Shigeki Fujinaga

Human Monoclonal Antibodies Neutralizing Human Cytomegalovirus

Hybridomas producing human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) were generated by fusion of human spleen cells and mouse myeloma cells. Two of the six MAbs obtained neutralized viral infectivity even at concentrations lower than 1 microgram/ml. One MAb required complement for neutralization but the other did not. Both MAbs recognized viral proteins of Mr 130,000 and 55,000. Furthermore, these neutralizing MAbs bound to the surface membrane of CMV-infected cells. These results suggest that human MAbs may provide a new means of passive immunization against CMV infection in humans.

Phase I study on human monoclonal antibody against cytomegalovirus: pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity.

Summary MAb C23, a human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody (MAb) against cytomegalovirus, was administered to 20 healthy volunteers. Sixteen of them received a single infusion of a dose ranging from 5 to 80 mg. The plasma clearance curves fit a two-compartment model, with half-lives of 31.0 ± 23.6 h in the diffusion phase and 24.2 ± 5.8 days in the equilibration phase. The plasma after administration had the virus neutralization activities that were equivalent to the plasma MAb C23 levels. The remaining four subjects, who received three infusions of 60, 20, and 20 mg at 1-week intervals, showed pharmacokinetics that were very consistent with those of the single infusion. No antibody response against MAb C23 was observed in any of the subjects at any time, when monitored for approximately 60 days after the single infusion or the third infusion of the three repeated doses. None of the 20 subjects showed any treatment-related clinical signs or changes. These results suggest that a human IgG MAb has the same pharmacokinetic characteristics as those of natural human serum IgG, and that it is not immunogenic and is safe in humans.

Preparation of human monoclonal antibodies against a cytomegalovirus glycoprotein complex of 130 and 55 kDa

Nine human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with neutralization activity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) were obtained by screening human MAbs using a CMV glycoprotein complex of 130 and 55 kDa (gp130/55). The gp130/55 antigen was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography and the purified antigen used to detect anti-gp130/55 MAbs in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relatively few of the human anti-CMV MAbs were directed against gp130/55 but all showed high neutralization activities to a variety of clinical isolates with titers (ED50 values) ranging from 0.15 to 7.9 micrograms/ml. Six of the nine anti-gp130/55 MAbs required complement for virus neutralization. Such human MAbs may prove to be useful for passive immunotherapy against CMV infection.