The existence of cancer stem cells is regarded as the major cause for therapeutic resistance and relapse of a variety of cancer types including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the tracing of such a subpopulation in vivo has been challenging. We have previously demonstrated that the isoform 5 of the voltage-gated calcium channel α2δ1 subunit, which can be recognized specifically by a monoclonal antibody 1B50-1, is a bona fide surface marker for HCC stem cells. Here we developed a strategy for optical imaging of α2δ1-positive cells by using a fusion protein containing the single chain variable fragment (scFv) of Mab1B50-1 and the luciferase NanoLuc which was tagged with Flag in the C-terminal. The scFv of Mab1B50-1 was fused to the N-terminal of NanoLucFlag using overlap PCR, and the recombinant fragment, which was named as 1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag, was subsequently cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector. The resulting construct was transfected into FreeStyle 293F cells in suspension using PEI reagent. The expression of the fusion protein was identified as a protein with molecular weight about 50 kDa by Western blotting. After purification by ANTI-FLAG® M2 affinity chromatography, 1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag was demonstrated to bind to α2δ1 positive cells specifically with a Kd value of (18.62±1.84) nmol/L. Furthermore, a strong luciferase activity of 1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag was detected in α2δ1 positive cells following incubation with the fusion protein, indicating that the presence of α2δ1 could be quantified using this fusion protein. Hence, 1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag provides a potential tool for optical imaging of α2δ1 positive cancer stem cells both in vitro and in vivo.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics* ; Single-Chain Antibodies/genetics*

Single chain antibody fragment (scFv) is a small molecule composed of a variable region of heavy chain (VH) and a variable region of light chain (VL) of an antibody, and these two chains are connected by a flexible short peptide. scFv is the smallest functional fragment with complete antigen-binding activity, which contains both the antibody-recognizing site and the antigen-binding site. Compared with other antibodies, scFv has the advantages of small molecular weight, strong penetration, low immunogenicity, and easy expression. Currently, the most commonly used display systems for scFv mainly include the phage display system, ribosome display system, mRNA display system, yeast cell surface display system and mammalian cell display system. In recent years, with the development of scFv in the field of medicine, biology, and food safety, they have also attracted much attention in the sectors of biosynthesis and applied research. This review summarizes the advances of scFv display systems in recent years in order to facilitate scFv screening and application.
Animals ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region/genetics* ; Immunoglobulin Fragments/metabolism* ; Single-Chain Antibodies/metabolism* ; Peptide Library ; Mammals/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo construct human phage single-chain antibody (scFv) library against breast cancer, and to identify anti-HER2 specific antibodies from the human phage display scFv library to offer a stronger affinity sequence targeting HER2 for fusion protein targeting HER2 and CXCR4.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from the adjacent lymphatic tissue harvested from breast cancer patients. The variable regions of the whole antibody were amplified by using RT-PCR and were cloned into the vector pCANTAB-5E through a linker. The products were electroporated into competent E.coli TG1 cells. Recombinant phages specific for breast cancer cells were enriched in SKBR-3 after four rounds. The antigen-positive clones were selected by ELISA and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe fragment of VH and VL were about 375 and 330 bp and were linked in vitro to form scFv of 750 bp that was resistant to the breast cancer HER2 single strand. A fusion phage display library that contained total of 2.48×10(8) pfu /ml was established. ELISA and immunohistochemical results confirmed that the antibody has a strong affinity with HER2 antigen in breast cancer tissue. Compared to human IgG antibody, a scFv phage library against human breast cancer was successfully constructed with high capacity. The scFv was highly specific to HER2 antigen and the sequencing results indicated that VL and VH genes were highly homologous with the variable region of human antibody.

CONCLUSIONThis strategy may achieve new targeted antibody resistant to the breast cancer for clinical treatment and provide a carrier that uses HER2 as a target of the fusion protein for anti-tumor therapy.

Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Peptide Library ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; immunology ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; immunology

Asthma is a common respiratory disease that affects 300 million of people worldwide, posing a serious health risk and medical burden. Development of new anti-asthmatic drugs and alternative treatment regimens is therefore encouraged. Recent studies have shown that Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is involved in asthma development. In order to construct nanoparticles targeting EGFR for asthma treatment, a single chain antibody fragment (scFv) against EGFR was genetically engineered and modified at the N-terminal end of the human ferritin H-chain (FTH1) to construct Anti EGFR scFv::FTH1/FTH1 nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the nanoparticles were self-assembled into hollow cage-like structures with the particle size of about 12 nm. Semi-quantitative analysis of the purified nanoparticles by SDS-PAGE revealed the mass ratio of FTH1 to Anti EGFR scFv::FTH1 was 7:3. In House Dust Mite (HDM) driven models, Anti EGFR scFv::FTH1/FTH1 nanoparticles efficiently attenuated several key features of asthma, including goblet cell hyperplasia, mucous metaplasia and subepithelial fibrosis, showing the potential of using ferritin based nanoparticle for asthma treatment.
Asthma/drug therapy* ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; Oxidoreductases ; Single-Chain Antibodies/genetics*

OBJECTIVESTo define the expression of single-chain variable fragment (ScFv) against hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) mediated by recombinant replication defective adenovirus carrying the anti-HBc ScFv gene in vitro and to define the activity of anti-HBc ScFv combining HBcAg.

METHODSThe recombinant adenoviruses carrying anti-HBc ScFv gene generated by homologous recombination in bacteria and packaged in 293 cells were transfected into HepG2 cells, and the anti-HBc ScFv was detected using SDS-PAGE and Western blot.

RESULTSGreen fluorescent protein (GFP) was observed in HepG2 cells after the transfection. SDS-PAGE displayed a protein strap about 2.7 x 10(4), and the result of Western blot displayed a positive reactive strap.

CONCLUSIONAnti-HBc ScFv can be expressed in cells mediated by recombinant replication defective adenovirus carrying the anti-HBc ScFv gene.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; genetics ; immunology ; Transfection

In our previous study, a panel of 52 broadly cross-reactive H5-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were generated and characterized. The 13D4, one of these MAbs, has been demonstrated to protect mice against lethal challenge by 4 strains of H5N1 avian influenza virus representing the currently prevailing genetic populations, clades 1, 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Here, we further cloned the gene of the 13D4 MAb and constructed a single-chain variable fragment. Then, the 13D4 single-chain antibody (scFv) was expressed in secretory maner in Pichia pastoris. The supernatant of the culture was concentrated and subjected to ammonium sulfate precipitation. The purity of the 13D4 scFv was around 90% in SDS-PAGE following ion-exchange chromatography. We further investigated its binding property using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and blocking ELISA. The results indicated that the 13D4 scFv shared the same binding sites and comparable HI titer with the prototype murine 13D4 Mab. In conclusion, an anti-H5 single-chain wide-spectrum neutralizing antibody is prepared successfully in yeast system.
Antibodies, Viral ; genetics ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Pichia ; genetics ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; genetics ; immunology

To obtain single chain variable fragment (scFv) and bivalent single chain variable fragment (bsFv) against transferrin receptor, up-stream and down-stream primers were designed according to the complementary sequences of FR1 region of variable heavy (VH) and FR4 of variable light (VL), respectively, which contained inter-linker G4S and the restriction endonuclease SfiI, AscI and NotI. Two pieces of scFv fragments were first amplified through PCR and then inserted into plasmid pAB1, which could express scFv protein once induced by IPTG in the host bacteria. To express scFv and bsFv, E. coli TG1 was cultured in LB broth and was induced by IPTG. The restriction enzyme digestion map and DNA sequencing demonstrated that scFv and bsFv genes were successfully inserted into the expression plasmid. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting revealed the protein band at 35kD and 60kD, which were consistent with the molecular weight of scFv and bsFv respectively. Flow cytometry showed that scFv and bsFv harbored the specific binding activity with TfR expressed in various tumor cells, and the avidity of bsFv was higher than that of the parent scFv.
Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Genetic Vectors/genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; K562 Cells ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Receptors, Transferrin/*immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/biosynthesis ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics ; Single-Chain Antibodies/*biosynthesis ; Single-Chain Antibodies/genetics

Bispecific antibodies have been exploited as both cancer immunodiagnostics and cancer therapeutics, which have shown promises in clinical trials in cancer imaging and therapy. To improve the anti-tumor effect, an scDb (bispecific single-chain diabody) was constructed from the variable domain genes of two scFvs (single-chain variable fragment antibodies) directed against human EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) extracellular domains. The anti-EGFR/ anti-KDR scDb was constructed into pHEN2 plasmid and expressed in Escherichia coli HB2151 host. After purification by one-step affinity chromatography of IMAC, scDb protein was characterized by Western blotting. The yield of scDb protein was 570 microg per liter medium. scDb bound to EGFR as efficiently as the parental antibody scFv-E10, while a little bit weaker than the parental antibody scFv-AK404R when bound to KDR. In conclusion, the scDb protein could bind both EGFR and KDR specifically and could be applied for further anti-tumor research.
Antibodies, Bispecific ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Protein Binding ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; immunology ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo isolate single chain antibody fragments (scFv) against cell surface molecules by pathfinder selection from an anti-KG1a cell scFv phage library.

METHODSThe anti-KG1a scFv library was enriched by KGla cell panning for three rounds, or unenriched, then processed for pathfinder selection respectively using anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody as pathfinder molecule. ScFv phage clones were randomly picked and identified by binding KG1a cells using immunofluorescein and flow cytometry. The KG1a+ clones were further identified by KG1a, HL60, U937, and CEM cell lines and ELISA. Their antigenic molecules on cell surface were digested by chymopapain and analyzed by flow cytometry. DNAs from ten positive clones were sequenced. The scFv clones with different primary structure were used to analyze the molecular weight of their antigens by Western blot.

RESULTSOne hundred and two KG1a+ scFv phage clones were isolated from 144 enriched and 96 unenriched scFv phage library respectively, among which 47 bound KG1a, HL60, U937, and CEM cells, 55 bound KG1a cells exclusively. None of 28 KG1a+, HL60-, U937-, and CEM- scFv clones bound to the CD34 antigen, as confirmed by ELISA, although most of their antigens were sensitive to chymopapain digestion. DNA sequences from ten positive clones showed that they were from four different clones. They bound antigens with different molecular weight.

CONCLUSIONSOne hundred and two scFv phage clones specific for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells have been isolated from an anti-KG1a cell scFv phage library. The pathfinder selection has showed advantages to improve the screening efficacy of scFv phage clones against antigens, which present at very low densities on the cell surface.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; immunology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; genetics ; Antibody Specificity ; Bacteriophages ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; immunology ; Peptide Library ; Single-Chain Antibodies

To express and secrete native HBscFv (anti-HBsAg single-chain Fv) in P. pastoris, HBscFv was amplified from plasmid pGEM-HBscFv, and then sub-cloned into expression vector pPICZalphaA. The resulting plasmid pPIC-HBscFv was linearized and transformed into P. pastoris GS115. The recombinant Pichia strains, identified by direct PCR and Zeocin-resistant screening of Pichia transformants, were cultured and induced with methanol. It was found that recombinant HBscFv, lead by alpha-factor, could be secreted into the culture supernatant to a level of 80mg/L. The bioactivity of Pichia produced HBscFv was confirmed by indirect ELISA, which also suggested that the bioactivity of HBscFv in the culture supernatant reached its peak in 72h and decreased in the late-stage of the induction. PAS staining suggests that HBscFv produced by yeast is poorly glycosylated or none-glycosylated protein.
Blotting, Western ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism