The non-human primate (NHP)-brain endothelium constitutes an essential alternative to human in the prediction of molecule trafficking across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This study presents a comparison between the NHP transcriptome of freshly isolated brain microcapillaries and in vitro-selected brain endothelial cells (BECs), focusing on important BBB features, namely tight junctions, receptors mediating transcytosis (RMT), ABC and SLC transporters, given its relevance as an alternative model for the molecule trafficking prediction across the BBB and identification of new brain-specific transport mechanisms. In vitro BECs conserved most of the BBB key elements for barrier integrity and control of molecular trafficking. The function of RMT via the transferrin receptor (TFRC) was characterized in this NHP-BBB model, where both human transferrin and anti-hTFRC antibody showed increased apical-to-basolateral passage in comparison to control molecules. In parallel, eventual BBB-related regional differences were investigated in seven-day in vitro-selected BECs from five brain structures: brainstem, cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. Our analysis retrieved few differences in the brain endothelium across brain regions, suggesting a rather homogeneous BBB function across the brain parenchyma. The presently established NHP-derived BBB model closely mimics the physiological BBB, thus representing a ready-to-use tool for assessment of the penetration of biotherapeutics into the human CNS.

Most antibodies display very low brain exposure due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) preventing their entry into brain parenchyma. Transferrin receptor (TfR) has been used previously to ferry antibodies to the brain by using different formats of bispecific constructs. Tetravalent bispecific tandem immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) (TBTIs) containing two paratopes for both TfR and protofibrillar forms of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide were constructed and shown to display higher brain penetration than the parent anti-Aβ antibody. Additional structure-based mutations on the TfR paratopes further increased brain exposure, with maximal enhancement up to 13-fold in wild-type mice and an additional 4–5-fold in transgenic (Tg) mice harboring amyloid plaques, the main target of our amyloid antibody. Parenchymal target engagement of extracellular amyloid plaques was demonstrated using in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging as well as histological methods. The best candidates were selected for a chronic study in an amyloid precursor protein (APP) Tg mouse model showing efficacy at reducing brain amyloid load at a lower dose than the corresponding monospecific antibody. TBTIs represent a promising format for enhancing IgG brain penetration using a symmetrical construct and keeping bivalency of the payload antibody.

Background Increasing brain exposure of biotherapeutics is key to success in central nervous system disease drug discovery. Accessing the brain parenchyma is especially difficult for large polar molecules such as biotherapeutics and antibodies because of the blood-brain barrier. We investigated a new immunization strategy to identify novel receptors mediating transcytosis across the blood-brain barrier. Method We immunized mice with primary non-human primate brain microvascular endothelial cells to obtain antibodies. These antibodies were screened for their capacity to bind and to be internalized by primary non-human primate brain microvascular endothelial cells and Human Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cell clone D3. They were further evaluated for their transcytosis capabilities in three in vitro blood-brain barrier models. In parallel, their targets were identified by two different methods and their pattern of binding to human tissue was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Results 12 antibodies with unique sequence and internalization capacities were selected amongst more than six hundred. Aside from one antibody targeting Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule and one targeting Striatin3, most of the other antibodies recognized β1 integrin and its heterodimers. The antibody with the best transcytosis capabilities in all blood-brain barrier in vitro models and with the best binding capacity was an anti-αnβ1 integrin. In comparison, commercial anti-integrin antibodies performed poorly in transcytosis assays, emphasizing the originality of the antibodies derived here. Immunohistochemistry studies showed specific vascular staining on human and non-human primate tissues. Conclusions This transcytotic behavior has not previously been reported for anti-integrin antibodies. Further studies should be undertaken to validate this new mechanism in vivo and to evaluate its potential in brain delivery.