Antigen targeting to dendritic cells with bispecific antibodies

We have developed a universal DC targeting vehicle that could be a convenient method to deliver any type of antigen to DC. P125, a quadroma (hybrid-hybridoma) secreting bispecific monoclonal antibodies (bsmAb), with one paratope specific for mouse DC DEC-205 and another paratope specific for biotin, was developed by PEG-fusion of the two parental hybridomas and selected by a fluorescence activated cell sorter. The bsmAb were purified using a biotin-Agarose column and the bsmAb activity was demonstrated using ELISA method employing mouse bone marrow DC and biotinylated BSA. Both confocal microscopy and ELISA studies have shown enhanced binding and internalization of biotinylated and FITC-labelled M13 to DC cell in the presence of bsmAb. In vivo studies in mice with biotinylated OVA has shown that in the presence of bsmAb and anti-CD40 mAb, both humoral and cell-mediated responses can be augmented. In addition, only a low concentration of antigen (500 fold less) is required using bsmAb to achieve a similar immune response in mice that were immunized using complete Freund's adjuvant. In the absence of traditional adjuvants, bsmAb targeting of biotinylated antigens to DC could be an alternative, convenient method to deliver antigens to DC. Moreover, this method could be an alternative method to ex vivo stimulation of DC to overcome DC defects and for treatment of cancer.