Triantennary GalNAc Molecular Imaging Probes for Monitoring Hepatocyte Function in a Rat Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Inclisiran in individuals with diabetes or obesity: Post hoc pooled analyses of the ORION-9, ORION-10 and ORION-11 Phase 3 randomized trials

AIMS

To conduct a pooled analysis of Phase 3 trials investigating the efficacy and safety of inclisiran across glycaemic and body mass index (BMI) strata.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive 300 mg inclisiran sodium or placebo twice yearly, after initial and 3-month doses up to 18 months, with background oral lipid-lowering therapy. Analyses were stratified by glycaemic status (normoglycaemia, prediabetes, and diabetes) or BMI (<25, ≥25 to <30, ≥30 to <35, and ≥35 kg/m2). Co-primary endpoints were percentage and time-adjusted percentage change in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from baseline. Safety was also assessed.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were balanced between treatment arms and across strata. Percent LDL cholesterol change (placebo-corrected) with inclisiran from baseline to Day 510 ranged from -47.6% to -51.9% and from -48.8% to -54.4% across glycaemic/BMI strata, respectively. Similarly, time-adjusted percentage changes after Day 90 and up to Day 540 ranged from -46.8% to -52.0% and from -48.6% to -53.3% across glycaemic/BMI strata, respectively. Inclisiran led to significant reductions in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 and other atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins versus placebo across the glycaemic/BMI strata. The proportions of individuals achieving LDL cholesterol thresholds of <1.8 mmol/L and <1.4 mmol/L with inclisiran increased with increasing glycaemic and BMI strata. Across the glycaemic/BMI strata, a higher proportion of individuals had mild/moderate treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) at the injection site with inclisiran (2.8%-7.7%) versus placebo (0.2%-2.1%).

CONCLUSION

Inclisiran provided substantial and sustained LDL cholesterol lowering across glycaemic/BMI strata, with a modest excess of transient mild-to-moderate TEAEs at the injection site.

Unraveling the binding interactions between two Pt(II) complexes of aliphatic glycine derivatives with human serum albumin: A comprehensive computational and multi-spectral investigation

This article delves into the interaction between HSA protein and synthesized platinum complexes, with formula: [Pt(Propyl-NH2)2(Propylglycine)]NO3 and [Pt(Tertpentyl-NH2)2(Tertpentylglycine)]NO3, through a range of methods, including spectroscopic (UV-visible, fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence and CD) analysis and computational modeling (molecular docking and MD simulation). The binding constants, the number of binding sites, and thermodynamic parameters were obtained at 25 to 37 °C. The study found that both complexes could bind with HSA (moderate affinity for Tertpentyl and strong affinity for Propyl derivatives) and occupied one binding site in HSA (validated with, Stern-Volmer, Job-plots, and molecular docking investigations) located in subdomain IIA. The binding mechanisms of both mentioned Pt(II) agents were different, with the Propyl derivative predominantly using van der Waals forces and hydrogen bond interactions with a static quenching mechanism and the Tertpentyl derivative mainly utilizing hydrophobic force with a dynamic quenching mechanism. However, the two ligands affected protein differently; the Tertpentyl complex did not significantly alter the protein structure upon binding, as evidenced by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS), CD spectroscopy, and MD analysis. The outcome helps in understanding the binding mechanisms and structural modifications induced by the ligands, which could aid in the innovation of more effective and stable Pt(II)-based drugs.

Research progress on asialoglycoprotein receptor-targeted radiotracers designed for hepatic nuclear medicine imaging

Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) specifically recognizes glycans terminated with β-d-galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine. Its exclusive expression in mammalian hepatocytes renders it an ideal hepatic-targeted biomarker. To date, ASGPR-targeted ligands have been actively developed for drug delivery and hepatic imaging. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the progress achieved to-date in the field of developing ASGPR-targeted nuclear medicine imaging (NMI) radiotracers, highlighting the recent advancements over the last decade in terms of structure, radionuclides and labeling strategies. The biodistribution patterns, imaging characteristics, challenges and future prospective are discussed.

Designed Endocytosis-Triggering Proteins mediate Targeted Degradation

Endocytosis and lysosomal trafficking of cell surface receptors can be triggered by interaction with endogenous ligands. Therapeutic approaches such as LYTAC1,2 and KineTAC3, have taken advantage of this to target specific proteins for degradation by fusing modified native ligands to target binding proteins. While powerful, these approaches can be limited by possible competition with the endogenous ligand(s), the requirement in some cases for chemical modification that limits genetic encodability and can complicate manufacturing, and more generally, there may not be natural ligands which stimulate endocytosis through a given receptor. Here we describe general protein design approaches for designing endocytosis triggering binding proteins (EndoTags) that overcome these challenges. We present EndoTags for the IGF-2R, ASGPR, Sortillin, and Transferrin receptors, and show that fusing these tags to proteins which bind to soluble or transmembrane protein leads to lysosomal trafficking and target degradation; as these receptors have different tissue distributions, the different EndoTags could enable targeting of degradation to different tissues. The modularity and genetic encodability of EndoTags enables AND gate control for higher specificity targeted degradation, and the localized secretion of degraders from engineered cells. The tunability and modularity of our genetically encodable EndoTags should contribute to deciphering the relationship between receptor engagement and cellular trafficking, and they have considerable therapeutic potential as targeted degradation inducers, signaling activators for endocytosis-dependent pathways, and cellular uptake inducers for targeted antibody drug and RNA conjugates.

MiR-3180 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis by targeting lipid synthesis and uptake

PURPOSE

Reprogrammed lipid metabolism is a hallmark of cancer that provides energy, materials, and signaling molecules for rapid cancer cell growth. Cancer cells acquire fatty acids primarily through de novo synthesis and uptake. Targeting altered lipid metabolic pathways is a promising anticancer strategy. However, their regulators have not been fully investigated, especially those targeting both synthesis and uptake.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was performed on samples from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to establish the correlation between miR-3180, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), and CD36 expression, quantified via qRT-PCR and western blotting. The correlation was analyzed using a luciferase reporter assay. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were analyzed using CCK-8, wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. Oil Red O staining and flow cytometry were used to detect lipids. Triglycerides and cholesterol levels were analyzed using a reagent test kit. CY3-labeled oleic acid transport was analyzed using an oleic acid transport assay. Tumor growth and metastasis were detected in vivo in a xenograft mouse model.

RESULTS

MiR-3180 suppressed de novo fatty acid synthesis and uptake by targeting the key lipid synthesis enzyme SCD1 and key lipid transporter CD36. MiR-3180 suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in an SCD1- and CD36-dependent manner in vitro. The mouse model demonstrated that miR-3180 inhibits HCC tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting SCD1- and CD36-mediated de novo fatty acid synthesis and uptake. MiR-3180 expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and negatively correlated with SCD1 and CD36 levels. Patients with high miR-3180 levels showed better prognosis than those with low levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our investigation indicates that miR-3180 is a critical regulator involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis and uptake, which inhibits HCC tumor growth and metastasis by suppressing SCD1 and CD36. Therefore, miR-3180 is a novel therapeutic target and prognostic indicator for patients with HCC.

Dissecting the Interactions between Chlorin e6 and Human Serum Albumin

Chlorin e6 (Ce6) is among the most used sensitizers in photodynamic (PDT) and sonodynamic (SDT) therapy; its low solubility in water, however, hampers its clinical exploitation. Ce6 has a strong tendency to aggregate in physiological environments, reducing its performance as a photo/sono-sensitizer, as well as yielding poor pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. The interaction of Ce6 with human serum albumin (HSA) (i) governs its biodistribution and (ii) can be used to improve its water solubility by encapsulation. Here, using ensemble docking and microsecond molecular dynamics simulations, we identified the two Ce6 binding pockets in HSA, i.e., the Sudlow I site and the heme binding pocket, providing an atomistic description of the binding. Comparing the photophysical and photosensitizing properties of Ce6@HSA with respect to the same properties regarding the free Ce6, it was observed that (i) a red-shift occurred in both the absorption and emission spectra, (ii) a maintaining of the fluorescence quantum yield and an increase of the excited state lifetime was detected, and (iii) a switch from the type II to the type I mechanism in a reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, upon irradiation, took place.

Recent research progress in galactose-based fluorescent probes for detection of biomarkers of liver diseases

This highlight illustrates the challenges and latest progress in galactose-based fluorescent probes for early diagnosis of liver diseases.

Design of Hepatic Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Natural Products: Insights into Nomenclature Revision of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), affects a quarter of the worldwide population. Natural products have been extensively utilized in treating NAFLD because of their distinctive advantages over chemotherapeutic drugs, despite the fact that there are no approved drugs for therapy. Notably, the limitations of many natural products, such as poor water solubility, low bioavailability in vivo, low hepatic distribution, and lack of targeted effects, have severely restricted their clinical application. These issues could be resolved via hepatic targeted drug delivery systems (HTDDS) that boost clinical efficacy in treating NAFLD and decrease the adverse effects on other organs. Herein an overview of natural products comprising formulas, single medicinal plants, and their crude extracts has been presented to treat NAFLD. Also, the clinical efficacy and molecular mechanism of active monomer compounds against NAFLD are systematically discussed. The targeted delivery of natural products via HTDDS has been explored to provide a different nanotechnology-based NAFLD treatment strategy and to make suggestions for natural-product-based targeted nanocarrier design. Finally, the challenges and opportunities put forth by the nomenclature update of NAFLD are outlined along with insights into how to improve the NAFLD therapy and how to design more rigorous nanocarriers for the HTDDS. In brief, we summarize the up-to-date developments of the NAFLD-HTDDS based on natural products and provide viewpoints for the establishment of more stringent anti-NAFLD natural-product-targeted nanoformulations.

Recent Progress in the Molecular Imaging of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Pathological fibrosis of the liver is a landmark feature in chronic liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Diagnosis and assessment of progress or treatment efficacy today requires biopsy of the liver, which is a challenge in, e.g., longitudinal interventional studies. Molecular imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) have the potential to enable minimally invasive assessment of liver fibrosis. This review will summarize and discuss the current status of the development of innovative imaging markers for processes relevant for fibrogenesis in liver, e.g., certain immune cells, activated fibroblasts, and collagen depositions.