Fc-engineered large molecules targeting blood-brain barrier transferrin receptor and CD98hc have distinct central nervous system and peripheral biodistribution
Nathalie Khoury, Michelle E. Pizzo, Claire B. Discenza, David Joy, David Tatarakis, Mihail Ivilinov Todorov, Moritz Negwer, Connie Ha, Gabrielly Lunkes de Melo, Lily Sarrafha, Matthew Simon, Darren Chan, Roni Chau, Kylie S. Chew, Johann Chow, Allisa Clemens, Yaneth Robles‐Colmenares, Jason C. Dugas, Joseph Duque, Doris Kaltenecker, Holly Kane, Amy Leung, Edwin I. Lozano, Arash Moshkforoush, Elysia Roche, Thomas Sandmann, Mabel Tong, Kaitlin Xa, Yinhan Zhou, Joseph W. Lewcock, Ali Ertürk, Robert G. Thorne, Meredith Calvert, Y. Joy Yu Zuchero
Abstract
Blood brain barrier-crossing molecules targeting transferrin receptor (TfR) and CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) are widely reported to promote enhanced brain delivery of therapeutics. Here, we provide a comprehensive and unbiased biodistribution characterization of TfR and CD98hc antibody transport vehicles (ATVTfR and ATVCD98hc) compared to control IgG. Mouse whole-body tissue clearing reveals distinct organ localization for each molecule. In the brain, ATVTfR and ATVCD98hc achieve enhanced exposure and parenchymal distribution even when brain exposures are matched between ATV and control IgG in bulk tissue. Using a combination of cell sorting and single-cell RNAseq, we reveal that control IgG is nearly absent from parenchymal cells and is distributed primarily to brain perivascular and leptomeningeal cells. In contrast, ATVTfR and ATVCD98hc exhibit broad and unique parenchymal cell-type distribution. Finally, we profile in detail brain region-specific biodistribution of ATVTfR in cynomolgus monkey brain and spinal cord. Taken together, this in-depth multiscale characterization will guide platform selection for therapeutic targets of interest. Transferrin receptor (TfR) and CD98hc are increasingly used to enable more effective drug delivery to the central nervous system. Here, the authors reveal comprehensive and distinct brain cellular and whole body biodistribution patterns of TfR- and CD98hc-binding molecules.