Transfection

Example 17

To further validate the activity of the DMPK siRNAs, many of the sequences that showed the best activity in the initial screen were selected for a follow-up evaluation in dose response format. Once again, two human cell lines were used to assess the in vitro activity of the DMPK siRNAs: first, SJCRH30 human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line; and second, Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) patient-derived immortalized human skeletal myoblasts. The selected siRNAs were transfected in a 10-fold dose response at 100, 10, 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0,001, and 0.0001 nM final concentrations or in a 9-fold dose response at 50, 5.55556, 0.617284, 0.068587, 0.007621, 0.000847, and 0.000094 nM final concentrations. The siRNAs were formulated with transfection reagent Lipofectamine RNAiMAX (Life Technologies) according to the manufacturer's “forward transfection” instructions. Cells were plated 24 h prior to transfection in triplicate on 96-well tissue culture plates, with 8500 cells per well for SJCRH30 and 4000 cells per well for DM1 myoblasts. At 48 h (SJCRH30) or 72 h (DM1 myoblasts) post-transfection cells were washed with PBS and harvested with TRIzol® reagent (Life Technologies). RNA was isolated using the Direct-zol-96 RNA Kit (Zymo Research) according to the manufacturer's instructions. 10 μl of RNA was reverse transcribed to cDNA using the High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems) according to the manufacturer's instructions. cDNA samples were evaluated by qPCR with DMPK-specific and PPIB-specific TaqMan human gene expression probes (Thermo Fisher) using TaqMan® Fast Advanced Master Mix (Applied Biosystems). DMPK values were normalized within each sample to PPIB gene expression. The quantification of DMPK downregulation was performed using the standard 2^−ΔΔCt a method. All experiments were performed in triplicate, with Tables 16A-B, 17A-B, and 18A-B presenting the mean values of the triplicates as well as the calculated IC₅₀ values determined from fitting curves to the dose-response data by non-linear regression.

Example 1

The sequence coding for the light chain variable region of the antibody was inserted into vector pFUSE2ss-CLIg-hK (Invivogen, Catalog Number: pfuse2ss-hclk) using EcoRI and BsiWI restriction sites to construct a light chain expression vector. The sequence coding for the heavy chain variable region of the antibody was inserted into vector pFUSEss-CHIg-hG2 (Invivogen, Catalog Number: pfusess-hchg2) or vector pFUSEss-CHIg-hG4 (Invivogen, Catalog Number: pfusess-hchg4) using EcoRI and NheI restriction sites to construct a heavy chain expression vector.

The culture and transfection of Expi293 cells were performed in accordance with the handbook of Expi293™ Expression System Kit from Invitrogen (Catalog Number: A14635). The density of the cells was adjusted to 2×10⁶ cells/ml for transfection, and 0.6 μg of the light chain expression vector as described above and 0.4 μg of the heavy chain expression vector as described above were added to each ml of cell culture, and the supernatant of the culture was collected four days later.

The culture supernatant was subjected to non-reduced SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis in accordance with the protocol described in Appendix 8, the Third edition of the “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”.

Pictures were taken with a gel scanning imaging system from BEIJING JUNYI Electrophoresis Co., LTD and in-gel quantification was performed using Gel-PRO ANALYZER software to determine the expression levels of the antibodies after transient transfection. Results were expressed relative to the expression level of control antibody 1 (control antibody 1 was constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,809, which comprises a light chain variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,809 and a heavy chain variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,809, the same below) (control antibody 2 was constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,638,606, which comprises a light chain variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,638,606 and a variable region as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,638,606, the same below). See Tables 2a-2c below for the results.

Example 4

6-8 week-old SPF Balb/c mice were selected and injected subcutaneously with antibodies (the antibodies of the present invention or control antibody 2) in a dose of 5 mg/kg (weight of the mouse). Blood samples were collected at the time points before administration (0 h) and at 2, 8, 24, 48, 72, 120, 168, 216, 264, 336 h after administration. For blood sampling, the animals were anesthetized by inhaling isoflurane, blood samples were taken from the orbital venous plexus, and the sampling volume for each animal was about 0.1 ml; 336 h after administration, the animals were anesthetized by inhaling isoflurane and then euthanized after taking blood in the inferior vena cava.

No anticoagulant was added to the blood samples, and serum was isolated from each sample by centrifugation at 1500 g for 10 min at room temperature within 2 h after blood sampling. The collected supernatants were immediately transferred to new labeled centrifuge tubes and then stored at −70° C. for temporary storage. The concentrations of the antibodies in the mice were determined by ELISA:

1. Preparation of Reagents

sIL-4Rα (PEPRO TECH, Catalog Number: 200-04R) solution: sIL-4Rα was taken and 1 ml ddH2O was added therein, mixed up and down, and then a solution of 100 μg/ml was obtained. The solution was stored in a refrigerator at −20° C. after being subpacked.

Sample to be tested: 1 μl of serum collected at different time points was added to 999 μl of PBS containing 1% BSA to prepare a serum sample to be tested of 1:1000 dilution.

Standard sample: The antibody to be tested was diluted to 0.1 μg/ml with PBS containing 1% BSA and 0.1% normal animal serum (Beyotime, Catalog Number: ST023). Afterwards, 200, 400, 600, 800, 900, 950, 990 and 1000 μl of PBS containing 1% BSA and 0.1% normal animal serum were respectively added to 800, 600, 400, 200, 100, 50, 10 and 0 μl of 0.1 μg/ml antibodies to be tested, and thus standard samples of the antibodies of the present invention were prepared with a final concentration of 80, 60, 40, 20, 10, 5, 1, or 0 ng/ml respectively.

2. Detection by ELISA

250 μl of 100 μg/ml sIL-4Rα solution was added to 9.75 ml of PBS, mixed up and down, and then an antigen coating buffer of 2.5 μg/ml was obtained. The prepared antigen coating buffer was added to a 96-well ELISA plate (Corning) with a volume of 100 μl per well. The 96-well ELISA plate was incubated overnight in a refrigerator at 4° C. after being wrapped with preservative film (or covered). On the next day, the 96-well ELISA plate was taken out and the solution therein was discarded, and PBS containing 2% BSA was added thereto with a volume of 300 μl per well. The 96-well ELISA plate was incubated for 2 hours in a refrigerator at 4° C. after being wrapped with preservative film (or covered). Then the 96-well ELISA plate was taken out and the solution therein was discarded, and the plate was washed 3 times with PBST. The diluted standard antibodies and the sera to be detected were sequentially added to the corresponding wells, and three duplicate wells were made for each sample with a volume of 100 μl per well. The ELISA plate was wrapped with preservative film (or covered) and incubated for 1 h at room temperature. Subsequently, the solution in the 96-well ELISA plate was discarded and then the plate was washed with PBST for 3 times. Later, TMB solution (Solarbio, Catalog Number: PR1200) was added to the 96-well ELISA plate row by row with a volume of 100 μl per well. The 96-well ELISA plate was placed at room temperature for 5 minutes, and 2 M H2SO4 solution was added in immediately to terminate the reaction. The 96-well ELISA plate was then placed in flexstation 3 (Molecular Devices), the values of OD450 were read, the data were collected and the results were calculated with Winnonlin software. The pharmacokinetic results were shown in FIG. 1 and Table 6 below.

Example 5

A series of pharmacokinetic experiments were carried out in Macaca fascicularises to further screen antibodies.

3-5 year-old Macaca fascicularises each weighting 2-5 Kg were selected and injected subcutaneously with antibodies (the antibodies of the present invention or control antibody 2) in a dose of 5 mg/kg (weight of the Macaca fascicularis). The antibody or control antibody 2 to be administered was accurately extracted with a disposable aseptic injector, and multi-point injections were made subcutaneously on the inner side of the thigh of the animal, and the injection volume per point was not more than 2 ml. Whole blood samples were collected from the subcutaneous vein of the hind limb of the animal at the time points before administration (0 h) and at 0.5, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, 120, 168, 240, 336 h, 432 h, 504 h, 600 h, 672 h after administration. The blood volume collected from each animal was about 0.1 ml each time.

No anticoagulant was added to the blood samples, and serum was isolated from each sample by centrifugation at 1500 g for 10 min at room temperature within 2 h after blood sampling. The collected supernatants were immediately transferred to new labeled centrifuge tubes and then stored at −70° C. for temporary storage. The concentrations of the antibodies in the Macaca fascicularises were determined according the method as described in Example 4. The pharmacokinetic results are shown in FIG. 2 and Table 7 below.

Example 10

In vivo pharmacokinetics of the antibodies of the invention are further detected and compared in this Example, in order to investigate the possible effects of specific amino acids at specific positions on the pharmacokinetics of the antibodies in animals. The specific experimental method was the same as that described in Example 4, and the results are shown in Table 9 below.

From the specific sequence, the amino acid at position 103 in the sequence of the heavy chain H1031 (SEQ ID NO. 91) of the antibody (in CDR3) is Asp (103Asp), and the amino acid at position 104 is Tyr (104Tyr). Compared with antibodies that have no 103Asp and 104Tyr in heavy chain, the present antibodies which have 103Asp and 104Tyr have a 2- to 4-fold higher area under the drug-time curve and an about 70% reduced clearance rate.

The expression levels of the antibodies of the present invention are also detected and compared, in order to investigate the possible effects of specific amino acids at specific positions on the expression of the antibodies. Culture and transfection of Expi293 cells were conducted according to Example 1, and the collected culture supernatant was then passed through a 0.22 μm filter and then purified by GE MabSelect Sure (Catalog Number: 11003494) Protein A affinity chromatography column in the purification system GE AKTA purifier 10. The purified antibody was collected and concentrated using Amicon ultrafiltration concentrating tube (Catalog Number: UFC903096) and then quantified. The quantitative results are shown in Table 10 below.

From the specific sequence, the amino acid at position 31 in the sequence of the light chain L1012 (SEQ ID NO. 44), L1020 (SEQ ID NO. 55) or L1023 (SEQ ID NO. 51) of the antibody (in CDR1) is Ser (31Ser). Compared with antibodies that have no 31Ser in light chain, the present antibodies which have 31Ser have a 2- to 5-fold higher expression level.

The above description for the embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and variations according to the present invention, which are within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the same.

Example 2

iPS cells were prepared according to protocols known in the art and seeded in a Geltrex®-Matrix coated 12-well culture dish. Transfection was performed in iPSCs with 3 ul of Lipofectamine® 2000 or 3 ul of Lipofectamine® 3000 as indicated and according to manufacturer's instructions, to deliver a GeneArt® CRISPR Nuclease vector targeting the HPRT locus. Transfection was also performed with GeneArt® CRISPR Nuclease RNA editing system targeting the HPRT locus and 3 ul of Formulation 21 lipid aggregate complex. RNA editing system utilizes a Cas9 mRNA, which was prepared via in vitro transcription with the Ambion® mMESSAGE mMACHINE® Kit, and a gRNA which was transcribed using the Ambion® MEGAshortscript™ Kit. Cells were harvested 72-hours post-transfection and cleavage efficiency was determined using the GeneArt® Genomic Cleavage Detection Kit.

Results are shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, which clearly demonstrate that using an mRNA based form of Cas9 with a guide-RNA for gene editing with the lipid aggregates described herein for transfection results in at least 4-fold more targeted cleavage of the host cell genome when compared to standard DNA based editing approaches.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, the descriptions and examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The disclosures of all patent and scientific literature cited herein are expressly incorporated in their entirety by reference.