1
|
Xu Y, Bai Z, Lan T, Fu C, Cheng P. CD44 and its implication in neoplastic diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e554. [PMID: 38783892 PMCID: PMC11112461 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
CD44, a nonkinase single span transmembrane glycoprotein, is a major cell surface receptor for many other extracellular matrix components as well as classic markers of cancer stem cells and immune cells. Through alternative splicing of CD44 gene, CD44 is divided into two isoforms, the standard isoform of CD44 (CD44s) and the variant isoform of CD44 (CD44v). Different isoforms of CD44 participate in regulating various signaling pathways, modulating cancer proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, with its aberrant expression and dysregulation contributing to tumor initiation and progression. However, CD44s and CD44v play overlapping or contradictory roles in tumor initiation and progression, which is not fully understood. Herein, we discuss the present understanding of the functional and structural roles of CD44 in the pathogenic mechanism of multiple cancers. The regulation functions of CD44 in cancers-associated signaling pathways is summarized. Moreover, we provide an overview of the anticancer therapeutic strategies that targeting CD44 and preclinical and clinical trials evaluating the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and drug-related toxicity about CD44-targeted therapies. This review provides up-to-date information about the roles of CD44 in neoplastic diseases, which may open new perspectives in the field of cancer treatment through targeting CD44.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Xu
- Department of BiotherapyLaboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ziyi Bai
- Department of BiotherapyLaboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Tianxia Lan
- Department of BiotherapyLaboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Chenying Fu
- Laboratory of Aging and Geriatric Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ping Cheng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mukherjee AG, Wanjari UR, Namachivayam A, Murali R, Prabakaran DS, Ganesan R, Renu K, Dey A, Vellingiri B, Ramanathan G, Doss C. GP, Gopalakrishnan AV. Role of Immune Cells and Receptors in Cancer Treatment: An Immunotherapeutic Approach. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1493. [PMID: 36146572 PMCID: PMC9502517 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy moderates the immune system's ability to fight cancer. Due to its extreme complexity, scientists are working to put together all the puzzle pieces to get a clearer picture of the immune system. Shreds of available evidence show the connection between cancer and the immune system. Immune responses to tumors and lymphoid malignancies are influenced by B cells, γδT cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells (DCs). Cancer immunotherapy, which encompasses adoptive cancer therapy, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), immune checkpoint therapy, and CART cells, has revolutionized contemporary cancer treatment. This article reviews recent developments in immune cell regulation and cancer immunotherapy. Various options are available to treat many diseases, particularly cancer, due to the progress in various immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, vaccinations (both preventative and curative), cellular immunotherapies, and cytokines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Goutam Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Uddesh Ramesh Wanjari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arunraj Namachivayam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Reshma Murali
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - D. S. Prabakaran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Chungdae-ro 1, Seowon-gu, Cheongju 28644, Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous), Srivilliputhur Main Road, Sivakasi 626124, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Raja Ganesan
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
| | - Kaviyarasi Renu
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gnanasambandan Ramanathan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - George Priya Doss C.
- Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Quader S, Tanabe S, Cabral H. Abnormal Glycosylation in Cancer Cells and Cancer Stem Cells as a Therapeutic Target. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1393:141-156. [PMID: 36587306 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-12974-2_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Tumor resistance and recurrence have been associated with the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in tumors. The functions and survival of the CSCs have been associated with several intracellular and extracellular features. Particularly, the abnormal glycosylation of these signaling pathways and markers of CSCs have been correlated with maintaining survival, self-renewal and extravasation properties. Here, we highlight the importance of glycosylation in promoting the stemness character of CSCs and the current strategies for targeting abnormal glycosylation toward generating effective therapies against the CSC population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Quader
- Innovation Center of Nanomedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan
| | - Shihori Tanabe
- Division of Risk Assessment, Center for Biological Safety and Research, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bogen JP, Grzeschik J, Jakobsen J, Bähre A, Hock B, Kolmar H. Treating Bladder Cancer: Engineering of Current and Next Generation Antibody-, Fusion Protein-, mRNA-, Cell- and Viral-Based Therapeutics. Front Oncol 2021; 11:672262. [PMID: 34123841 PMCID: PMC8191463 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.672262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer is a frequent malignancy and has a clinical need for new therapeutic approaches. Antibody and protein technologies came a long way in recent years and new engineering approaches were applied to generate innovative therapeutic entities with novel mechanisms of action. Furthermore, mRNA-based pharmaceuticals recently reached the market and CAR-T cells and viral-based gene therapy remain a major focus of biomedical research. This review focuses on the engineering of biologics, particularly therapeutic antibodies and their application in preclinical development and clinical trials, as well as approved monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of bladder cancer. Besides, newly emerging entities in the realm of bladder cancer like mRNA, gene therapy or cell-based therapeutics are discussed and evaluated. As many discussed molecules exhibit unique mechanisms of action based on innovative protein engineering, they reflect the next generation of cancer drugs. This review will shed light on the engineering strategies applied to develop these next generation treatments and provides deeper insights into their preclinical profiles, clinical stages, and ongoing trials. Furthermore, the distribution and expression of the targeted antigens and the intended mechanisms of action are elucidated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan P Bogen
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.,Ferring Darmstadt Laboratory, Biologics Technology and Development, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Julius Grzeschik
- Ferring Darmstadt Laboratory, Biologics Technology and Development, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Joern Jakobsen
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals, International PharmaScience Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexandra Bähre
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals, International PharmaScience Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Björn Hock
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Ferring International Center S.A., Saint-Prex, Switzerland
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Khan T, Cabral H. Abnormal Glycosylation of Cancer Stem Cells and Targeting Strategies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:649338. [PMID: 33889547 PMCID: PMC8056457 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.649338] [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: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cell (CSCs) are deemed as one of the main reasons of tumor relapse due to their resistance to standard therapies. Numerous intracellular signaling pathways along with extracellular features are crucial in regulating CSCs properties, such as heterogeneity, plasticity and differentiation. Aberrant glycosylation of these cellular signaling pathways and markers of CSCs have been directly correlated with maintaining survival, self-renewal and extravasation properties. In this review, we highlight the importance of glycosylation in promoting stemness character of CSCs, and present strategies for targeting abnormal glycosylation to eliminate the resistant CSC population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liang Y, Wang Y, Wang L, Liang Z, Li D, Xu X, Chen Y, Yang X, Zhang H, Niu H. Self-crosslinkable chitosan-hyaluronic acid dialdehyde nanoparticles for CD44-targeted siRNA delivery to treat bladder cancer. Bioact Mater 2021; 6:433-446. [PMID: 32995671 PMCID: PMC7490593 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer is one of the concerning malignancies worldwide, which is lacking effective targeted therapy. Gene therapy is a potential approach for bladder cancer treatment. While, a safe and effective targeted gene delivery system is urgently needed for prompting the bladder cancer treatment in vivo. In this study, we confirmed that the bladder cancer had CD44 overexpression and small interfering RNAs (siRNA) with high interfere to Bcl2 oncogene were designed and screened. Then hyaluronic acid dialdehyde (HAD) was prepared in an ethanol-water mixture and covalently conjugated to the chitosan nanoparticles (CS-HAD NPs) to achieve CD44 targeted siRNA delivery. The in vitro and in vivo evaluations indicated that the siRNA-loaded CS-HAD NPs (siRNA@CS-HAD NPs) were approximately 100 nm in size, with improved stability, high siRNA encapsulation efficiency and low cytotoxicity. CS-HAD NPs could target to CD44 receptor and deliver the therapeutic siRNA into T24 bladder cancer cells through a ligand-receptor-mediated targeting mechanism and had a specific accumulation capacity in vivo to interfere the targeted oncogene Bcl2 in bladder cancer. Overall, a CD44 targeted gene delivery system based on natural macromolecules was developed for effective bladder cancer treatment, which could be more conducive to clinical application due to its simple preparation and high biological safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Liang
- Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, Medical Research Centre, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory and Turku Bioscience Centre, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Yonghua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, Medical Research Centre, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, Medical Research Centre, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Zhijuan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, Medical Research Centre, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Dan Li
- Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, Medical Research Centre, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory and Turku Bioscience Centre, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Yuanbin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, Medical Research Centre, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Xuecheng Yang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory and Turku Bioscience Centre, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Haitao Niu
- Key Laboratory of Urology and Andrology, Medical Research Centre, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rackov G, Iegiani G, Uribe D, Quezada C, Belda-Iniesta C, Escobedo-Lucea C, Silva A, Puig P, González-Rumayor V, Ayuso-Sacido Á. Potential Therapeutic Effects of the Neural Stem Cell-Targeting Antibody Nilo1 in Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Stem Cells. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1665. [PMID: 32974206 PMCID: PMC7468525 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most devastating and least treatable brain tumor with median survival <15 months and extremely high recurrence rates. Promising results of immune checkpoint blockade obtained from pre-clinical studies in mice did not translate to clinic, and new strategies are urgently needed, particularly those targeting GBM stem cells (GSCs) that are held responsible for drug resistance and tumor recurrence. Patient-derived GSC cultures are critical for finding effective brain tumor therapies. Here, we investigated the ability of the recently described monoclonal antibody Nilo1 to specifically recognize GSCs isolated from GBM surgical samples. We employed five patient-derived GSC cultures with different stemness marker expression and differentiation potential, able to recapitulate original tumors when xenotransplanted in vivo. To answer whether Nilo1 has any functional effects in patient-derived GSCs lines, we treated the cells with Nilo1 in vitro and analyzed cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, sphere formation, as well as the expression of stem vs. differentiation markers. All tested GSCs stained positively for Nilo1, and the ability of Nilo1 to recognize GSCs strongly relied on their stem-like phenotype. Our results showed that a subset of patient-derived GSCs were sensitive to Nilo1 treatment. In three GSC lines Nilo1 triggered differentiation accompanied by the induction of p21. Most strikingly, in one GSC line Nilo1 completely abrogated self-renewal and led to Bax-associated apoptosis. Our data suggest that Nilo1 targets a molecule functionally relevant for stemness maintenance and pinpoint Nilo1 as a novel antibody-based therapeutical strategy to be used either alone or in combination with cytotoxic drugs for GSC targeting. Further pre-clinical studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of GSC-specific Nilo1 targeting in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gorjana Rackov
- IMDEA Nanoscience, Madrid, Spain.,Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain
| | - Giorgia Iegiani
- Istitute of Applied Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, San Pablo CEU University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Uribe
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Claudia Quezada
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | - Carmen Escobedo-Lucea
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Augusto Silva
- Market Access Department, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Ángel Ayuso-Sacido
- IMDEA Nanoscience, Madrid, Spain.,Brain Tumor Laboratory, Fundación Vithas, Hospitales Vithas, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biosanitarias, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain.,Formerly, Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales, Institute of Applied Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, San Pablo CEU University, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bayat AA, Sadeghi N, Fatemi R, Nowroozi MR, Ohadian Moghadam S, Borzuee M, Radmanesh A, Khodadoost M, Sarrafzadeh AR, Zarei O, Rabbani H. Monoclonal Antibody Against ROR1 Induces Apoptosis in Human Bladder Carcinoma Cells. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2020; 12:165-171. [PMID: 32695279 PMCID: PMC7368111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receptor tyrosine kinase-like Orphan Receptor 1 (ROR1) is one of the promising cell surface antigens for targeting cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate ROR1 cell surface expression in bladder cancer cells using a murine anti-ROR1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) called 5F1-B10 as well as investigate its potential in apoptosis induction. METHODS Expression of ROR1 in two human bladder cell lines, 5637 and EJ138, as well as a non-cancerous human cell line, Human Fetal Foreskin Fibroblast (HFFF), was examined by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Immunohistochemical staining of cancer and normal bladder tissues was also performed. RESULTS The flow cytometry results showed that 5F1-B10 mAb could recognize ROR1 molecules in 86.1% and 45.6% of 5637 and EJ138 cells, respectively. The expression level of ROR1 was 5.49% in HFFF cells. The immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry staining results also confirmed the presence of ROR1 on the surface of both bladder cancer cells and tissues, respectively. The obtained data from apoptosis assay demonstrated that 5F1-B10 mAb could induce apoptosis in both 5637 and EJ138 cell lines. CONCLUSION Taken together, our finding indicates the role of ROR1 in bladder cancer cell survival and suggests this receptor might be a promising target for developing novel therapeutic agents against bladder carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali-Ahmad Bayat
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloufar Sadeghi
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramina Fatemi
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mohadeseh Borzuee
- Uro-Oncology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Radmanesh
- Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Khodadoost
- Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Traditional Medicine and Materia Medica Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Omid Zarei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Hodjattallah Rabbani
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pęcak A, Skalniak Ł, Pels K, Książek M, Madej M, Krzemień D, Malicki S, Władyka B, Dubin A, Holak TA, Dubin G. Anti-CD44 DNA Aptamers Selectively Target Cancer Cells. Nucleic Acid Ther 2020; 30:289-298. [PMID: 32379519 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2019.0833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
CD44 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein interacting with a number of extracellular components, including hyaluronic acid (HA). CD44-HA axis is involved in a variety of processes, including adhesion, migration, differentiation, trafficking, and others. CD44 is overexpressed in several cancers where binding of HA induces signal transduction leading to activation of antiapoptotic proteins and factors linked to drug resistance. As such, CD44 has been implicated in cancer growth, progression, and metastasis. It has been convincingly demonstrated that blocking CD44-HA interaction decreases cancer cell survival and metastasis. In this study, using in vitro selection, we have developed DNA aptamers recognizing a HA-binding domain of CD44 with high affinity and specificity. The aptamers bind to CD44 with nanomolar affinities and efficiently inhibit the growth of leukemic cancer cells characterized by high expression of CD44. The selectivity is demonstrated by an irrelevant effect on cells characterized by low CD44 levels. The obtained aptamers broaden the existing landscape of potential approaches to the development of antitumor strategies based on inhibition of the CD44 axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Pęcak
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.,Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Skalniak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pels
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Mirosław Książek
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Mariusz Madej
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Dobrosława Krzemień
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.,Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.,Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Stanisław Malicki
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Benedykt Władyka
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Adam Dubin
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Tad A Holak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Dubin
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| |
Collapse
|