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Weichwald C, Zettl I, Ellinger I, Niespodziana K, Waltl EE, Villazala-Merino S, Ivanov D, Eckl-Dorna J, Niederberger-Leppin V, Valenta R, Flicker S. Antibody Conjugates Bispecific for Pollen Allergens and ICAM-1 with Potential to Prevent Epithelial Allergen Transmigration and Rhinovirus Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032725. [PMID: 36769047 PMCID: PMC9917280 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Allergy and rhinovirus (RV) infections are major triggers for rhinitis and asthma, causing a socioeconomic burden. As RVs and allergens may act synergistically to promote airway inflammation, simultaneous treatment strategies for both causative agents would be innovative. We have previously identified the transmembrane glycoprotein intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) as an anchor for antibody conjugates bispecific for ICAM-1 and Phleum pratense (Phl p) 2, a major grass pollen allergen, to block allergen transmigration through the epithelial barrier. Since ICAM-1 is a receptor for the major group RVs, we speculated that our bispecific antibody conjugates may protect against RV infection. Therefore, we created antibody conjugates bispecific for ICAM-1 and the major grass pollen allergen Phl p 5 and analyzed their capacity to affect allergen penetration and RV infection. Bispecific antibody conjugates significantly reduced the trans-epithelial migration of Phl p 5 and thus the basolateral Phl p 5 concentration and allergenic activity as determined by humanized rat basophilic leukemia cells and inhibited RV infection of cultured epithelial cells. A reduction in allergenic activity was obtained only through the prevention of allergen transmigration because the Phl p 5-specific IgG antibody did not block the allergen-IgE interaction. Our results indicate the potential of allergen/ICAM-1-specific antibody conjugates as a topical treatment strategy for allergy and RV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Weichwald
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ines Zettl
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Isabella Ellinger
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katarzyna Niespodziana
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva E. Waltl
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Daniel Ivanov
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Eckl-Dorna
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Rudolf Valenta
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems, Austria
- National Research Centre (NRC) Institute of Immunology Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) of Russia, 115478 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory for Immunopathology, Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sabine Flicker
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-40400-51150
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Zettl I, Ivanova T, Zghaebi M, Rutovskaya MV, Ellinger I, Goryainova O, Kollárová J, Villazala-Merino S, Lupinek C, Weichwald C, Drescher A, Eckl-Dorna J, Tillib SV, Flicker S. Generation of high affinity ICAM-1-specific nanobodies and evaluation of their suitability for allergy treatment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1022418. [DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1022418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The nasal cavity is an important site of allergen entry. Hence, it represents an organ where trans-epithelial allergen penetration and subsequent IgE-mediated allergic inflammation can potentially be inhibited. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is highly expressed on the surface of respiratory epithelial cells in allergic patients. It was identified as a promising target to immobilize antibody conjugates bispecific for ICAM-1 and allergens and thereby block allergen entry. We have previously characterized a nanobody specific for the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and here we report the generation and characterization of ICAM-1-specific nanobodies. Nanobodies were obtained from a camel immunized with ICAM-1 and a high affinity binder was selected after phage display (Nb44). Nb44 was expressed as recombinant protein containing HA- and His-tags in Escherichia coli (E.coli) and purified via affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE and Western blot revealed a single band at approximately 20 kDa. Nb44 bound to recombinant ICAM-1 in ELISA, and to ICAM-1 expressed on the human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o- as determined by flow cytometry. Experiments conducted at 4°C and at 37°C, to mimic physiological conditions, yielded similar percentages (97.2 ± 1.2% and 96.7 ± 1.5% out of total live cells). To confirm and visualize binding, we performed immunofluorescence microscopy. While Texas Red Dextran was rapidly internalized Nb44 remained localized on the cell surface. Additionally, we determined the strength of Nb44 and ICAM-1 interaction using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Nb44 bound ICAM-1 with high affinity (10-10 M) and had slow off-rates (10-4 s-1). In conclusion, our results showed that the selected ICAM-1-specific nanobody bound ICAM-1 with high affinity and was not internalized. Thus, it could be further used to engineer heterodimers with allergen-specific nanobodies in order to develop topical treatments of pollen allergy.
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Zettl I, Ivanova T, Strobl MR, Weichwald C, Goryainova O, Khan E, Rutovskaya MV, Focke‐Tejkl M, Drescher A, Bohle B, Flicker S, Tillib SV. Isolation of nanobodies with potential to reduce patients' IgE binding to Bet v 1. Allergy 2022; 77:1751-1760. [PMID: 34837242 DOI: 10.1111/all.15191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies showed that a single injection of human monoclonal allergen-specific IgG antibodies significantly reduced allergic symptoms in birch pollen-allergic patients. Since the production of full monoclonal antibodies in sufficient amounts is laborious and expensive, we sought to investigate if smaller recombinant allergen-specific antibody fragments, that is, nanobodies, have similar protective potential. For this purpose, nanobodies specific for Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen, were generated to evaluate their efficacy to inhibit IgE-mediated responses. METHODS A cDNA-VHH library was constructed from a camel immunized with Bet v 1 and screened for Bet v 1 binders encoding sequences by phage display. Selected nanobodies were expressed, purified, and analyzed in regards of epitope-specificity and affinity to Bet v 1. Furthermore, cross-reactivity to Bet v 1-homologues from alder, hazel and apple, and their usefulness to inhibit IgE binding and allergen-induced basophil activation were investigated. RESULTS We isolated three nanobodies that recognize Bet v 1 with high affinity and cross-react with Aln g 1 (alder) and Cor a 1 (hazel). Their epitopes were mapped to the alpha-helix at the C-terminus of Bet v 1. All nanobodies inhibited allergic patients' polyclonal IgE binding to Bet v 1, Aln g 1, and Cor a 1 and partially suppressed Bet v 1-induced basophil activation. CONCLUSION We identified high-affinity Bet v 1-specific nanobodies that recognize an important IgE epitope and reduce allergen-induced basophil activation revealing the first proof that allergen-specific nanobodies are useful tools for future treatment of pollen allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Zettl
- Division of Immunopathology Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Tatiana Ivanova
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Maria R. Strobl
- Division of Experimental Allergology Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Christina Weichwald
- Division of Immunopathology Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Evgenia Khan
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Marina V. Rutovskaya
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
- A.N.Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Margarete Focke‐Tejkl
- Division of Immunopathology Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Barbara Bohle
- Division of Experimental Allergology Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Sabine Flicker
- Division of Immunopathology Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Sergei V. Tillib
- Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
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