本申請的以下描述只為說明本申請的多種實施例。因此,此處討論的具體修改方式不應理解為對申請範圍的限制。熟習此項技術者在不偏離本申請範圍的情況下即可很容易地得出多種等同方式,變化及修改,應理解此類等同實施例包括在本發明範圍內。在本申請中引用之所有文獻,包括公佈出版物、專利及專利申請均以全文引用的方式併入。定義
本發明中之「抗體」一詞包括任意可結合某特定抗原的免疫球蛋白、單株抗體、多株抗體、多特異性抗體或雙特異性(雙價)抗體。一個天然的完整抗體包含兩條重鏈及兩條輕鏈。各重鏈由一可變區及第一、第二、第三恆定區組成;各輕鏈由一可變區及一恆定區組成。哺乳動物之重鏈可分為α、δ、ε、γ及μ,哺乳動物之輕鏈可分為λ或κ。抗體呈「Y」型,「Y」型結構的頸部由兩條重鏈的第二及第三恆定區組成,其藉由二硫鍵結合。「Y」型結構之各臂包括其中一條重鏈的可變區及第一恆定區,其與一條輕鏈的可變區及恆定區結合。輕鏈及重鏈之可變區決定抗原之結合。各鏈之可變區均含有三個高變區,稱互補決定區(CDR)(輕鏈(L)的CDR包含LCDR1、LCDR2、LCDR3,重鏈(H)的CDR包含HCDR1、HCDR2、HCDR3)。本發明中揭示之抗體及抗原結合片段的CDR邊界可藉由Kabat,Chothia或 Al-Lazikani命名法命名或識別。(Al-Lazikani, B., Chothia, C., Lesk, A. M., J. Mol. Biol., 273(4), 927 (1997); Chothia, C.等人,J Mol Biol. Dec 5;186(3):651-63 (1985); Chothia, C. and Lesk, A.M., J.Mol.Biol., 196,901 (1987); Chothia, C.等人,Nature. Dec 21-28;342(6252):877-83 (1989) ; Kabat E.A.等人,National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991))。其中,三個CDR由稱為框架區(FR)之側面連續部分間隔開,框架區比CDR更加高度保守且形成一個支架支撐超變環。重鏈及輕鏈的恆定區與抗原結合無關,但具有多種效應功能。抗體依據重鏈恆定區的胺基酸序列可分成幾類。根據是否含有α、δ、ε、γ及μ重鏈,抗體可分別分為五個主要的分類或異構體:IgA、IgD、IgE、IgG及IgM。幾個主要的抗體分類亦可分為亞類,如IgG1(γ1重鏈)、IgG2(γ2重鏈)、IgG3(γ3重鏈)、IgG4(γ4重鏈)、IgA1(α1重鏈)或IgA2(α2重鏈)等。 本申請中之「抗原結合片段」一詞,指由含有一或多個CDR的抗體部分或任何其他結合抗原但不具有完整抗體結構的抗體片段所形成的一種抗體片段。抗原結合片段的例子包括,但不限於,如雙功能抗體(diabody)、Fab、Fab'、F(ab')2
、Fv片段、二硫鍵穩定的Fv片段(dsFv)、(dsFv)2
、雙特異性dsFv(dsFv-dsFv')、二硫鍵穩定的雙功能抗體(ds diabody)、單鏈抗體分子(scFv)、scFv二聚體(雙價的雙功能抗體)、雙價單鏈抗體(BsFv)、多特異性抗體、駱駝化單域抗體(camelized single domain antibody)、奈米抗體、域抗體及雙價域抗體。抗原結合片段可與母體抗體結合相同抗原。在某些實施例中,抗原結合片段可含有來自某特定人抗體的一或多個CDR,移接至來自一或多個不同人抗體的框架區。 抗體之「Fab」片段係指由一條輕鏈(包括可變區及恆定區)及一條重鏈的可變區及恆定區經二硫鍵結合起來的那部分抗體分子。 「Fab'」片段係指包含了部分鉸鏈區的Fab片段。 「F(ab')2
」係指Fab的二聚體。 抗體之「Fc」係指由重鏈的第二、第三恆定區經二硫鍵結合組成的那部分抗體。抗體的Fc段負責多種不同的效應功能如ADCC及CDC,但不參與抗原的結合。 抗體之「Fv」段係指含有完整抗原結合位點的最小抗體片段。Fv片段由一條輕鏈的可變區及一條重鏈的可變區組成。 「單鏈Fv抗體」或「scFv」係指由輕鏈可變區與重鏈可變區直接相連或藉由一個肽鏈連接而成的工程抗體(Huston JS等人,Proc Natl Acad Sci USA、85:5879(1988))。 「單鏈抗體Fv-Fc」或「scFv-Fc」係指由連接至某抗體Fc段的scFv組成之工程抗體。 「駱駝化單域抗體(Camelized single domain antibody)」、「重鏈抗體」或「HCAb(Heavy-chain-only antibodies,HCAb)」均係指含有兩個VH
域而不含有輕鏈之抗體(Riechmann L.及Muyldermans S., J Immunol Methods. 12月10日;231(1-2):25-38 (1999); Muyldermans S., J Biotechnol. 6月;74(4):277-302 (2001); WO94/04678; WO94/25591; 美國專利第6,005,079號)。重鏈抗體最初自駝科(駱駝、單峰駝及美洲駝)衍生得到。雖然缺失輕鏈,駱駝化抗體(camelized antibodies)有確證的抗原結合全部功能(Hamers-Casterman C.等人,Nature. 6月3日;363(6428):446-8 (1993); Nguyen VK.等人,「Heavy-chain antibodies in Camelidae; a case of evolutionary innovation,」 Immunogenetics. 4月;54(1):39-47 (2002); Nguyen VK.等人,Immunology. 5月;109(1):93-101 (2003))。重鏈抗體的可變區(VHH域)為最小的已知的獲得性免疫產生的抗原結合單位(Koch-Nolte F.等人,FASEB J. 11月;21(13):3490-8. 電子版 2007年6月15日 (2007))。 「奈米抗體」係指一種抗體片段,其由一個來自重鏈抗體的VHH域及兩個恆定區CH2及CH3組成。 「雙功能抗體(diabody)」包括帶有兩個抗原結合位點的小抗體片段,其中該片段含有在同一條多肽鏈上相連的VH
域及VL
域(VH
-VL
或VH
-VL
) (請參見,Holliger P. 等人,Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Jul 15;90(14):6444-8 (1993);EP404097;WO93/11161)。兩個域之間銜接物很短,使同一條鏈上的兩個域不能互相配對,從而迫使兩個域與另一條鏈之互補域配對,形成兩個抗體結合位點。這兩個抗體結合位點可靶向結合相同或不同抗原(或抗原之抗原決定區)。 「域抗體」係指僅含有一條重鏈可變區或一條輕鏈可變區的抗體片段。在某些情況下,兩個或多個VH
域由一個多肽銜接物共價結合且形成雙價域抗體。雙價域抗體的兩個VH
域可靶向作用於相同或不同的抗原。 在某些實施例中,「(dsFv)2
」含有三條肽鏈:兩個VH
基團間藉由一條多肽銜接物相連,且藉由二硫鍵與兩個VL
基團結合。 在某些實施例中,「雙特異性ds雙功能抗體」含有VL1
-VH2
(由一個多肽銜接物相連)及VH1
-VL2
(亦由一個多肽銜接物相連),兩者在VH1
及VL1
間藉由二硫鍵結合。 「雙特異性dsFv」或「dsFv-dsFv」含有三條多肽鏈:VH1
-VH2
基團,其中兩者的重鏈藉由多肽銜接物(如:長彈性銜接物)相連,且藉由二硫鍵分別與VL1
及VL2
基團結合,每對藉由二硫鍵配對的重鏈輕鏈具有不同的抗原特異性。 在某些實施例中,「scFv二聚體」為雙價雙功能抗體或雙價單鏈抗體(BsFv),含有二聚化的兩個VH
-VL
(由多肽銜接物連接)基團,其中一個基團的VH
與另一個基團的VL
協作形成兩個結合位點,這兩個結合位點可靶向結合相同抗原(或抗原之抗原決定區)或不同抗原(或抗原之抗原決定區)。在另一些實施例中,「scFv二聚體」為雙特異性雙功能抗體,含有相互連接的VL1
-VH2
(由多肽銜接物連接)及VH1
-VL2
(由多肽銜接物連接),其中VH1
及VL1
協作,VH2
及VL2
協作,且各協作之配對具有不同抗原特異性。 本申請中使用之術語「人源化」當用於抗體或抗原結合片段時,係指包括來源於非人動物的CDR、來源於人的FR區,以及來源於人的恆定區(當適用時)的抗體或抗原結合片段。由於人源化的抗體或抗原結合片段具有降低的免疫原性,其在某些實施例中可用作人的治療劑。在一些實施例中,所述非人動物為哺乳動物,例如小鼠、大鼠、兔、山羊、綿羊、豚鼠或倉鼠。在一些實施例中,所述人源化抗體或抗原結合片段除了CDR序列為非人源的以外,基本上全部由人源序列組成。在一些實施例中,所述來源於人的FR區可包括與其來自的人源抗體相同的胺基酸序列,或其可包括一些胺基酸改變,例如,不超過10、9、8、7、6、5、4、3、2或1個胺基酸改變。在一些實施例中,該胺基酸改變可僅存在於重鏈FR區、僅存在於輕鏈FR區或同時存在於兩個鏈中。在一些較佳實施例中,所述人源化抗體包括人源FR1-3及人源JH及Jκ。 本申請中使用之術語「嵌合」係指具有來源於一種物種的重鏈及/或輕鏈的一部分,及所述重鏈及/或輕鏈其餘部分來源於不同物種的抗體或抗原結合片段。在一例示性實例中,嵌合抗體可包括來源於人的恆定區及來源於非人動物例如小鼠的可變區。 本申請使用之「PCSK9」係指前蛋白轉化酶枯草桿菌蛋白酶Kexin 9型,其為屬於分泌性枯草桿菌蛋白酶家族的蛋白酶K亞家族的天然的人前蛋白轉化酶。PCSK9作為溶酶原合成,在內質網中經歷自催化型分子內處理,且視為作為前蛋白轉化酶起作用。PCSK9在調節血液中膽固醇水準具有關鍵作用。PCSK9的功能獲得性(如S127R、F216L及D374Y)突變可能與一種常染色體顯性遺傳的家族性高膽固醇血症相關,其中PCSK9突變提高了LDL受體水準(參見如Burnett and Hooper, Clin Biochem Rev (2008) 29(1): 11-26、Benjannet等人 J. Biol. Chem., (2004) 279(47):48865-48875 及Fasano T等人, Atherosclerosis. (2009) 203(1):166-71)。人源PCSK9代表性的胺基酸序列由GenBank登記號NP_777596.2揭示,且編碼所述人源PCSK9的代表性核酸序列由GenBank登記號FJ525880.1揭示。在某些實施例中,術語PCSK9包括PCSK9胺基酸序列的轉譯後修飾的PCSK9分子,如糖基化、聚乙二醇化PCSK9序列、剪切掉其信號序列的PCSK9序列或自催化結構域中剪切掉其原結構域(pro domain)但不與所述催化結構域分離的PCSK9序列。 本申請使用之「LDL-C」係指低密度脂蛋白膽固醇,且「HDL-C」係指高密度脂蛋白膽固醇。LDL及HDL屬於5個主要的脂蛋白群組:乳糜微粒,極低密度脂蛋白(VLDL)、中間密度脂蛋白(IDL),低密度脂蛋白及高密度脂蛋白(HDL)(順序為自大顆粒至最密集的(最小的粒子)。LDL(含有顆粒的「壞」的膽固醇)能夠運輸脂質/固醇分子,如膽固醇(即LDL-C)至動脈壁,吸引巨噬細胞,因此誘發動脈粥樣硬化。相反,HDL(含有顆粒的「好」的膽固醇)能夠自動脈壁上的巨噬細胞移除脂質分子,如膽固醇(即HDL-C)。因此,高水準的LDL-C為心血管疾病(CVD)的主要風險,如外周動脈疾病、冠狀動脈疾病(CAD,如心絞痛、心肌梗塞(俗稱心臟病)、高脂血症、高膽固醇血症、高甘油三酯血症)、動脈粥樣硬化、中風、高血壓性心臟病、風濕性心臟病、心肌病、心律失常、先天性心臟病、心臟瓣膜病、心肌炎、主動脈瘤、周圍動脈疾病、肥胖、肝膽疾病、腎病症候群、甲狀腺功能減退症及靜脈血栓形成。 本申請中使用之「LDL-R」或「LDL受體」為細胞表面嵌合蛋白,其具有839個胺基酸(移除21個胺基酸的信號肽後),介導LDL-C的內吞且自血液中移除LDL-C。人源LDL-R的代表性胺基酸序列由GenBank登記號P01130.1揭示,且其編碼人源LDL-R的代表性mRNA核酸序列由GenBank登記號NM_000527.4揭示。當PCSK9與LDL受體結合時,所述抗體經破壞且無法將LDL-C自血液中移除。相反,當PCSK9經阻斷時,在肝臟表面將有更多LDL受體且將自血液中移除更多LDL膽固醇。本申請使用的「抗PCSK9抗體」係指能夠特異性結合PCSK9(例如人源或猴PCSK9)的抗體,其具有足以提供診斷及/或治療用途的親和性。 本申請中之「特異性結合」或「特異性的結合」係指,指兩分子間的非隨機結合反應,如抗體及抗原間的反應。在某些實施例中,本申請的抗體或其抗原結合片段與人及/或猴PCSK9特異性結合,且其結合親和力(KD
)≤10-6
M(如:≤5×10-7
M,≤2×10-7
M,≤10-7
M,≤5×10-8
M,≤2×10-8
M,≤10-8
M,≤5×10-9
M,≤2×10-9
M,≤10-9
M,≤10-10
M)。本申請中之KD係指解離速度與結合速度的比值(koff/kon),可藉由表面電漿子共振(SPR)之方法測定,例如使用如Biacore之儀器。 本申請中之「阻斷結合」或「競爭性同樣的抗原決定區」的能力係指抗體或其抗原結合片段將兩個分子間結合(例如人PCSK9及抗-PCSK9抗體)的相互作用抑制到任何可偵測程度之能力。在某些實施例中,阻斷兩個分子間結合的抗體或抗原結合片段可將兩個分子間結合的相互作用抑制至少50%。在某些實施例中,此類抑制作用可大於60%,大於70%,大於80%,或大於90%。 本申請中使用之「抗原決定區」係指抗原分子中與抗體結合的那部分胺基酸或原子基團。若兩種抗體表現出對抗原的競爭性結合,則可能結合抗原上的相同抗原決定區。例如,若本申請提供的抗體或其抗原結合片段阻斷例示抗體,例如2.6.6, 2.12.12.4, 2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k, 2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k, 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k與人PCSK9的結合,則所述抗體或其抗原結合片段可視為與彼等例示之抗體結合相同抗原決定區。 本申請使用之抗體名稱中的符號具有不同代表意義:「uIgG4」係指具有人源IgG4同種型恆定區的抗體,如uIgG1及uIgG2分別指具有人源IgG1及IgG2同種型恆定區的抗體;「z」係指人源化抗體,z1、z2及z4等係指所述人源化抗體的不同版本;「K」或「L」係指所述抗體使用κ輕鏈或λ輕鏈。 本申請所述之「2.6.6」係指具有如SEQ ID NO: 36所示的重鏈可變區、如SEQ ID NO: 38所示的輕鏈可變區的小鼠單株抗體。本申請中使用的「2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k」係指2.6.6的人源化單株抗體,其具有如SEQ ID NO: 48所示的重鏈可變區、如SEQ ID NO: 50所示的輕鏈可變區及人源IgG1同種型恆定區。 本申請所述之「2.12.12.4」係指具有如SEQ ID NO: 40所示的重鏈可變區、如SEQ ID NO:42所示的輕鏈可變區的小鼠單株抗體。本申請中使用的「2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k」係指第4版的2.12.12.4的人源化單株抗體,其具有人源IgG4同種型恆定區。2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4K及2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4K為2.12.12.4的人源化單株抗體的不同版本(即第1版及第2版)。 本申請中使用之「2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k」係指工程化的具有兩個胺基酸突變(D30E及N85D)的基於2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k 的人源化單株抗體,其具有如SEQ ID NO: 44所示的重鏈可變區、如SEQ ID NO: 46所示的輕鏈可變區及人源IgG4同種型恆定區。 在本申請中當「保守替代」用於胺基酸序列時,係指將一個胺基酸殘基用另一個具有相似理化性質的側鏈的胺基酸殘基替代。例如,可在疏水側鏈胺基酸殘基間(例如Met、Ala、Val、Leu及Ile)、中性親水側鏈殘基間(例如Cys、Ser、Thr、Asn及Gln)、酸性側鏈殘基間(例如Asp、Glu)、鹼性側鏈胺基酸間 (例如His、Lys及Arg)或方向側鏈殘基間(例如Trp、Tyr及Phe)進行保守替代。此項技術已知保守替代通常不會引起蛋白構象結構之顯著變化,因此能夠保留蛋白質之生物活性。 當「百分比序列同一性」用於胺基酸序列(或核酸序列)時,係指在進行序列比對,且必要時引入間隔使相同胺基酸(或核酸)數目達到最多後,在候選序列中,與參比序列相同的胺基酸(或核酸)殘基占所述候選序列的胺基酸(或核酸)殘基的百分比。所述胺基酸殘基的保守替代可視為或可不視為相同殘基。可藉由此項技術揭示之工具,例如BLASTN, BLASTp(美國國家生物技術資訊中心網站(NCBI),亦可參見,Altschul S.F.等人、J. Mol. Biol.,215:403-410 (1990); Stephen F.等人,Nucleic Acids Res.,25:3389-3402 (1997))、ClustalW2(歐洲生物資訊研究所網站,可參見,Higgins D.G.等人,Methods in Enzymology,266:383-402 (1996); Larkin M.A.等人,Bioinformatics (Oxford、England),23(21): 2947-8 (2007))及ALIGN或Megalign (DNASTAR) 軟體,對序列進行比對以確定胺基酸(或核酸)序列的百分比序列同一性。熟習此項技術者可使用所述工具的默認參數或根據比對的需要適當調整參數,例如藉由挑選適合的算法。 本申請中使用之「效應功能」係指抗體的Fc區與其效應器例如C1複合物及Fc受體結合的生物活性。例示性的效應功能包括抗體與C1複合物上的C1q相互作用誘導的補體依賴性細胞毒性(CDC)、抗體的Fc區與效應細胞上的Fc受體結合誘導的抗體依賴性細胞介導的細胞毒性(ADCC)以及吞噬。 對某種病況之「治療」或「療法」包括預防或減輕某種病況,降低某種病況興起或發展的速度,減少發展出某種病況的風險,預防或延遲與某種病況相關的症狀發展,減少或終止與某種病況相關的症狀,產生某種病況的完全或部分的逆轉,治癒某種病況,或以上之組合。 「經分離」之物質已經人工由自然狀態改變。若自然界中出現某種「經分離」之物質或成分,則其已經改變或脫離其原始狀態,或二者均有發生。例如,某一活體動物體內天然存在的多核苷酸或多肽為未經分離的,但若此等多核苷酸或多肽與之在天然狀態下共存的物質足夠分離且以足夠純的狀態存在,則可視為「經分離」。在某些實施例中,抗體及抗原結合片段的純度為至少90%、93%、95%、96%、97%、98%、99%,其由電泳方法(如SDS-PAGE、等電聚焦、毛細管電泳),或層析法(如離子交換層析或反相HPLC)確定。 本發明中「載體」係指,可將編碼某蛋白的多核苷酸操作性地插入其中且使該蛋白獲得表現的一種運載工具。載體可用於轉化、轉導或轉染宿主細胞,使其攜帶的遺傳物質元件在宿主細胞內得以表現。舉例來說,載體包括:質粒、噬菌粒、柯斯質粒、人工染色體如酵母人工染色體(YAC)、細菌人工染色體(BAC)或P1衍生的人工染色體(PAC)、噬菌體如λ噬菌體或M13噬菌體,以及動物病毒等。用作載體的動物病毒種類有逆轉錄病毒(包括慢病毒)、腺病毒、腺相關病毒、疱疹病毒(如單純疱疹病毒)、痘病毒、桿狀病毒、乳頭瘤病毒、乳頭多瘤空泡病毒(如SV40)。載體可含有多種控制表現的元件,包括啟動子序列、轉錄起始序列、增強子序列、選擇元件及報告基因。另外,載體亦可含有複製起始位點。載體亦可包括協助其進入細胞的成分,包括但不限於,病毒顆粒、脂質體或蛋白外殼。 本發明中之「宿主細胞」係指導入外源多核苷酸及/或載體之細胞。 本發明中之「與PSCK9介導的疾病或症狀」係指藉由PCSK9的變化引起或表徵之疾病或症狀,如表現水準、活性之改變,及/或PCSK9的變體或突變之存在。由PCSK9介導的疾病或病況的例子包括,但不限於,血脂異常,高脂蛋白血症,高脂血症;血脂異常;高膽固醇血症、心臟病、中風、冠心病、動脈粥樣硬化、周圍血管病、跛行、II型糖尿病、高血壓、心血管疾病或病況、炎症或自身免疫性疾病。鑑定/診斷上述疾病或症狀之方法在此項技術為已知的。對於本申請的抗體或其抗原結合片段在治療CVD(如急性心肌梗死(AMI)、急性冠狀動脈症候群(ACS)、中風及心血管死亡)中的用途,本申請使用之「治療有效量」或「有效劑量」係指能夠在血漿或血清中降低脂質(如膽固醇)、緩解與CVD病況相關的症狀或標記物、預防或延遲CVD病況的發展,或上述之組合的所述抗體或其抗原結合片段的劑量或濃度。 「藥用可接受之」係指所指的載劑、溶媒、稀釋劑、輔料及/或鹽,一般在化學上及/或在物理上與製劑中之其他配料相容,且在生理上與接受者相容。抗 -PCSK9 抗體
在某些實施例中,本申請提供例示性的人源化單株抗體2.6.6、2.12.12.4、2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k、2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k及2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k,其CDR序列如表1中所示,且其小鼠親本抗體及人源化抗體的重鏈或輕鏈可變區序列亦如下列出。表 1 2.6.6-VH ( 小鼠抗體 ) 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:36): 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:37) 2.6.6 - VL ( 小鼠抗體 ) 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:38): 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:39) 2.12.12.4-VH ( 小鼠抗體 ) 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:40): 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:41) 2.12.12.4-VL ( 小鼠抗體 ) 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:42) 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:43) 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k-VH ( 工程化人源化抗體, D30E 及 N85D) 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:44): 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:45 ) 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k-VL ( 工程化人源化抗體, D30E 及 N85D) 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:46): 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:47) 2.6.6-v2-z4-uIgG1k-VH 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:48): 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:49) 2.6.6-v2-z4-uIgG1k-VL 胺基酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:50): 核酸序列 (SEQ ID NO:51) 在一些實施例中,本申請所述之一或多個CDR序列可經修飾或改變以使獲得的抗體在一或多個性質上相對原來的抗體有所改進(例如改進的抗原結合、改進的糖基化模式、降低的CDR殘基上的糖基化風險、增加的藥代動力學半衰期、pH敏感性及對綴合的相容性),或與原來的抗體相當(即除上述修飾及改變外具有相同CDR序列的抗體),或至少實質上保留原來的抗體之抗原結合特性。 熟習此項技術者應理解,可將表1中提供的CDR序列進行修飾以包含一個或更多胺基酸的取代,由此得到提高的生物學活性例如提高的與人PCSK9的結合親和性。例如,可利用噬菌體展示技術生產且表現抗體變體庫(例如Fab或FcFv變體),隨後篩選與人PCSK9有親和性的抗體。另一個例子中,可用電腦軟體模擬所述抗體與人PCSK9的結合且鑑別抗體上形成結合界面的胺基酸殘基。可避免此等殘基的替代以防止結合親和性降低,或可靶向此等殘基進行替代以形成更強的結合。在某些實施例中,CDR序列中之至少一個(或全部)取代為保守替代。 在某些實施例中,所述抗體及抗原結合片段包括一或多個CDR序列,此等序列具有與表1中所列的序列至少80%(例如至少85%、88%、90%、91%、92%、93%、94%、95%、96%、97%、98%、99%)的序列同一性,且同時保留了與其親本抗體相似或甚至高於其之與人PCSK9的結合親和性,所述親本抗體具有基本相同的序列,但其相應的CDR序列與表1所列的序列具有100%序列同一性。 在某些實施例中,所述抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段為人源化的。此等人源化抗體保留了與人PCSK9的結合親和性,較佳與例示性抗體:2.6.6、2.12.12.4、、2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k、2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k及2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k之水準相似。 本申請亦包括與本申請抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段競爭相同抗原決定區的抗體及其抗原結合片段。在某些實施例中,所述抗體以低於10-6
M、低於10-7
M、低於10-7.5
M、低於10-8
M、低於10-8.5
M或低於10-9
M或低於10-10
M的IC50
值(即半數抑制濃度)阻斷2.6.6、2.12.12.4、、2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k、2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k或2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k與人或猴PCSK9的結合。IC50
值藉由競爭性測試例如ELISA測定及放射性配位體競爭結合測定法。 在一些實施例中,本申請所述抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段能夠以不超過10-8
M、不超過10-9
M或不超過10-10
M(例如≤1.1×10-9
M, ≤2×10-9
M, ≤10-9
M, ≤5.5×10-10
M, ≤4.5×10-11
M, ≤5.5×10-11
M)的結合親和性(Kd)與人PCSK9特異性結合,其藉由表面電漿子共振結合法或ELISA量測。結合親和性可用KD
值表示,其藉由當抗原及抗原結合分子的結合達到平衡時的解離速率與結合速率的比值(koff/kon)計算得到。所述抗原結合親和性(例如KD
)可藉由此項技術已知的適宜方法適宜地確定,所述方法包括使用儀器如如Biacore的表面電漿子共振結合法(參加例如Murphy, M.等人, Current protocols in protein science, 第19章, 第19.14單元, 2006)。 在某些實施例中,本申請所述之抗體及其抗原結合片段與人PCSK9以0.05nM-1nM (例如0.1nM-0.9nM、0.1nM-0.8nM、0.1nM-0.7nM、0.1nM-0.6nM、0.1nM-0.5nM、0.1nM-0.4nM、0.1nM-0.3nM、或0.1nM-0.2nM)的EC50 (即半數結合濃度)結合。所述抗體與人PCSK9的結合可藉由此項技術已知的方法,如夾心法,如ELISA,Western印跡或其他結合試驗測定。在例示性實例中,將待測抗體(即一抗)與固定化的人PCSK9結合,隨後洗掉未結合抗體,引入標記的二抗,其能夠與一抗結合因此能夠偵測出結合的一抗。當使用固定化的PCSK9時可在酶標儀板上進行所述偵測。 在某些實施例中,本申請所述之抗體及其抗原結合片段以3nM-10nM (例如3.5nM-9.5nM、3.5nM-8.5nM、或5nM-8.5nM)的IC50
抑制人PCSK9與其配位體的結合,其藉由競爭性測試測得。 在某些實施例中,所述之抗體及其抗原結合片段與猴PCSK9以與人PCSK9相似的結合親和性結合。例如,例示性抗體2.6.6、2.12.12.4、2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k、2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k、2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k及2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k與猴PCSK9以與人PCSK9相似的親和性或EC50
值結合。 在一些實施例中,所述之抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段亦包括免疫球蛋白恆定區。在一些實施例中,免疫球蛋白恆定區包括重鏈及/或輕鏈恆定區。所述重鏈恆定區包括CH1、CH1-CH2或CH1-CH3區。在一些實施例中,所述恆定區亦可包括一或多個修飾以得到需要的性質。例如,所述恆定區可經修飾以減少或耗竭一或多個效應功能,以增強FcRn受體結合,或引入一或多個半胱胺酸殘基。在一些實施例中,所述之抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段具有IgG4同種型的恆定區,其具有降低的或耗竭的效應功能。已知有許多測試用來評估ADCC或CDC活性,例如Fc受體結合試驗、補體C1q結合實驗及細胞裂解法,熟習此項技術者能夠容易選擇。 在一些實施例中,所述之抗體及其抗原結合片段可用作抗體-藥物綴合物、雙特異性或多價抗體的基礎分子。 本申請所述之抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段可為單株抗體、多株抗體、全人源抗體、人源化抗體、嵌合抗體、重組抗體、雙特異性抗體、標記抗體、二價抗體或抗獨特型抗體。重組抗體為在體外使用重組方法而非動物製備的抗體。雙特異性抗體或雙價抗體為具有兩種不同的單株抗體的片段的人工抗體,其能結合兩種不同的抗原。「二價」的抗體及其抗原結合片段包括兩個抗原結合位點。兩個抗原結合位點可結合相同抗原,或可各自結合至不同抗原,在此情況下,抗體或抗原結合片段為「雙特異性」。 在一些實施例中,本申請所述之抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段為駱駝化單域抗體(camelized single chain domain antibody)、雙功能抗體(diabody)、scFv、scFv二聚體、BsFv、dsFv、(dsFv)2、dsFv-dsFv'、Fv片段、Fab、Fab'、F(ab')2、ds雙功能抗體(ds diabody)、奈米抗體、域抗體或雙價域抗體。 在某些實施例中,所述之抗-PCSK9 抗體及其抗原結合片段進一步包含綴合物。可設想,本發明中的抗體或其抗原結合片段可與多種綴合物連接(見例如「Conjugate Vaccines」、Contributions to Microbiology and Immunology、J. M. Cruse and R. E. Lewis、Jr. (eds.)、Carger Press、New York、(1989))。此等綴合物可藉由共價結合、親和結合、嵌入、同等結合(coordinate binding)、錯合、結合、混合或加入等其他方式與所述抗體或抗原結合物連接。在某些實施例中,本發明揭示之抗體及抗原結合片段可藉由工程化方法使其含有抗原決定區結合部分以外的特定位點,此等位點可用來結合一或多種綴合物。例如,此類位點可包含一或多種反應性胺基酸殘基,例如半胱胺酸殘基及組胺酸殘基,用於協助與結合物的共價連接。在某些實施例中,抗體可間接連於綴合物,或藉由另一個綴合物相連。例如,所述抗體或其抗原結合片段可結合生物素,然後間接結合第二個綴合物,其與親和素相連。所述綴合物可為可偵測之標記、藥代動力學修飾部分、純化部分或細胞毒性部分。可偵測的標記的例子可包括螢光標記(例如螢光素、羅丹明、丹醯、藻紅蛋白或德克薩斯紅)、酶-受質標記物(例如辣根過氧化物酶、鹼性磷酸酶、螢光素酶、葡糖澱粉酶、溶菌酶、糖氧化酶或β-D-半乳糖苷酶)、放射性同位素(例如、123
I、124
I、125
I、131
I、35
S、3
H、111
In、112
In、14
C、64
Cu、67
Cu、86
Y、88
Y、90
Y、177
Lu、211
At、186
Re、188
Re、153
Sm、212
Bi、及32
P、其他鑭系元素、發光標記)、發色團部分、地高辛、生物素/親和素、DNA分子或金以進行偵測。在某些實施例中,所述綴合物可為藥代動力學修飾部分如PEG,其幫助延長抗體的半衰期。其他適宜的聚合物包括例如羧甲基纖維素、葡聚糖、聚乙烯醇、聚乙烯吡咯啶酮、乙二醇/丙二醇共聚物等。在某些實施例中,所述綴合物可為純化部分,例如磁珠。「細胞毒性部分」可為對細胞有害的或可能損壞或殺死細胞的任何試劑。細胞毒性部分的例示包括,但不限於,紫杉醇、細胞鬆弛素B、短桿菌肽D、溴化乙錠、吐根鹼、絲裂黴素、依託泊苷、替尼泊苷、長春新鹼、長春鹼、秋水仙鹼、阿黴素、柔紅黴素、二羥基炭疽菌素二酮、米托蒽醌、光神黴素、放線菌素D、1-去氫睾酮、糖皮質激素、普魯卡因、丁卡因、利多卡因、普萘洛爾、嘌呤黴素及其類似物、抗代謝物(例如,甲胺蝶呤、6-巰基嘌呤、6-硫鳥嘌呤、阿糖胞苷、5-氟尿嘧啶達卡巴)、烷化劑(例如氮芥、塞替派苯丁酸氮芥、美法侖、卡莫司汀(BSNU)及洛莫司汀(CCNU)、環磷醯胺、白消安、二溴甘露醇、鏈脲黴素、絲裂黴素C及順-二氯二胺鉑(II)(DDP)順鉑)、蒽環類抗生素(例如柔紅黴素(以前的道諾黴素)及阿黴素)、抗生素(例如更生黴素(以前稱為放線菌素)、博來黴素、光神黴素及氨茴黴素(AMC))以及抗有絲分裂劑(例如長春新鹼及長春鹼)。多核 苷酸及重組方法
本申請提供編碼抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段的分離的多核苷酸。在某些實施例中,所述分離的多核苷酸包括一或多個如表1中的核苷酸序列,其編碼如表1中的CDR序列。 在一些實施例中,所述分離的多核苷酸編碼重鏈可變區且包括選自下組之序列:SEQ ID NO: 26、SEQ ID NO: 30、SEQ ID NO: 34,以及與之具有至少80%(例如至少85%、88%、90%、91%、92%、93%、94%、95%、96%、97%、98%、99%)的序列同一性之同源序列。在一些實施例中,所述分離的多核苷酸編碼輕鏈可變區且包括選自下組之序列:SEQ ID NO: 28、SEQ ID NO: 32、SEQ ID NO: 36,以及與之具有至少80%(例如至少85%、88%、90%、91%、92%、93%、94%、95%、96%、97%、98%、99%)的序列同一性之同源序列。在某些實施例中,所述一致性的百分比為源自遺傳密碼之簡併性,而編碼之蛋白序列保持不變。 使用此項技術公知的重組技術,可將包括編碼所述抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段(例如包括表1所示的序列)的多核苷酸的載體引入宿主細胞用於選殖(擴增DNA)或基因表現。在另一實施例中,所述抗體可藉由此項技術公知的同源重組之方法製得。編碼所述單株抗體的DNA可藉由習知方法分離及測序(如可使用寡核苷酸探針,該探針可特異性與編碼所述抗體的重鏈及輕鏈的基因結合)。多種載體可供選擇。載體組分通常包括但不限於以下中之一或多者:信號序列、複製起始點、一或多種標記基因、增強序列、啟動子(例如:SV40、CMV、EF-1α)及轉錄終止序列。 在一些實施例中,所述載體系統包括哺乳動物、細菌、酵母系統等,且將包括質粒例,如但不限於pALTER、pBAD、pcDNA、pCal、pL、pET、pGEMEX、pGEX、pCI、pCMV、pEGFP、pEGFT、pSV2、pFUSE、pVITRO,pVIVO、pMAL、pMONO、pSELECT、pUNO、pDUO、Psg5L、pBABE、pWPXL、pBI、p15TV-L、pPro18、pTD、pRS420、pLexA、pACT2等其他可自實驗室獲得或市售的載體。適宜的載體可包括質粒或病毒載體(例如,複製缺陷型逆轉錄病毒、腺病毒及腺相關病毒)。 可將包括編碼所述抗體及其抗原結合片段的多核苷酸的載體引入宿主細胞用選殖或基因表現。本發明中適用於選殖或表現所述載體中的DNA的宿主細胞為原核細胞、酵母或上述高級真核細胞。適用於本發明用途的原核細胞包括真細菌如,革蘭氏陰性菌或革蘭氏陽性菌,例如,腸桿菌科,如,大腸桿菌,腸桿菌屬,歐文氏菌屬,克雷白氏桿菌屬,變形桿菌屬,沙門氏菌屬,如,鼠傷寒沙門(氏)桿菌,沙雷氏菌屬,如,黏質沙雷氏菌,以及志賀氏菌屬,及桿菌屬如,枯草芽孢桿菌及地衣芽孢桿菌,假單胞菌如,綠膿桿菌及鏈黴菌。 除了原核細胞以外,真核微生物如絲狀真菌或酵母亦可作宿主細胞選殖或表現編碼抗PCSK9抗體的載體。釀酒酵母,或麵包酵母為最常用的低等真核宿主微生物。但是,許多其他屬、種及株均比較常用且在本發明中適用,如粟酒裂殖酵母;克魯維酵母屬宿主如,乳酸克魯維酵母、脆壁克魯維酵母(ATCC 12,424)、保加利亞克魯維酵母(ATCC 16,045)、魏氏克魯維酵母(ATCC 24,178)、克魯雄酵母(ATCC 56,500)、果蠅克魯維酵母(ATCC 36,906)、耐熱克魯維酵母及馬克斯克魯維酵母;解脂耶氏酵母(EP 402,226);巴斯德畢赤酵母(EP 183,070);假絲酵母;里氏木黴(EP 244,234);鏈孢黴;西方許旺酵母,如:西方許旺酵母;及絲狀真菌,如:脈孢菌、青黴菌、彎頸黴及曲黴菌,如:鉤巢麯黴及黑麯黴。 本發明中提供的適用於表現糖基化抗體或其抗原結合片段之宿主細胞由多細胞生物衍生得到。無脊椎細胞之實例包括植物及昆蟲細胞。已發現多種桿狀病毒株(baculoviral strains)及其變體以及對應的許可性昆蟲宿主細胞(permissive insect host cells),來自於諸如以下之宿主:草地夜蛾(毛蟲)、埃及斑蚊(蚊子)、白紋伊蚊(蚊子)、黑腹果蠅(果蠅)及家蠶。多種用於轉染之病毒株為公眾可得,例如苜蓿銀紋夜蛾核型多角體病毒及家蠶核型多角體病毒的Bm-5變種,此等病毒均可在本發明中使用,特別是用於轉染草地夜蛾細胞。棉花、玉米、土豆、大豆、矮牽牛花、西紅柿及菸草的植物細胞培養亦可用作宿主。 但是,最感興趣的為脊椎細胞,且脊椎細胞之培養(組織培養)已成為習知操作。可用的哺乳動物宿主細胞實例有,SV40轉化的猴腎細胞CV1系(COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651);人胚胎腎細胞系(293或懸浮培養的293細胞次純系,Graham等人, J. Gen Virol. 36:59 (1977));幼地鼠腎細胞(BHK,ATCC CCL 10);中國倉鼠卵巢細胞/-DHFR (CHO,Urlaub等人, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4216 (1980));小鼠睾丸支持細胞(TM4,Mather, Biol. Reprod. 23:243-251 (1980));猴腎細胞(CV1 ATCC CCL 70);非洲綠猴腎細胞(VERO-76,ATCC CRL-1587);人宮頸癌細胞(HELA,ATCC CCL 2);犬腎細胞(MDCK,ATCC CCL 34);布法羅大鼠肝細胞(BRL 3A,ATCC CRL 1442);人肺細胞(W138,ATCC CCL 75);人肝細胞(Hep G2,HB 8065);小鼠乳腺瘤(MMT 060562,ATCC CCL51);TRI細胞(Mather等人,Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci. 383:44-68 (1982));MRC 5細胞;FS4細胞;及人肝癌細胞系(Hep G2)。在某些較佳實施例中,所述宿主細胞為293F細胞。 用上述的可產生抗PCSK9抗體的表現或選殖載體轉化宿主細胞,且將其在習知營養培養基中培養,所述營養培養基經修飾後適宜於誘導啟動子、選擇轉化細胞或擴增編碼目的序列的基因。 本發明中用於產生所述抗體或其抗原結合片段的宿主細胞可在多種培養基中培養。市售的培養基如Ham's F10 (Sigma)、最低基本培液 (MEM, (Sigma))、RPMI-1640 (Sigma)及Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM),Sigma)可用於培養所述宿主細胞。另外,任何在Ham等人, Meth. Enz. 58:44 (1979), Barnes等人, Anal. Biochem. 102:255 (1980), 美國專利號4,767,704; 4,657,866; 4,927,762; 4,560,655; 或 5,122,469; WO 90/03430; WO 87/00195; 或美國專利申請Re. 30,985中說明的培養基均可用作所述宿主細胞之培養基。此等培養基均可添加必要的激素及/或其他生長因子(如胰島素、轉鐵蛋白或表皮生長因子)、鹽類(如氯化鈉、氯化鈣、氯化鎂及磷酸鹽)、緩衝液(如HEPES)、核苷酸(如腺苷酸及胸腺嘧啶)、抗生素(如慶大黴素)、微量元素(定義為終濃度通常在微莫耳範圍無機化合物),及葡萄糖或與之等同的能量源。所述培養基亦可含有此項技術公知的適當濃度的任何其他必要的添加劑。所述培養基的條件,如溫度、pH值等類似條件,為選擇用於表現的宿主細胞此前所使用的條件,為熟習此項技術者所熟知。 在使用重組技術時,所述抗體可在胞內、壁膜空間生成,或直接分泌至培養基中。若所述抗體在胞內生成,則首先除去宿主細胞或裂解片斷的顆粒殘骸,例如,可藉由離心或超音方法。Carter等人, Bio/Technology 10:163-167 (1992)描述將分泌至大腸桿菌壁膜空間的抗體分離之方法。簡言之,在醋酸鈉(pH 3.5)、EDTA及苯甲磺醯氟 (PMSF)存在的條件下化開細胞糊(cell paste)約30分鐘以上。離心除去細胞碎片。如所述抗體分泌至培養基中,則通常首先使用市售的蛋白濃度過濾器,如Amicon或Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration unit,濃縮該表現系統的上清液。在任何前述的步驟中均可加入蛋白酶抑制劑如PMSF以抑制蛋白降解,以及抗生素以防止偶然污染物的生長。 自所述細胞中製得的抗體可採用純化方法進行純化,例如羥磷灰石層析、凝膠電泳、透析、DEAE-纖維素離子交換層析柱、硫酸銨沈澱、鹽析以及親和層析,其中親合層析為較佳純化技術。所述抗體的種類以及所述抗體中存在任何免疫球蛋白的Fc結構域決定了蛋白A作為親和配位體是否適合。蛋白A可用於純化基於人γ1,γ2或γ4重鏈的抗體(Lindmark等人, J. Immunol. Meth. 62:1-13 (1983))。蛋白G適用於所有鼠源異構體及人γ3(Guss等人, EMBO J. 5:1567 1575 (1986))。瓊脂糖為最常用的親和配位體附著基質,但亦可選用其他基質。機械力穩定的基質如可控孔度玻璃或聚(苯乙烯)苯與用瓊脂糖相比可實現更快的流速及更短的處理時間。如該抗體含有CH3結構域,則可用Bakerbond ABX.TM樹脂進行純化(J. T. Baker, Phillipsburg, N.J.)。亦可根據需要獲得的抗體確定其他蛋白純化的技術,如離子交換管柱中的分餾、乙醇沈澱、反相HPLC、矽膠層析、基於陰離子或陽離子交換樹脂的肝素瓊脂糖凝膠層析(如聚天冬胺酸管柱)、層析聚焦、SDS-PAGE、以及硫酸銨沈澱。 在任意初步純化步驟之後,可用低pH疏水相互作用層析之方法處理含有感興趣的抗體及雜質的混合物,用pH約2.5-4.5的洗滌緩衝液,較佳在低鹽濃度下進行(例如,約0至0.25M鹽濃度)。套組
本申請提供包括所述抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段的套組。在一些實施例中,所述套組用於偵測在生物樣品中的PCSK9的存在情況或水準。所述生物樣品可包括血清。在一些實施例中,所述套組包括與可偵測標記綴合的抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段。在一些實施例中,所述套組包括未標記的抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段,且進一步包括能夠與未標記的抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段結合標記的二抗。所述套組可進一步包括使用說明及在套組中將各組件分隔開的包裝。 在一些實施例中,所述套組用於治療、預防或延遲由PCSK9介導的疾病或病況。在一些實施例中,所述抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段與受質或儀器連接用於夾心測定如ELISA或免疫層析測定。適用的受質或儀器可為例如微孔板及試紙。 在一些實施例中,所述套組亦包括一或多種已知對降低膽固醇有益的試劑。例示性的試劑包括他汀類藥物、他汀類以外的HMG-CoA還原酶抑制劑,菸酸(尼克酸)、膽固醇吸收抑制劑、膽固醇酯轉移蛋白(CETP)、膽汁酸螯合劑、貝特類、植物甾醇;或選自小分子的脂質/脂質濃度比的調節劑、擬肽、反義RNA、小干擾RNA(siRNA)及天然或改性脂。在某些實施例中,膽固醇吸收抑制劑為依折麥布或SCH-48461;CETP為evacetrapib,anacetrapib或dalcetrapib;膽汁酸螯合劑較佳為考來維侖,消膽胺或貝特類降脂寧較佳為非諾貝特,吉非貝齊,安妥明,或苯札貝特;或上述試劑之組合。醫藥組合物及治療方法
本申請進一步提供包括所述抗-PCSK9抗體及其抗原結合片段的醫藥組合物及一或多個醫藥學上可接受之載體。 用在本申請揭示之醫藥組合物中之藥用可接受載劑可包括,例如,藥用可接受的液體、凝膠或固體載劑、水相介質、非水相介質、抗微生物物質、等滲物質、緩衝液、抗氧劑、麻醉劑、懸浮劑/分散劑、螯合劑、稀釋劑、佐劑、輔料或無毒輔助物質,其他此項技術公知的組分或以上的多種組合。 適用的組分可包括例如抗氧劑、填充劑、黏合劑、崩解劑、緩衝液、防腐劑、潤滑劑、攪味劑、增稠劑、著色劑、乳化劑或穩定劑,例如糖及環糊精。適用的抗氧劑可包括例如甲硫胺酸、抗壞血酸、EDTA、硫代硫酸鈉、鉑、過氧化氫酶、檸檬酸、半胱胺酸、巰基甘油、巰基乙酸、巰基山梨醇、丁基甲基茴香醚、丁基化羥基甲苯及/或沒食子酸丙酯。如本發明所揭示,在一種含有本發明揭示之抗體或其抗原結合片段之組合物中包括一或多種抗氧劑如甲硫胺酸,可將降低所述抗體或其抗原結合片段的氧化。對氧化作用的減少可防止或減少結合親和力的降低,從而提高抗體穩定性且延長保質期。因此,在某些實施例中,本發明提供之組合物中含有一或多種所述之抗體或其抗原結合片段以及一或多種抗氧劑例如甲硫胺酸。本發明進一步提供多種方法,藉由將本發明中提供的抗體或其抗原結合片段與一或多種抗氧劑混合,例如甲硫胺酸,可防止所述抗體或其抗原結合片段氧化、延長其保質期及/或提高其活性。 進一步地說,藥用可接受的載劑可包括,例如,水相介質如氯化鈉注射液、林格氏液注射液、等滲葡萄糖注射液、無菌水注射液、或葡萄糖及乳酸林格注射液、非水介質例如:植物來源的不揮發性油、棉花子油、玉米油、芝麻油、或花生油、細菌抑制或真菌抑制濃度下的抗菌物質、等滲劑如:氯化鈉或葡萄糖、緩衝液如:磷酸鹽或枸櫞酸酸鹽緩衝液,抗氧化劑如:硫酸氫鈉,局部麻醉劑如:鹽酸普魯卡因,助懸劑及分散劑如:羧甲基纖維素鈉、羥丙基甲基纖維素或聚乙烯吡咯啶酮,乳化劑如:聚山梨醇酯80 (吐溫-80)、螯合試劑如EDTA (乙二胺四乙酸)或EGTA (乙二醇雙(2-胺基乙基醚)四乙酸)、乙醇、聚乙二醇、丙二醇、氫氧化鈉、鹽酸、檸檬酸或乳酸。作為載劑的抗菌劑可加入多次劑量容器中的醫藥組合物中,其包括酚類或甲酚、汞製劑、苯甲醇、氯代丁醇、甲基及丙基對羥基苯甲酸酯、噻汞撒、氯苯甲烷銨及氯苯乙銨。適用的輔料可包括,例如,水、鹽、葡萄糖、甘油或乙醇。適用的無毒輔助物質可包括,例如,乳化劑、pH值緩衝劑、穩定劑、增溶劑,或醋酸鈉、去水山梨糖醇月桂酸酯、三乙醇胺油酸酯或環糊精之類的物質。 所述醫藥組合物可為液體溶液、懸浮液、乳劑、丸劑、膠囊、錠劑、持續釋放製劑或粉末。口服製劑可包括標準載體如藥物級的甘露醇、乳糖、澱粉、硬脂酸鎂、聚乙烯吡咯啶酮、糖精鈉、纖維素、碳酸鎂等。 在某些實施例中,所述醫藥組合物經製備為可注射組合物。可注射醫藥組合物可以任何習知形式製備,例如,液體溶劑、懸浮劑、乳化劑或適用於產生液體溶劑、懸浮劑或乳化劑之固體形式。注射製劑可包括現用的無菌及/或無熱原溶液、使用前先與溶劑結合的無菌乾燥的可溶物,如凍乾粉,包括皮下片、注射即用的無菌懸浮劑、使用前先與介質結合的無菌乾燥不溶產品,及無菌及/或無熱原的乳劑。溶劑可為水相或非水相。 在某些實施例中,單位劑量的注射製劑包裝在一個安瓿、一支管或一支帶有針的針筒中。此項技術習知,所有注射給藥的製劑應為無菌無熱原。 在某些實施例中,藉由將本申請揭示之抗體或其抗原結合片段溶解於某適當的溶劑中可製備無菌凍乾的粉末。所述溶劑可含有一種可提高粉或由粉末製得的重組溶液的穩定性,或改善粉末或重組溶液的其他藥理組分。適用的輔料包括,但不限於水、葡萄糖、三梨糖醇、果糖、玉米糖漿、木糖醇、甘油、葡萄糖、蔗糖或其他適用的物質。溶劑可含有緩衝液,如枸櫞酸緩衝液、磷酸鈉或磷酸鉀緩衝液或其他熟習此項技術者公知的緩衝液,在一個實施例中,緩衝液的pH為中性。在此項技術公知的標準條件下進行對所述溶解進行隨後的過濾除菌,然後凍乾製得理想的製劑。在一個實施例中,將所得的溶劑分裝至小管中凍乾。每支小管可容納單次劑量或多次劑量的所述抗-PCSK9抗體或其抗原結合片段或其組合物。每支小管中的裝入量可略微高於每次劑量所需或多次劑量所需(例如10%過量),從而保證取樣精確及給藥精確。凍乾粉可在適當的條件下儲存,如在約4℃至室溫範圍。 用注射用水將凍乾粉重溶得到用於注射給藥的製劑。在一個實施例中,可將凍乾粉加至無菌無熱原水或其他適用的液體載劑中重溶。精確的量由選擇的療法決定,可根據經驗值決定。 亦提供治療方法,包括將治療有效量的本申請所述之抗體或其抗原結合片段施用給需要其之個體,由此治療或預防與PCSK9相關的病況或病症。在另一態樣中,亦提供治療將自上調的免疫響應獲益的個體病況之方法,包括對所述需要其之個體施用治療有效量的本申請所述之抗體或其抗原結合片段。 本申請中提供的抗體或其抗原結合片段的治療有效劑量依賴於此項技術公知的多種因素,例如體重、年齡、過往病史、現用治療、對象的健康病況及交叉感染的潛力、過敏、超敏及副作用,以及給藥途徑及腫瘤發展的程度。熟習此項技術者(例如醫生或獸醫)可根據此等或其他條件或要求按比例降低或升高劑量。 在某些實施例中,本發明提供之抗體或其抗原結合片段可在治療有效劑量約0.01 mg/kg至約100 mg/kg之間給藥(例如,約0.01 mg/kg、約0.5 mg/kg、約1 mg/kg、約2 mg/kg、約3mg/kg、約5 mg/kg、約10 mg/kg、約15 mg/kg、約20 mg/kg、約25 mg/kg、約30 mg/kg、約35 mg/kg、約40 mg/kg、約45 mg/kg、約50 mg/kg、約55 mg/kg、約60 mg/kg、約65 mg/kg、約70 mg/kg、約75 mg/kg、約80 mg/kg、約85 mg/kg、約90 mg/kg、約95 mg/kg或約100 mg/kg)。在某些實施例中,所述抗體或其抗原結合片段以約50 mg/kg或更少的劑量給藥,在某些實施例中,給藥劑量為10 mg/kg或更少、5 mg/kg或更少、3 mg/kg或更少、1 mg/kg或更少、0.5 mg/kg或更少或0.1 mg/kg或更少。某特定劑量可在多個間隔給藥,例如每天一次、每天兩次或更多、每月兩次或更多、每週一次、每兩週一次、每三週一次、每月一次或每兩月或更多月一次。在某些實施例中,給藥劑量可隨治療進程變化。例如,在某些實施例中,初始給藥劑量可比後續給藥劑量高。在某些實施例中,給藥劑量在治療進程中根據給藥對象的反應進行調整。 給藥方案可藉由調整達到最優反應(如治療反應)。例如,可進行單劑量給藥或在一段時間分多個分隔的劑量給藥。 本發明中揭示之抗體及抗原結合片段可藉由此項技術公知的給藥方式給藥,例如注射給藥(如,皮下注射、腹腔注射、靜脈注射,包括靜脈滴注,肌肉注射或皮內注射)或非注射給藥(如,口服給藥、鼻腔給藥、舌下給藥、直腸給藥或外用給藥)。 使用方法 本申請進一步提供使用所述抗-PCSK9抗體或其抗原結合片段之方法。 在一些實施例中,本申請提供在個體中治療PCSK9介導之病況或病症之方法,包括施用治療有效量的本申請所述之PCSK9抗體或其抗原結合片段。在一些實施例中,所述個體經鑑定為患有可能對PCSK9抑制劑響應的病症或病況。在某些實施例中,所述個體處於具有或發展由PCSK9介導的疾病或病況之風險,所述PCSK9介導的疾病或病況表現出一或多種所述疾病或病況之症狀,如超重、具有升高的膽固醇水準、具有編碼LDL-R或APOB的基因的遺傳性突變或具有此類疾病或病況之家族病史。在某些實施例中,所述個體在治療中對另一種降低膽固醇之試劑(例如,他汀類藥物)為抵抗的或不耐受的,因此在該治療中膽固醇水準無法有效地降低至可接受的水準。在某些實施例中,所述由PCSK9介導之疾病或病況包括感染性疾病,如嚴重蜂窩織炎、腸胃炎、敗血症、肺炎、皮膚及軟組織感染、腎盂腎炎、病毒感染,例如,乙型肝炎、丙型肝炎、疱疹病毒的病毒感染、Epstein-Barr病毒、艾滋病毒、巨細胞病毒、單純疱疹病毒I型、單純疱疹病毒2型、人乳頭狀瘤病毒、腺病毒、卡波西西肉瘤相關疱疹病毒流行病、薄環病毒(Torquetenovirus)、JC病毒或BK病毒,或包括炎性疾病,如阿茲海默氏症、強直性脊柱炎、關節炎(骨關節炎、類風濕關節炎(RA)、牛皮癬性關節炎)、哮喘、動脈粥樣硬化、克羅恩病、結腸炎、皮炎、憩室炎、纖維肌痛、肝炎、腸易激症候群(IBS)、系統性紅斑狼瘡(SLE)、腎炎、帕金森氏病及潰瘍性結腸炎。 在目標生物組織中LDL-C的存在情況及水準可指示所述生物樣品來源的個體是否可能對PCSK9抑制劑響應。可使用多種方法在來自所述個體的待測生物樣品中確定LDL-C的存在情況或水準。在美國使用毫克(mg)每分升(dL)血液量測膽固醇水準,而在加拿大及許多歐洲國家則使用毫莫耳(mmol)每公升(L)血液量測。 在一些實施例中,在所述待測生物樣品中LDL-C、總膽固醇或非HDL-C之存在或水準上調表示響應的可能性。本申請使用的術語「上調」係指與使用相同抗體偵測的參照樣品中膽固醇水準相比,使用本申請所述之抗體或其抗原結合片段在待測樣品中偵測的膽固醇水準的總的增加不少於10%、15%、20%、25%、30%、35%、40%、45%、50%、55%、60%、65%、70%、75%、80%或更多。所述參照樣品可為自健康或無疾病的個體中獲得的對照樣品,或自待測樣品來源的個體中獲得的健康或無疾病的樣品。 本發明揭示之抗體及抗原結合片段可單獨給藥或與一或多種其他治療手段或物質聯合給藥。例如,本發明揭示之抗體及抗原結合片段可與他汀類藥物、他汀類以外的HMG-CoA還原酶抑制劑,菸酸(尼克酸)、膽固醇吸收抑制劑、膽固醇酯轉移蛋白(CETP)、膽汁酸螯合劑、貝特類、植物甾醇;或選自小分子的脂質/脂質濃度比的調節劑、擬肽、反義RNA、小干擾RNA(siRNA)及天然或改性脂。在某些實施例中,膽固醇吸收抑制劑為依折麥布或SCH-48461;CETP為evacetrapib,anacetrapib或dalcetrapib;膽汁酸螯合劑較佳為考來維侖,消膽胺或貝特類降脂寧較佳為非諾貝特,吉非貝齊,安妥明,或苯札貝特;或上述試劑之組合進行聯用。 在某些此類實施例中,本發明揭示之抗體及抗原結合片段與一或多種上述治療物質聯用時,可與所述之一或多種治療物質同時給藥,在某些此類實施例中,所述之抗體及抗原結合片段可作為同一個醫藥組合物的一部分同時給藥。但是,與其他治療物質「聯用」的抗體及抗原結合物不需要同時給藥或與該治療物質在同一組合物中給藥。本發明中「聯用」的含義亦包括在另一個治療物質之前或之後給藥的抗體及抗原結合物亦視為與該治療物質「聯用」,即使所述抗體或其抗原結合片段與第二種物質藉由不同給藥方式給藥。在可能的情況下,與本發明揭示之抗體或其抗原結合片段聯用的其他治療物質可參照該其他治療物質的產品說明書之方法用藥,或參照外科醫生的案頭參考書2003(Physicians' Desk Reference,第57版; Medical Economics Company; ISBN: 1563634457; 第57版 (2002年11月)),或參照其他此項技術公知之方法。 以下實施例旨在更好地說明本發明,且不應理解為限制本發明的範圍。所有下述的特定組合物、材料及方法,其整體或部分,均在本發明的範圍內。此等特定組合物、材料及方法不是為了限制本發明,而只是為說明特定的實施例在本發明的範圍內。熟習此項技術者可不添加創造性及不偏離本發明範圍而開發出等同的組合物、材料及方法。應理解,在對本發明之方法作出的多種改動仍可包括在本發明範圍內。發明人意在將此類變動包括在本發明之範圍內。實施例 實施例 1 :抗原及其他蛋白的產生
1.1人源及鼠源PCSK9 將人及鼠的PCSK9基因分別組裝至pcDNA3.3載體,C端融合了6-His標籤或鼠源Fc標籤。用轉染試劑PlasFect (Bioline USA, BIO-46026),將此等質粒分別轉染至HEK293細胞。轉染後收集細胞上清。His標籤蛋白藉由Ni柱(Qiagen Inc)純化,鼠源Fc融合蛋白藉由Protein A管柱(MabSelect SuRe, GE)純化。 1.2人源LDL-R 將LDL-R胞外區基因組裝至pcDNA3.3載體,C端融合了6-His標籤。用轉染試劑PlasFect (Bioline USA, BIO-46026),將此等質粒轉染至HEK293細胞。轉染後收集細胞上清,LDL-R蛋白第一步用Ni柱(Qiagen Inc)純化,第二步用離子交換管柱純化。 1.3參照抗體 參照抗體BMK.115的序列為基於美國專利號8889834B2中的21B12序列。將含有重鏈及輕鏈的質粒共轉染至HEK293細胞。轉染後收集細胞上清,抗體藉由Protein A管柱(MabSelect SuRe, GE)純化。實施例 2 :抗體的產生
2.1免疫 人源PCSK9蛋白足底注射免疫balb/c小鼠,每三天一次。6次免疫後進行第一次效價偵測,之後每週免疫一次。 2.2血清效價偵測 使用酶聯免疫吸附法(ELISA)偵測小鼠血清效價。先用pH值9.2的包被液將人源PCSK9蛋白稀釋至1 μg/ml,加入至酶標板(Nunc)中,4℃隔夜培育。洗板後封閉,每孔加入200 μl封閉液1× PBS/ 2% BSA,室溫靜置培育1小時。起始孔加入稀釋100倍的小鼠血清,然後用封閉液以3倍的比例進行連續梯度稀釋,室溫靜置培育1小時。洗板後加入山羊抗小鼠IgG Fc的HRP酶標二抗混合物(Bethyl),室溫靜置培育1小時。洗板後加入TMB受質顯色液,然後用2M 鹽酸終止顯色。使用酶標儀(Molecular Device)讀取在450 nM處的吸光值。 2.2.1動物免疫與雜交瘤的產生 免疫後的小鼠血清中抗原特異性抗體的滴度用ELISA進行偵測(表2)。挑選出滴度達到656100的小鼠進行融合產生雜交瘤細胞。表 2.
血清中抗體滴度
2.3雜交瘤細胞融合 選取滴度達到要求的小鼠,取出淋巴結及脾臟,轉移至組織研磨器中研磨。100目篩網過濾後計數B細胞。骨髓瘤SP2/0細胞用培養基調整至適當的體積後計數。將兩種細胞按照B細胞:P3 = 1:1數目重懸且混勻。細胞懸浮液加入融合槽內進行電融合 (BTX ECM2001)。 融合後將細胞轉移至含有1/2 HA培養基中,按每板5×105
個細胞的密度鋪板。 2.4雜交瘤篩選 ELISA法偵測結合:先用pH值9.2的包被液將鏈黴親和素 (Streptavidin) 稀釋至 1 μg/ml,加入至96孔酶標板中 (Nunc),4℃隔夜培育。封閉洗板後加入生物素標記的人源PCSK9蛋白,濃度為250 ng/ml,室溫靜置培育1小時。洗板後加入雜交瘤細胞上清,室溫靜置培育1小時。洗板後加入山羊抗小鼠IgG Fc的HRP酶標二抗 (Bethyl) 混合物,室溫培育1小時。洗板後加入TMB受質顯色液,用2M 鹽酸終止顯色,然後使用酶標儀 (Molecular Device) 讀取在450奈米處的吸光值。 競爭ELISA:酶標板(Nunc)中加入LDL-R,4℃隔夜培育。同時將雜交瘤細胞上清與生物素標記的人PCSK9蛋白混合,PCSK9蛋白的終濃度為250 ng/ml,4℃隔夜培育。酶標板洗板封閉後,加入雜交瘤細胞上清與PCSK9蛋白的混合物,室溫靜置培育1小時。洗板後加入HRP標記的鏈黴親和素。最後加入TMB受質顯色液,且用2 M鹽酸終止顯色,然後使用酶標儀(Molecular Device)讀取在450奈米處的吸光值。 抗體篩選 首輪篩選用雜交瘤培養上清進行抗原結合偵測,得到1090個與抗原有特異性結合的雜交瘤。對此等雜交瘤細胞株進行進一步的競爭實驗的篩選。藉由競爭ELISA的篩選得到54株雜交瘤細胞,其分泌的抗體可阻斷人源PCSK9與人源LDL-R的結合。從中選出17株雜交瘤細胞株進行次選殖。挑選出的次純系用結合及競爭ELISA進行偵測,且對其亞型進行鑑定。 純化後的抗體藉由ELISA進一步確認其結合與阻斷活性(圖1及2)。結合實驗EC50與阻斷實驗的IC50結果見表3。 表3. 抗體的結合與阻斷活性
2.5雜交瘤細胞次選殖 將選取的雜交瘤細胞株按照每孔0.5個、1個及5個細胞的密度鋪至96孔板中。選出其中的單株孔用ELISA進行偵測。各雜交瘤細胞株保留且凍存3個次純系。 2.6抗體亞型偵測 抗體亞型用ELISA偵測。分別用包被液將山羊抗小鼠鼠IgG1、IgG2a、IgG2b、IgG3、IgM的抗體 (Bethyl)稀釋至1 μg/ml,加入至96孔酶標板(Nunc)中,4℃隔夜培育。洗板封閉後,加入雜交瘤細胞培養上清,室溫靜置培育1小時。洗板後分別加入山羊抗小鼠Kappa鏈酶標二抗(Southern Biotech),或山羊抗小鼠Lambda鏈酶標二抗(Southern Biotech),室溫靜置培育45 分鐘。洗板後加入TMB受質顯色液,用2M 鹽酸終止顯色後使用酶標儀(Molecular Device)讀取在450奈米處的吸光值。 2.7抗體純化 將收集的雜交瘤上清調節pH至7.0後,上樣至Protein A管柱 (MabSelect SuRe, GE)。抗體用Glycine洗脫,且立即用1M Tris中和。純化後之蛋白濃度用Nano Drop (Thermal-Fisher)偵測。蛋白的純度藉由SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, NuPAGE4%-12% Bis-Tris Gel) 及HPLC-SEC (Agilent)偵測。實施例 3 :候選抗體表徵
3.1 LDL 吸收實驗: HepG2或Huh-7細胞用含10% FBS的DMEM培養液以每孔1×105
的密度接種於96孔板,置於37℃培養箱中。次日將含10% FBS的DMEM培養液換成無血清培養液,且將野生型PCSK9或變體PCSK9 (D374Y) 與一系列濃度梯度稀釋的抗體混合後加入相應的孔中,37℃培育1小時。野生型PCSK9 的終濃度為20μg/ml。向96孔板中加入Bodipy螢光標記的LDL (Invitrogen L-3483),終濃度為1.5μg/ml。在37℃培養箱中培育3小時後取出96孔板,棄去含有LDL的培養液,用胰酶消化收集細胞且洗滌兩次。細胞內的螢光用FACS偵測,螢光強度表徵了LDL的吸收量。LDL吸收的回復率由如下公式計算:LDL吸收回復率 (%) = (MFI樣品
- MFILDL+WBP301.Ag1H
)/ (MFILDL - MFILDL+WBP301.Ag1H
) ×100% 。 候選抗體表徵實驗 對挑選出的次純系進行進一步的表徵實驗,包括細胞LDL吸收實驗,動力學親和力,種屬交叉反應實驗及抗原結合抗原決定區分組實驗。最終的候選純系係根據親和力,阻斷PCSK9結合LDL-R的能力以及恢復細胞LDL吸收的能力選定的。 LDL吸收實驗:在HepG2細胞上偵測抗體恢復細胞LDL吸收能力的偵測(見圖3),IC50值見表4。一些抗體的IC50值達到幾十皮莫耳。實驗結果證明偵測的候選抗體能夠有效地恢復細胞對LDL的吸收。表 4. LDL 吸收實驗 IC50
3.2運用SPR技術偵測結合動力學常數 使用Biacore T200 (GE) 偵測抗體與人源PCSK9及恆河猴PCSK9的結合親和力常數。使用Protein A或抗IgG Fc抗體偶聯的芯片補貨待測抗體。然後將不同濃度的人源PCSK9或恆河猴PCSK9分別注入傳感器芯片上,進樣速度為30 ul/min。樣品結合時間為180 s, 解離時間為1200 s。每次抗原結合後,用2 M MgCl2
再生芯片。 最終結合解離曲線為扣除參比通道Fc1及緩衝液通道信號後的結果。實驗資料用1:1 Langmiur模式進行擬合。計算PCSK9莫耳濃度時所用分子量為85 KDa。 動力學親和力:用SPR實驗偵測抗體與人源PCSK9結合的的動力學常數。結合速率,解離速率及親和力常數(kon
, koff
及 KD
)見表5。一些候選抗體對PCSK9的親和力達到奈莫耳或幾十皮莫耳。 表5. 抗體與人源PCSK9結合之動力學常數
3.3與恆河猴PCSK9蛋白結合交叉反應 用pH值9.2的包被液將小鼠抗His標籤的抗體(Genscript)稀釋至1 μg/ml,加入至96孔酶標板中,4℃隔夜培育。洗板封閉後,加入恆河猴PCSK9-His (Sino Biological)蛋白,濃度為1 μg/ml,室溫培育1小時。洗板後加入待測抗體,室溫培育1小時。洗板後加入山羊抗小鼠IgG Fc的HRP酶標二抗(Bethyl),室溫培育45 分鐘。最後加入TMB受質顯色液,反應後用2M鹽酸終止顯色,然後使用酶標儀(Molecular Device)讀取在450奈米處的吸光值。 猴源PCSK9的結合:候選抗體與恆河猴PCSK9結合的親和力用ELISA偵測(圖4),結果見表6。 表6. 抗體與恆河猴PCSK9結合的親和力 實施例 4 :抗體人源化及抗體改造
4.1 雜交瘤測序 採用Trizol套組(Invitrogen-15596018)自雜交瘤細胞中提取RNA,再利用5'-RACE套組(Takara-28001488)擴增得到cDNA,然後藉由3'-簡併引物及3'-接頭引物 (ExTaq: Takara-RR001B)擴增cDNA。將擴增得到的片段插入至pMD18-T載體(Takara-D101C)且送測序(上海鉑尚公司)。選擇的抗體2.6.6 及2.12.12.4的及其人源化抗體可變區序列(胺基酸序列及核酸序列)如SEQ ID NO:36-51所示。 4.2重組嵌合抗體的產生 將每一個小鼠抗體可變區的基因序列選殖至含有人源恆定區基因的pcDNA3.3載體pcDNA3上。將重鏈及輕鏈質粒轉染至HEK293細胞中進行抗體表現。離心收集細胞上清。用Protein A (MabSelect SuRe, GE) 純化抗體,且將純化後的抗體透析至PBS中。抗體濃度藉由Nanodrop。蛋白的純度藉由SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, NuPAGE4%-12% Bis-Tris Gel)及HPLC-SEC (Agilent)偵測。 4.3人源化 藉由「最佳匹配法」對抗體的重鏈及輕鏈進行人源化。藉由將相應的V基因的輕鏈胺基酸序列與人源V基因資料庫進行比對。人源化後的輕鏈可變區基因的序列為採用Kabat CDR 定義將人源CDR序列替換為鼠源的CDR序列。採取同樣的方法得到4條人源化後的重鏈序列。第一條為原始輕鏈,其餘三條為以老鼠的FR區在人源V基因資料庫中進行比對。FR區採用延伸CDR定義,Kabat CDR1為延伸其氮端的5個胺基酸。得分前三的序列作為人源化重鏈基因的序列。人源化的基因藉由GeneArt Costum Gene Synthesis (Life Technologies)合成、經過回復轉譯,密碼子優化後用於真核細胞表現。合成優化後的基因序列且選殖至抗體表現載體,進行表現純化。 對人源化後的抗體重新進行表徵,包括結合與阻斷實驗,細胞LDL吸收實驗及動力學親和力偵測。 4.3.1人源化抗體的結合活性與阻斷活性 ELISA方法驗證人源化抗體與PCSK9結合的活性以及阻斷PCSK9與LDLR結合的活性實驗見圖5及6。實驗結果顯示人源化抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k的結合活性及阻斷活性與原始的鼠源抗體相當。結合實驗EC50與阻斷實驗的IC50結果見表7。且人源化抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k顯示與參照抗體Repatha (evolocumab)相當的結合與阻斷活性。 表7• 人源化抗體結合與阻斷活性
4.3.2人源化抗體動力學親和力 用SPR實驗偵測人源化抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k 及2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k的動力學結合常數。抗體與人源PCSK9及猴源PCSK9結合之親和力見表8. 表8. 抗體與人源PCSK9及猴源PCSK9結合之動力學常數
4.3.3人源化抗體LDL吸收實驗 在野生型PCSK9存在情況下,在HepG2及Huh-7細胞上對人源化的2.12.12.4 抗體進行LDL吸收活性的實驗(圖7),IC50值見表9。結果顯示人源化的2.12.12.4與Repatha在恢復細胞LDL吸收的能力上相當。 表9. 人源化抗體細胞LDL吸收實驗
4.3.4人源化抗體在血清中之穩定性 待測抗體用新鮮分離的人血清稀釋(血清含量>95%)後,置於37℃培養箱中分別培育0、1、3、7、14天。在各時間終點處,自37℃培養箱中取出樣品後,在乙醇-乾冰浴中迅速冷凍且將樣品置於-80℃冰箱保存。穩定性測試前取出樣品迅速溶解。96孔酶標板用Na2
CO3
/NaHCO3
(pH 9.2)緩衝液稀釋的鏈黴親和素包被,置於4℃冰箱。次日,96孔板用0.1% PBST洗滌且用2% BSA/PBS封閉1小時後,加入生物素標記的PCSK9。在室溫下培育1小時後洗滌,加入一系列濃度梯度稀釋的樣品。在室溫下培育1小時後洗滌,加入HRP標記的羊抗人IgG抗體。在室溫下培育1小時後洗滌,加入TMB受質,待顯色後用2M HCl終止。用酶標儀(Molecular Device)讀取波長450nm處的吸光度。 抗體在37度人血清中培育後,用ELISA偵測其與PCSK9結合的活性(見圖8)。人源化抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k在血清中培育3天後,結合活性與未培育的抗體相同。說明抗體可穩定存在於血清中至少3天。 4.3.5抗體改造 為增強抗體穩定性,對人源化後的抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k的序列進行了進一步改進()。對可變區的2個胺基酸進行了突變(如2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k所示),突變後的抗體序列如SED ID NO: 44-47所示。用SPR實驗偵測改造後的抗體與PCSK9結合的親和力。動力學資料(表10)顯示改造後的抗體2.12.12.4-v2-z4-ulgG4k (D30E、N85D)與原始抗體親和力相當。 表10. 突變後抗體的SPR資料
4.3.6瞬轉表現人源化抗體 人源化抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k在還原條件下的SDS-PAGE上的表徵分子量為25 kDa 及55 kDa,分別對應抗體的輕鏈及重鏈(見圖9)。在非還原SDS-PAGE上的主條帶對應了完整的IgG分子,分子量約150 KD。HPLC-SEC結果顯示抗體純度為100% (見圖10)。內毒素含量小於0.5 EU/mg。實施例 5 :動物實驗
4隻3-4歲的雌性食蟹猴,體重在2.5至3.5公斤之間,隨機分為4組(每組1隻)。4組猴子分別進行單次靜脈注射3 mg/kg或10 mg/kg劑量的Repatha或2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4K (未工程化)抗體。給藥當天定義為第一天。每組猴子給藥後觀測36天。
5.1食蟹猴中單次注射藥效 使用LDLC及HDLC3套組(Roche)在Roche/Hitachi cobas c系統上偵測猴子血清中低密度脂蛋白膽固醇LDL-C及高密度脂蛋白膽固醇HDL-C的濃度。總膽固醇TCHO用cholesterol FS 套組(DiaSys)偵測。 抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k 在食蟹猴中低密度膽固醇降低療效。食蟹猴分別按3 mg/kg 及10 mg/kg的劑量給藥後,抗體Repetha 及 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k可快速且持久地降低低密度脂蛋白膽固醇及總膽固醇含量 (見圖11)。Repetha 及 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k抗體給藥的猴子中,無論10 mg/kg或30 mg/kg劑量組,高密度脂蛋白膽固醇水準在實驗過程中均沒有明顯變化 (見圖12)。 在3 mg/kg及10 mg/kg的劑量組中,與給藥前相比,Repatha分別使低密度膽固醇降低至80%及75%;2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k在兩個劑量組均使低密度膽固醇降低至65%。最大降低量在第8-16天到達。所以與Repatha相比,在3 mg/kg 及10 mg/kg兩個劑量組中,2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k均可更長時間地將低密度脂蛋白維持在較低水準。 5.2藥代動力學 藉由測定動物血清中的Repatha 及 2.12.12.4濃度以獲得體內藥物暴露水準。自所有存活的食蟹猴採集0小時(給藥前), 及給藥後0.5,1,2,4,24,48,96,168, 336,504,672,744,及 840小時的血樣。 自動物的頭靜脈或股靜脈採集約2mL全血,置於無抗凝劑的採血管中。血樣採集後常溫靜置至少30分鐘。約4℃下2000 g離心10分鐘獲取血清(血樣採集後2小時內完成)。血清轉移至貼有標籤的聚丙烯樣品管中。立即垂直放入乾冰中速凍,然後保存在≤-60°的超低溫冰箱中。 在藥代動力學偵測前,將血清樣品迅速解凍。用Na2
CO3
/NaHCO3
緩衝液稀釋山羊抗人多株抗體後,包被酶標偵測板,4℃隔夜培育。用0.1% Tween-PBS洗板後,加入2% BSA/PBS封閉。將稀釋後的食蟹猴血清樣品加入酶標板中,於室溫下培育一小時。洗板後,先後於酶標板中加入生物素標記的山羊抗人IgG抗體及鏈黴親和素-HRP,分別於室溫下培育一小時。加入TMB受質,待顯色後用2M HCl終止。在450nm波長下讀取每孔吸光值。藉由標準曲線計算血清中抗體的濃度。 藥代動力學參數包括但不侷限於初始血清濃度(C0
)及自0小時至給藥後840小時的血藥濃度-時間曲線下的面積(AUC0-840h
),用驗證過的WinNonlin程序(PharsightVersion 6.2.1)進行計算。用非房室法的線性上升/對數下降梯形法則,計算AUC0-840h
,限於對供試品處理的動物。在計算平均值時,將BLQ(低於定量值)當成0來計算。 血清中抗體的濃度用ELISA偵測(圖13)。由0至840小時血清中抗體濃度計算得到的Repatha 及2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k的C0
值及 AUC0 - 840h
,以及抗體半衰期見表11。結果表明在兩個劑量組中,抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k的半衰期均長於Repatha。 劑量自3 mg/kg增加至10 mg/kg時,Repatha及2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k的藥物暴露水準(AUC0 - 840h
及/或C0
)成比例增加。 表11. 藥代動力學資料
5.3免疫原性 自動物的頭靜脈或股靜脈採集0小時(給藥前), 及給藥後336、672、840小時的血樣。 用Na2
CO3
/NaHCO3
緩衝液稀釋抗體Repatha 或 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4K後鋪板(Nunc),4℃培育隔夜。用0.1% Tween-PBS洗板後加入2% BSA/PBS封閉。將PBS稀釋的猴子血清加入酶標板中室溫培育1小時。洗板後加入山羊抗食蟹猴IgG-HRP(與人IgG無交叉反應)培育。洗板後加入TMB受質,待顯色後用2M HCl終止。在450nm波長下讀取每孔吸光值。 抗體2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k的免疫原性偵測結果見圖14。在給藥後336、672、840小時的猴子血清中,針對2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k 的抗抗體(ADA)滴度與給藥前相比有所升高。 5.4毒性 死亡/瀕死:實驗期間每天2次報導各動物之健康狀態,上午1次下午1次,除動物到達設施及解剖當天動物檢查1次。 在整個實驗過程中動物無計劃外死亡。 詳細臨床觀察:對所有動物(包括替代動物)在實驗前進行1次詳細臨床觀察,對所有實驗動物在給藥日(約給藥後2±0.5小時)進行1次觀察,此後實驗過程中每週進行1次詳細臨床觀察。 整個實驗過程中未觀察到藥物相關的臨床症狀。 籠邊觀察:在實驗前期,自給藥前2天開始對所有動物(包括替代動物)每天進行1次籠邊觀察。在實驗第一天進行1次,在給藥日進行每天2次籠邊觀察(給藥後30分鐘以內及給藥後約6±0.5小時),恢復期每天進行1次籠邊觀察。在相同時間段安排了詳細臨床觀察,未進行籠邊觀察。 體重:每隻動物實驗前期稱重1次。對實驗動物,在實驗第一天給藥前進行1次體重稱量,隨後實驗過程中每週稱重一次。 未觀察到藥物相關的體重變化,所有體重變化均在正常生物學差異範圍內。 攝食量:對所有動物,在實驗給藥前2天及整個實驗給藥及觀察過程中,評估動物的攝食量。藉由監視所有動物的食慾(動物是否進食構成評估文件)來評估每天的攝食量。 無藥物相關的攝食量變化。 雖然本公開案已具體示出且參考特定實施例(其中一些為較佳實施例)進行了描述,但熟習此項技術者應理解,如本申請所示可在不脫離本發明之精神及範圍內,可進行各種形式上及細節上的改變。The following description of this application is only to illustrate various embodiments of this application. Therefore, the specific modifications discussed here should not be construed as limiting the scope of the application. Those skilled in the art can easily obtain various equivalents, changes, and modifications without departing from the scope of the present application. It should be understood that such equivalent embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention. All documents cited in this application, including published publications, patents and patent applications, are incorporated by reference in their entirety.definition
The term "antibody" in the present invention includes any immunoglobulin, monoclonal antibody, polyclonal antibody, multispecific antibody, or bispecific (bivalent) antibody that can bind to a specific antigen. A natural intact antibody contains two heavy chains and two light chains. Each heavy chain is composed of a variable region and the first, second, and third constant regions; each light chain is composed of a variable region and a constant region. Mammalian heavy chains can be divided into α, δ, ε, γ, and μ, and mammalian light chains can be divided into λ or κ. The antibody is of "Y" type, and the neck of the "Y" type structure is composed of the second and third constant regions of two heavy chains, which are bound by disulfide bonds. Each arm of the "Y" structure includes one of the heavy chain variable region and the first constant region, which is combined with the variable and constant region of a light chain. The variable regions of the light and heavy chains determine antigen binding. The variable region of each chain contains three hypervariable regions, called complementarity determining regions (CDRs) (the CDRs of the light chain (L) include LCDR1, LCDR2, LCDR3, and the CDRs of the heavy chain (H) include HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3) . The CDR boundaries of the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments disclosed in the present invention can be named or identified by Kabat, Chothia or Al-Lazikani nomenclature. (Al-Lazikani, B., Chothia, C., Lesk, AM, J. Mol. Biol., 273 (4), 927 (1997); Chothia, C. et al., J Mol Biol. Dec 5; 186 ( 3): 651-63 (1985); Chothia, C. and Lesk, AM, J. Mol. Biol., 196,901 (1987); Chothia, C. et al., Nature. Dec 21-28; 342 (6252): 877-83 (1989); Kabat EA et al., National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)). Among them, the three CDRs are separated by a side continuous portion called a framework region (FR). The framework region is more highly conserved than the CDR and forms a scaffold to support the hypervariable loop. The constant regions of the heavy and light chains have nothing to do with antigen binding, but have multiple effector functions. Antibodies can be classified into several classes based on the amino acid sequence of the constant region of the heavy chain. Depending on whether they contain α, δ, ε, γ, and μ heavy chains, antibodies can be divided into five main classifications or isomers: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. Several major antibody classifications can also be divided into subclasses, such as IgG1 (γ1 heavy chain), IgG2 (γ2 heavy chain), IgG3 (γ3 heavy chain), IgG4 (γ4 heavy chain), IgA1 (α1 heavy chain), or IgA2 (α2 heavy chain) and the like. The term "antigen-binding fragment" in this application refers to an antibody fragment formed by an antibody portion containing one or more CDRs or any other antibody fragment that binds an antigen but does not have a complete antibody structure. Examples of antigen-binding fragments include, but are not limited to, such as diabody, Fab, Fab ', F (ab')2
, Fv fragment, disulfide-stabilized Fv fragment (dsFv), (dsFv)2
, Bispecific dsFv (dsFv-dsFv '), disulfide stabilized bifunctional antibody (ds diabody), single chain antibody molecule (scFv), scFv dimer (bivalent bifunctional antibody), bivalent single chain Antibodies (BsFv), multispecific antibodies, camelized single domain antibodies, nanobodies, domain antibodies, and bivalent domain antibodies. The antigen-binding fragment can bind the same antigen as the parent antibody. In some embodiments, the antigen-binding fragment may contain one or more CDRs from a specific human antibody, and is transferred to a framework region from one or more different human antibodies. The "Fab" fragment of an antibody refers to the portion of the antibody molecule that is composed of a light chain (including a variable region and a constant region) and a variable region and a constant region of a heavy chain that are bound by disulfide bonds. "Fab '" fragment refers to a Fab fragment that contains a portion of the hinge region. "F (ab ')2
"Means a dimer of Fab. The "Fc" of an antibody refers to the portion of the antibody composed of the second and third constant regions of the heavy chain bound via a disulfide bond. The Fc portion of the antibody is responsible for many different effector functions such as ADCC and CDC, but does not participate in antigen binding. The "Fv" segment of an antibody refers to the smallest antibody fragment that contains a complete antigen-binding site. The Fv fragment consists of a variable region of a light chain and a variable region of a heavy chain. A "single-chain Fv antibody" or "scFv" refers to an engineered antibody in which the light chain variable region and the heavy chain variable region are directly connected or connected by a peptide chain (Huston JS et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 85: 5879 (1988)). "Single-chain antibody Fv-Fc" or "scFv-Fc" refers to an engineered antibody composed of scFv linked to the Fc segment of an antibody. "Camelized single domain antibody," "heavy chain antibody," or "HCAb (Heavy-chain-only antibodies, HCAb)" all mean two VH
Domain without light chain antibodies (Riechmann L. and Muyldermans S., J Immunol Methods. December 10; 231 (1-2): 25-38 (1999); Muyldermans S., J Biotechnol. June; 74 (4): 277-302 (2001); WO94 / 04678; WO94 / 25591; U.S. Patent No. 6,005,079). Heavy chain antibodies were originally derived from the camel family (camel, dromedary, and llama). Although the light chain is missing, camelized antibodies have a proven function of antigen binding (Hamers-Casterman C. et al., Nature. June 3; 363 (6428): 446-8 (1993); Nguyen VK. Et al., "Heavy-chain antibodies in Camelidae; a case of evolutionary innovation," Immunogenetics. April; 54 (1): 39-47 (2002); Nguyen VK. Et al., Immunology. May; 109 (1) : 93-101 (2003)). The variable region (VHH domain) of a heavy chain antibody is the smallest known binding unit produced by acquired immunity (Koch-Nolte F. et al., FASEB J. November; 21 (13): 3490-8. Electronics Edition June 15, 2007 (2007)). A "nano antibody" refers to an antibody fragment consisting of a VHH domain from a heavy chain antibody and two constant regions, CH2 and CH3. A "diabody" includes a small antibody fragment with two antigen-binding sites, where the fragment contains Vs linked on the same polypeptide chainH
Domain and VL
Domain (VH
-VL
Or VH
-VL
) (See Holliger P. et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Jul 15; 90 (14): 6444-8 (1993); EP404097; WO93 / 11161). The adapter between the two domains is very short, so that the two domains on the same chain cannot be paired with each other, thus forcing the two domains to pair with the complementary domains of the other chain to form two antibody binding sites. These two antibody binding sites can be targeted to bind the same or different antigens (or epitopes of the antigen). A "domain antibody" refers to an antibody fragment that contains only one heavy chain variable region or one light chain variable region. In some cases, two or more VH
Domains are covalently bound by a polypeptide adapter and form a bivalent domain antibody. Two Vs of a bivalent domain antibodyH
Domains can target the same or different antigens. In some embodiments, "(dsFv)2
"Contains three peptide chains: two VH
The groups are connected by a peptide adaptor, and are connected to two Vs by a disulfide bond.L
Group bonding. In certain embodiments, a "bispecific ds bifunctional antibody" contains VL1
-VH2
(Connected by a peptide adapter) and VH1
-VL2
(Also connected by a peptide adapter), the two are at VH1
And VL1
It is bound by disulfide bonds. "Bispecific dsFv" or "dsFv-dsFv" contains three polypeptide chains: VH1
-VH2
Group, in which the heavy chains of the two are connected by a peptide linker (such as a long elastic linker), and are respectively linked to V by a disulfide bondL1
And VL2
Group binding, each pair of heavy chain light chains paired by disulfide bonds has different antigen specificity. In some embodiments, the "scFv dimer" is a bivalent bifunctional antibody or a bivalent single chain antibody (BsFv), which contains two dimerized Vs.H
-VL
(Connected by a peptide adaptor) a group in which the V of one of the groupsH
V with another groupL
Cooperate to form two binding sites. These two binding sites can be targeted to bind the same antigen (or epitope of an antigen) or different antigens (or epitopes of an antigen). In other embodiments, the "scFv dimer" is a bispecific bifunctional antibody that contains interconnected VL1
-VH2
(Connected by peptide adapter) and VH1
-VL2
(Connected by a peptide adaptor), where VH1
And VL1
Collaboration, VH2
And VL2
Collaboration, and each collaboration has a different antigen specificity. The term "humanized" as used in this application, when used in antibodies or antigen-binding fragments, refers to CDRs derived from non-human animals, FR regions derived from humans, and constant regions derived from humans (when applicable) ) Antibodies or antigen-binding fragments. Because humanized antibodies or antigen-binding fragments have reduced immunogenicity, they can be used as human therapeutics in certain embodiments. In some embodiments, the non-human animal is a mammal, such as a mouse, rat, rabbit, goat, sheep, guinea pig, or hamster. In some embodiments, the humanized antibody or antigen-binding fragment consists essentially of human-derived sequences except that the CDR sequences are of non-human origin. In some embodiments, the human-derived FR region may include the same amino acid sequence as the human antibody from which it is derived, or it may include some amino acid changes, for example, no more than 10, 9, 8, 7, , 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid change. In some embodiments, the amino acid alteration may be present only in the heavy chain FR region, only in the light chain FR region, or in both chains. In some preferred embodiments, the humanized antibodies include human-derived FR1-3 and human-derived JH and Jκ. The term "chimeric" as used in this application refers to an antibody or antigen-binding fragment having a portion of the heavy and / or light chain derived from one species and the rest of the heavy and / or light chain derived from a different species . In an illustrative example, a chimeric antibody may include a constant region derived from a human and a variable region derived from a non-human animal, such as a mouse. The "PCSK9" used in the present application refers to the preprotein converting enzyme subtilisin Kexin type 9, which is a natural human preprotein converting enzyme belonging to the protease K subfamily of the secreted subtilisin family. PCSK9 is synthesized as lysogen, undergoes autocatalytic intramolecular processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is considered to function as a preprotein converting enzyme. PCSK9 plays a key role in regulating cholesterol levels in the blood. PCSK9's functionally acquired (such as S127R, F216L, and D374Y) mutations may be associated with an autosomal dominant inherited familial hypercholesterolemia, in which the PCSK9 mutation increases LDL receptor levels (see, for example, Burnett and Hooper, Clin Biochem Rev (2008) 29 (1): 11-26, Benjannet et al. J. Biol. Chem., (2004) 279 (47): 48865-48875 and Fasano T et al., Atherosclerosis. (2009) 203 (1): 166 -71). A representative amino acid sequence of human-derived PCSK9 is disclosed by GenBank accession number NP_777596.2, and a representative nucleic acid sequence encoding the human-derived PCSK9 is disclosed by GenBank accession number FJ525880.1. In certain embodiments, the term PCSK9 includes a post-translationally modified PCSK9 molecule of the PCSK9 amino acid sequence, such as a glycosylated, PEGylated PCSK9 sequence, a PCSK9 sequence with its signal sequence cleaved, or an autocatalytic domain The PCSK9 sequence is cleaved off from its pro domain but is not separated from the catalytic domain. "LDL-C" used herein refers to low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and "HDL-C" refers to high density lipoprotein cholesterol. LDL and HDL belong to 5 major lipoprotein groups: chylomicrons, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein (HDL) (in order of arrogance) Granules to the most dense (smallest particles). LDL (particle-containing "bad" cholesterol) is able to transport lipid / sterol molecules such as cholesterol (ie LDL-C) to the arterial wall, attracting macrophages and thus inducing arteries Atherosclerosis. In contrast, HDL (particles containing "good" cholesterol) can automatically remove lipid molecules, such as cholesterol (ie HDL-C), from macrophages on the vein wall. Therefore, a high level of LDL-C is the heart Major risks of vascular disease (CVD), such as peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease (CAD, such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction (commonly known as heart disease), hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia), arteries Atherosclerosis, Stroke, Hypertensive heart disease, Rheumatic heart disease, Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmia, Congenital heart disease, Heart valve disease, Myocarditis, Aortic aneurysm, Peripheral artery disease, Obesity, Hepatobiliary disease, Kidney disease syndrome, Hypothyroidism Venous thrombosis. "LDL-R" or "LDL receptor" used in this application is a cell surface chimeric protein with 839 amino acids (after removing 21 signal peptides of amino acids), which mediates LDL-C is endocytosed and LDL-C is removed from the blood. A representative amino acid sequence of human LDL-R is disclosed by GenBank accession number P01130.1, and it encodes a representative mRNA nucleic acid of human LDL-R The sequence is revealed by GenBank accession number NM_000527.4. When PCSK9 binds to the LDL receptor, the antibody is destroyed and LDL-C cannot be removed from the blood. Conversely, when PCSK9 is blocked, there will be More LDL receptors and more LDL cholesterol will be removed from the blood. "Anti-PCSK9 antibody" used in this application refers to an antibody capable of specifically binding to PCSK9 (such as human or monkey PCSK9), which is sufficient to provide diagnosis and Affinity for therapeutic use. "Specific binding" or "specific binding" in this application refers to a non-random binding reaction between two molecules, such as a reaction between an antibody and an antigen. In some embodiments In the present application, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof specifically binds to human and / or monkey PCSK9. And binding affinity (KD
) ≤10-6
M (eg: ≤5 × 10-7
M, ≤2 × 10-7
M, ≤10-7
M, ≤5 × 10-8
M, ≤2 × 10-8
M, ≤10-8
M, ≤5 × 10-9
M, ≤2 × 10-9
M, ≤10-9
M, ≤10-10
M). KD in this application refers to the ratio (koff / kon) of dissociation speed to binding speed, which can be measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method, for example, using an instrument such as Biacore. The ability to "block binding" or "competitively identical epitopes" in this application means that the antibody or its antigen-binding fragment inhibits the interaction between two molecules (such as human PCSK9 and anti-PCSK9 antibodies) to Any detectable ability. In certain embodiments, an antibody or antigen-binding fragment that blocks binding between two molecules can inhibit the interaction between the binding between two molecules by at least 50%. In certain embodiments, such inhibition can be greater than 60%, greater than 70%, greater than 80%, or greater than 90%. The "antigenic determinant region" used in this application refers to the portion of the amino acid or atomic group of the antigen molecule that is bound to the antibody. If two antibodies show competitive binding to an antigen, they may bind the same epitope on the antigen. For example, if the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof provided in the present application block exemplary antibodies, such as 2.6.6, 2.12.12.4, 2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k, 2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k , 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k, 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k binding to human PCSK9, the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof can be regarded as binding the same epitope with their exemplified antibodies. The symbols used in the antibody names used in this application have different meanings: "uIgG4" refers to antibodies with human IgG4 isotype constant regions, such as uIgG1 and uIgG2 refer to antibodies with human IgG1 and IgG2 isotype constant regions, respectively; " "Z" refers to a humanized antibody, z1, z2, z4, etc. refer to different versions of the humanized antibody; "K" or "L" refers to the use of a kappa light chain or a lambda light chain for the antibody. "2.6.6" as used herein refers to a mouse monoclonal antibody having a heavy chain variable region as shown in SEQ ID NO: 36 and a light chain variable region as shown in SEQ ID NO: 38. "2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k" as used in this application refers to a humanized monoclonal antibody of 2.6.6, which has a heavy chain variable region as shown in SEQ ID NO: 48, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 50 The light chain variable region and the human IgG1 isotype constant region are shown. "2.12.12.4" as used herein refers to a mouse monoclonal antibody having a heavy chain variable region as shown in SEQ ID NO: 40 and a light chain variable region as shown in SEQ ID NO: 42. The "2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k" used in this application refers to the humanized monoclonal antibody of 2.12.12.4 of the fourth edition, which has a constant region of human IgG4 isotype. 2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4K and 2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4K are different versions of the humanized monoclonal antibodies of 2.12.12.4 (ie, the first and second versions). "2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k" used in this application refers to an engineered humanized monoclonal antibody based on 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k with two amino acid mutations (D30E and N85D), It has a heavy chain variable region as shown in SEQ ID NO: 44, a light chain variable region as shown in SEQ ID NO: 46, and a human IgG4 isotype constant region. In the present application, when "conservative substitution" is used for an amino acid sequence, it means that one amino acid residue is replaced with another amino acid residue having a side chain with similar physicochemical properties. For example, between hydrophobic side chain amino acid residues (e.g. Met, Ala, Val, Leu and Ile), neutral hydrophilic side chain residues (e.g. Cys, Ser, Thr, Asn and Gln), acidic side chains Conservative substitutions are made between residues (such as Asp, Glu), basic side chain amino acids (such as His, Lys, and Arg) or directional side chain residues (such as Trp, Tyr, and Phe). It is known in the art that conservative substitutions usually do not cause significant changes in the conformational structure of the protein and are therefore able to retain the biological activity of the protein. When "percent sequence identity" is used for an amino acid sequence (or nucleic acid sequence), it refers to a candidate sequence after sequence alignment, and if necessary, introducing a gap to maximize the number of identical amino acids (or nucleic acids). In this example, the percentage of amino acid (or nucleic acid) residues in the candidate sequence is the same as that of the reference sequence. Conservative substitutions of the amino acid residues may or may not be considered the same residue. Tools that can be revealed by this technology, such as BLASTN, BLASTp (National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), see also, Altschul SF et al., J. Mol. Biol., 215: 403-410 (1990) Stephen F. et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 25: 3389-3402 (1997)), ClustalW2 (European Bioinformatics Institute website, see, Higgins DG et al., Methods in Enzymology, 266: 383-402 (1996 ); Larkin MA et al., Bioinformatics (Oxford, England), 23 (21): 2947-8 (2007)) and ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software to align sequences to determine amino acid (or nucleic acid) sequences Percent sequence identity. Those skilled in the art can use the default parameters of the tool or adjust the parameters appropriately according to the needs of the comparison, for example, by selecting a suitable algorithm. "Effective function" as used in this application refers to the biological activity of the antibody's Fc region bound to its effectors such as the C1 complex and Fc receptor. Exemplary effector functions include complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) induced by the interaction of antibodies with C1q on the C1 complex, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cells induced by binding of the Fc region of the antibody to Fc receptors on effector cells Toxicity (ADCC) and phagocytosis. "Treatment" or "therapy" of a condition includes preventing or reducing a condition, reducing the rate at which a condition arises or developing, reducing the risk of developing a condition, preventing or delaying the development of symptoms associated with a condition , Reduce or terminate the symptoms associated with a condition, produce a complete or partial reversal of a condition, cure a condition, or a combination of the above. "Isolated" matter has been artificially changed from its natural state. If some "isolated" substance or component appears in nature, it has changed or left its original state, or both. For example, a polynucleotide or polypeptide naturally occurring in a living animal is not isolated, but if the polynucleotide or polypeptide is sufficiently separated from the substances that coexist in its natural state and exists in a sufficiently pure state, Can be considered "separated." In certain embodiments, the purity of the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments is at least 90%, 93%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, which are determined by electrophoresis methods (such as SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing) , Capillary electrophoresis), or chromatography (such as ion exchange chromatography or reversed-phase HPLC). The "vector" in the present invention refers to a vehicle that can be operatively inserted into a polynucleotide encoding a protein, and the protein can be expressed. Vectors can be used to transform, transduce, or transfect host cells so that the genetic material elements they carry are expressed within the host cells. For example, vectors include: plasmids, phagemids, cosmids, artificial chromosomes such as yeast artificial chromosomes (YAC), bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) or P1-derived artificial chromosomes (PAC), phages such as lambda phage or M13 phage , And animal viruses. Animal viruses used as vectors include retroviruses (including lentiviruses), adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, herpes viruses (such as herpes simplex virus), poxviruses, baculoviruses, papillomaviruses, and papillomaviruses (Such as SV40). Vectors can contain a variety of performance-controlling elements, including promoter sequences, transcription initiation sequences, enhancer sequences, selection elements, and reporter genes. Alternatively, the vector may contain a replication initiation site. A vector can also include components that assist it in entering cells, including, but not limited to, viral particles, liposomes, or protein shells. A "host cell" in the present invention refers to a cell that is introduced into an exogenous polynucleotide and / or vector. In the present invention, "a disease or symptom mediated by PSCK9" refers to a disease or symptom caused or characterized by a change in PCSK9, such as a change in performance level, activity, and / or the presence of a variant or mutation of PCSK9. Examples of diseases or conditions mediated by PCSK9 include, but are not limited to, dyslipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, hyperlipidemia; dyslipidemia; hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, stroke, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis , Peripheral vascular disease, claudication, type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease or condition, inflammation or autoimmune disease. Methods for identifying / diagnosing the above-mentioned diseases or symptoms are known in the art. For the use of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof in the treatment of CVD (such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stroke and cardiovascular death), the "therapeutically effective amount" or "Effective dose" means the antibody or antigen binding thereof that is capable of reducing lipids (such as cholesterol) in plasma or serum, alleviating symptoms or markers associated with a CVD condition, preventing or delaying the development of a CVD condition, or a combination thereof. The dose or concentration of the fragment. "Pharmaceutically acceptable" means the carrier, solvent, diluent, excipient, and / or salt referred to, generally chemically and / or physically compatible with other ingredients in the formulation, and physiologically compatible with Recipient compatible.anti- -PCSK9 antibody
In certain embodiments, the application provides exemplary humanized monoclonal antibodies 2.6.6, 2.12.12.4, 2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k, 2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k , 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k and 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k, the CDR sequences of which are shown in Table 1, and the heavy or light chain variable regions of their mouse parental antibodies and humanized antibodies The sequences are also listed below.table 1 2.6.6-VH ( Mouse antibody ) Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 36): Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 37) 2.6.6 - VL ( Mouse antibody ) Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 38): Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 39) 2.12.12.4-VH ( Mouse antibody ) Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 40): Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 41) 2.12.12.4-VL ( Mouse antibody ) Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 42) Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43) 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k-VH ( Engineered humanized antibodies, D30E and N85D) Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 44): Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 45) 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k-VL ( Engineered humanized antibodies, D30E and N85D) Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 46): Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 47) 2.6.6-v2-z4-uIgG1k-VH Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 48): Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 49) 2.6.6-v2-z4-uIgG1k-VL Amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 50): Nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 51) In some embodiments, one or more of the CDR sequences described herein can be modified or altered so that the obtained antibody is improved in one or more properties relative to the original antibody (e.g., improved antigen binding, improved Glycosylation pattern, reduced risk of glycosylation on CDR residues, increased pharmacokinetic half-life, pH sensitivity, and compatibility with conjugation), or equivalent to the original antibody (i.e., except for the modifications and Change the antibody with the same CDR sequence outside), or at least substantially retain the antigen-binding properties of the original antibody. Those skilled in the art will understand that the CDR sequences provided in Table 1 can be modified to include substitutions of one or more amino acids, thereby resulting in improved biological activity such as improved binding affinity to human PCSK9. For example, phage display technology can be used to produce and express a library of antibody variants (such as Fab or FcFv variants), followed by screening for antibodies that have an affinity for human PCSK9. In another example, computer software can be used to simulate the binding of the antibody to human PCSK9 and identify the amino acid residues on the antibody that form the binding interface. Substitution of these residues can be avoided to prevent a decrease in binding affinity, or these residues can be targeted for substitution to form stronger binding. In certain embodiments, at least one (or all) of the CDR sequences are substituted by conservative substitutions. In certain embodiments, the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments include one or more CDR sequences having at least 80% (e.g., at least 85%, 88%, 90%, 91%) of the sequences listed in Table 1. %, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%), while retaining similarity to or even higher than its parental antibody to human PCSK9 Binding affinity, the parent antibodies have substantially the same sequence, but their corresponding CDR sequences have 100% sequence identity with the sequences listed in Table 1. In certain embodiments, the anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof are humanized. These humanized antibodies retain the binding affinity to human PCSK9, preferably with exemplary antibodies: 2.6.6, 2.12.12.4, 2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k, 2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k, 2.12. The levels of 12.4-z2-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k and 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k are similar. This application also includes antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that compete with the anti-PCSK9 antibody and its antigen-binding fragments of the application for the same epitope. In certain embodiments, the antibody is less than 10-6
M, below 10-7
M, below 10-7.5
M, below 10-8
M, below 10-8.5
M or below 10-9
M or below 10-10
M's IC50
Value (i.e. half inhibitory concentration) blocks 2.6.6, 2.12.12.4, 2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k, 2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k or 2.12.12.4 Binding of v2-z4-uIgG4k to human or monkey PCSK9. IC50
Values are determined by competitive tests such as ELISA and radioligand competition binding assays. In some embodiments, the anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof described herein can be-8
M, not more than 10-9
M or not more than 10-10
M (e.g. ≤1.1 × 10-9
M, ≤2 × 10-9
M, ≤10-9
M, ≤5.5 × 10-10
M, ≤4.5 × 10-11
M, ≤5.5 × 10-11
M) The binding affinity (Kd) specifically binds to human PCSK9, which is measured by surface plasmon resonance binding method or ELISA. Binding affinity available KD
The value indicates that it was calculated from the ratio of the dissociation rate to the binding rate (koff / kon) when the binding of the antigen and the antigen-binding molecule reached equilibrium. The antigen-binding affinity (e.g., KD
) Can be suitably determined by suitable methods known in the art, which include the use of instruments such as surface plasmon resonance binding methods such as Biacore (see, for example, Murphy, M. et al., Current protocols in protein science, Chapter Chapter 19, Unit 19.14, 2006). In certain embodiments, the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof described herein and human PCSK9 are 0.05nM-1nM (e.g., 0.1nM-0.9nM, 0.1nM-0.8nM, 0.1nM-0.7nM, 0.1nM-0.6). nM, 0.1nM-0.5nM, 0.1nM-0.4nM, 0.1nM-0.3nM, or 0.1nM-0.2nM) EC50 (ie, half binding concentration). The binding of the antibody to human PCSK9 can be determined by methods known in the art, such as the sandwich method, such as ELISA, Western blot, or other binding tests. In an illustrative example, the test antibody (that is, the primary antibody) is bound to the immobilized human PCSK9, and then the unbound antibody is washed away, and a labeled secondary antibody is introduced, which can bind to the primary antibody and therefore can detect the bound primary antibody. anti. The detection can be performed on a microplate reader when using immobilized PCSK9. In certain embodiments, the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof described herein have an IC of 3nM-10nM (e.g., 3.5nM-9.5nM, 3.5nM-8.5nM, or 5nM-8.5nM).50
Inhibits the binding of human PCSK9 to its ligand, which is measured by a competitive test. In certain embodiments, the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof bind to monkey PCSK9 with similar binding affinity to human PCSK9. For example, exemplary antibodies 2.6.6, 2.12.12.4, 2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k, 2.12.12.4-z1-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z2-IgG4k, 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k, and 2.12.12.4-v2 -z4-uIgG4k with monkey PCSK9 with similar affinity or EC to human PCSK950
Value combination. In some embodiments, the anti-PCSK9 antibody and its antigen-binding fragment also include an immunoglobulin constant region. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin constant regions include heavy and / or light chain constant regions. The heavy chain constant region includes a CH1, CH1-CH2, or CH1-CH3 region. In some embodiments, the constant region may also include one or more modifications to obtain the desired properties. For example, the constant region can be modified to reduce or deplete one or more effector functions, to enhance FcRn receptor binding, or to introduce one or more cysteine residues. In some embodiments, the anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof have a constant region of the IgG4 isotype, which has a reduced or depleted effector function. Many tests are known to evaluate ADCC or CDC activity, such as Fc receptor binding assay, complement C1q binding assay, and cell lysis method, and those skilled in the art can easily choose. In some embodiments, the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof can be used as a base molecule for antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific or multivalent antibodies. The anti-PCSK9 antibody and the antigen-binding fragment thereof described in the present application may be a monoclonal antibody, a polyclonal antibody, a fully human antibody, a humanized antibody, a chimeric antibody, a recombinant antibody, a bispecific antibody, a labeled antibody, a secondary antibody Valent antibody or anti-idiotypic antibody. Recombinant antibodies are antibodies made in vitro using recombinant methods rather than animals. Bispecific antibodies or bivalent antibodies are artificial antibodies with fragments of two different monoclonal antibodies, which are capable of binding two different antigens. "Bivalent" antibodies and their antigen-binding fragments include two antigen-binding sites. The two antigen-binding sites may bind the same antigen, or may each bind to a different antigen, in which case the antibody or antigen-binding fragment is "bispecific". In some embodiments, the anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof described herein are camelized single chain domain antibody, diabody, scFv, scFv dimer, BsFv, dsFv, (dsFv) 2, dsFv-dsFv ', Fv fragment, Fab, Fab', F (ab ') 2, ds diabody, nanobody, domain antibody or bivalent domain antibody. In certain embodiments, the anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof further comprise a conjugate. It is envisaged that the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof of the present invention may be linked to a variety of conjugates (see, for example, "Conjugate Vaccines", Contributions to Microbiology and Immunology, JM Cruse and RE Lewis, Jr. (eds.), Carger Press, New York, (1989)). These conjugates can be linked to the antibody or antigen conjugate by other means such as covalent binding, affinity binding, intercalation, coordinate binding, mismatch, binding, mixing, or addition. In certain embodiments, the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments disclosed herein can be engineered to contain specific sites other than the epitope-binding portion, and these sites can be used to bind one or more conjugates. For example, such sites may contain one or more reactive amino acid residues, such as cysteine residues and histidine residues, to assist in covalent attachment to the conjugate. In certain embodiments, the antibody may be attached to the conjugate indirectly, or through another conjugate. For example, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof can bind biotin and then indirectly bind a second conjugate, which is linked to avidin. The conjugate can be a detectable label, a pharmacokinetic modification moiety, a purification moiety, or a cytotoxic moiety. Examples of detectable labels may include fluorescent labels (e.g., luciferin, rhodamine, salamander, phycoerythrin, or Texas red), enzyme-substance labels (e.g., horseradish peroxidase, Alkaline phosphatase, luciferase, glucoamylase, lysozyme, sugar oxidase or β-D-galactosidase), radioisotopes (e.g.,123
I,124
I,125
I,131
I,35
S,3
H,111
In,112
In,14
C,64
Cu,67
Cu,86
Y,88
Y,90
Y,177
Lu,211
At,186
Re,188
Re,153
Sm,212
Bi, and32
P, other lanthanides, luminescent labels), chromophore moieties, digoxin, biotin / avidin, DNA molecules or gold for detection. In certain embodiments, the conjugate may be a pharmacokinetic modification moiety such as PEG, which helps extend the half-life of the antibody. Other suitable polymers include, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethylene glycol / propylene glycol copolymers, and the like. In certain embodiments, the conjugate can be a purified moiety, such as a magnetic bead. A "cytotoxic moiety" may be any agent that is harmful to the cell or that may damage or kill the cell. Examples of cytotoxic moieties include, but are not limited to, paclitaxel, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, tuematine, mitomycin, etoposide, teniposide, vincristine, Vinblastine, colchicine, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone, mithromycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids, general Lucaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, puromycin and its analogs, antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, arabinocytosine Glycosides, 5-fluorouracil dacarbaba), alkylating agents (e.g., nitrogen mustard, cetipine phenylbutyrate, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) and lomustine (CCNU), cyclophosphamide , Busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP) cisplatin), anthracycline antibiotics (e.g. daunorubicin (previously Daunomycin) and doxorubicin), antibiotics (such as dactinomycin (formerly known as actinomycin), bleomycin, mithromycin, and anthromycin (AMC)), and antimitotic agents ( Vincristine and vinblastine Pristine).Multi-core Glycylic acid and recombination method
The application provides isolated polynucleotides encoding anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof. In certain embodiments, the isolated polynucleotide includes one or more nucleotide sequences as in Table 1, which encode the CDR sequences as in Table 1. In some embodiments, the isolated polynucleotide encodes a heavy chain variable region and includes a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 34, and having Homologous sequences with at least 80% (e.g., at least 85%, 88%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%) of sequence identity . In some embodiments, the isolated polynucleotide encodes a light chain variable region and includes a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 36, and having Homologous sequences with at least 80% (e.g., at least 85%, 88%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%) of sequence identity . In certain embodiments, the percentage of identity is derived from the degeneracy of the genetic code, while the encoded protein sequence remains unchanged. Using recombinant techniques known in the art, a vector including a polynucleotide encoding the anti-PCSK9 antibody and its antigen-binding fragment (for example, including the sequence shown in Table 1) can be introduced into a host cell for selection (amplification) DNA) or gene expression. In another embodiment, the antibody can be produced by homologous recombination methods known in the art. The DNA encoding the monoclonal antibody can be isolated and sequenced by conventional methods (for example, an oligonucleotide probe can be used, which can specifically bind to genes encoding the heavy and light chains of the antibody). A variety of vectors are available. Vector components typically include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancement sequence, a promoter (e.g., SV40, CMV, EF-1α), and a transcription termination sequence . In some embodiments, the vector system includes mammals, bacteria, yeast systems, etc., and will include plasmids such as, but not limited to, pALTER, pBAD, pcDNA, pCal, pL, pET, pGEMEX, pGEX, pCI, pCMV, pEGFP, pEGFT, pSV2, pFUSE, pVITRO, pVIVO, pMAL, pMONO, pSELECT, pUNO, pDUO, Psg5L, pBABE, pWPXL, pBI, p15TV-L, pPro18, pTD, pRS420, pLexA, pACT2 and others are available from the laboratory Or a commercially available carrier. Suitable vectors may include plasmid or viral vectors (eg, replication defective retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses). Vectors including polynucleotides encoding the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof can be introduced into host cells for selection or gene expression. The host cells suitable for colonizing or expressing the DNA in the vector in the present invention are prokaryotic cells, yeast, or the above-mentioned higher eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells suitable for use in the present invention include Eubacteria such as Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria, for example, Enterobacteriaceae, such as E. coli, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Klebsiella Genus, Proteus, Salmonella, such as Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia, such as Serratia marcescens, and Shigella, and Bacillus, such as Bacillus subtilis and lichen Bacillus, Pseudomonas such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptomyces. In addition to prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic microorganisms such as filamentous fungi or yeasts can also be used as host cells to colonize or express vectors encoding anti-PCSK9 antibodies. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or baker's yeast, are the most commonly used lower eukaryotic host microorganisms. However, many other genera, species, and strains are commonly used and applicable in the present invention, such as Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Kluyveromyces hosts, such as Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces fragilis (ATCC 12,424) Kluyveromyces bulgaricus (ATCC 16,045), Kluyveromyces welchii (ATCC 24,178), Kluyveromyces kluyveri (ATCC 56,500), Kluyveromyces drosophila (ATCC 36,906), Kluyveromyces thermotolerance and Markske Ruwiomyces; Yarrowia lipolytica (EP 402,226); Pichia pastoris (EP 183,070); Candida; Trichoderma reesei (EP 244,234); Streptomyces; Western Schwann yeast, such as: Western Schwann yeast; and filamentous fungi, such as: Neurospora, Penicillium, Curvularia and Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger. The host cells provided in the present invention and suitable for expressing glycosylated antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof are derived from multicellular organisms. Examples of invertebrate cells include plant and insect cells. A variety of baculoviral strains and their variants and corresponding permissive insect host cells have been discovered from hosts such as Spodoptera frugiperda (caterpillar), Aedes aegypti (mosquito) , Aedes albopictus (mosquito), Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila) and silkworm. A number of virus strains for transfection are publicly available, such as the Bm-5 variants of Spodoptera litura nuclear polyhedrosis virus and Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus. These viruses can be used in the present invention, especially For transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells. Plant cell cultures of cotton, corn, potatoes, soybeans, petunias, tomatoes and tobacco can also be used as hosts. However, spinal cells are of most interest, and the culture (tissue culture) of spinal cells has become a well-known operation. Examples of mammalian host cells that can be used are: SV40 transformed monkey kidney cell CV1 line (COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651); human embryonic kidney cell line (293 or subculture 293 cell suspension line, Graham et al., J. Gen. Virol. 36:59 (1977)); young hamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL 10); Chinese hamster ovary cells / -DHFR (CHO, Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77: 4216 ( 1980)); mouse testis support cells (TM4, Mather, Biol. Reprod. 23: 243-251 (1980)); monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkey kidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC CRL -1587); human cervical cancer cells (HELA, ATCC CCL 2); canine kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL 34); Buffalo rat liver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442); human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL 75); human hepatocytes (Hep G2, HB 8065); mouse breast tumors (MMT 060562, ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals NY Acad. Sci. 383: 44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; and human liver cancer cell lines (Hep G2). In certain preferred embodiments, the host cell is a 293F cell. The host cell is transformed with the expression or selection vector capable of producing anti-PCSK9 antibody as described above, and cultured in a conventional nutrient medium, which is modified to be suitable for inducing a promoter, selecting transformed cells, or for encoding purposes Sequence of genes. The host cells used to produce the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof in the present invention can be cultured in a variety of media. Commercially available media such as Ham's F10 (Sigma), minimum basic culture medium (MEM, (Sigma)), RPMI-1640 (Sigma), and Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) (Sigma) can be used to culture the host cells. In addition, any of Ham et al., Meth. Enz. 58:44 (1979), Barnes et al., Anal. Biochem. 102: 255 (1980), U.S. Patent Nos. 4,767,704; 4,657,866; 4,927,762; 4,560,655; or 5,122,469; WO 90 / 03430; WO 87/00195; or the medium described in US Patent Application Re. 30,985 can be used as a medium for the host cell. These media can be supplemented with necessary hormones and / or other growth factors (such as insulin, transferrin or epidermal growth factor), salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and phosphate), and buffers (such as HEPES), nucleotides (such as adenylate and thymine), antibiotics (such as gentamicin), trace elements (defined as inorganic compounds whose final concentration is usually in the micromolar range), and glucose or equivalent energy source. The medium may also contain any other necessary additives at appropriate concentrations known in the art. The conditions of the medium, such as temperature, pH, and the like, are the conditions previously used to select host cells for expression, and are well known to those skilled in the art. When using recombinant technology, the antibodies can be produced intracellularly, in the parietal space, or secreted directly into the culture medium. If the antibody is produced intracellularly, the host cell or particle debris of the lysed fragment is first removed, for example, by centrifugation or ultrasound. Carter et al., Bio / Technology 10: 163-167 (1992) describe a method for isolating antibodies secreted into the membrane space of E. coli. In short, the cell paste was opened in the presence of sodium acetate (pH 3.5), EDTA, and benzylsulfonium fluoride (PMSF) for about 30 minutes or more. Centrifuge to remove cell debris. If the antibody is secreted into the culture medium, a commercially available protein concentration filter, such as Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltration unit, is usually first used to concentrate the supernatant of the performance system. Protease inhibitors such as PMSF can be added in any of the foregoing steps to inhibit protein degradation and antibiotics to prevent the growth of accidental contaminants. Antibodies produced from the cells can be purified using purification methods such as hydroxyapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis, DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography columns, ammonium sulfate precipitation, salting out, and affinity chromatography Among them, affinity chromatography is the preferred purification technique. The type of antibody and the presence of any immunoglobulin Fc domain in the antibody determine whether protein A is suitable as an affinity ligand. Protein A can be used for purification of antibodies based on human γ1, γ2 or γ4 heavy chains (Lindmark et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 62: 1-13 (1983)). Protein G is suitable for all murine isomers and human gamma 3 (Guss et al., EMBO J. 5: 1567 1575 (1986)). Agarose is the most commonly used affinity ligand attachment matrix, but other matrices are also available. Mechanically stable matrices such as controlled-porosity glass or poly (styrene) benzene can achieve faster flow rates and shorter processing times than with agarose. If the antibody contains a CH3 domain, it can be purified using Bakerbond ABX.TM resin (J. T. Baker, Phillipsburg, N.J.). Other protein purification techniques such as fractionation in ion exchange columns, reversed-phase HPLC, silica gel chromatography, anion or cation exchange resin-based heparin agarose gel chromatography (such as Polyaspartic acid column), chromatography focus, SDS-PAGE, and ammonium sulfate precipitation. After any preliminary purification steps, low pH hydrophobic interaction chromatography can be used to treat mixtures containing antibodies and impurities of interest, using a wash buffer pH of about 2.5-4.5, preferably at low salt concentrations (e.g., (0 to 0.25 M salt concentration).Set
The application provides a kit comprising the anti-PCSK9 antibody and its antigen-binding fragment. In some embodiments, the kit is used to detect the presence or level of PCSK9 in a biological sample. The biological sample may include serum. In some embodiments, the kit includes an anti-PCSK9 antibody conjugated to a detectable label and an antigen-binding fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the set includes unlabeled anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, and further includes a secondary antibody capable of binding a labeled anti-PCSK9 antibody and antigen-binding fragments thereof. The kit may further include instructions for use and packaging that separates the components in the kit. In some embodiments, the kit is used to treat, prevent, or delay a disease or condition mediated by PCSK9. In some embodiments, the anti-PCSK9 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof are linked to a substrate or instrument for a sandwich assay such as an ELISA or immunochromatographic assay. Suitable substrates or instruments can be, for example, microplates and test strips. In some embodiments, the kit also includes one or more agents known to be beneficial for lowering cholesterol. Exemplary agents include statins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors other than statins, nicotinic acid (nicotinic acid), cholesterol absorption inhibitors, cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), bile acid sequestrants, fibrates, Phytosterols; or regulators selected from small molecule lipid / lipid concentration ratios, peptidomimetics, antisense RNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and natural or modified lipids. In some embodiments, the cholesterol absorption inhibitor is ezetimibe or SCH-48461; the CETP is evacetrapib, anacetrapib or dalcetrapib; the bile acid sequestrant is preferably colesevelam, cholestyramine or fibrate Ning is preferably fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, antrum, or benzabate; or a combination of the above agents.Pharmaceutical composition and treatment method
The application further provides a pharmaceutical composition including the anti-PCSK9 antibody and antigen-binding fragment thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for use in the pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein may include, for example, pharmaceutically acceptable liquid, gel or solid carriers, aqueous media, non-aqueous media, antimicrobial substances, etc. Osmotic substances, buffers, antioxidants, anesthetics, suspending agents / dispersants, chelating agents, diluents, adjuvants, excipients or non-toxic auxiliary substances, other components known in the art or a combination of the above. Suitable components may include, for example, antioxidants, fillers, binders, disintegrants, buffers, preservatives, lubricants, flavoring agents, thickeners, colorants, emulsifiers or stabilizers such as sugars and Cyclodextrin. Suitable antioxidants may include, for example, methionine, ascorbic acid, EDTA, sodium thiosulfate, platinum, catalase, citric acid, cysteine, mercaptoglycerol, mercaptoacetic acid, mercaptosorbitol, butyl methyl anise Ether, butylated hydroxytoluene and / or propyl gallate. As disclosed in the present invention, including one or more antioxidants such as methionine in a composition containing the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof disclosed in the present invention can reduce the oxidation of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. A reduction in oxidation prevents or reduces a decrease in binding affinity, thereby increasing antibody stability and extending shelf life. Therefore, in certain embodiments, the composition provided by the present invention contains one or more of said antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof and one or more antioxidants such as methionine. The present invention further provides methods for preventing the antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof from being oxidized and prolonged by mixing the antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof provided in the present invention with one or more antioxidants, such as methionine. Shelf life and / or increase its activity. Further, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may include, for example, an aqueous medium such as sodium chloride injection, Ringer's solution injection, isotonic glucose injection solution, sterile water injection solution, or glucose and lactate Ringer Injections, non-aqueous media such as: non-volatile oils of plant origin, cottonseed oil, corn oil, sesame oil, or peanut oil, antibacterial substances at bacterial or fungal inhibitory concentrations, isotonic agents such as sodium chloride or glucose, Buffers such as phosphate or citrate buffers, antioxidants such as sodium bisulfate, local anesthetics such as procaine hydrochloride, suspending and dispersing agents such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose or polyvinylpyrrolidone, emulsifiers such as polysorbate 80 (Tween-80), chelating agents such as EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) or EGTA (ethylene glycol bis (2- (2- Amine ethyl ether) tetraacetic acid), ethanol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, citric acid or lactic acid. The antibacterial agent as a carrier can be added to the pharmaceutical composition in a multiple dose container, which includes phenols or cresols, mercury preparations, benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, methyl and propyl parabens, Thimerosa, ammonium chlorobenzyl and chlorophenethyl ammonium. Suitable excipients may include, for example, water, salt, glucose, glycerol or ethanol. Suitable non-toxic auxiliary substances may include, for example, emulsifiers, pH buffers, stabilizers, solubilizers, or substances such as sodium acetate, sorbitan laurate, triethanolamine oleate, or cyclodextrin . The pharmaceutical composition may be a liquid solution, a suspension, an emulsion, a pill, a capsule, a lozenge, a sustained release preparation, or a powder. Oral formulations can include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium saccharin, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, and the like. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is prepared as an injectable composition. Injectable pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared in any conventional form, for example, liquid solvents, suspending agents, emulsifiers or solid forms suitable for producing liquid solvents, suspending agents or emulsifiers. Injectable preparations may include current sterile and / or pyrogen-free solutions, sterile dry solubles that are combined with the solvent prior to use, such as lyophilized powder, including subcutaneous tablets, sterile suspensions ready for injection, and Vehicle-bound sterile dry insoluble products, and sterile and / or pyrogen-free emulsions. The solvent can be an aqueous or non-aqueous phase. In certain embodiments, the unit-dose injectable preparation is packaged in an ampoule, a tube, or a syringe with a needle. It is known in the art that all preparations for injection should be sterile and pyrogen-free. In certain embodiments, a sterile lyophilized powder can be prepared by dissolving the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof disclosed in this application in a suitable solvent. The solvent may contain a powder or a reconstituted solution prepared from the powder, or other pharmacological components to improve the stability. Suitable excipients include, but are not limited to, water, glucose, sorbitol, fructose, corn syrup, xylitol, glycerol, glucose, sucrose, or other suitable substances. The solvent may contain a buffer, such as a citrate buffer, a sodium or potassium phosphate buffer, or other buffers known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the pH of the buffer is neutral. The dissolution is followed by sterilization by filtration under standard conditions well known in the art, and then lyophilization to obtain the desired formulation. In one embodiment, the resulting solvent is aliquoted into a vial and lyophilized. Each vial can contain a single dose or multiple doses of the anti-PCSK9 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof or a combination thereof. The amount of filling in each vial can be slightly higher than that required for each dose or multiple doses (for example, a 10% overdose) to ensure accurate sampling and accurate administration. The lyophilized powder can be stored under appropriate conditions, such as in the range of about 4 ° C to room temperature. The lyophilized powder was reconstituted with water for injection to obtain a preparation for injection administration. In one embodiment, the lyophilized powder can be reconstituted in sterile pyrogen-free water or other suitable liquid carriers. The exact amount is determined by the chosen therapy and can be determined based on experience. Methods of treatment are also provided that include administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described herein to an individual in need thereof, thereby treating or preventing a condition or disorder associated with PCSK9. In another aspect, a method of treating a condition in an individual who would benefit from an up-regulated immune response is also provided, comprising administering to the individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof as described herein. The therapeutically effective dose of the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof provided in this application depends on a variety of factors known in the art, such as weight, age, past medical history, current treatment, subject's health condition and potential for cross-infection, allergy, hypersensitivity And side effects, as well as the route of administration and the extent of tumor development. Those skilled in the art (eg, a doctor or veterinarian) can reduce or increase the dose proportionally according to these or other conditions or requirements. In certain embodiments, the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof provided herein can be administered at a therapeutically effective dose of about 0.01 mg / kg to about 100 mg / kg (e.g., about 0.01 mg / kg, about 0.5 mg / kg kg, about 1 mg / kg, about 2 mg / kg, about 3 mg / kg, about 5 mg / kg, about 10 mg / kg, about 15 mg / kg, about 20 mg / kg, about 25 mg / kg, about 30 mg / kg, about 35 mg / kg, about 40 mg / kg, about 45 mg / kg, about 50 mg / kg, about 55 mg / kg, about 60 mg / kg, about 65 mg / kg, about 70 mg / kg, about 75 mg / kg, about 80 mg / kg, about 85 mg / kg, about 90 mg / kg, about 95 mg / kg, or about 100 mg / kg). In certain embodiments, the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is administered at a dose of about 50 mg / kg or less, and in certain embodiments, the dose is administered at 10 mg / kg or less, 5 mg / kg or less, 3 mg / kg or less, 1 mg / kg or less, 0.5 mg / kg or less or 0.1 mg / kg or less. A particular dose can be administered at multiple intervals, such as once a day, twice a day or more, twice a month or more, once a week, once every two weeks, once every three weeks, once a month, or every two Once a month or more. In certain embodiments, the dosage administered may vary with the course of treatment. For example, in certain embodiments, the initial dose may be higher than the subsequent dose. In certain embodiments, the administered dose is adjusted during the course of treatment based on the response of the subject to be administered. The dosing schedule can be adjusted to achieve an optimal response (such as a therapeutic response). For example, a single dose may be administered or divided into multiple divided doses over a period of time. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments disclosed in the present invention can be administered by known administration methods such as injection (e.g., subcutaneous injection, intraperitoneal injection, intravenous injection, including intravenous drip, intramuscular injection or intradermal injection). Injection) or non-injection (eg, oral, nasal, sublingual, rectal or topical). Method of Use This application further provides a method of using the anti-PCSK9 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the application provides a method of treating a PCSK9-mediated condition or disorder in an individual, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a PCSK9 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described herein. In some embodiments, the individual is identified as having a disorder or condition that is likely to respond to a PCSK9 inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the individual is at risk of having or developing a disease or condition mediated by PCSK9 that exhibits one or more symptoms of the disease or condition, such as being overweight, Have elevated cholesterol levels, have a genetic mutation in a gene encoding LDL-R or APOB, or have a family history of such diseases or conditions. In certain embodiments, the individual is resistant or intolerant to another cholesterol-lowering agent (e.g., a statin) during treatment, and therefore the cholesterol level cannot be effectively reduced to an acceptable level during the treatment Level. In certain embodiments, the PCSK9-mediated diseases or conditions include infectious diseases such as severe cellulitis, gastroenteritis, sepsis, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, pyelonephritis, viral infections, for example, type B Hepatitis, hepatitis C, herpes virus infection, Epstein-Barr virus, HIV, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus type I, herpes simplex virus type 2, human papilloma virus, adenovirus, Kaposi's sarcoma-related Herpes virus epidemics, Torquetenovirus, JC virus or BK virus, or include inflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA ), Psoriasis arthritis), asthma, atherosclerosis, Crohn's disease, colitis, dermatitis, diverticulitis, fibromyalgia, hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Nephritis, Parkinson's disease, and ulcerative colitis. The presence and level of LDL-C in the target biological tissue may indicate whether the individual from which the biological sample is derived is likely to respond to a PCSK9 inhibitor. Various methods can be used to determine the presence or level of LDL-C in a biological sample to be tested from the individual. Cholesterol levels are measured in the United States using milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) of blood, while millimoles (mmol) per liter (L) of blood are used in Canada and many European countries. In some embodiments, the presence or level of LDL-C, total cholesterol or non-HDL-C in the biological sample to be tested indicates the likelihood of a response. The term "up-regulation" as used herein refers to the total cholesterol level detected in a test sample using the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof described in the application compared to the cholesterol level in a reference sample detected with the same antibody Increase not less than 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% or more many. The reference sample may be a control sample obtained from a healthy or disease-free individual, or a healthy or disease-free sample obtained from an individual from which the sample to be tested is derived. The antibodies and antigen-binding fragments disclosed herein can be administered alone or in combination with one or more other treatments or substances. For example, the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments disclosed in the present invention can interact with statins, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors other than statins, nicotinic acid (nicotinic acid), cholesterol absorption inhibitors, cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), bile Acid chelators, fibrates, phytosterols; or regulators selected from small molecule lipid / lipid concentration ratios, peptidomimetics, antisense RNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and natural or modified lipids. In some embodiments, the cholesterol absorption inhibitor is ezetimibe or SCH-48461; the CETP is evacetrapib, anacetrapib or dalcetrapib; the bile acid sequestrant is preferably colesevelam, cholestyramine or fibrate Ning is preferably fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, antrum, or benzabate; or a combination of the above agents. In certain such embodiments, when the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments disclosed herein are used in combination with one or more of the above-mentioned therapeutic substances, they may be administered simultaneously with the one or more of the therapeutic substances. In some such embodiments, The antibody and the antigen-binding fragment can be administered simultaneously as part of the same pharmaceutical composition. However, antibodies and antigen conjugates that are "combined" with other therapeutic substances need not be administered simultaneously or in the same composition as the therapeutic substance. The meaning of "combined use" in the present invention also includes that an antibody and an antigen conjugate administered before or after another therapeutic substance are also considered to be "combined with" the therapeutic substance, even if the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and the first The two substances are administered by different modes of administration. Where possible, other therapeutic substances used in combination with the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof disclosed in the present invention can be used in accordance with the methods of the product description of the other therapeutic substances, or refer to the surgeon's desk reference book 2003 , 57th Edition; Medical Economics Company; ISBN: 1563634457; 57th Edition (November 2002)), or refer to other methods known in this technology. The following examples are intended to better illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. All the specific compositions, materials and methods described below, in whole or in part, are within the scope of the present invention. These specific compositions, materials, and methods are not intended to limit the invention, but merely to illustrate that specific embodiments are within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art can develop equivalent compositions, materials, and methods without adding creativity and without departing from the scope of the invention. It should be understood that various modifications made to the method of the present invention may still be included within the scope of the present invention. The inventor intends to include such variations within the scope of the present invention.Examples Examples 1 : Production of antigens and other proteins
1.1 Human and mouse PCSK9 The human and mouse PCSK9 genes were assembled into the pcDNA3.3 vector, respectively, and the 6-His tag or mouse Fc tag was fused to the C-terminus. These plasmids were transfected into HEK293 cells with transfection reagent PlasFect (Bioline USA, BIO-46026), respectively. The cell supernatant was collected after transfection. His tag protein was purified by Ni column (Qiagen Inc), and mouse Fc fusion protein was purified by Protein A column (MabSelect SuRe, GE). 1.2 Human LDL-R The LDL-R extracellular domain gene was assembled into the pcDNA3.3 vector, and the 6-His tag was fused to the C-terminus. These plasmids were transfected into HEK293 cells with a transfection reagent PlasFect (Bioline USA, BIO-46026). After transfection, the cell supernatant was collected. The LDL-R protein was purified in the first step using a Ni column (Qiagen Inc) and in the second step using an ion exchange column. 1.3 Reference antibody The sequence of the reference antibody BMK.115 is based on the 21B12 sequence in U.S. Patent No. 8,888,834B2. HEK293 cells were co-transfected with plasmids containing heavy and light chains. Cell supernatants were collected after transfection, and antibodies were purified by Protein A columns (MabSelect SuRe, GE).Examples 2 : Production of antibodies
2.1 Immunization Balb / c mice were injected with human-derived PCSK9 protein at the sole of the foot once every three days. After the 6 immunizations, the first titer test was performed, and then the immunization was performed once a week. 2.2 Serum titer detection The mouse serum titer was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). First, the human PCSK9 protein was diluted to 1 μg / ml with a coating solution of pH 9.2, added to a microplate (Nunc), and incubated overnight at 4 ° C. After the plate was washed and closed, 200 μl of blocking solution 1 × PBS / 2% BSA was added to each well, and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. A 100-fold dilution of mouse serum was added to the starting well, and then a serial gradient dilution of 3 times with the blocking solution was performed, followed by incubation at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing the plate, a goat anti-mouse IgG Fc HRP enzyme-labeled secondary antibody mixture (Bethyl) was added, and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing the plate, the TMB receptor color developing solution was added, and then the color development was stopped with 2M hydrochloric acid. The absorbance at 450 nM was read using a microplate reader (Molecular Device). 2.2.1 Animal immunity and hybridoma generation The titers of antigen-specific antibodies in the serum of immunized mice were detected by ELISA (Table 2). Mice with a titer of 656,100 were selected for fusion to produce hybridoma cells.table 2.
Antibody titer in serum
2.3 Hybridoma cell fusion Select mice with titers that meet the requirements, remove the lymph nodes and spleen, and transfer them to a tissue mill for grinding. B cells were counted after filtering through a 100-mesh sieve. Myeloma SP2 / 0 cells were counted after adjusting the medium to an appropriate volume. Resuspend and mix the two cells according to the number of B cells: P3 = 1: 1. Cell suspensions were added to the fusion tank for electrofusion (BTX ECM2001). After fusion, transfer the cells to a medium containing 1/2 HA, 5 × 10 per plate5
Cell density plated. 2.4 Hybridoma screening ELISA to detect binding: first dilute streptavidin to 1 μg / ml with a coating solution of pH 9.2, add it to a 96-well microtiter plate (Nunc), and incubate overnight at 4 ° C . After blocking and washing the plate, biotin-labeled human-derived PCSK9 protein was added at a concentration of 250 ng / ml, and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing the plate, the hybridoma cell supernatant was added, and the cells were incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing the plate, a goat anti-mouse IgG Fc HRP enzyme-labeled secondary antibody (Bethyl) mixture was added and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. After washing the plate, the TMB substrate was added, and the color development was stopped with 2M hydrochloric acid, and then the absorbance at 450 nm was read using a microplate reader (Molecular Device). Competitive ELISA: LDL-R was added to the microtiter plate (Nunc) and incubated overnight at 4 ° C. At the same time, the supernatant of hybridoma cells was mixed with biotin-labeled human PCSK9 protein. The final concentration of PCSK9 protein was 250 ng / ml, and the cells were incubated overnight at 4 ° C. After the plate was washed and blocked, the mixture of the hybridoma cell supernatant and the PCSK9 protein was added, and the mixture was incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing the plate, HRP-labeled streptavidin was added. Finally, the TMB receptor color development solution was added, and the color development was stopped with 2 M hydrochloric acid, and then the absorbance at 450 nm was read using a microplate reader (Molecular Device). Antibody screening In the first round of screening, the hybridoma culture supernatant was used to detect antigen binding, and 1090 hybridomas that specifically bound to the antigen were obtained. These hybridoma cell lines were screened for further competitive experiments. 54 hybridoma cells were screened by competitive ELISA, and the secreted antibodies could block the binding of human-derived PCSK9 to human-derived LDL-R. Seventeen hybridoma cell lines were selected for sub-selection. The selected subpure lines were detected by binding and competition ELISA, and their subtypes were identified. The purified antibody was further confirmed for its binding and blocking activity by ELISA (Figures 1 and 2). The IC50 results of the combined EC50 and blocking experiments are shown in Table 3. Table 3. Binding and blocking activities of antibodies
2.5 Sub-colonization of hybridoma cells The selected hybridoma cell lines were plated into 96-well plates at a density of 0.5, 1 and 5 cells per well. Individual wells were selected for detection by ELISA. Each hybridoma cell line was retained and cryopreserved 3 times. 2.6 Detection of antibody subtypes Antibody subtypes were detected by ELISA. Goat anti-mouse mouse IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3, and IgM antibodies (Bethyl) were diluted to 1 μg / ml with coating solution, added to 96-well microtiter plates (Nunc), and incubated overnight at 4 ° C. After the plate was blocked, the hybridoma cell culture supernatant was added, and the plate was allowed to stand at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing the plate, add goat anti-mouse Kappa chain enzyme-labeled secondary antibody (Southern Biotech) or goat anti-mouse Lambda chain enzyme-labeled secondary antibody (Southern Biotech), and incubate at room temperature for 45 minutes. After washing the plate, a TMB receptor color developing solution was added, and the color development was stopped with 2M hydrochloric acid, and then the absorbance at 450 nm was read using a microplate reader (Molecular Device). 2.7 Antibody purification After the collected hybridoma supernatant was adjusted to pH 7.0, it was loaded onto a Protein A column (MabSelect SuRe, GE). The antibodies were eluted with Glycine and immediately neutralized with 1M Tris. The purified protein concentration was detected by Nano Drop (Thermal-Fisher). The purity of the protein was detected by SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, NuPAGE 4% -12% Bis-Tris Gel) and HPLC-SEC (Agilent).Examples 3 : Candidate Antibody Characterization
3.1 LDL absorption experiment: HepG2 or Huh-7 cells were treated with 10% FBS in DMEM at 1 × 10 per well.5
The density was inoculated into a 96-well plate and placed in a 37 ° C incubator. The next day, the DMEM medium containing 10% FBS was replaced with a serum-free medium, and wild-type PCSK9 or variant PCSK9 (D374Y) was mixed with a series of concentration-diluted antibodies and added to the corresponding wells, and incubated at 37 ° C. 1 hour. The final concentration of wild-type PCSK9 was 20 μg / ml. Bodipy fluorescently labeled LDL (Invitrogen L-3483) was added to a 96-well plate to a final concentration of 1.5 μg / ml. After incubating in a 37 ° C incubator for 3 hours, the 96-well plate was taken out, the culture medium containing LDL was discarded, and the cells were collected by trypsinization and washed twice. The intracellular fluorescence was detected by FACS, and the intensity of the fluorescence was indicative of the amount of LDL absorbed. The recovery rate of LDL absorption is calculated by the following formula: LDL absorption recovery rate (%) = (MFIsample
-MFILDL + WBP301.Ag1H
) / (MFILDL-MFILDL + WBP301.Ag1H
) × 100%. Candidate antibody characterization experiments Perform further characterization experiments on selected subpure lines, including cell LDL absorption experiments, kinetic affinity, species cross-reaction experiments, and antigen-binding epitope grouping experiments. The final candidate pure line was selected based on affinity, ability to block PCSK9 from binding to LDL-R, and ability to restore cellular LDL absorption. LDL absorption experiment: Detection of the antibody to restore the LDL absorption capacity of cells on HepG2 cells (see Figure 3), IC50 values are shown in Table 4. Some antibodies have IC50 values of tens of picomoles. The experimental results show that the detected candidate antibodies can effectively restore the absorption of LDL by cells.table 4. LDL Absorption experiment IC50
3.2 Detection of binding kinetic constants using SPR technology Biacore T200 (GE) was used to detect the binding affinity constants of antibodies to human PCSK9 and rhesus PCSK9. Replenish the antibody to be tested using Protein A or anti-IgG Fc antibody-conjugated chips. Then, different concentrations of human-derived PCSK9 or rhesus PCSK9 were injected into the sensor chip, and the injection speed was 30 ul / min. The sample binding time was 180 s and the dissociation time was 1200 s. After each antigen binding, use 2 M MgCl2
Regeneration chip. The final binding dissociation curve is the result of subtracting the reference channel Fc1 and the buffer channel signals. The experimental data were fitted using a 1: 1 Langmiur model. The molecular weight used in the calculation of PCSK9 Molar was 85 KDa. Kinetic Affinity: The kinetic constant of antibody binding to human PCSK9 was detected by SPR experiment. Binding rate, dissociation rate and affinity constant (kon
, koff
And KD
) See Table 5. Some candidate antibodies have an affinity for PCSK9 reaching nanomoles or tens of picomoles. Table 5. Kinetic constants of antibody binding to human PCSK9
3.3 Cross-reactivity with rhesus PCSK9 protein The mouse anti-His tag antibody (Genscript) was diluted to 1 μg / ml with a coating solution of pH 9.2, added to a 96-well microtiter plate, and incubated overnight at 4 ° C. After the plate was blocked, the Rhesus PCSK9-His (Sino Biological) protein was added at a concentration of 1 μg / ml and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. After washing the plate, add the test antibody and incubate for 1 hour at room temperature. After washing the plate, add goat anti-mouse IgG Fc HRP enzyme-labeled secondary antibody (Bethyl) and incubate at room temperature for 45 minutes. Finally, the TMB receptor color development solution was added, and the color development was stopped with 2M hydrochloric acid after the reaction, and then the absorbance at 450 nm was read using a microplate reader (Molecular Device). Binding of monkey-derived PCSK9: The affinity of the candidate antibody for binding to rhesus PCSK9 was detected by ELISA (Figure 4). The results are shown in Table 6. Table 6. Affinity of antibodies binding to rhesus PCSK9 Examples 4 : Humanization of antibodies and antibody engineering
4.1 Sequencing of hybridomas. Trizol kit (Invitrogen-15596018) was used to extract RNA from hybridoma cells, and the 5'-RACE kit (Takara-28001488) was used to amplify cDNA. Then 3'-degenerate primers and 3 The '-linker primer (ExTaq: Takara-RR001B) amplified cDNA. The amplified fragment was inserted into a pMD18-T vector (Takara-D101C) and sent for sequencing (Shanghai Boshang). The selected antibodies 2.6.6 and 2.12.12.4 and their humanized antibody variable region sequences (amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences) are shown in SEQ ID NOs: 36-51. 4.2 Production of recombinant chimeric antibodies The gene sequence of each mouse antibody variable region was cloned into a pcDNA3.3 vector pcDNA3 containing human constant region genes. The heavy and light chain plasmids were transfected into HEK293 cells for antibody expression. The cell supernatant was collected by centrifugation. The antibodies were purified using Protein A (MabSelect SuRe, GE), and the purified antibodies were dialyzed into PBS. Antibody concentration was by Nanodrop. The purity of the protein was detected by SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, NuPAGE 4% -12% Bis-Tris Gel) and HPLC-SEC (Agilent). 4.3 Humanization The heavy and light chains of the antibody were humanized by the "best match method". By comparing the light chain amino acid sequence of the corresponding V gene with the human V gene database. The sequence of the humanized light chain variable region gene is to replace the human CDR sequence with a mouse CDR sequence using the Kabat CDR definition. The same method was used to obtain 4 humanized heavy chain sequences. The first is the original light chain, and the remaining three are compared in the human V gene database using the mouse FR region. The FR region is defined by an extended CDR. Kabat CDR1 is a five amino acid extension at its nitrogen terminus. The top three scored sequences were used as the sequences of the humanized heavy chain genes. Humanized genes were synthesized by GeneArt Costum Gene Synthesis (Life Technologies), back-translated, and codon optimized for eukaryotic cell performance. The optimized gene sequence was synthesized and cloned into an antibody expression vector for expression purification. Humanized antibodies were re-characterized, including binding and blocking experiments, cell LDL absorption experiments, and kinetic affinity detection. 4.3.1 Binding activity and blocking activity of humanized antibodies ELISA method to verify the binding activity of humanized antibodies to PCSK9 and the activity of blocking the binding of PCSK9 to LDLR are shown in Figures 5 and 6. The experimental results showed that the binding activity and blocking activity of the humanized antibody 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k was comparable to that of the original mouse antibody. The IC50 results of the combined EC50 and blocking experiments are shown in Table 7. And the humanized antibody 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k showed comparable binding and blocking activity to the reference antibody Repatha (evolocumab). Table 7 • Humanized antibody binding and blocking activities
4.3.2 Kinetic affinity of humanized antibodies The kinetic binding constants of humanized antibodies 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k and 2.6.6-z4-uIgG1k were detected by SPR experiments. The affinity of antibody binding to human PCSK9 and monkey PCSK9 is shown in Table 8. Table 8. Kinetic constants of antibody binding to human PCSK9 and monkey PCSK9
4.3.3 Humanized antibody LDL absorption experiment In the presence of wild-type PCSK9, the humanized 2.12.12.4 antibody was tested for LDL absorption activity on HepG2 and Huh-7 cells (Figure 7). IC50 values are shown in the table. 9. The results showed that humanized 2.12.12.4 was comparable to Repatha's ability to restore cellular LDL uptake. Table 9. Cellular LDL uptake experiments with humanized antibodies
4.3.4 Stability of humanized antibody in serum The test antibody was diluted with freshly separated human serum (serum content> 95%), and then incubated in a 37 ° C incubator for 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14 respectively. day. At the end of each time, after removing the sample from the 37 ° C incubator, it was quickly frozen in an ethanol-dry ice bath and the sample was stored in a -80 ° C refrigerator. Remove the sample and dissolve it quickly before the stability test. 96-well microtiter plate with Na2
CO3
/ NaHCO3
(pH 9.2) coated with streptavidin diluted in buffer, and placed in a refrigerator at 4 ° C. The next day, 96-well plates were washed with 0.1% PBST and blocked with 2% BSA / PBS for 1 hour before adding biotin-labeled PCSK9. After 1 hour incubation at room temperature, the samples were washed and a series of concentration-diluted samples were added. After 1 hour incubation at room temperature, washing was performed, and HRP-labeled goat anti-human IgG antibody was added. Incubate at room temperature for 1 hour, wash, add TMB substrate, and stop with 2M HCl after color development. The absorbance at a wavelength of 450 nm was read with a microplate reader (Molecular Device). After the antibodies were incubated in 37 ° C human serum, the activity of binding to PCSK9 was detected by ELISA (see Figure 8). After the humanized antibody 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k was incubated in serum for 3 days, the binding activity was the same as that of the unincubated antibody. This indicates that the antibody can be stably present in the serum for at least 3 days. 4.3.5 Antibody modification In order to enhance antibody stability, the sequence of humanized antibody 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k was further improved (). Two amino acids in the variable region were mutated (as shown in 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-uIgG4k), and the mutated antibody sequence is shown in SED ID NO: 44-47. SPR experiments were used to detect the affinity of the modified antibody for binding to PCSK9. The kinetic data (Table 10) shows that the modified antibody 2.12.12.4-v2-z4-ulgG4k (D30E, N85D) has comparable affinity to the original antibody. Table 10. SPR data of mutant antibodies
4.3.6 Transient expression of humanized antibodies Humanized antibodies 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k are characterized by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions with molecular weights of 25 kDa and 55 kDa, corresponding to the light and heavy chains of the antibody ( (See Figure 9). The main band on non-reducing SDS-PAGE corresponds to a complete IgG molecule with a molecular weight of approximately 150 KD. HPLC-SEC results showed 100% antibody purity (see Figure 10). Endotoxin content is less than 0.5 EU / mg.Examples 5 :Animal experiment
Four female cynomolgus monkeys aged 3-4, weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 kg, were randomly divided into 4 groups (1 in each group). Four groups of monkeys received a single intravenous injection of either 3 mg / kg or 10 mg / kg of Repatha or 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4K (unengineered) antibody. The day of dosing was defined as the first day. The monkeys in each group were observed for 36 days after administration.
5.1 Effect of a single injection in cynomolgus monkeys Using LDLC and HDLC3 kits (Roche) to detect low density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C and high density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-C in monkey serum on the Roche / Hitachi cobas c system concentration. Total cholesterol TCHO was detected with cholesterol FS kit (DiaSys). The effect of antibody 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k in reducing low-density cholesterol in cynomolgus monkeys. After cynomolgus monkeys were dosed at 3 mg / kg and 10 mg / kg, respectively, the antibodies Repetha and 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k could quickly and persistently lower the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol (see Figure 11). . In monkeys administered with Repetha and 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k antibodies, the HDL cholesterol level did not change significantly during the experiment, regardless of the 10 mg / kg or 30 mg / kg dose group (see Figure 12). In the 3 mg / kg and 10 mg / kg dose groups, Repatha reduced low-density cholesterol to 80% and 75%, respectively, compared to before administration; 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k decreased in both dose groups. LDL cholesterol is reduced to 65%. The maximum reduction is reached on days 8-16. Therefore, compared with Repatha, 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k can maintain low-density lipoprotein at a lower level in both the 3 mg / kg and 10 mg / kg dose groups for a longer time. 5.2 Pharmacokinetics The level of drug exposure in the body was obtained by measuring Repatha and 2.12.12.4 concentrations in animal serum. Blood samples were collected from all surviving cynomolgus monkeys for 0 hours (before dosing), and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 24, 48, 96, 168, 336, 504, 672, 744, and 840 hours after dosing. Approximately 2 mL of whole blood was collected from the cephalic or femoral veins of the animal and placed in an anticoagulant-free blood collection tube. Allow blood samples to stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes after collection. Centrifuge at 2000 g for 10 minutes at approximately 4 ° C to obtain serum (completed within 2 hours after blood sample collection). The serum was transferred to a labeled polypropylene sample tube. Immediately put it into dry ice and freeze it vertically, then store it in an ultra-low temperature refrigerator ≤-60 °. Thaw serum samples quickly before pharmacokinetic detection. With Na2
CO3
/ NaHCO3
After the goat anti-human polyclonal antibodies were diluted with the buffer solution, the enzyme-labeled detection plate was coated and incubated overnight at 4 ° C. After washing the plate with 0.1% Tween-PBS, block with 2% BSA / PBS. The diluted cynomolgus monkey serum samples were added to the microtiter plate and incubated for one hour at room temperature. After washing the plates, biotin-labeled goat anti-human IgG antibody and streptavidin-HRP were added to the enzyme-labeled plates, and incubated at room temperature for one hour. TMB was added to the substrate and it was stopped with 2M HCl after color development. The absorbance of each well was read at a wavelength of 450 nm. The antibody concentration in the serum was calculated from the standard curve. Pharmacokinetic parameters include, but are not limited to, initial serum concentrations (C0
) And the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) from 0 hours to 840 hours after administration0-840h
), Use the verified WinNonlin program (PharsightVersion 6.2.1) for calculation. Calculate AUC using the non-atrial method's linear ascending / logarithmic descending trapezoidal rule0-840h
, Limited to the animals treated. When calculating the average value, BLQ (below the quantitative value) is calculated as 0. The antibody concentration in the serum was detected by ELISA (Figure 13). Repatha and C of 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k calculated from antibody concentration in serum from 0 to 840 hours0
Value and AUC0 - 840h
See Table 11 for antibody half-life. The results showed that the half-life of antibody 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k was longer than that of Repatha in both dose groups. When the dose was increased from 3 mg / kg to 10 mg / kg, the drug exposure levels of Repatha and 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k (AUC0 - 840h
And / or C0
) Increase proportionally. Table 11. Pharmacokinetic data
5.3 Immunogenicity Blood samples were collected from the cephalic or femoral veins of animals at 0 hours (before administration) and 336, 672, and 840 hours after administration. With Na2
CO3
/ NaHCO3
The buffer was diluted with antibody Repatha or 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4K and plated (Nunc) and incubated overnight at 4 ° C. Plates were washed with 0.1% Tween-PBS and blocked with 2% BSA / PBS. PBS-diluted monkey serum was added to the microtiter plate and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. After washing the plates, goat anti-cynomolgus IgG-HRP (without cross-reaction with human IgG) was added and incubated. After washing the plate, TMB was added to the substrate, and it was stopped with 2M HCl after color development. The absorbance of each well was read at a wavelength of 450 nm. The results of immunogenicity detection of antibody 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k are shown in Figure 14. Antibodies (ADA) titers against 2.12.12.4-z4-uIgG4k in monkey sera at 336, 672, and 840 hours after administration were increased compared to before administration. 5.4 Toxicity Death / Near death: The health status of each animal is reported twice a day during the experiment, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, except when the animal arrives at the facility and the animal is checked on the day of dissection. Animals died unexpectedly throughout the experiment. Detailed clinical observation: All animals (including replacement animals) will be subjected to a detailed clinical observation before the experiment, and all experimental animals will be observed once on the administration day (about 2 ± 0.5 hours after administration). A detailed clinical observation was performed once a week. No drug-related clinical symptoms were observed throughout the experiment. Cage observation: In the early stage of the experiment, all animals (including replacement animals) were observed once a day from the cage 2 days before administration. It was performed once on the first day of the experiment, twice a day by the cage on the day of administration (within 30 minutes after administration and about 6 ± 0.5 hours after the administration), and once every day during the recovery period. Detailed clinical observations were scheduled at the same time period, and no cage observation was performed. Weight: Each animal was weighed once before the experiment. For experimental animals, the body was weighed once before administration on the first day of the experiment, and then weighed once a week during the experiment. No drug-related weight changes were observed, and all weight changes were within normal biological differences. Food intake: For all animals, the animal food intake was evaluated 2 days before the experimental administration and throughout the experimental administration and observation process. Daily food intake was assessed by monitoring the appetite of all animals (whether or not the animals constituted an assessment file). There were no drug-related changes in food intake. Although the present disclosure has been specifically shown and described with reference to specific embodiments (some of which are preferred embodiments), those skilled in the art should understand that, as shown in this application, the present invention may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention Inside, various changes in form and detail can be made.