Murine endoglin-specific single-chain Fv fragments for the analysis of vascular targeting strategies in mice

J Immunol Methods. 2008 Nov 30;339(1):90-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2008.08.008. Epub 2008 Sep 13.

Abstract

Endoglin has been identified as a promising cell surface antigen for vascular targeting approaches in cancer therapy, e.g. employing antibody molecules as targeting moieties. However, in vivo analysis of such strategies in mouse models requires antibodies recognizing endoglin on mouse endothelial cells. Here we describe the isolation of single-chain Fv fragments (scFvs) from phage display libraries, which bind to the extracellular region of mouse endoglin. One of these clones, scFv mE12, showed strong (K(d)=11 nM) and selective binding to purified endoglin and also to the endoglin-expressing mouse endothelioma cell line eEnd.2. This antibody recognized a linear epitope located in the N-terminal region (aa 27-361) of endoglin. Cell binding was further increased by generating a bivalent scFv-Fc fusion protein composed of scFv mE12 and the human gamma1 Fc part. Moreover, scFv mE12 was endowed with an additional cysteine residue in the linker region and applied for the generation of anti-endoglin scFv immunoliposomes capable of selectively binding to endoglin-expressing cells. Thus, anti-mouse endoglin scFv mE12 should be useful to analyze vascular targeting strategies in mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Delivery Systems* / methods
  • Endoglin
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / therapeutic use
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region / therapeutic use
  • Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains / therapeutic use
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Endoglin
  • Eng protein, mouse
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin Constant Regions
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins