Targeted delivery of human pro-apoptotic enzymes to tumor cells: In vitro studies describing a novel class of recombinant highly cytotoxic agents.

The serine protease granzyme B (GrB, 25 kDa) can initiate apoptosis by multiple mechanisms including directly activating caspases, inducing DNA fragmentation, activating the mitochondrial death pathway, and directly cleaving the nuclear matrix. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a recombinant antibody could deliver sufficient amounts of GrB to target cells to generate an apoptotic signal. The gene sequence encoding GrB was attached to the single-chain anti-melanoma antibody scFvMEL (anti-gp240) via a flexible (G(4)S) tether. The 53-kDa GrB/scFvMEL fusion protein was expressed in bacteria and purified by metal affinity chromatography. Western blotting confirmed presence of both scFvMEL and GrB proteins. The fusion construct displayed intact GrB enzymatic activity (specific activity = 2.6 x 10(5) units/ micro mol) similar to native GrB (specific activity = 4.8 x 10(5) units/ micro mol). The construct bound specifically to human A375-M melanoma cells and delivered GrB to the cytosol as assessed by confocal microscopy. Against log-phase melanoma cells, GrB/scFvMEL demonstrated an IC(50) of 20 nM and minimal cytotoxicity to non-target cells at doses of up to 1 micro M. Coadministration of exogenous perforin (PFN) to cells resulted in a slight increase in the cytotoxic effects of the GrB/scFvMEL construct on A375 target cells and a significant increase in cytotoxicity to SKBR3 (non-target) cells. The cytotoxic effects of this fusion construct on target cells were similar to those of the previously described MEL sFv/rGel fusion toxin (IC(50) approximately 20 nM). The construct produced impressive apoptotic effects by 8 h after treatment of target cells. Mediation of the apoptotic effects of GrB/scFvMEL included caspase-3 cleavage and release of cytochrome c into the cytosolic compartment from the mitochondrial compartment. These studies demonstrate that delivery of the human pro-apoptotic pathway enzyme GrB to tumor cells may have significant therapeutic potential for cancer treatment and represents a new class of targeted therapeutic agents with a defined mechanism of action.