Development of a bioassay for quantification of neutralising antibodies against human interferon-beta in mouse sera

Mouse Models for Assessing Protein Immunogenicity: Lessons and Challenges

The success of clinical and commercial therapeutic proteins is rapidly increasing, but their potential immunogenicity is an ongoing concern. Most of the studies that have been conducted over the past few years to examine the importance of various product-related attributes (in particular several types of aggregates and particles) and treatment regimen (such as dose, dosing schedule, and route of administration) in the development of unwanted immune responses have utilized one of a variety of mouse models. In this review, we discuss the utility and drawbacks of different mouse models that have been used for this purpose. Moreover, we summarize the lessons these models have taught us and some of the challenges they present. Finally, we provide recommendations for future research utilizing mouse models to improve our understanding of critical factors that may contribute to protein immunogenicity.

Development and validation of cell-based assays for the detection of neutralizing antibodies to drug products: a practical approach

Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) that bind to drug products and may diminish or eliminate the associated biological activity are an unintended and undesirable outcome of some drug products. Standard immunoassays can detect drug-specific antibodies but cannot distinguish NAbs, so cell-based assays are often preferred because they closely mimic the mechanism by which NAbs and drug products interact in vivo. Each cell-based NAb assay is unique and based on several factors, such as the drug product, study population and phase of development (preclinical or clinical). The type of NAb assay (direct or indirect) depends on the drug’s mechanism of action. Key steps in assay development are: selecting a suitable cell line, choosing the proper cellular response (end point method), selection of proper controls and optimization of assay parameters. Once developed, the assay must be rigorously tested (validated) to ensure that it meets several important criteria and is fit for its intended purpose.

Immunogenicity of recombinant human interferon beta interacting with particles of glass, metal, and polystyrene

Aggregates play a major role in the immunogenicity of recombinant human interferon beta (rhIFNβ), a protein used to treat multiple sclerosis. A possible cause of aggregation is interaction between therapeutic protein and surfaces encountered during processing, storage, and administration. Moreover, proteins may adsorb to particles shed from these surfaces. In this work, we studied the immunogenicity of recombinant human interferon beta-1a (rhIFNβ-1a) interacting with glass microparticles, stainless steel microparticles, and polystyrene nanoparticles. At physiological pH, rhIFNβ-1a readily adsorbed to the particles, while the degree of adsorption was influenced by the ionic strength of the phosphate buffer. Front-face fluorescence showed that the tertiary structure of rhIFNβ-1a slightly changed upon adsorption to glass. The interaction with stainless steel microparticles resulted in increased levels of aggregates in the free protein fraction. Furthermore, protein adsorbed to stainless steel microparticles was more difficult to desorb than protein adsorbed to glass. Incubation with stainless steel considerably enhanced the immunogenicity of rhIFNβ-1a in transgenic mice immune tolerant for human interferon beta. The protein fraction adsorbed on stainless steel particles was responsible for this. In conclusion, rhIFNβ-1a adsorbs to common hydrophilic surface materials, possibly increasing the immunogenicity of the protein.

Oxidized and aggregated recombinant human interferon beta is immunogenic in human interferon beta transgenic mice

PURPOSE

To study the effect of oxidation on the structure of recombinant human interferon beta-1a (rhIFNβ-1a) and its immunogenicity in wild-type and immune-tolerant transgenic mice.

METHODS

Untreated rhIFNβ-1a was degraded by metal-catalyzed oxidation, H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidation, and guanidine-mediated unfolding/refolding. Four rhIFNβ-1a preparations with different levels of oxidation and aggregation were injected intraperitoneally in mice 15× during 3 weeks. Both binding and neutralizing antibodies were measured.

RESULTS

All rhIFNβ-1a preparations contained substantial amounts of aggregates. Metal-catalyzed oxidized rhIFNβ-1a contained high levels of covalent aggregates as compared with untreated rhIFNβ-1a. H(2)O(2)-treated rhIFNβ-1a showed an increase in oligomer and unrecovered protein content by HP-SEC; RP-HPLC revealed protein oxidation. Guanidine-treated rhIFNβ-1a mostly consisted of dimers and oligomers and some non-covalent aggregates smaller in size than those in untreated rhIFNβ-1a. All degraded samples showed alterations in tertiary protein structure. Wild-type mice showed equally high antibody responses against all preparations. Transgenic mice were discriminative, showing elevated antibody responses against both metal-catalyzed oxidized and H(2)O(2)-treated rhIFNβ-1a as compared to untreated and guanidine-treated rhIFNβ-1a.

CONCLUSIONS

Oxidation-mediated aggregation increased the immunogenicity of rhIFNβ-1a in transgenic mice, whereas aggregated preparations devoid of measurable oxidation levels were hardly immunogenic.

Bioactivity determination of native and variant forms of therapeutic interferons

The traditional antiviral assays for the determination of interferon potency are reported to have considerable variability between and within assays. Although several reporter gene assays based on interferon-inducible promoter activities have been reported, data from comprehensive validation studies are lacking and few studies have been conducted to analyze the variant forms of interferons, which could have undesirable clinical implications. Here, a reporter gene assay employing a HEK293 cell line stably transfected with luciferase gene under the control of interferon-stimulated response element promoter was developed and validated. The assay was found to be more sensitive, with a larger detection range than the antiviral assay. Several cytokines tested did not interfere with the test, suggesting the assay possesses a certain degree of selectivity. Moreover, the robustness of the assay was demonstrated by minimal variations in the results generated by different analysts and cell passage number (up to 52 passages). Finally, the method was employed to analyze several interferon variants (interferon-α 2a) and we found that the aggregated form has completely lost its potency; while a modest loss of bioactivity in oxidized interferon was observed (approx. 23%), the deamidated form essentially retained its activity.

Aggregated recombinant human interferon Beta induces antibodies but no memory in immune-tolerant transgenic mice

Purpose

To study the influence of protein aggregation on the immunogenicity of recombinant human interferon beta (rhIFNβ) in wild-type mice and transgenic, immune-tolerant mice, and to evaluate the induction of immunological memory.

Methods

RhIFNβ-1b and three rhIFNβ-1a preparations with different aggregate levels were injected intraperitoneally in mice 15× during 3 weeks, and the mice were rechallenged with rhIFNβ-1a. The formation of binding (BABs) and neutralizing antibodies (NABs) was monitored.

Results

Bulk rhIFNβ-1a contained large, mainly non-covalent aggregates and stressed rhIFNβ-1a mainly covalent, homogeneous (ca. 100 nm) aggregates. Reformulated rhIFNβ-1a was essentially aggregate-free. All products induced BABs and NABs in wild-type mice. Immunogenicity in the transgenic mice was product dependent. RhIFNβ-1b showed the highest and reformulated rhIFNβ-1a the lowest immunogenicity. In contrast with wild-type mice, transgenic mice did not show NABs, nor did they respond to the rechallenge.

Conclusions

The immunogenicity of the products in transgenic mice, unlike in wild-type mice, varied. In the transgenic mice, neither NABs nor immunological memory developed. The immunogenicity of rhIFNβ in a model reflecting the human immune system depends on the presence and the characteristics of aggregates.

Hybrid transgenic immune tolerant mouse model for assessing the breaking of B cell tolerance by human interferon beta

To date, the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant human proteins is limited by their potential to break B cell tolerance in patients. The formation of neutralising antibodies (NABs) directed against recombinant human interferon beta (rhIFNbeta) is associated with a decrease in the therapeutic effect of the protein. For this reason, there is a need to study factors that can cause the immunogenicity of rhIFNbeta. Transgenic C57Bl/6 mice that are immune tolerant for human interferon beta (hIFNbeta) have been employed in a mouse model for assessing the breaking of immune tolerance by rhIFNbeta. In this study, we used the original C57Bl/6 mouse model as well as the hybrid offspring from crossings of transgenic C57Bl/6 mice with wildtype FVB/N mice to study the immunogenicity of three commercial rhIFNbeta products, Rebif, Avonex and Betaferon. As determined by ELISA, wildtype C57Bl/6 mice failed to form binding antibodies (BABs) against Rebif and Avonex formulated with human serum albumin. Because not all interferon beta products induce antibodies in wildtype C57Bl/6 mice, the transgenic C57Bl/6 mice cannot be used to study the breaking of tolerance by these products. However, the crossing of transgenic C57Bl/6 mice with FVB/N mice resulted in wildtype hybrid offspring in which all products were immunogenic and transgenic hybrid offspring that showed immune tolerance for hIFNbeta. Thus, these C57Bl/6 x FVB/N hybrid transgenic mice can be used to study the breaking of immune tolerance for all rhIFNbeta products. Of the three products, only Betaferon was able to break immune tolerance in the transgenic hybrids. With an MxA gene expression inhibition assay, NABs were detected in Betaferon treated wildtype hybrid mice, but not in transgenic hybrid mice, indicating a distinct immune mechanism in wildtype and transgenic mice. A pegylated rhIFNbeta-1a variant, PEG-rhIFNbeta-1a, induced antibodies in wildtype hybrid mice, but did not break the immune tolerance of transgenic hybrid mice. This suggests that pegylation did not affect the potential of rhIFNbeta-1a to break B cell tolerance.