SEATTLE, May 9, 2017 — ReachBio Research Labs (trade name under ReachBio LLC), a CRO specializing in primary cell assay services and products, is now offering sourced, enriched and tested primary natural killer (V158+) cells from normal and healthy donors to facilitate better antibody research through ADCC assays.
One of the important mechanisms by which antibodies kill targeted tumor cells is through a process called antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Studying this process pre-clinically, in vitro ADCC assays utilize an important effector cell, the natural killer (NK) cell. The ability of NK cells to bind monoclonal antibodies that selectively target tumor cells for killing is considered to be important to the efficacy of the therapeutic monoclonal antibody in ADCC assays.
Diagram of an ADCC Assay
In various oncology clinical studies using IgG1 isotype therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (e.g. rituximab targeting CD20, trastuzumab targeting HER2 and cetuximab targeting EGFR), different outcomes were observed with some of the findings believed to be related to the numbers and functional activity of the patient NK cell population. Supporting studies have shown that NK cells derived from donors that display a specific polymorphism of the CD 16 Fc gamma receptor (homozygous for FCGR3A with valine at position 158), bound significantly more IgG1, and hence those NK cells were rendered more ‘active’, compared with cells from donors who were homozygous for that receptor with phenylalanine at same position. Thus, using NK cells with this V158 polymorphism (V158+) results in a more ‘active’ effector cell that trigger a more robust cytotoxic response in ADCC assays compared to other donor polymorphisms.
Gary dos Santos, Director of Laboratory Operations for ReachBio Research Labs, mentions, “The benefit of using primary NK cells in the ADCC assay, compared with engineered cells, allows for more predictive data to support better decision-making when advancing drugs through the drug-development process. Additionally, the greater ADCC assay activity observed using NK V158+ cells, allows for a better dynamic range to more easily rank the activity of IgG1 monoclonal antibodies vs unselected donor cell populations. Coupling this information with ADCC data from V158 negative donors gives insight into potential differential therapeutic effects based on patient polymorphisms for this receptor. Not only is this offered as a product, we incorporate these cells into our own ADCC assay services to evaluate client mAb drug candidates to kill cancer cells.”
The General Manager and COO, Rob Chaney adds, “As our company moves into its tenth year, we’ve branched into new services and have started to develop more customized cell products. Over the past number of years, we’ve seen an increased need within the drug development community for antibody therapies. Because of this need, we found it crucial to develop and offer specialized, non-engineered NK (V158+) cells and make them available on our online store.”
Order our sourced and enriched NK V158+ cells here!
Interested in ADCC Assay services? Learn more about our capabilities here.
About ReachBio Research Labs:
ReachBio Research Labs is a life sciences CRO company based out of Seattle, WA USA. We provide primary cell biology based contract research services and products to the drug development and life science research communities worldwide. With expertise encompassing many aspects of primary cell biology and a special focus on blood and bone marrow primary cell systems, we work with customers and clients involved in basic research through multiple areas of pre-clinical and clinical drug development. Our products and services help address our client and customers’ interests in a wide spectrum of areas that include hematology, immunology, toxicology, hematological diseases, immuno-oncology and much more.
For more information please contact:
Cara Proszek, Marketing Associate
ReachBio Research Labs
421 W. Riverside Avenue, Ste 1005
Spokane, WA 99201
Email: Cara.Proszek@reachbio.com
Phone: (509) 309-8454