Antibodies and their fragments that specifically break down proteins and peptides are found in an autoimmune context, in multiple myeloma and in certain experimental immune responses elicited against viral polypeptides. Studies support the premise that antibodies with catalytic activity are inherent to the immune repertoire, but may be excluded from dominant responses in the healthy immune subject. Two approaches are described that could lead to production of efficient serine protease-like catalytic antibodies. A new method of immunization is proposed to specifically elicit antibodies that utilize covalent reactivity in antigen binding. Antibodies induced in the covalent immunization procedure will be characterized for hydrolytic activity against defined peptide analogs. Differences in the covalent immunization responses in normal and autoimmune mice will be investigated to reveal possible mechanisms of its regulation. Alternatively, covalent binding will be used to select recombinant antibodies represented on phage display libraries. The recombinant clones or hybridomas from immunized mice will be screened for expression of monoclonal antibodies with covalent binding and efficient peptidase activities. The primary sequence, specificity and kinetic efficiency of defined clones will be studied to identify molecular and functional attributes of the efficient catalysts. These methods will be applied to develop specific proteolytic antibodies against the cytokine TNF-alpha. Potential involvement of catalytic antibodies that cleave TNF-alpha in regulating immune responses and cytotoxicity will be examined. Antibodies that efficiently degrade self or foreign antigens could provide a direct mechanism for neutralization and thus significantly enhance the immune system's capacity to mount protective responses against cancer, chronic inflammation or infectious agents. These efforts could lead to useful applications as therapeutics or for enhanced vaccine design.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01CA090564-02
Application #
6710895
Study Section
Immunological Sciences Study Section (IMS)
Program Officer
Rothermel, Annette L
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
2005-03-31
Budget Start
2002-10-02
Budget End
2003-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$210,119
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
094878337
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Shcheglova, Tatiana; Makker, Sudesh; Tramontano, Alfonso (2009) Reactive immunization suppresses advanced glycation and mitigates diabetic nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 20:1012-9
Reshetnyak, Andrey V; Armentano, Maria Francesca; Ponomarenko, Natalia A et al. (2007) Routes to covalent catalysis by reactive selection for nascent protein nucleophiles. J Am Chem Soc 129:16175-82
Zhao, Jun; Tramontano, Alfonso; Makker, Sudesh Paul (2007) Albumin-stimulated TGFbeta-1 in renal tubular cells is associated with activation of MAP kinase. Int Urol Nephrol 39:1265-71
Shah, Pallavi; Tramontano, Alfonso; Makker, Sudesh P (2007) Intramolecular epitope spreading in Heymann nephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol 18:3060-6
Bavoso, Alfonso; Ostuni, Angela; De Vendel, Jolanda et al. (2006) Aldehyde modification of peptide immunogen enhances protein-reactive antibody response to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. J Pept Sci 12:843-9
Armentano, Francesca; Knight, Thomas; Makker, Sudesh et al. (2006) Induction of covalent binding antibodies. Immunol Lett 103:51-7
Makker, S P; Tramontano, A (2006) Differential capacity of anti-RAP and anti-megalin antibodies to produce progressive passive Heymann nephritis - implications for the pathogenesis of idiopathic human membranous glomerulonephritis. J Pathol 210:282-7
Tramontano, Alfonso; Knight, Thomas; Vizzuso, Domenica et al. (2006) Nested N-terminal megalin fragments induce high-titer autoantibody and attenuated Heymann nephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol 17:1979-85
Tramontano, Alfonso; Makker, Sudesh P (2004) Conformation and glycosylation of a megalin fragment correlate with nephritogenicity in Heymann nephritis. J Immunol 172:2367-73