Cross-linking tumor cells with effector cells via CD55 with a bispecific mAb induces beta-glucan-dependent CR3-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

Eur J Immunol. 2006 Apr;36(4):977-84. doi: 10.1002/eji.200535653.

Abstract

Complement (C) regulatory proteins decrease the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic anti-cancer antibodies. Bispecific mAb (bi-mAb) that target a tumor antigen and simultaneously inhibit a C regulator increase the effectiveness of such a therapy. Here we investigated the mechanism by which bi-mAb increase tumor cell lysis. Apart from C-dependent cytotoxicity, C activation can lead to complement receptor 3 (CR3)-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (CR3-DCC) by CR3-positive effector cells in the presence of beta-glucan. Here we show that an anti-Ep-CAM*anti-CD55 bi-mAb induced more than threefold higher CR3-DCC (71%) of human colorectal cancer cells compared with anti-Ep-CAM alone (20%). This CR3-DCC was dependent on the binding of the anti-CD55 arm of tumor-bound anti-Ep-CAM*anti-CD55 bi-mAb to effector cell CD55, CR3 priming by beta-glucan and the presence of iC3b on the target cell. Comparable lysis could be obtained in the absence of iC3b, when CR3 and CD55 were cross-linked on the effector cells, suggesting cooperation between CD55 and CR3 in signal transduction. Tumor cells with low antigen expression were effectively lysed via this mechanism in contrast to direct C-dependent cytotoxicity. These data imply that the effectiveness of mAb immunotherapy can be improved using anti-tumor antigen*anti-CD55 bi-mAb and beta-glucan, thereby initiating CR3-DCC as an additional effector mechanism that is efficient for eradication of tumor cells with lower antigen expression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bispecific / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • CD55 Antigens / immunology*
  • CD55 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology*
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen / immunology*
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • beta-Glucans / immunology*
  • beta-Glucans / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • CD55 Antigens
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • EPCAM protein, human
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
  • Macrophage-1 Antigen
  • beta-Glucans