Fc-engineered large molecules targeting blood-brain barrier transferrin receptor and CD98hc have distinct central nervous system and peripheral biodistribution

Abstract

Blood brain barrier-crossing molecules targeting transferrin receptor (TfR) and CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) are widely reported to promote enhanced brain delivery of therapeutics. Here, we provide a comprehensive and unbiased biodistribution characterization of TfR and CD98hc antibody transport vehicles (ATV^TfR and ATV^CD98hc) compared to control IgG. Mouse whole-body tissue clearing reveals distinct organ localization for each molecule. In the brain, ATV^TfR and ATV^CD98hc achieve enhanced exposure and parenchymal distribution even when brain exposures are matched between ATV and control IgG in bulk tissue. Using a combination of cell sorting and single-cell RNAseq, we reveal that control IgG is nearly absent from parenchymal cells and is distributed primarily to brain perivascular and leptomeningeal cells. In contrast, ATV^TfR and ATV^CD98hc exhibit broad and unique parenchymal cell-type distribution. Finally, we profile in detail brain region-specific biodistribution of ATV^TfR in cynomolgus monkey brain and spinal cord. Taken together, this in-depth multiscale characterization will guide platform selection for therapeutic targets of interest.