Czeslaw Radziejewski

Increased serum clearance of oligomannose species present on a human IgG1 molecule

The role of Fc glycans on clearance of IgG molecule has been examined by various groups in experiments where specific glycans have been enriched or the entire spectrum of glycans was studied after administration in pre-clinical or clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) studies. The overall conclusions from these studies are inconsistent, which may result from differences in antibody structure or experimental design. In the present study a well-characterized recombinant monoclonal IgG1 molecule (mAb-1) was analyzed from serum samples obtained from a human PK study. mAb-1 was recovered from serum using its ligand cross-linked to Sepharose beads. The overall purity and recovery of all isoforms were carefully evaluated using a variety of methods. Glycans were then enzymatically cleaved, labeled using 2-aminobenzamide and analyzed by normal phase high performance liquid chromatography. The assays for recovering mAb-1 from serum and subsequent glycan analysis were rigorously qualified at a lower limit of quantitation of 15 μg/mL, thus permitting analysis to day 14 of the clinical PK study. Eight glycans were monitored and classified into two groups: (1) the oligomannose type structures (M5, M6 and M7) and (2) fucosylated biantennary oligosaccharides (FBO) structures (NGA2F, NA1F, NA2F, NA1F-GlcNAc and NGA2F-GlcNAc). We observed that the oligomannose species were cleared at a much faster rate (40%) than FBOs and conclude that high mannose species should be carefully monitored and controlled as they may affect PK of the therapeutic; they should thus be considered an important quality attribute. These observations were only possible through the application of rigorous analytical methods that we believe will need to be employed when comparing innovator and biosimilar molecules.

Ranking the Susceptibility of Disulfide Bonds in Human IgG1 Antibodies by Reduction, Differential Alkylation, and LC−MS Analysis

One of the basic structural features of human IgG1 is the arrangement of the disulfide bond structure, 4 inter chain disulfide bonds in the hinge region and 12 intra chain disulfide bonds associated with twelve individual domains. Disulfide bond structure is critical for the structure, stability, and biological functions of IgG molecules. It has been known that inter chain disulfide bonds are more susceptible to reduction than intra chain disulfide bonds. However, a complete ranking of the susceptibility of disulfide bonds in IgG1 molecules is lacking. A method including reduction, differential alkylation, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was developed and employed to investigate the complete ranking order of the susceptibility of disulfide bonds in two recombinant monoclonal antibodies. The results confirmed that inter chain disulfide bonds were more susceptible than intra chain disulfide bonds. In addition, it was observed that the disulfide bonds between the light chain and heavy chain were more susceptible than disulfide bonds between the two heavy chains. The upper disulfide bond of the two inter heavy chain disulfide bonds was more susceptible than the lower one. Furthermore, disulfide bonds in the CH2 domain were the most susceptible to reduction. Disulfide bonds in VL, CL, VH, and CH1 domains had similar and moderate susceptibility, while disulfide bonds in the CH3 domain were the least susceptible to reduction. Interestingly, a difference between IgG1kappa and IgG1lambda was also observed. The difference in the susceptibility of inter light heavy chain disulfide bonds and inter heavy chain disulfide bonds was smaller in IgG1kappa than in IgG1lambda. The intra chain disulfide bonds in the Fab region of IgG1kappa were also less susceptible than disulfide bonds in the Fab region of IgG1lambda.

Arginine modifications by methylglyoxal: discovery in a recombinant monoclonal antibody and contribution to acidic species.

Heterogeneity is common among protein therapeutics. For example, the so-called acidic species (charge variants) are typically observed when recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are analyzed by weak-cation exchange chromatography (WCX). Several protein post-translational modifications have been established as contributors but still cannot completely account for all heterogeneity. As reported herein, an unexpected modification by methylglyoxal (MGO) was identified, for the first time, in a recombinant monoclonal antibody expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Modifications of arginine residues by methylglyoxal lead to two adducts (dihydroxyimidazolidine and hydroimidazolone) with increases of molecular weights of 72 and 54 Da, respectively. In addition, the modification by methylglyoxal causes the antibody to elute earlier in the weak cation exchange chromatogram. Consequently, the extent to which an antibody was modified at multiple sites corresponds to the degree of shift in elution time. Furthermore, cell culture parameters also affected the extent of modifications by methylglyoxal, a highly reactive metabolite that can be generated from glucose or lipids or other metabolic pathways. Our findings again highlight the impact that cell culture conditions can have on the product quality of recombinant protein pharmaceuticals.

Studies in serum support rapid formation of disulfide bond between unpaired cysteine residues in the VH domain of an immunoglobulin G1 molecule

Recombinant monoclonal antibodies undergo extensive posttranslational modifications. In this article, we characterize major modifications, separated by cation exchange chromatography, on an immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (mAb). We found that N-terminal cyclization of glutamine residues to pyroglutamate on the light and heavy chains are the major isoforms resolved during cation exchange chromatography. However, using CEX, we also separated and identified isoforms with unpaired cysteine residues in the V(H) domain of the molecule (Cys22-Cys96). Omalizumab, a therapeutic anti-IgE antibody, has unpaired cysteine residues in the V(H) domain between Cys22 and Cys96, and the Fab fragment, containing the unpaired cysteine residues, is reported to have reduced potency. Dynamic interchain disulfide rearrangement, with slow kinetics, was recently reported to take place in serum for an IgG2 molecule and resulted in predictable mature isoforms. Analytical evaluation of our mAb, after recovery from serum, revealed that the unpaired intrachain cysteine residues (Cys22-Cys96) reformed their disulfide bond. The significance of this study is that correct pairing occurred rapidly, and we speculate that thiol molecules such as cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione in serum provide an environment, outside the endoplasmic reticulum, for correct linkage.

Comparison of the in vitro and in vivo stability of a succinimide intermediate observed on a therapeutic IgG1 molecule

Deamidation of asparagine residues, a post-translational modification observed in proteins, is a common degradation pathway in monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The kinetics of deamidation is influenced by primary sequence as well as secondary and tertiary folding. Analytical hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) is used to evaluate hydrophobicity of candidate mAbs and uncover post-translational modifications. Using HIC, we discovered atypical heterogeneity in a highly hydrophobic molecule (mAb-1). Characterization of the different HIC fractions using LC/MS/MS revealed a stable succinimide intermediate species localized to an asparagine-glycine motif in the heavy chain binding region. The succinimide intermediate was stable in vitro at pH 7 and below and increased on storage at 25°C and 40°C. Biacore evaluation showed a decrease in binding affinity of the succinimide intermediate compared with the native asparagine molecule. In vivo studies of mAb-1 recovered from a pharmacokinetic study in cynomolgus monkeys revealed an unstable succinimide species and rapid conversion to aspartic/iso-aspartic acid. Mutation from asparagine to aspartic acid led to little loss in affinity. This study illustrates the importance of evaluating modifications of therapeutic mAbs both in vitro and in serum, the intended environment of the molecule. Potential mechanisms that stabilize the succinimide intermediate in vitro are discussed.

The structure of dual-variable-domain immunoglobulin molecules alone and bound to antigen.

A dual-specific, tetravalent immunoglobulin G-like molecule, termed dual variable domain immunoglobulin (DVD-Ig™), is engineered to block two targets. Flexibility modulates Fc receptor and complement binding, but could result in undesirable cross-linking of surface antigens and downstream signaling. Understanding the flexibility of parental mAbs is important for designing and retaining functionality of DVD-Ig™ molecules. The architecture and dynamics of a DVD-Ig™ molecule and its parental mAbs was examined using single particle electron microscopy. Hinge angles measured for the DVD-Ig™ molecule were similar to the inner antigen parental mAb. The outer binding domain of the DVD-Ig™ molecule was highly mobile and three-dimensional (3D) analysis showed binding of inner antigen caused the outer domain to fold out of the plane with a major morphological change. Docking high-resolution X-ray structures into the 3D electron microscopy map supports the extraordinary domain flexibility observed in the DVD-Ig™ molecule allowing antigen binding with minimal steric hindrance.

Elevated cleavage of human immunoglobulin gamma molecules containing a lambda light chain mediated by iron and histidine

Monoclonal antibodies in liquid formulation undergo nonenzymatic hydrolysis when stored at 5 degrees C for extended periods. This hydrolysis is enhanced at extreme pH and high temperature. In this study we discover that iron in the presence of histidine also enhanced cleavage of human immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) molecules containing a lambda light chain when incubated at 40 degrees C. The level of cleavage was concentration dependent on both iron and histidine levels. Enhanced cleavage with iron and histidine was not observed on IgG molecules containing a kappa light chain. Using CE-SDS to quantify levels of Fab+Fc, the Fab arm, and free light chain (LC) and heavy chain (HC) fragments, we show that cleavage resulted in elevated levels of free light and heavy chain fragments. Using MS we find elevated scission between residues E/C on the LC resulting in LC fragment 1-215. We also observed enhanced cleavage between S/C residues of the HC resulting in HC fragment 1-217. The corresponding Fab+Fc fragment beginning with cys-218 was not found. Instead, we find elevation of a Fab+Fc fragment that began with aspartic acid (cleavage between C/D). Further studies to understand how iron and histidine enhance cleavage of lambda light chain IgG molecules are ongoing.

Comparability analysis of protein therapeutics by bottom-up LC-MS with stable isotope-tagged reference standards

Comparability studies lie at the heart of assessments that evaluate differences amongst manufacturing processes and stability studies of protein therapeutics. Low resolution chromatographic and electrophoretic methods facilitate quantitation, but do not always yield detailed insight into the effect of the manufacturing change or environmental stress. Conversely, mass spectrometry (MS) can provide high resolution information on the molecule, but conventional methods are not very quantitative. This gap can be reconciled by use of a stable isotope-tagged reference standard (SITRS), a version of the analyte protein that is uniformly labeled 13C6-arginine and 13C6-lysine. The SITRS serves as an internal control that is trypsin-digested and analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC)-MS with the analyte sample. The ratio of the ion intensities of each unlabeled and labeled peptide pair is then compared to that of other sample(s). A comparison of these ratios provides a readily accessible way to spot even minute differences among samples. In a study of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) spiked with varying amounts of the same antibody bearing point mutations, peptides containing the mutations were readily identified and quantified at concentrations as low as 2% relative to unmodified peptides. The method is robust, reproducible and produced a linear response for every peptide that was monitored. The method was also successfully used to distinguish between two batches of a mAb that were produced in two different cell lines while two batches produced from the same cell line were found to be highly comparable. Finally, the use of the SITRS method in the comparison of two stressed mAb samples enabled the identification of sites susceptible to deamidation and oxidation, as well as their quantitation. The experimental results indicate that use of a SITRS in a peptide mapping experiment with MS detection enables sensitive and quantitative comparability studies of proteins at high resolution.

Effect of the light chain C-terminal serine residue on disulfide bond susceptibility of human immunoglobulin G1λ

The light chain cysteine residue that forms an interchain disulfide bond with the cysteine residue in the heavy chain in IgG1κ is the last amino acid. The cysteine residue is followed by a serine residue in IgG1λ. Effect of the serine residue on the susceptibility of disulfide bonds to reduction was investigated in the current study using a method including reduction, differential alkylation using iodoacetic acid with either natural isotopes or enriched with carbon-13, and mass spectrometry analysis. This newly developed method allowed an accurate determination of the susceptibility of disulfide bonds in IgG antibodies. The effect of the serine residue on disulfide bond susceptibility was compared using three antibodies with differences only in the light chain last amino acid, which was either a serine residue, an alanine residue or deleted. The results demonstrated that the presence of the amino acid (serine or alanine) increased the susceptibility of the inter light and heavy chain disulfide bonds to reduction. On the other hand, susceptibility of the two inter heavy chain disulfide bonds and intrachain disulfide bonds was not changed significantly.

Discovery of a Chemical Modification by Citric Acid in a Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody

Recombinant therapeutic monoclonal antibodies exhibit a high degree of heterogeneity that can arise from various post-translational modifications. The formulation for a protein product is to maintain a specific pH and to minimize further modifications. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), citric acid is commonly used for formulation to maintain a pH at a range between 3 and 6 and is generally considered chemically inert. However, as we reported herein, citric acid covalently modified a recombinant monoclonal antibody (IgG1) in a phosphate/citrate-buffered formulation at pH 5.2 and led to the formation of so-called “acidic species” that showed mass increases of 174 and 156 Da, respectively. Peptide mapping revealed that the modification occurred at the N-terminus of the light chain. Three additional antibodies also showed the same modification but displayed different susceptibilities of the N-termini of the light chain, heavy chain, or both. Thus, ostensibly unreactive excipients under certain conditions may increase heterogeneity and acidic species in formulated recombinant monoclonal antibodies. By analogy, other molecules (e.g., succinic acid) with two or more carboxylic acid groups and capable of forming an anhydride may exhibit similar reactivities. Altogether, our findings again reminded us that it is prudent to consider formulations as a potential source for chemical modifications and product heterogeneity.