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Pirhaghi M, Mamashli F, Moosavi-Movahedi F, Arghavani P, Amiri A, Davaeil B, Mohammad-Zaheri M, Mousavi-Jarrahi Z, Sharma D, Langel Ü, Otzen DE, Saboury AA. Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Promising Therapeutics and Drug-Delivery Systems for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:2097-2117. [PMID: 38440998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01167] [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: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Currently, one of the most significant and rapidly growing unmet medical challenges is the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). This challenge encompasses the imperative development of efficacious therapeutic agents and overcoming the intricacies of the blood-brain barrier for successful drug delivery. Here we focus on the delivery aspect with particular emphasis on cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), widely used in basic and translational research as they enhance drug delivery to challenging targets such as tissue and cellular compartments and thus increase therapeutic efficacy. The combination of CPPs with nanomaterials such as nanoparticles (NPs) improves the performance, accuracy, and stability of drug delivery and enables higher drug loads. Our review presents and discusses research that utilizes CPPs, either alone or in conjugation with NPs, to mitigate the pathogenic effects of neurodegenerative diseases with particular reference to AD and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Pirhaghi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan 6673145137, Iran
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mamashli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
| | | | - Payam Arghavani
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
| | - Ahmad Amiri
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
| | - Bagher Davaeil
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
| | - Mahya Mohammad-Zaheri
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
| | - Zahra Mousavi-Jarrahi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
| | - Deepak Sharma
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Ülo Langel
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Daniel Erik Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C 1592-224, Denmark
| | - Ali Akbar Saboury
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran
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Maani Z, Farajnia S, Rahbarnia L, Hosseingholi EZ, Khajehnasiri N, Mansouri P. Rational design of an anti-cancer peptide inhibiting CD147 / Cyp A interaction. J Mol Struct 2023; 1272:134160. [PMID: 36128074 PMCID: PMC9479519 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The CD147 / Cyp A interaction is a critical pathway in cancer types and an essential factor in entering the COVID-19 virus into the host cell. Melittin acts as an inhibitory peptide in cancer types by blocking the CD147/ Cyp A interaction. The clinical application of Melittin is limited due to weak penetration into cancer cells. TAT is an arginine-rich peptide with high penetration ability into cells widely used in drug delivery systems. This study aimed to design a hybrid peptide derived from Melittin and TAT to inhibit CD147 /Cyp A interaction. An amino acid region with high anti-cancer activity in Melittin was selected based on the physicochemical properties. Based on the results, a truncated Melittin peptide with 15 amino acids by the GGGS linker was fused to a TAT peptide (nine amino acids) to increase the penetration rate into the cell. A new hybrid peptide analog(TM) was selected by replacing the glycine with serine based on random point mutation. Docking results indicated that the TM peptide acts as an inhibitory peptide with high binding energy when interacting with CD147 and the CypA proteins. RMSD and RMSF results confirmed the high stability of the TM peptide in interaction with CD147. Also, the coarse-grained simulation showed the penetration potential of TM peptide into the DOPS-DOPC model membrane. Our findings indicated that the designed multifunctional peptide could be an attractive therapeutic candidate to halter tumor types and COVID-19 infection.
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Insights into the equilibrium structure and translocation mechanism of TP1, a spontaneous membrane-translocating peptide. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19880. [PMID: 36400938 PMCID: PMC9674684 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23631-w] [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: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Crossing the cellular membrane is one of the main barriers during drug discovery; many potential drugs are rejected for their inability to integrate into the intracell fluid. Although many solutions have been proposed to overcome this barrier, arguably the most promising solution is the use of cell-penetrating peptides. Recently, an array of hydrophobic penetrating peptides was discovered via high throughput screening which proved to be able to cross the membrane passively, and although these peptides proved to be effective at penetrating the cell, the details behind the underlying mechanism of this process remain unknown. In this study, we developed a method to find the equilibrium structure at the transmembrane domain of TP1, a hydrophobic penetrating peptide. In this method, we selectively deuterium-label amino acids in the peptidic chain, and employ results of [Formula: see text]H-NMR spectroscopy to find a molecular dynamics simulation of the peptide that reproduces the experimental results. Effectively finding the equilibrium orientation and dynamics of the peptide in the membrane. We employed this equilibrium structure to simulate the entire translocation mechanism and found that after the peptide reaches its equilibrium structure, it must undergo a two-step mechanism in order to completely translocate the membrane, each step involving the flip-flop of each arginine residue in the peptide. This leads us to conclude that the RLLR motif is essential for the translocating activity of the peptide.
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Polster BM, Mark KA, Arze R, Hudson D. Calpain-Independent Intracellular Protease Activity Is Elevated in Excitotoxic Cortical Neurons Prior to Delayed Calcium Deregulation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12071004. [PMID: 35883560 PMCID: PMC9313431 DOI: 10.3390/biom12071004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate excitotoxicity contributes to many neurodegenerative diseases. Excessive glutamate receptor-mediated calcium entry causes delayed calcium deregulation (DCD) that coincides with abrupt mitochondrial depolarization. We developed cA-TAT, a live-cell protease activity reporter based on a vimentin calpain cleavage site, to test whether glutamate increases protease activity in neuronal cell bodies prior to DCD. Treatment of rat cortical neurons with excitotoxic (100 µM) glutamate increased the low baseline rate of intracellular cA-TAT proteolysis by approximately three-fold prior to DCD and by approximately seven-fold upon calcium deregulation. The glutamate-induced rate enhancement prior to DCD was suppressed by glutamate receptor antagonists, but not by calpain or proteasome inhibitors, whereas DCD-stimulated proteolysis was partly attenuated by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Further suggesting that cA-TAT cleavage is calpain-independent, cA-TAT fluorescence was observed in immortalized Capn4 knockout fibroblasts lacking the regulatory calpain subunit. About half of the neurons lost calcium homeostasis within two hours of a transient, 20 min glutamate receptor stimulation. These neurons had a significantly (49%) higher mean baseline cA-TAT proteolysis rate than those maintaining calcium homeostasis, suggesting that the unknown protease(s) cleaving cA-TAT may influence DCD susceptibility. Overall, the results indicate that excitotoxic glutamate triggers the activation of calpain-independent neuronal protease activity prior to the simultaneous loss of calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial bioenergetic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Polster
- Buck Institute for Age Research, Novato, CA 94945, USA;
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research (STAR), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-410-706-3418
| | - Karla A. Mark
- Buck Institute for Age Research, Novato, CA 94945, USA;
| | - Rafael Arze
- Biosearch Technologies, Inc., Novato, CA 94949, USA; (R.A.); (D.H.)
| | - Derek Hudson
- Biosearch Technologies, Inc., Novato, CA 94949, USA; (R.A.); (D.H.)
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Design of Membrane Active Peptides Considering Multi-Objective Optimization for Biomedical Application. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12020180. [PMID: 35207101 PMCID: PMC8880019 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12020180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
A multitude of membrane active peptides exists that divides into subclasses, such as cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) capable to enter eukaryotic cells or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) able to interact with prokaryotic cell envelops. Peptide membrane interactions arise from unique sequence motifs of the peptides that account for particular physicochemical properties. Membrane active peptides are mainly cationic, often primary or secondary amphipathic, and they interact with membranes depending on the composition of the bilayer lipids. Sequences of these peptides consist of short 5–30 amino acid sections derived from natural proteins or synthetic sources. Membrane active peptides can be designed using computational methods or can be identified in screenings of combinatorial libraries. This review focuses on strategies that were successfully applied to the design and optimization of membrane active peptides with respect to the fact that diverse features of successful peptide candidates are prerequisites for biomedical application. Not only membrane activity but also degradation stability in biological environments, propensity to induce resistances, and advantageous toxicological properties are crucial parameters that have to be considered in attempts to design useful membrane active peptides. Reliable assay systems to access the different biological characteristics of numerous membrane active peptides are essential tools for multi-objective peptide optimization.
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Horn JM, Obermeyer AC. Genetic and Covalent Protein Modification Strategies to Facilitate Intracellular Delivery. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:4883-4904. [PMID: 34855385 PMCID: PMC9310055 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Protein-based therapeutics represent a rapidly growing segment of approved disease treatments. Successful intracellular delivery of proteins is an important precondition for expanded in vivo and in vitro applications of protein therapeutics. Direct modification of proteins and peptides for improved cytosolic translocation are a promising method of increasing delivery efficiency and expanding the viability of intracellular protein therapeutics. In this Review, we present recent advances in both synthetic and genetic protein modifications for intracellular delivery. Active endocytosis-based and passive internalization pathways are discussed, followed by a review of modification methods for improved cytosolic delivery. After establishing how proteins can be modified, general strategies for facilitating intracellular delivery, such as chemical supercharging or inclusion of cell-penetrating motifs, are covered. We then outline protein modifications that promote endosomal escape. We finally examine the delivery of two potential classes of therapeutic proteins, antibodies and associated antibody fragments, and gene editing proteins, such as cas9.
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Khan S, Vahdani Y, Hussain A, Haghighat S, Heidari F, Nouri M, Haj Bloukh S, Edis Z, Mahdi Nejadi Babadaei M, Ale-Ebrahim M, Hasan A, Sharifi M, Bai Q, Hassan M, Falahati M. Polymeric micelles functionalized with cell penetrating peptides as potential pH-sensitive platforms in drug delivery for cancer therapy: A review. ARAB J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2021.103264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Grimes J, Desai S, Charter NW, Lodge J, Moita Santos R, Isidro-Llobet A, Mason AM, Wu Z, Wolfe LA, Anantharaman L, Green A, Bridges AM, Dalmas Wilk DA, Brown AJ. MrgX2 is a promiscuous receptor for basic peptides causing mast cell pseudo-allergic and anaphylactoid reactions. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2019; 7:e00547. [PMID: 31832205 PMCID: PMC6887720 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of MrgX2, an orphan G protein-coupled receptor expressed on mast cells, leads to degranulation and histamine release. Human MrgX2 binds promiscuously to structurally diverse peptides and small molecules that tend to have basic properties (basic secretagogues), resulting in acute histamine-like adverse drug reactions of injected therapeutic agents. We set out to identify MrgX2 orthologues from other mammalian species used in nonclinical stages of drug development. Previously, the only known orthologue of human MrgX2 was from mouse, encoded by Mrgprb2. MrgX2 genes of rat, dog (beagle), minipig, pig, and Rhesus and cynomolgus monkey were identified by bioinformatic approaches and verified by their ability to mediate calcium mobilization in transfected cells in response to the classical MrgX2 agonist, compound 48/80. The peptide GSK3212448 is an inhibitor of the PRC2 epigenetic regulator that caused profound anaphylactoid reactions upon intravenous infusion to rat. We showed GSK3212448 to be a potent MrgX2 agonist particularly at rat MrgX2. We screened sets of drug-like molecules and peptides to confirm the highly promiscuous nature of MrgX2. Approximately 20% of drug-like molecules activated MrgX2 (pEC50 ranging from 4.5 to 6), with the principle determinant being basicity. All peptides tested of net charge +3 or greater exhibited agonist activity, including the cell penetrating peptides polyarginine (acetyl-Arg9-amide) and TAT (49-60), a fragment of HIV-1 TAT protein. Finally, we showed that the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin, which is associated with clinical pseudo-allergic reactions known as red man syndrome, is an agonist of MrgX2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jak Grimes
- Medicines Research Centre GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd Stevenage United Kingdom.,Present address: Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE) University of Birmingham Edgbaston UK
| | - Sapna Desai
- Medicines Research Centre GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd Stevenage United Kingdom
| | | | - James Lodge
- Medicines Research Centre GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd Stevenage United Kingdom
| | - Rita Moita Santos
- Medicines Research Centre GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd Stevenage United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew M Mason
- Medicines Research Centre GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd Stevenage United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Andrew Green
- Eurofins Pharma Discovery Services Fremont CA USA
| | - Angela M Bridges
- Medicines Research Centre GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd Stevenage United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew J Brown
- Medicines Research Centre GlaxoSmithKline R&D Ltd Stevenage United Kingdom
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10
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Farouk F, Shamma R. Chemical structure modifications and nano-technology applications for improving ADME-Tox properties, a review. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2019; 352:e1800213. [DOI: 10.1002/ardp.201800213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Faten Farouk
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Ahram Canadian University; Giza Egypt
| | - Rehab Shamma
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy; Cairo University; Cairo Egypt
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Wei Y, Zhang L, Fu Y, Xu X. Rapid delivery of paclitaxel with an organic solvent-free system based on a novel cell penetrating peptide for suppression of tumor growth. J Mater Chem B 2017; 5:7768-7774. [DOI: 10.1039/c7tb01259d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
PTX is rapidly translocated into HeLa cells with the help of R7. The intracellular PTX concentration of R7/PTX complex group is 3 fold that of the free PTX group. This delivery system does not contain any organic solvent. The tumor growth is significantly suppressed by a tail vein injection of the R7/PTX complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing
- P. R. China
| | - Liang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing
- P. R. China
| | - Yankai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing
- P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing
| | - Xia Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan
- P. R. China
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Kristensen M, Birch D, Mørck Nielsen H. Applications and Challenges for Use of Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Delivery Vectors for Peptide and Protein Cargos. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:E185. [PMID: 26840305 PMCID: PMC4783919 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17020185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The hydrophilic nature of peptides and proteins renders them impermeable to cell membranes. Thus, in order to successfully deliver peptide and protein-based therapeutics across the plasma membrane or epithelial and endothelial barriers, a permeation enhancing strategy must be employed. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) constitute a promising tool and have shown applications for peptide and protein delivery into cells as well as across various epithelia and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). CPP-mediated delivery of peptides and proteins may be pursued via covalent conjugation of the CPP to the cargo peptide or protein or via physical complexation obtained by simple bulk-mixing of the CPP with its cargo. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and which is the better choice likely relates to the physicochemical properties of the CPP and its cargo as well as the route of administration, the specific barrier and the target cell. Besides the physical barrier, a metabolic barrier must be taken into consideration when applying peptide-based delivery vectors, such as the CPPs, and stability-enhancing strategies are commonly employed to prolong the CPP half-life. The mechanisms by which CPPs translocate cell membranes are believed to involve both endocytosis and direct translocation, but are still widely investigated and discussed. The fact that multiple factors influence the mechanisms responsible for cellular CPP internalization and the lack of sensitive methods for detection of the CPP, and in some cases the cargo, further complicates the design and conduction of conclusive mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mie Kristensen
- Section for Biologics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ditlev Birch
- Section for Biologics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Hanne Mørck Nielsen
- Section for Biologics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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