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Construction and Characterization of a CTLA-4-Targeted scFv–Melittin Fusion Protein as a Potential Immunosuppressive Agent for Organ Transplant

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Abstract

Immunotoxins with selective cytotoxicity are frequently used as therapeutic immunosuppressive agents in solid-organ transplantation because of their efficiency and high specificity. In this study, we present a new recombinant immunotoxin termed anti-CTLA-4-scFv–melittin prepared from Escherichia coli aimed at clearing activated T cells at the same time avoiding all-round decline in systematic immunity. This fusion protein is composed of anti-CTLA-4-scFv unit and melittin analog unit with properties of low immunogenicity and selective cytotoxicity to CTLA-4-positive T cells. In preliminary biological activity assays, our results confirmed the feasibility of activated T cell clearance strategy and there were significant differences in cell survival rates between CTLA-4-positive group and control group at all experimental concentrations of the immunotoxin. The selective cytotoxicity, low immunogenicity, and low production cost make it an attractive alternate to traditional immunosuppressants.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Organ Transplant Research, 309 Hospital of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Beijing, 100091, China

    Hailong Jin, Congran Li, Ming Cai, Zhouli Li, Shuang Wang, Xin Hong & Bingyi Shi

  2. Center of Biological Diagnosis and Therapy, No. 261 Hospital of PLA, Beijing, 100094, China

    Ding Li

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  1. Hailong Jin
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  2. Congran Li
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  3. Ding Li
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  4. Ming Cai
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  5. Zhouli Li
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  6. Shuang Wang
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  7. Xin Hong
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  8. Bingyi Shi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bingyi Shi.

Additional information

Hailong Jin, Congran Li and Ding Li contributed equally to this study.

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Jin, H., Li, C., Li, D. et al. Construction and Characterization of a CTLA-4-Targeted scFv–Melittin Fusion Protein as a Potential Immunosuppressive Agent for Organ Transplant. Cell Biochem Biophys 67, 1067–1074 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-013-9605-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-013-9605-9

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