A plant-derived human monoclonal antibody induces an anti-carbohydrate immune response in rabbits

Glycobiology. 2008 Mar;18(3):235-41. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwm137. Epub 2008 Jan 18.

Abstract

A common argument against using plants as a production system for therapeutic proteins is their inability to perform authentic N-glycosylation. A major concern is the presence of beta 1,2-xylose and core alpha 1,3-fucose residues on complex N-glycans as these nonmammalian N-glycan residues may provoke unwanted side effects in humans. In this study we have investigated the potential antigenicity of plant-type N-glycans attached to a human monoclonal antibody (2G12). Using glyco-engineered plant lines as expression hosts, four 2G12 glycoforms differing in the presence/absence of beta 1,2-xylose and core alpha 1,3-fucose were generated. Systemic immunization of rabbits with a xylose and fucose carrying 2G12 glycoform resulted in a humoral immune response to both N-glycan epitopes. Furthermore, IgE immunoblotting with sera derived from allergic patients revealed binding to plant-produced 2G12 carrying core alpha 1,3 fucosylated N-glycan structures. Our results provide evidence for the adverse potential of nonmammalian N-glycan modifications present on monoclonal antibodies produced in plants. This emphasizes the need for the use of glyco-engineered plants lacking any potentially antigenic N-glycan structures for the production of plant-derived recombinant proteins intended for parenteral human application.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Antigens, Plant / chemistry
  • Antigens, Plant / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies
  • CHO Cells
  • Carbohydrates / chemistry
  • Carbohydrates / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cross Reactions
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fucose / analysis
  • Fucose / immunology
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / immunology*
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / immunology*
  • Rabbits
  • Xylose / analysis
  • Xylose / immunology

Substances

  • 2G12 monoclonal antibody
  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies
  • Carbohydrates
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Fucose
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Xylose