Construction of Anti-hPD-L1 HCAb Nb6 and in Situ 124I Labeling for Noninvasive Detection of PD-L1 Expression in Human Bone Sarcoma

Bioconjug Chem. 2019 Oct 16;30(10):2614-2623. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00539. Epub 2019 Oct 2.

Abstract

Immunotherapy is considered the fourth major treatment mode for cancer following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has achieved breakthrough progress; therefore, it is important to screen patients to identify those who will respond to tumor immunotherapy. Here, we report the construction of a novel heavy chain-only antibody (HCAb) and its corresponding 124I-labeled probe. Using phage display technology, we generated a novel anti-hPD-L1-specific HCAb named Nb6 (selected from 95 monoclones) with high affinity for hPD-L1. The positron-emitting 124I-labeled hPD-L1-targeted HCAb probe was prepared for further evaluation, and nonradioactive natural iodine (natI)-labeled anti-hPD-L1 Nb6 was synthesized as a reference compound. 125I-anti-hPD-L1 Nb6 uptake in OS-732 cells in vitro can be blocked by the precursor. The binding affinity of 125I-anti-hPD-L1 Nb6 to OS-732 cell lines was 2.19 nM. For in vivo studies, an osteosarcoma OS-732 tumor-bearing mouse model was successfully constructed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to confirm the presence of the hPD-L1 gene and antigen in the tumor tissue of the OS-732 mouse model. Biodistribution showed that uptake of 124I-anti-hPD-L1 Nb6 probes at 24 h was 4.43 ± 0.33% ID/g in OS-732 tumor tissues. Tumor lesions can be clearly delineated on micro-PET (positron emission tomography)/CT (computed tomography) imaging 24 h after injection of 124I-anti-hPD-L1 Nb6, while the blocking group shows substantially decreased uptake on imaging. Pathological staining validated hPD-L1 expression on the surface of the tumor cell membrane; thus, 124I-anti-hPD-L1 Nb6 can be used for in vivo noninvasive PET imaging. When administered in tandem, Nb6 and 124I-anti-hPD-L1 Nb6 may provide a novel strategy to clinically screen patients for hPD-L1 to identify those who would benefit from immunotherapy of malignant tumors such as osteosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry*
  • Immunoconjugates / metabolism
  • Immunoconjugates / pharmacokinetics
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / immunology*
  • Iodine Radioisotopes*
  • Isotope Labeling
  • Mice
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism*
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology
  • Peptide Library
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Iodine-124
  • Peptide Library