P. De Baetselier

Camelid immunoglobulins and nanobody technology.

It is well established that all camelids have unique antibodies circulating in their blood. Unlike antibodies from other species, these special antibodies are devoid of light chains and are composed of a heavy-chain homodimer. These so-called heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) are expressed after a V-D-J rearrangement and require dedicated constant gamma-genes. An immune response is raised in these so-called heavy-chain antibodies following classical immunization protocols. These HCAbs are easily purified from serum, and the antigen-binding fragment interacts with parts of the target that are less antigenic to conventional antibodies. Since the antigen-binding site of the dromedary HCAb is comprised in one single domain, referred to as variable domain of heavy chain of HCAb (VHH) or nanobody (Nb), we designed a strategy to clone the Nb repertoire of an immunized dromedary and to select the Nbs with specificity for our target antigens. The monoclonal Nbs are well produced in bacteria, are very stable and highly soluble, and bind their cognate antigen with high affinity and specificity. We have successfully developed recombinant Nbs for research purposes, as probe in biosensors, to diagnose infections, and to treat diseases like cancer or trypanosomosis.

Nonmetastatic tumor cells acquire metastatic properties following somatic hybridization with normal cells.

SummarySomatic cell hybridization between nonmetastatic tumor cells and normal cells of the lymphoreticular system results in hybrid cells manifesting metastatic properties of defined target organ specificity. Thus, fusion of the nonmetastatic BALB/c originated NSI plasmacytoma with C57BL B lymphocytes resulted in hybridomas, each of which were metastatic. Of 10 hybridomas, 7 generated metastases in the spleen and liver, whereas 3 generated liver metastases. The generation of liver metastases by hybridomas which homed to both spleen and liver, but not by those which homed to the liver only, was controlled by the spleen. The acquisition of metastatic properties via somatic cell fusion seems to represent a general principle, in which the normal partner determines the target organ specificity for the metastatic growth. Thus, fusion of SP2/O myeloma cells with syngeneic B lymphocytes also resulted in a hybrid cell metastasizing to the spleen and liver, yet a somatic hybrid between NSI and a macrophage or dendritic-like cell metastasized to the lung. Cell surface molecules encoded by the genome of the normal partner was demonstrated to control the target organ specificity: antibodies against MHC-encoded antigens of the normal B cell partner prevented the generation of metastases by hybridomas metastasizing to the spleen and liver, but not by those metastasizing to the liver only. This is in accordance with the function of MHC molecules on lymphocytes in controlling their homing to lymphoid organs. Hybridomas of T cell lymphomas also manifested metastatic properties. Analysis of the cell surface Thy-1 antigens of a hybridoma (DCH10), produced via somatic fusion between BW5145 lymphoma and a putative macrophage cell indicated that cells of liver metastases (DCH10-Li) generated by the hybrid cells might have undergone further somatic cell fusion in vivo with host (T?) cells. These cells have acquired new metastatic properties, generating metastases in spleen, liver and kidneys. In fact, even the inoculation of the parental BW lymphoma cells resulted in a case of liver metastasis (BW-Li). Such BW-Li cells, upon reinoculation, also generated metastases in the spleen, liver and kidneys. Analysis of the Thyl phenotype indicated that BW-Li cells may also have undergone somatic cell fusion in vivo with host (T?) cells, resulting in the acquisition of metastatic properties. The pattern of cell-cell interactions (adhesion, infiltration) with liver cell monolayers of BW-Li cells and of DCH10-Li (T-cell lymphomas) was identical, and differed from cells of liver metastases of the myeloma-B cell hybridomas which might be based on responses to liver growth signals. Accordingly, the morphology of liver metastases generated by the two categories of hybridomas was different. It appears therefore, that (a) the acquisition of metastatic properties following somatic cell fusion with normal lymphoreticular cells is of a general significance; (b) somatic cell fusion provides an experimental system for the analysis of molecular properties determining the acquisition of metastatic capability; and (c) it may also represent a mechanism for tumor progression in vivo.

Trypanosoma brucei infection elicits nitric oxide-dependent and nitric oxide-independent suppressive mechanisms.

During murine Trypanosoma brucei infection, macrophages contribute significantly to the inhibition of T cell responses. Although nitric oxide (NO) was shown to play a central role in macrophage‐mediated splenic suppression, macrophage‐mediated lymph node suppression occurred in an interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ)‐dependent manner. In this study, using NO inhibitor NG‐monomethyl‐L‐arginine and anti‐IFN‐γ antibodies, the relative contribution of NO and IFN‐γ to the active inhibition of ex vivo concanavalin A‐induced T cell proliferation taking place in the spleen and the lymph nodes of T. brucei‐infected mice was investigated. NO contributes to the suppressive activity of spleen and lymph node cells only during early‐stage infection. The existence of NO‐independent suppressive pathway was further evidenced in IFN‐γ‐/‐‐infected mice. Spleen cells from such animals do not produce NO but exert significant suppressive activity during the whole course of infection. In contrast in the lymph nodes, no suppressive activity is recorded at any moment of infection. Moreover, addition of exogenous IFN‐γ to cultures containing lymph node cells from IFN‐γ‐/‐‐infected mice does not impair proliferation despite NO production in such cultures. Thus during late‐stage infection, an IFN‐γ‐independent suppressive mechanism is elicited in the spleen, whereas in the lymph nodes, IFN‐γ is required yet not sufficient to inhibit T cell proliferation. J. Leukoc. Biol. 63: 429–439; 1998.

Metastatic competence of BW5147 T-lymphoma cell lines is correlated with in vitro invasiveness, motility and F-actin content

The aim of our study was to investigate whether the level of actin polymerization plays a role in the motile and tissue infiltrating behavior of malignant lymphoma cells. For a panel of cell lines derived from the murine BW5147 T‐cell lymphoma, we had previously shown a correlation between experimental metastasis formation and in vitro monolayer invasion. We have analyzed the motility and the F‐actin content of six non‐metastatic, noninvasive (meta‐inv‐) and five metastatic, invasive (meta+inv+) variants of BW5147. Fourier analysis of cell contours was used to quantify shape changes of cells. All meta+inv+ lines rapidly protruded and retracted pseudopodia, whereas only one of the six meta‐inv‐ lines showed this type of motility. Flow cytometry of cells stained with fluorescein‐labeled phalloidin showed that the motile meta+inv+ cell lines have a higher F‐actin content than their nonmotile meta‐inv‐ counterparts. The results indicate that in lymphoma cells a high level of actin polymerization is a prerequisite for the formation of pseudopodia, which in turn are necessary for infiltration of the cells into tissues, and eventually for efficient metastasis formation. A corollary of this conclusion is that regulation of actin polymerization is a possible target for intervention aimed at moderating the spread of malignant lymphoma. J. Leukoc. Biol. 55: 552–556; 1994.

Multiple myeloma induces the immunosuppressive capacity of distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell subpopulations in the bone marrow.

Multiple myeloma induces the immunosuppressive capacity of distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell subpopulations in the bone marrow

Development of the Nanobody display technology to target lentiviral vectors to antigen-presenting cells

Lentiviral vectors (LVs) provide unique opportunities for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies, as they transduce a variety of cells in situ, including antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Engineering LVs to specifically transduce APCs is required to promote their translation towards the clinic. We report on the Nanobody (Nb) display technology to target LVs to dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. This innovative approach exploits the budding mechanism of LVs to incorporate an APC-specific Nb and a binding-defective, fusion-competent form of VSV.G in the viral envelope. In addition to production of high titer LVs, we demonstrated selective, Nb-dependent transduction of mouse DCs and macrophages both in vitro and in situ. Moreover, this strategy was translated to a human model in which selective transduction of in vitro generated or lymph node (LN)-derived DCs and macrophages, was demonstrated. In conclusion, the Nb display technology is an attractive approach to generate LVs targeted to specific cell types.

Expression of L1 cell adhesion molecule is associated with lymphoma growth and metastasis

The cell adhesion molecule (CAM) Ll is involved in homotypic and heterotypic adhesion between neural cells. It has recently also been identified on leucocytes. We have investigated the expression of L1 on hematopoietic tumor cell lines and found that several tumors including the ESb-MP lymphoma are positive for L1. A potential role for L1 in spontaneous metastasis formation was examined using these cells. From wild-type (wt) L1high lymphoma cells we selected by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) stable L1low expression variants. Syngeneic DBA/2 mice injected subcutaneously with L1low clones showed faster primary tumor growth, developed visceral metastases significantly faster and died earlier than animals carrying L1high wt cells. L1high revertants from the L1low variants showed again a reduced metastatic capacity and a malignancy similar to the wt cells. Expression of L1 on the tumor variants and revertants correlated directly with their homotypic aggregation behaviour in vitro. L1 expression correlated negatively with metastatic capacity. These results suggest that L1 molecules may contribute to the overall malignant potential of the lymphoma cells, presumably by interfering with cell-cell interactions critical for tumor growth and dissemination.

Motility and invasive potency of murine T-lymphoma cells: effect of microtubule inhibitors.

ESb and BW‐O‐Li1 are T‐lymphoma cell lines that form metastases in various organs after injection into syngeneic mice. In vitro, both cell lines invade through a fibroblastic monolayer, but ESb cells do so much slower than BW‐O‐Li1. By the use of Fourier analysis of cell outlines, we can relate this difference in invasiveness to a difference in cell motility: ESb cells do not perform any conspicuous shape change, whereas BW‐O‐Li1 cells are actively protruding and retracting large pseudopodia. However, the low‐motile ESb cells become as motile and deformable as BW‐O‐Li1 cells when they have eventually invaded under a fibroblastic monolayer. This indicates that ESb cells do have inherent capability for shape change. Treatment of ESb cells with the microtubule disrupting agent nocodazole concomitantly increases their shape change intensity, and their invasion rate through fibroblast monolayers. On the contrary, the microtubule stabilizing drug taxol inhibits both motility and invasion of BW‐O‐Li1 cells. Our observations suggest that the microtubule network can repress invasion‐bound motility of lymphoid cells.

Using microdialysis to analyse the passage of monovalent nanobodies through the blood–brain barrier

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Nanobodies are promising antigen‐binding moieties for molecular imaging and therapeutic purposes because of their favourable pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties. However, the capability of monovalent nanobodies to reach targets in the CNS remains to be demonstrated.

Endocytosis of α1-acid glycoprotein variants and of neoglycoproteins containing mannose derivatives by a mouse hybridoma cell line (2C11–12). Comparison with mouse peritoneal macrophages

Macrophages from various origins are known to express membrane lectins that mediate the endocytosis of mannose-bearing glycoconjugates. Most macrophage tumor cell-lines lack such receptors. In this paper we show by flow cytometry analysis that a newly generated macrophage hybridoma (2C11–12), which displays several macrophage characteristics, also expresses mannose membrane lectins, resulting in the internalization of fluoresceinylated neoglycoproteins into acidic compartments.Thioglycolate elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages and the 2C11–12 hybridomas were compared by flow cytometry with regard to the binding and endocytosis of α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) variants separated by affinity chromatography on immobilized concanavalin A. AGP C eluted specifically with methyl α-mannopyranoside, which contains two bi-antennary oligosaccharides, was endocytosed as mannosylated serum albumin (Man-BSA). In both types of macrophages, the fluoresceinylated ligands were internalized in acidic compartments as demonstrated by the fluorescence intensity increase upon monensin post-incubation. However the behaviour of the internalized ligands was found to be quite different. AGP C and Man-BSA were rapidly degraded by thioglycolate elicited peritoneal macrophages and excreted in the medium as small peptide fragments; conversely they remained a longer time in the 2C11–12 hybridoma.