Simultaneous antagonism of interleukin-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin-3 stimulation of human eosinophils by targetting the common cytokine binding site of their receptors.

Human interleukin-5 (IL-5), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-3 are eosinophilopoietic cytokines implicated in allergy in general and in the inflammation of the airways specifically as seen in asthma. All 3 cytokines function through cell surface receptors that comprise a ligand-specific alpha chain and a shared subunit (beta(c)). Although binding of IL-5, GM-CSF, and IL-3 to their respective receptor alpha chains is the first step in receptor activation, it is the recruitment of beta(c) that allows high-affinity binding and signal transduction to proceed. Thus, beta(c) is a valid yet untested target for antiasthma drugs with the added advantage of potentially allowing antagonism of all 3 eosinophil-acting cytokines with a single compound. We show here the first development of such an agent in the form of a monoclonal antibody (MoAb), BION-1, raised against the isolated membrane proximal domain of beta(c). BION-1 blocked eosinophil production, survival, and activation stimulated by IL-5 as well as by GM-CSF and IL-3. Studies of the mechanism of this antagonism showed that BION-1 prevented the high-affinity binding of (125)I-IL-5, (125)I-GM-CSF, and (125)I-IL-3 to purified human eosinophils and that it bound to the major cytokine binding site of beta(c). Interestingly, epitope analysis using several beta(c) mutants showed that BION-1 interacted with residues different from those used by IL-5, GM-CSF, and IL-3. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that BION-1 prevented ligand-induced receptor dimerization and phosphorylation of beta(c), suggesting that ligand contact with beta(c) is a prerequisite for recruitment of beta(c), receptor dimerization, and consequent activation. These results demonstrate the feasibility of simultaneously inhibiting IL-5, GM-CSF, and IL-3 function with a single agent and that BION-1 represents a new tool and lead compound with which to identify and generate further agents for the treatment of eosinophil-dependent diseases such as asthma.

A discontinuous eight-amino acid epitope in human interleukin-3 binds the alpha-chain of its receptor.

We have previously reported that, within the first helix of human interleukin (IL)-3, residues Asp21 and Glu22 are important for interaction with the alpha- and beta-chains of the IL-3 receptor, respectively. In order to define more precisely the sites of interaction with the receptor, we have performed molecular modeling of the helical core of IL-3 and single amino acid substitution mutagenesis of residues predicted to lie on the surfaces of the A, C, and D helices. The resulting analogues were characterized for their abilities to stimulate proliferation of TF-l cells and for binding to the high affinity (alpha- and beta-chain; IL-3Ralpha/Rbeta) or low affinity (alpha-chain alone; IL-3Ralpha) IL-3 receptor. We found that in addition to Asp21, residues Ser17, Asn18, and Thr25 within the A helix and Arg108, Phe113, Lys116, and Glu119 within the D helix of IL-3 were important for biological activity. Analysis of their binding characteristics revealed that these analogues were deficient in binding to both the IL-3Ralpha/Rbeta and the IL-3Ralpha forms of the receptor, consistent with a selective impairment of interaction with IL-3Ralpha. Molecular modeling suggests that these eight amino acid residues are adjacent in the tertiary structure, consistent with a discontinuous epitope interacting selectively with IL-3Ralpha. On the other hand, Glu22 of IL-3 was found to interact preferentially with the beta-chain with bulky and positively charged substitutions causing greater than 10,000-fold reduction in biological activity. These results show fundamental differences between IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the structural basis for recognition of their receptors that has implications for the construction of novel analogues and our understanding of receptor activation.

Specific human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor antagonists.

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pleiotropic hemopoietic growth factor and activator of mature myeloid cell function. We have previously shown that residue 21 in the first helix of GM-CSF plays a critical role in both biological activity and high-affinity receptor binding. We have now generated analogues of GM-CSF mutated at residue 21, expressed them in Escherichia coli, and examined them for binding, agonistic, and antagonistic activities. Binding experiments showed that GM E21A, E21Q, E21F, E21H, E21R, and E21K bound to the GM-CSF receptor alpha chain with a similar affinity to wild-type GM-CSF and had lost high-affinity binding to the GM-CSF receptor alpha-chain-common beta-chain complex. From these mutants, only the charge reversal mutants E21R and E21K were completely devoid of agonistic activity. Significantly we found that E21R and E21K antagonized the proliferative effect of GM-CSF on the erythroleukemic cell line TF-1 and primary acute myeloid leukemias, as well as GM-CSF-mediated stimulation of neutrophil superoxide production. This antagonism was specific for GM-CSF in that no antagonism of interleukin 3-mediated TF-1 cell proliferation or tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated stimulation of neutrophil superoxide production was observed. E. coli-derived GM E21R and E21K were effective antagonists of both nonglycosylated and glycosylated wild-type GM-CSF. These results show that low-affinity GM-CSF binding can be dissociated from receptor activation and have potential clinical significance for the management of inflammatory diseases and certain leukemias where GM-CSF plays a pathogenic role.

Identification of residues in the first and fourth helices of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor involved in biologic activity and in binding to the alpha- and beta-chains of its receptor.

Residues within the first and fourth helices of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) were analyzed for their role in biologic activity and interaction with the alpha- and beta-chains of the hGM-CSF receptor. Within the first helix substitution of the surface residues Glu14, Asn17, Gln20, Arg23, Arg24, and Asn27 or the buried residues Ala18, Leu25, and Leu28 did not significantly impair bioactivity or receptor binding. Substitutions at the buried residues Ala22 and Leu26 had intermediate bioactivity. However, substitutions of the surface residue Glu21 or the buried residue Ile19 reduced the relative bioactivity of the analogues to as little as 0.45% and 0.3%, respectively. Substitution of the charged surface residues of the fourth helix showed that substitution at Glu104, Lys107, and Lys111 had no significant effect on bioactivity, but substitution at Glu108 and Asp112 reduced the potency of the analogues to 34% and 7%, respectively. Receptor binding studies showed that, whereas Glu21 is the critical residue for binding to the hGM-CSF-receptor beta-chain, Asp112 is likely to be involved in binding to the GM-CSF-receptor alpha-chain. These results establish the relative contribution of residues in the first and fourth helices for GM-CSF bioactivity and receptor binding, and support a model where the fourth helix of GM-CSF interacts with the alpha-chain, and the first helix with the beta-chain of the GM-CSF receptor.

Two contiguous residues in human interleukin-3, Asp21 and Glu22, selectively interact with the alpha- and beta-chains of its receptor and participate in function.

We have previously reported that the predicted first helix of human interleukin (IL)-3 contains a hydrophilic region encompassing residues Asp21, Glu22, and Thr25 that is crucial for biological activity and IL-3 receptor binding. Using single amino acid substitution mutagenesis, we have now determined that Asp21 and Glu22, but not Thr25, were crucial for full IL-3 activity. Mutant D21R was 30-fold less potent than wild type IL-3 in the stimulation of biological activity. It also exhibited a similar reduction in its ability to bind to the cloned high affinity IL-3 receptor complex (alpha- and beta-chains) or to the receptor alpha-chain alone, indicating that residue 21 is involved in contacts with the alpha-chain. Mutant E22R was approximately 20,000-fold less potent than wild type IL-3 in the stimulation of biological activity and in binding to the IL-3 receptor high affinity complex. However, the binding of E22R to the IL-3 receptor alpha-chain alone was similar to that of wild type IL-3, suggesting that this mutant was defective in interactions with the receptor beta-chain. These results show that two contiguous residues in the N-terminal region of IL-3 mediate binding to the two different chains of the IL-3 receptor and emphasize the functional significance of the conserved Glu in the first helix of the IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and IL-5 cytokine subfamily.

A human interleukin 3 analog with increased biological and binding activities.

Human interleukin 3 (IL-3) variants generated by site-directed mutagenesis were analyzed in multiple biological and binding assays to identify residues critical for IL-3 activity. Two mutants carrying substitutions in the predicted hydrophilic region within the first alpha-helix, [Ala21,Leu22]IL-3 and [Ala21,Leu22,Ala25]IL-3 showed loss of biological activity and high-affinity binding. Mutants in a second predicted hydrophilic region, [Ala44,Leu45,Ala46]IL-3 and [Ala44,Ala46]IL-3, however, showed similar biological and binding activities to wild-type IL-3. Mutations in a C-terminal hydrophilic region that overlaps the fourth predicted alpha-helix led to either loss or gain of function. IL-3 analogs [Glu104,Asp105]-, [Leu108]-, [Asn108]-, [Thr108]-, and [Ala101,Leu108]IL-3 were less active than wild-type IL-3, whereas [Ala101]IL-3 and [Val116]IL-3 were 2- to 3-fold more potent. Significantly, the double mutant [Ala101,Val116]IL-3 exhibited a 15-fold greater potency than native IL-3. Receptor binding studies showed that [Ala101,Val116]IL-3 exhibited increased binding to the high- and low-affinity receptors of monocytes. These results show the generation of an IL-3 analog with increased biological and binding activities and support a model where the C terminus of IL-3 interacts with the alpha chain of the IL-3 receptor, making this region a useful focus for the development of more potent IL-3 agonists or antagonists.

Residue 21 of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is critical for biological activity and for high but not low affinity binding.

The functional role of the predicted first alpha-helix of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was analysed by site-directed mutagenesis and multiple biological and receptor binding assays. Initial deletion mutagenesis pointed to residues 20 and 21 being critical. Substitution mutagenesis showed that by altering Gln20 to Ala full GM-CSF activity was retained but that by altering Glu21 for Ala GM-CSF activity and high affinity receptor binding were decreased. Substitution of different amino acids for Glu21 showed that there was a hierarchy in the ability to stimulate the various biological activities of GM-CSF with the order of potency being Asp21 greater than Ser21 greater than Ala21 greater than Gln21 greater than Lys21 = Arg21. To distinguish whether position 21 was important for GM-CSF binding to high or low affinity receptors, GM-CSF (Arg21) was used as a competitor for [125I]GM-CSF binding to monocytes that express both types of receptor. GM-CSF (Arg21) exhibited a greatly reduced capacity to compete for binding to high affinity receptors, however, it competed fully for [125I]GM-CSF binding to low affinity receptors. Furthermore, GM-CSF (Arg21) was equipotent with wild-type GM-CSF in binding to the cloned low affinity alpha-chain of the GM-CSF receptor. These results show that (i) this position is critical for high affinity but not for low affinity GM-CSF receptor binding thus defining two functional parts of the GM-CSF molecule; (ii) position 21 of GM-CSF is critical for multiple functions of GM-CSF; and (iii) stimulation of proliferation and mature cell function by GM-CSF are mediated through high affinity receptors.