Testing the anti-fibrotic potential of the single-chain Fv antibody against the α2 C-terminal telopeptide of collagen I. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fertala, Jolanta; Kostas, James; Hou, Cheryl; Steplewski, Andrzej; Beredjiklian, Pedro; Abboud, Joseph; Arnold, William V.; Williams, Gerald; Fertala, Andrzej
• Is Part Of: Connective tissue research. Volume 55:Number 2(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Connective tissues -- Periodicals; 616.770072
• DOI: 10.3109/03008207.2013.862528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-8207

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This study focuses on the single-chain fragment variable (scFv) variant of the original IgA-type antibody, recognizing the α2 C-terminal telopeptide (α2Ct) of human collagen I, designed to inhibit post-traumatic localized fibrosis via blocking the formation of collagen-rich deposits. We have demonstrated that the scFv construct expressed in yeast cells was able to fold into an immunoglobulin-like conformation, but it was prone to forming soluble aggregates. Functional assays, however, indicate that the scFv construct specifically binds to the α2Ct epitope and inhibits collagen fibril formation both <italic>in vitro</italic> and in a cell culture model representing tissues that undergo post-traumatic fibrosis. Thus, the presented study demonstrates the potential of the scFv variant to serve as an inhibitor of the excessive formation of collagen-rich fibrotic deposits, and it reveals certain limitations associated with the current stage of development of this antibody construct.</p> </abstract>