Triflavin, an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide, inhibits human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell-substratum adhesion through an RGD-dependent mechanism

Snake venom toxins: Potential anticancer therapeutics

Snake venom contains a cocktail of compounds dominated by proteins and peptides, which make up the toxin. The toxin components of snake venom attack several targets in the human body including the neuromuscular system, kidney and blood coagulation system and cause pathologies. As such, the venom toxins can be managed and used for the treatment of these diseases. In this regard, Captopril used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases was the first animal venom toxin-based drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. Cancers cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to side effects associated with the current cancer treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgery, there is a need to improve the efficacy of current treatments and/or develop novel drugs from natural sources including animal toxin-based drugs. There is a long history of earlier and ongoing studies implicating snake venom toxins as potential anticancer therapies. Here, we review the role of crude snake venoms and toxins including phospholipase A2, L-amino acid oxidase, C-type lectin and disintegrin as potential anticancer agents tested in cancer cell lines and animal tumour models in comparison to normal cell lines. Some of the anti-tumour activities of snake venom toxins include induction of cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of metastasis, angiogenesis and tumour growth. We thus propose the advancement of multidisciplinary approaches to more pre-clinical and clinical studies for enhanced bioavailability and targeted delivery of snake venom toxin-based anticancer drugs.

Proximity-Induced Ligation and One-Pot Macrocyclization of 1,4-Diketone-Tagged Peptides Derived from 2,5-Disubstituted Furans upon Release from the Solid Support

1,4-Dione-containing peptides are generated during the cleavage of 2,5-disubstituted furan-containing systems. The generated electrophilic systems then react with α-effect nucleophiles, following a Paal-Knorr-like mechanism, for the generation of macrocyclic peptides, occurring after simple resuspension of the crude peptide in water. Conveniently, the in situ generation of the electrophile from a stable furan ring avoids the complications associated with the synthesis of carbonyl-containing peptides. Detailed investigation of the reaction characteristics was first performed on supramolecular coiled-coil systems.

Cervical cancer and potential pharmacological treatment with snake venoms

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide in women. Apoptosis reactivation has become the main strategy for decreasing cancer proliferation. There is a need to extend the search for new drugs to implement more effective and less toxic strategies for cervical cancer treatment. Research has been carried out to find new drugs that have minimal side effects and that focus on the tumor microenvironment, particularly in the induction of cellular apoptosis and cell migration and the inhibition of angiogenesis. Potent toxins from snake venoms have shown potential as sources for the synthesis of new drugs with such characteristics. The present work aimed to describe cervical cancer characteristics, associated risk factors, current treatments and to highlight the effects of toxins isolated from the venom of snakes of the Viperidae family on cervical cancer cell lines.

Designed short RGD peptides for one-pot aqueous synthesis of integrin-binding CdTe and CdZnTe quantum dots

We have designed a series of short RGD peptide ligands and developed one-pot aqueous synthesis of integrin-binding CdTe and CdZnTe quantum dots (QDs). We first examined the effects of different RGD peptides, including RGDS, CRGDS, Ac-CRGDS, CRGDS-CONH₂, Ac-CRGDS-CONH₂, RGDSC, CCRGDS, and CCCRGDS, on the synthesis of CdTe QDs. CRGDS were found to be the optimal ligand, providing the CdTe QDs with well-defined wavelength ranges (500-650 nm) and relatively high photoluminescence quantum yields (up to 15%). The key synthesis parameters (the pH value of the Cd²⁺-RGD precursors and the molar ratio of RGD/Cd²⁺) were assessed. In order to further improve the optical properties of the RGD-capped QDs, zinc was then incorporated by the simultaneous reaction of Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ with NaHTe. By using a mixture of CRGDS and cysteine as the stabilizer, the quantum yields of CdZnTe alloy QDs reached as high as 60% without any post-treatment, and they also showed excellent stability against time, pH, and salinity. Note that these properties could not be obtained with CRGDS or cysteine alone as the stabilizer. Finally, we demonstrated that the RGD-capped QDs preferentially bind to cell surfaces because of the specific recognition of the RGD sequence to cell surface integrin receptors. Our synthesis strategy based on RGD peptides thus represents a convenient route for opening up QD technologies for cell-specific tagging and labeling applicable to a wide range of diagnostics and therapy.

siRNA-mediated silencing of integrin β3 expression inhibits the metastatic potential of B16 melanoma cells

Integrins comprise a large family of αβ heterodimeric cell-surface receptors that mediate diverse processes involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions such as cellular adhesion and migration, cell survival and differentiation. It is now well documented that integrins play a crucial role in cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. The β3 integrins appear to have an important stimulatory role in tumour progression and metastasis and, thus, have been often proposed as potential targets for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo properties of B16 mouse melanoma cells with low expression of integrin β3. Proliferation rate, adhesive properties and the ability to migrate and metastasize were studied. Over 90% inhibition of integrin β3 expression was achieved as a result of the transfection with siRNA. No changes in the proliferation rate were observed in siRNA-transfected B16 cells; however, they showed impaired ability to bind to fibronectin. Moreover, inhibition of integrin β3 expression caused almost complete impairment of the ability of B16 cells to migrate through matrigel and metastasize. The mean number of lung metastatic colonies in mice inoculated intravenously with B16 expressing low levels of integrin β3 was decreased to 14 colonies compared to 101 in the control group. These results provide evidence for a direct role of integrin β3 in the adhesion, migration and metastasis processes of mouse melanoma cells and point to the potential therapeutic advantages of siRNAs.

Expression and functional characterization of a recombinant targeted toxin with an uPA cleavable linker in Pichia pastoris

A recombinant targeted toxin (Disintegrin-Conj-Mel) was developed that contained a disintegrin connected to cytotoxic melittin by a urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)-cleavable linker. This recombinant targeted toxin was designed to target tumor cells expressing integrin αvβ3. The fusion gene was expressed under the control of the promoter AOX1 in Pichia pastoris. Electrophoresis by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting assays of culture broth from a methanol-induced expression strain, demonstrated that an approximately 13 kDa fusion protein was secreted into the culture medium. The molecular weight was that calculated from the predicted amino acid sequence. After optimizing the growth and expression conditions of the transformant strain, about 160 mg/L of the recombinant protein was achieved. The recombinant protein was purified to more than 95% purity by SP Sepharose ion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography. The hemolysis bioactivity test revealed that the fusion had no hemolytic activity or cytotoxicity against uPA non-expressing 293 cells, but exerted dose-dependent inhibition on uPA-expressing A549 cell proliferation.

Bioimaging of geographically adjacent proteins in a single cell by quantum dot-based fluorescent resonance energy transfer

Thousands of proteins are simultaneously involved in the maintenance of a single cancer cell. Fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) is one of the most general techniques for imaging biologically interacting molecules in a cell. Here, we applied FRET to image the co-localization of two proteins that do not interact biologically (nucleolin and integrin α(v) β(3),) both of which are highly expressed in the plasma membrane of cancer cells. AS1411 aptamer, which targets nucleolin, was labeled by Cy3 (Cy3-AS1411) and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide, which targets integrin α(v) β(3) , was conjugated with quantum dot (525 nm, Qd) Qd arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (Qd-RGD). FRET activities between Cy3-AS1411 and Qd-RGD were measured in HeLa cells, a human cervical cancer cell line. FRET phenomena between Qd and Cy3 showed good compatibility according to proximity. The fluorescence signature using Qd-RGD and Cy3-AS1411 showed that nucleolin and integrin α(v) β(3) proteins were highly expressed in HeLa cells. Co-incubation of Qd-RGD and Cy3-AS1411 in a single HeLa cell demonstrated that the fluorescence overlay by FRET was quantitatively and geographically quite different from that of individual confocal images. These results suggest that Qd-based FRET analysis can provide information on geographical co-localization of proteins in naïve cells, which is very important for determining the molecular and cellular functions of genes involved in cancers and other clinical diseases.

In vitro derby imaging of cancer biomarkers using quantum dots

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), which have broad absorption with narrow emission spectra, are useful for multiplex imaging. Here, fluorescence derby imaging using dual color QDs conjugated by the AS1411 aptamer (targeting nucleolin) and the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (targeting the integrin alpha(v)beta(3)) in cancer cells is reported. Simultaneous fluorescence imaging of cellular distribution of nucleolin and integrin alpha(v)beta(3) using QDs enables easy monitoring of separate targets in the cancer cells and the normal healthy cells. These results suggest the feasibility of a concurrent visualization of QD-based multiple cancer biomarkers using small molecules such as aptamer or peptide ligands.

Evaluation of a selectively oncolytic adenovirus for local and systemic treatment of cervical cancer

Treatment options for disseminated cervical cancer remain inadequate. Here, we investigated a strategy featuring Ad5-Delta 24 RGD, an oncolytic adenovirus replication-competent selectively in cells defective in the Rb-p16 pathway, such as most cervical cancer cells. The viral fiber contains an alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) integrin-binding RGD-4C motif, allowing coxsackie-adenovirus receptor-independent infection. These integrins have been reported to be frequently upregulated in cervical cancer. Oncolysis of cervical cancer cells was similar to a wild-type control in vitro. In an animal model of cervical cancer, the therapeutic efficacy of Ad5-Delta 24 RGD could be demonstrated for both intratumoral and intravenous application routes. Biodistribution was determined following intravenous administration to mice. Further preclinical safety data were obtained by demonstrating lack of replication of the agent in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These results suggest that Ad5-Delta 24 RGD could be useful for local or systemic treatment of cervical cancer in patients with disease resistant to currently available modalities.

Snake venoms and the hemostatic system

Snake venoms are complex mixtures containing many different biologically active proteins and peptides. A number of these proteins interact with components of the human hemostatic system. This review is focused on those venom constituents which affect the blood coagulation pathway, endothelial cells, and platelets. Only highly purified and well characterized snake venom proteins will be discussed in this review. Hemostatically active components are distributed widely in the venom of many different snake species, particularly from pit viper, viper and elapid venoms. The venom components can be grouped into a number of different categories depending on their hemostatic action. The following groups are discussed in this review: (i) enzymes that clot fibrinogen; (ii) enzymes that degrade fibrin(ogen); (iii) plasminogen activators; (iv) prothrombin activators; (v) factor V activators; (vi) factor X activators; (vii) anticoagulant activities including inhibitors of prothrombinase complex formation, inhibitors of thrombin, phospholipases, and protein C activators; (viii) enzymes with hemorrhagic activity; (ix) enzymes that degrade plasma serine proteinase inhibitors; (x) platelet aggregation inducers including direct acting enzymes, direct acting non-enzymatic components, and agents that require a cofactor; (xi) platelet aggregation inhibitors including: alpha-fibrinogenases, 5'-nucleotidases, phospholipases, and disintegrins. Although many snake venoms contain a number of hemostatically active components, it is safe to say that no single venom contains all the hemostatically active components described here. Several venom enzymes have been used clinically as anticoagulants and other venom components are being used in pre-clinical research to examine their possible therapeutic potential. The disintegrins are an interesting group of peptides that contain a cell adhesion recognition motif, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), in the carboxy-terminal half of their amino acid sequence. These agents act as fibrinogen receptor (integrin GPIIb/IIIa) antagonists. Since this integrin is believed to serve as the final common pathway leading to the formation of platelet-platelet bridges and platelet aggregation, blockage of this integrin leads to inhibition of platelet aggregation regardless of the stimulating agent. Clinical trials suggest that platelet GPIIb/IIIa blockade is an effective therapy for the thrombotic events and restenosis frequently accompanying cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, because of their clinical poten tial, a large number of disintegrins have been isolated and characterized.

Triflavin inhibits platelet-induced vasoconstriction in de-endothelialized aorta

Triflavin, a 7.5-kD cysteine-rich polypeptide purified from Trimeresurus favoviridis snake venom, belongs to a family of Arg-Gly-Asp-(RGD)-containing peptides, termed disintegrins. In this study, aggregating human platelets dose-dependently induced vasoconstriction in de-endothelialized isolated rat thoracic aortas. At 5x10(7) cells per milliliter, platelets induced a peak tension averaging 65 +/- 7.2% of the tension induced by phenylephrine (10 mumol/L). The relative effectiveness of RGD-containing peptides (including venom peptides triflavin and trigramin, small RGD synthetic peptides Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser [GRGDS], Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Phe [GRGDF], and Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro-Lys [GRGDSPK]) was examined by testing the inhibitory effect on aggregating platelet-induced vasoconstriction in de-endothelialized aorta. Triflavin (1 mumol/L) significantly inhibited the platelet-induced vasoconstriction, whereas neither trigramin (10 mumol/L) nor small RGD peptides (2 mmol/L) (i.e., GRGDS, GRGDF, and GRGDSPK) showed any significant effect. The release of serotonin and the formation of thromboxane A2 from aggregating platelets were both significantly inhibited by triflavin (2 mumol/L), whereas trigramin and small RGD-containing peptides showed no significant effect. On scanning electron micrographs of de-endothelialized aorta, aggregating platelets adhered to the subendothelium, with loss of their discoid shape, to form irregular spheres with pseudopod extensions. Triflavin (2 mumol/L) markedly reduced the adhesion of platelets to the subendothelium in the same aorta. Furthermore, RGD-containing peptides (including triflavin, trigramin, and small RGD-containing peptides) inhibited the adhesion of 10 micrograms/mL collagen-activated platelets to extracellular matrices (i.e., fibronectin, vitronectin, and von Willebrand factor). It is concluded that the marked ability of triflavin to inhibit aggregating platelet-induced vasoconstriction in de-endothelialized aorta compared with other RGD-containing peptides (including trigramin), may be due at least partly to triflavin's efficiently preventing the activation of platelets subsequent to inhibition of serotonin release and thromboxane A2 formation. However, the different abilities of triflavin compared with other RGD-containing peptides was not related to the ability to inhibit adhesion of platelets to extracellular matrices. Therefore, from the results of this study, it appears that triflavin may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of thromboembolism and its associated angiospasm.

Interaction of thrombin-activated platelets with extracellular matrices (fibronectin and vitronectin): comparison of the activity of Arg-Gly-Asp-containing venom peptides and monoclonal antibodies against glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex

Platelets adhere to fibronectin and vitronectin substrates following activation with physiological concentrations of thrombin. Adhesion of activated-platelets to either substrate is dependent upon the amount of fibronectin and vitronectin, and the duration of the adhesion assay. In this study, we showed that the Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides (including naturally occurring polypeptides, triflavin, trigramin and rhodostomin, synthetic peptides GRGDS, GRGDSPK, GRGDF, and GRGD and monoclonal antibodies, 7E3, 10E5 and AP2, raised against glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex, inhibited the adhesion of activated-platelets to fibronectin and vitronectin-coated plates in a dose-dependent manner. In fibronectin-coated plates, GRGDF was shown to be much more efficient than GRGDS, GRGDSPK and GRGD at inhibiting the adhesion of activated-platelets to immobilized fibronectin. On the other hand, there were no marked differences in the abilities of these three peptides (GRGDF, GRGDS and GRGDSPK) to inhibit platelet adhesion to immobilized vitronectin. Furthermore, the RGD-containing venom peptide, triflavin was more effective than rhodostomin and trigramin at inhibiting the adhesion of activated-platelets to either substrates. The monoclonal antibodies raised against glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex (i.e., 7E3, 10E5 and AP2) inhibited platelet adhesion to fibronectin and vitronectin in a similar dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, we found that 7E3 was more efficient than 10E5 and AP2 in this reaction. These studies suggest that the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex, present on activated-platelets, may interact with fibronectin and vitronectin substrates through the Arg-Gly-Asp-dependent mechanism. Since fibronectin and vitronectin are present in the subendothelial matrix, they may be involved in platelet-vessel wall interaction. The Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptide, especially triflavin, is an ideal therapeutic agent for inhibiting thrombus formation by interrupting platelet-platelet and platelet-subendothelium interactions.