US20210395350A1 - Antibodies binding to citrullinated histone 2a and/or 4 - Google Patents

Antibodies binding to citrullinated histone 2a and/or 4 Download PDF

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US20210395350A1
US20210395350A1 US17/269,509 US201917269509A US2021395350A1 US 20210395350 A1 US20210395350 A1 US 20210395350A1 US 201917269509 A US201917269509 A US 201917269509A US 2021395350 A1 US2021395350 A1 US 2021395350A1
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antibody
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Jozef Maria Hendrik Raats
Renato Gerardus Silvano Chirivi
Johannes Wilhelmus Gerardus VAN ROSMALEN
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Citryll BV
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    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P19/00—Drugs for skeletal disorders
    • A61P19/02—Drugs for skeletal disorders for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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    • A61P29/00—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
    • A61P37/06—Immunosuppressants, e.g. drugs for graft rejection
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
    • C07K2317/24—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin containing regions, domains or residues from different species, e.g. chimeric, humanized or veneered
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/50—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments
    • C07K2317/56—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by immunoglobulin fragments variable (Fv) region, i.e. VH and/or VL
    • C07K2317/565—Complementarity determining region [CDR]
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C07K2317/60—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments
    • C07K2317/62—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by non-natural combinations of immunoglobulin fragments comprising only variable region components
    • C07K2317/622—Single chain antibody (scFv)
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    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
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    • C07K2317/76—Antagonist effect on antigen, e.g. neutralization or inhibition of binding
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    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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    • C07K2317/92—Affinity (KD), association rate (Ka), dissociation rate (Kd) or EC50 value
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    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/90—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by (pharmaco)kinetic aspects or by stability of the immunoglobulin
    • C07K2317/94—Stability, e.g. half-life, pH, temperature or enzyme-resistance

Definitions

  • the invention provides antibodies or binding fragments thereof directed against citrulline-containing epitopes.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the invention can be used in therapy, for example in the treatment or prevention of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET)-associated pathologies.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the invention can be used in the treatment or prevention of NET-associated pathologies such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, allergic asthma, cystic fibrosis, fibrosis and idi
  • the invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating or preventing NET-associated pathologies such as SLE, lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, allergic asthma, cystic fibrosis, fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, dry eye disease, uveitis, nongranulomatous uveitis, granulomatous uveitis, dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, COPD, bronchitis, or other NET-associated pathologies such as wound healing in diabetes, cancer, cancer metastas
  • chronic inflammation is considered to be inflammation of a prolonged duration (weeks or months) in which active inflammation, tissue destruction and attempts at healing are proceeding simultaneously.
  • chronic inflammation can follow an acute inflammatory episode, it can also begin as an insidious process that progresses with time, for example, as a result of a persistent infection (e.g., tuberculosis, syphilis, fungal infection) that causes a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, prolonged exposure to endogenous (e.g., elevated plasma lipids) or exogenous (e.g., silica, asbestos, cigarette tar, surgical sutures) toxins, or autoimmune reactions against the body's own tissues (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis).
  • endogenous e.g., elevated plasma lipids
  • exogenous e.g., silica, asbestos, cigarette tar, surgical sutures
  • NETs Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
  • NETs are also known to cause inflammation.
  • NETs are structures comprising DNA and histones that are produced by neutrophils as part of the host defense mechanism against pathogens. They can trap and kill various bacterial, fungal, viral and protozoal pathogens, and their release is one of the first lines of defense against pathogens.
  • histones become hypercitrullinated and the neutrophil nucleus undergoes a process of chromatin decondensation that leads to the formation of NETs by NETosis, a form of neutrophil cell death.
  • NETs play a pathological role in a variety of diseases, for example by causing aberrant inflammation.
  • NETs are involved in the pathology of a variety of inflammatory conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
  • SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
  • sepsis sepsis
  • vasculitis inflammatory arthritis
  • psoriasis
  • NETs can cause autoantigen exposure to the extracellular space and the subsequent production of pathological autoantibodies by the subject.
  • NETs and NET remnants harbor toxic histones, which induce vascular damage and subsequent organ damage and failure.
  • interfering with NET formation, and inducing clearance of NETs and NET remnants from circulation and tissues, would have therapeutic benefits.
  • Neutrophils are also increasingly being recognized as an important element in tumour progression. They have been shown to exert important effects at nearly every stage of tumour progression with a number of studies demonstrating that their presence is critical to tumour development. Studies have also implicated NETs as facilitators of tumour progression and metastasis. It has also been shown that neutrophils, through the generation of NETs, provide a scaffold and a stimulus for platelet adhesion, thrombus formation and coagulation in tumours.
  • NETs have been implicated in reducing organ health after transplant. NETs contribute to primary graft dysfunction, contributing to early mortality after lung transplantation. It has been shown that NETs play a pathogenic role in solid organ transplantation.
  • identifying therapeutic agents that could block NET formation, clear NETs, and/or prevent NETosis would have clinical benefit in inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and other NET-associated pathologies such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, allergic asthma, cystic fibrosis, fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, dry eye disease, uveitis, nongranulomatous uveitis, granulomatous uveitis, dermatitis, NET
  • Antibodies that bind to citrullinated epitopes on deiminated human histone 2A and histone 4 are described in WO2009147201, WO2011070172 and WO2016092082.
  • the present inventors have created improved antibodies that bind to citrullinated epitopes on the amino terminus of histones 2A and/or histone 4. These antibodies can be used to treat diseases or pathologies associated with citrullination, such as NET-associated pathologies and inflammatory conditions.
  • the present inventors have created antibodies that show improved properties over the therapeutic antibodies disclosed in WO2009147201, WO2011070172 and WO2016092082.
  • the inventors discovered, by accelerated stability testing and Mass Spectrometry analyses, that isomerisation of certain amino acid residues in the Complementarity-Determining Region 1 (CDR1) of the light chain of the antibodies disclosed in WO2009147201, WO2011070172 and WO2016092082 resulted in a reduction of the binding affinity of the antibodies for the tested histone-derived peptides over time.
  • the inventors then conducted a thorough analysis of CDR1 light chain mutants to solve the isomerisation problem, whilst attempting to retain the binding properties of the antibody.
  • Several attempts resulted in antibodies with reduced binding affinity for the target peptides.
  • the inventors were successful in identifying a group of mutations in CDR1 of the light chain that removed the isomerisation issue, whilst maintaining the binding properties of the original antibody.
  • the mutant antibodies showed improved properties over the original antibodies both in vitro and in vivo.
  • the present invention provides:
  • CDR1 of the light chain variable domain VL
  • the CDR comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence QSL-X 1 -D-X 2 -D-X 3 -KTY, wherein X 1 is V or L, X 2 is T, S, A or N and X 3 is G or A, provided that the amino acid sequence is not QSLLDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 36) or QSLVDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 37);
  • the invention also provides:
  • the invention also provides:
  • the invention also provides:
  • the invention also provides:
  • the invention also provides:
  • the invention also provides:
  • the invention also provides:
  • VH heavy chain variable domain.
  • VL light chain variable domain
  • msVH22.101 mouse VH of therapeutic antibody.
  • msVL22.101 mouse VL of therapeutic antibody.
  • hVH22.101x humanized VH of therapeutic antibody, ‘x’ refers to the heavy chain.
  • hVL22.101y humanized VL of therapeutic antibody, ‘y’ refers to the light chain.
  • hVH22.101(HC)x optimized humanized VH of therapeutic antibody, ‘(HC)x’ refers to the heavy chain.
  • hVL22.101(LC)y optimized humanized VL of therapeutic antibody, ‘(LC)y’ refers to the light chain.
  • hMQ22.101x/y humanized therapeutic antibody
  • ‘x’ refers to the heavy chain
  • ‘y’ refers to the light chain.
  • hMQ22.101(HC)x/(LC)y optimized humanized therapeutic antibody of the invention, ‘(HC)x’ refers to the heavy chain, ‘(LC)y’ refers to the light chain.
  • FIG. 1 Accelerated stability testing of hMQ22.101j/e and hMQ22.101f/g 0.75 ml
  • Aliquot (glass tubes) containing hMQ22.101j/e (12.5 mg/ml) or hMQ22.101f/g (3.31 mg/ml) in 25 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 were stored at 37° C. each for 8 weeks.
  • Each week several 10 ⁇ l and 20 ⁇ l samples were withdrawn from each glass tube under aseptic conditions and stored at ⁇ 80° C. until further analysis (ELISA and mass spectrometry).
  • hMQ22.101j/e samples from week 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8, and hMQ22.101f/g samples from week 0, 3 and 6 were subjected to an in house-validated CMC ELISA in which binding to a histone-derived peptide (SEQ ID NO: 18) was assessed.
  • the antibody binding affinity from the week 0 accelerated stability sample was set at 100%, and all other binding affinity values of the accelerated stability samples (week 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8) were recalculated as a percentage of week 0 (100%) and plotted as a bar graph.
  • FIG. 2 Mass spectrometry analysis of hMQ22.101x/y antibodies
  • the MS analysis was performed as described in Example 2.
  • the table shows the relative aspartate (D) isomerisation levels within the CDR1 and near the CDR2 of hVL22.101e.
  • CDR1 aspartate-mutated antibodies hMQ22.101j/h, hMQ22.101j/i and hMQ22.101j/j were compared to the aspartate-containing antibody hMQ22.101j/e using an in house-validated CMC ELISA as described in Example 1.
  • FIG. 3 Geneation and affinity analysis of hMQ22.101 isomerisation mutants
  • Table shows seventeen CDR1-mutated domains of hVL22.101(LC)y, which have been created as well as the un-mutated CDR1 of hVL22.101e and hVL22.101g.
  • FIG. 4 Accelerated stability testing of hMQ22.101 isomerisation mutants
  • the recalculated antibody binding affinity from the week 0 accelerated stability sample was set at 100%, and all other binding affinity values of the accelerated stability samples were recalculated as a percentage of week 0 (100%) and plotted as a bar graph.
  • Preferred heavy chains used in the accelerated stability tests were hVH22.101f and hVH22.101HC9.
  • hMQ22.101f/LC41, hMQ22.101f/LC42, hMQ22.101HC9/LC21, hMQ22.101HC9/LC27 and hMQ22.101HC9/LC42 showed the greatest stability after 6 weeks.
  • FIG. 5 Mass spectrometry analysis of hMQ22.101 isomerisation mutants
  • FIG. 6 Aggregation and degradation assays of preferred hMQ22.101 isomerisation mutants
  • FIG. 7 NETosis inhibition experiments using preferred isomerisation mutants hMQ22.101f/LC41 and hMQ22.101f/LC42
  • Neutrophils from healthy volunteers were stimulated during 4 hours with calcium ionophore A23187.
  • the effect of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-reducing antibodies was tested by adding antibodies at a concentration of 25 ⁇ g/ml or assay buffer 15 min prior to adding A23187 to the cells. After 4 hours of incubation at 37° C. and 5% CO 2 , cells were washed and extracellular DNA subsequently digested with S7 nuclease.
  • NET fragments were harvested from the wells and quantified by measuring the MPO activity in the sample by adding 50 ⁇ l 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate to 50 ⁇ l harvested NETs.
  • TMB 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine
  • FIG. 8 hMQ22.101f/LC41, hMQ22.101f/LC42 and hMQ22.101f/g dose response in a mouse CAIA model
  • a collagen antibody induced arthritis (CAIA) model was used to test the dose response efficacy of hMQ22.101f/LC41, hMQ22.101f/LC42 or hMQ22.101f/g.
  • Groups of 5 mice were treated on day 0 through i.p. injection with 2.8 mg anti-collagen-II antibodies.
  • LPS 25 ⁇ g/mouse was injected i.p.
  • FIG. 9 in vitro NET inhibition and binding of NETs by hMQ22.101f/LC41
  • hMQ22.101f/LC41 binds to expelled NETs (yellow arrow) as well as pre-NETs (white arrow), which could be the first step towards NET clearance by macrophages (FIG. B).
  • Sytox Green is used to detect DNA, including NETs and pre-NETs, and anti-hIgG is used to detect NET- and pre-NET-bound hMQ22.101f/LC4. Scale bars: 25 ⁇ m.
  • FIG. 10 in vivo NET inhibition and binding of NETs by hMQ22.101f/LC41
  • a pristane-induced peritoneal cell influx mouse model was used in order to induce NET formation in vivo.
  • 50 mg/kg MQR2.201 or hMQ22.101f/LC41 was administered immediately after injection of 500 ⁇ l pristane oil, followed by a second injection of 50 mg/kg MQR2.201 or hMQ22.101f/LC41 12 hours later. After 24 hours, cells were harvested. Inhibition of in vivo NET release was observed when mice were treated with hMQ22.101f/LC41, but not with MQR2.201.
  • FIG. A Representative pictures.
  • FIG. B NET quantification by Hoechst (DNA) and citrullinated Histone 3 (citH3) colocalized.
  • FIG. C Binding of hMQ22.101f/LC41 to NETs as well as pre-NETs, which could be the first step towards NET clearance by macrophages.
  • Sytox Green is used to detect DNA, including NETs and pre-NETs, and anti-hIgG is used to detect NET- and pre-NET-bound hMQ22.101f/LC4.
  • FIG. 11 hMQ22.101f/LC41-enriched NETs are phagocytosed by mouse macrophages in vivo
  • a pristane-induced peritoneal cell influx mouse model was used in order to induce NET formation in vivo.
  • 50 mg/kg MQR2.201 or hMQ22.101f/LC41 was administered immediately after injection of 500 ⁇ l pristane oil, followed by a second injection of 50 mg/kg MQR2.201 or hMQ22.101f/LC41 12 hours later.
  • cells were harvested and stained with Hoechst (DNA: blue), the macrophage marker anti-F4/80 (magenta), anti-NE (green), anti-citH3 (yellow), and anti-hIgG (cyan).
  • NET particles containing NE (blue arrow), citH3 (red arrow) and hMQ22.101f/LC41 (white arrow) are present in macrophages (F4/80).
  • Scale bars 10 ⁇ m.
  • FIG. 12 hMQ22.101j/e prevents NET-mediated tissue damage and disease progression in chronic CIA mice.
  • mice were injected twice (day 0 and 21) with CII.
  • Therapeutic treatment started after onset of the disease (between day 21-28) when the MAS were >0.75 and.
  • Treatment includes four injections (4 day interval) with tapered dosing regimens of MQR2.201 (50/50/50/50 mg/kg) or hMQ22.101j/e (30/30/30/10, 50/50/50/15 or 50/10/10/10 mg/kg).
  • Mice were terminated 14 days after the start of treatment.
  • D inflammatory cell influx
  • E bone erosion
  • F cartilage erosion
  • G cartilage PG depletion
  • H chondrocyte death
  • FIG. 13 hMQ22.101j/e does not bind to healthy leukocytes
  • PBMCs and neutrophils were isolated from blood of healthy volunteers.
  • CD45 was used to distinguish leukocytes from erythrocytes and platelets and CD3, CD11c, CD14, CD20, CD56 and CD66b were used to mark T cells, DCs, monocytes, B cells, NK cells, and neutrophils, respectively.
  • No binding of HiLyteTMFluor 488-conjugated hMQ22.101j/e was determined to healthy quiescent T cells, B cells, monocytes, NK cells, DCs and neutrophils.
  • Activated neutrophil (5 ⁇ M A23187 for 45 min) were used as a positive control and show increased HiLyteTMFluor 488-conjugated hMQ22.101j/e binding. ****P ⁇ 0.001 using ordinary one-way ANOVA with Dunnett's multiple comparisons test.
  • the present invention relates to antibodies or binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4.
  • Deimination of human histone 2A and 4 can be carried out by enzymes such as peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD), for example PAD2 and PAD4.
  • PAD peptidylarginine deiminase
  • the antibodies of the invention may also specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on human histone 3.
  • the antibodies of the invention may specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on human histone 2A and/or histone 4 and/or histone 3.
  • the invention also relates to uses for such antibodies or binding fragment thereof, such as therapeutic uses.
  • the present invention relates to antibodies or binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4 for use in the treatment or prevention of NET-associated pathologies.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the invention can be used in the treatment or prevention of NET-associated pathologies such as SLE, lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, allergic asthma, cystic fibrosis, fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, dry eye disease, uveitis, non
  • Citrulline is an amino acid that is not incorporated into proteins during normal translation, however, it may be generated by post-translational modification of an arginine residue by enzymes such as PAD; (EC 3.5.3.15).
  • PAD enzymes
  • PAD1-PAD6 In mammals (humans, mice and rats), five PAD isotypes (PAD1-PAD6; ‘PAD4’ and ‘PAD5’ are used for the same isotype), each encoded by a distinct gene, have been identified thus far.
  • Citrullination of histone 2A and/or histone 4 is associated with the formation of NETs.
  • the downstream pathological effects of NET formation can be numerous. For example, there can be autoantigen exposure to the extracellular space and the subsequent production of pathological autoantibodies by the subject.
  • NET-derived histones can be toxic to the vascular wall and organs leading to vascular damage and organ failure.
  • NETs can lead to the formation of autoantigen/autoantibody immune complexes, which enhance further inflammation, in for example the kidney of SLE patients.
  • NETs are also involved in metastasis in cancer progression.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof according to the invention specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4.
  • the antibodies of the invention may also specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone H3.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof according to the invention specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4, wherein the epitope comprises a peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof may also bind to epitopes comprising the peptides of SEQ ID NO: 53 or 54.
  • antibodies refers to a structure, preferably a protein or polypeptide structure, capable of specific binding to a target molecule often referred to as “antigen”.
  • the antibody molecule as employed herein refers to an antibody or binding fragment thereof.
  • the term ‘antibody’ as used herein generally relates to intact (whole) antibodies i.e. comprising the elements of two heavy chains and two light chains.
  • the antibody may comprise further additional binding domains for example as per the molecule DVD-Ig as disclosed in WO 2007/024715, or the so-called (FabFv) 2 Fc described in WO2011/030107.
  • antibody as employed herein includes mono-, bi-, tri- or tetra-valent full-length antibodies.
  • Binding fragments of antibodies include single chain antibodies (i.e. a full-length heavy chain and light chain); Fab, modified Fab, Fab′, modified Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv, Fab-Fv, Fab-dsFv, single domain antibodies (e.g. VH or VL or VHH), scFv, mono-, bi-, tri- or tetra-valent antibodies, Bis-scFv, diabodies, tribodies, triabodies, tetrabodies and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above (see for example Holliger P and Hudson P J, 2005, Nat.
  • Fab-Fv format was first disclosed in WO2009/040562 and the disulphide-stabilised versions thereof, the Fab-dsFv was first disclosed in WO2010/035012.
  • Other antibody fragments for use in the present invention include Fab and Fab′ fragments.
  • Multi-valent antibodies may comprise multiple specificities e.g. bispecific or may be monospecific.
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof may be selected from the group consisting of single chain antibodies, single chain variable fragments (scFvs), variable fragments (Fvs), fragment antigen-binding regions (Fabs), recombinant antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins comprising the antigen-binding domain of a native antibody or an aptamer, single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), also known as VHH antibodies, nanobodies (Camelid-derived single-domain antibodies), shark IgNAR-derived single-domain antibody fragments called VNAR, diabodies, triabodies, Anticalins, aptamers (DNA or RNA) and active components or fragments thereof.
  • scFvs single chain variable fragments
  • Fvs variable fragments
  • Fabs fragment antigen-binding regions
  • IgG1 antibodies having an IgG1 heavy chain and a light chain may advantageously be used in the invention.
  • other human antibody isotypes are also encompassed by the invention, including IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgA1, IgA2, IgAsec, IgD and IgE in combination with a kappa or lambda light chain.
  • all animal-derived antibodies of various isotypes can be used in the invention.
  • the antibodies can be full-size antibodies or antigen-binding fragments of antibodies, including Fab, F(ab′)2, single-chain Fv fragments, or single-domain VHH, VH or VL single domains.
  • peptide should be interpreted as a structure that is capable of presenting the citrulline residue in the correct context for immunoreactivity with the antibodies or binding fragments thereof as described herein, preferably in the same context as it appears in the human or animal body, preferably in the context of a native polypeptide.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the invention specifically bind to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4.
  • the binding of antibodies or binding fragments thereof to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4 blocks NET formation. Citrullination of histones is associated with the formation of NETs.
  • Blocking of NET formation can be total or partial.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may reduce NET formation from 10 to 50%, at least 50% or at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 99%.
  • NET blocking can be measured by any suitable means, for example by measuring NETosis in vitro (Kraaij T et al., 2016, Autoimmun. Rev. 15, 577-584).
  • binding activity and “binding affinity” are intended to refer to the tendency of an antibody molecule to bind or not to bind to a target. Binding affinity may be quantified by determining the dissociation constant (Kd) for an antibody and its target. Similarly, the specificity of binding of an antibody to its target may be defined in terms of the comparative dissociation constants (Kd) of the antibody for its target as compared to the dissociation constant with respect to the antibody and another, non-target molecule.
  • the Kd for the antibody with respect to the target will be 2-fold, preferably 5-fold, more preferably 10-fold less than the Kd with respect to the other, non-target molecule such as unrelated material or accompanying material in the environment. More preferably, the Kd will be 50-fold less, even more preferably 100-fold less, and yet more preferably 200-fold less.
  • this dissociation constant can be determined directly by well-known methods, and can be computed even for complex mixtures by methods such as those, for example, set forth in Caceci M S and Cacheris W P (1984, Byte, 9, 340-362).
  • the Kd may be established using a double-filter nitrocellulose filter binding assay such as that disclosed by Wong I and Lohman T M (1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90, 5428-5432) or for example, by using Octet surface plasmon resonance.
  • binding affinity for deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4 is by ELISA.
  • Other standard assays to evaluate the binding ability of ligands such as antibodies towards targets are known in the art, including for example, Western blots, RIAs, and flow cytometry analysis.
  • the binding kinetics (e.g. binding affinity) of the antibody also can be assessed by standard assays known in the art, such as surface plasmon resonance, for example by BiacoreTM system analysis.
  • the antibody of the invention has a binding affinity for deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4 of 1 nM or less.
  • the antibody of the invention has a binding affinity for deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4, and/or deiminated human histone H3 of 0.5 nM or less, 0.1 nM or less, 50 ⁇ M or less, 10 ⁇ M or less, 5 pM or less, 2 pM or less or 1 pM or less.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof may also be a fusion protein comprising the antigen-binding domain of a native antibody or an aptamer, such as an aptamer in the form of DNA or RNA.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention is a monoclonal antibody.
  • Monoclonal antibodies are immunoglobulin molecules that are identical to each other and have a single binding specificity and affinity for a particular epitope.
  • Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of the present invention can be produced by a variety of techniques, including conventional monoclonal antibody methodology, for example those disclosed in “Monoclonal Antibodies: a manual of techniques” (Zola H, 1987, CRC Press) and in “Monoclonal Hybridoma Antibodies: techniques and applications” (Hurrell J G R, 1982 CRC Press).
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention comprises a binding domain.
  • a binding domain will generally comprise 6 CDRs (3 in case of VHH), three from a heavy chain and three from a light chain.
  • the CDRs are in a framework and together form a variable region or domain.
  • an antibody or binding fragment comprises a binding domain specific for the antigen comprising a light chain variable region or domain and a heavy chain variable region or domain.
  • the IMGT residue designations do not always correspond directly with the linear numbering of the amino acid residues.
  • the actual linear amino acid sequence may contain fewer or additional amino acids than in the strict IMGT numbering corresponding to a shortening of, or insertion into, a structural component, whether framework or CDR, of the basic variable domain structure.
  • the correct IMGT numbering of residues may be determined for a given antibody by alignment of residues of homology in the sequence of the antibody with a “standard” IMGT numbered sequence.
  • the CDRs of the heavy chain variable domain are located at residues 27-38 (CDR1 of VH), residues 56-65 (CDR2 of VH) and residues 105-117 (CDR3 of VH) according to the IMGT numbering system.
  • the CDRs of the light chain variable domain are located at residues 27-38 (CDR1 of VL), residues 56-65 (CDR2 of VL) and residues 105-117 (CDR3 of VL) according to the IMGT numbering system.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the present invention are disclosed herein by the primary amino acid sequence of their CDR regions.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the present invention are disclosed herein by the primary amino acid sequence of their heavy and light chains.
  • the present invention is based on the discovery that a modified CDR1 of the VL of an antibody or binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4 provides improved properties to the antibody or binding fragment thereof over an antibody or binding fragment thereof comprising an unmodified version of CDR1 of the VL.
  • the unmodified CDR1 of the VL of the antibody used to derive the invention comprises or consists of the amino acid sequences QSLLDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 36) or QSLVDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 37).
  • the modified CDR1 of the VL chain of the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence QSL-X 1 -D-X 2 -D-X 3 -KTY, wherein X 1 is V or L, X 2 is T, S, A or N and X 3 is G or A, provided that the amino acid sequence is not QSLLDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 36) or QSLVDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 37).
  • the modified CDR1 of the VL chain of the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention shows reduced isomerisation, in comparison with the unmodified CDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 36 or 37, but maintains the binding properties of the unmodified CDR1.
  • the amino acid sequences of the CDRs for the VH of a particular antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs 2 and 3 for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of a particular antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 13.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 6, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 14.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 7, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 15.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 8, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 16.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 9, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 11 and 17.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 10, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 12 and 13.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 6, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 12 and 14.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 7, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 12 and 15.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL chain are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 8, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 12 and 16.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 9, 4 and 5.
  • amino acid sequences of the VH and VL of another antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention are given in SEQ ID NOs: 12 and 17.
  • the CDRs for the VH are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3.
  • the CDRs for the VL are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 10, 4 and 5.
  • the antibody of the invention comprises the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16, a heavy chain constant region amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 23 or 56, and the light chain constant region amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • the antibody of the invention comprises the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16, the heavy chain constant region amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23 or 56, and the light chain constant region amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may comprise one or more of the CDR sequences of any one of the specific antibodies as described above, except that the CDR1 of the VL is always present as either comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence QSL-X 1 -D-X 2 -D-X 3 -KTY, wherein X 1 is V or L, X 2 is T, S, A or N and X 3 is G or A, provided that the amino acid sequence is not QSLLDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 36) or QSLVDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 37), or either comprises or consists of SEQ ID NOs: 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may comprise one or more VH CDR sequences and alternatively or additionally one or more VL CDR sequences of said specific antibody, in addition to VL CDR1.
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may comprise one, two or all three of the VH CDR sequences of a specific antibody or binding fragment thereof as described above and alternatively or additionally one, two or all three of the VL chain CDR sequences of said specific antibody or binding fragment thereof, including VL CDR1.
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may comprises all six CDR sequences of a specific antibody or binding fragment as described above.
  • an antibody of the invention may comprise one of SEQ ID NO: 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 and one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • the modified CDR1 of the VL chain of the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence QSL-Z 1 -Z 2 -Z 3 -Z 4 -Z 5 -KTY, wherein Z 1 is V or L, Z 2 is D or E, Z 3 is T, S, A or N, Z 4 is D, E, S or A and Z 5 is G or A, provided that the amino acid sequence is not QSLLDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 36) or QSLVDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 37).
  • the modified CDR1 of the VL chain of the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention shows reduced isomerisation, in comparison with the unmodified CDR1 of SEQ ID NO: 36 or 37, but maintains the binding properties of the unmodified CDR1.
  • the modified CDR1 of the VL chain of the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may comprise or consist of SEQ ID NO: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 or 52.
  • the antibody of the invention may comprise one of SEQ ID NO: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 or 52, and one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • the antibody of the invention comprises one of SEQ ID NO: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 or 52, and all of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may alternatively comprise a variant of one of these heavy chain variable domains or CDR sequences in CDR2 or 3 of the VL.
  • a variant may be a substitution, deletion or addition variant of any of the above amino acid sequences.
  • a variant antibody may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, up to 10, up to 20, up to 30 or more amino acid substitutions and/or deletions from the specific sequences and fragments discussed above, whilst maintaining the activity of the antibodies described herein.
  • “Deletion” variants may comprise the deletion of, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 individual amino acids or of one or more small groups of amino acids such as 2, 3, 4 or 5 amino acids.
  • “Small groups of amino acids” can be defined as being sequential, or in close proximity but not sequential, to each other.
  • “Substitution” variants preferably involve the replacement of one or more amino acids with the same number of amino acids and making conservative amino acid substitutions.
  • an amino acid may be substituted with an alternative amino acid having similar properties, for example, another basic amino acid, another acidic amino acid, another neutral amino acid, another charged amino acid, another hydrophilic amino acid, another hydrophobic amino acid, another polar amino acid, another aromatic amino acid, another aliphatic amino acid, another tiny amino acid, another small amino acid or another large amino acid.
  • an alternative amino acid having similar properties, for example, another basic amino acid, another acidic amino acid, another neutral amino acid, another charged amino acid, another hydrophilic amino acid, another hydrophobic amino acid, another polar amino acid, another aromatic amino acid, another aliphatic amino acid, another tiny amino acid, another small amino acid or another large amino acid.
  • derivatives or “variants” include those in which instead of the naturally occurring amino acid the amino acid, which appears in the sequence, is a structural analog thereof.
  • Amino acids used in the sequences may also be derivatized or modified, e.g. labelled, providing the function of the antibody is not significantly adversely affected.
  • Derivatives and variants as described above may be prepared during synthesis of the antibody or by post-production modification, or when the antibody is in recombinant form using the known techniques of site-directed mutagenesis, random mutagenesis, or enzymatic cleavage and/or ligation of nucleic acids.
  • variant antibodies according to the invention have an amino acid sequence which has more than 60%, or more than 70%, e.g. 75 or 80%, preferably more than 85%, e.g. more than 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% amino acid identity to the VL and/or VH, or a fragment thereof, of an antibody disclosed herein.
  • This level of amino acid identity may be seen across the full-length of the relevant SEQ ID NO sequence or over a part of the sequence, such as across 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 or more amino acids, depending on the size of the full-length polypeptide.
  • variant antibodies comprise one or more of the CDR sequences as described herein.
  • sequence identity refers to sequences, which have the stated value when assessed using ClustalW (Thompson J D et al., 1994, Nucleic Acid Res., 22, 4673-4680) with the following parameters:
  • Pairwise alignment parameters-Method slow/accurate
  • Matrix PAM
  • Gap open penalty 10.00
  • Gap extension penalty 0.10
  • the present invention thus provides antibodies having specific VH and VL amino acid sequences and variants and fragments thereof, which maintain the function or activity of these VHs and VLs.
  • the present invention encompasses antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprising variants of the VH that retain the ability of specifically binding a citrullinated epitope on human deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4.
  • a variant of the heavy chain may have at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% amino acid sequence identity to the unmodified VH.
  • the variant of the VH may comprise a fragment of at least 7 amino acids of hVH22.101f or hVH22.101HC9 (SEQ ID NO: 11 and 12, respectively), wherein the antibody or binding fragment thereof retains the ability of being specifically reactive with a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4; or a variant of hVH22.101f or hVH22.101HC9 (SEQ ID NO: 11 and 12, respectively) having at least 70% amino acid sequence identity to a sequence of hVH22.101f or hVH22.101HC9 (SEQ ID NO: 11 and 12, respectively), wherein the antibody or binding fragment thereof retains the ability of being specifically reactive with a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4.
  • the present invention also encompasses polynucleotides, vectors and expression vectors encoding the antibody or binding fragments thereof described herein.
  • the invention also relates to polynucleotides that encode antibodies of the invention.
  • a polynucleotide of the invention may encode any antibody or fragment as described herein.
  • the terms “nucleic acid molecule” and “polynucleotide” are used interchangeably herein and refer to a polymeric form of nucleotides of any length, either deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides, or analogs thereof.
  • Non-limiting examples of polynucleotides include a gene, a gene fragment, messenger RNA (mRNA), cDNA, genomic DNA, recombinant polynucleotides, plasmids, vectors, isolated DNA of any sequence, isolated RNA of any sequence, nucleic acid probes, and primers.
  • mRNA messenger RNA
  • cDNA messenger RNA
  • genomic DNA genomic DNA
  • recombinant polynucleotides plasmids
  • vectors isolated DNA of any sequence
  • isolated RNA of any sequence nucleic acid probes, and primers.
  • a polynucleotide of the invention may be provided in isolated or purified form.
  • a nucleic acid sequence which “encodes” a selected polypeptide is a nucleic acid molecule, which is transcribed (in the case of DNA) and translated (in the case of mRNA) into a polypeptide in vivo when placed under the control of appropriate regulatory sequences.
  • the boundaries of the coding sequence are determined by a start codon at the 5′ (amino) terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3′ (carboxy) terminus.
  • nucleic acid sequences can include, but are not limited to, cDNA from viral, prokaryotic or eukaryotic mRNA, genomic sequences from viral or prokaryotic DNA or RNA, and even synthetic DNA sequences.
  • a transcription termination sequence may be located 3′ to the coding sequence.
  • a polynucleotide of the invention comprises a sequence, which encodes a VH or VL amino acid sequence as described above.
  • the polynucleotide may encode the VH or VL sequence of a specific antibody or binding fragment thereof as disclosed herein.
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may thus be produced from or delivered in the form of a polynucleotide, which encodes, and is capable of expressing it.
  • a polynucleotide of the invention may encode one or more antibody chains.
  • a polynucleotide of the invention may encode an antibody light chain, an antibody heavy chain or both.
  • Two polynucleotides may be provided, one of which encodes an antibody light chain and the other of which encodes the corresponding antibody heavy chain.
  • Such a polynucleotide or pair of polynucleotides may be expressed together such that an antibody of the invention is generated.
  • Polynucleotides of the invention can be synthesised according to methods well known in the art, as described by way of example in Sambrook J et al. (1989, Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual; Cold Spring Harbor: New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press).
  • the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be provided in the form of an expression cassette, which includes control sequences operably linked to the inserted sequence, thus allowing for expression of the antibody of the invention in vivo.
  • These expression cassettes are typically provided within vectors (e.g., plasmids or recombinant viral vectors).
  • vectors e.g., plasmids or recombinant viral vectors.
  • Such an expression cassette may be administered directly to a host subject.
  • a vector comprising a polynucleotide of the invention may be administered to a host subject.
  • the polynucleotide is prepared and/or administered using a genetic vector.
  • a suitable vector may be any vector, which is capable of carrying a sufficient amount of genetic information, and allowing expression of a polypeptide of the invention.
  • the present invention thus includes expression vectors that comprise such polynucleotide sequences.
  • Such expression vectors are routinely constructed in the art of molecular biology and may for example involve the use of plasmid DNA and appropriate initiators, promoters, enhancers and other elements, such as for example polyadenylation signals, which may be necessary, and which are positioned in the correct orientation, in order to allow for expression of a peptide of the invention.
  • Other suitable vectors would be apparent to persons skilled in the art.
  • Sambrook J et al. (1989, Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual; Cold Spring Harbor: New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press).
  • a person skilled in the art may use the sequences described herein to clone or generate cDNA or genomic sequences for instance such as described in the below examples. Cloning of these sequences in an appropriate eukaryotic expression vector, like pcDNA3 (Invitrogen), or derivates thereof, and subsequent transfection of mammalian cells (like CHO cells) with combinations of the appropriate light and heavy chain-containing vectors will result in the expression and secretion of the antibodies described herein.
  • an appropriate eukaryotic expression vector like pcDNA3 (Invitrogen), or derivates thereof
  • mammalian cells like CHO cells
  • the skilled person may also make analogues of the antibodies or binding fragments thereof as described herein by using the specific binding domains of the antibody sequences and express them in a different context, such as a polypeptide, such as a fusion protein. This is well known in the art.
  • the invention also includes cells that have been modified to express an antibody of the invention.
  • Such cells include transient, or preferably stable higher eukaryotic cell lines, such as mammalian cells or insect cells, lower eukaryotic cells, such as yeast or prokaryotic cells, such as bacterial cells.
  • transient, or preferably stable higher eukaryotic cell lines such as mammalian cells or insect cells
  • lower eukaryotic cells such as yeast or prokaryotic cells, such as bacterial cells.
  • cells which may be modified by insertion of vectors or expression cassettes encoding for an antibody of the invention, include mammalian HEK293, CHO, HeLa, NSO and COS cells.
  • the cell line selected will be one which is not only stable, but also allows for mature glycosylation.
  • Such cell lines of the invention may be cultured using routine methods to produce an antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention, or may be used therapeutically or prophylactically to deliver antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the invention to a subject.
  • polynucleotides, expression cassettes or vectors of the invention may be administered to a cell from a subject ex vivo and the cell then returned to the body of the subject.
  • the present invention also encompasses a process for the production of an antibody or binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4, comprising culturing a host cell as described herein and isolating the antibody or binding fragment thereof from said cell.
  • the invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the invention.
  • the invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like that are physiologically compatible.
  • the carrier is suitable for parenteral, e.g. intravenous, intraocular, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal or intraperitoneal administration (e.g. by injection or infusion).
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises at least one carrier selected from the group consisting of a co-solvent solution, liposomes, micelles, liquid crystals, nanocrystals, nanoparticles, emulsions, microparticles, microspheres, nanospheres, nanocapsules, polymers or polymeric carriers, surfactants, suspending agents, complexing agents such as cyclodextrins or adsorbing molecules such as albumin, surface active particles, and chelating agents.
  • a polysaccharide comprises hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof, dextran and derivatives thereof, cellulose and derivatives thereof (e.g.
  • Preferred pharmaceutically acceptable carriers comprise aqueous carriers or diluents.
  • suitable aqueous carriers that may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include water, buffered water and saline.
  • suitable aqueous carriers include water, buffered water and saline.
  • other carriers include ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate.
  • Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants.
  • isotonic agents for example, sugars, polyalcohols, such as mannitol, sorbitol, or sodium chloride in the composition.
  • a pharmaceutical composition of the invention also may include a pharmaceutically acceptable anti-oxidant.
  • These compositions may also contain adjuvants, such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of presence of microorganisms may be ensured both by sterilization procedures, supra, and by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents, such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like into the compositions. In addition, prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents, which delay absorption such as aluminium monostearate and gelatin.
  • compositions typically must be sterile and stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage.
  • the pharmaceutical composition can be formulated as a solution, microemulsion, liposome, or other ordered structure suitable to high drug concentration.
  • Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the active agent (e.g. antibody) in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by sterilization microfiltration.
  • dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active agent into a sterile vehicle that contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above.
  • the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying (lyophilization) that yield a powder of the active agent plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.
  • compositions of the invention may comprise additional active ingredients as well as an antibody of the invention.
  • compositions of the invention may comprise one or more antibodies of the invention. They may also comprise additional therapeutic or prophylactic active agents.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof may be coated in a material to protect the antibody from the action of acids and other natural conditions that may inactivate or denature the antibody.
  • the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is in a form selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution, a gel, a hydrogel, a film, a paste, a cream, a spray, an ointment, or a wrap.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions described herein can be administered by a route such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intraocular, intramuscular, intra-articular, intradermal, intraperitoneal, spinal or by other parenteral routes of administration, for example by injection or infusion.
  • Administration may be rectal, oral, ocular, topical, epidermal or by the mucosal route.
  • Administration may be local, including peritumoral, juxtatumoral, intratumoral, to the resection margin of tumors, intralesional, perilesional, by intra cavity infusion, intravesicle administration, or by inhalation.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is administered intravenously or subcutaneously.
  • kits comprising antibodies or other compositions of the invention and instructions for use.
  • the kit may further contain one or more additional reagents, such as an additional therapeutic or prophylactic agent as discussed herein.
  • antibodies or binding fragments thereof in accordance with the present invention maybe used in therapy.
  • antibodies or compositions are administered to a subject already suffering from a disorder or condition, in an amount sufficient to cure, alleviate or partially arrest the condition or one or more of its symptoms.
  • Such therapeutic treatment may result in a decrease in severity of disease symptoms, or an increase in frequency or duration of symptom-free periods.
  • An amount adequate to accomplish this is defined as “therapeutically effective amount”.
  • Effective amounts for a given purpose will depend on the severity of the disease or injury as well as the weight and general state of the subject.
  • the term “subject” includes any human.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may be linked (directly or indirectly) to another moiety.
  • the other moiety may be a therapeutic agent such as a drug.
  • the other moiety may be a detectable label.
  • the other moiety may be a binding moiety, such as an antibody or a polypeptide binding domain specific for a therapeutic target.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may be a bispecific antibody.
  • the therapeutic agent or a detectable label may be directly attached, for example by chemical conjugation, to an antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention.
  • Methods of conjugating agents or labels to an antibody are known in the art.
  • carbodiimide conjugation (Bauminger S and Wilchek M, 1980, Methods Enzymol., 70, 151-159) may be used to conjugate a variety of agents, including doxorubicin, to antibodies or peptides.
  • the water-soluble carbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) is particularly useful for conjugating a functional moiety to a binding moiety.
  • the therapeutic agent linked to the antibody may comprise a polypeptide or a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide which is of therapeutic benefit.
  • polypeptides include anti-proliferative or anti-inflammatory cytokines.
  • the antibody may be linked to a detectable label.
  • detectable label it is meant that the antibody is linked to a moiety which, when located at the target site following administration of the antibody into a patient, may be detected, typically non-invasively from outside the body and the site of the target located.
  • the antibody may be useful in imaging and diagnosis.
  • the label is or comprises a radioactive atom which is useful in imaging.
  • Suitable radioactive atoms include 99mTc and 123I for scintigraphic studies.
  • Other labels include, for example, spin labels for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) such as 123I again, 131I, 111 In, 19F, 13C, 15N, 17O, gadolinium, manganese or iron.
  • MRI magnetic resonance imaging
  • the sufficient amount of the appropriate atomic isotopes must be linked to the antibody in order for the molecule to be readily detectable.
  • the radio- or other labels may be incorporated in known ways.
  • the antibody, or fragment thereof may be biosynthesised or may be synthesised by chemical amino acid synthesis using suitable amino acid precursors involving, for example, fluorine-19 in place of hydrogen.
  • Labels such as 99mTc, 123I, 186Rh, 188Rh and 11 In can, for example, be attached via cysteine residues in polypeptides.
  • Yttrium-90 can be attached via a lysine residue.
  • the detectable label comprises a radioactive atom, such as, for example technetium-99m or iodine-123.
  • the detectable label may be selected from the group comprising: iodine-123; iodine-131; indium-111; fluorine-19; carbon-13; nitrogen-15; oxygen-17; gadolinium; manganese; iron.
  • an antibody of the invention is able to bind selectively to a directly or indirectly cytotoxic moiety or to a detectable label.
  • the antibody is linked to a moiety which selectively binds to a further compound or component which is cytotoxic or readily detectable.
  • An antibody or binding fragment of the present invention, or a composition comprising said antibody or fragment may be administered via one or more routes of administration using one or more of a variety of methods known in the art.
  • routes of administration include intravenous, subcutaneous, intraocular, intramuscular, intradermal, intraperitoneal, spinal or other parenteral routes of administration, for example by injection or infusion.
  • parenteral administration as used herein means modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, usually by injection. Administration may be rectal, oral, ocular, topical, epidermal or by the mucosal route.
  • Administration may be local, including peritumoral, juxtatumoral, intratumoral, to the resection margin of tumors, intralesional, perilesional, by intra cavity infusion, intravesicle administration, or by inhalation.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is administered intravenously or subcutaneously.
  • a suitable dosage of an antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may be determined by a skilled medical practitioner. Actual dosage levels of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient.
  • the selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of pharmacokinetic factors including the activity of the particular antibody employed, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion of the antibody, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular compositions employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts.
  • a suitable dose of an antibody or binding fragment thereof of the invention may be, for example, in the range of from about 0.1 ⁇ g/kg to about 100 mg/kg body weight of the patient to be treated.
  • a suitable dosage may be from about 1 ⁇ g/kg to about 50 mg/kg body weight per week, from about 100 ⁇ g/kg to about 25 mg/kg body weight per week or from about 10 ⁇ g/kg to about 12.5 mg/kg body weight per week.
  • a suitable dosage may be from about 1 ⁇ g/kg to about 50 mg/kg body weight per day, from about 100 ⁇ g/kg to about 25 mg/kg body weight per day or from about 10 ⁇ g/kg to about 12.5 mg/kg body weight per day.
  • Dosage regimens may be adjusted to provide the optimum desired response (e.g. a therapeutic response). For example, a single bolus may be administered, several divided doses may be administered over time or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation. It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage.
  • Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subjects to be treated; each unit contains a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier.
  • Antibodies may be administered in a single dose or in multiple doses.
  • the multiple doses may be administered via the same or different routes and to the same or different locations.
  • antibodies can be administered as a sustained release formulation, in which case less frequent administration is required.
  • Dosage and frequency may vary depending on the half-life of the antibody in the patient and the duration of treatment that is desired.
  • the dosage and frequency of administration can also vary depending on whether the treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic. In prophylactic applications, a relatively low dosage may be administered at relatively infrequent intervals over a long period of time. In therapeutic applications, a relatively high dosage may be administered, for example until the patient shows partial or complete amelioration of symptoms of disease.
  • Combined administration of two or more agents may be achieved in a number of different ways.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof and the other agent may be administered together in a single composition.
  • the antibody and the other agent may be administered in separate compositions as part of a combined therapy.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof may be administered before, after or concurrently with the other agent.
  • the antibodies or binding fragments thereof of the present invention, or the pharmaceutical compositions as defined herein, are particularly suited for use in the treatment or prevention of pathologies associated with citrullination, such as NET-associated pathologies and inflammatory conditions.
  • the present invention also encompasses a method of treating a patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or binding fragment thereof as defined herein or the pharmaceutical composition as defined herein to a patient, optionally to treat or prevent pathologies associated with citrullination, such as NET-associated pathologies and inflammatory conditions.
  • the present invention also encompasses an antibody or binding fragment thereof as defined herein or the pharmaceutical composition as defined herein for use in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of pathologies associated with citrullination, such as NET-associated pathologies and inflammatory conditions.
  • the present invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or binding fragment thereof of the present invention for treating or preventing pathologies associated with citrullination, such as NET-associated pathologies and inflammatory conditions.
  • a pathology associated with citrullination can be defined as any disease or condition where citrullination is associated with the pathological state of the disease or condition. Whether or not citrullination plays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease, may be easily determined by a skilled person using routine tests available in the art. For example, these diseases may be characterized by the presence of an abnormal level of citrullinated proteins in affected or disease-related tissue. Such may be accomplished by an immunological test such as a Western blot or an ELISA wherein the affected tissue is used as an antigen and citrullination of that antigen may be detected with the aid of an anti-citrulline antibody as described herein. Alternatively, a person skilled in the art can use Proteomics applications such as mass spectrometry analysis to compare the level and type of citrullination in a diseased versus healthy tissue from affected patients.
  • NET-associated pathologies can be considered as pathologies associated with citrullination.
  • NET-associated pathologies can be defined as a disease or condition where the formation of NETs and NETosis is associated with the pathological state of the disease or condition. Whether or not NET formation and NETosis plays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease may be easily determined by a skilled person using routine tests available in the art. For example, these diseases may be characterized by the presence of NETs in relevant tissues.
  • the invention therefore relates to antibodies or binding fragments thereof for use in the treatment or prevention of NET-associated pathologies.
  • the invention therefore relates to a method of treating a patient in need thereof with a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody or binding fragments thereof of the present invention, wherein the patient is suffering from a NET-associated pathology.
  • Examples of NET-associated pathologies include inflammatory conditions or diseases, ocular inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and organ-health after transplant.
  • Inflammatory Conditions refers to any of a number of conditions or diseases, which are characterized by vascular changes: edema and infiltration of neutrophils (e.g., acute inflammatory reactions); infiltration of tissues by mononuclear cells; tissue destruction by inflammatory cells, connective tissue cells and their cellular products; and attempts at repair by connective tissue replacement (e.g., chronic inflammatory reactions).
  • neutrophils e.g., acute inflammatory reactions
  • infiltration of tissues by mononuclear cells e.g., connective tissue cells and their cellular products
  • connective tissue replacement e.g., chronic inflammatory reactions
  • Such diseases are for instance inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, SLE, lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, dry eye disease, uveitis, nongranulomatous uveitis, granulomatous uveitis, dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and lung diseases such as COPD and bronchitis.
  • Nongranulomatous uveitis can be associated with neutrophil dominant inflammation
  • granulomatous uveitis can be associated with macrophage dominant inflammation.
  • NETs play a role in autoimmune diseases pathology, including RA, SLE and vasculitis.
  • the pathway by which the therapeutic antibody or binding fragment thereof improves the disease is likely via the inhibition of NETosis, the clearance of NET remnants, including toxic histones, and other auto-antigens from tissue and circulation the clearance of NET remnants and toxic histones from tissue and circulation.
  • NETosis the clearance of NET remnants, including toxic histones, and other auto-antigens from tissue and circulation the clearance of NET remnants and toxic histones from tissue and circulation.
  • the diseases to be treated are NET-associated pathologies such as SLE, lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, allergic asthma, cystic fibrosis, fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, dry eye disease, uveitis, nongranulomatous uveitis, granulomatous uveitis, dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, COPD, bronchitis, or other NET-associated pathologies such as wound healing in diabetes, cancer, cancer metastasis, and
  • the diseases to be treated are inflammatory conditions such as SLE, lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, allergic asthma, cystic fibrosis, fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, dry eye disease, uveitis, nongranulomatous uveitis, granulomatous uveitis, dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, COPD, bronchitis.
  • SLE lupus
  • sepsis vasculitis
  • inflammatory arthritis rheumatoid arthritis and osteo
  • An antibody or binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4, wherein the antibody or binding fragment thereof comprises: a) CDR1 of VL, wherein the CDR comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence QSL-X 1 -D-X 2 -D-X 3 -KTY, wherein X 1 is V or L, X 2 is T, S, A or N and X 3 is G or A, provided that the amino acid sequence is not QSLLDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 36) or QSLVDSDGKTY (SEQ ID NO: 37); and b) at least one CDR selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 5.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof comprises: a) the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; b) the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; c) the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15; d) the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16; e) the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17; f) the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 and the light chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
  • the heavy chain variable domain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 or 12. The antibody or binding fragment thereof according to any one of the preceding embodiments, that specifically binds to a peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, and binds deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4. 13. The antibody or binding fragment thereof according to any one of the preceding embodiments, that specifically binds to a citrullinated epitope on deiminated human histone 2A and/or histone 4, with an affinity of at least 1 nM or less. 14.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof selected from the group consisting of recombinant antibodies, single chain antibodies, single chain variable fragments (scFv), variable fragments (Fv), fragment antigen-binding regions (Fab), single-domain antibodies (sdAb), VHH antibodies, nanobodies, camelids-derived single-domain antibodies, shark IgNAR-derived single-domain antibody fragments (VNAR), diabodies, triabodies, Anticalins and aptamers. 15. The antibody or binding fragment thereof according to any one of 1 to 13, wherein the antibody is preferably a full-length antibody. 16.
  • 21. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or binding fragment thereof according to any one of 1 to 18 and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. 22. The pharmaceutical composition according to 21, additionally comprising other active ingredients.
  • the antibody or binding fragment thereof according to any one of 1 to 18, or the pharmaceutical composition according to 21 or 22, for use in a method of treating or preventing a NET-associated pathology.
  • 25. The antibody, binding fragment thereof or pharmaceutical composition for use according to 24, wherein the NET-associated pathology is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus, sepsis, vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune hepatitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Sjögren's disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome, Bechet's disease, spondylitis, spondyloarthropathy, multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia asthma, allergic rhinovirus exacerbated asthma, allergic asthma, cystic fibrosis, fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, dry eye disease, uveitis, nongranulomato
  • parenteral routes of administration such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intraocular, intramuscular, intradermal, intraperitoneal, spinal routes or by injection or infusion
  • other routes such as rectal, oral, ocular, topical, epidermal, mucosal, local, peritumoral, juxtatumoral, intratumoral, to the resection margin of tumors,
  • a method of treating a patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or binding fragment thereof as defined in any one of 1 to 18, or the pharmaceutical composition according to 21 or 22, to said patient. 28.
  • Example 1 Accelerated Stability Testing of hMQ22.101j/e and hMQ22.101f/g
  • hMQ22.101j/e samples from week 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8, and hMQ22.101f/g samples from week 0, 3 and 6 were subjected to an in house-validated CMC ELISA.
  • 96-well ELISA plates were coated with neutravidin (0.1 ⁇ g/well) by overnight incubation at 4° C.
  • Wells were washed 5 times with PBS-Tween20 (PBS-T) and blocked by a 2 hour incubation with PBS-T+1% Bovine serum albumin (BSA) at room temperature (RT).
  • PBS-T PBS-Tween20
  • BSA Bovine serum albumin
  • Spiked quality control (QC) samples made from the same reference lot hMQ22.101j/e or hMQ22.101f/g at higher (HQC, 250 ng/ml), middle (MQC, 50 ng/ml), lower (LQC 3.75 ng/ml) and lower limit quality control (LLQC, 1.25 ng/ml) were diluted in PBS-T+0.2% BSA and added to the plate as well. These QC samples were used in order to validate the ELISA results.
  • accelerated stability samples that had been incubated for 0, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks at 37° C. were added to the same plate at a concentration of 40 ng/ml in PBS-T+0.2% BSA and incubated for 2 hours at RT.
  • Wells were washed 5 times with PBS-T and incubated with rabbit anti-human-HRP antibody (1:12.000 in PBS-T+0.2% BSA) for 1 hour at RT followed by 3 washes with PBS-T and 3 washes with PBS.
  • Wells were incubated 10 min with TMB substrate before stopping the reaction with 2 M H 2 SO 4 after which the optical density was measured at wavelength of 450 nm.
  • a sigmoidal calibration curve was plotted and fitted using the values from the serial diluted reference antibody. Concentrations of the QC samples and accelerated stability samples were recalculated using the equation from the sigmoidal fitted curve. The recalculated antibody concentration from the week 0 accelerated stability sample was set at 100%, and all other accelerated stability recalculated concentrations (week 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8) were calculated as a percentage of week 0 (100%) and plotted in a bar graph ( FIG. 1 , top panel, for hMQ22.101j/e, FIG. 1 , bottom panel, for hMQ22.101f/g).
  • hMQ22.101j/e has several potential aspartate isomerisation sites in or near the VL CDR regions (CDR1 and CDR2).
  • the aim of this Example was to determine the sensitivity of the aspartate residues towards isomerisation by liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS)-based peptide mapping.
  • each accelerated stability sample (week 0, 4 and 8) was subjected to desalting, reduction with dithiothreitol and alkylation using iodoacetamide. Following reduction and alkylation, the samples were digested for 18 hours at 37° C. using sequencing grade modified trypsin (Promega) in an enzyme/protein ratio of 1/50 (w/w). Digests were stored at ⁇ 20° C. until LC-MS analysis. Trypsin is a serine protease that specifically cleaves at the C-terminus of either arginine or lysine.
  • RPLC reversed-phase liquid chromatography
  • RPLC-UV-MS UV and mass spectrometric detection
  • Data were acquired using an Agilent Technologies 1290 UHPLC system hyphenated to an Agilent Technologies 6540 Q-TOF equipped with a Jetstream electrospray ionization (ESI) source.
  • Samples were separated on a RPLC column (AdvanceBio Peptide Map C18, 250 mm L, 2.1 mm ID, 2.7 ⁇ m dp, Agilent Technologies) using water, trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase constituents prior to UV 214 nm and MS(/MS) detection. An amount of approximately 4.5 ⁇ g was loaded onto the column.
  • the MS system was operated in the extended dynamic range mode (2 GHz) with a resolution of 20,000 for mass 922.009798 and at high mass accuracy (typically ⁇ 10 ppm) without utilizing reference masses.
  • Two spectra were acquired per second and the acquisition range was 100-3000 amu in MS and MS/MS mode.
  • MS/MS data were acquired in the data-dependent mode. Collision energy was optimized for peptide fragmentation. All MS measurements were performed in the positive ionization mode.
  • Measured signals were matched onto the sequence using the BioConfirm algorithm incorporated in the Agilent MassHunter software. Mass tolerance for matching experimental data onto the sequence was set at 20 ppm. Enzyme specified was trypsin (C-terminal cleavage at lysine or arginine) and 0-2 missed cleavages were allowed. Peak areas from extracted ion chromatograms obtained at 20 ppm mass accuracy were used for quantifying modifications. Given the near complete sequence coverage, all candidate aspartate isomerisation sites in the hCDR regions were covered. Manual integration of these peptides was performed. When present, the peptide containing isoaspartate elutes just before the peptide containing aspartate. Relative isomerisation levels were then calculated in each case.
  • the isomerisation sites tested in CDR1 and CDR2 of the VL are set out in FIG. 2A .
  • the isomerisation of VL CDR1 was considered the cause of the loss of binding affinity of the antibody over time.
  • these light chain constructs (hVL22.101h, hVL22.101i and hVL22.101j) all in combination with a full-length human heavy chain construct (hVH22.101j) were used to transiently transfect HEK293 cells for the production of hMQ22.101j/h, hMQ22.101j/i and hMQ22.101j/j, respectively.
  • Full-size antibodies were purified from culture supernatants using MabSelect SuRe affinity columns and subsequently buffer exchanged to 25 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 by using desalting columns, both on an Akta-FPLC system.
  • antibodies were polished with ion exchange spin columns to remove host cell proteins and residual Protein A-derived resin, followed by an endotoxin removal step by using high-capacity endotoxin removal resin. Finally, antibodies were concentrated with a MicroSep Advance Centrifugal Device (10K MWCO).
  • VL CDR1 aspartate-mutated antibodies hMQ22.101j/h, hMQ22.101j/i and hMQ22.101j/j were compared to the aspartate-containing antibody hMQ22.101j/e using an in house validated CMC ELISA as described in Example 1.
  • a hMQ22.101j/e reference lot was used for the calibration curve at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ng/ml and separate spiked QC samples at 10, 20, 60 and 80 ng/ml.
  • hMQ22.101j/h hMQ22.101j/i
  • hMQ22.101j/j hMQ22.101j/e were tested at 10, 20, 30, 40, 80 and 100 ng/ml, and dose response curves plotted in a graph ( FIG. 2B ).
  • the most improved optical density results were achieved by the hMQ22.101j/i antibody.
  • Mass spectrometry data for the hMQ22.101j/i antibody ( FIG. 2C ) showed that isomerisation in the CDR1 of VL still increased a little over time, however, deletion of the non-germline DS isomerisation site in CDR1 of the VL did largely solve the isomerisation problem.
  • hMQ22.101j/i had less affinity for the target (SEQ ID NO: 18) compared to hMQ22.101j/e, thus it was not a suitable therapeutic antibody candidate.
  • DNA of seventeen mutated VL CDR1 domains of hVL22.101 and four VH domain variants of hVH22.101 were synthesized by GeneArt. All mutated VL and VH domains were cloned into mammalian expression vectors encoding full-length human light and heavy chains, respectively.
  • the seventeen mutant light chains (hVL22.101LC16, hVL22.101LC17, hVL22.101LC19, hVL22.101LC20, hVL22.101LC21, hVL22.101LC22, hVL22.101LC23, hVL22.101LC24, hVL22.101LC25, hVL22.101LC26, hVL22.101LC27, hVL22.101LC37, hVL22.101LC38, hVL22.101LC39, hVL22.1O1LC40, hVL22.1O1LC41 and hVL22.101LC42) were combined with the non-variant heavy chain hVH22.101j or with the four variant heavy chains (hVH22.101HC7, hVH22.101HC8, hVH22.101HC9, hVH22.101HC10).
  • hMQ22.101 isomerisation mutants showed a dissociation rate of 1xE-07 l/s.
  • Preferred heavy chains hVH22.101j and hVH22.101HC9.
  • Preferred light chains hVL22.101LC17, hVL22.101LC21, hVL22.101LC27, hVL22.101LC41 and hVL22.101LC42.
  • the results are shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the 5 best performing isomerisation mutants (hMQ22.101f/LC41, hMQ22.101f/LC42, hMQ22.101HC9/LC21, hMQ22.101HC9/LC27, hMQ22.101HC9/LC42, boxed) were used to assess isomerisation at week 0 and 6 via MS analysis.
  • hMQ22.101f/LC41 Percentages of isomerisation were compared to those from antibody hMQ22.101j/e ( FIG. 5 ).
  • hMQ22.101f/LC41 showed almost no isomerisation (0.5%) over time and was considered the preferred candidate.
  • Second best antibodies were hMQ22.101f/LC42 and hMQ22.101HC9/LC42.
  • the preferred second best antibody was hMQ22.101f/LC42, as HC chain f is more human than HC9, and the difference in isomerisation between week 0 and 6 is smaller (1.9% versus 2.6%).
  • hMQ22.101f/LC41, hMQ22.101f/LC42 and hMQ22.101HC9/LC42 showed acceptable aggregation and degradation profiles, indicated that they are acceptable for further development.
  • RP-HPLC reversed-phase liquid chromatography
  • MS mass spectrometric
  • RP-HPLC-UV-MS UV and mass spectrometric
  • Data were acquired using an Agilent Technologies 1290 UHPLC system hyphenated to an Agilent Technologies 6540 Q-TOF equipped with a Jetstream electrospray ionization (ESI) source.
  • Samples were separated on a RPLC column (Zorbax 300 SB-C8, 100 mm L, 2.1 mm ID, 1.8 ⁇ m dp, Agilent Technologies) using 0.1% TFA in water as mobile phase A and 0.1% TFA in acetonitrile as mobile phase B.
  • a gradient from 15% B to 80% B was applied over 65 minutes.
  • the MS system was operated in the high-resolution mode (4 GHz) with a fragmentor voltage of 350 V and a Quad AMU setting of 300.
  • One spectrum was acquired per second with an acquisition range of 300-3200 amu in positive MS mode.
  • the raw spectra were deconvoluted using a maximum entropy algorithm incorporated in Agilent Technologies MassHunter software with BioConfirm add-on.
  • the measured MW was compared to the theoretical MW determined by the full sequence, taking potential C-terminal lysine truncation and N-glycosylation into account.
  • NET-reducing antibodies The effect of NET-reducing antibodies was tested by adding one of the following antibodies at a concentration of 25 ⁇ g/ml (hMQ22.101f/g, hMQ22.101f/LC41, hMQ22.101f/LC42, and isotype control antibody MQR2.201) or assay buffer 15 min prior to A23187 to the cells. After 4 hours of incubation at 37° C. and 5% C02, cells were washed very delicately twice using NET assay buffer. Extracellular DNA was subsequently digested with S7 nuclease (7.5 U/0.5 ml) for 15 min at 37° C., after which 10 ⁇ l 500 mM EDTA was added to stop further digestion.
  • S7 nuclease 7.5 U/0.5 ml
  • NETs were harvested from the wells and spun down for 5 min at 20 g in order to get rid of intact cells.
  • the amount of NETs were quantified by measuring the MPO activity in the sample by adding 50 ⁇ l 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate to 50 ⁇ l harvested NETs. After an incubation of 10 min at RT 50 ⁇ l H 2 SO 4 was added and optical density measured at 450 nm. Background signals coming from neutrophils, which have not been subjected to A23187 treatment, were subtracted and signals from A23187+MQR2.201-treated neutrophils were set at 100%. Signals from all other antibody-treated groups were compared to the A23187+MQR2.201-treated group ( FIG. 7 ).
  • the goal of the study was to test a dose response range with the designated development candidate hMQ22.101f/LC41 or hMQ22.101f/LC42 (wherein isomerisation issues were removed), in comparison with an earlier candidate hMQ22.101f/g and isotype-matched control antibody MQR2.201 in the Collagen Antibody Induced Arthritis (CAIA) mouse model. Paw and ankle swelling were quantified.
  • CAIA Collagen Antibody Induced Arthritis
  • mice The commercially available CAIA mouse model from ModiQuest Research B.V. (cat no: MQ18.101) was used according to manufacturer's specifications to induce arthritis in mice. For that purpose, 2.8 mg anti-collagen-II antibody mix was injected i.p. in DBA/J1 mice. Three days later, mice received another i.p. injection containing 25 ⁇ g LPS to synchronize the inflammation between mice.
  • mice received tACPAs hMQ22.101f/g, hMQ22.101f/LC41, or hMQ22.101f/LC42 (6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg), non-related isotype-matched control antibody MQR2.201 (25 mg/kg), or placebo (physiological salt solution of 0.9% NaCl).
  • tACPAs hMQ22.101f/g, hMQ22.101f/LC41, or hMQ22.101f/LC42
  • MQR2.201 25 mg/kg
  • placebo placebo
  • mice that were treated with a therapeutic antibody showed a significantly reduced inflammation in their paws in a dose-dependent manner, as compared to mice treated with control antibody or physiological salt solution.
  • Both optimized lead antibodies hMQ22.101f/LC41 and hMQ22.101f/LC42 prevented inflammation even more than previous lead candidate hMQ22.101f/g, which is clearly shown at a 25 mg/kg dose ( FIG. 8 , top panel). No adverse effects were observed. At the lowest dose of 6.25 mg/kg ( FIG.
  • hMQ22.101f/LC41 is a potent inhibitor of NET formation
  • binding of hMQ22.101f/LC41 to mouse NETs and pre-NETs, as well as inhibition of mouse NET formation have been studied as set out below.
  • Pre-NETs are defined as neutrophils with an amorphous decondensed nuclear structure containing citrullinated chromatin that still appears intracellularly, having a collapsed nuclear membrane.
  • the goal of this study was to test whether the designated development candidate hMQ22.101f/LC41 is able to inhibit mouse NET formation.
  • Neutrophils were isolated from bone marrow of C57BL/6J mice by negative selection using the EasySepTM mouse neutrophil enrichment kit (Stemcell Technologies) according to the manufacturer's instruction. Purity of isolated neutrophils was checked by flow cytometry using an antibody to Ly6G (Biolegend) and was above 90%. Isolated bone marrow neutrophils were adjusted to a concentration of 2 ⁇ 10 6 cells/ml in HBSS containing calcium and magnesium. A total of 100 ⁇ l of cell suspension was added to each well of an 8-well chamber slide (Thermo Fisher Scientific).
  • FIG. 9A Representative images showing hMQ22.101f/LC41 binding (hIgG; red) to NETs (yellow arrow) and pre-NETs (white arrow) are shown in FIG. 9B .
  • hMQ22.101f/LC41 In vitro treatment of mouse bone marrow (BM)-derived neutrophils with hMQ22.101f/LC41 resulted in reduced A23187-induced NET extrusion compared to MQR2.201-treated mouse BM-derived neutrophils ( FIG. 9A ). In addition, hMQ22.101f/LC41 binds to expelled mouse NETs ( FIG. 9B ; yellow arrow) and pre-NETs ( FIG. 9B ; white arrow), which could be the first step towards NET clearance by macrophages.
  • MQR2.201 or hMQ22.101f/LC41 was administered immediately after injection of 500 ⁇ l pristane oil (Sigma-Aldrich), followed by a second injection of 50 mg/kg MQR2.201 or hMQ22.101f/LC41 12 hours later. After a total of 24 hours, inflammatory cells were isolated from the peritoneum, adjusted to 1 ⁇ 10 6 cells/ml and transferred to either flow chamber slides or cytospin slides for analysis via immune fluorescence microscopy.
  • FIGS. 10A and C show binding of hMQ22.101f/LC41 to NETs and pre-NETs.
  • FIG. 11 shows uptake of hMQ22.101f/LC41-enriched NETs by macrophages.
  • NET filaments containing DNA and citrullinated Histone 3 (citH3), are observed in peritoneal cells from hMQ22.101f/LC41-treated mice when compared to peritoneal cells from MQR2.201-treated mice ( FIG. 10A ). Quantification of NETs (colocalization of citH3 and DNA (Hoechst)) confirmed this observation ( FIG. 10B ). Colocalization of DNA and citH3 is a hallmark of NET formation. Furthermore, hMQ22.101f/LC41 binds to expelled mouse NETs as well as to mouse pre-NETs ( FIG. 10C ), which could be the first step towards NET clearance by macrophages. Indeed, F4/80-positive macrophages were observed among the cellular infiltrates, which contained phagocytosed hMQ22.101f/LC41 in combination with citH3 or neutrophil elastase ( FIG. 11 ).
  • bovine Collagen II was diluted to a concentration of 2 mg/ml in 0.05 M acetic acid and emulsified in equal volumes of Freund's complete adjuvant.
  • 10-12 weeks old male DBA/J1 mice were immunized intradermally at the tail base with 100 ⁇ g bovine CII.
  • mice received i.p. booster injections of 50 ⁇ g bovine CII dissolved in PBS and the onset of arthritis occurred a few days later ( FIG. 12A ).
  • Mice were considered to have arthritis when significant changes of redness and/or swelling were noted in the digits or in other parts of the paws. Joint inflammation in each paw was scored as described above (CAIA mouse model of RA).
  • Therapeutic treatment was started early after onset of disease (between day 21-28) when the mean arthritis score (MAS) were >0.75 on an arbitrary scale of 0-8 (0-2 per paw).
  • Therapeutic administration with four repeated i.v. injections four days apart from each other with indicated doses of hMQ22.101j/e (50/10/10/10, 30/30/30/10, and 50/50/50/15 mg/kg) reduced the MAS at day 14 with 38%, 52%, and 81%, respectively, compared to 50/50/50/50 mg/kg MQR2.201 ( FIG. 12B ). Mice were terminated at day 14 after start of treatment. The ankle and knee joints were collected and stored in formalin for histological analysis.
  • hMQ22.101j/e significantly reduced bone and cartilage erosion as well as cartilage proteoglycan depletion and chondrocyte death ( FIG. 12E to H).
  • Example 17 hMQ22.101j/e does not Bind to Healthy Leukocytes
  • PBMCs peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • FCS heat-inactivated fetal calf serum
  • RPMI 10% Penicillin-Streptomycin
  • PBMCs and neutrophils were seeded in a 96-wells V-bottom plate at a density of 2 ⁇ 10 5 cells/well in FACS buffer. Cells were incubate with Human Trustain FcX (1:50 diluted in FACS buffer) for 20 min at room temperature to block Fc receptors.
  • PBMCs were incubated for 45 min at room temperature with an antibody mix containing 6.25 ⁇ g/ml HiLyteTMFluor 488-conjugated hMQ22.101j/e, 0.17 ⁇ g/ml anti-CD3, 1 ⁇ g/ml anti-CD11c, 0.33 ⁇ g/ml anti-CD14, 0.17 ⁇ g/ml anti-CD20, 83 ng/ml anti-CD45, and 0.17 ⁇ g/ml anti-CD56, while neutrophils were incubated with an antibody mix that contains 6.25 ⁇ g/ml HiLyteTMFluor 488-conjugated hMQ22.101j/e, 83 ng/ml anti-CD45, and 83 ng/ml anti-CD66b.
  • neutrophils were stimulated for 45 min with 5 ⁇ M A23187 prior to Fc receptor block. After antibody incubation, PBMCs and neutrophils were fixed with 4% formaldehyde for 15 min at room temperature, washed with FACS buffer, and analyzed with the CytoFLEX Flow Cytometer.
  • HiLyteTMFluor 488-conjugated hMQ22.101j/e did not bind to healthy quiescent T cells, B cells, monocytes, natural killer (NK) cells dendritic cells (DCs) or neutrophils but did bind to activated neutrophils ( FIG. 13 ). Comparable results are expected for the hMQ22.101f/LC41 antibody.

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