WO1996017874A1

WO1996017874A1 - Monoclonal antibody fragments having immunosuppressant activity

Info

Publication number: WO1996017874A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/004648
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zoltan Nagy; Damir Vidovic
Original assignee: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag
Priority date: 1994-12-07
Filing date: 1995-11-25
Publication date: 1996-06-13
Also published as: AU4256096A; AR002005A1; BR9509902A; JP2001506122A; FI972430A0; PL320610A1; NO972522D0; HUT77342A; ZA9510195B; FI972430A; TR199501542A2; NO972522L; IL116228A0; CN1168679A; CZ172497A3; MX9704225A; EP0787151A1; CO4480041A1; CA2206471A1; MA23739A1

Abstract

The invention comprises monovalent mAb fragments (Fab) of mAb which have the ability of downregulate HLA-DR expression on antigen presenting cells. The Fab fragments can downregulate such HLA-DR expression without the cytotoxicity of the parent mAb or of bivalent fragments (F(ab)'2) of the mAb. The Fab fragments of the invention are therefore potent, class II MHC-specific immunosuppressive compounds without cytotoxic side effects.

Description

Monoclonal Antibody Fragments having Immunosuppressant Activity Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules bind antigenic peptide fragments, and display them to helper (CD4⁺) T cells ("Th" cells) (Ref. 1). Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for class II MHC molecules have been shown to be ex-tremely potent selective inhibitors of Th cell responses in vitro (Ref. 2). Since their discovery, they have been considered as potential drugs for selective immuno-suppressive treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Initial in vivo studies demonstrated the beneficial influence of these mAbs on Th-cell mediated hetero- and autoimmune

responses (Refs. 3-6). However, in some cases, the experimental in vivo application of class II MHC-specific mAbs was associated with unexpected complications resulting in death of laboratory primates (Refs. 7, 8). The latter observation suppressed the interest in further studies of immunomodulation by MHC-specific mAbs. A recent publication has described that a 10-fold reduction of class II MHC expression in transgenic mice causes Th cell nonresponsiveness due to inefficient antigen presen-tation (Ref.19). This demonstrates that the reduction in the expression of class II MHC correlates with immunosuppression in an in vivo model. In accordance with the invention, it has been surprisingly found that monovalent mAb fragments (Fab) of mAb which have the ability to downregulate HLA-DR expression can them-selves downregulate such HLA-DR expression without the cytotoxicity of the mAb, itself, or of bivalent fragments (F(ab)'₂) of the mAb . The Fab fragments of the invention are therefore potent class II MHC-specific immuno-suppressive compounds without cytotoxic side effects.

Before the present invention is described in more specific terms a short description of the figures is given in the following: Fig. 1 Effects of a DR binding competitor peptide and a DR-specific mAb on the EBV transformed B cell line Priess.

Fig. 2 Time course of modulatory and cytotoxic effects of mAb L243 on LG2.

Fig. 3 Duration of modulatory and cytotoxic effects of L243 on

LG2 after removal of mAb. Fig. 4 Downregulation of HLA-DR expression on different APC populations after co-culture with DR specific mAb L243 and its fragments.

Fig. 5 Effects of increasing concentrations of DR specific Fab fragment on the EBV transformed B cell line LG2.

Fig. 6 Effects of prolonged co-culture of L243 and its

fragments on LG2 cells. Fig. 7 Dependency of EBV-LCL cytotoxicity on DRcrosslinking.

Fig. 8 Selectivity of DR downregulation on resting B cells and monocytes/macrophages.

Fig. 9 Selectivity of DR downregulation on B cell blasts.

Fig. 10 Selectivity of DR downregulation on LG2 cells. Fig. 11 Allotype non-selectivity of DR downregulation by mAb.

Fig. 12 Pan-class II downregulation on TS-10 cells by 1-1C4 Fab. Fig. 13 Lack of TNFα secretion increase upon co-culture of LG2 and Priess cells with L243 and its fragments. Fig. 14 Antibody concentration requirement for Th cell inhibition and DR downregulation.

Fig. 15 Effect of anti-DR mAb and Fab fragments on antigen presentation by fixed APC.

Fig. 16 Effect of antigen load on the potency of mAb, Fab, and peptide antagonists. Fig. 17 Relative effects of Fab and peptide on antigen dose-response curves.

Fig. 18 Effect of class II antagonists on ongoing Th cell response.

Certain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which are specific for HLA-DR (Human Leukocyte Antigen of the type "DR"; a class II Major Histocompatibility Complex ("MHC") molecule) can

downregulate the expression of HLA-DR molecules on the surface of leukocytes which are antigen presenting cells ("APC") by about 90%. The same mAbs also inhibit the activation of human Th cell clones that require antigen presentation by HLA-DR molecules for activation. The inhibitory potency of such mAbs is several 100 to several 1000 fold higher than that of the currently available peptide antagonists (see Table 1, below). This downregulation of the expression of HLA-DR and the inhibition of the activation of Th cells is a pharmacological activity which results in

immunosuppression. This immunosuppression would be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis.

In accordance with the invention, it has been surprisingly found that monovalent, antigen-binding mAb fragments (Fab) of mAbs having the ability to downregulate HLA-DR expression can themselves downregulate such HLA-DR expression without the cytotoxicity of the mAb, itself, or of the bivalent fragments

(F(ab)'₂) of the mAb . The Fab fragments of the invention are therefore potent, class II MHC-specific immunosuppressive compounds without cytotoxic side effects. Thus, the present invention comprises a Fab fragment of an anti-HLA-DR mAb wherein said intact mAb is cytotoxic to antigen presenting cells and downregulates HLA-DR expression on the remaining antigen presenting cells. Such a mAb inhibits Th cell activation. The mAbs from which the Fab fragments of the present invention are derived all bind to the first domain of HLA-DR.

Examples of three downregulating mAbs useful in accordance with the invention are:

LB3.1 (mouse IgG2_b, pan-DRα1-specific; refs. 9-10);

L243 (mouse IgG2a, pan-DRα1-specific; refs. 10-11 ; ATCC Accession No. HB55); and

SFR3-DR5 (rat IgG_2b, DRB1*110X-specific; ref. 13; ATCC Accession No. HB-151). In addition, an HLA-DR downregulating mAb, 1-1 C4 (mouse IgG2a, ß-chain specific; ref. 14), which additionally downregulates HLA-DQ and -DP, was generated by conventional means as described in Example 22. Thus, the Fab fragments of the above mAbs are encompassed by the present invention.

Consistent with the ability of downregulating mAbs to inhibit Th cell activation, five non-downregulating mAbs, CCCL20 (mouse IgG2_b, specific for three DRB 1 (ß-chain) allelic forms (DRB1*0101, DRB1*0401, DRB1 *0404); ref. 12) and 8D1, 9F1, 9F2, 10F12 (all four mouse IgG1), inhibit Th cell activation only very weakly or not at all.

The active mAbs are cytotoxic to B lymphoblastoid cells and to a small proportion of normal activated B cells. Like the mAbs, the bivalent F(ab)'₂ fragments of these mAbs mediate

downregulation but are also cytotoxic. However, in accordance with the invention, the monovalent Fab fragments of these mAbs loose cytotoxicity, but surprisingly retain the downregulating property of the parent mAb.

The anti-HLA-DR mAbs used to obtain the Fab fragments of the invention may be produced by any conventional means, e.g., generally by the procedure first described by Kohler and Milstein. By injection of an antigen into a mouse or rat, rabbit, sheep or the like (preferably a mouse), monoclonal antibodies can be prepared by recovering antibody producing cells from such an immunized animal and immortalizing said cells obtained in conventional fashion like fusion with myeloma cells, e.g., PAI mouse myeloma cells, SP2/0- or SP2/0-Ag14-cells [ATCC No. CRL 1581 ; ATCC No. CRL 8287] [for a general guideline for producing antibodies see, e.g., "Antibodies-A Laboratory Manual" , Harlow & Lee, ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1988)]. Supematants of cultures of such hybridomas can then be screened for monoclonal antibodies

(mAbs) by conventional procedures like radioimmuno- or

enzymimmuno- or dot-immunobinding or immunofluoresence assays. mAbs can be purified from hybridoma supematants by conventional chromatographic procedures like, for example, ion-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography on protein A, anti-immunoglobulin-antibodies, or the antigen or a part thereof bound to a solid support, HPLC and the like. The production of a mAb useful in accordance with the invention is shown in Example 22.

For the production of large quantities of mAbs, in accordance with methods well known in the art, hybridomas secreting the desired antibody can be injected intraperitoneally into mice which have been pretreated with, for example, pristane before injection. Up to around 100 mg of a mAb can be produced by the resulting ascites tumors in one mouse. mAbs can be purified from the ascites fluid produced by such tumors by the methods described above. mAbs can be characterized according to their subclass by known methods, such as by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion. It is also known in the art that mAbs can be modified for various uses, or fragments thereof can be generated, which are still capable of binding antigen. Such fragments can be generated, for example, by enzymatic digestion of mAbs with papain, pepsin, or the like. Immunogen for producing mAb which can be used in accordance with the invention is preferably HLA-DR ß-chain [see e.g. WO92/10589; J. Biol. Chemistry 262, 8748-8758 (1987);

sequence information can be obtained also from sequence data bases, for example like Genbank (Intelligenetics, California, USA), European Bioinformatics Institute (Hinxton Hall, Cambridge, GB), NBRF (Georgetown University, Medical Centre, Washington DC, USA) and Vecbase (University of Wisconsin, Biotechnology Centre,

Medision, Wisconsin, USA); such sequences can than be used by methods known in the state of the art to produce the antigen for the preparation of the monoclonal antibodies for use in the present invention] which has been purified by conventional means, such as SDS-PAGE.

The identification of the above-described anti-HLA-DR mAbs which are cytotoxic to APC and also downregulate HLA-DR

expression may be performed by any conventional means.

Preferably, this identification of anti-HLA-DR mAb is performed in accordance with Example 3 where an Epstein-Barr Vims

transformed human B-Lymphoblastic Cell Line (EBV-LCL) is used as a model of an APC (particularly, activated B cells). Cultures of at least 1 ml containing about 10⁵ EBV-LCL cells per milliliter are preferably used. The culture is incubated with 20 nM of the anti-HLA-DR mAb for 16 hours, and the number of dead cells and the HLA-DR expression by the remaining viable cells is determined by conventional means. For the purposes of this invention,

cytotoxicity and downregulation are defined as follows: 1 ) the mAb is cytotoxic to antigen presenting cells if, under the above

conditions, at least 25%, preferably 40%, of the EBV-LCL antigen presenting cells are killed by the intact mAb; and 2) the mAb downregulates HLA-DR expression on antigen presenting cells if, under the above conditions, it reduces the number of HLA-DR molecules on the surface of the EBV-LCL antigen presenting cells which remain alive by at least an average of 50%, . The EBV-LCL antigen presenting cells are labeled to detect the dead cells and to measure the HLA-DR express

ion of the remaining viable cells by conventional

immunofluoresence. The cells are analyzed using a flow cytometer (e.g., FACScan, Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, California), and the percent dead cells and reduction of HLA-DR expression on the remaining cells is calculated by conventional means, preferably using the software normally used with the flow cytometer (e.g., LYSIS II software with the FACScan cytometer).

The EBV-LCL used to screen for monoclonal antibodies having the desired properties are not critical. Any conventional EBV-LCL may be used in accordance with the invention. Examples of EBV-LCL useful in accordance with the invention are Priess (ECACC (Salisbury, UK) Accession No. 86052111), LG2 (Istituto Nazionale Per La Ricerca Sul Cancro (Genova, Italy) Accession No. G201 12301), and TS-10 (ECACC (Salisbury, UK) Accession No.

8510291 1 ).

The Fab fragment of the above-described mAbs may be produced by any conventional means. The Fab fragment may be produced by digestion of the parent mAb by pepsin and isolating the Fab fragments by means known in the art (e.g., Andrew and Titus, "Fragmentation of immunoglobulin G", Current Protocols in Immunology, Coligan et al., eds. (Greene & Wiley 1994)).

Accordingly such a process and a Fab fragment whenever prepared by such a process are also an object of the present invention.

Preferably, the Fab fragments of the invention are produced by a recombinant cell line which expresses a gene which encodes the desired Fab fragment. Such recombinant cell lines may be

produced by any conventional means. For example, the portion of the gene encoding the Fab fragment would be cloned by

conventional means from the hybridoma which secretes the parent mAb of the Fab fragment. The Fab fragment cDNA may then be incorporated by conventional means into an expression vector, which in turn, is used to transfect an appropriate cell line. The preferred Fab fragments of the invention are

"humanized" so that they are less antigenic when administered to humans than a Fab fragment that is produced directly from an animal, preferably murine, mAb. The method by which humanized Fab fragments of the invention are produced is not critical. Any conventional means known in the art may be used. Such methods utilize the fact that any immunoglobulin (Ig), such as a monoclonal antibody, consists of a constant domain and of a variable domain where the antigen binding occurs. The variable domain, in turn, consists of six complementarity-determining regions ("CDR's") embedded in a framework region (three CDR's on each of the light chain and the heavy chain of the Ig). (Ref. 42). It is the CDR's which are responsible for the specificity of the mAb. Since mAbs are of murine or other animal species origin, humanization of mAbs is performed essentially by replacing at least one, but preferably all six, of the CDR's of a human immunoglobulin with the

corresponding CDR's of an animal mAb which has the desired specificity. Thus, the human Ig serves as the framework for the animal CDR's. In such procedures, the animal mAb, usually murine, is described as the "donor" and the human Ig is described as the "acceptor."

Further "fine tuning" of the amino acid sequence of the humanized mAb as described in the art may also be performed to optimize antigen specificity of the humanized mAb. For example, International Patent Application Publication No. WO 90/7861 discloses that a panel of 10-20 human Ig's should be screened, and the human Ig whose variable region has the greatest degree of homology with the variable region of the murine donor mAb, typically 65-70% or higher homology, should be used as the acceptor. Further substitutions of donor amino acids for acceptor amino acids (typically about three substitutions) may be made outside the CDR's based upon the four criteria disclosed in WO 90/7861 at pages 12-15.

In another example of humanization known in the art, EP 0 620 276 discloses a hierarchy of particular substitutions which may be made to the acceptor Ig outside the engrafted donor CDR's in order to increase the specificity of the humanized mAb. Such substitutions are disclosed as obviating the need to select a human acceptor Ig whose variable region has a high degree of homology with the variable region of the donor mAb. A specific protocol for humanization is provided in EP 0 620 276 at pages 8-9.

Methods for generating DNA sequences for the expression in a host cell of a humanized intact mAb useful for obtaining the Fab fragments of the invention, or for the expression of a humanized Fab fragment of the invention, are known in the art and are not critical. Such methods include, e.g., site-directed mutagenesis, constructing the whole variable region using overlapping

oligonucleotides which incorporate the animal CDR's on a human framework, and using PCR grafting. (WO 90/7861, EP 0 620 276, Ref. 43).

Thus, the invention may be further described as a Fab fragment comprising a immunoglobulin Fab fragment and six complementarity-determining regions which are contained within said immunoglobulin Fab fragment, wherein from one to six of said complementarity-determining regions are the complementaritydetermining regions of a monoclonal antibody having the following properties: 1 ) the monoclonal antibody binds to the first domain of HLA- DR,

2) the monoclonal antibody is cytotoxic to antigen presenting cells which express HLA-DR,

3) the monoclonal antibody downregulates HLA-DR expression on the antigen presenting cells.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is a humanized Fab fragment wherein, in accordance with the above, the

immunoglobulin Fab fragment is human and the monoclonal antibody having properties 1-3 is animal, preferably murine. This humanized Fab fragment would be a human immunoglobulin Fab fragment in which from one to six of the CDR's contained therein had been replaced by the corresponding CDR's of the animal mAb. Thus, the preferred Fab fragment of the invention is a Fab

fragment comprising a human immunoglobulin Fab fragment and six complementarity-determining regions which are contained within said human immunoglobulin Fab fragment, wherein from one to six of said complementarity-determining regions are the complementarity-determining regions of a monoclonal antibody having properties 1-3, above.

It is preferred that this humanized Fab fragment of the invention contain all six of the animal mAb CDR's.

In the case where the immunoglobulin Fab fragment is of animal origin, it is contemplated that the Fab fragment of the invention can be a Fab fragment of the monoclonal antibody, itself, which has properties 1-3, above. Such a Fab fragment would be useful as an intermediate for use in obtaining the animal CDR's that will be contained in the preferred humanized Fab fragment of the invention.

The preferred Fab fragments of the invention have

properties similar to Fab fragments obtained from monoclonal antibodies LB3.1, L243, SFR3-DR5 and 1 -1C4, described above.

Since the Fab fragments of the invention inhibit Th cell activation, they may be used in the treatment of various diseases in which activated Th cells are a source of disease damage or symptoms. One such disease is rheumatoid arthritis. (Ref. 33). Downregulating HLA-DR on APC of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, and thereby inhibiting Th cell activation in such a patient, would slow or stop the progression of the disease. Inhibiting Th cell activation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis would also relieve symptoms, such as pain and inflammation, by decreasing or halting the release of mediators which are the cause of those symptoms. Thus, the invention also comprises Fab fragment as described herein and their use as a therapeutically active agent, especially as an immunsuppressive agent and more specifically for the

treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and a method of suppressing the immune response of a patient comprising administering a

therapeutically effective amount of a Fab fragment of the invention to a patient in need of such treatment. The invention further comprises a method of treating rheumatoid arthritis in a patient by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a Fab fragment of the invention to a patient in need of such treatment. The amount of Fab fragment to be administered may be determined by any conventional means. Also, the administration of the Fab fragment of the invention may be performed by any conventional means.

Administration of a Fab fragment of the invention is

preferably accomplished using a pharmaceutical composition of the invention (described below). Administration is preferably

performed parenterally (subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously), especially intravenously. The dosage required to inhibit Th cell activation in a patient, and thereby treat rheumatoid arthritis, may be determined by any conventional means, e.g., by dose-limiting clinical trials. However, a dosage of ^bout 1-10 mg/day i.v., especially about 3-7 mg/day, particularly about 5 mg/day, is preferred (Refs. 34, 35), preferably delivered as a bolus. Treatment is preferably once daily for one week or less, however daily treatment may be continued for up to three weeks, if necessary.

The Fab fragments of the invention may be formulated as a fluid pharmaceutical composition, e.g. for parenteral administration comprising the Fab fragment of the invention dissolved in a conventional pharmaceutically acceptable fluid carrier material. The composition may further comprise other pharmacologically active substances. Preferably, the composition contains about 0.55 mg/ml of a Fab fragment of the invention, especially about 1-2 mg/ml. The preferred fluid carrier is sterile, physiological saline. The results described below in Examples 1 -7 indicate that inhibition of Th cell activation by HLA-DR-specific mAb can operate by multiple actions: (a) elimination of available APC by direct cytotoxicity, (b) reduction of available HLA-DR molecules on the remaining viable APC by downregulation of cell surface expression, (c) hindrance of class II MHC-TcR interaction. The Th cell inhibition may also occur by mAb blocking the peptide binding groove on DR molecule, rendering it inaccessible for antigen (30). It is therefore understandable why mAbs are superior Th cell inhibitors to the current peptide antagonists, the effect of the latter being exclusively based on blocking the antigen binding site of HLA-DR molecules. The mechanisms underlying cytotoxicity and class II

downregulation by antibody remain to be investigated. However, it is clear that cytotoxicity requires crosslinking, whereas

downregulation is also achieved with monovalent Fab fragments of the invention without the cytotoxicity of the parent mAb. This difference permits the separation of these two properties by antibody fragmentation. Assuming that the previously observed side effects of anti-class II Ab (Refs. 7, 8) were, at least in part, associated with direct cytotoxicity, the Fab fragments of the invention provide for the therapeutic use of these antibodies as immunosuppressants, without adverse effects.

Examples Example 1

Isotype specificity of anti-DR mAb.

The precise specificities of mAbs were determined by their ability to stain mouse cell lines transfected with human HLA class II genes.

Methods: Mouse fibroblast lines transfected with indicated human class II genes (15), as well as untransfected host cells (Lmtk-) were stained by the standard indirect immunofluoresence using DR-specific mAb and FITC-conjugated goat-anti mouse Ig (Southern, Birmingham, Alabama) as the primary and secondary reagents, respectively. Samples were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer (Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, California). Results are shown in Table 1. "+" and "-", presence and absence of antibody binding, respectively; "NT", not tested.

Conclusion: Antibodies 8D1, 9F1 , 9F2 and 10F12 are pan-DR specific, whereas 1-1C4 can recognize all three human class II isotypes (DR, DP and DQ).

Example 2

Chain and domain specificity of anti-HLA-DR mAbs. Methods: Using the standard gene cloning, recombination and transfection technology (10), two mouse B cell lines expressing chimeric human/mouse class II molecules were generated.

Transfectant M12.C3.25 was derived from a mouse class II-negative host line M12.C3 (15), and expresses MHC product composed of α 1 and ß1 domains derived from a human HLA-DRA*0101 /DRB 1 *0401 molecule, and α2 and ß2 domains of a mouse I-E^d protein, to which DR-specific reagents do not bind.

Transfectant CH27.105 was derived from a mouse class II-positive host line CH27 (16), and expresses the original mouse Eß^k chain associated with the chimeric human/mouse α chain described above. Standard indirect immunofluoresence staining was

performed using indicated IgG2 and IgG1 antibodies, in conjunction with protein A-FITC (Boehringer, Mannheim, Germany) and goat anti-mouse IgG₁-FITC (Southern, Birmingham, Alabama),

respectively. Samples were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer (Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, California). Results are shown in Table 2 (presentation is as in Table 1).

Conclusion: The results confirm the previously reported DRα 1 specificity of LB3.1 and L243 (10). Antibodies 8D1 and 1-1C4 are ß1-specific, whereas the epitope recognized by CCCL20 appears to be ß2 domain-dependent. Remaining reagents (9F1 , 9F2, 10F12) seem to bind determinant(s) expressed by the second HLA-DR domain(s). Corresponding epitope of anti-DRB 1 * 1 10X mAb could not be mapped using these transfectants, since SFR3-DR5 does not recognize DRB 1 *0401 allotype.

Effect of anti-DR mAbs and their fragments on HLA-DR expression and cell viability

The DR expression and viability of antigen presenting cells (APC) pre-cultured with either a DR-binding competitor peptide aXA (17), or DR-specific mAb was examined at respective

concentrations that, in the case of aXA and two mAb (LB3.1, 1-1C4), blocked antigen presentation to Th cells. As APC, an Epstein-Barr vims transformed human B-lymphoblastic cell line (EBV-LCL) was used .

Example 3

Effects of a DR binding competitor peptide and a DR-specific mAb on an EBV-LCL

Methods: EBV-LCL (Priess, ECACC (Salisbury, UK) Accession No. 860521 11 ) (10⁵ cells/ml) were cultured in the presence of DR-specific mAb (LB3.1, 1-1C4, CCCL20) or peptide aXA

(aXAAAKTAAAAa-NH2; ref. 17) at the concentrations indicated in Fig. 1 for 16 hours. Cells were subsequently washed and stained by the standard indirect immunofluoresence using DR-specific mAb [LB3.1 (α), CCCL20 (b), 1-1C4 (c)], and FITC-conjugated goat-anti mouse Ig (Southern Biotechnology Associates Inc., Birmingham, Alabama) as the primary and secondary reagents, respectively. Samples were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer (Becton-Dickinson, San Jose, California). The results are shown in Fig. 1. The X-axis represents HLA-DR expression, and the Y-axis

fluorescence of propidium iodide-stained dead cells, both in arbitrary fluorescence units. "Background" represents control cell population cultured for 16 hours in normal medium and

subsequently labeled without primary reagent, respectively.

Conclusion: Co-culture with peptide aXA (Fig. 1α) did not significantly affect either cell viability or DR expression, whereas DR specific mAb LB3.1 (Fig. 1α) and 1-1C4 (Fig. 1c) induced high cytotoxicity, as well as reduced DR expression on the remaining viable cells. However, these properties were not shared by all anti-DR mAbs, since CCCL20 affected neither viability nor DR expression, even at increased concentration (Fig. 1b) .

DR downmodulation and cytotoxicity on EBV-LCL could be induced with two more DR specific mAb, L243 and SFR-DR5, whereas four other anti-DR mAb (8D1, 9F1 , 9F2 and 10F12) were neither cytotoxic, nor reduced DR expression (data not shown).

Example 4

Time course of modulatory and cytotoxic effects of mAb L243 on LG2.

Methods: EBV-LCL LG2 (Istituto Nazionale Per La Ricerca Sul Cancro (Genova, Italy) Accession No. G201 12301) (10⁵ cells/ml) were cultured in the presence of DR-specific mAb L243 (BectonDickinson) at the concentration of 10 nM for the indicated period of time. Cells were subsequently washed and stained by the standard indirect immunofluoresence using DR-specific mAb L243 and FITC-conjugated goat-anti mouse Ig (Southern, Birmingham, Alabama) as the primary and secondary reagent, respectively. Dead cells were stained with propidium iodide, and samples were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer. The results are shown in Fig. 2.

Histograms represent relative number of dead cells (light) and live cells expressing decreased amounts of HLA-DR (dark).

Conclusion: Kinetic in vitro studies demonstrated detectable cytotoxicity of mAb after 2 hours, and plateau toxicity after 8 hours. Downregulation of DR became detectable after 4 hours, reaching its peak after 8 hours.

Example 5

Duration of modulatory and cytotoxic effects of L243 on LG2 after removal of mAb.

Methods: EBV-LCL LG2 (10⁵ cells/ml) were cultured in the presence of DR-specific mAb L243 (Becton-Dickinson) at the concentration of 10 nM for the indicated period of time. Antibody was removed by 3x washing and cell culture was resumed in the same volume of the fresh medium, as indicated. Cells were subsequently washed and stained by the standard indirect immunofluoresence using DR-specific mAb L243 and FITC-conjugated goat-anti mouse Ig (Southern, Birmingham, Alabama) as the primary and secondary reagent, respectively. Dead cells were stained with propidium iodide, and samples were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer. The results are shown in Fig. 3.

Conclusion: Antibody induced DR downregulation lasts for 16 hours after removal of mAb.

Example 6

Downregulation of HLA-DR expression on different APC populations after co-culture with DR specific mAb L243 and its fragments.

The effects of anti-DR mAb on different, untransformed MHC class II positive cell subpopulations: resting and activated B cells, monocytes/macrophages and activated Th cells was further examined .

Methods: Isolation of B cells and monocytes/macrophages from fresh peripheral blood was done by removing T cells plus

monocytes or B cells (where applicable) prior to culture, using magnetic beads (Dynal) precoated with mAb specific for CD3 (SK7) and CD14 (MՓP9) or CD19 (4G7), respectively (Becton-Dickinson). Th and B cell blasts were generated by 3-5 days in vitro

stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with

phytohemagglutinin (1 μg/ml; Sigma) and pokeweed mitogen (2.5 μg/ml; Sigma), respectively. L243 was digested by pepsin and papain in order to isolate F(ab)'₂ and Fab fragments, respectively as per ref. 18. Undigested antibodies and their Fc fragments were removed by affinity chromatography on protein G columns. APC ( 10⁵ cells/ml) were cultured in the presence of equivalent concentrations of complete L243 antibody (10 nM) or its F(ab)'₂ (10 nM) and Fab (20 nM) fragments for 16 hours, as indicated in Fig. 4. Cells were subsequently washed and stained as in Example 3. Results are shown in Fig. 4. The X-axis represents HLA-DR expression, and the Y-axis fluorescence of propidium iodide-stained dead cells, both in arbitrary fluorescence units. Numbers indicate percentages of cells in the corresponding quadrants. "DR-FITC staining" and "Background FITC staining" represent control cell populations cultured for 16 hours in normal medium and subsequently labeled with and without primary reagent,

respectively.

Conclusion: The cell surface expression of DR molecules decreased in all populations in the presence of a complete mAb, as well as its bi- and monovalent fragments F(ab)'₂ and Fab, respectively. The extent of DR reduction was high in B cells (80-90%), intermediate in monocytic APC (50-65%), and low (less than 50%) in Th cell blasts. Co-culture of EBV-LCL and preactivated B cell blasts with bivalent anti-DR reagents [complete mAb and F(ab)'₂] resulted in high (60-70%) and marginal (5-15%) cytotoxicity, respectively, whereas monovalent fragments (Fab) only induced downregulation without significant cell death. The cytotoxic effect was completely absent in subpopulations of resting B cells, activated Th lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages preincubated with any form of DR-specific mAb used in these experiments.

Similar profiles (partly shown in further sections) were obtained using complete mAb 1-1 C4 and LB3.1 and their Fab fragments. [F(ab)'₂ fragment of LB3.1 antibody cannot be generated because its isotype does not permit papain digestion].

Example 7

Effects of increasing concentrations of DR specific Fab fragment on the EBV transformed B cell line LG2.

The difference in terms of cytotoxicity between mono- and bivalent mAb reagents was explored to determine if it was only quantitative, or if it was due to a qualitatively different mechanism of action.

Methods: As in Examples 3 and 6. Results are shown in Fig. 5. Presentation is as in Fig. 1.

Conclusion: Increased concentration of L243-Fab failed to induce any significant decrease in APC viability. Example 8

Effects of prolonged co-culture of L243 and its fragments on LG2 cells. Methods: APC (10⁵/ml) were cultured in the presence of equivalent concentrations of complete L243 antibody (10 nM) or its Fab fragment (20 nM) for the indicated period of time. Cells were subsequently washed and stained as in Example 6. Results are shown in Fig. 6. Presentation is as in Fig. 2.

Conclusion: Prolonged co-culture period failed to induce any significant decrease in APC viability.

Example 9

Cytotoxicity of EBV-LCL depends on DR-crosslinking.

Methods: EBV-LCL (Priess) (10⁵ cells/ml) were cultured for 16 hours in the presence of L243 Fab (20 nM) fragments and goat anti-mouse IgG precoated magnetic beads ("anti-Ig"; Dynal), in order to crosslink cell membrane bound Fab fragments, as indicated. Cells were subsequently washed and stained as in

Example 6. Results are shown in Fig. 7. Presentation is as in Fig. 1. Conclusion: Crosslinking of HLA-DR-bound Fab generates cytotoxic effect on EBV-LCL.

From the results described thus far, it was concluded that: (a) HLA-DR expressed on any mononuclear blood cell type can be downregulated upon its ligation by specific mAb; (b) unexpectedly, DR ligation by monovalent reagents (Fab) can also lead to DR downregulation;

(c) since cytotoxicity is apparent only on EBV, a model of activated B cells, and mitogen preactivated B cells, it is probably dependent upon the activated stage of B cells; and

(d) cytotoxicity is the consequence of DR-crosslinking by bivalent ligands [complete mAb and F(ab)'₂, crosslinked Fab], and does not require the Fc portion of antibody.

Previous studies have shown that ligation of class II

molecules with whole mAb or T-cell receptors signals a series of changes in APC such as cytokine secretion (refs. 19-20), modulation of cell growth and immunoglobulin secretion (refs. 21-28), upregulation of costimulatory (ref. 15) and cell adhesion molecules (refs. 20, 29), and downregulation of CD23 (ref. 25). It was therefore important to establish whether the decrease of DR expression upon pre-culture with mAb was restricted to the class II molecule ligated by the antibody, or it was part of a globally induced downregulation of numerous cell surface proteins. The expression of HLA class II isotypes DP and DQ, HLA class I molecules, and an MHC unrelated adhesion protein CD18, was analyzed on different APC subpopulations after co-culture with F(ab)'₂ or Fab fragments of L243 .

Example 10

Selectivity of DR downregulation on resting B cells and

monocytes/macrophages.

Methods: As in Example 6. Standard indirect immunofluoresence staining by mAb specific for HLA-DP (clone B7/21), -DQ, (SK10), CD18 (L130) (all of IgG₁ subclass, Becton-Dickinson) and anti-HLA class I (W6-32 IgG2a, Accurate, Westbury, New York) reagents was performed in conjunction with goat anti-mouse-IgG₁ -FITC and FITC-labeled protein A (Boehringer), respectively. This procedure excludes additional indirect FITC-labeling of residual membranebound DR-specific antibody fragment. Results are shown in Fig. 8. Presentation is as in Fig. 4. "Control" represents cell population cultured for 16 hours in normal medium and subsequently labeled with Protein A and FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG1, together.

Conclusion: While DR molecules exhibited reduced expression, DP, DQ, class I, and CD 18 molecules remained unaffected in both resting B cells and monocytes/macrophages precultured with F(ab)'₂ fragments.

Example 11

Selectivity of DR downregulation on B cell blasts. Methods: As in Example 10. Results are shown in Fig. 9.

Presentation is as in Fig. 4.

Conclusion: While DR molecules were downregulated, the expression of DP, DQ, class I, and CD 18 molecules remained

unaffected in B cell blasts precultured with F(ab)'₂ fragments.

Example 12

Selectivity of DR downregulation on LG2 cells.

Methods: As in Example 10. Results are shown in Fig. 10.

Presentation is as in Fig. 4.

Conclusion: While the expression of DR molecules appeared to be selectively reduced upon ligation by Fab, bivalent F(ab)'₂

fragments induced a significant downregulation of other class II isotypes, class I molecules and CD18. Since the level of non-selective modulation is only two-fold and DR reduction is ten-fold, it is reasonable to assume that the decrease in expression of other cell surface molecules is associated with a general noxiousness of bivalent reagents on EBV-LCL. Example 13

Allotype non-selectivity of DR downregulation by mAb.

Modulatory mAb LB3.1, L243 and 1-1C4 are pan-DR specific, i.e. they do not distinguish between different allelic forms of HLA-DR. Therefore, they are not suitable for testing allotype specificity of DR downregulation. However, this question could be addressed using downregulatory mAb SFR3-DR5, which is exclusively specific for DRB1*110X (formerly DR5; ref. 13).

Method: B cells (isolated from fresh peripheral blood of a heterozygous DRB1 *0101/1101X donor as in Example 6) were cultured in the presence of DRBl*110X-specific mAb SFR3-DR5 (20% hybridoma supernatant fluid; ref 14). Cells were

subsequently washed and stained by standard indirect

immunofluoresence with either DRB1 * 110X-specific mAb SFR3-DR5, or DRBl *1101-specific mAb CCCL20 (12), in conjunction with goat anti-mouse & rat Ig (Southern), as indicated. Results are shown in Fig. 11. Presentation is as in Fig. 4.

Conclusion: DRB 1* 110X- specific reagent SFR3-DR5 induced downregulation of both DR allomorphs expressed by heterozygous resting B cells, affecting DR allotype not recognized by the mAb, too. Thus, the DR downregulation does not appear to be allotype specific.

Example 14

Pan-class II downregulation on TS-10 cells by 1-1C4 Fab.

Since mAb 1-1C4 can recognize ß chain of all three HLA class II isotypes (DR, DP, DQ) it was important to test whether it is capable of reducing their expression accordingly. Methods: EBV-LCL TS-10 (ECACC (Salisbury, UK) Accession No. 85102911) were cultured in the presence of 1-1C4 Fab (20 nM), anti-DP mAb (10 nM) or anti-DQ mAb (10 nM) for 16 hours, as indicated. Cells were subsequently washed and stained as in

Examples 6 and 10. Results are shown in Fig. 12. Histogram staining profiles of live gated cells are shown. The X-axis

represents fluorescence intensity in arbitrary units, and the Y-axis relative cell number. Open histograms represent control cell populations labeled with the respective secondary reagents.

Conclusion: 1-1 C4 Fab downregulated expression of all three class II isotypes (DR, DP, DQ) with the reduction intensity comparable to the one achieved by isotype-specific mAb (anti-DP, anti-DQ). This pan-class II downmodulation by 1-1C4 Fab was selective, since HLA class I and CD 18 molecules remained unaffected. Therefore, in addition to being useful for treating HLR-DR-linked indications such as rheumatoid arthritis, Fab fragments of the invention obtained from pan-class II mAbs such as 1-1C4 would be useful for treating diseases linked to HLA-DP and -DQ expression, such as multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, erythematosus, organ transplant rejection, and graft versus host disease. (Refs. 36-41 ) Example 15

Lack of TNFα secretion increase upon co-culture of LG2 and Priess cells with L243 and its fragments. Previous studies have shown that crosslinking of DR

molecules by L243 on EBV-transformed B cell line JY increased the secretion of TNFα (20). Since this could be a possible mechanism for cytotoxicity, the TNFα release by Priess and LG2 cells co-cultured with the same mAb L243 and its fragments was

measured.

Methods: APC (10⁵ cells/ml) were cultured in the presence of equivalent concentrations of complete L243 antibody (10 nM) or its F(ab)'₂ (10 nM) and Fab (20 nM) fragments for 16 hours, as indicated. TNFα concentration in culture supematants was

measured using internally controlled standard ELISA kit (T cell Diagnostics, Cambridge, Massachusetts). Cytotoxic and DR-modulatory effects of monoclonal reagents were confirmed by immunofluoresence as in Example 4 (data not shown). Results are shown in Fig. 13.

Conclusion: No significant TNFα increase was detected in these cultures. Therefore, the mechanism of cytotoxicity, as well as that of selective DR downmodulation remain to be investigated.

Inhibition of Th cell response with anti-DR mAbs and their fragments

Example 16

Inhibition of Th cell response with anti-DR mAb. their fragments and DR-binding peptides.

Methods: CD4 positive Th cell clones NBHAC25, KMHA25 and DSHABB 10 prepared as per Ref. 32 respond to influenza vims hemagglutinin (HA) peptide HA307-319 (PKYVKQNTLKLAT) presented by DRA/DRB1 *0101, DRA/DRB 1 *0401 and

DRA/DRB 1 *0401, respectively. Th cells were incubated with mitomycin C-treated APC, antigen (134 nM), and inhibitors.

Antigen specific Th cell proliferation was measured by the

standard ³H-thymidine incorporation assay. Results are shown in Table 3.

Conclusion: The mAbs LB 3.1, L243 and 1-1C4, i.e., those inducing downregulation of DR molecules, were also potent inhibitors of Th helper cell activation. Conversely, mAb that did not downregulate DR (CCCL20, 8D1, 9F1, 9F2, 10F12), either failed to affect Th cell responses, or induced marginal inhibitory effect (Table 3). Thus, the capability of DR downregulation correlates with the inhibitory activity. In addition, these results indicate that downregulatory mAb tend to recognize epitopes located on peptide-binding (α 1 and ß1) domains of class II molecule.

Example 17

Antibody concentration requirement for Th cell inhibition and DR downregulation.

To further explore the correlation demonstrated in Example 16, the antibody concentration requirement for downregulation and inhibition was determined. Methods: Th cell clones KMHA25 and DSHABBI0 (see in Table 3) were incubated with mitomycin C-treated Priess cells as APC, HA307-319 peptide as antigen (330 nM), and the indicated concentrations of mAb LB3.1. Antigen specific Th cell proliferation (upper panel) was measured by ³H-thymidine incorporation 3 days later. Flow cytometry of Priess cells with mAb LB3.1 (lower panel) was performed as in Example 3. Results are shown in Fig. 14.

Conclusion: A near complete inhibition of Th responses was achieved with mAb concentration which induced 90%

downregulation of DR in about 2/3 of APC (without killing them), suggesting a similar concentration requirement for both

phenomena.

Example 18

Effect of anti-DR mAb and Fab fragments on antigen presentation bv fixed APC.

It was investigated whether DR downregulation is the only mechanism involved in inhibition of Th cell response.

Methods: APC (LG-2) were fixed with glutaraldehyde (Fluka Chemie, Buchs, Switzerland). Response of Th cell clone NBHAC25 to mitomycin treated ("My") or fixed ("Fix") LG-2 plus HA307-319 (134 nM) in the presence of mAb or Fab was measured as in

Example 17. Results are shown in Fig. 15. Conclusion: Anti-class II mAbs and their Fab fragments can also inhibit Th cell response to peptide antigen presented on fixed (i.e., dead) APC, where downregulation of class II molecules is not possible. Thus, at least one additional mechanism, most likely steric hindrance of class II- Th cell antigen receptor (TCR) interaction, plays a role in Th cell inhibition.

Example 19 Effect of antigen load on the potency of mAb. Fab, and peptide antagonists.

The relative efficiency of anti-class II mAbs, their fragments, and peptide binding site antagonists in inhibition of Th cell response was compared.

Methods: As in Example 15. Th clone NBHAC25; APC LG-2. Upper panel HA 307-319 13.4 nM, lower panel 330 nM. Peptides as in Table 3. Results are shown in Fig. 16.

Conclusion: Antibodies and Fab fragments are comparable in inhibitory capacity, the latter being only marginally less efficient than the former. Both were, however, several hundred fold more efficient than peptides. It is important to note that increasing the antigen concentration (30 fold higher in the lower than in the upper panel of Fig. 16) rendered the peptide antagonist less efficient, but did not affect the potency of mAb. This observation is explained by differences in the mechanism of inhibition: whereas peptides directly compete with the antigen for class II binding sites, antibodies downregulate class II expression as well as hinder MHC-TCR interaction. Example 20

Relative effects of Fab and peptide on antigen dose-response curves.

The ability of Fab fragments and peptides to inhibit Th cell response to a wide range of antigen concentrations was compared.

Methods: As in Example 17. Th clone, NBHAC25; APC, LG-2;

HA307-319 from 13.4 pM to 134 nM; Fab, 100 nM; peptide aXA, 100 μM. Results are shown in Fig. 17.

Conclusion : It is clear from the data that Fab fragments have the ability to inhibit Th cell response at = 1000 fold higher antigen concentrations than peptides, and this difference remains constant over the whole range of antigen concentrations.

Example 21 Effect of class II antagonists on ongoing Th cell response.

It was important to establish whether different kinds of class II antagonists can interfere with an ongoing Th cell response.

Although this question cannot be properly investigated within the short time frame of in vitro Th cell response, it was attempted to make a comparison between Fab fragments and peptides added at different time points to the APC-antigen-Th cell system.

Methods: As in Example 17. Th clone, NBHAC25; APC, LG-2;

HA307-319, 4 nM. Incubation of APC with HA from -2 hours on. Clone added at 0 hour. Fab of LB3.1 was used. Results are shown in Fig. 18.

Conclusion: Delayed addition of a peptide antagonist resulted in a gradual, time dependent abrogation of inhibitory activity, which could not be restored by increasing the concentration of

competitor. In contrast, Fab fragments caused a near complete inhibition even when added 2 hours after the Th cells, and the decreased inhibitory potency upon delayed addition could be compensated by increased Fab concentrations. Thus, Fab fragments seem to be more efficient in interfering with ongoing Th cell response than the currently available peptide competitors.

Example 22

Production of mAb 1-1C4 HLA-DR was immunoprecipitated from EBV-LCL Priess using mAb L243, and the HLA-DR α and ß chains were separated by SDS-PAGE. A 28k electrophoretic band containing DR-ß chain was cut from the gel and used to immunize a BALB/c mouse. Mouse immune B cells were subsequently immortalized by fusion with myeloma line PAI-0 [Stocker, W. et al., Research Disclosure, 217: 155-157 (1982)] in order to obtain mAb secreting hybridomas. Culture supematants of such hybridomas were screened for their capability to inhibit the activation of HA/DRB1*0401 Th cell clone KMHA25 (see Table 3) in the presence of antigen HA 307-319 and Priess as the APC.

Hybridoma 1-1C4 was identified to be secreting a mAb having inhibitory capacity.

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Claims

1. A Fab fragment comprising an immunoglobulin Fab fragment and six complementarity-determining regions which are contained within said Fab fragment, wherein from one to six of said complementarity-determining regions are the complementaritydetermining regions of a monoclonal antibody having the following properties: 1) the monoclonal antibody binds to the first domain of HLA- DR,

2. The Fab fragment of claim 1 wherein the monoclonal antibody is a murine monoclonal antibody.

3. The Fab fragment of claim 2 wherein the

immunoglobulin is a human immunoglobulin.

4. The Fab fragment of claim 3 wherein the six

complementarity-determining regions of said Fab fragment are the six complementarity-determining regions of said monoclonal antibody.

5. A fluid pharmaceutical composition comprising:

1) a pharmaceutically acceptable fluid carrier; and

2) a therapeutically effective amount of a Fab fragment as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the amount of the Fab fragment is from 0.5 to 5 mg/ml of the fluid composition.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the amount of the Fab fragment is from 1 to 2 mg/ml of the fluid composition.

8. A process for the preparation of a Fab fragment as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that a

monoclonal antibody as defined in claims 1 or 2 is cleaved by pepsin and the Fab fragments are isolated by methods known in the state of the art.

9. A Fab fragment whenever prepared by the process of claim 8.

10. A Fab fragment according to any one of claims 1 to 4 as a therapeutically active agent, especially as an immunsuppressive agent.

1 1 . Use of a Fab fragment according to any one of claims 1 to 4 for suppressing the immune response of a patient.

12. Use of a Fab fragment according to any one of claims 1 to 4 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

13. The invention as hereinbefore described.

14. A method for suppressing the immune response of a patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a Fab fragment comprising a Fab fragment as defined in claim 3 or 4.