Expression and characterization of a novel single-chain anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody in the goat milk

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has essential functions in angiogenesis, endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tumor invasion. Different approaches have been developed to suppress tumor angiogenesis, which is considered a hallmark of cancer. Anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies constitute an important strategy for cancer immunotherapy, which has been produced on several platforms. In this study, a novel single-chain anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody (scVEGFmAb) was produced in the goat mammary gland by adenoviral transduction. scVEGFmAb was purified by affinity chromatography. N-glycans were analyzed by exoglycosidase digestion and hydrophilic interaction ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The biological activity of scVEGFmAb was assessed by scratch and mouse aortic ring assays. scVEGFmAb was produced at 0.61 g/L in the goat milk, and its purification rendered 95 % purity. N-glycans attached to scVEGFmAb backbone were mainly neutral biantennary core fucosylated with Galβ1,4GlcNAc motif, and charged structures were capped with Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc. The chimeric molecule significantly prevented cell migration and suppressed microvessel sprouting. These results demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of producing an anti-VEGF therapeutic antibody in the milk of non-transgenic goats with the potential to counteract tumor angiogenesis.

Keywords: Adenoviral transduction; Angiogenesis; Cancer; Mammary gland; N-glycans; Vascular endothelial growth factor.