The inhibitory effect of a new scFv/tP protein as siRNA delivery system to target hWAPL in cervical carcinoma

Targeted Gene Delivery Therapies for Cervical Cancer

Despite being largely preventable through early vaccination and screening strategies, cervical cancer is the most common type of gynecological malignancy worldwide and constitutes one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. Patients with advanced or recurrent disease have a very poor prognosis; hence, novel therapeutic modalities to improve clinical outcomes in cervical malignancy are needed. In this regard, targeted gene delivery therapy is presented as a promising approach, which leads to the development of multiple strategies focused on different aspects. These range from altered gene restoration, immune system potentiation, and oncolytic virotherapy to the use of nanotechnology and the design of improved and enhanced gene delivery systems, among others. In the present manuscript, we review the current progress made in targeted gene delivery therapy for cervical cancer, the advantages and drawbacks and their clinical application. At present, multiple targeted gene delivery systems have been reported with encouraging preclinical results. However, the translation to humans has not yet shown a significant clinical benefit due principally to the lack of efficient vectors. Real efforts are being made to develop new gene delivery systems, to improve tumor targeting and to minimize toxicity in normal tissues.

Adenovirus-mediated anti-AEG-1 ScFv expression driven by stathmin promoter inhibits tumor growth in cervical cancer

Background

Astrocyte-elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is over-expressed in many cancer cells and has multiple key functions in tumor initiation and progression. Currently, targeted-AEG-1 siRNA is one of the most common techniques to down-regulate AEG-1 expression, but the lack of tumor specificity and available delivery system make it difficult to enter clinical trials.

Methods

In this study, we creatively developed an adenovirus-mediated anti-AEG-1 single-chain antibody fragment (ScFv) expression system driven by a tumor specific promoter, and experimented with it in human cervical carcinoma cells to investigate the effect on tumor’s proliferation and apoptosis.

Results

The results showed that of HeLa and SiHa cells treated with this recombinant anti-AEG-1 ScFv adenovirus not only inhibited cell growth, but induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we also observed that the expressions of several apoptosis-related genes like Akt 1 and c-Myc decreased, while NF-κB (p65) and cleaved caspase 3 increased on protein levels in vivo.

Conclusion

We concluded that stathmin promoter-driving anti-AEG-1 ScFv adenoviral system may be a breakthrough for its dual-specificity, and serve as an adjuvant tumor specific therapy method in the treatment for human cervical cancers.

Impact of protamine I on colon cancer proliferation, invasion, migration, diagnosis and prognosis

This paper investigates protamine I (PRM1) expression and its effects on proliferation, invasion and migration of colon cancer cells as well as its function in clinical diagnosis and prognosis. Gene chips were used to screen differentially expressed genes. PRM1 expression was detected by Western blotting and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry were utilized to compare the expression of PRM1 from multiple differentiation levels of colon cancer tissues. Cell viability, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were tested using the MTT assay and flow cytometry. Cell invasion and migration capability were tested using the Transwell assay and wound healing. In vivo effects of PRM1 on colon cancer were explored using a xenograft model. PRM1 expression in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression level of PRM1 was significantly higher in colon cancer tissues and the staining degree of PRM1 in poorly-differentiated was stronger. pcDNA3.1-PRM1 decreased cell apoptosis while it increased the proliferation, cell invasion and migration. The si-PRM1 group displayed an opposite tendency. The serum PRM1 level was significantly higher and could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for colon cancer.

Development and Characterization of Novel Medicated Nanofiber for the Treatment of Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a common microbial infection that involves pocket formation due to the destruction of periodontal ligament. The present work is oriented to provide a holistic approach for the treatment of periodontitis comprising localized delivery of nanometric hydroxyapatite as a reinforcing filler and silver-metronidazole as periodontal pocket disinfectant adjunct to current periodontal therapy because of its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and low systemic toxicity. In the present work, electrospinning technique was used to prepare medicated nanofiber enriched with antibacterial-hydroxyapatite layers for dental application. The optimized formulation was characterized by SEM, FTIR, DSC, XRD, etc. Safety assessment and therapeutic potential of optimized formulation was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo animal models. The newly synthesized complex (silver-metronidazole) exhibited higher antibacterial activity against the selected strain over the referenced silver and metronidazole. Results of in vitro studies suggested good compatibility of the metal complex with the polymer matrix. The drug release behavior from optimized formulation shows constant in vitro release behavior. Both in vitro and in vivo studies show broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of the metal complex and demonstrate the potential of biomimetic nano-hydroxyapatite for filling periodontal defects. All these observations indicated that the above formulation could play a useful role in the treatment of periodontitis. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

TAT-mediated si-hWAPL inhibits the invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer stem cells

Human wings apart-like (hWAPL) is reported to have an association with cervical cancer. In the present study, the role of hWAPL in cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs) was evaluated. Cervical tumorspheres were generated from cervical cancer tissues cultured in stem cell medium, and the expression of hWAPL by the tumorspheres was detected using immunohistochemistry. hWAPL expression levels in the tumorspheres were then upregulated using hWAPL adenoviral vectors or downregulated via the TAT-mediated knockdown of hWAPL and the effects on the tumorspheres were evaluated using colony formation, cell invasion and western blotting assays. The results demonstrated that the expression of hWAPL and human papillomavirus (HPV) was associated with the pluripotency of CCSCs, with hWAPL expression decreasing following the differentiation of cervical tumorspheres. Knockdown of hWAPL expression decreased HPV E6 expression and inhibited tumor invasion and colony formation. TAT-mediated knockdown of hWAPL with short interfering RNA significantly reduced tumor growth in nude mice. These results suggest that hWAPL is a marker of CCSC proliferation and is potentially a therapeutic target for cervical carcinoma through the downregulation of HPV E6.

A neutralized human LMP1-IgG inhibits ENKTL growth by suppressing the JAK3/STAT3 signaling pathway

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), which is associated with the development of different types of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related lymphoma, has been suggested to be an important oncoprotein. In this study, a human anti-LMP1 IgG antibody (LMP1-IgG) was constructed and characterized by ELISA, western blotting (WB), affinity and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses. CCK-8, MTT, apoptosis assays, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and CDC (complement-dependent cytotoxicity) assays were performed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of LMP1-IgG on extranodal nasal-type natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL). Then, the influence of LMP1-IgG on the JAK/STAT signaling pathway was investigated. The results showed that the successfully constructed LMP1-IgG inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis, and activated ADCC and CDC of ENKTL in a concentration- and time- dependent manner. Moreover, phosphorylation of JAK3 and STAT3 was inhibited by LMP1-IgG. Our data indicate that LMP1-IgG may provide a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of LMP1-positive ENKTL.

Use of single chain antibody derivatives for targeted drug delivery

Single chain antibodies (scFvs), which contain only the variable domains of full-length antibodies, are relatively small molecules that can be used for selective drug delivery. In this review, we display how scFv antibodies help improve the specificity and efficiency of drugs. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery using scFv-drug fusion peptides, siRNA delivery using scFv-conjugated nanoparticles, targeted delivery using scFv-viral peptide- fusion proteins, use of scFv in fusion with cell penetrating peptides for effective targeted drug delivery, scFv-mediated targeted delivery of inorganic nanoparticles, scFv-mediated increase of tumor killing activity of granulocytes, use of scFv for tumor imaging, site-directed conjugation of scFv molecules to drug carrier systems, use of scFv to relieve pain, use of scFv for increasing drug loading efficiency are among the topics that are discussed here.