National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI)
P30 CA015704-40
United States
Norwegian Research Council
245828
Norway
Citation
Journal: bioRxiv / Year: 2025 Title: Structural and functional characterization of integrin α5-targeting antibodies for anti-angiogenic therapy. Authors: Adam Nguyen / Joel B Heim / Gabriele Cordara / Matthew C Chan / Hedda Johannesen / Cristine Charlesworth / Ming Li / Caleigh M Azumaya / Benjamin Madden / Ute Krengel / Alexander Meves / Melody G Campbell / Abstract: Integrins are a large family of heterodimeric receptors important for cell adhesion and signaling. Integrin α5β1, also known as the fibronectin receptor, is a key mediator of angiogenesis and its ...Integrins are a large family of heterodimeric receptors important for cell adhesion and signaling. Integrin α5β1, also known as the fibronectin receptor, is a key mediator of angiogenesis and its dysregulation is associated with tumor proliferation, progression, and metastasis. Despite numerous efforts, α5β1-targeting therapeutics have been unsuccessful in large part due to efficacy and off-target effects. To mediate activation and signaling, integrins undergo drastic conformational changes. However, how therapeutics influence or are affected by integrin conformation remains incompletely characterized. Using cell biology, biophysics, and electron microscopy, we shed light on these relationships by characterizing two potentially therapeutic anti-α5β1 antibodies, BIIG2 and MINT1526A. We show that both antibodies bind α5β1 with nanomolar affinity and reduce angiogenesis . We demonstrate BIIG2 reduces tumor growth in two human xenograft mouse models and exhibits a strong specificity for connective tissue-resident fibroblasts and melanoma cells. Using electron microscopy, we map out the molecular interfaces mediating the integrin-antibody interactions and reveal that although both antibodies have overlapping epitopes and block fibronectin binding via steric hindrance, the effect on the conformational equilibrium is drastically different. While MINT1526A constricts α5β1's range of flexibility, BIIG2 binds without restricting the available conformational states. These mechanistic insights, coupled with the functional analysis, guide which aspects should be prioritized to avoid off-target effects or partial agonism in the design of future integrin-targeted therapeutics.
Mass: 23740.486 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Details: N-terminal glutamine modified to a pyroglutamate proline 100C (Kabat numbering) modified to 5-hydroxyproline Source: (gene. exp.) Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) / Production host: Homo sapiens (human)
#2: Antibody
BIIG2Fab, lightchain
Mass: 23478.137 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Details: lysine 199 modified to methyllysine / Source: (gene. exp.) Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) / Production host: Homo sapiens (human)
Mass: 18.015 Da / Num. of mol.: 224 / Source method: isolated from a natural source / Formula: H2O
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Details
Has ligand of interest
N
Has protein modification
Y
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Experimental details
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Experiment
Experiment
Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION / Number of used crystals: 1
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Sample preparation
Crystal
Density Matthews: 2.4 Å3/Da / Density % sol: 48.8 % / Description: prism
Crystal grow
Temperature: 293.15 K / Method: vapor diffusion, sitting drop Details: crystallization solution: of 20% w/v PEG 3350, 0.2 M sodium chloride, 2.5% v/v DMSO protein buffer solution: 25 mM Bis-Tris-HCl, approx. 130 mM NaCl at pH 6.5
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Data collection
Diffraction
Mean temperature: 100 K / Serial crystal experiment: N
Diffraction source
Source: SYNCHROTRON / Site: MAX IV / Beamline: BioMAX / Wavelength: 0.95372 Å