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Zhu D, Lu Y, Hu B, Pang Y, Liu B, Zhang M, Wang W, Wang Y. Highly-tumor-targeted PAD4 inhibitors with PBA modification inhibit tumors in vivo by specifically inhibiting the PAD4-H3cit-NETs pathway in neutrophils. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 258:115619. [PMID: 37421890 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
As a new target for tumor therapy, PAD4 protein, shows excellent antitumor activity, and phenylboronic acid (PBA) could combine with sialic acid on the tumor surface to achieve dual targeting in situ and for metastatic tumors. The purpose of this study was therefore to modify PAD4 protein inhibitors with different phenylboronic acid groups in order to obtain highly-targeted PAD4 inhibitors. The activity and mechanism of these PBA-PAD4 inhibitors were studied in vitro by MTT assay, laser confocal analysis, and flow cytometry. The effects of the compounds on primary tumor and lung metastasis in mice were evaluated in vivo using a S180 sarcoma model and a 4T1 breast cancer model. In addition, cytometry mass (CyTOF) was used to analyze the immune microenvironment, and the results show that the PAD4 inhibitor 5i modified by m-PBA at the carboxyl terminal of ornithine skeleton had the best antitumor activity. In vitro evaluation of this activity revealed that 5i could not directly kill tumor cells but had a significant inhibitory effect on tumor cell metastasis. Further mechanism studies showed that 5i could be taken up by 4T1 cells in a time-dependent manner and distributed around the cell membrane but could not be taken up by normal cells. In addition, although 5i was distributed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells while in the nucleus of neutrophils, it could both decrease the histone 3 citrullination (H3cit) in the nucleus. In vivo 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse models, 5i inhibited breast cancer growth and metastasis in a concentration-dependent manner, and NET formation in tumor tissues was significantly reduced. In conclusion, PBA-PAD4 inhibitors show high targeting of tumor cells and good safety in vivo. By specifically inhibiting PAD4 protein in the neutrophil nucleus, PBA-PAD4 inhibitors also show excellent antitumor activity toward growth and metastasis in vivo, which provides a new idea for the design of highly-targeted PAD4 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Yuheng Pang
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Bingru Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100069, PR China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China.
| | - Yuji Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing, 100069, PR China; Beijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, PR China.
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MRI Contrast Agents in Glycobiology. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238297. [PMID: 36500389 PMCID: PMC9735696 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Molecular recognition involving glycoprotein-mediated interactions is ubiquitous in both normal and pathological natural processes. Therefore, visualization of these interactions and the extent of expression of the sugars is a challenge in medical diagnosis, monitoring of therapy, and drug design. Here, we review the literature on the development and validation of probes for magnetic resonance imaging using carbohydrates either as targeting vectors or as a target. Lectins are important targeting vectors for carbohydrate end groups, whereas selectins, the asialoglycoprotein receptor, sialic acid end groups, hyaluronic acid, and glycated serum and hemoglobin are interesting carbohydrate targets.
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Martinelli J, Tei L, Geninatti Crich S, Alberti D, Djanashvili K. Towards Enhanced MRI Performance of Tumor-Specific Dimeric Phenylboronic Contrast Agents. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061730. [PMID: 33808910 PMCID: PMC8003780 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is known that phenylboronic acid (PBA) can target tumor tissues by binding to sialic acid, a substrate overexpressed by cancer cells. This capability has previously been explored in the design of targeting diagnostic probes such as Gd- and 68Ga-DOTA-EN-PBA, two contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), respectively, whose potential has already been demonstrated through in vivo experiments. In addition to its high resolution, the intrinsic low sensitivity of MRI stimulates the search for more effective contrast agents, which, in the case of small-molecular probes, basically narrows down to either increased tumbling time of the entire molecule or elevated local concentration of the paramagnetic ions, both strategies resulting in enhanced relaxivity, and consequently, a higher MRI contrast. The latter strategy can be achieved by the design of multimeric GdIII complexes. Based on the monomeric PBA-containing probes described recently, herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of the dimeric analogues (GdIII-DOTA-EN)2-PBA and (GdIII-DOTA-EN)2F2PBA. The presence of two Gd ions in one molecule clearly contributes to the improved biological performance, as demonstrated by the relaxometric study and cell-binding investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Martinelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands;
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Viale Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Tei
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Viale Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy;
| | - Simonetta Geninatti Crich
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (S.G.C.); (D.A.)
| | - Diego Alberti
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; (S.G.C.); (D.A.)
| | - Kristina Djanashvili
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-15-278-9052
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Martinelli J, Jiménez-Juárez R, Alberti D, Geninatti Crich S, Djanashvili K. Solid-phase synthesis and evaluation of tumour-targeting phenylboronate-based MRI contrast agents. Org Biomol Chem 2020; 18:7899-7906. [PMID: 33000853 DOI: 10.1039/d0ob01552k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Paramagnetic macrocycles functionalized with phenylboronic moieties have proven to be interesting for MRI applications based on their ability to recognize cancer cells and generate local contrast. However, full use of the potential of this class of compounds is hampered by laborious and inefficient synthetic and, especially, purification procedures. The amphiphilic character of water-soluble phenylboronates renders them difficult compounds to be prepared through conventional solution synthesis due to the tendency to aggregate and form adducts with other nucleophiles. The new strategy described herein exploits the advantage of solid-phase synthesis with the application of DEAM-PS resin for anchorage and the subsequent simplified derivatization of boronates. GdDOTA-EN-PBA and its fluorinated analogue GdDOTA-EN-F2PBA were synthesized in a much easier, faster and economically convenient way to achieve good yields and purity. Furthermore, the effect of electron-withdrawing fluorine atoms on the aromatic ring of the latter compound was investigated by comparing the physico-chemical properties of both compounds as well as their binding affinity towards melanoma cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Martinelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
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Worrede A, Meucci O, Fatatis A. Limiting tumor seeding as a therapeutic approach for metastatic disease. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 199:117-128. [PMID: 30877019 PMCID: PMC6571062 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Here we propose that therapeutic targeting of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are widely understood to be the seeds of metastasis, would represent an effective strategy towards limiting numerical expansion of secondary lesions and containing overall tumor burden in cancer patients. However, the molecular mediators of tumor seeding have not been well characterized. This is in part due to the limited number of pre-clinical in vivo approaches that appropriately interrogate the mechanisms by which cancer cells home to arresting organs. It is critical that we continue to investigate the mediators of tumor seeding as it is evident that the ability of CTCs to colonize in distant sites is what drives disease progression even after the primary tumor has been ablated by local modalities. In addition to slowing disease progression, containing metastatic spread by impeding tumor cell seeding may also provide a clinical benefit by increasing the duration of the residence of CTCs in systemic circulation thereby increasing their exposure to pharmacological agents commonly used in the treatment of patients such as chemotherapy and immunotherapies. In this review we will examine the current state of knowledge about the mechanisms of tumor cells seeding as well as explore how targeting this stage of metastatic spreading may provide therapeutic benefit to patients with advanced disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asurayya Worrede
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 245 N. 15(th) Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Olimpia Meucci
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 245 N. 15(th) Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alessandro Fatatis
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 245 N. 15(th) Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Program in Prostate Cancer, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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