RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Using Hapten Design to Discover Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies for Treating Methamphetamine Abuse
JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 30
OP 39
DO 10.1124/jpet.106.117150
VO 322
IS 1
A1 Eric C. Peterson
A1 Melinda Gunnell
A1 Yingni Che
A1 Robyn L. Goforth
A1 F. Ivy Carroll
A1 Ralph Henry
A1 Huimin Liu
A1 S. Michael Owens
YR 2007
UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/322/1/30.abstract
AB When generating monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against small molecules, the chemical composition and molecular orientation of the drug-like hapten on the antigen is a crucial determinant. This is especially important when attempting to discover therapeutic mAb against the drugs of abuse (+)-methamphetamine [(+)-METH], (+)-amphetamine [(+)-AMP], and the related compound (+)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [(+)-MDMA, the plus isomer in the racemic mixture known as MDMA or ecstasy]. The goal of these studies was to design and synthesize (+)-METH-like haptens with structural attributes that could make them effective for generating monoclonal antibodies for treating medical problems associated with these stimulant drugs of abuse. Five prototype (+)-METH-like haptens, which mimic structural aspects of these drugs, were synthesized and used to generate mAb. After screening for anti-(+)-METH IgG antibodies in more than 25,000 potential mouse hybridoma cell lines, one prototype mAb from each of the five haptens was selected and studied in detail for molecular properties and preclinical efficacy. The amino acid sequences of the IgG-variable regions, structural models, affinity, and ligand specificity of each mAb were then used to help elucidate important therapeutic characteristics. Four of these antibodies exhibited high affinity and specificity to (+)-METH and (+)-MDMA; whereas one antibody (designated mAb4G9) exhibited high affinity and specificity to (+)-METH, (+)-MDMA, and (+)-AMP, without significant cross-reactivity against other METH-like ligands, over-the-counter medications, or endogenous neurotransmitters. Considered together, discovery of mAb4G9 and the other antibodies in this report represent an important step in understanding the process for custom design of drug class-specific therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of drug addiction. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics