Additive effect of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESAT-6 protein and ESAT-6/CFP-10 fusion protein in adhesion of macrophages through fibronectin receptors

Background/purposeTuberculous granulomas are the sites of interaction between the T cells, macrophages, and extracellular matrix (ECM) to control the infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). A predominant role of RD-1-encoded secretory proteins, early secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6), and culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) in the formation of granulomas has recently been emphasized. However, the precise molecular events that induce the formation of these granulomatous structures are yet to be elucidated. Macrophages use integrins to adhere to fibronectin (FN) as a major component of the ECM. The major goal of this study was to investigate whether recombinant M. tuberculosis antigens can modulate integrin-mediated macrophage adhesion.MethodsDifferentiated THP-1 cell line was stimulated with recombinant ESAT-6, CFP-10, and ESAT-6/CFP-10 proteins and evaluated for alterations in the expression levels of α5β1 and α4β1 by semiquantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The role of these recombinant antigens in the cytoskeleton rearrangement was determined by adhesion assay and immunofluorescent microscopy.ResultsOur data showed that ESAT-6 and ESAT-6/CFP-10 fusion proteins could induce adhesion of macrophages to FN through α4β1 integrin. An increased expression level of α4β1 integrin in comparison with α5β1 integrin in differentiated THP-1 cells was also observed. Results of immunofluorescence studies showed that recombinant proteins-treated THP-1 cells form well-organized stress fibers and focal contacts containing vinculin compared with untreated THP-1 cells.ConclusionIncreased expression level of α4β1 in differentiated THP-1 cells could suggest the important role of α4β1 integrin in adhesion and focal contact formation of macrophages exposed to M. tuberculosis antigens

Macrophage Immune Response Suppression by Recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigens, the ESAT-6, CFP-10, and ESAT-6/CFP-10 Fusion Proteins

Background: Macrophage immune responses are affected by the secretory proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This study aimed to examine the immune responses of macrophages to Mtb secretory antigens, namely ESAT-6, CFP-10, and ESAT-6/CFP-10. Methods: THP-1 cells (a human monocytic cell line) were cultured and differentiated to macrophages by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The cytotoxicity of the recombinant Mtb proteins was assessed using the MTT assay. Two important immune responses of macrophages, namely NO and ROS production, were measured in response to the ESAT-6, CFP-10, and ESAT-6/CFP-10 antigens. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with SPSS, version 16, and considered significant at P<0.05. Results: The results showed that the ESAT-6, CFP-10, and ESAT-6/CFP-10 proteins markedly reduced macrophage immune response. The treatment of the THP-1-differentiated cells with ESAT-6, CFP-10, and ESAT-6/CFP-10 reduced NO and ROS production. The treated THP-1-differentiated cells exhibited less inducible NO synthase activity than did the untreated cells. No toxic effect on macrophage viability was observed for the applied proteins at the different concentrations. Conclusion: It seems that the decline in macrophage immune response is due to the suppression of NO and ROS production pathways without any effect on cell viability

Evaluating the efficiency of CHEF and CMV promoter with IRES and Furin/2A linker sequences for monoclonal antibody expression in CHO cells.

In recent years, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been developed as powerful therapeutic and diagnostic agents and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells have emerged as the dominant host for the recombinant expression of these proteins. A critical step in recombinant expression is the utilization of strong promoters, such as the Chinese Hamster Elongation Factor-1α (CHEF-1) promoter. To compare the strengths of CHEF with cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter for mAb expression in CHO cells, four bicistronic vectors bearing either internal ribosome entry site (IRES) or Furin/2A (F2A) sequences were designed. The efficiency of these promoters was evaluated by measuring level of expressed antibody in stable cell pools. Our results indicated that CHEF promoter-based expression of mAbs was 2.5 fold higher than CMV-based expression in F2A-mediated vectors. However, this difference was less significant in IRES-mediated mAb expressing cells. Studying the stability of the F2A expression system in the course of 18 weeks, we observed that the cells having CHEF promoter maintained their antibody expression at higher level than those transfected with CMV promoter. Further analyses showed that both IRES-mediated vectors, expressed mAbs with correct size, whereas in antibodies expressed via F2A system heterogeneity of light chains were detected due to incomplete furin cleavage. Our findings indicated that the CHEF promoter is a viable alternative to CMV promoter-based expression in F2A-mediated vectors by providing both higher expression and level of stability

Monoclonal antibodies expression improvement in CHO cells by PiggyBac transposition regarding vectors ratios and design.

Establishing stable Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) usually pass through the random integration of vectors to the cell genome, which is sensitive to gene silencing. One approach to overcome this issue is to target a highly transcribed region in the genome. Transposons are useful devices to target active parts of genomes, and PiggyBac (PB) transposon can be considered as a good option. In the present study, three PB transposon donor vectors containing both heavy and light chains were constructed, one contained independent expression cassettes while the others utilized either an Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) or 2A element to express mAb. Conventional cell pools were created by transferring donor vectors into the CHO cells, whereas transposon-based cells were generated by transfecting the cells with donor vectors with a companion of a transposase-encoding helper vector, with 1:2.5 helper/donor vectors ratio. To evaluate the influence of helper/donor vectors ratio on expression, the second transposon-based cell pools were generated with 1:5 helper/donor ratio. Expression levels in the transposon-based cells were two to five -folds more than those created by conventional method except for the IRES-mediated ones, in which the observed difference increased more than 100-fold. The results were dependent on both donor vector design and vectors ratios

Analysis of the four bicistronic vectors for mAb and mRNA expression in established stable cell lines.

<p>Stably transfected pools were generated by transfection of CHO-S cells with various bicistronic vectors containing either IRES or F2A sequences and different promoters (CHEF or CMV). Levels of mAb and mRNA expression were measured by ELISA and qRT-PCR respectively. Black bars represent the mAb titer and gray bars represent mRNA fold induction. The error bars represent the standard deviation of three independent measurements.</p

Schematic illustration showing insertion of furin/2A sequences between light and heavy chain by overlap extension PCR.

<p>Schematic illustration showing insertion of furin/2A sequences between light and heavy chain by overlap extension PCR.</p

SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis of purified mAb in stable cell pools transfected with four bicistronic vectors.

<p>Supernatants of three different cell pools were purified using protein-A. Purified samples were analyzed with SDS-PAGE and western blot under reducing and non-reducing condition. Commercial IgG1 was used as a positive control. (A) SDS-PAGE profile of purified samples in reduced state, lane 1; Protein molecular ladder, 2; CHEF-F2A, 3; CMV-F2A, 4; CHEF-IRES, 5; CMV-IRES, 6; positive control. (B) SDS-PAGE profile of purified samples in non- reduced state, lane 1; CMV-IRES, 2; CHEF-IRES, 3; CMV-F2A, 4; CHEF-F2A, 5; protein molecular ladder. (C) Western blot analysis of samples under reducing condition, lane 1; protein molecular ladder, 2; CHEF-F2A, 3; CMV-F2A, 4; CHEF-IRES, 5; CMV-IRES, 6; positive control. (D) Western blot analysis of purified samples in non- reduced state, lane 1; CMV-IRES, 2; CHEF-IRES, 3; CMV-F2A, 4; CHEF-F2A, 5; protein molecular ladder.</p

Analysis of integrated transgene copy number in stable cell pools transfected by four bicistronic vectors.

<p>Antibody copy number based on light chain copy number was calculated by qRT-PCR. The error bars represent the standard deviation of three independent measurements.</p

Western blot analyses of purified mAb in triplicate stable cell pools transfected with vectors bearing F2A-mediated expression system.

<p>Light chains with various molecular weights (25, 28 & 30 kDa) were detected. Triplicates of each stable pool were shown with 1, 2 and 3. (A) Lane 1; CHEF-F2A (2), lane 2; CHEF-F2A (3), lane 3; protein molecular ladder. (B) Lane 1; protein molecular ladder, lane 2; CMV-F2A (1), lane 3; CMV-F2A (3).</p

Analysis of the stability of antibody expression over time by stable cell pools transfected with two vectors containing F2A sequences.

<p>Both stable cells were cultivated for 18 weeks upon removal of puromycin as a selection marker. Every 2 weeks, antibody expression was monitored and measured by ELISA. The other pools exhibited the same expression pattern; the data from one of them was represented.</p