肿瘤坏死因子受体生物学功能及其临床应用研究进展

肿瘤坏死因子（Tumor necrosis factor,TNF）的生物学功能是由其受体（TNF receptor,TNFR）介导的,可溶性TNF受体（Soluble TNF receptor,sTNRF）从膜上脱萍下来,不再负责信号传递,但能与TNF结合,中和TNF的生物学活性。sTNFR与IgG Fc组成的嵌合蛋白能有效治疗成人类风湿性关节炎和几童多发性关节炎,对其他与TNF相关免疫性疾病的治疗目前正在处于临床研究阶段。     

sTNFR-IgGFc融合基因在内皮细胞中的表达及其对小鼠关节炎模型的基因治疗研究

可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体(sTNFR)可以拮抗肿瘤坏死因子的活性,因此已被用来治疗与TNF相关的炎性疾病。本研究将sTNFR与IgGFc片段的融合蛋白基因克隆到真核表达载体pStar上,转染到人的内皮细胞中,获得了表达。表达的sTNFR-IgGFc能够拮抗TNFα对L929细胞的细胞毒活性。将该质粒DNA与脂质体混合,经尾静脉注射到Ⅱ型胶原诱导的关节炎小鼠体内后,应用RT-PCR在鼠的肝脏检测到了sTNFR-IgGFc的表达,并显著地改善了治疗组小鼠关节炎症状和病理反应。这表明抗TNF基因治疗有可能作为治疗类风湿性关节炎的新的途径。     

人可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体Ⅱ与IgG Fc融合蛋白在乳酸克鲁维酵母菌中的表达及产物分析

目的:在乳酸克鲁维酵母中表达人可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体Ⅱ(sTNFRⅡ)与IgG Fc的融合蛋白。方法:首先获得sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc融合基因片段,然后构建至乳酸克鲁维酵母表达载体pKLAC1中,获得sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc的表达载体,并将其电转化乳酸克鲁维酵母(Δura3),通过ELISA方法筛选高表达sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc融合蛋白的重组乳酸克鲁维酵母菌株,采用还原和非还原SDS-PAGE分析融合蛋白是否形成二聚体结构,Western印迹验证sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc融合蛋白在乳酸克鲁维酵母(Δura3)中的表达。结果:构建了sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc表达载体pKLAC1-sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc,获得了表达sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc的乳酸克鲁维酵母菌株,SDS-PAGE和Western印迹表明该融合蛋白能自发形成类似于抗体的二聚体结构。结论:实现了sTNFRⅡ-IgGFc融合蛋白在乳酸克鲁维酵母(Δura3)中的表达。     

sTNFRⅡ和VIP融合蛋白的基因克隆表达、纯化及活性检测

可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体Ⅱ（sTNFRⅡ）和血管活性肠肽（VIP）对类风湿性关节炎（RA）均有治疗作用,但两者的作用机制不同。制备两者融合表达蛋白,可能具有更好的防治类风湿关节炎的作用。用含有VIP全基因序列的上游引物和sTNFRⅡ的下游引物,用PCR扩增出由连接序列将VIP和sTNFRⅡ基因连接的片段,再亚克隆到原核表达载体pET32a,在大肠杆菌DH5α内诱导表达。表达的产物经离子交换、疏水层析纯化,并用体外中和试验检测其活性。结果显示：构建的pET32a-VIP-sTNFRⅡ表达载体在大肠杆菌DH5α内包涵体表达,离子交换层析纯化后的融合蛋白有较强的生物活性,为将来应用打下基础。     

可溶性人肿瘤坏死因子受体Ⅱ（sTNFRⅡ）在大肠杆菌中的表达及其活性检测

肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）是一种多功能性的细胞因子,与许多重大疾病有关。为了抑制TNF的生物学活性,将TNF受体Ⅱ胞外区在大肠杆菌中进行了可溶性表达,并通过金属螯合层析柱纯化重组蛋白。结果表明,纯化的重组蛋白能够识别并结合TNF,同时能中和TNF的生物学活性,抑制其对细胞的杀伤作用,具有潜在的临床应用前景。     

嵌合的TNF-IFN蛋白比单独形式的蛋白具有更强的抗肿瘤效果

几家生物技术公司已开始检测混合淋巴因子,希望混合蛋白比单种蛋白具有更强的抗肿瘤活性;而Genentech公司(加州旧金山)正在跨出新的一步——生产由两种淋巴因子即γ-干扰素(IFN)和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-β嵌合而成的单链蛋白。TNF亦称淋巴毒素。数年前就已了解到γ-干扰素和淋巴毒素体外杀伤肿瘤细胞的协     

制备可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体II－脂联素球部融合蛋白的两种细胞培养工艺比较

利用7.5 L生物反应器篮式贴壁培养和全悬浮批式培养CHO工程细胞株表达可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体Ⅱ-脂联素球部(sTNFRⅡ-gAD)融合蛋白,比较这两种培养方法的产率,以便优化高效表达sTNFRⅡ-gAD融合蛋白的制备工艺.篮式贴壁培养首先小规模培养CHO工程细胞株,待细胞增殖到一定密度后以3× 105～4× 105 cells/mL密度接种生物反应器贴壁培养3d,调换成不含血清的LK021培养基继续培养4d.而全悬浮无血清批式培养则以3×105～4×105 cells/mL密度的CHO工程细胞株接种于生物反应器,连续培养7d.培养过程实时监测培养条件,维持pH和DO的稳定.分别收集细胞上清,离心去细胞后用Pellicon切相流超滤系统对蛋白进行浓缩,并通过DEAE离子交换柱进行纯化.结果显示,篮式贴壁培养和全悬浮批式培养均成功表达了sTNFRⅡ-gAD融合蛋白,产量分别为8.0 mg/L和7.5 mg/L、纯度分别为95％和98％,从而为sTNFRⅡ-gAD融合蛋白的中试工艺研究提供了一定的基础.     

人sTNFR1基因的克隆、融合表达与生物学活性

采用RT-PCR,从Hela细胞的mRNA中扩增人sTNFR1基因,构建含有目的片段的T载体克隆及原核表达载体pMAL-c2x重组质粒亚克隆,转化入大肠杆菌,测序证实其序列与基因数据库中sTNFR1基因一致。经异丙基-β-D半乳糖苷酶（IPTG）诱导表达,淀粉树脂亲和层析法纯化,得到融合蛋白sTNFR1-MBP。结果显示：经Western-blotting检测,sTNFR1-MBP具有免疫活性;MTT检测目的蛋白可有效地封闭TNFα对QSG7701的细胞毒性作用;流式细胞术检测目的蛋白对TNF-α诱导QSG7701凋亡有抑制作用;sTNFR1-MBP具有良好的生物活性,为今后的研究打下了基础。     

人sTNFR1基因原核表达及体外抗肝细胞凋亡的活性研究

采用RT-PCR,从Hela细胞的mRNA中扩增人sTNFR1基因,构建含有目的片段的T载体克隆及原核表达载体pMAL-c2x重组质粒亚克隆,转化入大肠杆菌,测序证实其序列与基因数据库中sTNFR1基因一致.经异丙基-β-D半乳糖苷酶（IPTG）诱导表达,淀粉树脂亲和层析法纯化,得到融合蛋白sTNFR1-MBP.结果显示：经Western-blotting检测,sTNFR1-MBP具有免疫活性L流式细胞术检测目的蛋白对TNF-α诱导QSG7701凋亡有抑制作用,这为今后的研究打下了基础.     

苏云金芽胞杆菌Vip3AaAdAa嵌合蛋白的构建及其杀虫活性分析

Vip3A类杀虫蛋白是一类新型杀虫蛋白,在氨基酸序列上与研究较为深入的Cry蛋白没有同源性,且昆虫受体结合位点与Cry蛋白也没有竞争关系。利用同源重组技术针对对甜菜夜蛾具有高活性的Vip3Aa39与无活性的Vip3Ad开展研究,成功构建了三个vip3AaAdAa型嵌合基因,将其转入大肠杆菌中表达嵌合蛋白Vip3AaAdAa1、Vip3AaAdAa2、Vip3AaAdAa3,并将这三种嵌合蛋白对甜菜夜蛾进行了杀虫活性测定。研究表明,三种嵌合蛋白对甜菜夜蛾具有杀虫活性,Vip3AaAdAa3蛋白的LC_(50)值比Vip3Aa39增加了1.4倍,Vip3AaAdAa1蛋白的LC_(50)值比Vip3Aa39增加了2.7倍,嵌合蛋白Vip3AaAdAa1和Vip3AaAdAa3的杀虫活性均低于Vip3Aa39;Vip3AaAdAa2的杀虫活性与Vip3Aa39差异不显著。     

人PSP94全长cDNA的获得及PSP94-TNF~Δ融合蛋白的构建

利用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ从人肥大前列腺组织钓取９４个氨基酸的人前列腺分泌蛋白（ＰＳＰ９４）全长ｃＤＮＡ,序列分析结果与文献报道的完全一致．将ＰＳＰ９４成熟肽与人ＴＮＦα衍生物（ＴＮＦΔ）通过Ｌｉｎｋｅｒ－ＳＡＰＧＴＰ在基因水平上融合成５′ＰＳＰ９４－ＴＮＦΔ,融合基因ＤＮＡ序列分析结果与设计的相符合．５′ＰＳＰ９４－ＴＮＦΔ在大肠杆菌中表达产物分子量约为３１ｋＤ,表达量约占菌体总蛋白量的３５％．以Ｌ９２９细胞和人前列腺癌细胞株ＰＣ－３为靶细胞进行细胞毒分析结果表明,５′ＰＳＰ９４－ＴＮＦΔ融合蛋白既具有ＴＮＦ的细胞毒活性,又具有对前列腺癌细胞ＰＣ－３的杀伤作用     

Production in Escherichia coli of human thymosin beta 4 as chimeric protein with human tumor necrosis factor

We have produced thymosin beta 4 protein in Escherichia coli as a chimeric protein with tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The protein was abundantly expressed, was immunoreactive against both anti-thymosin beta 4 and anti-TNF antibodies, and retained cytotoxicity in a TNF assay using mouse L929 fibroblasts. This latter characteristic enabled the easy and simple purification of thymosin beta 4 merely by following the TNF activity. The chimeric protein was designed to have an Asp-Pro bridge between thymosin beta 4 and TNF which could be specifically cleaved under suitable acidic conditions to release the thymosin beta 4 from the chimeric protein. These results indicate that the expression system in E.coli of a chimeric protein composed of thymosin beta 4 and TNF is appropriate for obtaining an abundant amount of the beta 4 peptide, especially since its purification from tissues is usually difficult because of limited yield and obscurity of its biological activity.     

Analysis of the structure-function relationship of tumour necrosis factor. Human/mouse chimeric TNF proteins: general properties and epitope analysis.

To analyse the structure-function relationship of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), a set of in-frame chimeric genes was constructed by coupling appropriate segments of the human and mouse TNF coding regions. Under control of the bacteriophage lambda inducible PL promoter high level expression of these chimeric genes was obtained in Escherichia coli. Although both human and mouse TNF were produced in E. coli as soluble proteins, a reduction of solubility was observed in some of the chimeric proteins. The specific activity was variable, but in some constructs comparable to human TNF, indicating that the structural conformation of these chimeric proteins resembled the human TNF structure. Neutralization analysis using two monoclonal antibodies directed against human TNF, indicated that the regions involved in the binding of these antibodies are distributed over multiple segments of the polypeptide. Further analysis by site-directed mutagenesis of one subregion allowed the identification of the Arg131 residue as involved in the binding of both neutralizing monoclonal antibodies; an Arg131----Gln replacement abolished antibody binding but did not affect the specific activity of TNF.     

Recombinant 55-kDa tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor. Stoichiometry of binding to TNF alpha and TNF beta and inhibition of TNF activity.

The extracellular domain of the 55-kDa TNF receptor (rsTNFR beta) has been expressed as a secreted protein in baculovirus-infected insect cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)/dhfr- cells. A chimeric fusion protein (rsTNFR beta-h gamma 3) constructed by inserting the extracellular part of the receptor in front of the hinge region of the human IgG C gamma 3 chain has been expressed in mouse myeloma cells. The recombinant receptor proteins were purified from transfected cell culture supernatants by TNF alpha- or protein G affinity chromatography and gel filtration. In a solid phase binding assay rsTNFR beta was found to bind TNF alpha with high affinity comparable with the membrane-bound full-length receptor. The affinity for TNF beta was slightly impaired. However, the bivalent rsTNFR beta-h gamma 3 fusion protein bound both ligands with a significantly higher affinity than monovalent rsTNFR beta reflecting most likely an increased avidity of the bivalent construct. A molecular mass of about 140 kDa for both rsTNFR beta.TNF alpha and rsTNFR beta.TNF beta complexes was determined in analytical ultracentrifugation studies strongly suggesting a stoichiometry of three rsTNFR beta molecules bound to one TNF alpha or TNF beta trimer. Sedimentation velocity and quasielastic light scattering measurements indicated an extended structure for rsTNFR beta and its TNF alpha and TNF beta complexes. Multiple receptor binding sites on TNF alpha trimers could also be demonstrated by a TNF alpha-induced agglutination of Latex beads coated with the rsTNFR beta-h gamma 3 fusion protein. Both rsTNFR beta and rsTNFR beta-h gamma 3 were found to inhibit binding of TNF alpha and TNF beta to native 55- and 75-kDa TNF receptors and to prevent TNF alpha and TNF beta bioactivity in a cellular cytotoxicity assay. Concentrations of rsTNFR beta-h gamma 3 equimolar to TNF alpha were sufficient to neutralize TNF activity almost completely, whereas a 10-100-fold excess of rsTNFR beta was needed for similar inhibitory effects. In view of their potent TNF antagonizing activity, recombinant soluble TNF receptor fragments might be useful as therapeutic agents in TNF-mediated disorders.     

The biosynthesis of tumor necrosis factor during pregnancy: studies with a CAT reporter transgene and TNF inhibitors.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a protein hormone which mediates diverse inflammatory conditions, but which also may be involved in physiologic processes. To detect the expression of TNF as it might occur in normal tissues we developed a transgenic mouse line bearing a reporter gene construct in which the INF coding sequence and introns are replaced by a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) coding sequence. In these animals, expression of CAT within tissues has been shown to reflect TNF production. We now report upon the pattern of CAT expression that is observed during normal pregnancy. CAT is constitutively expressed in both the fetal and maternal thymuses, and in the placenta, but in no other tissues. Placental CAT activity first becomes measurable at day 13 of gestation, peaks at day 16, and is maintained at high levels until parturition. Crosses between transgenic and non-transgenic mice clearly indicate that the trophoblast, rather than the decidua or uterus, is the source of CAT activity. A soluble TNF receptor/IgG heavy chain chimeric protein, which strongly inhibits TNF activity in vitro and in vivo, was shown to cross the placenta, gaining access to the fetal circulation when administered on the maternal side. However, the chimeric protein did not interrupt pregnancy, and had no obvious effect on fetal development, suggesting that TNF may not be required for completion of a normal gestation.     

Targeting of tumor necrosis factor to tumor cells: secretion by myeloma cells of a genetically engineered antibody-tumor necrosis factor hybrid molecule

The construction, synthesis and secretion of a genetically engineered antibody-cytokine fusion molecule is described. To target tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to tumor cells, recombinant antibody techniques were used to produce a Fab-like antibody-TNF conjugate. At the gene level, the heavy chain gene of an antitransferrin receptor antibody was linked to a synthetic TNF gene encoding human TNF. Transfection of the heavy chain-TNF gene into a myeloma derived cell line which was producing the light chain of the same antibody, allowed the isolation of a cell line secreting a fusion protein of the expected molecular weight and composition. The culture supernatant of the cell line contained TNF cytotoxic activity towards murine L929 cells and human MCF-7 cells. Cytotoxicity towards the human cancer cells was inhibited by an excess of the original antitransferrin receptor antibody, indicating that the antibody-TNF molecules are targeted to the transferrin receptor rich tumor cells. Since the antibody genes used are chimeric (i.e. composed of mouse variable and human constant regions) and since DNA encoding human TNF was used, the hybrid protein is an example of a humanized immunotoxin-like molecule. These results illustrate the possibilities of antibody engineering technology to create and produce improved agents for cancer therapy. Furthermore, they demonstrate for the first time the ability of myeloma cells to secrete an antibody-cytokine chimeric molecule.     

ATROSAB,a humanized antagonistic anti-tumor necrosis factor receptor one-specific antibody

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signals through two membrane receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, and TNFR1 is known to be the major pathogenic mediator of chronic and acute inflammatory diseases. Present clinical intervention is based on neutralization of the ligand TNF. Selective inhibition of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) provides an alternative opportunity to neutralize the pro-inflammatory activity of TNF while maintaining the advantageous immunological responses mediated by TNFR2, including immune regulation, tissue homeostasis and neuroprotection. We recently humanized a mouse anti-human TNFR1 monoclonal antibody exhibiting TNFR1-neutralizing activity. This humanized antibody has been converted into an IgG1 molecule (ATROSAB) containing a modified Fc region previously demonstrated to have greatly reduced effector functions. Purified ATROSAB, produced in CHO cells, showed strong binding to human and rhesus TNFR1-Fc fusion protein and mouse embryonic fibroblasts transfected with a recombinant TNFR1 fusion protein with an affinity identical to the parental mouse antibody H398. Using chimeric human/mouse TNFR1 molecules, the epitope of ATROSAB was mapped to the N-terminal region (amino acid residues 1-70) comprising the first cysteine-rich domain (CRD1) and the A1 sub-domain of CRD2. In vitro, ATROSAB inhibited typical TNF-mediated responses like apoptosis induction and activation of NFκB-dependent gene expression such as IL-6 and IL-8 production. These findings open the way to further analyze the therapeutic activity of ATROSAB in relevant disease models in non-human primates.     

Expression of the functional soluble form of human fas ligand in activated lymphocytes.

Fas is a type I membrane protein which mediates apoptosis. Fas ligand (FasL) is a 40 kDa type II membrane protein expressed in cytotoxic T cells upon activation that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family. Here, we found abundant cytotoxic activity against Fas-expressing cells in the supernatant of COS cells transfected with human FasL cDNA but not with murine FasL cDNA. Using a specific polyclonal antibody against a peptide in the extracellular region of human FasL, a protein of 26 kDa was detected in the supernatant of the COS cells. The signal sequence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was attached to the extracellular region of human FasL. COS cells transfected with the cDNA coding for the chimeric protein efficiently secreted the active soluble form of human FasL (sFasL). Chemical crosslinking and gel filtration analysis suggested that human sFasL exists as a trimer. Human peripheral T cells activated with phorbol myristic acetate and ionomycin also produced functional sFasL, suggesting that human sFasL works as a pathological agent in systemic tissue injury.     

ATROSAB,a humanized antagonistic anti-tumor necrosis factor receptor one-specific antibody

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signals through TNFR1 and TNFR2, two membrane receptors, and TNFR1 is known to be the major pathogenic mediator of chronic and acute inflammatory diseases. Present clinical intervention is based on neutralization of the ligand TNF. Selective inhibition of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) provides an alternative opportunity to neutralize the pro-inflammatory activity of TNF while maintaining the advantageous immunological responses mediated by TNFR2, including immune regulation, tissue homeostasis and neuroprotection. We recently humanized a mouse anti-human TNFR1 monoclonal antibody exhibiting TNFR1-neutralizing activity. This humanized antibody has been converted into an IgG1 molecule (ATROSAB) containing a modified Fc region previously demonstrated to have greatly reduced effector functions. Purified ATROSAB produced in CHO cells showed strong binding to human and rhesus TNFR1-Fc fusion protein and mouse embryonic fibroblasts transfected with a recombinant TNFR1 fusion protein with an affinity identical to the parental mouse antibody H398. Using chimeric human/mouse TNFR1 molecules, the epitope of ATROSAB was mapped to the N-terminal region (amino acid residues 1–70) comprising the first cysteine-rich domain (CRD1) and the A1 sub-domain of CRD2. In vitro, ATROSAB inhibited typical TNF-mediated responses like apoptosis induction and activation of NFκB-dependent gene expression such as IL-6 and IL-8 production. These findings open the way to further analyze the therapeutic activity of ATROSAB in relevant disease models in non-human primates.Key words: humanized IgG, antagonistic antibody, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, epitope mapping