Recombinant production and characterization of human anti-influenza virus monoclonal antibodies identified from hybridomas fused with human lymphocytes

In previous studies, hybridomas producing human immunoglobulin G, the antibodies 5E4 and 5A7 against influenza A and B virus were established using a novel human lymphocyte fusion partner, SPYMEG. In the present study, we succeeded in achieving the recombinant production and secretion of 5E4 and 5A7 in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Our N-glycan analysis by intact-mass detection and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry showed that recombinant 5E4 and 5A7 have one N-glycan and the typical mammalian-type N-glycan structures similar to those in hybridomas. However, the glycan distribution was slightly different among these antibodies. The amount of high-mannose-type structures was under 10% of the total N-glycans of recombinant 5E4 and 5A7, compared to 20% of the 5E4 and 5A7 produced in hybridomas. The amount of galactosylated N-glycans was increased in recombinants. Approximately 80% of the N-glycans of all antibodies was fucosylated, and no sialylated N-glycan was found. Recombinant 5E4 and 5A7 neutralized pandemic influenza A virus specifically, and influenza B virus broadly, quite similar to the 5E4 and 5A7 produced in hybridomas, respectively. Here we demonstrated that recombinants of antibodies identified from hybridomas fused with SPYMEG have normal N-glycans and that their neutralizing activities bear comparison with those of the original antibodies.