One of today's key challenges is the ability to decode the functions of complex carbohydrates in various biological contexts. To generate high-quality glycomics data in a high-throughput fashion, we developed a robotized and lowcost N-glycan analysis platform for glycoprofiling of immunoglobulin G antibodies (IgG), which are central players of the immune system and of vital importance in the biopharmaceutical industry. The key features include (a) rapid IgG affinity purification and sample concentration, (b) protein denaturation and glycan release on a multiwell filtration device, (c) glycan purification on solid-supported hydrazide, and (d) glycan quantification by ultra performance liquid chromatography. The sample preparation workflow was automated using a robotic liquid-handling workstation, allowing the preparation of 96 samples (or multiples thereof) in 22 h with excellent reproducibility and, thus, should greatly facilitate biomarker discovery and glycosylation monitoring of therapeutic IgGs.

FcγRs play a critical role in the immune response following recognition of invading particles and tumor associated antigens by circulating antibodies. In the present study we investigated the role of FcγR glycosylation in the IgG interaction and observed a stabilizing role for receptor N-glycans. We performed a complete glycan analysis of the recombinant FcγRs (FcγRIa, FcγRIIa, FcγRIIb, FcγRIIIa(Phe158/Val158), and FcγRIIIb) expressed in human cells and demonstrate that receptor glycosylation is complex and varied between receptors. We used surface plasmon resonance to establish binding patterns between rituximab and all receptors. Complex binding was observed for FcγRIa and FcγRIIIa. The IgG-FcγR interaction was further investigated using a combination of kinetic experiments and enzymatically deglycosylated FcγRIa and FcγRIIIa(Phe158/Val158) receptors in an attempt to determine the underlying binding mechanism. We observed that antibody binding levels decreased for deglycosylated receptors, and at the same time, binding kinetics were altered and showed a more rapid approach to steady state, followed by an increase in the antibody dissociation rate. Binding of rituximab to deglycosylated FcγRIIIa(Phe158) was now consistent with a 1:1 binding mechanism, while binding of rituximab to FcγRIIIa(Val158) remained heterogeneous. Kinetic data support a complex binding mechanism, involving heterogeneity in both antibody and receptor, where fucosylated and afucosylated antibody forms compete in receptor binding and in receptor molecules where heterogeneity in receptor glycosylation plays an important role. The exact nature of receptor glycans involved in IgG binding remains unclear and determination of rate and affinity constants are challenging. Here, the use of more extended competition experiments appear promising and suggest that it may be possible to determine dissociation rate constants for high affinity afucosylated antibodies without the need to purify or express such variants. The data described provide further insight into the complexity of the IgG-FcγR interaction and the influence of FcγR glycosylation.

Immunoglobulins and Fc receptors are critical glycoprotein components of the immune system. Fc receptors bind the Fc (effector) region of antibody molecules and communicate information within the innate and adaptive immune systems. Glycosylation of antibodies, particularly in the Fc region of IgG, has been extensively studied in health and disease. The N-glycans in the identical heavy chains have been shown to be critical for maintaining structural integrity, communication with the Fc receptor and the downstream immunological response. Less is known about glycosylation of the Fc receptor in either healthy or disease states, however, recent studies have implicated an active role for receptor associated oligosaccharides in the antibody-receptor interaction. Research into Fc receptor glycosylation is increasing rapidly, where Fc receptors are routinely used to analyze the binding of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and where glycosylation of receptors expressed by cells of the immune system could potentially be used to mediate and control the differential binding of immunoglobulins. Here we discuss the glycosylation of immunoglobulin antibodies (IgA, IgE, IgG) and the Fc receptors (FcαR, FcεR, FcγR, FcRn) that bind them, the function of carbohydrates in the immune response and recent advances in our understanding of these critical glycoproteins.

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Therapeutic antibodies hold great promise for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and developments in antibody–drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies continue to enhance treatment options for patients. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies are proteins with complex modifications, which have a significant impact on their function. The most important of these modifications is glycosylation, the addition of conserved glycans to the antibody Fc region, which is critical for its interaction with the immune system and induction of effector activities such as antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, complement activation and phagocytosis. Communication of IgG antibodies with the immune system is controlled and mediated by Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs), membrane-bound proteins, which relay the information sensed and gathered by antibodies to the immune system. These receptors are also glycoproteins and provide a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Recent information suggests that this receptor glycan modification is also important for the interaction with antibodies and downstream immune response. In this study, the current knowledge on FcγR glycosylation is discussed, and some insight into its role and influence on the interaction properties with IgG, particularly in the context of biotherapeutics, is provided. For the purpose of this study, other Fc receptors such as FcαR, FcεR or FcRn are not discussed extensively, as IgG-based antibodies are currently the only therapeutic antibody-based products on the market. In addition, FcγRs as therapeutics and therapeutic targets are discussed, and insight into and comment on the therapeutic aspects of receptor glycosylation are provided.

Immune recognition of nonself is coordinated through complex mechanisms involving both innate and adaptive responses. Circulating antibodies communicate with effector cells of the innate immune system through surface receptors known as Fcγ receptors (FcγRs). The FcγRs are single-pass transmembrane glycoproteins responsible for regulating innate effector responses toward antigenic material. Although immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies bind to a range of receptors, including complement receptors and C-type lectins, we have focused on the Fcγ receptors. A total of five functional FcγRs are broadly classified into three families (FcγRI, FcγRII, and FcγRIII) and together aid in controlling both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses of the innate immune system. Due to the continued success of monoclonal antibodies in treating cancer and autoimmune disorders, research is typically directed toward improving the interaction of antibodies with the FcγRs through manipulation of IgG properties such as N-linked glycosylation. Biochemical studies using recombinant forms of the FcγRs are often used to quantitate changes in binding affinity, a key indicator of a likely biological outcome. However, analysis of the FcγRs themselves is imperative as recombinant FcγRs differ greatly from those observed in humans. In particular, the N-linked glycan composition is significantly important due to its function in the IgG-FcγR interaction. Here, we present data for the N-linked glycans present on FcγRs produced in NS0 cells, namely, FcγRIa, FcγRIIa, FcγRIIB, FcγRIIIa, and FcγRIIIb. Importantly, these FcγRs demonstrate typical murine glycosylation in the form of α-galactose epitopes, N-glycolylneuraminic acid, and other key glycan properties that are generally expressed in murine cell lines and therefore are not typically observed in humans.

Protein N-glycosylation is a common post-translational modification that produces a complex array of branched glycan structures. The levels of branching, or antennarity, give rise to differential biological activities for single glycoproteins. However, the precise mechanism controlling the glycan branching and glycosylation network is unknown. Here, we constructed quantitative mathematical models of N-linked glycosylation that predicted new control points for glycan branching. Galactosyltransferase, which acts on N-acetylglucosamine residues, was unexpectedly found to control metabolic flux through the glycosylation pathway and the level of final antennarity of nascent protein produced in the Golgi network. To further investigate the biological consequences of glycan branching in nascent proteins, we glycoengineered a series of mammalian cells overexpressing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). We identified a mechanism in which galactosyltransferase 4 isoform regulated N-glycan branching on the nascent protein, subsequently controlling biological activity in an in vivo model of hCG activity. We found that galactosyltransferase 4 is a major control point for glycan branching decisions taken in the Golgi of the cell, which might ultimately control the biological activity of nascent glycoprotein.

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