The Therapeutic Antibody LM609 Selectively Inhibits Ligand Binding to Human αβ Integrin via Steric Hindrance.

The LM609 antibody specifically recognizes αβ integrin and inhibits angiogenesis, bone resorption, and viral infections in an arginine-glycine-aspartate-independent manner. LM609 entered phase II clinical trials for the treatment of several cancers and was also used for αβ-targeted radioimmunotherapy. To elucidate the mechanisms of recognition and inhibition of αβ integrin, we solved the structure of the LM609 antigen-binding fragment by X-ray crystallography and determined its binding affinity for αβ. Using single-particle electron microscopy, we show that LM609 binds at the interface between the β-propeller domain of the α chain and the βI domain of the β chain, near the RGD-binding site, of all observed integrin conformational states. Integrating these data with fluorescence size-exclusion chromatography, we demonstrate that LM609 sterically hinders access of large ligands to the RGD-binding pocket, without obstructing it. This work provides a structural framework to expedite future efforts utilizing LM609 as a diagnostic or therapeutic tool.