Single domain based bispecific antibody, Muc1-Bi-1, and its humanized form, Muc1-Bi-2, induce potent cancer cell killing in muc1 positive tumor cells

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 22;13(1):e0191024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191024. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Muc1 is one of the most studied tumor antigens. However, antibodies or antibody-toxin conjugates against Muc1 have not shown significant efficacy for tumors with Muc1 overexpression. In this study, we employed bispecific antibody approach to target Muc1 positive tumor cells. A novel bispecific antibody, Muc1-Bi-1, was constructed by linking single domain antibodies, anti-Muc1-VHH and anti-CD16-VHH. Muc1-Bi-2, the humanized form of Muc1-Bi-1, was also constructed by grafting. Both Muc1-Bi bispecific antibodies can be efficiently expressed and purified from bacteria. In vitro, the Muc1-Bi bispecific antibodies can recruit Natural Killer (NK) cells to drive potent and specific cell killing of Muc1-overexpressing tumor cells. In xenograft model, the Muc1-Bi bispecific antibodies can suppress tumor growth in the presence of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). These data suggested that the single domain based Muc1-Bi may provide a valid strategy for targeting tumors with Muc1 overexpression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / genetics
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / immunology*
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cricetulus
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mucin-1 / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province (P.R. China) (20160503), China.