WO1993024136A1 - Tumor killing effects of enterotoxins, superantigens, and related compounds - Google Patents

Tumor killing effects of enterotoxins, superantigens, and related compounds Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993024136A1
WO1993024136A1 PCT/US1993/005213 US9305213W WO9324136A1 WO 1993024136 A1 WO1993024136 A1 WO 1993024136A1 US 9305213 W US9305213 W US 9305213W WO 9324136 A1 WO9324136 A1 WO 9324136A1
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enterotoxins
patient
enterotoxin
cells
staphylococcal
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PCT/US1993/005213
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French (fr)
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David S. Terman
Jay L. Stone
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Terman David S
Stone Jay L
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Priority claimed from PCT/US1991/000342 external-priority patent/WO1991010680A1/en
Application filed by Terman David S, Stone Jay L filed Critical Terman David S
Publication of WO1993024136A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993024136A1/en

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K39/0005—Vertebrate antigens
    • A61K39/0011—Cancer antigens
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/195—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria
    • C07K14/305—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria from Micrococcaceae (F)
    • C07K14/31—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria from Micrococcaceae (F) from Staphylococcus (G)
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K38/164—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/195—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria
    • C07K14/315—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria from Streptococcus (G), e.g. Enterococci
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/51—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising whole cells, viruses or DNA/RNA
    • A61K2039/515—Animal cells
    • A61K2039/5158—Antigen-pulsed cells, e.g. T-cells
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
    • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
    • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
    • A61K2039/55544—Bacterial toxins
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2501/00—Active agents used in cell culture processes, e.g. differentation
    • C12N2501/20—Cytokines; Chemokines
    • C12N2501/23—Interleukins [IL]

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to tumoricidal compositions and methods, and more specifically to superantigens or enterotoxins derived from
  • Staphlococcus aureus Peptides homologous to the enterotoxins including toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1), Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins,
  • lymphocyte stimulating antigens heat shock proteins, stress peptides, mammary tumor virus peptides, homologous synthetic polypeptides, biochemically derivatized enterotoxins, genetically engineered enterotoxins and fusion proteins are also described in this application.
  • This invention also relates to enterotoxins and homologous compounds known as superantigens expresses on the surface of lipid droplets (in adjuvant-vehicle formulations) or expressed on biologic cell surfaces as a result of enterotoxin gene transfection and used to produce a tumoricidal response in a tumor bearing host.
  • This invention also relates to enterotoxins and homologous compounds known as superantigens expresses on the surface of lipid droplets (in adjuvant-vehicle formulations) or expressed on biologic cell surfaces as a result of enterotoxin gene transfection and used to produce a tumoricidal response in a tumor bearing host.
  • This invention also relates to
  • enterotoxins and related compounds administered intravenously, subcutaneously, as in adjuvant form, or used extracorporeally in free or bound form to stimulate immunocytes which are subsequently infused into tumor bearing hosts.
  • Protein A was chemically attached. Protein A was prepared by batch fermentation of
  • Staphylococcus It was isolated from the media and partially purified by affinity chromatography.
  • Staphylococcal enterotoxins to be present.
  • various methods of the immobilization of Protein A to solid supports have been used, sometimes resulting in loss of biological activity of the plasma perfusion system.
  • the plasma used for perfusion over the immobilized Protein A has been stored and treated in different ways, sometimes resulting in
  • the system contained an enormous number of biologically active materials, to include Staphylococcal Protein A itself, Staphylococcal proteases, nucleases,
  • exotoxins enterotoxins and leukocidin, as well as the solid support and coating materials. Additional products included several anaphylatoxins generated in plasma after contact with immobilized Protein A.
  • Protein A of immunosuppressive immune complexes capable of blocking the host's antitumor response.
  • the present invention demonstrates that isolated Staphylococcal enterotoxins, identified initially as trace contaminants in commercial Protein A
  • enterotoxins are relatively simple proteins that may be infused after being solubilized in saline. This solubility obviates the need to immobilize Protein A or other biologicals on a solid support, and
  • enterotoxins appear to be far safer and more effective than previously described systems.
  • the system requires no elaborate sterilization and there is no problem with potential leaching of immobilized materials or chemical products from an inert surface as there would be with an extracorporeal column.
  • enterotoxins as being the most active antitumor product in the Staphylococcal Protein A plasma perfusion system.
  • the present invention provides enterotoxins derived from Staphylococcus aureus and superantigens which are useful by themselves for the treatment of cancer.
  • Enterotoxins are known to have molecular weights ranging from 22,000 to 38,000. They are heat stable, and resistant to trypsin digestion.
  • enterotoxins isolated from media which is supporting the growth of various Staphylococcus aureus organisms are used in relatively pure form.
  • the preparation When administered to subjects having tumors, the preparation induces a tumoricidal reaction resulting in tumor regression.
  • tumoricidal reaction means that the material under discussion promotes or assists in the killing of tumor cells.
  • enterotoxin molecule in order to minimize toxieity results in a preparation that also induces
  • tumoricidal reactions and tumor regress on when administered to tumor bearing hosts are tumoricidal reactions and tumor regress on when administered to tumor bearing hosts.
  • Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A which has been shown to have statistically significant
  • enterotoxin B structural homology to enterotoxin B, is also useful for the treatment of cancer.
  • additional superantigens such as minor lymphocyte stimulating loci, mycoplasma and mycobacterial antigens, heat shock proteins, stress peptides, and mammary tumor viruses.
  • enterotoxins or peptides using recombinant DNA technology are also described as useful as tumoricidal therapy. Enterotoxin peptides and homologous amino acid sequences to block or destroy autoreactive T and B lymphocyte
  • Figure 1 shows the alignment of amino acid sequences of Staphylococcal enterotoxins and their relatives.
  • Figure 2 shows the alignment of amino acid sequences of mature Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B.
  • Figure 3 shows the hypothetical structure for the complex of Class II MHC, T cell receptor, and Staphylococcal enterotoxins or Mis. Description Of The Specific Embodiments
  • enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus form a group of serologically distinct extracellular proteins, designated A, B, C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , D, E and F. These proteins are recognized as the causative agents of Staphylococcal food poisoning. Enterotoxin F appears to be important in the pathogenesis of the Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome. Ingestion of preformed enterotoxin in contaminated food leads to the rapid development (within two to six hours) of symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea that are
  • the enterotoxin proteins are of similar amino acids
  • enterotoxins A, B, C 1 , C 2 and E reveal a high content of lysine, aspartic acid and tyrosine. Enterotoxins A and E are similar in methionine, leucine and arginine content,
  • enterotoxins B differing in this regard from enterotoxins B, C 1 and C 2 .
  • the amino acid sequence of enterotoxin B was found to consist of 239 amino acids.
  • a second region at residue 147 also shows a highly conserved sequence. These regions are contained on the peptide fragment of SEC, shown to contain the active sites for emesis and diarrhea. The mitogenic region resides in the C terminal tryptic fragment of SEC, implying that other regions of sequence similarity exist. Amino acid sequence similarities and congruences are given in Tables 2-4.
  • bResidues per mole values are based on a molecular weight of 22,000.
  • staphylococcal enterotoxins and their relatives is shown in Figure 1.
  • the complete primary amino acid sequences of the staphylococcal enterotoxins and related proteins are shown aligned, with the
  • Toxins shown are as follows: SEA to SEE, Staphylococcus aureus
  • enterotoxins A to E enterotoxins A to E
  • SPE A and C Streptococcus pyogenes toxins A and C
  • TSSTl Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock - associated toxin
  • ETA and ETB enterotoxins A to E
  • SPE A and C Streptococcus pyogenes toxins A and C
  • TSSTl Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock - associated toxin
  • ETA and ETB
  • Staphylococcus aureus exfoliating toxins A and B Staphylococcus aureus exfoliating toxins A and B.
  • enterotoxins may contain major cross reactive antigenic sites, while each individual
  • enterotoxin possesses minor specific antigenic regions. Common precipitating antibodies were formed between SEA and SED. In addition, enterotoxins B and C can react immunologically with antisera against either toxin type. Immunologic cross reactivity between Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and Staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C 1 has been shown. These results suggest a conserved domain present in the three exotoxins. SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, TSST-1 and the pyrogenic exotoxins have also been shown to share considerable DNA and amino acid homology. The enterotoxins, the pyrogenic exotoxins and TSST-1 therefore appear to be evolutionarily related and all belong to a common generic group of proteins.
  • Staphylococcal groups as they are to each other.
  • Exfoliative toxins are of similar size to SEB and SEA with similar modes of action. They share several points of sequence similarity to the Staphylococcal enterotoxins. Overall there are several stretches at which similarities are apparent throughout the total group comprised of Staphylococcal enterotoxins, Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins and Staphylococcal exfoliative toxins. The longest of these, located two-thirds of the way through the proteins, is similar to sequences found at the COOH-terminal end of the human and mouse invariant chain.
  • Invariant chain is a polypeptide associated with nascent MHC class II molecules.
  • Class II molecules bind peptides and present them to T cells during immune responses. Indeed, many toxins bind to class II
  • the shared sequences may indicate some or all of the invariant chain and toxin binding sites on class II molecules .
  • tumoricidal agents which are likely candidates based upon structural homology or identity of clinical symptomatology are gram positive bacterial products, cell wall bacterial constituents such as peptidoglycans and various gram negative bacterial components to include meningococcal, pseudomonous and E. Coli products. While presently undemonstrated in animal systems, it is believed that these agents are likely to possess similar tumoricidal utility as those claimed here for the enterotoxins.
  • Figure 2 illustrates the amino acid sequence homology of mature SPEA and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B.
  • the top sequence is the SPEA-derived amino acid sequence.
  • the amino acid sequence of enterotoxin B is on the bottom. Sequences are numbered from the amino acid terminus, with amino acids represented by standard one character
  • synthetic polypeptides useful in tumoricidal therapy and in blocking or destroying autoreactive T and B lymphocyte populations are provided.
  • enterotoxins are presumed to function by affecting emetic receptors in the abdominal viscera which stimulate the emetic and diarrheal response. These toxins also stimulate T lymphocyte
  • Cytokines known to be induced by enterotoxins induce
  • polypeptides would also be expected to demonstrate similar responses.
  • Staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E, toxic shock toxin (TSST-1), a product of mycoplasma arthritidis, mycobacterial species, heat shock peptides and Mls antigens provoke dramatic T cell responses.
  • Staphylococcal enterotoxins are the most powerful T cell mitogens known eliciting strong polyclonal proliferation at concentrations 10 3 lower than such conventional T cell mitogens as
  • SEA is the most potent T cell mitogen, stimulating DNA synthesis at concentrations of 10 -13 to 10 -16 M in the human system. All stimulate a large proportion of both murine and human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Activity of these mitogens is tightly restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens. It is proposed that the staphylococcal enterotoxins, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, exfoliative toxins and a product of mycoplasma arthritidis bind directly to the T cell receptor and to class II MHC. These two structures are brought into contact, thus stimulating T cell activation via the V ⁇ region of the T cell receptor mimicking strong alloreactive response.
  • MHC major histocompatibility complex
  • SEA has a Kd for human class II of about 3.2 ⁇ 10 -7 M, SEB of 10 -6 M and TSST-1 of 10 ⁇ 7 M.
  • SEB has a Kd for human class II of about 3.2 ⁇ 10 -7 M
  • SEB of 10 -6 M
  • TSST-1 10 ⁇ 7 M.
  • SEB probably bind to the same site on class II because they cross compete for binding.
  • Exfoliative toxins bind only weakly or not at all to class II.
  • SEB and TSST-1 have different binding sites on class II molecules.
  • the structure of class II consists of two immunoglobulin-like domains located close to the cell membrane which supports a structure constructed from the NH 2 terminal regions of both polypeptides of the protein and comprise an extended ⁇ -pleated sheet supporting two alpha helices separated by a cleft.
  • Peptides derived from foreign materials or from proteolysis of self proteins normally lie in this groove. It is this complex of MHC and peptide that stimulates T cells bearing alpha and beta receptors. Bacterial toxins do not normally bind to MHC
  • Toxins bind to three different class II proteins, namely DR, DP, DQ (or murine I-A, I-E). SEB and TSST-1 bind to DR and DQ alleles but not to DP. Toxin-class II complexes stimulate T cells.
  • DR alleles have different affinities for a few of the toxins most notably SEE.
  • complexes of toxins plus I-E stimulate T cells more efficiently than complexes of toxins with I-A (murine DQ analog).
  • I-A murine DQ analog
  • weak haplotype specificity e.g., toxins bound to I-A k stimulate T cells less well than toxins bound to I-A d or I-A b .
  • Staphylococcus aureus toxins bind more efficiently to human class II proteins than to mouse.
  • a likely location for toxin binding to MHC may be at the sides of class II where 2 wings, the ends of the ⁇ -pleated strands, extend to either side of the proteins.
  • FIG. 3 A hypothetical structure for the complex of class II MHC T cell receptor and Staphylococcal enterotoxins and MHC protein is given in Figure 3.
  • the Figure shows a class II MHC protein, diagrammed according to Bjorkman and co-workers and Brown and co-workers, in contact with a T cell receptor and a staphylococcal enterotoxin or Mls product. Ag is the probable site of binding of a conventional antigenic peptide.
  • Toxins stimulate T cells through V ⁇ binding.
  • T cell receptors for antigenic peptides bound to MHC proteins are made up of 5 clonally variable
  • the toxins stimulate T cells almost exclusively via the V ⁇ region of the T cell receptor. See Table 7 for binding of toxins to T cells bearing various V B receptors.
  • SEA, SED and SEE all stimulate murine T cells bearing V ⁇ 11 and SEE and SED both stimulate human T cells bearing V ⁇ 5.
  • SEB and SECs stimulate mouse T cells bearing members of the V ⁇ 8 family and human T cells positive for V ⁇ 12. The exceptions are as follows:
  • Bacterial toxins and other superantigens do not bind to T cell receptors at those regions involved in binding to conventional antigenic peptides plus MHC.
  • the superantigens engage V ⁇ on an exposed face of V ⁇ or a region predicted to be a ⁇ -pleated sheet and exposed on the side of the T cell receptor. This model predicts that toxins act as clamps engaging the sides of class II and V ⁇ bringing into close proximity the surfaces of the T cell receptor and MHC that would contact each other during T cell recognition of conventional antigens bound in the groove of MHC.
  • T cells from some mice responded well to spleen cells from some other animals even though both responder and stimulator were identical at the MHC.
  • the antigens are called minor lymphocyte stimulating antigens (Mls).
  • Mls minor lymphocyte stimulating antigens
  • a list of the Mls-like products and the V ⁇ s they engage is given in Table 8. Mls products have not yet been found in humans. TABLE 8
  • mice identical and Mls disparate spleen cells in mice.
  • V ⁇ 5 almost regardless of the rest of the structure of the receptor on the T cell. This activity depends on the simultaneous expression by the presenting cell of class II proteins. Some class II products, most notably I-E molecules, present Mls products and bacterial toxins better than others.
  • Mls appear to engage V ⁇ s at the same site on the exposed face of the polypeptide as toxins.
  • Mls products associate with class II and stimulate T cells via V ⁇ much like superantigens but the structure of Mls is unknown.
  • mice expressing Mis products There are consequences for mice expressing Mis products. They cause deletion in the thymus for all prospective T cells bearing V ⁇ S with which they interact. Mice expressing Mls-1 a contain very few T cells bearing V ⁇ 6, 7, 8.2 or 9 and hence are deprived of 20% of their total potential T cell repertoire. Despite this they do not seem to be susceptible to disease.
  • Responding T cells are CD4 + .
  • T cells of many specificities respond. 4. Both elicit responses of T cells expressing receptors having particular V ⁇ gene products.
  • T cells expressing CD8 respond only to proteins degraded within cells; extrinsic proteins are presented by class II MHC to CD4 T cells.
  • T cell responses to protein antigens require all elements of the TCR, whereas those to Mls and SE appear to require only use of certain V ⁇ segments.
  • Mls may represent a protein with homology to Staphylococcal enterotoxins. It has been proposed that the Mls like Staphylococcal enterotoxins directly binds the TCR-CD4 complex via its V p domain and to class II MHC molecules assembling a complex that is highly stimulatory for T cells. Hence, both Mls and Staphylococcal enterotoxins are thought to ligate class II MHC to the TCR:CD4 complex in such a way as to stimulate a large percentage of T cells with restricted V ⁇ usage.
  • Mls antigens such as mycoplasma and mycobacterial antigens.
  • heat shock proteins such as heat shock proteins and the synthetic polypeptides described above.
  • Additional biological properties common to this group include their mitogenic effects, interferon, interleukin and tumor necrosis factor induction activity.
  • enterotoxins contain numerous common steps. On the whole, growth of enterotoxin producing Staphylococcus aureus strains is similar in all cases.
  • the most widely used general medium for the culture of these organisms contains 3% MZ-amine Type A, or MAX, 3% protein hydrolysate powder, 0.00005% thiamine and 0.001% niacin. Optimum yields of the enterotoxins are obtained under controlled fermentation, where pH, temperature and oxygen tension are controlled.
  • enterotoxin B and C 1 and C 2 will be up to several hundred ⁇ grams (toxin)/ml (media), while the yield of other toxins will be only a few ⁇ grams/ml.
  • the producing cells are removed from the medium by centrifugation, and the toxin-containing supernatant is saved. If a large fermentation has been carried out, then the cells and supernatant can be quickly separated using a continuous flow centrifuge.
  • various methods e.g., polyethylene glycol precipitation, or dialysis tubing precipitation, or hollow fiber concentration using membranes with selective
  • molecular weight cutoffs can be used.
  • specific antisera to each of the toxins are used in
  • radioimmunoassays or enzyme labelled immunoassays, hemagglutination, or precipitin reactions.
  • the strain of Staphylococcus aureus, that is used for the production of SEB is e.g., S6 or 10-275.
  • the medium containing the toxin is diluted twice with water adjusted to a pH of 6.4, and AmberLite CG-50 (200 mesh) cation ion-exchange resin is added to the toxin mixture.
  • the toxin is eluted, dialyzed, then reapplied to the CG-50 column again.
  • the eluted toxin is dialyzed, then applied to a column of carboxymethyl cellulose or CM-Sephadex. Unbound proteins are eluted with 0.03 and 0.04 molar sodium phosphate buffer. At this point, the toxin is essentially homogeneous.
  • the SEB may be further subdivided into several isoelectric species using polybuffer 96. Enterotoxin A (SEA.
  • High SEA producers e.g., Staphylococcus aureus 13M-2909 (Source: Dr. John Iandolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas) are grown in the general medium that is made 0.2% in glucose.
  • the toxin is eluted and dialyzed.
  • the toxin is then loaded onto a CM-cellulose column and eluted with a linear gradient.
  • the combined fractions are then loaded onto a
  • Enterotoxin D SEP.
  • Staphylococcus aureus 1151M (Source: Dr. John Iandolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas) is used for the production of enterotoxin B.
  • the medium is similar to that used for SEA and SEB.
  • Staphylococcus aureus strain FRI-236 (Source: Dr. John landolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas) culture supernatant is concentrated and dialyzed. The toxin is then absorbed to a
  • the toxin is eluted in a stepwise fashion and concentrated. It is then chromatographed twice on Sephadex-G-75. To obtain highly purified SEE, it is necessary to chromatograph the toxin once more on G-75 in the presence of 6 molar urea.
  • TSST-la and lb are isolated by one additional electrofocusing step. After focusing TSST-1 on the pH 6-8 gradient, approximately one-half of the
  • Sephadex gel is removed from the anode end.
  • the gel remaining on the cathode end, containing the TSST-1 band is repoured after the addition of two more grams of Sephadex gel and then refocused overnight using the remaining pH gradient.
  • protein bands are located by the zymogen print method. Discrete bands are scraped off the plate and eluted with pyrogen free water from the Sephadex gel.
  • Strain MN8 yields approximately 2 mg of each toxin per liter of culture fluid. For Staphylococcus aureus strains other than MN8, 200 ⁇ g of each toxin is obtained per liter of culture fluid.
  • TSST-1a and lb are proteins which migrate as homogeneous bands in SDS gels to a
  • the removal of enterotoxin from the supernatant is carried out using QAE-Sephadex.
  • the toxin is then eluted batchwise from the ion exchanger and recovered by filtration on a sintered glass funnel. The eluates are
  • This method utilizes fast protein liquid
  • chromatofocusing Mono P column Enterotoxins in media are concentrated and passed over a Sephadex-G- 75 column. The toxin containing fractions are pooled. For C 1 and D, the supernatants are passed over an AmberLite-CG-50 column, as described for SED, and the active fractions pooled. All three toxins are then placed in buffer for chromatofocusing and then separated using the MONO P column FPLC system. Since all of the toxins have isoelectric points in the range of 7 to 9, the polybuffer PBE-96 is used for elution. The purity of SEA, SEC 1 and SED is estimated to be 98, 95 and 80%, respectively. SEA elutes as two peaks at pH 8.8 and 8.6. SEC 1 also elutes as two peaks at pH 8.3 and 7.9, and SED elutes as three peaks at pH 8.6, 8.3 and 8.0.
  • Enterotoxins may also be produced in mutant strains of Staphylococcus aureus by expression of an enterotoxin producing gene in another bacteria or cell. Genetic material which appears to be in the chromosomal plasmid, or phage portion of the bacteria may be used for gene insertion procedures. Complete molecules or fragments with amino acid sequence homology to the parent enterotoxin may be produced with this technology. (Reviewed in landolo, J.J., Annu. Rev. Microbiol., 43, 375, 1989.) Moreover, mutagenic agents such as N-Nitroso compounds are capable of augmenting significantly the production of enterotoxins by some strains of Staphylococcus. Alpha Toxin
  • yeast extract dialysate medium is used and cultured in yeast extract dialysate medium.
  • undialyzed yeast may be used together with casein, glucose, thiamin and nicotinic acid.
  • the organism is incubated in medium for 24h at 37°C.
  • the culture supernatant is applied to a glass-pore bead column and adjusted to pH 6.8.
  • a column of 5 ⁇ 20 cm is used for 3 liter batches and flow rates adjusted to 10-20 ml/min.
  • the column is washed with 0.01M KHPO 4 pH 6.8 and then the alpha toxin is eluted with 1.0M KHPO 4 pH 7.5. Fractions are tested for the presence of alpha hemolysin by a rapid hemolytic assay using rabbit erythrocytes as substrate.
  • Streptococcus NY-5 strain (Source: ATCC 12351) has been the most widely used for toxin production and studies. A list of various strains to produce toxins A, B, and C has been published.
  • the Kalbach S84 type 3 strain (Source: Dr. Joseph E. Alouf, Institute Pasteur-Unite Associee, Paris, France) is cultured and the supernatant is concentrated and stirred in calcium phosphate gel. Fraction S 1 is precipitated with 80% saturated ammonium sulfate. The redissolved pellet is dialyzed and termed
  • Fraction S 2 This fraction is precipitated with 50-80% ammonium sulfate, resuspended in phosphate buffered saline (Fraction S 3 ), and gel filtered on a Bio-Gel P-100 column. The fraction corresponding to the volume eluted between 160 and 240 ml is collected and concentrated by ultrafiltration to about 20 ml in an Amicon PM10 Membrane (Fraction S 4 ). Fraction S4 is then submitted to preparative isoelectric focusing (IEF) performed with a 100 ml column. The material which focuses at around pH 4.8 in a narrow peak is collected and dialyzed in an Amicon cell using PBS to eliminate ampholines and sucrose.
  • IEF isoelectric focusing
  • Fraction (S 5 ) constitutes purified pyrogenic exotoxin.
  • Another electrophoretic form of SPE with a pI of 4.2 is often separated simultaneously with that of pi 4.8. Both forms show total cross reactivity against immune sera raised by rabbit immunization with fraction S 3 .
  • Fraction S 5 shows a single band by SDS-PAGE corresponding to a molecular weight of 28K.
  • Bioassays for determination of activity include erythematosus skin test in rabbits or guinea pigs lymphocyte blast transformation.
  • the toxin may also be detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) or hemagglutination inhibition.
  • ELISA enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay
  • Staphylococcus aureus strain 110-275 is cultured in NZ-Amine A media supplemented with 10 gm/liter of yeast extract for 18-20 hours in room air at 37° C.
  • the flask is agitated at 300 RPM.
  • the initial pH of the culture is 6.8 and the postincubation pH 8.0.
  • The.culture is filtered through a DC-10 Amicon filter (pore size 0.1 micron).
  • the final filtrate is adjusted to pH 5.6.
  • the filtrate is tested for the presence of SEB in radial immunodiffusion using known antisera to SEB. Eighteen to 20 liters of culture supernatant fluid is diluted with deionized,
  • the column is washed with the same buffer and the enterotoxin eluted by treating the column stepwise with PB 0.03 M pH 6.0, 0.045 M pH 6.25, 0.06 M pH 6.5 and 0.12 M pH 7.2.
  • the fractions containing the enterotoxin are combined, concentrated with polyethylene glycol (200 cc wet volume of packed resin), and dialyzed against 0.5 M NaCl 0.05 M PH pH 7.2.
  • the concentrated enterotoxin solution (5 ml) is placed in a column of Sephacryl S-200 (pretreated with 0.5 M NaCl, 0.05 M PB, pH 7.2).
  • the column is eluted with the same buffer.
  • enterotoxin B concentration is approximately 1 mg/ml.
  • the solution is filter sterilized, frozen and
  • SEB tritiated thymidine mitogenic assay with human and murine immunocytes, SEB showed significant mitogenic activity comparable to that of SEA. SEB was found to be devoid of contaminating alpha hemolysin assessed in a rabbit erythrocyte hemolytic assay.
  • the sterility of the preparation was demonstrated by negative cultures using (a) fluid thioglycollate medium and (b) soybean-casein digest.
  • a sample containing 1 mg/ml of SEB was tested for endotoxin contamination using Sigma E-toxate CAL assay.
  • the final product was found to be free of endotoxin with a standard sensitivity of 0.1 ug endotoxin/mg SEB.
  • Toxieity testing was carried out in two Hartley strain guinea pigs weighing less than 450 grams, and two female C57 black mice (Simonson Laboratories, Watsonville, CA), weighing less than 22 grams. Each animal was observed for 7 days with no significant change in condition or weight after intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml of 26 ⁇ g/kg enterotoxin B.
  • SEA, SEC, SED, SEE, TSST-1 and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin in the studies were prepared by the previously described methods. The identity, purity and sterility of these preparations were tested in a fashion similar to that for SEB.
  • CM-SEB carboxymethylated enterotoxin B
  • the vehicle was prepared as follows: To
  • PBS phosphate buffered saline
  • Pluronic 121 5%
  • squalene 5%
  • This mixture was vortexed vigorously to produce a uniform emulsion.
  • One volume of this vehicle mixture was then added to an equal volume of enterotoxin dissolved in PBS and vortexed briefly to ensure complete mixing of components.
  • the final concentrations were (v/v): 0.17% Tween 80, 2.5%
  • Ibuprofen (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) 800 mg was added to solution containing 30 ml of distilled water, 6 ml of 1N N a OH and 50 mg of N a PO 4 . The solution was vortexed vigorously. The pH was adjusted to 7.1-7.8 with 1N HC1 added dropwise. Sterile distilled water was added to a final volume of 40 ml. The solution containing 20 mg/ml of Ibuprofen was stored at -20° C. 6. Animals
  • New Zealand white female rabbits weighing from 2.5 to 5.0 kg, ages 2 to 4 months were used for studies employing purified enterotoxins. Rabbits of higher weight were used in preliminary studies which are discussed in application Serial No. 07/416,530, filed on October 3, 1989. The animals were obtained from the Elkhorn Rabbitry, Watsonville, California.
  • the tumor used for these studies was obtained from the Frederick Cancer Research Facility of the National Cancer Institute. It was stored frozen in the DCT tumor repository.
  • the tumor call lettered G50014 was also known as the VX-2. Stewart, H.L., Snell, K.C., Dunham, L.J. : Transplantable and transmissible tumors of animals. In Atlas of Tumor Pathology. Washington, D.C, Armed Forces Institute of Pathol., pp. 38, 355, 1959.
  • the tumor is a carcinoma indigenous to the New Zealand white rabbit. It was stored as a tissue fragment, and suspended in saline.
  • the tumor was initially induced by Shope virus and derived from a transformed papilloma in a dutch belted rabbit. Kidd and Rous described the tumor in 1937. Histopathologically, the tumor consists of cords and sheets of epithelial cells
  • Tumor fragments for inoculation were obtained from VX-2 growing in rabbit thigh. Fragments were implanted intramuscularly into the right thigh of recipients. Donors were placed under general
  • Tumors were measured by calipers by a certified veterinary oncologist before and at intervals after treatment. Complete remission was present when there was no evident tumor. Partial remission represented a reduction of tumor volume by greater than 50%. Less than partial remission was a 25-50% reduction in tumor volume. 10.
  • enterotoxins Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, carboxymethylated enterotoxin B, or synthetic enterotoxins in lyophilized form were diluted in 0.9% saline or sterile distilled water and then filtered through a 0.45 micron Millipore filter. Aliquots were stored at -20° F. Each aliquot was thawed once, used only for a single injection and then discarded.
  • preparations in appropriate dose were prepared in 1 ml of 0.9% saline and drawn up in a 1 ml syringe. This solution was administered via the central ear vein which was cannulated with a 25 gauge needle and attached infusion tubing
  • tubing and needle were washed with saline using a 3 ml syringe and, with the tubing filled with saline, the toxin infusion was begun using a 1 ml tuberculin syringe (Monoject tuberculin 1.0 cc. Division of Sherwood Medical, St. Louis
  • the tubing and needle were washed with 6 ml of normal saline over an additional 3 minutes using a 3 ml syringe.
  • Purified enterotoxin B in a mean dose of 26 ⁇ g/kg was administered to seven animals on one, two or three occasions (Table 11). Five showed complete remissions while one additional rabbit demonstrated 96% regression. One showed tumor progression. Of the four animals receiving a mean dose of 13 ⁇ g/kg, one had a complete remission while three showed tumor progression. A single animal given a dose of 40 ⁇ g/kg died within 12 hours of injection. Six of eight animals with major regressions showed enduring responses lasting 2 to 6 months without evident tumor recurrence (Table 11).
  • SEA in a dose of 0.9 ⁇ g/kg was given to 5 rabbits on two or three occasions. Two showed complete remissions while three others demonstrated tumor progression (Table 12). and one died acutely after the third injection. SEA in a dose range of 5-12 ⁇ g/kg was administered to 7 animals. Two achieved complete remission while one experienced a 60% remission. Four others died acutely after the first injection.
  • CM-SEB Carboxymethylated Enterotoxin B
  • Magnolia 3.0° -0.14 No anorexia. Normal activity.
  • tumors showed extensive hemorrhagic necrosis in samples obtained 12 to 72 hours after the initial injection.
  • Control untreated tumor showed focal areas of necrosis within the tumor, but no areas of hemorrhagic necrosis Indeed, the areas of necrosis were far more extensive in the treated tumors with few if any areas of viable tumor.
  • small blood vessels In the treated tumors, small blood vessels
  • Tumor bearing rabbits were given two or three injections of SEB, C-SEB, SEA or TSST-1 and showed tumor regressions. It is known that enterotoxins induce production of various cytokines and that one such cytokine namely interferon will in turn
  • lymphocyte activation we may speculate that in the presence of various cytokines induced by the first injection of enterotoxins, upregulated antigen presenting cells are primed to bind
  • enterotoxins might be employed together with various cytokines such as IL-2 in vitro to develop a highly enriched population of T lymphocytes that could subsequently be injected at various intervals to continuously augment the anti-tumor effect in tumor bearing hosts.
  • cytokines such as IL-2
  • the enterotoxins were given intravenously in the present experiments, it is quite conceivable, that the toxins could be administered in adjuvant form bound to vehicles such as aluminum hydroxide, liposomes, water in oil emulsions, pluronic triblock polymers and saponin with similar anti-tumor effects.
  • Ibuprofen (20 mg/ml) given in doses of 0.25 to 0.5 ml subcutaneously when temperatures reached 105°F or greater resulted in reduction in fever by 2 to 5oF.
  • Ibuprofen could be administered every 4 to 6 hours; however, in general, it did not need to be given more than once or twice per 24 hours. The use of this drug did not interfere with the observed tumor reduction or histologic hemorrhagic necrosis.
  • Ibuprofen may inhibit the prostaglandin mediated effects of the inflammatory cytokines including fever and anorexia but does not affect other antitumor immune and inflammatory responses.
  • Ibuprofen is only one of a large group of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents
  • sticky-ends These sticky-ended fragments can then be ligated to complementary fragments in expression vehicles which have been prepared, e.g., by digestion with the same restriction endonucleases. Having created an expression vector which contains the structural gene of interest in proper orientation with the control elements, one can use this vector to transform host cells and express the desired gene product: with the cellular machinery available. Once expressed, the gene product is generally recovered by lysing the cell culture, if the product is expressed intracellularly, or recovering the product from the medium if it is secreted by the host cell.
  • c .rect expression or the gene product o: interest can be expressed as a fusion protein containing some parts of the amino acid sequence of a homologous protein. This fusion protein is generally processed post-translationally to recover the native gene product. Many of the techniques useful in this technology can be found in Maniatis, T., et al..
  • SEA SEA
  • SEB SEB
  • SEC SEC
  • SEE chromosomal loci
  • the structural gene encoding SED in all strains examined is localized, to a large penicillinase-like plasmid.
  • the enterotoxin A gene has been cloned.
  • SEA was expressed in the E. coli genetic background from a single 2.5 kbp Hind III chromosomal DNA fragment. When sequenced, the DNA was found to contain a single reading frame that generated a protein consistent with the partial sequences of SEA derived by chemical methods. Therefore, it is apparent that the site mapped contained the structural gene for SEA.
  • the enterotoxin A gene was found to be at least 18 kilobases in length and was carried on a mobile element. Enterotoxin A production was linked to the presence of a bacteriophage which integrates into the bacterial chromosome. The enterotoxin A gene is located near the phage attachment. The enterotoxin A gene was mapped between the purine and isoleucine- valine markers in 24 Staphylococcus aureus strains. Conversion to the SEA producing phenotype was induced by lysogenization with a temperate phage purified from staphylococcal aureus strain PS42D. Therefore, a bacteriophage vector was found to be responsible for the toxin phenotype in suitable recipients.
  • the enterotoxin B gene has been cloned and expressed in E. Coli.
  • the DNA of the gene derived from E. Coli has been sequenced and matches the chemically derived sequence with only minor
  • the SEC gene has been cloned from the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus MN Don.
  • the cloned toxin was expressed in E. coli with a molecular weight comparable to that of the toxin from Staphylococcus aureus.
  • the toxin was biologically active as
  • the enterotoxin D gene has been found to occur on a 27.6 kbp plasmid.
  • the enterotoxin D gene has been cloned an expressed in E. coli and other
  • Staphylococcal strains The enterotoxin D gene in Staphylococcus aureus is under control of the agar locus like most Staphylococcal extracellular protein genes.
  • the DNA sequence was determined encoding a mature protein with amino acid composition and reaction with antibody to SED confirming its identity to the biochemically purified toxin.
  • the enterotoxin E gene has been cloned from S. Aureus FR1918 and was expressed in E. coli encoding an extracellular protein of 26,425 daltons. Its identity to SEE was confirmed immunologically and by correspondence of N terminal and C terminal analysis.
  • TSST-1 gene was not associated with either bacteriophage or plasmid DNA.
  • the gene was cloned on a 10.6 kbp fragment of chromosomal DNA and
  • TSST-1 was expressed in E. Coli, and TSST-1 was secreted into the
  • Hi 555 encodes the tst gene and is a heterologous insertion element that provisionally exhibits some of the characteristics of a transposon. Strains that are Trp- contain Hi555 at regions 17 and 18 (linked to Trp), while strains that are Trp + contain Hi555 elsewhere linked to TryB.
  • Trp- phenotype is not due to insertional inactivation by the unusual element.
  • the sequence and analysis of the tst gene has been described. It codes for a mature protein (TSST-1) of 197 amino acids and a molecular weight of 22,049. Cooney, J., Mulvey, M., Arbuthnott, J.P., Foster, T.J., J. Gen. Microbiol., 134, 2179, 1988.
  • Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPEA) is clearly related to the enterotoxins. It has a cysteine loop of 9 amino acids similar to that of SEA and is also encoded by a converting phage. SPEA shows greater amino acid sequence similarity with SEB than SEA. Immunologic studies show that the proteins and antisera to either enterotoxin are cross
  • enterotoxins have been isolated and transfected into other bacteria to obtain selective production. These genes may be used as sources of accelerated
  • Staphylococcus aureus has resulted in a 20 fold increase in enterotoxin production over the amounts produced by the parent Staphylococcus aureus strain. Freedman, M.A., Howard, M.B., J. Bacteriol, 106, 289, 1971.
  • Enterotoxin Genes Genetically Engineered Tumor Cells, Accessory Cells, and Peptides
  • T cell V ⁇ receptors it would be logical to assume that transfection of the enterotoxin gene into tumor cells bearing appropriate HLA-DQ or DR or DP would result in production of a tumor cell bearing the minor lymphocyte stimulating locus capable of
  • the rabbit VX-2 carcinoma cells have been established in tissue culture.
  • the gene for enterotoxins A and B have been isolated and have been made available for these studies by Dr. Marcia Betley and Dr. Saleem Khann, respectively.
  • Plans for transfection of rabbit VX-2 carcinoma cells with both genes have been made with Dr. Susan Faas and Dr. John Mclntyre of Tektagen, Malverne, PA.
  • the transfected cells will then be injected into rabbits bearing the VX-2 carcinoma with appropriate controls consisting of non-transfected rabbit VX-2 carcinoma cells and VX-2 cells transfected with an irrelevant microbial gene. Anti-tumor effects will be assessed in this system.
  • the toxin gene transfected tumor cells could be used for in vitro stimulation of host immunocytes prior to or coordinate with the addition of interleukin 2 to produce an enriched population of tumor specific T cells which could then be reinfused into a tumor bearing host and would be expected to exert tumor killing effects.
  • the enterotoxin gene could be used to transfect various accessory cells resulting in enterotoxin expression on the cell surface which may then induce more potent stimulation and proliferation of
  • T lymphocytes tumoricidal T lymphocytes.
  • the cotransfection of these accessory cells with adhesion molecules and MHC molecules might further augment the mitogenic activity of T lymphocytes induced by these accessory cells.
  • Mutant genes of the toxins could be used to transfect various bacteria such as E. Coli resulting in the production of toxin peptides retaining
  • Such superantigen peptides might have sequences homologous with various naturally occurring viruses such as mammary tumor virus, endogenous proteins such as heat shock proteins, stress proteins and minor lymphocyte stimulating loci, naturally occurring bacteria such as mycoplasma and mycobacterial species.
  • Amino acid sequences in the native toxin molecules associated with toxieity such as emesis, excessive cytokine induction or humoral antibody production would be deleted.
  • histadine residues of SEB may account for emetic responses of the SEB molecule since
  • these genetically engineered molecules might be used to block or eliit nate autoimmune responses induced by proliferation of clones of immunocytes reactive to self constituents such as basic myelin protein in multiple sclerosis or synovial constituents in reheumatoid arthritis.
  • enterotoxin genes would be fused with genes from other bioreacive compounds such as cell poisons to produce molecules with capacity to destroy a selective cell population.
  • fusion peptides might include enterotoxin sequences fused, for example, with peptides of pseudomonas toxin,
  • diphtheria toxin sequences or antibodies yielding complexes retaining the major structural, biologic features of the native proteins.
  • Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin or scarlet fever toxin is related to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B.
  • the amino acid sequence of SPE has significant homology with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B but not with other proteins in the Dayhoff library.
  • Figure 2 shows the alignment of amino acid sequences of mature SPEA and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B, as reported in Johnson, L.P., L'ltalien, J.J. and
  • SPE Staphylococcal enterotoxins
  • SPE activates murine T cells mainly V ⁇ 8.2 in physical association with MHC class II molecules expressed on accessory cells. SPE causes deregulation of the immune response in vitro
  • enterotoxin B when administered to rabbits with the VX-2 carcinoma as demonstrated herein.
  • SPE has now been shown to induce a toxic shock like syndrome identical to that associated with various enterotoxins. Given the biological and structural relatedness of these proteins, it would be
  • a hybrid molecule was synthesized representing structures common to both enterotoxins A and B.
  • the molecule contained 26 amino acids and had many structural features as delineated above.
  • This hybrid was administered both intravenously and in adjuvant form to tumor bearing hosts, namely rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma.
  • the adjuvant used for these studies was the pluronic acid triblock
  • copolymer which has been used to boost the immune response to various antigens in animal models and which is under testing at this point in humans with hepatitis and herpe; simplex infections. While we have used this adjuvant specifically, it is
  • adjuvant-vehicle preparations including those prepared in water and oil emulsion and aluminum hydroxide.
  • enterotoxin hybrid molecules containing amino acid sequences homologous to the enterotoxin family would also be effective in this system.
  • mammary tumor virus sequences, heat shock proteins, stress peptides, mycoplasma and mycobacterial antigens and minor lymphocyte stimulating loci bearing tumoricidal structural homology to the enterotoxin family would also be useful in this application as anti-tumor agents.
  • Hybrid enterotoxins and other sequences homologous to the native enterotoxins might be immobilized or polymerized genetically or
  • enterotoxins can activate the autoimmune response.
  • SED is now known to stimulate the production of human rheumatoid factor and mycoplasma arthritidis a well-known superantigen is recognized as the causative agent in murine adjuvant arthritis.
  • various other diseases such as multiple sclerosis are caused by the activation of T lymphocytes (bearing V ⁇ receptors) with specificity for multiple self components.
  • T lymphocytes bearing V ⁇ receptors
  • the receptors for activation of T lymphocytes could be readily blocked by various enterotoxin fragments which retain specificity for the T cell receptor but do not initiate T cell activation or mitogenesis.
  • enterotoxins possess multiple amino acid motifs that are avid for various portions of the T cell V ⁇ repertoire. These sequences on the N or C terminal portion of the molecules would bind to autoreactive T lymphocytes and therefore inactivate these clones by blocking further antigenic stimulation and
  • cellular toxins attached to the enterotoxin fragments could also be used to eliminate such autoreactive clones.
  • enterotoxins are as potent
  • superantigens may be employed for stimulation of protective anti idiotype B and T cell clones
  • a peptide fragment in SEC was shown by Spero and Morlock to contain the active sites for emesis and diarrhea.
  • the mitogenic region resided in the C terminal tryptic fragment of SEC.
  • An immune functional site on Staphylococcal enterotoxin A has been identified corresponding to residues 1-27 of SEA which is responsible for stimulation of T cell proliferation and induction of interferon-y.
  • This SEA (1-27) sequence corresponds to N-Ser-GIv-Lys-Ser-Glu-Glu-Ile-Asn-GFlu-Lys-Asp-Lev.Arg Lys-Lys-Ser-Glu-Leu-Gln-Gly-Thr-Ala-Lev-Gly-Asn-Lev-Ly and blocks SEA induced T cell
  • SEA 28-48 peptide
  • a functional site on SEA responsible for modulation of T cell function involves the N-terminal 27 amino acids. These molecules may interact at either the level of TCR or the binding of SEA to class II MHC antigens.
  • TSST-1 mitogenic activity was shown to be located on a 14,000 dalton cyanogen bromide generated toxin fragment.
  • intramucosal or intradermal ganglion cells and the effect on mast cells is indirectly mediated by neuropeptides.
  • Carboxymethylation of histidine residues of SEB caused a complete loss of emetic and skin sensitizing activity without changing the immunological specificity, e.g., T cell stimulating activity.
  • An anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody against the combining site of an anti-SEB monoclonal antibody had no enterotoxic activity but can inhibit the enterotoxic activity, e.g., emetic response and diarrhea of a 10,000 molar excess of SEB.
  • Anti-idiotype antibody also inhibited immediate-type skin reactions as well.
  • the anti-idiotype antibody and carboxymethylated enterotoxins may be useful tools to protect against the enterotoxin induced intestinal toxieity.
  • Staphylococcal enterotoxins to account for their superantigenic properties.
  • these include the mammary tumor virus, minor lymphyocyte
  • tumoricidal effects could be accomplished with biologically active superantigen peptides, intact enterotoxins or superantigens alone or attached to antigen presenting cells (class II MHC, HLA-DR) and incubated ex vivo with a random T cell population or one which may have been pre- enriched for the appropriate V ⁇ receptor.
  • the activated T cell population with bound enterotoxin might then be reinfused into the host. Similar tumoricidal effects would be anticipated with
  • enterotoxins or biologically active fragments infused into a host who has had an "organoid" an enriched T lymphocyte organ
  • an "organoid" an enriched T lymphocyte organ
  • Antibodies specific for various enterotoxins have been documented to be present in the plasma of humans. Theoretically, these naturally occurring antibodies could neutralize injected enterotoxins and accelerate their removal from the circulation.
  • antibodies could combine with injected enterotoxins and create immunogenic antigen-antibody complexes.
  • enterotoxins To circumvent the presence of antibodies in the circulation, we have explored several methods of administering enterotoxins as follows: First, we have administered enterotoxins to several VX-2 bearing rabbits in adjuvant-vehicle form with slow release properties. Second, we have initiated a collaboration with Dr. Suyu Schu to evaluate the use of enterotoxins in an ex vivo mode, e.g., incubation of entertoxins with T lymphocytes in the presence of IL-2 with resultant enrichment and expansion of T cells and subsequent reinfusion into the tumor bearing host. Such studies are presently underway.
  • a state of tolerance could be induced.
  • the plasma could be cleared of antibodies in advance of intravenous administration of the native toxins.
  • Non-immunogenic hybrid molecules or fragments of enterotoxins could be injected into antibody bearing hosts to neutralize existing circulating antibodies to the enterotoxins prior to administration of the native molecule. Such an approach is presently being tested in tumor bearing hosts.

Abstract

Staphylococcal enterotoxins obtained by secretion from Staphylococcus aureus, by expression of enterotoxins in other bacteria or cells, or by chemical mutagenic treatment of Staphylococcal aureus strains are used in treatment of cancer as tumoricidal agents. Enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E and toxic shock toxin (TSST-1) can be administered via simple intravenous injection or in the form of adjuvants such as pluronic triblock copolymers. Enterotoxins may also be used Ex-vivo to induce mitogenesis, enlarge and enrich a tumoricidal T-cell population. Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen may be simultaneously administered to attenuate toxic reactions from the enterotoxins. Streptococcus pyrogenic exotoxin and alpha hemolysin which have structural and functional homology to the enterotoxins, are also useful in tumoricidal treatment. The enterotoxin gene transfected into tumor cells resulting a tumor cell with surface expression of the minor lymphocyte stimulating locus with consequent potent activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes especially those with V-beta specificity, are also given in this application.

Description

Tumor Killing Effects of Enterotoxins,
Superantigens, and Related Compounds
Related Application Data
This application is a continuation-in-part application of Application Serial No. PCT/US91/ 00342, which is a continuation-in-part application of
Application Serial No. 07/466,577, filed on January 17, 1990, which is a continuation-in-part application of Application Serial No. 07/416,530, filed
October 3, 1989.
Technical Field
This invention relates generally to tumoricidal compositions and methods, and more specifically to superantigens or enterotoxins derived from
Staphlococcus aureus. Peptides homologous to the enterotoxins including toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1), Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins,
mycoplasma and mycobacterial species, minor
lymphocyte stimulating antigens, heat shock proteins, stress peptides, mammary tumor virus peptides, homologous synthetic polypeptides, biochemically derivatized enterotoxins, genetically engineered enterotoxins and fusion proteins are also described in this application.
This invention also relates to enterotoxins and homologous compounds known as superantigens expresses on the surface of lipid droplets (in adjuvant-vehicle formulations) or expressed on biologic cell surfaces as a result of enterotoxin gene transfection and used to produce a tumoricidal response in a tumor bearing host. This invention also relates to
enterotoxins and related compounds administered intravenously, subcutaneously, as in adjuvant form, or used extracorporeally in free or bound form to stimulate immunocytes which are subsequently infused into tumor bearing hosts.
Background Of The Invention
Therapy of the neoplastic diseases has largely involved the use of chemotherapeutic agents,
radiation and surgery. However, results with these measures, while beneficial in some tumors, has had only marginal or no effect in many others, while demonstrating unacceptable toxieity. Hence, there has been a quest for newer modalities to treat neoplastic diseases.
In 1980, tumoricidal effects were demonstrated in four of five patients with advanced breast cancer utilizing therapy with plasma perfused over
Staphylococcal Protein A. Terman, D.S., Young, J.B., Shearer, W.T., Ayus, C., Lehane, D., Mattioli, C, Espada, R., Howell, J.F., Yamamoto, T., Zaleski, H.E., Miller, L., Frommer, P., Feldman, L., Henry, J.F., Tillquist, R., Cook, G., Daskal, Y., New Eng. J. Med., 305, 1195, 1981. This elaborate system involved the administration of patient plasma which was perfused over a solid surface to which
Staphylococcal Protein A was chemically attached. Protein A was prepared by batch fermentation of
Staphylococcus. It was isolated from the media and partially purified by affinity chromatography.
While the initial observations of tumor killing effects with the immobilized Protein A perfusion system have been confirmed, additional results have been inconsistent. The explanation of these
inconsistencies appears to be as follows. First, commercial Protein A has been shown to be an impure preparation, as evident from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and radioimmunoassays showing
Staphylococcal enterotoxins to be present. Secondly, various methods of the immobilization of Protein A to solid supports have been used, sometimes resulting in loss of biological activity of the plasma perfusion system. Thirdly, the plasma used for perfusion over the immobilized Protein A has been stored and treated in different ways, sometimes resulting in
inactivation of the system. Moreover, the antitumor element present in this extremely complex perfusion system has not been previously defined. The system contained an enormous number of biologically active materials, to include Staphylococcal Protein A itself, Staphylococcal proteases, nucleases,
exotoxins, enterotoxins and leukocidin, as well as the solid support and coating materials. Additional products included several anaphylatoxins generated in plasma after contact with immobilized Protein A.
Finally, it is speculated that the biological
activity of the system was due to extraction by
Protein A of immunosuppressive immune complexes capable of blocking the host's antitumor response.
The present invention demonstrates that isolated Staphylococcal enterotoxins, identified initially as trace contaminants in commercial Protein A
preparations can reliably reproduce the tumoricidal reactions anc toxieity observed with the whole perfusion system. As such, these materials appear to represent the most active tumoricidal components in the Protein A perfusion system matrix. These
materials demonstrate tumoricidal activity in small doses and produce tumoricidal effects and toxieity identical to that observed in animals and man with the whole Protein A perfusion system. However, the tumoricidal effects may be produced by a simple intravenous injection. Therefore, it has been possible to completely eliminate the elaborate and complex Protein A perfusion system, with its enormous number of component parts, unpredictable performance and potential toxieity problems. This system may be replaced by the enterotoxins which may be
administered via simple intravenous injection and have the distinct advantages of convenience,
reliability, safety and efficacy over the cumbersome, inefficient and often ineffective extracorporeal Protein A perfusion system. There is no prior report in the literature or elsewhere of antitumor effects ascribable to this group of proteins.
Enterotoxins have distinct advantages in
inducing tumor killing effects over the more
cumbersome and elaborate Staphylococcal Protein A plasma perfusion systems. One advantage is that enterotoxins are relatively simple proteins that may be infused after being solubilized in saline. This solubility obviates the need to immobilize Protein A or other biologicals on a solid support, and
eliminates the requirement for perfusing plasma over a solid surface. Moreover, it bypasses problems associated with potential toxic reactions to
impurities of Protein A. Consequently, enterotoxins appear to be far safer and more effective than previously described systems. Moreover, the system requires no elaborate sterilization and there is no problem with potential leaching of immobilized materials or chemical products from an inert surface as there would be with an extracorporeal column.
Hence, this product offers decided advantages of effectiveness and convenience over the original system. Indeed, all evidence points to enterotoxins as being the most active antitumor product in the Staphylococcal Protein A plasma perfusion system.
Summary Of The Invention The present invention provides enterotoxins derived from Staphylococcus aureus and superantigens which are useful by themselves for the treatment of cancer. Enterotoxins are known to have molecular weights ranging from 22,000 to 38,000. They are heat stable, and resistant to trypsin digestion.
According to one aspect of the present invention, enterotoxins isolated from media which is supporting the growth of various Staphylococcus aureus organisms are used in relatively pure form. When administered to subjects having tumors, the preparation induces a tumoricidal reaction resulting in tumor regression. It should be understood that the term, "tumoricidal reaction," as used herein, means that the material under discussion promotes or assists in the killing of tumor cells.
Chemical derivatization of the native
enterotoxin molecule in order to minimize toxieity results in a preparation that also induces
tumoricidal reactions and tumor regress on when administered to tumor bearing hosts.
Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A, which has been shown to have statistically significant
structural homology to enterotoxin B, is also useful for the treatment of cancer.
Synthetic polypeptides with substantial
structural homology and with statistically
significant sequence homology and similarity to Staphylococcal enterotoxins and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxms, including alignment of cysteine residues and similar hydropathy profiles, are also described as effective in tumoricidal therapy. In addition to enterotoxins, such peptides might be derived from but not limited to sequences in
additional superantigens such as minor lymphocyte stimulating loci, mycoplasma and mycobacterial antigens, heat shock proteins, stress peptides, and mammary tumor viruses.
Enterotoxin gene transfection of tumor cells, accessory cells or immunocytes resulting in surface expression of enterotoxins with augmented
immunogenicity is also described as useful in this application.
Genetically engineered enterotoxins or peptides using recombinant DNA technology are also described as useful as tumoricidal therapy. Enterotoxin peptides and homologous amino acid sequences to block or destroy autoreactive T and B lymphocyte
populations in autoimmune diseases are also described in this application. Brief Description of Figures
Figure 1 shows the alignment of amino acid sequences of Staphylococcal enterotoxins and their relatives.
Figure 2 shows the alignment of amino acid sequences of mature Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B.
Figure 3 shows the hypothetical structure for the complex of Class II MHC, T cell receptor, and Staphylococcal enterotoxins or Mis. Description Of The Specific Embodiments
The enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus form a group of serologically distinct extracellular proteins, designated A, B, C1, C2, C3, D, E and F. These proteins are recognized as the causative agents of Staphylococcal food poisoning. Enterotoxin F appears to be important in the pathogenesis of the Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome. Ingestion of preformed enterotoxin in contaminated food leads to the rapid development (within two to six hours) of symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea that are
characteristic of Staphylococcal food poisoning.
The enterotoxin proteins are of similar
molecular weight. Characteristically, they have a disulfide loop near the middle of the molecule, and are easily soluble in water and salt solutions. They are relatively resistant to proteolytic enzymes and to heat. The higher level structural similarities between the enterotoxins is in agreement with the clinical picture where all of the enterotoxins seem to produce similar effects of sepsis, hypotension and fever. General properties of the enterotoxins are given in Table 1.
Figure imgf000010_0001
TABLE 1B
Physicochemical Properties of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins*
Enterotoxin
Property Aa Bb C1 c C2 d De Ef
Emetic dose
for monkey(μg) 5 5 5 5-10 - -
Sedimentation
coefficient 3.03 2.89 3.0 2.9H - 2.6 Molecular
weight 27,800 28,366g 26,000 34,100 27,300 29,600
Isoelectric
point 7.26 8.6 8.6 7.0 7.4 7.0
C-terminal Threoresidue Serine Lysine Glycine Glycine Lysine nine
GlutaGlutaGluta
N-terminal mic mic mic
residue Alanine acid acid acid Serine - a Schantz, E.J., Roessler, W.G., Woodburn, M.J., Lynch, J.M.,
Jacoby, H.M., Silverman, S.J., Gorman, S.J., Biochemistry 11, 360, 1972.
b Schantz, E.J., Roessler, W.G., Wagman, J., Spero, L., Dunnery, D.A., Bergdoll, M.S., Biochemistry 4, 1011, 1965.
c Borja, C.R., Bergdoll, M.S., Biochemistry 6, 1467 (1967).
d Avena, R.M., Bergdoll, M.S. Biochemistry 6, 1474 (1967).
e Chang, P.C., Bergdoll, M.S., Biochemistry, 18, 1937, 1979.
f Borja, C.R., Fanning, E., Huang, I.Y., Bergdoll, M.S., J. Biol.
Chem. 247, 2456, 1972.
g Dayhoff, M. ed. (1972) Data Section. In Atlas Protein Sequence Structure 5: D227 National Biomedical Research Foundation, Washington, D.C. (determined from the amino acid sequence of Huang and Bergdoll, 1970). Huang, I.Y., Bergdoll, M.S., J. Biol. Chem. 245, 3493, 1970.
* Modified from Bergdoll, M.S., Czop, J.K., Gould, S.S.,
Enterotoxin Synthesis by the Staphylococci. In: Recent Advances in Staphylococcal Research, pp. 307-316, Yotis; W.W. (Ed.) Ann. N.Y.
Acad. Sci. Vol. 236. Amino acid compositions of enterotoxins A, B, C1, C2 and E reveal a high content of lysine, aspartic acid and tyrosine. Enterotoxins A and E are similar in methionine, leucine and arginine content,
differing in this regard from enterotoxins B, C1 and C2. The amino acid sequence of enterotoxin B was found to consist of 239 amino acids. Half-cystine residues found at positions 92 and 112 form a
disulfide bridge, and it has been suggested that the primary structure in this region may be common to all of the enterotoxins.
The protein sequences and immunological cross reactivity of the enterotoxins reveal that they can be divided into two related groups. SEA
(Staphylococcal enterotoxin A), SEE and SED
constitute one group, and SEB, SEC and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA) make up the second group. Amino acid sequences show that SEA and SEE are almost identical and that SEB, SEC and SPEA share regions of similar sequence. SED is moderately related to both groups although it is more similar to the SEA group. There is a striking amino acid similarity among enterotoxins A, B, C, D and E in the region
immediately downstream from cystine located at residue 106 in SEA. A second region at residue 147 also shows a highly conserved sequence. These regions are contained on the peptide fragment of SEC, shown to contain the active sites for emesis and diarrhea. The mitogenic region resides in the C terminal tryptic fragment of SEC, implying that other regions of sequence similarity exist. Amino acid sequence similarities and congruences are given in Tables 2-4.
Figure imgf000013_0001
TABLE 3
Amino Acid Composition of the Enterotoxins
(g 100g protein)
Enterotoxin
Amino Acid A* B† C1‡ C2‡ E§
Lysine 11.26 14.85 14.43 13.99 10.83
Histidine 3.16 2.34 2.91 2.87 3.04
Arginine 4.02 2.69 1.71 1.75 4.50
Aspartic acid 15.53 18.13 17.85 18.38 15.10
Threonine 5.96 4.50 5.31 5.80 6.36
Serine 2.99 4.05 4.58 4.81 4.72
Glutamic acid 12.36 9.45 8.95 8.93 12.15
Proline 1.35 2.11 2.16 2.23 1.93
Glycine 2.96 1.78 2.99 2.90 4.10
Alanine 1.94 1.32 1.85 1.61 2.38
Half-cystine 0.66 0.68 0.79 0.74 0.81
Valine 4.93 5.66 6.50 5.87 4.36
Methionine 0.96 3.52 3.20 3.60 0.45
Isoleucine 4.11 3.53 4.09 4.02 4.30
Leucine 9.78 6.86 6.54 6.13 10.08
Tyrosine 10.63 11.50 9.80 10.27 9.79
Phenylalanine 4.31 6.23 5.35 5.25 4.47
Trytpophane 1.46 0.95 0.99 0.84 1.51
Amide NH3 1.80 1.66 1.71 1.62 1.66
TOTAL 98.37 100.15 100.00 99.99 100.88
* Schantz et al., 1972.
† Bergdoll, M.S., Chu, F.S., Huang, I.Y., Rowe, C
Shih, T., Arch Biochem Biophys, 112, 104, 1965.
‡ Huang , I.Y., Shih, T., Borja, C.R., Avena, R.M.
Bergdoll, M.S., Biochemistry, 6, 1480, 1967.
§ Borja et al., 1972.
¶ From Bergdoll, M.S., Huang, I.Y., Schantz, E.J., J.
Agric. Food Chem. 22, 9, 1974. TABLE 4†
Amino Acid Compositions of TSST-1a and 1ba
Amino acid composition
TSST-1a TSST-1b
residues residues TSST-1
Amino acid per moleb per moleb cloneb
Aspartic acid 26 27 25
Threonine 21 20 19
Serine 20 20 21
Glutamic acid 20 20 17
Proline 10 8 10
Glycine 13 14 11
Alanine 4 5 3
Half-cystine 0 0 0
Valine 5 5 5
Methionine 0 0 2
Isoleucine 15 15 17
Leucine 14 16 15
Tyrosine 10 8 9
Phenylalanine 7 7 7
Histidine 5 5 5
Lysine 23 24 21
Tryptophan NDd NDd 3
Arginine 4 5 4
197 199 194 † Blomster-Hautamaa, D.A., Schlievert, P.M., Methods in
Enzymology, 165, 37, 1988.
aIsolated from strain MN8, as cosnoared to the inferred amino acid composition of the TSST-1 structural gene.
bResidues per mole values are based on a molecular weight of 22,000.
cResidues per mole inferred from the DNA sequence of the TSST-1 structural gene. Blomster-Hautamaa and colleagues. dND. Not determined. Comparison of the primary sequences of the
staphylococcal enterotoxins and their relatives is shown in Figure 1. The complete primary amino acid sequences of the staphylococcal enterotoxins and related proteins are shown aligned, with the
exception of the sequences of the exfoliating toxins, which are shown aligned with each other, but not with the remaining toxins. The exfoliating toxin
sequences are shown here for completeness, and because these toxins have properties related to those of the others (see below). Toxins shown are as follows: SEA to SEE, Staphylococcus aureus
enterotoxins A to E; SPE A and C, Streptococcus pyogenes toxins A and C; TSSTl, Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock - associated toxin; ETA and ETB,
Staphylococcus aureus exfoliating toxins A and B.
Data are from (9-17). Residues that are identical or that have changed to an amino acid with similar properties among at least two of the following: SEA, SEE, and SED, are highlighted in pink. Residues that are identical or that have changed to an amino acid with similar properties among at least two of the following: SEB, SEC1, and SED and at least two of SEB, SEC1, and SEC2, are highlighted in yellow.
Single letter abbreviations for the amino acid residues are: A, Ala; C, Cys; D, Asp; E, Glu; F, Phe; G, Gly; H, His; I Ile; K, Lys; L, Leu; M, Met; N, Asn; P, Pro; Q, Gln; R, Arg; S, Ser; T, Thr; V, Val; W, Trp; and Y, Tyr. There is evidence that indicates varying degrees of immunological relatedness between certain enterotoxins. Bergdoll, M.S., Borja, C.R., Robbins, R., Weiss, K.F., Infect. Immun., 4, 593, 1971; Bergdoll, M.S.,
Enterotoxins. In: Staphylococci and Staphylococci
Infections ed. C.S.F. Easmon, C. Adlam 1, pp. 559-598, 1983, Landon, Academic; Freer, J.H., Arbuthnott, J.P., Pharm. Ther., 19, 55, 1983. A considerable degree of cross reactivity exists for antisera raised against one enterotoxin and other enterotoxins. It has been
considered that the enterotoxins may contain major cross reactive antigenic sites, while each individual
enterotoxin possesses minor specific antigenic regions. Common precipitating antibodies were formed between SEA and SED. In addition, enterotoxins B and C can react immunologically with antisera against either toxin type. Immunologic cross reactivity between Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and Staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C1 has been shown. These results suggest a conserved domain present in the three exotoxins. SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, TSST-1 and the pyrogenic exotoxins have also been shown to share considerable DNA and amino acid homology. The enterotoxins, the pyrogenic exotoxins and TSST-1 therefore appear to be evolutionarily related and all belong to a common generic group of proteins.
It should be noted that the two Streptococcal toxins SPEA and C are about as similar to each of the
Staphylococcal groups as they are to each other.
Exfoliative toxins are of similar size to SEB and SEA with similar modes of action. They share several points of sequence similarity to the Staphylococcal enterotoxins. Overall there are several stretches at which similarities are apparent throughout the total group comprised of Staphylococcal enterotoxins, Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins and Staphylococcal exfoliative toxins. The longest of these, located two-thirds of the way through the proteins, is similar to sequences found at the COOH-terminal end of the human and mouse invariant chain.
Invariant chain is a polypeptide associated with nascent MHC class II molecules. Class II molecules bind peptides and present them to T cells during immune responses. Indeed, many toxins bind to class II
molecules. The shared sequences may indicate some or all of the invariant chain and toxin binding sites on class II molecules .
The known structural homology between the enterotoxins and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin is further supported by the identity of clinical responses. It is known that this exotoxin induces hypotension, fever, chills and septic shock in man. It is hypothesized that this compound activates cytokines, such as interleukin 1, interleukin 2, tumor necrosis factor and interferon, and procoagulant activity which are the prime mediators of the clinical symptomatology. It is hypothesized that many other bacterial products are capable of inducing similar in vivo activity. Among potential tumoricidal agents which are likely candidates based upon structural homology or identity of clinical symptomatology are gram positive bacterial products, cell wall bacterial constituents such as peptidoglycans and various gram negative bacterial components to include meningococcal, pseudomonous and E. Coli products. While presently undemonstrated in animal systems, it is believed that these agents are likely to possess similar tumoricidal utility as those claimed here for the enterotoxins.
The recognition that the biologically active regions of the enterotoxins and SPEA were substantially structurally homologous enables one to predict synthetic polypeptide compounds which will exhibit similar tumoricidal effects. Figure 2 illustrates the amino acid sequence homology of mature SPEA and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B. The top sequence is the SPEA-derived amino acid sequence. The amino acid sequence of enterotoxin B is on the bottom. Sequences are numbered from the amino acid terminus, with amino acids represented by standard one character
designations. (See Tables 5 and 6 below.) Identities are indicated by : and gaps in the sequences introduced by the alignment algorithm are represented by dashed lines. See Johnson, L.P., L'ltalien, J.J., and Schlievert, P.M., "Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type A (scarlet fever toxins) is related to staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B," Mol. Gen. Genet. (1986) 203: 354-356.
One common methodology for evaluating sequence
homology, and more importantly statistically significant similarities, is to use a Monte Carlo analysis using an algorithm written by Lipman and Pearson to obtain a Z value. According to this analysis, a Z value greater than 6 indicates probable significance, and a Z value greater than 10 is considered to be statistically significant. Pearson, W.R., Lipman, D.J., "Improved tools for
biological sequence comparison," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. April 1988, 85 (8) pages 2444-8; Lipman, D.J.,
Pearson, W.R., "Rapid and sensitive protein similarity searches," Science. March 22, 1985, 227 (4693) pages 1435-41.
In the present invention, synthetic polypeptides useful in tumoricidal therapy and in blocking or destroying autoreactive T and B lymphocyte populations are
characterized by substantial structural homology to enterotoxin A, enterotoxin B and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins with statistically significant sequence homology and similarity (Z value of Lipman and Pearson algorithm in Monte Carlo analysis exceeding 6) to include alignment of cysteine residues and similar hydropathy profiles. TABLE 5
One-letter
Amino Acid Symbol
Alanine A
Arginine R
Asparagine N
Aspartic acid D
Cysteine C
Glutamine Q
Glutamic acid E
Glycine G
Histidine H
Isoleucine I
Leucine L
Lysine K
Methionine M
Phenylalanine F
Proline P
Serine S
Threonine T
Tryptophan W
Tyrosine Y
Valine V
TABLE 6
10 20 30 40 50
STR-PKPSQLQRSNLVKTFKIYIFFMRVTL- - - - - -VTHENVKSVDQLLSHDLIYNVS╌
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
ESQPDPKPDELHKSS╌K-FTGLMENMKV-LYNNDHVSAINVKSINEFF╌DLIYLYSIK
10 20 30 40 50
60 70 80 90
- - - -GPNYDKLKTELKNQEMATLFKDKNVDIYGVEYYHLCYLC - - - - - - - - -ENAERSAC
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
DTKLG-NYDNVRVEFKNKDLADKYKDKYVDVFGANYYQ-CYFSKKTNNIDSHENTKRKTC
60 70 80 90 100 110
100 110 120 130 140 150
LYGGVTNHEGNHLEIPKK- - - - IWKVSIDGIQSLSFDIEQIKNGNCSRIS-YTVRKYLT
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
MYGGVTEHGNNQLD- - -KYYRSITVRVFEDGKNLLSFDVQTNKKKVTAEQLDYLTRHYLV
120 130 140 150 160
160 170 180 190 200
DNKQLYTNGPSKYETGYIKFIPKNKESFWFDFFPEPE╌FTQSKYLMIYKDNETLDSNTS
: : : : :: :: : : :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: : : : : :: :: : : :: : : : : : : : : : :
KNKKLYEFNNSPYETGYIKFIE-NENSFWYDMMPAPGNKFDQSKYLMMYNNDKMVDSKDV
170 180 190 200 210 220
220
QIEVYLTTK
::::::::
KIEVYLTTKKK
230
The enterotoxins are presumed to function by affecting emetic receptors in the abdominal viscera which stimulate the emetic and diarrheal response. These toxins also stimulate T lymphocyte
mitogenicity, procoagulant, chemotactic activity, as well as cysteinyl leukotriene, lymphhokine, serine protease and thromboglobulin production. Cytokines known to be induced by enterotoxins induce
interferon, tumor necrosis factor, interleukins 1 and 2. They suppress immune responses, augment natural killer cell cytotoxicity, enhance gram-negative endotoxic lethality and induce fever and hypotension. These additional properties are shared with the pyrogenic exotoxins of both Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes and TSST-1. Synthetic
polypeptides would also be expected to demonstrate similar responses.
The Staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E, toxic shock toxin (TSST-1), a product of mycoplasma arthritidis, mycobacterial species, heat shock peptides and Mls antigens provoke dramatic T cell responses. Staphylococcal enterotoxins are the most powerful T cell mitogens known eliciting strong polyclonal proliferation at concentrations 103 lower than such conventional T cell mitogens as
phytohemagglutinin. SEA is the most potent T cell mitogen, stimulating DNA synthesis at concentrations of 10-13 to 10-16 M in the human system. All stimulate a large proportion of both murine and human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Activity of these mitogens is tightly restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens. It is proposed that the staphylococcal enterotoxins, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, exfoliative toxins and a product of mycoplasma arthritidis bind directly to the T cell receptor and to class II MHC. These two structures are brought into contact, thus stimulating T cell activation via the Vβ region of the T cell receptor mimicking strong alloreactive response.
Many toxins have binding affinitives for MHC class II molecules which are involved in stimulating T cells. For example, SEA has a Kd for human class II of about 3.2 × 10-7 M, SEB of 10-6 M and TSST-1 of 10~7 M. SEA and SEB probably bind to the same site on class II because they cross compete for binding.
Exfoliative toxins bind only weakly or not at all to class II. SEB and TSST-1 have different binding sites on class II molecules.
The structure of class II consists of two immunoglobulin-like domains located close to the cell membrane which supports a structure constructed from the NH2 terminal regions of both polypeptides of the protein and comprise an extended β-pleated sheet supporting two alpha helices separated by a cleft. Peptides derived from foreign materials or from proteolysis of self proteins normally lie in this groove. It is this complex of MHC and peptide that stimulates T cells bearing alpha and beta receptors. Bacterial toxins do not normally bind to MHC
molecules by occupying this groove and therefore do not behave like conventional peptide-MHC binding antigens. Toxins bind to three different class II proteins, namely DR, DP, DQ (or murine I-A, I-E). SEB and TSST-1 bind to DR and DQ alleles but not to DP. Toxin-class II complexes stimulate T cells.
Most toxins bind preferentially to DR class II proteins, less well to DQ and not at all to DP.
Different DR alleles have different affinities for a few of the toxins most notably SEE. In the mouse, complexes of toxins plus I-E (murine DR equivalent) stimulate T cells more efficiently than complexes of toxins with I-A (murine DQ analog). There is also evidence for weak haplotype specificity, e.g., toxins bound to I-Ak stimulate T cells less well than toxins bound to I-Ad or I-Ab. Staphylococcus aureus toxins bind more efficiently to human class II proteins than to mouse. A likely location for toxin binding to MHC may be at the sides of class II where 2 wings, the ends of the β-pleated strands, extend to either side of the proteins. A hypothetical structure for the complex of class II MHC T cell receptor and Staphylococcal enterotoxins and MHC protein is given in Figure 3. The Figure shows a class II MHC protein, diagrammed according to Bjorkman and co-workers and Brown and co-workers, in contact with a T cell receptor and a staphylococcal enterotoxin or Mls product. Ag is the probable site of binding of a conventional antigenic peptide.
Toxins stimulate T cells through Vβ binding.
T cell receptors for antigenic peptides bound to MHC proteins are made up of 5 clonally variable
components Vα, Jα, Vβ, Dβ, and Jβ. Recognition of most conventional antigenic peptides bound to MHC proteins involve contributions from all the variable
components of the T cell receptor.
In contrast, the toxins stimulate T cells almost exclusively via the Vβ region of the T cell receptor. See Table 7 for binding of toxins to T cells bearing various VB receptors.
TABLE 7
TOXIN Vβ SPECIFICITY
HUMAN MOUSE
SEA ? 1, 3, 10, 11, 17
SEE 5.1, 6.1-3, 8, 18 11, 15, 17
SED 5, 12, ? 3, 7, 8.1-3, 11, 17
SEB 3, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20 3, 7, 8.1-3, 17
SEC1 12, ? 3, 8.2, 8.3, 11, 17
SEC2 12, 13 .1, 13.2, 14, 15, 17 , 20 3, 8.2, 10, 17
SEC3 5, 12, ? 3, 7, 8.1, 8.2
TSST1 2 3, 15, 17
ExFT 2 3, 10, 11, 15, 17
MAM ? 6, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 This property of selective stimulation of Vβ is reminiscent of the endogenous superantigens called Mls antigens in the mouse. The pattern of Vβ
specificity of the different toxins corresponds loosely with their groupings by sequence similarity. SEA, SED and SEE all stimulate murine T cells bearing Vβ11 and SEE and SED both stimulate human T cells bearing Vβ5. SEB and SECs stimulate mouse T cells bearing members of the Vβ8 family and human T cells positive for Vβ12. The exceptions are as follows:
SED stimulates T cells bearing the Vβ8 unlike SEA and SEE. Exfoliating toxin and TSST-1 which are not related by sequence have similar specificities for Vβ both in mouse and humans.
Bacterial toxins and other superantigens do not bind to T cell receptors at those regions involved in binding to conventional antigenic peptides plus MHC. The superantigens engage Vβ on an exposed face of Vβ or a region predicted to be a β-pleated sheet and exposed on the side of the T cell receptor. This model predicts that toxins act as clamps engaging the sides of class II and Vβ bringing into close proximity the surfaces of the T cell receptor and MHC that would contact each other during T cell recognition of conventional antigens bound in the groove of MHC.
Proper confirmation must await x ray crystallographic resolution of the complex.
Neither class II nor toxins separately have affinities for the T cell receptors in question, but the combination of toxins and class II proteins do.
Only if the complex peptide-MHC ligand has formed can it functionally engage the T cell receptor. The T cell activation via the VβB region of the T cell mimics strong alloreactive responses. This
interaction occurs irrespective of whether the Vβ is expressed on CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. This behavior is consistent with the known resistance of
Staphylococcal enterotoxins to proteolysis even in acidified conditions.
Mice Express Endogenous Equivalent of the
Enterotoxins.
T cells from some mice responded well to spleen cells from some other animals even though both responder and stimulator were identical at the MHC. The antigens are called minor lymphocyte stimulating antigens (Mls). There are many Mis-like products produced by mice controlled by non-linked loci. Mis products stimulate T cells bearing Vβs. Mls-1a in combination with mouse class II molecules stimulate nearly all T cells bearing mouse Vβ 6, 7, 8.1 and 9. A list of the Mls-like products and the Vβs they engage is given in Table 8. Mls products have not yet been found in humans. TABLE 8
Mis-like products identified in mouse.
LOCUS Vβ MHC association
specificity
Mls-1a 6, 7, 8.1, 9 Class II (except q)
Mls-2a 3 Class II (except q)
Mls-3a 3 Class II (except q)
? 5 I-E
? 7 I-E
? 11 I-E
? 17 I-E
A striking resemblance exists between T cell responses to Staphylococcal enterotoxins and T cell responses to the Mls locus. The Mls locus located on chromosome 1 and other similar genes on other
(unknown) chromosomes have profound effects on T cells. Polymorphism at thrse loci elicits a strong primary mixed lymphocyte response between MHC
identical and Mls disparate spleen cells in mice.
Mls products stimulate T cells bearing
particular Vβ5 almost regardless of the rest of the structure of the receptor on the T cell. This activity depends on the simultaneous expression by the presenting cell of class II proteins. Some class II products, most notably I-E molecules, present Mls products and bacterial toxins better than others.
Mls appear to engage Vβs at the same site on the exposed face of the polypeptide as toxins.
The similarities between properties of bacterial toxins and mouse Mls products might lead one to suggest a structural similarity. Mls products associate with class II and stimulate T cells via Vβ much like superantigens but the structure of Mls is unknown.
There are consequences for mice expressing Mis products. They cause deletion in the thymus for all prospective T cells bearing VβS with which they interact. Mice expressing Mls-1a contain very few T cells bearing Vβ 6, 7, 8.2 or 9 and hence are deprived of 20% of their total potential T cell repertoire. Despite this they do not seem to be susceptible to disease.
Both Mls and enterotoxins show the following characteristics in common:
1 . Both activate a high frequency of normal T cells exceeding that of conventional protein antigens.
2. Responding T cells are CD4+.
3. T cells of many specificities respond. 4. Both elicit responses of T cells expressing receptors having particular Vβ gene products.
5. There is no MHC restriction of responding T cells.
6. Both require presentation by class II MHC.
7. IE and IA molecules on antigen presenting cells are required for immunologic effects.
8. Ontogenetic deletion of Vβ or CD4+8+ cells is induced by both molecules.
These similarities are summarized in Table 9.
Table 9 : Similarities between the T cell responses to Mis and SE and differences with responses to protein Aga
Characteristic of the T Cell
Response to: Mls-1a SE Proteins
High freguency Yes Yes No of responding cells (~1:5) (~1:5) (~1:104)
Responding T cells CD4+ Yes Yes Yesb
T cell receptor
involved in response Yes Yes Yes
T cells of many
specificities respond Yes Yes No
Vβ restriction of
responding T cells Yes Yes Noc MHC restriction of
responding T cells No No Yes
Incompetent class II
MHC alleles Yes Yes Yesd
1-E more involved than 1-A Yes Yes No Ontogenetic deletion
of Vβ on CD4+8+ Yes Yese No
Processing required ? No Yes
Pulsing APC stimulatory ? Yes Yes
Pulsing T cell stimulatory ? Yes No Protein identified No Yes Yes a Data on T cell responses to Mls and SE derived from this paper and Janeway et al. A detailed description of the SE themselves is found in Bergdoll.
b T cells expressing CD8 respond only to proteins degraded within cells; extrinsic proteins are presented by class II MHC to CD4 T cells.
c T cell responses to protein antigens require all elements of the TCR, whereas those to Mls and SE appear to require only use of certain Vβ segments.
d Presentation of proteins is much more restricted in use of allelic forms of class II MHC molecules than is "presentation" of SE or Mis.
e From Yagi and Janeway.
The striking functional similarity of Staphylococcal enterotoxins and Mls suggests that the Mls may represent a protein with homology to Staphylococcal enterotoxins. It has been proposed that the Mls like Staphylococcal enterotoxins directly binds the TCR-CD4 complex via its Vp domain and to class II MHC molecules assembling a complex that is highly stimulatory for T cells. Hence, both Mls and Staphylococcal enterotoxins are thought to ligate class II MHC to the TCR:CD4 complex in such a way as to stimulate a large percentage of T cells with restricted Vβ usage.
While the animal studies described herein were carried out with Staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E TSST-1 and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, based upon the observed structural and reactive similarities, it would be expected that similar results would be obtained with the other
superantigens such as mycoplasma and mycobacterial antigens. Mls antigens, heat shock proteins and the synthetic polypeptides described above. Additional biological properties common to this group include their mitogenic effects, interferon, interleukin and tumor necrosis factor induction activity.
Furthermore, all are capable of inducing fever and shock when given intravenously to rabbits or monkeys, and most of these have been implicated as potential pathogenic agents in the toxic shock syndrome.
Production And Isolation Of
Enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E and F
General Methods
Isolation and purification procedures for
enterotoxins contain numerous common steps. On the whole, growth of enterotoxin producing Staphylococcus aureus strains is similar in all cases. The most widely used general medium for the culture of these organisms contains 3% MZ-amine Type A, or MAX, 3% protein hydrolysate powder, 0.00005% thiamine and 0.001% niacin. Optimum yields of the enterotoxins are obtained under controlled fermentation, where pH, temperature and oxygen tension are controlled.
Typically, growth at 37°C for 18 to 24 hours is sufficient for maximum toxin yields. The yield of enterotoxin B and C1 and C2 will be up to several hundred μgrams (toxin)/ml (media), while the yield of other toxins will be only a few μgrams/ml.
All enterotoxins are secreted products.
Generally, they are produced during the logarithmic and stationary stages of cell growth. After growth, the producing cells are removed from the medium by centrifugation, and the toxin-containing supernatant is saved. If a large fermentation has been carried out, then the cells and supernatant can be quickly separated using a continuous flow centrifuge. To concentrate the toxins from the media, various methods, e.g., polyethylene glycol precipitation, or dialysis tubing precipitation, or hollow fiber concentration using membranes with selective
molecular weight cutoffs can be used. To assess the purity of the isolated enterotoxin product, specific antisera to each of the toxins are used in
appropriate quantitative immunoassays, e. g. ,
radioimmunoassays or enzyme labelled immunoassays, hemagglutination, or precipitin reactions.
Enterotoxin Purification By Type
Enterotoxin B
The strain of Staphylococcus aureus, that is used for the production of SEB (Staphylococcal enterotoxin B) is e.g., S6 or 10-275. (Source: Dr. John
Iandolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.) The medium containing the toxin is diluted twice with water adjusted to a pH of 6.4, and AmberLite CG-50 (200 mesh) cation ion-exchange resin is added to the toxin mixture. The toxin is eluted, dialyzed, then reapplied to the CG-50 column again. The eluted toxin is dialyzed, then applied to a column of carboxymethyl cellulose or CM-Sephadex. Unbound proteins are eluted with 0.03 and 0.04 molar sodium phosphate buffer. At this point, the toxin is essentially homogeneous. Using chromatofocusing techniques, the SEB may be further subdivided into several isoelectric species using polybuffer 96. Enterotoxin A (SEA.
High SEA producers, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus 13M-2909 (Source: Dr. John Iandolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas) are grown in the general medium that is made 0.2% in glucose.
Initially, AmberLite CG-50 is used for batch
isolation. After incubation, the toxin is eluted and dialyzed. The toxin is then loaded onto a CM-cellulose column and eluted with a linear gradient. The combined fractions are then loaded onto a
hydroxylapatite column and eluted using a linear gradient. The fractions are lyophilized and
chromatographed on a Sephadex-G-75 column. The toxins obtained from this procedure are greater than 99% pure, with a yield of approximately 20%. Enterotoxin C1 (SEC1)
Culture supernatant from Staphylococcus aureus 137 (Source: Dr. Marcia Betley, University of
Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin) is concentrated, dialyzed and lyophilized. The toxin product is then applied to a carboxymethyl cellulose column and eluted with a stepwise gradient. The toxin peak consists of a sharp peak with a trailing edge. The eluted toxin is concentrated and applied to Sephadex-G-75. The toxin elutes as a single peak. The toxin is then concentrated and run twice through a column of Sephadex-G-50. The eluate is dialyzed against water and lyophilized. Enterotoxin C2 (SEC)
Culture supernatant from Staphylococcus aureus 361 (Source: Dr. Marcia Betley, University of
Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin) is concentrated as for SECi and dialyzed. The toxin is then applied to a carboxymethyl cellulose column. SEC2 is eluted, lyophilized and resuspended in distilled water. The toxin is reapplied to a column of carboxymethyl cellulose and eluted with a linear gradient. The partially purified toxin is concentrated and applied to a Sephadex-G-75 column. The eluted toxin is concentrated and finally reapplied to a Sephadex-G-50 column. Recovery is about 40%, with purity
exceeding 99%. Enterotoxin D (SEP.
Staphylococcus aureus 1151M (Source: Dr. John Iandolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas) is used for the production of enterotoxin B. The medium is similar to that used for SEA and SEB.
After growth and removal of the cells, the pH of the supernatant is adjusted to 5.6 and applied to an AmberLite-CG-50 resin. The mixture is stirred for one hour, and the toxin is eluted and concentrated using 20% (W/V) polyethylene glycol, 20M. The concentrated toxin is dialyzed and applied to a carboxymethyl cellulose column. The toxin is eluted in a linear gradient and then rechromatographed on carboxymethyl cellulose. The toxin solution is concentrated and chromatographed on Sephadex-G-75. This step is repeated once. Enterotoxin E (SEE)
Staphylococcus aureus strain FRI-236 (Source: Dr. John landolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas) culture supernatant is concentrated and dialyzed. The toxin is then absorbed to a
carboxymethyl cellulose column. The toxin is eluted in a stepwise fashion and concentrated. It is then chromatographed twice on Sephadex-G-75. To obtain highly purified SEE, it is necessary to chromatograph the toxin once more on G-75 in the presence of 6 molar urea.
Enterotoxin F or Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1
(TSST-1), TSST-1a and TSST-1b
Staphylococcus strain MN8 (Source: Dr. Patrick Schlievert, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis,
Minnesota) is cultured overnight in dialyzable beef heart medium and precipitated from culture fluid by adding 4 volumes of absolute ethanol and storing for at least 2 days. The precipitate is collected by centrifugation and the pellet is suspended in water, recentrifuged and dialyzed to remove salts. The preparation is then electrofocused in a pH gradient of 3-10 using commercial ampholytes with the LKB Multiphor apparatus. The visible band containing TSST-1 is harvested and refocused in a pH 6-8
gradient yielding purified TSST-1.
TSST-la and lb are isolated by one additional electrofocusing step. After focusing TSST-1 on the pH 6-8 gradient, approximately one-half of the
Sephadex gel is removed from the anode end. The gel remaining on the cathode end, containing the TSST-1 band is repoured after the addition of two more grams of Sephadex gel and then refocused overnight using the remaining pH gradient. After electrofocusing in a pH 6-8 or 6.5-7.5 gradient, protein bands are located by the zymogen print method. Discrete bands are scraped off the plate and eluted with pyrogen free water from the Sephadex gel. Strain MN8 yields approximately 2 mg of each toxin per liter of culture fluid. For Staphylococcus aureus strains other than MN8, 200 μg of each toxin is obtained per liter of culture fluid. TSST-1a and lb are proteins which migrate as homogeneous bands in SDS gels to a
molecular weight of 22,000 with isoelectric points of 7.08 and 7.22, respectively.
With the changing technology of protein
purification, new methods have been employed for the purification of certain enterotoxins from
Staphylococcus aureus. Some of these methods are given here.
Enterotoxins A and C2
A 10 ml culture of Staphylococcus aureus 11N-165 (SEA), Staphylococcus aureus 361 (Source: Dr. John landolo, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas) (SEC2) is grown overnight at 37°C. The removal of enterotoxin from the supernatant is carried out using QAE-Sephadex. The toxin is then eluted batchwise from the ion exchanger and recovered by filtration on a sintered glass funnel. The eluates are
concentrated by ultrafiltration. The toxin is then passed through a Sephadex-G-100 column. Two peaks absorbing at 280 mm are eluted, with the latter containing the enterotoxin. The eluted toxin is concentrated and rerun on Sephadex-G-100. The overall recovery is about 30% for SEC2 and 40 to 50% for SEA. Both toxins appear homogeneous by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Enterotoxins A, C1. D
This method utilizes fast protein liquid
chromatography (FPLC) and high resolution
chromatofocusing Mono P column. Enterotoxins in media are concentrated and passed over a Sephadex-G- 75 column. The toxin containing fractions are pooled. For C1 and D, the supernatants are passed over an AmberLite-CG-50 column, as described for SED, and the active fractions pooled. All three toxins are then placed in buffer for chromatofocusing and then separated using the MONO P column FPLC system. Since all of the toxins have isoelectric points in the range of 7 to 9, the polybuffer PBE-96 is used for elution. The purity of SEA, SEC1 and SED is estimated to be 98, 95 and 80%, respectively. SEA elutes as two peaks at pH 8.8 and 8.6. SEC1 also elutes as two peaks at pH 8.3 and 7.9, and SED elutes as three peaks at pH 8.6, 8.3 and 8.0.
Enterotoxins may also be produced in mutant strains of Staphylococcus aureus by expression of an enterotoxin producing gene in another bacteria or cell. Genetic material which appears to be in the chromosomal plasmid, or phage portion of the bacteria may be used for gene insertion procedures. Complete molecules or fragments with amino acid sequence homology to the parent enterotoxin may be produced with this technology. (Reviewed in landolo, J.J., Annu. Rev. Microbiol., 43, 375, 1989.) Moreover, mutagenic agents such as N-Nitroso compounds are capable of augmenting significantly the production of enterotoxins by some strains of Staphylococcus. Alpha Toxin
Staphylococcus aureus Wood 46 strain (Source: Dr. Sidney Harshman, Vanderbilt University,
Nashville, Tennessee) is used and cultured in yeast extract dialysate medium. With the glass-pore bead method undialyzed yeast may be used together with casein, glucose, thiamin and nicotinic acid. The organism is incubated in medium for 24h at 37°C.
The culture supernatant is applied to a glass-pore bead column and adjusted to pH 6.8. A column of 5 × 20 cm is used for 3 liter batches and flow rates adjusted to 10-20 ml/min. The column is washed with 0.01M KHPO4 pH 6.8 and then the alpha toxin is eluted with 1.0M KHPO4 pH 7.5. Fractions are tested for the presence of alpha hemolysin by a rapid hemolytic assay using rabbit erythrocytes as substrate.
Streptococcal Pyroqenic Exotoxin (SPE)
(Erythrogenic toxin, scarlet fever toxin)
Streptococcus NY-5 strain (Source: ATCC 12351) has been the most widely used for toxin production and studies. A list of various strains to produce toxins A, B, and C has been published. The Kalbach S84 type 3 strain (Source: Dr. Joseph E. Alouf, Institute Pasteur-Unite Associee, Paris, France) is cultured and the supernatant is concentrated and stirred in calcium phosphate gel. Fraction S1 is precipitated with 80% saturated ammonium sulfate. The redissolved pellet is dialyzed and termed
Fraction S2. This fraction is precipitated with 50-80% ammonium sulfate, resuspended in phosphate buffered saline (Fraction S3), and gel filtered on a Bio-Gel P-100 column. The fraction corresponding to the volume eluted between 160 and 240 ml is collected and concentrated by ultrafiltration to about 20 ml in an Amicon PM10 Membrane (Fraction S4). Fraction S4 is then submitted to preparative isoelectric focusing (IEF) performed with a 100 ml column. The material which focuses at around pH 4.8 in a narrow peak is collected and dialyzed in an Amicon cell using PBS to eliminate ampholines and sucrose. The Fraction (S5) constitutes purified pyrogenic exotoxin. Another electrophoretic form of SPE with a pI of 4.2 is often separated simultaneously with that of pi 4.8. Both forms show total cross reactivity against immune sera raised by rabbit immunization with fraction S3.
The Fraction S5 shows a single band by SDS-PAGE corresponding to a molecular weight of 28K.
Bioassays for determination of activity include erythematosus skin test in rabbits or guinea pigs lymphocyte blast transformation. The toxin may also be detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) or hemagglutination inhibition.
Experimental Animal Studies
l. Preparation of Native Enterotoxins
Current methods for purification of all of the enterotoxins utilize ion exchange materials such as CG-50, carboxymethyl-cellulose and the Sephadexes (gel filtration). The preparation of the SEB used for these studies is as follows.
Staphylococcus aureus strain 110-275 is cultured in NZ-Amine A media supplemented with 10 gm/liter of yeast extract for 18-20 hours in room air at 37° C. The flask is agitated at 300 RPM. The initial pH of the culture is 6.8 and the postincubation pH 8.0.
The.culture is filtered through a DC-10 Amicon filter (pore size 0.1 micron). The final filtrate is adjusted to pH 5.6. The filtrate is tested for the presence of SEB in radial immunodiffusion using known antisera to SEB. Eighteen to 20 liters of culture supernatant fluid is diluted with deionized,
distilled H2O (1:5 to 1:10) and the pH adjusted to 5.6 CG-50 resin (Malinkrodt) (800 ml), preequilibrated to pH 5.6 in 0.03 M phosphate butter, pH 6.2 (PB) is added and the mixture stirred for one hour. The resin is allowed to settle and the supernatant fluid decanted. The resin is placed in a column and the toxin eluted with 0.5 M PB, 0.5 M NaCl pH 6.2. The concentrated, dialyzed toxin is placed in a column (5 cm × 75 cm) of CM-sepharose (pretreated with 0.005 M PB pH 5.6). The column is washed with the same buffer and the enterotoxin eluted by treating the column stepwise with PB 0.03 M pH 6.0, 0.045 M pH 6.25, 0.06 M pH 6.5 and 0.12 M pH 7.2. The fractions containing the enterotoxin are combined, concentrated with polyethylene glycol (200 cc wet volume of packed resin), and dialyzed against 0.5 M NaCl 0.05 M PH pH 7.2. The concentrated enterotoxin solution (5 ml) is placed in a column of Sephacryl S-200 (pretreated with 0.5 M NaCl, 0.05 M PB, pH 7.2). The column is eluted with the same buffer. The fractions
containing the enterotoxin are combined and dialyzed against 0.01 M PB, 0.15 M NaCl pH 7.2. The
enterotoxin B concentration is approximately 1 mg/ml. The solution is filter sterilized, frozen and
lyophilized. Samples are stored in lyophilized from at 4° C. The final enterotoxin fraction is a white powder which when dissolved in normal saline is a clear colorIess solution. Samples containing 5 and 10 μg/ml are tested in a double diffusion
immunoprecipitation assay using known standards of SEB and mono-specific antisera. A single
precipitation line is noted which showed a line of identity with known SEB. Using a tritiated thymidine mitogenic assay with human and murine immunocytes, SEB showed significant mitogenic activity comparable to that of SEA. SEB was found to be devoid of contaminating alpha hemolysin assessed in a rabbit erythrocyte hemolytic assay.
PAGE gel analysis of SEB showed a predominant single band at 28,000 m.w. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles were obtained on a MAC PLUS controlling a Rainin Rabbit HPLC with a Hewlett Packard 1040 A Diode array detector and a Vyadac Protein and Peptide C18 column. The profile for purified enterotoxin B was a sharp peak without significant shoulder. There was minimal trace contamination. A functional hemolytic assay for the presence of alpha hemolysin in the pure preparation was negative. Purified enterotoxin batches were negative for endotoxin in the limulus amebocyte lysate assay. The sterility of the preparations was demonstrated by negative cultures in thioglycolate medium and soybean-casein digest. Protein
determinations were carried out by a spectrophotometric method.
The sterility of the preparation was demonstrated by negative cultures using (a) fluid thioglycollate medium and (b) soybean-casein digest. A sample containing 1 mg/ml of SEB was tested for endotoxin contamination using Sigma E-toxate CAL assay. The final product was found to be free of endotoxin with a standard sensitivity of 0.1 ug endotoxin/mg SEB.
Toxieity testing was carried out in two Hartley strain guinea pigs weighing less than 450 grams, and two female C57 black mice (Simonson Laboratories, Watsonville, CA), weighing less than 22 grams. Each animal was observed for 7 days with no significant change in condition or weight after intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml of 26 μg/kg enterotoxin B.
SEA, SEC, SED, SEE, TSST-1 and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin in the studies were prepared by the previously described methods. The identity, purity and sterility of these preparations were tested in a fashion similar to that for SEB.
2. Preparation of Derivatized Enterotoxins
To prepare carboxymethylated enterotoxin B (CM-SEB), 13 mg of purified SEB was dissolved in a solution of 0.4M sodium bromoacetate pH 7.0 and 0.5M potassium phosphate pH 7.0. The solution was
incubated in the dark for 14 days at room temperature. At the end of the reaction period, the
solution was dialyzed at 4° C against several changes of sterile distilled water and lyophilized. Amino acid analysis indicated that carboxymethylation of the histidine residues of SEB was complete.
3. Preparation of Synthetic Enterotoxins
A peptide consisting o: 26 amino acids
corresponding to the N terminal amino acids of SEA, the loop structure of SEA, a conserved mid-molecular sequence of SEA and SEB and a C terminal SEB sequence was synthesized in collaboration with Multi-Peptide Systems, La Jolla, California. The preparation of peptides was carried out using a variation of
Merrifield's original solid phase procedure in conjunction with the method of simultaneous multiple peptide synthesis using t-Boc chemistries. Peptides were cleaved from the resins using simultaneous liquid hydrogen fluoride cleavage. The cleared peptides were then extracted with acetic acid and ethyl ether and lyophilized. Reverse phase HPLC analysis and mass spectral analysis revealed a single major peak with the molecular weight corresponding closely to theoretical.
Figure imgf000042_0001
The rationale for the construction of this synthetic peptide is as follows:
(a) Amino acid sequences of enterotoxins A and B known to be involved in the interaction of the native enterotoxins with the T cell receptor and class II molecules are retained.
(b) The loop structure of enterotoxin A is retained because it is devoid of histadine moieties which are known to be associated with the emetic response.
(c) Amino acids 1-10 in the N-terminal region of enterotoxin A are retained because they have been shown to have class II binding activity,
(d) The loop structure of enterotoxin A was retained because both the loop and associated disulfide linkages were considered to be
important for T lymphocyte mitogenicity,
stabilization of the molecule and resistance to in vivo degradation.
(e) A conserved sequence in the central portion of enterotoxin A and B adjacent to the disulfide loop (amino acids 107-114) was retained,
(f) Histadine moieties are deleted from the molecule because of their association with the emetic response.
4. Preparation of Vehicle - Adjuvant Formulation
The vehicle was prepared as follows: To
phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 0.4% (v/v) Tween 80, was added 5% (v/v) Pluronic 121 and 10% squalene. This mixture was vortexed vigorously to produce a uniform emulsion. One volume of this vehicle mixture was then added to an equal volume of enterotoxin dissolved in PBS and vortexed briefly to ensure complete mixing of components. The final concentrations were (v/v): 0.17% Tween 80, 2.5%
Pluronic L121, 5% squalene. A total of 2 ml of this mixture containing various concentrations of toxins was injected intramuscularly into thigh muscles of rabbits bearing VX-2 carcinoma. 5. Preparation of Soluble Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) 800 mg was added to solution containing 30 ml of distilled water, 6 ml of 1N NaOH and 50 mg of NaPO4. The solution was vortexed vigorously. The pH was adjusted to 7.1-7.8 with 1N HC1 added dropwise. Sterile distilled water was added to a final volume of 40 ml. The solution containing 20 mg/ml of Ibuprofen was stored at -20° C. 6. Animals
New Zealand white female rabbits weighing from 2.5 to 5.0 kg, ages 2 to 4 months were used for studies employing purified enterotoxins. Rabbits of higher weight were used in preliminary studies which are discussed in application Serial No. 07/416,530, filed on October 3, 1989. The animals were obtained from the Elkhorn Rabbitry, Watsonville, California.
7. Tumor
The tumor used for these studies was obtained from the Frederick Cancer Research Facility of the National Cancer Institute. It was stored frozen in the DCT tumor repository. The tumor call lettered G50014 was also known as the VX-2. Stewart, H.L., Snell, K.C., Dunham, L.J. : Transplantable and transmissible tumors of animals. In Atlas of Tumor Pathology. Washington, D.C, Armed Forces Institute of Pathol., pp. 38, 355, 1959. The tumor is a carcinoma indigenous to the New Zealand white rabbit. It was stored as a tissue fragment, and suspended in saline. The tumor was initially induced by Shope virus and derived from a transformed papilloma in a dutch belted rabbit. Kidd and Rous described the tumor in 1937. Histopathologically, the tumor consists of cords and sheets of epithelial cells
(80%) and 20% hemorrhage and necrosis with no acini. The growth is primarily papillary. Numerous mitoses are evident. The cells are thin walled and very anaplastic. The tumor used was cryopreserved from October 20, 1985. It had a negative viral profile. 8. Tumor inoculation
Tumor fragments for inoculation were obtained from VX-2 growing in rabbit thigh. Fragments were implanted intramuscularly into the right thigh of recipients. Donors were placed under general
anesthesia with halothane (1.5%) and under sterile conditions, small fragments were excised and placed in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium with glutamine (Gibco Life Technologies, Inc., Grand Island, NY 14072). The fragments were rinsed and then suspended in media until they were transferred into new hosts. Recipient rabbits had their right thigh shaved and scrubbed with alcohol and betadine. A small area was anesthetized with 1% lidocaine. With a scalpel, an incision was made through the skin into the muscle where a small pocket was created. With forceps, 4 to 5 tumor fragments were implanted into the muscle. The wound was closed with 1 or 2 nylon sutures.
Tumors appeared at the implantation site within 4 weeks and therapy was started when the tumors were at least 1 to 2 centimeters in broad diameter.
9. Tumor measurements
Tumors were measured by calipers by a certified veterinary oncologist before and at intervals after treatment. Complete remission was present when there was no evident tumor. Partial remission represented a reduction of tumor volume by greater than 50%. Less than partial remission was a 25-50% reduction in tumor volume. 10. Conditions of Administration
Various enterotoxins, Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, carboxymethylated enterotoxin B, or synthetic enterotoxins in lyophilized form were diluted in 0.9% saline or sterile distilled water and then filtered through a 0.45 micron Millipore filter. Aliquots were stored at -20° F. Each aliquot was thawed once, used only for a single injection and then discarded. Various preparations in appropriate dose were prepared in 1 ml of 0.9% saline and drawn up in a 1 ml syringe. This solution was administered via the central ear vein which was cannulated with a 25 gauge needle and attached infusion tubing
(Butterfly, 25 × 3/4 with 12" tubing set, Abbott Hospital, N. Chicago, IL 50064). Following venous cannulation, tubing and needle were washed with saline using a 3 ml syringe and, with the tubing filled with saline, the toxin infusion was begun using a 1 ml tuberculin syringe (Monoject tuberculin 1.0 cc. Division of Sherwood Medical, St. Louis
63103). Approximately 0.3 ml of toxin was
administered per minute. The tubing and needle were washed with 6 ml of normal saline over an additional 3 minutes using a 3 ml syringe.
11. Enterotoxin Administration to Tumor Bearing Rabbits
Studies in 20 rabbits using partially purified enterotoxin B as a single dose of 100-150 μg/kg or 40-60 μg/kg resulted in tumor regressions. With a dose of 40-60 μg/kg, six of twelve animals showed objective tumor regressions while a dose of 100-150 μg/kg resulted in objective tumor responses in three of nine rabbits treated. Results of these studies are given in prior applications. Serial No.
07/416,530 filed on October 2, 1989 and Serial
No. 07/466,577, filed on January 17, 1990. Toxieity of these preparations was thought to be due to contaminating elements in particular staphylococcal alpha hemolysin. Accordingly, the next phase of these studies was carried out with purified
enterotoxin B.
a) Purified Enterotoxin B
Purified enterotoxin B in a mean dose of 26 μg/kg was administered to seven animals on one, two or three occasions (Table 11). Five showed complete remissions while one additional rabbit demonstrated 96% regression. One showed tumor progression. Of the four animals receiving a mean dose of 13 μg/kg, one had a complete remission while three showed tumor progression. A single animal given a dose of 40 μg/kg died within 12 hours of injection. Six of eight animals with major regressions showed enduring responses lasting 2 to 6 months without evident tumor recurrence (Table 11).
b) Purified Enterotoxin A
SEA in a dose of 0.9 μg/kg was given to 5 rabbits on two or three occasions. Two showed complete remissions while three others demonstrated tumor progression (Table 12). and one died acutely after the third injection. SEA in a dose range of 5-12 μg/kg was administered to 7 animals. Two achieved complete remission while one experienced a 60% remission. Four others died acutely after the first injection.
c) Carboxymethylated Enterotoxin B (CM-SEB)
Five rabbits were with VX-2 carcinoma treated with CM-SEB in doses of 26 μg/kg or 40 μg/kg on days 0, 4 and 11. Two animals showed complete remissions of their tumor within sixty days after the last injection while three animals showed tumor
progression. The two complete remissions have been sustained for more than one year (Table 13).
d) Streptococcal Pyrogenic Exotoxin (SPEA.
Studies have now been initiated in rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma using intravenously administered
Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin in a dose of 13 μg/kg. Two animals have shown complete remission while a third has had tumor progression (Table 14). e) Purified TSST-1
Two rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma have been treated with 0.5 μg/kg of TSST-1. One showed a complete remission over 40 days while a second showed tumor progression.
f) Purified Enterotoxins C D and E
Studies have now been initiated in rabbits with
VX-2 carcinoma using intravenously administered enterotoxins C, D, and E.
g) Enterotoxins in Vehicle-Adiuvant Preparations Studies have now been initiated using various enterotoxins incorporated in vehicle-adjuvant
formulations as prepared above and injected into rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma. h) Synthetic Enterotoxins.
Studies have been initiated in rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma using intravenously administered synthetic enterotoxins as prepared above.
i) Untreated Control Animals
Five rabbits were inoculated with the VX-2 carcinoma as given above but were not treated with enterotoxins. All five showed progressive tumor growth over 90 days observation. No spontaneous remissions of tumor were observed.
TABLE 11
Purified Enterotoxin B (Lot TTB-16)
Time to Maximum
Animal Number Maximum Response Response (days)
Mean Dosaαe 26 ug/kg
QT2 complete remission 24
Wanda1 complete remission 20
Cindy2 complete remission 30
Edna2 complete remission 46
Magnolia3 complete remission 75
Periwinkle3 96% 68
Heidi2 progression
Mean Dosage 13 ug/kg
KT1 complete remission 14
Dinky2 progression
Mazie2 progression
Gretta1 progression
Mean Dosage 40 μg/kq
Bonnie1 NC 12 hours
(acute death)
Untreated
Gardenia progression
Rachel progression
Elyce progression
Z-1 progression
Z-2 progression
A-4 progression
1 One injection on day 0.
2 Two injections: One injection on day 0 and one injection on days 4, 5, 7 or 8.
3 Three injections: One injection on day 0, one injection on days 4 or 6, and one injection on days 11 or 13. TABLE 12
Purified Enterotoxin A1
Time to Maximum
Animal Number Maximum Response Response (days)
Mean Dosage 0.9 ug/kg
Poppy complete remission 47
Mailory complete remission 120
Jennifer progression
Stephen progression
Alex progression
Animal received a total of three injections given on day 0, 4 or 6 and 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 15.
TABLE 13
Carboxymethylated Enterotoxin B1
Animal Time to Maximum
Number Maximum Response Response (days)
Mean Dosage 26 or 40 ug/kg
Z-4 complete remission 40
Z-5 complete remission 60
Z-3 progression
A-1 progression
A-2 progression 1 Animals received a total of three injections given on days 0, 4 and 10 or 11 or 12.
TABLE 14
Purified Streptococcal Pyrogenic Enterotoxin A1
Animal Time to Maximum
Number Maximum Response Response (days)
Mean Dosage 13 ug/kg
E3 complete remission 17
E6 complete remission 13
El progression 1 Animals received a total of two injections given on day 0 , 7 or 10. 12. Long Term Responses and Follow-Up of
Responder Animals Treated With Enterotoxin B
Six of seven animals with tumor remission showed no tumor recurrence over observation periods of three weeks to three months after documented complete remissions. One animal showed tumor recurrence at the primary site appearing within one week after a
96% regression. Two animals died of pneumonia three weeks and 2.5 months, respectively, after tumor regressions. Autopsies of both showed no evidence of tumor recurrence (Table 15).
TABLE 15
FOLLOW-UP AFTER REMISSIONS
Length of Follow-Up
Animal After Remission Condition of Animal
QT 3 months Excellent. No recurrent tumor.
Wanda 6 weeks Excellent. Cage injuries,
euthanized. No recurrent tumor.
Cindy 2 months Excellent. No recur. <ant tumor.
Edna 2 months Excellent. No recurrent tumor.
Magnolia 2.5 months Excellent until pneumonia
(death)
Autopsy; No recurrent tumor.
KT 3 weeks Excellent until pneumonia
(death)
Autopsy: No recurrent tumor.
Periwinkle 2 months Recurrent tumor at primary site.
13. Toxieity of Enterotoxins
With SEB in doses of 10 to 26 μg/kg, all animals showed anorexia, mild weight loss and temperature elevations of 1-4° F above baseline for 24 hours after treatment. Following this point all animals stabilized and temperature normalized while most steadily gained weight over the ensuing weeks as tumors regressed. Toxieity is given in Tables 16 and 17. In contrast, control untreated animals showed progressive tumor growth associated with steady weight loss. Rabbits with longstanding survival after remissions showed no long-term toxieity except for pneumonia which developed in two. Autopsy results and histologies of three tumor bearing rabbits and three control animals are given in Tables 17, 18, and 19.
Five of seven rabbits given enterotoxin A in doses of 5-12 μg/kg died within 72 hours of the first dose. However, when the dose was reduced to
0.9 μg/kg four of five animals survived with two showing complete remission and one dying after the third injection. The animals showed temperature elevations of 2° to 5° F and anorexia for 1-3 days after injection. During acute inflammatory activity in the tumor, animals often lost weight.
With carboxymethylated SEB in doses of 26 μg/kg and 40 μg/kg, there was no significant toxieity.
Mild temperature elevations were noted but there was no significant anorexia or weight loss.
With streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A, animals showed mild temperature elevations and anorexia for 1-2 days after injections. One animal died after 3 days after the second injection on day 10. TABLE 16
TOXICITY IN SEB TREATED RABBITS
Acute Toxieity
Maximum Maximum
Temperature Acute
Elevations Weight Appetite and
Rabbit No. (degrees F) Change (lbs.) General Behavior
QT 3.8° -1 Anorexia for 2 days after Rx.
Wanda 3.6° -1.25 Anorexia for 2 days after Rx. Subdued.
KT 4.4° -2.1 Anorexia for 2 days after Rx. Subdued. Cindy 1.6° -0.3 Anorexia for 2 days after Rx. Subdued.
Periwinkle 2.8° -0.9 Anorexia for 2 days after Rx. Subdued.
Magnolia 3.0° -0.14 No anorexia. Normal activity.
Edna 2.6° -0.4 No anorexia. Normal activity.
TABLE 17
TOXICITY IN SEB TREATED RABBITS
Long Term Effects
Maximum Long- Temperature Term Weight Appetite and
Rabbit No. (degrees F) Change (lbs.) General Behavior
QT Baseline no change Excellent appetite and behavior.
Wanda Baseline -1.2 Excellent appetite and activity.
KT Spiking -1.6 Excellent appetite temperature and activity.
Cindy Baseline +3.0 Excellent appetite and activity.
Periwinkle Baseline +2.1 Excellent appetite and activity.
Magnolia Baseline +3.6 Excellent appetite and activity.
Edna Baseline +1.6 Excellent appetite and activity. TABLE 18
SEB-TREATED RABBITS - AUTOPSY FINDINGS
Rabbit KidIntesNo. Lungs Liver Spleen neys tine Heart Tumor
KT PneuNGL* NGL NGL NGL NGL No tumor monia evident.
Magno- PneuNGL NGL NGL NGL NGL No tumor lia monia evident.
PeriPneuNGL NGL NGL NGL NGL Tumor winkle monia progression at primary site.
*NGL: No gross lesions,
TABLE 19
SEB-TREATED RABBITS - HISTOLOGIC FINDINGS
Rabbit No. Lungs Liver Spleen Kidneys
KT Pneumonitis WNL WNL WNL
Magnolia Pneumonitis WNL WNL WNL
TABLE 20
UNTREATED RABBITS - AUTOPSY FINDINGS
Total
Weight
Rabbit Loss KidIntesNo. (lbs.) Lungs Liver neys tine Spleen Heart
Elyce 1.3 NGL Nod- Nodule NGL NGL NGL ules (R)
Garde2.0 NGL NGL NGL NGL NGL NGL nia
Pearl 1.6 NGL NGL NGL NGL NGL NGL
A-4 1.0 NGL NGL NGL NGL NGL NGL
Z-1 1.8
Z-2 1.4
14. Histology
Microscopically, tumors showed extensive hemorrhagic necrosis in samples obtained 12 to 72 hours after the initial injection. Control untreated tumor showed focal areas of necrosis within the tumor, but no areas of hemorrhagic necrosis Indeed, the areas of necrosis were far more extensive in the treated tumors with few if any areas of viable tumor. In the treated tumors, small blood vessels
demonstrated hemostasis, and focal areas of
inflammatory cell extravasation in the perivascular area. These changes were not seen in control
untreated tumor specimens.
15. Multiple Injections of Enterotoxins Induce Antitumor Effects
Tumor bearing rabbits were given two or three injections of SEB, C-SEB, SEA or TSST-1 and showed tumor regressions. It is known that enterotoxins induce production of various cytokines and that one such cytokine namely interferon will in turn
upregulate the surface expression of IA molecules and Class II major histocompatibility antigens. Such additional upregulated antigen presenting cells, would be further capable of binding additional enterotoxins and presenting them to the T lymphocyte repertoire. Moreover, a synergy has been noted between various cytokines namely tumor necrosis factor, interferon and various mitogens for T
lymphocyte activation. Therefore, we may speculate that in the presence of various cytokines induced by the first injection of enterotoxins, upregulated antigen presenting cells are primed to bind
additional toxin given in the second or third
injection producing substantially augmented T cell proliferative responses and associated anti-tumor effects.
It is conceivable that the enterotoxins might be employed together with various cytokines such as IL-2 in vitro to develop a highly enriched population of T lymphocytes that could subsequently be injected at various intervals to continuously augment the anti-tumor effect in tumor bearing hosts. Finally, while the enterotoxins were given intravenously in the present experiments, it is quite conceivable, that the toxins could be administered in adjuvant form bound to vehicles such as aluminum hydroxide, liposomes, water in oil emulsions, pluronic triblock polymers and saponin with similar anti-tumor effects.
16. Attenuation of Toxicity with Ibuprofen
The administration of Ibuprofen (20 mg/ml) given in doses of 0.25 to 0.5 ml subcutaneously when temperatures reached 105°F or greater resulted in reduction in fever by 2 to 5ºF. Ibuprofen could be administered every 4 to 6 hours; however, in general, it did not need to be given more than once or twice per 24 hours. The use of this drug did not interfere with the observed tumor reduction or histologic hemorrhagic necrosis.
Ibuprofen may inhibit the prostaglandin mediated effects of the inflammatory cytokines including fever and anorexia but does not affect other antitumor immune and inflammatory responses.
Ibuprofen is only one of a large group of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents
(cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin synthesis
inhibitors), which would also be useful to attenuate toxieity induced by the enterotoxins.
17. Genetic Aspects of Enterotoxin Production Proceeding from the seminal work of Cohen &
Bσyer, U.S. Patent No. 4,237,224, DNA technology has become useful to provide novel DNA sequences and produce, large amounts of heterologous proteins in transformed cell cultures. In general, the joining of DNA from different organisms relies on the excision of DNA sequences using restriction
endonucleases. These enzymes are used to cut donor DNA at very specific locations, resulting in gene fragments which contain the DNA sequences of
interest. These DNA fragments usually contain short single-stranded tails at each end, termed
"sticky-ends". These sticky-ended fragments can then be ligated to complementary fragments in expression vehicles which have been prepared, e.g., by digestion with the same restriction endonucleases. Having created an expression vector which contains the structural gene of interest in proper orientation with the control elements, one can use this vector to transform host cells and express the desired gene product: with the cellular machinery available. Once expressed, the gene product is generally recovered by lysing the cell culture, if the product is expressed intracellularly, or recovering the product from the medium if it is secreted by the host cell.
Recombinant DNA technology has been used to express entirely heterologous gene products, termed c .rect expression, or the gene product o: interest can be expressed as a fusion protein containing some parts of the amino acid sequence of a homologous protein. This fusion protein is generally processed post-translationally to recover the native gene product. Many of the techniques useful in this technology can be found in Maniatis, T., et al..
Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York (1982).
However, while the general methods are easy to summarize, the construction of an expression vector containing a desired structural gene is a difficult process and the successful expression of the desired gene product in significant amounts while retaining its biological activity is not readily predictable. Frequently gene products are not biologically active when expressed in yeast, bacteria or mammalian cell systems. In these cases, post-translational
processing is required to produce biological
activity.
From physical and genetic analysis, the genes for SEA, SEB, SEC, and SEE occupy a chromosomal loci.
The structural gene encoding SED in all strains examined is localized, to a large penicillinase-like plasmid.
The enterotoxin A gene has been cloned. SEA was expressed in the E. coli genetic background from a single 2.5 kbp Hind III chromosomal DNA fragment. When sequenced, the DNA was found to contain a single reading frame that generated a protein consistent with the partial sequences of SEA derived by chemical methods. Therefore, it is apparent that the site mapped contained the structural gene for SEA.
Betley, M.J., Mekalanos, J.J., J. Bacteriol, 170, 34, 1987; Huang, I.Y., Hughes, J.L., Bergdoll, M.S., Schantz, E.J., J. Biol. Chem., 262, 7006, 1987;
Betley, M., Lofdahl, S., Kreiswirth, B.N., Bergdoll, M.S., Novick, R.P. Proc. Natl. Acd., Sci., USA, 81, 5179, 1984.
The enterotoxin A gene was found to be at least 18 kilobases in length and was carried on a mobile element. Enterotoxin A production was linked to the presence of a bacteriophage which integrates into the bacterial chromosome. The enterotoxin A gene is located near the phage attachment. The enterotoxin A gene was mapped between the purine and isoleucine- valine markers in 24 Staphylococcus aureus strains. Conversion to the SEA producing phenotype was induced by lysogenization with a temperate phage purified from staphylococcal aureus strain PS42D. Therefore, a bacteriophage vector was found to be responsible for the toxin phenotype in suitable recipients.
The enterotoxin B gene has been cloned and expressed in E. Coli. The DNA of the gene derived from E. Coli has been sequenced and matches the chemically derived sequence with only minor
differences. Gaskill, M.E., Khan, S.A., J. Biol. Chem., 263, 6276, 1988; Jones, C.L., Khan, S.A., J. Bacteriol, 166, 29, 1986; Huang, I.Y., Bergdoll, M.S., J. Biol. Chem., 245, 3518, 1970.
The SEC gene has been cloned from the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus MN Don. The cloned toxin was expressed in E. coli with a molecular weight comparable to that of the toxin from Staphylococcus aureus. The toxin was biologically active as
measured by pyrogenicity, enhancement of lethal endotoxic shock and mitogenicity with murine
splenocytes. The DNA sequence of the enterotoxin C gene has been developed and a protein sequence derived that compares favorably with the complete chemical sequence reported earlier. Bohach, G.A., Schlievert, P.M., Infect Immun., 55, 428, 1987;
Bohach, G.A., Schlievert, P.M. Mol. Gen. Genet. 209, 15, 1987.
The enterotoxin D gene has been found to occur on a 27.6 kbp plasmid. The enterotoxin D gene has been cloned an expressed in E. coli and other
Staphylococcal strains. The enterotoxin D gene in Staphylococcus aureus is under control of the agar locus like most Staphylococcal extracellular protein genes. The DNA sequence was determined encoding a mature protein with amino acid composition and reaction with antibody to SED confirming its identity to the biochemically purified toxin. Couch, J.L., Saltis, M.T., Betley, M.J., J. Bacteriol. 170, 2954, 1988.
The enterotoxin E gene has been cloned from S. Aureus FR1918 and was expressed in E. coli encoding an extracellular protein of 26,425 daltons. Its identity to SEE was confirmed immunologically and by correspondence of N terminal and C terminal analysis. Kreiswirth, B.N., Lofdahl, S., Betley, M.J.,
O'Reilly, Schlievert, P.M. Nature, 305, 709, 1983.
TSST-1 gene was not associated with either bacteriophage or plasmid DNA. The gene was cloned on a 10.6 kbp fragment of chromosomal DNA and
subsequently on an approximately 1 kbp subclone of the larger fragment. The TSST-1 gene was expressed in E. Coli, and TSST-1 was secreted into the
periplasm. The genetic element coding for TSST-1 was found to occupy two loci on the Staphylococcus genome. The loci are indicated by the notation Hi 555; one is at the junction of regions l and 2 and is indistinguishable from att012 and closely linked to tyrB. The second is within the trp operon at the junction of regions 17 and 18. Hi555 encodes the tst gene and is a heterologous insertion element that provisionally exhibits some of the characteristics of a transposon. Strains that are Trp- contain Hi555 at regions 17 and 18 (linked to Trp), while strains that are Trp+ contain Hi555 elsewhere linked to TryB.
However, the Trp- phenotype is not due to insertional inactivation by the unusual element. The sequence and analysis of the tst gene has been described. It codes for a mature protein (TSST-1) of 197 amino acids and a molecular weight of 22,049. Cooney, J., Mulvey, M., Arbuthnott, J.P., Foster, T.J., J. Gen. Microbiol., 134, 2179, 1988. Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPEA) is clearly related to the enterotoxins. It has a cysteine loop of 9 amino acids similar to that of SEA and is also encoded by a converting phage. SPEA shows greater amino acid sequence similarity with SEB than SEA. Immunologic studies show that the proteins and antisera to either enterotoxin are cross
reactive. Therefore, genes for all of the
enterotoxins have been isolated and transfected into other bacteria to obtain selective production. These genes may be used as sources of accelerated
production of these toxins in high producing bacteria employing transfection techniques familiar to one skilled in the art. landolo, J.J., Annu. Rev.
Microbiol., 43, 375, 1989.
High producing strains of Staphylococcus for selective enterotoxin production have been identified and are available as described in enterotoxin
purification section above. Moreover, exposure to mutagenic agents such as N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine of enterotoxin producing
Staphylococcus aureus has resulted in a 20 fold increase in enterotoxin production over the amounts produced by the parent Staphylococcus aureus strain. Freedman, M.A., Howard, M.B., J. Bacteriol, 106, 289, 1971.
18. Enterotoxin Genes: Genetically Engineered Tumor Cells, Accessory Cells, and Peptides
The genes for the enterotoxins and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins have been cloned. With their known mimicry of the Mls locus and their affinity for
T cell Vβ receptors, it would be logical to assume that transfection of the enterotoxin gene into tumor cells bearing appropriate HLA-DQ or DR or DP would result in production of a tumor cell bearing the minor lymphocyte stimulating locus capable of
ligating MHC class II molecules with T lymphocytes, therefore stimulating potent T cell proliferation and associated antitumor immunity. Experiments are being designed and implemented to test this hypothesis.
The rabbit VX-2 carcinoma cells have been established in tissue culture. The gene for enterotoxins A and B have been isolated and have been made available for these studies by Dr. Marcia Betley and Dr. Saleem Khann, respectively. Plans for transfection of rabbit VX-2 carcinoma cells with both genes have been made with Dr. Susan Faas and Dr. John Mclntyre of Tektagen, Malverne, PA. The transfected cells will then be injected into rabbits bearing the VX-2 carcinoma with appropriate controls consisting of non-transfected rabbit VX-2 carcinoma cells and VX-2 cells transfected with an irrelevant microbial gene. Anti-tumor effects will be assessed in this system.
Alternatively, the toxin gene transfected tumor cells could be used for in vitro stimulation of host immunocytes prior to or coordinate with the addition of interleukin 2 to produce an enriched population of tumor specific T cells which could then be reinfused into a tumor bearing host and would be expected to exert tumor killing effects.
The enterotoxin gene could be used to transfect various accessory cells resulting in enterotoxin expression on the cell surface which may then induce more potent stimulation and proliferation of
tumoricidal T lymphocytes. The cotransfection of these accessory cells with adhesion molecules and MHC molecules might further augment the mitogenic activity of T lymphocytes induced by these accessory cells. Mutant genes of the toxins could be used to transfect various bacteria such as E. Coli resulting in the production of toxin peptides retaining
antitumor activity. Such superantigen peptides might have sequences homologous with various naturally occurring viruses such as mammary tumor virus, endogenous proteins such as heat shock proteins, stress proteins and minor lymphocyte stimulating loci, naturally occurring bacteria such as mycoplasma and mycobacterial species. Amino acid sequences in the native toxin molecules associated with toxieity such as emesis, excessive cytokine induction or humoral antibody production would be deleted. For example, histadine residues of SEB may account for emetic responses of the SEB molecule since
carboxymethylation of the SEB molecule selectively blocks histadine moieties resulting in a reduction of the emetic response. Additional mutant genes might be employed to produce peptides which bind
selectively to T lymphocytes or class II molecules without stimulating mitogenesis, cytokine or antibody production. As such, these genetically engineered molecules might be used to block or eliit nate autoimmune responses induced by proliferation of clones of immunocytes reactive to self constituents such as basic myelin protein in multiple sclerosis or synovial constituents in reheumatoid arthritis.
Moreover, enterotoxin genes would be fused with genes from other bioreacive compounds such as cell poisons to produce molecules with capacity to destroy a selective cell population. Such fusion peptides might include enterotoxin sequences fused, for example, with peptides of pseudomonas toxin,
diphtheria toxin sequences or antibodies yielding complexes retaining the major structural, biologic features of the native proteins.
19. Bacterial Products Related to Staphylococcal Enterotoxins With Similar Biological Effects Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE) is
produced by many strains of group A streptococci.
Three antigenically distinct types (A, B, C) have been described. It is now known that Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin or scarlet fever toxin is related to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B. The amino acid sequence of SPE has significant homology with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B but not with other proteins in the Dayhoff library. Figure 2 shows the alignment of amino acid sequences of mature SPEA and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B, as reported in Johnson, L.P., L'ltalien, J.J. and
Schievert, P.M. "Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type A (Scarlet fever toxin) is related to
Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B," Mol. Gen. Genet (1986) 203:354-356.
The biological properties of SPE are shared with some Staphylococcal enterotoxins such as lymphocyte mitogenicity, fever induction and enhanced
susceptibility to endotoxin shock when given
intravenously. SPE activates murine T cells mainly Vβ8.2 in physical association with MHC class II molecules expressed on accessory cells. SPE causes deregulation of the immune response in vitro
resulting in delayed (12-16 days) acceleration of humoral and cellular immune activity. This may account for the sustained anti-tumor responses noted with the use of its structural analog, namely
enterotoxin B, when administered to rabbits with the VX-2 carcinoma as demonstrated herein. Moreover, SPE has now been shown to induce a toxic shock like syndrome identical to that associated with various enterotoxins. Given the biological and structural relatedness of these proteins, it would be
anticipated that SPE and any other protein, bacterial or otherwise, with homology to enterotoxins would produce tumoricidal effects identical to those of enterotoxins. Indeed, this prediction was borne out by demonstrating complete tumor remissions in the first two of three rabbits bearing large VX-2
carcinomas treated with intravenously administered SPEA.
20. Enterotoxins and Homologous Potential
Vaccines for Treatment of Cancer and Autoimmune Disease
In an attempt to develop safer and more effective methods of administering enterotoxins to tumor bearing hosts, a hybrid molecule was synthesized representing structures common to both enterotoxins A and B. The molecule contained 26 amino acids and had many structural features as delineated above.
This hybrid was administered both intravenously and in adjuvant form to tumor bearing hosts, namely rabbits with VX-2 carcinoma. The adjuvant used for these studies was the pluronic acid triblock
copolymer which has been used to boost the immune response to various antigens in animal models and which is under testing at this point in humans with hepatitis and herpe; simplex infections. While we have used this adjuvant specifically, it is
anticipated that other adjuvant-vehicle preparations might work, including those prepared in water and oil emulsion and aluminum hydroxide.
While we have incorporated the hybrid molecule given herein in adjuvant, additional enterotoxin hybrid molecules containing amino acid sequences homologous to the enterotoxin family would also be effective in this system. To this extent, mammary tumor virus sequences, heat shock proteins, stress peptides, mycoplasma and mycobacterial antigens and minor lymphocyte stimulating loci bearing tumoricidal structural homology to the enterotoxin family would also be useful in this application as anti-tumor agents. Hybrid enterotoxins and other sequences homologous to the native enterotoxins might be immobilized or polymerized genetically or
biochemically to produce the repeating units and stoichiometry required for (a) binding of accessory cells to T lymphocytes and (b) activation of T lymphocytes.
It is now recognized that various enterotoxins, toxin analogues and superantigens can activate the autoimmune response. For example, SED is now known to stimulate the production of human rheumatoid factor and mycoplasma arthritidis a well-known superantigen is recognized as the causative agent in murine adjuvant arthritis. Moreover, it is now recognized that various other diseases such as multiple sclerosis are caused by the activation of T lymphocytes (bearing Vβ receptors) with specificity for multiple self components. In the case of the autoimmune response directed to basic myelin protein, the receptors for activation of T lymphocytes could be readily blocked by various enterotoxin fragments which retain specificity for the T cell receptor but do not initiate T cell activation or mitogenesis.
The enterotoxins possess multiple amino acid motifs that are avid for various portions of the T cell Vβ repertoire. These sequences on the N or C terminal portion of the molecules would bind to autoreactive T lymphocytes and therefore inactivate these clones by blocking further antigenic stimulation and
mitogenesis. Indeed blocking of mitogenesis induced by intact native enterotoxins was demonstrated when an N terminal 26 amino acid sequence of enterotoxin A was preincubated with accessory cells. Additional other toxin fragments could be so utilized in vivo. It is conceivable that radionuclides or other
cellular toxins attached to the enterotoxin fragments could also be used to eliminate such autoreactive clones.
Moreover, enterotoxins are as potent
superantigens may be employed for stimulation of protective anti idiotype B and T cell clones
resulting in production of anti-idiotype antibodies that would then block proliferative activity and/or antibody production by auto-reactive lymphocytes.
21. Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Peptides
With Biologic Activity
Studies of amino acid homology of Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin and enterotoxin B have suggested that there may be biologically active fragments present within the whole molecule. Indeed, cyanogen bromide generated toxin fragments of TSST-1 have been shown to be responsible for T lymphocyte mitogenicity and suppression of immunoglobulin synthesis. These functions could be selectively blocked by monoclonal antibodies directed to the respective fragments.
Amino acid analysis of the toxins show that they contain similar domains that may give rise to
mitogenic and emetic properties in susceptible cells. A peptide fragment in SEC was shown by Spero and Morlock to contain the active sites for emesis and diarrhea. The mitogenic region resided in the C terminal tryptic fragment of SEC. An immune functional site on Staphylococcal enterotoxin A has been identified corresponding to residues 1-27 of SEA which is responsible for stimulation of T cell proliferation and induction of interferon-y. This SEA (1-27) sequence corresponds to N-Ser-GIv-Lys-Ser-Glu-Glu-Ile-Asn-GFlu-Lys-Asp-Lev.Arg Lys-Lys-Ser-Glu-Leu-Gln-Gly-Thr-Ala-Lev-Gly-Asn-Lev-Ly and blocks SEA induced T cell
proliferation and production of interferon y which was not seen with SEA (28-48) peptide. Thus, a functional site on SEA responsible for modulation of T cell function involves the N-terminal 27 amino acids. These molecules may interact at either the level of TCR or the binding of SEA to class II MHC antigens.
For TSST-1, mitogenic activity was shown to be located on a 14,000 dalton cyanogen bromide generated toxin fragment. Other studies using proteolytic digestion of the TSST-1 with papain demonstrated mitogenic activity in 12,000 dalton fragment
occupying 2/3 of TSST-1 molecule toward COOH terminal end of holotoxin. On the other hand, non-specific mitogenicity of rabbit lymphocytes demonstrated by enterotoxins A, B, and C1 was associated with the NH2 terminal ends of the molecules.
The emetic reaction and a related immediate-type skin reaction to SEB appears to be mediated by histamine and cysteinyl leukotrienes liberated from mast cells. Enterotoxins probably act on
intramucosal or intradermal ganglion cells and the effect on mast cells is indirectly mediated by neuropeptides. Carboxymethylation of histidine residues of SEB caused a complete loss of emetic and skin sensitizing activity without changing the immunological specificity, e.g., T cell stimulating activity. An anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody against the combining site of an anti-SEB monoclonal antibody had no enterotoxic activity but can inhibit the enterotoxic activity, e.g., emetic response and diarrhea of a 10,000 molar excess of SEB. Anti-idiotype antibody also inhibited immediate-type skin reactions as well. The anti-idiotype antibody and carboxymethylated enterotoxins may be useful tools to protect against the enterotoxin induced intestinal toxieity.
It is now recognized that various naturally occurring surface molecules, viruses and peptides may bear a striking sequence homology to the
Staphylococcal enterotoxins to account for their superantigenic properties. Examples of these include the mammary tumor virus, minor lymphyocyte
stimulating loci, naturally occurring heat shock proteins, as well as numerous species of mycoplasma and mycobacterium. It is conceivable that these sequences with superantigenic properties could exert powerful antitumor effects identical to the native enterotoxins and therefore be useful in this
application.
Therefore, it could be predicted that peptides of the whole enterotoxin molecule can produce
biologically active effects and reliably reproduce the in vivo tumoricidal activity of the whole
molecule while eliminating some of the toxic effects noted.
Moreover, it would be reasonable to assume that similar or increased tumoricidal effects could be accomplished with biologically active superantigen peptides, intact enterotoxins or superantigens alone or attached to antigen presenting cells (class II MHC, HLA-DR) and incubated ex vivo with a random T cell population or one which may have been pre- enriched for the appropriate Vβ receptor. The activated T cell population with bound enterotoxin might then be reinfused into the host. Similar tumoricidal effects would be anticipated with
enterotoxins or biologically active fragments infused into a host who has had an "organoid" (an enriched T lymphocyte organ) implanted on a biocompatible matrix and placed in a site in the host such as the abdominal cavity, adjacent to the liver or
subcutaneously.
22. Antibodies to Enterotoxins
Antibodies specific for various enterotoxins have been documented to be present in the plasma of humans. Theoretically, these naturally occurring antibodies could neutralize injected enterotoxins and accelerate their removal from the circulation.
Alternatively, antibodies could combine with injected enterotoxins and create immunogenic antigen-antibody complexes.
To circumvent the presence of antibodies in the circulation, we have explored several methods of administering enterotoxins as follows: First, we have administered enterotoxins to several VX-2 bearing rabbits in adjuvant-vehicle form with slow release properties. Second, we have initiated a collaboration with Dr. Suyu Schu to evaluate the use of enterotoxins in an ex vivo mode, e.g., incubation of entertoxins with T lymphocytes in the presence of IL-2 with resultant enrichment and expansion of T cells and subsequent reinfusion into the tumor bearing host. Such studies are presently underway.
Additionally, we envision the extracorporeal removal of antibodies of enterotoxins using immunoadsorption techniques with antibodies to enterotoxins immobilized on biocompatible solid supports over which plasma is perfused in an on-line fashion. Such immunoadsorption columns are now widely used and if this procedure is coupled with chemotherapy to suppress specific antibody
production, a state of tolerance could be induced. Thus the plasma could be cleared of antibodies in advance of intravenous administration of the native toxins.
Non-immunogenic hybrid molecules or fragments of enterotoxins could be injected into antibody bearing hosts to neutralize existing circulating antibodies to the enterotoxins prior to administration of the native molecule. Such an approach is presently being tested in tumor bearing hosts.
Although the foregoing invention has been
described in detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, certain modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. While the above findings apply to an experimental animal model, it should be recognized that the tumor used herein is an excellent model of human cancer. Therapeutic success in the canine model with PACC system
(described in a series of patent applications, the latest of which is identified as Serial No. 331,095), the forerunner of the present invention, was
transferred to humans in which objective tumor regressions were obtained in four of the first five consecutive patients treated. Thus, the data given herein for rabbits with carcinoma is expected to be predictive of success when the compositions are applied to humans with spontaneous tumors as well.

Claims

1. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxins produced sequentially by secretion from Staphylococcus aureus during growth phase, isolation from growth media by precipitation or centrifugation, and purification by
chromatographic techniques.
2. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxins, said enterotoxins obtained by isolation from high enterotoxin producing mutant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
3. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxin fragments, said fragments obtained by isolation from high enterotoxin producing mutant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
4. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxins, said enterotoxins obtained by isolation from high enterotoxin producing bacteria capable of expressing Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin genes.
5. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxin fragments, said fragments obtained by isolation from high enterotoxin producing bacteria capable of expressing Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin genes.
6. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxins, said enterotoxins obtained by isolation from high enterotoxin producing cells capable of expressing Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin genes.
7. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxin fragments, said fragments obtained by isolation from high enterotoxin producing cells capable of expressing Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin genes.
8. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxins, said enterotoxins obtained by isolation from Staphylococcus aureus which has been treated with chemical mutagens to obtain high enterotoxin producing strains.
9. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxins fragments, said fragments obtained by isolation from Staphylococcus aureus which has been treated with chemical mutagens to obtain high enterotoxin producing strains.
10. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcus enterotoxins which have been
chemically derivatized to minimize or to delete antibody production, emetic and skin sensitizing toxieity while retaining T cell and cytokine
stimulating activity.
11. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxins utilizing single or multiple injections.
12. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumorcidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxins incorporated in an adjuvant selected from the group consisting of but not limited to aluminum hydroxide, liposomes, water in oil emulsions, pluronic triblock polymers, and saponin.
13. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to a host a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxin bound to solid supports to stimulate and to enrich a T lymphocyte population in vitro with antitumor activity for subsequent administration to a tumor-bearing patient.
14. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises administering to a host a
tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxin used in combination with cytokines selected from the group consisting of but not limited to interferon and tumor necrosis factor and
interleukins, in vitro to induce augmented
T lymphocyte proliferation and antitumor activity for subsequent administration to a tumorbearing patient.
15. A method of simultaneously activating cytokine mediators selected from the group consisting of interleukin 1, interleukin 2, tumor necrosis factor and interferon, and procoagulant systems in a host which comprises the single step of administering to the host a tumoricidally effective amount of
Staphylococcal enterotoxins.
16. A method of simultaneously augmenting natural killer cell eytotoxicity, activating cytokine mediators selected from the group consisting of interleukin 1, interleukin 2 , tumor necrosis factor, interferon, activating procoagulant systems, and stimulating T-lymphocyte mitogenicity, serine
protease and thromboglobulin production in a host comprising a single step of administering to the host a tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxins.
17. The method of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 in which the
tumoricidally effective amount of Staphylococcal enterotoxin is between 0.5 μg (enterotoxin) / kg (body weight) and 150 μg (enterotoxin) / kg (body weight).
18. The method of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 further comprising the step of administering a toxieity attenuating dosage of a compound which is a non-steroidal, anti-flammatory agent, and cyclooxygenase and
prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, to said patient.
19. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of
Streptococcus pyrogenic exotoxin.
20. A method of simultaneously activating cytokine mediators selected from the group consisting of interleukin 1, interleukin 2, tumor necrosis factor and interferon, and procoagulant systems in a host which comprises the single step of administering to the host a tumoricidally effective amount of
Streptococcus pyrogenic exotoxin.
21. The method of Claim 19 or 20 in which the tumoricidally effective amount of Streptococcus pyrogenic exotoxin is between 2 μg (exotoxin) / kg (body weight) and 150 μg (exotoxin) / kg (body weight).
22. The method of Claims 19 or 20 further comprising the step of administering a toxieity attenuating dosage of a compound which is
non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory agent, and
cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, to said patient.
23. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of a compound whose molecules are functionally and
structurally similar to Staphylococcal enterotoxins and which have the properties of superantigens, binding to both TCR-CD4 complex of T lymphocytes via the Vβ domain and binding to class II MHC molecules (IE or IA bearing) on antigen presenting cells wherein a complex is formed that is highly
stimulatory for T cells.
24. A method of inducing a tumoricidal response in a patient with active compounds selected from the group consisting of enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E and F, pyrogenic exotoxins and biologically active fragments of enterotoxins said method comprising the steps of attaching said active compound molecules to antigen presenting cells to form a complex; incubating said complex with T cell populations to obtain activated T cell populations; and infusing said activated T cell population into a patient.
25. The method as claim 24 where the active compounds are attached to a solid support.
26. The method of claims 24 and 25 wherein said T cells have been preincabated with tumor cells in vivo or in vitro to produce sensitized or
presensitized T cells with subsequent incubation with antigen presenting cells containing attached
enterotoxins or solid supports with attached
enterotoxins with or without addition of interleukin 2 to obtain an enriched and activated T cell population followed by infusion of this activated T cell population into the host.
27. The methods of claims 24, 25 and 26 where antigen presenting cells have been cotransfected with adhesion molecule genes to augment T cell
proliferative activity.
28. A compound useful in tumoricidal therapy comprising synthetic polypeptide characterized by substantial structural homology to Staphylococcal enterotoxins and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins, to include but not restricted to minor lymphocyte stimulating loci, mammary tumor virus sequences, mycobacterial species sequences, heat shock protein sequences, stress peptides, exfoliative
Staphylococcal toxin sequences wherein said homology includes statistically significant sequence homology and/or alignment of cysteine residues and/or similar hydropathy profiles.
29. A compound according to claim 28 which is prepared by transfection of enterotoxin genes into bacteria.
30. A compound according to claim 28 or 29 which is devoid of histadine residues to eliminate host emetic responses prepared by transfection of
enterotoxin genes into bacteria.
31. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the single step of administering to the patient a tumoricidally effective amount of tumor cells which have been transfected with enterotoxin or superantigen gene(s), said tumor cell administration resulting in a transformed cell expression of
enterotoxins, minor lymphocyte stimulating loci or superantigen(s) and consequent potent activation, and proliferation of T lymphocytes with Vβ receptors and anti-tumor responses.
32. The method of claim 31 where the cells transfected with the enterotoxin gene would be selected from a group of cells consisting of
accessory cells, immunocytes and fibroblasts.
33. A method of treating cancer in a patient which comprises the steps of incubating immunocytes with tumor cells transfected with the enterotoxins or superantigen gene in vitro to obtain a specifically activated T cell population which may then be
enlarged and enriched by further in vitro coculture with interleukin 2 , and subsequently infusing said specifically activated T cell population into the tumor bearing host to produce potent antitumor effects.
34. The method of claim 33 where the cells transfected with the enterotoxin or superantigen gene would be selected from a group of cells consisting of accessory cells, immunocytes and fibroblasts.
35. A compound useful in treatment of autoimmune disease comprising a polypeptide with substantial structural homology to Staphylococcal enterotoxins, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins and superantigens with statistically significant sequence homology and similarity to include alignment or cysteine residues and similar hydropathy profiles capable of binding to T lymphocyte receptors and blocking subsequent mitogenesis induced by intact or native molecules.
36. A compound according to claims 28, 29 or 30 further comprising a radioactive or other cellular toxin attached to it wherein said cellular toxin inactivates or destroys the T lymphocytes to which said cellular toxin is bound.
37. A compound according to claim 28 wherein said compound is capable of stimulating T and B cells to produce antiidiotype responses.
38. A compound according to claims 28, 29 or 30 further comprising a fusion molecule which includes enterotoxin peptides coalesced with various cellular toxins or antibodies to confer specificity and/or selectivity for T or B lymphocyte elimination or inactivation on said compound.
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