白细胞介素2-绿脓杆菌外毒素融合基因的克隆及高效表达

利用聚合酶链式反应和寡核苷酸介导的定向诱变技术构建了白细胞介素2-绿脓杆菌外毒素IL2-PE40、IL2-PE40KDEL、IL2-PE66~(4Glu)和IL2-PE66^4GluKDEL融合基因的原核表达重组质粒,并实现了高效表达,表达产物占菌体总可溶蛋白的20％～30％。此外,由于这一表达质粒在IL-2cDNA与PE基因连接处引入了唯一的SmaⅠ位点,其5＇、3＇端分别含有唯一的EcoRⅠ、PstⅠ位点,因此可方便地用其它基因替换IL-2或PE基因而获得相应融合蛋白的表达质粒。     

转化生长因子α－绿脓杆菌外毒素融合蛋白TGFα－PE40高效表达质粒的构建和表达

利用基因工程技术,将质粒pYX382用xbaI和EcoRl切下插入的TGFa—PE40融合 基因片段-连接到可表达载体pCB604的XbaⅠ／EcoR Ⅰ位点中,构建成新的重组质粒p2x—TP1。P2x—TP1转化E.coli BL2l感受志菌后,在ⅠPTG诱导下Ⅰpp启动子转录表达TGFα—PE40融合蛋白。表达产物主要以包涵体形式沉积在细胞内。融合蛋白表达量的高低与诱导时的细胞密度,诱导的温度以及培养基有关。在一定范围内与诱导剂的剂量以及诱导时间的长短无关。P2x—TPl重组质粒在工程菌中的表达TGFα－PE40融合蛋白量约为50mg／L。     

F3-PE40基因的克隆、表达及纯化

通过质粒提取、PCR扩增构建F3-PE40表达载体转化大肠杆菌,然后进行表达纯化。以pEKH-F3质粒为模板,PCR扩增F3片段,将F3插入克隆质粒PQE80L,转化大肠杆菌,筛选获得含有F3的PQE80L重组载体。提取绿脓杆菌菌株染色体DNA为模板,PCR扩增绿脓杆菌外毒素A催化区（PE40）。然后将PQE80-F3和PE40重组,得到表达PQE80L-F3-PE40载体。转化至大肠杆菌DH5a,BL21,表达融合蛋白F3-PE40。大肠杆菌表达了融合蛋白F3-PE40,表达的融合蛋白量占菌体总体蛋白量的20%。成功地表达了融合蛋白F3-PE40,为进一步大规模表达、纯化F3-PE40功能奠定了基础。     

IL-1023-57-PE40分泌表达的初步研究

将IL-1023-57-PE40基因与pelB信号肽融合置于pET-20b构建分泌表达质粒pET-20b-IL-1023-57-PE40,然后将pET-20b-IL-1023-57-PE40分别转化至BL21(DE3),BL21(DE3)pLysS,Rosetta(DE3),E·coliK12TB1,ER2566中。无论是在37℃或是在26℃,亦或在培养基中添加葡萄糖的情况下,IPTG诱导后,IL-1023-57-PE40蛋白只在BL21(DE3)pLysS菌中以可溶分泌形式表达,其中以37℃时培养基中不添加葡萄糖表达量为最高,占菌体蛋白总量的15%,说明蛋白的分泌表达与菌种的选择有关。表达产物经免疫印记检测可被抗PE40的特异抗体识别。通过质粒稳定性实验证明,pET-20b-IL-1023-57-PE40在BL21(DE3)中不稳定,导致蛋白的不表达,在Rosetta(DE3)BL21,E·coliK12TB1,ER2566中稳定但不表达,因此,以Rosetta(DE3)BL21为例,通过SDS-PAGE、DNAStar和ANThewin蛋白分析软件对本室构建的几种PE重组毒素进行比较分析,我们发现:并不是所有PE重组毒素融合信号肽序列后,就能分泌表达,PE重组毒素分泌表达还可能与导向部分的性质有关。     

高纯度白介素-3与假单胞菌外毒素融合蛋白的表达、纯化及质谱鉴定

旨在利用简单的表达纯化工艺,获得纯度较高、有活性的重组免疫毒素IL3-PE38KDEL并对其物理学及免疫学性质进行鉴定。利用PQE30-IL3-PE38KDEL/SG12009工程菌表达重组免疫毒素IL3-PE38KDEL,在提取包涵体后经一步强阳离子柱层析得到纯度较高的免疫毒素复性纯化产物,用Westenblotting、质谱、氨基测序等先进技术对产物鉴定。结果显示,发酵后目的蛋白表达量占总菌体的17.56%,经强阳离子柱层析纯化复性后的目的蛋白纯度达到90%以上,Western blotting、质谱、氨基测序结果均表明,纯化产物分子量为54.9kD且具有相应的免疫学活性,序列与预期序列完全一致。纯化复性方法对重组免疫毒素IL3-PE38KDEL的生物性质及纯度有较大影响,因此选择一种适当的纯化复性方法至关重要。     

以白细胞介素15拮抗剂为载体的融合毒素IL15M-PE△293的研制

IL-15及IL-15受体(IL-15R)阳性细胞在成人T淋巴细胞性白血病(ATL)、多发性骨髓瘤及炎症性自身免疫性疾病病理过程中起着重要作用.为研制特异的可消除IL-15受体阳性异常细胞的新型导向药物,将人IL-15拮抗剂(IL-15M)基因片段与人工改造的绿脓杆菌外毒素(PE)变异体(PE△293)基因按正确的阅读框架融合,定向克隆在pET16b表达载体T7启动子的下游,得到质粒pET-IL15M-PE△293.从大肠杆菌相应重组菌株中通过Ni2+-NTA亲和层析纯化出融合蛋白IL5M-PE△293.IL15M-PE△293对IL-15R阳性红白血病细胞系K562及其多药耐药细胞系K562/AO2均具有杀伤作用,对IL-15R阴性细胞系Jurkat则没有明显的杀伤作用,而且过量的重组IL-15可以完全阻断融合蛋白对K562的细胞毒效应,说明融合蛋白的细胞毒作用具有靶向性.这些结果提示本文构建的融合蛋白在与IL-15/IL-15R异常表达相关的疾病甚至耐药性肿瘤的治疗中具有潜在的应用价值.     

IL-1018-57-PE40高效表达、纯化及细胞活性之研究

以IL-10的功能短肽（40肽,即IL-10第18号至57号氨基酸）为导向部分与PE40（绿脓杆菌外毒素除去受体结合区后的剩余部分）融合分别构建了IL-10_18-57-PE40的胞质和胞周质表达质粒,其中,IL-10_18-57-PE40在Rosettablue(DE3)中以高效胞质可溶形式表达,在BL21（DE3）pLysS中以胞周质分泌形式表达;表达宿主菌Rosettablue(DE3)超声波破碎后,依次通过硫酸铵盐析、疏水层析、铜离子亲和层析、阴离子交换层析纯化后,得96%重组毒素纯品;细胞活性实验、细胞ELISA和荧光标记实验表明,构建的IL-10_18-57-PE40符合免疫毒素的作用机理。因此,该实验为PE免疫毒素的规模制备和纯化做了一定的有益的探索。     

重组白介素6-假单胞菌外毒素融合蛋白对正常BN大鼠骨髓粒系造血的作用

本文报道了重组白介素6-假单胞菌外毒素融合蛋白(IL-6-PE40)对正常BN大鼠骨髓粒系造血的体外效应。10ng/ml的IL-6-PE40对高表达IL-6受体的U266骨髓瘤细胞的蛋白质合成抑制率为50％,1000ng/ml则为100％。1～1000ng/mlIL-6-PE40对正常骨髓未纯化细胞的CFU-GM集落形成和DNA合成无明显抑制,但IL-6却具有一定的刺激效应。提示正常骨髓粒系祖细胞和骨髓细胞可能不表达IL-6受体,IL-6-PE40对粒系造血仍具有某些细胞毒作用,但被IL-6-PE40中的IL-6极大地削弱了。     

以白细胞介素15拮抗剂为载体的融合毒素IL15M-PEΔ293的研制

IL-15及IL-15受体 (IL-15R)阳性细胞在成人T淋巴细胞性白血病 (ATL)、多发性骨髓瘤及炎症性自身免疫性疾病病理过程中起着重要作用。为研制特异的可消除IL-15受体阳性异常细胞的新型导向药物 ,将人IL-15拮抗剂 (IL-15M)基因片段与人工改造的绿脓杆菌外毒素 (PE)变异体 (PEΔ293)基因按正确的阅读框架融合 ,定向克隆在pET16b表达载体T7启动子的下游 ,得到质粒pET-IL15M-PEΔ293。从大肠杆菌相应重组菌株中通过Ni²⁺ NTA亲和层析纯化出融合蛋白IL15M-PEΔ293。IL15M-PEΔ293对IL-15R阳性红白血病细胞系K562及其多药耐药细胞系K562 AO₂ 均具有杀伤作用 ,对IL-15R阴性细胞系Jur kat则没有明显的杀伤作用 ,而且过量的重组IL-15可以完全阻断融合蛋白对K562的细胞毒效应 ,说明融合蛋白的细胞毒作用具有靶向性。这些结果提示本文构建的融合蛋白在与IL-15IL-15R异常表达相关的疾病甚至耐药性肿瘤的治疗中具有潜在的应用价值。     

TGFα-PE 40的基因克隆、表达和对人癌细胞生长的抑制作用

本文报告了构建人转化生长因子α和绿脓杆菌外毒素融合基因的表达型重组质粒pYX382和pYX 3825,两种质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21后,经IPTG 诱导,表达融合蛋白TGFα-PE 40,表达产物分子量为46 kd,具有和抗TGF a抗体和抗PE 抗体反应的能力,重组质粒pYX 3825带有信号肽顺序,因而在细菌中表达产物大部分被分泌到培基和周质中。TGFa-PE 40具有和细胞表面EGFR 结合的能力,因而,能与过度表达EGFR 的癌细胞结合,将毒素蛋白的活性部分带入细胞而显示对癌细胞蛋白质合成的强烈抑制和对癌细胞的杀伤。     

Cytotoxicity of IL6-PE40 and derivatives on tumor cells expressing a range of interleukin 6 receptor levels

The chimeric toxin IL6-PE40, which is composed of interleukin 6 (IL6) fused to a mutant form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) devoid of its native cell recognition domain, can kill myeloma and hepatoma cells which express high levels of IL6 receptors. To enhance the usefulness of IL6-PE40 on potential target cells, we have attempted to develop more potent IL6-PE derivatives. We have developed nine new IL6-PE derivatives and assessed their cytotoxicity on human myeloma cells. Two of these new forms, IL6-domain II-PE40 and IL6-PE664Glu were more toxic to myeloma cells bearing IL6 receptors than was IL6-PE40. These two chimeric toxins were compared with IL6-PE40 for cytotoxicity toward a variety of tumor cell lines. We found that most tumor cell lines which are sensitive to IL6-PE40 are more sensitive to IL6-domain II-PE40 and IL6-PE664Glu. Cells with as few as 200-600 IL6 receptors/cell could be killed. The specificity of these chimeric toxins was shown through competition with recombinant IL6. Toxicity studies in mice demonstrated that the two new molecules had an LD50 of 10-20 micrograms/mouse. This compares to an IL6-PE40 LD50 of 20 micrograms/mouse. The new IL6-toxins could be detected in the serum up to 8 h after intraperitoneal administration with a peak at 1 h. These data suggest that IL6-domain II-PE40 and IL6-PE664Glu may be more useful than IL6-PE40 in killing IL6 receptor-bearing tumor cells in animals.     

IL2-PE664Glu, a new chimeric protein cytotoxic to human-activated T lymphocytes

To produce a molecule that will kill activated T cells as well as lymphomas and leukemias expressing interleukin 2 (IL2) receptors, we have created a recombinant chimeric protein in which IL2 is attached in peptide linkage to a truncated mutant form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) (Lorberboum-Galski, H., FitzGerald, D.J.P., Chandhary, V.K., Adhya, S., and Pastan, I. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 1922-1926). Although this molecule was very active on rodent cells, it had lower activity on some human cell types. A new chimeric protein termed IL2-PE664Glu has been constructed that is extremely toxic to both phytohemagglutinin blasts and mixed leukocyte reaction blasts prepared from monkey and human lymphocytes. The chimeric gene encoding this protein was constructed by fusing a cDNA clone for human interleukin 2 to the 5' end of a mutated cDNA encoding a full-length PE molecule. Four amino acids in domain I of PE were changed thus decreasing its nonspecific toxicity. IL2-PE664Glu is a much more active cytotoxic molecule for primate and human-activated T cells than IL2-PE40 which is a chimeric protein that was found to be an effective immunosuppressive agent in rodent models. Our results indicate that IL2-PE664Glu should be evaluated as an immunosuppressive agent for the treatment of human immune disorders in which activated T cells expressing the IL2 receptor are prominent.     

Cell-specific toxicity of a chimeric protein composed of interleukin-6 and Pseudomonas exotoxin (IL6-PE40) on tumor cells.

IL6-PE40 is a chimeric toxin composed of human interleukin-6 (IL6) linked by a peptide bond to PE40, a form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) devoid of its cell recognition domain. To identify cancer cell lines with high numbers of IL6 receptors and to assess the usefulness of IL6-PE40 as a possible anticancer agent, we evaluated the toxicity of IL6-PE40 on a variety of tumor cell lines and demonstrated that certain human myeloma and hepatoma cell lines were particularly sensitive. IL6 binding to selected hepatoma and myeloma cell lines were determined by using [125I]IL6. IL6 receptor mRNA levels were measured by polymerase chain reactions. When comparisons were made among different hepatoma cell lines, the sensitivity to IL6-PE40 correlated with the number of IL6 receptors. However, the hepatoma line PLC/PRF/5, which contains 2,300 IL6 receptors, was more sensitive to IL6-PE40 (amount of protein required to inhibit protein synthesis by 50% was 5 ng/ml) than both the myeloma cell lines U266 and H929 (for both cell lines, the 50% inhibitory dose was 8 ng/ml), which contain 15,500 and 16,500 IL6 receptors, respectively. RNA analysis confirmed that the sensitivity of these cells to IL6-PE40 and the amount of IL6 receptor RNA detected did not correlate. These data suggest that factors in addition to the number of IL6-binding sites contribute to the sensitivity of cells to IL6-PE40.     

Anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40, a single chain antibody Pseudomonas fusion protein directed at interleukin 2 receptor bearing cells

Anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 is a chimeric single chain immunotoxin in which anti-Tac variable heavy and light chains held together by a peptide linker are attached to PE40, a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin. This molecule was shown to be extremely cytotoxic for interleukin 2 (IL2) receptor bearing cells in tissue culture (Chaudhary, V. K., Queen, C., Junghans, R. P., Waldmann, T. A., FitzGerald, D. J., and Pastan, I. (1989) Nature 339, 394-397). Here we describe various forms of anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 protein in which the order of the variable domains of anti-Tac has been switched and also three different types of peptide linkers have been used. All these proteins were purified to near homogeneity and were found to have similar cytotoxic activities against various human cells expressing the p55 subunit of the IL2 receptor. Anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 was also found to have a very potent suppressive activity against phytohemagglutinin-activated human lymphoblasts and in a human mixed lymphocyte reaction. Anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 appeared in the blood rapidly in mice after intraperitoneal administration and could be detected in the blood for up to 8 h. Anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 warrants evaluation as an anti-tumor and immunosuppressive agent in humans.     

Interleukin 2 (IL2) PE40 is cytotoxic to cells displaying either the p55 or p70 subunit of the IL2 receptor

IL2-PE40 is a chimeric protein composed of human interleukin 2 (IL2) genetically fused to the amino terminus of a modified form of pseudomonas exotoxin (PE). Internalization of IL2 via the individual p55 and p70 subunits of the IL2 receptor was studied using IL2-PE40 on several mouse and human cell lines expressing either the p55, the p70, or both IL2 receptor subunits. Internalization was assessed by measuring inhibition of protein synthesis caused by the toxin moiety of IL2-PE40. The results demonstrate that IL2 internalization is mediated by either the p55 receptor subunit or by the p70 subunit but is much more efficient when high affinity receptors composed of both subunits are present. IL2-PE40 is a powerful reagent for studying IL2 receptor interactions and for analyzing pathways of the immune response and its regulation.     

TGF alpha-anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40: a bifunctional toxin cytotoxic for cells with EGF or IL2 receptors

Conventional immunotoxins and chimeric toxins made in bacteria are directed to only one receptor or antigen on target cells. In this report we describe the construction of a chimeric molecule TGF alpha-anti Tac(Fv)-PE40 which is composed of human transforming growth factor type alpha attached to anti-Tac(Fv) which is in turn attached to PE40, a form of pseudomonas exotoxin, devoid of its cell recognition domain. TGF alpha-anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 is a bifunctional toxin that is produced in E. coli and is active on cells bearing either IL2 or EGF receptors.     

Acetate inhibition on growth of recombinant E. coli and expression of fusion protein TGFaα-PE40

Summary Acetate was inhibitory to the growth of early induced E. coli cells and their expression of fusion protein, transforming growth factor--Pseudomonas exotoxin 40 (TGF-PE40), but the inhibitory level was strain dependent For E. coli JM109 (pTAC-TGF57-PE40), 2 g/L of added acetate (3 g/L of total acetate in the medium) decreased TGFa-PE40 production by 38.0%. Acetate was less inhibitory to E. coli RR1, and RR1 was not affected by adding 2 g/L of acetate. However, 5 g/L of added acetate (6.7 g/L of total acetate in the medium) decreased TGF-PE40 production by 21.2%. These results indicate that higher acetate concentration was associated with inhibition of TGF-PE40 expression of E. coli JM109 during late induction.     

Therapeutic Efficacy of Cintredekin Besudotox (IL13-PE38QQR) in Murine Lung Fibrosis Is Unaffected by Immunity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A

Background

We have previously explored a therapeutic strategy for specifically targeting the profibrotic activity of IL-13 during experimental pulmonary fibrosis using a fusion protein comprised of human IL-13 and a mutated form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (IL13-PE) and observed that the intranasal delivery of IL13-PE reduced bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis through its elimination of IL-13-responsive cells in the lung. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the presence of an immune response to P. aeruginosa and/or its exotoxin A (PE) would diminish the anti-fibrotic properties of IL13-PE.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Fourteen days after P. aeruginosa infection, C57BL/6 mice were injected with bleomycin via the intratracheal route. Other groups of mice received 4 doses of saline or IL13-PE by either intranasal or intraperitoneal application, and were challenged i.t. with bleomycin 28 days later. At day 21 after bleomycin, all mice received either saline vehicle or IL13-PE by the intranasal route and histopatological analyses of whole lung samples were performed at day 28 after bleomycin. Intrapulmonary P. aeruginosa infection promoted a neutralizing IgG2A and IgA antibody response in BALF and serum. Surprisingly, histological analysis showed that a prior P. aeruginosa infection attenuated the development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, which was modestly further attenuated by the intranasal administration of IL13-PE. Although prior intranasal administration of IL13-PE failed to elicit an antibody response, the systemic administration of IL13-PE induced a strong neutralizing antibody response. However, the prior systemic sensitization of mice with IL13-PE did not inhibit the anti-fibrotic effect of IL13-PE in fibrotic mice.

Conclusions

Thus, IL13-PE therapy in pulmonary fibrosis works regardless of the presence of a humoral immune response to Pseudomonas exotoxin A. Interestingly, a prior infection with P. aeruginosa markedly attenuated the pulmonary fibrotic response suggesting that the immune elicitation by this pathogen exerts anti-fibrotic effects.