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Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a class of endopeptidases that are dependent on zinc and facilitate the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, thereby playing pivotal parts in human physiology and pathology. MMPs regulate normal tissue and cellular functions, including tissue development, remodeling, angiogenesis, bone formation, and wound healing. Several diseases, including cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and nervous system disorders, have been linked to dysregulated expression of specific MMP subtypes, which can promote tumor progression, metastasis, and inflammation. Various MMP-responsive drug delivery and release systems have been developed by harnessing cleavage activities and overexpression of MMPs in affected regions. Herein, we review the structure, substrates, and physiological and pathological functions of various MMPs and highlight the strategies for designing MMP-responsive nanoparticles to improve the targeting efficiency, penetration, and protection of therapeutic payloads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyun Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 280 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Gan Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 280 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiaoling Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 280 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China
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Fowkes MM, Troeberg L, Brennan PE, Vincent TL, Meldal M, Lim NH. Development of Selective ADAMTS-5 Peptide Substrates to Monitor Proteinase Activity. J Med Chem 2023; 66:3522-3539. [PMID: 36891740 PMCID: PMC10009750 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c02090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
The dysregulation of proteinase activity is a hallmark of osteoarthritis (OA), a disease characterized by progressive degradation of articular cartilage by catabolic proteinases such as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motifs-5 (ADAMTS-5). The ability to detect such activity sensitively would aid disease diagnosis and the evaluation of targeted therapies. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide substrates can detect and monitor disease-related proteinase activity. To date, FRET probes for detecting ADAMTS-5 activity are nonselective and relatively insensitive. We describe the development of rapidly cleaved and highly selective ADAMTS-5 FRET peptide substrates through in silico docking and combinatorial chemistry. The lead substrates 3 and 26 showed higher overall cleavage rates (∼3-4-fold) and catalytic efficiencies (∼1.5-2-fold) compared to the best current ADAMTS-5 substrate ortho-aminobenzoyl(Abz)-TESE↓SRGAIY-N-3-[2,4-dinitrophenyl]-l-2,3-diaminopropionyl(Dpa)-KK-NH2. They exhibited high selectivity for ADAMTS-5 over ADAMTS-4 (∼13-16-fold), MMP-2 (∼8-10-fold), and MMP-9 (∼548-2561-fold) and detected low nanomolar concentrations of ADAMTS-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan M. Fowkes
- Centre
for OA Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Troeberg
- Norwich
Medical School, Bob Champion Research and Education Building, Rosalind
Franklin Road, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul E. Brennan
- Alzheimer’s
Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines
Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
| | - Tonia L. Vincent
- Centre
for OA Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Morten Meldal
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Building B304, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Ngee H. Lim
- Centre
for OA Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
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Lim N, Wen C, Vincent T. Molecular and structural imaging in surgically induced murine osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2020; 28:874-884. [PMID: 32305526 PMCID: PMC7327515 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2020.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical imaging in osteoarthritis is a rapidly growing area with three principal objectives: to provide rapid, sensitive tools to monitor the course of experimental OA longitudinally; to describe the temporal relationship between tissue-specific pathologies over the course of disease; and to use molecular probes to measure disease activity in vivo. Research in this area can be broadly divided into those techniques that monitor structural changes in tissues (microCT, microMRI, ultrasound) and those that detect molecular disease activity (positron emission tomography (PET), optical and optoacoustic imaging). The former techniques have largely evolved from experience in human joint imaging and have been refined for small animal use. Some of the latter tools, such as optical imaging, have been developed in preclinical models and may have translational benefit in the future for patient stratification and for monitoring disease progression and response to treatment. In this narrative review we describe these methodologies and discuss the benefits to animal research, understanding OA pathogenesis, and in the development of human biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- N.H. Lim
- Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK,Address correspondence and reprint requests to: N.H. Lim, Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - C. Wen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - T.L. Vincent
- Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis Versus Arthritis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, UK
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Ji X, Xie S, Jiao Y, Zhang X, Sun D, Yang VC, Wang M, He H, Sun L. MT1-MMP activatable fluorogenic probes with enhanced specificity via high-affinity peptide conjugation for tumor imaging. Biomater Sci 2020; 8:2308-2317. [PMID: 32186291 DOI: 10.1039/c9bm02007a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Overlapping substrate specificities within the family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), usually caused by their highly conserved structural topology, increase the potential for a substrate to be cleaved by multiple enzymes within this family, which leads to the decrease in the selectivity of MMP substrate-based probes. To resolve this issue, MT1-MMP activatable fluorogenic probes for tumor detection with enhanced specificity were developed by combining a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide substrate and its specific binding peptide with different lengths of linkers. The specificity of the probes increased profiting from the high affinity of the MT1-MMP specific binding peptide while keeping the ability to amplify the output imaging signals in response to MMP activity with the FRET substrate. Enzyme kinetics analysis clearly demonstrated that the conjugation of P-1 and MT1-AF7p enhanced both the specificity and selectivity of the fluorogenic probes for MT1-MMP, and introducing a linker composed of 12 PEG subunits into these two fragments led to optimized specificity and selectivity of the fluorogenic probe for MT1-MMP. Both in vitro and in vivo results revealed that the imaging probe with the linker composed of 12 PEG subunits based on our designed strategy could be effectively applied for MT1-MMP positive tumor imaging. Since this strategy for enhancing the specificity of protease sensing probes can be applied to other proteases and is not just limited to MT1-MMP, it is an appealing platform to achieve selective tumor imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuru Ji
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
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Sun L, Xie S, Ji X, Zhang J, Wang D, Lee SJ, Lee H, He H, Yang VC. MMP-2-responsive fluorescent nanoprobes for enhanced selectivity of tumor cell uptake and imaging. Biomater Sci 2018; 6:2619-2626. [PMID: 30109310 DOI: 10.1039/c8bm00593a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
It is difficult to develop highly selective substrate-based fluorescent nanoprobes for specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) due to overlapping substrate specificities among the family of MMP enzymes. To resolve this issue, we have developed novel fluorescent nanoprobes that are highly selective for soluble MMP-2. Herein, MMP-2-responsive nanoprobes were prepared by immobilizing fluorescent fusion proteins on nickel ferrite nanoparticles via the His-tag nickel chelation mechanism. The fusion protein consisted of a fluorescent mCherry protein with a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) moiety. An MMP-2 cleavage site was also introduced within the fusion protein, which was directly linked to the nickel ferrite nanoparticles. The selectivity of nanoprobes was modulated by hiding the cleavage site of MMP-2 substrates deeply inside the system, which could result in strong steric hindrance between the nanoprobes and MMPs, especially for membrane-tethered MMPs such as MMP-14. A cell-based assay demonstrated that the nanoprobes could only be activated by tumor cells secreting soluble MMP-2, but not membrane-tethered MMP-14. To further evaluate the contribution of the steric hindrance effect on the nanoprobes, a truncated recombinant MMP-14 was employed to confer their cleavage activity as compared to native membrane-tethered MMP-14. Furthermore, a designed probe with a diminished steric hindrance effect was proved to be activated by membrane-tethered type MMP-14. The results indicated that the design of fluorescent nanoprobes employing the steric hindrance effect can greatly enhance the selectivity of MMP-responsive nanoprobes realizing the specific detection of soluble MMP-2 in a tumor microenvironment. We believe that highly selective MMP-2-responsive fluorescent nanoprobes have broad impacts on biomedical applications including molecular imaging and labeling for tumor detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
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Li S, Cong W, Hakamivala A, Huang Y, Borrelli J, Tang L. Hyaluronic Acid-Based Optical Probe for the Diagnosis of Human Osteoarthritic Cartilage. Nanotheranostics 2018; 2:347-359. [PMID: 30148052 PMCID: PMC6107780 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.26119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is typically caused by cartilage injury, followed by localized inflammatory responses and tissue deterioration. Early treatment of osteoarthritis is often impossible due to the lack of diagnostic options. Recent studies have supported that different imaging probes can be used for arthritis detection in mice. However, none of these diagnostic tools have been tested on human articular cartilage. To fill this gap, an optical imaging probe was developed to target activated macrophages and the accumulation of imaging probes on tissue was used to assess the severity of human osteoarthritis. Methods: The probe was fabricated using hyaluronic acid (HA) particles conjugated with near-infrared dye and folic acid (FA). The ability of the FA-HA probes to detect activated macrophages and quantify cartilage injury was evaluated using a cell culture model in vitro and human osteoarthritic cartilage explants ex vivo. Results: Our cell study results supported that the FA-HA probes are cell compatible (up to 0.5mg/mL) and can detect activated macrophages in 30 minutes. Using human articular cartilage, we verified the existence of activated macrophages on osteoarthritic cartilage with highly up-regulated expression of folate receptors (~13 folds by comparison with healthy control). In addition, we found that FA-HA probes had higher binding amounts (~3 folds) to osteoarthritic tissue than healthy ones. Histological analyses confirmed that there was a strong linear relationship (R=0.933) between the fluorescent intensity of tissue-associated probe and the extent of folate receptors on osteoarthritic cartilage. Finally, the co-localization of the imaging probe, folate receptors and cartilage degeneration on the tissue sections indicated the extraordinary accuracy and efficiency of this osteoarthritis diagnostic probe. Conclusions: Our results support the probe as an effective diagnostic tool to detect the area and severity of osteoarthritic human articular cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxin Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Wei Cong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.,Department of Oral Anatomy, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116044, China
| | - Amirhossein Hakamivala
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - YiHui Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Joseph Borrelli
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Liping Tang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.,Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
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Xiong J, Gao H. Matrix metalloproteases-responsive nanomaterials for tumor targeting diagnosis and treatment. J Microencapsul 2017; 34:440-453. [PMID: 28617063 DOI: 10.1080/02652048.2017.1343873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Xiong
- Research Center for Public Health and Preventive Medicine, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huile Gao
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Özler K, Aktaş E, Atay Ç, Yılmaz B, Arıkan M, Güngör Ş. Serum and knee synovial fluid matrixmetalloproteinase-13 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in patients with late stage osteoarthritis. ACTA ORTHOPAEDICA ET TRAUMATOLOGICA TURCICA 2016; 50:670-673. [PMID: 27932045 PMCID: PMC6197357 DOI: 10.1016/j.aott.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Revised: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective To compare the levels of MMP-13 and TNF-α in late stage osteoarthritis, define their predominant pathways and investigate their correlation with McMaster Universities Arthritis Index scores. Patients and methods A total of 42 patients (mean age 64 ± 8.8) with grade 3 and grade 4 knee osteoarthritis according to Kellegren- Lawrence criteria and who were scheduled for total knee arthroplasty were enrolled in the study. TNF-alpha and MMP-13 levels were measured preoperatively from venous blood samples and intraoperatively from knee synovial fluid via ELISA. Preoperative and 1 month postoperative knee functions were assessed by McMaster Universities Arthritis Index. Results Grade 4 synovial fluid MMP-13 (4.76 ± 5.82) was elevated compared to grade 3 (3.95 ± 4.45) (p = 0.438), whereas grade 3 serum MMP-13 (1.128 ± 0.308) was found elevated compared to grade 4 (1.038 ± 0.204) (p = 0.430). Grade 4 serum TNF-α (0.253 ± 0.277) was elevated compared to grade 3 (0.206 ± 0.219) whereas grade 3 synovial fluid TNF-α (0.129 ± 0.052) was elevated compared to grade 4 (0.118 ± 0.014). Positive correlation was observed between synovial fluid MMP-13 levels and postoperative WOMAC scores. Mean serum TNF-α level (0.226 ± 0.246 pg/ml) was found higher compared to synovial level (0.124 ± 1.59), synovial MMP-13 level (4.31 ± 1.24) was found higher compared to serum level (1.089 ± 1.519). Conclusion Despite the systemic increase in TNF-α levels concordant with osteoarthritis grade, MMP-13 levels are elevated via local manner with a significant correlation with WOMAC scores. Level of evidence Level IV, Diagnostic study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenan Özler
- Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopedics, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Erdem Aktaş
- Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Onkoloji Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Çiğdem Atay
- Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Barış Yılmaz
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopedics, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Murat Arıkan
- Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopedics, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Şafak Güngör
- Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopedics, Ankara, Turkey
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Park S, Lee J, Jo MH, Na JH, Park SG, Jang HK, Kang SW, Kim JH, Kim BS, Park JH, Kwon IC, Ryu JH, Kim K. In vivo monitoring of angiogenesis in a mouse hindlimb ischemia model using fluorescent peptide-based probes. Amino Acids 2016; 48:1641-54. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-016-2225-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Fields GB, Stawikowski MJ. Imaging Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity Implicated in Breast Cancer Progression. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1406:303-29. [PMID: 26820965 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3444-7_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis has been cited as an important contributor to cancer initiation and progression. One can take advantage of tumor-associated proteases to selectively deliver imaging agents. Protease-activated imaging systems have been developed using substrates designed for hydrolysis by members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family. We presently describe approaches by which one can optically image matrix metalloproteinase activity implicated in breast cancer progression, with consideration of selective versus broad protease probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg B Fields
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute/Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA. .,Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA.
| | - Maciej J Stawikowski
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
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Lebel R, Lepage M. A comprehensive review on controls in molecular imaging: lessons from MMP-2 imaging. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2015; 9:187-210. [PMID: 24700747 DOI: 10.1002/cmmi.1555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP-2, play critical roles in tissue remodeling and are involved in a large array of pathologies, including cancer, arthritis and atherosclerosis. Their prognostic value warranted a large investment or resources in the development of noninvasive detection methods, based on probes for many current clinical and pre-clinical imaging modalities. However, the potential of imaging techniques is only matched by the complexity of the data they generate. This complexity must be properly assessed and accounted for in the early steps of probe design and testing in order to accurately determine the efficacy and efficiency of an imaging strategy. This review proposes basic rules for the evaluation of novel probes by addressing the specific case of MMP targeted probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réjean Lebel
- Centre d'imagerie moléculaire de Sherbrooke, Département de médecine nucléaire et radiobiologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Özel T, White S, Nguyen E, Moy A, Brenes N, Choi B, Betancourt T. Enzymatically activated near infrared nanoprobes based on amphiphilic block copolymers for optical detection of cancer. Lasers Surg Med 2015; 47:579-594. [PMID: 26189505 DOI: 10.1002/lsm.22396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Nanotechnology offers the possibility of creating multi-functional structures that can provide solutions for biomedical problems. The nanoprobes herein described are an example of such structures, where nano-scaled particles have been designed to provide high specificity and contrast potential for optical detection of cancer. Specifically, enzymatically activated fluorescent nanoprobes (EANPs) were synthesized as cancer-specific contrast agents for optical imaging. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS EANPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation of blends of poly(lactic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(l-lysine). The lysine moieties were then covalently decorated with the near infrared (NIR) fluorescent molecule AlexaFluor-750 (AF750). Close proximity of the fluorescent molecules to each other resulted in fluorescence quenching, which was reversed by enzymatically mediated cleavage of poly(l-lysine) chains. EANPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. Enzymatic development of fluorescence was studied in vitro by fluorescence spectroscopy. Biocompatibility and contrast potential of EANPs were studied in cancerous and noncancerous cells. The potential of the nanoprobes as contrast agents for NIR fluorescence imaging was studied in tissue phantoms. RESULTS Spherical EANPs of ∼100 nm were synthesized via nanoprecipitation of polymer blends. Fluorescence activation of EANPs by treatment with a model protease was demonstrated with up to 15-fold optical signal enhancement within 120 minutes. Studies with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells demonstrated the cytocompatibility of EANPs, as well as enhanced fluorescence associated with enzymatic activation. Imaging studies in tissue phantoms confirmed the ability of a simple imaging system based on a laser source and CCD camera to image dilute suspensions of the nanoprobe at depths of up to 4 mm, as well as up to a 13-fold signal-to-background ratio for enzymatically activated EANPs compared to un-activated EANPs at the same concentration. CONCLUSION Nanoprecipitation of copolymer blends containing poly(l-lysine) was utilized as a method for preparation of highly functional nanoprobes with high potential as contrast agents for fluorescence based imaging of cancer. Lasers Surg. Med. 47:579-594, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuğba Özel
- Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas 78666
| | - Sean White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Beckman Laser Institute, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Elaine Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Beckman Laser Institute, University of California, Irvine, California 92697.,School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Austin Moy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Beckman Laser Institute, University of California, Irvine, California 92697.,The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Nicholas Brenes
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712.,InnoSense LLC, Torrance, California 90505
| | - Bernard Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Beckman Laser Institute, University of California, Irvine, California 92697.,Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Tania Betancourt
- Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas 78666.,InnoSense LLC, Torrance, California 90505.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University San Marcos, Texas 78666
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Leahy AA, Esfahani SA, Foote AT, Hui CK, Rainbow RS, Nakamura DS, Tracey BH, Mahmood U, Zeng L. Analysis of the trajectory of osteoarthritis development in a mouse model by serial near-infrared fluorescence imaging of matrix metalloproteinase activities. Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 67:442-53. [PMID: 25385707 DOI: 10.1002/art.38957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A major hurdle in osteoarthritis (OA) research is the lack of sensitive detection and monitoring methods. It is hypothesized that proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are up-regulated in the early stages of OA development. This study was undertaken to investigate if a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe activated by MMPs could visualize in vivo OA progression beginning in the early stages of the disease. METHODS Using an MMP-activatable NIR fluorescent probe (MMPSense 680), we assessed the up-regulation of MMP activity in vitro by incubating human chondrocytes with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β). MMP activity was then evaluated in vivo serially in a mouse model of chronic, injury-induced OA. To track MMP activity over time, mice were imaged 1-8 weeks after OA-inducing surgery. Imaging results were correlated with histologic findings. RESULTS In vitro studies confirmed that NIR fluorescence imaging identified enhanced MMP activity in IL-1β-treated human chondrocytes. In vivo imaging showed significantly higher fluorescence intensity in OA knees compared to sham-operated (control) knees of the same mice. Additionally, the total emitted fluorescence intensity steadily increased over the entire course of OA progression that was examined. NIR fluorescence imaging results correlated with histologic findings, which showed an increase in articular cartilage structural damage over time. CONCLUSION Imaging of MMP activity in a mouse model of OA provides sensitive and consistent visualization of OA progression, beginning in the early stages of OA. In addition to facilitating the preclinical study of OA modulators, this approach has the potential for future translation to humans.
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Ben-Aderet L, Merquiol E, Fahham D, Kumar A, Reich E, Ben-Nun Y, Kandel L, Haze A, Liebergall M, Kosińska MK, Steinmeyer J, Turk B, Blum G, Dvir-Ginzberg M. Detecting cathepsin activity in human osteoarthritis via activity-based probes. Arthritis Res Ther 2015; 17:69. [PMID: 25889265 PMCID: PMC4415352 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-015-0586-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lysosomal cathepsins have been reported to contribute to Osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology due to their increase in pro-inflammatory conditions. Given the causal role of cathepsins in OA, monitoring their specific activity could provide means for assessing OA severity. To this end, we herein sought to assess a cathepsin activity-based probe (ABP), GB123, in vitro and in vivo. Methods Protein levels and activity of cathepsins B and S were monitored by immunoblot analysis and GB123 labeling in cultured primary chondrocytes and conditioned media, following stimuli with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and/or Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). Similarly, cathepsin activity was examined in sections of intact cartilage (IC) and degraded cartilage (DC) regions of OA. Finally, synovial fluid (SF) and serum from donors with no signs of diseases, early OA, late OA and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were analyzed with GB123 to detect distinct activity levels of cathepsin B and S. Results Cathepsin activity in cell lysates, conditioned media explants and DC sections showed enhanced enzymatic activity of cathepsins B and S. Further histological analysis revealed that cathepsin activity was found higher in superficial zones of DC than in IC. Examining serum and SF revealed that cathepsin B is significantly elevated with OA severity in serum and SF, yet levels of cathepsin S are more correlated with synovitis and RA. Conclusions Based on our data, cathepsin activity monitored by ABPs correlated well with OA severity and joint inflammation, directing towards a novel etiological target for OA, which possesses significant translational potential in developing means for non-invasive detection of early signs of OA. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0586-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa Ben-Aderet
- Laboratory of Cartilage Biology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12272, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
| | - Emmanuelle Merquiol
- School of Pharmacy- Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12065, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
| | - Duha Fahham
- School of Pharmacy- Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12065, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Laboratory of Cartilage Biology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12272, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
| | - Eli Reich
- Laboratory of Cartilage Biology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12272, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
| | - Yael Ben-Nun
- School of Pharmacy- Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12065, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
| | - Leonid Kandel
- Joint Replacement and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Orthopaedic Surgery Complex, Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Amir Haze
- Joint Replacement and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Orthopaedic Surgery Complex, Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Meir Liebergall
- Joint Replacement and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Orthopaedic Surgery Complex, Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Marta K Kosińska
- Department of Orthopaedics, Laboratory for Experimental Orthopaedics, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Juergen Steinmeyer
- Department of Orthopaedics, Laboratory for Experimental Orthopaedics, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Galia Blum
- School of Pharmacy- Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12065, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
| | - Mona Dvir-Ginzberg
- Laboratory of Cartilage Biology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO BOX 12272, Ein Kerem Campus, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.
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15
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Davelaar AL, Straub D, Buttar NS, Fockens P, Krishnadath KK. Active matrix metalloproteases are expressed early on and are high during the Barrett's esophagus malignancy sequence. Scand J Gastroenterol 2015; 50:321-32. [PMID: 25562781 DOI: 10.3109/00365521.2014.940379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Molecular processes underlying Barrett's malignant development are poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are enzymes involved in inflammation, tissue remodeling, and malignant development. Therefore, active MMPs may have a role in early metaplasia development and Barrett's esophagus' malignant progression. We desired to gain more insight into the role of MMPs during the Barrett's esophagus pathogenesis sequence. MATERIAL AND METHODS In a surgical Barrett's mouse model, and in nonmalignant Barrett's and malignant esophageal cell lines, the activity of MMPs was investigated using a MMP activatable probe. MMP activity was further validated in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma patient biopsies and was further differentiated by investigating MMP9 and MMP13 expressions. RESULTS The mouse model showed probe activation in stromal cells early on in the esophagitis and metaplasia stages. MMP probe activation was higher in the Barrett's and cancer cell lines and biopsies as compared to normal cells and tissues. Co-immunostainings confirmed that, at the tissue level, the probe activation was mostly confined to CD45-positive stromal cells. MMP13 expression was highest in Barrett's metaplasia, whereas MMP9 was highest in the esophageal adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSION During the Barrett's pathogenesis process, MMP activity is increased early on in the inflamed esophagus and remains high in metaplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, there is a switch of MMP13 to MMP9 expression once neoplasia develops. In the future, detecting specific MMP subtypes could be used for distinguishing nonmalignant from neoplastic Barrett's esophagus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akueni L Davelaar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
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16
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Ryu JH, Lee S, Son S, Kim SH, Leary JF, Choi K, Kwon IC. Theranostic nanoparticles for future personalized medicine. J Control Release 2014; 190:477-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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17
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Sharma S, Lee A, Choi K, Kim K, Youn I, Trippel SB, Panitch A. Biomimetic aggrecan reduces cartilage extracellular matrix from degradation and lowers catabolic activity in ex vivo and in vivo models. Macromol Biosci 2013; 13:1228-37. [PMID: 23836445 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201300112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Revised: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Aggrecan, a major macromolecule in cartilage, protects the extracellular matrix (ECM) from degradation during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). However, aggrecan itself is also susceptible to proteolytic cleavage. Here, the use of a biomimetic proteoglycan (mAGC) is presented, which functionally mimics aggrecan but lacks the known cleavage sites, protecting the molecule from proteolytic degradation. The objective of this study is to test the efficacy of this molecule in ex vivo (human OA synovial fluid) and in vivo (Sprague-Dawley rats) osteoarthritic models. These results indicate that mAGC's may protect articular cartilage against the loss of key ECM components, and lower catabolic protein and gene expression in both models. This suppression of matrix degradation has the potential to provide a healthy environment for tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaili Sharma
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
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18
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Morgounova E, Shao Q, Hackel BJ, Thomas DD, Ashkenazi S. Photoacoustic lifetime contrast between methylene blue monomers and self-quenched dimers as a model for dual-labeled activatable probes. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2013; 18:56004. [PMID: 23640075 PMCID: PMC4023645 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.18.5.056004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Revised: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Activatable photoacoustic probes efficiently combine the high spatial resolution and penetration depth of ultrasound with the high optical contrast and versatility of molecular imaging agents. Our approach is based on photoacoustic probing of the excited-state lifetime of methylene blue (MB), a fluorophore widely used in clinical therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Upon aggregation, static quenching between the bound molecules dramatically shortens their lifetime by three orders of magnitude. We present preliminary results demonstrating the ability of photoacoustic imaging to probe the lifetime contrast between monomers and dimers with high sensitivity in cylindrical phantoms. Gradual dimerization enhancement, driven by the addition of increasing concentrations of sodium sulfate to a MB solution, showed that lifetime-based photoacoustic probing decreases linearly with monomer concentration. Similarly, the addition of 4 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, a concentration that amplifies MB aggregation and reduces the monomer concentration by more than 20-fold, led to a signal decrease of more than 20 dB compared to a solution free of surfactant. These results suggest that photoacoustic imaging can be used to selectively detect the presence of monomers. We conclude by discussing the implementation of the monomer-dimer contrast mechanism for the development of an enzyme-specific activatable probe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Morgounova
- University of Minnesota, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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19
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Knapinska A, Fields GB. Chemical biology for understanding matrix metalloproteinase function. Chembiochem 2012; 13:2002-20. [PMID: 22933318 PMCID: PMC3951272 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201200298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family has long been associated with normal physiological processes such as embryonic implantation, tissue remodeling, organ development, and wound healing, as well as multiple aspects of cancer initiation and progression, osteoarthritis, inflammatory and vascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. The development of chemically designed MMP probes has advanced our understanding of the roles of MMPs in disease in addition to shedding considerable light on the mechanisms of MMP action. The first generation of protease-activated agents has demonstrated proof of principle as well as providing impetus for in vivo applications. One common problem has been a lack of agent stability at nontargeted tissues and organs due to activation by multiple proteases. The present review considers how chemical biology has impacted the progress made in understanding the roles of MMPs in disease and the basic mechanisms of MMP action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gregg B. Fields
- Departments of Chemistry and Biology Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987 (USA)
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine (LOMIN), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 31 Center Dr, 1C22, Bethesda, MD 20892-2281, USA
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