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COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED KILLING OF CANCER CELLS Cover: fluorescence microscopical image of cryostat sections of ovarian microtumors treated with antibodies and complement. Cells with yellow fluorescence are killed by complement. © 2003 by Juha Hakulinen Printed at Yliopistopaino, Helsinki, Finland ISBN 952-91-5503-4 (sid.) ISBN 952-10-0884-9 (pdf) http://ethesis.helsinki.fi COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED KILLING OF CANCER CELLS JUHA HAKULINEN Haartman Institute Department of Bacteriology and Immunology University of Helsinki Finland Academic Dissertation To be publicly discussed, with the permission of the Medical Faculty of the University of Helsinki, in the small Auditorium of the Haartman Institute, Haartmaninkatu 3, Helsinki, on Saturday, January 11th, 2003, at 12 o´clock noon. SUPERVISOR Seppo Meri MD, PhD, Professor Haartman Institute Department of Bacteriology and Immunology University of Helsinki REVIEWERS Mikko Hurme MD, PhD, Professor University of Tampere Medical School and Timo Paavonen MD, PhD, Docent Department of Pathology University of Helsinki OPPONENT Olli Lassila MD, PhD, Professor Department of Medical Microbiology University of Turku CONTENTS ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS...............................................................................................7 ABBREVIATIONS..............................................................................................................8 ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... 1 0 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 1 2 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE................................................................................. 1 4 2.1 The complement system................................................................................. 1 4 2.1.1 Overview ..................................................................................................... 1 4 2.1.2 The alternative pathway.......................................................................... 1 6 2.1.3 The classical pathway.............................................................................. 1 7 2.1.4 The lectin pathway.................................................................................... 1 8 2.1.5 The lytic pathway...................................................................................... 1 8 2.1.6 Soluble regulators of complement......................................................... 2 0 2.1.7 Membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins (mCRP)............. 2 1 2.1.8 Rat complement system.......................................................................... 2 6 2.2 The immune system and transformed cells................................................. 2 7 2.2.1 Antigen-presenting cells (APC)................................................................ 2 7 2.2.2 T lymphocytes ........................................................................................... 2 8 2.2.3 Natural killer cells (NK cells).................................................................... 2 9 2.2.4 Tumor antigens ......................................................................................... 3 0 2.2.5 Antibody responses against tumor-associated antigens (TAA) in cancer patients in vivo.......................................................................... 3 0 2.2.6 Antibody-induced effector mechanisms................................................ 3 1 2.2.7 Tumor antigens and immunotherapy of cancer.................................. 3 3 3. AIMS OF THE STUDY .............................................................................................. 3 7 4. MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................................................. 3 8 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION................................................................................... 4 1 5.1 mCRP on tumor cells and milk fat globules (MFG; I, II, III, IV)................... 4 2 5.1.2 Characterization of CD59 on T47D cells and MFG (I, II) ................... 4 4 5 5.2 Complement-mediated killing of MCF7 and T47D cells (I)......................... 4 6 5.2.1 Expression of TAA on ovarian cancer cells (III) .................................. 4 8 5.2.2 Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and ovarian cancer cells (III)............................................................................................................ 4 9 5.3 CDC and microtumor spheroids (MTS; IV)................................................. 5 0 5.3.1 The penetration of mAb and complement into MTS .......................... 5 4 5.4 A rat model to study complement activation in vivo (V)......................... 5 6 5.4.1 CDC and rat colorectal cancer cells...................................................... 5 7 5.4.2 C3 deposition on CC531 cells and CDC................................................. 5 7 5.4.3 Complement activation in situ................................................................. 5 8 5.4.4 Homing of mAb into tumors and complement activation in vivo..... 5 9 6. CONCLUSIONS.......................................................................................................... 6 1 7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................................. 6 3 8. REFERENCES............................................................................................................. 6 5 6 ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS This thesis is based on the following original articles, which are referred to in the text by their Roman numerals. Some unpublished data are also presented. I Hakulinen J and Meri S. (1994). Expression and function of the complement membrane attack complex inhibitor protectin (CD59) on human breast cancer cells. Lab Invest 71, 820-827. II Hakulinen J and Meri S. (1995). Shedding and enrichment of the glycolipid anchored complement lysis inhibitor protectin (CD59) into milk fat globules. Immunology 85, 495-501. III Bjørge L, Hakulinen J, Wahlström T, Matre R and Meri S. (1997). Complement regulatory proteins in ovarian malignancies. Int J Cancer 70, 14-25. IV Hakulinen J and Meri S. (1998). Complement-mediated lysis of microtumors in vitro. Am J Pathol 153, 845-855. V Gelderman K, Hakulinen J, Hagenaars M, Kuppen P, Meri S and Gorter A.. (2002). Membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins inhibit complement activation by immunotherapeutic mAb in a syngeneic r a t colorectal cancer model. Submitted. The articles in this thesis have been reproduced with the permission of the copyright holders: the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (I), Blackwell Publishing (II), John Wiley & Sons Inc. (III) and the American Society of Investigative Pathology (IV). 7 ABBREVIATIONS 51 Cr Chromium-51 125 I Iodine-125 ADCC antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity AF ascitic fluid Ag antigen BSA bovine serum albumin C4bp C4b binding protein C9DS human serum deficient in C9 CD cluster of differentiation CDC complement-dependent cytotoxicity CDCC complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity CD35 complement receptor type 1 (CR1) CD46 membrane cofactor protein (MCP) CD55 decay-accelerating factor (DAF) CD59E CD59 isolated from human erythrocytes CD59M CD59 isolated from breast milk CD59U CD59 isolated from urine CD95 Fas receptor CR1 complement receptor type 1 (CD35) DAF decay-accelerating factor (CD55) ECL electrochemiluminescence FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate GPE guinea pig erythrocyte GPI glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol IF immunofluorescence kDa kilodalton mAb monoclonal antibody MAC membrane attack complex of complement MASP mannose binding lectin associated serine protease MBL mannose binding lectin MCP membrane cofactor protein (CD46) 8 mCRP membrane-bound complement regulatory protein MFG milk fat globule Mr relative molecular weight MTS microtumor spheroid NHS normal human serum NK-cell natural killer cell NP40 Nonidet P40 OD optical density pAb polyclonal antibody PBS phosphate buffered saline PI propidium iodide PIPLC phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C PIPLD phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D SC5b-8 soluble C5b-8 complex SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis TAA tumor associated antigen TCC terminal complement complex VBS veronal buffered saline 9 ABSTRACT The human blood complement system is a part of the innate immune system. The principal function of complement is to defend the host against microbial infections and other foreign material. Furthermore, complement participates in the clearence of apoptotic cells and immune complexes from the blood and other tissues. The activation of complement by antibodies or by a foreign surface results in opsonization, chemotaxis and direct killing of microbes and infected cells. In the host, complement activation causes inflammation and tissue damage. Host cells express complement regulators (CD46, CD55 and CD59) on their surfaces to restrict harmful complement activation on the cells to a minimum. However, the same molecules also make complement-mediated destruction of malignant cells difficult. The purpose of the current study was to respond to this challenge by using antibodies and complement as an effector mechanism to destroy malignant cells and by analyzing the significance of the membrane bound complement regulator CD59 for the cancer cell survival from complement complement resistance of breast attack. In the first study, the cancer cells (MCF-7 and T47D) was examined. It was possible to increase complement-mediated lysis of these cells by inactivating CD59 on the cell membranes with a specific monoclonal antibody (I). During the first study it was noticed that CD59 was strongly stained in the lumina of milk ductules in sections of breast cancer tissue. This, and the fact that CD59 had been previously detected in the human breast milk, led to the observation (II) that CD59 in milk is associated with structures called milk fat globules (MFG). In the third study (III) complement regulators CD46 and CD59 were found to be strongly expressed on ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, it was possible to kill ovarian cancer cells using NHS as a source of complement after sensitizing the cells with a mAb reacting with an ovarian tumor associated antigen and neutralizing CD59 on cell surface with specific mAb. Although it was possible to use complement and antibodies to destroy individual breast cancer cells in suspension, many cancers exist as multicellular 10 tumors that are more resistant to complement-mediated killing than single cells1. To analyze factors that are associated with killing of cells growing in three-dimensional aggregates multicellular microtumor spheroids (MTS) established from breast carcinoma (T47D) and ovarian teratocarcinoma (PA1) cell lines were used as models to study complement-mediated destruction of small solid tumors (IV). This study showed differences in penetration o f complement components and monoclonal antibodies into the tumor tissue. Furthermore, complement attack against MTS and the neutralization of CD59 on the cell membranes resulted in a reduction of the microtumor volume. The microtumor spheroid study suggested that complement-mediated killing o f cancer cells would be effective against individual cells or small clusters o f malignant cells that may remain after surgical removal of the main tumor. In the last study (V), rat colorectal cancer cells (CC531) were injected subcapsularly into the liver of Wag/Rij rats as a model for metastases o f colorectal carcinoma. A panel of specific mAbs to CC531 cells were tested f o r their complement-activating and tumor-homing capacities in vivo. In this study it was possible to kill the CC531 cells in vitro using mAb and rat serum and t o activate complement on tumor sections in situ. However, no C3 deposition was detected on the tumors in vivo indicating a role for complement regulators. In conclusion, these studies show that it is possible to destroy single malignant cells or partially even microtumors with serum complement if the complement regulator CD59 is inactivated with a specific mAb on the cancer cell membranes. In addition to cell membranes the glycophospho inositol-anchored form of CD59 was detected on MFG in vivo. Complement-mediated killing o f MTS showed that antibodies and C1q are able to penetrate through the microtumor spheroids but the penetration of C3 is restricted by its strong activation and covalent binding to cell surfaces. The syngeneic rat model suggested that complement-activating mAb penetrate into the tumor tissue but the lack of penetration of C3 into the tumor is a problem also in vivo. 11 1. INTRODUCTION A quarter of the western world population faces the fact that they get a malignant tumor during their life time. Although cancer therapies have improved a lot during the last decades cancer is still fatal for most people. Immunotherapy has only been little used for the treatment of cancer. However, it offers one potential approach. Immunotherapy for cancer was first used as early as 1895 by Hericourt and Richet who attempted to t r e a t cancer patients with antitumor antisera prepared in dogs and donkeys. However this and many other attempts failed to cure the patients. The invention of the hybridoma technique by Köhler and Milstein in 1975 2 and the discovery of new cancer antigens have given new hope for the specific destruction of tumor cells by monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Much of the research to improve the cytotoxicity of mAb has focused on conjugating them with toxins or radionuclides. However, an ideal immunotherapeutic tumor-killing system would harness the patient´s own effector mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or the complement system t o destroy the malignant cells. Complement belongs to the innate immune system that, as opposed to the acquired immune system constitutes the nonadaptive part of the human immune system. The immune system recognizes and removes foreign material (viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms) and is responsible for the clearance of tissue debris resulting from ageing cells o r trauma. Discrimination of foreign structures from the normal host tissue components is the key element in both systems. This leads to activation o f specific mechanisms to eliminate microbes or non-viable cells. The key components of adaptive immune system are lymphoid cells (B and T cells). They recognize their targets by multiple specific B cell and T cell receptors. The acquired immune response is slow (starting from 3 - 5 days) because o f the need for clones of responding B and T cells to develop. However, the acquired immunity develops a memory from previous infections. The innate immunity includes serum complement, natural killer cells and phagocytic cells. The innate immunity recognizes molecular structures in microbes by receptors with broad specificity. The structures 12 can be polysaccharides and polynucleotides that are common in microbes but often not found in the host. An example is bacterial lipopolysacharide (LPS) that directly activates complement and, when in complex with LPS-binding protein, is recognized by the macrophage receptor CD14. Because of the broad specificity of the receptors and no need for clonal expansion the response of the innate immunity is immediate. Innate and acquired immunities are not completely separate systems. Innate immunity can trigger adaptive immunity and vice versa. Phagocytes (macrophages and dendritic cells) present microbial antigens to T cells to initiate both cell-mediated and antibody-mediated adaptive immune responses. Similarly, the antibodies produced by adaptive immunity can activate the classical pathway of complement against a specific antigenic structure. While microbes are often promptly destroyed by the immune system, developing tumor cells are usually not. Cancers result from the outgrowth of a single malignant host cell. Immune system has to discriminate the malignant cells from the normal host cells in order to destroy them. However, except f o r virus-induced tumors there are often no or only few antigenic differences between normal and malignant cells. The rejection of cancer cells by immune system is based on tumor-associated antigens (TAA) that are not expressed on normal cells or their expression is lower. The success of using complement against malignant cells requires a specific activation of complement against these cells with mAbs or other molecules that recognize TAA and understanding of the mechanisms of complement regulation on cancer cells. 13 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 2.1 The complement system 2.1.1 Overview Complement is an essential part of the innate immune system. It co-operates with the adaptive immune system by mediating inflammatory consequences o f antigen-antibody interactions and contributing to the enhancement of the humoral response mounted against specific antigens3, 4 . The principal function of complement is to defend the host against microbial invasion of the body. Furthermore, complement has an important role in the disposal of dead and apoptotic cells and immune complexes 5-7. Complement can discriminate between self and non-self structures but not as specifically as the acquired immunity. The complement system consists of a complex group of proteins that are present in blood plasma and on cell membranes. The proteins act as precursor enzymes, effector molecules (Table 1), control proteins or receptors (see chapters 2.1.6 and 2.1.7). Most of the complement proteins circulate in the bloodstream and body fluids as inert precursors. The contact of the first component with an activator i.e. an immunoglobulin, activating surface or certain carbohydrate structures, leads to a subsequent activation of the second one in a precise order depending on the pathway – classical, alternative or lectin - that is activated. During the activation some of the proteins acquire enzymatic properties while the others function as effector molecules and control proteins. C3 is a key-component of the complement system, since it can be activated through all three pathways3 . The activation of complement results in three main types of biological responses. The C3b and iC3b fragments 8 generated on the target surface can interact with cell surface receptors of phagocytes to induce complement- 14 dependent cellular cytotoxicity (CDCC)9, 10 . The small cleavage fragments C3a, C4a and C5a are released into the fluid phase. These small bioactive peptides act as chemotaxins, leukocyte activators and as anaphylatoxins 11, 12 . Finally, activation of the terminal complement pathway results in the formation of the membrane attack complex of complement (MAC) on the target cell membrane 13. Because complement is a cytolytic system and since the pathways include enzymatic events that allow considerable amplification during activation, the complement cascade must be carefully regulated t o prevent damage to the host cells. The stringent control mechanisms include multiple regulatory proteins in blood plasma and on cell membranes. Because of this, normal host cells can usually resist the cytolytic activity of homologous or autologous complement14 . 15 Table 1. Proteins involved in complement activation Protein Molecular weight (kDa) Classical pathway C1q 410 Serum conc. (µg/ml) Function 70 C1r C1s C2 C4 34 31 25 600 Binds IgG and IgM; initiates the classical pathway. Cleaves / activates C1s Cleaves / activates C4 and C2 Cleaves / activates C3 and C5 Binds C2 during activation 85 85 95 206 Lectin pathway MBL 96 x 2-6 5 MASP-1 MASP-2 - Binds to carbohydrates: initiates lectin pathway Activates MASP-2 Cleaves C2 and C4 225 1 25 Cleaves / activates C3 and C5 Cleaves / activates factor B Stabilizes C3bBb convertase Alternative Factor B Factor D Properdin 83 pathway 100 25 153 Common for the pathways above C3 195 1200 Lytic pathway C5 180 85 C6 128 60 C7 C8 C9 120 150 79 60 55 60 Subunit in alternative pathway C3/C5 convertase. Binds C5 in convertases. Opsonisation C5b: initiates membrane attack; C5a is the major chemotactic/ anaphylatoxic peptide C6, C7 and C8 associate with C5b to form a membrane site to which C9 can bind Multiple C9 proteins polymerize to generate transmembrane pore 2.1.2 The alternative pathway The alternative pathway is a phylogenetically older system than the classical pathway 3 . The alternative pathway of complement is triggered by activation 16 of the C3 protein. C3 has an internal thiolester bond that undergoes cleavage at a slow rate during a hydrolysis reaction with water. The product of this reaction is C3(H2 O), which can form an initial C3 convertase by binding factor B which becomes cleaved to Bb by factor D15 . The C3(H2O)Bb convertase will cleave C3 to C3a and C3b. The cleavage product C3b can bind to the microbial or host cell surface by forming a covalent linkage with -OH or -NH2 groups through the exposed thiolgroup. Recently, it has been shown t h a t phosphatidyl serine on apoptotic cells can activate the alternative pathway 7 . C3b binds the complement component factor B to form C3bB, Mg 2+ is required as a catalyst for the reaction. The newly formed complex is a substrate for the plasma enzyme factor D that cleaves C3bB to generate C3bBb, the principal C3 convertase, which can cleave C3 to produce more C3b and C3a. The unhampered operation of the C3 convertase leads to the deposition of large numbers of C3b molecules on the microbial surface 16 . Finally, a C5 convertase is generated when an additional C3b molecule is recruited to the C3bBb complex. Cleavage of C5 by the C5 convertase releases C5a and C5b and initiates the lytic pathway. 2.1.3 The classical pathway The classical pathway of complement is initiated by the interaction of the C1q subcomponent of C1 with at least two Fc regions of antigen-bound immunoglobulins (IgG or IgM). Additional activators the classical pathway are the C-reactive protein 17 , the serum amyloid P component 18 and membrane blebs on apoptotic cells19. Conformational change in C1q upon binding leads to the activation of the C1r protease. C1r will proteolytically cleave C1s into an enzymatically active form. C1s splits C4 exposing a nascent thiolester bond in the cleavage product C4b. This enables C4b to attach covalently to the cell surface. C4b has a binding site for C2 and C1s acts on the formed C4b2 complex to create C4b2a, the classical pathway C3 convertase. From this on the cascade continues similarly to the alternative pathway with one molecule 17 of C3b bound to C4b2a to generate the C5-cleaving enzyme for the initiation of the lytic pathway. 2.1.4 The lectin pathway It has been shown that the classical pathway can also be triggered without antibodies by mannose binding lectin (MBL), a C1q-like molecule that binds t o mannose and N-acetylglucosamine structures that are present on the surfaces of microbes 20 . MBL forms a C1-like complex with serine proteases MASP-1 and MASP-2. Conformational change in MBL upon binding leads to the activation of MASPs which cleave C2 and C4 21, 22 . The cascade continues like the classical pathway. 2.1.5 The lytic pathway The formation of the C5-convertase through the either alternative or the classical pathway initiates the membrane attack that results in the generation of a large aggregate of proteins, the so-called membrane attack complex (MAC) on the activating surface13 . The lytic pathway consists of five proteins (C5b, C6, C7, C8 and C9) that are present in plasma. Sequential addition o f C6, C7 and C8 to C5b generates C5b-8, which catalyzes the polymerization o f C9 to a pore-like structure on the target membrane. The diameter of the membrane channel varies between 10 Å and 150 Å 23 . Deposition of C5b-9 complexes on the membranes of nucleated cells results e.g. in the leakage o f adenine nucleotides ATP, ADP and AMP. Furthermore, the exposure results in an increase of intracellular Ca 2+ and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential 24 . Normally, killing of nucleated cells requires several C5b-9 lesions per cell25, although C5b-8-mediated cell lysis has also been reported26. 18 CLASSICAL PATHWAY ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY LECTIN PATHWAY IgG, IgM Act ivat ing surfaces Carbohydrat es C1q C3( H2 O) Bb MBL C1r C1s C4 C2 C4b2a MASP1 MASP2 C4 C2 C4b2a C3 C3a C4a C4a C3b B D P C3bBb C5 C5a C5b678 (9) n MAC Figure 1 . A schematic model illustrating the activation complement. The classical pathway is activated pathways of by immune complexes containing IgG or IgM and the alternative pathway is triggered directly by the microbial surface. The lectin pathway is activated by a surface containing mannose or N-acetyl glucosamine residues. The pathways lead to the generation of the membrane attack complex (C5b-9 or MAC) on the cell surface which damages the cell membrane and kills the microbe. Dashed lines indicate enzymatic activity. For abbreviations see Table 1. 19 2.1.6 Soluble regulators of complement To prevent excessive or inappropriate consumption of complement components the activation needs to be carefully controlled. At least six regulatory proteins are present soluble in blood plasma (Table 2). The plasma protein C1 inhibitor (C1 INH) binds to the activated C1r2C1s2 enzyme complex and prevents the cleavage of C4 and C2 by blocking the serine esterase activities of C1r and especially of C1s 27. The C3 convertase C4b2a is regulated by the serum C4b-binding protein (C4bp), which competes with C2a for binding to C4b and displaces C2a from the complex28 . C4b in complex with C4bp is susceptible to cleavage by the plasma protein factor I, another serine esterase enzyme of complement. Recently, it has been suggested t h a t ovarian cancer cells bind C4bp, which protects the cells from complement lysis29. Mechanisms analogous to those described above control the alternative pathway C3 convertase. The plasma protein factor H competes with factor B and readily displaces Bb from the C3bBb convertase. Factor H also forms a complex with C3b catalyzing its proteolytic destruction by factor I30 . Two plasma proteins, clusterin (SP40,40) 31 and vitronectin (Sprotein) 32 bind to the forming C5b-7, C5b-8 and C5b-9 complexes to prevent their insertion into cell membranes. 20 Table 2. Soluble regulators of complement Protein C1 inhibitor Molecular weight (kDa) 105 Function Factor H 150 Inhibition of C3bBb formation. Decay dissociation of C3bBb. Cofactor in C3b cleavage C4b binding protein 540 Cofactor in C4b cleavage Factor I 88 Cleavage of C3b, iC3b and C4b Vitronectin (S-protein) 80 Keeps TCC* in solution Inhibitor of C1r and C1s Keeps TCC* in solution Clusterin 70 (SP40,40 Apo-J) *TCC, terminal complement complex 2.1.7 Membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins (mCRP) Activated complement may also be toxic to the host cells. However, normal human cells can resist the cytolytic activity of complement by expressing several regulatory proteins. Four proteins are expressed on cell membranes (Table 3). The membrane-bound regulators are species-selective protecting the cells from homologous or autologous complement 33, 34 . The proteins are clustered into groups by their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies (CD: cluster of differentiation). 21 Table 3. Membrane-bound regulators of complement Protein Molecular Function Weight (kDa) CD35, CR1 190, 220 Control of C3bBb/C4b2a Cofactor in C3b and C4b inactivation CD46, MCP 58-68 Cofactor in C3b and C4b inactivation CD55, DAF 70 Decay of C3/C5 convertases CD59, protectin 18-25 Inhibition of MAC The complement receptor type 1 (CR1, C3b receptor, C D 3 5 ) 35 is a transmembrane protein. It dissociates the key enzymes of the complement cascade, the C3 and C5 convertases, and promotes proteolytic inactivation o f C3b and C4b by the plasma serine protease factor I. Factor I cleaves the alpha chains of C4b and C3b to generate iC4b and iC3b which are incapable o f forming classical (C4b2a) or alternative (C3bBb) pathway C3 convertases. Unlike the other cofactors, CR1 acts as a cofactor also in the cleavage o f iC3b to C3c and C3dg. CR1 is expressed on erythrocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, B lymphocytes, eosinophils and some T cells36. On the surface o f phagocytes CR1 functions also as a receptor for C3b, iC3b, C4b and C1q thus having a role in the clearance of complement-activating immune complexes37. Membrane cofactor protein (MCP, C D 4 6 ) . MCP binds to accidentally o r spontaneously deposited C3b and C4b molecules on cell surfaces and promotes their inactivation by serving as a cofactor for factor I38 . MCP is present on almost all cells except erythrocytes. Decay-accelerating attached to factor (DAF, cell membranes with a C D 5 5 ) is a glycoprotein glycosyl-phosphatidyl that is inositol-(GPI-) anchor. DAF dissociates the C3 convertases releasing C2a and Bb from the complexes39. DAF is expressed on most cells including erythrocytes37. 22 Protectin (CD59) was first isolated from human erythrocyte membranes 40, 41 . CD59 (Fig. 2) has been also referred to as MACIF42, HRF-2043 and MIRL 44 . To simplify the nomenclature the functional name protectin for CD59 has been proposed 45 . The first direct experimental demonstration of a MAC inhibitor on human erythrocytes was published in 1988 by Sugita et al.41 . The primary function of CD59, inhibition of the membrane attack complex o f complement, was shortly established in many laboratories 40, 43, 44 . CD59 blocks formation of MAC by preventing the C5b-8 catalyzed insertion of C9 into lipid bilayers (Fig. 3) 45, 46 . In addition to erythrocytes, CD59 is widely distributed on all other human blood cells40 as well as on endothelial and epithelial cells of several organs 47 . CD59 has also been detected on cultured endothelial cells48, 49 glomerular epithelial cells50 and spermatozoa 51 . CD59 is anchored to cell membranes via its GPI-moiety. Soluble, hydrophilic forms o f CD59, that lack the anchor phospholipid52 have been detected in various body fluids such as urine, tears and saliva 40, 53 and have also been produced in recombinant form54 . In addition to various cell membranes phospholipid-tailed CD59 has been found in amniotic fluid55 and in seminal plasma, where it has been shown to be associated with prostasomes 56 . 23 extracellular organelles called 21 C N C C 1 10 C C 32 C 43 C 66 55 C C C 77 N PIPLC PIPLD (R) RR Amino acid Ethanolamine Phosphorus N-acetyl galactosamine N-acetyl glucosamine Fucose Mannose N-glucose Inositol Galactose N-acetyl neuraminic acid PIPLC Phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C PIPLD Phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase D R Acyl chain Figure 2 . A schematic model of the polypeptide backbone, oligosaccharide side chain and GPI-anchor side chains of CD59. The GPI-anchor contains two o r three acyl chains that anchor the protein to the cell surface. 24 C9 A C6 C7 C5b Cell surface C8 MAC B CD59 Figure 3 . Formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC; C5b-9) o f complement on the cell membrane (A) and its inhibition by CD59 (B). On the membranes of foreign targets C5b-8 catalyzes the polymerization of multiple C9 molecules to form a pore-like lesion (MAC) into the cell membrane. On the host cells CD59 inhibits the insertion of C9 by binding to C8 (B). 25 2.1.8 Rat complement system The complement activation pathways among vertebrates are relatively well conserved. The complement regulatory system in rat resembles that of humans: the rat analogues of human CD46, CD55 and CD59 have been characterized 57-59 . In addition, a distinct C3 regulator, Crry/p65, has been identified in rodents. Crry/p65 has both decay-accelerating and cofactor activity for the C3/C5 convertases. Thus, Crry/p65 restricts activation o f both the alternative and the classical complement pathway 60-62 . The mCRPs are species-selective and protect cells primarily only against homologous complement. The species selectivity of mCRP requires a syngeneic animal model to study the role of mCRP in vivo. Xenografts usually induce a massive activation of complement in the recipient blood against the vulnerable graft 63 . The hyperacute rejection is caused by complement-activating xenoreactive antibodies to endothelial cells64. Human xenoreactive antibodies against pig xenografts, for example, consist mainly of anti-Galα1-3Gal antibodies, which occur in IgM, IgG and IgA classes64. 26 2.2 The immune system and transformed cells The human body continuously confronts foreign material like potentially pathogenic bacteria and viruses from the enviroment. However, cell-mediated and humoral immune responses can in most cases discriminate the pathogens from the host cells and destroy them. Cancers result from the outgrowth o f genetically transformed cells. It has been difficult to show that the immune system responds strongly to tumor cells. Mice that lack lymphocytes o r humans that are deficient in T cells do not differ much in tumor incidence compared to normal hosts 65 . Virus-associated tumors are an exception and can be usually destroyed by the normal immune system 65 . However, in animal studies some tumors have elicited immune responses that prevent their growth. In these studies the tumors have been induced by carcinogenic chemicals or radiation in inbred strains of animals. The experimental tumors can be isolated, grown in vitro and injected into recipients to induce cancer. Some of the induced cancers start to grow and lead to the death of the host while others regress. It has been possible to immunize animals with irradiated tumor cells and suppress the growth of the cells injected thereafter indicating that some immune surveillance against cancer exists 65 . Three major types o f cells are important in the immune response to cancer. These cells are the antigen-presenting cells, T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells. 2.2.1 Antigen-presenting cells (APC) Antigen-presenting cells (APC) include dendritic cells, monocytes (Mo) and macrophages (Mø). The function of AP cells is to engulf pathogens or dying cells and to present their antigens for T cells. The antigens from the cellular debris or pathogens must first be processed into peptide fragments. These epitopes are then presented on either class I or class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins for T lymphocytes to recognize. Dendritic cells are the strongest stimulators of the immune system 66 . They have receptors for complement C3d, which improve the uptake of C3d-antigen complexes to the cells for processing4. Dendritic cells have been used in 27 cancer therapy trials by treating isolated dendritic cells from the patient with material extracted from cancer cells67, 68 . The hope is that after releasing the modified dendritic cells back into the blood stream of the patient they start an immune response by presenting the cancer antigens to the T cells. 2.2.2 T lymphocytes T helper lymphocytes (Th; CD4+) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (T c ; CD8+) are responsible for the generation of specific immune responses. Th cells release cytokines that signal other immune cells to become activated. The cytokines are released only if the T h lymphocyte recognizes an APC presenting with a foreign peptide in its MHC as well as co-stimulatory molecules. These cytokines can stimulate antibody production by B cells and a T c response. T c cells are particularly important for eliminating those cells in our body that have been infected with various viruses. T c cells are critical mediators in tumor immunology 68 . They also require the target antigen presented on MHC protein plus co-stimulatory signals from T h cells to become activated. The t a r g e t antigens on the tumor cells have been identified to be peptides from tumor cell proteins. Although Tc cells can recognize tumor-associated antigen fragments presented on MHC proteins, they usually do not become activated because these TAAs are recognized as self proteins. Furthemore, cancer cells rarely present the required co-stimulatory signals to activate Tc cells. The genetic instability of tumor cells causes further problems. The malignant cells may lose their tumor antigens by mutation, which lead to the appearance of escape mutants that avoid the rejection. The tumor cells may also lose their MHC molecules and thus become invisible for the cytotoxic T cells69. To further suppress the activation of the immune system some tumor cells may even start to express immunosupressive cytokines70 . 28 2.2.3 Natural killer cells (NK cells) Another class of potential immune surveillance cells are NK cells that were first discovered by their ability to identify and kill cancer cells. Unlike T and B lymphocytes NK cells do not have specific receptors for a particular antigenic target. NK cells recognize malignant or infected cells that have been coated with antibodies by binding to the Fc region of the antibody with an Fc receptor (FcγRIII or CD16) on their surface. CD16 recognizes IgG1 and IgG3 subclass antibodies. NK cells require certain cytokines to become activated and for proliferation 71 . The destruction of the target cell is mediated by the release of cytotoxic granules containing perforin and granzymes. The t a r g e t cell dies by apoptosis and/or membrane damage. Furthemore, NK-cells can discriminate normal cells from cells that do not express adequate amounts o f MHC-I molecules72. NK cells express a variety of inhibitory receptors t h a t recognize self-MHC class I molecules. These deliver an inhibitory signal to the NK cell and prevent an attack against normal cells. They have also stimulatory receptors that bind to a ligand on a target cell72. The delicate balance between opposite signals delivered by inhibitory receptors specific for MHC-I molecules and the stimulatory natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCR; NKp46, NKp30 and NKp44) regulate the effector functions of NK cells72. Only recently, ligands for another stimulatory receptor NKG2D have been identified. Interestingly, NKG2D-ligands (e.g. MIC and Rae1 proteins) are not expressed by most normal cells but are strongly upregulated on transformed or infected cells73. Diefenbach et al. have demonstrated that expression of the NKG2D ligand Rae1 in several murine tumor cell lines resulted in a dramatic rejection of tumor cells mediated by NK cells and/or CD8+ T cells74 . 29 2.2.4 Tumor antigens The discrimination of cancer cells from normal ones is based on transformed antigens or structures on the cell surface. Although cancer cells express only few tumor-specific antigens that are unique to the tumor cells many cancers express tumor-associated antigens (TAA) that can serve as potential targets for immune response. TAA can be grouped into oncofetal Ag, tissue-specific differentiation Ag and tumor-associated carbohydrate and glycolipid Ag. I t has been shown that melanoma patients have T cells reactive with so called MAGE antigens 75, 76 . The antigens of the MAGE family have a limited distribution in normal adult tissues. An exception is the testis that is an immunologically privileged site. The most common melanoma antigens gp75, gp100 or MART1 are overexpressed melanocyte differentiation antigens 75, 77 . CA125 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-Cam) are expressed by ovarian and colorectal cancers, respectively. The 791Tgp72 antigen has been characterized to be overexpressed in tumors including colorectal, gastric and ovarian carcinomas and osteosarcomas. An overexpression of the 791Tgp72 antigen indicates a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients 78, 79 . In subsequent studies, the 791Tgp72 antigen showed 100% sequence identity with the complement regulator CD5580 . Another tumor marker that was first isolated from the urines of bladder cancer patients and is currently used in diagnosticks (BTA-TRAK test) was later found to be complement factor H81 . 2.2.5 Antibody responses against tumor-associated antigens in cancer patients in vivo Abnormally high density, mutagenic expression or changes in glycosylation can make TAA immunogenic and lead to antibody production. Serological immune responses to TAA has been detected in cancer patients. Often the antibodies are directed against intracellular antigens (c-myb, c-myc, p21ras and p53) that are released by necrotic tumor cells82. Breast cancer patients (43%) 30 and 32% of colon cancer patients have been found to be positive for anti-cmyb and p21ras antibodies, respectively83, 84. However, the detection of antip53 antibodies is usually associated with poor prognosis probably because these intracellular antigens are not recognized by the immune system in live cancer cells83. Instead, antibodies against plasma membrane antigens may have an impact on tumor growth since they can react with live tumor cells. The presence of some of these antibody/antigen complexes (PEM/MUC1) in patients has been associated with a better prognosis 85 . Antibody responses detected in cancer patients against cell surface antigens are listed in table 4. Table 4. Antibody response against cell surface antigens in cancer patients82 Antigen Origin of cancer HER2/neu Breast PEM/MUC1 Ovary, breast, colorectal, pancreas T, Tn, sialyl Tn Breast, lung, pancreas Gangliosides (GM1, GM2, GD2) Melanoma 2.2.6 Antibody-induced effector mechanisms Antibodies are multifunctional proteins that have several effector functions after they bind to their specific antigens. The IgG1 is the most widely used antibody isotype in the therapy for cancer, because it activates human complement, recruits NK cells for ADCC, and has an extended half life in plasma 86 . However, some studies suggest that IgA also recruits cytotoxic cells in humans86. Apoptosis is an important part of the cellular turnover. Cells that have to be eliminated without inflammation enter apoptosis. Antibodies can kill nucleated cells by inducing their apoptosis. Cross-linking of the Fas receptor (CD95) on the target cell membrane by its ligand, FasL, or with anti-Fas antibodies, induces apoptosis of the cells by activating of caspases 87 . Induction of Fas- 31 mediated apoptosis by anti-Fas antibodies has been demonstrated in solid tumors implanted in mice. Unfortunately, treatment with anti-Fas antibodies o r FasL causes severe damage to the liver87. Complement activation is likely t o be required for efficient uptake of apoptotic cells within the systemic circulation. Exposure of phosphatidylserine on the apoptotic cell surface t o serum has been shown responsible for complement activation and result in coating the apoptotic cell surface with iC3b7. The binding of macrophage receptors CR3 (CD11b/CD18) and CR4 (CD11c/CD18) with iC3b results in the uptake of apoptotic cells7. Furthermore, C1q have been detected to bind directly to surface blebs of apoptotic human keratinocytes, vascular endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells19. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) occurs when an effector cell binds to a target cell coated with antibodies and kills it. Cells capable of ADCC include NK-cells, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils and mast cells. ADCC has been studied most extensively in NK-cells. NK cells express on their cell membranes CD16 molecules (FcγRIII) that bind IgG1 and IgG3 on the target surface and thereafter release toxic substances into the intervening space88. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) can lyse cells independently of ADCC. In CDC the classical pathway is activated by IgM or IgG bound to the tumor cell surface: subsequently, the formation of MAC causes the lysis o f tumor cell targets. CDC is thought to be an important action mechanism o f the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody treatment that is used therapeutically in the of lymphoma patients. Malignant cells from B cell lymphoma patients express CD46, CD55 and CD59 molecules at various levels resulting in differences in the sensitivity of the cells to complement-mediated lysis. Lysis o f cells from patients responding poorly to mAb therapy was increased 5- to 6fold after blocking both CD55 and CD5989 . 32 Complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (CDCC) requires prior activation of complement and deposition of C1q, C3b, iC3b or C4b on the target cell. These ligands interact with the C1qR, CR1 or CR3 (CD11b/CD18) receptors on NK-cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes or macrophages t o induce their cytotoxic activity90 . Table 5. Antibody effector mechanisms in cell killing90 ADCC CDC CDCC Initiator IgG IgG, IgM C3b, C4b, iC3b, C1q Transducer FcγRI, II, III C1q CR1, CR3, C1qR Effector Mo, Mø, PMN, NK MAC Mo, Mø, PMN, NK Abbreviations: ADCC, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; CDC, complementdependent cytotoxicity; CDCC, Complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; C1qR, C1q receptor; CR1/CR3, complement receptor type 1 or 3; FcγR, Fc receptor for IgG; iC3b, inactivated C3b; MAC, membrane attack complex of complement; Mo, monocyte; Mø, macrophage; NK, natural killer cell; PMN, polymorphonuclear leukocyte. 2.2.7 Tumor antigens and immunotherapy of cancer Ideally, tumor associated antigens (TAA) could be used as targets for monoclonal antibodies against malignant cells. B cell lymphomas have been treated successfully with anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies that have become bound to the specific IgG-idiotype on the malignant cell surface. A humanized mAb against CD20 (Rituximab®) is already in wide use for the treatment of non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma. Rituximab was the first monoclonal antibody officially registered for the treatment of cancer. The mAb mediates complement-dependent cell lysis, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and induces apoptosis 91, 92 . Trastuzumab, another humanized monoclonal antibody, is directed against the HER-2/neu receptor. Trastuzumab has been shown to be most efficient in the treatment of HER-2overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. Combination of trastuzumab with chemotherapy has produced higher response rates and longer survival than treatment with chemotherapy alone93. This mAb, however, does not act by activating complement but by blocking growth promoting activities of the 33 HER-2/neu receptor. Some tumor-associated antigens and their monoclonal antibodies that are in clinical trials are listed in table 6. Table 6. Non-conjugated monoclonal antibodies against tumor associated antigens reviewed in94 Cancer Antigen IgG Type Product Ovarian carcinoma CA125 mouse IgG OvaRex® Breast carcinoma HER-2/neu humanized IgG1 Herceptin® Colorectal carcinoma 17-1A mouse IgG2a Panorex® Chronic lymphatic CD52 humanized IgG Campath-1H® CD20 humanized IgG Mabthera® Leukemia Non-Hodgkin´s lymphoma (rituximab,IDECC2B8) The major problem in active immunotherapy of cancer is the poor immunogenicity of cancer cells. Whole tumor cells have been used as vaccines either mixed with adjuvants or after transfecting them with nonself proteins or with immunomodulatory factors. However, isolated antigens that are selectively or abundantly expressed in cancer cells appear to function better as vaccines than whole cells95. In experimental animals promising results have been obtained by increasing the immunogenicity of cancer cells with nonself peptides. Murine tumor lines with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-positive melanoma and colon carcinoma cells were injected into mice together with MHC class I-matched peptide ligands of influenza virus. Mice bearing live melanoma cells and colon carcinoma were efficiently cured by this treatment 96 . T h cell responses have been elicited in patients with metastatic melanoma by subcutaneous injection of antigen-loaded (MAGE-3 tumor peptides) monocyte-derived dendritic cells97. In melanoma patients the immunization with gangliosides produced an IgM response but no correlation with antibody titers or clinical outcome was observed 82 . However, in melanoma patients immunized with GM2 and an adjuvant after surgery the seroconversion correlated with increased survival98. Active immunotherapy 34 using cancer antigens (T and sialyl Tn) to induce antibody responses in ovarian and breast cancer patients have produced IgM and IgG antibodies with potential for CDC82 . Most of the breast cancer patients have responded with IgM production and CDC to the the carbohydrate antigen globo H-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccine admistered together with QS-21 adjuvant 99 . A human anti-idiotypic antibody that mimics CD55 has been used successfully in immunization of over 200 colorectal cancer and osteosarcoma patients. 70% of patients showed CD55-specific immune responses with no associated toxicity 100 . Although, natural antibody responses against cell surface antigens have been detected in cancer patients (Table 4) only few studies have indicated that complement is inherently activated in tumors in vivo 101 . Sporadical deposits of C3 and C5b-9 have been detected in cervical and breast cancer samples102, 103. This probably indicates a suppressing role for the complement regulators. Indeed, problems with the mAbs have been inefficient killing of the tumors as well as inefficient penetration of the antibodies into solid tumors. To stimulate tumor killing ability by mAbs toxic molecules like ricin 104 and Pseudomonas toxin 105 have been coupled to antibodies. In other approaches mAbs have been conjugated to chemotherapeutic substances such as adriamycin 106 o r radioisotopes 107 in order to concentrate them to the tumor site 108 . Some strategies have been designed to target and activate complement against tumor cells. These include heteroconjugates antibodies and C3b or cobra venom factor composed (CVF) that of monoclonal activates the alternative pathway by replacing C3b in the C3 convertase 109, 110 . The formed CVFBb complex is insensitive to complement inhibitors. In one study interferon-treated tumor cells fixed C3b to their surfaces through the alternative pathway111 . Successful complement activation on tumor cells may have multiple consequences on the immune responses against the tumors. The cleavage fragments of complement proteins C3a, C4a and 35 C5a can act as chemotaxins, leukocyte activators and anaphylatoxins to induce inflammation in the tumor tissue. The larger fragments C3b, iC3b and C3d generated on the target surface can interact with cell surface receptors of lymphocytes and phagocytes to induce CDCC. There is evidence that tumor-cell bound C3 enhances the sensitivity of tumor cells to killing by activated macrophages 112 . C3 deposition may also increase the antigenicity of the potential tumor antigens on the tumor cells. Dempsey et al. have shown that fixing C3d into hen egg lysozyme lowered the threshold level of B cells' response to lysozyme, thereby increasing its immunogenicity4. Thus, C3d can act as a molecular adjuvant and may be able to increase the immunogenicity of tumor antigens. 36 3. AIMS OF THE STUDY The working hypothesis of this thesis was that complement could be used as an effector mechanism to destroy malignant cells after membrane-bound complement regulators have been inactivated on their cell surfaces. Specifically, this study aimed at the following: 1. to analyze the significance of the membrane-bound complement regulator CD59 for tumor cell survival from complement attack, 2. to determine the sequestration of CD59 into the various physicochemical compartments of human breast milk, 3. to examine the ability of antibodies and complement components to penetrate into microtumor spheroids and 4. to set up an animal model to test mAb-induced complement activation in vivo. 37 4. MATERIALS AND METHODS Methods and material used in the following studies I-V are described in detail in the original publications and are listed in Tables 7-10. Table 7. Antibodies used in studies I-V Antibody Description Used in 512 mo mAb against rat Crry/p65 V 6D1 mo mAb against rat CD59 V Anti-C1q rb pAb against hu C1q IV Anti-C3 rb pAb against hu C3 IV Anti-C3c rb pAb against hu C3c III Anti-C3-FITC go pAb against rat C3 V Anti-C3bi mo mAb against hu iC3b IV Anti-C5b-9 mo mAb against hu C5b-9 IV BRIC216 mo mAb against hu CD55 I, III, IV BRIC229 mo mAb against hu CD59 I, II, III, IV BRIC230 mo mAb against hu CD55 III, IV C1242 mo mAb against hu TAA: sialylated Tn III C241 mo mAb against hu TAA: CA19-9 III clone 528 mo mAb against hu HER2/c-erbB-2 I IV clone 3G8 mo mAb against hu FcγRIII IV clone 10.1 mo mAb against hu FcγRI IV clone C1KM5 mo mAb against hu FcγRII GB24 mo mAb against hu CD46 I J4.48 mo mAb against hu CD46 III, IV Ma552 mo mAb against hu TAA: MUC-1 III MG1, MG2, MG3, MG4 mo mAb against CC531 cells V Ov185 mo mAb against hu TAA: CA125 III Ov197 mo mAb against hu TAA: CA125 III RDIII7 mo mAb against rat CD55 V R2 rb antiserum against hu CD59 I S2 rb antiserum against hu MCF-7 I, III, IV YTH53.1 rt mAb against hu CD59 I, II, III, IV Abbreviations: Ag, antigen; go, goat; hu, human; mo, mouse; mAb, monoclonal antibody; pAb, polyclonal antibody; rb, rabbit; rt, rat; TAA, tumor associated Ag 38 Table 8. Cell lines used in studies I-V Cell lines 6D1 Description mo hybridoma cell line producing mAb to rt CD59 Caov-3 hu ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line CC531 transplantable colon adenocarcinoma of the Wistar derived Wag/Rij strain MCF-7 hu breast carcinoma cell line PA-1 hu ovarian teratocarcinoma cell line SK-OV-3 hu ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SW626 hu ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line T47D hu breast carcinoma cell line YTH531.1 rt hybridoma cell line (anti-CD59) Abbreviations: hu, human; mo, mouse; rt, rat Used in V III V I III, IV III III I, IV I, II, III, IV Table 9. In vivo tumor samples used in studies I, III and V Cancer Origin Colon adenocarcinoma rt liver Ductal carcinoma hu breast Fibroadenoma hu breast Lobular carcinoma hu breast Mucinous cystadenoma hu ovary Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma hu ovary Papillary cystadenocarcinoma hu ovary Serous cystadenoma hu ovary Abbreviations: hu, human; rt, rat 39 Used in V I I I III III III III Table 10. Laboratory methods used in studies I-V Methods Used in Bichinonic acid (BCA) protein concentration determination assay I, II Biotinylation of YTH53.1 III Binding of CD59 to the TCC I, II CC531 tumor induction into rats V Cell damage visualization using propidium iodide IV Cell culture I, III, IV, V 51 I, III, IV, V Chromium ( Cr) lysis assay Complement hemolysis assay I, II ELISA V I F(ab´) 2 fragment preparation of YTH53.1 mAb Flow-cytometry analysis (FACS) III, V Gel filtration I Immunoaffinity chromatography of CD59 I, II Immunofluorescense microscopy I, II, III, IV, V Immunoblotting I, II, III, V Incorporation of CD59 into cell membranes I, II Induction of tumors in rats V I, II Iodine (125I) labeling Microtumor spheroid generation IV Milk fat globule (MFG) and MFG membrane isolation II Northern blotting III PI-PLC treatment II, III Plasma membrane isolation V RNA extraction III Scanning electron microscopy IV SDS-PAGE I, II, III, V Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation I, II Abbreviations: ELISA, enzyme-linked immuno-adsorbent assay; PI-PLC, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; TCC, terminal complment complex. 40 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The discovery of new tumor-associated antigens and developing mAb against them is beginning to enable the use of complement as an effector mechanism in cancer therapy. Complement lysis of cancer cells is an important therapeutic mechanism already in use in the treatment of certain types o f lymphomas 89. However, mCRP on the surface of tumor cells reduce the efficiency of CDC. Like on normal cells the GPI-anchored CD59 was found to be expressed on malignant cells (I, III) and MFG (II). Differences in the expression levels of CD59 and of the other mCRP were observed in tumor samples (I, III)113 . In vivo, the malignant cells usually grow as multicellular tumors with intercellular connections between tumor cells that may constitute a barrier against complement attack. As shown in study IV they may prevent the penetration of activated complement components into the tumor tissue. The species selectivity of the activity of complement regulators requires an homologous animal model for the studies of complement-mediated destruction of cancer cells in vivo. To improve the efficiency of complement activity in cancer therapy it is important to understand the complement regulatory mechanisms of cancer cells. This thesis focused on studying the expression o f mCRPs, and especially the significance of CD59 in preventing complementmediated lysis of breast and ovarian cancer cells. Characteristically f o r ovarian cancers, the malignant cells often remain confined to the abdominal cavity and are in direct contact with ascitic fluid (AF) both as peritoneal implants and as free-floating tumor cells. The individual malignant cells or small cell clusters complicate the complete surgical removal of the tumor cells. The hope is that the remaining ovarian cancer cells could be removed by intraperitoneal immunotherapy with mAbs. 41 5.1 mCRP on tumor cells and MFG (I, II, III, IV) Immunofluorescence (IF) studies with mAbs against CD46, CD55 and CD59 showed that the complement inhibitors CD46 and CD59 were expressed on plasma membranes of the breast cancer (MCF7, T47D) and the ovarian cancer cell lines (Caov-3, PA-1, SK-OV-3 and SW626) studied (I, III). The expression of CD59 was also confirmed by immunoblotting (I, III) and by isolating the CD59 molecule from T47D and MCF7 cells (I). CD55 was detected in an all examined cell lines except on PA-1 cells by IF. However, its expression level was clearly lower than that Complement regulator obtained at of the other complement regulators. expression was also studied on tumor samples mastectomies and ovarectomies (I, III). CD46, CD55 and CD59 were detected in vivo in cryostat sections of solid breast tumors. A total o f 12 specimens (ductal carcinoma: 5 cases, metastases of ductal carcinoma: 2 cases, lobular carcinoma: 3 cases and fibroadenoma of the breast: 2 cases) were examined by IF microscopy. CD59 was found to be strongly expressed by all the tumors (I). Staining appeared significantly stronger in the tumor cells than in the neighboring connective tissue. In cells that showed an epithelial polarized pattern the strongest staining for CD59 was seen at the apical membranes. A very strong staining for CD59 was seen within the ducts and on cell surfaces adjacent to the duct lumen. In all tissues the endothelia o f blood vessels appeared strongly positive for CD59. Twentyeight ovarian tumor samples were obtained during ovarectomies ( 3 serous cystadenomas, 13 mucinous cystadenomas, 8 serous papillary cystadenocarcinomas and 4 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas). CD46 was expressed on the epithelial cells of all the ovarian tumors. CD55 was expressed in 21 out of 28 cases. In general CD55 expression was relatively weak. CD59 was strongly expressed on the epithelial cells of all the ovarian adenomas and carcinomas. No apparent difference in staining intensity was detected between adenomas and carcinomas (III). The distribution of CD59 expression on MTS grown from T47D cells was analogous to tumor samples 42 from breast cancers (I, IV). In some studies the expression of the complement-regulatory proteins CD55, CD46 and CD59 has been found to be deregulated in cancer, with tumors showing loss of one or more inhibitors and strong overexpression of the others100 . Since a strong expression of GPI-anchored CD59 was seen in breast duct epithelia (I) its presence in human milk was also analyzed. Milk fat is composed primarily of triglycerides that are secreted into milk enveloped by a membrane derived from the epithelial cells of the mammary gland. The milk f a t glubule membrane consists of three zones. The two outer layers are separated from the core by a proteinaceous coat. The narrow middle layer is an apparent plasma membrane while the outermost layer or glycocalyx is rich in carbohydrates and corresponds to a typical glycocalyx of a cell114. The MFG-membranes contain a variety of glycoproteins that have been used t o raise antibodies able to detect surface antigens on malignant human mammary cells115 . Milk fat globules were isolated from human colostrum and milk by successive centrifugation (II). In phase contrast microscopy the apparent MFGs in the washed cream layer appeared heterogeneous in size and showed no internal structures. Immunostaining with the BRIC229 mAb showed that the MFG particles were covered with the CD59-antigen. The CD59-specific fluorescence was not homogeneous but appeared in clusters on the surface of the MFG particles. Occasionally CD59-specific staining was seen on aggregates outside the MFG particles. The membranes of MFG are unstable, and soon after secretion into alveolar lumen the MFG lose some o f their membranous material through vesiculation116 . The inhomogeneous CD59containing aggregates outside the MFG-particles (II; Fig. 1C) may represent material that has become shed off from the membranes. Recently, we observed that shedding of CD59 and CD46 in vesicles is a common phenomenon of ovarian and breast cancer cells117 . 43 5.1.2 Characterization of CD59 on T47D cells and MFG (I, II) CD59 from breast cancer cells (I) and MFG particles (II) was purified t o further characterize it. The MCF7 and T47D cell membrane-extracts were solubilized with 60 mM n-octyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside. The extracts were subjected to YTH53.1 anti-CD59 affinity column and the eluted material was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The isolated proteins migrated as broad bands with apparent molecular weights ranging from 19 to 25 kDa (I). The pattern was similar to that of CD59 purified from erythrocyte cell membranes (CD59E) although, depending on the amount of sample loaded in the gel, the smears of CD59E sometimes extended to 30 kDa (not shown). The smear for soluble CD59 isolated from human urine (CD59 U) started from a slightly higher Mw (molecular weight; 21 kDa) than that of the lipid-anchored CD59. Additional 28 and 32 kDa bands in the immunoblots were apparently due to nonspecific reactivity of the samples with the secondary antibodies, because these bands were seen also in the controls where the primary antibodies were omitted. Purified radiolabeled T47D-CD59 became incorporated into the rabbit erythrocytes indicating that the isolated T47DCD59 had not lost its glycophospholipid anchor. Under similar conditions urinary CD59 did not become associated with the erythrocytes. CD59 was affinity-purified in the same manner from milk and MFG-membranes (CD59 M ) and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using the BRIC229 mAb (II). In the CD59M preparation the BRIC229 anti-CD59 mAb bound reproducibly to discrete bands with molecular weights ranging from 19 to 2 3 kDa. The pattern of distinct bands, usually three or four in number, was seen in all MFG samples examined. Control CD59E was visible as a diffuse smear from 18 to about 28 kDa. CD59M resembled CD59 isolated from MCF7 breast carcinoma cells that also had distinct bands in the immunoblot. In SDS-PAGE the affinity-purified CD59M migrated as bands with molecular weights of 19, 20, 22 and 23 kDa. When CD59M was treated with endoglycosidase F its Mw decreased to 14 to 16 kDa when analyzed in a 15 % SDS-PAGE slab gel under 44 reducing conditions. Heterogeneity in the Mw of CD59 is due to variable branching and sialylation of the N-linked oligosaccharide side chain, which is linked to the Asn 18 residue in the polypeptide chain (Fig. 2) and constitutes about 25 % of the molecular mass of CD59118 . The affinity-purified T47D-CD59 and CD59M retained their functional activity as judged by inhibition of complement lysis of guinea pig erythrocytes (GPE) when incorporated into their membranes. GPE activate complement via the alternative pathway leading to deposition of MAC on the cell membranes and eventually cell lysis. CD59 inhibits lysis by binding to the nascent C5b-8-complex and preventing the insertion and polymerization of C9 45, 46 . When CD59 is mixed with GPE it spontaneously incorporates into the cell membrane via its hydrophobic phospholipid anchor. The full activity of CD59 requires the presence of its glycolipid tail as the soluble molecule is approximately a 200fold less efficient inhibitor of cell lysis than the lipid-tailed CD59119. Incorporation of T47D-CD59 into GPE was found to lead to inhibition of lysis o f the cells by NHS. The functional activity of T47D-CD59 was equivalent to t h a t of CD59E (I). The C-lysis inhibitory effect of incorporated T47D-CD59 could be blocked by F(ab')2 fragments of the YTH53.1 mAb. When 125I-labeled CD59M was incubated with GPE 29% of the radioactivity became incorporated into the cells and remained there after repeated cycles of washing (II). Under similar conditions only 4% of CD59U became associated with the cells. Furthermore, the lysis of GPE by NHS could be inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by associating of different amounts of CD59M on their membranes. Full inhibition of GPE lysis by 4% NHS started to occur at a CD59M concentration of approximately 3 µg/ml (II: Fig. 4). The inhibitory activity of CD59E was similar to that of CD59M giving a 73% inhibition at a concentration of 5 µg/ml. Functional activities of T47D-CD59 and CD59M were tested further by examining whether they bind to the terminal complement complexes (TCC). In a TCC-binding assay complement is activated with inulin in C9-deficient serum. Functionally active 125I-labeled CD59 binds to the formed SC5b-8 complex. 45 The bound CD59 can be separated from inactive CD59 by high speed centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. The 125I-labeled CD59M and T47D-CD59 bound to the soluble SC5b-8 complexes similarly as has been shown earlier f o r CD59E45 and soluble CD59U53 (I). It has been shown that melanoma cells constitutively release a functionally active form of CD59 that contains an anchor and is able to insert into cell membranes of homologous cells transiently increasing their expression o f CD59 120. A soluble form of CD59, that retains its anchoring ability and functional properties, has been identified in body fluids and in culture supernatants of different malignant cells121. The physiological significance o f CD59 in body fluids or as well in MFG remains unknown. The latter could simply represent a GPI-anchored protein that has become sloughed off from the cell membranes during lipid secretion. An intrinsic property of milk in killing and preventing the invasion of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract of the child is accomplished mainly by noninflammatory mechanisms, i.e. by lactoferrin, lysozyme, fibronectin and IgA 122 . Although, the components of the complement system and complement-activating immunoglobulins IgG and IgM are present in milk at low levels123, deposition of C3 fragments has been detected on bacteria incubated with milk124. IgA, the most abundant immunoglobulin in milk, does not activate complement and thereby also limits inflammatory responses in the gut 125 . In addition, a number of antiinflammatory substances including antioxidants, catalase and histaminase are present in milk125. This may be particularly relevant since during the post partum period both the child and the mother are exceptionally prone t o infections with associated inflammation. 5.2 Complement-mediated killing of MCF7 and T47D cells (I) The potential effector mechanims of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy include targeting of various toxic molecules, ADCC, CDC or CDCC. mAb have 46 been used in the therapy of lymphomas and melanomas with a limited success 119, 126 . In the latter study intravenously administered monoclonal anti-GD3-ganglioside mAb was observed to become deposited on solid melanoma tumors and lead to lymphocyte and mast cell infiltration as well as to local complement deposition. These results give hope that it is possible t o launch an in vivo complement attack against tumor cells recognized by antibodies. Effective killing of the tumor cells requires their resistance to complement must be overcome. In study (I) the cytotoxic effect of human complement against MCF7 and T47D was examined in the presence and absence CD59-neutralizing antibodies. When MCF7 cells were treated with F(ab') 2 fragments of the YTH53.1 mAb prior to sensitization with complement activating antibody (S2) an increase in antibody-induced complement-mediated killing of the cells was observed (I). Approximately 12 µg/ml of the YTH53.1 mAb was required t o obtain full neutralization of the tumor-cell CD59 activity. In the absence of the sensitizing rabbit antibodies no lysis occurred with the YTH53.1 F(ab') 2 alone. Also, in separate experiments the F(ab') 2 fragments did not induce lysis o f human erythrocytes antibody (rat by human complement, whereas the whole parent IgG2b), apparently by activating the classical complement pathway, lysed human erythrocytes in the presence of complement. Using a specific anti-CD59 mAb and F(ab') 2 fragments thereof it was possible t o inactivate the functional activity of CD59 on cultured breast cancer cells. In complement-mediated cell lysis experiments the maximum lysis of MCF7 cells was 30 - 60% depending on the conditions used. A polyclonal rabbit antibody S2 was found most effective in sensitizing the T47D and MCF7 cells to complement lysis. A mAb against HER2/c-erbB-2 epidermal growth factor receptor did not sensitize MCF7 or T47D cells sufficiently to initiate a lytic complement attack. On the other hand, the rabbit polyclonal antibody was an efficient inducer of complement lysis, which was enhanced by the anti-CD59 mAb. For sensitization of breast cancer cells t o complement lysis the choice of an appropriate antibody is thus a critical 47 factor. This became evident also in the later studies (III and V). A majority o f the mAb produced are of murine origin and many of them are poor activators of human complement, especially the IgG1 isotype. Humanization of mouse monoclonal antibodies is expected to widen their use for human cancer therapy. It is possible to produce humanized mAbs that are functional in mediating the immune effector functions, consisting of ADCC and CDC127. Lately it has been shown that the recombinant form of the anti-HER2 mAb (trastuzumab, Herceptin) activates complement leading to C3 deposition and complement-mediated lysis of breast carcinoma cells if the mCRP are neutralized 128 . The fact that total lysis was not achieved using S2 and antiCD59 suggests that the cells have other protection mechanisms than CD59 expression and/or that a more effective complement treatment protocol (higher doses, longer incubation times) should be used. When studied by indirect IF microscopy using a mouse mAb against DAF (BRIC216) or MCP (GB24) both regulators were found to be expressed by MCF7 and T47D cells, although the expression of DAF was relatively weak on T47D cells. The expression of functionally active CD59 on breast cancer cells shows that i t has a role in protecting the malignant cells against lysis by the homologous complement system and strongly suggests a similar function for it in vivo. The neutralization of CD59 selectively on tumor cells, while saving the "bystander" cells, poses a problem which we have attempted to solve by targeting the anti-CD59 mAb to the tumor cells with the help of the biotin-avidin system 129 . Biotinylation of the anti-CD59 mAb converts it into a nonactivator of C 130 and may facilitate its use as an adjuvant antibody in tumor-specific immunotherapy. As a nonactivator of complement the biotinylated anti-CD59 mAb probably does not cause significant damage to bystander cells, although it retains its ability to neutralize CD59 on the surface of tumor cells when attracted to their surfaces by avidin-conjugated tumor-specific mAb. 5.2.1 Expression of TAA on ovarian cancer cells (III) A critical factor for considering CDC in anti-tumor therapy is the selection o f an appropriate TAA and mAb against them. Therefore, the expression o f 48 several TAA in ovarian cancer cell lines was studied using flow-cytometric analysis (FACS). The Caov-3, PA-1, SK-OV-3 and SW626 cell lines had each an individual expression pattern for the CA19-9, CA125 and MUC-1 antigens. The Tn antigen was not expressed by any of the cell lines studied. For the expressed Ags the staining intensities were generally low, and the expression patterns were heterogeneous. An exception was the SW626 cell line, which showed very strong expression of CA19-9 on its surface. In a subsequent complement-activation assay the SW626 cells exposed to the anti-CA19-9 (C241) mAb and NHS showed a strong C3 deposition on the their surface in FACS analysis. The amount of C3 deposition was much lower on PA-1 than on SW626 cells, apparently reflecting the difference in CA19-9 antigen density between the two cell lines. Similarly, the anti-MUC-1 mAb (Ma552) was able t o induce C3 deposition on SK-OV-3 cells but not on Caov-3 cells. Neither of the mAbs (Ov185 and Ov197) against CA125 Ag were able to induce C3 deposition on the Caov-3 cells, although the mAbs bound to the cell surface. Compared with the mAbs the S2 anti serum efficiently induced C3 deposition on all cell lines studied. 5.2.2 CDC and ovarian cancer cells (III) In the next set of experiments, CDC induced by C241 mAb against CA19-9 in SW626 and PA-1 cells was studied. In a chromium lysis assay 10% of the SW626 cells were killed when sensitized with the C241 mAb and exposed t o NHS. The neutralization of CD59 using biotinylated YTH53.1 mAb increased the complement-mediated killing to 30%. Unlike SW626 cells, PA-1 cells were not lysed by C241 and NHS, even if the complement regulatory function o f CD59 was blocked. However, the PA-1 cells exposed to S2 were highly sensitive to CDC (64%), and almost all PA-1 cells were killed (89%) after simultaneous blocking of CD59. High sensitivity of the PA-1 teratocarcinoma cells to complement lysis was associated with a relatively low expression of all the complement regulators examined. These observations illustrate the need for finding complement-activating mAbs against antigens that expressed on the ovarian malignant cells. Neutralization 49 are highly of CD59 with biotinylated YTH53.1 reduced the resistance of almost all the cell lines to CDC, except of the SK-OV-3 cells that remained somewhat resistant. 5.3 CDC and microtumor spheroids (MTS; IV) MTS are spherical aggregates of cells growing in culture. They resemble tumor tissue with their intercellular connections representing an intermediate between monolayer cell cultures and tumors in vivo131, 132. The size of MTS may range from a few cells to visible structures of 1 - 2 mm in diameter until the growth is limited by restricted diffusion of oxygen and nutrients. Spheroids have been used for studying the penetration of antibodies and the effects of lymphokine activated killer cells against tumor tissue 133, 134 . In previous studies we observed that in traditional killing assays cells growing in aggregates were notably more resistant to C-mediated cytotoxicity than cells in suspension1. In a killing assay individual PA-1 cells were incubated with a complementactivating antibody (S2) and a CD59-neutralizing mAb (YTH53.1B). As a result, 85 % of the cells were lysed during a 30 min exposure to complement, whereas 64% of the PA-1 cells exposed to S2 activating antibody alone were lysed. Under similar conditions the lysis of the PA-1 cells in the MTS exposed t o S2, YTH53.1 and NHS was approximately 8%. In the control spheroids exposed to S2 and NHS the lysis remained at 4%. Experiments in study IV allowed further analysis and visualization of complement-mediated attack against three-dimensional tumor tissue. A pulsed complement attack targeting against MTS grown from T47D and PA-1 cells with antibodies (S2) and complement in the presence of a CD59 neutralizing antibody resulted in progressive cell membrane damage and cell detachment on the outer layers of the MTS. Full lysis of cores of the spheroids appeared to be restricted by an arrest of complement activation at the C3 level. To quantify CDC against the cells in the spheroids a chromium ( 51 Cr) release assay was used. Individual T47D spheroids were incubated with 3 µCi of 51 Cr for 12 hours in 100 µl of cell culture medium. Earlier studies by 50 autoradiography have demonstrated that an overnight incubation leads t o penetration of 51 Cr throughout the spheroids 134 . The mean cumulative spontaneous release of chromium during a 24-hour incubation of spheroids in the RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% heat-inactivated FCS was 13% ± 0.6% of the total radioactivity (n=4). This was in correlation with the total remaining activity (90 ± 1.2%) that was counted from each spheroid after the 24-hour incubation. The spontaneous release of chromium was considered as background and was subsequently subtracted from the further results. To study complement-mediated killing of T47D spheroids the S2 antibody was used for activation the classical pathway of complement and the biotinylated YTH53.1 mAb (YTH53.1B) for neutralization of the MAC inhibitor CD59 on the cells. A 24-hour incubation with antibodies and a single dose of NHS resulted in the release of 16 ± 4% (IV) of the spheroid-bound radioactivity. By prolonging the time of exposure and replacing the complement components consumed it was possible to partially overcome the complement resistance o f the ductal breast carcinoma (T47D) and ovarian teratocarcinoma (PA-1) spheroids. During the incubation, at 2, 4 and 8 hours the spheroids were isolated gently by pipetting and placed into new tubes containing fresh NHS and antibodies to replace the complement components and IgG consumed, the cumulative 51Cr-release was measured during the assay at the same time points. In the killing assay, there was a clear lag phase in the 51 Cr release during the first two hours of incubation (IV). T47D spheroids exposed to S2, YTH53.1B and NHS for two hours showed only 1% lysis. At 4 hours 5% lysis was achieved. A more significant lysis was not detected until 8 hours o f incubation (15 ± 0.5%; n = 4). The mean (± SD) cumulative release o f chromium from the spheroids exposed to S2, YTH53.1B and NHS during 2 4 hours of incubation was 33% ± 2.3%, while 62 ± 0.45% of 51 Cr was counted to remain in the spheroids. In the control spheroids incubated with S0, normal rat IgG and NHS for 24 hours (with replacements) the mean cumulative activity released was only 3 ± 0.96% (n = 4) more than the spontaneous release during the same time. In the spheroids exposed to either S2 o r 51 YTH53.1B and NHS the mean cumulative 51Cr-releases were 4 ± 1.5% and 5 ± 0.6%, respectively (n = 8). The exposure of single T47D cells in suspension to S2 alone and NHS resulted in 15% lysis of cells in 30 min (I). The inactivation of CD59 increased the lysis only 13%. Thus, it is possible that the detachment of the cells makes them more vulnerable to complement. In some studies it has been shown that detachment of cells from the matrix induces apoptosis 135 that may lead to additional cell killing. Increasing the incubation time of the T47D spheroids to 48 hours only marginally increased the level o f spheroid lysis (IV). The increase in the number of complement replacements t o a total of 11 at 4-hour intervals during 50 hours of incubation did not significantly enhance the tumor cell lysis either and a plateau phase was reached after 42 hours (IV). However, since the spontaneous release o f 51 chromium was 30% at 48 hours the assay may not have revealed the full extent of cell damage during prolonged incubations. With the PA-1 spheroids 3% of lysis was observed at 1 hour while at 2 hours already 37% lysis was achieved (data not shown). Because of a tendency of PA-1 spheroids t o spontaneously leak chromium during a prolonged treatment the lysis could not be followed for longer than four hours at which time 45% lysis was observed. Following complement exposure the surfaces of the spheroids became clearly less coherent showing swollen and detaching cells as judged by light microscopy. Photographic images indicated that the volume of the spheroids was decreased by 28% from 0.194 ± 0.063 to 0.140 ± 0.05 mm 3 (mean ± SD; n=30) during the 24-hour pulsed treatment with antibodies and complement. The volume of the control spheroids exposed to S0, normal r a t IgG and NHS decreased by only 5% during the 24-hour incubation (residual volume: 0.185 ± 0.013 mm 3 ). Scanning electron microscopic analysis after the complement exposure showed a release of relatively large vesicles from the cell surfaces and porous remnants of cell membranes after severe cell damage (IV). No similar changes were detected in the control spheroids incubated with NHS, S0 and normal rat IgG (IV). In these controls, the surface of the microtumors remained smooth with a fine microvillar coating. 52 To visualize death of individual cells in the spheroids, some of the spheroids treated for various times with S2, YTH53.1B and NHS were incubated for one hour with propidium iodide (PI) before freezing them into liquid nitrogen. Fluorescence microscopical analysis of cryostat sections of the PA-1 spheroids showed a 2 to 3-cell layer thick frontier of dying cells on the microtumor surfaces after 2 hours of complement exposure (IV: Fig. 3). Apparently, some of the cells had become detached from the spheroid surface. The nuclei of the detached cells were visible in the propidium iodide stained specimens. New cell layers became exposed to complement after the dead cell layer had been peeled off during the process. The cell death thus proceeded as a frontier but was restricted mainly to the first four layers o f cells on the periphery of the spheroids after a 24-hour exposure. In the control microtumors, incubated with S0, nonspecific rat IgG and NHS, no dead cells were observed on the microtumor surfaces. For comparison, in the T47D microtumors the rim of dead cells did not extend deeper than one or two cell layers from the surface after two hours of incubation (IV: Fig. 5). Furthermore, the cells still remained firmly attached to the microtumor tissue. Following eight hours of exposure to C, the apparently dead T47D cells on the surface remained adherent to the spheroidal body. After 24 hours o f incubation, the PI-staining revealed a large pool of damaged cells detaching from the surfaces of the spheroids. The necrotic cells in the centers of the largest spheroids became also stained by PI. In the control spheroids t h a t were exposed to S0, normal rat IgG and NHS, only the necrotic cells in the center became stained, but no killing of cells on the surface was detected. This indicated that propidium iodide was able to penetrate into the center of the spheroids through the intercellular spaces. The detachment of cells from the spheroid surface may be due to down regulation of adhesion receptors and/or proteases released from the dying o r sublytically attacked tumor cells. The proteolytic enzymes may start degrade the extracellular matrix and proteins required for to the cellular adhesion. Activation of metalloproteinases and degradation of extracellular matrix occur during various physiological and pathological processes. These 53 include conditions that require tissue remodeling such as tissue morphogenesis, inflammation and wound healing. On the other hand, e.g. the complement serine esterase C1s has been shown to degrade type I and type II collagens136 and to activate the zymogen form of the matrix metalloproteinase 9 enzyme 137. The released proteases might also activate or inactivate complement components, and thereby have an enhancing o r inhibitory effect on complement killing of the microtumor cells. Leukocyte matrix metalloproteinases have been shown to inactivate C1 inhibitor t h a t inactivates the C1r and C1s proteinases 138, 139 . Metalloproteases may also cleave the membrane-bound complement regulators. Recently, we observed that functionally active CD46 is was released from the surfaces of cancer cells into solution by a metalloproteinase 117 . Enzyme release thus occurs and may affect both tumor cell adhesiveness and complement sensitivity. 5.3.1 The penetration of mAb and complement into MTS Cryostat sections of the complement-treated spheroids were examined using IF to analyze the penetration of mAb and complement components into MTS. During a 2-hour incubation the YTH53.1 mAb penetrated into the spheroid tissue 4 to 5 cell layers deep (IV; Fig. 4). Following an overnight exposure t o YTH53.1 and NHS the T47D spheroids became totally infiltrated by the YTH53.1 IgG. In an earlier study, mAbs were also found to be capable o f penetrating into MTS 140. It is likely that the delivery of complement components and mAb into the spheroids occurs by diffusion through the intercellular spaces. However, BRIC 229, another mAb against CD59, did not completely pass through the spheroids during the same time (data not shown). Because of stronger binding to target antigens, antibodies of higher affinity are predicted to diffuse more slowly into the tumor. In some tumor cell killing assays higher-affinity antibodies have demonstrated an improved performance in CDC. In contrast, the lower-affinity antibody have penetrated better into MTS133 . 54 Somewhat surprisingly, although C1q has a relatively large size (m.w. 460 kDa) it was able to penetrate 2 to 3 cell layers deep during a 2-hour exposure to YTH53.1 and NHS (IV: Fig. 4) and almost through the spheroids during 24 hours. The binding of C1q to the Fc part of an antibody is noncovalent 141 analogous to binding of antibodies to an antigen. The penetration of S2 was slower compared with the infiltration of the YTH53.1 mAb. In two hours the S2 IgG was able to penetrate only through the first two cell layers. After 24 hours, the S2 IgG penetrated deeper forming a gradient towards but not until the core of the spheroids. In the controls, incubated with rat IgG, rabbit preimmune IgG (S0) and NHS, no deposition o f nonspecific rat IgG, C1q or rabbit IgG could be detected. To exclude the possibility that antibodies bound to Fc receptors we used 10.1, C1KM5 and 3G8 mAbs for staining of FcγRI, FcγRII and FcγRIII on T47D cells, respectively. No binding of any of these mAbs to the T47D cells was detected. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that C3 (stained with the anti-iC3b antibody) and C5b-9 deposits remained peripheral in the spheroids and were restricted to the outermost 1 - 2 cell layers after 2 hours and 2 - 4 cell layers after 24 hours (IV: Fig. 5) of complement exposure. PI staining was in accordance with the staining for C3 and C5b-9 revealing that the complementmediated killing of the cells was limited to the microtumor surface. In the controls, where S0, nonspecific rat IgG and NHS were used no deposition o f C3 or C5b-9 were detected after 24 hours of incubation. Accordingly, no complement-mediated death of cells was seen on the surfaces of similarly treated microtumors. The main reason for the lack of cellular death in the deeper parts of MTS may be the consumption of active complement on the outer layers of the spheroids. Complement treatment did not completely disrupt the macroscopic structure of MTS. The cores of the spheroids retained their integrity during incubation with antibodies and complement for 24 hours. It was thus possible to kill efficiently cells growing on the surface of the spheroids but cells deeper inside were protected from complement lysis. The plating of the spheroids after 5 0 55 hours resulted in the adherence and spreading of the cells over the cell culture plate surface indicating that the spheroids still contained viable cells. The results indicate that the resistance of cancer cells growing in the cores of the spheroids to complement-mediated injury results at least partly from the restricted spreading of C3 activation into the spheroids. Unlike, C1q the forming C3b binds covalently with a thioester bond to a nearby cell surface during complement activation. While C1q can diffuse relatively freely through the the spheroid the penetration of C3 is limited, first, by rapid activation and covalent binding and, thereafter, by rapid inactivation of C3b. Restricted penetration of C3 is thus not due to a limited diffusion but because of its specific biochemical properties. A likely reason for the restriction of complement activation on to the spheroid surface in our model is an effective complement regulation at the C3 level. In these studies, we did not attempt to neutralize CD46 or CD55 which both downregulate C3 activation on cell surfaces. Because of its stronger expression on the spheroids 1 CD46 is likely to promote inactivation of both C4b and C3b that have become bound to the tumor cell surfaces. Thus, CD46 could effectively block C3 convertase function in both the classical and the alternative pathways. In our unpublished experiments the inactivation of CD46 together with CD59 (using GB24 and YTH53.1 mAbs, respectively) resulted in 60% lysis of the T47D spheroids. 5.4 A rat model to study complement activation in vivo (V) The species-selective activity of complement inhibitors has been a hindrance t o investigating the role of membrane-bound complement inhibitors in rodent models of human cancer. It has been shown that human cancer cell lines are significantly more sensitive to lysis by rat complement than by human complement 142. Regression of tumors has been observed in nude mice or r a t s xenografted with human tumor tissue143-145 . In the study V we set up a r a t model to analyze targeted complement activation in vivo. We characterized 56 the expression levels of complement regulatory proteins in a rat colon tumor cell line (CC531) and the ability of tumor cell binding monoclonal antibodies (MG1, MG2, MG3,and MG42a) to activate complement on these cells. MG42a is a recombinant, complement-activating form of MG4. Rats were inoculated subcapsularly into the liver with the in vitro growing CC531 cancer cell line t h a t has been chemically induced in the same inbred strain of Wag Rij rats. The inoculation resulted in tumor growth in the liver providing a reproducible homologous animal tumor model. 5.4.1 CDC and rat colorectal cancer cells Like in studies with human cancer cells (I) the flow cytometric analysis o f expression of rat mCRP on the CC531 cells suggested that the rat colorectal cancer cells are efficiently protected from complement activation. The CC531 cells expressed CD55 and CD59 analogously to human mCRP, plus Crry/p65 an additional rat complement inhibitor. As expected, CD46 was not detected on CC531 cells. In rat, CD46 is mostly expressed in testicular cells. The expression of Crry/p65, CD55 and CD59 on CC531 cells was confirmed by Western blotting. Immunoblotting of the CC531 cell membranes with the 5I2 mAb, showed two bands of 55 and 65 kDa for Crry/p65. Also two bands, o f 65 and 185 kDa, were detected with the RdIII7 mAb (anti-CD55), as has been previously described for CD5558, 146 . The anti-CD59 (6D1) mAb revealed one band of 20 kDa. 5.4.2 C3 deposition on CC531 cells and CDC To choose an antibody for in vivo studies the ability of the MG1, MG2, MG3 and MG42a mAb to activate the classical pathway of the complement system was examined by a C3-ELISA. All mAb were able to activate the complement system in this assay, although MG3 was a weaker complement activator than the other mAbs. However, MG1 and MG2 were not able to activate complement on the CC531 cells. Activation of the classical pathway 57 of complement requires an adequate antigen density on the target cells. C1q has to be bound by at least two IgG molecules for the activation to occur. Inactivation of Crry/p65 with anti-Crry/p65 F(ab) 2 fragments increased C3 deposition three-fold compared to situation where only MG42a was used. Inactivation of Crry/p65 and CD55 resulted in a synergistic increase in C3 deposition. As expected, the anti-CD59 mAb (6D1) did not have any effect on C3 deposition. Because of their low complement activation potential on CC531 cells MG1, MG2 and MG3 were excluded from further studies. For the complement lysis experiments MG42a was used to specifically activate r a t complement on the CC531 cells and anti-mCRP mAbs to inactivate the complement regulators on the cells. Activation of complement by MG42a mAb and blocking of Crry/p65 and CD59 resulted in 55 % lysis of cells. Blocking o f Crry/p65, CD55 and CD59 did not further increase the lysis. The control antibody MG4 did not induce complement lysis. In the presence of a heterologous complement source, (baby rabbit complement; BRC) 83% Cmediated lysis was observed. 5.4.3 Complement activation in situ To investigate the ability of MG42a to activate the complement system in situ tumor tissue sections of untreated rats were incubated with either MG42a o r MG4 mAb. Normal rat serum (NRS) was used as a source of complement. The binding of MG42a mAb and deposition of C3 were analyzed by IF microscopy. Both MG42a and MG4 bound to the tumor cells but only the recombinant MG42a mAb was able to activate complement on the tumor sections. A clear tumor cell membrane staining pattern was observed for both MG42a and MG4 mAb. In cells treated with MG42a a membranous-like staining pattern for C3 was observed. The MG42a mAb staining colocalized with that of C3. 58 5.4.4 Homing of mAb into tumors and complement activation in vivo Hagenaars et al. recently described that MG1, MG2 and MG4 were able t o home to the tumor cells when injected intraperitoneally into tumor bearing rats 147 . MG3 could neither be demonstrated on tumor cells when injected into rats nor when incubated on tumor sections. Although the MG3 antigen was detected by FACS on cultured CC531 cells it was not detected in the immunoblots of isolated CC531 cell membranes (unpublished results). This suggested that the antigen for MG3 mAb is not a protein or that its epitope is lost during membrane processing. To determine if MG42a had a homing ability comparable to that of MG4, the two mAb were injected into tumor bearing rats. Tumors were grown for five days and rats were injected with MG42a, MG4 or PBS. Two days after the mAb injection the tumors were removed and snap-frozen. MG42a and MG4 were detected in cryostat sections of CC531 tumors by using immunofluorescence microscopy. However, C3 deposition on tumor cells could not be detected in MG42a or MG4-treated rats. The above experiments suggested that complement C3 may not become deposited or becomes lost from CC531 cell tumors in vivo. The situation may be similar as in the spheroids where the penetration of C3 into the MTS remained peripheral (IV). In the experiments with spheroids the tumor cells are in direct contact with complement compared to situation in vivo where the complement components first have to cross endothelial cells of blood vessels. This may restrict complement activation in the in vivo tumor. In human cervical carcinoma sporadical deposits of C3d and C5b-9 have been detected on the tissue sections. Furthermore, the C3d deposition was in association with low expression of CD46 on the tumor cells103 . Interestingly, in the same study it was observed that both C3d and C5b-9 were stained with 59 high intensity on blood vessels of tumor samples. In CC531 cells both CD55 and Crry/p65 are expressed (V). Complement activation in the rat tumor interior can be restricted by CD55 or Crry/p65 or the surface layers of the C3b/iC3b-bearing tumor cells may become cleared away by the rat phagocytes. These findings support the idea that complement activation on tumors is efficiently inhibited at the complement convertase level. As mentioned earlier, CDC is thought to be an important effector mechanism in the therapeutic treatment of some lymphomas 89, 92 . However, lymphoma cells are in direct contact with serum complement and this together with efficiently sensitizing mAb may overrun the C3-convertase inhibitors. Taken together this study shows that mAb can reach tumors in vivo but multiple mechanisms can restrict the access of complement components t o the tumor cells. 60 6. CONCLUSIONS The studies included in this thesis demonstrate that human breast (I) and ovarian tumors (III) strongly express the complement membrane attack inhibitor CD59, and to a lesser extent CD46 and CD55. With a mAb against TAA (CA19-9) that is expressed by an ovarian cancer cell line (SW626) it was possible to kill these cells using NHS as a source of complement (III). Expression of CD59 apparently makes the tumor cells resistant to CDC, but this resistance can be partially overcome by specific mAb that neutralize the activity of CD59 (I, III). Study III indicated that the target antigen density on the cancer cells is a critical factor for efficient CDC. CD59 is expressed on the surfaces of normal and malignant cells. It was also detected in the breast duct epithelial cells, from where it apparently became shed to breast milk. Within the milk CD59 was present on the milk fat globule membranes (II). Like on cell membranes CD59 in MFG had a glycolipid anchor and maintained its functional activity. Micrometastases and residual malignant cells after surgery constitute an important clinical problem in cancer therapy. The approach of using complement against tumors in vivo is currently limited by the shortage o f tumor cell specific and complement activating antibodies. Many of the mAb that are produced in murine hybridoma cell lines belong to the IgG1 subclass that in general is a poor activator of human complement. Another problem is the activity of complement regulators on the malignant cells. However, as implied by the current and our earlier studies it is possible to specifically target complement attack against tumors if suitable mAb are available. As shown here, mAb (IV, V) and even large complement molecules, like C1q (IV), can penetrate into the tumor tissue. Partial destruction of microtumors could thus be achieved by neutralizing the mCRP and optimizing the antibodyinitiated complement attack. For further studies, the spheroid system offers a useful model. 61 Like human cancer cells rat colorectal cancer cells also express complement regulators on their membranes (V). It was possible to kill CC531 cells by activating rat homologous complement with a specific mAb against these cells. However, the homologous tumors transplanted into the rat were resistant to complement activation in vivo although the activating mAb homed into the tumors. This indicates that the homologous complement inhibitors still pose a difficult obstacle for mAb-therapy of tumors in vivo. However, by engineering suitable mCRP-neutralizing antibodies and selecting appropriate tumor-specific C-activating mAbs it is, in principle, possible to complement attack against malignant cells. 62 target 7. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The thesis was carried out at the Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki. I am grateful to the present and former heads of the department Professor Olli Mäkelä and Acting Professors Seppo Meri and Risto Renkonen for providing excellent working facilities. I am grateful to all those who have been working with me during these years and made my work possible. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Docent Seppo Meri for his enthusiasm and guidance and an opportunity to learn much during this time. He has given me much freedom in the choice of scientific topics and encouraged me to develop my responsibilities in science. I am grateful to my reviewers Professor Mikko Hurme and Docent Timo Paavonen who gave me valuable criticism and comments for improving this thesis. I warmly thank all collaborators and coauthors: Line Bjørge and Roald Matre from the University of Bergen, Norway, T Wahlström, Helsinki University Central Hospital, as well as Kyra Gelderman, Martin Hagenaars, P.J.K Kuppen and Arko Gorter, from the Leiden University, the Netherlands. I am grateful to Docent Aaro Miettinen, MD, Riitta Väisänen, Maiju Solin, Anni Haltia, Jukka Reivinen, Laura Kerosuo, they have helped and advised me whenever needeed. Their lab is full of exciting gadgets and antibodies t h a t have been helpful in performing the experiments. They have also made the department a fun place to work at. I warmly thank Docent Pentti Kuusela. He has always been helpful in sharing his knowledge. I am indebted to Docent Matti Kaartinen who taught me methods in molecular genetics. I warmly thank Mine Eray for sharing her knowledge in science. I also thank Docent Ilkka 63 Seppälä for his helpful advice. I thank Monica Schoultz, for technical assistance with the flow cytometric analyses. I warmly thank my previous and present colleagues. I am grateful and priviliged for having had the opportunity to work with Timo Lehto, Jorma Tissari, Antti Väkevä, and Sakari Jokiranta. I thank Taru Meri and Hanna Jarva for brain-storming and for making work in the lab fun. I am indebted t o Riina Rautemaa for her positive and friendly attitude and for our fruitful discussions. I thank Sami Junnikkala for useful discussions and fun moments. I want to thank our technician Marjatta Ahonen for her technical assistance and precise work to making work in the lab more organized and easier. I thank Mervi Närkiö-Mäkelä, Antti Lavikainen, Antti Harjunpää, Antti Alitalo, Markus Lehtinen, Mikko Holmberg, Jinghui Yang, Zhu-Zhu Cheng, in our group for the nice moments together. My special thanks go to Pauliina Luimula, and Jyrki Eloranta, for fun moments outside the lab and Jyrki also for proofreading my thesis. Finally, I am most grateful to my friends for making life outside the lab pleasant and exciting. Special thanks belong to my parents for their guidance and support. I deeply acknowledge the financial and material support from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, the Academy of Finland, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Maud Kuistila Foundation, Finnish Cancer Society, Oskar Öflund Foundation, the Haartman Institute, the Helsinki University Central Hospital, and the University of Helsinki. Helsinki, December 2002 64 8. REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Bjørge L, Junnikkala S, Kristofferson EK, Hakulinen J, Matre R, Meri S. 1997. Resistance of ovarian teratocarcinoma cell spheroids t o complement-mediated lysis. Brit J Cancer 75; 1247 Köhler G, Milstein C. 1975. Continuous cultures of fused cells secreting antibody of predefined specificity. Nature 256; 495 Sunyer JO, Lambris JD. 1998. 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