WO1994006903A9 - Apport de proteines par transfert intermembranaire pour la preaccommodation de transplants d'organes xenogeniques et a d'autres fins - Google Patents

Apport de proteines par transfert intermembranaire pour la preaccommodation de transplants d'organes xenogeniques et a d'autres fins

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Publication number
WO1994006903A9
WO1994006903A9 PCT/US1993/008889 US9308889W WO9406903A9 WO 1994006903 A9 WO1994006903 A9 WO 1994006903A9 US 9308889 W US9308889 W US 9308889W WO 9406903 A9 WO9406903 A9 WO 9406903A9
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cells
gpi
animal
protein
complement
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PCT/US1993/008889
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English (en)
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WO1994006903A1 (fr
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Priority to JP6508379A priority Critical patent/JPH08501451A/ja
Priority to AU51325/93A priority patent/AU671158B2/en
Priority to EP93922259A priority patent/EP0662125A1/fr
Publication of WO1994006903A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994006903A1/fr
Publication of WO1994006903A9 publication Critical patent/WO1994006903A9/fr
Priority to FI951325A priority patent/FI951325A/fi
Priority to NO951074A priority patent/NO951074L/no

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  • the invention relates to the field of delivery of proteins to a target vertebrate animal or to a vertebrate animal's isolated tissues or organs.
  • the proteins are complement inhibitors and are delivered to the vascular endothelium of a xenogeneic organ transplant.
  • the cell membrane is, simultaneously, both the shield by which the cell's internal processes are protected from the outside, and the interface at which it communicates with its environment. It is particularly important in complex organisms in which protein receptors within the membrane respond to stimuli, activating or deactivating cellular functions, and thereby define the predominant characteristics and functions of many cell types.
  • the cell membrane is composed of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates (See Singer S.J. and Nicolson G.L.
  • the lipids are polarized phospholipid molecules with hydrophilic heads containing glycerol, phosphate and other components, and a hydrophobic tail usually composed of two 14-18 carbon hydrocarbon chains.
  • Phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatydylcholine are three common phospholipids found in the cell membranes of most animal and plant cells. Due to the polarized nature of these molecules, in an aqueous environment they will spontaneously combine into a lipid bilayer with the hydrophobic tails on the inside of the bilayer and the hydrophilic heads arranged on the surface. This is the fundamental lipid structure observed in all plasma membranes.
  • cell membranes In addition to the lipid bilayer. cell membranes contain an array of carbohydrates and proteins producing a complex mosaic surface both outside and inside of the cell. The carbohydrate component is covalently attached both to the lipid heads to produce glycolipids and to membrane associated proteins called glycoproteins.
  • Intrinsic proteins Proteins which are integrated into cell membranes (intrinsic proteins) are held in place by hydrophobic interactions between the internal region of the bilayer and hydrophobic domains within the protein.
  • the hydrophobic protein domain usually comprises an alpha helix with 19 or more hydrophobic amino acids.
  • Intrinsic membrane proteins control a wide array of cellular functions, including ion and metabolite transport, cell - cell interaction, cell - substrate adhesion, hormone and cytokine reception, and interactions with internal cytoskeletal elements.
  • Proteins may be incorporated into cellular membranes through several strategies (see Capaldi, Roderick A. (1982) Structure of intrinsic membrane proteins) Trends in Biological Science 7:292- 295) .
  • Globular membrane proteins such as neuraminidase, often have a single long hydrophobic amino acid sequence which anchors them to the lipid bilayer leaving the hydrophilic globular catalytic domain exposed on the surface of the membrane. (See Fields, S., Winter, G. , and Brownlee, G.G.
  • transmembrane proteins may have cne (glycophorin) or multiple hydrophobic amino acid sequences (cytochrome c oxidase) embedded in the lipid bilayer with hydrophilic portions of the protein protruding through both sides of the membrane.
  • GPI -Anchored Membrane Proteins A more unusual method of anchoring proteins to the cell membrane is through the covalent post-translational addition of glycolipids to the newly formed polypeptide.
  • the best characterized such lipid anchor is the addition of glycosyl- phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) .
  • GPI glycosyl- phosphatidyl inositol
  • Addition of GPI occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. Once added, the hydrocarbons of the phosphatidyl inositol moiety embed into the hydrophobic space of the bilayer. In this way, the GPI group functions to tether or anchor the protein to the cell membrane.
  • Proteins with GPI anchors include hydrolytic enzymes, cell adhesion molecules, proteins involved in immune cell regulation or complement regulation, and many proteins expressed in parasites. For some of these proteins, particularly the hydrolytic enzymes and complement regulatory proteins, their cellular functions are believed to be well defined, whereas for many others their functions are not well understood although they are clearly important to a variety of cellular processes.
  • GPI-linked proteins do share some common characteristics.
  • the presence of the GPI linkage provides unique chemical possibilities not associated with intrinsic membrane proteins.
  • the GPI anchor is sensitive to deamination by nitrous acid, and to hydrolysis by phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C
  • PIPLC phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase D
  • PPA-2 phospholipase A2
  • Bacterial PIPLC is used routinely in a test to detect the presence of a GPI linkage since this enzyme can remove at least a portion of the GPI-linked protein population from the surface of a cell.
  • the GPI anchor is not sensitive to PIPLC, and this and other modifications may explain the presence of PIPLC resistant GPI proteins. See Walter, Elizabeth I., Roberts, William L., Rosenberry, Terrone L., Ratnoff, William D., and Medof, M.
  • the free glycosyl phosphatidylinositol is structurally similar to that in the GPI anchor, it must be kept in mind that the insulin dependent hydrolysis occurs within the cytoplasm and would be unlikely to affect extracellular membrane proteins. If the release of these surface proteins is occurring through hydrolysis of the GPI anchor, then it predicts the existence of additional insulin dependent phospholipase(s) which act on the surface or within the plane of the cell membrane. Such an enzyme has not yet been identified, although mammalian PIPLD is known to be an abundant serum protein.
  • GPI-linked proteins sometimes display enhanced mobility within the plane of the membrane.
  • Thy-l, DAF, alkaline phosphatase and other GPI-linked proteins have been shown to posses diffusion coefficients which are lower than free lipids but higher than transmembrane proteins. This is not the case, however, for all GPI-linked proteins, and for a given protein only a portion of the population may show enhanced mobility.
  • enhanced mobility within the plane of the membrane nicely fits their known or suspected functions. For example both CD59 and DAF regulate complement activation.
  • CD59 stops the formation of membrane attack complexes by interfering with the polymerization of C9 and DAF functions by preventing the formation of C3 convertase and accelerating the decay of existing C3 convertase.
  • Enhanced mobility within the plane of the membrane would increase the probability that these regulatory proteins would encounter a site under active complement attack.
  • GPI-linked proteins have also been observed to sort to the apical surface of polarized epithelial cells. This sorting behavior may be signaled at least in part by the GPI moiety.
  • herpes simplex glycoprotein D is normally expressed on the basolateral surface of polarized MDCK cells.
  • GPI-linked proteins appear to be their ability to spontaneously insert into cell membranes.
  • DAF decay-accelerating factor
  • the soluble forms are thought to be derived by PIPLC or protease hydrolysis of membrane bound protein. In the vast majority of cases these soluble proteins no longer contain a GPI anchor. The only exception to this which we are aware of is the presence of soluble GPI containing DAF and CD59 in certain tissues. See Rooney, I.A., and Morgan, B.P., (1992) , "Characterization of the membrane attach complex inhibitory protein CD59 antigen on human amniouic cells and in amniotic fluid," Immunology, 76:541-547. These soluble GPI- linked forms are typically found in regions with high potential for complement activity such as amniotic and seminal fluid and are associated with extracellular vesicles.
  • GPI-linked proteins do not have a cytoplasmic (intracellular) domain.
  • the absence of a cytoplasmic domain might suggest that GPI-linked proteins would be incapable of transducing signals across the membrane. This does not appear to be the case however.
  • Signal transduction as measured by cell proliferation or cytokine release has been demonstrated for many GPI-linked proteins on T or B cells (Thy-l,
  • Transgenic mice expressing normal Qa-2, or a transmembrane form produced by fusing the extracellular portion of Qa-2 to the transmembrane domain of H-2D b or a GPI-linked form of H-2D b made by fusing the extracellular domain of H-2D b to the GPI attachment signal of Qa-2 have been produced.
  • T cells from these animals demonstrate that antibody crosslinking of the normal Qa-2 and the GPI-linked H-2D b -Qa-2 fusion elicits T cell proliferation.
  • crosslinking of the transmembrane Qa-2-H-2D b fusion protein was not mitogenic. See Robinson, Peter J.
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a human disease in which GPI-linked proteins play an important role.
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired hematopoietic disease affecting some hematopoietic stem cells. These affected stem cells produce a variety of blood cells including erythrocytes, monocytes granulocytes B cells and neutrophils which have reduced or are devoid of all GPI-linked proteins.
  • PNH is caused by an acquired somatic mutation of the PIG-A gene which is involved in the early stages of GPI biosynthesis.
  • the erythrocytes and other blood cells of patients with PNH are unusually sensitive to complement mediated lysis. This symptom is consistent with the loss of the GPI-linked proteins DAF and CD59, both of which are expressed on erythrocytes. See Okuda, Keiko, anamaru, Akihisa, Ueda Etsuko, Kitani, Teruo, Okada, Noilo, Okada, Hidechika, Kakishita, Eizo, and Nagai, Kiyoyasu, (1990) , "Expression of decay-accelerating factor on hematopoietic progenitors and their progeny cells grown in cultures with fractionated bone marrow ceils from normal individuals and patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, " Experimental Hematology, 13:1132-1136; Fletcher, A., Bryant, J.A., Gardner, B., Judson, P.A., Spring, F.A., Parsons, S.F
  • the FcRIII (CD16) is a GPI-linked immunoglobin receptor present on neutrophils, large granular lymphocytes, eosinophils, natural killer cells, macrophages and some T Cells.
  • the GPI-linked form is present at 135,000 sites per cell on neutrophils, and represents the most prevalent form of Ig receptor in the blood.
  • a transmembrane form, encoded by a separate gene, is expressed on macrophages and natural killer cells.
  • the GPI-linked PcRIII appears to be the dominant receptor for neutrophil activation by immune complexes. See Hundt, Dr and Schmidt, Reinhold E.
  • glycophosphatidylinositol-linked Fc receptor III represents the dominant receptor structure for immuno complex activation of neutrophils
  • European Journal of Immunology, 22:811-816 European Journal of Immunology, 22:811-816.
  • expression of this GPI anchored protein is absent. This may help explain the presence of circulating immune complexes and susceptibility to bacterial infections in these patients. See Selvaraj , Periasamy, Rosse, Wendal F., Silber, Robert, and Springer, Timothy M.
  • the major Fc receptor in blood has a phosphatidylinositol anchor and is deficient in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, " Nature, 333:565-567; Simmons, David, and Seed, Brian, (1988), "The Fc receptor of natural killer cells is a phespholipid-linked membrane protein," Nature, 333:568-570).
  • Some pathological conditions are associated with altered patterns of GPI protein expression.
  • the level of 5' -nucleotidase expressed on B and T cells is reduced. This reduction appears to be a true decrease in the level of expression and not the result of a decrease in the number of B and T cells. It appears that 5'- nucleotidase may be a useful marker to measure the degree of maturation for these cells. See Thompson, Linda F., Ruedi, Julie M. , and Low, Martin G., (1987), "Purification of 5' -nucleotidase from human placenta after release from plasma membranes by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.
  • the protein CEA a member of the Ig super family, is a tumor-associated antigen first identified in adenocarcinomas.
  • the level of circulating CEA is widely used r.o monitor colon carcinomas and other malignancies. Circulating CEA does not appear to contain an intact GPI anchor. See Jean, Frederic,
  • GPI-linked variable surface glycoproteins are the major coat components of African Trypanosome parasites and are the primary defensive barrier against the host immune system. Trypanosomas contain a large number of VSG genes. During infection, one VSG is predominantly expressed as a very dense outer coat. When the host mounts an antibody response to this VSG the parasites are efficiently cleared, however, minor populations, expressing alternative VSGs, rapidly reproduce, yielding a new peak of parasites. This process will continue, producing a regular series of parasitic fluctuations. Similarly, many surface proteins in protozoa, including Plasmodium and Leishmania, are GPI-linked.
  • Schistosomes can't synthesis their own lipids, and therefore may have evolved several mechanisms to facilitate uptake of exogenous lipids and lipoproteins into their membrane. The existence of a special mechanism is implied by the schistosome's ability to take up non-GPI-linked membrane proteins. The schistosome may not so much "take up", as “tear off", lipoproteins from host cell membranes.
  • GPI-modified proteins have been purified to homogeneity and formulated as pharmaceuticals for oral or parenteral (intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, etc.) administration.
  • the GPI-modified proteins are not readily purified, as the GPI "tail" tends to stick nonspecifically to a multitude of surfaces.
  • Gene Therapy and Trangenic Animals An alternative approach is to produce the drug in situ, i.e., to provide a gene encoding the drug and cause the patient's cells to express it.
  • this technique known as gene therapy, has taken two forms: one for the delivery of soluble proteins normally secreted in nature (e.g., hormones), the other for the delivery of membrane or cytoplasmic proteins.
  • soluble proteins normally secreted in nature (e.g., hormones)
  • membrane or cytoplasmic proteins e.g., membrane or cytoplasmic proteins.
  • growth hormone normally made by the pituitary gland, can be expressed by genetically engineered hematopoietic stem cells and provide the relevant physiological function.
  • cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor (CFTR) protein as a cure for cystic fibrosis, has been envisaged as requiring the direct introduction into the patient's airway of a viral vector (containing the CFTR genes), such as adenovirus, which is capable of infecting the cells of the lung where it is desired that the CFTR protein be expressed.
  • CFTR cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor
  • GPI-linked proteins seemingly do not lend themselves to the first mode of gene tuerapy. They would seem to require expression within the final target cells. And, given the present stage of molecular biology, precise control over the cells to which a foreign gene is delivered, or the type of cells in which will be expressed, is limited.
  • transplant surgery often cannot be scheduled as a routine operation. All too frequently, surgical teams and hospital administrators have to react the moment a donor organ is identified, thereby causing administrative difficulties.
  • liver and lung transplants if rejection is encountered it will not usually be possible to retransplant unless by chance another suitable donor becomes available within a short space of time.
  • Xenografting is the generic term commonly used for the cross-species transfer of tissues.
  • tissue xenografts have been limited use in therapy. For example, recent years have witnessed the use of pig tissue for aortic valve replacement, pig skin to cov ⁇ r patients with severe burns, and cow umbilical vein as a replacement vein graft.
  • pig tissue for aortic valve replacement
  • pig skin to cov ⁇ r patients with severe burns and cow umbilical vein as a replacement vein graft.
  • hyperacute rejection occurs, destroying the xenotransplant.
  • HAR typically involves extensive interstitial edema and hemorrhage, tissue necrosis, and rapid loss of organ function. HAR is most pronounced when transplantation is between distantly related species, such as pig and man.
  • Xenografts subject to HAR are known as discordant xenografts.
  • Xenotransplantation between closely related species escapes this ferocious immune reaction (HAR) .
  • HAR ferocious immune reaction
  • tissue from the chimpanzee which is a primate closely related to man, can survive without undergoing HAR
  • xenografts not subject to HAR are known as concordant xenografts.
  • Longer term rejection can occur but is typically less rapid and less severe.
  • concordant xenografts might provide the solution to the problems with allografts, in practice this is usually not the case.
  • chimpanzees are much smaller than humans their organs are generally not big enough to provide adequate function in humans.
  • chimpanzees breed slowly in nature and poorly in captivity, and the demand for chimpanzees as experimental animals (particularly in the current era of research into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) ) means that, yet again, demand is outstripping supply. Additionally, it may be difficult to obtain public acceptance of the use of non-human primates as xenograft donors. In contrast, the ability to use certain discordant species as sources of xenografts would overcome many if not all of these disadvantages. For example, the pig is potentially a good source of organs which are similar in size and physiology to human organs. Pigs can readily be raised and bred in a domesticated, agricultural setting. Over 50 million are raised in the United States annually.
  • HAR is produced by the activation of the host's complement lysis defense system.
  • Complement and its activation are now well known, and are described in Roitt, Essential Immunology (Fifth Edition, 1984) Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.
  • the activity ascribed to complement (C) depends upon the operation of nine protein components (Cl to C9) acting in concert, of which the first consists of three major sub-fractions termed Clq, Clr, and Cls.
  • Complement can be activated by the classical or alternative pathway, both of which will now be briefly described.
  • Cl binds to antibody.
  • the Cls subunit acquires esterase activity and brings about the activation and transfer to sites on the membrane or immune complex of first C4 and then C2.
  • This complex has "C3- convertase” activity and splits C3 in solution to produce a small peptide fragment C3a and a residual molecule C3b, which have quite distinct functions.
  • C3a has anaphylatoxin activity and plays no further part in the complement amplification cascade.
  • C3b is membrane bound and can cause immune adherence of the antigen-antibody-C3b complex, so facilitating subsequent phagocytosis.
  • the C3 convertase activity is performed by C3bB, whose activation can be triggered by extrinsic agents, in particular microbial polysaccharides such as endotoxin, acting independently of antibody.
  • the convertase is formed by the action of Factor D on a complex of C3b and Factor B.
  • This forms a positive feedback loop, in which the product of C3 breakdown (C3b) helps form more of the cleavage enzyme.
  • C3b level is maintained by the action of a C3b inactivator (Factor I) .
  • C3b readily combines with Factor H to form a complex which is broken down by Factor I and loses its hemolytic and immune adherence properties.
  • the classical and alternative pathways are common after the C3 stage.
  • C5 is split to give C5a and C5b fragments.
  • C5a has anaphylatoxin activity and gives rise to chemotaxis of polymorphs.
  • C5b binds as a complex with C6 and C7 to form a thermostable site on the membrane which recruits the final components C8 and C9 to generate the membrane attack complex (MAC) .
  • MAC membrane attack complex
  • This is an annular structure inserted into the membrane and projecting from it, which forms a transmembrane channel fully permeable to electrolytes and water. Due to the high internal colloid osmotic pressure, there is a net influx of sodium ions and water, leading to cell lysis.
  • Complement inhibition (restriction) factors have been identified which interfere with the action of the complement cascade in such a way as to reduce or prevent its lytic activity; they are used by the host animal to label tissue as "self" to avoid an immune reaction. These factors may be cell membrane bound, or free in serum. Most often they intervene in one of the steps common to both complement activation pathways, however, some factors may be specific to either the lassical or the alternative pathway.
  • Platt and Bach (1991) (and references therein) believe that a discordant xenograft triggers the host's complement (C) through the classical complement pathway.
  • Preformed natural antibodies (PNA) circulating in the host's bloodstream recognize and bind to the donor organ, particularly on the luminal surface of the vascular endothelium. Binding of the PNAs serves to trigger the host's C -system. This attack leads to endothelial cell activation, adhesion of platelets and leukocytes, thrombosis and eventual necrosis of the xenograft organ within a few hours after transplantation.
  • the capillary beds of the transplanted organ appear to be the most sensitive site for attack by the host's complement activity.
  • WO91/05855 urge that hyperacute xenograft rejection is not necessarily antibod -mediated, i.e., that it may also arise from the alternative pathway of complement activation. If White, et al are correct, then removal of PNAs will not always prevent hyperacute xenograft rejection.
  • accommodation A xenograft which has been accommodated by the host, while still recognized by host immunoglobin molecules, is no longer subject to a hyperacute rejection and will survive even in the absence of exogenous complement inhibition.
  • This state of accommodation occurs only when the organ has first gone through a period during which the host complement has been suppressed. For example, a host with one accommodated organ will, in the absence of further exogenous complement inhibition, immediately reject a second xenograft transplant but not the original accommodated graft even when the second graft is from the same donor as the first, e.g., two kidneys [Platt, personal communication] . While the mechanism which underlies accommodation is unknown
  • the endothelial cells of the graft may be more sensitive to complement due to the trauma associated with transplantation. If complement is inhibited, then later the endothelial cells of the graft may recover and achieve a resistant condition.
  • the epitopes expressed on the endothelial cells of the graft may be altered so that complement is no longer effective.
  • the host antibodies produced after depletion of preformed natural antibodies may be different in their specificity and/or affinity then the preformed natural antibodies which were originally present. The first two proposals both imply that the endothelial cells of the graft effect some change in their own cellular membrane.
  • membrane DAF is less effective as a complement inhibitor when exposed to serum. There are several reasons this might be the case. First, in serum it will come into contact with soluble lipoproteins and other lipids, which may capture and thereby sequester it. Second, serum contains phospholipases which can cleave off the GPI tail of membrane DAF, so that the DAF molecule can no longer integrate into cell membranes.
  • transgenic donor animal such as the pig
  • human membrane-associated C-inhibitor genes to achieve a high level of expression of the corresponding proteins in the endothelial cells of the xenograft.
  • the concept is to express the C-inhibitor directly in endothelial cells; no other mechanism of delivering them to endothelial cell membranes is contemplated.
  • transgenic animals of the cited references share in common what, over a decade of transgenic anlr.ial studies with multiple gene-promoter combinations, has evolved as a standard experimental design and approach. It may be termed a direct approach: if the goal is the presence of a transgene encoded protein on the surface of a particular group or type of cells, couple the transgene to a promoter which can be reasonably expected to express the transgene directly in (at least) those very same cells.
  • the present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the background art. More particularly, it contemplates delivering a protein of interest to a target vertebrate animal by providing a mobile cell to whose membrane the protein is attached by a GPI anchor. The GPI anchor. The GPI-linked protein is then delivered to other cells by intermembrane transfer.
  • Suitable mobile cells include red blood cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts.
  • a protein of interest which is not natively GPI-linked may be attached to a mobile cell by expressing a non- naturally occurring precursor protein which provides a GPI attachment signal recognized by the cell.
  • the present invention relates to the intermembrane transfer of complement restriction factors from mobile cells, such as red blood cells, to discordant xenograft tissue, in vivo or in vitro, to diminish the risk of hyperacute rejection.
  • complement restriction factors bear natural or
  • a xenograft results from the transfer of one or more species-specific complement inhibition factors from the recipient animal's red blood cells (RBCs) to the vascular endothelium of the xenograft.
  • RBCs red blood cells
  • the xenograft must be protected from HAR by cell-free administration of exogenous inhibitors or removal of the host's antibodies. Once a sufficient number of inhibitors are transferred, the xenograft is resistant to host complement and the xenograft is accommodated. In human recipients, this threshold level is apparently reached "'-10 days past transplantation. When the host antibody levels return to normal, the graft remains protected because of the continual addition of new C-inhibitors from the host RBCs.
  • the present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems associated with discordant xenograft transplantation by contacting the discordant xenograft with cells bearing suitable membrane-associated complement inhibition factors functional in the intended recipient, under conditions conducive to the cell- to-cell transfer of complement resistance to the xenograft.
  • the cells in question are mobile cells, such as red blood cells, so as to achieve a wide distribution of complement resistance.
  • a transgenic nonhuman animal such as a pig
  • a species normally discordant to humans is prepared, whose erythrocytes have been genetically engineered to express one or more human-specific complement inhibition factors.
  • human complement resistance is conferred on the animal's vascularized tissues and organs. These tissues and organs may then be transplanted to humans, with a substantially reduced risk of hyperacute rejection of the xenograft.
  • a normal, non-transgenic donor animals' tissues and organs may be exposed, in vivo or in vitro, to exogenous red blood cells which bear on their surface recipient-specific complement inhibition factors, thereby conferring resistance to the recipient's complement system.
  • the invention relates to methods of transferring complement resistance to a discordant xenograft, to the xenografts thereby rendered tolerable, to the use of the modified xenograft in xenotransplantation, and to assays for identifying complement inhibition factors and for determining when an organ has become sufficiently modified to avoid hyperacute rejection.
  • other GPI-linked proteins are provided on mobile cells and transferred to target cells.
  • Figure 1 is a flow chart illustrating the combination of the human CD59 gene, the human alpha globin 5' and 3' flanking sequences, and the human globin LCR to form LCRO.CD59.
  • Figure 2 similarly illustrates the construction of LCRQ.DAF.
  • Figure 3 shows a map of the plasmid LCRceDAF, and of the linearized Scal-Kpnl fragment where the nucleotide sequences at the fusion junctions between the ⁇ . globin promoter and DAF (SEQ ID NO:5) , and between DAF and the o> globin gene (SEQ ID NO:6) are presented.
  • Figure 4 shows a map of the plasmid LCR ⁇ CD59, and of the linearized SacII fragment where the nucleotide sequences at the fusion junctions between the a globin promoter and CD 59 (SEQ ID NO:7) , and between CD 59 and the ⁇ . globin gene (SEQ ID NO:8) , are presented.
  • Figure 5 sets forth the DNA and translated amino acid sequence for the MCP:DAF Fusion. (SEQ ID NO:10) The DAF sequence begins at base 826.
  • the present invention relates to the intermembrane transfer of GPI-linked proteins.
  • intermembrane transfer while common in the art, is potentially ambiguous. First of all, cells have several membranes, and therefore the term could be misinterpreted as including the transfer of a protein from one membrane to another within the same cell. However, in the art, and in this specification, it refers to what is more aptly called “intercellular transfer”, i.e., transfer from one cell to another, whether direct or indirect.
  • intermembrane transfer to refer to transfer of membrane-associated proteins between cells. Intermembrane transfer may be direct, as a result of cell membrane-to-cell membrane contact, or it may be indirect.
  • the protein may move through the aqueous phase (e.g., the blood) separating the cells, or it may be carried by a lipid vesicle released by one cell and adsorbed by the other. While the point is not yet fully established, and applicants do not wish to be bound by this theory, applicants believe that in their system, the intermembrane transfer is direct. The evidence is mainly circumstantial: if the transfer were indirect, the protein would be exposed to serum lipids and lipoproteins, as well as, lipases, and our success is more likely to be due to these obstacles being avoided as a result of direct intermembrane transfer, rather than that our system shed so much GPI-linked protein that enough made it to the target cells despite capture and degradation by serum molecules.
  • aqueous phase e.g., the blood
  • Target Animal The target animal for the protein transfer method of the present invention is a vertebrate animal, i.e., a mammal, bird, reptile, fish or amphibian. Among mammals, the target animal preferably belongs to the order Primata (humans, apes and monkeys), Artiodactyla (e.g., cows, pigs, sheep, goats, horses), Rodenta (e.g., rabbits, mice, rats) or Carnivora (e.g., cats, dogs) .
  • Primata humans, apes and monkeys
  • Artiodactyla e.g., cows, pigs, sheep, goats, horses
  • Rodenta e.g., rabbits, mice, rats
  • Carnivora e.g., cats, dogs
  • the target animals are preferably of the orders Anseriformes (e.g., ducks, geese, swans) or Galliformes (e.g., quails, grouse, pheasants, turkeys and chickens).
  • the target animal is preferably of the order Clupeiformes (e.g., sardines, shad, anchovies, whitefish, salmon and trout).
  • the "target tissues” are any tissues or organs of the target animal which may come into contact with the aforementioned GPI- linked protein bearing carrier cells.
  • target tissue and “target organ” are hereafter used interchangeably.
  • An animal may be considered a “target animal” even though only selected tissues and organs, already explanted, are exposed to the carrier cells.
  • the vascular endothelial cells are preferred target tissues.
  • the target animal is a nonhuman mammal, from which organs or tissues are to be transplanted to a human subject.
  • the GPI-linked protein is transferred, by intermembrane transfer, from mobile cells as hereafter discussed to the intended organ or tissue transplant (collectively, the "target tissue”), which subsequently is transplanted to the subject. Most commonly, this GPI-linked protein will be a complement inhibitor.
  • Raising non-human mammals specifically for use as donors of organ transplants has many advantages provided that the recipient will accept the organ or tissue.
  • a carefully raised non- human animal is less likely to be damaged or to carry a pathogenic virus or neoplasm than a human donor.
  • human donors are frequently deceased, with the death resulting from a cause which may make the donated organ less than ideal.
  • the size and age may be carefully controlled with xenotransplants compared to the random choice of human organ donors.
  • Organs from non-human mammals are likely to be available in greater quantities, and on a more consistent basis, than cognate human organs. If a graft fails, a backup organ should also be readily available.
  • organs and recipients are presently matched primarily for MHC compatibility. If rejection is less of a concern, more attention may be given to other considerations, such as size matching.
  • a variety of discordant animals may be used as donors for organ and tissue transplantation into humans and other mammals.
  • the choice of animal will depend on the particular organ or tissue desired, the size and sex of the recipient.
  • a pig is generally preferred due to its size, similar physiology, ease of genetic manipulation, reproduction rate and convenience.
  • Other mammals such as sheep, goats, cattle, etc., may also be used. Should the recipient not be human, the choice of animal may vary but by using the same selection criteria, one skilled in the art can choose an appropriate donor animal.
  • organs which may be transplanted are very long and is primarily limited by known surgical techniques. Certain tissues or parts of organs also may be transplanted.
  • organ includes whole organs, parts cf organs, and miscellaneous tissues. Examples include kidney, eye, heart, heart valve, skin, liver, bone marrow, intestine, blood vessels, joints or parts thereof, pancreas or portions containing the islets, lung, bronchi, brain tissue, muscle and any other vascularized tissue.
  • the transfusion of blood or components thereof is not to be construed as being an organ transplantation. Transplantation may be performed to correct an organ which is improperly functioning as a result of injury, genetic defect, disease, toxic reaction etc.
  • the recipient may receive the transplanted organ to supplement existing tissue such as using skin tissue for treating burns, pancreatic islets for diabetes or brain tissue for treating Parkinson's disease.
  • the recipient's defective organ may be completely removed and replaced with the xenograft such as in kidney, heart, liver, lung or joint transplants.
  • the xenograft such as in kidney, heart, liver, lung or joint transplants.
  • it is possible for either technique to be used such as with liver transplants for treating cirrhosis and hepatitic neoplasms and infections.
  • Carrier Cells are vertebrate cells which bear a GPI-linked protein of interest in their membrane, and are capable, under the desired transfer conditions, of transferring that protein via intermembrane protein transfer to a target tissue of a vertebrate animal.
  • mobile cells is intended to encompass both red blood cells, which are passively circulated, and true migratory cells, which can move of their own volition.
  • the carrier cells will be mobile cells.
  • red blood cells is intended to encompass both erythrocytes and reticulocytes, as both are found in the red blood cell fraction of blood. Red blood cells are circulated in the bloodstream of the animal and can reach any vascularized tissue or organ. Other cells, such as macrophages and T-cells are not only capable of such movement, but may also migrate from the bloodstream into solid tissues, and therefore are termed “migratory cells.” This term also includes fibroblasts, which are capable of movement within extracellular spaces.
  • RBC/ml of blood There are greater than 10 9 RBC/ml of blood. This is several orders of magnitude greater than any other blood cell.
  • C-inhibitor e.g., C-inhibitor
  • the preferred vehicles would be macrophages, T-cells, fibroblasts and other "migratory cells".
  • the protein of interest may be delivered to the target organism by mobile cells, compatible with the target animal, by providing the protein with a GPI anchor and permitting the GPI-linked protein (e.g., C-inhibitor) transfer to vascular endothelial cells.
  • the preferred vehicles would be macrophages, T-cells, fibroblasts and other "migratory cells".
  • the protein of interest may be delivered to the target organism by mobile cells, compatible with the target animal, by providing the protein with a GPI anchor and permitting the GPI-
  • ⁇ linked protein to attach itself through the GPI anchor to the membrane of a suitable mobile cell.
  • genetically engineered mobile cells are administered to the target animal.
  • the protein of interest is expressed within mobile cells, which post-transiationally modify the protein, in response to a signal sequence fused to the protein of interest and expressed therewith, by attaching the desired GPI anchor.
  • the GPI-linked protein is then exported to the membrane of the mobile cell from which it may be transferred, via membrane-to-membrane contact, to target tissues.
  • the target animal is a nonhuman chimeric or transgenic animal genetically engineered so that at least some of its mobile cells produce the desired GPI-linked protein and move it to their membranes.
  • Such animals contain at least one foreign gene, called a transgene, in the genetic material of cells endogenous to the animal.
  • the protein of interest is produced outside the mobile cell, with a GPI anchor already attached. It is then incubated with a carrier cell under conditions conducive to the incorporation of the protein into the membrane of the cell. The cell is then incubated with the target tissue.
  • the GPI-linked protein is produced outside the target animal and administered to the target animal in such manner that it can be taken up by cells of the target animal, including possibly mobile cells thereof.
  • the first and second embodiments have the advantage that new GPI-linked protein continues to be produced by mobile cells within the target animal.
  • the xenografts are
  • a xenograft may be given the complement inhibitors needed to prevent hyperacute rejection by a number of methods, which usually are specific adaptations of the generic method described in the last section.
  • hyperacute rejection is avoided by engineering the donor animal to express the recipient's species-specific complement inhibition factor(s) in mobile cells, which then transfer the complement inhibition factor(s) to the cells to be grafted. Since discordant animals by definition lack this ability, the present invention overcomes this limitation by preparing transgenic animals where the transgene(s) encode the factor(s) believed necessary for preventing hyperacute rejection.
  • one embodiment of the present invention involves a transgene which can be expressed in a primary tissue, but, whose protein product can be further distributed to secondary sites by way of mobile cells. The cells at these secondary sites do not need to synthesize the transgene product, but acquire it, through intermembrane transfer.
  • red blood cells travel throughout the body txiis technique is expected to distribute hyperacute rejection inhibition factors widely.
  • a tissue or organ is preaccommodated by contacting it with cells, such as red blood cells, from the proposed recipient.
  • the red blood cells do not actually need to be from the individual recipient provided that they are at least concordant with the recipient. The closer the match of blood type, etc., the better. Since red blood cells are readily available in large quantities, the examples use this source.
  • the contacting step may be performed in vitro or in vivo.
  • contact is in vitro, use of mobile cells is not required, as adequate distribution may be obtained by assuring that all surfaces of the organ or tissue are in contact with the resistant cells often enough for effective transfer of resistance.
  • red blood cells is still preferred.
  • contact is in vivo, use of mobile cells is necessary.
  • the organ or tissue may be either first removed from the donor before contacting or the contacting step may be performed in the donor before transplantation.
  • In vitro contacting may be enhanced by perfusing the tissue or organ with suitable red blood cells to ensure adequate exposure throughout the tissue.
  • In vivo treatment may be performed by transfusing suitable red blood cells to the donor to obtain donor organ-to-target RBC contact inside the donor animal.
  • the donor should be immunosuppressed so that it will not reject the transfused red blood cells.
  • Immunosuppression may be achieved in a number of ways including removal or destruction of organs involved in the immune system such as the spleen, providing anti-lymphocyte antibody, plasmapheresis to remove antibody and/or complement and administering immunosuppressive drugs such as a cyclosporin, a steroid, thalidomide or succinylacetone.
  • transgenic animal and blood replacement techniques may also be used.
  • red blood cells from one or more transgenic animals expressing one or more different recipient-specific C-inhibitors may be withdrawn and transfused into a recipient animal of the same species which eventually will become an organ donor. Immunosuppression is not needed, and particularly if multiple C-inhibitors are desired, this may prove easier than engineering of the desired inhibitors into a single line of transgenic animals.
  • a sample of the organ or tissue being transplanted, or a related tissue it is preferable to test a sample of the organ or tissue being transplanted, or a related tissue, to determine whether or not th organ or tissue has become sufficiently accommodated.
  • the sample is incubated with the serum from the prospective organ or tissue recipient and one measures the presence of any reaction. If complement mediated lysis or cell death occurs, accommodation obviously is not complete. Complement fixation tests are also useful indicators. Lesser reactions of antibody binding to sample may be observed by immunohistochemical staining of the sample with a labeled anti- (human immunoglobulin) antibody.
  • a number of other suitable immunoassays are available and may be used for determining whether the organ or tissue has become sufficiently accommodated to the recipient before transplantation.
  • the protein to be transferred may be a naturally occurring GPI-linked protein, or a functional fragment or homologue of such a protein.
  • Naturally GPI-linked proteins are listed in Table 5.
  • the protein of interest may also be one whose closest naturally occurring cognate is not GPI-linked, but which has been modified so that it will be processed to acquire a GPI-anchor. Such modifications are discussed in the next section.
  • amino acid sequence of a protein of interest may be modified, e.g., by site-specific or semirandom mutagenesis of the corresponding gene to obtain a mutant protein with a "substantially" corresponding" amino acid sequence.
  • sequences In determining whether sequences should be deemed to "substantially correspond”, one should consider the following issues: the degree of sequence similarity when the sequences are aligned for best fit according to standard algorithms, the similarity in the connectivity patterns of any crosslinks (e.g., disulfide bonds) , the degree to which the proteins have similar three-dimensional structures, as indicated by, e.g., X-ray diffraction analysis or NMR, and the degree to which the sequenced proteins have similar biological activity.
  • the degree of sequence similarity when the sequences are aligned for best fit according to standard algorithms the similarity in the connectivity patterns of any crosslinks (e.g., disulfide bonds)
  • the degree to which the proteins have similar three-dimensional structures as indicated by, e.g., X-ray diffraction analysis or NMR
  • the degree to which the sequenced proteins have similar biological activity.
  • serine protease inhibitors there are families of proteins recognized to be homologous in which there are pairs of members with as little as
  • the sequence of the mature protein is at least 50% identical, more preferably at least 80% identical, with the sequence of its naturally occurring cognate.
  • the 3D-structure can be used to identify interior and surface residues; generally speaking, proteins mutated at surface residues (other than the receptor binding site) are more likely to remain functional.
  • Creighton and Chothia, Nature, 339:14 (1989) discuss the toleration of mutations at buried residues.
  • the structure may also be used to determine flexible surface "loops" and interdomain boundaries; proteins are more tolerant of deletions and insertions in such regions. In general, segments of the protein which are more difficult to resolve by NMR are likely to be segments which are freer to move, and hence more tolerant of mutation.
  • Insertions and deletions are preferably at the amino or carboxy termini, at loops (sequences joining helices to helices, helices to sheets, and sheets to sheets, and at interdomain boundaries) .
  • At termini, internal insertions or deletions are preferably of no more than three consecutive amino acids, more preferably only of a single amino acid.
  • the mutations are preferably substitutions.
  • substitutions In terms of the kinds of substitutions which may be made, one may look to analyses of the frequencies of amino acid changes between homologouys proteins of different organisms. Based on such analyses, we define conservative substitutions as exchanges within the groups set forth below: I small aliphatic, nonpolar or slightly polar residues - Ala, Ser, Thr (Pro, Gly) II negatively charged residues and their amides - Asn Asp Glu Gin III positively charged residues - His Arg Lys
  • Acceptable substitutions also include substitutions already known, as a result of their appearance in proteins similar in biological activity and sequence with a protein of interest, to be likely to h tolerated. For example, if the protein of interest were to have superoxide dismutase activity, instead of using a protein identical with a naturally occurring SOD, it could be a chimera of several naturally occurring SODs.
  • the active site residues may be determined, if not already known, by methodically testing fragments for activity, as was done for C4bp by Chung and Reid (1985) , or by systematic testing of mutants.
  • nucleotide sequence which encodes the protein of interest may be, but need not be, identical to the naturally occurring sequence. "Silent" mutations may be made to improve transcriptional or translational efficiency, introduce or eliminate restriction sites, or reduce the probability of recombination. In addition, mutations which result in a change in the encoded amino acid sequence may be made as previously discussed.
  • Complement Inhibitors For xenograft transplantation, the proteins of greatest interest are "complement inhibitors". In all species with a complement lysis system there are a variety of molecules which normally function to inhibit complement, as shown in Table 1. These complement inhibitors appear necessary to limit autologous cell lysis within the host. Some of the complement inhibitors are species specific. That is, a human complement inhibitor such as decay accelerating factor (DAF) will inhibit human complement, and complement of some other closely related primate species, but is ineffective against complement of more distant species such as the mouse or pig. (Atkinson, personal communication) . Indeed, this form of species-specific complement inhibition is thought to be one of the major contributory factors in determining whether or not a xenograft is concordant or discordant.
  • DAF decay accelerating factor
  • CD59 and HRF are th'-'se molecules found on red blood cells and endothelial cells and are anchored to the cellular surface through a glycosylphosphatidylinosital (GPI) linkage (See Lisanti, et al.) .
  • GPI glycosylphosphatidylinosital
  • glycoprotein C-l of HSV lacks a typical SCR structure, but nonetheless contains short stretches substantially homologous to various C-inhibitors and exhibits DAF-like activity.
  • N-CAM a neural cell adhesion molecule
  • GPI-linked proteins a neural cell adhesion molecule
  • transmembrane N-CAM a neural cell adhesion molecule
  • the GPI-linked N-CAM may function to provide recognition or positional information whereas the transmembrane form may be required for cells to actively respond to that information.
  • GPI-linked N-CAM For example Schwann cells, over which neurons grow, and skeletal muscle, to which neurons establish synapses, preferentially express GPI- linked N-CAM (Schwann cells) or switch to GPI-linked form (skeletal muscle) prior to synapse formation (Walsh F.S. and Doherty P. (1991) , "Glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored recognition molecules that function in axonal fasciculation, growth and guidance in the nervous system, " Cell Biology International Reports, .15:1151-1166) .
  • GPI linkage of a protein to the cell surface is in some sense tenuous. It may therefore be possible to take advantage of this condition to inhibit cell adhesion through the expression of GPI-linked adhesion molecules.
  • Such molecules on the surface of a cell might. simply release from the membrane when bound by an adhesion molecule on another cell.
  • GPI-linked adhesion proteins might function as a "slippery rock".
  • adhesion of lymphocytes to endothelial cells at the site of inflammation is mediated predominantly by VCAM-l. This adhesion molecule is transmembrane protein expressed on endothelial cells within 2 hours of treatment with IL-2 or TNF-alpha and this expression is maintained for at least 72 hours.
  • This molecule permits lymphocyte adhesion and infiltration. It may be possible to delay or block lymphocyte infiltration of the endothelium by displaying a GPI-linked form of VCAM-l.
  • This GPI- linked isoform could be expressed in erythrocytes of transgenic mice or pigs, where it would transferred to the vascular endothelial cells. Organs from such pigs could be transplanted to humans (assuming they also display human complement regulatory proteins) where they might have enhanced resistance to lymphocyte infiltration. Similar inhibition of endothelial binding to polymorphonuclear leukocytes could be achieved using a GPI-linked isoform of ELAM-1.
  • GPI transfer An additional utility of GPI transfer which is applicable to a gene therapy approach is the introduction of hematopoietic stem cells and overexpression of the normally GPI-linked urokinase plasminogen activator receptor.
  • This receptor and its ligand, urokinase plasminogen activator are involved in regulating the proenzyme plasminogen and are thus involved in many biological processes which involve tissue remodeling, including thrombosis.
  • McNeill Helen and Jensen Pamela J. (1990) "A high affinity receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator on human keratinocytes: characterization and potential modulation during migration," Cell Regulation. 1:843-852).
  • this protein might then be usefully applied to controlling thrombotic sites which accumulate in the extremities of patients suffering from phlebitis. While this approach could not restore blood flow to occluded vessels, since it requires blood flow for transfer, it would be expected to improve the flow through partially occluded vessels. Additionally this approach could represent a one time treatment that provides long term relief from recurrence of the disease. Similar gene therapy approaches to the treatment of phlebitis could be achieved using thrombomodulin and tissue plasminogen activator receptor, both intrinsic membrane proteins which would require modifications to incorporate GPI anchors (Nachman Ralph L. (1992) , " Thrombosis and atherogenesis: Molecular connections, " Blood..79.:1897-1906) .
  • GPI Attachment Signal Sequence It is within the scope of the invention co incorporate a known GPI-attachment signal, naturally occurring or modified, into a protein (e.g., CRI, CR2, MCP) which is not normally GPI-
  • Attachment of the GPI moiety is a post-translational modification which presumably occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum.
  • a hydrophobic sequence from the carboxy terminum of the nascent protein is removed.
  • This hydrophobic sequence is a necessary but not fully sufficient portion of the signal for GPI addition.
  • the carboxy terminal 17 amino acid hydrophobic domain of DAF when deleted disrupts the addition of the GPI residue yet when this same sequence is fused to a heterologous protei ⁇ , human growth hormone, it does not create a GPI anchored fusion protein.
  • Together these two amino acids are referred to herein as the cleavage/attachment site, or CAS, doublet.
  • This doublet in conjunction with a hydrophobic carboxy terminus, thus seem to form the minimal sequence necessary for GPI addition.
  • the position of the CAS doublet relative to the hydrophobic domain is significant.
  • a spacer of 5-20 amino acids, more preferably, 7-14, stil more preferably 8- 12 amino acids, is desirable. The sequence of this spacer does
  • hydrophobic domain should comprise a minimum of 8 amino acids, and more preferably a longer sequence, with a minimum average hydrophobicity of -1.3 (typically higher for shorter sequences) .
  • the hydrophobic domain does not contain any charged amino acids, as these are the most hydrophilic.
  • the protein of interest is expressed as a fusion of at least that portion required for biological activity with the decay accelerating factor (DAF) - derived attachment signal (DAF29) SGTTRLLSGHTCFTLTGLLGTLVTMGLLT (SEQ ID NO: 9)
  • the first amino acid of the CAS doublet may be S or G.
  • Lisanti, et al., J. Cell. Sci., 99:637-640 (1991) reported that an hGH-DAF29 (Ser, Gly) fusion was expressed, GPI-linked, and properly relocated by transfected MDCK cells. '
  • a large number of candidate attachment signals may be simultaneously produced and screened for effectiveness by an adaption of the method of Ladner, USP 5,223,409.
  • a gene encoding a normally secreted and readily assayable protein, such as a growth hormone, is fused to "variegated" (semirandom) DNA encoding a large family of possible attachment signals.
  • Some codon positions will encode the same amino acid in each version of the gene, and others will encode different amino acids depending on which DNA molecule is examined.
  • Ladner refers to the corresponding amino acid positions as “constant” and “variable” res ⁇ '.dues, respectively.
  • Constant and variable residues may be interspersed as desired. It is also possible for the variation to affect the number of residues.
  • this DNA may have the form
  • a codons encode the amino acids of the GAS doublet
  • ⁇ codons encode those of the spacer
  • 7 codons encode those of the hydrophobic tail.
  • the gene may be synthesized so that the "substitution set" at a given variable residue includes all twenty genetically encodable amino acids. More typically, the variation will oe resticted, e.g, one or more of the ⁇ . codons might each be randomized independently to encode any of Gly, Ser, Ala, Asp, Asn and Cys and one or more of the y codons might each be randomized independently to encode any of the more hydrophobic amino acids, e.g., He, Val, Leu, Phe, Cys, Met, Ala, Gly, Thr, Trp, Ser, and Tyr. (Other substitution sets are possible.) The ⁇ codons are of less importance.
  • ⁇ codons could be selected to encode in all of the proteins, a single sequence modelled after the space of a known GPI-linked protein precursor, or the variation in the ⁇ codons could be in the number of codons rather than in the amino acid encoded, or one or more of the ⁇ codons could each be selected independent from codons encoding amino acids found frequently in the naturally occurring species.
  • the fused gene is expressed in cultivatable cells which are capable of adding a GPI anchor to a protein.
  • Tho cells are first subjected to a negative screen. This looks (e.g., with a labeled antibody) for the parental protein (e.g., growth hormone) in the supernate. If found, then the protein is being secreted, rather than equipped with a GPI anchor and held in the membrane, and the candidate signal expressed in those cells is thus shown to be ineffectual.
  • the "non-secreting" cells, which passed the first screen, are then treated with phospholipase D, or some other enzyme that cleaves off the GPI-linkage.
  • the supernate is - ' -.hen screened for the presence of the GH. If present, it implies that the cells produced GPI-linked GH, but that the phospholipase treatment removed the GPI, allowing the GH to escape into the culture medium.
  • GH is a preferred "assay target" since GPI-linked forms of the GH have been produced by expressing a GH :AF29 attachment signal chimera in cells. Therefore, it is known that the attachment of such a signal does not interfere with the detection Of GH.
  • transgenic animal In a transgenic animal, the transgene .”is contained in eventually all of the animal's cells, including germ cells, such that it can be transmitted to the animal's offspring. In a chimeric animal, at least some cells endogenous to the animal bear the transgene, but germ line transmission is not necessarily possible.
  • the term "genetically engineered animals” includes both transgenic and chimeric animals. However, since germ live transmission of transgenes is usually advantageous, production of trangenic animals is usually preferred. The discussion below therefore refers to "transgenic" animals, however, such references apply, mutatis mutandis, to other chimeric animals.
  • a number of techniques may be used to introduce the transgene into an animal's genetic material, including, but not limited to, retroviral infection, electroporation, microinjection of the transgene into pronuclei of fertilized eggs, and manipulation of embryonic stem cells (U.S. Patent No. 4,873,191 by Wagner and Hoppe; Palmiter and Brinster, 1986, Ann. Rev. Genet. 20:465-499: French Patent Application 2593827 published August 7, 1987) .
  • the overwhelming majority of transgenic animals (and all transgenic livestock) produced to date have resulted from pronuclear microinjection of DNA.
  • the technique involves the delivery of DNA in solution to one of the pronuclei of a one cell fertilized ova.
  • the pronuclei of the ferti] i.zed ova may be observed at 200X under Nomarski optics.
  • the ova should first be centrifuged to sediment cytoplasmic lipids which make visualization of the pronuclei difficult. (Swanson et al. , 1992.)
  • Holding and microinjection pipettes utilized in the microinjection process are manufactured from (1mm O.D., 0.78 mm I.D.) borosilicate glass capillaries.
  • the capillaries are heated in a microforge and pulled to make the microinjection or holding ends. After microinjection, the surviving ovs are transferred back into a recipient female in the appropriate stage of estrus.
  • pronuclear microinjection for instance, the infection of preimplantation embryos (one cell to eight cell) with genetically engineered retroviruses. See Jaenisch, R. (1976) , "Germ line integration and Mendelian
  • Another approach to producing transgenic animals involves electroporation.
  • the one cell ova is placed in a electroporation chamber with a solution of DNA.
  • a pulsating electric field is generated through the chamber to drive the DNA into the ova.
  • Embryonic stem (ES) cell lines are derived from the cells of the inner cell mass of mammalian (e.g., mouse and hamster) blastocysts.
  • F. " cells are maintained in the stem cell state by growth on a feeder layer, e.g., of primary embryonic fibroblasts or of the embryonic fibroblastic cell line STO.
  • the ES cells may be genetically modified by any technique suitable to in vitro mammalian cell culture, and then injected into the blastocyst. They then differentiate and colonize most if not all tissues of the animal, including the germline. See Doetschman, "Gene
  • Transgenic animals may carry the transgene in all their cells or may be genetically mosaic. Although a number of studies have involved transgenic mice, other species of transgenic animals have also been produced, such as rabbits, sheep and pigs
  • Transgenic pigs may be produced by adaptation of the methods and materials described in Swanson, et al. (1992), with a suitably prepared insert encoding the protein of interest, replacing the alpha and/or beta globin gene(s) .
  • One aspect of the present invention is a : ⁇ , in vitro assay
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET which mimics the accommodation process.
  • endothelial cells are co-cultivated with a 1000 fold excess of human red blood cells to mimic the ratios present during an organ transplant. To avoid lysis of the red blood cells, the cells are washed and fresh red blood cells added every t ree days. After a period of cultivation, the endothelial cells are tested for complement-resistance by the addition of human serum.
  • This assay has demonstrated three major results. First, over the course of six days, sufficient complement-inhibitory functions are transferred from the human red blood cells to the endothelium to provide nearly complete complement protection. Secondly, the complement-inhibitory functions are species specific.
  • co-cultivation with human red blood cells protects the endothelial cells from human serum, but not porcine or murine serum.
  • the assay demonstrates that at least two known human complement-inhibitors, DAF and CD-59 are transferred after six days of co-cultivation to the membrane of the endothelial cells.
  • Complement-inhibitory functions apparently can be transferred froui human cells to heterologous ce..ls merely by co- cultivation. Furthermore the acquisition of species specific complement-resistance preferably includes intermembrane transfer of human DAF and CD-59 from the red blood cells to the endothelial cells. The time required to establish complement- resistance in vitro is similar to the time required for xenograft accommodation. Thus this assay mimics the naturally occurring process.
  • GPI-linked Proteins e.g., C-InhiJitors
  • promoters for expression in various mobile cells, whether or not those cells are in transgenic animals are set forth in Table 3.
  • the rransgene should include a promoter which is active in red blood cells of the animal which is to express the transgene.
  • the promoter then is one which is expressed primarily in erythroid
  • SUBST cells An example of such a promoter is a globin promoter, such as the human alpha, beta, delta, epsilon or zeta promoters, or their counterparts in other species.
  • a globin promoter such as the human alpha, beta, delta, epsilon or zeta promoters, or their counterparts in other species.
  • alpha globin promoter see Liebhaber, et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 77:7054-56 (1980).
  • a pig globin promoter is especially preferred.
  • use of an endogenous promoter is not required.
  • Hybrid promoters may also be constructed, e.g., one which comprises a regulatory element of the globin promoter which confers erythroid cell specificity, with another promoter that has a higher level of transcriptional activity.
  • other promoters functional in red blood cells may also be used to drive expression of the GPI- linked protein (e.g., C-inhibitor) in red blood cells, though their transcriptional efficiency and specificity may be inferior to that of the globin promoters.
  • GPI- linked protein e.g., C-inhibitor
  • other promoters suitable for expression of GPI-linked proteins (e.g., C-inhibitors) in RBCs include the promoters of genes encoding protein components of the RBC cytoskeleton.
  • alpha-spectrin alpha-spectrin
  • beta- spectrin Winkeimann, et al. , "Molecular Cloning of the cDNA for Human Erythrocyte Beta-Spectrin, : Blood, 72:328-34 (1988)]
  • ankyrin Longbert, et al. , "cDNA Sequence for Human Erythrocyte Ankyrin, " Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.
  • CRI promoter is also of interest, as CRI is a C- inhibitor expressed only in RBCs.
  • CRI is a non-GPI-linked protein.
  • Other possibilities include promocers of enzymes manufactured in red blood cells, such as superoxide dismutase and carbonic anhydrase.
  • a preferred promoter is chick lysozyme.
  • the CD2 and TCR promoters are favored for expression in T-cells.
  • transcription may be controlled with the promoter of the interferon beta (fibroblast interferon) gene or other genes especially active in fibroblasts.
  • the foregoing examples of promoters are not intended to be limiting.
  • the basic requirement is that, at the appropriate time, the gene be expressed at sufficiently high levels so that an adequate supply of GPI-linked proteins (e.g., C-inhibitors) is directed to the surface of the mobile cells and transferred to the target tissue, e.g., the vascular endothelium of the xenograft.
  • the expression be specific to the carrier mobile cells of choice so as to limit possible disruption of the life processes of the transgenic animal.
  • the transgene comprises a dominant activator (locus control region, LCR) sequence as described by Grosveld, WO 89/01517.
  • LCR locus control region
  • a standard assay to determine if a protein is displayed on the surface of a cell would be to label the intact, non- permeabilized cells with an antibody specific to the protein of interest.
  • the protein specific antibody is then detected by a second fluorescence conjugated antibody specific to the first antibody.
  • the primary antibody, the one specific to the protein of interest may be directly conjugated to a fluorochrome such as FITC or Rhodamine.
  • the cells with the antibody bound can then be visualized by fluorescence microscopy, or by fluorescence activated cell sorting Fluorescence microscopy is the method used by Moran, et al., (1991) and fluorescence cell sorting is the method used by Coyne, et al., (1992) .
  • REFERENCE EXAMPLE B Detecting GPI Anchors on Proteins There are at least three methods for determining if the protein of interest is GPI-linked. No single method is considered definitive, but a positive result using all three methods currently constitutes proof of GPI linkage. The first method takes advantage of the sensitivity of the GPI-linkage to hydrolysis by Phospholipase C (PIPLC) .
  • Phospholipase C Phospholipase C
  • Cells expressing the protein of interest are incubated in a small volume of phosphate buffered saline with 2% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum and 4 ⁇ g/ml PIPLC at 37° for 30-60 minutes. After incubation the cells are removed by centrifugation and the supernatant is assayed for the presence of the protein of interest, usually by an ELISA assay. This method was used by Moran and Cara (1991) and by Caras, Weddell and Williams (1989) .
  • the second method takes advantage of the unusual structure of the GPI linkage to specifically label GPI anchored protein.
  • proteins do not contain ethanolamine, however this compound is a critical component of the GPI linkage.
  • Cells can be metabolically labeled using tritiated ethanolamine and this radioactive tracer will be incorporated into the GPI anchor.
  • the protein can be extracted from the membrane using detergents, or released from the surface by PIPLC. The resulting solubilized protein is then immunoprecipitated with an antibody specific to the protein of interest s d then analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Generally, this procedure
  • SUBSTITUTE is done in parallel with a standard protein labeling protocol using 35 S labeled methionine to place a radioactive tracer in the polypeptide.
  • the methionine labeled protein then acts as a control for the immunoprecipitation. This method was used by Caras, Weddell and Williams (1989) .
  • a third method of demonstrating GPI linkage takes advantage of the ability of GPI-linked proteins to spontaneously integrate into cellular membranes in an active state.
  • the protein of interest with a GPI anchor is purified.
  • the precise method of purification will depend on the particular protein, but usually consists of detergent solubilization and purification on ion-exchange and or immuno-affinity columns. Occasionally crude extracts made v ⁇ th organic solvents can be use'..
  • the purified protein is then incubated with a cell that does not express the protein of interest. Because of the GPI anchor, the protein will integrate into the membrane of the heterologous cell in a biochemically active state. The activity of the protein is then measured by some suitable assay. For example, Medof, et al. ,
  • a GPI-linked protein is capable of intercellular transfer
  • CELL CULTURE Bovine aortic endothelial cells (#CCL 209 CPAE) were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. After thawing, cells were diluted to 10 ml in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% calf serum, 300 mg/ml L-glutamine and 50 ⁇ g/ml gentamicin before plating in a 75 mm tissue culture flask. Cells were maintained in a 37°C, 5% C0 2 humidified incubator. After six days growth, cells were split into two 75 mm flasks following trypsinization.
  • Type A+ blood was collected from a healthy adult male in a collection tube (VenoJect, Terumo Medical Elkton MD.) containing heparin using a PrecisionGlide Vacutainer (Becton, Dickinson and Company Rutherford NJ.) needle and holder. Blood was transferred to a 15 ml Falcon 2097 conical centrifugation tube (Becton, Dickinson and Company Rutherford NJ.) and centrifuged at approximately 2100 rpm in an IEC model HN-SII (Damon/IEC Needha MA) table top centrifuge. The serum fraction was removed and stored at -80°C in 100 ⁇ l aliquots.
  • red blood cells were washed three times in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) by centrifugation to remove serum and serum components such as complement. The white cell enriched buffy layer was also removed. Following washing, the red blood cells were resuspended in supplemented RPMI 1640 and counted using a hemacytometer. Approximately 1X10 5 red blood cells were suspended in 2 ml supplemented RPMI 1640 and were cultured in 10 wells of a 24 well tissue culture plate. Supernatant was removed daily and spectroscopically assayed at 415 nm for hemoglobin. Very little change in optical density readings occurred until after 96 hours of culturing.
  • PBS phosphate buffered saline
  • Mouse blood and serum saved as previously stated.
  • Mouse blood was collected from anesthetized mice by ocular collection into a 1.5 ml tube containing 20 ⁇ l heparin. Mouse blood was washed in a similar manner to that previously described. Mouse serum was obtained from Oncogene Science (Manhasset NY.) and stored as previously described.
  • the initial experiment involved the co-culture of human red blood cells with bovine endothelial cells treated with mitomycin C (0.02 ⁇ g/ml overnight incubation). Subsequent experiments involved untreated bovine endothelial cells.
  • the culture experiments were performed in either two chamber tissue culture slides (#177380 Nunc Naperville IL) or 24 well plates. The tissue culture chambers were pre-coated at room temperature for 10 minutes with 1% gelatin in a laminar flow tissue culture hood. The gelatin solution was aspirated off and the slides were allowed to air dry before use. Approximately 1X10 4 bovine endothelial cells were plated in each chamber or well and incubated for 24 hours in the supplemented RPMI 1640 to become established.
  • red blood cells Approximately a 1000 fold excess of freshly collected and prepared human red blood cells were added to each chamber and the cells were co-cultured. Every 72 hours the red blood cells were aspirated and the endothelial cells were rinsed free of remaining red blood cells with phosphate buffered saline prior to the addition of freshly collected and prepared red blood cells.
  • the red blood cells were aspirated from a chamber/well and the endothelial cells were rinsed free of remaining red blood cells by three washings with phosphate buffered saline. Chambers/wells containing endothelial cells not cultured with red blood cells were washed in a similar manner. Both chambers/wells of cells were subsequently cultured in supplemented RPMI 1640 containing 10% normal human serum for four hours.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHE achieved by the co-culture of human red blood cells with bovine aortic endothelial cells (ATCC # CCL-209 CPAE) . After a co- culture incubation period of one, three, six, seven, eight, and nine days of culture in a chamber of endothelial cells with and without human red blood cells, the effect of human serum on the bovine endothelial cells was measured. Cells were observed under phase contrast microscopy for visual signs of cell damage which may have been mediated by complement components in the human serum. On days one and three there was a dramatic decrease in the number of endothelial cells, whether or net they had been cultured in the presence of human red blood cells, after exposure to human serum. Virtually all of the cells remaining in both groups were balled up and rounded in contrast to the normal adherent morphology. These observations suggested that complement components in the human sera had a*,racked the cells resulting in their abnormal morphology and lysis.
  • Bovine endothelial cells were co-cultured with human red blood cells as previously described. Following three, six, seven and eight days of culture, red blood cells were removed as previously described.
  • An anti-human DAF mous- IgG monoclonal antibody (Waco Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Richmond VA) and anti-human CD-59 rat IgG monoclonal antibody (Gift from Dr. Herman Waldman) were used in conjunction with a goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated with Texas Red to assess transfer of human DAF to bovine endothelial cells.
  • Endothelial cells were prepared for Jmmunofluorescent staining by fixing with acetone for 10 minutes at room temperature. All incubations involving antibodies were performed at 4° C. Endothelial cells were incubated with antibodies against human DAF (5 ⁇ g/ml) simultaneously for 20 minutes in phosphate buffered saline supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and 0.1% NaN 3 . The cells were washed three tim-.j with phosphate buffered saline supplemented with 0.1% NaN 3 .
  • Second antibody incubations were performed in the dark utilizing conjugated antibodies previously described at a concentration of 5 ⁇ g/ml. Following second antibody incubations cells were washed in the manner previously described and the fluorescence quantified.
  • EXAMPLE III SPECIES SPECIFICITY OF COMPLEMEN' 1 RESISTANCE
  • bovine endothelial cells were cultured in 24 well plates at an initial concentration o_. I X 10 4 cells per well. Then e ther human, pig, or mouse red blood cells were cultured with the cells. Observations were made on days two and nine. Four wells were
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET allocated for each species of red blood cells on each observation day. Two of the four wells were exposed to 10% normal or heat inactivated serum from the same species as the red blood cells in that treatment group. Each of the two remaining wells were exposed to 10% serum from one of the remaining LWO species whose red blood cells were not used in that treatment group. Therefore, each treatment consisted of assessing the effects of serum from the same species as the red blood cells cultured with the endothelial cells as well as assessing the effect of serum from a species different than that cultured with the red blood cells.
  • complement regulatory proteins of one species apparently do not function in the presence of discordant complement. Further, this indicates that red blood cell to endothelial cell transfer of complement inhibiting protein(s) is a general process not restricted to the human red blood cells-bovine endothelial cells discussed earlier.
  • EXAMPLE IV GENE CLONING AND TRANSGENIC ANIMAL PREPARATION 4.1 Construction of CD-59 Transgenic Erythroid-Specific Expression System In vivo accommodation based on the transfer of certain GPI- linked proteins from the host to donor tissue may be performed
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET by expressing the protein in transformed RBCs which then transfer the proteins to donor tissue.
  • the human alpha one globin gene was obtained from Dr. Frank Grosveld and cloned into cloning vector pSELECT-1 (Promega Biotechnology Madison, WI) generating pSELECT alpha.
  • Many alpha globin gene clones are publicly available and any other source of the alpha globin promoter and terminator is acceptable. Since the sequence of the regulatory sequences has been published, they may also be synthesized if desired.
  • the PCR cloned cDNA was digested with Nco I prior to ligation into the alpha globin gene at the globin Nco I site.
  • the globin promoter could direct expression of CD-59 to red blood cells and the globin gene could provide elements (i.e., 3'flanking DNA and a polyadenylation signal) necessary for mRNA stability.
  • the alpha globin/CD-59 chimeric gene was then removed from pSELECT alpha with a Cla I, Kpn I digest and inserted into a plasmid (pLCR) containing the human hemoglobin locus control region (LCR) (see Grosveld) .
  • LCR- bearing plasmids are publicly available from Dr. Grosveld and the Medical Research Council of Great Britain; LCRs may also be recovered in the manner taught by Grosveld W) 89/01517, by suitable screening of human genomic DNA.
  • the LCR alpha CD-59 plasmid was digested with Sac II and the LCR alpha globin:CD-59 linear fragment was then removed and agarose gel purified prior to microinjection. 4.2 Production of CD-59 Transgenic Animal
  • Protein expression of human CD59 on erythrocytes and lymphocytes in transgenic mice was assessed by FACS analysis while immunohis ochemistry was utilized to characterize protein expression in tissue.
  • An F_ transgenic animal from each of 10 lines was sacrificed by cervical dislocation.
  • a piece of tissue approximately 2mm cube was removed from the heart, spleen, lung, kidney, and liver.
  • the tissue sample was placed on a piece of cork approximately 2 mm square, covered with Tissue-TEK O.C.T.
  • the primary antibody was a rat IgG2b monoclonal antibody (YTH 53.1) obtained from Dr. Herman Waldmann (Meri, et al. , 1990). Goat anti-rat IgG2b affinity purified antibody conjugated with FITC was used as a second antibody. After incubation with each antibody the slide was immersed in PBS for a total of 9 minutes with the PBS changed every 3 minutes. Immunohistochemistry staining results for endothelial cells (EC) in ⁇ -he tissues were: heart 2+, kidney 3+, spleen 3+, liver trace to 2 , and lung trace to 2+, on average, in the mice examined, depending on the level of CD59 expression on RBCs.
  • EC endothelial cells
  • One F_ transgenic mouse was anesthetized and restrained on its back. The chest cavity was opened by a mid-ventral incision to expose the heart. After severing the vena cava, a blunt end 23 gauge needle was inserted into the left ventricle and the body was perfused with PBS containing Na Heparin uni il the liver and kidney appeared blanched (about 30ml) .
  • SHEET renal artery was attached to the dorsal aorta and the renal vein to the vena cava. The ureter was attached to the bladder.
  • the transplanted kidney performed as a functional kidney.
  • Five days after transplant the transplanted normal mouse kidney was biopsied and a piece of tissu ⁇ was assayed by immunohistochemistry as previously described.
  • Human CD59 was detected on ECs at an intensity of 3+ in the non-transgenic kidney which had been exposed to transgenic mouse blood for 5 days.
  • the human CD59 antigen detected on the ECs of the normal mouse kidney could only have come from the transgenic mouse RBCs. This experiment clearly demonstrated that human CD59 antigen can transfer from RBCs to ECs.
  • recipient mice received I.V. injections of 0.25 mg monoclonal antibodies YTS 169 and YTS 191. Subsequently, recipient mice received 0.25 mg oi YTS 169 and 191 by I.P. injection on days 11, 8, 6, 4, 10 ⁇ ayt, pre-transplant. In addition, the mice were administered 500 mg/1 dimetridazole in drinking water from days 10 through 0 pre-transplant and 50 mg/1 oxytetracycline in drinking water days 0 through 21 post- transplant. At 20 hours pre-transplant, recipient mice received I.P. injections of dimethylmyleran (8mg/kg) .
  • Dimethylmyleran acts in mice as a myeloablative agent (Leong, et al. , 1992) .
  • the mice received lxlO 7 bone marrow cells and lxlO 7 spleen cells from transgenic donor mice by I.V. injection.
  • a human DAF cDNA was cloned from human placenta mRNA.
  • the CDNA was obtained by using PCR of a first strand cDNA synthesis reaction.
  • the DAF cDNA was cloned by PCR and digested with Xba I and Pst I prior to ligation into pGem-4Z (Promega Biotechnology Madison WI) to create pGem-4Z DAF.
  • the DAF clone was removed from pGem-4Z DAF with Xba I, Pst I and blunted with Mung bean nuclease in preparation for cloning into pSELECT alpha.
  • pSELECT alpha was digested with Nco I and blunted with Mung bean nuclease 5 prior to ligation with the blunted DAF clone.
  • the alpha promoter could then be utilized to direct expression and the alpha gene could provide mRNA stability sequences.
  • the LCR alpha DAF plasmid was digested with Sea I and Kpn I to release the LCR alpha DAF linear fragment used in microinjection. 0 4.8 Construction and Use of CD59/DAF Transgen c Co-Expression System
  • LCR alpha CD59 Sac II fragment previously described was used in conjunction with the alpha DAF fragment to make a LCR alpha CD59, alpha DAF fragment.
  • pBluescript 5 (Stratagene, LaTolla, CA) was cut with endonucl ase Eco RV.
  • LCR alpha CD59 was obtained as a Sac II fragment as previously described and blunted prior to ligation into the blunted Evo RV site in pBluescript.
  • the pBluescript LCR alpha CD59 was then cut with Eco RI and blunted.
  • a Cla I, Kpn I alpha DAF fragment was 0 removed from pSelect alpha DAF and blunted prior to ligation into the blunted Eco RI site in pBluescript LCR alpha CD59.
  • the LCR alpha CD59, alpha DAF fragment was removed with a Sal I complete, Sac II partial digest and purified for microin ection.
  • Transgenic mice were identified which contained the LCR 5 alpha CD59, alpha DAF construct. Erythroid specific expression of both CD59 and DAF was identified in these mice by FACS analysis. CD59 and DAF were also detected on endothelial cells in the transgenic mice by immunoflouresence. 4.9 Construction of MCP:DAF Artificial GPI-linked Fusion Protein o Transgenic Expression System
  • MCP is a C-inhibitor which, in nature, is not GPI- linked.
  • PCR primers MCP 5 (SEQ ID NO;12) and 5 MCP-Sca I (SEQ ID NO:14) were used to clone the first 825 bases of MCP cDNA.
  • PCR primers DAF-Sca I (SEQ ID NO:15) and DAF 3 (SEQ ID NO:2) were used to clone the last 279 bases of DAF.
  • the DAF PCR fragment was digested with Seal and Pst I while the MCP fragment was digested with Sea I and Xba I prior to ligation into pGem cut with Xba I and Pst I.
  • a 1104 MCP:DAF (SEQ ID NO:10) fragment was isolated in pGem and sequenced to confirm proper alignment of codons.
  • the MCP:DAF Xba I, Pst I fragment was cloned into pSelect alpha as previously described for DAF to make pSelect alpha MCP:DAF.
  • a clone containing alpha CD59, alpha DAF and alpha MCP:DAF was constructed in pBluescript. To accomplish this, pbluescript was first cut with Eco RI and blunted. Alpha MCP:DAF was removed from pSelect alpha MCP:DAF by digestion with Cla I and Kpn I and blunted prior to ligation into the blunted pBluescript to create pBluescript alpha MCP:DAF. PBluescript alpha MCP:DAF was then cut with Sac II and blunted with Eco RI linkers added at the old Sac II site. It was then cut with Cla I and blunted before being cut with Sal I in preparation for adding in the LCR alpha CD59, alpha DAF sequences.
  • the pBluescript alpha CD59, alpha DAF previously described was partial cut with Sac II and blunted and then subsequently cut with Sal I to release a LCR alpha CD59, alpha DAF fragment that was blunt on one end and contained a Sal I overhang on the other. This fragment was ligated into the prepared pBluescript alpha MCP:DAF to create pBluescript LCR alpha CD59, alpha DAF, alpha MCP:DAF.
  • the 17.25 kb LCR alpha CD59, alpha DAF, alpha MCP:DAF fragment was removed with a partial Eco RI, Sal I digest and prepared for microinjection. Transgenic mice and a transgenic pig were produced which contained this construct.
  • E ⁇ was removed as a Kpn I fragment and blunted before ligation into the Eco RV site of pBluescript.
  • the human beta globin gene obtained from Grosveld, was ligated into pSelect as a Kpn I, Mlu I fragment.
  • the human DAF cDNA was ligated into the Nco I site of beta globin as described for alpha globin.
  • Beta globin DAF was removed as a Dpn I, Mlu I fragment and blunted before ligation into the blunted Eco RI site of pBluescript E ⁇ .
  • a LCR alpha CD59 fragment was blunt ligated into the Eco RV site of pBluescript.
  • a patient in need of a heart transplant is matched to a suitably sized transgenic pig prepared in accordance with Example IV.
  • Other patients in need of different organs may simultaneously be matched to the same transgenic animal.
  • Tissue samples from the pig are assayed by the method of Example III to determine if the organs are sufficiently accommodated to humans.
  • the pig is then sacrificed and its heart removed.
  • the heart is surgically transplanted into the patient.
  • the blood is withdrawn before and after the transgenic pig from Example IV is sacrificed. Alternatively blood is obtained from transgenic pigs not being sacrificed. Sodium citrate or EDTA is added to the recovered blood to prevent clotting.
  • Normal pigs are matched to patients in need of a kidney (or other organ) .
  • the normal pigs are anesthetized and their jugular veins catheterized.
  • a liter of the pig's blood is withdrawn from each animal and replaced with one liter of transgenic pig blood.
  • the treated pigs are separated from other animals and are given food and water for one week. After seven days, a sample of the
  • STITUTE SHEET pig tissue is removed and assayed according to Example I to determine if th . organs have become sufficiently accommodated for transplantation. The pigs are sacrificed and the kidneys (or other organs) are removed and surgically transplanted into human patients.
  • a patient currently undergoing dialysis therapy in need of a kidney transplant is matched to a suitably sized pig.
  • the pig is first anesthetized and then immunosuppressed by a combination of plasmapheresis with removal of natural preformed antibodies to human cells and complement by passing serum through a protein A-bound column and a complement receptor-bound column.
  • the resulting serum is checked for complete removal by removing a sample and incubating it with washed human red blood cells and observing for the presence of lysis.
  • One liter ⁇ f blood is removed from the pig md replaced with one liter of washed human red blood cells.
  • the human red blood cells are obtained from a blood bank and are chosen on the basis of being cross-matched to the recipient patient. The process is repeated daily for eight days.
  • the pig is sacrificed and the kidneys removed. Prior to transplantation, a portion of the organ to be transplanted or an unrelated tissue in the animal may be tested in accordance with the assay in Example III to determine whether the kidney has sufficiently accommodated to the recipient host to prevent hyperacute rejection. The organ or tissue is then surgically transplanted into a recipient human.
  • EXAMPLE VIII ANALYSIS OF INTERCELLULAR TRANSFER OF GPI- LINKED PROTEINS The mechanism of GPI transfer is not clear. Some have suggested that transfer occurs through the spontaneous release of free GPI-linked protein.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET of GPI release is very low, or that the free proteins are rapidly hydrolyzed by serum PIPLD. This latter possibility may explain the presence of some soluble GPI proteins.
  • GPI transfer is important with respect to its impact on Xenotransplantation. If transfer occurs via free protein then the efficiency of GPI transfer-, both in transgenic animals, and in human patients which had received xenotransplants might be improved through the administration of PIPLD inhibitors. GPI transfer via vesicles, or "flipping" would not benefit from this treatment.
  • GPI-linked proteins may be spontaneously released from the membrane surface of a cell and then integrate into membrane of another cell by virtue of the GPI tail. In this mechanism the transfer vehicle is free protein.
  • Cells may produce lipid vesicles which may contain, amongst other proteins, GPI-linked proteins embedded in the membrane.
  • the vesicle which would then fuse to another membrane, is the vehicle of GPI-linked protein transfer. This mechanism might be expected to transfer transmembrane proteins as efficiently as GPI-linked proteins.
  • GPI-linked protein of one cell may "flip" so that it is now embedded in the membrane of the other cell. This latter mechanism is distinct from the first since it would require cell-cell contact to initiate the GPI transfer and therefore does not necessarily require any finite rate of spontaneous release of GPI-linked proteins from the cell surface.
  • Our in vitro culture system provides an opportunity through which GPI transfer between cells can be investigated. For example, it is well known in the literature that phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C is capable of removing GPI-linked protein from the surface of cells.
  • phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase D which appears to be a serum protein (see Davitz et al (1989) cannot remove GPI-linked proteins from the cell men-brane, but does hydrolyze the GPI linkage -of free protein in solution. These lipases therefore provide the necessary tools to distinguish between two alternative mechanisms for GPI transfer.
  • Transfer between cells mediated by small lipid vesicles containing GPI-linked proteins would be resistant to PIPLD which would not affect the GPI-linked protein in the vesicle, but inhibited by PIPLC which would remove the GPI-linked protein from vesicles.
  • transfer via free GPI-linked protein would be sensitive to both PIPLC, removing the GPI-linked protein from the cell surface, and PIPLD, hydrolizing the free GPI-linked protein in solution.
  • donor cells RBCs could be cultured alone so as to condition the media. This conditioned media could then be centrifuged at low speed to remove all cells, and at high speed to remove macromolecular components such as vesicle. Conditioned media, treated in this manner could then be applied to target cells (e.g., endothelial cells) and the transfer of GPI-linked proteins measured as described in the patent. If transfer occurs with conditioned media after a low speed centrifugation, then cell-cell contact is not necessary and transfer could occur via free protein or vesicles. If transfer of GPI-linked proteins also occurs after high speed centrifugation, then the mechanisms of transfer is likely to be due to free protein.
  • target cells e.g., endothelial cells
  • GPI transfer might also be examined in a modified culture system in which the target cells (endothelial cells) are separated from the donor cells (RBCs) by a selectively permeable membrane.
  • the pore size of the membrane could be selected to allow macromolecules, such as GPI-linked proteins, and small vesicles, or, with an alternative membrane, only macromolecules, to exchange between the two cell types.
  • the presence of the membrane should place severe constraints on intimate cell-cell
  • BSTITUTE SHEET contact This modified culture system could be used along with PIPLC and PIPLD enzymes treatments to determine the need for intimate cell-cell contact, and the maximum size (that permitted by the separating membrane) and chemical nature of the transfer vehicle.
  • Human CD2 3' -flanking sequences confer high-level, T cell- specific, position-independent gene expression in transgenic
  • glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked FCy receptorlll represents the dominant receptor structure for immune complex activation of neutrophils.
  • DAF Erythrocytes T- and B-cells, Inhibits C3 fibroblasts, vascular and C5 endothelium, some epithelium, convertase. glandular cells (ocular, lacrimal, and salivary) . Also present in saliva, tears and urine in soluble form.
  • HRF Erythrocytes vascular Blocks the endothelium, Schwann cells, formation Ependymal cells, Acinar of the cells, Bronchial epithelium, membrane Renal tubules, and attack squamous epithelium. complex.
  • MCP B and T cells monocytes, granulocytes, platelets, endo ⁇ thelial cells, epithelial cells and fibroblasts.
  • CRI C3b/C4b Found only in primates and human. receptor
  • CRI C3b/C4b Found only in primates and human. receptor
  • Herpes simple virus, gC-1 and gC-2 viral secretory products Herpes simple virus, gC-1 and gC-2 viral secretory products
  • CD-2 TCR T-cells Greaves et al. (1989) , Lang et al. Z (1991), Monostori et al. (1991) , Kisielow et al. (1988)
  • Hydrophilicity was calculated by the method of Kyte and Doolittle, J. Mol. Biol., 157: 105-132 (1982) using a 7 amino acid window.
  • the A indicates the starting position of the sequence used to calculate hydrophilicity, i.e., the beginning of the presumed hydrophobic domain. Only in the case of DAF has this hydrophobic domain been experimentally mapped. The other domains were selected on the basis of their spacing from the GPI attachment site (minimum distance was 8 amino acids) and on the hydrophilicity plot of the entire sequence, selecting that amino acid which exhibited the greatest negative change in slope. Hydrophilicity values represent the mea of the carboxy terminal residues from the A to the end.
  • GPI-linked proteins expressed on migratory cells such as erythrocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and fibroblasts.
  • AAA AAA GGA TAC TTC TAT ATA CCT CAT CTT GCC ACC CAT ACT ATT TGT 240 Lys Lys Gly Tyr Phe Tyr lie Pro His Leu Ala Thr His Thr lie Cys 65 70 75 80

Abstract

Des protéines liées à GPI sont transférées, en particulier in vivo, depuis des cellules porteuses de vertébrés vers des cellules d'un tissu de vertébré cible. Par example, dans le but d'une transplantation xénogénique, des cellules portant un ou des facteurs d'inhibition de complément spécifiques pour les espèces réceptrices, par exemple des cellules de globules rouges manipulées par géniegénétique, sont incubées avec des cellules transplantables d'une seconde espèce de donneur discordant jusqu'à ce que le transfert du ou des facteurs se produise. Le transfert peut se produire in vivo ou in vitro, et les cellules porteuses du facteur peuvent être des cellules normales de l'espèce du receveur, ou bien des cellules manipulées par géniegénétique de l'espèce du donneur qui expriment un gène codant un facteur d'inhibition de complément de l'espèce du receveur. Le procédé est particulièrement utile pour modifier des organes de porcs pour la xénotransplantation chez des humains.
PCT/US1993/008889 1992-09-22 1993-09-22 Apport de proteines par transfert intermembranaire pour la preaccommodation de transplants d'organes xenogeniques et a d'autres fins WO1994006903A1 (fr)

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AU51325/93A AU671158B2 (en) 1992-09-22 1993-09-22 Delivery of proteins by intermembrane transfer for preaccommodation of xenogeneic organ transplants and other purposes
EP93922259A EP0662125A1 (fr) 1992-09-22 1993-09-22 Apport de proteines par transfert intermembranaire pour la preaccommodation de transplants d'organes xenogeniques et a d'autres fins
FI951325A FI951325A (fi) 1992-09-22 1995-03-21 Proteiinien kuljetus membraanien välisellä siirrolla ksenogeenisten elinsiirrännäisten esisovittamista varten ja muihin tarkoituksiin
NO951074A NO951074L (no) 1992-09-22 1995-03-21 Levering av proteiner ved transmembran overföring for fortilpasning av xenogenetiske organtransplantat og andre hensikter

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