Secretion of functional anti-CD30-angiogenin immunotoxins into the supernatant of transfected 293T-cells

Protein Expr Purif. 2003 Apr;28(2):211-9. doi: 10.1016/s1046-5928(02)00709-x.

Abstract

Immunotoxins consist of a target-cell-specific binding moiety, chemically or recombinantly linked to a cytotoxic component. A number of different immunotoxins (IT) have increasingly been evaluated for immunotherapy. Since these foreign proteins are highly immunogenic in human, we have developed recombinant IT using the human ribonuclease angiogenin. Due to their potential toxic effects on eucaryotic cells, these IT are usually expressed in bacteria. Depending on the structure, size, and sequence of the desired IT, bacterial expression can be limited and the yield after purification be unsatisfactory. Therefore, the expression of IT in eucaryotic cells could provide a promising alternative. For this purpose we genetically fused the anti-CD30 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) Ki4 to the N- and C-termini of recombinant angiogenin. Both IT possess leader sequences, which mediate their secretion into the cell culture supernatant. Using a bicistronic mRNA the IT were simultaneously expressed together with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). This allows direct monitoring of transfected cells. An additional plasmid encoded Zeocin resistance enhances the cultivation of transfected cells under selection pressure. Three days after transfection of 293T-cells, unpurified IT were analyzed by flow cytometry and competitive cell proliferation assays. This is the first report on the use of eucaryotic cells for the secretion of functionally active IT with a human effector domain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / immunology
  • Immunotoxins / genetics
  • Immunotoxins / metabolism*
  • Ki-1 Antigen / immunology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / genetics*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Immunotoxins
  • Ki-1 Antigen
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • angiogenin
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic