1
|
Gupta P, Horspool AM, Trivedi G, Moretti G, Datar A, Huang ZF, Chiecko J, Kenny CH, Marlow MS. Matrixed CDR grafting: A neoclassical framework for antibody humanization and developability. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105555. [PMID: 38072062 PMCID: PMC10805677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Discovery and optimization of a biotherapeutic monoclonal antibody requires a careful balance of target engagement and physicochemical developability properties. To take full advantage of the sequence diversity provided by different antibody discovery platforms, a rapid and reliable process for humanization of antibodies from nonhuman sources is required. Canonically, maximizing homology of the human variable region (V-region) to the original germline was believed to result in preservation of binding, often without much consideration for inherent molecular properties. We expand on this approach by grafting the complementary determining regions (CDRs) of a mouse anti-LAG3 antibody into an extensive matrix of human variable heavy chain (VH) and variable light chain (VL) framework regions with substantially broader sequence homology to assess the impact on complementary determining region-framework compatibility through progressive evaluation of expression, affinity, biophysical developability, and function. Specific VH and VL framework sequences were associated with major expression and purification phenotypes. Greater VL sequence conservation was correlated with retained or improved affinity. Analysis of grafts that bound the target demonstrated that initial developability criteria were significantly impacted by VH, but not VL. In contrast, cell binding and functional characteristics were significantly impacted by VL, but not VH. Principal component analysis of all factors identified multiple grafts that exhibited more favorable antibody properties, notably with nonoptimal sequence conservation. Overall, this study demonstrates that modern throughput systems enable a more thorough, customizable, and systematic analysis of graft-framework combinations, resulting in humanized antibodies with improved global properties that may progress through development more quickly and with a greater probability of success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Gupta
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA.
| | - Alexander M Horspool
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Goral Trivedi
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Gina Moretti
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Akshita Datar
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Zhong-Fu Huang
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jeffrey Chiecko
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Cynthia Hess Kenny
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA
| | - Michael S Marlow
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Green EA, Hamaker NK, Lee KH. Comparison of vector elements and process conditions in transient and stable suspension HEK293 platforms using SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain as a model protein. BMC Biotechnol 2023; 23:7. [PMID: 36882740 PMCID: PMC9990576 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-023-00777-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian cell lines are frequently used as protein expression hosts because of their ability to correctly fold and assemble complex proteins, produce them at high titers, and confer post-translational modifications (PTMs) critical to proper function. Increasing demand for proteins with human-like PTMs, particularly viral proteins and vectors, have made human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells an increasingly popular host. The need to engineer more productive HEK293 platforms and the ongoing nature of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic presented an opportunity to study strategies to improve viral protein expression in transient and stable HEK293 platforms. RESULTS Initial process development was done at 24 deep well plate (DWP) -scale to screen transient processes and stable clonal cell lines for recombinant SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (rRBD) titer. Nine DNA vectors that drove rRBD production under different promoters and optionally contained Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) elements to promote episomal expression were screened for transient rRBD production at 37 °C or 32 °C. Use of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter to drive expression at 32 °C led to the highest transient protein titers, but inclusion of episomal expression elements did not augment titer. In parallel, four clonal cell lines with titers higher than that of the selected stable pool were identified in a batch screen. Flask-scale transient transfection and stable fed-batch processes were then established that produced rRBD up to 100 mg/L and 140 mg/L, respectively. While a bio-layer interferometry (BLI) assay was crucial for efficiently screening DWP batch titers, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to compare titers from the flask-scale batches due to varying matrix effects from different cell culture media compositions. CONCLUSION Comparing yields from the flask-scale batches revealed that stable fed-batch cultures produced up to 2.1x more rRBD than transient processes. The stable cell lines developed in this work are the first reported clonal, HEK293-derived rRBD producers and have titers up to 140 mg/L. As stable production platforms are more economically favorable for long-term protein production at large scales, investigation of strategies to increase the efficiency of high-titer stable cell line generation in Expi293F or other HEK293 hosts is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erica A Green
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, Delaware, 19713, USA
| | - Nathaniel K Hamaker
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, Delaware, 19713, USA
| | - Kelvin H Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, Delaware, 19713, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gupta P, Makowski EK, Kumar S, Zhang Y, Scheer JM, Tessier PM. Antibodies with Weakly Basic Isoelectric Points Minimize Trade-offs between Formulation and Physiological Colloidal Properties. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:775-787. [PMID: 35108018 PMCID: PMC9350878 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The widespread interest in antibody therapeutics has led to much focus on identifying antibody candidates with favorable developability properties. In particular, there is broad interest in identifying antibody candidates with highly repulsive self-interactions in standard formulations (e.g., low ionic strength buffers at pH 5-6) for high solubility and low viscosity. Likewise, there is also broad interest in identifying antibody candidates with low levels of non-specific interactions in physiological solution conditions (PBS, pH 7.4) to promote favorable pharmacokinetic properties. To what extent antibodies that possess both highly repulsive self-interactions in standard formulations and weak non-specific interactions in physiological solution conditions can be systematically identified remains unclear and is a potential impediment to successful therapeutic drug development. Here, we evaluate these two properties for 42 IgG1 variants based on the variable fragments (Fvs) from four clinical-stage antibodies and complementarity-determining regions from 10 clinical-stage antibodies. Interestingly, we find that antibodies with the strongest repulsive self-interactions in a standard formulation (pH 6 and 10 mM histidine) display the strongest non-specific interactions in physiological solution conditions. Conversely, antibodies with the weakest non-specific interactions under physiological conditions display the least repulsive self-interactions in standard formulations. This behavior can be largely explained by the antibody isoelectric point, as highly basic antibodies that are highly positively charged under standard formulation conditions (pH 5-6) promote repulsive self-interactions that mediate high colloidal stability but also mediate strong non-specific interactions with negatively charged biomolecules at physiological pH and vice versa for antibodies with negatively charged Fv regions. Therefore, IgG1s with weakly basic isoelectric points between 8 and 8.5 and Fv isoelectric points between 7.5 and 9 typically display the best combinations of strong repulsive self-interactions and weak non-specific interactions. We expect that these findings will improve the identification and engineering of antibody candidates with drug-like biophysical properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Gupta
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States.,Biotherapeutics Molecule Discovery Department, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877, United States
| | - Emily K Makowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Biotherapeutics Molecule Discovery Department, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877, United States
| | - Yulei Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Justin M Scheer
- Biotherapeutics Molecule Discovery Department, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877, United States.,Janssen R&D, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Peter M Tessier
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Heng ZSL, Yeo JY, Koh DWS, Gan SKE, Ling WL. Augmenting recombinant antibody production in HEK293E cells: Optimising transfection and culture parameters. Antib Ther 2022; 5:30-41. [PMID: 35146331 PMCID: PMC8825235 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbac003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Optimising recombinant antibody production is important for cost-effective therapeutics and diagnostics. With impact on commercialisation, higher productivity beyond laboratory scales is highly sought, where efficient production can also accelerate antibody characterisations and investigations.
Methods
Investigating HEK293E cells for mammalian antibody production, various transfection and culture parameters were systematically analysed for antibody light chain production before evaluating them for whole antibody production. Transfection parameters investigated include seeding cell density, the concentration of the transfection reagent and DNA, complexation time, temperature, and volume, as well as culture parameters such as medium replacement, serum deprivation, use of cell maintenance antibiotic, incubation temperature, medium volume, post-transfection harvest day and common nutrient supplements.
Results
Using 2 mL adherent HEK293E cell culture transfections with 25 kDa linear Polyethylenimine in the most optimised parameters, we demonstrated a ~ 2-fold production increase for light chain alone and for whole antibody production reaching 536 and 49 μg respectively in a cost-effective manner. With the addition of peptone, κ light chain increased by ~ 4-fold to 1032 μg while whole antibody increased to a lesser extent by ~ 2.5-fold to 51 μg, with benefits potentially for antibodies limited by their light chains in production.
Conclusions
Our optimised findings show promise for a more efficient and convenient antibody production method through transfection and culture optimisations that can be incorporated to scale up processes and with potential transferability to other mammalian-based recombinant protein production using HEK293E cells.
Statement of Significance
Recombinant antibody production is crucial for antibody research and development. Systematically investigating transfection and culture parameters such as PEI/DNA concentrations, complexation time, volume, and temperature, supplements, etc., we demonstrated a ~ 4-fold light chain alone production increase to 1032 μg and a 2.5-fold whole antibody production increase to 51 μg from 2 mL transfections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zealyn Shi-Lin Heng
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Joshua Yi Yeo
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Darius Wen-Shuo Koh
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Samuel Ken-En Gan
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
- APD SKEG Pte Ltd., Singapore 439444, Singapore
- James Cook University, Singapore 387380, Singapore
| | - Wei-Li Ling
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|