SIU

BIOTECHNOLOGY - MICR 421


Ch. 10. Therapeutic Agents

I. Human proteins

II. Enzymes

III. Monoclonal antibodies

IV. HIV therapeutic agents


Therapeutic Proteins Produced by Recombinant Microorganisms that Express Human Proteins

See Table. 10.1

Treatments for:

Immune system disorders

Blood disorders: anemia, hemophilia, blood clots

Wounds

Hormonal deficiency: diabetes, development and growth

Cancer

Viral infections


Cloning and Expression of Genes for Human Proteins


Human proteins may be present in very low concentrations in the body

Ex. .Interferons, 10-10 to 10-15 M

-Difficult to study function

-Insufficient amounts for clinical testing

- Not enough for therapeutic use

Genes that encode human proteins can be cloned and overexpressed to fullfill need for greater amounts

1. Isolate mRNA from cell line or tissues that express the protein => high levels of
mRNA encoding the protein are present

E.g. 70% of mRNA of islets cells in pancreas encodes insulin

2. Make cDNA from mRNA, insert into vector and transform host (cDNA library)

3. Screen library

-DNA probe for target sequence or

-Immunoassay for expressed protein product

4. Express cDNA gene in appropriate host for production of large amounts of protein with correct posttranslational modifications


Interferons

Small glycoproteins produced mainly by immune system cells

Cellular functions

Antiviral

Inhibition of intracellular parasites

Regulation of immune system

Three types:

IFNa 13 genes
IFNb 2 genes
IFNg 1 gene

Therapeutic uses

Treatment of:

Viral infections

Cancers

Multipe sclerosis

Different IFNs have different potencies in different cell types

Genetic engineering of interferon genes may create interferons with new or improved threpeutic properties


Genetically Engineered Human Interferons

See Fig. 10.2

To increase antiviral activity or create interferons with activitiy against different viruses and cancers

The genes are related and have similar nucleotide sequences with some common restriction enzyme sites.

Ex.

Gene

IFNa2

IFNa3

 

Creation of hybrid interferons via gene shuffling

Cut cloned cDNA with restriction enzymes, mix and ligate fragments

Insert hybrid cDNA into expression vector and test gene product for altered activity


Creation of a consensus interferon a (Infergen: Amgen)

1.) Amino acid sequences of several IFN-a proteins were compared

2.) Consensus sequence was determined

Most commonly occurring amino acid at each position of the protein was identified

3.) Artificial gene having the encoding the consensus amino acid sequence was synthesized and expressed

Encodes a 166 amino acid consensus protein

Doesn't exist naturally

88% sequence similarity to IFN-a2a and IFN-a2b

Antiviral activity was increased

Approved by FDA to treat hepatitis C virus infection

HVC infects 4 million in the U.S.

Causes cirrhosis and cancer of liver


Therapeutic Enzymes for Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

Inherited genetic defect of the CF gene

Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections are common

Produces alginate, a viscous polysaccharide polymer

Lysis of bacteria in lungs releases DNA, another viscous polymer

Mucus accumulates in lungs, breathing is impaired

 

Therapeutic enzymes

1. DNase I - an enzyme that degrades DNA

Human gene was cloned

Expressed in mammalian cell line (Chinese Hamster Ovary cells)

Inhaled enzyme degrades bacterial DNA

CF patients breath more easily

Approved for use by the FDA

Marketed as Pulmozyme by Genentech

 

2. Alginate lyase - a bacterial enzyme that degrades alginate

May be used therapeutically as for DNase I

Gene from Flavobacterium sp., was cloned and expressed in Bacillus subtilus as a fusion with the a-amylase leader peptide

Secretion of the enzyme simplifies dowstream processing


Therapeutic Antibodies

I. Before recombinant DNA technology

Polyclonal antibodies obtained from serum of animal or human

Ex.

-Horses injected with an antigen (toxin)

-Persons that recovered from an infection

 

Antibodies were injected as therapy for patient with toxin or infection to:

-Neutralize the toxin or

-Target pathogen for destruction by immune system

 

Provides immediate protection, but:


-May cause allergy or shock;

-Some other infectious agent present in the antiserum of the donors


II. Recent applications for therapeutic antibodies

See Fig. 10.14

Specificity of antibody binding to antigen can be used to target treatment to specific sites in the body.

Drugs or enzymes may be coupled to a monoclonal antibody (Mab)

Mab that binds to an antigen only present on diseased cells

Lower drug dosages can be used, reduces side effects

 

Problems

Mouse Mabs are recognized as foreign by human immune system

May result in allergic reaction or shock

 

Human monoclonal antibodies have not been developed

-A human myeloma cell line is not available

-Ethically, can't inject antigens into humans anyway


Genetic Engineering of Monoclonal Antibodies

See Fig. 10.17

I. Humanized monoclonal antibody (~5% mouse and 95% human)

1. Construct hybrid antibody light and heavy chain genes that encode:

Clone cDNAs encoding light and heavy chains from hybridoma cell line

PCR amplify the sequence encoding CDRs

Clone cDNA encoding light and heavy chains from human B cells

Replace human CDRs with mouse CDRs

2. Insert hybrid genes into mammalian expression vector

3. Transfect and express genes in mammalian cell line

II. Production of fully human monoclonal antibodies in mice

Steps:

1. Destroy a mouse's immune system with radiation

Mouse can no longer produce mouse antibodies

2. Inject with bone marrow from an immune-deficient mouse (i.e. a SCID mouse with severe combined immunodeficiency)

Establishes a new blood-building system needed for survival of mouse

3. Inject human immune system cells

Establishes a human immune system in the mouse

4. Inject mouse with an target antigen to stimulate an immune response

B cells produce human antibodies specific for the antigen

5. Immortalize B cells and select hybridoma that produces a human monoclonal antibody that binds to target antigen

 


Therapeutic Agents for Treatment of HIV Infection

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Infects helper T cells by binding to a viral glycoprotein (gp120) to the CD4 receptor on the surface of the cell membrane

Infected cells display the viral glycoprotein on the cell surface

A therapeutic protein might be produced as a fusion of CD4 and a toxin protein

Infected cells would be targeted and killed selectively


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SIUC / College of Science / Microbiology / Microbiology 421
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Last updated October 12, 2003 /jdh


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