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Ординатура / Хирургия / Библиотека им академика М.И. Перельмана / Книга_5608_Библиотеки_им_академика_М_И_Перельмана.pdf
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pulmonary delivery is desired. There have been extensive studies on monomeric erythropoietin (EPO) Fc fusion that exerted a twofold higher afnity to the FcRn and a 30% better half-life than the dimeric variant [134].
Conformational stability is often pH dependent. In the case of Orencia®, which consists of the Fc portion of IgG1 and the soluble portion of the T-cell receptor CTLA-4, destabilization of the CH2 domain can lead to aggregation [119].
Therapeutic peptides suffer from a fast renal clearance due to their small size and could, therefore, benet from fusion to a larger protein such as the Fc domain. Their typical half-lives are in the minutes range, so any improvement will be helpful. One example from that group is Nplate®, a molecule approved for the treatment of chronic idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura with a half-life of 3.5days in the Fc fusion version. Interestingly the peptide is fused to the C-terminus of Fc. Cytokines are another therapeutic class of small proteins where Fc-fusion could contribute to a prolonged circulation. Although there are numerous examples in clinical studies, there is currently no approved Cytokine fusion available.
Transferrin Fusions
Transferrin (Tf) is one of the ten most abundant serum proteins and delivering iron from intestine and liver into proliferating cells. As fusion partner, it certainly pre­vents rapid elimination by renal ltration due to its size of 79kDa. But interestingly it can also be recycled by receptors as part of its normal function. The observed half-live of nonglycosylated Tf is 14–17days. In contrast to FcRn recycling, trans­ferrin receptor (TfR) recycling is pH independent. The acidic pH of endosomes separates iron from Tf, but not Tf from receptors [135]. A transferrin fusion protein targeting a cell surface receptor rst binds to the fusion partner receptor in the pres­ence of abundant transferrin. After that, secondary binding between Tf and its receptor can happen. Secondary binding can also occur after endocytosis in the early endosome. When the fusion protein is attached to the TfR, it stays bound to the TfR even under acidic conditions and is recycled back to the cell surface [26]. Transferrin-mediated trafcking through endosomes can also support the activation of protein pro-drugs through proteolysis. This was exemplied with proinsulin– transferrin fusion that was transformed into active insulin-Tf when incubated with hepatocytes [136]. In addition to its positive effect on the half-life of fusion pro­teins, transferrin has another important property. Although iron is essential for nerve function, it must be balanced to avoid dangerous side effects. Homeostasis is regu­lated by iron transporters such as TfR at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) between the blood and the cerebrospinal. Hence, transferrin can serve as vehicle for transport across the BBB.An early example is nerve growth factor (NGF) fused to transferrin [137]. However, recent progress focused on the oral bioavailability of transferrin fusions. Here TfR acts as mediator of transcytosis. Proteins such as G-CSF [138] pro-insulin [139] or FIX [140] have been fused to Tf and applied orally to rodents to detect bioactivity in the blood stream of test animals. All three examples could demonstrate successfully uptake and functionality through oral passage. Interestingly
11 Fusion Proteins: Current Status andFuture Perspectives
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the protection from acidic stomach uids was primarily achieved through aggrega­tion of the fusion proteins [125]. However, transcytosis was clearly Tf dependent as the co-administration of free Tf abolished the effect. A crucial element of all Tf-versions is the linker between Tf and the payload. In the case of FIX fusion, the traditional exible (G4S)2 proved to have best expression and oral availability [140].
11.5.1.2 Half-Life Extension by Increasing theHydrodynamic Radius
Repetitive Peptide Fusions
As discussed earlier, the duration of circulation in the bloodstream is partly depend­ing on the size of the respective molecule. Small proteins with a hydrodynamic radius below 60Å are quickly removed by renal ltration. Therefore, concepts for fusion proteins have been developed using this phenomenon. Most are based on the addition of peptides (repeats) attached to one or both ends. Ideally the peptides are uncharged to prevent aggregation, hydrophilic, and lack an ordered structure to gen­erate a cloud like shape with a large radius. The dimension of the cloud is only dependent on the length of the peptide chain. This phenomenon exists in nature and is utilized by parasites to increase the bioavailability of virulence factors. This observation prompted research to develop articial sequences that could be even more effective. Initial attempts with poly-glycine repeats unfortunately resulted in limited solubility. To balance that, serine was introduced to improve the hydrophi­licity, a fact that is well known from shorter G4S peptide linkers. First studies involved up to 40 copies of the G4S sequence attached to a Fab fragment. Interestingly the half-life of that fusion construct was threefold longer than with the Fab alone. While the mass increased only by 9% due to the additional peptide, the apparent size determined by size exclusion chromatography was expanded to 120%. Unfortunately, larger polymers suffered from aggregation and the difculty to gen­erate stable genetic constructs [141]. Stimulated by this observation it was evaluated if the insertion of proline with its cis/trans isomerization ability could prevent aggregation. Furthermore, glycine was replaced by alanine. Randomizing the sequence of the three amino acids further prevents the formation of stable secondary structure. This technology, called PASylation®, increases the hydrodynamic radius signicantly when fused to other proteins. PAS sequences are designed to be devoid of T-cell epitopes and protease recognition motifs. The physicochemical properties of PAS sequences have been extensively studied. This articial biopolymer repre­sents a strongly hydrophilic and structurally disordered polypeptide with expanded hydrodynamic volume that closely resembles polyethylene glycol and offers attrac­tive features for the pharmacokinetic modulation of therapeutic proteins [142].
Alternatively, random peptide polymers can be engineered with a larger subset of amino acids including alanine, glycine, glutamate, proline, serine, and threonine, but excluding larger, hydrophobic, positively charged or sulfur containing amino acids. These building blocks were systematically assembled to reveal suitable sequences that are nonrepetitive and unstructured. The selected candidate
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polypeptide called XTEN® contains 864 amino acids and increased the half-life of Exenatide in mice by a factor of 71 [143]. In contrast to PAS, XTEN® contains multiple negative charged residues that could lead to repulsion at the glomeruli in kidney adding another factor that could positively inuence half-life. Unfortunately, XTEN® effects are not always predictable, as, for instance, glucagon-XTEN exhib­ited only 15% of the normal potency [144].
In a recent study, both polypeptides, PAS and XTEN®, were compared. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated a clear linear relationship between serum half-life and hydrodynamic radius with both polymers. As both fusion partners behaved quite similar, no inuence of charge on any evaluated parameter could be proven [145].
Bile salt stimulated-lipase (BSSL), an enzyme that did not reach its primary endpoint in a phase 3 study, contains 17 repetitive segments of 11 residues (PVPPTGDSGAP) that are connected to form a continuous domain at the C-terminus. The peptide is proline rich and O-glycosylated. As part of an digestive enzyme in fresh breastmilk, it displays improved stability and secretion while being protected from proteolysis. The 11 residues can be multiplied and the size increase results in an extended half-life and improved solubility. When fusing 17 repeats to an Afbody, SEC detected a sixfold larger molecular mass. Pharmacokinetic pro­les can be ne-tuned by varying the number of repeats. Renal clearance was slowed more than 100-fold when using 51 repeats.
2
Glycosylated Peptides
Branched glycosylation forms a cloud like structure around proteins. The articial introduction of glycosyltransferase recognition motifs into the original peptide sequence can lead to hyperglycosylation as in the case of Aranasep® that had a threefold longer half-life than the wild-type erythropoietin [146]. Instead of chang­ing the sequence of the target molecule, peptides with multiple glycosylation sites can be fused at either the N- or C-terminus. The natural carboxyl terminal domain (CTP) of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) contains 4 O-linked glycosylation sites [147]. Interestingly, the naked peptide has a molecular mass of 2.9kDa, while the glycosylated version reaches 8kDa. The versatility of CTP was demonstrated with human growth hormone hGH in multiple fusion constructs. The most successful variant with CTP at both termini was fourfold more potent than the hGH alone and showed a more than ten-fold prolonged half-life (fares 2010). The rst product con­taining CTP, Elonva®, a follicle stimulant composed of the α subunit of human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was approved in 2010 and allows a once weekly injection instead of daily administration.
Besides the clinically proven CTP peptide, there have been numerous other examples described, utilizing increased glycosylation for half-life extension. For
2
Patent: US2021/0284690A1.
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instance, the hydroxyproline Hyp-rich repetitive peptide (HypRP) tag that directs the formation of proline hydroxylation and subsequent Hyp-O-glycosylation in plant cells has been fused to hGH to obtain a sixfold improved plasma circulation [148]. Another approach was described for polymers containing the N-linked glyco­sylation motif Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr. The so-called Genetic Polymers™ were tested in as 155 triplet repeats fused to G-CSF, resulting in fourfold extended half-life. However, neither HypRP nor Genetic Polymers made clinical progress in the last years.
3
11.5.1.3 Aggregate Forming Peptides
Repeated sequences of other naturally occurring peptides can be found in gelatin and elastin. Elastin-like peptides (ELPs) were initially applied as a downstream processing aid due to their unique ability to form aggregates at high temperatures and convert to soluble monomers at low temperatures. This phenomenon is called a reversible thermal phase transition, and the critical temperature of the phase transi­tion varies with the length of the polymer. The longer the polymer, the higher the transition temperature [149]. ELP fusion proteins form a depot in the body where the active molecule slowly dissociates which represents a totally different mode of action for half-life extension. Currently, the most advanced candidate drug Pemziviptadil, called Vasomera™ or PB1046, the fusion between the Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and ELP, is in clinical phase 2 to be evaluated as treatment against pulmonary arterial hypertension, allowing once weekly subcutane­ous dosing.
Peptide sequences used for half-life extension are collected in Table11.10.
Table 11.10 Peptide fusion-based half-life extension strategies
Mode of action Name Amino acid composition Company Soluble peptide
polymer
Glycosylation C-terminal
Aggregate forming Elastin like
Xa: any amino acid except P
3
Patent: US2016/0296632A1.
PASylation P, A, S xl-protein Elvera (PVPPTGDSGAP)
XTENylation P, A, S, E, T, G Amunix (Sano)
[SSSKAPPPSLPSPSRLPGPSD
peptide Genetic
polymers
peptide
TPILPQ] G, N, Q & A, S, T, D, E Aequus Biopharma
[VPGXaG]
n
n
n
Swedish Orphan Biovitrium
Prolor (Opko)
Phasebio
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11.5.2 Targeting Functions
Fusion proteins have been used extensively to target their partners to specic organs or certain cell types. Particularly for cancer therapeutic it is of utmost relevance to only address malignant cells to avoid unwanted adverse effects. In other cases, like enzyme replacement therapy it is important not to lose too much of the dose to irrel­evant organs. Targeted drug delivery is a very valuable approach, particularly for large therapeutic molecules, to keep them away from areas in the body where they are quickly degraded or because systemic distribution might never reach a suf­ciently efcacious dose. The fusion protein approaches for organ targeting are exemplied in Fig.11.8.
To get biologics into the brain, the molecules must cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Current strategies comprise primarily receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) via the receptors for insulin (IR) and transferrin (TfR). The most advanced proce­dure is to shuttle payloads across the BBB with TfR and IR directed antibodies. So far neurotrophic factors, lysosomal enzymes. and antibodies have been fused to the molecular Trojan horse (MTH) antibodies [150].
Although liver as the main metabolic organ should be of high interest, not many successful examples on targeted drug delivery exist. A recent example utilizes trans­ferrin as targeting moiety to get proinsulin as fusion protein to hepatocytes. Overall this fusion protein showed three distinct effects: TfR-mediated binding and uptake of the prodrug on the cell surface, liver-specic, TfR-mediated conversion of the prodrug into its active form, and the bifunctional binding of the active fusion protein to both Tf and INS receptors in the liver to achieve prolonged retention [151].
The lung can be reached through normal respiration and therefore the focus of targeting was on pulmonary delivery of biologics. The research focused on utilizing the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) in lung epithelia. Most of the Fc fusion proteins were monomeric or asymmetric molecules with the fusion partner just on one of the Fc heavy chains. For instance, an asymmetric erythropoietin (EPO) Fc fusion exhib­ited twofold better afnity to the FcRn and a 30% improved half-life than the stan­dard dimeric variant. Compared to the original EPO, monomeric EPO-Fc achieved
Fig. 11.8 Fusion protein-based strategies for organ targeting
11 Fusion Proteins: Current Status andFuture Perspectives
Fig. 11.9 Lung epithelium targeting and translocation of fusion proteins. (a) In cases where pul­monary delivery is impossible, transport to the lung can be facilitated through the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (P). It transfers polymeric antibodies like IgA from the basal to the api­cal side. This passage is essentially irreversible, because the secretory component (SC) to which IgA is attached to is cleaved from the receptor. (b) The neonatal (N) Fc Receptor binds antibodies, Fc-fusion proteins (D) or albumin containing formulations. This transcytosis can transfer proteins bi-directionally and relies on pH dependent binding to N
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a much higher systemic concentration [134]. Besides the FcRn also the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) can be the entry point into lung epithelium. pIgR internalizes and transfers polymeric antibodies (IgA or IgM) from the basolateral to the apical surface of the cell where the antibodies are released to the lumen. As the secretory component (SC) to which the polymeric Igs are attached to, is clipped from the receptor, the transfer is essentially irreversible [152]. A comparison of both pathways is described in Fig.11.9.
A large constituent of the vertebrate body are bones. There are a number of dis­eases that affect bones; therefore, targeted therapies for bones are highly relevant. One of the most recently approved Fc fusion proteins, Strensiq®, represents a bone targeted tissue-nonspecic alkaline phosphatase (TNALP) to treat hypophosphata­sia (HPP). This molecule consists of a truncated TNALP without its hydrophobic C-terminus connected to an Fc-part and a deca-aspartate sequence (D10) to target mineralizing tissue [153].
Several enzyme replacement therapies (ERT) must reach an intracellular loca­tion to treat lysosomal storage diseases. This is typically achieved by high mannose glycosylation as a recognition motif for translocation. Instead of modifying the gly­cosylation, a plant expression system can be used that specically mannosylates four of the ve potential N-linked glycosylation positions in the b- glucocerebrosidase. The short C-terminal targeting and retention signal encoding the sequence DLLVDTM direct the protein to the vacuole. Glucocerebrosidase with terminal mannose glycans from plants was approved by the FDA under the trade name
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Elelyso® 2012 [154]. A similar effect could be achieved with the glycosylation­independent lysosomal targeting (GILT) approach. It utilizes the ability of insulin­like growth factor 2 (IGF-2), to bind to the bifunctional, IGF-2 cation-independent Man6-P receptor. IGF-2 was truncated to the amino acids 8–67 to prevent binding to other receptors and was fused to the C-terminal end of β-glucuronidase [155] and a-glucosidase [156]. Recently antibody-enzyme targeting was applied for ERT [157].
11.5.3 Applications inOncology
Cancer therapeutics represent a signicant portion of current drug discovery research. A huge variety of different modalities have been evaluated in clinical trials and every year multiple new molecules are approved for human use. Antibodies dominate the eld due to their convincing advantages. However, fusion proteins allow new modes of action that are difcult to achieve by other means. This para­graph summarizes the various approached to eliminate malignant cells by fusion proteins.
11.5.3.1 Fc Domain Receptor-Mediated Toxicity
Antibodies already represent a “magic bullet” by on the one hand selectively addressing a molecule through the variable domain and on the other hand triggering antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement dependent cytol­ysis (CDC) through the Fc domain [158].
ADCC depletes cells through binding of the antibody to the respective antigen on the target cell. Then the CH3 domain of the antibody interacts with natural killer (NK) cells via their CD16 Fc receptor (FcγRIIIa). The cross linking of the CD16 receptors ultimately leads to degranulation at a so-called lytic synapse releasing of granzyme and perforin to destroy the target cells.
Antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis (ADCP) is primarily dependent on FcγRIIa present on macrophages that attack cells marked with antibodies whose Fc domain can bind that receptor.
CDC is caused by the interaction of the CH2 domain of antibodies with the C1q complement factor, consisting of six heterotrimeric subunits. That activates a pro­teolytic cascade, triggering the formation of a membrane-attack complex (MAC) that generates a transmembrane channel to lyse the cells.
Marking the cell surface of the target cell with C3b as opsonin induces cell kill­ing as well. By the interaction of C3b with its corresponding receptor (C3bR) on macrophages or NK cells phagocytosis is initiated. This process is called comple­ment-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CDCC). Additionally, the chemo­attractant C5a, facilitating an inammatory response, supports cell killing. An overview of these activities is displayed in Fig.11.10. Some fusion proteins have these functions incorporated in their molecular design.
11 Fusion Proteins: Current Status andFuture Perspectives
Fig. 11.10 Fc-domain mediated cytotoxicity. C1q complement factor interacts with the CH2 con­stant region of an antibody bound to its respective antigen on the surface of a target cell. This induces the formation of a membrane-attack complex (MAC) that lyses the cell through complement- dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Alternatively, C3b that is generated during this cas­cade facilitates phagocytosis and cytolysis by labelling the cell as opsonin and interacting with the C3b receptor (C3bR) on a macrophage or natural killer cell. This reaction is called complement­dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CDCC). Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is induced through the FcyRIIIa on natural killer cells or antibody-dependent cell mediated phago­cytosis (ADCP) by macrophages that additionally contain FcyRIIb
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11.5.3.2 Toxins
Interestingly the second ever approved fusion protein for cancer application was an immunotoxin. Since the market introduction of Ontak® in 1999 it took until 2018 to get the next two immunotoxins Lumoxiti® and Elzonris® successfully through the regulatory process. The toxins derived either from bacteria or plants always exert their catalytic function inside the cell. Native toxins bind to receptors to be internalized. To exert their function often they are split by proteases and nally they have to escape from endosomes to avoid degradation in lysosomes. Instead of the natural targeting domain a much higher specicity to certain cell types can be achieved by replacing this domain by antibodies or their fragments that recognize typical markers of malignant cells. In general, immunotoxins are mainly used for the treatment of hematological malignancies due to the accessibility of malignant cells and the immunocompromised state of patients [159]. As natural toxins are
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highly immunogenic and would be eliminated fast, site directed mutagenesis is required to reduce the number of immune response triggering epitopes. The most frequently used bacterial toxins are Diphtheria toxin (DT) released by gram- positive aerobic Corynebacterium diphtheria as prototype for ADP-ribosylating toxin, or Exotoxin A of the aerobic gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PE). The function of both toxins is explained in Fig.11.11.
Fig. 11.11 Mechanism of bacterial toxins utilized in immunotoxin fusion proteins. (a) The C-terminal lysine (K) of pseudomonas exotoxin is cleaved off by a serum peptidase before inter­nalization through coated pits. Reduction in its disulde bridge and furin cleavage separates bind­ing domain (Ia) from the catalytic domain (III) that is still bound to the translocation domain (II). In the Golgi apparatus, the exposed REDL-sequence is captured by the KDEL-receptor and the toxin is shuttled to the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER). There the translocation domain mediates the escape to the cytosol where it inactivates EF2. (b) After binding to its receptor (R) and cleavage, diphtheria toxin is internalized. The reduction in the remaining disulde bond separates the bind­ing domain (B) from the catalytic (A) and translocation (T) domain. A pH-induced conformational change enables the transfer of A and T to the cytosol where A blocks the elongation factor 2 (EF2)
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11.5.3.3 Immunocytokines
Besides using nonhuman proteins to eliminate tumors by direct action, malignant cells can also be destroyed by attracting and stimulating immune cells. To activate the immune response, certain cytokines can be administered. Unfortunately, sys­temic administration of cytokines can lead to unwanted side effects, such as fever, inammation or other u-like symptoms [160]. Therefore, a more targeted approach is desirable for patient safety. Furthermore, cytokine targeting can also improve the duration of the cytokine response as the small cytokines are relatively rapidly removed from the body. Overall, immunocytokines can enrich the cytokine in the tumor tissue, decrease systemic distribution and, thus, reduce the side effects. Typically targeting is achieved by fusing the cytokines to full length antibodies, their Fab- or scFv fragments or other afnity binders. The most frequently used cytokine is interleukin 2 (IL-2), a signaling molecule that regulates the activity of lymphocytes. IL-2 triggers the differentiation of T-cells and can induce cell killing through NK-cells and cytotoxic T-cells. As the high potency of wild-type IL-2 often overshadows the afnity of the fused antibody, tumor targeting could be limited. Therefore, IL-2 muteins with reduced binding are becoming the cytokine of choice. For instance, recently an IL-2 with increased CD122 binding and decreased CD25 binding fused to a tumor specic antibody was designed [161]. A monomeric CEA­targeted IL-2 variant cytokine used a similar approach, weakening CD25 binding to avoid T-reg activation while improving binding to the CEA antigen [162]. Currently there are more than ten different IL-2 based immunocytokines in clinical trials, addressing antigens such as GD2, CD20, EDB, Tenascin C, CEA, FAP, EpCAM, or D7 [163]. Although the obvious design would place the antibody at the N-terminus of the fusion protein, while the cytokine is found at the C-terminal end, many other variants have been developed in the last two decades utilizing both ends or a combi­nation between fusion or the heavy or light chain [164]. Overall three effects of immunocytokines have to be orchestrated to obtain a long-lasting cure; rst, immune cells have to inltrate the tumor attracted by chemokine and antibody-mediated targeting; second, these immune cells must be activated, ideally in a co-stimulatory way to generate a memory effect; third, tumor-mediated immune tolerance must be eliminated. All that can be achieved by a careful design of immune modulating fusion proteins [165].
11.5.3.4 Human Enzymes
A totally different concept of cancer therapy relies on the killing of aberrant cells through enzymes. Enzymes are not saturated through binding such as antibodies; therefore, lower doses can be applied, making them attractive therapeutics. Their activity can be directed either to external or internal targets.
Internal targets for enzymes can be all biological functions which either induce cell death through apoptosis or that are essential for survival. Many of the toxins described before address the protein translation, blocking either transcription