimeric antibodies that contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. For the most part, humanized antibodies are non-human species such as mice, rats, rabbits or non-human primates in which residues from the recipient's hypervariable region have the desired specificity, affinity and ability ( It is a human immunoglobulin that has been replaced by residues from the hypervariable region of the recipient antibody (recipient antibody). In some instances, framework region (FR) residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues. Furthermore, humanized antibodies may comprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or in the donor antibody. Such modifications are made to further refine antibody performance. In general, a humanized antibody has at least one, wherein all or substantially all of the hypervariable loop corresponds to that of a non-human immunoglobulin, and all or substantially all of the FR is that of a human immunoglobulin sequence, And typically it will contain substantially all of the two variable domains. The humanized antibody optionally will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), which is typically that of a human immunoglobulin. For details, see Jones et al., Nature 321: 522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332: 323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2: 593-596 (1992). Furthermore, the following document: Vaswani and Hamilton, Ann. Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 1: 105-115 (1998); Harris, Biochem. Soc. Transactions 23: 1035-1038 (1995); Hurle and Gross, Curr. Op. Biotech. 5: 428-433 (1994) and references cited therein.

  An “antigen” is a predetermined antigen to which an antibody selectively binds. The target antigen may be a polypeptide, carbohydrate, nucleic acid, lipid, hapten or other naturally occurring or synthetic compound. Preferably, the target antigen is a polypeptide. An “acceptor human framework” is, for the purposes of this specification, a framework comprising the amino acid sequence of a VL or VH framework derived from a human immunoglobulin framework or from a human consensus framework. is there. An acceptor human framework “derived from” a human immunoglobulin framework or human consensus framework may contain the same amino acid sequence, or may contain changes in an existing amino acid sequence. Where there are existing amino acid changes, there are preferably no more than 5, preferably no more than 4 or no more than 3 existing amino acid changes. Where existing amino acid changes are present in VH, preferably such changes are only at 3, 2, or 1 at positions 71H, 73H and 78H; for example, the amino acid residue at such positions is 71A 73T and 78A. In one embodiment, the VL acceptor human framework is identical in sequence to the VL human immunoglobulin framework sequence or human consensus framework sequence.

  A “human consensus framework” is a framework that indicates the most commonly occurring amino acid residues in some human immunoglobulin VL or VH framework sequences. In general, some of the human immunoglobulin VL or VH sequences are derived from a subgroup of variable domain sequences. In general, the subgroup of sequences is that of Kabat et al. In one embodiment, for VL, the subgroup is subgroup kappa I as in Kabat et al. In one embodiment, for VH, the subgroup is subgroup III as in Kabat et al.

  The “VL subgroup I consensus framework” includes a consensus sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of variable light chain kappa subgroup I of Kabat et al. In one embodiment, the VL subgroup I consensus framework amino acid sequence is the following sequence:

の各々の少なくとも一部分又は全てを含む。

At least a portion or all of each.

  The “VH subgroup I consensus framework” includes a consensus sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of variable heavy chain subgroup III of Kabat et al. In one embodiment, the VH subgroup III consensus framework amino acid sequence is the following sequence:

の各々の少なくとも一部分又は全てを含む。

At least a portion or all of each.

  An “unmodified human framework” is a human framework having the same amino acid sequence as the acceptor human framework, eg, one that does not have a human to non-human amino acid substitution in the acceptor human framework.

  A “modified hypervariable region” is, for the purposes of the present invention, a hypervariable region containing one or more (eg, 1 to about 16) amino acid substitutions therein.

  An “unmodified hypervariable region” is, for the purposes of the present invention, a hypervariable region having the same amino acid sequence as the non-human antibody from which it is derived, ie, without one or more amino acid substitutions therein. is there.

  The term “hypervariable region”, “HVR” or “HV” as used herein is a region of an antibody variable domain that is hypervariable in sequence and / or forms a structurally defined loop. Point to. In general, antibodies comprise six hypervariable regions; three within VH (H1, H2, H3) and three within VL (L1, L2, L3). A number of hypervariable region definitions have been used and are encompassed herein. Kabat complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) are based on sequence variability and are most commonly used (Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Research, 5th Ed. Public Health Services, National Health, Italy. , Bethesda, MD. (1991)). Chothia instead refers to the location of the structural loop (Chothia and Lesk J. Mol. Biol. 196: 901-917 (1987)). The hypervariable region of AbM represents a compromise between the Kabat CDR and Chothia structural loops and has been used by the Oxford Molecular's AbM antibody modeling software. The “contact” hypervariable region is based on an analysis of available complex crystal structures. Residues derived from each of these hypervariable regions are shown below.

超可変領域は以下の通り、即ち：ＶＬ内の２４−３６又は２４−３４（Ｌ１）、４６−５６又は４９−５６又は５０−５６又は５２−５６（Ｌ２）及び８９−９７（Ｌ３）、及びＶＨ内の２６−３５（Ｈ１）、５０−６５又は４９−６５（Ｈ２）及び９３−１０２、９４−１０２又は９５−１０２（Ｈ３）の「伸長超可変領域」を含んでよい。可変ドメイン残基はこれらの定義の各々につき上記Ｋａｂａｔ等の定義に従ってナンバリングされている。

The hypervariable regions are as follows: 24-36 or 24-34 (L1), 46-56 or 49-56 or 50-56 or 52-56 (L2) and 89-97 (L3) in the VL, And 26-35 (H1), 50-65 or 49-65 (H2) and 93-102, 94-102 or 95-102 (H3) within VH. The variable domain residues are numbered according to the definitions of Kabat et al. Above for each of these definitions.

  “Framework” or “FR” residues are those variable domain residues other than the hypervariable region residues as herein defined.

  A “human antibody” corresponds to an antibody produced by a human and / or has an amino acid sequence created using any of the techniques for producing a human antibody disclosed herein. . This definition of a human antibody specifically excludes a humanized antibody comprising non-human antigen binding residues.

  An “affinity matured” antibody is one that has one or more modifications in one or more of its CDRs, thereby improving the affinity of the antibody for the antigen compared to a parent antibody that does not possess such modifications. It is what. Preferred affinity matured antibodies will have nanomolar or even picomolar affinities for the target antigen. Affinity matured antibodies are produced by procedures known in the art. Marks et al., Bio / Technology 10: 779-783 (1992) describes affinity maturation by VH and VL domain shuffling. Random mutagenesis of CDR and / or framework residues is described by Barbas et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91: 3809-3813 (1994); Schier et al., Gene 169: 147-155 (1995); Yelton et al., J. Biol. Immunol. 155: 1994-2004 (1995); Jackson et al., J. MoI. Immunol. 154 (7): 3310-9 (1995); and Hawkins et al., J. MoI. Mol. Biol. 226: 889-896 (1992).

  A “blocking” or “antagonist” antibody is one that inhibits or reduces the biological activity of the antigen to which it binds. Preferred blocking or antagonist antibodies substantially or completely inhibit the biological activity of the antigen.

  An “agonist antibody” as used herein is an antibody that mimics at least one functional activity of a polypeptide of interest.

  A “disorder” is any condition that would benefit from treatment with a substance / molecule or method of the invention. This includes chronic and acute disorders or diseases, including pathological conditions that predispose mammals to the disorder in question. Non-limiting examples of disorders to be treated herein include malignant or benign tumors; non-leukemic and lymphocytic malignancies; neurons, glia, astrocytes, hypothalamus and other glands, Includes macrophage, epithelial, interstitial and blastocoel disorders; and inflammatory, immunological and other angiogenesis-related disorders.

  The term “immune related disease” refers to a disease in which a component of the mammalian immune system induces, mediates or otherwise contributes to morbidity in the mammal. Also included are diseases in which stimulation or intervention of the immune response has a ameliorative effect on disease progression. Included within this term are immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, non-immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, immunodeficiency diseases, neoplasia, and the like.

  Examples of immune-related and inflammatory diseases that are partially immune or T-cell mediated that can be treated according to the present invention include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, spinal joint disorders, systemic sclerosis (hard skin) ), Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (dermatomyositis, polymyositis) Sjogren's syndrome, systemic vasculitis, sarcoidosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (immune pancytopenia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria), autoimmunity Thrombocytopenia (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia), thyroiditis (Graves' disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, juvenile lymphocytic thyroiditis, atrophic thyroiditis), filed diabetes, immune-mediated renal disease (Glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial nephritis), demyelinating diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, eg multiple sclerosis, idiopathic demyelinating polyneuropathy or Giant-Ba -Syndrome and chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy, hepatobiliary diseases such as infectious hepatitis (A, B, C, D, hepatitis E and other non-hepatic viruses), autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, Primary biliary cirrhosis, granulomatosis and sclerosing cholangitis, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis; Crohn's disease), gluten-sensitive enteropathy and Hoyple's disease, autoimmune or immune-mediated skin diseases such as bullous Skin diseases, multiple erythema and contact dermatitis, psoriasis, allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food hypersensitivity and urticaria, lung immunological diseases such as eosinophilic pneumonia Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and hypersensitivity pneumonia, transplant-related diseases such as graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease, infectious diseases such as viral diseases such as AIDS (HIV infection), A, B, C, D and E liver Encompasses etc., bacterial infections, fungal infections, protozoal infections and parasitic infections.

  As used herein interchangeably, an “autoimmune disorder” or “autoimmune disease” is a non-malignant disease or disorder arising from and directed against an individual's own tissue. . The autoimmune diseases described herein specifically exclude malignant or cancerous diseases or conditions, in particular B cell lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), hairy cell leukemia. And exclude chronic myeloblastic leukemia. Examples of autoimmune diseases or disorders are inflammatory responses such as inflammatory skin diseases such as infection and dermatitis (eg atopic dermatitis); systemic sclerosis and sclerosis; responses involving inflammatory bowel disease (eg Crohn's disease) Respiratory distress syndrome (eg adult respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS); dementia; meningitis; encephalitis; uveitis; colitis; glomerulonephritis; allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma and others Status of T cell infiltration involvement and chronic inflammatory response; atherosclerosis; leukocyte adhesion failure; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); Sclerosis; Raynaud's syndrome; autoimmune thyroiditis; allergic encephalomyelitis; Sjogren's syndrome; early-onset diabetes; Immune responses associated with acute and delayed hypersensitivity mediated by cytokines and T lymphocytes observed in coidosis, polymyositis, granulomatosis and vasculitis; pernicious anemia (Addison's disease); Disease; central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorder; multi-organ injury syndrome; hemolytic anemia (eg cryoglobulinemia or Coombs-positive anemia); myasthenia gravis; antigen-antibody complex-mediated disease; Antiphospholipid syndrome; allergic neuritis; Graves' disease; Lambert-Eaton muscle weakness syndrome; pemphigoid blister; pemphigus; autoimmune multiple endocrine adenopathy; Reiter's disease; Arteritis; immune complex nephritis; IgA nephropathy; IgM polyneuropathy; immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) or autoimmunity Including thrombocytopenia and the like.

  The term “gastrointestinal inflammatory injury” is a group of chronic disorders that induce inflammation and / or ulcers in the mucosa. The terms are intact, inflammatory bowel disease (eg Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, unclassifiable colitis and infectious colitis), mucositis (eg oral mucositis, gastrointestinal mucositis, nasal mucositis and proctitis), necrosis Infectious enteritis and esophagitis are included.

  The terms “cell proliferative disorder” and “proliferative disorder” refer to disorders that involve some degree of abnormal cell proliferation. In one embodiment, the cell proliferative disorder is cancer.

  “Tumor” as used herein refers to the growth of all neoplastic cells, whether malignant or benign, and all precancerous and cancerous cells and tissues. “Cancer”, “cancerous”, “cell proliferative disorder”, “proliferative disorder” and “tumor” are not mutually exclusive as referred to herein.

  The terms “cancer” and “cancerous” refer to or describe the physiological condition in mammals that is typically characterized by unregulated cell growth / proliferation. Examples of cancer include carcinoma, lymphoma, blastoma, sarcoma and leukemia. More specific examples of such cancers are squamous cell carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, peritoneal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastrointestinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, nerve Glioblastoma, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial or urgent cancer, salivary gland cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, Includes vulvar cancer, thyroid cancer, liver carcinoma and various types of head and neck cancer.

  Dysregulation of angiogenesis can result in many disorders that can be treated by the compositions and methods of the present invention. These disorders include both non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions. Neoplasms include, for example, those described above. Non-neoplastic disorders are for example undesirable or abnormal hypertrophy, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, psoriatic plaque, sarcoidosis, atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic plaque, diabetic and Other proliferative retinopathy, such as retinopathy of prematurity, posterior lens fibroplasia, neovascular glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, corneal neovascularization, corneal graft angiogenesis, corneal graft rejection, retina / Choroidal neovascularization, angular angiogenesis (skin flush), ocular neovascular disease, vascular restenosis, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), meningioma, hemangioma, hemangio-fibrosis, thyroid hypertrophy (Graves' disease) ), Transplantation of cornea and other tissues, chronic inflammation, lung inflammation, acute lung injury / ARDS, sepsis, primary pulmonary hypertension, malignant lung exudation, cerebral edema (eg acute stroke / closed head) Harm / trauma), synovial inflammation, pannus formation in RA, ossifying myositis, hypertrophic bone formation, osteoarthritis (OA), refractory ascites, polycystic ovarian disease, endometritis, body fluid thirds Pacing disease (pancreatitis, compartment syndrome, burn, bowel disease), uterine fibrosis, premature birth, chronic inflammation, eg IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), kidney allograft rejection, inflammatory bowel disease, nephrotic syndrome, desirable Absent or abnormal tissue bulk (non-cancer), hemophilic joint, hypertrophic scar, hair growth inhibition, Osler-Weber syndrome, purulent granuloma, post lens fiber growth, scleroderma, trachoma, vascular adhesion , Synovitis, dermatitis, preeclampsia, ascites, endocardial fluid leaching (eg related to endocarditis) and pleural effusion.

  As used herein, “treatment” refers to clinical intervention in an attempt to modify the original process of the individual or cell to be treated, and can be performed either prophylactically or during a clinical pathological process. Desirable effects of treatment include prevention of disease onset or recurrence, amelioration of symptoms, reduction of any direct or indirect disease outcome, prevention of metastasis, reduction of disease progression rate, relief or calming of disease status, and Includes prognostic relief or improvement. In some embodiments, the antibodies of the invention are used to delay the onset of a disease or disorder.

  “Effective amount” refers to an amount that is effective at the dosage and time required to achieve the desired therapeutic or prophylactic result.

  A “therapeutically effective amount” of a substance / molecule, agonist or antagonist of the present invention is the individual's disease status, age, gender and weight and the ability of the substance / molecule, agonist or antagonist to elicit a desired response in the individual. It fluctuates according to such factors. A therapeutically effective amount is also one that has a therapeutically beneficial effect over the toxic or deleterious effects of any substance / molecule, agonist or antagonist. “Prophylactically effective amount” refers to an amount that is effective at the dosage and time required to achieve the desired prophylactic result. Typically, but not necessarily, since a prophylactic dose is used in subjects prior to or at an earlier stage of disease, the prophylactically effective amount will be less than the therapeutically effective amount.

The term “cytotoxic agent” as used herein refers to a substance that inhibits or prevents the function of cells and / or induces destruction of cells. The terms are radioisotopes (eg, radioisotopes of At ²¹¹ , I ¹³¹ , I ¹²⁵ , Y ⁹⁰ , Re ¹⁸⁶ , Re ¹⁸⁸ , Sm ¹⁵³ , Bi ²¹² , P ³² and Lu), chemotherapeutic agents such as methotrexate, adriamycin, Vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide), doxorubicin, melphalan, mitomycin C, chlorambucil, daunorubicin or other intercalating agents, enzymes and fragments thereof such as nucleolytic enzymes, antibiotics and toxins such as small molecule toxins or bacteria Enzymatically active toxins of fungal, plant or animal origin and fragments and / or variants thereof and various antitumor or anticancer agents disclosed below. Other cytotoxic agents are described below. Tumoricidal drugs induce tumor cell destruction.

A “chemotherapeutic agent” is a chemical substance useful in the treatment of cancer. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents are alkylating agents such as thiotepa and CYTOXAN® cyclophosphamide; alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, improsulfan and piperosulfan; aziridines such as benzodopa, carbocon, metsuredpa and uredopa; Ethyleneimines and methylamelamines, such as altretamine, triethylenemelamine, triethylenephosphoamide, triethylenethiophosphoamide and trimethylol olamine; acetogenins (especially bratacin and bratacinone); ); Beta-lapachone; lapachol; colchicines; betulinic acid; camptothecin (eg, synthetic analog topotecan (HYCAMTIN ( Registered trademark)), CPT-11 (Irinotecan, CAMPTOSAR®), acetylcamptothecin, scopolectin and 9-aminocamptothecin); bryostatin; calistatin; CC-1065 (eg analogs of adzeresin, calzeresin and biselecin) Podophyllic acid; temiposide; cryptophycins (especially cryptophycin 1 and cryptophysin 8); dolastatin; duocarmycin (eg synthetic analogues, KW-2189 and CB1-TM1); eleuterobin; Kuching; Spongestatin; Nitrogen mustards such as chlorambucil, chromafazine, chlorophosphamide, estramustine, ifosfamide, mechloretamine, mechloretami Oxide hydrochloride, melphalan, nobenbitine, phenesterin, prednimustine, trophosphamide, uracil mustard; nitrosoureas such as carmustine, chlorozotocin, hotemustine, lomustine, nimustine and ranimustine; antibiotics such as eninedin antibiotics (eg calicheamicin Calicheamicin gamma II and calicheamicin omega II (see, for example, Agnew, Chem Intl. Ed. Engl., 33: 183-186 (1994)); Dinemycin, such as Dynemycin A; Cusperamycin; and Neocardino Statin chromophore and related chromoprotein enidine antibiotic chromophore), aclacinomycins, actinomycin, auramycin, azaserine, bleomycin, kactino Isin, carabicin, carminomycin, cardinophyrin, chromomycin, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, ADRIAMYCIN® doxorubicin (eg morpholinodoxorubicin, cyanomorpholino-doxorubicin) 2-pyrrolino-doxorubicin and deoxyxorubicin), epirubicin, esorubicin, idarubicin, marceromycin, mitomycins such as mitomycin C, mycophenolic acid, nogaramycin, olivomycin, pepromycin, podophylomycin, puromycin, keramycin, rhodorubicin, streptomycin Nigrin, streptozocin, tubercidine, ubenimex, dinostatin, zorubicin; Antimetabolites such as methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); folic acid analogs such as denopterin, methotrexate, pteropterin, trimethrexate; purine analogs such as fludarabine, 6-mercaptopurine, thiapurine, thioguanine; pyrimidine analogs For example, ancitabine, azacitidine, 6-azauridine, carmoflu, cytarabine, dideoxyuridine, dexfluridine, enositabine, floxuridine; androgens such as carsterone, drmostanolone propionate, epithiostanol, mepithiostane, test lactone; antiadrenal Such as aminoglutethimide, mitotane, trilostane; folic acid supplements such as floric acid; acegraton; aldophosphamide glycosides; Noebulinic acid; Enilracyl; Amsacrine; Vestlabcil; Bisanthrene; Mitoguazone; Mitoxatron; Mopidanmol; Nitraelin; Pentostatin; Phenameto; Piarubicin; Losoxanthrone; 2-Ethylhydrazide; Procarbazine; PSK® Polysaccharide Complex (JHS Natural Products, Eugene, OR); Razoxan; Schizophyllan; spirogermanium; tenuazonic acid; triadicon; 2,2 ', 2 "-to Chlorotriethylamine; trichothecene (especially T-2 toxin, veracrine A, loridine A and anguidine); urethane; vindesine (ELDISINE (R), FILDESIN (R)); dacarbazine; mannomustine; mitoblonitol; pipobroman; gasitocin; (“Ara-C”); thiotepa; taxoids such as TAXOL® paclitaxel (Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology, Princeton, NJ), ABRAXANE ^™ Cremophor-free, Paclitaxel albumin engineered nanoparticle A , Schaumberg, Illinois) and TAXOTERE (registered) Trademark) Doxetaxel (Rhone-Poulenc Roller, Antony, France); chlorambucil; gemcitabine (GEMZAR (R)); 6-thioguanine; mercaptopurine; methotrexate; platinum analogs such as cisplatin and carboplatin (VEL) ); Platinum; etoposide (VP-16); isophosphamide; mitoxantrone; vincristine (ONCOVIN®); oxaliplatin; leucobobin; vinorelbine (NAVELBINE®); novantron; edatrexate; daunomycin Aminopterin; ibandronate; topoisomerase inhibitor RFS2000; difluoromethylolnitine (DMFO); retinoids For example, retinoic acid; capecitalabine (XELODA®); pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the above substances; and combinations of two or more of the above substances, for example, CHOP, ie cyclophosphamide, Abbreviations for doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone combination therapy, and therapeutic abbreviations using FOLFOX, ie, oxaliplatin (ELOXATIN ^™ ) in combination with 5-FU and leucobobin.

  Also encompassed by this definition have the effect of modulating, reducing, blocking or inhibiting the action of hormones that are capable of promoting cancer growth and are in the form of systemic or whole body administration It is often an antihormonal agent. They can themselves be hormones. Exemplified are antiestrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), such as tamoxifen (eg NOLVADEX® tamoxifen), EVISTA® raloxifene, droloxifene, 4-hydroxy tamoxifen, trioxyphene , Cheoxifene, LY11018, onapristone and FARESTON® toremifene; anti-progesterones; estrogen receptor down-regulators (ERD); Agonists such as LUPRON® and ELIGARD® leuprolide acetate, goserelin acetate, buserelin acetate and tripterelin Other antiandrogens, such as flutamide, nilutamide and bicalutamide; and aromatase inhibitors that inhibit the enzyme aromatase that regulates estrogen production in the adrenal glands, such as 4 (5) -imidazoles, aminoglutethimide, MEGASE® acetic acid Includes megesterol, AROMASIN® exemestane, formestany, fadozolol, RIVISOR® borozole, FEMARA® letrozole and ARIMIDEX® aastrozole. Furthermore, such definitions of chemotherapeutic agents include bisphosphonates such as clodronate (eg BONEFOS® or OSTAC®), DIDROCAL® ethylolate, NE-58095, ZOMETA® zoledronic Acid / zoledronate, FOSAMAX® alendronate, AREDIA® pamidronate, SKELID® tiludronate or ACTONEL® risedronate; and toloxacitabine (1,3-dioxolane nucleoside cytosine analog); antisense Oligonucleotides, particularly signalins that are implicated in abnormal cell proliferation such as PKC-alpha, Raf, H-Ras and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) Those that inhibit the expression of genes in the pathway; vaccines, such as THERATEPE® vaccines and gene therapy vaccines, such as ALLOVECTIN® vaccines, LEUVECTIN® vaccines and VAXID® vaccines; (R) topoisomerase 1 inhibitor; ABARELIX (R) rmRH; lapatinib ditosylate (ErbB-2 and EGFR double tyrosine kinase small molecule inhibitors, also known as GW572016); Possible salts, acids or derivatives are also included.

  A “growth inhibitor”, as used herein, refers to a compound or composition that inhibits the growth of cells whose growth is dependent on beta 7 activation, either in vitro or in vivo. That is, the growth inhibitor may be one that substantially reduces the percentage of beta 7 dependent cells in S phase. Examples of growth inhibitors include agents that block cell cycle progression (at a place other than S phase), such as agents that induce G1 arrest and M-phase arrest. Traditional M-phase blockers include vincas (vincristine and vinblastine), taxanes and topoisomerase II inhibitors such as doxorubicin, epirubicin, daunorubicin etoposide and bleomycin. Agents that stop G1 may also induce action up to S-phase arrest, including DNA alkylating agents such as tamoxifen, prednisone, dacarbazine, mechloretamine, cisplatin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and ara-C. A more detailed description can be found in The Molecular Basis of Cancer, Mendelsohn and Israel, eds. , Chapter 1 title "Cell cycle regulation, oncogenes, and antineoplastic drug", Murakami et al. (WB Saunders: Philadelphia, 1995), p. 13. Taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) are both anticancer agents derived from yew trees. Docetaxel (TAXOTERE®, Rhone-Poulenc Roller) derived from European yew is a semi-synthetic analog of paclitaxel (TAXOL®, Bristol-Myers Squibb). Paclitaxel and docetaxel promote the assembly of microtubules from the tubulin dimer and stabilize the microtubules by preventing depolymerization, which inhibits mitosis in the cells.

  “Doxorubicin” is an anthracycline antibiotic. The full chemical name of doxorubicin is (8S-cis) -10-[(3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-L-lyxo-hexapyranosyl) oxy] -7,8,9,10-tetrahydro- 6,8,11-trihydroxy-8- (hydroxyacetyl) -1-methoxy-5,12-naphthacenedione.

The compounds used in the combination therapy using the antagonist anti-beta7 antibody of the present invention include antibodies (for example, other anti-beta7 antagonist antibodies (Fib21, 22, 27, 30, (Tidswell, M. (1997)). ) Or humanized derivatives thereof), anti-α4 antibodies (eg ANTGEN®), anti-TNF (REMICADE®) or non-protein compounds such as 5-ASA compounds ASACOL®, PENTASA ^™ , ROWASA ^™ , COLAZAL ^™ and other compounds such as Purinethol and steroids such as prednisone In certain embodiments, the present invention is also useful for the treatment of an antagonist anti-beta7 antibody alone or for inflammation. Treating a patient, such as a human patient, in combination with a second compound In one embodiment, the second compound is Fib21, 22, 27, 30 or a humanized derivative thereof), an anti-alpha4 antibody, ANTGEN®, anti-TNF, REMICADE®, Selected from the group consisting of 5-ASA compounds, ASACOL®, PENTASA ^™ , ROWASA ^™ , COLAZAL ^™ , Purinethol and steroids and prednisone. In one embodiment of the invention, administration of an antagonist anti-beta7 antibody of the invention substantially reduces the dose of the second compound. In one embodiment, the reduction in the dose of the second agent is at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%. In one embodiment of the invention, the reduced dose combination of the antibody of the invention and the second compound ameliorates symptoms in the patient to a degree substantially the same or better than administration of the second compound alone. To do.

(Generation of mutant antibodies that reduce or eliminate the HAMA response)
Reduction or elimination of the HAMA (human anti-mouse (also applied to human anti-rat or human anti-human) response is an important aspect of clinical development of suitable therapeutic agents, for example, Khaxzaeli et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. ), 80: 937; Jeffers et al., Transplantation (1986), 41: 572; Shawler et al., J. Immunol. (1985), 135: 1530; Sears et al., J. Biol.Response Mod. (1984), 3.138. Miller et al., Blood (1983), 62: 988; Hakimi et al., J. Immunol. (1991), 147: 1352; Reichmann et al., Nature (1988), 332: 323; Junghans et al., Cancer Res. 1990), 50: 1495. As described herein, the present invention provides antibodies that are humanized such that the HAMA response is reduced or eliminated. It can be obtained using routine methods known in the art which will be described in detail later.

  For example, an amino acid sequence derived from an antibody described herein can serve as a starting (parent) sequence for framework and / or hypervariable sequence diversification. The selected framework sequence to which the starting hypervariable sequences are linked is referred to herein as the acceptor human framework. The acceptor human framework may be derived from or derived from a human immunoglobulin (its VL and / or VH region), but preferably the acceptor human framework is derived from or derived from a human consensus framework, The reason is that such a framework has been found to have minimal or no immunogenicity in human patients.

  If the acceptor is derived from a human immunoglobulin, optionally to its own homology to the donor framework sequence by aligning the donor framework sequence to various human framework sequences in the collection of human framework sequences. A human framework sequence selected on the basis may be selected and the most homologous framework sequence as an acceptor selected.

  In one embodiment, the human consensus framework is herein derived from or derived from a VH subgroup III and / or VL kappa subgroup I consensus framework sequence.

That is, the VH acceptor human framework is:
FR1, including EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS (SEQ ID NO: 38), FR2, including WVRQAPGKGLEEWV (SEQ ID NO: 39),
F34 containing RFTISX1DX2SKNTX3YLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCA (SEQ ID NO: 42), where X1 is A or R, X2 is T or N, and X3 is A, L or F,
FR4 containing WGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 41),
One, two, three or all of the framework sequences may be included.
Examples of VH consensus frameworks are:
Human VH subgroup I consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 19);
Human VH subgroup I consensus framework minus extended hypervariable region (SEQ ID NOs: 20-22);
Human VH subgroup II consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 48);
Human VH subgroup II consensus framework minus extension hypervariable region (SEQ ID NOs: 49-51); human VH subgroup III consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 52);
Human VH subgroup III consensus framework minus extended hypervariable region (SEQ ID NOs: 53-55);
Human VH acceptor framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 56);
Human VH acceptor framework minus extension hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 57-58); human VH acceptor 2 framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 59); or human VH acceptor 2 framework minus extension hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 60). -62).

In one embodiment, the VH acceptor human framework is:
FR1, including EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAAS (SEQ ID NO: 38), FR2, including WVRQAPGKGLEEWV (SEQ ID NO: 39),
FR3 including RFTISADTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCA (SEQ ID NO: 43), RFTISRDTSKNTAYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCA (SEQ ID NO: 44),
FR4 including RFTISRDTSKNTFYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCA (SEQ ID NO: 45), RFTISTADTSKNTFYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCA (SEQ ID NO: 46), WGQGTLVTVSS (SEQ ID NO: 41),
One, two, three or all of the framework sequences may be included.

The VL acceptor human framework is:
FR1, including DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC (SEQ ID NO: 34),
FR2, including WYQQKPGKAPKLLI (SEQ ID NO: 35),
FR3, including GVPSRFSGSGGSDFLTTISSLQPEDFATYYC (SEQ ID NO: 36),
FR4 comprising FGQGTKVEEIKR (SEQ ID NO: 37),
One, two, three or all of the framework sequences may be included.
Examples of VL consensus frameworks are:
Human VL kappa subgroup I consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 14);
Human VL kappa subgroup I consensus framework (elongated HVR-L2) (SEQ ID NO: 15);
Human VL kappa subgroup II consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 16);
Human VL kappa subgroup III consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 17); or
Human VL kappa subgroup IV consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 18),
Is included.

  The acceptor may be identical to the selected human framework sequence in the sequence, but as to whether it is derived from a human immunoglobulin or human consensus framework, the present invention relates to a human immunoglobulin sequence or human consensus framework. It is intended that the acceptor sequence may contain substitutions of existing amino acids when compared relative to the sequence. These existing substitutions are preferably minimal; usually only 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid substitution differences relative to the human immunoglobulin or human consensus framework sequences.

  Hypervariable region residues of the non-human antibody are incorporated into the VL and / or VH acceptor human framework. For example, Kabat CDR residues, Chothia hypervariable loop residues. Residues corresponding to Abm residues and / or contact residues may be incorporated. Alternatively, the extended hypervariable region residues 24-34 (L1), 49-56 (L2) and 89-97 (L3), 26-35 (H1), 50-65 or 49-65 (H2) and 93- 102, 94-102 or 95-102 (H3) is also incorporated.

  Although “incorporation” of hypervariable region residues is discussed herein, it will be appreciated that this can be accomplished in a variety of ways, for example, nucleic acids encoding the desired amino acid sequence may have their framework regions active. Mutate nucleic acid encoding mouse variable domain sequence to change to scepter human framework region, or encode human variable domain sequence to change hypervariable domain residues to non-human residues Or by synthesizing a nucleic acid encoding the desired sequence.

  In the examples herein, hypervariable region graft variants were made by Kunkel mutagenesis of nucleic acids encoding human acceptor sequences using separate oligonucleotides for each hypervariable region. Kunkel et al., Methods Enzymol. 154: 367-382 (1987). Appropriate changes can be introduced into the framework and / or hypervariable region using routine techniques to correct and reconstruct the appropriate hypervariable region antigen interactions.

  Phage (mid) display (referred to herein as phage display in some aspects) creates and screens many different potential variant antibodies in a library created by sequence randomization. Can be used as a convenient and quick method for. However, other methods for making and screening for modified antibodies can also be used by those skilled in the art.

  Phage (mid) display technology provides a powerful means for creating and selecting novel proteins that bind to ligands such as antigens. The use of phage (mid) display technology enables the creation of large libraries of protein variants that can be rapidly sorted to find sequences that bind to target molecules with high affinity. The nucleic acid encoding the mutant polypeptide is generally fused to a nucleic acid encoding a viral coat protein such as gene III protein or gene VIII protein. Monovalent phagemid displays have been developed in which a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein or polypeptide is fused to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a portion of the gene III protein (Bass, S., Proteins, 8: 309 (1990); Lowman and Wells, Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology, 3: 205 (1991)). In the monovalent phagemid display system, gene fusion is expressed at low levels, and the wild type gene III protein is also expressed so that the infectivity of the particles is retained. Methods for generating peptide libraries and screening the libraries are disclosed in many patents (eg, encoding US Pat. No. 5,723,286, US Pat. Nos. 5,432,018, 5,580,717 viral coat proteins). Nucleic acids such as 5,427,908 and US Pat. No. 5,498,530).

  Libraries of antibodies or antigen-binding polypeptides have been generated in many ways, such as by modification of a single gene by insertion of random DNA sequences or by cloning families of related genes. Methods for displaying antibodies or antigen-binding fragments using phage (mid) display are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,750,373, 5,733,743, 5,837,242, 5,969,108, 6,172. 197, 5,580,717 and 5,658,727. The library is then screened for the expression of antibodies or antigen binding proteins with the desired properties.

  Methods for substituting selected amino acids within a template nucleic acid are established in the art, some of which are as described herein. For example, hypervariable region residues can be substituted using the Kunkel method. See, for example, Kunkel et al., Methods Enzymol. 154: 367-382 (1987).

  The sequence of the oligonucleotide includes one or more codon sets designed for the hypervariable region residues to be modified. A codon set is a set of various nucleotide triplet sequences used to encode a desired variant amino acid. Codon sets can be displayed using letters designating specific nucleotides or equimolar mixtures of nucleotides as shown below according to the IUB code.

(IUB code)
G guanine A adenine T thymine C cytosine R (A or G)
Y (C or T)
M (A or C)
K (G or T)
S (C or G)
W (A or T)
H (A or C or T)
B (C or G or T)
V (A or C or G)
D (A or G or T) H
N (A or C or G or T).

  For example, in codon set DVK, D can be nucleotides A or G or T; V can be A or G or C; and K can be G or T. This codon set can represent 18 different codons and can encode the amino acids Ala, Trp, Tyr, Lys, Thr, Asn, Lys, Ser, Arg, Asp, Glu, Gly and Cys.

  Oligonucleotides or primer sets can be synthesized using standard methods. A set of oligonucleotides can be synthesized by solid phase synthesis, for example, showing all possible combinations of nucleotide triplets given by a codon set and containing sequences encoding the desired group of amino acids. The synthesis of oligonucleotides having a selected nucleotide “degeneracy” at a particular position is well known in the art. Such a set of nucleotides having a particular codon set can be synthesized using a commercially available nucleic acid synthesizer (eg, available from Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) Or can be purchased commercially (eg, (Available from Life Technologies, Rockville, MD). Thus, a set of synthesized oligonucleotides having a particular codon set typically includes multiple oligonucleotides having different sequences, the difference being established by the codon set within the overall sequence. Oligonucleotides, when used in accordance with the present invention, have sequences that allow for hybridization to variable domain nucleic acid templates and can also include restriction enzyme sites for cloning purposes.

  In one method, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a variant amino acid can be generated by oligonucleotide-mediated mutagenesis. This approach is described in Zoller et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 10: 6487-6504 (1987), which is well known in the art. In other words, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a variant amino acid is prepared by hybridizing an oligonucleotide set encoding a desired codon set to a DNA template, and each template is a plasmid containing a variable region nucleic acid template sequence. Single stranded form. After hybridization, DNA polymerase is used to synthesize the complete second complementary strand of the template that will incorporate the oligonucleotide primer and will contain the codon set provided by the oligonucleotide set.

  Generally, oligonucleotides that are at least 25 nucleotides in length are used. The optimal oligonucleotide has 12-15 nucleotides that are perfectly complementary to the template on either side of the coding nucleotide for mutation. This allows the oligonucleotide to hybridize properly to the single stranded DNA template molecule. Oligonucleotides are described, for example, in Crea et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 75: 5765 (1978), and is readily synthesized using techniques known in the art.

  DNA templates can be derived from bacteriophage M13 vectors (commercially available M13mp18 and M13mp19 vectors are suitable), or Viera et al., Meth. Enzymol. 153: 3 (1987), and is produced by a vector containing a single-stranded phage origin of replication. That is, a single-stranded template can be created by inserting the DNA to be mutated into one of these vectors. The production of single-stranded templates is described in Sambrook et al., Sections 4.21 to 4.41 above.

  In order to modify the native DNA sequence, the oligonucleotide is hybridized to a single stranded template under appropriate hybridization conditions. A DNA polymerase, usually T7 DNA polymerase or a Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, is then added to synthesize the complementary strand of the template using the oligonucleotide as a primer for synthesis. In this way, a heteroduplex such that one strand of DNA encodes the mutated form of gene 1 and the other strand (original template) encodes the native unmodified sequence of gene 1. A molecule is formed. This heteroduplex molecule is then transferred to a suitable host cell, usually a prokaryote, such as E. coli. transform into E. coli JM101. After growing the cells, they are plated on agarose plates and screened with oligonucleotide primers radiolabeled with 32-phosphate to find bacterial colonies containing mutated DNA.

  The method described above may be modified so that a homoduplex molecule is formed in which both strands of the plasmid contain the mutation. Modification is performed as follows. Single stranded oligonucleotides are annealed to single stranded templates as described above. Three deoxyribonucleotides, deoxyriboadenosine (dATP), deoxyriboguanosine (dGTP) and deoxyribothymidine (dTT) are combined with a modified thiodeoxyribocytosine (available from Amersham) called dCTP- (aS). This mixture is added to the template-oligonucleotide complex. When DNA polymerase is added to this mixture, an NDA chain identical to the template other than the mutated base is formed. Furthermore, this new strand of DNA contains dCTP- (aS) instead of dCTP and is thus protected from digestion by restriction endonucleases. After the double-stranded heteroduplex template strand has been nicked with an appropriate restriction enzyme, the portion past the region containing the site to be mutagenized with ExoIII nuclease or other suitable nuclease Can be digested with. The reaction is then stopped to obtain a molecule that is only partially single-stranded. A complete double-stranded DNA homoduplex is then formed using DNA polymerase in the presence of all four deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates, ATP and DNA ligase. This homoduplex molecule is then transformed into a suitable host cell.

  As described above, the sequence of the oligonucleotide set is of sufficient length to hybridize to the template nucleic acid and may also contain restriction sites, though not necessarily. The DNA template can be a vector derived from the bacteriophage M13 vector, or Viera et al., Meth. Enzymol. 153: 3 (1987), and is produced by a vector containing a single-stranded phage origin of replication. That is, a single-stranded template can be created by inserting the DNA to be mutated into one of these vectors. The production of single-stranded templates is described in Sambrook et al., Sections 4.21 to 4.41 above.

  According to another method, a library can be formed by providing upstream and downstream oligonucleotide sets, each set having a plurality of oligonucleotides of different sequences, the different sequences being given within the sequence of oligonucleotides. Established by the codon set to be established. The upstream and downstream oligonucleotide sets along the variable domain template nucleic acid sequence can be used in the polymerase chain reaction to form a “library” of PCR products. PCR products are sometimes referred to as “nucleic acid cassettes” because they can be fused with other related or unrelated nucleic acid sequences, such as viral coat proteins and dimerization domains, using established molecular biology techniques. it can.

  The sequence of the PCR primer is accessible to the solvent in the hypervariable region and includes one or more codon sets designed for a very diverse position. As described above, the codon set is a set of different nucleotide triplet sequences that are used to encode the desired variant amino acids.

  Antibody selectants that meet the desired criteria selected through appropriate screening / selection steps can be isolated and cloned using standard recombinant techniques.

(Vector, host cell and recombination method)
For recombinant production of the antibodies of the invention, the nucleic acid encoding it is isolated and inserted into a replicable vector for subsequent cloning (DNA amplification) or for expression. DNA encoding the antibody can be easily isolated using conventional procedures (eg, by using oligonucleotide probes that can specifically bind to the genes encoding the heavy and light chains of the antibody). To be sequenced. Many vectors can be used. The choice of vector depends in part on the host cell used. In general, preferred host cells are of either prokaryotic or eukaryotic (generally mammalian) origin.

(Production of antibodies using prokaryotic host cells)
(Construction of vector)
Polynucleotide sequences encoding polypeptide components of the antibodies of the invention can be obtained using standard recombinant techniques. The desired polynucleotide sequence is isolated and sequenced from antibody producing cells such as hybridoma cells. Alternatively, the polynucleotide can be synthesized using a nucleotide synthesizer or a PCR technique. Once obtained, the sequence encoding the polypeptide is replicated in a prokaryotic host and inserted into a recombinant vector capable of expressing the heterologous polynucleotide. Many vectors available and known in the art can be used for the purposes of the present invention. The selection of the appropriate vector will be determined primarily by the size of the nucleic acid to be inserted into the vector and the particular host cell to be transformed with the vector. Each vector contains various components depending on its function (amplification or expression of heterologous polynucleotide or both) and its compatibility with the particular host cell into which it is contained. Vector components generally include, for example, an origin of replication, a selectable marker gene, a promoter, a ribosome binding site (RBS), a signal sequence, a heterologous nucleic acid insert and a transcription termination sequence.

  In general, vectors containing replicon and control sequences derived from species compatible with the host cell are used in conjunction with the host. Vectors usually carry replication sites as well as marking sequences that can provide phenotypic selection in transformed cells. For example, E.I. E. coli is typically E. coli. It is transformed with pBR322, a plasmid derived from E. coli species. pBR322 contains genes encoding ampicillin (Amp) and tetracycline (Tet) resistance and thus provides a convenient means for finding transformed cells. pBR322, its derivatives or other microbial plasmids or bacteriophages may also contain or be modified to contain a promoter that can be used by microorganisms for expression of endogenous proteins. Examples of pBR322 derivatives used for the expression of specific antibodies are described in detail in Carter et al. US Pat. No. 5,648,237.

  Furthermore, phage vectors containing control sequences that are compatible with replicons and host microorganisms can be used as transformation vectors in combination with their hosts. For example, λGEM. TM. Bacteriophages such as -11 are E. coli. It may be utilized in making recombinant vectors that can be used to transform susceptible host cells such as E. coli LE392.

  The expression vector of the present invention may comprise two or more promoter-cistron pairs encoding each of the polypeptide components. A promoter is an untranslated regulatory sequence located upstream (5 ') to a cistron that regulates its expression. Prokaryotic promoters typically belong to two classes: inducible and constitutive promoters. An inducible promoter is a promoter that initiates an increased level of transcription of cistron under its control in response to changes in culture conditions such as the presence or absence of nutrients or temperature changes.

  A number of promoters recognized by a variety of potential host cells are well known. The selected promoter is a cistron that encodes the light or heavy chain by removing the promoter from the source DNA via restriction enzyme digestion and inserting the isolated promoter sequence into the vector of the present invention. It can be operably linked to DNA. Both native promoter sequences and many heterologous promoters may be used to direct the direct amplification and / or expression of the target gene. In some embodiments, heterologous promoters generally allow for higher transcription and higher yields of expressed target genes compared to native target polypeptide promoters. It's being used.

  Promoters suitable for use when using prokaryotes include the PhoA promoter, β-galactamase and lactose promoter systems, tryptophan (trp) promoter systems and hybrid promoters such as the tac or trc promoter. However, other promoters that function in bacteria (eg, other known bacterial or phage promoters) are equally suitable. The nucleotide sequences have been published so that those skilled in the art can use them to target light and heavy chains (Siebenlist et al. (1980) using linkers or adapters to provide any necessary restriction sites. ) It can be operatively ligated to a cistron encoding Cell 20: 269).

  In one aspect of the invention, each cistron in the recombinant vector includes a secretory signal sequence component that directs translocation of the expressed polypeptide across the membrane. In general, the signal sequence may be a component of the vector, or it may be a part of the target polypeptide DNA that is inserted into the vector. The signal sequence selected for the purposes of the present invention must be one that is recognized and processed (ie cleaved by a signal peptidase) by the host cell. In the case of prokaryotic host cells that do not recognize or process a signal peptide that is native to the heterologous polypeptide, the signal sequence can be, for example, alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, Ipp or thermostable enterotoxin II (STII) leader, LamB, PhoE, Substituted by a prokaryotic signal sequence selected from the group consisting of PelB, OmpA and MBP. In one embodiment of the invention, the signal sequence used in both cistrons of the expression system is the STII signal sequence or a variant thereof.

In another aspect, the production of the immunoglobulins of the present invention can occur within the host cell protoplast and thus does not require the presence of a secretory signal sequence within each cistron. In that regard, immunoglobulin light and heavy chains are expressed in the protoplasm, folded and assembled to form a functional immunoglobulin. Certain host cells (eg, E. coli trxB ⁻ strains) provide protoplasmic conditions that favor disulfide bond formation, thereby allowing proper folding and assembly of the expressed protein subunits. Proba and Plockthun Gene, 159: 203 (1995).

  The present invention provides an expression system that adjusts the quantitative ratio of expressed polypeptide components to maximize the yield of secreted and properly assembled antibodies of the invention. Such modulation is achieved, at least in part, by simultaneously adjusting the translation strength for the polypeptide component.

  One technique for adjusting translation strength is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,840,523 to Simons et al. It utilizes a variant of the translation initiation region (TIR) within the cistron. For a given TIR, a series of amino acid or nucleic acid sequence variants can be generated with a range of translation strengths, providing a convenient means of adjusting this factor for the desired level of expression of a particular strand. TIR variants can be made by conventional mutagenesis techniques that result in codon changes that may alter the amino acid sequence, although silent changes in the nucleotide sequence are preferred. TIR modifications include, for example, modification of the number or spacing of Shine-Dalgarno sequences, as well as signal sequence modifications. One way to form a mutant signal sequence is to form a “codonback” at the beginning of the coding sequence that does not change the amino acid sequence of the signal sequence (ie, the change is silent). This can be achieved by changing the third nucleotide position of each codon; furthermore, some amino acids, such as leucine, serine and arginine, can add multiple complexity that can add complexity to the databank creation. Has a first and second position. This mutagenesis method is described in Yansura et al. (1992) METHODS: A Companion to Methods in Enzymol. 4: 151-158.

  Preferably, the set of vectors is formed to have a range of TIR intensities for each cistron contained therein. This limited set results in a comparison of the expression levels of each chain as well as the yield of the desired antibody product under various TIR intensity combinations. TIR intensity can be measured by quantifying the level of receptor gene expression as described in detail in US Pat. No. 5,840,523 to Simons et al. Based on the translation strength comparison, the desired individual TIR is selected and combined with the expression vector construct of the present invention.

Prokaryotic host cells suitable for expressing the antibodies of the invention include protozoa and eubacteria such as, for example, gram negative or gram positive organisms. Examples of useful bacteria include Escherichia (eg, E. coli), Bacillus (eg, B. subtilis), Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas species (eg, P. aeruginosa), Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia marclebsiella, Proteus, Shigella, Rhizobia, Includes Vitreosila or Paracoccus. In one embodiment, Gram negative cells are used. In one embodiment, E.I. E. coli cells are used as the host of the present invention. E. Examples of E. coli strains include strain W3110 (Bachmann, Cellular and Molecular Biology, vol. 2 (Washington DC: American Society for Microbiology, 1987), pp. 1190-1227; For example, including strain 33D3 having genotype W3110ΔfhuA (ΔtonA) ptr3lacIqlacL8ΔompTΔ (nmpc-fepE) degP41kan ^R (US Pat. No. 5,639,635). Other strains and derivatives thereof, such as E. coli. E. coli 294 (ATCC 31, 446), E. coli. coli B, E.I. coli _λ 1776 (ATCC 31,537) and E. coli. E. coli RV308 (ATCC 31,608) is also suitable. These examples are illustrative and not limiting. Methods for constructing derivatives of any of the above-mentioned bacteria having a given genotype are known in the art and are described, for example, in Bass et al., Proteins, 8: 309-314 (1990). It is generally necessary to select an appropriate bacterium while taking into account the replication ability of the replicon in the bacterium. For example, E.I. E. coli, Serratia or Salmonella species are suitable for use as hosts when supplying replicons using well-known plasmids such as pBR322, pBR325, pACYC177 or pKN410. Typically, host cells must secrete minimal amounts of proteolytic enzymes and it is desirable to incorporate additional protease inhibitors in the cell culture.

(Manufacture of antibodies)
Host cells are transformed with the expression vectors described above and cultured in a conventional nutrient medium appropriately adjusted for induction of promoter, selection of transformants, or amplification of genes encoding desired sequences.

  Transformation means introducing DNA into a prokaryotic host so that the DNA is replicable as an extrachromosomal element or by chromosomal integration. Depending on the host cell used, transformation is done using standard techniques appropriate to such cells. Calcium treatment using calcium chloride is generally used for bacterial cells that contain significant cell wall barriers. Another method of transformation uses polyethylene glycol / DMSO. Yet another technique is electroporation.

  Prokaryotic cells used to produce the polypeptides of the invention are grown in a medium known in the art and suitable for culturing selected host cells. An example of a suitable medium is Luria medium (LB) plus the necessary nutritional supplements. In some embodiments, the media may also contain a selection agent selected based on the construction of the expression vector to selectively allow growth of prokaryotic cells containing the expression vector. For example, ampicillin may be added to a medium for the growth of cells that express an ampicillin resistance gene.

  In addition to carbon, nitrogen and mineral phosphate supplements, any necessary supplements may be introduced alone or as a mixture with other supplements or media, for example as a complex nitrogen source, at an appropriate concentration May include. Optionally, the medium may contain one or more reducing agents selected from the group consisting of glutathione, cysteine, cystamine, thioglycolate, dithioerythritol and dithiothreitol.

  Prokaryotic host cells are cultured at a suitable temperature. E. For the growth of E. coli, for example, the preferred temperature is in the range of about 20 ° C to about 39 ° C, more preferably about 25 ° C to about 37 ° C, and even more preferably about 30 ° C. The pH of the medium is in the range of about 5 to about 9 depending mainly on the host organism. E. In the case of E. coli, the pH is preferably from about 6.8 to about 7.4, more preferably about 7.0.

  When an inducible promoter is used in the expression vector of the present invention, protein expression is induced under conditions suitable for promoter activation. In one aspect of the invention, the PhoA promoter is used to control polypeptide transcription. Thus, transformed host cells are cultured in phosphate-restricted media for introduction. Preferably, the phosphate limiting medium is C.I. R. A. P medium (see, for example, Simmons et al., J. Immunol. Methods (2002), 263: 133-147). Various other inducers may also be used depending on the vector construct used, as is known in the art.

  In one embodiment, the expressed polypeptide of the invention is secreted into and recovered from the periplasm of the host cell. In protein recovery, cell destruction is typically performed by means such as osmotic shock, ultrasound or fine lysis. After the cells are disrupted, cell debris or whole cells may be separated by centrifugation or filtration. The protein may be further purified, for example, by affinity resin chromatography. Alternatively, the protein can be transferred into the medium and isolated there. In order to further purify the protein produced, the cells may be removed from the medium and the culture supernatant filtered and concentrated. The expressed polypeptide can be further isolated and identified using commonly known methods such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Western blot.

  In one aspect of the present invention, antibody production is carried out in large quantities by a fermentation process. A variety of large scale fed batch fermentation procedures can be used for the production of recombinant proteins. Large scale fermentations have a capacity of at least 1000 liters, preferably about 1,000 to 100,000 liters. These fermenters use a stirring impeller to disperse oxygen and nutrients, especially glucose (a preferred carbon atom / energy source). Small scale fermentation generally refers to fermentation in a fermentor that has a volume of about 100 liters or less and can range from about 1 liter to about 100 liters.

In the fermentation process, induction of protein expression typically begins after cells are grown under suitable conditions until they reach a desired density, eg, OD _{550 of} about 180-220, which is an early stationary phase. As known in the art and as described above, various inducers may be used depending on the vector construct used. The cells may be grown for a short time before induction. Cells usually induce for about 12-50 hours, although longer or shorter times may be used.

In order to improve the production yield and quality of the polypeptide of the present invention, various fermentation conditions can be changed. For example, to improve proper assembly and folding of the secreted antibody polypeptide, additional vector overexpression chaperone proteins such as Dsb protein (DsbA, DsbB, DsbC, DsbD and / or DsbG) or FkpA (chaperone) An active pepitidylpropyl cis-trans-isomerase) can be used to co-transform host prokaryotic cells. Chaperone proteins have been found to promote proper folding and solubility of heterologous proteins produced in host cells. Chen et al. (1999) J
Bio Chem 274: 19601-19605; Georgio et al., US Pat. No. 6,083,715; Georgio et al., US Pat. No. 6,027,888; Biol. Chem. 275: 17100-17105; Ramm and Pluckthun (2000) J. MoI. Biol. Chem. 275: 17106-17113; Arie et al. (2001) Mol. Microbiol. 39: 199-210.

  To minimize proteolysis of expressed heterologous proteins (especially those that are proteolytically sensitive), specific host strains that lack proteolytic enzymes can be used for the present invention. For example, the host cell line may undergo a genetic mutation within a gene encoding a known bacterial protease such as protease III, OmpT, DegP, Tsp, protease I, protease Mi, protease V, protease VI and combinations thereof. May be modified. Some E.I. strains deficient in E. coli protease can be used, eg, Jolly et al. (1998), supra; Georgio et al. US Pat. No. 5,264,365; Georgiou et al. US Pat. 2: 63-72 (1996).

  In one embodiment, E. coli that is deficient in proteolytic enzymes and transformed with a plasmid that overexpresses one or more chaperone proteins. E. coli strains are used as host cells in the expression system of the present invention.

(Purification of antibodies)
In one embodiment, the antibody protein produced in the present invention is further purified to obtain a preparation that is made fairly homogeneous for subsequent testing and use. Standard protein purification methods known in the art can be used. The following procedures: fractionation on an immunoaffinity or ion exchange column, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPCL, chromatography on silica gel or a cation exchange resin such as DEAE, isoelectric focusing, SDS-PAGE, Examples of purification procedures include ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration using, for example, Sephadex G-75.

  In one aspect, protein A immobilized on a solid phase is used for immunoaffinity purification of the full-length antibody product of the present invention. Protein A is a 41 kD cell wall protein derived from Staphylococcus aureus that binds with high affinity to the Fc region of an antibody. Lindmark et al. (1983) J. MoI. Immunol. Meth. 62: 1-13. The solid phase on which protein A is immobilized is preferably a column containing a glass or silica surface, more preferably a glass column or silicate column with controlled pores. For some applications, the column is coated with a reagent, such as glycerol, to prevent non-specific binding of contaminants.

  As a first step of purification, a preparation derived from the above cell culture is applied onto a protein A-immobilized solid phase, and specific binding of the antibody of interest to protein A is performed. Next, the solid phase is washed to remove contaminants non-specifically bound to the solid phase. Finally, the target antibody is recovered from the solid phase by elution.

(Production of antibodies using eukaryotic host cells)
Vector components generally include, but are not limited to, one or more of a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence.

(I) Signal Sequence Component Vectors for use in eukaryotic host cells may also contain a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the N-terminus of the target mature protein or polypeptide. The heterologous signal sequence that is preferably selected is one that is recognized and processed (ie, cleaved by a signal peptidase) by the host cell. For mammalian cell expression, mammalian signal sequences as well as viral secretion leaders such as herpes simplex gD signal can be used.

  Such precursor region DNA is ligated in reading frame to DNA encoding the antibody.

(Ii) Origin of replication Generally, an origin of replication component is not required for mammalian expression vectors. For example, the SV40 origin may typically be used only because it contains an early promoter.

(Iii) Selection gene component Expression and cloning vectors may contain a selection gene, also termed a selectable marker. Typical selection genes either (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins such as ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate or tetracycline (b) supplement auxotrophic deficiencies where applicable, or (c) It encodes a protein that supplies important nutrients that cannot be obtained from complex media.

  An example of a selection scheme utilizes agents that stop the growth of host cells. Cells that are well transformed with a heterologous gene produce a protein conferring drug resistance and can therefore survive in a selective environment. Examples of such dominant selection use the drugs neomycin, mycophenolic acid and hygromycin.

  Another example of a suitable selectable marker for mammalian cells is the ability to incorporate antibody nucleic acids, such as DHFR, thymidine kinase, metallothionein-I and -II, preferably primate metallothionein genes, adenosine deaminase, ornithine carboxylase, and the like. It makes it possible to discover cells that have them.

  For example, cells transformed with the DHFR selection gene are first discovered by culturing all transformants in a medium containing methotrexate (Mtx), a competitive antagonist of DHFR. A suitable host cell when using wild type DHFR is a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line deficient in DHFR activity (eg, ATCC CRL-9096).

  Alternatively, host cells (especially containing endogenous DHFR) transformed or co-transformed with DNA sequences encoding antibodies, wild-type DHFR protein and other selectable markers such as aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase (APH) Wild-type hosts) can be selected by cell growth in media containing a selective agent for a selectable marker such as an aminoglycoside antibiotic, for example kanamycin, neomycin or G418. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,199.

(Iv) Promoter Component Expression and cloning vectors usually contain a promoter that is recognized by the host organism and is operably linked to the antibody polypeptide nucleic acid. Promoter sequences are known for eukaryotes. Virtually all eukaryotic genes have an AT-rich region located approximately 25-30 bases upstream from the site where transcription is initiated. Another sequence present 70 to 80 bases upstream from the start of transcription of many genes is the CNCAAT region, where N is any nucleotide. The 3 ′ end of most eukaryotic genes is an AATAAA sequence that is a signal for the addition of a poly A tail to the 3 ′ end of the coding sequence. All of these sequences are suitable for insertion into eukaryotic expression vectors.

  Antibody polypeptide transcription from vectors in mammalian host cells is, for example, polyoma virus, fowlpox virus, adenovirus (eg, adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, retrovirus, hepatitis B virus. And promoters derived from the genomes of viruses such as Simian Virus 40 (SV40), heterologous mammalian promoters, such as actin promoters, or immunoglobulin promoters, from heat shock promoters, so long as these promoters are compatible with the host cell system. Is controlled.

  The early and late promoters of the SV40 virus are conveniently obtained as an SV40 restriction fragment that also contains the SV40 viral origin of replication. The immediate early promoter of the human cytomegalovirus is conveniently obtained as a HindIIIE restriction fragment. A system for expressing DNA in mammalian hosts using the bovine papilloma virus as a vector is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,419,446. A modification of this system is described in US Pat. No. 4,601,978. Furthermore, regarding the expression of human β-interferon cDNA in mouse cells under the control of a thymidine kinase promoter derived from herpes simplex virus, see Reyes et al., Nature 297: 598-601 (1982). Alternatively, the rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat can be used as a promoter.

(V) Enhancer element component Transcription of DNA encoding the antibody polypeptide of the present invention by higher eukaryotes is often increased by inserting an enhancer sequence into the vector. Many enhancer sequences are now known from mammalian genes (globin, elastase, albumin, α-fetoprotein and insulin). Typically, however, it is to use an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus. Examples include the late SV40 enhancer (bp 100-270) of the origin of replication, the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer late of the origin of replication, and the adenovirus enhancer. See also Yaniv, Nature 297: 17-18 (1982) on enhancing elements for activation of eukaryotic promoters. Enhancers may be spliced into the vector at a position 5 'or 3' to the antibody-polypeptide coding sequence, but are preferably located at a site 5 'from the promoter.

(Vi) Transcription termination component Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells typically also contain sequences necessary for termination of transcription and for stabilization of mRNA. Such a sequence yields an untranslated region, typically 5 'and optionally 3' of eukaryotic or viral DNA or cDNA. These regions contain nucleotide segments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the untranslated portion of the mRNA encoding the antibody. One useful transcription termination component is the bovine growth hormone polyadenylation region. Reference may be made to WO94 / 11026 and the expression vector disclosed therein.

(Vii) Selection and transformation of host cells Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing DNA in the vector herein include higher eukaryotic cells described herein, eg, vertebrate host cells. . Propagation of vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a typical procedure. Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are monkey kidney CV1 strain transformed with SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL1651); human embryonic kidney strain (293 or subcloned for growth in suspension culture) 293 cells, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol. 36:59 (1977)); Baby hamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL10); Chinese hamster ovary cells / -DHFR (CHO, Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci). USA 77: 4216 (1980)); mouse Sertoli cells (TM4, Mother, Biol. Reprod. 23: 243-251 (1980)), monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-). 76, TCC CRL-1587); human cervical cancer cells (HELA, ATCC CCL2); canine kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL34); buffalo rat liver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442) human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL75); Human liver cells (HepG2, HB8065); mouse breast cancer (MMT 060562, ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mother et al., Anals NY Acad. Sci. 383: 44-68 (1982)); MRC5 cells; FS4 cells; and human liver It is a cell carcinoma line (HepG2).

  Host cells are transformed with the above-described expression or cloning vectors for antibody production, and conventional nutrients appropriately modified for induction of promoters, selection of transformants or amplification of genes encoding desired sequences. Incubate in medium.

(Viii) Host cell culture The host cells used to produce the antibodies of the invention may be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially available such as Ham'sF10 (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), minimal essential medium ((MEM), Sigma), RPMI-1640 (Sigma) and Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium ((DMEM), Sigma) These media are suitable for culturing host cells. Furthermore, Ham et al., Meth. Enz. 58:44 (1979), Barnes et al., Anal. Biochem. 102: 255 (1980), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,767,704; 4,657,866; 4,927,762; 4,560,655; or 5,122,469; WO90 / 03430; WO87 / 00195; Patent Re. Any of the media described in 30,985 may be used as media for host cells. Any of these media may optionally contain hormones and / or other growth factors (eg insulin, transferrin or epidermal growth factor), salts (eg sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium and phosphate), buffers (eg HEPES ), Nucleotides (eg adenosine and thymidine), antibodies (eg GENTAMYCIN ^™ agents), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds usually present at final concentrations in the micromolar range) and glucose or an equivalent source of energy. Good. Any other necessary supplements may also be included at appropriate concentrations as known to those skilled in the art. Culture conditions, such as temperature, pH, etc., are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression and are readily conceived by those skilled in the art.

(Ix) Purification of antibody When using recombinant techniques, the antibody can be produced intracellularly or directly secreted into the medium. When the antibody is produced intracellularly, as a first step, a granular crushed material that is a host cell or a lysed fragment is removed by, for example, centrifugation or ultrafiltration. When the antibody is secreted into the medium, the supernatant of such an expression system is generally first concentrated using a commercially available protein concentration filter, such as Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration unit. Proteolytic inhibitors such as PMSF may be used in any of the above steps to inhibit proteolysis and antibiotics may be added to prevent accidental growth of contaminants.

The antibody composition prepared from the cells can be purified using, for example, hydroxyapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis and affinity chromatography, where affinity chromatography is the preferred purification technique. The relevance of protein A as an affinity ligand depends on the species and isotype of any immunoglobulin Fc domain that is present in the antibody. Protein A can be used to purify antibodies based on the heavy chain of human γ1, γ2, or γ4 (Lindmark et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 62: 1-13 (1983)). Protein G is recommended for all mouse isotypes and human γ3 (Guss et al., EMBO J. 5; 15671575 (1986)). The matrix to which the affinity ligand is attached is most often agarose, but other matrices can be used. Mechanically stable matrices such as glass with controlled pores or poly (styrenedivinyl) benzene allow for faster flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. If the antibody contains a C _H 3 domain, BakerbondABX ^™ resin (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) is suitable for purification. Other methods for protein purification, such as fractionation on ion exchange columns, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPCL, chromatography on silica gel, chromatography on heparin SEPHAROSE ^™ , anion or cation exchange resin (eg polyaspartic acid Column) chromatography, isoelectric focusing, SDS-PAGE and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also used depending on the antibody to be recovered.

  After any preliminary purification step, the mixture containing the antibody of interest and contaminants is preferably run at a low salt concentration (eg, about 0-0.25 M salt) at a pH of about 2.5-4.5. To hydrophobic interaction chromatography at low pH using elution of.

(Activity test)
The antibodies of the invention can be characterized for their physical / chemical properties and biological functions by various tests known in the art.

  The purified immunoglobulin is further characterized by a series of tests such as N-terminal sequencing, amino acid analysis, non-denaturing size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectral analysis, ion exchange chromatography and papain digestion. be able to.

  In certain embodiments of the invention, the immunoglobulin produced here is analyzed for its biological activity. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulins of the invention are tested for their antigen binding activity. Examples of antigen binding tests known in the art and that can be used in the present invention include Western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation tests, fluorescent immunoassays, and protein A immunoassays. Any direct or competitive binding test using any of these techniques. Exemplary antigen binding tests are described below in the Examples section.

  In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates modified antibodies that possess some but not all effector functions, whereby the half-life of the antibody in vivo is important, but still specific Effector functions (eg complement and ADCC) are desirable candidates for many applications where they are unnecessary or harmful. In certain embodiments, the Fc activity of the produced immunoglobulin is measured to ensure that only the desired properties are maintained. In vitro and / or in vivo cytotoxicity tests can be performed to confirm the reduction / depletion of CDC and / or ADCC activity. For example, by performing an Fc receptor (FcR) binding test, the antibody is deficient in FcγR binding (thus considered to be deficient in ADCC activity) but retains FcRn binding ability. Can be secured. NK cells, the primary cells for mediating ADCC, are ambassadors to express FcγRIII only, monocytes express FcγRI, FcγRII and FcγRIII. FcR expression on hematopoietic cells is described in Ravetch and Kinet, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 9: 457-92 (1991), summarized in Table 3 on page 464. Examples of in vitro tests for assessing ADCC activity of molecules of interest are described in US Pat. No. 5,500,362 or 5,821,337. Useful effector cells for such tests include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and natural killer (NK) cells. Alternatively or additionally, the ADCC activity of the molecule of interest may be assessed in vivo, for example in animal models such as those disclosed in Clynes et al., PNAS (USA) 95: 652-656 (1988). A Clq binding test may also be performed to confirm that the antibody is unable to bind to Clq, ie, lacks CDC activity. To assess complement activation, see, for example, Gazzano-Santoro et al. Immunol. The CDC test described in Methods 202: 163 (1996) may be performed. Measurement of FcRn binding and in vivo clearance / half-life can be performed using methods known in the art as described, for example, in the Examples section.

(Humanized antibody)
The present invention includes humanized antibodies. Various methods are known in the art for humanizing non-human antibodies. For example, a humanized antibody can have one or more amino acid residues introduced into it from a source that is non-human. These non-human amino acid residues are often referred to as “import” residues, which are typically derived from “import” variable domains. Humanization can be performed according to the method of Winter et al. (Jones et al., (1986) Nature 321: 522-525; Riechmann et al., Essentially replacing the hypervariable region sequences of the corresponding sequences of human antibodies. (1988) Nature 332: 323-327; Verhoeyen et al. (1988) Science 239: 1534-1536). Accordingly, such “humanized” antibodies are chimeric antibodies (US Pat. No. 4,816,567) wherein substantially less than an intact human variable domain has been substituted by the corresponding sequence of a non-human species. Indeed, humanized antibodies are typically human antibodies in which some hypervariable region residues and possibly some FR residues are replaced by residues from similar sites in rodent antibodies. .

  The selection of both the light and heavy chain human variable domains to be used in generating humanized antibodies is crucial to reducing antigenicity. According to the so-called “best fit” method, the sequence of the variable domain of a rodent antibody is screened against the entire library of known human variable domain sequences. The human sequence that was then closest to that of rodents is accepted as a human framework for humanized antibodies (Sims et al. (1993) J. Immunol. 151: 2296; Chothia et al. (1987) J. MoI. Mol. Biol. 196: 901). Another method uses a particular framework derived from the consensus sequence of all human antibodies of a particular subgroup of light or heavy chains. The same framework may be used for several different humanized antibodies (Carter et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89: 4285; Presta et al. (1993) J. Immunol., 151: 2623).

  It is further important that antibodies be humanized while retaining high affinity for the antigen and other desirable biological properties. To achieve this goal, according to one method, humanized antibodies are produced using a three-dimensional model of the parent and humanized sequences through the process of analysis of the parent sequence and various conceptual humanized products. To do. Three-dimensional immunoglobulin models are commercially available and are familiar to those skilled in the art. Computer programs that describe and display the putative three-dimensional conformation structure of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences can be used. Examining these displays allows analysis of the putative role of residues in the function of candidate immunoglobulin sequences, ie, analysis of residues that affect the ability of a candidate immunoglobulin to bind its antigen. In this way, FR residues can be combined from options, recipients and import sequences so that the desired antibody characteristic, such as increased affinity for the target antigen (s), is achieved. In general, hypervariable region residues are directly and most heavily involved in influencing antigen binding.

(Antibody variant)
In one aspect, the invention provides an antibody fragment comprising a modification at the interface of an Fc polypeptide comprising an Fc region, where the modification stimulates and / or promotes heterodimerization. These modifications include the introduction of a ridge into the first Fc polypeptide and a depression into the second Fc polypeptide, where the ridge can be positioned in the depression, whereby the first And the complex formation of the second Fc polypeptide is promoted. Methods for forming antibodies having these modifications are known in the art and are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,731,168.

  In some embodiments, modification of the amino acid sequences of the antibodies described herein is contemplated. For example, it may be desirable to improve the binding affinity and / or other biological properties of the antibody. Amino acid sequence variants of the antibody are produced by introducing appropriate nucleotide changes into the antibody nucleic acid, or by peptide synthesis. Such modifications include, for example, deletion and / or insertion and / or substitution of residues within the amino acid sequence of the antibody. Any combination of deletions, insertions and substitutions may be made until the final construct is reached, provided that the final construct must possess the desired properties. Amino acid modifications may be introduced into the amino acid sequence of the antibody of interest at the time the sequence is generated.

  Useful methods for the discovery of specific residues or regions of antibodies that are preferred positions for mutagenesis are described in “Alanine Scanning Mutations” as described by Cunningham and Wells (1989) Science, 244: 1081-1085. It is called “trigger”. Here, a group of residues or target residues is found (eg charged residues such as arg, asp, his, lys and gln) and neutral or oppositely charged amino acids (most preferably alanine or polyalanine) ) Affects the interaction of the amino acid with the antigen. The positions of these amino acids that are functionally sensitive to substitution are then probed by introducing additional or other variants at or for the position of substitution. That is, the site for introducing an amino acid sequence variation is determined in advance, but the nature of the mutation itself does not have to be determined in advance. For example, to analyze the performance of a mutation at a given site, ala scanning or random mutagenesis is performed at the target codon or region, and the expressed immunoglobulin having the desired activity is screened.

  Amino acid sequence insertions include amino and / or carboxy terminal fusions ranging in length from polypeptides containing 1 residue to 100 or more residues, and insertions within a sequence of single or multiple amino acid residues Is included. Examples of terminal insertions include antibodies having an N-terminal methionyl residue or antibodies fused to a cytotoxic polypeptide. Other insertional variants of the antibody molecule include an N- or C-terminal fusion of the antibody to an enzyme (eg, ADEPT) or polypeptide that increases the half-life of the antibody in serum.

  Another type of variant is an amino acid substitution variant. These variants have at least one amino acid residue in the antibody molecule replaced with a different residue. Although the site of greatest interest for substitution mutagenesis includes the hypervariable region, FR modifications are also contemplated. Conservative substitutions are shown in Table 2 under the heading of “preferred substitutions”. If such a substitution results in a change in biological activity, introduce a more substantial change, such as those named in Table 2 as “exemplified substitutions” or as described below for the amino acid class. The product may be screened.

抗体の生物学的特性における実質的な修飾は（ａ）例えばシート又はらせん状のコンホーメーションとしての、置換の領域におけるポリペプチドの骨格の構造、（ｂ）標的部位における分子の電荷又は疎水性、又は、（ｃ）側鎖の嵩、を維持することに対するその作用において有意に異なる置換を選択することにより達成される。アミノ酸はその側鎖の特性における類似性に従って、下記の通りグループ分けしてよい（Ａ．Ｌ．Ｌｅｈｎｉｎｇｅｒ，Ｂｉｏｃｈｅｍｉｓｔｒｙ，ｓｅｃｏｎｄ ｅｄ．，ｐｐ．７３−７５，Ｗｏｒｔｈ Ｐｕｂｌｉｓｈｅｒｓ，Ｎｅｗ Ｙｏｒｋ（１９７５））。
（１）非極性：Ａｌａ（Ａ）、Ｖａｌ（Ｖ）、Ｌｅｕ（Ｌ）、Ｉｌｅ（Ｉ）、Ｐｒｏ（Ｐ）、Ｐｈｅ（Ｆ）、Ｔｒｐ（Ｗ）、Ｍｅｔ（Ｍ）
（２）非荷電極性：Ｇｌｙ（Ｇ）、Ｓｅｒ（Ｓ）、Ｔｈｅ（Ｔ）、Ｃｙｓ（Ｃ）、Ｔｙｒ（Ｙ）、Ａｓｎ（Ｎ）、Ｇｌｎ（Ｑ）
（３）酸性：Ａｓｐ（Ｄ）、Ｇｌｕ（Ｅ）
（４）塩基性：Ｌｙｓ（Ｋ）、Ａｒｇ（Ｒ）、Ｈｉｓ（Ｈ）。

Substantial modifications in the biological properties of the antibody include (a) the structure of the backbone of the polypeptide in the region of substitution, eg, as a sheet or helical conformation, (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site Or (c) by selecting substitutions that differ significantly in their action on maintaining the bulk of the side chain. Amino acids may be grouped according to the similarity in their side chain properties as follows (AL Lehninger, Biochemistry, second ed., Pp. 73-75, Worth Publishers, New York (1975)).
(1) Nonpolar: Ala (A), Val (V), Leu (L), Ile (I), Pro (P), Phe (F), Trp (W), Met (M)
(2) Uncharged polarity: Gly (G), Ser (S), The (T), Cys (C), Tyr (Y), Asn (N), Gln (Q)
(3) Acidity: Asp (D), Glu (E)
(4) Basic: Lys (K), Arg (R), His (H).

Alternatively, naturally occurring residues may be grouped as follows based on the properties of the common side chain.
(1) Hydrophobicity: norleucine, Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile;
(2) Neutral hydrophilicity: Cys, Ser, Thr, Asn, Gln;
(3) Acidity: Asp, Glu;
(4) Basic: His, Lys, Arg;
(5) Residues affecting the chain direction: Gly, Pro;
(6) Aromatic: Trp, Tyr, Phe.

  Non-conservative substitutions involve exchanging one member of these classes for another class. Residues thus substituted may also be introduced into sites of conservative substitution, more preferably into residual (non-conserved) sites.

  In one type of substitutional variant, one or more of the hypervariable region residues of a parent antibody (eg a humanized or human antibody) are replaced. In general, the resulting variants selected for subsequent development will have improved biological properties relative to the parent antibody from which they are formed. A convenient method for forming such substitutional variants involves affinity maturation using phage display. In other words, several hypervariable region sites (eg, 6-7 sites) are mutated to form all possible amino acid substitutions at each site. The antibody thus formed is presented as a fusion from filament phage particles to the gene III product of M13 packaged within each particle. The phage-displayed variants are then screened for their biological activity (eg, binding affinity) disclosed herein. To find candidate hypervariable region sites for modification, alanine scanning mutagenesis can be performed to find hypervariable region residues that contribute significantly to antigen binding. Alternatively or additionally, it may be beneficial to analyze the crystal structure of the antigen-antibody complex in order to find contact points between the antibody and the antigen. Such contact residues and neighboring residues are candidates for substitution by the technique devised in the present invention. After forming such variants, a panel of variants is screened as described herein, and antibodies that have superior properties in one or more applicable tests are selected for subsequent Attached to development.

  Nucleic acid molecules encoding amino acid sequence variants of the antibody are produced by a variety of methods known in the art. These methods are for example isolated from natural sources (in the case of naturally occurring amino acid sequence variants), or oligonucleotide-mediated (or site-directed) mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis and previously made Includes production by antibody mutagenesis or non-mutant forms of cassette mutagenesis.

  It may be desirable to form Fc region variants by introducing one or more amino acid modifications into the Fc region of the immunoglobulin polypeptides of the invention. The Fc region variant may comprise a human Fc region sequence (eg, a human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 Fc region) that includes an amino acid modification (eg, substitution) at one or more of the amino acid positions including hinge cysteine.

  In accordance with the description herein and the teachings of the art, in some embodiments, the antibody used in the methods of the invention comprises one or more modifications compared to a wild-type corresponding antibody, eg, in the Fc region. Intended to be good. These antibodies, however, still retain substantially the same properties required for therapeutic utility compared to their corresponding wild type. Certain modifications are made in the Fc region, eg as described in WO 99/51642, eg to provide modified (ie improved or reduced) Clq binding and / or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) Can do. See also Duncan & Winter Nature 322: 738-40 (1988); US Pat. No. 5,648,260; US Pat. No. 5,624,821; and WO 94/29351 for other examples of Fc region variants.

(Immunoconjugate)
The present invention also includes cytotoxic agents such as chemotherapeutic agents, drugs, growth inhibitors, toxins (eg, enzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animal origin or fragments thereof) or radioisotopes (eg, radioconjugates). ) To an immunoconjugate or antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprising an antibody conjugated.

  Cytotoxic or cell growth-inhibiting agents, i.e. agents that kill tumor cells in cancer therapy (Syrigos and Epenetos (1999) Anticancer Research 19: 605-614; Nicklescu-Duvaz and Springer (1997) Adv.Dr. Del. Rev. 26: 151-172; US Pat. No. 4,975,278), the use of antibody-drug conjugates for the topical delivery is theoretically targeted delivery of the drug moiety to the tumor and intracellular accumulation therein. Where systemic administration of these conjugated agents can result in unacceptable levels of toxicity to normal cells as well as tumor cells to be eliminated (Baldwin et al. (1986) Lancet pp. (M ar. 15, 1986): 603-05; Thorpe, (1985) “Antibody Carriers of Cytotoxic Agents in Cancer Therapeutics, A Review”, in Monoclonal Antibodies in 84. Biolog. ), Pp. 475-506). For this reason, it is required to have maximum efficacy with minimum toxicity. Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies have been reported to be useful in these strategies (Rowland et al. (1986) Cancer Immunol. Immunother., 21: 183-87). The drugs used in these methods are daunorubicin, doxorubicin, methotrexate and vindesine (Rowland et al. (1986) supra). Toxins used in antibody-toxin conjugates include bacterial toxins such as diphtheria toxins, plant toxins such as ricin, small molecule toxins such as geldanamycin (Mandler et al. (2000) Jour. Of the Nat. Cancer Inst. 92 (19): 1573-1581; Mandler et al. (2000) Bioorganic & Med. Chem. Letters 10: 1025-1028; Mandler et al. (2002) Bioconjugate Chem. 13: 786-791), maytansinoids (EP1391213; Liu et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93: 8618-8623) and calicheamicin (Lode et al. (1998) Cancer Res. 58 : 2928; Hinman et al. (1993) Cancer Res. 53: 3336-3342). Toxins exhibit their cytotoxic and cell growth inhibitory effects through mechanisms including tubulin binding, DNA binding or topoisomerase inhibition. Some cytotoxic agents tend to be inactivated or less active when conjugated to large antibody or protein receptor ligands.

ZEVALIN® (Ibritumomab tiuxetan, Biogen / Idec) is a mouse IgG1 kappa monoclonal directed against the CD20 antigen present on the surface of normal and malignant B lymphocytes bound by a thiourea linker chelator. An antibody-radioisotope conjugate consisting of an antibody and a ¹¹¹ In or ⁹⁰ Y radioisotope (Wiseman et al., (2000) Eur. Jour. Nucl. Med. 27 (7): 766-77; Wiseman et al., (2002) ) Blood 99 (12): 4336-42; Witzig et al. (2002) J. Clin. Oncol. 20 (10): 2453-63; Witzig et al. (2002) J. Clin. Oncol. 20 (15): 3262 -69). ZEVARIN is active against B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but severe and long-term cytopenia occurs in most patients upon administration. MYLOTARG ^™ (Gemtuzumab ozogamicin, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals), an antibody drug conjugate consisting of huCD33 antibody linked to calicheamicin, was approved in 2000 for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia by injection (Drugs of the Future (2000) 25 (7): 686; U.S. Patents 4970198; 5079233; 5585089; 5606040; 5697622; 5739116; 5767285; 57733001). Cantuzumab metracin (Immunogen, Inc.), an antibody drug conjugate consisting of the huC242 antibody linked to the maytansinoid drug moiety DM1 via a disulfide linker SPP, such as colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and others A Phase II trial for the treatment of cancer expressing CanAg is in progress. MLN-2704 (Millennium Pharm, BZL Biologics, Immunogen Inc.), an antibody drug conjugate consisting of an anti-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) monoclonal antibody linked to a maytansinoid drug moiety DM1, is a potential treatment for prostate cancer. Is under development for. Synthetic analogs of auristatin peptide, auristatin E (AE), monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) and dolastatin are chimeric monoclonal antibodies cBR96 (specific for LewisY on carcinoma) and cAC10 (specific for CD30 on hematologic malignancies) (Doronina et al., (2003) Nature Biotechnology 21 (7): 778-784; and Francisco, et al. (2003) Blood, 102, 1458-1465) and are in therapeutic development. Other compounds for use as drug conjugate cytotoxic agents include, for example, auristatin E (AE), MMAF (variant of auristatin E (MMAE) with phenylalanine at the C-terminus of the drug) and AEVB (auristatin) E valeryl benzylhydrazone, an acid labile linker via the C-terminus of AE). Useful conjugate linkers for conjugating drugs to antibodies include, for example, MC (rare imidocaproyl), ValCit (valine-citrulline, dipeptide site in protease-cleavable linker), citrulline (2-amino-5-ureidopentanoic acid), PAB (P-aminobenzylcarbamoyl, the “self-sacrificial part” of the linker), Me (N-methyl-valine citrulline whose linker peptide bond has been modified to prevent its cleavage by cathepsin B), MC (PEG) 6 -OH (maleimidocaproyl-polyethylene glycol conjugated to antibody cysteine), SPP (N-succinimidyl 4- (2-pyridylthio) pentanoate) and SMCC (N-succinimidyl 4- (N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1 cal It encompasses Kishireto). These and other useful drug conjugates and their preparation are described, for example, in Dorona, S. et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. O. Et al., Nature Biotechnology 21: 778-794 (2003). Particularly preferred linker molecules include, for example, N-succinimidyl 3- (2-pyridylthio) propionate (SPDP) (see, eg, Carlsson et al., Biochem. J., 173, 723-737 (1978)), N-succinimidyl 4- (2-pyridyl). Dithio) butanoate (SPDB) (see, eg, US Pat. No. 4,563,304), N-succinimidyl 4- (2-pyridyldithio) pentanoate (SPP) (see, for example, CAS Registry Number 341498-08-6), N-succinimidyl 4 -(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) (see, for example, Yoshitake et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 101, 395-399 (1979)) and N-succinimidyl 4-methyl-4- [ - include (5-nitropyridyl) dithio] pentanoate (SMNP) (see, eg, US Patent 4,563,304).

Chemotherapeutic agents useful in forming such immunoconjugates are as described above. Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof that can be used are diphtheria A chain, non-binding active fragment of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modesin A chain, alpha-sarcin , Aleurites Fordii protein, diansine protein, Phytolaca americana protein (PAPI, PAPII and PAP-S), momordica charantia inhibitor, cursin, crotin, saponaaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogenesin, Include. A variety of radionuclides can be used for the production of radioconjugated antibodies. Examples include ²¹² Bi, ¹³¹ I, ¹³¹ In, ⁹⁰ Y and ¹⁸⁶ Re. Conjugates of antibodies and cytotoxic agents are various bifunctional protein coupling agents such as N-succinimidyl 3- (2-pyridylthio) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imide esters (eg dimethyl ester). Adipimidate HCl), active esters (eg disuccinimidylsbelate), aldehydes (eg glutaraldehyde), bis-azide compounds (eg bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bisdiazonium derivatives (eg bis ( p-diazonium benzoyl) ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (eg toluene 2,6-diisocyanate) and bis-active fluorine compounds (eg 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin can be prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science, 238: 1098 (1987). Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent for radionuclide conjugation to antibodies. Reference may be made to WO 94/11026.

  Conjugates of antibodies and one or more small molecule toxins such as calicheamicin, maytansinoids, trichothecenes and CC1065 and derivatives of these toxins having toxin activity are also contemplated by the present invention.

(Maytansine and maytansinoid)
In one embodiment, an antibody (full length or fragment) of the invention is conjugated to one or more maytansinoid molecules.

  Maytansinoids are mitotic inhibitors that function by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Maytansine was first isolated from Maytenus serrata, an East African shrub (US Pat. No. 3,896,111). Later, it was discovered that certain microorganisms also produced maytansinoids, such as maytansinol and C-3 maytansinol esters (US Pat. No. 4,151,042). Synthetic maytansinol and its derivatives and analogs are described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 4,137,230; 4,248,870; 4,256,746; 4,260,608; 4,265, incorporated herein by reference. , 814; 4,294,757; 4,307,016; 4,308,268; 4,308,269; 4,309,428; 4,313,946; 4,315,929; 4,317,821 4, 322, 348; 4,331, 598; 4,361,650; 4,364,866; 4,424,219; 4,450,254; 4,362,663; and 4,371,533 It is disclosed.

(Maytansinoid-antibody conjugate)
In an attempt to improve its therapeutic index, maytansine and maytansinoids are conjugated to antibodies that specifically bind to tumor cell antigens. Immunoconjugates containing maytansinoids and their therapeutic uses are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 5,208,020, 5,416,064 and European Patent EP 0425235B1, which are incorporated herein by reference. Liu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93: 8618-8623 (1996) describes an immunoconjugate comprising a maytansinoid designated DM1 linked to a monoclonal antibody C242 directed against human colorectal cancer. The conjugate has been shown to be highly cytotoxic to cultured colon cancer cells and has shown anti-tumor activity in in vivo tumor growth studies. Chari et al., Cancer Research 52: 127-131 (1992) added a disulfide linker to mouse antibody A7 that binds to an antigen on a human colon cancer cell line or to another mouse monoclonal antibody that binds to the HER-2 / neu oncogene. Describes immunoconjugates conjugated with maytansinoids. TA. The cytotoxicity of 1-maytansinoid conjugates has been tested in vitro against the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3, which expresses 3 × 10 ⁵ HER-2 surface antigen per cell. The drug conjugate achieved a similar degree of cytotoxicity as the advantageous maytansinoid drug, which could be increased by increasing the number of maytansinoid molecules per antibody molecule. A7-maytansinoid conjugates showed low systemic cytotoxicity in mice.

(Antibody-maytansinoid conjugate (immunoconjugate))
Antibody maytansinoid conjugates are produced by chemically linking an antibody to a maytansinoid molecule without significantly reducing the biological activity of either the antibody or the maytansinoid molecule. It has been found that conjugating an average of 3-4 maytansinoid molecules per antibody molecule is effective in enhancing the cytotoxicity of target cells without adversely affecting the function or solubility of the antibody. Even molecular toxins / antibodies are expected to be more cytotoxic than using antibodies alone. Maytansinoids are well known in the art and can be synthesized by known techniques or isolated from natural sources. Suitable maytansinoids are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,208,020 and in other patent or non-patent publications noted above. Preferred maytansinoids are maytansinol and aromatic rings, or maytansinol analogs modified at other positions of the maytansinol molecule, such as various maytansinol esters.

  There are a number of linking groups known in the art for making antibody-maytansinoid conjugates, such as US Pat. No. 5,208,020 or European Patent EP 0425235B1 and Chari et al., Cancer Research 52: 127-131 (1992). And the like disclosed in the above. Linking groups include disulfide groups, thioether groups, acid labile groups, photolabile groups, peptidase labile groups, or esterase labile groups as disclosed in the above patents, with disulfide and thioether groups being preferred.

  Conjugates of antibodies and maytansinoids have various bifunctional protein coupling agents such as N-succinimidyl 3- (2-pyridylthio) propionate (SPDP), N-succinimidyl 4- (N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1- Carboxylate, iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imide esters (eg dimethyl adipimidate HCl), active esters (eg disuccinimidyl sverate), aldehydes (eg glutaraldehyde), bis-azide compounds (eg Bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bisdiazonium derivatives (eg bis (p-diazoniumbenzoyl) ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (eg toluene 2,6-diisocyanate) and bis-active fluorine compounds ( It may be created using the example, if 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). Particularly preferred coupling agents are N-succinimidyl 3- (2-pyridylthio) propionate (SPDP) (Carlsson et al., Biochem. J., 173, 723-737 (1978)) and N-succinimidyl 4 to provide disulfide bonds. Includes-(2-pyridyldithio) pentanoate (SPP).

  The linker may bind to the maytansinoid molecule at various positions depending on the type of linkage. For example, ester bonds may be formed by reaction with hydroxyl groups using conventional coupling techniques. The reaction may take place at the C3 position having a hydroxyl group, the C14 position modified with hydroxymethyl, the C15 position modified with a hydroxyl group and the C20 position having a hydroxyl group. In a preferred embodiment, the linkage is formed at the C3 position of maytansinol or a maytansinol analog.

(Calicheamicin)
Another of the immunoconjugates of interest includes an antibody conjugated to one or more calicheamicin molecules. The calicheamicin family of antibiotics can provide double-stranded DNA breaks at sub-picomolar concentrations. US Pat. Nos. 5,712,374, 5,714,586, 5,739,116, 5,767,285, 5,770,701, 5,770,710, 5 for the production of conjugates of the calicheamicin family. , 773, 001, 5,877, 296 (all American Cyanamid Company). Structural analogs of calicheamicin that may be used include, for example, γ ₁ ^I , α ₂ ^I , α ₃ ^I , N-acetyl-γ ₁ ^I , PSAG and θ ^I _l (Himan et al., Cancer Research 53: 3336-3342 ( 1993), Rode et al., Cancer Research 58: 2925-2928 (1998) and US Patent to American Cyanamid mentioned above). Another anti-tumor agent that can be conjugated with antibodies is QFA, an antifolate ester. Both calicheamicin and QFA have an intracellular site of action and do not easily cross the plasma membrane. Thus, the cellular uptake of these drugs via antibody-mediated endogenousity greatly increases their cytotoxic effects.

(Other cytotoxic agents)
Other anti-tumor agents that can be conjugated to the antibodies of the invention are known as BCNU, streptozocin, vincristine and 5-fluorouracil, generic LL-E33288 complex described in US Pat. Nos. 5,053,394, 5,770,710. Includes the drug family, as well as esperamicin (US Pat. No. 5,877,296).

  Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof that can be used include diphtheria A chain, non-binding active fragment of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modesin A chain, alpha- Sarcin, Aleurites fordii protein, diansine protein, Phytolaca americana protein (PAPI, PAPII and PAP-S), momordica charantia inhibitor, cursin, crotin, saponaaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, tricenocin, tricenocin Is included. For example, reference can be made to WO93 / 21232 published on October 28, 1993.

  The present invention further contemplates immunoconjugates formed between the antibody and the compound having nucleolytic activity (eg, ribonuclease or DNA endonuclease such as deoxyribonuclease; DNase).

For selective destruction of the tumor, the antibody may contain highly radioactive atoms. Various radioisotopes are used for the production of radioconjugated antibodies. Examples include radioisotopes of At ²¹³ , I ¹³¹ , I ¹²⁵ , Y ⁹⁰ , Re ¹⁸⁶ , Re ¹⁸⁸ , Sm ¹⁵³ , Bi ²¹² , P ³² , Pb ²¹² and Lu. When using a conjugate for detection, it is a radioactive atom for scintigraphic testing, such as tc ^99m or I ¹²³ , or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging (also known as magnetic resonance imaging mri). For example, iodine-123, iodine-131, indium-111, fluorine-19, carbon-13, nitrogen-15, oxygen-17, gadolinium, manganese or iron.

Radiolabels or other labels may be incorporated into the conjugate by known methods. For example, the peptide may be biosynthesized using an appropriate amino acid precursor containing fluorine-19 instead of hydrogen, or may be synthesized by an amino acid chemical synthesis method. Labels such as tc ^99m or I ¹²³ , Re ¹⁸⁶ , Re ¹⁸⁸ and In ¹¹¹ can be attached via cysteine residues within the peptide. Yttrium-90 can be attached via a lysine residue. Iodine-123 can be incorporated using the IODOGEN method (Fraker et al. (1978) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 80: 49-57). Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunoscinography (Chatal, CRC Press 1989) describes other methods in detail.

  Conjugates of antibodies and cytotoxic agents include various bifunctional protein coupling agents such as N-succinimidyl 3- (2-pyridylthio) propionate (SPDP), succinimidyl 4- (N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1- Carboxylate, iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imide esters (eg dimethyl adipimidate HCl), active esters (eg disuccinimidyl sverate), aldehydes (eg glutaraldehyde), bis-azide compounds (eg Bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bisdiazonium derivatives (eg bis (p-diazoniumbenzoyl) ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (eg toluene 2,6-diisocyanate) and bis-active fluorine compounds (eg It may be prepared using 5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin can be prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science, 238: 1098 (1987). Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent for radionuclide conjugation to antibodies. Reference may be made to WO 94/11026. The linker may be a “cleavable linker” that facilitates release of the cytotoxic agent within the cell. For example, an acid labile linker, peptidase sensitive linker, photolabile linker, dimethyl linker or disulfide-containing linker (Chari et al., Cancer Research 52: 127-131 (1992); US Pat. No. 5,208,020) may be used.

  The compounds of the present invention are commercially available (eg from Pierce Biotechnology, Inc., Rockford, IL. USA) Cross-linking agents: BMPS, EMCS, GMBS, HBVS, LC-SMCC, MBS, MPBH , SBAP, SIA, SIAB, SMCC, SMPB, SMPH, Sulfo-EMCS, Sulfo-GMBS, Sulfo-KMUS, Sulfo-MBS, Sulfo-SIAB, Sulfo-SMCC and Sulfo-SMPB and SVSB (succinimidyl- (4-vinylsulfone ADCs made with) benzoate) are also contemplated. See, for example, 2003-2004 Applications Handbook and Catalog, p467-498.

(Manufacture of antibody drug conjugates)
In the antibody drug conjugate (ADC) of the invention, the antibody (Ab) is conjugated via a linker (L) to one or more drug moieties (D), for example from about 1 to about 20 drug moieties per antibody. Formula I:
Ab- (LD) _p I
For example, (1) an antibody with a divalent linker reagent for forming Ab-L via a covalent bond, using organic chemistry reactions, conditions and reagents known to those skilled in the art by several types of routes. Reaction of the nucleophilic group and subsequent reaction with the drug moiety D; and (2) reaction of the nucleophilic group of the drug moiety with a divalent linker reagent to form DL via a covalent bond; and Or subsequent reaction with the nucleophilic group of the antibody.

  The nucleophilic group on the antibody is, for example, (i) an N-terminal amine group, (ii) a side chain amine group such as lysine, (iii) a side chain thiol group such as cysteine, and (iv) a sugar hydroxyl or amino group. Where the antibody is glycosylated. Amine, thiol and hydroxyl groups are nucleophilic and (i) active esters such as NHS esters, HOBt esters, haloformates and acid halides; (ii) alkyl and benzyl halides such as haloacetamides; (iii) aldehydes, ketones, It can react to form covalent bonds with linker moieties including carboxyl and maleimide groups and electrophilic groups on linker reagents. Certain antibodies have reducing interchain disulfides, ie cysteine bridges. The antibody may be reactive for conjugation with a linker reagent by treatment with a reducing agent such as DTT (dithiothreitol). That is, each cysteine bridge theoretically forms two reactive thiol nucleophiles. Another nucleophilic group can be introduced into the antibody via reaction of lysine with 2-iminothiolane (Traut's reagent), resulting in amine to thiol conversion.

  Antibody drug conjugates of the invention may also be prepared by modification of the antibody to introduce an electrophilic moiety that can react with a nucleophilic substituent on the linker reagent or drug. Glycosylated antibody sugars may be oxidized to an aldehyde or ketone group, for example, by oxidation with a periodate oxidant and reacted with an amine group of a linker reagent or drug moiety. The imine-schiff base group formed may form a stable linkage, or may be reduced with, for example, a borohydride reagent to form a stable amine linkage. In one embodiment, reaction of the carbohydrate moiety of a glycosylated antibody with either galactose oxidase or sodium m-periodate forms a carbonyl (aldehyde or ketone) group in the protein that can react with the appropriate group on the drug. (Hermanson, Bioconjugate Technologies). In another embodiment, a protein containing an N-terminal serine or threonine residue is reacted with sodium m-periodate to form an aldehyde instead of the first amino acid (Geoghegan & Stroh, (1992). ) Bioconjgate Chem. 3: 138-146; US Pat. No. 5,362,852). Such aldehydes can react with drug moieties or linker nucleophiles.

  Similarly, the nucleophilic group on the drug moiety may be, for example, (i) an active ester such as NHS ester, HOBt ester, haloformate and acid halide; (ii) alkyl and benzyl halide such as haloacetamide; (iii) aldehyde, ketone Amine, thiol, hydroxyl, hydrazide, oxime, hydrazine, thiosemicarbazone, hydrazine carboxy that can react to form covalent bonds with linker moieties including carboxyl and maleimide groups and electrophilic groups on linker reagents Includes rate and anhydrazide groups.

  Alternatively, it may be made by a fusion protein comprising an antibody and a cytotoxic agent, such as recombinant techniques or peptide synthesis. The length of the DNA includes each region encoding two portions of the conjugate that are adjacent to each other or separated by a region that encodes a linker peptide that does not destroy the desired properties of the conjugate.

  In yet another embodiment, the antibody may be conjugated to a “receptor” (eg, streptavidin) for use in tumor pretargeting, in which case the antibody-receptor conjugate is administered to the patient, A chelating agent is then used to remove unbound conjugate from the circulatory system and then a “ligand” (eg, avidin) conjugated to a cytotoxic agent (eg, a radionuclide) is administered.

(Antibody derivatives)
The antibody derivatives of the invention can be further modified to contain other non-proteinaceous moieties that are known in the art and readily available. Preferably, the moiety suitable for derivatization of the antibody is a water soluble polymer. Non-limiting examples of water-soluble polymers include polyethylene glycol (PEG), ethylene glycol / propylene glycol copolymer, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly-1,3-dioxolane, poly-1 , 3,6-trioxolane, ethylene / maleic anhydride copolymer, polyamino acid (either homopolymer or random copolymer) and dextran or poly (n-vinylpyrrolidone) polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol homopolymer, Includes propylene oxide / ethylene oxide copolymers, polyoxyethylated polyols (eg, glycerol), polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. Polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde is advantageous in manufacturing because of its stability in water. The polymer can be of any molecular weight and can be branched or unbranched. The number of polymers attached to the antibody can vary, and if more than one polymer is attached, they can be the same or different molecules. In general, the number and / or type of polymers used for derivatization is determined taking into account, for example, the specific properties or functions of the antibody to be improved, whether the antibody derivative is used for therapy under specific conditions, etc. can do.

(Pharmaceutical preparation)
Therapeutic formulations containing the antibodies of the invention may be any physiologically acceptable carrier, excipient or stabilizer in the form of an aqueous solution, lyophilized or other dried formulation (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition). , Osol, A. Ed. (1980)) with an antibody having a desired degree of purity. Acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations used, and buffer substances such as phosphates, acetates, histidine or other organic acids; antioxidants Agents such as ascorbic acid and methionine; preservatives (eg octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride; hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as methyl or propylparaben; cetanol; resorcinol Cyclohexanol; 3-pentanol; and m-cresol); low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptide; protein such as serum albumin, gelatin or immunoglobulin; hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; Acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides and other carbohydrates such as glucose, mannose or dextrin; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugars such as sucrose, mannitol, trehalose or sorbitol; Forming counterions such as sodium; metal complexes (eg Zn-protein complexes); and / or non-ionic surfactants such as TWEEN ^™ , PLURONICS ^™ or polyethylene glycol (PEG).

  The formulations of the present invention may also contain more than one active compound as necessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably those with complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other. Such molecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for the purpose intended.

  The active ingredient can also be used in colloidal drug delivery systems (eg liposomes), eg in microcapsules produced by coacervation or by interfacial polymerization, eg hydroxymethylcellulose or gelatin microcapsules and poly- (methyl methacrylate) microcapsules, respectively. , Albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nanoparticles and nanocapsules) or macroemulsions. Such a technique is described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. et al. Ed. (1980).

  The formulation to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile. This is easily accomplished by filtration through a sterile filtration membrane.

Sustained release formulations may be manufactured. Suitable examples of sustained release formulations include semi-permeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the immunoglobulins of the present invention, such matrices being in the form of shaped articles such as films or microcapsules. . Examples of sustained release matrices are polyesters, hydrogels (eg poly (2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) or poly (vinyl alcohol)), polylactides (US Pat. No. 3,773,919), L-glutamic acid and gamma ethyl-L- Glutamate copolymers, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as LUPRON DEPOT ^™ (injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate) and poly- Includes D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. While polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acid allow release of molecules over 100 days, certain hydrogels release proteins in shorter times. If encapsulated immunoglobulin remains in the body for a long time, they denature or aggregate and lose biological activity or change immunogenicity as a result of exposure to moisture at 37 ° C. there's a possibility that. Rational strategies can be devised for stabilization depending on the mechanism involved. For example, if the mechanism of aggregation is found to be the formation of intermolecular SS bonds via thio-disulfide exchange, modification of sulfhydryl residues, lyophilization from acidic solutions, control of water content Stabilization may be achieved through the use of appropriate additives and the development of specific polymer matrix compositions.

(Use)
The antibodies of the invention may be used, for example, in in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo therapeutic methods. The antibodies of the present invention can be used as antagonists to partially or fully block the activity of specific antigens in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. Furthermore, at least some of the antibodies of the present invention can neutralize the activity of antigens from other species. Thus, the antibodies of the invention can be used, for example, in cell cultures containing the antigen, in human subjects, or other mammalian subjects (eg, chimpanzees, baboons, marmosets, cynomolgus monkeys) Rhesus monkeys, pigs or mice) can be used to inhibit specific antigenic activity. In one embodiment, the antibodies of the invention can be used to inhibit antigen activity by contacting the antibody with the antigen such that antigen activity is inhibited. Preferably, the antigen is a human protein molecule.

  In one embodiment, the antibody of the invention is administered to a subject in a subject suffering from a disorder in which antigenic activity is detrimental such that antigenic activity in the subject is inhibited. Can be used in methods for inhibiting antigens. Preferably, the antigen is a human protein molecule and the subject is a human subject. Alternatively, the subject can be a mammal that expresses an antigen to which an antibody of the invention binds. Furthermore, the subject can be a mammal into which an antigen has been introduced (eg, by administration of the antigen or by expression of an antigen transgene). The antibodies of the invention can be administered to a human subject for therapeutic purposes. Furthermore, the antibodies of the invention can be administered to non-human mammals (eg, primates, pigs or mice) that express antigens that cross-react with immunoglobulins for veterinary use or as animal models of human disease. With respect to the latter, such animal models are useful for assessing the therapeutic efficacy of the antibodies of the invention (eg, testing dose and time course of administration). The therapeutically useful blocking antibodies of the present invention include, for example, anti-HER2, anti-VEGF, anti-IgE, anti-CD11, anti-interferon and anti-tissue factor antibodies. The antibodies of the present invention may comprise a disease, disorder or condition associated with one or more abnormal expression and / or activity of an antigen molecule, such as malignant and benign tumors; non-leukemic and lymphoid malignancies; neurons, glia, Astrocytes, hypothalamus and other glands, macrophages, epithelium, interstitial and blastocoel damage; and treatment, inhibition, slowing progression, prevention / delay of inflammatory, angiogenesis and immunological disorders Can be used for mitigation or prevention.

  In one aspect, the blocking antibodies of the present invention are specific for a ligand antigen and inhibit antigen activity by blocking or interfering with ligand-receptor interactions involving the ligand antigen, which Can inhibit the corresponding signaling pathways and other molecular or cellular events. The invention further features receptor-specific antibodies that do not necessarily prevent ligand binding but interfere with receptor activation, thereby inhibiting any response normally initiated by ligand binding. The invention also encompasses antibodies that bind preferentially or exclusively to the ligand-receptor complex. The antibodies of the present invention can also function as agonists of specific antigen receptors, thereby enhancing, enhancing or activating all or a partial activity of ligand-mediated receptor activation.

  In certain embodiments, an immunoconjugate comprising an antibody conjugated with a cytotoxic agent is administered to the patient. In some embodiments, the immunoconjugate and / or the antigen to which it binds is internalized by the cell, resulting in increased therapeutic efficacy of the immunoconjugate in killing the target cell to which it binds. In one embodiment, the cytotoxic agent targets or interferes with the nucleic acid in the target cell. Examples of such cytotoxic agents include any of the chemotherapeutic agents described herein (eg, maytansinoids or calicheamicins), radioisotopes, or ribonucleases or DNA endonucleases.

  The antibodies of the invention can be used in therapy alone or in combination with other compositions. For example, the antibodies of the invention may be co-administered with other antibodies, chemotherapeutic agents (including cocktails of chemotherapeutic agents), other cytotoxic agents, anti-angiogenic agents, cytokines and / or growth inhibitors. Where an antibody of the invention inhibits tumor growth, it may be particularly desirable to combine it with one or more other therapeutic agents that also inhibit tumor growth. For example, the antibodies of the present invention may be used in administration schemes, for example in the treatment of any of the diseases described herein, such as colorectal cancer, metastatic breast cancer and kidney cancer, in anti-VEGF antibodies (eg AVASTIN) and / or anti-ErbB. It may be combined with an antibody (eg HERCEPTIN® anti-HER2 antibody). Alternatively or additionally, the patient may receive combined radiation therapy (eg, extracorporeal radiation or treatment with a radiolabeled drug, eg, an antibody). Such combination therapies described above include combined administration (containing two or more drugs in the same or separate formulations) and administration of the antibodies of the invention before and / or after administration of the secondary treatment. Includes individual administration.

  The antibodies (and secondary therapeutic agents) of the invention are administered by any suitable means, such as parenteral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intrapulmonary and intranasal, and optionally, topical or intralesional administration. Parenteral injection includes intramuscular, intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous administration. Furthermore, the antibody is suitably administered by pulse infusion, particularly with decreasing doses of antibody. Dosing can be by any suitable route, such as injection, for example intravenous or subcutaneous injection, depending in part on whether the administration is short term or long term.

  The antibody compositions of the invention are formulated, dosed, and dosed in a manner consistent with good medical practice. Factors to consider in this regard include the specific disorder to be treated, the specific mammal to be treated, the clinical condition of the individual patient, the cause of the disorder, the site of drug delivery, the method of administration, the schedule of administration and others known to the health care professional Including the factors. The antibody is formulated with one or more drugs currently in use to prevent or treat disorders that are not necessary but more problematic. The effective amount of such other agents will depend on the amount of antibody of the invention present in the formulation, the type of disorder or treatment, and other factors discussed above. They are generally used at the same dose and route of administration as previously used, or at 1-99% of the previously used dose.

  For prevention or treatment of disease, an appropriate dose of the antibody of the present invention (used alone or in combination with other agents such as chemotherapeutic agents) is the type of disease to be treated, the type of antibody, the disease Depending on the severity and course of the disease, whether the antibody is administered for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes, previous treatment, patient clinical history and responsiveness to the antibody, and the judgment of the attending physician. The antibody is suitably administered to the patient at one time or over a series of treatments. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, for example, about 1 μg / kg to 15 mg / kg of antibody (eg, 0.1 mg / kg to 10 mg / kg), whether by one or more separate doses or by continuous infusion Are initial candidate doses for administration to patients. One typical daily dose ranges from about 1 μg / kg to 100 mg / kg or more, depending on the factors described above. For repeated administrations over several days or longer, depending on the condition, the administration is sustained until inhibition of the desired disease condition occurs. One exemplary antibody dose ranges from about 0.05 mg / kg to about 10 mg / kg. That is, one or more doses (or any combination thereof) of about 0.5 mg / kg, 2.0 mg / kg, 4.0 mg / kg, or 10 mg / kg may be administered to the patient. Such doses may be administered intermittently, for example, every week or every three weeks (eg, so that the patient receives about 2 to about 20, for example about 6 antibody doses). One or more low doses may be administered after the initial high loading dose. An exemplary dose regime includes an initial loading dose of about 4 mg / kg followed by a weekly maintenance dose of about 2 mg / kg of antibody. However, other dosage regimens may be used. The progress of this therapy is easily monitored by conventional techniques and tests.

(Products)
In another aspect of the invention, an article of manufacture containing materials useful for the treatment, prevention and / or diagnosis of the diseases described above is provided. The article of manufacture includes a container and a label or package insert on or associated with the container. Suitable containers include, for example, bottles, vials, syringes and the like. The container may be formed from a variety of materials such as glass or plastic. The container holds a composition that is effective in treating, preventing and / or diagnosing the condition itself or in combination with other compositions and may have a sterilized contact port (eg, the container It may be a solution bag for intravenous administration or a vial with a lid that can be punctured by a hypodermic needle). At least one active agent in the composition is an antibody of the invention. The label or package insert indicates that the composition is used for the treatment of a selected condition such as cancer. Further, the article of manufacture is (a) a first container containing the composition contained therein, wherein the composition comprises the antibody of the present invention, and (b) the composition contained therein. A second container, wherein the composition comprises another cytotoxic agent. The article of manufacture in this embodiment of the invention may further comprise a package insert that indicates that the first and second antibody compositions can be used for the treatment of a particular condition, such as cancer. Alternatively or additionally, the article of manufacture further comprises a second (or third) container comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer, such as sterile water for injection (BWFI), phosphate buffered saline, Ringer's solution and dextrose solution. May be included. It may further include other materials desirable from a commercial or user standpoint, such as other buffer materials, diluents, filters, needles and syringes.

  Examples of the method and composition of the present invention are shown below. It will be appreciated that various other embodiments may be implemented given the general description given above.

  The examples herein illustrate the formation of humanized anti-beta 7 antibodies from rat anti-mouse antibodies that bind to the beta 7 subunit of alpha 4 beta 7 integrin.

Example 1: Humanization of beta7 antagonist antibody
(Materials and methods)
Residue numbers follow Kabat (Kabat et al., Sequences of proteins of immunological interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, 91. MD.). The single letter amino acid abbreviation is used. DAN degeneracy is displayed using the IUB code (N = A / C / G / T, D = A / G / T, V = A / C / G, B = C / G / T, H = A / C / T, K = G / T, M = A / C, R = A / G, S = G / C, W = A / T, Y = C / T).

  Direct hypervariable region grafting to the acceptor human consensus framework—The phagemid pVO350-2b used in this work is essentially the same as Lee et al. Mol. Biol. (2004), 340 (5): 1073-93, a monovalent Fab-g3 display vector having two open reading frames under the control of the phoA promoter was used. The first open reading frame consists of the stII signal sequence fused to the VL and CH1 domains of the acceptor light chain, and the second is the stII signal sequence fused to the VH and CH1 domains of the acceptor heavy chain followed by a small phage coat It consists of a truncated form of protein P3 (Lowman, H. et al. (1990) Biochemistry 30: 10832).

  VL and VH domains derived from rat Fib504 (antibody FIB504.64 produced by hybridoma ATCC HB-293, American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), PO Box 1549, Manassas, VA20108, USA) huKI) and human subgroup III consensus VH (huIII) domains. The following framework was used to create hypervariable region (HVR) grafts. That is, HuKI was used for the light chain variable domain framework (see FIGS. 1A and 7). For the heavy chain variable domain framework, acceptor VH framework, a modified human subgroup III (humIII) consensus VH domain that differs from the humIII sequence at the 3 position: R71A, N73T and L78A may be used (Carter et al., Proc Natl.Acad.Sci.USA89: 4285 (1992)) (see FIG. 1B). In generating the antibodies of the invention, a 504K-RF graft was also produced from the modified human subgroup III consensus VH domain by making the following amino acid substitutions: A71R and A78F.

  The hypervariable region from the rat Fib504 (produced by hybridoma ATCC HB-293) antibody was engineered into the acceptor human subgroup III consensus VH framework to form a direct HVR-graft (Fib504 graft) (FIG. 1B). reference). In the VL domain, the following regions from rat Fib504, positions 24-34 (L1), 50-56 (L2) and 89-97 (L3), were grafted to the human consensus acceptor huKI (FIG. 1A). In the VH domain, positions 26-35 (H1), 49-65 (H2) and 94-102 (H3) were grafted (FIG. 1B). In addition, a second HVR-graft, Fib504K graft, was constructed to include position VL49 within the HVR based on the extended definition of L2 (see MacCallum et al., J. Mol. Biol. 262: 732-745 (1996)). ). MacCallum et al. Has analyzed the crystal structure of the antibody-antigen complex, and positions 49 and 94 of the light chain and positions 49 and 94 of the heavy chain are part of the antigen contact region, and thus these positions are described herein. Has been found to be encompassed within the definition of HVR-L2, HVR-H2, and HVR-H3 for the humanized anti-beta7 antibody disclosed in.

  Direct graft variants were evaluated by DNA sequencing of the correct clones formed by Kunkel mutagenesis (Kunkel et al. (1987) supra) using a separate oligonucleotide for each hypervariable region.

(Soft randomization of hypervariable region)
The process of “soft randomization” (see US patent application 60 / 545,840) refers to a procedure for biased mutagenesis of selected protein sequences such as hypervariable regions of antibodies. The method introduces about 10-50 percent mutations at each selected position while maintaining bias to mouse, rat or other starting hypervariable region sequences. This approach increases the capacity of the library sequence used and avoids changing antigenic epitopes recognized by the antibody. According to this soft randomization approach, sequence diversity is introduced into each hypervariable region while using a strategy to maintain a bias to mouse hypervariable region sequences. This is described in Gallop et al. Med. Chem. 37: 1233-1251 (1994) was achieved using the positioning oligonucleotide synthesis method first reported. However, other methods for maintaining changes to non-human hypervariable region residues, such as error-prone PCR, DNA shuffling, etc. are also used.

  According to the method used here, for a position in the hypervariable region to be mutated, by positioning the codon encoding the wild-type amino acid with a mixture of nucleotides (eg a 70-10-10-10 mixture), Approximately 50% mutations are brought about at each selected hypervariable region position. To achieve this, a codon encoding a wild type hypervariable region amino acid to be mutated is synthesized with a low concentration of other 3 nucleotide contaminant mixtures, such as a 70-10-10-10 mixture of nucleotides. To do. Thus, for example, for soft randomization of PRO (CCG), the synthesized first position is 70% C and a mixture of 10% G, T and A, respectively; % C and 10% of each A, G and T mixture; and the third position is 70% G and 10% each of A, C and T mixture. The bias can be adjusted up or down depending on the codons synthesized at a given position, the number of codons encoding a particular amino acid, and the extent to which oligonucleotide synthesis is positioned by the nucleotide composition of the synthesis mixture. It is done.

  Soft randomized oligonucleotides can be patterned following mouse, rat or other starting hypervariable region sequences and include the same regions defined by direct hypervariable region grafts. In some cases, the amino acids at the 2nd position, the H2 and H3 origins of the VH domain may be limited in their diversity: the codon RGC may be used for position 49 encoding A, G, S or T, and position 94 The codon AKG encoding M or R may be used.

Creating phage libraries - 1 hour at 37 ° C. Randomized oligonucleotide pools designed for each hypervariable region, oligonucleotide 660 ng, 50 mM Tris pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl _2, 1 mM ATP, and 20 mM DTT and 5U polynucleotide kinase Separately phosphorylated in a 6-point 20 μl reaction containing. The 6-point phosphorylated oligonucleotide pool was then combined with 20 μg of Kunkel template in 50 mM Tris pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl ₂ to a final volume of 500 μl, resulting in an oligonucleotide to template ratio of 3. The mixture was annealed at 90 ° C. for 4 minutes, 50 ° C. for 5 minutes and then cooled on ice. Excess unannealed oligonucleotides were removed with the QIAQUICK ^™ PCR purification kit (Qiagen kit 28106, Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) Using an improved protocol to prevent excessive denaturation of the annealed DNA. To 500 μl of the annealing mixture, 150 μl of Qiagen buffer PB was added and the mixture was split between two silica columns. Each column was washed with 750 μl Qiagen buffer PE and spun excessively to dry the column, then each column was eluted with 110 μl 10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8. Next, 1 μl of 100 mM ATP, 10 μl of 25 mM dNTPs (25 mM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP and dTTP), 15 μl of 100 mM DTT, 25 μl of 10XTM buffer (0.5 M Tris pH 7.5, 0 at room temperature for 3 hours) .1MMgCl ₂ ), 2400 U T4 ligase, and 30 U T7 polymerase were added to fill in the annealed and washed template (220 μl).

  Fill-in products were analyzed on a Tris-acetic acid-EDTA / agarose gel (Sidhu et al., Methods in Enzymology 328: 333-363 (2000)). Three bands are usually observed, the bottom band is correctly filled in and ligated product, the middle band is filled in but unligated, and the top band is the excluded strand . The top band is generated by the intrinsic secondary activity of T7 polymerase and is difficult to avoid (Lechner et al., J. Biol. Chem. 258: 11174-11184 (1983); The band is transformed only 30 times less efficient than the bottom band and usually has little effect on the library, the middle band due to the absence of 5 'phosphate for the final ligation reaction This band is efficiently transformed, mainly giving the wild type sequence.

The fill-in product was then washed as described in Sidhu et al., Methods in Enzymology 328: 333-363 (2000), subjected to electroporation into SS320 cells, and grown in the presence of M13 / KO7 helper phage. . The size of the library was in the range of 1~2x10 ⁹ independent clones. Random clones from the initial library were sequenced to assess library quality.

Phage selection—Anti-full length human integrin alpha4beta7 is expressed in 293 cells (Graham et al., J. Gen Virol. 36:59 (1997)), purified by Fib504 affinity chromatography, and as a target for phage selection used. For immobilization on MaxiSorp ^™ microplates (Nalge Nunc. Rochester, NY), 100 μl of human integrin alpha4beta7 at 4 ° C. overnight at 150 mM NaCl, 50 mM Tris pH 7.5, 2 mM CaCl ₂ , 2 mM MgCl ₂ And 5 μg / ml in ₂ mM MnCl ₂ (TBSM). Wells were blocked with TBSM containing 1% BSA for 1 hour. The first round of selection used 8 wells coated with target; one target coated well was used for the next round of selection. Phages were recovered from the culture supernatant and suspended in TBSM (TBSMBT) containing 1% BSA and 0.05% TWEEN ^™ 20. After binding to the well for 2 hours, unbound phage was removed by extensive washing with 0.05% TWEEN20-containing TBS (TBST). Bound phage is eluted by incubating the wells with 100 mM HC1 for 30 minutes. Phages were amplified using Top10 cells and M13 / KO7 helper phage and grown overnight at 37 ° C. in 2YT, 50 μg / ml carbanacillin. Enrichment was assessed by comparing the titer of phage eluted from the target coated well with the titer of phage recovered from the non-target coated well. After four selections, random clones were selected and subjected to sequence analysis.

  Fab production and affinity measurement-A stop codon was introduced between the heavy chain of the phage display vector and g3 to express the Fab protein for affinity measurement. The clone is E. coli. E. coli 34B8 cells were grown in AP5 medium at 30 ° C (Presta, L. et al., Cancer Res. 57: 4593-4599 (1997)). Cells were collected by centrifugation, suspended in 10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA pH 8, and disrupted using a microfluidizer. Fab was purified by protein G affinity chromatography.

The affinity was measured by a surface plasmon resonance test using BIAcore ^™ -3000 (Biacore, Piscataway, NJ). Humanized Fib504 Fab variants were immobilized on a CM5 sensor chip in 10 mM acetate pH 4.5 (range 250-1500 response units (RU)) and human integrin alpha 4 in TBSM containing 2% n-octylglucoside A 2-fold dilution of beta 7 was injected. Each sample was analyzed with 5 minutes association and 5-60 minutes dissociation time. After each injection, the chip was regenerated with three 1 minute injections of 8M urea. The binding response was corrected by subtracting RU from the blank flow cell. Kinetic analysis was performed using a one-to-one long-muir model with simultaneous k _on and k _off fitting.

(Results and discussion)
The human acceptor framework used for humanization-ratification of rat Fib504 is based on the framework used for HERCEPTIN® and the consensus human kappa 1 (huKI) VL domain and human subgroup It consists of a mutant of the III (humIII) consensus VH domain. This mutant VH domain has three changes from the human consensus: R71A, N73T and L78A. Align the VL and VH domains of rat Fib504 with the human kappa I and subgroup III domains, respectively; discover each hypervariable region (HVR) and graft it to the human acceptor framework and display it as a Fab on phage A graft (504 graft) was formed (FIGS. 1A and 1B).

  Based on the crystal structure of available antibody and antigen complexes, MacCallum et al. (MacCallum et al., J. Mol. Biol. 262: 732-745 (1996)) is based on variable domain residues that frequently contact antigens. HVR definition is proposed. That is, heavy chain positions 49G and 94M were included within the HVR graft of Fib504 (FIG. 1B). Furthermore, the second HVR graft, Fib504K graft, also includes this position because the light chain position 49K is still within the contact definition of HVR-L2 and can function as an antigen contact. Created (FIG. 1A). When either Fib504 or Fib504K grafts were displayed on phage, they were tested for binding to immobilized alpha4beta7, but no binding was observed.

  Libraries were created using both Fib504 and Fib504-KHVR grafts so that each of the HVR regions was soft randomized simultaneously. Each HVR graft library was screened against alpha 4 beta 7 immobilized for 4 selections. Enrichment was not observed and clones picked for DNA sequence analysis presented only random sequence changes targeted to the six HVR regions.

  Two additional VH framework sequences, “RL” and “RF”, were examined as acceptor frameworks and contained changes at positions 71 and 78. Position 71 is changed to arginine as in the human subgroup III consensus, and position 78 is leucine (acceptor framework “RL”) or human subgroup II consensus as in the human subgroup III consensus. And it changed to phenylalanine (acceptor framework “RF”) as in the case of rat Fib504VH framework (FIG. 10A). "RL" (Fib504-RL and Fib504K-RL) or "RF" (Fib504-RF and Fib504K-RF) immobilized alpha when either Fib504 or Fib504K within the acceptor framework is displayed on the phage Tested for binding to 4beta7. Specific phage binding was observed only for the Fib504K graft using the “RF” framework (FIG. 10B). Moderate binding of phage displaying the Fib504-RF graft when compared to other grafts lacking Y49K (light chain) and L78F (heavy chain) is useful when selecting useful acceptor frameworks. Indicates the importance of the position.

  Libraries were created as before using the soft randomization approach simultaneously in each of the 6HVRs for each of the Fib504K-RL and Fib504K-RF grafts and sorted on immobilized alpha4beta7 as described above for 4 selections. . Enrichment was observed only for the library with the Fib504K-RF graft. Clones obtained from the fourth round of the Fib504K-RF library were selected for sequence analysis and the amino acid changes targeted to HVR-L1 were found. Most clones contained Y32L changes; in addition, position 31 was frequently changed to D, S, P or N (FIG. 1C). In addition to the starting graft Fib504K-RF, 3 clones were expressed and purified as Fab proteins and further analyzed with Biacore as described above. Variants of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing clones hu504-5, hu504-16 and hu504-32 (substitution T31S + Y32L (mutant hu504.5), Y32L (mutant hu504.16) or T31D + Y32L (variant hu504.32)); FIG. 1C) showed excellent binding to alpha4beta7 relative to the Fib504K-RF graft, and matched or exceeded the affinity of the chimeric Fib504 Fab for alpha4beta7. The results of Biacore analysis are as shown in Table 3 below, and selected mutations within the HVR and / or framework regions disclosed herein have improved affinity relative to the starting antibody. It shows that an antagonist antibody to alpha4beta7 was formed. The results in Table 3 show that humanized variant 504.32 binds to alpha4beta7 more than 3 times, resulting in the greatest increase in affinity relative to the starting rat antibody. .

表３の結果は又、高親和性の抗原結合の回復にとってＨＶＲ−Ｌ１の再設計が重要であったことを示している。特に突然変異Ｙ３２Ｌは種々のクローンの中で最も頻繁に観察された。３１位における他の変化及びＨＶＲ−Ｈ１全体に渡る多くの他の置換は十分耐容性を示していると考えられ、そして別の向上をもたらしている場合がある、これらの結果から、元のラット抗体のものと合致するかそれを超える親和性を生じさせるヒトフレームワークにグラフトしたＦｉｂ５０４の親和性を向上させることができる複数の配列変化が存在することは明らかである。

The results in Table 3 also show that redesign of HVR-L1 was important for recovery of high affinity antigen binding. In particular, mutation Y32L was most frequently observed among various clones. From these results, other changes at position 31 and many other substitutions throughout HVR-H1 are considered well tolerated and may result in another improvement. It is clear that there are multiple sequence changes that can improve the affinity of Fib504 grafted to a human framework that produces an affinity that matches or exceeds that of an antibody.

  Starting from the grafting of 6 rat Fib504HVR into the human acceptor scaffold, expanding HVR-L2 to include position 49 (lysine), expanding HVR-H2 to include position 49 (glycine), and Extension of HVR-94 to include position 94 (methionine) and amino acid change VHR-L1 at position 32 (where L or I replaces Y) and, optionally, position 31 at VHR-L1 (here For example, T is replaced by D or S). Useful framework amino acid changes occur at positions 71 (A71R) and 78 (L78F) of the VH domain. Such amino acid changes result in variant hu504.32, which is a fully human antibody with, for example, a 3-fold improved binding affinity for alpha4beta7 integrin. Furthermore, selected humanized antibodies described herein have been found to have biological activity at least comparable to the parent rat Fib504 antibody (see Example 3 herein).

Example 2: Another humanized Fib504HVR variant
Further modification of the HVR amino acid sequence of humanized variant Fib504.32 resulted in the formation of another variant having the ability to antagonize the activity of beta7 integrin subunits and / or integrins containing beta7 subunits.

Formation of an extensive amino acid scan library—a library for scanning selected HVR positions relative to other amino acid residues capable of forming a beta 7 binding mutant of mutant hu504.32 is composed of three oligonucleotides: 504-L1 designed to soft randomize a portion of HVR-L1 with a bias to the hu504.32 HVR-L1 sequence (ie, the sequence ASESVDDLLH (SEQ ID NO: 47, relative to positions A2-A11)) And HVR-L3 504-N96 and HVR-H3 504- introducing NNS at position 96 of light chain HVR-L3 and position 94 of heavy chain HVR-H3. M94 was used to make all 20 amino acids at these positions. Using these 3 oligonucleotides, 3 stop codons in the light chain (positions 31 and 32 of HVR-L1 and 96 in HVR-L3) and 1 stop codon in the heavy chain (position 94 of HVR-H3) An extensive amino acid scan library was formed as described above using the containing template.
In order to more fully explore possible preferred sequences in hu504-32 wide amino acid scan-HVR-L1 and to increase the stability of 504-32, we a) during humanization 504-32 HVR-L1 (ie ASESVDDLLH (SEQ ID NO: 47, relative to relative position A2-A11)) was soft randomized (FIG. 1C) and b) N96 in HVR-L3 And a phage library was designed that gave all possible amino acids at M94 in HVR-H3. After four rounds of selection against the immobilized full-length human integrin alpha4beta7 described above, 96 random clones were selected and subjected to sequence analysis. The frequency at which amino acids are detected at each position in the extensive amino acid scan library suggests that the HVR-L1 sequence present in hu504-32 and the methionine at heavy chain position 94 are indications for high affinity binding. (FIG. 12). The most preferred amino acid obtained by selection starting from variant 504.32 (FIG. 12) is shown in yellow. In contrast, asparagine is also present at position 96 of the light chain of hu504-32, and the high frequency of leucine observed at this position in the extensive amino acid scan indicates that the mutation N96L is a humanized Fib504 against alpha4beta7. It suggests further improving the affinity of the mutant and eliminating any potential deamidation problems at this position. The information in FIG. 12 also suggests that the number of replacement amino acids is well tolerated at most positions without substantial loss of affinity. For example, in order to eliminate the oxidation of HVR-H3 at M94, glutamine or arginine may be substituted.

  Formation of limited amino acid scan libraries—6 libraries for limited amino acid scans utilize six Kunkel templates, each containing one stop codon located within one of the six HVRs I did it. Each library uses a single oligonucleotide encoding a single HVR to modify amino acid residues for subsequent testing for binding to beta 7 or alpha 4 beta 7, while FIG. It was created using the codon shown in the column. The same procedure was used to modify the amino acid residues of anti-beta7 antibodies and to test them for binding to alpha Ebeta7 integrin.

  Limited amino acid scan of hu504-32 to create hu504-16, which is approximated by human light and heavy chain consensus sequences, and in the process to find the minimal sequence element of rat Fib504 required for binding A limited amino acid scan of hu504-16 was designed. 6 libraries were created to target each HVR at different sites between hu504-16 and the human consensus scappa I light chain or subgroup III heavy chain (FIGS. 1A and 1B); either rat or human amino acid library Of these positions (FIG. 11A). In order to adapt the coding for both amino acids during oligonucleotide synthesis and mutagenesis, another amino acid was also introduced in some cases (see the encoded amino acid in FIG. 11A). A limited amino acid scan library was selected against full-length human integrin alpha4beta7 immobilized as described above, and approximately 32 random clones were sequenced from each library after the third round. The frequency of each amino acid detected at each position is shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C.

  As with the broad amino acid scan, the limited amino acid scan also provides information on what changes are tolerated at many positions in the humanized Fib 504. However, unlike extensive amino acid scans, the diversity allowed at each position randomized in a limited amino acid scan was limited to a few amino acids. That is, the lack of any observed substitution at a given position does not indicate that a particular residue cannot be changed, nor is the high frequency of any particular amino acid at a given position. Does not necessarily indicate that it is the best solution for high affinity.

  In some positions (positions 27, 29, 30, 53, 54 of the light chain and positions 50, 54, 58, 60, 61 and 65 of the heavy chain) human consensus amino acids are selected very frequently, and human consensus This suggests that the back mutation to does not dramatically alter binding to human alpha4beta7. In fact, at position 54 of the light chain (within HVR-L2), a human consensus amino acid has been selected more frequently than the amino acid from rat Fib504, and this change that occurred in 504-32 results in a useful beta7 binding antibody. It shows giving.

  Furthermore, as a result of library design, amino acids not derived from either human consensus or rat Fib504 are more frequently selected at certain positions and improve the affinity of the humanized Fib504 variant. Give a potential replacement for. These include, for example, light chain D30A and I55V and heavy chain Y50F. The results obtained from these two libraries indicate that many HVR positions are tolerated by other amino acid substitutions and still retain equivalent biological activity.

  A summary of the observed amino acid changes is shown in FIGS. FIG. 15 summarizes the various amino acids useful at each of the positions in the CDRs of the antibody variants of the invention at the positions numbered according to the Kabat numbering or relative numbering system. Each of the other antibodies encompassed by the variants shown in FIGS. 13 and 15 is an embodiment of the present invention.

(Example 3: Cell adhesion test)
The ability of some of the humanized Fib504 variants of the invention to bind to ligands expressed on the cell surface was tested by a cell adhesion test. Binding to alpha4beta7 and other beta7 integrins, alpha Ebeta7, was tested by the ability of humanized variants to interfere with integrin binding to its natural receptor. The binding of the humanized Fib504 variant to the beta7 subunit alone expressed on the cell surface was also tested. The operating method and results are described below.

  IgG production—Human Fib504 IgG variants were transiently expressed in 293 cells using separate vectors for light and heavy chains (Graham et al., (1977) supra). Vectors were constructed by subcloning light or heavy chain variable domains into the appropriate expression vector for each of the light and heavy chains. A new 1 mL HiTrap protein that was filtered through a 0.45 um filter and equilibrated in Buffer A (10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl) from a 1.1 L CHO cell culture supernatant of the humanized Fib504 variant. Applied to an A HP column (Amersham / Pharmacia). Samples were applied at 4 ° C. overnight at 0.8 mL / min. Next, each column was washed and equilibrated with 30 ml of Buffer A. Antibody elution was chromatographed at room temperature on FPLC (Amersham / Pharmacia) using a primary gradient of 14 min at 1 ml / min from 0% to 100% buffer B (100 mM glycine, pH 3.0). . The resulting 1 ml fraction was immediately neutralized by adding 75 ul of 1M Tris pH8. The eluted protein was detected by absorbance at 280 nm and the peak fractions were pooled and desalted in PBS on a PD10G-25 Sephadex disposable sizing column (Amersham / Pharmacia). Protein was detected by OD280 and the peak fractions were pooled. The antibody in PBS was 0.22 um filtered and stored at 4 ° C. Amino acid analysis was used to quantify the concentration of these purified antibodies, and the values were assigned from the average of two separate measurements.

(BCECF label)
In each of the tests shown in Example 3, details were labeled according to the following procedure. All cells used for adhesion testing were in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% FBS for RMPI8866 cells and 38C13 cells (38C13beta7 cells) transfected with beta7 subunit, and alpha Ebeta7 transfected 293 cells (Alpha E beta 7293 cells) in 10% FBS containing F-12: DMEM mixture (50:50) 10 uM 2 ′, 7′-bis- (2-carboxylethyl) -5- (and − 6) Labeled with carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF). Cells were labeled for 30 minutes and washed twice with test medium. Cell density was adjusted to 3x10 ⁶ cells per ml for RPMI8866 and 38C13 beta7 cells, and for the alpha E beta 7293 cells was adjusted to 2.2 × 10 ⁶ pieces.

(Intervention of binding of alpha4beta7 to MAdCAM of humanized Fib504 mutant)
RPMI 8866 / MAdCAM-1-Ig cell adhesion: RPMI 8866 cells express alpha 4 beta 7 on their surface (Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY). Humanized Fib504 variant (hu504 variant) was contacted with a mixture of RPMI 8866 and MAdCAM fused to IgG coated on a solid phase. Humanized Fib504 variant concentration (IC ₅₀ ) resulting in 50% inhibition of binding of RPMI 8866 cells to MAdCAM-1 was measured at 2 μg / ml, 100 μl / well MAdCAM-1 in PBS at 4 ° C. overnight in a Nunc Maxisorp ^™ 96-well plate. -Measured by coating with Ig (Genentech, Inc., where Ig refers to a fusion of MAdCAM-1 to the Fc region). After blocking the plate with 200 ul / well of 5 mg / ml BSA for 1 hour at room temperature, 50 μl of humanized Fib504 variant was added to each well in test medium (RPMI1640 medium, Hyclone®, Logan Utah, USA, 5 mg / mL BSA added). And 150,000 BCECF labeled cells (BCECF, Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) in 50 μl of test medium are added to each well and incubated at 37 ° C. for 15 minutes. The wells were washed twice with 150 μl of test medium to remove unbound cells. Bound cells were solubilized with 100 μl 0.1% SDS in 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5. The amount of fluorescence emitted from the lysed cells was measured by SPECTRAmax GEMINI ^™ (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.) At a wavelength of 485 nm excitation and 530 nm emission. To obtain an IC ₅₀ value for each humanized Fib504 variant in the study, the fluorescence values were analyzed as a function of the concentration of the humanized Fib504 variant added in each study using a four parameter nonlinear least squares fit. IC ₅₀ and IC ₉₀ values were estimated from a four parameter fit. FIG. 14 is an exemplary plot of results. The IC ₉₀ and IC ₅₀ values for each of the test variants are as shown below in Table 4.

^＊Ｅｘｐ１／Ｅｘｐ２は反復試験の結果を示す。

^* Exp1 / Exp2 indicates the results of repeated tests.

(Humanized Fib504 mutant interference of alpha4beta7 binding to VCAM)
RPMI 8866 / 7dVCAM-1 cell adhesion: The RPMI 8866 / 7dVCAM-1 test is RPMI 8866 / MAdCAM-1-Ig except that 7dVCAM-1 (ADP5, R & D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.) Was used at 2 ug / ml to coat the plate. Is the same format. Results were analyzed as described above for MAdCAM binding experiments. The IC ₉₀ and IC ₅₀ values for each of the test variants are as shown below in Table 5.

^＊Ｅｘｐ１／Ｅｘｐ２は反復試験の結果を示す。

^* Exp1 / Exp2 indicates the results of repeated tests.

(Interference of humanized Fib504 mutant with alpha Ebeta7 binding to human E-cadherin)
Alpha E beta 7 293 / huE-cadherin cell adhesion: 293 cells (Graham et al. (1977) supra) were transfected with alpha E and beta 7 (Genentech, Inc.). The test format is similar to RPMI 8866 / MAdCAM-1-Ig except that huE-cadherin (648-EC, R & D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.) Was used at 2 μg / ml to coat the plate. The plate is then blocked with 5 mg / ml BSA as described above, and 50 μl of FIB504 variant in test medium (F-12: DMEM (50:50), 5 mg / ml BSA added) is added to each well and the test medium. 110,000 BCECF labeled cells in 50 ul were added to each well and incubated at 37 ° C. for 15 minutes. The wells were washed twice with 150 μl of test medium and the amount of fluorescence released from the lysed cells was measured as described above. Table 6 shows the results obtained from the three experiments.

（ＭＡｄＣＡＭへのベータ７の結合のヒト化Ｆｉｂ５０４変異体の妨害）
３８Ｃ１３ベータ７／muＭＡｄＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇ細胞接着試験：３８Ｃ１３ベータ７／muＭＡｄＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇ試験はプレートをコーティングするためにｍｕＭＡｄＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇ（Ｇｅｎｅｎｔｅｃｈ，Ｉｎｃ．）を２ｕｇ／ｍｌで使用した以外はＲＰＭＩ８８６６／ＭＡｄＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇと同様のフォーマットである。３８Ｃ１３アルファ４＋マウスリンパ腫細胞（Ｃｒｏｗｅ，Ｄ．Ｔ．ら、J.Ｂｉｏｌ．Ｃｈｅｍ．２６９：１４４１１−１４４１８（１９９４））を、アルファ４ベータ７が細胞表面上に発現されるようにインテグリンベータ７をコードするＤＮＡでトランスフェクトした。アルファ４ベータ７と会合している細胞膜とＭＡｄＣＡＭとの間の相互作用を妨害する抗体変異体の能力を上記の通り調べた。試験結果は表７に示す。（２実験のＩＣ５０及びＩＣ９０値を示す）。

(Intervention of humanized Fib504 mutants for binding of beta 7 to MAdCAM)
38C13beta7 / muMAdCAM-1-Ig cell adhesion test: The 38C13beta7 / muMAdCAM-1-Ig test was performed except that muMAdCAM-1-Ig (Genentech, Inc.) was used at 2 ug / ml to coat the plate. This is the same format as RPMI 8866 / MAdCAM-1-Ig. 38C13 alpha 4+ mouse lymphoma cells (Crowe, DT, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269: 14411-14418 (1994)), integrin beta 7 was expressed so that alpha 4 beta 7 was expressed on the cell surface. Transfected with the encoding DNA. The ability of antibody variants to interfere with the interaction between the cell membrane associated with alpha4beta7 and MAdCAM was examined as described above. The test results are shown in Table 7. (The IC50 and IC90 values of 2 experiments are shown).

マウスＶＣＡＭへのベータ７の結合のヒト化Ｆｉｂ５０４変異体の妨害
３８Ｃ１３ベータ７／ｍｕＶＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇ細胞接着試験：３８Ｃ１３ベータ７／ｍｕＶＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇ試験はプレートをコーティングするためにｍｕＶＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇ（Ｇｅｎｅｎｔｅｃｈ，Ｉｎｃ．）を２ｕｇ／ｍｌで使用した以外はマウスＭＡｄＣＡＭ−１−Ｉｇ／ＲＰＭＩ８８６６に従って実施した。試験結果は表８に示す。（２実験のＩＣ５０及びＩＣ９０値を示す）。

Interference of humanized Fib504 mutant with beta7 binding to mouse VCAM 38C13 beta7 / muVCAM-1-Ig cell adhesion test: 38C13beta7 / muVCAM-1-Ig test is a muVCAM-1- The experiment was performed according to mouse MAdCAM-1-Ig / RPMI8866 except that Ig (Genentech, Inc.) was used at 2 ug / ml. The test results are shown in Table 8. (The IC50 and IC90 values of 2 experiments are shown).

ヒト化Ｆｉｂ５０４変異体結合試験の結果は、本発明のヒト化抗体はその標的ベータ７インテグリンサブユニット並びにアルファ４ベータ７及びアルファＥベータ７インテグリンに、ほぼ出発ラット抗体の親和性で、そして、一部の実施形態においてはより大きい親和性で、結合することを示している。即ち、本発明のヒト化抗ベータ７抗体は抗ベータ７インテグリン治療、特にヒトの治療において有用である。

The results of the humanized Fib504 variant binding test show that the humanized antibody of the present invention has approximately the affinity of the starting rat antibody to its target beta7 integrin subunit and alpha4beta7 and alphaEbeta7 integrin, and Some embodiments show binding with greater affinity. That is, the humanized anti-beta7 antibody of the present invention is useful in anti-beta7 integrin therapy, particularly in human therapy.

(Relative activity of the hu504.32 variant of the invention)
In accordance with the cell adhesion test methods described herein, the ability of various amino acid variants of the hu504.32 antibody to inhibit the binding of beta7-containing receptors to their ligands is demonstrated in human and mouse cell adhesion tests. Tested. The RPMI 8866 / MAdCAM-1-Fc test was performed as described above. The alpha Ebeta 7-293 / huE-cadherin test was modified by the use of human E-cadherin-Fc as a ligand (human E-cadherin-Fc, 648-EC, R & D Systems. Minneapolis, MN). The relative ability of hu504.32 to inhibit the interaction of human fibronectin (huFN40) with human alpha4beta7 receptor on PRMI 8866 cells was also examined. The RPMI 8866 / hu fibronectin (huFN40) test used for these studies is the same except that human fibronectin alpha-chymotrypsin-treated fragment 40 kDa (F1903, Chemicon International. Temecula, CA) was used at 2 ug / ml to coat the plates. The format was similar to the RPMI 8866 / MAdCAM-1-Ig test disclosed herein.

The ability of the hu504.32 mutant to inhibit the interaction between mouse beta7 containing receptor and mouse MAdCAM-1 or mouse VCAM-1 was examined. Mouse MAdCAM-1-Fc and mouse VCAM-1-Fc were inhibited by hu504.32 mutant from interacting with mouse lymphoma alpha4 + cells (38C13beta7 cells) expressing mouse beta7. Mouse MAdCAM-1-Fc and VCAM-1-Fc cell adhesion studies were performed as described herein for human MAdCAM-1 and VCAM. If the ligand is fused to an Fc region, the anti-CD16 / 32 antibody of 5 minutes 10 ⁶ cells per 0.5μg at room temperature Fc receptors on cells (anti FcγIII / II receptor antibody, catalog number 553142, Blocked with BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA). 150,000 labeled cells in 50 μl of test medium were added to each well and incubated at 37 ° C. for 13 minutes. The wells were washed and the amount of fluorescence released from the lysed cells was measured as described above. The control antibody for human cell adhesion test was mouse monoclonal antibody 6B11 against human serum albumin (Catalog No. ab10244, Novus Biologicals, Littleton, CO, USA). The control antibody for the mouse cell adhesion test was rat anti-mouse integrin beta 7 antibody M293 (BD Biosciences, San Jose, Calif.) That does not compete with ligand or Fib504 for binding to integrin beta 7.

  The results of triplicate tests on human and mouse cell adhesion tests are shown in Tables 9 and 10, respectively.

ｈｕ５０４．３２抗体は重鎖ＣＤＲ３の９４位にメチオニンを有する。変異体Ｍ９４Ｑ（又はｈｕ５０４．３２Ｑ）及びＭ９４Ｒ（又はｈｕ５０４．３２Ｒ）はそれぞれｈｕ５０４．３２変異体の９４位にグルタミン又はアルギニンを有する。ｈｕ５０４．３２Ｍ、Ｑ及びＲ抗体は試験の各々においてインテグリンベータ７受容体−リガンド相互作用を実質的に低減し、従って、ベータ７媒介細胞接着の強力な阻害剤であった。

The hu504.32 antibody has a methionine at position 94 of heavy chain CDR3. Mutants M94Q (or hu504.32Q) and M94R (or hu504.32R) have glutamine or arginine at position 94 of the hu504.32 mutant, respectively. The hu504.32M, Q and R antibodies substantially reduced integrin beta7 receptor-ligand interactions in each of the tests and were therefore potent inhibitors of beta7-mediated cell adhesion.

(In vivo antibody hu504.32R activity)
The ability of the hu504.32 antibody mutant to reduce integrin beta7 receptor-ligand interaction and reduce recruitment of lymphocytes to the inflamed colon in an in vivo mouse inflammatory bowel disease model was tested in vivo. BALB / c mice and CB17 SCID mice were purchased from Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (Wilmington, MA, USA). CD4 ⁺ CD45Rb high T cell repopulating SCID colitis mice were generated by isolating CD4 ⁺ CD45Rb high T cells from donor BALB / c mice and transferring 3 × 10 ⁵ in 100 μl PBS intravenously. Control SCID mice did not receive CD4 ⁺ CD45Rb high T cells. Reshaped CD4 + mice meeting the dose group assignment criteria of 10% weight loss from baseline at week 4 or 15% from peak weight were considered induced inflammatory bowel disease and were selected for dosing.

Test mesenteric lymph nodes of the donor BALB / c mice (MLN) cells were harvested in the antibody administration day, and radiolabelled with ^{Cr 51.} In administration, anti-GP120 antibody, hu504.32 anti-beta7 antibody, hu504.32R anti-beta7 antibody or no antibody (control) was administered intravenously at 200 μg / 100 μl PBS in advance. Thirty minutes after antibody administration, Cr ^51- labeled MLN cells were injected at a concentration of 4 × 10 ⁶ cells / 100 μl. Mice were euthanized 1 hour after labeled cell injection, spleen, colon and Peer plaques were collected, weighed, and total Cr ⁵¹ radioactivity per organ was measured. FIG. 16 is a bar graph of the results of these studies, showing the relative ability of antibodies to block homing of radiolabeled T cells into the colon of mice experiencing inflammatory bowel disease. T cell homing to the inflamed colon was inhibited by the hu504.32 and hu504.32R anti-beta7 antibodies relative to the negative control anti-GP120 antibody. Distribution to the spleen was similar for all antibodies. That is, hu504.32 and hu504.32R anti-beta7 antibodies effectively inhibited T cell homing to the inflamed colon in vivo.

  Antibody glycation does not affect the ability of the hu504.32R mutant to block binding of MAdCAM-1 to the alpha4beta7 receptor.

  Glycation, a non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins, can affect antibody-ligand interactions (see, eg, Kennedy, DM, et al., Clin Exp Immunol. 98 (2): 245-51 (1994)). . A glycation at position 49 of 504.32R and a glycation at position 49 of the light chain of the 504.32R mutant (relative position B1 relative to HVR-L2) are observed, but to alpha4beta7 receptor expressing RPMI 8866 cells It shows no significant effect on the ability of antibody variants to block the binding of MAdCAM-1. Glycation and glycation level measurements were performed by standard electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and by boronate affinity chromatography. Boronate affinity HPLC methods useful for testing for glycation are described, for example, by Quan C. et al. P. Et al., Analytical Chemistry 71 (20): 4445-4454 (1999) and Li Y. et al. C. Et al. Chromatography A, 909: 137-145 (2001). The cell adhesion test was performed according to the RPMI 8866 / MAdCAM-1-Fc cell adhesion test disclosed herein.

  In another embodiment of the invention, glycation at position 49 is reduced or eliminated when position 49 contains an amino acid other than lysine. The polypeptide or antibody of the present invention has amino acids A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, as amino acid at position 49 (HVR-L2 relative position B1). Includes any of R, S, T, V, W or Y, where each letter refers to an amino acid according to the standard one letter amino acid designation. The amino acid at position 49 of the light chain of the 504.32R variant (or other 504 variant) is selected from the group consisting of R, N, V, A, F, Q, H, P, I or L. A useful amino acid at position 49 is, for example, displaying hu504.32RFab on a phage (variant) (creating a phage library), and codons for each of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids, Are selected by substituting separately. Phages expressing a hu504.32R variant modified at position 49 are tested for binding to a receptor comprising integrin beta 7 and / or integrin beta 7, such as alpha 4 beta 7 or alpha E beta 7 receptor. These mutants that bind to beta7 integrin or alpha4beta7 or alphaEbeta7 receptor, as described herein, have the ability to inhibit integrin beta7 receptor-ligand binding and in vivo efficacy. For further screening. Another, naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring amino acid may be substituted at position 49 by standard mutagenesis techniques and tested in cell adhesion and in vivo tests described herein. Alternatively, the amino acid at position 49 of the light chain is an amino acid other than lysine (K), and by altering any other HVR or framework or amino acid at the light chain and / or heavy chain position, the integrin beta Mutant anti-beta7 binding exhibiting binding affinity, in vitro or in vivo biological activity, drug body, drug clearance and immunogenicity that are useful for reducing inflammation by reducing the biological activity of 7 A polypeptide or antibody is selected. Mutagenesis and selection of such polypeptide or antibody variants are performed as disclosed herein and according to other standard techniques. Such a mutant anti-beta7 binding polypeptide or antibody is within 10,000 times, or within 100 times, within 1000 times the binding affinity exhibited by any of the humanized Fib504 variants disclosed herein. Or an integrin beta 7 binding affinity within 10 fold, within 5 fold, or within 2 fold.

  The foregoing specification is considered to be sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Since the deposited embodiments are intended as a single illustration of the specific features of the invention, and any functionally equivalent construction is included within the scope of the invention, the invention is based on the deposited construction. It is not limited in scope. The deposit of material in the present invention does not constitute an acceptance that the written description contained herein is insufficient to allow the implementation of any feature of the present invention, including its best mode. It is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims to the specific descriptions presented. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description, and are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

1A and 1B show the following variable light and heavy chain sequences: light chain human subgroup kappa I consensus sequence (FIG. 1A, SEQ ID NO: 23), heavy chain human III consensus sequence (FIG. 1B, SEQ ID NO: 24), rat Anti-mouse beta 7 antibody (Fib504) variable light chain (FIG. 1A, SEQ ID NO: 10), rat anti-mouse beta 7 antibody (Fib504) variable heavy chain (FIG. 1B, SEQ ID NO: 11), and humanized antibody variant: human Hu504K graft variable light chain (FIG. 1A, SEQ ID NO: 25), humanized hu504K graft variable heavy chain (FIG. 1B, SEQ ID NO: 26), mutant hu504.5 (amino acid mutations from humanized hu504K graft are mutant hu504. 5, alignment of hu504.16 and hu504.32 (as shown in FIG. 1A (light chain) and FIG. 1B (heavy chain)) 1A and 1B show the following variable light and heavy chain sequences: light chain human subgroup kappa I consensus sequence (FIG. 1A, SEQ ID NO: 23), heavy chain human III consensus sequence (FIG. 1B, SEQ ID NO: 24), rat Anti-mouse beta 7 antibody (Fib504) variable light chain (FIG. 1A, SEQ ID NO: 10), rat anti-mouse beta 7 antibody (Fib504) variable heavy chain (FIG. 1B, SEQ ID NO: 11), and humanized antibody variant: human Hu504K graft variable light chain (FIG. 1A, SEQ ID NO: 25), humanized hu504K graft variable heavy chain (FIG. 1B, SEQ ID NO: 26), mutant hu504.5 (amino acid mutations from humanized hu504K graft are mutant hu504. 5, alignment of hu504.16 and hu504.32 (as shown in FIG. 1A (light chain) and FIG. 1B (heavy chain)) Another amino acid substitution in HVR-H1 and HVR-H2 of the hu504K graft that results in a beta7 binding antibody is shown in FIG. 1C. Figures 2A and 2B show the full length sequences of the light chain (Figure 2A, SEQ ID NO: 27) and heavy chain (Figure 2B, SEQ ID NO: 28) of the human consensus subgroup III sequence. HVR is the underlined part. 3A and 3B show the rat Fib504 hypervariable region (described herein) within the human kappa I consensus sequence light chain (FIG. 3A, SEQ ID NO: 29) and within the human subgroup III consensus sequence heavy chain (FIG. 3B, SEQ ID NO: 30). The full length sequence of the grafted humanized antibody 504 graft is shown. HVR is the underlined part. Figures 4A and 4B show the full length sequence of the humanized 504K graft in which position 49 of the light chain of the hu504K graft is Y49K substituted. The hu504K graft light chain is represented by SEQ ID NO: 31 and the hu504K graft heavy chain is represented by SEQ ID NO: 30. HVR is the underlined part. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the full length sequence of the hu504K-RF graft where the heavy chain of the hu504 graft has positions 71 and 78 that are A71R and A78F substituted from the hu504 graft sequence. The hu504K-RF graft light chain is represented by SEQ ID NO: 31 and the hu504K-RF graft heavy chain is represented by SEQ ID NO: 32. HVR is the underlined part. FIGS. 6A and 6B show the full length sequence of the hu504.32 variant containing T31D and Y32L substitutions (SEQ ID NO: 33) in the heavy chain of the hu504K-RF graft (SEQ ID NO: 32) and the light chain of the hu504K graft. HVR is the underlined part. 7A-7B show exemplary acceptor human consensus framework sequences for use in the practice of the invention using the following sequence identifiers. Variable light chain (VL) consensus framework (FIG. 7A, B) human VL kappa subgroup I consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 14) human VL kappa subgroup I consensus framework minus extension HVR-L2 (SEQ ID NO: 15) human VL Kappa subgroup II consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 16) human VL kappa subgroup III consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 17) human VL kappa subgroup IV consensus framework (SEQ ID NO: 18) hatched area indicates light chain HVR (L1 , L2 and L3). FIGS. 8A-8B show exemplary acceptor human consensus framework sequences for use in the practice of the invention using the following sequence identifiers. Variable heavy chain (VH) consensus framework (FIG. 8A, B) Human VH subgroup I consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 19) Human VH subgroup I consensus framework minus extended hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 20-22) ) Human VH subgroup II consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 48) Human VH subgroup II consensus framework minus extension hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 49-51) human VH subgroup III consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (sequence No. 52) human VH subgroup III consensus framework minus extended hypervariable region (SEQ ID NOs: 53-55) human VH acceptor framework minus Kabat DR (SEQ ID NO: 56) human VH acceptor framework minus extension hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 57-58) human VH acceptor 2 framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 59) human VH acceptor 2 framework minus extension hypervariable region ( SEQ ID NO: 60-62) FIGS. 8A-8B show exemplary acceptor human consensus framework sequences for use in the practice of the invention using the following sequence identifiers. Variable heavy chain (VH) consensus framework (FIG. 8A, B) Human VH subgroup I consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 19) Human VH subgroup I consensus framework minus extended hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 20-22) ) Human VH subgroup II consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 48) Human VH subgroup II consensus framework minus extension hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 49-51) human VH subgroup III consensus framework minus Kabat CDR (sequence No. 52) human VH subgroup III consensus framework minus extended hypervariable region (SEQ ID NOs: 53-55) human VH acceptor framework minus Kabat DR (SEQ ID NO: 56) human VH acceptor framework minus extension hypervariable region (SEQ ID NO: 57-58) human VH acceptor 2 framework minus Kabat CDR (SEQ ID NO: 59) human VH acceptor 2 framework minus extension hypervariable region ( SEQ ID NO: 60-62) 9A and 9B show the amino acid sequence of the variable chain of the rat anti-mouse integrin beta 7 Fib504 antibody produced by the hybridoma ATCC HB-293. HVR is the underlined part. The variable light chain is shown in FIG. 9A (SEQ ID NO: 12) and the variable heavy chain is shown in FIG. 9B (SEQ ID NO: 13). FIG. 10A shows the amino acid positions in the heavy chain of various consensus sequences (hu subgroup I-III). The consensus sequences, rat Fib504 and hu504-RL framework used for the development of Herceptin® anti-HER2 antibody are described in the examples herein. FIG. 10B is a bar graph showing the relative binding of alpha4beta7 to hu504 and hu504K grafted antibodies as a function of the “RL” or “RF” framework modifications described in Example 1. 11A-11C. FIG. 11A tabulates changes in HVR due to affinity maturation performed by providing a limited range of amino acid substitutions in the hu504.16 mutant. Results are obtained from libraries with individually modified HVRs in the hu504.16 variant described in Example 2 herein. Abbreviations for amino acids in the box are those amino acids that were more frequently observed in beta 7 binding antibodies (phage selection antibodies). 11A-11C. FIG. 11A tabulates changes in HVR due to affinity maturation performed by providing a limited range of amino acid substitutions in the hu504.16 mutant. Results are obtained from libraries with individually modified HVRs in the hu504.16 variant described in Example 2 herein. Abbreviations for amino acids in the box are those amino acids that were more frequently observed in beta 7 binding antibodies (phage selection antibodies). 11A-11C. 11B and 11C show the number and type of amino acid substitutions in the hu504.16 mutant (light chain, FIG. 11B; heavy chain, FIG. 11C) detectable by mutagenesis and selection as described in Example 2 It is a bar graph of a result. 11A-11C. 11B and 11C show the number and type of amino acid substitutions in the hu504.16 mutant (light chain, FIG. 11B; heavy chain, FIG. 11C) detectable by mutagenesis and selection as described in Example 2 It is a bar graph of a result. FIG. 12 tabulates the results of affinity mutations performed by giving a broad range of possible amino acid substitutions in the HVR of the hu504.32 variant described in Example 2. Boxes show the most frequently detected amino acids in antibodies detected as beta 7 binding antibodies by the mutagenesis and selection method of Example 2. Figures 13A and 13B show the HVR sequences of anti-mouse Fib504 (ATCC-293) and human consensus (left column). Examples of amino acid substitutions observed for each HVR by the tests described in the examples (soft amino acid randomization, extensive amino acid substitution scans, and amino acid substitutions observed by limited amino acid substitution scans) are shown on the right. (A useful method of modifying HVRs for humanization applicable to the variants of the present invention is described in US Provisional Application 60 / 545,840 filed February 19, 2004). Figures 13A and 13B show the HVR sequences of anti-mouse Fib504 (ATCC-293) and human consensus (left column). Examples of amino acid substitutions observed for each HVR by the tests described in the examples (soft amino acid randomization, extensive amino acid substitution scans, and amino acid substitutions observed by limited amino acid substitution scans) are shown on the right. (A useful method of modifying HVRs for humanization applicable to the variants of the present invention is described in US Provisional Application 60 / 545,840 filed February 19, 2004). FIG. 14 is an exemplary graphical representation of Fib504 and variant antibody binding to MAdCAM as a function of antibody concentration as described in Example 3. IC ₅₀ and IC ₉₀ values for the antibody were measured. FIGS. 15A and 15B show the light and heavy chain HVR amino acid sequences for the 504.32R anti-beta7 antibody with respect to positions according to the Kabat numbering system and the relative numbering system (AF) for 6HVR of the antibody. The amino acids at positions 71, 73 and 78 of the heavy chain FR3 region are also shown. Useful amino acid substitutions are also listed for many of the positions in the HVR or heavy chain FR3 region. FIGS. 15A and 15B show the light and heavy chain HVR amino acid sequences for the 504.32R anti-beta7 antibody with respect to positions according to the Kabat numbering system and the relative numbering system (AF) for 6HVR of the antibody. The amino acids at positions 71, 73 and 78 of the heavy chain FR3 region are also shown. Useful amino acid substitutions are also listed for many of the positions in the HVR or heavy chain FR3 region. FIG. 16 is a bar graph of the relative ability of 504.32M and 504.32R antibodies to block homing of radiolabeled T cells to the colon of mice experiencing inflammatory bowel disease.

Claims (1)

An anti-beta7 binding polypeptide or antibody as described herein.

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