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A high affinity monoclonal antibody against HLA-E-VL9 enhances natural killer cell anti-tumor killing

Hwang, J. K.; Marston, D. J.; Wrapp, D.; Li, D.; Tuyishime, M.; Brackenridge, S.; Rhodes, B.; Quastel, M.; Kapingidza, A. B.; Gater, J.; Harner, A.; Wang, Y.; Rountree, W.; Ferrari, G.; Borrow, P.; McMichael, A. J.; Gillespie, G. M.; Haynes, B. F.; Azoitei, M. L.

2024-07-11 immunology
10.1101/2024.07.08.602401 bioRxiv
Show abstract

A major natural killer (NK) cell and CD8+ T cell checkpoint is mediated by the inhibitory receptor NKG2A/CD94 and its ligand, HLA-E complexed with 9 amino acid HLA-Ia leader sequence-derived peptides termed VL9 (HLA-E-VL9). Here, we used structure-based design and high throughput library screening to generate antibodies that block NKG2A/CD94 interactions, resulting in direct NK and CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity, and trigger NK cell antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Anti-HLA-E-VL9 antibodies limited HLA-E-VL9+ tumor growth in mice, demonstrating checkpoint inhibition activity in vivo. HLA-E-VL9 was found to be expressed on HIV-infected cells, and its engagement by HLA-E-VL9 antibodies eliminated infected cells by NK-mediated ADCC. HLA-E-VL9 antibodies also enhanced the killing of HIV-infected cells by NKG2A/CD94+ CD8+ T cells targeting a novel HLA-E binding HIV Rev-derived epitope. Therefore, anti-HLA-E-VL9 antibodies represent a novel approach to eliminate pathogenic target cells by enhancing NK and CD8+ T cell function and promoting ADCC.

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