Design and characterization of a protein superagonist of IL-15 fused with IL-15Ra and a high-affinity T cell receptor

To avoid high systemic doses, strategies involving antigen-specific delivery of cytokine via linked antibodies or antibody fragments have been used. Targeting cancer-associated peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules (pepMHC) increases the number of potential target antigens and takes advantage of cross-presentation on tumor stroma and in draining lymph nodes. Here, we use a soluble, high-affinity single-chain T cell receptor Va-V beta (scTv), to deliver cytokines to intracellular tumor-associated antigens presented as pepMHC. As typical wild-type T cell receptors (TCRs) exhibit low affinity (Kd = 1100 mu M or more), we used an engineered TCR, m33, that binds its antigenic peptide SIYRYYGL (SIY) bound to the murine class I major histocompatability complex protein H2-Kb (SIY/Kb) with nanomolar affinity (Kd = 30 nM). We generated constructs consisting of m33 scTv fused to murine interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 15 (IL-15), or IL-15/IL-15Ra (IL-15 linked to IL-15Ra sushi domain, called superfusion). The fusions were purified with good yields and bound specifically to SIY/Kb with high affinity. Proper cytokine folding and binding were confirmed, and the fusions were capable of stimulating proliferation of cytokine-dependent cells, both when added directly and when presented in trans, bound to cells with the target pepMHC. The m33 superfusion was particularly potent and stable and represents a promising design for targeted antitumor immunomodulation. (C) 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012