WO2023156586A1 - Antirps4y1 mab - Google Patents

Abstract

It forms an object of the present invention a monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to RPS4Y1 protein, preferably to human RPS4Y1, recognizing an epitope comprising sequence Y1 (SEQ ID NO: 3), and/or sequence Y2 (SEQ ID NO: 4) and/or sequence Y3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) of RPS4Y1. In a further embodiment, it is here claimed a non-invasive method to identify male fetal cells within three months of gestation, said method comprising detecting the presence of RPS4Y1 protein in a maternal biological tissue sample by an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, according to the present invention.

Description

"antiRPS4Y1 mAb"

Background

In pregnant women carriers of X-linked recessive congenital disorder, prenatal diagnosis is useful to prepare the family and to plan the delivery and is usually offered when pregnancy termination would be considered in case of an affected foetus. The current guidelines state that fetal sex can be determined early (from 7 weeks of gestation) by a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) based on analysis of cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA), small (100-150 bp) fragments of DNA released from apoptotic placental cells circulating in the maternal blood [1], through the amplification of Y- linked markers (SRY, DYS14) [2,3]. NIPT for fetal sex determination is currently being adopted in health care systems across the world [4], However, due to the poor cffDNA quantity and the high maternal DNA contamination (>90%), NIPT cannot be applied for the diagnosis of X- linked inherited diseases, such as haemophilia [5-7], Hence, in case of a male foetus at risk, conventional invasive diagnostic procedures such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis, with the associated risk of miscarriage, are mandatory to identify in foetuses the maternally inherited genetic defect.

As cffDNA, fetal cells (i.e., trophoblastic cells, nucleated red blood cells, granulocytes, lymphocytes, and hematopoietic stem cells) [8] circulate in the maternal blood in number of 4-36 cells/mL [9]. As source of whole fetal genome, circulating fetal cells are an ideal target for NIPT with a potential wider diagnostic range than cffDNA. Nevertheless, the lack of validated and highly specific fetal biomarkers, enabling the unambiguous identification of fetal cells, has been the most limiting factor in all developed strategies for their isolation [10].

To isolate fetal nucleated red blood cells, several antigens highly but not uniquely expressed in erythroid precursors have been tagged such as CD71 [1 1], glycophorin A [12], y-hemoglobin [13], and N- acetylgalactosamine residues [14], A specific antibody for a novel surface antigen of fetal erythroblast cells has been reported [15]. Similarly, a cocktail of antibodies against endothelial [16] and epithelial markers expressed in circulating endovascular trophoblasts has been developed for their enrichment and staining, respectively [17,18]. Moreover, the protein products of MMP14, MCAM, KCNQ4, CLDN6, and F3 genes, expressed in fetal cells, have been proposed as suitable surface markers for fetal cell enrichment [19]. Despite advances in the enrichment technologies based on large size (>15 pm) of trophoblastic cells, such as isolation of epithelial tumor/trophoblast by filtration and density gradient methods, isolation of fetal cells for clinical implementation remains a technical challenge.

Ribosomal Protein S4 Y-linked 1 (RPS4Y1 ) was found in transcriptionally active ribosomes extracted from placenta of a male foetus [20] and expressed in testis and in several somatic tissues of male individuals [21], However, specific monoclonal antibodies against RPS4Y1 are not available so far.

There is an unmet need for early stage, non-invasive and accurate methods to identify male fetal cells for a non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Summary of the invention

It is an aim of the present invention an isolation method for male cells in maternal biological tissue samples in the early stages of pregnancy for the diagnosis of X-linked diseases. The problem is solved with malespecific monoclonal antibodies against the Ribosomal Protein S4 Y- linked 1 (RPS4Y1 ), described here for the first time.

Drawings

Figure 1 : Analysis of RPS4X and RPS4Y1 RT-PCR products. (A) Agarose gel electrophoresis showing RPS4X and RPS4Y1 cDNA bands amplified from male (Y) and female (X) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), chorionic villi, male HepG2 (cell culture Y) and female HEK293 cells (cell culture X). The bands of the GeneRuler 50 bp marker (M) are indicated on the left. (B) Bar graph showing the relative quantitation (RQ) of RPS4Y1 transcript in male PBMCs, chorionic villi and female HepG2 cells.

Figure 2: Alignment of RPS4X (SEQ ID NO: 1 ) and RPS4Y1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) amino acid sequences. Amino acid differences between the two proteins are indicated by asterisks (*). The regions of RPS4Y1 protein selected as antigens for mice immunization are boxed and named Y1 , Y2, Y3. X1 , X2, X3 refer to the homologous regions of the homologous RPS4X protein, encoded by the X-linked gene RPS4X.

Figure 3: Y3 antigen specificity of monoclonal antibodies. The bar graph shows the optical density (OD) from the ELISA assay (one out of three) performed using Y3 (black bar) or X3 (white bar) capture peptides and 2 g/mL of anti-RPS4Y1 antibodies #1 , #2, #3, #4 or mouse serum (x-axis). Figure 4: mAbRPS4Y1 binding to the male RPS4Y1 protein. Representative results of SDS-PAGE and Western blotting (one out of three) performed on cell lysates of male HepG2 (Y) and female HEK293 (X) cells are showed. Anti-RPS4Y1 antibodies were tested individually (#1 , #2, #3, #4) and in combination (mix). Anti-RPS46 and anti-tubulin antibodies were used as loading controls. The bands of the Precision Plus Protein marker (M) are indicated on the left.

Figure 5: mAbRPS4Y1 #3 binding to the native RPS4Y1 protein. Representative results of immunoprecipitation experiments (one out of three) of mAbRPS4Y1 #3 complex performed with magnetic beads coupled to protein G (G) are showed. Immunoprecipitated proteins (IP) and supernatants (-) were loaded and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The arrow indicates the RPS4Y1 protein band.

Figure 6: mAbRPS4Y1 #3 specificity for male cells. (A, B) Results of the digital imaging analysis of mAbRPS4Y1 #3 staining reported as the percentage of positively stained cells relative to total cells (A) and the mean fluorescence intensity per field of view (mfi/FOV) (B). (C) Dot-plot showing the mean Pearson correlation index per FOV resulting from pixel by pixel digital analysis of mAbRPS4Y1 #3 and ER-marker fluorescent signals performed on 50 FOVs from best-focus deconvolved Z plan at 100X magnification, with a mean number of 30 cells/FOV.

Figure 7: representative fields of view at 40X magnification showing nuclear (A, B upper panels) and mAbRPS4Y1 #3 (A, B lower panels) staining. (A) cells from umbilical cord blood of a male newborn; (B) cells from umbilical cord blood of a female newborn. (C) bar graph showing the results of the digital imaging analysis of mAbRPS4Y1 #3 staining. The percentage of positively stained cells relative to total cells (y-axis) is reported for male and female samples (x-axis).

Figure 8: representative images at 100x magnification showing nuclear (upper panels) and mAbRPS4Y1 #3 (lower panels) staining of a single cell from umbilical cord blood of a male (A) and a female (B) newborn.

Figures 9: montage of ten representative images at 40X magnification showing nuclear (A, B upper panels) and mAbRPS4Y1 #3 (A, B lower panels) staining. (A) cells from umbilical cord blood of a male newborn; (B) cells from umbilical cord blood of a female newborn.

Description

As used in this application, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase "an antibody" also includes multiple antibodies.

As used herein, the term "comprising" means "including." Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises," have correspondingly varied meanings. Thus, for example, a sample "comprising" antibody A may consist exclusively of antibody A or may include one or more additional components (i.e. antibody B).

As used herein, the term "monoclonal antibody" or "mAb" or "monoclonal antibody composition" means a preparation of antibody molecules of single molecular composition, which displays a single binding specificity and affinity for a particular epitope.

As used herein, the term "hybridoma" refers to a cell produced by the fusion of an immortal cell (i.e. a multiple myeloma cell) and an antibodyproducing cell (e.g. a B lymphocyte), which is capable of producing monoclonal antibodies of a single binding specificity.

As used herein, the terms "binding specifically" and "specifically binding" in reference to an antibody, antibody variant, antibody derivative, antigen binding fragment, and the like refers to its capacity to bind to a given target molecule preferentially over other non-target molecules.

As used herein, the term "subject" includes any animal including bovine, equine, ovine, primate, avian and rodent species. Hence, a "subject" may be a mammal such as, for example, a human or a non-human mammal. In a first embodiment, it is here claimed an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to RPS4Y1 protein, in an embodiment to human RPS4Y1 protein, which recognizes an epitope comprising sequence Y1 (SEQ ID NO: 3), and/or sequence Y2 (SEQ ID NO: 4) and/or sequence Y3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) of RPS4Y1 , wherein SEQ ID NO: 3 is DVISIEKTGEHFRLVYD;

SEQ ID NO: 4 is CKVRKITVGVKGIPHL;

SEQ ID NO: 5 is KVNDTVQIDLGTGKIINFIKFDT.

In an embodiment, said epitope comprises sequence Y3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) of RPS4Y1 .

In an embodiment, said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

In an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is the monoclonal antibody #3, produced by the hybridoma having Deposit Designation PD22001 , deposited with ICLC, L.go R. Benzi, 10 1-16132 Genova on Jan 25, 2022. It forms a further aspect of the present invention an immunoconjugate comprising an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to the present invention, coupled to a moiety. In an embodiment, the moiety is a biologically active agent.

In an embodiment, the moiety is an immune-stimulating carrier molecule; nanoparticle; detectable label; drug; toxin; chelating agent; biotinylated moiety; tumor targeting agent; protein transduction domain or membrane permeating peptide; or part of a solid support.

In a further embodiment, it is here described a hybridoma secreting a monoclonal antibody having specific binding affinity for RPS4Y1 protein, wherein the hybridoma produces a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the epitope Y3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) on RPS4Y1 protein and does not significantly cross-react with other nucleotide bases, nor with RPS4X protein.

In an embodiment, the hybridoma has Deposit Designation PD22001 deposited with ICLC, L.go R. Benzi, 10 1-16132 Genova on Jan 25, 2022. It forms a further aspect of the present invention a method for determining the presence RPS4Y1 protein in a biological specimen from a subject, comprising:

(a) obtaining a biological specimen from the subject;

(b) contacting the biological specimen with an antibody, an antigenbinding fragment thereof, or an immunoconjugate according to the present invention, and

(c) determining and/or quantifying binding of said antibody, antigenbinding fragment thereof, or immunoconjugate in the biological specimen of the subject.

In an embodiment, the biological specimen is selected from the group consisting of cells, tissue, blood, saliva, serum, plasma.

In an embodiment, the biological specimen is maternal plasma.

In an embodiment, it is disclosed a method of assessing sex of a foetus in a human subject, wherein said assessment is performed within three months of gestation, and said method comprises evaluating the presence of RPS4Y1 protein in a maternal plasma sample by contacting the same with an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, or an immunoconjugate according to the present invention, wherein the presence of RPS4Y1 protein in said sample is indicative of a male foetus. Following are examples that illustrate procedures for practicing the invention. Experimental work has been done using the method according to the present invention on immortalised cells, on PBMCs, and also on fetal cells. The method was effective in detecting male cells in each one of the tested embodiments, thus confirming the validity of the here claimed method for estimating the gender of a foetus.

These examples should not be construed as limiting.

Example 1 : RPS4Y1 is a Marker of Male Cells

The alignment of complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences from the paralogue ribosomal protein S4 X-linked (RPS4X) and ribosomal protein S4 Y-linked 1 (RPS4Y1 ) genes (Reference Sequence NM_001007.5 and NM_001008.4, respectively) allowed the design of primers for the specific detection of the two RPS4 isoforms.

For this purpose, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 10 mL of fresh blood samples of healthy male and female donors using the Ficoll-Plaque Premium (GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL, USA). Chorionic villi were obtained by standard clinical procedures. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis on total RNA extracted from PBMCs of a male and a female donor showed an expected amplicon of 196 bp amplified by the RPS4X-primer couple in both male and female samples and an expected amplicon of 167 bp amplified by the RPS4Y1 -primer couple only in the male sample (Figure 1 A). Direct sequencing of RT-PCR products confirmed the specificity of amplification and hence the unique expression of the RPS4Y1 gene in the male mononuclear cells. The same analyses performed on RNA samples from chorionic villi of a male and a female fetus and from human hepatoma (HepG2, Y) and human embryonic kidney (HEK293, X) cultured cells, used as unlimited source of biological material and derived respectively from a male and a female [22], confirmed the sex specific expression of the RPS4Y1 gene (Figure 1 A). This result was confirmed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis that showed a reduced but equal expression of RPS4Y1 transcript in male villi and HepG2 cells compared to PBMCs (0.3 vs. 1 relative quantitation) (Figure 1 B).

Example 2: Selection of RPS4Y1 -Antigen Peptides

The alignment of the reviewed amino acid (aa) sequences of RPS4X (SEQ ID NO: 1 ) and RPS4Y1 (SEQ ID NO: 2) proteins (UniProtKB P62701 and P22090, respectively) allowed the identification and localization of 19 aa differences between the RPS4X and the RPS4Y1 homologous proteins (Figure 2).

SEQ ID NO: 1 is

MARGPKKHLKRVAAPKHWMLDKLTGVFAPRPSTGPHKLRECLPLIIFL RNRLKYALTGDEVKKICMQRFIKIDGKVRTDITYPAGFMDVISIDKTGE NFRLIYDTKGRFAVHRITPEEAKYKLCKVRKIFVGTKGIPHLVTHDARTI RYPDPLIKVNDTIQIDLETGKITDFIKFDTGNLCMVTGGANLGRIGVITN RERHPGSFDVVHVKDANGNSFATRLSNIFVIGKGNKPWISLPRGKGIR LTIAEERDKRLAAKQSSG.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is

MARGPKKHLKRVAAPKHWMLDKLTGVFAPRPSTGPHKLRECLPLIVF LRNRLKYALTGDEVKKICMQRFIKIDGKVRVDVTYPAGFMDVISIEKTG EHFRLVYDTKGRFAVHRITVEEAKYKLCKVRKITVGVKGIPHLVTHDAR TIRYPDPVIKVNDTVQIDLGTGKIINFIKFDTGNLCMVIGGANLGRVGVIT NRERHPGSFDVVHVKDANGNSFATRLSNIFVIGNGNKPWISLPRGKGI RLTVAEERDKRLATKQSSG.

Protein alignment of RPS4X and RPS4Y1 was performed using Clustal Omega tool (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/msa/clustalo/). Three small regions (Y1 , Y2, Y3 of 17, 16 and 23 aa, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, respectively) with the highest number of aa specific for the RPS4Y1 protein (2, 3 and 4 respectively) were selected as antigens (Figure 2). To improve immunogenicity, the three small linear peptides selected as antigens were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) carrier protein and used as a pool preparation for mice immunization. KLH and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)-coupled peptides corresponding to aa 88-104, 124-139, 155-177 of RPS4X (X1 , SEQ ID NO: 6 = DVISIDKTGENFRLIYD; X2, SEQ ID NO. 7 = CKVRKIFVGTKGIPHL; X3, SEQ ID NO: 8 KVNDTIQIDLETGKITDFIKFDT) and RPS4Y1 (Y1 , Y2, Y3) were synthesized (Pepscan, Lelystad, The Netherlands). After screening for specific binding to the RPS4Y1 pool antigen, four antibody-producing hybridoma clones were selected and corresponding antiRPS4Y1 antibodies have been further analyzed.

Example 3: Anti-RPS4Y1 Antibodies are specific for a RPS4Y1 -Antigen peptide and the RPS4Y1 protein

To evaluate the epitope binding of antiRPS4Y1 antibodies, enzyme- linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) was performed on individual Y1 (SEQ ID NO: 3), Y2 (SEQ ID NO: 4), Y3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) antigen peptides. No reactivity was evidenced against the Y1 and Y2 peptides (data not shown). By contrast, three antiRPS4Y1 antibodies (#2, #3, #4) showed at each tested concentration (0.5- 1 -2 pg/mL) similar reactivity for the Y3 peptide (mean optical density, OD: 2.649, 2.775, 2.675 for antibodies #2, #3 and #4, respectively) and no reactivity for the counter-screened X3 (SEQ ID NO: 8) peptide (mean OD: 0.012, 0.016, 0.015 for antibodies #2, #3 and #4, respectively), thus suggesting a specific Y3-binding (Figure 3).

The specificity of antiRPS4Y1 antibodies for the entire RPS4Y1 protein was also assessed.

HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA). HepG2 and HEK293 cells were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium and Ham's F12 media (1 :1 , vol/vol), supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. Glutamine (1 %) and antibiotics (100 ILI/mL penicillin and 100 g/mL streptomycin) were added to both media. Cells were grown at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air.

Total cell lysates extracted from male HepG2 and female HEK293 cultured cells were separated on sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting was performed using antiRPS4Y1 antibodies, either single or in combination. As expected, a single band of approximately 30 kDa, corresponding to the molecular weight of the RPS4Y1 protein, was detected by mRPS4Y1 antibodies #2, #3, #4 in the male sample and not in the female one. This result confirmed the specificity of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the RPS4Y1 protein and the lack of cross-reactivity with the RPS4X homologous protein expressed both in male and in female cells (Figure 4). The antiRPS4Y1 antibody #1 , previously found unresponsive to the RPS4Y1 peptides by the ELISA assay, was used as negative control and confirmed lack of reaction with both male and female samples (Figure 4). By contrast, antibodies against the housekeeping protein tubulin and the ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6), encoded by the RPS6 gene located in the autosomal chromosome 9 and component of the 40S subunit as RPS4X and RPS4Y1 , were used as positive controls. As expected, two single bands corresponding to the molecular weight of tubulin (50 kDa) and RPS6 (28.7 kDa) proteins were evidenced in both male and female cell extracts (Figure 4). The mixture of four antiRPS4Y1 antibodies evidenced a pattern of non-specific bands not only in male but also in female sample without the improvement of the specific signal in the male sample. Among the analyzed antiRPS4Y1 antibodies, the highest specific signal was observed with the antibody #3 (Figure 4). Immunoprecipitation analysis was further performed to assess the binding ability of antiRPS4Y1 antibody #3 to the native RPS4Y1 protein. Magnetic beads coupled to protein G with high affinity for mouse IgG were used to capture the antibody #3 bounded to the RPS4Y1 protein in HepG2 cell lysate. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting of immunoprecipitated (IP) samples and surnatants (-) showed three bands in IP: a high band and a low band corresponding respectively to 50 kDa- heavy and 25 kDa-light chains of immuno-globulins and an intermediate band corresponding to the 29.4 kDa RPS4Y1 protein (Figure 5). This finding evidenced the ability of the antibody #3 to recognize the RPS4Y1 protein in its native conformation. The presence of the intermediate band in the protein-G supernatant, suggests that not all RPS4Y1 protein is trapped by the antibody.

Example 4: antiRPS4Y1 Antibody is specific for male cells

Immunofluorescence analysis was performed to assess the ability of antiRPS4Y1 antibody #3 to detect male cells through the identification of the RPS4Y1 protein. Male HepG2 and female HEK293 cells were both incubated overnight (ON) at 4 °C and at room temperature for 3 h (3 h) with antiRPS4Y1 antibody #3. The almost sole staining of male HepG2 cells compared to female HEK293 cells was observed (76 vs. 0% and 80 vs. 2% for ON and 3 h incubation, respectively), thus suggesting the specific labelling of male cells (Figure 6A). Moreover, the observed signal in HepG2 cells was specific since the mean intensity of mAbRPS4Y1 #3 was higher in male cells than in female ones (mean fluorescent intensity; 659 vs. 215 and 935 vs. 202 for ON and 3 h incubation, respectively) (Figure 6B). Finally, subcellular imaging studies on HepG2 cells were performed. Analysis of RPS4Y1 localization at the level of cellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) revealed as expected partial co-localization of mAbRPS4Y1 #3 and ER-marker calnexin (Pearson correlation index 0.4; mean from a total of 1500 analyzed HepG2 cells from n = 50 independent field of view at high-resolution acquisition) (Figure 6C).

Example 5: antiRPS4Y1 Antibody specifically recognises male cells from fresh umbilical cord blood.

Umbilical cord blood was collected in heparinized syringes immediately after singleton vaginal (V) and caesarean (C) delivery and transferred in EDTA blood collection tubes. Umbilical cord blood of 2 male (both C) and 2 female (one C and one V) newborns were analyzed.

Within 3 hours from the collection, each blood sample was divided and subjected to i) density gradient centrifugation and ii) erythrocyte lysis, i) 1 -2 ml of blood was diluted in an equal volume of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), layered on Ficoll Paque Plus™ and centrifuged at 400g for 40 minutes at room temperature (RT). The mononuclear cell layer was harvested, twice washed with PBS and centrifuged at 100g for 10 minutes at RT. ii) 1 -2 ml of blood was mixed with 5 volumes of erythrocyte lysis buffer, incubated 15 minutes on ice and centrifuged at 400g for 10 minutes at 4°C. Cells were washed with 2 volumes of erythrocyte lysis buffer and centrifuged at 400g for 10 minutes at 4°C.

Cells, obtained with procedure i and ii, were resuspended in 10Opd of PBS. 15|il of cell suspension were seeded on a coverslip, incubated 15 minutes at 37°C, fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde in PBS for 10 minutes at RT, washed 4 times with PBS, and permeabilized with 0.2% Triton X- 100 in PBS for 10 minutes at RT. After blocking with 2% fetal bovine serum, 5% donkey serum in PBS for 30 minutes at RT in wet room, cells were incubated overnight at 4°C with 2 |ig/ml antiRPS4Y1 antibody #3. Cells were washed 4 times with PBS and stained with the secondary antibody (i.e. donkey anti mouse IgG-Alexa Fluor Plus 647; 1 :1000) for 2 hours at RT in wet room. Cells were washed twice with PBS and stained with Hoechst for 10 minutes at RT. Staining with the secondary antibody alone was also performed. Representative images of cells obtained from four umbilical cord bloods treated with Ficoll are reported in Figures 7, 8, 9. Panels A refer to male samples (upper panels, nuclear staining; lower panels, mAbRPS4Y1 #3 staining); panels B refer to female samples (upper panels, nuclear staining; lower panels, mAbRPS4Y1 #3 staining). Quantification from 40x images of 15 FOVs/sample (3 male and 3 female samples, corresponding to 2 Ficoll and 1 erythrocyte lysis treatments) is reported in Figure 7C. A total of 9149 cells (5956 counted in the "male" samples and 3193 counted in the "female" samples") were analysed with a mean number of 100 cells/FOV. The positive cells were 74% when the fetus is a male versus 22% when the fetus is a female. By excluding from the analysis male and female samples treated with lysis buffer that have a high number of death cells, the total number of analysed cells were 8384 (5303 counted in the "male" samples and 3081 counted in the "female" samples") and the positive cells were 70% when the fetus is a male versus 17% when the fetus is a female.

At 10Ox magnification, exemplary cells reported in Figure 8, it is observed that the few cells stained with the mAb in the "female" sample show a different localization of the staining.

Example 6: antiRPS4Y1 Antibody specifically recognises male cells from fresh adult blood but not female cells from fresh adult blood.

Adult peripheral blood from a woman and a man was collected in EDTA blood collection tubes.

Within 3 hours from the collection, each blood sample was subjected to density gradient centrifugation according to Example 5.

Cells were then seeded and labelled according to Example 5.

The positive cells were 77.7% in the male sample versus 0.3% in the female sample, thus confirming the specificity of the antibody, and the capability of the antibody to highlight the presence of male fetal cells also in peripheral blood obtained from a mother.

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Claims

1. A monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to RPS4Y1 protein, preferably to human RPS4Y1 , recognizing an epitope comprising sequence Y1 (SEQ ID NO: 3 DVISIEKTGEHFRLVYD), and/or sequence Y2 (SEQ ID NO: 4 CKVRKITVGVKGIPHL) and/or sequence Y3 (SEQ ID NO: 5 KVNDTVQIDLGTGKIINFIKFDT) of RPS4Y1 protein.

2. The monoclonal antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof according to claim 1 , wherein said epitope comprises sequence Y3 (SEQ ID NO: 5) of RPS4Y1 protein.

3. The monoclonal antibody according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said mAb is the monoclonal antibody #3, produced by the hybridoma having Deposit Designation PD22001 deposited with ICLC, L.go R. Benzi, 10 1-16132 Genova on Jan 25, 2022.

4. An immunoconjugate comprising an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof according claims 1-3, coupled to a moiety.

5. An hybridoma secreting a monoclonal antibody having specific binding affinity for RPS4Y1 protein, deposited with ICLC, L.go R. Benzi, 10 1-16132 Genova on Jan 25, 2022, Deposit Designation PD22001.

6. A method for determining the presence RPS4Y1 in a biological specimen from a subject, comprising:

(a) making available a biological specimen from the subject;

(b) contacting said biological specimen with an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, or an immunoconjugate according to one of the claims 1-4, and

(c) determining and/or quantifying binding of said antibody, antigen-binding fragment thereof, or immunoconjugate in the biological specimen of the subject.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the biological specimen is selected from the group consisting of cells, tissue, blood, saliva, serum, plasma.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the biological specimen is maternal plasma.

9. The method according to any of the claims 6-8, wherein said biological specimen is maternal plasma obtained within three months of gestation, and the presence of RPS4Y1 protein in said sample is indicative of a male foetus.

10.A non-invasive method for estimating a gender of a foetus of a pregnant female within three months of gestation, said method comprising:

(a) making available a maternal serum or plasma sample;

(b) contacting said sample with an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, or an immunoconjugate specifically recognising RPS4Y1 protein, and

(c) determining and/or quantifying binding of said antibody, antigen-binding fragment thereof, or immunoconjugate in the biological specimen of the subject,

(d) estimating a gender of said foetus based on said binding, wherein the presence in said sample of RPS4Y1 protein is indicative of a male foetus.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, or immunoconjugate specifically recognising RPS4Y1 protein is according to one of the claims 1 -4.