Effective blocking of neuropilin-1activity using oligoclonal nanobodies targeting different epitopes

Abstract

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a non-tyrosine kinase receptor and when overexpressed, leads to angiogenesis. High expression of NRP-1 has been observed in various cancers. Unique characteristic of nanobodies (small size, high affinity and stability, and ease production) make them potential therapeutic tools. Oligoclonal nanobodies which detect multiple functional epitopes on the target antigen could be potential tools for inhibition of cancer resistance problems due to escape variant of tumor cells. In this study, oligoclonal anti-NRP-1 nanobodies were selected from camel immune library and their binding activities as well as in vitro functionality were evaluated. Anti-NRP-1 nanobodies were expressed in an Escherichia coli host, and purified using nickel affinity chromatography. The effect of each individual and oligoclonal nanobodies on human endothelial cells were evaluated by MTT, Tube formation, and migration assay as well. Results showed that oligoclonal anti-NRP-1 nanobodies detected different epitopes of NRP-1 antigen and inhibited in vitro angiogenesis of human endothelial cells better than each individual nanobody. Results indicate promising oligoclonal anti-NRP-1 nanobodies for inhibition of angiogenesis.

Keywords:

• Angiogenesis
• epitope
• nanobody
• NRP-1
• oligoclonal

Authors’ contributions

Elmira Karami; performed experiments, and prepared draft of manuscript. Maryam Mesbahi Moghaddam; statistical analysis, Writing. Mahdi Behdani; investigation, methodology, Review and Editing. Fatemeh Kazemi-Lomedasht; Conceptualization, Supervision, project administration, Funding acquisition, Writing—Review and Editing.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like thanks Pasteur Institute of Iran for supporting of this study [grant number 1123].