scholarly journals Homodimerization of Erythropoietin Receptor by a Bivalent Monoclonal Antibody Triggers Cell Proliferation and Differentiation of Erythroid Precursors

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Schneider ◽  
Warak Chaovapong ◽  
David J. Matthews ◽  
Cyrus Karkaria ◽  
Robert T. Cass ◽  
...  

Abstract Erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. Several lines of evidence indicate that the most likely mechanism of EPO receptor (EPO-R) activation by EPO is homodimerization of the receptor on the surface of erythrocyte precursors. Therefore, we argued that it should be possible to raise EPO-R monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) that would activate the receptor by dimerization and thus mimic EPO action. We have identified such an agonist MoAb (MoAb34) directed against the extracellular EPO binding domain of the EPO-R. This bivalent IgG antibody triggers the proliferation of EPO-dependent cell lines and induces differentiation of erythroid precursors in vitro. In contrast, the monovalent Fab fragment, which cannot dimerize the receptor, is completely inactive. The mechanism of receptor activation by homodimerization implies that at high ligand concentrations the formation of 1:1 receptor/ligand complexes is favored over 2:1 complexes, thereby turning the ligand agonist into an antagonist. Thus, EPO and MoAb34 should self-antagonize at high concentrations in both cell proliferation and differentiation assays. Our data indeed demonstrate that EPO and MoAb34 antagonize ligand-dependent cell proliferation with IC50 values of approximately 20 and 2 μmol/L, respectively. Erythroid colony formation (BFUe) is inhibited at MoAb34 concentrations above 1 μmol/L. Furthermore, we analyzed the MoAb34:EPO-R interaction using a mathematic model describing antibody-mediated receptor dimerization. The data for proliferation and differentiation activity were consistent with the receptor dimer formation on the cell surface predicted by the model.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Zhang ◽  
Mindy S. Randall ◽  
Melanie R. Loyd ◽  
Weimin Li ◽  
Rachel L. Schweers ◽  
...  

AbstractFriend virus is an acutely oncogenic retrovirus that causes erythroblastosis and polycythemia in mice. Previous studies suggested that the Friend virus oncoprotein, gp55, constitutively activates the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), causing uncontrolled erythroid proliferation. Those studies showed that gp55 confers growth factor independence on an interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line (Ba/F3) when the EPOR is coexpressed. Subsequently, we showed that a truncated form of the stem-cell kinase receptor (sf-STK) is required for susceptibility to Friend disease. Given the requirement for sf-STK, we sought to establish the in vivo significance of gp55-mediated activation of the EPOR. We found that the cytoplasmic tyrosine residues of the EPOR, and signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (STAT5), which acts through these sites, are not required for Friend virus-induced erythroblastosis. The EPOR itself was required for the development of erythroblastosis but not for gp55-mediated erythroid proliferation. Interestingly, the murine EPOR, which is required for gp55-mediated Ba/F3-cell proliferation, was dispensable for erythroblastosis in vivo. Finally, gp55-mediated activation of the EPOR and STAT5 are required for Friend virus-induced polycythemia. These results suggest that Friend virus activates both sf-STK and the EPOR to cause deregulated erythroid proliferation and differentiation.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (7) ◽  
pp. 2408-2413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihong Liu ◽  
Vincent S. Stoll ◽  
Peter J. DeVries ◽  
Clarissa G. Jakob ◽  
Nancy Xie ◽  
...  

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) is used to treat anemia by activating the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) in erythroid progenitor cells, leading to proliferation and differentiation into mature red blood cells. To allow less frequent dosing, a hyperglycosylated version of EPO has been developed with a longer half-life. In principle, an agonistic antibody targeting EPOR would offer an even longer half-life, support robust monthly dosing, and, unlike EPO products, reduce the risk of pure red cell aplasia. The efficiency of signaling and corresponding potency of previously reported antibody mimics are generally suboptimal compared with EPO and not suitable for clinical use. Here we describe a potent, fully human, agonistic antibody (ABT007) targeting EPOR that supports potent, more sustained, and less pulsatile elevation of hematocrit in a human EPOR–expressing transgenic mouse model compared with standard doses of rHu-EPO while requiring less frequent dosing. Resolution of the crystal structure of the EPOR extracellular domain (ECD) complexed to the ABT007 Fab fragment, determined at 0.32 nm, identifies a binding site that is consistent with a novel mechanism of receptor activation based on a unique antibody-imposed conformational change. These results demonstrate that a symmetric molecule can serve as a potent activator of the EPOR.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Jun Sun ◽  
Chong Li ◽  
Xiang-hao Wen ◽  
Lu Guo ◽  
Zi-Fen Guo ◽  
...  

Background:: Icariin (ICA), one of the main effective components isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., has been reported to possess extensive pharmacological actions, including enhanced sexual function, immune regulation, anti-inflammation, and antiosteoporosis. Methods:: Our study was designed to investigate the effect of ICA on cell proliferation and differentiation and the molecular mechanism of OPG/RANKL mediated by the Estrogen Receptor (ER) in hFOB1.19 human osteoblast cells. Results:: The experimental results show that ICA can stimulate cell proliferation and increase the activity of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Osteocalcin (BGP) and I Collagen (Col I) and a number of calcified nodules. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of OPG and RANKL and the OPG/ RANKL mRNA and protein expression ratios were upregulated by ICA. The above-mentioned results indicated that the optimal concentration of ICA for stimulating osteogenesis was 50ng/mL. Subsequent mechanistic studies comparing 50ng/mL ICA with an estrogen receptor antagonist demonstrated that the effect of the upregulated expression is connected with the estrogen receptor. In conclusion, ICA can regulate bone formation by promoting cell proliferation and differentiation and upregulating the OPG/RANKL expression ratio by the ER in hFOB1.19 human osteoblast cells.


1997 ◽  
Vol 186 (10) ◽  
pp. 1787-1791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Zheng ◽  
Yang Liu

It has been proposed that some bystander T cell activation may in fact be due to T cell antigen receptor (TCR) cross-reactivity that is too low to be detected by the effector cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL). However, this hypothesis is not supported by direct evidence since no TCR ligand is known to induce T cell proliferation and differentiation without being recognized by the effector CTL. Here we report that transgenic T cells expressing a T cell receptor to influenza virus A/NT/68 nucleoprotein (NP) 366-374:Db complexes clonally expand and become effector CTLs in response to homologous peptides from either A/PR8/34 (H1N1), A/AA/60 (H2N2), or A/NT/68 (H3N2). However, the effector T cells induced by each of the three peptides kill target cells pulsed with NP peptides from the H3N2 and H2N2 viruses, but not from the H1N1 virus. Thus, NP366–374 from influenza virus H1N1 is the first TCR ligand that can induce T cell proliferation and differentiation without being recognized by CTLs. Since induction of T cell proliferation was mediated by antigen-presenting cells that express costimulatory molecules such as B7, we investigated if cytolysis of H1N1 NP peptide–pulsed targets can be restored by expressing B7-1 on the target cells. Our results revealed that this is the case. These data demonstrated that costimulatory molecule B7 modulates antigen specificity of CTLs, and provides a missing link that explains some of the bystander T cell activation.


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