BCMA-targeting Bispecific Antibody That Simultaneously Stimulates NKG2D-enhanced Efficacy Against Multiple Myeloma

J Immunother. 2020 Jul/Aug;43(6):175-188. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0000000000000320.

Abstract

B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is a highly plasma cell-selective protein expressed on malignant plasma cells of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and it is a defined therapeutic target. Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) is frequently expressed in lymphoproliferative malignancies including MM. MICA activates natural killer (NK) cells and costimulates T cells by interaction with its immunoreceptor NK cell receptor G2D (NKG2D). Nonetheless, during full-blown MM, tumor cells promote efficient MICA shedding, which evokes NKG2D internalization and immune suppression. To enhance the directional killing efficacy of immune cells against myeloma cells, we constructed a novel bispecific antibody 2A9-MICA and explored its potential antimyeloma activity against MM. 2A9-MICA consists of human MICA extracellular region and a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) that targets BCMA generated by phage display technology. In vitro, 2A9-MICA activated NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and induced NK cells to kill BCMA-positive human myeloma cells. Moreover, in BCMA-positive, MM-bearing nude mice, 2A9-MICA specifically targeted tumor tissue, where it effectively recruited immune cells and inhibited tumor tissue growth showed superior antitumor activity. Taken together, bispecific antibody 2A9-MICA provides a new approach for MM-targeting immunotherapy and has attractive potential for clinical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bispecific / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use
  • Antibody Affinity / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • B-Cell Maturation Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cell Degranulation / drug effects
  • Cell Degranulation / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy
  • Multiple Myeloma / etiology
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism*
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / agonists*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • B-Cell Maturation Antigen
  • Cytokines
  • KLRK1 protein, human
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • TNFRSF17 protein, human