Development of a label-free FcRn-mediated transcytosis assay for in vitro characterization of FcRn interactions with therapeutic antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) binds to the Fc domain of IgG in a pH-dependent manner, guides the intracellular movement of the bound antibodies and protects them from lysosomal degradation. Proper characterization of Fc-FcRn interactions is fundamental to successful design, development, and production of Fccontaining therapeutic proteins because of the potential impact of such interactions on their in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors. Here, we describe the development and characterization of a cell-based, label-free FcR-nmediated transcytosis assay that provides a functional readout to reflect the totality of Fc-FcRn interactions, including pH-dependent association and dissociation, as well as the intracellular trafficking of Fc-containing molecules in complex with FcRn. Our study demonstrates that this transcytosis assay can be used to evaluate FcRn binding of therapeutic antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins, including wild-type and engineered Fc variants with varying FcRn binding affinities, as well as oxidized and aggregated antibody samples. These results support the utility of an FcRn-dependent transcytosis assay for evaluation of both Fc-FcRn interactions and the structural integrity of Fc-containing therapeutic proteins pertinent to their pharmacokinetic behavior in vivo.