EP0714409A1 - Antibodies - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides antibodies with altered ability to fix complement. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical, therapeutic and diagnostic compositions containing said antibodies and to methods of therapy and diagnosis using said antibodies. The invention additionally provides a method of modulating the function of cell surface associated antigens using said antibodies. Also provided are processes for preparing said antibodies.

Description

ANTIBODIES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to altered antibodies, to pharmaceutical, therapeutic and diagnostic compositions containing said antibodies; to processes for preparing said compositions; to methods of therapy and diagnosis using said antibodies, to a method of modulating the function of cell surface associated antigens using said antibodies; to DNA sequences coding for said antibodies; to cloning and expression vectors containing DNA sequences coding for said antibodies; to host cells transformed with said vectors and to processes for preparing said antibodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order for an antibody to be effective therapeutically it is desirable that it achieves the required physiological effect without producing any significant adverse toxic effects. Such toxic effects may be mediated, for example, via complement fixation. Antibody when bound to its cognate antigen can link to and activate the complement cascade. Complement consists of a complex series of proteins. The proteins of the complement system form two interrelated enzyme cascades, termed the classical and alternative pathways, providing two routes to the cleavage of C3, the central event in the complement system. The sequence of events comprising the classical complement pathway is recognition, enzymatic activation, and membrane attack leading to cell death. The recognition unit of the complement system is the C1 complex. The C1 complement protein complex is a unique feature of the classical complement cascade leading to C3 conversion. Complement fixation occurs when the C1q subcomponent binds directly to immunoglobulin antigen immune complex. Whether or not complement fixation occurs depends on a number of constraints. For example, only certain subclasses of immunoglobulin can fix complement even under optimal conditions. These are lgG1, lgG3 and IgM in man and lgG2a, lgG2b and IgM in mice. The C1q molecule is potentially multivalent for attachment to the complement fixation sites of immunoglobulin. The C_H2 domain of IgG and probably the C_H4 domain of IgM contain binding sites for C1q. Fc bearing cells also play a role in enhancing the effect of the immune response by binding to and opsonising, phagocytosing or killing target cells coated with antibody of the relevant class. Three IgG binding receptors (FcγR) have been described for murine and human leukocytes. FcγRI has high binding affinity for monomeric IgG, while FcγRII and FcγRIII have low affinity for mono IgG and interact mainly with antigen complexed IgG. The presence of Fc receptors confers on these immune cells the ability to mediate a number of effector mechanisms important in the effector phase of the humoral response. The gamma 1 isotype of human IgG, like lgG3, binds to FcRI and, when complexed with its cognate antigen, activates complement and binds to FcRII and FcRIII. Conversely, human lgG2 and lgG4 are relatively inactive isotypes; both fail to activate the classical complement pathway and lgG4 binds weakly to FcRI [Burton, D R and Woof, J M (1992) Adv. Immunol. 51, 1. Lucisano Valim, Y M and Lachmann, P J. (1991) Clin. exp. Immunol, 84, 1].

Localisation of amino acid residues of IgG that interact with FcRI in the C_H2 domain of human IgG is well established [Woof, J M et al (1986) Molec. Immunol. 23, 319. Lund, J et al (1991) J. Immunol, 147. 2657; Canfield, S M and Morrison, S L (1991), J. exp. Med. 173, 1483; Chappel, S M et al, (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88i, 9036; Chappel, S M et al (1993), J. Biol. Chem 268, 25124; Alegre, M-L et al (1992) J. Immunol, 148. 3461]. Amino acid sequence comparisons of the C_H2 domains of antibodies from different species and subclasses that bind well to FcRI suggested that a region at the N-terminal end of C_H2 comprising residues Leu 234 - Ser 239 (using the Kabat Eu numbering system [Kabat, E A et al, (1987) Sequences of proteins of Immunological interest. US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA]) is critical for interaction with FcRI. The motif Leu 234, Leu 235, Gly 236, Gly 237, Pro 238, Ser 239, is present in all IgG isotypes with high affinity for FcRI [Woof, J M et al (1986), Molec. Immunol. 23, 319]. Domain exchanges between Ig's with different Fc effector functions have demonstrated the importance of C_H2 for FcRI binding [Canfield, S M and Morrison, S L (1991), J. exp. Med. 173, 1483; Chappel, S M et al, (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. S3, 9036; Chappel, S M et al (1993), J. Biol. Chem 268, 25124] in particular the residue 235. Replacement of the Leu residue at position 235 with a Glu residue reduces the affinity of lgG3 for FcRI by 100 fold [Lund, J et al (1991) J. Immunol, 147. 2657; Canfield, S M and Morrison, S L (1991), J. exp. Med. 173, 1483]. The same Leu 235 to Glu change when performed on an lgG4 variant of OKT3 [Alegre, M-L et al (1992) J. Immunol, 148, 3461] abolished its FcRI binding and, consequently, its mitogenic properties.

Although the sequence requirements for FcRIII binding has been less extensively studied, Sarmay et al. [(1992) Molec. Immunol. 29, 633] have identified the C_H2 domain residues 234 to 237 as important for lgG3 binding to all three Fc receptors. The relative importance of each residue differs with each Fc receptor with 235 and 237 being most important for FcRIII mediated cell killing. In contrast, another Fc mediated function, C1q binding and subsequent complement activation, appears to require the carboxyl terminal half of the C_H2 domain [Tao, M H., Canfield, S M., and Morrison, S L(1991) J. Exp. Med. 173. 1025]. Morrison's group, following sequence analysis of polymorphisms in the C_H2 domain of human IgGs also identified the importance of the C-terminal region of C_H2. With a Pro to Ser change at 331 in lgG1 they abolished complement fixation and reduced C1q binding [Tao, M H et al (1993), J. Exp. Med. 178, 661]. Using inter- and intradomain switch variants of CAMPATH-1, Greenwood et al. (1993) [Eur. J. Immunol. 23, 1098] further endorsed the importance of the C-terminal end of C_H2. Complement fixation could be restored to human lgG4 with just the carboxyi terminal of C_H2 from residue 292 of lgG1 and not the N- terminal half or any other domain. Duncan & Winter (1988) [Nature, 332, 21] identified a motif in C_H2 of Glu 318, Lys 320 and Lys 322 of the mouse lgG2b isotype. Changing any of these residues abolished C1q binding, as did the use of competitive peptides of sequences in this region. However, the C1q motif residues are also found in antibodies that do not fix complement suggesting that these residues may well be necessary but not sufficient for complement activation.

We have found that amino acid residues necessary for C1q and FcR binding of human lgG1 are located in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain, residues 231 to 238, using a matched set of engineered antibodies based on the anti-HLA DR antibody L243. Changing the leucine 235 in the C_H2 region of lgG3 and lgG4 to glutamic acid was already known to abolish FcRI binding, we have confirmed this for lgG1 and also found a concomitant abolition of human complement fixation with retention of FcRIII mediated function. Changing the glycine at 237 to alanine of lgG1 also abolished FcRI binding and reduced complement fixation and FcRIII mediated function. Exchanging the whole region 233 to 236, with the sequence found in human lgG2 abolished FcRI binding andcomplement fixation and reduced FcRIII mediated function of lgG1. In contrast, a change in the previously described C1q binding motif, from lysine at 320 to alanine had no effect on IgG 1 -mediated complement fixation. The proposed site Leu 234 - Leu 235 - Gly 236 - Gly 237 - Pro 238 - Ser 239, is present in all IgG isotypes with high affinity for FcγRI. Recent mutagenesis experiments on lgG3 antibodies have introduced point mutations in this region and the ability of the mutants to interact with FcγRI has been examined [Lund et al (1991) J. Immunol 147, 2657-2662]. The most marked effect is seen at position 235 where replacement of the naturally occurring Leu residue with a Glu residue produces an Ig with a > 100-fold decrease in affinity for FcγRI.

Our observation of the effect of this alteration at residue 235 on the ability of the antibody to fix complement was highly surprising. Earlier protein engineering studies had introduced mutations at various positions in order to locate the C1q-binding site on IgG [Duncan & Winter (1988) Nature, 332, 738-740]. The binding site for C1q was localised to three side chains, Glu 318, Lys 320 and Lys 322 of the mouse lgG2b isotype. Residues Glu 318, Lys 320 and Lys 322 are conserved in all the human IgGs, rat lgG2b and lgG2c, mouse lgG2a, lgG2b and lgG3, guinea pig lgG1 and rabbit IgG. Further experiments showed that the affinity of human C1q for mutant mouse lgG2b antibodies in which residue 235 was mutated was unaffected i.e. it was in the same range of values as that obtained with the wild type. Although the fact that altering residue 235 of the C_H2 region of IgG is known to abolish FcγRI binding as we too observed, this concomitant substantial reduction in complement fixation has not been reported or suggested elsewhere and was completely unexpected. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method of treating diseases in which antibody therapy leads to undesirable toxicity due to antibody mediated complement fixation comprising administering an altered antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody.

In a preferred embodiment the altered antibody binds to one or more cellular Fc receptors especially FcRIII and excluding FcRI i.e. the antibody does not bind significantly to FcRI, and more preferably binding to FcRI is abolished.

Accordingly in a further aspect the invention provides an altered antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered, as compared to unaltered antibody.

In a further preferred embodiment the invention therefore provides an altered antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody and said altered antibody binds to one or more cellular Fc receptors especially FcRIII and does not bind significantly to FcRI. The constant region of the antibodies to be altered according to the invention may be of animal origin and is preferably of human origin. It may also be of any isotype but is preferably human IgG and most preferably human lgG1.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the amino acid residue(s) which is altered lies within amino acid positions 231 to 239, preferably within 234 to 239. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the amino acid residue(s) which is altered lies within the motif Leu 234 Leu 235 Gly 236 Gly 237 Pro 238 Ser 239.

In a most preferred embodiment the amino acid residue(s) which is altered is either Leu 235 and/or Gly 237.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein the term 'altered' when used in conjunction with the ability of an antibody to fix complement most usually indicates a decrease in the ability of antibody to fix complement compared to the starting antibody. By choosing appropriate amino acids to alter it is possible to produce an antibody the ability of which to fix complement is substantially reduced such as for example by altering residue Leu 235. It is also possible to produce an antibody with an intermediate ability to fix complement by, for example altering amino acid residue Gly 237.

As used herein the phrase 'substantially reduce complement fixation' denotes that human complement fixation is preferably≤30%, more preferably≤20% and most preferably≤10% of the level seen with the starting wild type unaltered antibody.

The term 'significantly' as used with respect to FcRI binding denotes that the binding of antibody to FcRI is typically <20%, and is most preferably ≤10% of that seen with unaltered antibody. The altered antibodies of the invention preferably bind to FcRIII as measured by their ability to mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) at a concentration no greater than ten times that of the wild type unaltered antibody.

The proteins encoded in the Major Histocompatibility Complex region of the genome are involved in many aspects of immunological recognition. It is known that all mammals and probably all vertebrates possess basically equivalent MHC systems and that immune response genes are linked to the MHC.

In man the major histocompatibility complex is the HLA gene cluster on chromosome 6. The main regions are D, B, C and A. The D region contains genes for class II proteins which are involved in cooperation and interaction between cells of the immune system. Many diseases have been found to be associated with the D region of the HLA gene cluster. Studies to date have shown associations with an enormous variety of diseases, including most autoimmune diseases (see for example, European Patent No. 68790). European Patent No. 68790 suggests controlling diseases associated with a particular allele of certain regions of the MHC such as the HLA-D region in humans by selectively suppressing the immune response(s) controlled by a monoclonal antibody specific for an MHC-class II antigen. We have found that by altering an MHC-class II specific antibody at position 235 in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain it is possible to produce an antibody which fully retains its immunosuppressive properties but which has substantially reduced toxicity in vitro and is tolerated in vivo. In a further preferred embodiment the invention provides an MHC specific antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody. In a preferred embodiment the invention provides an MHC specific monoclonal antibody characterised in that said antibody has been altered at position 235 of the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain. In some instances such as with MHC specific monoclonal antibodies it may be desfrable that the alteration in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of the antibody while altering the ability to fix complement additionally inhibits the binding to FcRI receptors. The antibodies are preferably specific for MHC-class II antigens and due to the alteration of one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain will not bind significantly to FcRI.

In a further preferred embodiment the altered antibodies of the invention or for use according to the invention are directed against an MHC class II antigen characterised in that said antibody has been altered at position 235 of the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the altered antibodies of the invention or for use according to the invention are directed against an MHC class II antigen characterised in that said antibody has been altered at position 235 of the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain and the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody and said altered antibody binds to one or more cellular Fc receptors especially FcRIII and does not bind significantly to FcRI.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method for producing an altered antibody with altered ability to fix complement comprising altering one or more amino acids in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody, altering the ability of said antibody to fix complement as compared with unaltered antibody.

As used herein the term 'altered antibody' is used to denote an antibody which differs from the wild type unaltered antibody at one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of the Fc region of the antibody. The alteration may for example comprise the substitution or replacement of the starting wild type antibody amino acid by another amino acid, or the deletion of an amino acid residue.

The residue numbering used herein is according to the Eu index described in Kabat et al [(1991) in: Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Edition. United States Department of Health and Human Services.]

In human lgG1 and lgG3 antibodies the naturally occurring amino acid at position 235 of the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain is a leucine residue. The alterations at position 235 of replacing leucine by glutamic acid or alanine have been found particularly effective at producing a potent immuno-suppressive antibody with minimal toxicity in vitro and which is tolerated in vivo. The alteration at position 237 of replacing glycine by alanine has been found to produce an antibody with an intermediate ability to fix human complement, i.e. the complement fixation level is approximately 15-80%, preferably 20-60%, most preferably 20-40% of that seen with the starting wild type unaltered antibody.

The residue(s) could similarly be replaced using an analogous process to that described herein, by any other amino acid residue or amino acid derivative, having for example an inappropriate functionality on its side chain. This may be achieved by for example changing the charge and/or polarity of the side chain.

The altered antibodies of the invention may also be produced for example, by deleting residues such as 235, or by, for example, inserting a glycosylation site at a suitable position in the molecule. Such techniques are well known in the art, see for example the teaching of published European patent application EP-307434.

The altered antibodies of the invention may also be produced by exchanging lower hinge regions of antibodies of different isotypes. For example a G1/G2 lower hinge exchange abolished complement fixation and is a further preferred embodiment of the invention. This is described in more detail in the accompanying examples. The G1/G2 lower hinge exchange results in an antibody with altered residues in the 231 to 238 region of the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain wherein one or more residues may be altered and/or deleted.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the antibody is a human lgG1 antibody directed against an MHC class II antigen.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method of modulating the function of cell surface associated antigens avoiding complement mediated toxicity comprising administering an altered antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention said altered antibody is able to bind to one or more cellular Fc receptors especially FcRIII while binding to FcRI is significantly reduced. Examples of such cell surface antigens include for example adhesion molecules, T-cell receptor, CD4, CD8, CD3, CD28, CD69, MHC Class I, MHC Class II and CD25.

The invention also includes therapeutic, pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions comprising the altered antibodies according to the invention and the uses of these products and the compositions in therapy and diagnosis.

Thus in a further aspect the invention provides a therapeutic, pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition comprising an altered antibody according to the invention, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent or carrier.

The invention also provides a process for the preparation of a therapeutic, pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition comprising admixing an altered antibody according to the invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent or carrier.

The antibodies and compositions may be for administration in any appropriate form and amount according to the therapy in which they are employed.

The altered antibodies for use in the therapeutic, diagnostic, or pharmaceutical compositions, pr for use in the method of treatment of diseases in which antibody therapy leads to undesirable toxicity due to antibody mediated complement fixation are preferably MHC specific antibodies most preferably specific for MHC Class II antigens, and most preferably have specificity for antigen ic determinants dependent on the

DRα chain.

The therapeutic, pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition may take any suitable form for administration, and, preferably is in a form suitable for parenteral administration e.g. by injection or infusion, for example by bolus injection or continuous infusion. Where the product is for injection or infusion, it may take the form of a suspension, solution or emulsion in an oily or aqueous vehicle and it may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, preservative, stabilising and/or dispersing agents.

Alternatively, the antibody or composition may be in dry form, for reconstitution before use with an appropriate sterile liquid.

If the antibody or composition is suitable for parental administration the formulation may contain, in addition to the active ingredient, additives such as: starch - e.g. potato, maize or wheat starch or cellulose - or starch derivatives such as microcrystalline cellulose; silica; various sugars such as lactose; magnesium carbonate and/or calcium phosphate. It is desirable that, if the formulation is for parental administration it will be well tolerated by the patient's digestive system. To this end, it may be desirable to include in the formulation mucus formers and resins. It may also be desirable to improve tolerance by formulating the antibody or compositions in a capsule which is insoluble in the gastric juices. It may also be preferable to include the antibody or composition in a controlled release formulation.

If the antibody or composition is suitable for rectal administration the formulation may contain a binding and/or lubricating agent, for example polymeric glycols, gelatins, cocoa-butter or other vegetable waxes or fats. The invention also provides methods of therapy and diagnosis comprising administering an effective amount of an altered antibody according to the invention to a human or animal subject.

The antibodies and compositions may be for administration in any appropriate form and amount according to the therapy in which they are employed. The dose at which the antibody is administered depends on the nature of the condition to be treated and on whether the antibody is being. used prophylactically or to treat an existing condition. The dose will also be selected according to the age and conditions of the patient. A therapeutic dose of the antibodies according to the invention may be, for example, preferably between 0.1-25mg/kg body weight per single therapeutic dose and most preferably between 0.1-10mg/kg body weight per single therapeutic dose. immunological diseases which may be treated with the antibodies of the invention include for example joint disease such as ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis; neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis; pancreatic disease such as diabetes, juvenile onset diabetes; gastrointestinal tract disease such as chronic active hepatitis, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, pernicious anaemia; skin diseases such as psoriasis; allergic diseases such as asthma and in transplantation related conditions such as graft versus host disease, and allograft rejection. Other diseases include those described in European Patent No. 68790.

The altered antibodies of the invention may also be useful in the treatment of infectious diseases e.g. viral or bacterial infections and in cancer immunotherapy. As used herein the term 'antibody' is used to cover natural antibodies, chimeric antibodies and CDR-grafted or humanised antibodies. Chimeric antibodies are antibodies in which an antigen binding site comprising the complete variable domains of one antibody is linked to constant domains derived from another antibody. Methods for carrying out such chimerisation procedures are described in EP 120694 (Celltech Limited), EP 125023 (Genentech Inc and City of Hope), EP 171496 (Res. Dev. Corp. Japan), EP 173494 (Stanford University) and WO 86/01533 (Celltech Ltd). CDR grafted or humanised antibodies are antibody molecules having an antigen binding site derived from an immunoglobulin from a non-human species and remaining immunoglobulin-derived parts of the molecule being derived from a human immunoglobulin. Procedures for generating CDR-grafted or humanised antibodies are described in WO 91/09967 (Celltech Ltd), WO 90/07861 (Protein Design Labs. Inc) and WO 92/11383 (Celltech Ltd).

In further aspects the invention also includes DNA sequences coding for the altered antibodies according to the invention; cloning and expression vectors containing the DNA sequences, host cells transformed with the DNA sequences and processes for producing the altered antibodies according to the invention comprising expressing the DNA sequences in the transformed host cells.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for producing an altered antibody of the invention which process comprises: a. producing in an expression vector an operon having a DNA sequence which encodes an antibody heavy or light chain.

b. producing in an expression vector an operon having a DNA sequence which encodes a complementary antibody light or heavy chain.

c. transfecting a host cell with both operons, and

d. culturing the transfected cell line to produce the antibody molecule wherein at least one of the expression vectors contains a DNA sequence encoding an antibody heavy chain in which one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody has been altered from that in the corresponding unaltered antibody.

As will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, the alteration in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain may be made using techniques such as site directed mutagenesis after the whole altered antibody has been expressed. To express unaltered antibody the DNA sequences should be expressed following the teaching described above for altered antibody.

The DNA sequences preferably encode a humanised antibody; a CDR-grafted heavy and/or light chain or a chimeric antibody. The cell line may be transfected with two vectors, the first vector containing the operon encoding the light chain-derived polypeptide and the second vector containing the operon encoding the heavy chain derived polypeptide. Preferably the vectors are identical except in so far as the coding sequences and selectable markers are concerned so as to ensure as far as possible that each polypeptide chain is equally expressed.

Alternatively, a single vector may be used, the vector including a selectable marker and the operons encoding both light chain- and heavy chain-derived polypeptides.

The general methods by which the vectors may be constructed, transfection methods and culture methods are well known per se. Such methods are shown, for instance, in Maniatis et al, Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 1989 and Primrose and Old, Principles of Gene Manipulation, Blackwell, Oxford, 1980.

The altered antibody according to the invention is preferably derived from the anti-MHC antibody L243, which has been deposited at the American

Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Maryland USA under Accession number ATCC HB55, and is most preferably a chimeric or a CDR-grafted derivative thereof. L243 was previously described by Lampson and Levy [J. Immunol. (1980) 125, 293].

The standard techniques of molecular biology may be used to prepare DNA sequences coding for the altered antibodies according to the invention. Desired DNA sequences may be synthesised completely or in part using oligonucleotide synthesis techniques. Site-directed mutagenesis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques may be used as appropriate. See for example "PCR Technology Principles and Applications for DNA Amplification" (1989), Ed. H. A. Eriich, Stockton Press, N.Y. London. For example, oligonucleotide directed synthesis as described by Jones et al [Nature, 321 , 522 (1986)] may be used. Also oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis may be used as described by Kramer et al [Nucleic Acid Res. 12 9441 (1984)].

Any suitable host cell/vector system may be used for the expression of the DNA sequences coding for the altered antibody. Bacterial e.g. E.coli and other microbial systems may be used. Eucaryotic e.g. mammalian host cell expression systems may also be used such as for example COS cells and CHO cells [Bebbington, C R (1991) Methods 2, 136-145], and myeloma or hybridoma cell lines [Bebbington, C R et al (1992) Bio/Technology 10, 169-175].

Where the altered antibody is derived from L243 CHO based expression systems are preferably used.

Assays for determining FcRIII binding indirectly via ADCC assays and for determining complement fixation and C1q binding are well known in the art, and are described in detail in the following examples.

Immune function/immunosuppression by antibodies may be assayed using techniques well known in the art including for example: Mixed Lymphocyte Responses and T-cell antigen recall responses to Tetanus Toxoid. These assays are described in detail in the following examples. The invention is illustrated in the following non-limiting examples and with reference to the following figures in which:

Figure 1 shows: a map of plasmid pMR15.1

Figure 2 shows: a map of plasmid pMR14

Figure 3 shows: the nucieotide sequence and predicted amino acid sequence of L243 heavy chain

Figure 4 shows: the nucieotide and amino acid sequences of

(a) clone 43, (b) clone 183 (c) clone 192

Figure 5 shows: the nucieotide sequence and predicted amino acid sequence of L243 light chain

Figure 6 shows: a map of plasmid pGamma 1

Figure 7 shows: a map of plasmid pGamma 2

Figure 8 shows: the nucieotide sequence of hinge and C_H2 region of human C-gamma 1

Figure 9 shows: Antigen binding potency of L243 human isotype series

Figure 10 shows: FcRI binding of L243 isotype series

Figure 11 shows: human complement fixation by L243 isotype series e

Figure 12 shows: binding of human Clq to L243 human isotype series

Figure 13 shows: human complement fixation by L243 isotype

Figure 14 shows: guinea pig complement fixation by L243 isotype

Figure 15 shows: rabbit complement fixation by L243 isotype

Figure 16 shows: FcRIII binding of L243 isotype series by ADCC

Figure 17 shows: L243 Isotype Series Inhibition of TT recall response

Figure 18 shows: L243 Isotype Series Inhibition of TT recall response

Figure 19 shows: L243 Isotype Series Inhibition of Mixed Lymphocyte

Reaction.

Figure 20 shows: L243 Isotype Series Inhibition of TT response

Figure 21 shows: L243 Isotype Series Inhibition of Mixed Lymphocyte

Reaction

Figure 22 shows: the nucieotide and amino acid sequence of VI region in

L243-gL1

Figure 23 shows: shows the nucieotide and amino acid sequence of VI region of

L243-gL2

Figure 24 shows: the nucieotide and amino acid sequence of Vh region of L243-gH

Figure 25 shows: a graph of the results of a competition assay for L243 grafts vs FITC-chimeric L243

Figure 26 shows: a graph of a Scatchard analysis for L243 gamma 4

Figure 27 shows: a graph of FcRIII binding of chimeric, grafted and

grafted [L235E] L243 as measured by ADCC

Figure 28 shows: a graph of immunosuppressive activity of CDR grafted

L243 measured by MLR

Figure 29 shows: a graph of CDR grafted L243 and grafted [L235E]

L243 TT recall response

Figure 30 shows: a graph of complement mediated cytotoxic potency of

CDR grafted L243 and CDR grafted [L235E] L243

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION EXAMPLES

Example 1

Gene Cloning and Expression

RNA preparation from L243 hybridoma cells

Total RNA was prepared from 3 × 10exp7 L243 hybridoma cells as described below. Cells were washed in physiological saline and dissolved in RNAzol (0.2ml per 10exp6 cells). Chloroform (0.2ml per 2ml homogenate) was added, the mixture shaken vigorously for 15 seconds and then left on ice for 15 minutes. The resulting aqueous and organic phases were separated by centrifugation for 15 minutes in an Eppendorf centrifuge and RNA precipitated from the aqueous phase by the addition of an equal volume of isopropanol. After 15 minutes on ice, the RNA was pelleted by centrifugation, washed with 70% ethanol, dried and dissolved in sterile, RNAase free water. The yield of RNA was 350 μg.

Amino acid sequence of the L243 light chain.

The sequence of the first nine amino acids of the mature L243 light chain was determined to be NH2-DIQMTQSPAS.

PCR cloning of L243 Vh and VI

The cDNA genes for the variable regions of L243 heavy and light chains were synthesised using reverse transcriptase to produce single stranded cDNA copies of the mRNA present in the total RNA, followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on the cDNAs with specific oligonucleotide primers. a) cDNA synthesis

cDNA was synthesised in a 20μl reaction containing the following reagents: 50mM Tris-HCI PH8.3, 75mM KCI, 10mM dithiothreitol, 3mM MgC.2, 0.5mM each deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, 20 units RNAsin, 75ng random hexanucleotide primer, 2μg L243 RNA and 200 units Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus reverse transcriptase. After incubation at 42°C for 60 min the reaction was terminated by heating at 95°C for 5 minutes. b) PCR

Aliquots of the cDNA were subjected to PCR using combinations of primers for the heavy and light chains. The nucieotide sequences of the 5' primers for the heavy and light chains are shown in Tables 1 and 2 respectively. These sequences, ail of which contain a restriction site starting 6 nucleotides from their 5' ends, followed by the sequence GCCGCCACC to allow optimal translation of the resulting mRNAs, an initiator codon and a further 20 - 30 nucleotides, are a compilation based on the leader peptide sequences of known mouse antibodies [Kabat et al (1991 ) in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Edition - United States Department of Health and Human Services].

The 3' primers are shown in Table 3. The light chain primer spans the V - C junction of the antibody and contains a restriction site for the enzyme Spl1 to facilitate cloning of the VI PCR fragment. The heavy chain 3' primers are a mixture designed to span the J - C junction of the antibody. The first 23 nucleotides are identical to those found at the start of human C - gamma 1 , 2, 3 and 4 genes and include the Apa1 restriction site common to these human isotypes. The 3' region of the primers contain a mixed sequence based on those found in known mouse antibodies [Kabat E A, Wu, T.T.; Perry H M, Gottesman K S, and Foeller L; In: Sequences of

Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Edition, US Department of Health and Human Services (1991)].

The combinations of primers described above enables the PCR products for Vh and VI to be cloned directly into the appropriate expression vector (see below) to produce chimeric (mouse - human) heavy and light chains and for these genes to be expressed in mammalian cells to produce chimeric antibodies of the desired isotype.

Incubations (20 μl) for the PCR were set up as follows. Each reaction contained 10 mM Tris-HCI pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCtø, 50 mM KCI, 0.01% w/v gelatin, 0.25 mM each deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, 1 - 6 pmoles 5' primer mix (Table 4), 6 pmoles 3' primer, 1 μl cDNA and 0.25 units Taq polymerase. Reactions were incubated at 95°C for 5 minutes and then cycled through 94°C for 1 minute, 55°C for 1 minute and 72°C for 1 minute. After 30 cycles, aliquots of each reaction were analysed by electrophoresis on an agarose gel. Reactions containing 5' primer mixes B1 , B2, B3 and B5 produced bands with sizes consistent with full length VI fragments while reaction B9 produced a fragment with a size expected of a Vh gene. The band produced by the B1 primers was not followed up as previous results had shown that this band corresponds to a light chain pseudogene produced by the hybridoma cell. c) Molecular cloning of the PCR fragments

DNA fragments produced in reactions B2, B3 and B5 were digested with the enzymes BstB1 and Spl1, concentrated by ethanol precipitation, electrophoresed on a 1.4 % agarose gel and DNA bands in the range of 400 base pairs recovered. These were cloned by ligation into the vector pMR15.1 (Figure 1) that had been restricted with BstB1 and Spl1 . After ligation, mixtures were transformed into E. coli LM1035 and plasmids from the resulting bacterial colonies screened for inserts by digestion with BstB1 and Spl1. Representatives with inserts from each ligation were analysed further by nucieotide sequencing.

In a similar manner, the DNA fragments produced in reaction B9 and digested with HindIII and Apa1 were cloned into the vector pMR14 (Figure 2) that had been restricted with HindIII and Apa1.

Again, representative plasmids containing inserts were analysed by nucieotide sequencing. d) Nucleotide sequence analysis

Plasmid DNA (pE1701 and pE1702) from two isolates containing Vh inserts from reaction B9 was sequenced using the primers R1053 (which primes in the 3' region of the HCMV promoter in pMR14) and R720 (which primes in the 5' region of human C - gamma 4 and allows sequencing through the DNA insert on pMR14). The determined nucieotide sequence and predicted amino acid sequence of L243 Vh in pE1702 is given in Figure 3. The nucieotide sequence for the Vh insert in pE1701 was found to be identical to that in pE1702 except at nucieotide 20 (A in pE1701) and nucieotide 426 (A in pE1701). These two differences are in the signal peptide and J regions of Vh respectively and indicate that the two clones examined are independent isolates arising from the use of different primers from the mixture of oligonucleotides during the PCR stage.

To analyse the light chain clones, sequence derived from priming with R1053 was examined. The nucleotide sequence and predicted amino acid sequence of the VI genes arising from reactions B2 (clone 183), B3 (clone 43 and B5 (clone 192) are shown in Figure 4. Comparison of the predicted protein sequences shows the following: i) clones 182, 183, 43 and 45 all code for a VI gene which, when the signal peptide is removed, produces a light chain whose sequence is identical to that determined by amino acid sequence analysis for L243 light chain (see above). ii) clones 182 and 183 contain a VI gene that codes for a signal peptide of 20 amino acids, while the VI gene in clones 43 and 45 results from priming with a different set of oligonucleotides and has a leader sequence of only 15 amino acids. iii) Clone 192 does not code for L243 VI. Instead, examination of the database of antibody sequences [Kabat, 1991] indicates that clone 192 contains the VI gene for MOPC21, a light chain synthesised by the NS1 myeloma fusion partner used in the production of the L243 hybridoma. iv) Clones 182 and 183 are identical except at nucleotide 26 (T in clone 182, C in clone 183). This difference can be accounted for by the use of different primers in the PCR and indicates that clones 182 and 183 are independent isolates of the same gene.

The nucieotide sequence and predicted amino acid sequence of the complete VI gene from clone 183 is shown in Figure 5.

Construction of human gamma 1 and gamma 2 isotypes.

The L243 Vh gene was subcloned on a HindIII - Apal fragment into pGamma 1 and pGamma 2, vectors containing the human C - gamma 1 and C - gamma 2 genes respectively (Figures 6 and 7). Human Isotype mutants

PCR mutagenesis was used to change residue 235 in human C - gammal contained in the vector pGamma 1 from leucine to either glutamic acid or to alanine and to change residue 237 from glycine to alanine. The lower hinge region of human C-gamma 1 was also replaced by the corresponding region of human C-gamma 2. The following oligonucleotides were used to effect these changes: i) L235E change

R4911 5' GCACCTGAACTCGAGGGGGGACCGTCAGTC3'

R4910 5'CCCCCCTCGAGTTCAGGTGCTGAGGAAG3'

II) L235A change

R5081 5'GCACCTGAACTCGCAGGGGGACCGTCAGTC3'

R5082 5'GACTGACGGTCCCCCTGCGAGTTCAGGTGC3'

III) G237A change

R5088 5'GCACCTGAACTCCTGGGTGCACCGTCAGTC3'

R5087 5'GACTGACGGTGCACCCAGGAGTTCAGGTGC3'

IV) Exchange of lower hinge regions

R4909 5'GCACCTCCAGTGGCAGGACCGTCAGTCTTCCTC3' R4908 5'CGGTCCTGCCACTGGAGGTGCTGAGGAAGAG3'

Other oligonucleotides used in the PCR mutagenesis are:

R4732 5'CAGCTCGGACACCTTCTCTCCTCC3'

R4912 5'CCACCACCACGCATGTGACC3'

R4732 and R4912 prime between nucleotides 834 and 858 and between nucleotides 1156 and 1137 respectively in human C - gamma 1 (Figure 8).

The general strategy for the PCR mutagenesis was as follows. For each amino acid change, two rounds of PCR were used to generate DNA fragments containing the required substitutions. These fragments were then restricted with the enzymes Bgl II and Sty1 and used to replace the corresponding fragments containing the wild type sequence in the pGamma 1 vector, (Figure 6). For the first round PCR, reactions (20 μl) were prepared containing the following reagents : 10 mM Tris - HCl pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCI2, 50 mM KCl, 0.01% gelatin, 0.25 mM each deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, 50 ng pGamma 1 DNA, 0.4 unit Taq polymerase and 6 pmoles of each of the primer. The following combinations of primers were used:

R4911 / R4912,

R4910 / R4732,

R5081 / R4912,

R5082 / R4732,

R5088 / R4912,

R5087 / R4732,

R4909 / R4912,

R4908 / R4732. After 30 cycles through 94°C for 1 minute, 55°C for 1 minute and 72°C for 1 minute, the reactions were extracted with chloroform, the newly synthesised DNA precipitated with ethanol, dissolved in water and electrophoresed on a 1.4 % agarose gel. Gel slices containing the DNA fragments were excised from the gel, the DNA recovered from the agarose using a "Mermaid"™ kit (from Stratech Scientific Ltd., Luton, England) and eluted into 20μl sterile water.

Second round PCR was in a 100 μl reaction containing 10 mM Tris - HCl pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCI2, 50 mM KCI, 0.01 % gelatin, 0.25 mM each deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, 2 units Taq polymerase, 1/20 of each pair of DNA fragments from the first round reaction and 30 pmoles of each of R4732 and R4912. After 30 cycles, see above, the reactions were extracted with phenol / chloroform (1/1) and precipitated with ethanol. Fragments were digested with Bgl11 and Sty1 , electrophoresed on a 1.4 % agarose gel and DNA bands of 250 base-pairs recovered from gel slices as previously described. These Bgl II - Sty1 fragments were ligated in a 3 - way ligation to the 830 base-pair Sty1 - EcoRI fragment, containing the C - terminal part of the C_H2 domain and the entire CH3 domain of human C - gamma 1, and the BgIII - EcoR1 vector fragment from pGammal (see Figure 6). After transformation into LM1035, plasmid minipreps from resulting colonies were screened for the presence of the Bgl II - Sty1 fragment and representatives of each taken for nucieotide sequence analysis. From this, plasmids containing the desired sequence were identified and, for future reference, named as follows : pGammal [L235E] containing glutamic acid at residue 235,

pGammal [L235A] containing alanine at residue 235,

pGammal [G237A] containing alanine at residue 237,

pGammal [g1— >g2] containing the C-gamma 2 lower hinge region.

The above plasmids were each restricted with Hind111 and Apal and the Hind111 - Apal fragment containing L243 Vh inserted to produce the following plasmids: L243Gamma1[L235E]

L243Gamma1[L235A]

L243Gamma1[G237A]

L243Gamma [g1— >g2] a) Production of chimeric L243 antibody

Antibody for biological evaluation was produced by transient expression of the appropriate heavy and light chain pairs after co-transfection into Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells using calcium phosphate precipitation.

On the day prior to transfection, semi - confluent flasks of CHO-L761 cells were trypsinised, the cells counted and T75 flasks set up each with 10exp7 cells. On the next day, the culture medium was changed 3 hours before transfection. For transfection, the calcium phosphate precipitate was prepared by mixing 1.25 ml of 0.25M CaCI2 containing 50 μg of each of heavy and light chain expression vectors with 1.25 ml of 2×HBS (16.36 gm NaCI, 11.9 gm HEPES and 0.4 gm Na2HPO4 in 1 litre water with the pH adjusted to 7.1 with NaOH) and adding immediately into the medium on the cells. After 3 hours at 37 C in a CO2 incubator, the medium and precipitate were removed and the cells shocked by the addition of 15 ml 15 % glycerol in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 1 minute. The glycerol was removed, the cells washed once with PBS and incubated for 48 - 96 hours in 25 ml medium containing 10 mM sodium butyrate. Antibody was purified from the culture medium by binding to and elution from protein A - Sepharose and quantitated using an 1g ELISA (see below). b) ELISA

For the ELISA, Nunc ELISA plates were coated overnight at 4°C with a F(ab)2 fragment of a polyclonal goat anti-human Fc fragment specific antibody (Jackson Immuno-research, code 109-006-098) at 5 μg/ml in coating buffer (15mM sodium carbonate, 35mM sodium hydrogen carbonate, pH6.9). Uncoated antibody was removed by washing 5 times with distilled water. Samples and purified standards to be quantitated were diluted to approximately 1 μg/ml in conjugate buffer (0.1 M Tris-HCI pH7.0, 0.1M NaCl, 0.2% v/v Tween 20, 0,2% w/v Hammersten casein). The samples were titrated in the microtitre wells in 2-fold dilutions to give a final volume of 0.1 ml in each well and the plates incubated at room temperature for 1 hr with shaking. After the first incubation step the plates were washed 10 times with distilled water and then incubated for 1 hr as before with 0.1 ml of a mouse monoclonal anti-human kappa (clone GD12) peroxidase conjugated antibody (The Binding Site, code MP135) at a dilution of 1 in 700 in conjugate buffer. The plate was washed again and substrate solution (0.1 ml) added to each well. Substrate solution contained 150 μl N,N,N,N-tetramethylbeπzidine (10 mg/ml in DMSO), 150 μl hydrogen peroxide (30% solution) in 10 ml 0.1 M sodium acetate/sodium citrate, pH6.0. The plate was developed for 5 -10 minutes until the absorbance at 630nm was approximately 1.0 for the top standard. Absorbance at 630nm was measured using a plate reader and the concentration of the sample determined by comparing the titration curves with those of the standard. TABLE 1

Oligonucleotide primers for the 5' region

of mouse heavy chains.

CH1 : 5'ATGAAATGCAGCTGGGTCAT(G,C)TTCTT3' CH2 : 5'ATGGGATGGAGCT(A,G)TATCAT(C,G)(C, T)TCTT3'

CH3 : 5^,ATGAAG(A,T)TGTGGTTAAACTGGGTTTT3'

CH4 : 5'ATG(G,A)ACTTTGGG(T,C)TCAGCTTG(G,A)T3'

CH5 : 5'ATGGACTCCAGGCTCAATTTAGTTTT3'

CH6 : 5'ATGGCTGTC(C,T)T(G,A)G(G,C)GCT(G,A)CTCTTCTG3' CH7 : 5'ATGG(G,A)ATGGAGC(G,T) GG(G,A)TCTTT(A,C)TCTT3^,

CH8 : 5'ATGAGAGTGCTGATTCTTTTGTGS'

CH9 : 5'ATGG(C,A)TTGGGTGTGGA(A,C)CTTGCTATT3'

CH10 : 5'ATGGGCAGACTTACATTCTCATTCCT3'

CH11 : 5'ATGGATTTTGGGCTGATTTTTTTTATTG3" CH12 : 5'ATGATGGTGTTAAGTCTTCTGTACCT3'

Each of the above primers has the sequence

5'GCGCGCAAGCTTGCCGCCACC3' added to its 5' end. TABLE 2

Oligonucleotide primers for the 5' region of

mouse light chains.

CL1 : 5ΑTGAAGTTGCCTGTTAGGCTGTTGGTGCT3' CL2 : 5'ATGGAG(T,A)CAGACACACTCCTG(T,C)TATGGGT3'

CL3 : 5ΑTGAGTGTGCTCACTCAGGTCCT3'

CL4 : 5^,ATGAGG(G,A)CCCCTGCTCAG(A,T)TT(C,T)TTGG3'

CL5 : 57.TGGATTT(T,A)CAGGTGCAGATT(T,A)TCAGCTT3'

CL6 : 5'ATGAGGT(T,G)C(T,C)(T,C)TG(T,C)T(G,C)AG(T,C)T(T,C)CTG

(A,G)G3'

CL7 : 5'ATGGGC(T,A)TCAAGATGGAGTCACA3'

CL8 : 5^,ATGTGGGGA(T,C)CT(G,T)TTT(T,C)C(A,C)(A,C)TTTTTCA

AT3'

CL9 : 5^,ATGGT(G,A)TCC(T,A)CA(G,C)CTCAGTTCCTT3^, CL10 : 5'ATGTATATATGTTTGTTGTCTATTTC3' CL11 : 5'ATGGAAGCCCCAGCTCAGCTTCTCTT3'

Each of the above primers has the sequence

5'GGACTGTTCGAAGCCGCCACC3' added to its 5' end. TABLE 3

Oligonucleotide primers for the 3' ends

of mouse Vh and VI genes.

Light chain ( CL12 ) :

5'GGATACAGTTGGTGCAGCATCCGTACGTTT3'

Heavy chain ( R2155 ):

5'GCAGATGGGCCCTTCGTTGAGGCTG(A,C)(A,G)GAGAC(G,T,A)GTGA3'

TABLE 4

5' Primer mixtures for PCR

B1 : CL2.

B2 : CL6.

B3 : CL8.

B4 : CL4, CL9.

B5 : CL1, CL3, CL5.CL7, CL10, CL11.

B6 : CH6.

B7 : CH7.

B8 : CH2, CH4.

B9 : CH1 , CH3, CH5, CH8, CH9, CH10, CH11 , CH12. Example 2

Biological properties of engineered L243

The aim of the following experiments was to separate the immunosuppressive effects of anti-MHC-II antibodies from possible toxic consequences of their use. In the process we hope to demonstrate which Fc effector functions are necessary for immunosuppression.

ANTIGEN BINDING POTENCY BY INHIBITION ASSAY

The principle of this experiment is that antibodies that have the same binding will compete equally well with a labelled antibody for their cognate antigen. Any changes in the antigen binding potency of the engineered L243 antibodies will be revealed in this system.

Murine L243 (lgG2a) was labelled with fluorescein (FITC) using standard, techniques. All dilutions, manipulations and incubations were done in

Phosphate Buffered Saline (Gibco UK) containing 0.1% Sodium Azide

(BDH UK) and 5% Foetal Calf Serum (Sigma UK). Serial dilutions of engineered antibodies in 100μl in RB polystyrene tubes (2052 12×75mm

Falcon UK) were premixed with a constant amount in 100μl (at a previously determined optimal concentration) of the labelled antibody on 5×10⁴ indicator cells (JY B lymphoblastoid cell line bearing high levels of HLA- DR). Cells and antibody were incubated together at 4°C for 30m in, washed twice and binding revealed using a Fluorescence Activated Cell

Scanner (FACS Becton Dickinson). After appropriate analysis, median fluorescence intensity is plotted against antibody concentration.

Results

As expected, none of the changes in the Fc portion of the molecule affected antigen binding ability (Figure 9).

ASSESSMENT OF FCγ RI BINDING.

The ability of the engineered variants of L243 to bind to FcgRI was measured. The principle of this experiment is that antibodies will bind to cells through Fc receptors and the affinity of this interaction is determined by the subclass and hence the structure of the Fc of the antibody. The assay is based on the ability of the engineered antibodies to compete for binding with FITC labelled murine lgG2a to I FNγ stimulated U937 cells.

U937 (myelomonocytic) cells, when incubated with 500μ/ml IFNγ (Genzyme UK) for 24 hours, expresses high levels of FcgRI, as assessed by CD64 binding and monomeric lgG2a binding, low levels of FcγRII and no FcγRIII.

U937 cells are washed extensively in DMEM containing 25mM HEPES (Gibco UK), incubated for 2 hours at 37°C in RPMI 1640 (Gibco UK) and then washed again in DMEM containing 25mM HEPES (Gibco UK) to remove bovine IgG bound to Fc receptors. Serial dilutions of engineered antibodies were prepared in 50μl in Phosphate Buffered Saline (Gibco UK) containing 0.1% sodium azide in V-bottom 96 well microtitre plates' (ICN/Flow UK) and were incubated with 5x10⁴ U937 cells in 50μl for 30min at 4°C. 50μl of FITC labelled lgG2a antibody was then added to all wells, at a previously determined optimal concentration, for a further 90min at

4°C. Cells were washed once in the microtitre tray, transferred to RB polystyrene tubes (2052 12×75mm Falcon UK) washed once again and binding was revealed using a Fluorescence Activated Cell Scanner (FACS

Becton Dickinson). After appropriate analysis, median fluorescence intensity is plotted against antibody concentration.

Results

Changes in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of lgG1 had profound effects on binding to FcRI (Figure 10). As expected, wild type lgG1 bound well to FcRI, lgG4 about 10 times less well and lgG2 did not bind at all. We have confirmed that the Leu 235 to Glu change in human lgG4 reduced its low FcRI binding to nothing and that the same change in lgG1 completely abolishes FcRI binding. Ala at 235 reduced (by about 100 fold) but did not ablate FcRI binding. Changing Gly 237 to Ala of lgG1 also abolished FcRI as did exchanging the whole region 233 to 236, with the sequence found in human lgG2. The G1[K320A] change had no effect on FcRI binding. ANTIBODY DEPENDENT COMPLEMENT

MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY.

The ability of the engineered variants of L243 to fix human complement was assessed using the technique of antibody dependent complement mediated cytotoxicity.

The principle of the experiment is that antibodies will mediate complement lysis of target cells bearing their cognate antigen if the Fc of the antibody is able to interact with the components of the (usually classical) complement cascade. The critical interaction is with the C1q molecule.

The source of complement in these experiments is human venous blood freshly drawn into endotoxin free glass bottles which is then allowed to clot at 37°C for 1 hour. The clot is detached from the glass and then incubated at 4°C for 2 hours to allow it to retract. The clot is then removed and the serum separated from the remaining red cells by centrifugation at 1000g. Once prepared, the serum can be stored for up to one month at -20°C without noticeable deterioration of potency but is best used fresh.

All manipulations, dilutions and incubations are done in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco UK) containing 2mM Glutamine (Gibco UK) and 10% foetal calf serum (Sigma UK). Target cells (JY B lymphoblastoid cell line bearing high levels of HLA-DR) are labelled with 1mCi Na⁵¹Cr for 1 hour at room temperature, agitated every 15 min. The cells are then washed three times, to remove free radiolabel, and resuspended at 2×10⁶/ml. Serial antibody dilutions are prepared in duplicate in V-bottom 96 well microtitre plates (ICN/Flow UK) in 25μl. Control wells containing medium only are also prepared to establish the spontaneous release of label giving the assay background. Target ⁵¹Cr labelled JY cells are added to all wells in 10μl. The same number of JY cells are also added to wells containing 2% Triton ×100 in water to establish the 100% release value. Target cells and antibody are incubated together and, after 1 hour at room temperature, 25μl serum as a source of complement is added to all wells (except the 100%) for a further 1 hour at room temperature. 100μl of EDTA saline at 4°C is then added to stop any further cell killing, the microtitre plates are centrifuged at 200g to pellet the intact cells and 100μl supernatant is removed and counted in a gamma counter.

Percent cell lysis is calculated by subtracting the background from all values and then expressing them as a percentage of the adjusted maximum release. Replicates vary by less than 5%. Percent cell lysis is then plotted against antibody dilution.

Results

The ability of L243 to fix human complement was not affected by all the changes made in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain, residues 233 to 237 (Figure 11). Wild type lgG1 mediated potent killing with 600ng/ml giving half maximum cell killing (64% maximum). lgG2 and lgG4 caused no cell killing even at 20μg/ml. The Gly to Ala at 237 gave an intermediate level killing (20% maximum killing at 2μg/ml). Exchanging the whole lower hinge region with the sequence found in human lgG2 failed to cause lysis even at 20μg/ml. Changes at 235 in lgG1 had unexpectedly profound effects on human complement fixation. Changing the Leu 235 to Glu abolished complement lysis (no killing at 20μg/ml). Ala at 235 permitted low levels of killing. In contrast, a change in the previously described C1q binding motif [Duncan A R and Winter G (1998), Nature, 332, 21.], from Lys to Ala at 320 effected no change from the lgG1 wild type killing (70% maximum cell killing and half the cells dead with 600ng/ml). DIRECT BINDING OF C1q

Measurement of the direct binding of human C1q to different engineered variants of L243 was established to confirm that complement mediated cytotoxicity was due to activation of the classical pathway. Purified human C1q (Sigma UK) was directly labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC Sigma) using conventional methods. All dilutions, manipulations and incubations were done in Phosphate Buffered Saline (Gibco UK) containing 0.1% Sodium Azide (BDH UK) and 5% Foetal Calf Serum (Sigma UK). 5×10⁴ indicator cells (JY B lymphoblastoid cell line bearing high levels of HLA-DR) were coated with the different engineered antibodies by incubating at saturating concentrations for 1 hour at 4°C in RB polystyrene tubes (2052 12x75mm Falcon UK). After washing, serial dilutions of FITC labelled C1q in 100μl were added and were incubated together for a further 30 min at 4°C. After washing, binding of C1q was revealed using a Fluorescence Activated Cell Scanner (FACS Becton Dickinson). After appropriate analysis, median fluorescence intensity is plotted against C1q concentration.

Results

Direct binding of human C1q to the L243 human isotype series confirmed the results with complement mediated cytotoxicity (Figure 12). Labelled human C1q bound well to wild type lgG1 , when bound to JY cells, and bound poorly to lgG4. Equilibrium dissociation constants were determined essentially as described by Krause et al. [Behring Inst. Mitt. SZ 56 (1990)] and were 1.2 ×10^{- 7}M and 1.5 ×10^-8M for lgG4 and lgG1 respectively. These values compare favourably with those obtained for the mouse antibodies lgG1 and lgG2a which have similar functions [Leatherbarrow and Dwek (1984), Molec. Immunol. 21, 321]. The Leu 235 to Glu change in lgG1 reduced the binding of C1q to the same level as lgG4. In contrast, a change in the previously described C1q binding motif [Duncan A R and Winter G (1988) Nature 332, 21], from Lys to Ala at 320 had no effect on

C1q binding. The Leu 235 to Glu change in lgG4 did not alter wild type binding.

Rabbit and Guinea Pig complement

The G1[L235E] and G1[L235A] modifications behaved differently when rabbit or guinea pig serum was used as a source of complement instead of human. With rabbit C they caused the same level of lysis as the wild type G1. With guinea pig they caused 40% and 49% plateau level killing, respectively, compared with 80% killing by the lgG1 wild type. The 235 change only affects human complement binding indicating that rabbit and guinea pig complement interact differently with human lgG1 (see Figures 13-15).

ANTIBODY DEPENDENT CELL MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY.

The ability of the engineered variants of L243 to bind to FcgRIII was assessed using antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). The principle of the experiment is that antibodies will mediate lysis of target cells bearing their cognate antigen if the Fc of the antibody is able to interact with Fc receptor bearing effector cells capable of cytotoxicity. The critical interaction is between antibody Fc and cellular Fc receptors.

Effector cells are prepared fresh for each experiment. Human venous blood is drawn into endotoxin free tubes containing heparin. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are prepared by density gradient centrifugation according to the manufacturers instructions (Pharmacia). PBMC are adjusted to 1×10⁷ cells/ml in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco UK) containing 2mM Glutamine (Gibco UK) and 10% foetal calf serum (Sigma UK), in which all manipulations, dilutions and incubations are done. Target cells (JY B lymphoblastoid cell line bearing high levels of HLA-DR) are labelled with 1mCi Na⁵¹Cr for 1 hour at room temperature, agitated every 15 min. The cells are then washed three times, to remove free radiolabel, and resuspended at 2×10⁶/ml. Serial antibody dilutions are prepared in duplicate in sterile U-bottom 96 well microtitre plates (Falcon UK) in 25μl. Control wells containing medium only are also prepared to establish the spontaneous release of label giving the assay background. Target ⁵¹Cr labelled JY cells are added to all wells in 10μl. The same number of JY cells are also added to wells containing 2% Triton x100 in water to establish the 100% release value. Target cells and antibody are incubated together and, after 30min at room temperature, 25μl effector cells are added to all wells (except the 100%) for a further 4 hours at 37°C. 100μl of EDTA saline at 4°C is then added to stop any further cell killing, the microtitre plates are centrifuged at 200g to pellet the intact cells and 100μl supernatant is removed and counted in a gamma counter.

Percent cell lysis is calculated by subtracting the background from all values and then expressing them as a percentage of the adjusted maximum release. Replicates vary by less than 5%. Percent cell lysis is then plotted against antibody dilution. Results

Not all the changes made in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain, residues 233 to 237, affected FcRIII mediated function (Figure 16 and Tables 5 and 7). L243 lgG2 was unable to mediate peripheral blood mononuclear cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) of HLA-DR positive JY lymphoblastoid cells at concentrations up to 100γ/ml. lgG4 caused a low level of ADCC (20% maximum killing at 1γ/ml) which could be abrogated by the Leu 235 to Glu change. Wild type lgG1 was a potent mediator of cell killing giving 50% cell death at 5ng/ml antibody. Gly to Ala at 237 reduced the igG1 wild type killing to the level seen with lgG4. Exchanging the whole lower hinge region with the sequence found in human lgG2 gave intermediate levels of killing with 500ng/ml needed for 50% cell death. In contrast, changes at 235 in lgG1 had minimal effect on ADCC. Changing the Leu 235 to Ala gave levels of killing comparable with the G1 wild type (9ng/ml for 50% cell death)) and changing the Leu 235 to Glu reduced ADCC a little (40ng/ml for 50% cell death). A change in the previously described C1q binding motif, from Lys to Ala at 320 had no effect on the ability of lgG1 to mediate ADCC.

IMMUNE FUNCTION

Ex vivo T cell function experiments were performed where an interaction between MHC-II and the T cell receptor was an obligatory requirement for T cell activation. The L243 isotype series was tested in mixed lymphocyte reactions, which measures both naive and memory T cell activation, and recall responses to tetanus toxoid which only measures a memory T cell response.

Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction.

The immunosuppressive potency of engineered variants of L243 was assessed using a mixed lymphocyte reaction.

The principle of the experiment is that when leucocytes from one individual are mixed with those of another which express different HLA alleles, they will recognise each other as foreign and will become activated. This activation is dependent, primarily, on interactions between the CD3/TcR complex on T cells and the MHC-II molecule on antigen presenting cells. Antibodies that bind to MHC-II are known to inhibit this reaction.

Leucocytes are prepared fresh for each experiment. Human venous blood from two individuals is drawn into endotoxin free tubes containing heparin. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are prepared by density gradient centrifugation according to the manufacturers instructions (Pharmacia). PBMC are adjusted to 2×10⁶ cells/ml in RPM1 1640 medium (Gibco UK) containing 2mM Glutamine (Gibco UK), 100μ/ml/100μg/ml Penicillin/ Streptomycin (Gibco) and 10% foetal calf serum (Sigma UK), in which all manipulations, dilutions and incubations are done. PBMC from one individual are irradiated with 3000 rads. These cells will be stimulate a response from the other individual. Serial antibody dilutions are prepared in triplicate in sterile U-bottom 96 well microtitre plates (Falcon UK) in 100μl. Control wells containing medium only and optimal Cyclosporin (Sandimmun®, Sandoz) levels (100nM) are also prepared to establish the maximum response and maximum inhibition, respectively. Equal numbers of irradiated stimulators and responders are mixed together and 100μl are added to each well. Wells of stimulator alone and responders alone are also set up as controls. The experiment is incubated at 37°C in 100% humidity and 5%CO₂ for 5 days. Response is measured by assessing proliferation during the last 18 hours of culture by incubation with 1μCi/well ³H-Thymidine (Amersham UK), harvesting on to glass filter mattes and counting using a beta counter.

Results are plotted as CPM against antibody concentration. Replicates vary by less than 10%. T cell Recall Response to Tetanus Toxoid

The ability of the engineered variants of L243 to suppress a secondary response was assessed using a recall response to Tetanus Toxoid.

The principle of the experiment is that T lymphocytes from an individual previously immunised with Tetanus Toxoid (TT) will respond to TT when re-exposed ex vivo. This activation is dependent on the interaction between the CD3/TcR complex on T ceils and the MHC-II molecule on cells which process and present the antigen. Antibodies that bind to MHC-II are known to inhibit this reaction. Lymphocytes are prepared fresh for each experiment. Human venous blood is drawn into endotoxin free tubes containing heparin. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are prepared by density gradient centrifugation according to the manufacturers instructions (Pharmacia). PBMC are adjusted to 2×10⁶ cells/ml in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco UK) containing 2mM Glutamine (Gibco UK), 100μ/ml/100μg/ml Penicillin/ Streptomycin (Gibco) and 10% foetal calf serum (Sigma UK), in which all manipulations, dilutions and incubations are done.

Serial antibody dilutions are prepared in triplicate in sterile U-bottom 96' well microtitre plates (Falcon UK) in 100μl. 50μl containing an optimal concentration of TT, previously determined by experimentation, is added to all wells. Control wells containing medium only or Cyclosporin

(Sandimmun, Sandoz) (100nM) are also prepared to establish the maximum response and maximum inhibition, respectively. 50μl PBMC are then added to each well. The experiment is incubated at 37°C in 100% humidity and 5%C02 for 7 days. Response is measured by assessing proliferation during the last 18 hours of culture by incubation with 1μCi/well

³H-Thymidine, harvesting on to glass filter mattes and counting using a beta counter.

Results are plotted as CPM against antibody concentration. Replicates vary by less than 10%.

Results (Figures 17-21)

There were no significant or qualitative differences between the effects of the L243 human isotype series between the MLR and TT response.

Maximal inhibition was achieved with G1, G1[L235E] and G1[L235A].

Approximately two orders of magnitude more of G2, G4 and G1[G237A] was required to give similar levels of inhibition. The G1/G2 L hinge exchange mutant was intermediate in immuno-suppresser potency, there was no correlation between complement fixation or FcRI binding and immuno-suppression, G1 binding well to FcRI and fixing complement and G1[L235E] doing neither, but both giving good immunosuppression. But, there was good correlation with FcRIII binding. Human G1 and G1[L235E] interact with FcRIII and give good immunosuppression. The G1/G2 L hinge is intermediate in FcRIII binding and immuno-suppression. In contrast, the G237A mutation in human G1, in agreement with published observations, reduces FcRIII binding. This antibody gave poor immunosuppression. (Table 5). Table 6 shows a number of L243 isotype mutants.

Conclusion

We have found that amino acid residues necessary for C1q and FcR binding of human lgG1 are located in the N-terminal region of the CH2 domain, residues 231 to 238, using a matched set of engineered' antibodies based on the anti-HLA DR antibody L243. Changing the leucine 235 in the CH2 region of lgG3 and lgG4 to glutamic acid was already known to abolish FcRI binding, we have confirmed this for lgG1 and also found a concomitant abolition of human complement fixation with retention of FcRIII mediated function. Changing the giycine at 237 to alanine of lgG1 also abolished FcRI binding and reduced complement fixation and FcRIII mediated function. Exchanging the whole region 233 to 236, with the sequence found in human lgG2 abolished FcRI binding and complement fixation and reduced FcRIII mediated function of lgG1. In contrast, a change in the previously described C1q binding motif, from lysine at 320 to alanine had no effect on IgG 1 -mediated complement fixation.

The effect of these changes in lgG1 on FcRI binding are similar to published observations using lgG3 and lgG4 [Lund J et al J. Immunol. 1991. 147, 265; and Alegre M-L et al J. Immunol. 1992. 148, 3461] with changes at 235 and 237 in the lower hinge/N-terminal C_H2 region markedly reducing FcRI binding. The similarities between these three isotypes strongly suggests that they interact with FcRI in a similar way. We have found residues necessary for FcRIII binding of human lgG1 within the lower hinge/N-terminal end of the C_H2 region. Modification at 237 and exchanging the lower hinge for lgG2 residues caused low and intermediate levels, respectively, of FcRIII mediated killing. These effects are similar to those reported by Sarmay et al [Molec. Immunol. 1992.29, 633] for human lgG3. In contrast to Sarmay et al using lgG3, our changes at residue 235 of lgG1 had little effect on FcRIII binding.

Greenwood et al [Eur. J. Immunol. 1993. 23, 1098], using inter and intra domain switch variants between lgG1 and lgG4, identify residues in lgG1 necessary for FcRIII binding in the C-terminal half of the C_H2 domain beyond 292. This indicates that the residues we have identified within the lower hinge/N-terminal end of the C_H2 region are necessary but not sufficient for FcRIII effector function mediated through binding of human lgG1. lgG1 variants with changes at 235 failed to mediate lysis with human complement and did not bind purified human C1q. We also found that an lgG1 molecule containing a change at 320 gave complement mediated killing equivalent to the lgG1 wild type. Residues, Glu 318, Lys 320 and Lys 322 were identified by protein engineering studies as necessary in mouse lgG2b for C1q binding [Duncan, A R and Winter G, Nature, 1988. 322, 21]. The same study also demonstrated that the 235 change in mouse lgG2b left unchanged its affinity for human C1q [Duncan, A R and Winter G, Nature, 1988. 322, 21]. The apparent contradiction between these observations is probably due to differences in C1q contacts between human lgG1 and mouse lgG2b.

We found that most changes in the lower hinge/N-terminal end of the C_H2 domain affect C1q binding. The G1/G2 lower hinge exchange abolished complement fixation and the change at 237 also reduces it significantly. In contrast, Greenwood et al [Eur. J. Immunol. 1993. 23, 1098], found residues necessary for human complement fixation in the C-terminal half of the C_H2 domain. Tao et al [J. exp. Med. 1993. 178. 661] also identify the C-terminal half of the C_H2 domain as necessary for complement fixation. They are able to separate C1q binding from complement mediated lysis. lgG1 with a Pro to Ser change at 331, in the C-terminal half of the C_H2 domain, is able to bind human C1q as well as the wild type but is unable to activate complement. This predicts that the amino acids that we have identified within the lower hinge/N-terminal end of the C_H2 region are necessary for C1q binding and that the C-terminal residues are necessary for the binding and activation of the antibody dependent complement cascade beyond C1q.

TABLE 5 Summary of L-243 Isotype Series

L243 RI RIII C1q MLR TT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

G2 - - - ++ ++

G4 + - - ++ ++

G1 +++ +++ +++ ++++ ++++

G1L235E - ++± ± +++± +++± G1L235A + +++ + ++++ ++++

G1G237A + + + ++ ++

TABLE 6

Human Isotype Mutants

Gene Residue From To NAME

G1 235 L E G1[L235E]

G1 235 L A G1[L235A]

G1 237 G A G1[G237A]

G1 320 K A G1[K320A]

G4 235 L E G4[L235E]

G1 231-238 APELLGGP AP-PVAGP G1/G2L-hinge

TABLE 7

Summary of L-243 Isotype Series

L243 RI^a Rlll^b Complement

G2 >10 >100000 >20/0

G4 1.2 10000ex >20/0

G4[L235E] >10 > 100000 >20/0

G1 0.13 5 0.6/65

G1/G2Lh >10 500 >20/0

G1[L235E] >10 40 >20/0

G1[L235A] 5.0 9 >20/0

G1[G237A] >10 10000eX 2.0/20

G1[K320A] 0.1 10 0.6/70

a) mg/ml antibody necessary for 50% inhibition of binding of FITC- labelled mouse lgG2a antibody to U937 cells. b) ng/ml antibody necessary for half maximal cell killing in ADCC. (ex) extrapolated value. c) mg/ml antibody necessary for half maximal cell killing by human complement and percent plateau cell killing. EXAMPLE 3

L243 is a mouse monoclonal antibody raised against human MHC Class II. The nucieotide and amino acid sequences of L243 VI and Vh are shown in Figures 5 and 3 respectively. The following examples describe the humanisation of the L243 antibody (CDR grafting).

CDR grafting of L243 liαht chain

Alignment of the framework regions of L243 light chain with those of the four human light chain subgroups [Kabat, E.A., Wu, T.T., Perry, H.M., Gottesman, K.S. and Foeller, C. 1991 , Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition] revealed that L243 was most homologous to antibodies in human light chain subgroup 1. Consequently, for constructing the CDR grafted light chain, the framework regions chosen corresponded to those of the human Group 1 consensus sequence. A' comparison of the amino acid sequences of the framework regions of L243 and the consensus human group I light chains is given below and shows that there are 21 differences (underlined) between the two sequences.

Analysis of the contribution that any of these framework differences might have on antigen binding (see published International patent application No. WO91/09967) identified 4 residues for investigation; these are at positions 45,49,70 and 71. Based on this analysis, two versions of the CDR grafted light chain were constructed. In the first of these, L243-gL1 , residues 45,49,70 and 71 are derived from the L243 light chain while in the second, L243-gL2, all residues are human consensus.

Light chain Comparisons

Kl

Construction of CDR grafted light chain L243-gL1

The construction of L243-gL1 is given below in detail. The following oligonucleotides were used in the Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) to introduce changes into the framework regions of the chimeric light chain: R5043 : 5 'GTAGGAGACCGGGTCACCATCACATGTCGAGCAAA3 '

R5CH4 : 5 'CTGAGGAGCTTTTCCTGGTTTCTGCTGATACCATGCTAAA3 ' R5045 : 5 'AAACCAGGAAAAGCTCCTCAGCTCCTGATCTTTGCTGCATC3 ' R5046 : 5 'CTTCTGGCTGCAGGCTGGAGATAGTTAGGGTATACTGTGTGCC3 ' R5047 : 5 'CTTCAGCCTGCAGCCAGAAGATTTTGCTACTTATTACTGTCAA3 ' R5048 : 5 'GGGCCGCTACCGTACGTTTTAGTTCCACTTTGGTGCCTTGACCGAA3 '

Three reactions, each of 20 μl, were set up each containing 10 mM Tris- HCI pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCI2, 50 mM KCI, 0.01% w/v gelatin, 0.25 mM each deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, 0.1 μg chimeric L243 light chain DNA , 6 pmoles of R5043/R5044 or R5045/R5046 or R5047/R5048 and 0.25 units Taq polymerase. Reactions were cycled through 94°C for 1 minute, 55°C for 1 minute and 72°C for 1 minute. After 30 cycles, each reaction was analysed by electrophoresis on an agarose gel and the PCR fragments excised from the gel and recovered using a Mermaid Kit.

Aliquots of these were then subjected to a second round of PCR. The reaction, 100 μl, contained 10 mM Tris-HCI pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCI2, 50 mM KCI, 0.01% w/v gelatin, 1/10 of each of the three PCR fragments from the first set of reactions, 30 pmoles of R5043 and R5048 and 2.5 units Taq polymerase. Reaction temperatures were as above. After the PCR, the mixture was extracted with phenol / chloroform and then with chloroform and precipitated with ethanol. The ethanol precipitate was recovered by centrifugation, dissolved in the appropriate buffer and restricted with the enzymes BstEII and Spll. The resulting product was finally electrophoresed on an agarose gel and the 270 base pair DNA fragment recovered from a gel slice and ligated into the vector pMR15.1 (Figure 1) that had previously been digested with the same enzymes.

The ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli LM1035 and resulting colonies analysed by PCR, restriction enzyme digests and nucieotide sequencing. The nucieotide and amino acid sequence of the VI region of L243-gL1 is shown in Figure 22.

Construction of CDR grafted light chain L243-gL2

L243-gL2 was constructed from L243-gL1 using PCR. The following oligonucleotides were used to introduce the amino acid changes : R1053 : 5 'GCTGACAGACTAACAGACTGTTCC3 '

R5350 :

5 'TCTAGATGGCACACCATCTGCTAAGTTTGATGCAGCATAGATCAGGAGCTTAGGA

GC3 '

R5349 :

5 'GCAGATGGTGTGCCATCTAGATTCAGTGGCAGTGGATCAGGCACAGACTTTACCC

TAAC3 '

R684 : 5 'TTCAACTGCTCATCAGAT3 '

Two reactions, each 20 μl, were set up each containing 10 mM Tris-HCI pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCI2, 50 mM KCI, 0.01% w/v gelatin, 0.25 mM each deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, 0.1 μg L243-gL1, 6 pmoles of R1053/ R5350 or R5349/R684 and 0.25 units Taq polymerase. Reactions were cycled through 94°C for 1 minute, 55°C for 1 minute and 72°C for 1 minute. After 30 cycles, each reaction was analysed by electrophoresis on an agarose gel and the PCR fragments excised from the gel and recovered using a Mermaid Kit. Aliquots of these were then subjected to a second round of PCR. The reaction, 100 μl, contained 10 mM Tris-HCI pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCI2, 50 mM KCI, 0.01% w/v gelatin, 1/5 of each of the PCR fragments from the first set of reactions, 30 pmoles of R1053 and R684 and 2.5 units Taq polymerase. Reaction temperatures were as above. After the PCR, the mixture was extracted with phenol / chloroform and then with chloroform and precipitated with ethanol. The ethanol precipitate was recovered by centrifugation, dissolved in the appropriate buffer and restricted with the enzymes BstEII and Spll. The resulting product was finally electrophoresed on an agarose gel and the 270 base pair DNA fragment recovered from a gel slice and ligated into the vector pMR15.1 (Figure 1) that had previously been digested with the same enzymes.

The ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli LM1035 and resulting colonies analysed by PCR, restriction enzyme digests and nucieotide sequencing. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the VI region of L243-gL2 is shown in Figure 23.

CDR grafting of L243 heavy chain

CDR grafting of L243 heavy chain was accomplished using the same strategy as described for the light chain. L243 heavy chain was found to be most homologous to human heavy chains belonging to subgroup 1 and therefore the consensus sequence of the human subgroup 1 frameworks was chosen to accept the L243 heavy chain CDRs.

A comparison of the framework regions of the two structures is shown below where it can be seen that L243 differs from the human consensus at 28 positions (underlined). After analysis of the contribution that any of these might make to antigen binding, only residues 27,67,69,71,72 and 75 were retained in the CDR grafted heavy chain, L243-gH.

Heavy chain comparisons

2

7

Construction of CDR grafted heavy chain. L-243 gH

L243gH was assembled by subjecting overlapping oligonucleotides to PCR in the presence of the appropriate primers. The following oligonucleotides. were used in the PCR: R3004 : 5 'GGGGGGAAGCTTGCCGCCACCATGG3 ' R3005 : 5 'CCCCCCGGGCCCTTTGTAGAAGCAG3 ' R4902 : 5 'GACAACAGGAGTGCACTCTCAGGTGCAGCTGGTGCAGTCTGGAGC

AGAGGTGAAGAAGCCTGGAGCATCTG3 ' R4903 : 5 'ACATTCACAAATTACGGAATGAATTGGGTGAGACAGGCACCTGGA

CAGGGACTCGAGTGGA3 ' R4904 : 5 ' CCTACGTACGCAGACGACTTCAAGGGAAGATTCACATTCACACTG

GAGACATCTGCATCTACAGCATACAT3 ' R4905 : 5 'CAGCAGTGTACTACTGTGCAAGAGACATTACAGCAGTGGTACCTA

CAGGATTCGACTACTGGGGACAGGGA3 ' R4897 : 5 'TGAGAGTGCACTCCTGTTGTCACAGACAGGAAGAACAGGAACACC

CAAGACCACTCCATGGTGGCGGCAAGCTTCCCCCC3 ' R4898 : 5 'CATTCCGTAATTTGTGAATGTGAATCCAGATGCCTTACAAGACAC

CTTCACAGATGCTCCAGGCTTCTTCA3 ' R4899 : 5 'GAAGTCGTCTGCGTACGTAGGCTCTCTTGTGTATGTATTAATCCA

TCCCATCCACTCGAGTCCCTGTCCAG3 ' R4900 : 5 'TTGCACAGTAGTACACTGCTGTGTCCTCAGATCTCAGAGAAGACA GCTCCATGTATGCTGTAGATGCAGAT3 ' R4901 : 5 'CCCCCCGGGCCCTTTGTAGAAGCAGAAGACACTGTCACCAGTGTT

CCCTGTCCCCAGTAGTCGAA3 '

The assembly reaction, 50 μl, contained 10 mM Tris-HCI pH 8.3, 1.5 mM MgCI2, 50 mM KCI, 0.01% w/v gelatin, 0.25 mM each deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, 1 pmole of each Of R4897 - R4905, 10 pmoles of each of R3004 and R3005 and 2.5 units Taq polymerase. Reactions were cycled through 94 C for 1 minute, 55 C for 1 minute and 72 C for 1 minute. After 30 cycles, the reaction was extracted with phenol/chloroform (1/1), then with chloroform and precipitated with ethanol. After centrifugation, the DNA was dissolved in the appropriate restriction buffer and digested with HindIII and ApaI. The resulting fragment was isolated from an agarose gel and ligated into pMR14 (Figure 2) that had previously been digested with the same enzymes. pMR14 contains the human gamma 4 heavy chain constant region and so the heavy chain expressed from this vector will be a gamma 4 isotype. The ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli LM1035 and resulting bacterial colonies screened by restriction digest and nucieotide sequence analysis. In this way, a plasmid containing the correct sequence for L243gH was identified (Figure 24). Construction of Gamma 1 versions of chimeric and CDR grafted L243 heavy chain

Human Gamma 1 versions of L243 heavy chains were constructed by transferring the variable regions of both the murine and the CDR grafted heavy chains as HindIII to Apal fragments into the vector pGammal (Figure 6). This vector contains the human Gamma 1 heavy chain constant region.

Evaluation of activities of CDR grafted genes

The activities of the CDR grafted genes were evaluated by expressing them in mammalian cells and purifying and quantitating the newly synthesised antibodies. The methodology for this is described next, followed by a description of the biochemical and cell based assays used for the biological characterisation of the antibodies. a) Gene Expression in CHO cells

Chimeric and CDR grafted L243 was produced for biological evaluation by transient expression of heavy and light chain pairs after co-transfection into Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells using calcium phosphate precipitation as described above for production of chimeric L243. Antibody concentration was determined using a human Ig ELISA (see below). b) ELISA

For the ELISA, Nunc ELISA plates were coated overnight at 4°C with a F(ab)2 fragment of a polyclonal goat anti-human Fc fragment specific antibody (Jackson Immuno-research, code 109-006-098) at 5 μg/ml in coating buffer (15mM sodium carbonate, 35mM sodium hydrogen carbonate, pH6.9). Uncoated antibody was removed by washing 5 times with distilled water. Samples and purified standards to be quantitated were diluted to approximately 1 μg/ml in conjugate buffer (0.1 M Tris-HCl pH7.0, 0.1M NaCI, 0.2% v/v Tween 20, 0,2% w/v Hammersten casein). The samples were titrated in the microtitre wells in 2-fold dilutions to give a final volume of 0.1 ml in each well and the plates incubated at room temperature for 1 hr with shaking. After the first incubation step the plates were washed 10 times with distilled water and then incubated for 1 hr as before with 0.1 ml of a mouse monoclonal anti-human kappa (clone GD12) peroxidase conjugated antibody (The Binding Site, code MP135) at a dilution of 1 in 700 in conjugate buffer. The plate was washed again and substrate solution (0.1 ml) added to each well. Substrate solution contained 150μl N,N,N,N-tetramethylbenzidine (10 mg/ml in DMSO), 150μl hydrogen peroxide (30% solution) in 10 ml 0.1 M sodium acetate/sodium citrate, pH6.0. The plate was developed for 5 -10 minutes until the absorbance at 630nm was approximately 1.0 for the top standard. Absorbance at 630nm was measured using a plate reader and the concentration of the sample determined by comparing the titration curves with those of the standard. c) Competition Assay

The principle of this assay is that if the antigen binding region has been correctly transferred from the murine to human frameworks, then the CDR grafted antibody will compete equally well with a labelled chimeric antibody for binding to human MHC Class II. Any changes in the antigen binding potency will be revealed in this system.

Chimeric L243 was labelled with fluorescein (FITC) using the method of Wood et al [Wood.T., Thompson, S and Goldstein, G 1965, J. Immunol 95, 225-229 and used in the competition assay described above.

Figure 25 compares the ability of combinations of L243 heavy and light chains to compete with FITC-labelled chimeric L243 for binding to JY cells. All combinations were effective competitors although none of those containing CDR grafted heavy or light chains were as effective as the chimeric antibody itself. Thus, the combinations cH/gL1 , gH/cL and gH/gL1 were 89%, 78% and 64% respectively, as effective as chimeric L243 in this assay. d) Determination of Affinity constants by Scatchard Analysis

L243 antibodies were titrated from 10μg/ml in PBS, 5% fetal calf serum, 0.1% sodium azide in 1.5-fold dilutions (150μl each) before incubation with 5×10⁴ JY cells per titration point for 1 hour on ice. The cells were previously counted, washed and resuspended in the same medium as the samples. After incubation, the cells were washed with 5ml of the above medium, spun down and the supernatant discarded. Bound antibody was revealed by addition of 100μl of a 1/100 dilution of FITC conjugated antihuman Fc monoclonal (The Binding Site; code MF001). The cells were then incubated for 1 hour on ice and then the excess FITC conjugate removed by washing as before. Cells were dispersed in 250μl of the same buffer and the median fluorescence intensity per cell was determined in a FACScan (Becton Dickinson) and calibrated using standard beads (Flow Cytometry standards Corporation). The number of molecules of antibody bound per cell at each antibody concentration was thus established and used to generate Scatchard plots. For the purpose of calculation, it was assumed that the valency of binding of the FITC conjugate to L243 was 1:1 and that the F/P ratio was 3.36 (as given by the manufacturer).

A Scatchard plot comparing the affinities of chimeric L243 (cH/cL), L243-gH/L243-gL1 and L243-gH/L243-gL2 is shown in Figure 26. Chimeric L243 was found to have an apparent Kd of 4.1 nM while the CDR grafted antibodies containing gL1 and gL2 light chains had apparent Kd of 6.4nM and 9.6nM respectively. The difference in Kd values of the antibodies with the two CDR grafted light chains reflects the contribution made by residues 45,49,70 and 71 that had been retained, in L243-gL1, from the parent light chain. e) Antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity

The ability of chimeric and CDR grafted L243 to mediate antibody dependent ceil cytotoxicity (ADCC) was compared as described previously. The principle of the experiment is that antibodies will mediate lysis of target cells bearing their cognate antigen if the Fc of the antibody is able to interact with Fc receptor bearing effector cells capable of cytotoxicity. A comparison of the activities of chimeric (cH/cL) and CDR grafted (gH/gL1) L243 human gamma 1 isotypes in the above assay is shown in Figure 27. Both antibodies were effective mediators of cell lysis with maximal activity being achieved at antibody concentrations of less than 100 ng/ml. There was no significant difference between the activities of the two antibodies. f) Immune function tests

Ex vivo T cell function experiments were performed where an interaction between MHC-II and the T cell receptor was an obligatory requirement for T cell activation. Chimeric and CDR grafted L243 antibodies were compared in mixed lymphocyte reactions, which measures both naive and memory T cell activation, and in recall responses to tetanus toxoid which only measures a memory T cell response. 1) Mixed Lymphocyte reaction - as described above

The principle of the experiment is that when leucocytes from one individual are mixed with those of another individual which express different HLA alleles, they will recognise each other as foreign and the lymphocytes will become activated. This activation is dependent primarily on interactions between the CD3/TcR complex on T cells and the MHC Class II molecule on antigen presenting cells. L243 is known to inhibit this reaction.

When an MLR was carried out to compare the effectiveness of the Gamma 1 isotypes of chimeric and CDR grafted L243 as inhibitors of T cell activation, no significant differences were observed between the two antibodies (Figure 28). Greater than 90% inhibition of the MLR was observed using 100 ng/ml of either antibody. 2) T cell recall response to Tetanus toxoid

The ability of chimeric and CDR grafted L243 to suppress a secondary response was assessed using a recall response to Tetanus toxin. The principle of the experiment is described above. The results of an experiment comparing the ability of human gamma 1 isotypes of chimeric and CDR grafted L243 to inhibit the response to TT is shown in Figure 29. Both antibodies were effective inhibitors of the T cell response to TT and produced titration curves that were indistinguishable. EXAMPLE 4

The ability of CDR grafted L243 with the alteration at position 235 i.e. L[235E] to mediate antibody dependent cell cytoxicity (ADCC) was measured essentially as described in the previous examples. The results are shown in Figure 27.

Similarly the CDR grafted L243 [L235E] antibody was tested in a mixed lymphocyte reaction and in recall response to tetanus toxoid essentially as described in the previous Examples. The results are provided in Figures 28 and 29. The ability of the CDR-grafted L243 antibody [L235E] to fix human complement was assessed using the technique of antibody dependent complement mediated cytotoxicity as described in the previous Examples. The results are shown in Figure 30.

Claims

1. An altered antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody.

2. An antibody according to Claim 2 which binds to one or more cellular Fc receptors and does not bind significantly to FcR1.

3. An antibody according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the amino acid residue which is altered lies within amino acid positions 231 to 239.

4. An antibody according to any of the preceding claims which is an MHC specific antibody.

5. A method for producing an altered antibody with altered ability to fix complement as compared to unaltered antibody comprising altering one or more amino acids in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody altering the ability of said antibody to fix complement as compared with unaltered antibody.

6. A method of modulating the function of cell surface associated antigens avoiding complement mediated toxicity comprising administration of an altered antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody and also said antibody.

7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein said altered antibody is able to bind one or more cellular Fc receptors especially FcRIII while binding to FcRI is significantly reduced.

8. A therapeutic, diagnostic or pharmaceutical composition comprising an altered antibody according to any of the preceding claims.

9. A process for the preparation of a therapeutic, pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition comprising admixing an altered antibody according to any of the preceding claims together with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent or carrier.

10. A method of therapy and diagnosis comprising administering an effective amount of an altered antibody according to any of the preceding claims to a human or animal subject.

11. A process for producing an altered antibody according to any of the preceding claims comprising:

a) producing in an expression vector an operon having a DNA sequence which encodes an antibody heavy or light chain

b) producing in an expression vector an operon having a DNA sequence which encodes a complementary antibody light or heavy chain

c) transfecting a host cell with both operons

and

d) culturing the transfected cell line to produce the antibody molecule.

12. A process according to Claim 11 wherein said DNA sequences encode a humanised antibody.

13. A process according to Claim 12 wherein said DNA sequences encode a CDR-grafted heavy and/or light chain, or a chimeric antibody

14. A process according to Claim 11 , 12 or 13 wherein at least one of the expression vectors contains a DNA sequence encoding an antibody heavy chain in which one or more amino acid residues in the N- terminal region of the C_H2 domain has been altered from that in the corresponding unaltered antibody.

15. A process according to Claim 11 or 12 wherein the alteration in the N- terminal region of the C_H2 domain is made after the unaltered antibody has been expressed.

16. An altered antibody according to any of the preceding claims derived from the anti-MHC antibody L243 (ATCC HB55).

17. An altered antibody according to any of the preceding claims wherein the lower hinge of said antibody has been exchanged with an antibody of different isotype.

18. An altered antibody according to Claim 17 wherein an lgG1 lower hinge region has been exchanged with a lgG2 lower hinge region.

19. A method of treating diseases in which antibody therapy leads to undesirable toxicity due to antibody mediated complement fixation comprising administering an altered antibody wherein one or more amino acid residues in the N-terminal region of the C_H2 domain of said antibody are altered characterised in that the ability of said antibody to fix complement is altered as compared to unaltered antibody.