The anti-CD4 mAb 13B8.2, directed against the CDR3-like loop of the D1 domain of CD4, inhibits signal transduction pathways leading to both T cell activation and HIV replication. VH9/DSP2/JH2 andκ12-13/Jκ2 rearrangements, corresponding to genes encoding the heavy and light chain variable regions of the 13B8.2 mAb, were inserted into baculovirus cassettes upstream from pre-installed human Fd
and κ genes, respectively. After expression in insect cells, a complete correctly-processed Fab was secreted into the culture medium; it was protein-G immunopurified with a yield of 5 mg/L. The chimeric Fab 13B8.2 showed anti-CD4 binding activity with an affinity value of 3.3 nM and recognized the same region on the CDR3-like loop as the parental mAb. The mouse-human Fab inhibited IL2 secretion following antigen presentation and displayed a strong capacity to prevent HIV-1 promoter activation. Taken together, these results indicate that the chimeric Fab retained a major part of the parental 13B8.2 mAb properties and suggest that it might be a valuable therapeutic tool.
