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Pericyte modulation by a functional antibody obtained by a novel single-cell selection strategy
Jesper Just1,2, Simon Lykkemark2,3, Charlotte H Nielsen1
1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994)
|February 26, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to select antibodies targeting pericytes, crucial cells in blood vessel health. They identified an antibody that inhibits pericyte migration, offering potential for new vascular therapeutics.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Immunology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Pericytes are essential for microvascular functions including angiogenesis, stability, and permeability.
- Pericyte dysfunction is implicated in various pathologies, highlighting their therapeutic potential.
- Targeting pericytes is a promising strategy for developing novel vascular therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient method for selecting functional antibodies against pericytes.
- To identify novel antibodies that specifically bind to pericyte cell surface epitopes.
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of selected antibodies in vascular contexts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a proteomic-based approach employing antibody phage display.
- Implemented a novel single-cell selection strategy with a modified selection step.
- Characterized selected antibodies for binding specificity and functional activity.
Main Results:
- Identified two antibodies with specific binding to pericytes.
- Determined the antigen for one antibody to be pericyte-expressed fibronectin.
- Demonstrated that this antibody inhibits pericyte migration and promotes angiogenesis in co-culture assays.
Conclusions:
- The developed selection method efficiently yields functional pericyte-targeting antibodies.
- An antibody targeting a specific fibronectin epitope on pericytes was obtained.
- Targeting this fibronectin epitope may offer therapeutic benefits in pericyte-related pathologies.
