An approach for immunoradiometric assay with metallic radionuclides: gallium-67-deferoxamine-dialdehyde starch-IgG.

Radiogallium (Ga) labeling of an immunoglobulin-G-deferoxamine conjugate (DF-IgG) to a high-specific radioactivity was performed to allow the development of a radiometallic immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) system. To increase the specific radioactivity of Ga-DF-IgG, we used dialdehyde starch (DAS) as a multi-site spacer for the binding of DF to IgG. Six DF molecules bound to each IgG molecule after DAS conjugation. DF-DAS-IgG was then labeled with the previously reported 67Ga labeling solution, producing labeled IgG with a specific radioactivity of 11,766 MBq/mg IgG. Using this method, we labeled an anti-CA125 tumor-associated antigen monoclonal antibody (130-22), allowing the first application of 67Ga-DF-DAS-IgG to an IRMA system. With this system, a higher sensitivity could be obtained than with 125I IRMA. In addition, a very high correlation (r = 0.995) was obtained between serum CA125 levels as determined by 67Ga IRMA and 125I IRMA. Gallium-67-labeled antibodies with a high-specific radioactivity appear to hold promise for use in highly sensitive radioassay systems.

Fully synthetic immunogens. Part III. Synthesis of hinge-peptide/gastrin conjugates and their immunological properties.

As core molecule for the multiple attachment of antigenic peptides we have selected the human IgG1 hinge fragment 225-232/225'-232'. Two types of conjugates of this double-chain bis-cystinyl hinge-peptide were prepared i) by linking its C-termini to [NIe15]-human-little-gastrin-[2,17] and ii) by elongating the resulting hinge-peptide/[NIe15]-little-gastrin-[2-17] conjugate at the two N-termini with the human big-gastrin sequence 1-14 to produce the big-gastrin-[1-14]/hinge-peptide/little-gastrin-[2-17] conjugate. For the synthesis of these peptide structures both the route via the preformed double-chain bis-cystinyl peptide and the route via suitably protected monomeric bis-cysteinyl peptides were used. For the latter approach advantage was taken of the previous observation about the preferred oxidation of the bis-cysteinyl hinge-peptide 225-232 to the dimer in parallel alignment. Both synthetic routes led to identical products. Immunization experiments in guinea pigs with the synthetic hybrids led to surprisingly strong immune responses with anti-little-gastrin antibody titers comparable to those induced by the iso-1-cytochrome c/little-gastrin-[2-17] conjugate as carrier-hapten system. These findings show that the two gastrin constructs are fully competent immunogens. Additionally, the gastrin receptor-like specificity of the antibodies indicates that both the synthetic hybrids and the cytochrome c conjugate allow for expression of a little-gastrin-specific conformational epitope similar to the bioactive structure of this hormone. The usefulness of such synthetic hybrids is further confirmed by the observation that the bivalent immunogen, containing both the little-gastrin 2-17 and the big-gastrin 1-14 sequence, is capable of inducing an immune response against both antigenic sequences, although with different efficiency. These results fully confirm our expectations.

Fully synthetic immunogens. Part II. Studies on parallel dimerization of the human IgG1 hinge-fragment 225-232 with N- or C-terminal gastrin related extensions.

The bis-cysteinyl hinge-fragment 225-232 of human IgG1 has been extended at the N- or C-terminus with Nle15-desamido-human-little-gastrin-[5-17] and Nle15-human-little-gastrin-[5-17]-NH2, respectively. Thermodynamically controlled air oxidation of the resulting bis-cysteinyl-peptides led to the predominant formation of the corresponding dimers in parallel alignment despite the incorporation of the immunoglobulin-unrelated gastrin-sequences. These surprising results confirm the high degree of structural information inherent in the hinge-sequence and its intrinsic tendency to fold into the correct structure in terms of cysteine pairings. This protein subdomain-the hinge-peptide-is therefore well suited as core molecule for the design of fully synthetic immunogens with multiple attachment of antigenic determinants.

Stability constants for Gd3+ binding to model DTPA-conjugates and DTPA-proteins: implications for their use as magnetic resonance contrast agents.

Five DTPA-amide and ester derivatives have been synthesized and their Gd3+ stability constants have been measured using a simple spectrophotometric method. These results are compared to stability constants measured for Gd3+ binding to two different DTPA-conjugated proteins. Although the thermodynamic constants for Gd3+ binding to DTPA-monopropylamide and DTPA-monopropylester relative to Gd(DTPA)2- decrease by log K = 2.6 and 3.4, respectively, the blood pH conditional constants differ from Gd(DTPA)2- only by log K = 1.2 and 1.9, respectively. The corresponding dipropylamide and ester conjugates of DTPA show considerably lower thermodynamic and conditional constants. This has important implications in the covalent attachment of chelates to macromolecules for use in magnetic resonance imaging. The measured binding constants for Gd(DTPA)-IgG and Gd(DTPA)-BSA suggest that many of the DTPA molecules in these systems, prepared under our experimental conditions, are disconjugated. The model compound results indicate that it is important to use methods in attaching DTPA to macromolecules which preclude dionjugation of the chelate. Otherwise, their affinity for Gd3+ and consequently their usefulness as MRI contrast agents may be severely compromised.

Overview of the biochemistry and safety of a new native intravenous gamma globulin, IGIV, pH 4.25.

Immune serum globulin has been available for approximately 40 years. Although this substance represented a major advance in the treatment of patients with agammaglobulinemia and hypogammaglobulinemia, it has a number of major limitations that restrict its clinical utility. These include the need for intramuscular administration, pain at the site of injection, loss of immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravascularly, limitations on the degree to which serum IgG can be increased, incomplete and delayed onset of absorption, and limitations on the volume of material administered. Intravenous forms of gamma globulin do not have these limitations and, therefore, have been preferred for therapeutic use. While studying the physical chemistry of IgG in solution, it was observed that lowering the pH to the range of 4.0 to 4.5 markedly enhanced its monomer content and stability, obviating the need for any chemical modification, enzymatic treatment, or lyophilization. A new IgG preparation suitable for intravenous administration, IGIV, pH 4.25, has been developed and subjected to extensive clinical testing. It is licensed in the United States (Gamimune N) for replacement therapy of IgG in immunodeficiency syndromes and for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The biochemistry and safety of IGIV, pH 4.25, are reviewed.