WO2015116178A1 - Protéines de fusion pour la modulation des lymphocytes t régulateurs et effecteurs - Google Patents

Protéines de fusion pour la modulation des lymphocytes t régulateurs et effecteurs Download PDF

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WO2015116178A1
WO2015116178A1 PCT/US2014/014197 US2014014197W WO2015116178A1 WO 2015116178 A1 WO2015116178 A1 WO 2015116178A1 US 2014014197 W US2014014197 W US 2014014197W WO 2015116178 A1 WO2015116178 A1 WO 2015116178A1
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Prior art keywords
gitr
fusion protein
cells
domain
protein
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PCT/US2014/014197
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English (en)
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Mark L. Tykocinski
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Thomas Jefferson University
The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania
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Priority to PCT/US2014/014197 priority Critical patent/WO2015116178A1/fr
Priority to EP14881154.0A priority patent/EP2951199A4/fr
Priority to US14/764,024 priority patent/US9834610B2/en
Priority to IL240256A priority patent/IL240256A0/en
Publication of WO2015116178A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015116178A1/fr
Priority to US15/803,065 priority patent/US20180079821A1/en

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
    • C07K14/70575—NGF/TNF-superfamily, e.g. CD70, CD95L, CD153, CD154
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
    • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
    • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
    • C07K16/2878—Immunoglobulins [IGs], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against the NGF-receptor/TNF-receptor superfamily, e.g. CD27, CD30, CD40, CD95
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
    • C07K2317/70—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by effect upon binding to a cell or to an antigen
    • C07K2317/75—Agonist effect on antigen
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide

Definitions

  • Compelling evidence from model systems points to immune surveillance mechanisms that can recognize and eliminate tumor cells (Smyth et al., 2001, Int. Immunol. 13:459-463; Shankaran et al., 2001, Nature 410:1107-1111; Qin, 2009, Cell. Mol. Immunol. 6:3-13). Yet, established cancers commonly resist immune eradication, attributable in part to immunosuppressive elements within tumor microenvironments that limit the anti-tumor activity of infiltrating CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and other immune effectors.
  • CTL cytotoxic T lymphocytes
  • tumor- intrinsic events e.g., down-regulation of costimulators
  • soluble suppressive factors e.g., transforming growth factor ⁇
  • regulatory cells capable of actively inhibiting effector T cell (Teff) responses e.g., FoxP3 + regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells
  • TNFR tumor necrosis family receptor
  • both GITR and OX40 promote CD4 + and CD8 + T cell survival, proliferation and effector functions and abrogate Treg cell suppressive effects (Shimizu et al., 2002, Nat. Immunol. 3:135-142; Piconese et al., 2008, J. Exp. Med. 205:825-839; Ji et al., 2004, J. Immunol. 172:5823-5827; Vu et al., 2007, Blood 110:2501-2510; Cohen et al., 2010, PLoS One 5:el0436; van Olffen et al., 2009, J. Immunol. 182:7490-7500).
  • the invention provides a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a first member from the tumor necrosis family receptor (TNFR) superfamily and the second domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a second member from the TNFR superfamily.
  • TNFR tumor necrosis family receptor
  • the invention provides a method of regulating immune cells, comprising contacting a populating of immune cells with a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a first member from the TNFR superfamily and wherein the second domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a second member from the TNFR superfamily.
  • the invention provides a method of modulating an immune response in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a first member from the TNFR superfamily and wherein the second domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a second member from the TNFR superfamily.
  • the invention provides a method of treating or ameliorating cancer in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a first member from the TNFR superfamily and the second domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a second member from the TNFR superfamily.
  • the invention provides a method of enhancing an immune response in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a first member from the TNFR superfamily and wherein the second domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a second member from the TNFR superfamily.
  • the first member from the TNFR superfamily and the second member from the TNFR superfamily are co-expressed in a single cell.
  • the first member from the TNFR superfamily comprises glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene (GITR).
  • the first member from the TNFR superfamily is glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene (GITR).
  • the second member from the TNFR superfamily comprises OX40.
  • the second member from the TNFR superfamily is OX40.
  • the first member from the TNFR superfamily comprises GITR and the second member from the TNFR superfamily comprises OX40.
  • the first member from the TNFR superfamily is GITR and the second member from the TNFR superfamily is OX40.
  • the first domain comprises an antibody or fragment thereof that binds GITR.
  • the second domain comprises at least a portion of the extracellular domain of OX40 ligand.
  • the second domain comprises the extracellular domain of OX40 ligand.
  • the fusion protein is an antibody-ligand protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
  • the fusion protein is a type I-II protein fusion wherein the first domain comprises a component of a type I protein and wherein the second domain comprises a component of a type II protein, further wherein the type I protein is a protein having its amino terminus orientated extracellularly in the native protein and the type II is a protein having its carboxyl terminus orientated extracellularly in the native protein.
  • the population of immune cells comprises regulatory T (Treg) cells and effector T (Teff) cells.
  • Treg regulatory T
  • Teff effector T
  • the fusion protein attenuates Treg suppressive function.
  • the fusion protein inhibits Treg generation.
  • the fusion protein increases Teff cell proliferation, interleukin-2 production, and NF- ⁇ signaling.
  • the mammal is human.
  • Figure 1 depicts a schematic illustration of anti-GITR AbOX40L expression cassettes and corresponding fusion proteins.
  • Anti-GITR AbOX40L consists of a 3-polypeptide unit where the central polypeptide is made up of four tandemly-arrayed sequence elements comprising the VH and CHI domains of the agonistic rat IgG2b anti-GITR mAb (hybridoma clone YGITR765), the hinge (H), Cm and Cjj3 domains of aglycosyl human IgGl, a second hinge region and the extracellular domain of murine OX40L.
  • the second polypeptide consists of the ⁇ light chain of the same YGITR765 mAb (V K and C K domains).
  • the third polypeptide consists of a strep (ST)-tagged derivative of murine OX40L's extracellular domain.
  • ST strep
  • a proposed schematized model of fully-assembled anti-GITR Ab X40L features two Ab binding sites for GITR, an OX40L trimer at the opposite end for OX40 binding, and a human Fc (hFc y i) component in the middle.
  • GITR-hFC yi and hFC y iOX40L were truncated expression constructs were made eliminating either the OX40 or GITR binding elements.
  • Human ⁇ Fc 7 i (hFc ⁇ ⁇ ), a third fusion protein derivative, consists of sequence elements for the hinge, CR2 and CH3 domains of aglycosyl human IgGl and a second hinge region.
  • Figure 2 depicts a graph indicating that the treatment of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells with anti-GITR Ab-OX40L fusion protein enhances their proliferation.
  • Purified CD4 + ( Figure 2A) and CD8 + ( Figure 2B) T cells isolated from the spleen of naive BALB/c mice were cultured in vitro for 3 d in the presence of anti-CD3 mAb (0.25 ⁇ g/ml), anti-CD28 mAb ( ⁇ g/ml), mitomycin C- treated APC, and serial dilutions (6.4-20,000 ng/ml) of anti-GITR Ab-OX40L (T) or (D), fusion protein component ends, or no protein.
  • Figure 3 depicts bar graphs indicating that anti-GITR Ab-OX40L provides costimulation for CD4+ T cell proliferation and IL-2 production and its activity requires both ends of the fusion protein.
  • Figure 3A CD4 + T cells purified from BALB/c splenocytes were cultured in vitro for 3 d in the presence of anti-CD3 (0.25 mg/ml), anti-CD28 (1 mg/ml), mitomycin-C treated APC and 20 ⁇ g/ml anti-GITR Ab-OX40L or control fusion protein (87 nM each). The data represent [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation during the final 18 h of culture.
  • Figure 3B Purified CD4 + T cells (5 x 10 4 /well) cultured in 96-well U-bottom plates for 3 d in the presence of anti-CD3 -coated microbeads (2 x 10 5 /well) and anti-GITR Ab-OX40L or control fusion protein (87 nM). The data represent mouse IL-2 levels in culture supernatants determined by ELISA.
  • Figure 3C and Figure 3D CD4 + T cells cultured as described in Figure 3A in the presence of 1.25 ⁇ g/ml (5.4 nM) anti-GITR
  • Figure 4 depicts bar graphs indicating that anti-GITR Ab-OX40L fusion protein drives NF- ⁇ -mediated transcription.
  • HEK 293T cells co-transfected to express mouse GITR and OX40 receptors on their surface, were transfected with an NF-KB-lucif erase reporter plasmid and transfection control construct [pNF-KB-Luc (5 ⁇ g) and phRL-TK (2 ⁇ g), respectively]. After 5 h, the cells were cultured in the presence of 1.25 and 2.5 ⁇ g/ml anti-GITR Ab-OX40L (5.4 and 10.8 nM, respectively) or fusion protein component ends at the same molar concentration.
  • Figure 5 depicts bar graphs indicating that anti-GITR Ab-OX40L fusion protein inhibits Treg suppressive activity.
  • Figure 5 A BALB/c splenocytes were sorted into CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells and CD4 + CD25 " T responder cells and each cultured in vitro at 5 x 10 4 /well in a U-bottom 96-well plate for 3 d in the presence of anti-CD3 (0.25 mg/ml), anti-CD28 (1 mg/ml), mitomycin-C treated APC and 4 ⁇ g/ml anti-GITR Ab-OX40L or control fusion protein (17.3 nM each).
  • Figure 6 depicts histograms and a bar graph indicating that anti-GITR Ab-OX40L fusion protein inhibits FoxP3 + Treg conversion.
  • Figure 6A Flow cytometric analysis of CD4 + CD25 ⁇ T cells purified from BALB/c splenocytes and cultured in vitro for 3 d in the presence of anti-CD3 (1 ⁇ g/ml), anti-CD28 (2 ⁇ g/ml), TGF (5 ng/ml) and 20 ⁇ g/ml anti-GITR Ab-OX40L or control fusion protein (87 nM each). Histograms depict expression of CD25 and FoxP3 within the gated CD4-expressing cells.
  • FIG. 6B Comparison of the frequency of CD25 and FoxP3 double-positive CD4 cells for each treatment, calculated as a percent inhibition compared to untreated cells. Results show the mean percent inhibition calculated from three independent flow cytometric experiments and bars indicate the SEM. Significant difference (*, /? ⁇ 0.01) by two-sided Student's t test.
  • Figure 7 depicts graphs indicating that intratumoral anti-GITR Ab-OX40L treatment delays tumor progression and induces tumor rejection.
  • Figure 7A BALB/c mice were inoculated s.c. with 1 x 10 6 CT26 cells, a syngeneic colon cancer cell line. Palpable tumors 3-5 mm in size received intratumoral injection of 25 ⁇ g of anti-GITR Ab-OX40L or control fusion protein (108 nM each) and fusion protein injections were repeated on alternating days for a total of 5 treatments (arrows). Tumor volume was determined by length x (width) 2 /2 (in cubic millimeters). Each group consists of eight mice and lines represent tumor growth kinetics of individual mice.
  • Figure 7B Comparison of tumor size on day 10 post first treatment, subjected to statistical analysis. Significant difference (*, /? ⁇ 0.05) by two-sided Student's t test.
  • Figure 7C Kaplan-Meier survival curve of BALB/c mice inoculated with CT26 cells and treated with fusion proteins, as shown in ( Figure 7A).
  • Figure 7D Survival curve of BALB/c mice inoculated with 5 x 10 5 4T1 cells, a breast cancer cell line, and treated with intratumoral injection of 25 ⁇ g of anti-GITR Ab-OX40L or control fusion protein (108 nM each) on day 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 post tumor inoculation. Each group consisted of five mice. Comparison of two survival distributions was used to calculate significant difference.
  • Figure 8 depicts a bar graph indicating that anti-GITR Ab-OX40L induces CT26-specific CD8 + T cell cytotoxicity in tumor bearing mice.
  • BALB/c mice were inoculated with CT26 cells and treated with intratumoral injections of anti-GITR Ab-OX40L or control fusion proteins, as described in Figure 7.
  • CD8 + T cells were isolated from the spleen and lymph nodes of tumor- bearing or naive (untreated) mice and cultured in vitro for 4 h in 96-well round bottom plates with 5 x 10 3 CT26 cells at various CD8 + T cell to CT26 cell effectontarget ratios.
  • LDH levels in culture supernatants were measured using a colorimetric cytotoxicity detection assay. Data are mean + SEM of 5 individual samples and are representative of two independent experiments. Significant difference (*, p ⁇ Q.Q ⁇ ) by two-sided Student's t test.
  • Figure 9 is a series of images depicting the generation of chimeric anti-GITR Ab.OX40L and control fusion proteins.
  • Figure 9A is a schematic diagram of the polypeptide expression cassettes of the six constructs generated for fusion protein assembly. Each expression cassette was subcloned into the pMF expression vector containing the elongation factor la promoter and the indicated antibiotic resistance gene.
  • FIG. 9B depicts a chart and associated Coomassie blue-stained 10% reducing PAGE gel of Protein-A purified anti-GITR Ab.OX40L and control fusion proteins. The plus symbol indicates the composition of each fusion protein. Symbols and arrows indicate the electrophoretic position of each expressed polypeptide protein on the gel. The extra bands at approximately 50 and 25 kDa are bovine immunoglobulin heavy and light chains that co-purify with fusion proteins.
  • Figure 10 is a series of imaged demonstrating flow cytometric comparison of fusion protein binding to cognate receptors.
  • Figure 10A is an image depicting serial dilutions of purified fusion proteins that were incubated with 293T cells (1 x 10 5 /sample) expressing mouse GITR receptor. Cells were washed and stained with a FITC-conjugated mAb against the Fc region of humanlgGl or an isotype control and analyzed by flow cytometry. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of each sample was calculated and plotted against protein concentration.
  • Figure B depicts the same analysis as in Figure A except that the analysis was conducted with 293T cells expressing mouse OX40 receptor.
  • the present invention provides compositions and methods for co- triggering desired receptors on a cell.
  • the receptors are co- triggered using soluble derivatives of their cognate ligands, which are added in combination with each other.
  • a chimeric or otherwise fusion protein designed to co-trigger the two desired receptors is used.
  • the results presented herein demonstrate that co-triggering of OX40 and GITR, whether using separate or fused together, leads to functional synergies, both in vitro and in vivo.
  • in vitro analyses indicate that the fusion protein of the present invention is a cancer immunotherapeutic agent for coordinate Treg/Teff modulation.
  • the present invention relates generally to a fusion protein having a dual-signaling property referred elsewhere herein as a dual- signaling fusion protein.
  • the dual-signaling fusion protein of the invention is able to modulate regulatory T (Treg) cells and effector T (Teff) cells.
  • the invention relates to a dual- signaling fusion protein that modulates at least two members of the tumor necrosis family (TNF) receptor superfamily.
  • TNF tumor necrosis family
  • the at least two members of the TNF receptor super family includes GITR and OX40.
  • the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises an antigen binding site that targets GITR and the second domain comprises an antigen binding site that targets OX40.
  • the fusion protein of the invention modulates the activity of GITR and OX40.
  • the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a polypeptide component that targets GITR and the second domain comprises a polypeptide component that targets OX40.
  • the fusion protein of the invention modulates the activity of GITR and OX40.
  • the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain is a polypeptide that binds GITR and the second domain is a polypeptide that binds to OX40.
  • co-triggering two receptors of the TNF receptor superfamily inhibits Treg cells and activates Teff cells in parallel.
  • This coordinate cellular modulatory capacity provides a new type of fusion protein immunoadjuvant that can be used with downstream therapeutic therapies in clinical contexts where immunepotentiation is desired, for example, cancer treatment and vaccination.
  • the fusion proteins of the invention may be employed in the treatment of disorders such as cancer and infectious diseases, for example, viral diseases.
  • Activation refers to the state of a T cell that has been sufficiently stimulated to induce detectable cellular proliferation. Activation can also be associated with induced cytokine production, and detectable effector functions.
  • the term “activated T cells” refers to, among other things, T cells that are undergoing cell division.
  • antibody refers to an immunoglobulin molecule which specifically binds with an antigen.
  • Antibodies can be intact immunoglobulins derived from natural sources or from recombinant sources and can be immunoreactive portions of intact immunoglobulins. Antibodies are typically tetramers of immunoglobulin molecules.
  • the antibodies in the present invention may exist in a variety of forms including, for example, polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, Fv, Fab and F(ab)2, as well as single chain antibodies and humanized antibodies (Harlow et al., 1999, In: Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, NY; Harlow et al., 1989, In: Antibodies: A
  • antibody fragment refers to a portion of an intact antibody and refers to the antigenic determining variable regions of an intact antibody.
  • antibody fragments include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, and Fv fragments, linear antibodies, scFv antibodies, and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.
  • antibody heavy chain refers to the larger of the two types of polypeptide chains present in all antibody molecules in their naturally occurring conformations.
  • an “antibody light chain,” as used herein, refers to the smaller of the two types of polypeptide chains present in all antibody molecules in their naturally occurring conformations, ⁇ and ⁇ light chains refer to the two major antibody light chain isotypes.
  • synthetic antibody as used herein, is meant an antibody which is generated using recombinant DNA technology, such as, for example, an antibody expressed by a bacteriophage as described herein.
  • the term should also be construed to mean an antibody which has been generated by the synthesis of a DNA molecule encoding the antibody and which DNA molecule expresses an antibody protein, or an amino acid sequence specifying the antibody, wherein the DNA or amino acid sequence has been obtained using synthetic DNA or amino acid sequence technology which is available and well known in the art.
  • antigen or "Ag” as used herein is defined as a molecule that provokes an immune response. This immune response may involve either antibody production, or the activation of specific immunologically-competent cells, or both.
  • antigens can be derived from recombinant or genomic DNA. A skilled artisan will understand that any DNA, which comprises a nucleotide sequence or a partial nucleotide sequence encoding a protein that elicits an immune response therefore encodes an "antigen" as that term is used herein.
  • an antigen need not be encoded solely by a full length nucleotide sequence of a gene. It is readily apparent that the present invention includes, but is not limited to, the use of partial nucleotide sequences of more than one gene and that these nucleotide sequences are arranged in various combinations to elicit the desired immune response. Moreover, a skilled artisan will understand that an antigen need not be encoded by a "gene” at all. It is readily apparent that an antigen can be generated synthesized or can be derived from a biological sample. Such a biological sample can include, but is not limited to a tissue sample, a tumor sample, a cell or a biological fluid.
  • anti-tumor effect refers to a biological effect which can be manifested by a decrease in tumor volume, a decrease in the number of tumor cells, a decrease in the number of metastases, an increase in life expectancy, or amelioration of various physiological symptoms associated with the cancerous condition.
  • An "anti-tumor effect” can also be manifested by the ability of the peptides, polynucleotides, cells and antibodies of the invention in prevention of the occurrence of tumor in the first place.
  • binding molecule includes molecules that contain at least one antigen binding site that specifically binds to its target.
  • a binding molecule for use in the methods of the invention comprises an immunoglobulin antigen binding site or the portion of a ligand molecule that is responsible for receptor binding.
  • biologically active or immunologically active refers to fusion proteins according to the present invention having a similar structural function (but not necessarily to the same degree), and/or similar regulatory function (but not necessarily to the same degree), and/or similar biochemical function (but not necessarily to the same degree) and/or immunological activity (but not necessarily to the same degree) as the individual wild type proteins which are the building blocks of the fusion proteins of the present invention.
  • cancer as used herein is defined as disease characterized by the rapid and uncontrolled growth of aberrant cells. Cancer cells can spread locally or through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. Examples of various cancers include but are not limited to, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, brain cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, lung cancer and the like.
  • chimeric protein any single polypeptide unit that comprises two distinct polypeptide domains, wherein the two domains are not naturally occurring within the same polypeptide unit.
  • chimeric proteins are made by expression of a cDNA construct but could be made by protein synthesis methods known in the art.
  • Co- stimulatory ligand includes a molecule on that specifically binds a cognate co- stimulatory molecule on a T cell, thereby providing a signal which, in addition to the primary signal provided by, for instance, binding of a TCR/CD3 complex with an MHC molecule loaded with peptide, mediates a T cell response, including, but not limited to, proliferation, activation, differentiation, and the like.
  • a co-stimulatory ligand can include, but is not limited to, CD7, B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), PD-L1, PD-L2, 4-1BBL, OX40L, GITR ligand, inducible costimulatory ligand (ICOS-L), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), CD30L, CD40, CD70, CD83, HLA-G, MICA, MICB, HVEM, lymphotoxin beta receptor, 3/TR6, ILT3, ILT4, HVEM, and the like.
  • a co-stimulatory ligand also encompasses, inter alia, an antibody that specifically binds with a co-stimulatory molecule present on a T cell, such as, but not limited to, CD27, CD28, 4-1BB, OX40, CD30, CD40, PD-1, ICOS, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), CD2, CD7, LIGHT, NKG2C, B7-H3, GITR, and a ligand that specifically binds with CD83.
  • an antibody that specifically binds with a co-stimulatory molecule present on a T cell such as, but not limited to, CD27, CD28, 4-1BB, OX40, CD30, CD40, PD-1, ICOS, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), CD2, CD7, LIGHT, NKG2C, B7-H3, GITR, and a ligand that specifically binds with CD83.
  • a "co-stimulatory molecule” refers to the cognate binding partner on a T cell that specifically binds with a co- stimulatory ligand, thereby mediating a co- stimulatory response by the T cell, such as, but not limited to, proliferation.
  • derivative as used herein in relation to the amino acid sequence means chemical modification of a fusion protein of the invention.
  • Encoding refers to the inherent property of specific sequences of nucleotides in a polynucleotide, such as a gene, a cDNA, or an mRNA, to serve as templates for synthesis of other polymers and macromolecules in biological processes having either a defined sequence of nucleotides (i. e. , rRNA, tRNA and mRNA) or a defined sequence of amino acids and the biological properties resulting therefrom.
  • a gene encodes a protein if transcription and translation of mRNA
  • both the coding strand the nucleotide sequence of which is identical to the mRNA sequence and is usually provided in sequence listings
  • the non-coding strand used as the template for transcription of a gene or cDNA
  • encoding the protein or other product of that gene or cDNA can be referred to as encoding the protein or other product of that gene or cDNA.
  • nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence includes all nucleotide sequences that are degenerate versions of each other and that encode the same amino acid sequence. Nucleotide sequences that encode proteins and RNA may include introns.
  • effector cell refers to a cell which mediates an immune response against an antigen.
  • An example of an effector cell includes, but is not limited to, a T cell or a B cell.
  • Effective amount or “therapeutically effective amount” are used interchangeably herein, and refer to an amount of a compound, formulation, material, or composition, as described herein effective to achieve a particular biological result. Such results may include, but are not limited to, the inhibition of virus infection as determined by any means suitable in the art.
  • endogenous refers to any material from or produced inside an organism, cell, tissue or system.
  • exogenous refers to any material introduced from or produced outside an organism, cell, tissue or system.
  • expression as used herein is defined as the transcription and/or translation of a particular nucleotide sequence driven by its promoter.
  • “Expression vector” refers to a vector comprising a recombinant polynucleotide comprising expression control sequences operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence to be expressed.
  • An expression vector comprises sufficient cis- acting elements for expression; other elements for expression can be supplied by the host cell or in an in vitro expression system.
  • Expression vectors include all those known in the art, such as cosmids, plasmids (e.g. , naked or contained in liposomes) and viruses (e.g. , lentiviruses, retroviruses, adenoviruses, and adeno-associated viruses) that incorporate the recombinant polynucleotide.
  • fusion protein refers to a protein comprising amino acid sequences of two or more different proteins.
  • GITR glucose-induced TNF receptor
  • TNFRSF18 TNF receptor superfamily 18
  • TEASR TNF receptor superfamily 18
  • 312C2 312C2
  • GITR is a 241 amino acid type I transmembrane protein characterized by three cysteine pseudorepeats in the extracellular domain and specifically protects T-cell receptor-induced apoptosis, although it does not protect cells from other apoptotic signals, including Fas triggering, dexamethasone treatment, or UV irradiation (Nocentini, G, et al. (1997) Proc. Natl.
  • hGITR human GITR
  • GenBank Accession Nos. gi:40354198, gi:23238190, gi:23238193, and gi:23238196 GenBank Accession Nos. gi:40354198, gi:23238190, gi:23238193, and gi:23238196.
  • homologous refers to the subunit sequence identity between two polymeric molecules, e.g. , between two nucleic acid molecules, such as, two DNA molecules or two RNA molecules, or between two polypeptide molecules.
  • a subunit position in both of the two molecules is occupied by the same monomeric subunit; e.g. , if a position in each of two DNA molecules is occupied by adenine, then they are homologous at that position.
  • the homology between two sequences is a direct function of the number of matching or homologous positions; e.g. , if half (e.g.
  • immunological reaction is meant the detectable result of stimulating and/or activating an immune cell.
  • Immuno response means a process that results in the activation and/or invocation of an effector function in either the T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and/or antigen-presenting cells.
  • an immune response includes, but is not limited to, any detectable antigen-specific or allogeneic activation of a helper T cell or cytotoxic T cell response, production of antibodies, T cell-mediated activation of allergic reactions, and the like.
  • Immune cell includes any cell that is involved in the generation, regulation or effect of the acquired or innate immune system.
  • Immune cells include T cells such as CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells and various other T cell subsets, B cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells, and neutrophils.
  • immune related disease means a disease in which a component of the immune system of a mammal causes, mediates or otherwise contributes to morbidity in the mammal. Also included are diseases in which stimulation or intervention of the immune response has an ameliorative effect on progression of the disease. Included within this term are autoimmune diseases, immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, non-immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, and immunodeficiency diseases.
  • immune- related and inflammatory diseases examples include systemic lupus erythematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (dermatomyositis, polymyositis), Sjogren's syndrome, systemic vasculitis, sarcoidosis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (immune pancytopenia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria), autoimmune thrombocytopenia (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, immune- mediated thrombocytopenia), thyroiditis (Grave's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, juvenile lymphocytic thyroiditis, atrophic thyroiditis), diabetes mellitus, immune- mediated renal disease (glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial
  • demyelinating diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems such as multiple sclerosis, idiopathic demyelinating polyneuropathy or Guillain-Barre syndrome, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, hepatobiliary diseases such as infectious hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and other non-hepatotropic viruses), autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, granulomatous hepatitis, and sclerosing cholangitis, inflammatory and fibrotic lung diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis: Crohn's disease), gluten- sensitive enteropathy, and Whipple's disease, autoimmune or immune-mediated skin diseases including bullous skin diseases, erythema multiforme and contact dermatitis, psoriasis, allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food hypersensitivity and urticaria, immunologic diseases
  • an "instructional material” includes a publication, a recording, a diagram, or any other medium of expression which can be used to communicate the usefulness of the compositions and methods of the invention.
  • the instructional material of the kit of the invention may, for example, be affixed to a container which contains the nucleic acid, peptide, and/or composition of the invention or be shipped together with a container which contains the nucleic acid, peptide, and/or composition.
  • the instructional material may be shipped separately from the container with the intention that the instructional material and the compound be used cooperatively by the recipient.
  • isolated means altered or removed from the natural state.
  • a nucleic acid or a peptide naturally present in a living animal is not “isolated,” but the same nucleic acid or peptide partially or completely separated from the coexisting materials of its natural state is “isolated.”
  • An isolated nucleic acid or protein can exist in substantially purified form, or can exist in a non-native environment such as, for example, a host cell.
  • A refers to adenosine
  • C refers to cytosine
  • G refers to guanosine
  • T refers to thymidine
  • U refers to uridine.
  • nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence includes all nucleotide sequences that are degenerate versions of each other and that encode the same amino acid sequence.
  • the phrase nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein or an RNA may also include introns to the extent that the nucleotide sequence encoding the protein may in some version contain an intron(s).
  • modulating an immune response mediating a detectable increase or decrease in the level of an immune response in a mammal compared with the level of an immune response in the mammal in the absence of a treatment or compound, and/or compared with the level of an immune response in an otherwise identical but untreated mammal.
  • the term encompasses perturbing and/or affecting a native signal or response thereby mediating a beneficial therapeutic response in a mammal, preferably, a human.
  • Negative signal means a signal that induces the typical cascade of intracellular events associated with among other things, decrease proliferation, decrease activation, decrease cellular processing, and the like.
  • Positive signal means a signal that induces the typical cascade of intracellular events associated with among other things increase, proliferation, increase activation, increase cellular processing, and the like.
  • operably linked refers to functional linkage between a regulatory sequence and a heterologous nucleic acid sequence resulting in expression of the latter.
  • a first nucleic acid sequence is operably linked with a second nucleic acid sequence when the first nucleic acid sequence is placed in a functional relationship with the second nucleic acid sequence.
  • a promoter is operably linked to a coding sequence if the promoter affects the transcription or expression of the coding sequence.
  • operably linked DNA sequences are contiguous and, where necessary to join two protein coding regions, in the same reading frame.
  • OX40 refers to a member of the TNFR superfamily that is a polypeptide of 277 amino acids in length. The extracellular region is amino acids 29-214, with amino acids 31-166 of this being the TNFR homology region, with three CRDs. The structure and some critical binding sites of OX40 and OX40 ligand have been determined. Compaan, D. et al., "The crystal structure of the Costimulatory OX40-OX40L complex", Structure 14: 1321-1330 (2006), incorporated herein by reference.
  • OX40 appears to be important for receptor binding of the OX40 ligand, including CRD1, aa 30-65; CRD2, aa 67-81 and CRD3, aa 109-125.
  • OX40 has been sequenced in a number of different species, including, but not limited to, mouse: Swiss Prot. Accession No. P47741 : human: Swiss Prot. Accession No. P43489; and rat: Swiss Prot. Accession No. 15725.
  • parenteral administration of an immunogenic composition includes, e.g. , subcutaneous (s.c), intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.), or intrasternal injection, or infusion techniques.
  • nucleotide as used herein is defined as a chain of nucleotides.
  • nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides.
  • nucleic acids and polynucleotides as used herein are interchangeable.
  • nucleic acids are polynucleotides, which can be hydrolyzed into the monomeric “nucleotides.” The monomeric nucleotides can be hydrolyzed into nucleosides.
  • polynucleotides include, but are not limited to, all nucleic acid sequences which are obtained by any means available in the art, including, without limitation, recombinant means, i.e., the cloning of nucleic acid sequences from a recombinant library or a cell genome, using ordinary cloning technology and PCRTM, and the like, and by synthetic means.
  • recombinant means i.e., the cloning of nucleic acid sequences from a recombinant library or a cell genome, using ordinary cloning technology and PCRTM, and the like, and by synthetic means.
  • peptide As used herein, the terms “peptide,” “polypeptide,” and “protein” are used interchangeably, and refer to a compound comprised of amino acid residues covalently linked by peptide bonds.
  • a protein or peptide must contain at least two amino acids, and no limitation is placed on the maximum number of amino acids that can comprise a protein's or peptide's sequence.
  • Polypeptides include any peptide or protein comprising two or more amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds.
  • the term refers to both short chains, which also commonly are referred to in the art as peptides, oligopeptides and oligomers, for example, and to longer chains, which generally are referred to in the art as proteins, of which there are many types.
  • Polypeptides include, for example, biologically active fragments, substantially homologous polypeptides, oligopeptides, homodimers, heterodimers, variants of polypeptides, modified polypeptides, derivatives, analogs, fusion proteins, among others.
  • the polypeptides include natural peptides, recombinant peptides, synthetic peptides, or a combination thereof.
  • promoter as used herein is defined as a DNA sequence recognized by the synthetic machinery of the cell, or introduced synthetic machinery, required to initiate the specific transcription of a polynucleotide sequence.
  • promoter/regulatory sequence means a nucleic acid sequence which is required for expression of a gene product operably linked to the promoter/regulatory sequence.
  • this sequence may be the core promoter sequence and in other instances, this sequence may also include an enhancer sequence and other regulatory elements which are required for expression of the gene product.
  • the promoter/regulatory sequence may, for example, be one which expresses the gene product in a tissue specific manner.
  • a “constitutive" promoter is a nucleotide sequence which, when operably linked with a polynucleotide which encodes or specifies a gene product, causes the gene product to be produced in a cell under most or all physiological conditions of the cell.
  • an “inducible" promoter is a nucleotide sequence which, when operably linked with a polynucleotide which encodes or specifies a gene product, causes the gene product to be produced in a cell substantially only when an inducer which corresponds to the promoter is present in the cell.
  • tissue-specific promoter is a nucleotide sequence which, when operably linked with a polynucleotide encodes or specified by a gene, causes the gene product to be produced in a cell substantially only if the cell is a cell of the tissue type corresponding to the promoter.
  • Treg cell refers to a naturally occurring subtype of T cell that can inhibit T-cell immune responses to an antigen.
  • Treg cells represent a distinct T-cell lineage that has a key role in an individual's tolerance of self-antigens and the prevention of autoimmune disease and inappropriate immune responses. When activated, they are anergic and suppress the proliferation and cytokine production of conventional T cells. Like all T cells, Treg cells require T cell receptor activation and costimulation to become fully active.
  • stimulation is meant a primary response induced by binding of a stimulatory molecule (e.g. , a TCR/CD3 complex) with its cognate ligand thereby mediating a signal transduction event, such as, but not limited to, signal transduction via the TCR/CD3 complex.
  • a stimulatory molecule e.g. , a TCR/CD3 complex
  • Stimulation can mediate altered expression of certain molecules, such as downregulation of TGF- ⁇ , and/or reorganization of cytoskeletal structures, and the like.
  • telomere binding partner e.g. , a stimulatory and/or costimulatory molecule present on a T cell
  • subject is intended to include living organisms in which an immune response can be elicited (e.g., mammals).
  • terapéutica as used herein means a treatment and/or prophylaxis.
  • a therapeutic effect is obtained by suppression, remission, or eradication of a disease state.
  • transfected or “transformed” or “transduced” as used herein refers to a process by which exogenous nucleic acid is transferred or introduced into the host cell.
  • a “transfected” or “transformed” or “transduced” cell is one which has been transfected, transformed or transduced with exogenous nucleic acid.
  • the cell includes the primary subject cell and its progeny.
  • under transcriptional control or "operatively linked” as used herein means that the promoter is in the correct location and orientation in relation to a polynucleotide to control the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase and expression of the polynucleotide.
  • a “vector” is a composition of matter which comprises an isolated nucleic acid and which can be used to deliver the isolated nucleic acid to the interior of a cell.
  • vectors are known in the art including, but not limited to, linear polynucleotides, polynucleotides associated with ionic or amphiphilic compounds, plasmids, and viruses.
  • the term “vector” includes an autonomously replicating plasmid or a virus.
  • the term should also be construed to include non-plasmid and non-viral compounds which facilitate transfer of nucleic acid into cells, such as, for example, polylysine compounds, liposomes, and the like.
  • viral vectors include, but are not limited to, adenoviral vectors, adeno-associated virus vectors, retroviral vectors, and the like.
  • variant means any polypeptide having a substitution of, deletion of or addition of one (or more) amino acid from or to the sequence (or any combination of these), including allelic variations, as compared with the wild-type protein, so long as the resultant variant fusion protein retains at least 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more of the biological or immunologic activity as compared to the wild-type proteins as used in the present invention.
  • ranges throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention can be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range. Description
  • the invention relates to the discovery that a fusion protein that binds to at least two members from the tumor necrosis family receptor (TNFR) superfamily can modulate both regulatory T (Treg) and effector T (Teff) cells.
  • the at least two members of the TNFR superfamily includes glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene (GITR) and OX40.
  • GITR glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene
  • the invention provides methods of using the fusion proteins of the invention to modulate GITR and OX40 in treating various disorders such as cancer and infectious diseases, for example, viral diseases.
  • the invention provides compositions and methods for increasing Teff cell proliferation, interleukin-2 production, and NF- ⁇ signaling.
  • the invention provides compositions and methods for attenuating Treg suppressive function and suppressing Treg generation.
  • the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a member from the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR) superfamily and the second domain comprises a binding moiety that binds to a member from the TNRF superfamily.
  • TNFR Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor
  • TNF/TNFR generally refers to any member of either the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) superfamily or the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR) superfamily.
  • TNF superfamily includes, for example, CD40 ligand, OX40 ligand, 4- IBB ligand, CD27, CD30 ligand (CD 153), TNF-a, TNF- ⁇ , RANK ligand, LT-a, LT- ⁇ , GITR ligand, and LIGHT.
  • the TNFR superfamily includes, for example, CD40, OX40, 4- IBB, CD70 (CD27 ligand), CD30, TNFR2, RANK, LT-pR, HVEM, GITR, TROY, and RELT.
  • CD40 CD40
  • OX40 4- IBB
  • CD70 CD27 ligand
  • CD30 CD30
  • TNFR2 CD30
  • RANK RANK
  • LT-pR Term Evolution-pR
  • HVEM GITR
  • TROY TROY
  • RELT RELT
  • the invention should not be limited to these members. Rather, the invention includes any member from the TNF/TNFR superfamily.
  • TNF/TNFR generally refers to any member of either the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) superfamily or the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR) superfamily. In humans, currently 19 TNF superfamily and 28 TNFR superfamily members have been identified (Table 1).
  • the first member from the TNFR superfamily is GITR and the second member from the TNFR superfamily is OX40.
  • the fusion protein of the invention comprises a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a polypeptide component that binds to a first member from the TNFR superfamily and the second domain comprises a polypeptide component that binds to a second member from the TNFR superfamily.
  • the invention provides a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a polypeptide component that binds to GITR and the second domain comprises a polypeptide component that binds to OX40.
  • the fusion protein of the invention acts on the
  • a fusion protein having a first domain that comprises a polypeptide that binds to GITR and a second domain that comprises a polypeptide that binds to OX40 can simultaneously trigger signaling associated with GITR and OX40 on a cell.
  • the first domain is a polypeptide that has the capacity to bind with GITR to trigger a GITR specific signal on a cell bearing GITR
  • the second domain is a polypeptide that has the capacity to bind with OX40 to trigger an OX40 signal on a cell bearing OX40.
  • the domain in the fusion protein of the invention that comprises a binding moiety that binds GITR acts as a GITR agonist. That is, GITR binding moieties useful for binding GITR on a cell include binding molecules that specifically bind to GITR and act as a GITR agonist.
  • the domain in the fusion protein of the invention that comprises a binding moiety that binds OX40 acts as an OX40 agonist. That is, OX40 binding moieties useful for binding OX40 on a cell include binding molecules that specifically bind to OX40 and act as an OX40 agonist.
  • the invention includes a fusion protein comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises an agonist to a first member from TNFR superfamily and the second domain comprises an agonist to a second member from the TNFR superfamily.
  • TNFR agonist or TNF/TNFR agonist referred herein includes any suitable agonist of any member of either the TNF superfamily or the TNFR superfamily.
  • a member of one superfamily can be an agonist of a complementary member of the other superfamily.
  • OX40 ligand (a member of the TNF superfamily) can act as an agonist of OX40 (a member of the TNFR superfamily), and OX40 can act as an agonist of OX40 ligand.
  • suitable TNFR agonists include, for example, CD40 ligand, OX40 ligand, 4- IBB ligand, CD27, CD30 ligand (CD153), TNF-a, TNF- ⁇ , RANK ligand, LT-a, LT- ⁇ , GITR ligand, LIGHT, CD40, OX40, 4-1BB, CD70 (CD27 ligand), CD30, TNFR2, RANK, LT-PR, HVEM, GITR, TROY, and RELT.
  • suitable TNF/TNFR agonists include certain agonistic antibodies raised against a complementary member of the other TNF/TNFR superfamily.
  • TNFR agonists that achieves the dual Teff activation/Treg inhibition effect is encompassed in the invention.
  • the desired dual effect of the TNFR agonist combination can be tested using methods disclosed herein or methods known in the art.
  • the fusion protein of the invention creates an auto- signaling/bi-directional signaling loop on a single cell. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the auto-signaling/bi-directional signaling loop on a single cell leads to a greater signaling efficacy because the dual signaling component of the fusion protein is co-localized on the cell.
  • the fusion protein of the invention can bridge cells together.
  • the fusion proteins of the invention can bridge cells together.
  • the fusion protein of the invention comprises a binding moiety that specifically binds to its target.
  • the binding moiety comprises an antibody or fragment thereof comprising an antigen binding site.
  • the antibody is an agonist to the target.
  • the GITR binding domain in the fusion protein of the invention is an anti-GITR antibody.
  • anti-GITR antibodies can be made using standard recombinant DNA techniques (Winter and Milstein, Nature, 349, pp. 293-99 (1991)). Therefore, the anti-GITR portion of the fusion protein of the invention exhibits an "agonist" property on a cell bearing GITR.
  • An agonist in the broadest sense includes any molecule that partially or fully enhances, stimulates or activates one or more biological activities of a corresponding target (e.g., GITR) in vitro, in situ, or in vivo.
  • a corresponding target e.g., GITR
  • biological activities of GITR include promoting CD4+ and CD8+ T cell survival, proliferation and effector functions and abrogate Treg cell suppressive effects or the generation of Treg cells.
  • An agonist may function in a direct or indirect manner.
  • the agonist may function to partially or fully enhance, stimulate or activate one or more biological activities of GITR in vitro, in situ, or in vivo as a result of its direct binding to GITR, which causes receptor activation or signal transduction.
  • the binding moiety includes, an antibody (including full length), a monoclonal antibody (including full-length monoclonal antibody), a polyclonal antibody, a multispecific antibody (e.g., bispecific antibody), human, humanized or chimeric antibody, antibody fragment, e.g., Fab fragments, F(ab') fragment, fragment produced by a Fab expression library, epitope-binding fragment of any of the above, and engineered forms of antibodies (i.e., molecules comprising binding sites derived from antibody molecules), e.g., scFv molecules or molecules comprising scFv molecule, so long as they exhibit the desired activity.
  • an antibody including full length
  • a monoclonal antibody including full-length monoclonal antibody
  • a polyclonal antibody e.g., a multispecific antibody (e.g., bispecific antibody)
  • human, humanized or chimeric antibody e.g., Fab fragments, F(ab') fragment, fragment produced by
  • human antibodies For in vivo use of antibodies in humans, it may be preferable to use human antibodies. Completely human antibodies are particularly desirable for therapeutic treatment of human subjects.
  • Human antibodies can be made by a variety of methods known in the art including phage display methods using antibody libraries derived from human immunoglobulin sequences, including improvements to these techniques. See, also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,887 and 4,716,111; and PCT publications WO 98/46645, WO 98/50433, WO 98/24893, W098/16654, WO 96/34096, WO 96/33735, and WO 91/10741; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • a human antibody can also be an antibody wherein the heavy and light chains are encoded by a nucleotide sequence derived from one or more sources of human DNA.
  • Human antibodies can also be produced using transgenic mice which are incapable of expressing functional endogenous immunoglobulins, but which can express human immunoglobulin genes.
  • the human heavy and light chain immunoglobulin gene complexes may be introduced randomly or by homologous recombination into mouse embryonic stem cells.
  • the human variable region, constant region, and diversity region may be introduced into mouse embryonic stem cells in addition to the human heavy and light chain genes.
  • the mouse heavy and light chain immunoglobulin genes may be rendered non-functional separately or simultaneously with the introduction of human immunoglobulin loci by homologous recombination.
  • the modified embryonic stem cells are expanded and microinjected into blastocysts to produce chimeric mice.
  • the chimeric mice are then bred to produce homozygous offspring which express human antibodies.
  • the transgenic mice are immunized in the normal fashion with a selected antigen, e.g., all or a portion of a polypeptide of the invention.
  • Anti-GITR antibodies directed against the human GITR antigen can be obtained from the immunized, transgenic mice using conventional hybridoma technology.
  • the human immunoglobulin transgenes harbored by the transgenic mice rearrange during B cell differentiation, and subsequently undergo class switching and somatic mutation.
  • IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies including, but not limited to, IgGl (gamma 1) and IgG3.
  • Human antibodies can also be derived from phage-display libraries
  • Phage display technology can be used to produce human antibodies and antibody fragments in vitro, from immunoglobulin variable (V) domain gene repertoires from unimmunized donors.
  • antibody V domain genes are cloned in-frame into either a major or minor coat protein gene of a filamentous bacteriophage, such as Ml 3 or fd, and displayed as functional antibody fragments on the surface of the phage particle.
  • a filamentous bacteriophage such as Ml 3 or fd
  • the filamentous particle contains a single- stranded DNA copy of the phage genome
  • selections based on the functional properties of the antibody also result in selection of the gene encoding the antibody exhibiting those properties.
  • the phage mimics some of the properties of the B cell.
  • Phage display can be performed in a variety of formats; for their review see, e.g., Johnson, Kevin S, and Chiswell, David J., Current Opinion in Structural Biology 3:564-571 (1993).
  • V-gene segments can be used for phage display.
  • Clackson et al., Nature, 352:624-628 (1991) isolated a diverse array of anti-oxazolone antibodies from a small random combinatorial library of V genes derived from the spleens of unimmunized mice.
  • a repertoire of V genes from unimmunized human donors can be constructed and antibodies to a diverse array of antigens (including self-antigens) can be isolated essentially following the techniques described by Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222:581-597 (1991), or Griffith et al., EMBO J., 12:725-734 (1993). See, also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,565,332 and 5,573,905, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • Human antibodies may also be generated by in vitro activated B cells (see, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,567,610 and 5,229,275, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Human antibodies may also be generated in vitro using hybridoma techniques such as, but not limited to, that described by Roder et al.
  • a non-human antibody is humanized, where specific sequences or regions of the antibody are modified to increase similarity to an antibody naturally produced in a human.
  • the antigen binding domain portion is humanized.
  • a humanized antibody can be produced using a variety of techniques known in the art, including but not limited to, CDR-grafting (see, e.g., European Patent No. EP 239,400; International Publication No. WO 91/09967; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,225,539, 5,530,101, and 5,585,089, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference), veneering or resurfacing (see, e.g., European Patent Nos.
  • framework substitutions are identified by methods well-known in the art, e.g., by modeling of the interactions of the CDR and framework residues to identify framework residues important for antigen binding and sequence comparison to identify unusual framework residues at particular positions. (See, e.g., Queen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089; and Riechmann et al., 1988, Nature, 332:323, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.)
  • humanized antibody has one or more amino acid residues introduced into it from a source which is nonhuman. These nonhuman amino acid residues are often referred to as "import” residues, which are typically taken from an “import” variable domain.
  • humanized antibodies comprise one or more CDRs from nonhuman immunoglobulin molecules and framework regions from human.
  • humanized chimeric antibodies substantially less than an intact human variable domain has been substituted by the corresponding sequence from a nonhuman species.
  • humanized antibodies are typically human antibodies in which some CDR residues and possibly some framework (FR) residues are substituted by residues from analogous sites in rodent antibodies.
  • a human scFv may also be derived from a yeast display library.
  • variable domains both light and heavy
  • the choice of human variable domains, both light and heavy, to be used in making the humanized antibodies is to reduce antigenicity.
  • sequence of the variable domain of a rodent antibody is screened against the entire library of known human variable-domain sequences.
  • the human sequence which is closest to that of the rodent is then accepted as the human framework (FR) for the humanized antibody (Sims et al., J. Immunol., 151:2296 (1993); Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol., 196:901 (1987), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference herein in their entirety).
  • Another method uses a particular framework derived from the consensus sequence of all human antibodies of a particular subgroup of light or heavy chains.
  • the same framework may be used for several different humanized antibodies (Carter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:4285 (1992); Presta et al., J. Immunol., 151:2623 (1993), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference herein in their entirety).
  • the antibody is humanized with retention of high affinity for the target antigen and other favorable biological properties.
  • humanized antibodies are prepared by a process of analysis of the parental sequences and various conceptual humanized products using three-dimensional models of the parental and humanized sequences.
  • Three-dimensional immunoglobulin models are commonly available and are familiar to those skilled in the art.
  • Computer programs are available which illustrate and display probable three-dimensional conformational structures of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. Inspection of these displays permits analysis of the likely role of the residues in the functioning of the candidate immunoglobulin sequence, i.e., the analysis of residues that influence the ability of the candidate immunoglobulin to bind the target antigen.
  • FR residues can be selected and combined from the recipient and import sequences so that the desired antibody characteristic, such as increased affinity for the target antigen, is achieved.
  • the CDR residues are directly and most substantially involved in influencing antigen binding.
  • a humanized antibody retains a similar antigenic specificity as the original antibody, i.e., in the present invention, the ability to bind for example human GITR.
  • affinity and/or specificity of binding of the antibody for human GITR may be increased using methods of "directed evolution,” as described by Wu et al., J. Mol. Biol., 294: 151 (1999), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference herein in their entirety.
  • the antigen binding moiety is characterized by particular functional features or properties of an antibody.
  • the antigen binding moiety binds specifically GITR, preferably human GITR.
  • the invention relates to an antigen binding moiety comprising an antibody or functional fragment thereof, wherein the antibody specifically binds to a GITR protein or fragment thereof.
  • the antibody fragment provided herein is a single chain variable fragment (scFv).
  • the antibodies of the invention may exist in a variety of other forms including, for example, Fv, Fab, and (Fab' )2, as well as bi-functional (i.e. bi-specific) hybrid antibodies (e.g., Lanzavecchia et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 17, 105 (1987)).
  • the antibodies and fragments thereof of the invention binds a GITR protein with normal or enhanced affinity.
  • an antibody of the invention comprises heavy and light chain variable regions comprising amino acid sequences that are homologous to the amino acid sequences of the preferred antibodies described herein, and wherein the antibodies retain the desired functional properties of the anti-GITR antibodies of the invention.
  • the antibody of the invention is further prepared using an antibody having one or more of the VH and/or VL sequences disclosed herein can be used as starting material to engineer a modified antibody, which modified antibody may have altered properties as compared to the starting antibody.
  • the antibody is engineered by modifying one or more amino acids within one or both variable regions (i.e., VH and/or VL), for example within one or more CDR regions and/or within one or more framework regions. Additionally or alternatively, an antibody is engineered by modifying residues within the constant region(s), for example to alter the effector function(s) of the antibody.
  • the present invention comprises an anti- GITR/OX40 fusion protein.
  • anti-GITR/OX40 fusion protein refers to the specific fusion protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 5.
  • the invention should not be limited to a fusion protein comprising a domain that targets GITR, wherein the domain comprises an antibody directed against GITR. Rather, the fusion protein of the invention can be engineered to comprise any GITR binding agent.
  • a GITR binding agent includes, but is not limited to, GITR ligand or soluble extracellular ligand domains thereof, anti-GITR antibodies, and immunologically effective portions of anti-GITR antibodies so long as they exhibit the desired activity.
  • the fusion protein of the invention is generated by combining a type I protein (i.e., amino terminus is extracellular in the native protein) with a type II membrane protein (i.e., carboxyl terminus is extracellular in the native protein).
  • a type I protein i.e., amino terminus is extracellular in the native protein
  • a type II membrane protein i.e., carboxyl terminus is extracellular in the native protein.
  • the respective functional ends of the fusion protein are not buried internally where the components are linked.
  • the antibody (e.g., anti-GITR Ab) component of the fusion protein is paired with the ligand (e.g., OX40L) component of the fusion protein.
  • the fusion protein of the invention comprises a binding moiety that specifically binds to its target.
  • the binding moiety comprises a domain that is responsible for receptor binding.
  • the domain that is responsible for receptor binding is a ligand or fragment thereof. More preferably, the ligand or fragment thereof is an agonist to the corresponding receptor.
  • the domain in the fusion protein of the invention that comprises a ligand or fragment thereof is OX40L.
  • OX40L Various forms of OX40L can be made using standard recombinant DNA techniques. Therefore, the OX40L portion of the fusion protein of the invention exhibits an "agonist" property on a cell bearing OX40.
  • An agonist in the broadest sense includes any molecule that partially or fully enhances, stimulates or activates one or more biological activities of a corresponding target (e.g., OX40) in vitro, in situ, or in vivo.
  • a corresponding target e.g., OX40
  • biological activities of OX40 include promoting CD4+ and CD8+ T cell survival, proliferation and effector functions and abrogate Treg cell suppressive effects.
  • An agonist may function in a direct or indirect manner. For instance, the agonist may function to partially or fully enhance, stimulate or activate one or more biological activities of OX40 in vitro, in situ, or in vivo as a result of its direct binding to OX40, which causes receptor activation or signal transduction.
  • OX40L specifically binds to the OX40 receptor.
  • the human protein is described in PCT Publication No. WO 95/21915.
  • the mouse OX40L is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,035.
  • the naturally occurring OX40 ligand includes intracellular, transmembrane and extracellular domains.
  • a functionally active soluble form of OX- 40 ligand (“soluble OX-40 ligand”) can be produced by deleting the intracellular and transmembrane domains as described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,457,035 and 6,312,700, and WO 95/21915, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein for all purposes.
  • a functionally active form of OX-40 ligand is a form that retains the capacity to bind specifically to the OX-40 receptor, that is, that possesses an OX-40 "receptor binding domain.” Methods of determining the ability of an OX-40 ligand molecule or derivative to bind specifically to the OX-40 receptor are discussed elsewhere herein.
  • OX-40 ligand and its derivatives are described in WO 95/21915 (supra), which also describes proteins comprising the soluble form of OX- 40 ligand linked to other peptides, such as human immunoglobulin ("Ig") Fc regions, that can be produced to facilitate purification of OX-40 ligand from cultured cells, or to enhance the stability of the molecule after in vivo administration to a mammal (see also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,035).
  • Ig human immunoglobulin
  • OX-40L includes the entire OX-40 ligand, soluble OX-40 ligand, and functionally active portions of the OX-40 ligand. Also included within the definition of OX-40L are OX-40 ligand variants which vary in amino acid sequence from naturally occurring OX-40 ligand molecules but which retain the ability to specifically bind to an OX-40 receptor. Such variants are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,035 and WO 95/21915 (supra).
  • the fusion protein of the invention can be engineered to comprise any OX40 binding agent.
  • An OX40 binding agent includes, but is not limited to, OX40L or soluble extracellular ligand domains thereof, anti-OX40 antibodies (for example, monoclonal antibodies such as humanized monoclonal antibodies), and immunologically effective portions of anti-OX40 antibodies so long as they exhibit the desired activity.
  • the fusion protein of the invention is generated by combining a type I protein (i.e., amino terminus is extracellular in the native protein) with a type II membrane protein (i.e., carboxyl terminus is extracellular in the native protein).
  • a type I protein i.e., amino terminus is extracellular in the native protein
  • a type II membrane protein i.e., carboxyl terminus is extracellular in the native protein.
  • the respective functional ends of the fusion protein are not buried internally where the components are linked.
  • the antibody (e.g., anti-GITR Ab) component of the fusion protein is paired with the ligand (e.g., OX40L) component of the fusion protein.
  • the invention relates to a dual-signaling fusion protein that modulates at least two members of the TNF receptor superfamily.
  • the at least two members of the TNF receptor super family includes GITR and OX40.
  • the invention includes an anti-GITR/OX40L fusion protein and related fusion proteins.
  • the invention also encompasses variants of the fusion proteins. While in general it is desirable for variants to show enhanced ability for binding to a given molecule, in some embodiments variants may be designed with slightly reduced activity as compared to other fusion proteins of the invention, for example, in instances in which one would purposefully want to attenuate activity. Variants or derivatives can be generated that would have altered multimerization properties. When engineering variants, this could be done for example, for either the entire extracellular domain of the desired TNF or TNFR superfamily, or for that component of the extracellular domain that is incorporated within the fusion protein itself.
  • variants or derivatives of the fusion proteins of the present invention maintain the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the amino acid sequence.
  • the invention also provides chemical modification of a fusion protein of the invention. Non-limiting examples of such modifications may include but are not limited to aliphatic esters or amides of the carboxyl terminus or of residues containing carboxyl side chains, O-acyl derivatives of hydroxyl group-containing residues, and N-acyl derivatives of the amino-terminal amino acid or amino-group containing residues, e.g., lysine or arginine.
  • Additional modifications can include, for example, production of a fusion protein conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), or addition of PEG during chemical synthesis of a polypeptide of the invention. Modifications of polypeptides or portions thereof can also include reduction/alkylation; chemical coupling to an appropriate carrier or mild formalin treatment.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • fusion proteins of the present invention include incorporation of unnatural amino acid residues, or phosphorylated amino acid residues such as phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine or phosphothreonine residues.
  • Other potential modifications include sulfonation, biotinylation, or the addition of other moieties, particularly those which have molecular shapes similar to phosphate groups.
  • Derivatives also include polypeptides modified by glycosylation. These can be made by modifying glycosylation patterns during synthesis and processing in various alternative eukaryotic host expression systems, or during further processing steps. Methods for producing glycosylation modifications include exposing the fusion proteins to glycosylating enzymes derived from cells that normally carry out such processing, such as mammalian glycosylation enzymes. Alternatively, deglycosylation enzymes can be used to remove carbohydrates attached during production in eukaryotic expression systems. Additionally, one can also modify the coding sequence so that glycosylation site(s) are added or glycosylation sites are deleted or disabled. Furthermore, if no glycosylation is desired, the proteins can be produced in a prokaryotic host expression system.
  • Variants and/or derivatives of the fusion proteins of the invention can be prepared by chemical synthesis or by using site-directed mutagenesis [Gillman et al., Gene 8:81 (1979); Roberts et al., Nature 328:731 (1987) or Innis (Ed.), 1990, PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, Academic Press, New York, N.Y.] or the polymerase chain reaction method [PCR; Saiki et al., Science 239:487 (1988)], as exemplified by Daugherty et al. [Nucleic Acids Res. 19:2471 (1991)] to modify nucleic acids encoding the complete receptors.
  • the fusion proteins of the present invention may further comprise one or more additional polypeptide domains added to facilitate protein purification, to increase expression of the recombinant protein, or to increase the solubility of the recombinant protein.
  • additional polypeptide domains include, but are not limited to, metal chelating peptides such as histidine-tryptophan modules that allow purification on immobilized metals (Porath J (1992) Protein Expr Purif 3-0.26328 1), protein A domains that allow purification on immobilized immunoglobulin, and the domain utilized in the FLAGS extension/affinity purification system (Immunex Corp, Seattle, Wash.).
  • the inclusion of a cleavable linker sequence such as Factor Xa or enterokinase (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) between the purification domain and anti-GITR/OX40L is useful to facilitate purification.
  • Additional fusion expression vectors include pGEX (Pharmaci, a Piscataway, N.J.), pMAL (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.) and pRITS (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) which fuse glutathione S transferase (GST), maltose B binding protein, or protein A, respectively, to the target recombinant protein.
  • GST glutathione S transferase
  • EBV, BKV, and other episomal expression vectors can also be used.
  • retroviral and lentiviral expression vectors can also be used.
  • any one of a number of in vivo expression systems designed for high level expression of recombinant proteins within organisms can be invoked for producing the fusion proteins specified herein.
  • a fusion protein of the present invention may contain a heterologous signal sequence at its N-terminus.
  • expression and/or secretion of the fusion protein can be increased through use of a heterologous signal sequence.
  • Signal sequences are typically characterized by a core of hydrophobic amino acids, which are generally cleaved from the mature protein during secretion in one or more cleavage events.
  • Such signal peptides contain processing sites that allow cleavage of the signal sequence from the mature proteins as they pass through the secretory pathway.
  • the invention pertains to the described polypeptides having a signal sequence, as well as to polypeptides from which the signal sequence has been proteolytically cleaved (i.e., the cleavage products).
  • the fusion proteins of the present invention can also be modified to incorporate one or more polymorphisms in the amino acid sequence resulting from natural allelic variation. Additionally, D- amino acids, non-natural amino acids or non-amino acid analogues can be substituted or added to produce a modified fusion protein within the scope of this invention.
  • amino acid sequences of the present invention may be produced by expression of a nucleotide sequence coding for same in a suitable expression system.
  • the expression of natural or synthetic nucleic acids of the invention is typically achieved by operably linking a nucleic acid encoding the desired polypeptide or portions thereof to a promoter, and incorporating the construct into an expression vector.
  • the vectors can be suitable for replication and integration eukaryotes.
  • Typical cloning vectors contain transcription and translation terminators, initiation sequences, and promoters useful for regulation of the expression of the desired nucleic acid sequence.
  • the nucleic acid can be cloned into a number of types of vectors.
  • the nucleic acid can be cloned into a vector including, but not limited to a plasmid, a phagemid, a phage derivative, an animal virus, and a cosmid.
  • Vectors of particular interest include expression vectors, replication vectors, probe generation vectors, and sequencing vectors.
  • the expression vector may be provided to a cell in the form of a viral vector.
  • Viral vector technology is well known in the art and is described, for example, in Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY
  • Viruses which are useful as vectors include, but are not limited to, retroviruses, adenoviruses, adeno- associated viruses, herpes viruses, and lentiviruses.
  • a suitable vector contains an origin of replication functional in at least one organism, a promoter sequence, convenient restriction endonuclease sites, and one or more selectable markers, (e.g., WO 01/96584; WO 01/29058; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,193).
  • promoter elements e.g., enhancers
  • promoters regulate the frequency of transcriptional initiation.
  • these are located in the region 30-110 bp upstream of the start site, although a number of promoters have recently been shown to contain functional elements downstream of the start site as well.
  • the spacing between promoter elements frequently is flexible, so that promoter function is preserved when elements are inverted or moved relative to one another.
  • tk thymidine kinase
  • the spacing between promoter elements can be increased to 50 bp apart before activity begins to decline.
  • individual elements can function either cooperatively or independently to activate transcription.
  • An example of a promoter is the immediate early cytomegalovirus
  • CMV simian virus 40
  • MMTV mouse mammary tumor virus
  • HSV human immunodeficiency virus
  • LTR long terminal repeat
  • MoMuLV MoMuLV promoter
  • an avian leukemia virus promoter an Epstein-Barr virus immediate early promoter
  • Rous sarcoma virus promoter as well as human gene promoters such as, but not limited to, the actin promoter, the myosin promoter, the hemoglobin promoter, and the creatine kinase promoter.
  • inducible promoters are also contemplated as part of the invention.
  • the use of an inducible promoter provides a molecular switch capable of turning on expression of the polynucleotide sequence which it is operatively linked when such expression is desired, or turning off the expression when expression is not desired.
  • inducible promoters include, but are not limited to a metallothionine promoter, a glucocorticoid promoter, a progesterone promoter, and a tetracycline promoter.
  • the expression vector to be introduced into a cell can also contain either a selectable marker gene or a reporter gene or both to facilitate identification and selection of expressing cells from the population of cells sought to be transfected or infected through viral vectors.
  • the selectable marker may be carried on a separate piece of DNA and used in a co- transfection procedure. Both selectable markers and reporter genes may be flanked with appropriate regulatory sequences to enable expression in the host cells.
  • Useful selectable markers include, for example, antibiotic-resistance genes, such as neo and the like.
  • Reporter genes are used for identifying potentially transfected cells and for evaluating the functionality of regulatory sequences.
  • a reporter gene is a gene that is not present in or expressed by the recipient organism or tissue and that encodes a polypeptide whose expression is manifested by some easily detectable property, e.g., enzymatic activity. Expression of the reporter gene is assayed at a suitable time after the DNA has been introduced into the recipient cells.
  • Suitable reporter genes may include genes encoding luciferase, beta-galactosidase, chloramphenicol acetyl transferase, secreted alkaline phosphatase, or the green fluorescent protein gene (e.g., Ui-Tei et al., 2000 FEBS Letters 479: 79-82).
  • Suitable expression systems are well known and may be prepared using known techniques or obtained commercially.
  • the construct with the minimal 5' flanking region showing the highest level of expression of reporter gene is identified as the promoter.
  • Such promoter regions may be linked to a reporter gene and used to evaluate agents for the ability to modulate promoter- driven transcription.
  • the vector can be readily introduced into a host cell, e.g., mammalian, bacterial, yeast, or insect cell by any method in the art.
  • the expression vector can be transferred into a host cell by physical, chemical, or biological means.
  • Physical methods for introducing a polynucleotide into a host cell include calcium phosphate precipitation, lipofection, particle bombardment, microinjection, electroporation, and the like.
  • Methods for producing cells comprising vectors and/or exogenous nucleic acids are well-known in the art. See, for example, Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL volumes 1-3 (3 rd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, NY 2001).
  • Biological methods for introducing a polynucleotide of interest into a host cell include the use of DNA and RNA vectors.
  • Viral vectors, and especially retroviral vectors have become the most widely used method for inserting genes into mammalian, e.g., human cells.
  • Other viral vectors can be derived from lentivirus, poxviruses, herpes simplex virus I, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses, and the like. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,350,674 and 5,585,362.
  • Chemical means for introducing a polynucleotide into a host cell include colloidal dispersion systems, such as macromolecule complexes,
  • nanocapsules, microspheres, beads, and lipid-based systems including oil-in-water emulsions, micelles, mixed micelles, and liposomes.
  • An exemplary colloidal system for use as a delivery vehicle in vitro and in vivo is a liposome (e.g., an artificial membrane vesicle).
  • an exemplary delivery vehicle is a liposome.
  • the use of lipid formulations is contemplated for the introduction of the nucleic acids into a host cell (in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo).
  • the nucleic acid may be associated with a lipid.
  • the nucleic acid associated with a lipid may be encapsulated in the aqueous interior of a liposome, interspersed within the lipid bilayer of a liposome, attached to a liposome via a linking molecule that is associated with both the liposome and the oligonucleotide, entrapped in a liposome, complexed with a liposome, dispersed in a solution containing a lipid, mixed with a lipid, combined with a lipid, contained as a suspension in a lipid, contained or complexed with a micelle, or otherwise associated with a lipid.
  • Lipid, lipid/DNA or lipid/expression vector associated compositions are not limited to any particular structure in solution.
  • Lipids are fatty substances which may be naturally occurring or synthetic lipids.
  • lipids include the fatty droplets that naturally occur in the cytoplasm as well as the class of compounds which contain long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, such as fatty acids, alcohols, amines, amino alcohols, and aldehydes.
  • Lipids suitable for use can be obtained from commercial sources.
  • DMPC dimyristyl phosphatidylcholine
  • DCP dicetyl phosphate
  • Choi cholesterol
  • DMPG dimyristyl phosphatidylglycerol
  • Stock solutions of lipids in chloroform or chloroform/methanol can be stored at about -20°C. Chloroform is used as the only solvent since it is more readily evaporated than methanol.
  • Liposome is a generic term encompassing a variety of single and multilamellar lipid vehicles formed by the generation of enclosed lipid bilayers or aggregates. Liposomes can be characterized as having vesicular structures with a phospholipid bilayer membrane and an inner aqueous medium. Multilamellar liposomes have multiple lipid layers separated by aqueous medium. They form spontaneously when phospholipids are suspended in an excess of aqueous solution. The lipid components undergo self-rearrangement before the formation of closed structures and entrap water and dissolved solutes between the lipid bilayers (Ghosh et al., 1991 Glycobiology 5: 505-10).
  • compositions that have different structures in solution than the normal vesicular structure are also encompassed.
  • the lipids may assume a micellar structure or merely exist as nonuniform aggregates of lipid molecules.
  • lipofectamine- nucleic acid complexes are also contemplated.
  • the fusion protein itself can be produced using chemical methods to synthesize the desired amino acid sequence, in whole or in part.
  • polypeptides can be synthesized by solid phase techniques, cleaved from the resin, and purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography (e.g., Creighton (1983) Proteins Structures And Molecular Principles, WH Freeman and Co, New York N.Y.). The composition of the synthetic polypeptides may be confirmed by amino acid analysis or sequencing (e.g., the Edman degradation procedure).
  • the amino acid sequence of a fusion protein of the invention, or any part thereof may be altered during direct synthesis and/or combined using chemical methods with a sequence from other subunits, or any part thereof, to produce a variant polypeptide.
  • any one of several conventional assays for monitoring cytokine production, as a measure of immune cells activation and differentiation, can be invoked.
  • interleukin-2 can be employed as a marker, which can be assayed as described in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.
  • a host of such markers are known, detecting antibodies are broadly commercially available, and the markers are well known in the art.
  • a common assay for T cell proliferation entails measuring tritiated thymidine incorporation.
  • the proliferation of T cells can be measured in vitro by determining the amount of 3 H-labeled thymidine incorporated into the replicating DNA of cultured cells. Therefore, the rate of DNA synthesis and, in turn, the rate of cell division can be quantified.
  • Another assay for monitoring T cell proliferation is based on loading T cells with the CFSE dye, and subsequently monitoring by flow cytometry the dilution of this dye that accompanies successive cell divisions.
  • the bioactivity of the fusion protein of the invention can also be monitored by evaluating its capacity to inhibit the suppressive activity of
  • CD4+CD25+Treg cells suppresses CD25+Foxp3+ Treg conversion, enhance antitumor immunity, and the like.
  • the bioactivity of the fusion protein of the invention can also be monitored by evaluating whether costimulation with combined signals, such as GITR and OX40 signals, promote immune responses by (i) conferring resistance to Treg suppression (ii) inhibiting Treg suppressive activity, and (iii) inhibiting Treg induction.
  • combined signals such as GITR and OX40 signals
  • the bioactivity of the fusion protein of the invention can also be monitored by evaluating whether costimulation with combined signals, such as GITR and OX40 signals increase the number and/or killing function of tumor antigen- specific Teff cells involved in tumor regression.
  • the invention provides methods for attenuating Treg activity as well as stimulating T effector cell (Teff) activity. Accordingly, the fusion proteins of the invention have a wide therapeutic applicability in the treatment of a variety of diseases by modulating immune responses. In addition the fusion proteins agents can be used in conjunction with vaccines to enhance the immune response.
  • the fusion proteins of the invention can be used to increase Teff cell proliferation, interleukin-2 production, and NF- ⁇ signaling.
  • the fusion protein of the invention allows for dual signaling to at least two members of the tumor necrosis family receptor (TNFR) superfamily (e.g., GITR and OX40).
  • TNFR tumor necrosis family receptor
  • the dual signaling fusion protein of the invention that targets GITR and OX40 provides a significantly greater effect on Teff compared to if GITR and OX40 receptors were stimulated individually.
  • the fusion proteins of the invention can be used to attenuate Treg suppressive function and inhibit their generation via TGF- ⁇ induction.
  • the dual signaling fusion protein of the invention that targets GITR and OX40 provides a significantly greater effect on Treg compared to if GITR and OX40 receptors were stimulated individually.
  • the fusion proteins of the invention can be used as an anti-cancer agent because as demonstrated elsewhere herein, co-engagement of GITR and OX40 receptors using the fusion protein of the invention slows tumor growth and significantly enhances survival compared to engaging the receptors individually. In one embodiment, the fusion proteins of the invention can be used to enhance cytotoxicity of CD 8+ T cells.
  • the present invention is also directed to methods for treating a patient for an illness comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a fusion protein of the present invention.
  • Various illnesses can be treated according to the present methods, including but not limited to cancer, such as ovarian carcinoma, breast carcinoma, colon carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, prostate carcinoma, and leukemia; viral infections, such as chronic viral infections with HBV, HCV, HTLV-1, HTLV-II, EBV, HSV-I, HSV-II, and KSHV; and bone marrow myelodysplastic syndromes.
  • cancer examples include but are not limited to, carcinoma, lymphoma, blastoma, sarcoma, and leukemia or lymphoid malignancies. More particular examples of such cancers include kidney or renal cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer including small-cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma of the lung and squamous carcinoma of the lung, squamous cell cancer (e.g.
  • epithelial squamous cell cancer cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, cancer of the peritoneum, hepatocellular cancer, gastric or stomach cancer including gastrointestinal cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), pancreatic cancer, head and neck cancer, glioblastoma, retinoblastoma, astrocytoma, thecomas, arrhenoblastomas, hepatoma, hematologic malignancies including non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma and acute hematologic malignancies, endometrial or uterine carcinoma, endometriosis, fibrosarcomas, choriocarcinoma, salivary gland carcinoma, vulvar cancer, thyroid cancer, esophageal carcinomas, hepatic carcinoma, anal carcinoma, penile carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, laryngeal carcinomas, Kaposi's sarcoma
  • Tumor refers to all neoplastic cell growth and proliferation, whether malignant or benign, and all pre-cancerous and cancerous cells and tissues.
  • fusion proteins of the present invention can optionally be administered to a patient in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents.
  • chemotherapeutic agents include, for example, alkylating agents such as thiotepa and cyclosphosphamide; alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, improsulfan and piposulfan; aziridines such as benzodopa, carboquone, meturedopa, and uredopa; ethylenimines and methylamelamines including altretamine, triethylenemelamine, trietylenephosphoramide,
  • triethylenethiophosphaoramide and trimethylolomelamine nitrogen mustards such as chlorambucil, chlornaphazine, cholophosphamide, estramustine, ifosfamide, mechlorethamine, mechlorethamine oxide hydrochloride, melphalan, novembichin, phenesterine, prednimustine, trofosfamide, uracil mustard; nitrosureas such as carmustine, chlorozotocin, fotemustine, lomustine, nimustine, ranimustine; antibiotics such as aclacinomysins, actinomycin, authramycin, azaserine, bleomycins, cactinomycin, calicheamicin, carabicin, caminomycin, carzinophilin, chromomycins, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleu
  • elformithine elliptinium acetate; etoglucid; gallium nitrate; hydroxyurea; lentinan; lonidamine; mitoguazone; mitoxantrone; mopidamol; nitracrine; pentostatin;
  • phenamet pirarubicin; podophyllinic acid; 2-ethylhydrazide; procarbazine; PSKTM; razoxane; sizofiran; spirogermanium; tenuazonic acid; triaziquone; 2, 2',2"- trichlorotriethylamine; urethan; vindesine; dacarbazine; mannomustine; mitobronitol; mitolactol; pipobroman; gacytosine; arabinoside ("Ara-C"); cyclophosphamide; thiotepa; taxanes, e.g.
  • paclitaxel (TAXOLTM, Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology, Princeton, N.J.) and docetaxel (TAXOTERETM, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France); chlorambucil; gemcitabine; 6-thioguanine; mercaptopurine; methotrexate; platinum analogs such as cisplatin and carboplatin; vinblastine; platinum; etoposide (VP-16); ifosfamide; mitomycin C; mitoxantrone; vincristine; vinorelbine; navelbine; novantrone; teniposide; daunomycin; aminopterin; xeloda; ibandronate; CPT-11; topoisomerase inhibitor RFS 2000; difluorome thy lorni thine (DMFO); retinoic acid; esperamicins, capecitabine; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the
  • Administration of the therapeutic composition in accordance with the present invention may be continuous or intermittent, depending, for example, upon the recipient' s physiological condition, whether the purpose of the administration is therapeutic or prophylactic, and other factors known to skilled practitioners.
  • the administration of the compositions of the invention may be essentially continuous over a preselected period of time or may be in a series of spaced doses. Both local and systemic administration is contemplated.
  • the amount administered will vary depending on various factors including, but not limited to, the composition chosen, the particular disease, the weight, the physical condition, and the age of the mammal, and whether prevention or treatment is to be achieved. Such factors can be readily determined by the clinician employing animal models or other test systems which are well known to the art
  • One or more suitable unit dosage forms having the therapeutic agent(s) of the invention which, as discussed below, may optionally be formulated for sustained release (for example using microencapsulation, see WO 94/07529, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,091 the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein), can be administered by a variety of routes including parenteral, including by intravenous and intramuscular routes, as well as by direct injection into the diseased tissue.
  • the therapeutic agent may be directly injected into the tumor.
  • the formulations may, where appropriate, be conveniently presented in discrete unit dosage forms and may be prepared by any of the methods well known to pharmacy. Such methods may include the step of bringing into association the therapeutic agent with liquid carriers, solid matrices, semi-solid carriers, finely divided solid carriers or combinations thereof, and then, if necessary, introducing or shaping the product into the desired delivery system.
  • the therapeutic agents of the invention are prepared for administration, they are preferably combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient to form a pharmaceutical formulation, or unit dosage form.
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier diluent or excipient to form a pharmaceutical formulation, or unit dosage form.
  • the total active ingredients in such formulations include from 0.1 to 99.9% by weight of the formulation.
  • a "pharmaceutically acceptable” is a carrier, diluent, excipient, and/or salt that is compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation, and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.
  • the active ingredient for administration may be present as a powder or as granules; as a solution, a suspension or an emulsion.
  • compositions containing the therapeutic agents of the invention can be prepared by procedures known in the art using well known and readily available ingredients.
  • the therapeutic agents of the invention can also be formulated as solutions appropriate for parenteral administration, for instance by intramuscular, subcutaneous or intravenous routes.
  • the pharmaceutical formulations of the therapeutic agents of the invention can also take the form of an aqueous or anhydrous solution or dispersion, or alternatively the form of an emulsion or suspension.
  • the therapeutic agent may be formulated for parenteral administration (e.g., by injection, for example, bolus injection or continuous infusion) and may be presented in unit dose form in ampules, pre-filled syringes, small volume infusion containers or in multi-dose containers with an added preservative.
  • the active ingredients may take such forms as suspensions, solutions, or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents.
  • the active ingredients may be in powder form, obtained by aseptic isolation of sterile solid or by lyophilization from solution, for constitution with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile, pyrogen- free water, before use.
  • the unit content of active ingredient or ingredients contained in an individual aerosol dose of each dosage form need not in itself constitute an effective amount for treating the particular indication or disease since the necessary effective amount can be reached by administration of a plurality of dosage units. Moreover, the effective amount may be achieved using less than the dose in the dosage form, either individually, or in a series of administrations.
  • the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention may include, as optional ingredients, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, solubilizing or emulsifying agents, and salts of the type that are well-known in the art.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable carriers such as phosphate buffered saline solutions pH 7.0-8.0.
  • the expression vectors, transduced cells, polynucleotides and polypeptides (active ingredients) of this invention can be formulated and administered to treat a variety of disease states by any means that produces contact of the active ingredient with the agent's site of action in the body of the organism. They can be administered by any conventional means available for use in conjunction with pharmaceuticals, either as individual therapeutic active ingredients or in a
  • therapeutic active ingredients They can be administered alone, but are generally administered with a pharmaceutical carrier selected on the basis of the chosen route of administration and standard pharmaceutical practice.
  • water, suitable oil, saline, aqueous dextrose (glucose), and related sugar solutions and glycols such as propylene glycol or polyethylene glycols are suitable carriers for parenteral solutions.
  • Solutions for parenteral administration contain the active ingredient, suitable stabilizing agents and, if necessary, buffer substances.
  • Antioxidizing agents such as sodium bisulfate, sodium sulfite or ascorbic acid, either alone or combined, are suitable stabilizing agents.
  • parenteral solutions can contain preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride, methyl- or propyl-paraben and chlorobutanol.
  • Suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, a standard reference text in this field.
  • the active ingredients of the invention may be formulated to be suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable composition suitable for use in mammals and in particular, in humans.
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable composition suitable for use in mammals and in particular, in humans.
  • Such formulations include the use of adjuvants such as muramyl dipeptide derivatives (MDP) or analogs that are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,082,735; 4,082,736; 4,101,536; 4,185,089; 4,235,771; and 4,406,890.
  • Other adjuvants, which are useful include alum (Pierce Chemical Co.), lipid A, trehalose dimycolate and dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA), Freund's adjuvant, and IL-12.
  • Other components may include a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block polymer (Pluronic®), a non-ionic surfactant, and a metabolizable oil such as squalene (U.S. Patent No. 4,606,918).
  • Pluronic® polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block polymer
  • non-ionic surfactant such as squalene
  • metabolizable oil such as squalene
  • control release preparations can include appropriate macromolecules, for example polymers, polyesters, polyamino acids, polyvinyl, pyrolidone, ethylenevinylacetate, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose or protamine sulfate.
  • concentration of macromolecules as well as the methods of incorporation can be adjusted in order to control release.
  • the agent can be incorporated into particles of polymeric materials such as polyesters, polyamino acids, hydrogels, poly (lactic acid) or ethylenevinylacetate copolymers. In addition to being incorporated, these agents can also be used to trap the compound in microcapsules.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be delivered via various routes and to various sites in a mammal body to achieve a particular effect (see, e.g., Rosenfeld et al., 1991; Rosenfeld et al., 1991a; Jaffe et al., supra; Berkner, supra).
  • Rosenfeld et al., 1991; Rosenfeld et al., 1991a; Jaffe et al., supra; Berkner, supra One skilled in the art will recognize that although more than one route can be used for administration, a particular route can provide a more immediate and more effective reaction than another route.
  • Local or systemic delivery can be accomplished by administration comprising application or instillation of the formulation into body cavities, inhalation or insufflation of an aerosol, or by parenteral introduction, comprising intramuscular, intravenous, peritoneal, subcutaneous, intradermal, as well as topical administration.
  • each dosage unit e.g., a teaspoonful, tablet, solution, or suppository
  • each dosage unit e.g., a teaspoonful, tablet, solution, or suppository
  • unit dosage form refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for human and mammal subjects, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of the compositions of the present invention, alone or in combination with other active agents, calculated in an amount sufficient to produce the desired effect, in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, or vehicle, where appropriate.
  • the specifications for the unit dosage forms of the present invention depend on the particular effect to be achieved and the particular pharmacodynamics associated with the pharmaceutical composition in the particular host.
  • compositions can be further approximated through analogy to compounds known to exert the desired effect.
  • Example 1 Fusion Protein-Mediated Co-triggering of the GITR and QX40 Receptors Differentially Regulates Regulatory and Effector T Cells
  • T cell-centered cancer immunotherapeutic strategies have been geared towards enhancing effector T (Teff) cell responses or inhibiting the regulatory T (Treg) cells that can suppress these responses.
  • Teff effector T
  • Treg regulatory T
  • the experiments disclosed herein relates to the consequences of co-triggering these receptors with a dual- signaling fusion protein, anti-GITR Ab-OX40L.
  • CT26 and 4T1 tumor cell lines were purchased from ATCC
  • Line CT26 is a N-nitroso-N-methylurethane induced colon carcinoma cell line from BALB/c mice.
  • Line 4T1 is a thioguanine-resistant metastatic variant of 410.4, a spontaneously arising mammary tumor from BALB/cfC3H mice (Aslakson and Miller, 1992, Cancer Res. 52: 1399-1405).
  • BALB/c mice were purchased from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME) and used at 6-12 weeks of age. Animal care protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Thomas Jefferson University.
  • CT26 cells (1 x 10 6 ) or 4T1 (5 x 10 5 ) were resuspended in PBS and inoculated subcutaneously (s.c.) into the shaved flank of BALB/c mice.
  • Tumor diameter was measured by electronic caliper every 2-3 d, measuring length and width at their longest points, and tumor volume was determined by length x (width) 2 12.
  • Tumors measuring 3-5 mm in diameter each received an intratumoral injection of 108 nM of anti-GITR Ab-OX40L (25 ⁇ g) or control fusion protein and fusion protein injections were repeated on alternating days for a total of 5 treatments.
  • Surviving mice tumor free after 5 weeks were re- challenged with tumor cells (1 x 10 6 ) injected s.c. in the opposite flank to insure tumor regression was mediated by anti-tumor immune responses.
  • the 293 T cell line a highly transfectable derivative of the HEK293 cell line expressing SV40 T antigen, was purchased from ATCC and cultured in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).
  • the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-S cell line was purchased from Invitrogen and cultured in DMEM/F-12 with 10% FBS.
  • sequences encoding full- length mouse GITR or OX40 were cloned into pMFzeo and pMFneo (Tone et al., 2008, Nat. Immunol. 9: 194-202), respectively, and then transfected into 293T cells selected with zeocin and/or G418 antibiotics.
  • the fusion protein anti-GITR AbOX40L consists of a 3-polypeptide unit ( Figure 1).
  • the central polypeptide of this unit is composed of fused sequence elements beginning with the VH and CHI domains of anti-GITR mAb, the hinge region of human IgGl (EPKSCDKTHTCPPCP; SEQ ID NO: 3), the C H2 and C H3 domains of aglycosyl human IgGl, a second IgGl hinge region, and the extracellular domain of murine OX40L (amino acids 50-198), arrayed sequentially ( Figure 9A).
  • the chimeric sequence encoding the full-length fusion protein was then sub-cloned into the mammalian expression vector pMFneo, enabling G418 selection.
  • the second construct consists of the cDNA sequence encoding the ⁇ light chain of the same YGITR765 mAb (V K and C K domains) cloned into pMFblas, enabling blasticidin selection.
  • the third construct consists of fused sequence elements encoding an eight amino acid strep-tag (WSHPQFEK; SEQ ID NO: 4), a human IgGl hinge region, and murine OX40L's extracellular domain cloned into pMFzeo, enabling zeocin selection.
  • WSHPQFEK eight amino acid strep-tag
  • SEQ ID NO: 4 a human IgGl hinge region
  • murine OX40L's extracellular domain cloned into pMFzeo, enabling zeocin selection.
  • CHO-S cells were co- transfected with each expression plasmid for their respective units and selected for stable transfectants using a combination of G418 (Mediatech, Inc.), blasticidin and zeocin (Invitrogen) antibiotics. Fusion protein was purified from culture supernatants using protein A agarose beads ( Figure 9B).
  • Agents were also produced for individually triggering GITR and OX40 receptors, namely, anti-GITR-hFc Y i and hFc Y iOX40L ( Figure IB).
  • Human Fc Y i hFc Y i
  • Mouse (m) GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ and mOX40-hFc ⁇ ⁇ decoy fusion proteins are composed of the extracellular domains of mouse GITR (aa 20-152) and mouse OX40 (aa 20-211), respectively, fused to the hinge, C and CH3 domains of aglycosyl human IgGl and subcloned into pMFneo.
  • fusion proteins were incubated with OX40/293T transfectants and analyzed in the same manner.
  • pNF-i B-Luc (Clontech) plasmid (5 ⁇ g) and phRL-TK (Promega) plasmid (2 ⁇ g) were co- transfected into lxlO 7 GITR+OX40/293T cells by Gene Pulser Xcell (BioRad). 5 h after electroporation, cells were cultured with anti- GITR Ab.OX40L fusion protein or component ends at two concentrations (5.4 and 10.8 nM) for 24 h.
  • CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells were isolated from the spleens of female BALB/c mice, 8-10 weeks of age, by negative selection using subset specific isolation kits (Miltenyi Biotec).
  • APCs were isolated from BALB/c splenocytes using CD l ib Microbeads (Miltenyi).
  • Purified T cells (2 x 10 5 cells/well) were cultured with soluble anti-CD3 (145-2C11, 0.25 ⁇ g/ml)/anti-CD28 (37.51, ⁇ g/ml) mAbs and mitomycin C-treated APC (6 x 10 5 cells/well) in the presence of anti-GITR
  • T cells To measure IL-2 production by T cells, purified CD4 + T cells (2 x 10 5 cells/well) were cultured for 48 h in triplicate in round-bottom 96-well plates with fusion proteins and protein A agarose beads (2 x 10 5 beads/well) coated with anti-CD3 mAb. Supernatants were collected and IL-2 levels determined by a Ready-Set-Go ELISA (eBioscience). T cell suppression assay
  • CD4 + CD25 + and CD4 + CD25 " T cell subsets were purified from spleen and lymph node cells by cell sorting (BD Aria). Purity of these populations was typically 97% or greater.
  • CD4 + CD25 + T cells (5xl0 4 /well) were co-cultured with CD4 + CD25 ⁇ T cells (5xl0 4 /well) in the presence of T cell-depleted ⁇ -irradiated splenocytes as APC (1.5xl0 5 /well), 25 ng/ml anti-CD3 (145-2C11) mAb and 1 ⁇ anti-CD28 (37.51) mAb in 96-well round-bottom plates.
  • CD4 + CD25 + T cells were pre-incubated with fusion protein at 20 ⁇ g/ml (87nM) for 2 hours, washed 3 times with media, and added to co-cultures of CD4 + CD25 ⁇ T cells, as described herein.
  • CD25 + CD4 ⁇ T cells were purified from BALB/c splenocytes by cell sorting (BD Aria) and analyzed for purity by flow cytometry (> 97%).
  • CD25 + CD4 " cells (5 x 10 4 /well) were cultured for 72 h in 96-well plates with plate-bound anti-CD3 (1 ⁇ g/ml) and soluble anti-CD28 (2 ⁇ g/ml) mAb in the presence of 5 ng/ml TGF- ⁇ (Peprotech). Fusion protein was added to the cultures as indicated.
  • Cells were harvested for flow cytometry and stained with fluorochrome- conjugated anti-CD4, anti-CD25 and anti-Foxp3 mAb (permeabilized to detect intracellular expression; eBioscience), counting the number of CD25 + , Foxp3 + double -positive cells within the CD4 + gated population.
  • LDH lactate dehydrogenase
  • anti-CD8 microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec) were used to purify CD8 + T cells from the spleen and draining lymph nodes of tumor-bearing mice treated with anti-GITR Ab.OX40L or anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ and hFc yl -OX40L fusion proteins. These CD8 + effector cells were incubated for 4 h in 96 well round bottom plates with CT26 target cells (5 x 10 3 /well) at different effectontarget ratios. To control for spontaneous LDH release, additional wells were set up containing effectors cells only, target cells only, target cell maximal release, and media only.
  • cytotoxity detection kit (Roche) measuring LDH released into supernatants was used, following the manufacturer's instructions. Using the LDH OD values, and subtracting for media alone, the formula for calculating percent CTL cytotoxicity is: [(experimental, effector + target release) - (effector spontaneous release) - (target spontaneous release)] / [(target maximal release) - (target spontaneous release)] x 100.
  • the fusion protein anti-GITR Ab.OX40L was generated, which combines an agonistic Ab component for GITR triggering together with a derivative of OX40L' s extracellular domain for OX40 triggering.
  • the decision to use an Ab as one of the fusion protein components was driven by the fact that native GITR ligand (GITRL) and OX40L are both type II membrane proteins, making chimerization of their respective extracellular domains problematic.
  • GITRL native GITR ligand
  • OX40L are both type II membrane proteins, making chimerization of their respective extracellular domains problematic.
  • An Ab-ligand fusion provides for a convenient type I-II protein fusion.
  • Anti-GITR Ab.OX40L consists of a 3-polypeptide unit, schematized in Figure 1A.
  • the central polypeptide of this unit consists of four tandemly- arrayed sequence elements: the VH and CHI domains of the agonistic rat IgG2b anti-GITR mAb (hybridoma clone YGITR765), the hinge, Cm and CH3 domains of aglycosyl human IgGl, a second hinge region, and the extracellular domain of murine OX40L.
  • the second polypeptide consists of the ⁇ light chain of the same YGITR765 mAb (V K and C K domains).
  • the third polypeptide consists of a strep-tagged derivative of murine OX40L's extracellular domain.
  • the 3- polypeptide unit features: (i) two Ab binding sites for GITR, (ii) an OX40L trimer at the opposite end, and (iii) a human Fc (hFc) component in the middle, allowing for efficient purification by protein-A chromatography ( Figure IB).
  • expression plasmids for the respective units were co-transfected into CHO cells, each carrying a distinct antibiotic-resistance gene that together allowed for selection of all three.
  • a representative sequence of the polypeptide units of the fusion protein is as follows:
  • DTA-1 Heavy Chain-human IgG-mouse OX40L (SEQ ID NO: 5)
  • amino acid sequence comprises, respectively, as illustrated above, VR and CHI domains of anti-GITR mAb, the hinge region of human IgGl
  • amino acid sequence comprises, respectively, as illustrated above, the eight amino acid strep-tag (SEQ ID NO: 4), a human IgGl hinge region, and murine OX40L' s extracellular domain
  • Native OX40L the ligand for OX40, is comprised of three identical subunits, although functional dimeric variants of OX40L have been reported (Sadun et al., 2008, J. Immunother. 31:235-245; Zubairi et al., 2004, Eur. J. Immunol.
  • Anti-GITR Ab-OX40L- expressing CHO cell transfectants were generated, designated (D) for dimer and (T) for trimer.
  • Anti-GITR Ab-OX40L (D) transfectants bear only two coding sequences: (i) the central polypeptide unit linking anti-GITR mAb heavy chain, hFc ⁇ ⁇ and OX40L sequences, and (ii) anti-GITR mAb light chain.
  • Anti-GITR Ab.OX40L (T) transfectants include the third polypeptide expressing strep-tag OX40L.
  • the anti- GITR Ab.OX40L (D) transfectants contain exclusively dimeric OX40L (along with dimeric Ig heavy/light chain at the other end of the fusion protein).
  • anti- GITR Ab.OX40L (T) transfectants have the potential to produce a mixture of both dimeric and trimeric OX40L derivatives.
  • the presence of the trimeric variant was substantiated using a sandwich ELISA in which an anti-human Fc mAb is used as capture Ab and anti- strep-tag mAb is used as detecting Ab.
  • attempts to purify trimeric anti-GITR Ab-OX40L using anti-strep-tag affinity chromatography gave low yields.
  • Anti-GITR Ab-QX40L provides costimulatory signals for T cell proliferation
  • TNF receptor family members including GITR and OX40, are expressed at high levels on activated CD4 + T cell surfaces (Watts, 2005, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 23:23-68). Triggering of either one delivers a potent costimulatory signal, leading to increased proliferation, cytokine production or memory cell generation (Nocentini and Riccardi, 2009, Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 647:156-173; Prell et al., 2003, J. Immunol. 171:5997-6005).
  • a control hFc ⁇ 1 protein derivative induced no increase in proliferation above the basal levels seen with paired anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAb, ruling out the possibility that the hFc components of anti- GITR-hFc ji and anti-GITR Ab.OX40L are themselves responsible for the observed enhancement of CD4 + T cell proliferation.
  • anti-GITR Ab.OX40L and anti- GITR-hFc ji each increased CD8 + T cell proliferation when compared to non-treated controls, albeit with dose-dependence apparent at only the lower concentrations (Figure 2B).
  • hFc y iOX40L did not costimulate CD8 + T cells, and in fact appeared to inhibit proliferation.
  • anti-GITR Ab-OX40L and anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ exhibit similar potency for CD8 + T cell proliferation suggests that co-triggering of GITR and OX40 receptors by anti-GITR Ab-OX40L may overcome inhibitory effects associated with isolated OX40 signaling.
  • no significant differences between fusion proteins produced by dimeric or trimeric transfectants in terms of their effects on CD8 + T cell proliferation was observed.
  • anti-GITR Ab-OX40L was compared to its components (anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ and hFC y iOX40L), in the context as single agents alone or in combination.
  • Combining anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ and hFC y iOX40L as an equimolar mixture increased CD4 + T cell proliferation above basal levels induced by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAbs (Figure 3A), but not significantly more than anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ alone, suggesting there was no functional advantage in this setting.
  • hFC y iOX40L (T) alone had no costimulatory activity, and yet when paired with anti-GITR triggering as part of an anti-GITR Ab-OX40L fusion protein, the combined signaling is much more potent than anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ costimulation alone.
  • This latter finding implies that (i) membrane anchoring of ligands, achieved through adjacent receptor bridging, enhances signaling effects, and/or (ii) when co-triggering occurs on the same T cell surface, combined OX40 and GITR signaling substantially improves the proliferative response.
  • IL-2 production is critical for T cell clonal expansion and memory, while limited amounts of IL-2 favor Treg cell functions and immune tolerance (Shevach, 2009, Immunity 30: 636-645; Thornton et al., 2004, J. Immunol. 172:6519- 6523; Malek and Castro, 2010, Immunity 33: 153-165). Therefore, to help determine the mechanism of enhanced T cell proliferation induced by anti-GITR Ab-OX40L versus its components (anti-GITR-hFc yl / hFc yl -OX40L), IL-2 levels in CD4 + T cell cultures activated by anti-CD3 mAb-coated microbeads were measured.
  • Cultures costimulated with anti-GITR Ab-OX40L contained 5-fold more IL-2 than those activated with anti-GITR mAb (DTA-1), anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ 1 or hFc yl -OX40L and 2- fold more than anti-CD28 mAb at 1 ⁇ g/ml ( Figure 3B).
  • T cell cultures costimulated with anti-GITR Ab-OX40L (T) contained nearly 3 -fold more IL-2 than those with combined anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ 1 and hFc y iOX40L.
  • potential bridging of GITR and OX40 receptors on T cell surfaces with anti-GITR Ab.OX40L is a potent driver of IL-2 production, and the higher IL-2 levels may be contributing to the previously observed increase in T cell proliferation.
  • decoy receptors as blocking agents was used.
  • two decoy receptors were invoked, mGITR-hFC yi and mOX40-hFc y i, which interfere with OX40L:OX40 and GITRL:GITR interactions, respectively (Nocentini et al., 2007, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1107:380-391; Burgess et al., 2004, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 113 :683-689).
  • TNF receptor-associated (TRAF) proteins activate the transcription factor NF- ⁇ through cognate TNF receptor-associated (TRAF) proteins. Consequently, to mechanistically probe anti-GITR Ab-OX40L effects, experiments were designed to determine whether this fusion protein could up-regulate NF- ⁇ -driven transcription. This was accomplished by co- transfecting a pNF-i B-luciferase reporter into HEK 293T cells stably transfected to co-express OX40 and GITR receptors.
  • TNF receptor-associated (TRAF) proteins Consequently, to mechanistically probe anti-GITR Ab-OX40L effects, experiments were designed to determine whether this fusion protein could up-regulate NF- ⁇ -driven transcription. This was accomplished by co- transfecting a pNF-i B-luciferase reporter into HEK 293T cells stably transfected to co-express OX40 and GITR receptors.
  • Ab-OX40L fusion protein is functioning to bridge and co-signal through neighboring receptors on the same cell.
  • Anti-GITR Ab-OX40L inhibits the suppressive activity of CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells
  • Treg cells within tumor microenvironments are believed to be a critical factor in blunting effective anti-tumor immune responses.
  • Teff cells to highly purified Treg cells
  • the functional consequences of GITR and OX40 co-triggering induced by dual-signaling fusion protein were examined.
  • Splenic CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells inhibited the proliferation of CD4 + CD25 ⁇ T responder cells stimulated with soluble anti-CD3/28 and mytomycin C-treated APC by approximately 60%, and adding anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ and hFc
  • the source of immunosuppressive Treg within tumors is two-fold; arising from the recruitment and expansion of naturally occurring Treg and induced through the conversion of CD4 + Foxp3 ⁇ T cell precursors in the presence of TGF .
  • the simultaneous triggering of the OX40 and GITR axes was evaluated.
  • CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells from naive precursors was used (Tone et al., 2008, Nat. Immunol. 9: 194-202).
  • T cells activated for 3 days in the presence of TGF convert to CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells ( Figure 6A, no protein).
  • anti-GITR Ab-OX40L at the start of the culture period inhibited Treg conversion up to 50%, whereas anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ and hFc 1 ,i-OX40L (or mAbs targeting GITR [DTA-1] or OX40 [OX-86] receptors), added separately or in combination, were much less effective at suppressing Treg generation ( Figures. 6A and 6B). As little as 1.0 ⁇ g/ml (4.3 nM) anti-GITR Ab.OX40L was able to inhibit Treg conversion and its activity was dose-dependent. Taken together, costimulation with combined GITR and OX40 signals may promote immune responses by (i) conferring resistance to Treg suppression (ii) inhibiting Treg suppressive activity, and (iii) inhibiting Treg induction.
  • hFc y iOX40L also demonstrated anti-tumor effects, as previously shown by others.
  • the treatment amount was tailored to best demonstrate the disparity between mono- versus co-triggered GITR and OX40 receptors.
  • Chimeric anti-GITR Ab.OX40L was used to evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneously engaging GITR and OX40 receptors on the same cell.
  • Intra-tumoral injection of anti-GITR Ab.OX40L (used at the same molar equivalent as single components) markedly slowed tumor growth and increased survival ( Figures. 7A, 7B, and 7C), however, anti-tumor responses were only marginally better than the combination of individual components.
  • an aggressive breast carcinoma cell line (4T1) injected subcutaneously to induce tumors in syngeneic BALB/c mice.
  • GITR and OX40 receptors are expressed by activated CD4 + T helper (Th) cells and CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) cells alike, and both cell types are essential for immune-mediated tumor regression (Yu and Fu, 2006, Lab. Invest. 86:231-245; Disis et al., 2009, Lancet 373: 673-683).
  • Th T helper
  • CTL cytotoxic T lymphocytes
  • anti-tumor cytolytic activity has been associated with tumor Ag-specific CD8 + CTL killing (Kedar and Weiss, 1983, Adv. Cancer Res. 38: 171-287; Whiteside, 2010, J. Allergy Clin.
  • CD8 + T cells were isolated from the spleens of tumor-bearing mice treated with i.t. injections of anti-GITR Ab-OX40L and individual components, delivered separately or in combination.
  • CD8 + T cells were mixed with CT26 tumor cell targets at various effectontarget ratios (CD8 + T:CT26 of 10: 1, 5: 1, 2.5: 1) and the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from lysed targets was used to evaluate the magnitude of tumor cell killing (Andre et al., 2004, J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:27-30).
  • T cells mediate tumor regression, in part, by producing Thl cytokines such as IFN- ⁇ (Ko et al., 2005, J.
  • anti-GITR Ab-OX40L is a potent inducer of IFN- ⁇ secretion in both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, but it did not demonstrate greater activity than individual ligand triggers, added alone or in combination.
  • anti-GITR Ab.OX40L by co-triggering GITR and OX40 receptors, acts primarily to increase the number and/or killing function of tumor antigen-specific Teff cells involved in tumor regression.
  • Multi-functional fusion proteins have emerged as useful agents for modulating both the generation and function of diverse immune cell types. Over the years, several new classes of fusion proteins for these purposes have been introduced, which feature abilities to convert intercellular signals, generate auto-signals at cell surfaces, and coordinately deliver dual signals to individual cells. The paradigmatic fusion proteins mediating these functions were designed primarily with single selected cell targets in mind.
  • the chimeric protein of the present invention was designed for coordinate modulation of two distinct cellular subsets, and with an eye towards amplifying functional effects. For example, this protein co-triggers in a reinforcing way two receptors of the TNF receptor superfamily, GITR and OX40, and in so doing, inhibits Treg cells and activates Teff cells in parallel. This coordinate cellular modulatory capacity has yielded an interesting new type of 'fusion protein immunoadjuvant', with downstream therapeutic potential in clinical contexts where immunopotentiaion is desired, for example, vaccination and cancer treatment.
  • Anti-GITR Ab.OX40L was engineered by linking derivatives of an agonistic GITR-directed Ab and OX40L's extracellular domain, with the chimeric product capable of co-triggering GITR and OX40 receptors. While co-triggering can also be achieved by co-delivering the parental agonistic GITR-directed Ab and an Fc y i derivative of OX40L, the chimeric anti-GITR Ab.OX40L protein proved significantly more effective than the anti-GITR Ab + Fc Y rOX40L ligand mixture with respect to (1) inducing CD4 + T cell proliferation in vitro, (2) stimulating IL-2 production, (3) inducing NFKB transcriptional activity, (4) promoting CTL cytotoxic activity, (5) inhibiting the suppressive activity of CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells, and (6) inhibiting the generation CD4 FoxP3 Treg cells from Ag-induced naive precursors. In addition, co-triggering of OX40 and GITR receptors, whether via anti-GITR Ab
  • Anti-GITR Ab.OX40L bridges OX40 and GITR receptors on the same cell and thereby yield functional synergy.
  • the evidence for this synergy emerged from in vitro proliferation assays.
  • hFc Y iOX40L alone did little to enhance proliferation ( Figures 2A and 3 A).
  • anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ alone did enhance CD4 + T cell proliferation, consistent with the established role of GITR triggering in TCR-induced T cell expansion (Nocentini et al., 2007, Eur. J. Immunol. 37: 1165-
  • Treg-mediated suppression assays Further evidence for enhanced fusion protein efficacy emerged from Treg-mediated suppression assays. At the concentrations used in this study, anti- GITR-hFc ⁇ or hFc Y iOX40L, used individually, did little to mitigate Treg suppressive activity. While adding them together did diminish Treg-mediated suppression (Figure 5A), their fusion protein counterpart, anti-GITR Ab.OX40L, was significantly more effective, with the indication that it not only abrogates Treg suppression, but also simultaneously drives T responder cell proliferation.
  • the chimerization advantage was also apparent with respect to Treg generation. Triggering of OX40 individually, but not GITR, has been reported to suppress induced Treg conversion (Ndhlovu et al., 2004, Crit. Rev. Immunol. 24:251- 266; So et al., 2008, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 19:253-262; Vu et al., 2007, Blood 110:2501-2510). At the concentrations used in this study, anti-GITR-hFc ⁇ ⁇ and hFc y iOX40L, added alone or in combination, showed minimal activity of this kind. By contrast, anti-GITR Ab-OX40L blocked Treg conversion up to 50%. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a chimerization advantage for this particular co-triggering pair across a variety of immune functional endpoints.
  • the findings shed some light on mechanisms, as reflected in the diverse set of observed co-triggering effects for this novel fusion protein.
  • the constellation of enhanced in vitro functional activities associated with anti-GITR Ab.OX40L triggering raise the prospect that it may act in vivo to simultaneously activate various Teff subsets and inhibit the generation and function of Treg cells, thereby serving to tip the balance between immune effectors and regulators within tumor microenvironments.
  • simultaneous engagement of GITR and OX40 has the potential to: (i) expand the pool of the tumor Ag-specific Teff cells, (ii) enhance the cytotoxic activity of CD8 + CTLs and expand their numbers, (iii) inhibit Treg suppression, either directly, or by driving increased IL-2 production to counteract suppression (Shevach, 2009, Immunity 30: 636-645), and (iv) prevent the conversion of CD4 + CD25 " Th cells into Treg cells.
  • anti-GITR Ab.OX40L points to the functional advantages of dual- signaling fusion proteins targeting lymphoid cells, whether effectors or regulators.
  • the fusion proteins of the invention can be used beyond lymphoid cells to other key immune effectors, such as antigen-presenting cells.
  • other dual- signaling proteins with cis loop-back and/or bi-directional signaling capacities, that activate DC or inhibit the tolerogenic activity of tumor-associated macrophages.
  • the future prospects for dual- signaling fusion proteins for cancer therapy are considerable.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des protéines de fusion qui agissent sur la voie de signalisation du gène lié à la famille du TNFR induit par les glucocorticoïdes et d'OX40. Les protéines de l'invention sont utiles pour moduler à la fois les lymphocytes T régulateurs et les lymphocytes T effecteurs. Des signes évidents issus de systèmes de modèles indiquent des mécanismes de surveillance immunitaire qui peuvent reconnaître et éliminer les cellules cancéreuses. Pourtant, des cancers établis résistent fréquemment à l'éradication immunitaire, ce qui peut être attribuer en partie à des éléments immunosuppresseurs au sein des micro-environnements tumoraux qui limitent l'activité anti-tumorale de l'infiltration des lymphocytes T cytotoxiques CD8+ et autres effeteurs immunitaires. Plusieurs mécanismes immunosuppresseurs ont été suggérés à ce jour, notamment des événements intrinsèques à la tumeur, des facteurs suppresseurs solubles et des cellules régulatrices pouvant inhiber activement les réponses des lymphocytes T effecteurs.
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IL240256A IL240256A0 (en) 2013-01-31 2015-07-30 Chimeric proteins to modulate regulatory and activator t cells
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WO2018213297A1 (fr) 2017-05-16 2018-11-22 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Traitement du cancer avec des anticorps agonistes anti-gitr
EP3383430A4 (fr) * 2015-12-02 2019-12-18 Agenus Inc. Anticorps et leurs méthodes d'utilisation
US10513548B2 (en) 2017-02-27 2019-12-24 Shattuck Labs, Inc. CSF1R-based chimeric proteins
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