Hiromasa Miyaji

Mutagenesis of human granulocyte colony stimulating factor

To define the structure-function relationship, we have made a number of mutants of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) by in vitro mutagenesis. The results indicate that most of the mutations located in the internal and C-terminal regions of the molecule abolished the activity, whereas the mutants without N-terminal 4, 5, 7, or 11 amino acids retained the activity. N-terminal amino acids were also altered by cassette mutagenesis using a synthetic oligonucleotide mixture. Among them, KW2228, in which Thr-1, Leu-3, Gly-4, Pro-5 and Cys-17 were respectively substituted with Ala, Thr, Tyr, Arg and Ser, showed more potent granulopoietic activity than that of intact hG-CSF both in vitro and in vivo.

Expression of human beta-interferon in Namalwa KJM-1 which was adapted to serum-free medium.

A Namalwa cell line, KJM-1, which was adapted to serum-free medium is thought to be a very useful host cell line for recombinant DNA technology. Thus, the utility of Namalwa KJM-1 for expression of foreign genes was examined. As a model system human beta-interferon (β-IFN) gene was engineered for expression in this cell line. For construction of the β-IFN expression vector pSE1β1–4, the expression vector pAGE107 was constructed and used. It contains simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter, the rabbit β-globin RNA processing signals for splicing and polyadenylation, and SV40 early RNA processing signal for polyadenylation. In addition to the above transcription unit, pAGE107 contains the ampicillin-resistance gene and G418-resistance gene. They can confer ampicillin resistance to Escherichia coli (E. coli) and G418 resistance to animal cells. To introduce plasmid DNA into cells, electroporation is a useful method (Wong, 1982; Potter, 1984). We have established conditions for DNA-mediated transfection of Namalwa KJM-1 cell line by electroporation. Among pSE1β1–4-introduced cells, clone 1–3 was further examined for the expression of β-IFN in serum-free medium. The production level of β-IFN was elevated with the increase of the cell density. The results indicated that the Namalwa KJM-1 cell line is useful for production of foreign gene products.

A mouse/human chimeric anti-(ganglioside GD3) antibody with enhanced antitumor activities

Ganglioside GD3, which is one of the major gangliosides expressed on the cell surface of human tumors of neuroectodermal origin has been focused on as a target molecule for passive immunotherapy. We have cloned the cDNA encoding the immunoglobulin light and heavy chains of an anti-GD3 monoclonal antibody KM641 (murine IgG3, κ), and constructed the chimeric genes by linking the cDNA fragments of the murine light and heavy variable regions to cDNA fragments of the human κ and γ1 constant regions, respectively. The transfer of these cDNA constructs into SP2/0 mouse myeloma cells resulted in the production of the chimeric antibody, designated KM871, that retained specific binding activity to GD3. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed the same staining pattern for chimeric KM871 and the mouse counterpart KM641 on GD3-expressing melanoma cells. When human serum and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used as effectors in complement-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity respectively, the chimeric KM871 was more effective in killing GD3-expressing tumor cells than was the mouse counterpart KM641. Intravenous injection of chimeric KM871 markedly suppressed tumor growth in nude mice. The chimeric KM871, having enhanced antitumor activities and less immunogenicity than the mouse counterpart, would be a useful agent for passive immunotherapy of human cancer.

Distribution of adenosine A2A receptor antagonist KW-6002 and its effect on gene expression in the rat brain

Abstract A novel adenosine A2A receptor selective antagonist, KW-6002 [(E)-1,3-diethyl-8-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl)-7-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione], possesses antiparkinsonian activities in rodent and primate models. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of [14C]KW-6002 in forebrain after oral administration at pharmacologically effective doses. Also, we monitored the effects of the compound on preproenkephalin (PPE) and preprotachykinin (PPT) gene expression in rat striatum. The highest level of radioactivity was observed in the striatum after oral administration of [14C]KW-6002; 30 min after 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg, the density values in the striatum were 2.45 and 2.43 times higher than those in a reference region (frontal cortex), respectively. At the dose of 3 mg/kg, p.o., the ratio was only 1.58 and the compound was distributed more extensively in the brain. The distribution pattern and intensity of radioactivity were maintained even 90 min after the administration of [14C]KW-6002. Oral administration of KW-6002 (0.3 and 3 mg/kg/day) to rats for 14 days reversed the increased gene expression of PPE in striatum that had been depleted of dopamine by prior treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). On the other hand, KW-6002 did not alter the decreased gene expression of PPT in 6-OHDA-treated rats. These results are the first to show directly that orally administered KW-6002 is distributed selectively to the striatum and that it modulates the activity of striatopallidal enkephalin-containing neurons but not striatonigral substance P-containing neurons.

Efficient expression of human beta-interferon in Namalwa KJM-1 cells adapted to serum-free medium by a dhfr gene coamplification method

We previously reported the expression of human beta-interferon (β-IFN) (Miyajiet al., 1989) and human lymphotoxin (Miyajiet al., 1990) in Namalwa KJM-1 cells adapted to serum-free medium. To establish an efficient gene expression system, a dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene coamplification method was applied to this cell line. A β-IFN expression plasmid was introduced with a dhfr expression plasmid into KJM-1 and methotrexate (MTX)-resistant derivatives were selected by a stepwise increase of MTX concentration. Among them, derivatives which showed higher expression levels of β-IFN than that achieved by the parental transformants were obtained, suggesting that a dhfr gene coamplification method can be used for efficient expression of foreign genes in KJM-1 which contains endogenous dhfr genes. Then, an improved β-IFN expression vector was constructed, which contains a dhfr transcription unit. This plasmid was introduced into KJM-1 and then, MTX-resistant derivatives were selected. Among them, the highest producer, clone 40-10-24, secreted β-IFN at a level as high as 5 μg/ml, which is about 100-fold higher than that obtained by the G418-resistant parental transformants. In addition, β-IFN produced by recombinant KJM-1 cells had the same molecular weight of that produced by fibroblasts.

A neutralizing anti-fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 8 monoclonal antibody shows anti-tumor activity against FGF8b-expressing LNCaP xenografts in androgen-dependent and -independent conditions.

Fibroblast growth factor 8‐isoform b (FGF8b) has been detected in human clinical sex‐organ related cancers including hormone‐refractory prostate cancer. There are, however, few relevant experimental models. A murine monoclonal anti‐FGF8 antibody, KM1334, has been shown to neutralize FGF8b and inhibit the growth of androgen‐dependent mouse mammary SC‐3 cells in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we evaluated the anti‐tumor activity of KM1334 against androgen‐dependent and ‐independent progression of FGF8b‐expressing human prostate cancer xenografts.

Optimization of cell culture conditions for production of biologically active proteins

We investigated the basic technology of cell culture conditions for production of useful substances such as cytokines, and related proteins produced by Namalwa cells. Namalwa cells (Klein, 1972), human B lymphoblastoid cells, were used for large scale production of alpha-interferon (Klein, 1979). Namalwa KJM-1, a subline of Namalwa cells, adapted to serum- and albumin-free medium, can grow at a high density above 1 × 107 cells/ml in suspension mode by the use of a perfusion culture system, Biofermenter™, containing a cone-type cell-sedimentation column as cell separator (Sato, 1983).Several kinds of cytokine cDNA can be introduced and expressed in Namalwa KJM-1 cells (Miyaji, 1990a,b,c). Some of these were produced in large quantities by use of a gene amplification method with dhfr (Miyaji, 1990c), even though the Namalwa KJM-1 cells contained endogenous dhfr genes. For stable production of the target protein, Namalwa KJM-1 cells are very useful host cells, because they have no effective endogenous protease activity in the conditioned medium.Using Biofermenter with micro-silicone fibers and a dialysis system, the specific productivity of the target proteins was not depressed at a high cell density.We investigated the basic technology of cell culture conditions for production of useful substances such as cytokines, and related proteins produced by Namalwa cells. Namalwa cells (Klein, 1972), human B lymphoblastoid cells, were used for large scale production of alpha-interferon (Klein, 1979). Namalwa KJM-1, a subline of Namalwa cells, adapted to serum- and albumin-free medium, can grow at a high density above 1 x 10(7) cells/ml in suspension mode by the use of a perfusion culture system, Biofermenter, containing a cone-type cell-sedimentation column as cell separator (Sato, 1983). Several kinds of cytokine cDNA can be introduced and expressed in Namalwa KJM-1 cells (Miyaji, 1990a,b,c). Some of these were produced in large quantities by use of a gene amplification method with dhfr (Miyaji, 1990c), even though the Namalwa KJM-1 cells contained endogenous dhfr genes. For stable production of the target protein, Namalwa KJM-1 cells are very useful host cells, because they have no effective endogenous protease activity in the conditioned medium. Using Biofermenter with micro-silicone fibers and a dialysis system, the specific productivity of the target proteins was not depressed at a high cell density.

Stable production of recombinant pro-urokinase by human lymphoblastoid Namalwa KJM-1 cells: Host-cell dependency of the expressed-protein stability

Human pro-urokinase (pro-UK) gene was engineered for expression in mammalian cells. The stability of recombinant pro-UKs produced by two kinds of cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human lymphoblastoid Namalwa KJM-1 cells, were compared. The pro-UK expressed in CHO cells in serum-free medium was degraded by cysteine endopeptidase secreted by CHO cells. This endopeptidase was inhibited by pchloromercuribenzonate (PCMB) and leupeptin more efficiently than by aprotinin. On the other hand, the pro-UK expressed in Namalwa KJM-1 cells was not degraded, resulting in the stable production of pro-UK at a rate of 2–3 μg/106 cells/day by use of a gene amplification method with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) in serum-free medium. Thus, Namalwa KJM-1 cells showed the desired characteristics as a host cell for the production of recombinant proteins. The stability of recombinant proteins produced in heterologous systems may vary depending on the host cells.

Optimization of cell culture conditions for G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) production by genetically engineered Namalwa KJM-1 cells

An expression vector for G-CSF, pASLB3-3, was constructed and introduced into Namalwa KJM-1 cells (Hosoi et al., 1988), and cells resistant to 100 nM of methotrexate (MTX) were obtained. Among them, the highest producer, clone SC57, was selected and the productivity of this clone was further characterized. The maximal production of G-CSF was at the most 1.8 μg/ml/day using a 25 cm2 tissue culture flask, even though the cell number was above 7×105 cells/ml. The limiting factors at high density were analyzed as the deficiency of nutrients, such as glucose, cysteine and serine, and pH control. The depression of specific G-CSF productivity per cell under the batch culture conditions was overcome by using a perfusion culture system, BiofermenterTM (Sato, 1983) with modifications of nutrients supplementation by a dialysis membrane and/or dissolved oxygen (DO) supplementation by microsilicone fibers. ITPSGF medium was modified to elevate concentrations of amino acids and glucose by 2.0- and 2.5-times, respectively. Under the control of pH at 7.4 and DO at 3 ppm, the specific G-CSF productivity was not depressed even at high cell density (above 1×107 cells/ml), and the amount of G-CSF reached 41 μg/ml. These results indicated the possibility of finding the optimum culture conditions for the production of recombinant proteins by Namalwa KJM-1 cells.

Modulation of oligosaccharide structure of a pro-urokinase derivative (pro-UKΔGS1) by changing culture conditions of a lymphoblastoid cell line Namalwa KJM-1 adapted to serum-free medium

Pro-UKΔGS1 was designed as a long-life and thrombin-resistant derivative of pro-urokinase (pro-UK) by deleting the growth factor domain of pro-UK and introducing a glycosylation site near the thrombin cleaving site for thrombin-resistance using site-directed mutagenesis. An expression plasmid for pro-UKDGS1, pIH1UKΔGS1SEd1–5 was constructed and introduced into Namalwa KJM-1, a lymphoblastoid cell line adapted to serum-free medium, and cells resistant to G418 and Methotrexate (MTX) were obtained. Amongst them, the highest pro-UKΔGS1 producer (resistant to 200 nM of MTX), clone 2–9, was selected and used for further studies.Under the conventional conditions, i.e. at 37°C in serum-free ITPSGF medium (based on RPMI-1640 medium), the oligosaccharide structure of pro-UKΔGS1 produced by clone 2–9 mainly consisted of fucose (Fuc)-containing biantennary complex-type oligosaccharide. Addition of dexamethasone (Dex), changed the carbohydrate contents in the media, and a shift down of incubation temperature caused a change in oligosaccharide structure of pro-UKΔGS1 from mainly Fuc-containing biantennary to mainly Fuc-containing tri-and tetraantennary complex-type oligosaccharide. The modulated pro-UKΔGS1 showed superiorin vivo activity for a canine femoral thrombosis formed by inserting a copper-coil.