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Khezri H, Mostafavi M, Dabirmanesh B, Khajeh K. Peptibodies: Bridging the gap between peptides and antibodies. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134718. [PMID: 39142490 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Peptides are a very critical class of pharmaceutical compounds that can control several signaling pathways and thereby affect many physiological and biochemical processes. Previous research suggests that both peptides and antibodies may serve as potent tools for research, diagnostics, vaccination, and therapeutics across diverse domains. The distinct attributes of peptides, like their profound tissue penetration, efficient cellular internalization, reduced immunogenicity, and adaptability to chemical modification, underscore their significance in biomedical applications. However, they also possess drawbacks such as lower affinity, poor absorption, low stability to proteolytic digestion, and rapid clearance. The advent of peptibodies is a significant advance that improves the limitations of both peptides and antibodies. Peptibodies, or Peptide-Fc fusions, represent a promising therapeutic modality comprising biologically active peptides fused to an Fc domain. The stability and efficacy of the peptide are enhanced by this fusion strategy, which overcomes some of the inherent limitations. Many peptibodies have been developed to treat conditions like cancer, diabetes, and lupus. Romiplostim and Dulaglutide are the only ones approved by the EMA and FDA, respectively. Given the growing significance of peptibodies in the pharmaceutical landscape, this investigation aims to explain key aspects encompassing the intrinsic properties of peptides, the intricacies of peptibody production, and their potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidhossein Khezri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdiyeh Mostafavi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahareh Dabirmanesh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Khosro Khajeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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2
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Cavaco M, Fraga P, Valle J, Silva RDM, Gano L, Correia JDG, Andreu D, Castanho MARB, Neves V. Molecular determinants for brain targeting by peptides: a meta-analysis approach with experimental validation. Fluids Barriers CNS 2024; 21:45. [PMID: 38802930 PMCID: PMC11131246 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-024-00545-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) peptide-shuttles (BBBpS) are able to translocate the BBB and reach the brain. Despite the importance of brain targeting in pharmacology, BBBpS are poorly characterized. Currently, their development relies on the empiric assumption that cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), with proven ability to traverse lipid membranes, will likewise behave as a BBBpS. The relationship between CPPs/BBBpS remains elusive and, to the best of our knowledge, has not hitherto been subject to thorough experimental scrutiny. In this work, we have identified/quantified the main physicochemical properties of BBBpS and then searched for CPPs with these properties, hence potential BBBpS. The specific features found for BBBpS are: (i) small size, (ii) none or few aromatic residues, (iii) hydrophobic, and (iv) slight cationic nature. Then, we selected the 10 scoring best in an ordinary least squares analysis, and tested them in vitro and in vivo. Overall, we identified the molecular determinants for brain targeting by peptides, devised a methodology that can be used to assist in the design of peptides with potential brain penetration from amino acid residue sequences, and found four new BBBpS within the CPP library.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patrícia Fraga
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Javier Valle
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruben D M Silva
- Centro de Ciências E Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (Km 139,7), 2695-066, Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - Lurdes Gano
- Centro de Ciências E Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (Km 139,7), 2695-066, Bobadela LRS, Portugal
- Departamento de Engenharia E Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (Km 139,7), 2695-066, Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - João D G Correia
- Centro de Ciências E Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (Km 139,7), 2695-066, Bobadela LRS, Portugal
- Departamento de Engenharia E Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (Km 139,7), 2695-066, Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Vera Neves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Rosenstock J, Juneja R, Beals JM, Moyers JS, Ilag L, McCrimmon RJ. The Basis for Weekly Insulin Therapy: Evolving Evidence With Insulin Icodec and Insulin Efsitora Alfa. Endocr Rev 2024; 45:379-413. [PMID: 38224978 PMCID: PMC11091825 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Basal insulin continues to be a vital part of therapy for many people with diabetes. First attempts to prolong the duration of insulin formulations were through the development of suspensions that required homogenization prior to injection. These insulins, which required once- or twice-daily injections, introduced wide variations in insulin exposure contributing to unpredictable effects on glycemia. Advances over the last 2 decades have resulted in long-acting, soluble basal insulin analogues with prolonged and less variable pharmacokinetic exposure, improving their efficacy and safety, notably by reducing nocturnal hypoglycemia. However, adherence and persistence with once-daily basal insulin treatment remains low for many reasons including hypoglycemia concerns and treatment burden. A soluble basal insulin with a longer and flatter exposure profile could reduce pharmacodynamic variability, potentially reducing hypoglycemia, have similar efficacy to once-daily basal insulins, simplify dosing regimens, and improve treatment adherence. Insulin icodec (Novo Nordisk) and insulin efsitora alfa (basal insulin Fc [BIF], Eli Lilly and Company) are 2 such insulins designed for once-weekly administration, which have the potential to provide a further advance in basal insulin replacement. Icodec and efsitora phase 2 clinical trials, as well as data from the phase 3 icodec program indicate that once-weekly insulins provide comparable glycemic control to once-daily analogues, with a similar risk of hypoglycemia. This manuscript details the technology used in the development of once-weekly basal insulins. It highlights the clinical rationale and potential benefits of these weekly insulins while also discussing the limitations and challenges these molecules could pose in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Rosenstock
- Velocity Clinical Research at Medical City,
Dallas, TX 75230, USA
| | - Rattan Juneja
- Lilly Diabetes and Obesity, Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| | - John M Beals
- Lilly Diabetes and Obesity, Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| | - Julie S Moyers
- Lilly Diabetes and Obesity, Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| | - Liza Ilag
- Lilly Diabetes and Obesity, Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA
| | - Rory J McCrimmon
- School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee
DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
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Cavaco M, Pérez-Peinado C, Valle J, Silva RDM, Gano L, Correia JDG, Andreu D, Castanho MARB, Neves V. The use of a selective, nontoxic dual-acting peptide for breast cancer patients with brain metastasis. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116573. [PMID: 38613996 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype characterized by the absence of commonly targeted receptors. Unspecific chemotherapy is currently the main therapeutic option, with poor results. Another major challenge is the frequent appearance of brain metastasis (BM) associated with a significant decrease in patient overall survival. The treatment of BM is even more challenging due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we present a dual-acting peptide (PepH3-vCPP2319) designed to tackle TNBC/BM, in which a TNBC-specific anticancer peptide (ACP) motif (vCPP2319) is joined to a BBB peptide shuttle (BBBpS) motif (PepH3). PepH3-vCPP2319 demonstrated selectivity and efficiency in eliminating TNBC both in monolayers (IC50≈5.0 µM) and in spheroids (IC50≈25.0 µM), with no stringent toxicity toward noncancerous cell lines and red blood cells (RBCs). PepH3-vCPP2319 was also able to cross the BBB in vitro and penetrate the brain in vivo, and was stable in serum with a half-life above 120 min. Tumor cell-peptide interaction is fast, with quick peptide internalization via clathrin-mediated endocytosis without membrane disruption. Upon internalization, the peptide is detected in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, indicating a multi-targeted mechanism of action that ultimately induces irreversible cell damage and apoptosis. In conclusion, we have designed a dual-acting peptide capable of brain penetration and TNBC cell elimination, thus expanding the drug arsenal to fight this BC subtype and its BM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal; Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Clara Pérez-Peinado
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Javier Valle
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Ruben D M Silva
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal
| | - Lurdes Gano
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal
| | - João D G Correia
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Vera Neves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.
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5
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Darbandi A, Abdi M, Dashtbin S, Yaghoubi S, Sholeh M, Kouhsari E, Darbandi T, Ghanavati R, Taheri B. Antibody-Antibiotic Conjugates: A Comprehensive Review on Their Therapeutic Potentials Against BacterialInfections. J Clin Lab Anal 2024; 38:e25071. [PMID: 38867639 PMCID: PMC11211676 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.25071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibodies are significant agents in the immune system and have proven to be effective in treating bacterial infections. With the advancement of antibody engineering in recent decades, antibody therapy has evolved widely. AIM This review aimed to investigate a new method as a therapeutic platform for the treatment of bacterial infections and explore the novel features of this method in conferring pathogen specificity to broad-spectrum antibiotics. MATERIAL AND METHODS A literature review was conducted addressing the following topics about antibody-antibiotic conjugates (AACs): (1) structure and mechanism of action; (2) clinical effectiveness; (3) advantages and disadvantages. RESULT Antibody conjugates are designed to build upon the progress made in the development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of diseases. Despite the growing emergence of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria worldwide, novel antimicrobials have not been sufficiently expanded to combat the global crisis of antibiotic resistance. A recently developed strategy for the treatment of infectious diseases is the use of AACs, which are specifically activated only in host cells. CONCLUSION A novel therapeutic AAC employs an antibody to deliver the antibiotic to the bacteria. The AACs can release potent antibacterial components that unconjugated forms may not exhibit with an appropriate therapeutic index. This review highlights how this science has guided the design principles of an impressive AAC and discusses how the AAC model promises to enhance the antibiotic effect against bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atieh Darbandi
- Molecular Microbiology Research CenterShahed UniversityTehranIran
| | - Milad Abdi
- Research Center of Tropical and Infectious DiseasesKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | - Shirin Dashtbin
- Department of Microbiology, School of MedicineIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Sajad Yaghoubi
- Basic Sciences DepartmentNeyshabur University of Medical SciencesNeyshaburIran
| | - Mohammad Sholeh
- Department of BacteriologyPasteur Institute of IranTehranIran
| | - Ebrahim Kouhsari
- Laboratory Sciences Research CenterGolestan University of Medical SciencesGorganIran
| | - Talieh Darbandi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences BranchIslamic Azad University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | | | - Behrouz Taheri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of MedicineAhvaz Jundishapur University of Medical SciencesAhvazIran
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6
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Ng CL, Lim TS, Choong YS. Application of Computational Techniques in Antibody Fc-Fused Molecule Design for Therapeutics. Mol Biotechnol 2024; 66:568-581. [PMID: 37742298 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00885-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Since the advent of hybridoma technology in the year 1975, it took a decade to witness the first approved monoclonal antibody Orthoclone OKT39 (muromonab-CD3) in the year 1986. Since then, continuous strides have been made to engineer antibodies for specific desired effects. The engineering efforts were not confined to only the variable domains of the antibody but also included the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region that influences the immune response and serum half-life. Engineering of the Fc fragment would have a profound effect on the therapeutic dose, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity as well as antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. The integration of computational techniques into antibody engineering designs has allowed for the generation of testable hypotheses and guided the rational antibody design framework prior to further experimental evaluations. In this article, we discuss the recent works in the Fc-fused molecule design that involves computational techniques. We also summarize the usefulness of in silico techniques to aid Fc-fused molecule design and analysis for the therapeutics application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Lee Ng
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Theam Soon Lim
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Yee Siew Choong
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
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Forder JK, Palakollu V, Adhikari S, Blanco MA, Derebe MG, Ferguson HM, Luthra SA, Munsell EV, Roberts CJ. Electrostatically Mediated Attractive Self-Interactions and Reversible Self-Association of Fc-Fusion Proteins. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1321-1333. [PMID: 38334418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Attractive self-interactions and reversible self-association are implicated in many problematic solution behaviors for therapeutic proteins, such as irreversible aggregation, elevated viscosity, phase separation, and opalescence. Protein self-interactions and reversible oligomerization of two Fc-fusion proteins (monovalent and bivalent) and the corresponding fusion partner protein were characterized experimentally with static and dynamic light scattering as a function of pH (5 and 6.5) and ionic strength (10 mM to at least 300 mM). The fusion partner protein and monovalent Fc-fusion each displayed net attractive electrostatic self-interactions at pH 6.5 and net repulsive electrostatic self-interactions at pH 5. Solutions of the bivalent Fc-fusion contained higher molecular weight species that prevented quantification of typical interaction parameters (B22 and kD). All three of the proteins displayed reversible self-association at pH 6.5, where oligomers dissociated with increased ionic strength. Coarse-grained molecular simulations were used to model the self-interactions measured experimentally, assess net self-interactions for the bivalent Fc-fusion, and probe the specific electrostatic interactions between charged amino acids that were involved in attractive electrostatic self-interactions. Mayer-weighted pairwise electrostatic energies from the simulations suggested that attractive electrostatic self-interactions at pH 6.5 for the two Fc-fusion proteins were due to cross-domain interactions between the fusion partner domain(s) and the Fc domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Forder
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19713, United States
| | - Veerabhadraiah Palakollu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19713, United States
| | - Sudeep Adhikari
- Analytical R&D, Digital & NMR Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Marco A Blanco
- Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Mehabaw Getahun Derebe
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Heidi M Ferguson
- Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Suman A Luthra
- Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Erik V Munsell
- Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Christopher J Roberts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19713, United States
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Kharga K, Jha S, Vishwakarma T, Kumar L. Current developments and prospects of the antibiotic delivery systems. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024:1-40. [PMID: 38425122 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2024.2321480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotics have remained the cornerstone for the treatment of bacterial infections ever since their discovery in the twentieth century. The uproar over antibiotic resistance among bacteria arising from genome plasticity and biofilm development has rendered current antibiotic therapies ineffective, urging the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. The development of antibiotic resistance among bacteria has further heightened the clinical failure of antibiotic therapy, which is often linked to its low bioavailability, side effects, and poor penetration and accumulation at the site of infection. In this review, we highlight the potential use of siderophores, antibodies, cell-penetrating peptides, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, and nanoparticles to smuggle antibiotics across impermeable biological membranes to achieve therapeutically relevant concentrations of antibiotics and combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We will discuss the general mechanisms via which each delivery system functions and how it can be tailored to deliver antibiotics against the paradigm of mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusum Kharga
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Shubhang Jha
- School of Bioengineering and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Tanvi Vishwakarma
- School of Bioengineering and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Lokender Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, India
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9
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Sargis T, Youn SW, Thakkar K, Naiche LA, Paik NY, Pajcini KV, Kitajewski JK. Notch1 and Notch4 core binding domain peptibodies exhibit distinct ligand-binding and anti-angiogenic properties. Angiogenesis 2023; 26:249-263. [PMID: 36376768 PMCID: PMC10119233 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-022-09861-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is an important therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer. We previously created ligand-specific inhibitors of Notch signaling comprised of Fc fusions to specific EGF-like repeats of the Notch1 extracellular domain, called Notch decoys, which bound ligands, blocked Notch signaling, and showed anti-tumor activity with low toxicity. However, the study of their function depended on virally mediated expression, which precluded dosage control and limited clinical applicability. We have refined the decoy design to create peptibody-based Notch inhibitors comprising the core binding domains, EGF-like repeats 10-14, of either Notch1 or Notch4. These Notch peptibodies showed high secretion properties and production yields that were improved by nearly 100-fold compared to previous Notch decoys. Using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy coupled with co-immunoprecipitation assays, we observed that Notch1 and Notch4 peptibodies demonstrate strong but distinct binding properties to Notch ligands DLL4 and JAG1. Both Notch1 and Notch4 peptibodies interfere with Notch signaling in endothelial cells and reduce expression of canonical Notch targets after treatment. While prior DLL4 inhibitors cause hyper-sprouting, the Notch1 peptibody reduced angiogenesis in a 3-dimensional in vitro sprouting assay. Administration of Notch1 peptibodies to neonate mice resulted in reduced radial outgrowth of retinal vasculature, confirming anti-angiogenic properties. We conclude that purified Notch peptibodies comprising EGF-like repeats 10-14 bind to both DLL4 and JAG1 ligands and exhibit anti-angiogenic properties. Based on their secretion profile, unique Notch inhibitory activities, and anti-angiogenic properties, Notch peptibodies present new opportunities for therapeutic Notch inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Sargis
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Seock-Won Youn
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Krishna Thakkar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - L A Naiche
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Na Yoon Paik
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Kostandin V Pajcini
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Jan K Kitajewski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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10
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Efficient Production of Fc Fusion Proteins in the Cytoplasm of Escherichia coli: Dissecting and Mitigating Redox Heterogeneity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314740. [PMID: 36499069 PMCID: PMC9737693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cost-effective production of therapeutic proteins in microbial hosts is an indispensable tool towards accessible healthcare. Many of these heterologously expressed proteins, including all antibody formats, require disulfide bond formation to attain their native and functional state. A system for catalyzed disulfide bond formation (CyDisCo) has been developed allowing efficient production of recombinant proteins in the cytoplasm of one of the most used microbial expression systems, Escherichia coli. Here, we report high-yield production (up to 230 mg/L from 3 mL cultures) of in-demand therapeutics such as IgG1-based Fc fusion proteins in the E. coli cytoplasm. However, the production of this drug class using the CyDisCo system faces bottlenecks related to redox heterogeneity during oxidative folding. Our investigations identified and addressed one of the major causes of redox heterogeneity during CyDisCo-based production of Fc fusion proteins, i.e., disulfide bond formation in the IgG1 CH3 domain. Here, we communicate that mutating the cysteines in the CH3 domain of target Fc fusion proteins allows their production in a homogeneous redox state in the cytoplasm of E. coli without compromising on yields and thermal stability.
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11
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Issmail L, Möser C, Jäger C, Altattan B, Ramsbeck D, Kleinschmidt M, Buchholz M, Smith D, Grunwald T. Prefusion-specific antibody-derived peptides trivalently presented on DNA-nanoscaffolds as an innovative strategy against RSV entry. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2022.994843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the primary cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children and the elderly worldwide, for which neither a vaccine nor an effective therapy is approved. The entry of RSV into the host cell is mediated by stepwise structural changes in the surface RSV fusion (RSV-F) glycoprotein. Recent progress in structural and functional studies of RSV-F glycoprotein revealed conformation-dependent neutralizing epitopes which have become attractive targets for vaccine and therapeutic development. As RSV-F is present on viral surface in a trimeric form, a trivalent binding interaction between a candidate fusion inhibitor and the respective epitopes on each of the three monomers is expected to prevent viral infection at higher potency than a monovalent or bivalent inhibitor. Here we demonstrate a novel RSV entry inhibitory approach by implementing a trimeric DNA nanostructure as a template to display up to three linear peptide moieties that simultaneously target an epitope on the surface of the prefusion RSV-F protein. In order to design synthetic binding peptides that can be coupled to the DNA nanostructure, the prefusion RSV-F-specific monoclonal antibody (D25) was selected. Complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) derived peptides underwent truncation and alanine-scanning mutagenesis analysis, followed by systematic sequence modifications using non-canonical amino acids. The most effective peptide candidate was used as a binding moiety to functionalize the DNA nanostructure. The designed DNA-peptide construct was able to block RSV infection on cells more efficiently than the monomeric peptides, however a more moderate reduction of viral load was observed in the lungs of infected mice upon intranasal application, likely due to dissociation or absorption of the underlying DNA structure by cells in the lungs. Taken together, our results point towards the inhibitory potential of a novel trimeric DNA-peptide based approach against RSV and open the possibility to apply this platform to target other viral infections.
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12
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Moyers JS, Hansen RJ, Day JW, Dickinson CD, Zhang C, Ruan X, Ding L, Brown RM, Baker HE, Beals JM. Preclinical Characterization of LY3209590, a Novel Weekly Basal Insulin Fc-fusion Protein. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 382:346-355. [PMID: 35840338 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The benefit of once-weekly basal insulin is less frequent dosing, which has the potential to reduce the barrier to injection therapy and impact patient activation, adherence/compliance, quality of life, and outcomes. Basal Insulin Fc (BIF, LY3209590, or insulin efsitora alfa) is a once-weekly basal insulin in clinical testing for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. BIF is comprised of a novel single-chain variant of insulin fused to a human IgG2 Fc domain using a peptide linker. The in vitro binding affinity of BIF for the human insulin receptor (IR) was two orders of magnitude weaker relative to human insulin. BIF stimulated IR phosphorylation in cells with reduced potency, yet full agonism, and exhibited a significantly faster dephosphorylation kinetic profile than human insulin or AspB10 insulin. BIF stimulated de novo lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and cell proliferation in SAOS-2 and H4IIE cells with {greater than or equal to}70-fold reduction in in vitro potency compared to human insulin. BIF possessed markedly reduced binding to hIGF-1R making definitive measurements unattainable. In vivo pharmacology studies using streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats demonstrated a significant decrease in blood glucose compared to vehicle-treated animals 24h post-injection, persisting through 336h following subcutaneous administration. In streptozotocin-treated rats, BIF reached Tmax at 48h and possessed a clearance rate of ~0.85 mL/hr/kg, with a t1/2 of ~120h following subcutaneous administration. These results demonstrate BIF has an in vitro pharmacological profile similar to native insulin, with significantly reduced potency and an extended time-action profile in vivo that supports QW dosing in humans. Significance Statement BIF is a novel basal insulin Fc-fusion protein designed for once-weekly dosing. In this study we demonstrate that BIF has an in vitro pharmacological profile similar to human insulin, but with weaker potency across assays for IR binding and activity. BIF has a PD and PK profile in STZ-treated rats supportive of weekly dosing in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie S Moyers
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
| | - Ryan J Hansen
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
| | - Jonathan W Day
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
| | | | - Chen Zhang
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
| | - Xiaoping Ruan
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
| | - Liyun Ding
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
| | - Robin M Brown
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
| | - Hana E Baker
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, United States
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13
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Anapindi KDB, Romanova EV, Checco JW, Sweedler JV. Mass Spectrometry Approaches Empowering Neuropeptide Discovery and Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:662-679. [PMID: 35710134 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of insulin in the early 1900s ushered in the era of research related to peptides acting as hormones and neuromodulators, among other regulatory roles. These essential gene products are found in all organisms, from the most primitive to the most evolved, and carry important biologic information that coordinates complex physiology and behavior; their misregulation has been implicated in a variety of diseases. The evolutionary origins of at least 30 neuropeptide signaling systems have been traced to the common ancestor of protostomes and deuterostomes. With the use of relevant animal models and modern technologies, we can gain mechanistic insight into orthologous and paralogous endogenous peptides and translate that knowledge into medically relevant insights and new treatments. Groundbreaking advances in medicine and basic science influence how signaling peptides are defined today. The precise mechanistic pathways for over 100 endogenous peptides in mammals are now known and have laid the foundation for multiple drug development pipelines. Peptide biologics have become valuable drugs due to their unique specificity and biologic activity, lack of toxic metabolites, and minimal undesirable interactions. This review outlines modern technologies that enable neuropeptide discovery and characterization, and highlights lessons from nature made possible by neuropeptide research in relevant animal models that is being adopted by the pharmaceutical industry. We conclude with a brief overview of approaches/strategies for effective development of peptides as drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neuropeptides, an important class of cell-cell signaling molecules, are involved in maintaining a range of physiological functions. Since the discovery of insulin's activity, over 100 bioactive peptides and peptide analogs have been used as therapeutics. Because these are complex molecules not easily predicted from a genome and their activity can change with subtle chemical modifications, mass spectrometry (MS) has significantly empowered peptide discovery and characterization. This review highlights contributions of MS-based research towards the development of therapeutic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna D B Anapindi
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Elena V Romanova
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - James W Checco
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
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14
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Deciphering the conformational landscape of few selected aromatic noncoded amino acids (NCAAs) for applications in rational design of peptide therapeutics. Amino Acids 2022; 54:1183-1202. [PMID: 35723743 PMCID: PMC9207436 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-022-03175-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Amino acids are the essential building blocks of both synthetic and natural peptides, which are crucial for biological functions and also important as biological probes for mapping the complex protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Mapping the PPIs through the chemical biology approach provides pharmacologically relevant peptides, which can have agonistic or antagonistic effects on the targeted biological systems. It is evidenced that ≥ 60 peptide-based drugs have been approved by the US-FDA so far, and the number will improve further in the foreseeable future, as ≥ 140 peptides are currently in clinical trials. However, natural peptides often require fine-tuning of their pharmacological properties by strategically replacing the αL-amino acids of the peptides with non-coded amino acids (NCAA), for which codons are absent in the genetic code for biosynthesis of proteins, prior to their applications as therapeutics. Considering the diverse repertoire of the NCAAs, the conformational space of many NCAAs is yet to be explored systematically in the context of the rational design of therapeutic peptides. The current study deciphers the conformational landscape of a few such Cα-substituted aromatic NCAAs (Ing: 2-indanyl-L-Glycine; Bpa: 4-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine; Aic: 2-aminoindane-2-carboxylic acid) both in the context of tripeptides and model synthetic peptide sequences, using alanine (Ala) and proline (Pro) as the reference. The combined data obtained from the computational and biophysical studies indicate the general success of this approach, which can be exploited further to rationally design optimized peptide sequences of unusual architecture with potent antimicrobial, antiviral, gluco-regulatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities.
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15
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Jendryczko K, Rzeszotko J, Krzyscik MA, Kocyła A, Szymczyk J, Otlewski J, Szlachcic A. Drug Conjugation via Maleimide-Thiol Chemistry Does Not Affect Targeting Properties of Cysteine-Containing Anti-FGFR1 Peptibodies. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:1422-1433. [PMID: 35389227 PMCID: PMC9066409 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
With a wide range of available cytotoxic therapeutics, the main focus of current cancer research is to deliver them specifically to the cancer cells, minimizing toxicity against healthy tissues. Targeted therapy utilizes different carriers for cytotoxic drugs, combining a targeting molecule, typically an antibody, and a highly toxic payload. For the effective delivery of such cytotoxic conjugates, a molecular target on the cancer cell is required. Various proteins are exclusively or abundantly expressed in cancer cells, making them a possible target for drug carriers. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) overexpression has been reported in different types of cancer, but no FGFR1-targeting cytotoxic conjugate has been approved for therapy so far. In this study, the FGFR1-targeting peptide previously described in the literature was reformatted into a peptibody-peptide fusion with the fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain of IgG1. PeptibodyC19 can be effectively internalized into FGFR1-overexpressing cells and does not induce cells' proliferation. The main challenge for its use as a cytotoxic conjugate is a cysteine residue located within the targeting peptide. A standard drug-conjugation strategy based on the maleimide-thiol reaction involves modification of cysteines within the Fc domain hinge region. Applied here, however, may easily result in the modification of the targeting peptide with the drug, limiting its affinity to the target and therefore the potential for specific drug delivery. To investigate if this is the case, we have performed conjugation reactions with different auristatin derivatives (PEGylated and unmodified) under various conditions. By controlling the reduction conditions and the type of cytotoxic payload, different numbers of cysteines were substituted, allowing us to avoid conjugating the drug to the targeting peptide, which could affect its binding to FGFR1. The optimized protocol with PEGylated auristatin yielded doubly substituted peptibodyC19, showing specific cytotoxicity toward the FGFR1-expressing lung cancer cells, with no effect on cells with low FGFR1 levels. Indeed, additional cysteine poses a risk of unwanted modification, but changes in the type of cytotoxic payload and reaction conditions allow the use of standard thiol-maleimide-based conjugation to achieve standard Fc hinge region cysteine modification, analogously to antibody-drug conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Jendryczko
- Department
of Protein Engineering, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland
| | - Jakub Rzeszotko
- Department
of Protein Engineering, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland
| | | | - Anna Kocyła
- Department
of Chemical Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland
| | - Jakub Szymczyk
- Department
of Protein Engineering, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland
| | - Jacek Otlewski
- Department
of Protein Engineering, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland
| | - Anna Szlachcic
- Department
of Protein Engineering, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland
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16
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Marques MC, Lousa D, Silva PM, Faustino AF, Soares CM, Santos NC. The Importance of Lipid Conjugation on Anti-Fusion Peptides against Nipah Virus. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030703. [PMID: 35327503 PMCID: PMC8945041 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV) is a recently emerging zoonotic virus that belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and the Henipavirus genus. It causes a range of conditions, from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The high mortality rate of 40 to 90% ranks these viruses among the deadliest viruses known to infect humans. Currently, there is no antiviral drug available for Nipah virus disease and treatment is only supportive. Thus, there is an urgent demand for efficient antiviral therapies. NiV F protein, which catalyzes fusion between the viral and host membranes, is a potential target for antiviral drugs, as it is a key protein in the initial stages of infection. Fusion inhibitor peptides derived from the HRC-domain of the F protein are known to bind to their complementary domain in the protein’s transient intermediate state, preventing the formation of a six-helix bundle (6HB) thought to be responsible for driving the fusion of the viral and cell membranes. Here, we evaluated the biophysical and structural properties of four different C-terminal lipid-tagged peptides. Different compositions of the lipid tags were tested to search for properties that might promote efficacy and broad-spectrum activity. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the interaction of the peptides with biomembrane model systems and human blood cells. In order to understand the structural properties of the peptides, circular dichroism measurements and molecular dynamics simulations were performed. Our results indicate a peptide preference for cholesterol-enriched membranes and a lipid conjugation-driven stabilization of the peptide α-helical secondary structure. This work may contribute for the development of highly effective viral fusion against NiV inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta C. Marques
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Diana Lousa
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (D.L.); (C.M.S.)
| | - Patrícia M. Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
| | - André F. Faustino
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Cláudio M. Soares
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (D.L.); (C.M.S.)
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.C.M.); (P.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
- Correspondence:
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17
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Cavaco M, Castanho MARB, Neves V. The Use of Antibody-Antibiotic Conjugates to Fight Bacterial Infections. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:835677. [PMID: 35330773 PMCID: PMC8940529 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.835677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rapidly increasing and it is one of the significant twenty-first century's healthcare challenges. Unfortunately, the development of effective antimicrobial agents is a much slower and complex process compared to the spread of AMR. Consequently, the current options in the treatment of AMR are limited. One of the main alternatives to conventional antibiotics is the use of antibody-antibiotic conjugates (AACs). These innovative bioengineered agents take advantage of the selectivity, favorable pharmacokinetic (PK), and safety of antibodies, allowing the administration of more potent antibiotics with less off-target effects. Although AACs' development is challenging due to the complexity of the three components, namely, the antibody, the antibiotic, and the linker, some successful examples are currently under clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vera Neves
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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18
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Müller TD, Blüher M, Tschöp MH, DiMarchi RD. Anti-obesity drug discovery: advances and challenges. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:201-223. [PMID: 34815532 PMCID: PMC8609996 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00337-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 390] [Impact Index Per Article: 195.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Enormous progress has been made in the last half-century in the management of diseases closely integrated with excess body weight, such as hypertension, adult-onset diabetes and elevated cholesterol. However, the treatment of obesity itself has proven largely resistant to therapy, with anti-obesity medications (AOMs) often delivering insufficient efficacy and dubious safety. Here, we provide an overview of the history of AOM development, focusing on lessons learned and ongoing obstacles. Recent advances, including increased understanding of the molecular gut-brain communication, are inspiring the pursuit of next-generation AOMs that appear capable of safely achieving sizeable and sustained body weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo D Müller
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Matthias Blüher
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
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19
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Tan Q, Akindehin SE, Orsso CE, Waldner RC, DiMarchi RD, Müller TD, Haqq AM. Recent Advances in Incretin-Based Pharmacotherapies for the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:838410. [PMID: 35299971 PMCID: PMC8921987 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.838410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has received enormous attention during the past three decades as a therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Continuous improvement of the pharmacokinetic profile of GLP-1R agonists, starting from native hormone with a half-life of ~2-3 min to the development of twice daily, daily and even once-weekly drugs highlight the pharmaceutical evolution of GLP-1-based medicines. In contrast to GLP-1, the incretin hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) received little attention as a pharmacological target, because of conflicting observations that argue activation or inhibition of the GIP receptor (GIPR) provides beneficial effects on systemic metabolism. Interest in GIPR agonism for the treatment of obesity and diabetes was recently propelled by the clinical success of unimolecular dual-agonists targeting the receptors for GIP and GLP-1, with reported significantly improved body weight and glucose control in patients with obesity and type II diabetes. Here we review the biology and pharmacology of GLP-1 and GIP and discuss recent advances in incretin-based pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiming Tan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Seun E. Akindehin
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany and German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich, Germany
| | - Camila E. Orsso
- Department of Agricultural Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | | | - Timo D. Müller
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany and German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Timo D. Müller, ; Andrea M. Haqq,
| | - Andrea M. Haqq
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Agricultural Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Timo D. Müller, ; Andrea M. Haqq,
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20
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Murray TV, Kozakowska-McDonnell K, Tibbles A, Taylor A, Higazi D, Rossy E, Rossi A, Genapathy S, Tamburrino G, Rath N, Tigue N, Lindo V, Vaughan T, Papworth MA. An efficient system for bioconjugation based on a widely applicable engineered O-glycosylation tag. MAbs 2021; 13:1992068. [PMID: 34781832 PMCID: PMC8604393 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1992068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioconjugates are an important class of therapeutic molecules. To date, O-glycan-based metabolic glycoengineering has had limited use in this field, due to the complexities of the endogenous O-glycosylation pathway and the lack of an O-glycosylation consensus sequence. Here, we describe the development of a versatile on-demand O-glycosylation system that uses a novel, widely applicable 5 amino acid O-glycosylation tag, and a metabolically engineered UDP-galactose-4-eperimase (GALE) knock-out cell line. Optimization of the primary sequence of the tag enables the production of Fc-based proteins with either single or multiple O-glycans with complexity fully controlled by media supplementation. We demonstrate how the uniformly labeled proteins containing exclusively N-azido-acetylgalactosamine are used for CLICK chemistry-based bioconjugation to generate site-specifically fluorochrome-labeled antibodies, dual-payload molecules, and bioactive Fc-peptides for applications in basic research and drug discovery. To our knowledge, this is the first description of generating a site-specific O-glycosylation system by combining an O-glycosylation tag and a metabolically engineered cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam Tibbles
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Annabel Taylor
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel Higazi
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emmanuel Rossy
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alessandra Rossi
- Cardiovascular Renal and Metabolism, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Vivian Lindo
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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21
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Jendryczko K, Rzeszotko J, Krzyscik MA, Szymczyk J, Otlewski J, Szlachcic A. Peptibody Based on FGFR1-Binding Peptides From the FGF4 Sequence as a Cancer-Targeting Agent. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:748936. [PMID: 34867353 PMCID: PMC8636100 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.748936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies are a promising alternative to conventional chemotherapy, with an increasing number of therapeutics targeting specific molecular aberrancies in cancer cells. One of the emerging targets for directed cancer treatments is fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), which are known to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of multiple cancer types, specially in lung, bladder, and breast cancers. Here, we are demonstrating the development of the FGFR1-targeting agent based on the interactome screening approach, based on the isolation of binding regions from ligands interacting with the receptor. The parallel analysis by FGFR1 pull-down of chymotryptic peptides coupled with MS analysis, and PepSpot analysis yielded equivalent peptide sequences from FGF4, one of the FGFR1 ligands. Three sequences served as a basis for peptibody (Fc-fusion) generation, to overcome clinical limitations of peptidic agents, and two of them showed favorable FGFR1-binding in vitro and FGFR1-dependent internalization into cells. To validate if developed FGFR1-targeting peptibodies can be used for drug delivery, similar to the well-established concept of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), peptibodyF4_1 was successfully conjugated with monomethylauristatin E (MMAE), and has shown significant and specific toxicity toward FGFR1-expressing lung cancer cell lines, with nanomolar EC50 values. Essentially, the development of new effective FGFR1 binders that comprise the naturally occurring FGFR-recognition peptides and Fc region ensuring high plasma stability, and long bloodstream circulation is an interesting strategy expanding targeted anticancer agents' portfolio. Furthermore, identifying peptides effectively binding the receptor from sequences of its ligands is not limited to FGFRs and is an approach versatile enough to be a basis for a new peptide/peptibodies development strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Anna Szlachcic
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
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22
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Cavaco M, Frutos S, Oliete P, Valle J, Andreu D, Castanho MARB, Vila-Perelló M, Neves V. Conjugation of a Blood Brain Barrier Peptide Shuttle to an Fc Domain for Brain Delivery of Therapeutic Biomolecules. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1663-1668. [PMID: 36060671 PMCID: PMC9437899 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The frequency of brain disease has increased significantly in the past years. After diagnosis, therapeutic options are usually limited, which demands the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. The use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is promising but highly limited by the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To overcome the impermeability of this barrier, antibody fragments can be engineered and conjugated to BBB peptide shuttles (BBBpS), which are capable of brain penetration. Herein, we linked the highly efficient BBBpS, PepH3, to the IgG fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain using the streamlined expressed protein ligation (SEPL) method. With this strategy, we obtained an Fc-PepH3 scaffold that can carry different payloads. Fc-PepH3 was shown to be nontoxic, capable of crossing an in vitro cellular BBB model, and able to bind to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), which is responsible for antibody long half-life (t 1/2). Overall, we demonstrated the potential of Fc-PepH3 as a versatile platform readily adaptable to diverse drugs of therapeutic value to treat different brain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Instituto
de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Proteomics
and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Experimental and Health
Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical
Research Park, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Frutos
- SpliceBio
S.L., Baldiri Reixac
10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Oliete
- SpliceBio
S.L., Baldiri Reixac
10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Valle
- Proteomics
and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Experimental and Health
Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical
Research Park, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics
and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Experimental and Health
Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical
Research Park, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel A. R. B. Castanho
- Instituto
de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Vera Neves
- Instituto
de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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23
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Development of Breast Cancer Spheroids to Evaluate Cytotoxic Response to an Anticancer Peptide. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111863. [PMID: 34834277 PMCID: PMC8619419 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths. Despite intense research efforts, BC treatment still remains challenging. Improved drug development strategies are needed for impactful benefit to patients. Current preclinical studies rely mostly on cell-based screenings, using two-dimensional (2D) cell monolayers that do not mimic in vivo tumors properly. Herein, we explored the development and characterization of three-dimensional (3D) models, named spheroids, of the most aggressive BC subtypes (triple-negative breast cancer-TNBC; and human-epidermal growth receptor-2-HER2+), using the liquid overlay technique with several selected cell lines. In these cell line-derived spheroids, we studied cell density, proliferation, ultrastructure, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell permeabilization (live/dead). The results showed a formation of compact and homogeneous spheroids on day 7 after seeding 2000 cells/well for MDA-MB-231 and 5000 cells/well for BT-20 and BT-474. Next, we compared the efficacy of a model anticancer peptide (ACP) in cell monolayers and spheroids. Overall, the results demonstrated spheroids to be less sensitive to treatment than cell monolayers, revealing the need for more robust models in drug development.
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24
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Sokolov AV, Dostdar SA, Attwood MM, Krasilnikova AA, Ilina AA, Nabieva AS, Lisitsyna AA, Chubarev VN, Tarasov VV, Schiöth HB. Brain Cancer Drug Discovery: Clinical Trials, Drug Classes, Targets, and Combinatorial Therapies. Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:1-32. [PMID: 34663683 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain cancer is a formidable challenge for drug development, and drugs derived from many cutting-edge technologies are being tested in clinical trials. We manually characterized 981 clinical trials on brain tumors that were registered in ClinicalTrials.gov from 2010 to 2020. We identified 582 unique therapeutic entities targeting 581 unique drug targets and 557 unique treatment combinations involving drugs. We performed the classification of both the drugs and drug targets based on pharmacological and structural classifications. Our analysis demonstrates a large diversity of agents and targets. Currently, we identified 32 different pharmacological directions for therapies that are based on 42 structural classes of agents. Our analysis shows that kinase inhibitors, chemotherapeutic agents, and cancer vaccines are the three most common classes of agents identified in trials. Agents in clinical trials demonstrated uneven distribution in combination approaches; chemotherapy agents, proteasome inhibitors, and immune modulators frequently appeared in combinations, whereas kinase inhibitors, modified immune effector cells did not as was shown by combination networks and descriptive statistics. This analysis provides an extensive overview of the drug discovery field in brain cancer, shifts that have been happening in recent years, and challenges that are likely to come. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review provides comprehensive quantitative analysis and discussion of the brain cancer drug discovery field, including classification of drug, targets, and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr V Sokolov
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Samira A Dostdar
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Misty M Attwood
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandra A Krasilnikova
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia A Ilina
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Amina Sh Nabieva
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Lisitsyna
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir N Chubarev
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vadim V Tarasov
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (A.V.S., S.A.D., M.M.A., H.B.S.); and Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy (A.V.S., S.A.D., A.A.K., A.A.I., A.S.N., A.A.L., V.N.C., V.V.T.) and Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology (V.V.T., H.B.S.), I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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25
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Harvesting of Antimicrobial Peptides from Insect (Hermetia illucens) and Its Applications in the Food Packaging. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11156991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
About one-third of the total food produced is wasted, rising the concern to adopt proper management. Simultaneously with the increase in population, demand for food is increasing which may lead to scarcity. Adequate packaging is one of the ways to avoid deterioration of food and prevent wastage. In recent years, active packaging has attained interest due to its commendable results in food preservation. Several studies proved that the embodiment of antimicrobial components into the packaging material has the ability to prevent microbial contamination. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are newly discovered antimicrobial agents for impregnation into packaging material. Among various sources for AMP, insects have shown great resistivity against a wide spectrum of microorganisms. Insects feed on substances consisting of a varying range of contaminations, which often results in infections. Insects synthesise AMPs to fight such infections and survive in that atmosphere. The disease-causing agents in humans are the same as those found in insects. Hence, AMPs extracted from insects have the potential to fight the microorganisms that act as hazards to human health. This review highlights the harvesting and synthesis of AMPs from Hermetia illucens, which is a promising source for AMP and its applications in the food packaging industry.
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26
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Cavaco M, Valle J, Flores I, Andreu D, A. R. B. Castanho M. Estimating peptide half-life in serum from tunable, sequence-related physicochemical properties. Clin Transl Sci 2021; 14:1349-1358. [PMID: 33641212 PMCID: PMC8301568 DOI: 10.1111/cts.12985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteolytic instability is a critical limitation for peptide-based products. Although significant efforts are devoted to stabilize sequences against proteases/peptidases in plasma/serum, such approaches tend to be rather empirical, unspecific, time-consuming, and frequently not cost-effective. A more rational and potentially rewarding alternative is to identify the chemical grounds of susceptibility to enzymatic degradation of peptides so that proteolytic resistance can be tuned by manipulation of key chemical properties. In this regard, we conducted a meta-analysis of literature published over the last decade reporting experimental data on the lifetimes of peptides exposed to proteolytic conditions. Our initial database contained 579 entries and was curated with regard to amino acid sequence, chemical modification, terminal half-life (t1/2 ) or other stability readouts, type of stability assay, and biological application of the study. Although the majority of entries in the database corresponded to (slightly or substantially) modified peptides, we chose to focus on unmodified ones, as we aimed to decipher intrinsic characteristics of peptide proteolytic susceptibility. Specifically, we developed a multivariable regression model to unravel those peptide properties with most impact on proteolytic stability and thus potential t1/2 predicting ability. Model validation was done by two different approaches. First, a library of peptides spanning a large interval of properties that modulate stability was synthesized and their t1/2 in human serum were experimentally determined. Second, the t1/2 of 21 selected peptides approved for clinical use or in clinical trials were recorded and matched with the model-estimated values. With both approaches, good correlation between experimental and predicted t1/2 data was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Instituto de Medicina MolecularFaculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry UnitDepartment of Experimental and Health SciencesPompeu Fabra UniversityBarcelonaSpain
| | - Javier Valle
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry UnitDepartment of Experimental and Health SciencesPompeu Fabra UniversityBarcelonaSpain
| | - Isabel Flores
- Instituto das Políticas Públicas e Sociais do ISCTELisboaPortugal
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry UnitDepartment of Experimental and Health SciencesPompeu Fabra UniversityBarcelonaSpain
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27
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Hermans C, Mancuso ME, Nolan B, Pasi KJ. Recombinant factor VIII Fc for the treatment of haemophilia A. Eur J Haematol 2021; 106:745-761. [PMID: 33650192 PMCID: PMC8252769 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prophylaxis with factor VIII (FVIII) is the current therapeutic approach for people with haemophilia A. However, standard half-life (SHL) FVIII products must be injected frequently, imposing a substantial burden on the individual and making it difficult to tailor therapy according to patient need and lifestyle, which could impact adherence. Recombinant FVIII Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc; Elocta® , Sobi; Eloctate® , Sanofi) is a recombinant fusion protein that undergoes slower clearance from the body than SHL FVIII products. This pharmacokinetic property of rFVIIIFc allows prophylactic administration every 3-5 days, or once weekly in selected patients, with doses adjusted to patient needs and clinical outcomes. Higher FVIII levels can be achieved maintaining dosing frequency similar to that usually applied with SHL FVIII. This review provides a summary of recent data from the A-LONG, Kids A-LONG, ASPIRE and PUPs A-LONG studies and recently published real-world experience relevant to rFVIIIFc use in individualised regimens. The review also introduces ongoing studies of rFVIIIFc, including its use for induction of immune tolerance, and discusses some aspects to consider when switching patients to rFVIIIFc and managing ongoing treatment. In summary, rFVIIIFc is suitable for individualised prophylaxis regimens that can be tailored according to patient clinical needs and lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric Hermans
- Haemostasis and Thrombosis UnitDivision of HaematologyCliniques Universitaires Saint‐LucUniversité catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)BrusselsBelgium
| | - Maria Elisa Mancuso
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemorrhagic DiseasesHumanitas Clinical and Research Center ‐ IRCCSRozzanoItaly
| | | | - K. John Pasi
- Royal London Haemophilia CentreBarts and the London School of Medicine and DentistryLondonUK
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28
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Converting peptides into drugs targeting intracellular protein-protein interactions. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:1521-1531. [PMID: 33524603 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Peptides are gaining increasing attention as therapeutics to target intracellular protein-protein interactions that are involved in disease progression. In this review, we discuss how peptides that are able to bind and inhibit a therapeutic target can be translated into drug leads. We discuss the advantages of using peptides as therapeutics to target intracellular protein-protein interactions, chemical strategies to generate macrocyclic peptides that are resistant to proteolytic enzymes, high-throughput screening approaches to identify peptides that have high affinity for therapeutic targets, strategies that permit these peptides to cross cell membranes and so reach intracellular targets, and the importance of investigating their mode-of-action in guiding the development of novel therapeutics.
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29
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Cavaco M, Andreu D, Castanho MARB. The Challenge of Peptide Proteolytic Stability Studies: Scarce Data, Difficult Readability, and the Need for Harmonization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:1686-1688. [PMID: 33200441 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202006372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Proteolytic stability assessment is increasingly viewed as a fundamental component of peptide characterization, arguably of comparable importance as efficacy and toxicity data. A literature survey over the last decade reveals steady growth in the stability information available. However, it also uncovers two significant problems that hinder proper data comparison: 1) the use of different stability assays, and 2) the differences in how stability information is reported. In this Viewpoint, we present results from a database meta-analysis as well as concerns about the stability assessments published so far. We also suggest guidelines for a proper discussion between experts in the field on how to improve data readability so that peptide stability, an often-missing parameter in older literature, is adequately reported to take maximum advantage of it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.,Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
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30
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Cavaco M, Andreu D, Castanho MARB. The Challenge of Peptide Proteolytic Stability Studies: Scarce Data, Difficult Readability, and the Need for Harmonization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202006372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Department of Biochemistry Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa Av. Prof Egas Moniz 1649-028 Lisboa Portugal
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit Department of Experimental and Health Sciences Pompeu Fabra University Dr Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park 08003 Barcelona Spain
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit Department of Experimental and Health Sciences Pompeu Fabra University Dr Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park 08003 Barcelona Spain
| | - Miguel A. R. B. Castanho
- Department of Biochemistry Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa Av. Prof Egas Moniz 1649-028 Lisboa Portugal
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31
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Ning L, Huang J, He B, Kang J. An In Silico Immunogenicity Analysis for PbHRH: An Antiangiogenic Peptibody by Fusing HRH Peptide and Human IgG1 Fc Fragment. Curr Bioinform 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/1574893614666190730104348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Background:
Peptibodies, the hybrid of peptides and antibodies, represent a novel
strategy in therapeutic use. Previously, we computationally designed an antiangiogenic peptibody
PbHRH, which fused the HRH peptide with angiogenesis-suppressing effect and human IgG1 Fc
fragment using Romiplostim as template. Molecular modeling and simulation results indicated that
it would be a potential drug for the treatment of those angiogenesis related pathological disorders.
However, its immunogenicity is not known.
Methods:
Several bioinformatics tools are used to predict the potential epitopes for the evaluation
of the immunogenicity of PbHRH. Romiplostim is set as the control. IEDB-recommended method
is used in MHC-I and MHC-II binding prediction, and the IEDB web server
(http://tools.iedb.org/immunogenicity/) is used to determine the MHC-I immunogenicity of each
peptide.
Results:
In this work, some peptides are predicted to have the potential ability to bind to MHC-I
and MHC-II molecules both in PbHRH and Romiplostim as the potential epitopes. Most of these
selected peptides are exactly the same. Allele frequency analysis shows a low population
distribution. Combined with the analysis of MHC-I immunogenicity prediction, both HRH and
PbHRH show low immunogenicity.
Conclusion:
Some potential epitopes which could bind to both MHC-I and MHC-II molecules
are predicted using bioinformatics tools. The comparative analysis with Romiplostim and the
results of MHC-I immunogenicity prediction indicate the low immunogenicity of both HRH and
PbHRH. Thus, we form a strategy to evaluate the immunogenicity of peptibodies for the future
improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ning
- Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiang Huang
- Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Bifang He
- Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Juanjuan Kang
- Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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Jendryczko K, Chudzian J, Skinder N, Opaliński Ł, Rzeszótko J, Wiedlocha A, Otlewski J, Szlachcic A. FGF2-Derived PeptibodyF2-MMAE Conjugate for Targeted Delivery of Cytotoxic Drugs into Cancer Cells Overexpressing FGFR1. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2992. [PMID: 33076489 PMCID: PMC7602595 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are emerging targets for directed cancer therapy. Presented here is a new FGFR1-targeting conjugate, the peptibodyF2, which employs peptibody, a fusion of peptide and the Fc fragment of human IgG as a selective targeting agent and drug carrier. Short peptide based on FGF2 sequence was used to construct a FGFR1-targeting peptibody. We have shown that this peptide ensures specific delivery of peptibodyF2 into FGFR1-expressing cells. In order to use peptibodyF2 as a delivery vehicle for cytotoxic drugs, we have conjugated it with MMAE, a drug widely used in antibody-drug conjugates for targeted therapy. Resulting conjugate shows high and specific cytotoxicity towards FGFR1-positive cells, i.e., squamous cell lung carcinoma NCI-H520, while remaining non-toxic for FGFR1-negative cells. Such peptibody-drug conjugate can serve as a basis for development of therapy for tumors with overexpressed or malfunctioning FGFRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Jendryczko
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.J.); (J.C.); (N.S.); (Ł.O.); (J.R.); (J.O.)
| | - Julia Chudzian
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.J.); (J.C.); (N.S.); (Ł.O.); (J.R.); (J.O.)
| | - Natalia Skinder
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.J.); (J.C.); (N.S.); (Ł.O.); (J.R.); (J.O.)
| | - Łukasz Opaliński
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.J.); (J.C.); (N.S.); (Ł.O.); (J.R.); (J.O.)
| | - Jakub Rzeszótko
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.J.); (J.C.); (N.S.); (Ł.O.); (J.R.); (J.O.)
| | - Antoni Wiedlocha
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway;
- Department of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 01163 Warsaw, Poland
- Center for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0379 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jacek Otlewski
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.J.); (J.C.); (N.S.); (Ł.O.); (J.R.); (J.O.)
| | - Anna Szlachcic
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50383 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.J.); (J.C.); (N.S.); (Ł.O.); (J.R.); (J.O.)
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33
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Duivelshof BL, Murisier A, Camperi J, Fekete S, Beck A, Guillarme D, D'Atri V. Therapeutic Fc-fusion proteins: Current analytical strategies. J Sep Sci 2020; 44:35-62. [PMID: 32914936 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202000765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fc-Fusion proteins represent a successful class of biopharmaceutical products, with already 13 drugs approved in the European Union and United States as well as three biosimilar versions of etanercept. Fc-Fusion products combine tailored pharmacological properties of biological ligands, together with multiple functions of the fragment crystallizable domain of immunoglobulins. There is a great diversity in terms of possible biological ligands, including the extracellular domains of natural receptors, functionally active peptides, recombinant enzymes, and genetically engineered binding constructs acting as cytokine traps. Due to their highly diverse structures, the analytical characterization of Fc-Fusion proteins is far more complex than that of monoclonal antibodies and requires the use and development of additional product-specific methods over conventional generic/platform methods. This can be explained, for example, by the presence of numerous sialic acids, leading to high diversity in terms of isoelectric points and complex glycosylation profiles including multiple N- and O-linked glycosylation sites. In this review, we highlight the wide range of analytical strategies used to fully characterize Fc-fusion proteins. We also present case studies on the structural assessment of all commercially available Fc-fusion proteins, based on the features and critical quality attributes of their ligand-binding domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastiaan L Duivelshof
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Amarande Murisier
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Camperi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Szabolcs Fekete
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alain Beck
- IRPF - Centre d'Immunologie Pierre-Fabre (CIPF), Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France
| | - Davy Guillarme
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valentina D'Atri
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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34
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Skalska J, Andrade VM, Cena GL, Harvey PJ, Gaspar D, Mello ÉO, Henriques ST, Valle J, Gomes VM, Conceição K, Castanho MARB, Andreu D. Synthesis, Structure, and Activity of the Antifungal Plant Defensin PvD 1. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9391-9402. [PMID: 32787086 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Available treatments for invasive fungal infections have limitations, including toxicity and the emergence of resistant strains. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative solutions. Because of their unique mode of action and high selectivity, plant defensins (PDs) are worthy therapeutic candidates. Chemical synthesis remains a preferred method for the production of many peptide-based therapeutics. Given the relatively long sequence of PDs, as well as their complicated posttranslational modifications, the synthetic route can be considered challenging. Here, we describe a total synthesis of PvD1, the defensin from the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris. Analytical, structural, and functional characterization revealed that both natural and synthetic peptides fold into a canonical CSαβ motif stabilized by conserved disulfide bonds. Moreover, synthetic PvD1 retained the biological activity against four different Candida species and showed no toxicity in vivo. Adding the high resistance of synthetic PvD1 to proteolytic degradation, we claim that conditions are now met to consider PDs druggable biologicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Skalska
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vitor M Andrade
- Laboratório de Bioquı́mica de Peptı́deos, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 12231-280 São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Gabrielle L Cena
- Laboratório de Bioquı́mica de Peptı́deos, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 12231-280 São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Diana Gaspar
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Érica O Mello
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquı́mica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologı́a, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sónia T Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation and Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Javier Valle
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valdirene M Gomes
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquı́mica de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologı́a, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013-602 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Katia Conceição
- Laboratório de Bioquı́mica de Peptı́deos, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 12231-280 São José dos Campos, Brazil
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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35
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Ding Y, Ting JP, Liu J, Al-Azzam S, Pandya P, Afshar S. Impact of non-proteinogenic amino acids in the discovery and development of peptide therapeutics. Amino Acids 2020; 52:1207-1226. [PMID: 32945974 PMCID: PMC7544725 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02890-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With the development of modern chemistry and biology, non-proteinogenic amino acids (NPAAs) have become a powerful tool for developing peptide-based drug candidates. Drug-like properties of peptidic medicines, due to the smaller size and simpler structure compared to large proteins, can be changed fundamentally by introducing NPAAs in its sequence. While peptides composed of natural amino acids can be used as drug candidates, the majority have shown to be less stable in biological conditions. The impact of NPAA incorporation can be extremely beneficial in improving the stability, potency, permeability, and bioavailability of peptide-based therapies. Conversely, undesired effects such as toxicity or immunogenicity should also be considered. The impact of NPAAs in the development of peptide-based therapeutics is reviewed in this article. Further, numerous examples of peptides containing NPAAs are presented to highlight the ongoing development in peptide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ding
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Joey Paolo Ting
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Jinsha Liu
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Shams Al-Azzam
- Professional Scientific Services, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Lancaster, PA, 17605, USA
| | - Priyanka Pandya
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Sepideh Afshar
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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36
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Cavaco M, Valle J, da Silva R, Correia JD, Castanho MARB, Andreu D, Neves V. DPepH3, an Improved Peptide Shuttle for Receptor-independent Transport Across the Blood-Brain Barrier. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 26:1495-1506. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200213094556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background:The use of peptides as drug carriers across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has increased significantly during the last decades. PepH3, a seven residue sequence (AGILKRW) derived from the α-helical domain of the dengue virus type-2 capsid protein, translocates across the BBB with very low toxicity. Somehow predictably from its size and sequence, PepH3 is degraded in serum relatively fast. Among strategies to increase peptide half-life (t1/2), the use of the enantiomer (wholly made of D-amino acid residues) can be quite successful if the peptide interacts with a target in non-stereospecific fashion.Methods:The goal of this work was the development of a more proteolytic-resistant peptide, while keeping the translocation properties. The serum stability, cytotoxicity, in vitro BBB translocation, and internalization mechanism of DPepH3 was assessed and compared to the native peptide.Results:DPepH3 demonstrates a much longer t1/2 compared to PepH3. We also confirm that BBB translocation is receptor-independent, which fully validates the enantiomer strategy chosen. In fact, we demonstrate that internalization occurs trough macropinocytosis. In addition, the enantiomer demonstrates to be non-cytotoxic towards endothelial cells as PepH3.Conclusion:DPepH3 shows excellent translocation and internalization properties, safety, and improved stability. Taken together, our results place DPepH3 at the forefront of the second generation of BBB shuttles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Javier Valle
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruben da Silva
- Centro de Ciencias e Tecnologias Nucleares and Departamento de Engenharia e Ciencias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - João D.G. Correia
- Centro de Ciencias e Tecnologias Nucleares and Departamento de Engenharia e Ciencias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - Miguel A. R. B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vera Neves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av Prof Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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37
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Knerr PJ, Mowery SA, Finan B, Perez-Tilve D, Tschöp MH, DiMarchi RD. Selection and progression of unimolecular agonists at the GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors as drug candidates. Peptides 2020; 125:170225. [PMID: 31786282 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2019.170225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The continued global growth in the prevalence of obesity coupled with the limited number of efficacious and safe treatment options elevates the importance of innovative pharmaceutical approaches. Combinatorial strategies that harness the metabolic benefits of multiple hormonal mechanisms have emerged at the preclinical and more recently clinical stages of drug development. A priority has been anti-obesity unimolecular peptides that function as balanced, high potency poly-agonists at two or all the cellular receptors for the endocrine hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon. This report reviews recent progress in this area, with emphasis on what the initial clinical results demonstrate and what remains to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Knerr
- Novo Nordisk Research Center Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Brian Finan
- Novo Nordisk Research Center Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Diego Perez-Tilve
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Garching, Germany
| | - Richard D DiMarchi
- Novo Nordisk Research Center Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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38
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Cavaco M, Gaspar D, ARB Castanho M, Neves V. Antibodies for the Treatment of Brain Metastases, a Dream or a Reality? Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E62. [PMID: 31940974 PMCID: PMC7023012 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of brain metastases (BM) in cancer patients is increasing. After diagnosis, overall survival (OS) is poor, elicited by the lack of an effective treatment. Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapy has achieved remarkable success in treating both hematologic and non-central-nervous system (CNS) tumors due to their inherent targeting specificity. However, the use of mAbs in the treatment of CNS tumors is restricted by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that hinders the delivery of either small-molecules drugs (sMDs) or therapeutic proteins (TPs). To overcome this limitation, active research is focused on the development of strategies to deliver TPs and increase their concentration in the brain. Yet, their molecular weight and hydrophilic nature turn this task into a challenge. The use of BBB peptide shuttles is an elegant strategy. They explore either receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) or adsorptive-mediated transcytosis (AMT) to cross the BBB. The latter is preferable since it avoids enzymatic degradation, receptor saturation, and competition with natural receptor substrates, which reduces adverse events. Therefore, the combination of mAbs properties (e.g., selectivity and long half-life) with BBB peptide shuttles (e.g., BBB translocation and delivery into the brain) turns the therapeutic conjugate in a valid approach to safely overcome the BBB and efficiently eliminate metastatic brain cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Miguel ARB Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.C.); (D.G.)
| | - Vera Neves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.C.); (D.G.)
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39
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Schifferli A, Nimmerjahn F, Kühne T. Immunomodulation in Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Possible Role of the Fc Fragment of Romiplostim? Front Immunol 2019; 10:1196. [PMID: 31214173 PMCID: PMC6557984 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fc fusion proteins and Fc fusion peptides or peptibodies are chimeric molecules composed of an active pharmacological protein or peptide and the Fc fragment of an immunoglobulin. The primary aim of this drug construct is to prolong the half-life of the active component. This molecular architecture is seen in drugs, such as etanercept, romiplostim, and the recombinant factor VIII (efmoroctocog alfa). A considerable number of Fc fusion proteins and peptibodies are currently in pre-clinical and clinical development. The isolated effect of the Fc fragment has been studied intensively during last years, but is still poorly understood in the clinical setting and in relation with the active drug and underlying disease. In this short review, we will propose new hypotheses of possible immunomodulatory functions of the Fc fragment of romiplostim in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schifferli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Falk Nimmerjahn
- Department of Biology, Institute of Genetics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Kühne
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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40
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Huang Y, Wiedmann MM, Suga H. RNA Display Methods for the Discovery of Bioactive Macrocycles. Chem Rev 2018; 119:10360-10391. [PMID: 30395448 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The past two decades have witnessed the emergence of macrocycles, including macrocyclic peptides, as a promising yet underexploited class of de novo drug candidates. Both rational/computational design and in vitro display systems have contributed tremendously to the development of cyclic peptide binders of either traditional targets such as cell-surface receptors and enzymes or challenging targets such as protein-protein interaction surfaces. mRNA display, a key platform technology for the discovery of cyclic peptide ligands, has become one of the leading strategies that can generate natural-product-like macrocyclic peptide binders with antibody-like affinities. On the basis of the original cell-free transcription/translation system, mRNA display is highly evolvable to realize its full potential by applying genetic reprogramming and chemical/enzymatic modifications. In addition, mRNA display also allows the follow-up hit-to-lead development using high-throughput focused affinity maturation. Finally, mRNA-displayed peptides can be readily engineered to create chemical conjugates based on known small molecules or biologics. This review covers the birth and growth of mRNA display and discusses the above features of mRNA display with success stories and future perspectives and is up to date as of August 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichao Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science , The University of Tokyo , 7-3-1 Hongo , Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 , Japan
| | - Mareike Margarete Wiedmann
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science , The University of Tokyo , 7-3-1 Hongo , Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 , Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science , The University of Tokyo , 7-3-1 Hongo , Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 , Japan
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41
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Hernandez-Alba O, Wagner-Rousset E, Beck A, Cianférani S. Native Mass Spectrometry, Ion Mobility, and Collision-Induced Unfolding for Conformational Characterization of IgG4 Monoclonal Antibodies. Anal Chem 2018; 90:8865-8872. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b00912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Hernandez-Alba
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse BioOrganique, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Elsa Wagner-Rousset
- IRPF - Centre d’Immunologie Pierre-Fabre (CIPF), 74160 Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France
| | - Alain Beck
- IRPF - Centre d’Immunologie Pierre-Fabre (CIPF), 74160 Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France
| | - Sarah Cianférani
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse BioOrganique, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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