The Globin Gene Family in Arthropods: Evolution and Functional Diversity.

Globins are small heme-proteins that reversibly bind oxygen. Their most prominent roles in vertebrates are the transport and storage of O for oxidative energy metabolism, but recent research has suggested alternative, non-respiratory globin functions. In the species-rich and ecologically highly diverse taxon of arthropods, the copper-containing hemocyanin is considered the main respiratory protein.

Functional relevance of in vivo half antibody exchange of an IgG4 therapeutic antibody-drug conjugate.

An increasing number of monoclonal antibodies and derivatives such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are of the IgG1 and IgG4 isotype with distinct structural and functional properties. In cases where antibody-mediated cytotoxicity is not desired, IgG4 is often used, as its Fc region is relatively poor at inducing antibody-dependent cell-mediated or complement-dependent cytotoxicity. IgG4 ADCs with highly cytotoxic drugs against proliferating target cells but which lack or have diminished antibody effector functions against quiescent cells may have a favorable safety profile compared to IgG1.

Activity of Indatuximab Ravtansine against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Preclinical Tumor Models.

Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is related with a poor prognosis as patients do hardly benefit from approved therapies. CD138 (Syndecan-1) is upregulated on human breast cancers. Indatuximab ravtansine (BT062) is an antibody-drug-conjugate that specifically targets CD138-expressing cells and has previously shown clinical activity in multiple myeloma.

Functional Properties of Human Cytomegalovirus Hyperimmunoglobulin and Standard Immunoglobulin Preparations.

BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus hyperimmunoglobulin (CMV-HIG) preparations reduce mortality after solid organ transplantation. Polyspecific intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) products are also used prophylactically by some centers. Since direct comparative characterizations of the preparations are scarce, it is challenging to compare different clinical studies.