An antibody inhibitor of the LMO2-protein complex blocks its normal and tumorigenic functions

The LIM-domain protein LMO2 is a T-cell oncogenic protein first recognized by gene activation through chromosomal translocations, but it is also responsible for leukaemias arising as secondary, adverse effects in an X-SCID gene therapy trial. There are no specific reagents currently available to analyse the LMO2 multiprotein complex or to combat LMO2-dependent leukaemias. Accordingly, we have isolated an anti-LMO2 single chain Fv antibody fragment to determine if intracellular interference with LMO2-protein complexes can avert LMO2-dependent functions in normal and cancer settings. The anti-LMO2 single chain Fv, obtained using Intracellular Antibody Capture (IAC) technology, is specific for LMO2 among the LIM-only protein family and binds LMO2 through the third and fourth LIM fingers. Using vector-mediated expression of anti-LMO2 scFv, we show inhibition of Lmo2-dependent erythropoiesis but not endothelial development. We also demonstrate inhibition of Lmo2-dependent leukaemia in a mouse T-cell tumourigenesis transplantation assay with retroviral-mediated expression of anti-LMO2 scFv. Our studies establish that interference with the LMO2 multiprotein complex inhibits both normal and tumourigenic roles. The antibody fragment is a tool for dissecting LMO2 function in haematopoiesis and leukaemia and is a lead for development of therapeutics against LMO2-dependent T-ALL.