A Novel and Potent Thrombolytic Fusion Protein Consisting of Anti-Insoluble Fibrin Antibody and Mutated Urokinase

Abstract

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is used clinically because it has a higher binding specificity for insoluble fibrin (IF) than urokinase (UK), but even pro-tPA has catalytic activity against substrates other than IF. UK has the advantage that it is specifically activated on IF; however, it binds IF weakly. Previously, we established a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that recognizes a pit structure formed only in IF. Here, we developed a new mAb against the pit, 1101, that does not affect coagulation or fibrinolysis, and prepared a fusion protein of UK with humanized 1101 Fab to transport UK selectively to IF. In IF-containing lesions, UK is cleaved by plasmin at two sites, Lys158/Ile159 and Lys135/Lys136. Cleavage of the former leads to activation of UK; however, because activated UK is linked by S-S bonds before and after cleavage, it is not released from the fusion. Cleavage at the latter site causes UK to leave the fusion protein; hence, we mutated Lys135/Lys136 to Gly135/Gly136 to prevent release of UK. This engineered UK-antibody fusion, AMU1114, significantly decreased the reduction of plasma plasminogen levels in vivo relative to UK. In a photochemically induced mouse model of thrombus, the vascular patency rate was 0% (0/10) in the control, 50% (5/10) in the tPA treatment group, and 90% (9/10) in the AMU1114 treatment group. Although no death was observed 1 hour after administration of each thrombolytic agent, some mice died within 24 hours in all treatment groups, including control. These data indicate the need for further basic studies of AMU1114.

Keywords

thrombolytic agent - urokinase - anti-insoluble fibrin antibody - engineered UK-antibody fusion protein

Author Contributions

Y.M. developed the original concept for the study. S.H. and Y.M. designed the experiments. S.S. and Y.M. conducted pharmacological studies, immunohistochemistry, and turbidity assays. S.H. and Y.M. discussed and wrote the manuscript. All authors reviewed and contributed to the final version of manuscript.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 22. September 2020

Angenommen: 19. April 2021

Accepted Manuscript online:
21. April 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
15. Juni 2021

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