Annexin A1, formyl peptide receptor, and NOX1 orchestrate epithelial repair

N-formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are critical regulators of host defense in phagocytes and are also expressed in epithelia. FPR signaling and function have been extensively studied in phagocytes, yet their functional biology in epithelia is poorly understood. We describe a novel intestinal epithelial FPR signaling pathway that is activated by an endogenous FPR ligand, annexin A1 (ANXA1), and its cleavage product Ac2-26, which mediate activation of ROS by an epithelial NADPH oxidase, NOX1. We show that epithelial cell migration was regulated by this signaling cascade through oxidative inactivation of the regulatory phosphatases PTEN and PTP-PEST, with consequent activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin. In vivo studies using intestinal epithelial specific Nox1(-/-IEC) and AnxA1(-/-) mice demonstrated defects in intestinal mucosal wound repair, while systemic administration of ANXA1 promoted wound recovery in a NOX1-dependent fashion. Additionally, increased ANXA1 expression was observed in the intestinal epithelium and infiltrating leukocytes in the mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients compared with normal intestinal mucosa. Our findings delineate a novel epithelial FPR1/NOX1-dependent redox signaling pathway that promotes mucosal wound repair.

Abstract 365: Targeted Delivery of IGF-1 Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

During acute myocardial infarction (MI) there is excessive necrosis of myocardial cells, leading to the release of large amounts of DNA, representing a potential target for drug delivery. Hoechst, a commonly used molecule for staining nuclei, binds to the minor groove of double-stranded DNA and can be functionalized to contain reactive groups such as free amines, sulfhydryls, and biotin moieties. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a small molecule with a short half-life is protective immediately following MI, though there is potential for long-term toxicity and off-target effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that conjugating IGF-1 to Hoechst would increase targeting of IGF-1 to the injured myocardium. Hoechst-IGF1 (H-IGF1) was synthesized by binding Hoechst-biotin to biotinylated IGF-1 via a fluorescent streptavidin linker. Intact cells did not show nuclear staining with H-IGF1, while permeabilized cells had a significant increase in blue fluorescent Hoechst staining, indicating H-IGF1 was cell impermeable but could still bind DNA. Activity of H-IGF1 was demonstrated by Akt phosphorylation in cultured cardiac progenitor cells and was similar to native IGF-1. To determine in-vivo targeting of H-IGF1 to MI, mice underwent 30 minutes of coronary artery ligation followed by reperfusion (I/R). Six hours following MI, mice were injected intravenously with 70ng of H-IGF1, S-IGF1 (streptavidin bound IGF-1 only) or PBS followed by in vivo imaging at 30 and 120 minutes post-injection. At 30 minutes post-injection, we found 3.2% (2.2 of 70ng) of the injected dose of H-IGF1 in infarcted hearts compared with 1.8% (1.3 of 70ng) of S-IGF1 (n=5-7; p<0.05). To confirm that targeting of H-IGF1 was dependent on binding DNA, H-IGF1 pre-bound to double-stranded DNA was injected intravenously after I/R. This led to a significant (p<0.05) decrease in targeted IGF-1 levels. IGF-1 levels determined by ELISA 2 hours post-injection demonstrated a similar trend with increased targeting of H-IGF1 compared with S-IGF1 treated mice (4.2±0.6 ng vs. 2.4±0.2 ng; p<0.05). In conclusion, our data demonstrate that intravenous delivery of Hoechst-conjugated IGF-1 increases myocardial targeting. This provides a novel strategy for delivery of growth factors for the treatment of MI.

Abstract 5332: Snail transcription factor contributes to prostate cancer tumor progression via reactive oxygen species and Rac1 activation

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) represses cell adhesion associated genes, making cells more migratory. Snail is the master gene that regulates the EMT process by down regulating tight junction proteins, such as E-cadherin, and up-regulating mesenchymal genes, such as vimentin. Cell migration can also be regulated by the Rho family of GTPases such as Rac1, which can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS), specifically superoxide, via the NADPH oxidase (Nox) pathways. ROS, specifically hydrogen peroxide has been shown to mediate EMT induced by MMP-3. The objective of this study is to determine whether Snail Transcription factor contributes to tumor progression via ROS and Rac1 and to study the effect(s) of antioxidants on Snail signaling. We utilized androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent 22Rv1 and ARCaP cell lines overexpressing Snail to examine Rac1 activity in vitro. ROS (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) levels were examined in vitro and in vivo. Western blot analysis of EMT markers, cell migration on collagen and Real Time PCR Array to assay oxidative stress enzymes was also performed. We found that LNCaP, 22Rv1 and ARCaP cells overexpressing Snail displayed increased Rac1 activity while LNCaP and ARCaP cells with Snail overexpression expressed higher levels of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in vitro. Furthermore, ARCaP cells overexpressing Snail injected into nude mice showed higher tumorigenicity as compared to ARCaP Neo control cells and excised tumors displayed increased levels of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide ex vivo. Real Time PCR Array revealed significant increase in key enzymes involved in oxidative stress such as aldehyde oxidase I and peroxidasin. Treatment with the hydrogen peroxide scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), could partially revert Snail-mediated EMT in ARCaP cells as evidenced by re-expression of E-cadherin after 3 days. The muscadine grape skin extract (MSKE) antioxidant decreased ROS levels and Rac1 activity and reverted Snail-mediated EMT as seen by decreased vimentin, re-induction of E-cadherin, and decreased cell migration. This is the first report of Snail regulation of ROS by regulating oxidative stress enzymes, leading to EMT and tumor progression. We are also showing novel data that Snail can regulate cell motility via Rac1 activation. Therefore, targeting Snail-mediated EMT with antioxidants offers a promising therapy to reduce prostate cancer progression in future. Research supported by NIH Grants: 1P20MD002285 and G12RR03062.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5332. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5332

Folate receptor-targeted antioxidant therapy ameliorates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Antioxidant therapy can protect against ischemic injury, but the inability to selectively target the kidney would require extremely high doses to achieve effective local concentrations of drug. Here, we developed a directed therapeutic that specifically targets an antioxidant to renal proximal tubule cells via the folate receptor. Because a local increase in superoxide contributes to renal ischemic injury, we created the folate-antioxidant conjugate 4-hydroxy-Tempo (tempol)-folate to target folate receptors, which are highly expressed in the proximal tubule. Dihydroethidium high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that conjugated tempol retained its efficacy to scavenge superoxide in proximal tubule cells. In a mouse model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, tempol-folate reduced renal superoxide levels more effectively than tempol alone. Furthermore, electron spin resonance revealed the successful targeting of the tempol-folate conjugate to the kidney and other tissues expressing folate receptors. Administration of tempol-folate protected the renal function of mice after ischemia-reperfusion injury and inhibited infiltration of macrophages. In conclusion, kidney-specific targeting of an antioxidant has therapeutic potential to prevent renal ischemic injury. Conjugation of other pharmaceuticals to folate may also facilitate the development of treatments for other kidney diseases.

Fluorescent coumarin thiols measure biological redox couples

In this report we present a new chemical probe, 3-HTC, that can reversibly and ratiometrically measure the thiol-disulfide equilibrium of biological systems. 3-HTC is composed of a coumarin that has a thiolate directly conjugated to its extended aromatic π system while formation of a disulfide attenuates this conjugation. The fluorescence and absorption properties of 3-HTC are therefore very sensitive to the redox state of its thiol. 3-HTC reacts reversibly with thiols and disulfides enabling its use to measure dynamic GSH/GSSH ratios in vitro as well as to monitor the reversible redox status of whole cell lysates.

Quantitative imaging of cartilage and bone morphology, reactive oxygen species, and vascularization in a rodent model of osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To assess temporal changes in cartilage and bone morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and vascularization in rats with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA), using advanced imaging methodologies.

METHODS

Right knees of 8-week-old male Wistar rats were injected with 1 mg MIA in 50 μl saline and left knees were injected with 50 μl saline as controls. After 1, 2, and 3 weeks (n = 5 at each time point), changes in cartilage morphology and composition were quantified using equilibrium partitioning of an ionic contrast agent microfocal computed tomography (μCT), and changes in subchondral and trabecular bone were assessed by standard μCT. ROS were characterized by in vivo fluorescence imaging at 1, 11, and 21 days (n = 5 at each time point). Three weeks following fluorescence imaging, alterations in knee joint vascularity were quantified with μCT after perfusion of a vascular contrast agent.

RESULTS

Femoral cartilage volume, thickness, and proteoglycan content were significantly decreased in MIA-injected knees compared with control knees, accompanied by loss of trabecular bone and erosion of subchondral bone surface. ROS quantities were significantly increased 1 day after MIA injection and subsequently decreased gradually, having returned to normal by 21 days. Vascularity in whole knees and distal femora was significantly increased at 21 days after MIA injection.

CONCLUSION

Contrast-enhanced μCT and fluorescence imaging were combined to characterize articular cartilage, subchondral bone, vascularization, and ROS, providing unprecedented 3-dimensional joint imaging and quantification in multiple tissues during OA progression. These advanced imaging techniques have the potential to become standardized methods for comprehensive evaluation of articular joint degeneration and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

Maleimide cross-linked bioactive PEG hydrogel exhibits improved reaction kinetics and cross-linking for cell encapsulation and in situ delivery

Engineered polyethylene glycol-maleimide matrices for regenerative medicine exhibit improved reaction efficiency and wider range of Young’s moduli by utilizing maleimide cross-linking chemistry. This hydrogel chemistry is advantageous for cell delivery due to the mild reaction that occurs rapidly enough for in situ delivery, while easily lending itself to “plug-and-play” design variations such as incorporation of enzyme-cleavable cross-links and cell-adhesion peptides.

Abstract P032: Nanoparticle Mediated Nox2-siRNA Therapy for Preventing Cardiac Dysfunction Following Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most common cause of heart failure in the developed world. Following MI, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiac remodeling leading to impaired ventricular function. Oxidative stress at high levels lead to many of the injury associated changes: proinflammatory cytokine release, myocyte apoptosis, cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy. Nicotinamide adenine denucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase with Nox2 as the catalytic subunit, is a major source for cardiac ROS production. After MI, Nox2 expression is significantly increased in the infarcted myocardium. Moreover, mice lacking the Nox2 gene are protected from ischemic injury. We used polyketals, a new class of acid-degradable polymers, as delivery vehicles for Nox2-siRNA to the post-MI environment. When engaged by macrophages, present in high quantities during MI, these particles have been shown to be taken up by macrophages and contents released within cells in active form. Nox2-siRNA was ion-paired to the cationic lipid DOTAP, and spherical particles averaging 500nm diameter were made by a single emulsion procedure with polyketal PK3 using PVA as surfactant. While a commercially available transfection reagent yielded 7% uptake as measured by flow cytometery, 81% of macrophages were positive for fluorescently-labeled siRNA in PK3-siNOX2 treated cells. These data were confirmed with confocal microscopy. Macrophages treated with PK3-siNOX2 demonstrated a significant 43% knockdown in Nox2 gene expression at 24 hours, while no reduction was seen with scrambled siRNA or empty particles. Functional activity was assessed by a fluorescent dihyroethidium dye based HPLC quantification after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation following 72 hours of particle treatment to measure superoxide production. PK3-siNox2 treated cells exhibited a 41% reduction in activity, with no significant changes seen with scrambled siRNA or empty particle treatment. Currently, the therapeutic potential of the Nox2-siRNA particles is being evaluated in a mouse model of ischemia-reperfusion. Successful completion of these studies could lead to a novel treatment for post-infarction injury.

Abstract P164: N-acetylglucosamine Conjugated to Nanoparticles Enhances Myocyte Uptake and Improves Delivery of a Small Molecule P38 Inhibitor for Postinfarct Healing

An estimated 985,000 new myocardial infarctions (MI) will occur in the U.S. in 2011. While many will survive the initial insult, the early damage will eventually lead to heart failure for which the only definitive cure is transplantation. Cardiomyocyte (CM) apoptosis is a large contributor to cardiac dysfunction, and although potential therapeutic molecules exist to inhibit apoptotic pathways, drug delivery methods are lacking. This damage is largely regional and thus localized delivery of therapeutics holds great potential. However, CMs are relatively non-phagocytic, which precludes existing delivery schemes using polymeric particles that target phagocytic cells. Recently, the carbohydrate N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) was discovered to be bound and internalized by CMs, providing a potential mechanism for drug delivery. Here we demonstrate efficacy of a drug delivery system comprising a drug-loaded biodegradable polyketal nanoparticle that is surface-decorated with GlcNAc. Inclusion of the sugar enhanced uptake by CMs in vitro as measured by intracellular activated fluorescence. When delivered in vivo following ischemia-reperfusion injury, GlcNAc-decorated particles loaded with the p38 inhibitor SB239063 reduced infarct size and improved acute cardiac function. This was in contrast to our published data demonstrating no acute effect of non-sugar decorated, p38 inhibitor-loaded particles. These data suggest a novel therapeutic option to enhance uptake of drug-loaded nanoparticles to CMs, and perhaps to reduce the large amount of CM cell death following myocardial injury.

Nadph oxidase regulates alveolar epithelial sodium channel activity and lung fluid balance in vivo via O⁻₂ signaling

To define roles for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in maintaining lung fluid balance in vivo, we used two novel whole animal imaging approaches. Live X-ray fluoroscopy enabled quantification of air space fluid content of C57BL/6J mouse lungs challenged by intratracheal (IT) instillation of saline; results were confirmed by using conventional lung wet-to-dry weight ratios and Evans blue as measures of pulmonary edema. Visualization and quantification of ROS produced in lungs was performed in mice that had been administered a redox-sensitive dye, hydro-Cy7, by IT instillation. We found that inhibition of NADPH oxidase with a Rac-1 inhibitor, NSC23766, resulted in alveolar flooding, which correlated with a decrease in lung ROS production in vivo. Consistent with a role for Nox2 in alveolar fluid balance, Nox2(-/-) mice showed increased retention of air space fluid compared with wild-type controls. Interestingly, fluoroscopic analysis of C57BL/6J lungs IT instilled with LPS showed an acute stimulation of lung fluid clearance and ROS production in vivo that was abrogated by the ROS scavenger tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO). Acute application of LPS increased the activity of 20 pS nonselective ENaC channels in rat type 1 cells; the average number of channel and single-channel open probability (NPo) increased from 0.14 ± 0.04 to 0.62 ± 0.23. Application of TEMPO to the same cell-attached recording caused an immediate significant decrease in ENaC NPo to 0.04 ± 0.03. These data demonstrate that, in vivo, ROS has the capacity to stimulate lung fluid clearance by increasing ENaC activity.

Redox signaling in an in vivo murine model of low magnitude oscillatory wall shear stress

Wall Shear Stress (WSS) has been identified as an important factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We utilized a novel murine aortic coarctation model to acutely create a region of low magnitude oscillatory WSS in vivo. We employed this model to test the hypothesis that acute changes in WSS in vivo induce upregulation of inflammatory proteins, mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Superoxide generation and VCAM-1 expression both increased in regions of low magnitude oscillatory WSS. WSS-dependent superoxide formation was attenuated by tempol treatment, but was unchanged in p47 phox knockout (ko) mice. However, in both the p47 phox ko mice and the tempol-treated mice, low magnitude oscillatory WSS produced an increase in VCAM-1 expression comparable to control mice. Additionally, this same VCAM-1 expression was observed in ebselen-treated mice and catalase overexpressing mice. These results suggest that although the redox state is important to the overall pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the initial WSS-dependent inflammatory response leading to lesion localization is not dependent on ROS.

Minimally invasive, longitudinal monitoring of biomaterial-associated inflammation by fluorescence imaging

Implant-associated inflammation is a major cause for the reduced performance/lifetime and failure of numerous medical devices. Therefore, the ability to non-invasively and quantitatively monitor implant-associated inflammation is critically important. Here we show that implant-associated inflammation can be imaged via fluorescence imaging using near-infrared hydrocyanine dyes delivered either locally or intravenously in living mice. This imaging strategy allowed quantitative longitudinal monitoring of inflammation by detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) released by inflammatory cells in response to implanted poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) disks or injected poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles, and exhibited a strong correlation to conventional analysis of inflammation. Furthermore, modulation of inflammatory responses via controlled release of the anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone was detected using this sensitive imaging approach. Thus, hydrocyanine-based fluorescence imaging of ROS could serve as a surrogate measure for monitoring implant-associated inflammation as well as evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic approaches to modulate host responses to implanted medical devices.

Maltodextrin-based imaging probes detect bacteria in vivo with high sensitivity and specificity

The diagnosis of bacterial infections remains a major challenge in medicine. Although numerous contrast agents have been developed to image bacteria, their clinical impact has been minimal because they are unable to detect small numbers of bacteria in vivo, and cannot distinguish infections from other pathologies such as cancer and inflammation. Here, we present a family of contrast agents, termed maltodextrin-based imaging probes (MDPs), which can detect bacteria in vivo with a sensitivity two orders of magnitude higher than previously reported, and can detect bacteria using a bacteria-specific mechanism that is independent of host response and secondary pathologies. MDPs are composed of a fluorescent dye conjugated to maltohexaose, and are rapidly internalized through the bacteria-specific maltodextrin transport pathway, endowing the MDPs with a unique combination of high sensitivity and specificity for bacteria. Here, we show that MDPs selectively accumulate within bacteria at millimolar concentrations, and are a thousand-fold more specific for bacteria than mammalian cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MDPs can image as few as 10(5) colony-forming units in vivo and can discriminate between active bacteria and inflammation induced by either lipopolysaccharides or metabolically inactive bacteria.

Nanomedicine in GI

Recent advances in nanotechnology offer new hope for disease detection, prevention, and treatment. Nanomedicine is a rapidly evolving field wherein targeted therapeutic approaches using nanotechnology based on the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal diseases are being developed. Nanoparticle vectors capable of delivering drugs specifically and exclusively to regions of the gastrointestinal tract affected by disease for a prolonged period of time are likely to significantly reduce the side effects of existing otherwise effective treatments. This review aims at integrating various applications of the most recently developed nanomaterials that have tremendous potential for the detection and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

Programming the magnitude and persistence of antibody responses with innate immunity

Many successful vaccines induce persistent antibody responses that can last a lifetime. The mechanisms by which they do so remain unclear, but emerging evidence indicates that they activate dendritic cells via Toll-like receptors (TLRs). For example, the yellow fever vaccine YF-17D, one of the most successful empiric vaccines ever developed, activates dendritic cells via multiple TLRs to stimulate proinflammatory cytokines. Triggering specific combinations of TLRs in dendritic cells can induce synergistic production of cytokines, which results in enhanced T-cell responses, but its impact on antibody responses remain unknown. Learning the critical parameters of innate immunity that program such antibody responses remains a major challenge in vaccinology. Here we demonstrate that immunization of mice with synthetic nanoparticles containing antigens plus ligands that signal through TLR4 and TLR7 induces synergistic increases in antigen-specific, neutralizing antibodies compared to immunization with nanoparticles containing antigens plus a single TLR ligand. Consistent with this there was enhanced persistence of germinal centres and of plasma-cell responses, which persisted in the lymph nodes for >1.5 years. Surprisingly, there was no enhancement of the early short-lived plasma-cell response relative to that observed with single TLR ligands. Molecular profiling of activated B cells, isolated 7 days after immunization, indicated that there was early programming towards B-cell memory. Antibody responses were dependent on direct triggering of both TLRs on B cells and dendritic cells, as well as on T-cell help. Immunization protected completely against lethal avian and swine influenza virus strains in mice, and induced robust immunity against pandemic H1N1 influenza in rhesus macaques.

Orally delivered thioketal nanoparticles loaded with TNF-α-siRNA target inflammation and inhibit gene expression in the intestines

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) directed against proinflammatory cytokines have the potential to treat numerous diseases associated with intestinal inflammation; however, the side-effects caused by the systemic depletion of cytokines demands that the delivery of cytokine-targeted siRNAs be localized to diseased intestinal tissues. Although various delivery vehicles have been developed to orally deliver therapeutics to intestinal tissue, none of these strategies has demonstrated the ability to protect siRNA from the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract and target its delivery to inflamed intestinal tissue. Here, we present a delivery vehicle for siRNA, termed thioketal nanoparticles (TKNs), that can localize orally delivered siRNA to sites of intestinal inflammation, and thus inhibit gene expression in inflamed intestinal tissue. TKNs are formulated from a polymer, poly-(1,4-phenyleneacetone dimethylene thioketal), that degrades selectively in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, when delivered orally, TKNs release siRNA in response to the abnormally high levels of ROS specific to sites of intestinal inflammation. Using a murine model of ulcerative colitis, we demonstrate that orally administered TKNs loaded with siRNA against the proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) diminish TNF-α messenger RNA levels in the colon and protect mice from ulcerative colitis.

Hoechst-IR: an imaging agent that detects necrotic tissue in vivo by binding extracellular DNA

Cell necrosis is central to the progression of numerous diseases, and imaging agents that can detect necrotic tissue have great clinical potential. We demonstrate here that a small molecule, termed Hoechst-IR, composed of the DNA binding dye Hoechst and the near-infrared dye IR-786, can image necrotic tissue in vivo via fluorescence imaging. Hoechst-IR detects necrosis by binding extracellular DNA released from necrotic cells and was able to image necrosis generated from a myocardial infarction and lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine (LPS-GalN) induced sepsis.

Dissolving polymer microneedle patches for influenza vaccination

Influenza prophylaxis would benefit from a vaccination method enabling simplified logistics and improved immunogenicity without the dangers posed by hypodermic needles. Here we introduce dissolving microneedle patches for influenza vaccination using a simple patch-based system that targets delivery to skin's antigen-presenting cells. Microneedles were fabricated using a biocompatible polymer encapsulating inactivated influenza virus vaccine for insertion and dissolution in the skin within minutes. Microneedle vaccination generated robust antibody and cellular immune responses in mice that provided complete protection against lethal challenge. Compared to conventional intramuscular injection, microneedle vaccination resulted in more efficient lung virus clearance and enhanced cellular recall responses after challenge. These results suggest that dissolving microneedle patches can provide a new technology for simpler and safer vaccination with improved immunogenicity that could facilitate increased vaccination coverage.

The T helper type 2 response to cysteine proteases requires dendritic cell-basophil cooperation via ROS-mediated signaling

The mechanisms that initiate T helper type 2 (T(H)2) responses are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that cysteine protease-induced T(H)2 responses occur via 'cooperation' between migratory dermal dendritic cells (DCs) and basophils positive for interleukin 4 (IL-4). Subcutaneous immunization with papain plus antigen induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lymph node DCs and in dermal DCs and epithelial cells of the skin. ROS orchestrated T(H)2 responses by inducing oxidized lipids that triggered the induction of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) by epithelial cells mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the adaptor protein TRIF; by suppressing production of the T(H)1-inducing molecules IL-12 and CD70 in lymph node DCs; and by inducing the DC-derived chemokine CCL7, which mediated recruitment of IL-4(+) basophils to the lymph node. Thus, the T(H)2 response to cysteine proteases requires DC-basophil cooperation via ROS-mediated signaling.

Solid polymeric microparticles enhance the delivery of siRNA to macrophages in vivo

Therapeutics based on small interfering RNA (siRNA) have a great clinical potential; however, delivery problems have limited their clinical efficacy, and new siRNA delivery vehicles are greatly needed. In this report, we demonstrate that submicron particles (800-900 nm) composed of the polyketal PK3 and chloroquine, termed as the PKCNs, can deliver tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) siRNA in vivo to Kupffer cells efficiently and inhibit gene expression in the liver at concentrations as low as 3.5 microg/kg. The high delivery efficiency of the PKCNs arises from the unique properties of PK3, which can protect siRNA from serum nucleases, stimulate cell uptake and trigger a colloid osmotic disruption of the phagosome and release encapsulated siRNA into the cell cytoplasm. We anticipate numerous applications of the PKCNs for siRNA delivery to macrophages, given their high delivery efficiency, and the central role of macrophages in causing diseases such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal disease.

The delivery of superoxide dismutase encapsulated in polyketal microparticles to rat myocardium and protection from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Oxidative stress is increased in the myocardium following infarction and plays a significant role in death of cardiac myocytes, leading to cardiac dysfunction. Levels of the endogenous antioxidant Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) decrease following myocardial infarction. While SOD1 gene therapy studies show promise, trials with SOD1 protein have had little success due to poor pharmacokinetics and thus new delivery vehicles are needed. In this work, polyketal particles, a recently developed delivery vehicle, were used to make SOD1-encapsulated-microparticles (PKSOD). Our studies with cultured macrophages demonstrated that PKSOD treatment scavenges both intracellular and extracellular superoxide, suggesting efficient delivery of SOD1 protein to the inside of cells. In a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury, injection of PKSOD, and not free SOD1 or empty particles was able to scavenge IR-induced excess superoxide 3 days following infarction. In addition, only PKSOD treatment significantly reduced myocyte apoptosis. Further, PKSOD treatment was able to improve cardiac function as measured by acute changes in fractional shortening from baseline echocardiography, suggesting that sustained delivery of SOD1 is critical during the early phase of cardiac repair. These data demonstrate that delivery of SOD1 with polyketals is superior to free SOD1 protein therapy and may have potential clinical implications.