Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model

Abstract Targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is promising in treating cancer in humans and offers potential for veterinary applications. However, no PD-L1 antibodies have been approved specifically for treating canine cancer. We aimed to dev...

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Main Authors: Min-young Song, Jaewon Cho, Hyosung Park, Yujeong Song, Keon Kim, Jae-Hee Ahn, Chang-Min Lee, Dae Hee Kim, Hyun-Jeong Ko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90770-1
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author Min-young Song
Jaewon Cho
Hyosung Park
Yujeong Song
Keon Kim
Jae-Hee Ahn
Chang-Min Lee
Dae Hee Kim
Hyun-Jeong Ko
author_facet Min-young Song
Jaewon Cho
Hyosung Park
Yujeong Song
Keon Kim
Jae-Hee Ahn
Chang-Min Lee
Dae Hee Kim
Hyun-Jeong Ko
author_sort Min-young Song
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is promising in treating cancer in humans and offers potential for veterinary applications. However, no PD-L1 antibodies have been approved specifically for treating canine cancer. We aimed to develop PD-L1-specific antibodies using phage display technology for treating canine cancer. A synthetic antibody library was screened, and 18 high-affinity single-chain variable fragment clones were subsequently converted to the IgG format for enhancing binding affinity and functional stability. The clone #15 exhibited the highest binding affinity and most pronounced antitumor effects. The PD-1/PD-L1 interaction was inhibited by antibody #15. The binding and thermal stabilities of the antibodies were validated by flow cytometry and thermal stability assays, respectively. In NOG mice xenografted with canine osteosarcoma cells and treated with canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and antibody #15, the tumor size and weight were reduced. Antibody #15 significantly increased apoptosis of tumor cells and lymphocyte populations. Therefore, anti-PD-L1 antibodies, particularly antibody #15, have substantial potential as novel immunotherapeutic agents against canine osteosarcoma. This study represents a significant advancement in veterinary oncology, with the potential of improving treatment outcomes for canine cancers and providing insights into similar strategies in human cancer therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-0899d131657c4d3ba6aba281f34f78022025-08-20T02:59:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-90770-1Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft modelMin-young Song0Jaewon Cho1Hyosung Park2Yujeong Song3Keon Kim4Jae-Hee Ahn5Chang-Min Lee6Dae Hee Kim7Hyun-Jeong Ko8Department of Pharmacy, Kangwon National UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Kangwon National UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Kangwon National UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Kangwon National UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Kangwon National UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Kangwon National UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, Kangwon National UniversityAbstract Targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is promising in treating cancer in humans and offers potential for veterinary applications. However, no PD-L1 antibodies have been approved specifically for treating canine cancer. We aimed to develop PD-L1-specific antibodies using phage display technology for treating canine cancer. A synthetic antibody library was screened, and 18 high-affinity single-chain variable fragment clones were subsequently converted to the IgG format for enhancing binding affinity and functional stability. The clone #15 exhibited the highest binding affinity and most pronounced antitumor effects. The PD-1/PD-L1 interaction was inhibited by antibody #15. The binding and thermal stabilities of the antibodies were validated by flow cytometry and thermal stability assays, respectively. In NOG mice xenografted with canine osteosarcoma cells and treated with canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and antibody #15, the tumor size and weight were reduced. Antibody #15 significantly increased apoptosis of tumor cells and lymphocyte populations. Therefore, anti-PD-L1 antibodies, particularly antibody #15, have substantial potential as novel immunotherapeutic agents against canine osteosarcoma. This study represents a significant advancement in veterinary oncology, with the potential of improving treatment outcomes for canine cancers and providing insights into similar strategies in human cancer therapy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90770-1Canine cancerProgrammed death ligand 1ImmunotherapeuticsAntibodyPhage display
spellingShingle Min-young Song
Jaewon Cho
Hyosung Park
Yujeong Song
Keon Kim
Jae-Hee Ahn
Chang-Min Lee
Dae Hee Kim
Hyun-Jeong Ko
Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model
Scientific Reports
Canine cancer
Programmed death ligand 1
Immunotherapeutics
Antibody
Phage display
title Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model
title_full Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model
title_fullStr Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model
title_full_unstemmed Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model
title_short Discovery and functional characterization of canine PD-L1-targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model
title_sort discovery and functional characterization of canine pd l1 targeted antibodies for evaluating antitumor efficacy in a canine osteosarcoma xenograft model
topic Canine cancer
Programmed death ligand 1
Immunotherapeutics
Antibody
Phage display
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90770-1
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