| 1. |
- Blokzijl, Andries, et al.
(författare)
-
Profiling protein expression and interactions : proximity ligation as a tool for personalized medicine
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 268:3, s. 232-245
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Blokzijl A, Friedman M, Ponten F, Landegren U (From the Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden). Profiling protein expression and interactions: proximity ligation as a tool for personalized medicine. (Review) J Intern Med 2010; 268: 232-245. The ability to detect very low levels of expressed proteins has enormous potential for early diagnostics and intervention at curable stages of disease. An extended range of targets such as interacting or post-translationally modified proteins can further improve the potential for diagnostics and patient stratification, and for monitoring response to treatment. These are critical building blocks for personalized treatment strategies to manage disease. The past few decades have seen a remarkably improved understanding of the molecular basis of disease in general, and of tumour formation and progression in particular. This accumulated knowledge creates opportunities to develop drugs that specifically target molecules or molecular complexes critical for survival and expansion of tumour cells. However, tumours are highly variable between patients, necessitating the development of diagnostic tools to individualize treatment through parallel analysis of sets of biomarkers. The proximity ligation assay (PLA) can address many of the requirements for advanced molecular analysis. The method builds on the principle that recognition of target proteins by two, three or more antibodies can bring in proximity DNA strands attached to the antibodies. The DNA strands can then participate in ligation reactions, giving rise to molecules that are amplified for highly sensitive detection. PLA is particularly well suited for sensitive, specific and multiplexed analysis of protein expression, post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions. The analysis of this extended range of biomarkers will prove critical for the development and implementation of personalized medicine.
|
|
| 2. |
- Edsjö, Anders, et al.
(författare)
-
Building a precision medicine infrastructure at a national level : The Swedish experience
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Cambridge Prisms: Precision Medicine. - : Cambridge University Press. - 2752-6143. ; 1
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Precision medicine has the potential to transform healthcare by moving from one-size-fits-all to personalised treatment and care. This transition has been greatly facilitated through new high-throughput sequencing technologies that can provide the unique molecular profile of each individual patient, along with the rapid development of targeted therapies directed to the Achilles heels of each disease. To implement precision medicine approaches in healthcare, many countries have adopted national strategies and initiated genomic/precision medicine initiatives to provide equal access to all citizens. In other countries, such as Sweden, this has proven more difficult due to regionally organised healthcare. Using a bottom-up approach, key stakeholders from academia, healthcare, industry and patient organisations joined forces and formed Genomic Medicine Sweden (GMS), a national infrastructure for the implementation of precision medicine across the country. To achieve this, Genomic Medicine Centres have been established to provide regionally distributed genomic services, and a national informatics infrastructure has been built to allow secure data handling and sharing. GMS has a broad scope focusing on rare diseases, cancer, pharmacogenomics, infectious diseases and complex diseases, while also providing expertise in informatics, ethical and legal issues, health economy, industry collaboration and education. In this review, we summarise our experience in building a national infrastructure for precision medicine. We also provide key examples how precision medicine already has been successfully implemented within our focus areas. Finally, we bring up challenges and opportunities associated with precision medicine implementation, the importance of international collaboration, as well as the future perspective in the field of precision medicine.
|
|
| 3. |
- Edsjö, Anders, et al.
(författare)
-
Genomic Medicine Sweden – initiativ för brett införande
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Lakartidningen. - 0023-7205. ; 118
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Genomic Medicine Sweden (GMS) initiative aims to strengthen precision medicine across the country. This will be accomplished through the implementation of large-scale sequencing techniques in Swedish healthcare. With a patient-centered view, initial efforts will focus on rare diseases, cancer, pharmacogenomics, and infectious diseases, and subsequently extend to complex diseases. GMS is being implemented as a broad collaborative project involving healthcare, universities with medical faculty, SciLifeLab, industry and patient organizations. To deliver top tier diagnostics, regional genomic medicine centers (GMC) are currently under establishment together with a national informatics infrastructure for data sharing. GMS will also offer a unique resource for research that could pave the way for the development of novel drugs, and enhance collaboration with industry. In summary, GMS provides Sweden with an opportunity to take an international forefront position in the field of precision medicine.
|
|
| 4. |
- Ekerljung, Lina, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Generation and Evaluation of Bispecific Affibody Molecules for Simultaneous Targeting of EGFR and HER2
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Bioconjugate chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1043-1802 .- 1520-4812. ; 23:9, s. 1802-1811
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Co-expression of several ErbB receptors has been found in many cancers and has been linked with increased aggressiveness of tumors and a worse patient prognosis. This makes the simultaneous targeting of two surface receptors by using bispecific constructs an increasingly appreciated strategy. Here we have generated six such bispecific targeting proteins, which each comprising two monomeric affibody molecules with specific binding to either of the two human epidermal growth factor receptors, EGFR and HER2, respectively. The bispecific constructs were designed with (i) alternative positioning (N- or C-terminal) of the different affibody molecules, (ii) two alternative peptide linkers (Gly4Ser)3 or (Ser4Gly)3, and (iii) affibody molecules with different affinity (nanomolar or picomolar) for HER2. Using both Biacore technology and cell binding assays it was demonstrated that all six constructs could bind simultaneously to both their target proteins. N-terminal positioning of the monomeric affibody molecules was favorable to promote the binding to respective target. Interestingly, bispecific constructs containing the novel (Ser4Gly)3 linker displayed a higher affinity in cell binding, as compared to constructs containing the more conventional linker, (Gly4Ser)3. It could further be concluded that bispecific constructs (but not the monomeric affibody molecules) induced dimerization and phosphorylation of EGFR in SKBR3 cells, which express fairly high levels of both receptors. It was also investigated whether the bispecific binding would influence cell growth or sensitize cells for ionizing radiation, but no such effects were observed.
|
|
| 5. |
- Friedman, Mikaela, 1977-
(författare)
-
Affibody molecules targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor for tumor imaging applications
- 2008
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Tumor targeting and molecular imaging of protein markers specific for or overexpressed in tumors can add useful information in deciding upon treatment and assessing the response to treatment for a cancer patient. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one such tumor-associated receptor, which expression is abnormal or upregulated in various cancers and associated with a poor patient prognosis. It is therefore considered a good target for imaging and therapy. Monoclonal antibodies and recently also antibody fragments have been investigated for in vivo medical applications, like therapy and imaging. In molecular imaging a small sized targeting agent is favorable to give high contrast and therefore, antibody fragments and lately also small affinity proteins based on a scaffold structure constitute promising alternatives to monoclonal antibodies. Affbody molecules are such affinity proteins that are developed by combinatorial protein engineering of the 58 amino acid residue Z-domain scaffold, derived from protein A. In this thesis, novel Affibody molecules specific for the EGFR have been selected from a combinatorial library using phage display technology. Affibody molecules with moderate high affinity demonstrated specific binding to native EGFR on the EGFR-expressing epithelial carcinoma A431 cell line. Further cellular assays showed that the EGFR-binding Affibody molecules could be labeled with radiohalogens or radiometals with preserved specific binding to EGFR-expressing cells. In vitro, the Affibody molecule demonstrated a high uptake and good retention to EGFR-expressing cells and was found to internalize. Furthermore, successful imaging of tumors in tumor-bearing mice was demonstrated. Low nanomolar or subnanomolar affinities are considered to be desired for successful molecular imaging and a directed evolution to increase the affinity was thus performed. This resulted in an approximately 30-fold improvement in affinity, yielding EGFR-binding Affibody molecules with KD´s in the 5-10 nM range, and successful targeting of A431 tumors in tumor-bearing mice. To find a suitable format and labeling, monomeric and dimeric forms of one affinity matured binder were labeled with 125I and 111In. The radiometal-labeled monomeric construct, 111In-labeled-ZEGFR:1907, was found to provide the best tumor-to-organ ratio due to good tumor localization and tumor retention. The tumor-to-blood ratio, which is often used as a measure of contrast, was 31±8 at 24 h post injection and the tumor was clearly visualized by gamma-camera imaging. Altogether, the EGFR-binding Affibody molecule is considered a promising candidate for further development of tumor imaging tracers for EGFR-expressing tumors and metastases. This could simplify the stratification of patients for treatment and the assessment of the response of treatment in patients.
|
|
| 6. |
- Friedman, Mikaela, et al.
(författare)
-
Directed evolution to low nanomolar affinity of a tumor-targeting epidermal growth factor receptor-binding affibody molecule
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-2836 .- 1089-8638. ; 376:5, s. 1388-1402
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) is overexpressed in various malignancies and is associated with a poor patient prognosis. A small, receptor-specific, high-affinity imaging agent would be a useful tool in diagnosing malignant tumors and in deciding upon treatment and assessing the response to treatment. We describe here the affinity maturation procedure for the generation of Affibody molecules binding with high affinity and specificity to EGFR. A library for affinity maturation was constructed by rerandomization of selected positions after the alignment of first-generation binding variants. New binders were selected with phage display technology, using a single oligonucleotide in a single-library effort, and the best second-generation binders had an approximately 30-fold improvement in affinity (K(d)=5-10 nM) for the soluble extracellular domain of EGFR in biospecific interaction analysis using Biacore. The dissociation equilibrium constant, K(d), was also determined for the Affibody with highest affinity using EGFR-expressing A431 cells in flow cytometric analysis (K(d)=2.8 nM). A retained high specificity for EGFR was verified by a dot blot assay showing staining only of EGFR proteins among a panel of serum proteins and other EGFR family member proteins (HER2, HER3, and HER4). The EGFR-binding Affibody molecules were radiolabeled with indium-111, showing specific binding to EGFR-expressing A431 cells and successful targeting of the A431 tumor xenografts with 4-6% injected activity per gram accumulated in the tumor 4 h postinjection.
|
|
| 7. |
- Friedman, Mikaela, et al.
(författare)
-
Engineered affinity proteins for tumour-targeting applications
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Biotechnology and applied biochemistry. - : Wiley. - 0885-4513 .- 1470-8744. ; 53, s. 1-29
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Targeting of tumour-associated antigens is an expanding treatment modality in clinical oncology as an alternative to, or in combination with, conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy, external-radiation therapy and surgery. Targeting of antigens that are unique or more highly expressed in tumours than in normal tissues can be used to increase the specificity and reduce the cytotoxic effect on normal tissues. Several targeting agents have been studied for clinical use, where monoclonal antibodies have been the ones most widely used. More than 20 monoclonal antibodies are approved for therapy today and the largest field is oncology. Advances in genetic engineering and in vitro selection technology has enabled the feasible high-throughput generation of monoclonal antibodies, antibody derivatives [e.g. scFvs, Fab molecules, dAbs (single-domain antibodies), diabodies and minibodies] and more recently also non-immunoglobulin scaffold proteins. Several of these affinity proteins have been investigated for both in vivo diagnostics and therapy. Affinity proteins in tumour-targeted therapy can affect tumour progression by altering signal transduction or by delivering a payload of toxin, drug or radionuclide. The ErbB receptor family has been extensively studied as biomarkers in tumour targeting, primarily for therapy using monoclonal antibodies. Two receptors in the ErbB family, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and HER2 (epidermal growth factor receptor 2), are over-expressed in various malignancies and associated with poor patient prognosis and are therefore interesting targets for solid turnours. In the present review, strategies are described for tumour targeting of solid turnours using affinity proteins to deliver radionuclides, either for molecular imaging or radiotherapy. Antibodies, antibody derivatives and non-immunoglobulin scaffold proteins are discussed with a certain focus on the affibody (Affibody (R)) molecule.
|
|
| 8. |
- Friedman, Mikaela, et al.
(författare)
-
Engineering and characterization of a bispecific HER2 x EGFR-binding affibody molecule
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Biotechnology and applied biochemistry. - 0885-4513 .- 1470-8744. ; 54, s. 121-131
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- HER2 (human epidermal-growth-factor receptor-2; ErbB2) and EGFR (epidermal-growth-factor receptor) are overexpressed in various forms of cancer, and the co-expression of both HER2 and EGFR has been reported in a number of studies. The simultaneous targeting of HER2 and EGFR has been discussed as a strategy with which to potentially increase efficiency and selectivity in molecular imaging and therapy of certain cancers. In an effort to generate a molecule capable of bispecifically targeting HER2 and EGFR, a gene fragment encoding a bivalent HER2-binding affibody molecule was genetically fused in-frame with a bivalent EGFR-binding affibody molecule via a (G(4)S)(3) [(Gly(4)-Ser)(3)]-encoding gene fragment. The encoded 30 kDa affibody construct (Z(HER2))(2)-(G(4)S)(3)-(Z(EGFR))(2), with potential for bs (bispecific) binding to HER2 and EGFR, was expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized in terms of its binding capabilities. The retained ability to bind HER2 and EGFR separately was demonstrated using both biosensor technology and flow-cytometric analysis, the latter using HER2- and EGFR-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, simultaneous binding to HER2 and EGFR was demonstrated in: (i) a sandwich format employing real-time biospecific interaction analysis where the bs affibody molecule bound immobilized EGFR and soluble HER2; (ii) immunofluorescence microscopy, where the bs affibody molecule bound EGFR-overexpressing cells and soluble HER2; and (iii) a cell-cell interaction analysis where the bs affibody molecule bound HER2-overexpressing SKBR-3 cells and EGFR-overexpressing A-431 cells. This is, to our knowledge, the first reported bs affinity protein with potential ability for the simultaneous targeting of HER2 and EGFR. The potential future use of this and similar constructs, capable of bs targeting of receptors to increase the efficacy and selectivity in imaging and therapy, is discussed.
|
|
| 9. |
- Friedman, Mikaela, et al.
(författare)
-
Phage display selection of Affibody molecules with specific binding to the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Protein Engineering Design & Selection. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1741-0126 .- 1741-0134. ; 20:4, s. 189-199
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Affibody molecules specific for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been selected by phage display technology from a combinatorial protein library based on the 58-residue, protein A-derived Z domain. EGFR is overexpressed in various malignancies and is frequently associated with poor patient prognosis, and the information provided by targeting this receptor could facilitate both patient diagnostics and treatment. Three selected Affibody variants were shown to selectively bind to the extracellular domain of EGFR (EGFR-ECD). Kinetic biosensor analysis revealed that the three monomeric Affibody molecules bound with similar affinity, ranging from 130 to 185 nM. Head-to-tail dimers of the Affibody molecules were compared for their binding to recombinant EGFR-ECD in biosensor analysis and in human epithelial cancer A431 cells. Although the dimeric Affibody variants were found to bind in a range of 25-50 nM affinities in biosensor analysis, they were found to be low nanomolar binders in the cellular assays. Competition assays using radiolabeled Affibody dimers confirmed specific EGFR-binding and demonstrated that the three Affibody molecules competed for the same epitope. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that the selected Affibody dimers were initially binding to EGFR at the cell surface of A431, and confocal microscopy analysis showed that the Affibody dimers could thereafter be internalized. The potential use of the described Affibody molecules as targeting agents for radionuclide based imaging applications in various carcinomas is discussed.
|
|
| 10. |
- Gu, Gucci Jijuan, et al.
(författare)
-
Elevated Serum GAD65 and GAD65-GADA Immune Complexes in Stiff Person Syndrome.
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) and autoantibodies specific for GAD65 (GADA) are associated with autoimmune diseases including Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) and Type 1 diabetes (T1D). GADA is recognized as a biomarker of value for clinical diagnosis and prognostication in these diseases. Nonetheless, it remains medically interesting to develop sensitive and specific assays to detect GAD65 preceding GADA emergence, and to monitor GADA-GAD65 immune complexes in blood samples. In the present study, we developed a highly sensitive proximity ligation assay to measure serum GAD65. This novel assay allowed detection of as little as 0.65 pg/ml GAD65. We were also able to detect immune complexes involving GAD65 and GADA. Both free GAD65 and GAD65-GADA levels were significantly higher in serum samples from SPS patients compared to healthy controls. The proximity ligation assays applied for detection of GAD65 and its immune complexes may thus enable improved diagnosis and better understanding of SPS.
|
|
