纳米抗体研究进展

纳米抗体是由骆驼科动物缺失轻链的天然重链抗体的可变区(VHH)组成的单域抗体,其可变区的相对分子质量约为15×10~3。与传统抗体相比,纳米抗体具有相对分子质量小、亲和力高、稳定性高、溶解性好、免疫原性低、穿透力强、人源化简单等优势。基于纳米抗体的特性以及骆驼天然重链抗体的VHH单域抗体的特殊结构,使其在基础医学研究以及疾病诊断和治疗方面具有广阔的应用前景。     

单域抗体的研究和应用进展

传统IgG抗体分子一般由轻链和重链组成,轻链包含1个可变区(VL)和1个恒定区(CL),重链包含1个可变区(VH)和3个恒定区(CH1,CH2,CH3)。单域抗体(Single domain antibody,sdAb),是指缺失抗体轻链而只有重链可变区的一类抗体,因其分子量小,也被称为纳米抗体(Nanobody)。20世纪90年代,单域抗体最早在骆驼科动物中被发现,之后在护士鲨、大星鲨和鳐鱼等软骨鱼纲动物中也发现了类似的抗体。单域抗体虽然结构简单,但仍然可以达到与传统抗体相当甚至更高的与特异抗原结合的亲和力。相比于传统抗体,单域抗体具有分子量小、稳定性强、易于重组表达等优点。近年来在生物学基础研究和医学临床应用方面均备受关注并被广泛应用。文中将从单域抗体的结构特征、理化性质、筛选方法及其在生物医学领域的重要应用进展进行综述。     

纳米抗体技术及其在疾病诊断和治疗中的应用

单克隆抗体具有特异性结合抗原的能力,已被广泛应用于疾病诊断及治疗领域.但因单克隆抗体的组织渗透能力较差、体内的保留时间较长以及制备过程繁琐,从而限制了其在临床中的应用.自1993年首次报道在骆驼体内天然存在的单链抗体(HCAb)以来,由于其可变区间VHH(纳米抗体)具有体积小、溶解度高、特异性强以及可在细菌中大量表达等优点,较之传统单克隆抗体,VHH在疾病的诊断治疗及药物开发等医学领域具有更广阔的应用前景.本文综述了:纳米抗体的骨架区及互补决定区与传统抗体重链相应区间的结构比较;纳米抗体库的构建以及运用噬菌体展示技术对VHH库的筛选;纳米抗体技术在疾病诊断中的应用及其用于分子显像的优势,以及纳米抗体作为抗肿瘤免疫偶联物的靶向组分在癌症治疗领域中的最新进展.     

大容量人天然抗体库的构建、鉴定及初步应用

从未经主动免疫的健康志愿者的外周血淋巴细胞中提取总RNA,用RT-PCR扩增人抗体重链(VH)和轻链(VL)可变区基因,得到了6种VH家族基因,11种VL家族基因,这些抗体基因家族覆盖了人抗体基因多样性的95%以上。采用改进的SOEPCR法将VH基因和VL基因连接成人单链抗体(scFv)基因,并克隆到噬菌粒载体pCANTAB5E中,将连接产物电转化大肠杆菌TG1,经辅助噬菌体M13KO7超感染,构建了库容为5.58×109的噬菌体单链抗体库。采用BstNI酶切法证明,构建的噬菌体单链抗体库具有良好的多样性。以TNF-α为靶,从该抗体库中筛选到了抗TNF-α抗体,这说明该抗体库可用于人源抗体的筛选。     

抗A型肉毒毒素人源三结构域抗体的重组设计与表达

以获得的抗A型肉毒毒素人源单链抗体ScFvB17为模板 ,PCR扩增抗体ScFv基因的重链可变区 (VH)和轻链可变区 (Vκ) ,以重链恒定区 1(CH1) 5′端 12个氨基酸的序列作为连接肽 ,构建成三结构域抗体分子 :VH_连接肽_Vκ(VH Vκ)。重组VH Vκ抗体分子在大肠杆菌中得到高效表达 ,其表达量占菌体总蛋白质的 34%以上。表达的蛋白质在菌内形成包含体 ,采用镍柱金属鏊合层析法对该包含体进行纯化 ,得到了纯度高达 95 %的VH Vκ。ELISA等实验结果显示 ,重组设计并制备的三结构域抗体蛋白VH Vκ不但可以特异识别毒素抗原 ,具有与原母本单链抗体ScFv相同的抗原特异性 ,而且具有了更高的相对亲和力和稳定性。     

抗破伤风类毒素单抗可变区基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中表达的三种工程抗体

我们采用RT-PCR,从小鼠杂交瘤细胞中扩增并克隆了抗破伤风类毒素(TT)抗体轻、重链可变区,重链Fd区基因,测定了其VH、Vk序列。并在大肠杆菌中表达了Fd片段,ELISA分析的结果表明Fd片段具有抗原结合的能力,但特异性很差。进一步采用SOE,和PCR技术,将VH、VK基因与ScFv连接片段组装成单链抗体(ScFv)基因片段,以及将人重链CH1和Fab基因连接片段组装成Fab基因片段。将它们分别插入含噬菌体fd外壳蛋白3基因的phagem-id pHEN 1中,在辅助噬菌体M 13-VCS作用下,噬菌体表面表达了抗TT的噬菌体单链抗体(phage-ScFv)与噬菌体Fab(phage-Fab),经ELISA检测,表明它们都能与TT特异结合。     

抗人血管内皮生长因子单链抗体基因的构建、表达及活性鉴定

鼠单克隆抗体E11能与人血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)特异结合,已用于临床检测恶性肿瘤细胞VEGF的表达,并初步证明其体内抑瘤活性。为便于大规模生产,特进行基因工程改造,构建小分子的单链抗体(scFv)。首先通过逆转录及多聚酶链式反应(PCR),分离并克隆E11的可变区基因。经测序表明,E11轻链可变区(VL)基因全长333bp,编码111个氨基酸,归属小鼠轻链可变区基因第Ⅲ亚组。重链可变区VH基因全长369bp,编码123个氨基酸,归属小鼠重链可变区基因Ⅱ(A)亚组。然后用一编码亲水性多肽接头的DNA片断将E11单抗轻、重链可变区基因连接,构建表达质粒pET-15YV,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中进行表达。表达产物(包含体)经变性及复性后,用免疫组化法检测该单链抗体结合抗原(颊癌)能力。对颊癌组织检测的结果表明,基因工程抗体scFv与亲代抗体一样,具有较高的组织特异性。本研究获得的抗人VEGF单链抗体具有潜在的临床价值,为肿瘤放射免疫显像及以血管为靶标的抗血管生成治疗奠定了基础。     

一株针对人EGFR的单链抗体克隆与哺乳细胞表达

目的:制备特异性抗人表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)的单链抗体(sc Fv),鉴定其生物学活性,为进一步研究基于单链抗体的免疫治疗奠定基础。方法:从分泌抗人EGFR单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞系提取总RNA,利用5'RACE技术扩增轻链和重链可变区(VL、VH)基因,构建具有VL、VH基因的单链抗体基因,并将构建的单链抗体基因克隆到真核细胞表达载体pc DNA3.1中进行表达和鉴定。ELISA鉴定单链抗体对抗原的特异性;Fortebio检测抗原抗体间的亲和力,流式细胞术检测单链抗体结合肺癌细胞系天然EGFR的功能活性。结果:获得唯一的轻重链可变区序列VL、VH,成功构建EGFR-sc Fv,特异性与天然EGFR蛋白结合,亲和力达3.22×10-9mol/L。结论:成功构建了抗人EGFR单链抗体,为肺癌免疫导向治疗研究奠定了基础。     

抗乙型肝炎表面抗原单链抗体(ScFv)的原核表达、纯化及鉴定

从抗HBsAg鼠单抗的杂交瘤细胞提取RNA,经反转录得到cDNA,进一步扩增得到鼠重链可变区基因(VH)和轻链可变区基因(VL),按VH-linker-VL的结构将VH、VL基因拼接成单链抗体(scFv)基因;经测序正确后进一步构建了表达重组体p26HBSc并在E.coli中表达,得到一约30kD的外源蛋白;纯化后经ELISA检测与HBsAg有较高的亲和力活性,为下一步的人源化改造奠定了基础。     

抗HEV嵌合抗体的构建及在CHO细胞中的表达

通过RT-PCR方法从分泌戊型肝炎(戊肝)病毒中和性鼠源单克隆抗体(单抗)8C11的杂交瘤细胞中克隆出抗体基因的重链可变区(VH)、轻链可变区(VK)序列,并分别克隆到含有人gamma 1重链和kappa轻链恒定区序列的pcDNA3.1/Hygro和pcDNA3.1( )质粒中,共转染中华仓鼠卵巢癌细胞(CHO)细胞.RT-PCR结果表明,转染的CHO细胞转录了嵌合重链及轻链基因,间接ELISA及Western blot结果表明:翻译出的两种多肽在细胞内正确组装成嵌合抗体分子,并可分泌至细胞外,表达的嵌合抗体保留了原鼠单抗的抗原结合特异性及对8H3结合抗原的增强作用.8C11嵌合抗体的成功表达可降低鼠源性,为探讨戊肝抗体治疗的可能性奠定了基础.     

Antigen binding and solubility effects upon the veneering of a camel VHH in framework-2 to mimic a VH

Heavy chain only antibodies of camelids bind their antigens with a single domain, the VHH, which acquired adaptations relative to classical VHs to function in the absence of a VL partner. Additional CDR loop conformations, outside the canonical loop structures of VHs, broaden the repertoire of the antigen-binding site. The combined effects of part of the CDR3 that folds over the "former" VL binding site and framework-2 mutations to more hydrophilic amino acids, enhance the solubility of VHH domains and prevent VL pairing. cAbAn33, a VHH domain specific for the carbohydrate moiety of the variant surface glycoprotein of trypanosomes, has a short CDR3 loop that does not cover the former VL binding site as well as a VH-specific Trp47 instead of the VHH-specific Gly47. Resurfacing its framework-2 region (mutations Tyr37Val, Glu44Gly and Arg45Leu) to mimic that of a human VH restores the VL binding capacity. In solution, the humanised VHH behaves as a soluble, monomeric entity, albeit with reduced thermodynamic stability and affinity for its antigen. Comparison of the crystal structures of cAbAn33 and its humanised derivative reveals steric hindrance exerted by VHH-specific residues Tyr37 and Arg45 that prevent the VL domain pairing, whereas Glu44 and Arg45 are key elements to avoid insolubility of the domain.     

Isolation and optimization of camelid single-domain antibodies: Dirk Saerens' work on nanobodies

It is well established that all camelids have unique antibodies circulating in their blood. Unlike antibodies from all other species, these special antibodies are devoid of light chains, and are composed of a heavy chain homodimer. These so-called heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) are expressed after a V-D-J rearrangement and require dedicated constant gamma genes. An immune response is raised in these HCAbs following a classical immunization protocol. These HCAbs are easily purified from serum, and their antigen-binding fragment interacts with parts of the target that are less antigenic to conventional antibodies. The antigen binding site of the dromedary HCAb comprises one single domain, referred to as VHH or nanobody (Nb), therefore, a strategy was designed to clone the Nb repertoire of an immunized dromedary and to select the Nb with specificity for our target antigens. The monoclonal Nb is produced well in bacteria, is very stable and highly soluble, and it binds the antigen with high affinity and specificity. Currently, the recombinant Nb has been developed successfully for research purposes, as a probe in biosensors, to diagnose infections, or to treat diseases such as cancer or trypanosomiasis.     

Dual beneficial effect of interloop disulfide bond for single domain antibody fragments

The antigen-binding fragment of functional heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) in camelids comprises a single domain, named the variable domain of heavy chain of HCAbs (VHH). The VHH harbors remarkable amino acid substitutions in the framework region-2 to generate an antigen-binding domain that functions in the absence of a light chain partner. The substitutions provide a more hydrophilic, hence more soluble, character to the VHH but decrease the intrinsic stability of the domain. Here we investigate the functional role of an additional hallmark of dromedary VHHs, i.e. the extra disulfide bond between the first and third antigen-binding loops. After substituting the cysteines forming this interloop cystine by all 20 amino acids, we selected and characterized several VHHs that retain antigen binding capacity. Although VHH domains can function in the absence of an interloop disulfide bond, we demonstrate that its presence constitutes a net advantage. First, the disulfide bond stabilizes the domain and counteracts the destabilization by the framework region-2 hallmark amino acids. Second, the disulfide bond rigidifies the long third antigen-binding loop, leading to a stronger antigen interaction. This dual beneficial effect explains the in vivo antibody maturation process favoring VHH domains with an interloop disulfide bond.     

Single domain camel antibodies: current status

The antigen-binding capacity of the paired variable domains of an antibody is well established. The observation that the isolated heavy chains of anti-hapten antibodies retain some antigen-binding capacity in the absence of light chains led to attempts to obtain an even smaller antigen-binding unit in a VH format. Unfortunately, the poor solubility, the reduced affinity for the antigen and the irreproducible outcome showed that additional protein engineering would be required to successfully generate single-domain antibody fragments. By serendipity, it was discovered that this engineering is already performed continuously in nature. Part of the humoral immune response of camels and llamas is based largely on heavy-chain antibodies where the light chain is totally absent. These unique antibody isotypes interact with the antigen by virtue of only one single variable domain, referred to as VHH. Despite the absence of the VH-VL combinatorial diversity, these heavy-chain antibodies exhibit a broad antigen-binding repertoire by enlarging their hypervariable regions. Methods are described to tap the VHH repertoire of an immunised dromedary or llama. These VHH libraries contain a high titre of intact antigen-specific binders that were matured in vivo. Synthetic libraries of a 'camelised' human VH, a mouse VH or a camelid VHH scaffold with a randomised CDR3 could constitute a valid alternative to immune libraries to retrieve useful single-domain antigen binders. The recombinant VHH that are selected from such libraries are well expressed, highly soluble in aqueous environments and very robust. Some in vivo matured VHH were also shown to be potent enzyme inhibitors, and the low complexity of the antigen-binding site is an asset in the design of peptide mimetics. Because of their smaller size and the above properties, the VHH clearly offer added-value over conventional antibody fragments. They are expected to open perspectives as enzyme inhibitors and intrabodies, as modular building units for multivalent or multifunctional constructs, or as immuno-adsorbents and detection units in biosensors.     

Single domain camel antibodies: current status

The antigen-binding capacity of the paired variable domains of an antibody is well established. The observation that the isolated heavy chains of anti-hapten antibodies retain some antigen-binding capacity in the absence of light chains led to attempts to obtain an even smaller antigen-binding unit in a VH format. Unfortunately, the poor solubility, the reduced affinity for the antigen and the irreproducible outcome showed that additional protein engineering would be required to successfully generate single-domain antibody fragments. By serendipity, it was discovered that this engineering is already performed continuously in nature. Part of the humoral immune response of camels and llamas is based largely on heavy-chain antibodies where the light chain is totally absent. These unique antibody isotypes interact with the antigen by virtue of only one single variable domain, referred to as VHH. Despite the absence of the VH–VL combinatorial diversity, these heavy-chain antibodies exhibit a broad antigen-binding repertoire by enlarging their hypervariable regions. Methods are described to tap the VHH repertoire of an immunised dromedary or llama. These VHH libraries contain a high titre of intact antigen-specific binders that were matured in vivo. Synthetic libraries of a ‘camelised’ human VH, a mouse VH or a camelid VHH scaffold with a randomised CDR3 could constitute a valid alternative to immune libraries to retrieve useful single-domain antigen binders. The recombinant VHH that are selected from such libraries are well expressed, highly soluble in aqueous environments and very robust. Some in vivo matured VHH were also shown to be potent enzyme inhibitors, and the low complexity of the antigen-binding site is an asset in the design of peptide mimetics. Because of their smaller size and the above properties, the VHH clearly offer added-value over conventional antibody fragments. They are expected to open perspectives as enzyme inhibitors and intrabodies, as modular building units for multivalent or multifunctional constructs, or as immuno-adsorbents and detection units in biosensors.     

新疆双峰驼天然单域抗体库的构建及初步鉴定

旨在构建新疆双峰驼天然单域抗体库,及从中快速筛选VHH抗体.采用两种不同的抗原(溶菌酶和cAb-HEWL23)用天然文库进行筛选,成功筛选到了相应的抗体,并融溶菌酶筛选的VHH抗体(A3-1,A4-1和A10-1)进行表达和初步的ELISA检测.结果显示,A3-1和A10-1具有结合溶菌酶的能力.该方法简单方便、省时省力,可以快速从天然单城抗体库中筛选VHH抗体.     

双峰驼重链抗体组库的基本特征研究

目的:利用二代高通量测序技术,了解双峰骆驼循环B细胞重链抗体(HCAbs)组库的组成和基本特征。方法:通过分离骆驼外周血单核细胞(PBMC),提取m RNA,利用多重PCR和Illumina Mi-seq高通量测序技术对三头双峰骆驼的重链抗体可变区进行深度测序,分析了重链抗体组库V、J基因组成、重排时末端基因删除数和V-J基因配对率,以及CDR3的长度、香农多样性指数(Shannon index)、氨基酸组成分布等基本特征。结果:鉴定出平均每头骆驼130000条有效数据和67561条独特CDR3序列,HCAbs含量较高的V基因为IGHV1S45、IGHV1S50和IGHV1S52,J基因为IGHJ4和IGHJ6,所对应的V-J基因配对含量大于40%;CDR3的长度主要分布在10-30个氨基酸之间,含量较高的氨基酸为丙氨酸、甘氨酸和半胱氨酸;CDR3区域70%以上的平均长度为20个氨基酸长度,其中V基因长度为3 bp,J基因长度分布在1-18 bp。结论:双峰骆驼B细胞重链抗体组库由巨大的、不均匀分布(以少数VJ基因克隆占大多数)的和具有高度多样性的多克隆抗体构成,较长CDR3和富含丙氨酸、甘氨酸和半胱氨酸是HCAbs的重要特征。     

Characterization of heavy-chain antibody gene repertoires in Bactrian camels

Camelids are the only mammals that can produce functional heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs). Although HCAbs were discovered over 30 years ago, the antibody gene repertoire of Bactrian camels remains largely underexplored. To characterize the diversity of variable genes of HCAbs (VHHs), germline and rearranged VHH repertoires are constructed. Phylogenetics analysis shows that all camelid VHH genes are derived from a common ancestor and the nucleotide diversity of VHHs is similar across all camelid species. While species-specific hallmark sites are identified, the non-canonical cysteines specific to VHHs are distinct in Bactrian camels and dromedaries compared with alpacas. Though low divergence at the germline repertoire between wild and domestic Bactrian camels, higher expression of VHHs is observed in some wild Bactrian camels than that of domestic ones. This study not only adds our understanding of VHH repertoire diversity across camelids, but also provides useful resources for HCAb engineering.     

A single-domain antibody fragment in complex with RNase A: non-canonical loop structures and nanomolar affinity using two CDR loops

BACKGROUND: Camelid serum contains a large fraction of functional heavy-chain antibodies - homodimers of heavy chains without light chains. The variable domains of these heavy-chain antibodies (VHH) have a long complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) loop that compensates for the absence of the antigen-binding loops of the variable light chains (VL). In the case of the VHH fragment cAb-Lys3, part of the 24 amino acid long CDR3 loop protrudes from the antigen-binding surface and inserts into the active-site cleft of its antigen, rendering cAb-Lys3 a competitive enzyme inhibitor. RESULTS: A dromedary VHH with specificity for bovine RNase A, cAb-RN05, has a short CDR3 loop of 12 amino acids and is not a competitive enzyme inhibitor. The structure of the cAb-RN05-RNase A complex has been solved at 2.8 A. The VHH scaffold architecture is close to that of a human VH (variable heavy chain). The structure of the antigen-binding hypervariable 1 loop (H1) of both cAb-RN05 and cAb-Lys3 differ from the known canonical structures; in addition these H1 loops resemble each other. The CDR3 provides an antigen-binding surface and shields the face of the domain that interacts with VL in conventional antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: VHHs adopt the common immunoglobulin fold of variable domains, but the antigen-binding loops deviate from the predicted canonical structure. We define a new canonical structure for the H1 loop of immunoglobulins, with cAb-RN05 and cAb-Lys3 as reference structures. This new loop structure might also occur in human or mouse VH domains. Surprisingly, only two loops are involved in antigen recognition; the CDR2 does not participate. Nevertheless, the antigen binding occurs with nanomolar affinities because of a preferential usage of mainchain atoms for antigen interaction.     

Molecular Evolution of Broadly Neutralizing Llama Antibodies to the CD4-Binding Site of HIV-1

To date, no immunization of humans or animals has elicited broadly neutralizing sera able to prevent HIV-1 transmission; however, elicitation of broad and potent heavy chain only antibodies (HCAb) has previously been reported in llamas. In this study, the anti-HIV immune responses in immunized llamas were studied via deep sequencing analysis using broadly neutralizing monoclonal HCAbs as a guides. Distinct neutralizing antibody lineages were identified in each animal, including two defined by novel antibodies (as variable regions called VHH) identified by robotic screening of over 6000 clones. The combined application of five VHH against viruses from clades A, B, C and CRF_AG resulted in neutralization as potent as any of the VHH individually and a predicted 100% coverage with a median IC50 of 0.17 µg/ml for the panel of 60 viruses tested. Molecular analysis of the VHH repertoires of two sets of immunized animals showed that each neutralizing lineage was only observed following immunization, demonstrating that they were elicited de novo. Our results show that immunization can induce potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies in llamas with features similar to human antibodies and provide a framework to analyze the effectiveness of immunization protocols.