基于重链抗体构建的单域抗体研究进展

在骆驼血清中存在天然的缺失轻链的重链抗体(heavy chainantibody ,HCAb) ,克隆重链抗体的可变区构建的只由一个重链可变区组成的单域抗体称为VHH抗体(variabledomainofheavychainofheavy chainantibody ,VHH)。研究发现,VHH抗体具有易表达、可溶性好、稳定性强等优点。另外,骆驼的重链抗体与人VH3家族抗体同源,对人VH3家族抗体的重链可变区进行类似VHH的特征性改造,可以使这些抗体在保持亲和力、特异性不变或者变化很小的情况下,优化抗体的其它性质。已有的研究表明VHH抗体作为一种小型化的基因工程抗体在基础研究、药物开发等领域有广阔的应用前景。

Progress in Single-domain Antibody Derived from Heavy chain Antibody

Functional heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) lacking light chains occur naturally in camels. The variable domain of heavy chain of heavy-chain antibody is referred to VHH. The VHH gene family is homologous to human VH subgroup III. The single-domain VHH antibodies are constructed by cloning the variable domains of HCAbs. Compared to human VHs, VHH germ-line sequences contain some hallmark substitutions in framework region 2, including V37F(Y), G44 E, L45 R, W47G. The substitutions at positions 44, 45, 47 are often used to camelise the human VHs. Being a small binders, VHH antibodies are well expressed, extremely stable and very soluble. Camelised human VHs are proved to exhibit the same qualities as those of VHH antibodies. The single-domain VHH antibodies will be useful in the drug development and basic research.