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.     

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.     

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.     

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~(4Glu)KDEL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。     

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。     

In vitro and in vivo suppression of interleukin-2-activated killer cell activity by chimeric proteins between interleukin-2 and Pseudomonas exotoxin.

The biological effects of IL-2 are mediated through high (complex of alpha and beta chain) or intermediate (beta chain) affinity IL-2 receptors. Previously, chimeric proteins composed of IL-2 and Pseudomonas exotoxin (IL-2-PE) were shown to be specifically cytotoxic to cells bearing IL-2 receptors. It has also been shown that IL-2-PE chimeric proteins can abrogate T cell-mediated immune response in vitro. In the current study, we have investigated the effects of IL-2-PE on LAK activity both in vivo and in vitro. We administered either IL-2-PE40 (comprised of IL-2 and 40-kDa portion of PE) or IL-2-PE66 (comprised of IL-2 and 66-kDa molecule of PE) to normal C57BL/6 mice for 3 or 8 days and LAK activity was assessed in various organs of mice. We found that IL-2-PE40 generated LAK activity in various compartments of mice and the level of activity was slightly lower than that observed with an equivalent amount of recombinant (r) IL-2 alone. However, IL-2-PE66 failed to generate LAK activity which would have been induced due to an equivalent concentration of rIL-2. IL-2-PE66 also did not induce LAK activity from the splenocytes during in vitro culture while IL-2-PE40 generated good LAK activity. An equivalent amount of IL-2 also generated potent LAK activity. The suppression of LAK activity by IL-2-PE66 was also evident in cells preactivated with IL-2; however, this inhibition was partial. The suppressive activity of IL-2-PE66 was shown to be mediated through IL-2 receptor interactions as excess amounts of rIL-2 were able to abrogate its effect. Both IL-2 toxins were equivalently cytotoxic to IL-2 receptor-bearing HUT 102 cells and both were able to compete from high and intermediate affinity IL-2 receptors. Taken together, our data indicate that IL-2-PE66 is highly cytotoxic to LAK cells while IL-2-PE40 is less cytotoxic. Thus, data from our study and from other published reports indicate that IL-2-PE66 is more potent immunosuppressive agent than IL-2-PE40.     

IL 6 and lymphoproliferative diseases]

Interleukin 6 has pleiotropic effects on cells from various lineages. Several data indicate that it may play a critical role in the development of multiple myeloma by an autocrine or paracrine stimulation pathway. For instance, we showed that oligodeoxynucleotides antisens of IL6 mRNA were capable to decrease the proliferation of two different myeloma cell lines. In Waldenstr?m's macroglobulinemia, at the initial stage of the disease, there is an autocrine differentiation pathway which is dependant of the secretion of IL6 by tumor cells. IL6 may also be implicated in the pathogenesis of some other lymphoid malignancies such as follicular lymphomas or large cell lymphomas. Its role in the systemic symptoms of Castleman disease has been clearly established.     

Properties of chimeric toxins with two recognition domains: interleukin 6 and transforming growth factor alpha at different locations in Pseudomonas exotoxin.

Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) is a potent cytotoxic agent that is composed of 613 amino acids arranged into three major domains. We have previously identified two positions where ligands can successfully be placed in PE to direct it to cells with specific surface receptors. One site is at the amino terminus and the other is close to but not at the C-terminus. To examine the possibility of constructing oncotoxins with two different recognition elements that will bind to two different receptors, we have placed cDNAs encoding either transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) or interleukin 6 (IL6) at the 5' end of a PE gene and also inserted a cDNA encoding TGF alpha near the 3' end of the PE gene. The plasmids encoding these chimeric toxins were expressed in Escherichia coli and the chimeric proteins purified to near homogeneity. In all the new toxins, the TGF alpha near the C-terminus was inserted after amino acid 607 of PE and followed by amino acids 604-613 so that the correct PE C-terminus (REDLK) was preserved. For each chimera, the toxin portion was either PE4E, in which the cell binding domain (domain Ia) is mutated, PE40, in which domain Ia is deleted, or PE38, in which domain Ia and part of domain Ib are deleted. These derivatives of PE do not bind to the PE receptor and allow 607, 355, or 339 amino acids, respectively, between the two ligands.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Selective immunosuppression of activated T cells with the chimeric toxin IL-2-PE40. Inhibition of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

A characteristic of activated T lymphocytes is the expression of high affinity IL-2R. We studied a new method of selective immunosuppression directed against activated T cells by using a chimeric recombinant protein (IL-2-PE40) composed of IL-2 fused to a modified Pseudomonas exotoxin lacking its cell recognition domain. As a model of T cell-mediated disease, we used experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) produced in Lewis rats by active immunization with the retinal S-Ag. The treatment protocol consisted of i.p. injection of IL-2-PE40 at 0.25 micrograms/g every 12 h. Controls were PBS, PE40, or IL-2-PE40asp553 a mutant form of the molecule with reduced activity. Treatment with IL-2-PE40 resulted in a significant reduction of the incidence and severity of EAU over controls. The analysis of the effect of i.p. injection of IL-2-PE40 on the popliteal draining lymph nodes of immunized animals showed a marked reduction in the lymphocytes content. Transfer experiments demonstrated that IL-2-PE40 prevented the development of EAU effector T cells. Interestingly, although activated B cells were reported to express IL-2R, there was no significant reduction of antibody production against the immunizing Ag under IL-2-PE40 treatment, suggesting sparing of the B cells.     

IL-2-PE40 prevents the development of tumors in mice injected with IL-2 receptor expressing EL4 transfectant tumor cells

A number of different immunotherapeutic reagents are currently being developed to target IL-2R for the treatment of leukemia, graft rejection, and certain autoimmune diseases. Previously, we have shown that IL-2-PE40, a chimeric protein composed of human IL-2 linked to the N-terminus of a truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE), could effectively kill a variety of cell lines in vitro expressing either low, intermediate, or high affinity IL-2R. Here, we demonstrate that IL-2-PE40 can successfully retard or prevent the growth of a lethal ascites tumor or a solid tumor composed of EL4J murine thymoma cells transfected with the p55 murine IL-2R. The transfected line, EL4J-3.4, expresses 1,000 to 3,000 high affinity IL-2R. Survival extension in the ascites model was achieved by initiating treatment either after 4 to 6 h or within 5 days post-tumor injection in both athymic nude and C57BL/6 mice. Similarly, the growth of an aggressive s.c. solid tumor could also be inhibited. Extension of survival was not achieved either by using the truncated toxin alone not attached to IL-2 or by using an IL-2-PE40Asp553 mutant lacking a functional toxin. Survival extension was not caused by IL-2 activated NK or other host effector mechanisms as IL-2-PE40 was unable to prevent the receptor-negative EL4J parental line from forming a lethal ascites or a solid tumor. Thus, IL-2-PE40 is a potent, specific cytolytic reagent that may prove useful in the arsenal of anti-IL-2R immunotherapeutics.     

In vivo efficacy of anti-glycoprotein 41, but not anti-glycoprotein 120, immunotoxins in a mouse model of HIV infection

Immunotoxins (ITs) targeting the HIV envelope protein are among the most efficacious antiviral therapies when tested in vitro. Yet a first-generation IT targeted to gp120, CD4-PE40 (chimeric immunotoxin using CD4 and the translocation and enzymatic domains of Pseudomonas exotoxin A), showed limited promise in initial clinical testing, highlighting the need for improved ITs. We have used a new mouse model of HIV infection to test the comparative efficacy of anti-HIV ITs targeted to gp120 or to gp41. Irradiated SCID/nonobese diabetic mice are injected with a tumor of human CD4(+) cells susceptible to infection and at a separate site persistently HIV-infected cells. The spread of infection from infected to susceptible tumor is monitored by plasma p24 and the presence of HIV-infected cells in the spleen. Anti-gp41 ITs in combination with tetrameric CD4-human Ig fusion protein have pronounced anti-HIV effects. Little if any anti-HIV efficacy was found with either CD4-PE40 or an Ab-targeted anti-gp120 IT. These data support continued exploration of the utility of ITs for HIV infection, particularly the use of anti-gp41 ITs in combination with soluble CD4 derivatives.     

Cloning and high level expression of a chimeric antibody with specificity for human carcinoembryonic antigen

A mouse/human chimeric antibody has been constructed by using variable light and variable heavy regions from a murine hybridoma specific for human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (CEM231.6.7). These V regions were combined with kappa and gamma-1 constant region genes cloned from human lymphocytes. The chimeric constructs were sequentially electroporated into murine non-Ig-producing myeloma (P3.653) and hybridoma (SP2/0) cell. Significant differences were seen in expression levels between the two cell types. High levels of expression (24 to 32 micrograms/ml/10(6) cells) were seen with several of the anti-CEA SP2/0 transfectomas but not with the P3.653 cells. The SP2/0 transfectoma lines were adapted to serum-free, chemically defined media and grown in large scale fermentation cultures where they continued to secrete high levels of antibody. The chimeric antibodies remain reactive against human CEA with affinity constants comparable to that of the parental hybridoma antibody. High level expression will make practical the production of chimeric antibodies for in vivo therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.     

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor interacts with mouse blastocysts independently of ErbB1: a possible role for heparan sulfate proteoglycans and ErbB4 in blastocyst implantation

Blastocyst implantation requires molecular and cellular interactions between the uterine luminal epithelium and blastocyst trophectoderm. We have previously shown that heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is induced in the mouse luminal epithelium solely at the site of blastocyst apposition at 16:00 hours on day 4 of pregnancy prior to the attachment reaction (22:00-23:00 hours), and that HB-EGF promotes blastocyst growth, zona-hatching and trophoblast outgrowth. To delineate which EGF receptors participate in blastocyst activation, the toxicity of chimeric toxins composed of HB-EGF or TGF-(&agr;) coupled to Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) were used as measures of receptor expression. TGF-(&agr;) or HB-EGF binds to EGF-receptor (ErbB1), while HB-EGF, in addition, binds to ErbB4. The results indicate that ErbB1 is inefficient in mediating TGF-(&agr;)-PE or HB-EGF-PE toxicity as follows: (i) TGF-(&agr;)-PE was relatively inferior in killing blastocysts, 100-fold less than HB-EGF-PE, (ii) analysis of blastocysts isolated from cross-bred egfr+/- mice demonstrated that HB-EGF-PE, but not TGF-(&agr;)-PE, killed egfr-/- blastocysts, and (iii) blastocysts that survived TGF-(&agr;)-PE were nevertheless killed by HB-EGF-PE. HB-EGF-PE toxicity was partially mediated by cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG), since a peptide corresponding to the heparin-binding domain of HB-EGF as well as heparitinase treatment protected the blastocysts from the toxic effects of HB-EGF-PE by about 40%. ErbB4 is a candidate for being an HB-EGF-responsive receptor since RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that day 4 mouse blastocysts express two different erbB4 isoforms and immunostaining with anti-ErbB4 antibodies confirmed that ErbB4 protein is expressed at the apical surface of the trophectoderm cells. It is concluded that (i) HB-EGF interacts with the blastocyst cell surface via high-affinity receptors other than ErbB1, (ii) the HB-EGF interaction with high-affinity blastocysts receptors is regulated by heparan sulfate, and (iii) ErbB4 is a candidate for being a high-affinity receptor for HB-EGF on the surface of implantation-competent blastocysts.     

Synthesis and functional characterization of a recombinant monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha-chain of the human interleukin-2 receptor.

We have determined the sequence of the light and heavy chains of mAb 3G-10 (IgG1), a monoclonal antibody competing with interleukin 2 (IL2) for binding to the human IL2 receptor Tac protein. The antibody-encoding genes were chimerized by introducing splice donor and part of the intron sequences into the cDNA and subsequently linking it to the constant parts of the human IgG1 gene. The chimeric mAb was produced in mouse myeloma cells and purified. Murine and chimeric mAbs showed similar properties with respect to inhibition of T-cell proliferation. In contrast to its murine counterpart, the chimeric mAb exhibited Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and, when combined with an Ab recognizing a different epitope on the IL2 receptor Tac protein, was able to activate human complement. The chimerized mAb might therefore have improved therapeutic efficacy.     

Activation of an IL6 Inflammatory Loop Mediates Trastuzumab Resistance in HER2+ Breast Cancer by Expanding the Cancer Stem Cell Population

Although inactivation of the PTEN gene has been implicated in the development of resistance to the HER2 targeting antibody trastuzumab, the mechanisms mediating this resistance remain elusive. We generated trastuzumab resistant cells by knocking down PTEN expression in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cell lines and demonstrate that development of trastuzumab resistance in these cells is mediated by activation of an IL6 inflammatory feedback loop leading to expansion of the cancer stem cell (CSC) population. Long term trastuzumab treatment generates highly enriched CSCs which display an EMT phenotype secreting over 100-fold more IL6 than parental cells. An IL6 receptor antibody interrupted this inflammatory feedback loop reducing the cancer stem cell population resulting in decreased tumor growth and metastasis in mouse xenographs. These studies demonstrate that trastuzumab resistance may be mediated by an IL6 inflammatory loop and suggest that blocking this loop may provide alternative strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance.     

Expression of interleukin 2 receptors on interleukin 3-dependent cell lines

Several mouse IL 3-dependent cell lines, IC2, LT4, FDC-P2, and PB-3C, derived from spleen or bone marrow cells were shown to express low affinity receptors for IL 2 (Kd; 0.5 to 8 X 10(-8) M). High affinity receptors for IL 2 were not detected on the IL 3-dependent cells within the experimental limitation of this study. The clones did not respond to IL 2 at all at the concentration as high as 25 micrograms/ml. The number of the receptors expressed on those clones was estimated to be 0.2 to 2 X 10(5)/cell, which is comparable with the number of those on IL 2-dependent T cell clones. Expression of IL 2 receptor was confirmed in mRNA levels for both IC2 and LT4 cells. A relatively low level expression of one (4.5 Kb) of four IL 2 receptor mRNA species was observed with those IL 3-dependent clones compared with IL 2-dependent T cells. It seems that these low affinity receptors may be expressed on IL 3-dependent cells that undergo differentiation or maturation in mast cell and some myeloid cell lineages.     

A divalent recombinant immunotoxin formed by a disulfide bond between the extension peptide chains.

Recombinant immunotoxin for the treatment of cancer was made by connecting toxins to 'carcinoma-specific' antibodies that selectively bind to cancer cells, then kills them without harming the normal cells. The divalent recombinant immunotoxin, [B3(Fab)-ext-PE38]2, is a derivative of B3(Fab)-PE38. B3(Fab)-PE38 was made by fusing the Fab domain of the monoclonal antibody (MAb) B3 to PE38, a truncated mutant form of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE). In this study, B3(Fab)-ext-PE38 was constructed, which has the hinge region of the B3(Fab)-PE38 extended with the peptide extension, G4C(G4S)2, and connected to the C3 connector. The Cys residue of the extension peptide chain makes the disulfide bond between the two Fab domains. The extension sequence (ext) makes the dimerization of B3(Fab)-ext-PE38 easier to form the divalent immunotoxin, because it decreases the steric hindrance between the two PE38s. The constructed genes were expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. Polypeptides that were obtained from the inclusion body were refolded, and the active forms were purified. The ID50 values of the divalent molecule, [B3(Fab)-ext-PE38]2, were about 4 ng/ml on A431 cell lines, about 1 ng/ml on CRL1739 cell lines, and 5 ng/ml on MCF-7 cell lines. The [B3(Fab)-ext-PE38]2 showed about a 12-fold higher cytotoxicity on CRL1739 cell lines than B3(scFv)-PE40 did.     

New lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic piperazinylcarboxamides with antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on human cancer cell lines

Six new synthetic bile acid derivatives were synthesized and tested in vitro against various human cancer cells (glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), multiple myeloma (KMS-11), and colonic carcinoma (HCT-116) cell lines. The best activity was obtained with compound IIIb on multiple myeloma cells (LD(50): 8.5+/-0.5 microM). This activity was associated with Mcl-1 and PARP-1 cleavage, inhibition of NFkappaB signaling, and DNA fragmentation, demonstrating an apoptotic cell death signaling pathway.