Patent Application
20240059776
The present application belongs to the field of biomedical technology and relates to an anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor and a use thereof.
B7H3 is a type I transmembrane protein, which belongs to a B7 immune co-stimulation and co-suppression family. B7H3 has an immunosuppressive function, which can reduce type I interferon (IFN) released from T cells and reduce cytotoxicity of NK cells. B7H3 proteins have limited expression in normal tissues (such as prostate, breast, placenta, liver, colon and lymphoid organs) but are abnormally and highly expressed in most malignant tumors. B7H3 expression can be detected in non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines and tumor tissues. In the tumor tissues expressing B7H3, the number of infiltrating lymphoid cells is significantly reduced and positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (Sun Y, Wang Y, Zhao J, et al. B7-H3 and B7-H4 expression in non-small-cell lung cancer[J]. Lung Cancer, 2006, 53(2): 143-151; Zhao Wenjian, Chen Chunyan, Sui Wenyan, et al. Advances in B7-H3 and its relationship with tumors [J]. Medical Recapitulate, 2009, 15(22): 3430-3433.).
Generally, high expression of B7H3 in tumor cells is closely associated with reduced tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, accelerated cancer progression and clinical outcomes of malignant tumors (nervous system tumor, melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer and clear cell renal cell carcinoma). B7H3 has become a potential target for cancer immunotherapy due to widespread expression in a variety of tumors. However, there are few reports on B7H3-targeting immunotherapy at present.
The present application provides an anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor and a use thereof. The anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor uses an anti-B7H3 antibody having a binding ability to human B7H3 as an antigen-binding domain, which can bind not only free B7H3 proteins but also B7H3 proteins on a cell surface and has an important application prospect in the field of tumor treatment.
In a first aspect, the present application provides an anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor. The anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor includes an antigen-binding domain, a hinge region, a transmembrane domain and a signaling domain;
wherein the antigen-binding domain is an anti-B7H3 antibody.
In the present application, the anti-B7H3 antibody having a binding ability to B7H3 is used as the antigen-binding domain of the chimeric antigen receptor so that the chimeric antigen receptor can specifically bind to B7H3-positive tumor cells, thereby achieving a specific targeting effect on B7H3-positive tumors.
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody H26B6; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4, wherein SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody H2B8; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 6, wherein SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 6 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody 26H6; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8, wherein SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody 2B8; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 9 and SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein SEQ ID NO: 9 and SEQ ID NO: 10 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody 23H1; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NO: 12, wherein SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NO: 12 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody 6F7; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 13 and SEQ ID NO: 14, wherein SEQ ID NO: 13 and SEQ ID NO: 14 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody Enoblituzumab (Eno); wherein
In some specific embodiments, the antigen-binding domain includes amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 15 and SEQ ID NO: 16, wherein SEQ ID NO: 15 and SEQ ID NO: 16 are linked by a linker peptide to form an anti-B7H3 antibody huM30; wherein
Preferably, the hinge region includes a CD8α hinge region.
Preferably, the transmembrane domain includes a CD8α transmembrane region and/or a CD28 transmembrane region.
Preferably, the signaling domain includes CD3ζ.
Preferably, the signaling domain further includes any one or a combination of at least two of 4-1BB, a CD28 intracellular region, DAP10 or OX40.
Preferably, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor further includes a signal peptide.
Preferably, the signal peptide includes any one of an IgGκ light chain signal peptide, a CD8α signal peptide, a GM-CSF signal peptide, an HSA signal peptide, an IgG heavy chain signal peptide, an IgG light chain signal peptide, a CD33 signal peptide, an IL-2 signal peptide or an insulin signal peptide.
As a preferred technical solution, the present application provides the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor. The anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor includes the signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ.
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is H26B6-CAR, which is formed of the IgGκ light chain signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody H26B6, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. H26B6-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 17; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is H2B8-CAR, which is formed of the IgGκ light chain signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody H2B8, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. H2B8-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 18; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is L26B6-CAR, which is formed of a HuIgGκ light chain signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 26B6, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. L26B6-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 19; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is 26B6-CAR, which is formed of the CD8α signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 26B6, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. 26B6-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 20; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is L2B8-CAR, which is formed of the IgGκ light chain signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 2B8, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. L2B8-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 21; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is 2B8-CAR, which is formed of the CD8α signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 2B8, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. 2B8-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 22; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is L23H1-CAR, which is formed of an IgGκ signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 23H1, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. L23H1-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 23; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is 23H1-CAR, which is formed of the CD8α signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 23H1, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. 23H1-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 24; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is L6F7-CAR, which is formed of the IgGκ signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 6F7, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. L6F7-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 25; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is 6F7-CAR, which is formed of the CD8α signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody 6F7, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. 6F7-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 26; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is Eno-CAR, which is formed of the CD8α signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody Enoblituzumab, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. Eno-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 27; wherein
In some specific embodiments, the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor is huM30-CAR, which is formed of the CD8α signal peptide, the anti-B7H3 antibody huM30, the CD8α hinge region, the CD8α transmembrane region, 4-1BB and CD3ζ in tandem. huM30-CAR includes an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 28; wherein
In a second aspect, the present application provides a nucleic acid molecule. The nucleic acid molecule includes a coding gene of the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor according to the first aspect.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 29, which is a coding gene of H26B8-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 30, which is a coding gene of H2B8-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 31, which is a coding gene of L26B6-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 32, which is a coding gene of 26B6-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 33, which is a coding gene of L2B8-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 34, which is a coding gene of 2B8-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 35, which is a coding gene of L23H1-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 36, which is a coding gene of 23H1-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 37, which is a coding gene of L6F7-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 38, which is a coding gene of 6F7-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 39, which is a coding gene of Eno-CAR.
In some specific embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 40, which is a coding gene of huM30-CAR.
In a third aspect, the present application provides an expression vector. The expression vector includes the nucleic acid molecule according to the second aspect.
Preferably, the expression vector is any one of a lentiviral vector, a retroviral vector or an adeno-associated viral vector containing the nucleic acid molecule according to the second aspect, preferably the lentiviral vector.
In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a recombinant lentivirus. The recombinant lentivirus is prepared from a mammalian cell transfected with the expression vector according to the third aspect and a helper plasmid.
In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a chimeric antigen receptor T cell. The chimeric antigen receptor T cell expresses the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor according to the first aspect.
In the present application, the T cell expressing the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor targets B7H3-positive tumor cells using the antigen-binding domain of the chimeric antigen receptor and exerts a killing function of the T cell, thereby achieving a killing effect on B7H3-positive tumors.
Preferably, a genome of the chimeric antigen receptor T cell is integrated with the nucleic acid molecule according to the second aspect.
Preferably, the chimeric antigen receptor T cell includes the expression vector according to the third aspect and/or the recombinant lentivirus according to the fourth aspect.
In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a pharmaceutical composition. The pharmaceutical composition includes the chimeric antigen receptor T cell according to the fifth aspect.
Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition further includes any one or a combination of at least two of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.
In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a use of the anti-B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor according to the first aspect, the nucleic acid molecule according to the second aspect, the expression vector according to the third aspect, the recombinant lentivirus according to the fourth aspect, the chimeric antigen receptor T cell according to the fifth aspect or the pharmaceutical composition according to the sixth aspect for preparing a malignant tumor treatment drug.
Preferably, the malignant tumor includes any one or a combination of at least two of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, myeloid leukemia, melanoma, neuroblastoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer or cervical cancer.
Compared with the prior art, the present application has the beneficial effects described below.
To further elaborate on the technical means adopted and effects achieved in the present application, the present application is further described below in conjunction with examples and drawings. It is to be understood that the specific examples set forth below are intended to explain the present application and not to limit the present application.
Experiments without specific techniques or conditions specified in the examples are conducted according to techniques or conditions described in the literature in the art or a product specification. The reagents or instruments used herein without manufacturers specified are conventional products commercially available from proper channels.
In this example, anti-B7H3 antibodies H26B6, H2B8, 26B6, 2B8, 23H1, 6F7, Enoblituzumab (Eno) and huM30 were selected as antigen-binding domains to construct CAR molecules. 26B6 and humanized H26B6, 2B8 and humanized H2B8, 23H1 and 6F7, which have a significant binding ability to B7H3, can bind not only free B7H3 proteins but also B7H3 proteins on a cell surface. huM30 is a humanized B7H3 antibody (CN103687945B) of Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. in Japan, and a phase I clinical trial is being conducted for the treatment of B7H3-positive solid tumors (NCT02192567). Enoblituzumab (MGA271), a brand-new monoclonal antibody optimized by an immune molecule and aimed at a B7H3 target, is developed by MacroGenics using an exclusive Fc optimization technology and has a unique antibody advantage and a therapeutic potential. With no such drug having been approved in the world, Enoblituzumab represents a leading B7H3 antibody drug in the world.
In this example, the above anti-B7H3 antibody was used as the antigen-binding domain of the CAR molecule and combined with a hinge region, a transmembrane domain and a signaling domain to construct the anti-B7H3 CAR molecule shown in
Specifically, the CAR molecule is:
Coding genes of the above CAR molecules were synthesized through a gene synthesis, and the synthesized coding genes of the CAR molecules were cloned into a lentiviral vector pCDH through steps such as PCR, enzyme digestion and recombination to obtain the recombinant lentiviral vector pCDH-EF1-anti-B7H3-CAR as shown in
The recombinant lentiviral plasmid vector was packaged into recombinant lentiviral particles using 293T cells and helper plasmids, and the activated T cells were infected to obtain CAR-T cells H26B6-CAR-T, H2B8-CAR-T, L26B6-CAR-T, 26B6-CAR-T, L2B8-CAR-T, 2B8-CAR-T, L23H1-CAR-T, 23H1-CAR-T, L6F7-CAR-T, 6F7-CAR-T, Eno-CAR-T and huM30-CAR-T expressing different CARs.
Expression rates of CAR in CAR-T cells were detected using a flow cytometer.
As shown in
As shown in
In another experiment, as shown in
In another experiment, as shown in
H26B6-CAR-T, H2B8-CAR-T, L2B8-CAR-T and L26B6-CAR-T were co-incubated with human liver cancer cells HepG2, human pancreatic cancer cells PL45 and human cervical cancer cells SiHa for 16 h at effector to target ratios of 2:1, 1:1 and 1:4, and killing efficiency of CAR-T was detected using an RTCA technique.
The results of
Different CAR-T cells (huM30-CAR-T and 2B8-CAR-T) were prepared from PBMC of healthy donors (Donor 1 and Donor 2), respectively, and co-incubated with target cells at effector to target ratios of 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 for 16 h. Killing efficiency of CAR-T was detected using the RTCA technique, and a T cell control group was set.
The results of
In another experiment, 26B6-CAR-T, huM30-CAR-T, L2B8-CAR-T, 2B8-CAR-T were co-incubated with human pancreatic cancer cells PL45, human lung cancer cells PC9, human cervical cancer cells SiHa and human liver cancer cells HepG2 for 16 h at effector to target ratios of 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1, and killing efficiency of CAR-T was detected using the RTCA technique.
As shown in
Eno-CAR-T cells were diluted with an RPMI-1640 serum-free medium containing 2 mM GlutaMAX, 10 mM HEPES, 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 μg/mL streptomycin and co-cultured with 1×104 target cells (Daudi, H929, Jurkat, Tonly, A375, A549, PC9, HCT116, SY5Y, SH, MC or 293T), respectively, in a 96-well round bottom plate according to different effector to target ratios with three replicates disposed for each experiment and incubated for 16 h at 37° C. in a 5% CO2 incubator. 50 μL supernatant was taken from each well to detect the secretion of cytokines IFN-γ.
huM30-CAR-T cells were diluted with an RPMI-1640 serum-free medium containing 2 mM GlutaMAX, 10 mM HEPES, 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 μg/mL streptomycin and co-cultured with 1×104 target cells (Jurkat, A375, A549, HCT116, K562, SK-N-BE(2), HONE1 or HTB20), respectively, in a 96-well round bottom plate according to an effector to target ratio of 10:1 with three replicates disposed for each experiment and incubated for 16 h at 37° C. in a 5% CO2 incubator. 50 μL supernatant was taken from each well to detect the secretion of cytokines IFN-γ.
A content of IFN-γ in the supernatant was detected using a human IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit (Shenzhen NeoBioscience Technology Co., Ltd): the supernatant was diluted 20 to 30-fold with a sample diluent in the kit, and 100 μL supernatant was drawn and added to a pre-coated ELISA plate and incubated for 1.5 h at 37° C. after sealing; after the incubated ELISA plate was washed with PBST and dried, 100 μL biotinylated antibody was added to each well, incubated for 1 h at 37° C., washed and dried; 100 μL HRP-labeled streptavidin was added to each well, wrapped with platinum paper, incubated in an incubator for 30 min at 37° C., washed and dried; 100 μL TMB substrate color developing liquid was added to each well, the reaction was conducted for 15 min at 37° C. in the dark, and 100 μL/well stopping solution was added to stop the reaction; an OD value at a wavelength of 450 nm was read with an Infinite F50 microplate reader (TECAN).
As shown in
As shown in
In this example, an in vivo pharmacodynamics effect of H26B6-CAR-T was further evaluated, NOD-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1/Bcgen mice (B-NDG mice) were subcutaneously inoculated with human skin melanoma cells A375, human liver cancer cells Hep 3B2.1-7 or human cervical cancer cells SiHa to establish solid tumor models, and a growth inhibitory effect of H26B6-CAR-T on tumors in the mice was observed.
Steps are described below.
10 female B-NDG mice were selected and subcutaneously inoculated with A375-luc (luciferase-labeled human A375 cells; 5E+06/mouse; tumor formation for 5 days), 10 female B-NDG mice were selected and subcutaneously inoculated with Hep3B-luc (luciferase-labeled human Hep 3B2.1-7 cells; 5E+06/mouse; tumor formation for 9 days), and 25 female B-NDG mice were selected and subcutaneously inoculated with SiHa-luc (luciferase-labeled human SiHa cells; 5E+06/mouse; tumor formation for 9 days).
After tumors were formed, the mice were divided into groups according to an experimental plan, and the groups were injected with a vehicle (a DMSO injection), unmodified T cells (Mock T) and H26B6-CAR-T, respectively, with five mice in each group, where H26B6-CAR-T high, medium and low dose administration groups were set in a SiHa-luc group:
The mice were subjected to clinical observation twice a day, weighed once before the grouping and twice a week after the administration. Sizes of the tumors were measured by a vernier caliper. The day of the administration of CAR-T was recorded as Day D0. Fluorescent signals were captured by a small animal living body imager. Blood was collected to detect contents of IFN-γ using ELISA.
No administration-related abnormality was seen in general clinical observation.
Variations of weights of animals in each group during the experiment are shown in
According to the tumor volume data in
According to the intravital imaging fluorescence data in
The secretion results of IFN-γ in serum detected through the ELISA are shown in
It indicates that H26B6-CAR-T can effectively eliminate the tumor cells in the three mice solid tumor models, tumors in the mice are significantly shrunk and no administration-related abnormality is seen.
In conclusion, the anti-B7H3 CAR-T cell of the present application has a significant killing effect on B7H3-positive tumor cells at different effector to target ratios and secretes a large number of cytokines IFN-γ after the co-culture with the tumor cells. The anti-B7H3 CAR-T cell has a significant in vivo pharmacodynamic effect and can effectively eliminate the B7H3-positive tumor cells.
The applicant has stated that although the detailed method of the present application is described through the examples described above, the present application is not limited to the detailed method described above, which means that the implementation of the present application does not necessarily depend on the detailed method described above. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that any improvements made to the present application, equivalent replacements of raw materials of the product of the present application, additions of adjuvant ingredients, selections of specific manners, etc., all fall within the protection scope and the disclosure scope of the present application.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202011476183.6 | Dec 2020 | CN | national |
This is a National Stage Application filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 based on International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2020/138243, filed on Dec. 22, 2020, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202011476183.6, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on Dec. 14, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2020/138243 | 12/22/2020 | WO |
