Mm. Hamawy et al., Immunotoxin FN18-CRM9 induces stronger T cell signaling than unconjugated monoclonal antibody FN18, TRANSPLANT, 72(3), 2001, pp. 496-503
Background. The T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex is the target of therapeu
tic strategies aimed at prolonging allograft survival. The immunotoxin FN18
-CRM9, composed of the anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody FN18 and the mutated di
phtheria toxin CRM9, is useful for prolonging allograft survival in preclin
ical models of transplantation. To explore the influence of conjugation of
the mutated diphtheria toxin on functional activation of the TCR/CD3 comple
x, we compared the effects of FN18-CRM9 and unconjugated FN18 on protein ty
rosine phosphorylation and ligand/receptor internalization in purified monk
ey peripheral blood T cells.
Methods. Purified normal rhesus monkey T cells were incubated with unconjug
ated FN18 or conjugated FN18-CRM9 and examined for differences in antibody
binding, tyrosine phosphorylation, and CD3 internalization.
Results. Binding cross-inhibition studies demonstrated that both compounds
were able to inhibit fluorescein isothiocyanate-FN18 binding to CD3 with si
milar efficacy and potency. However, FN18-CRM9 was more potent than FN18 in
triggering the phosphorylation of several proteins on tyrosine residues an
d in inducing CD3 internalization. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein
blocked FN18-CRM9-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation and CD3 internal
ization, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation is involved in the intern
alization of the immunotoxin. Interestingly, in FN18-CRM9- but not FN18-tre
ated cells, there was a gradual decrease in cellular CD3 protein levels wit
hin 24 and 48 hr; such a decrease was not observed with the control protein
Csk.
Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the conjugation of the mutated dipht
heria toxin CRM9 to FN18 modulates the monoclonal antibody-mediated crossli
nking of the TCR/CD3 complex, leading to a stronger protein tyrosine phosph
orylation and CD3 internalization. This may in turn contribute to the great
er efficacy of the immunotoxin in prolonging allograft survival.