1
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Jiang Y, Lu L. New insight into the agonism of protease-activated receptors as an immunotherapeutic strategy. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105614. [PMID: 38159863 PMCID: PMC10810747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105614] [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] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The activation and mobilization of immune cells play a crucial role in immunotherapy. Existing therapeutic interventions, such as cytokines administration, aim to enhance immune cell activity. However, these approaches usually result in modest effectiveness and toxic side effects, thereby restricting their clinical application. Protease-activated receptors (PARs), a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors, actively participate in the immune system by directly activating immune cells. The activation of PARs by proteases or synthetic ligands can modulate immune cell behavior, signaling, and responses to treat immune-related diseases, suggesting the significance of PARs agonism in immunotherapy. However, the agonism of PARs in therapeutical applications remains rarely discussed, since it has been traditionally considered that PARs activation facilitates disease progressions. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the activation, rather than inhibition, of PARs in immune-related physiological responses and diseases. Additionally, we will discuss the emerging immunotherapeutic potential of PARs agonism, providing a new strategic direction for PARs-mediated immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhong Jiang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Lei Lu
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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2
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Xiang Y, Jiang Y, Lu L. Low-Dose Trypsin Accelerates Wound Healing via Protease-Activated Receptor 2. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:274-284. [PMID: 38230283 PMCID: PMC10789143 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The management of wounds remains a significant healthcare challenge, highlighting the need for effective wound healing strategies. To address this, it is crucial to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying tissue repair as well as explore potential therapeutic approaches. Trypsin, as a serine protease, has been clinically utilized for wound healing for decades; however, it still lacks systemic investigation on its role and related mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-dose trypsin on wound healing both in vitro and in vivo. While trypsin is an endogenous stimulus for protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), we discovered that both low-dose trypsin and synthesized PAR2 agonists significantly enhanced the migration, adhesion, and proliferation of fibroblasts and macrophages, similar to the natural repair mechanism mediated by mast cell tryptase. Moreover, such cell functions induced by trypsin were largely inhibited by PAR2 blockade, indicating the participation of trypsin via PAR2 activation. Additionally, low-dose trypsin notably expedited healing and regeneration while enhancing collagen deposition in skin wounds in vivo. Importantly, upon stimulation of trypsin or PAR2 agonists, there were significant upregulations of genes including claudin-7 (Cldn7), occludin (Ocln), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) associated with proliferation and migration, extracellular matrix (ECM), tight junction, and focal adhesion, which contributed to wound healing. In summary, our study suggested that a low-dose trypsin could be a promising strategy for wound healing, and its function was highly dependent on PAR2 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Xiang
- Sichuan
Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs,
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, Sichuan China
- School
& Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical
University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang China
| | - Yuhong Jiang
- Sichuan
Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs,
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, Sichuan China
| | - Lei Lu
- School
& Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical
University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang China
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3
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Atiakshin D, Kostin A, Volodkin A, Nazarova A, Shishkina V, Esaulenko D, Buchwalow I, Tiemann M, Noda M. Mast Cells as a Potential Target of Molecular Hydrogen in Regulating the Local Tissue Microenvironment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:817. [PMID: 37375765 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060817] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the biological effects of molecular hydrogen (H2), hydrogen gas, is constantly advancing, giving a reason for the optimism in several healthcare practitioners regarding the management of multiple diseases, including socially significant ones (malignant neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, viral hepatitis, mental and behavioral disorders). However, mechanisms underlying the biological effects of H2 are still being actively debated. In this review, we focus on mast cells as a potential target for H2 at the specific tissue microenvironment level. H2 regulates the processing of pro-inflammatory components of the mast cell secretome and their entry into the extracellular matrix; this can significantly affect the capacity of the integrated-buffer metabolism and the structure of the immune landscape of the local tissue microenvironment. The analysis performed highlights several potential mechanisms for developing the biological effects of H2 and offers great opportunities for translating the obtained findings into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri Atiakshin
- Research and Educational Resource Center for Immunophenotyping, Digital Spatial Profiling and Ultrastructural Analysis Innovative Technologies, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Research Institute of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
| | - Andrey Kostin
- Research and Educational Resource Center for Immunophenotyping, Digital Spatial Profiling and Ultrastructural Analysis Innovative Technologies, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem Volodkin
- Research and Educational Resource Center for Immunophenotyping, Digital Spatial Profiling and Ultrastructural Analysis Innovative Technologies, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Nazarova
- Research and Educational Resource Center for Immunophenotyping, Digital Spatial Profiling and Ultrastructural Analysis Innovative Technologies, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Viktoriya Shishkina
- Research Institute of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
| | - Dmitry Esaulenko
- Research Institute of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
| | - Igor Buchwalow
- Research and Educational Resource Center for Immunophenotyping, Digital Spatial Profiling and Ultrastructural Analysis Innovative Technologies, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Institute for Hematopathology, Fangdieckstr. 75a, 22547 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Tiemann
- Institute for Hematopathology, Fangdieckstr. 75a, 22547 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mami Noda
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 816-0811, Japan
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4
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Raj S, Hlushak S, Arizmendi N, Kovalenko A, Kulka M. Substance P analogs devoid of key residues fail to activate human mast cells via MRGPRX2. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1155740. [PMID: 37228611 PMCID: PMC10203606 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1155740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mast cells play an important role in disease pathogenesis by secreting immunomodulatory molecules. Mast cells are primarily activated by the crosslinking of their high affinity IgE receptors (FcεRI) by antigen bound immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibody complexes. However, mast cells can also be activated by the mas related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2), in response to a range of cationic secretagogues, such as substance P (SP), which is associated with pseudo-allergic reactions. We have previously reported that the in vitro activation of mouse mast cells by basic secretagogues is mediated by the mouse orthologue of the human MRGPRX2, MRGPRB2. To further elucidate the mechanism of MRGPRX2 activation, we studied the time-dependent internalization of MRGPRX2 by human mast cells (LAD2) upon stimulation with the neuropeptide SP. In addition, we performed computational studies to identify the intermolecular forces that facilitate ligand-MRGPRX2 interaction using SP. The computational predictions were tested experimentally by activating LAD2 with SP analogs, which were missing key amino acid residues. Our data suggest that mast cell activation by SP causes internalization of MRGPRX2 within 1 min of stimulation. Hydrogen bonds (h-bonds) and salt bridges govern the biding of SP to MRGPRX2. Arg1 and Lys3 in SP are key residues that are involved in both h-bonding and salt bridge formations with Glu164 and Asp184 of MRGPRX2, respectively. In accordance, SP analogs devoid of key residues (SP1 and SP2) failed to activate MRGPRX2 degranulation. However, both SP1 and SP2 caused a comparable release of chemokine CCL2. Further, SP analogs SP1, SP2 and SP4 did not activate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. We further show that SP1 and SP2 limit the activity of SP on mast cells. The results provide important mechanistic insight into the events that result in mast cell activation through MRGPRX2 and highlight the important physiochemical characteristics of a peptide ligand that facilitates ligand-MRGPRX2 interactions. The results are important in understanding activation through MRGPRX2, and the intermolecular forces that govern ligand-MRGPRX2 interaction. The elucidation of important physiochemical properties within a ligand that are needed for receptor interaction will aid in designing novel therapeutics and antagonists for MRGPRX2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shammy Raj
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Stepan Hlushak
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Narcy Arizmendi
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Andriy Kovalenko
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Marianna Kulka
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Katz Group Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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5
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Raj S, Unsworth LD. Targeting active sites of inflammation using inherent properties of tissue-resident mast cells. Acta Biomater 2023; 159:21-37. [PMID: 36657696 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Mast cells play a pivotal role in initiating and directing host's immune response. They reside in tissues that primarily interface with the external environment. Activated mast cells respond to environmental cues throughout acute and chronic inflammation through releasing immune mediators via rapid degranulation, or long-term de novo expression. Mast cell activation results in the rapid release of a variety of unique enzymes and reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the increased density of mast cell unique receptors like mas related G protein-coupled receptor X2 also characterizes the inflamed tissues. The presence of these molecules (either released mediators or surface receptors) are particular to the sites of active inflammation, and are a result of mast cell activation. Herein, the molecular design principles for capitalizing on these novel mast cell properties is discussed with the goal of manipulating localized inflammation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Mast cells are immune regulating cells that play a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. The activation of mast cells causes the release of multiple unique profiles of biomolecules, which are specific to both tissue and disease. These unique characteristics are tightly regulated and afford a localized stimulus for targeting inflammatory diseases. Herein, these important mast cell attributes are discussed in the frame of highlighting strategies for the design of bioresponsive functional materials to target regions of inflammations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shammy Raj
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, 9211-116 Street NW, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G1H9, Canada
| | - Larry D Unsworth
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, 9211-116 Street NW, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G1H9, Canada.
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6
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Assessment of the safety of the cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) poly-arginine-18 (R18 and R18D) in ex vivo models of mast cell degranulation and red blood cell hemolysis. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022; 31:101305. [PMID: 35812346 PMCID: PMC9257347 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2022.101305] [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: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Our laboratory focuses on the development of novel neuroprotective cationic peptides, such poly-arginine-18 (R18: 18-mer of l-arginine; net charge +18) and its d-enantiomer R18D in stroke and other brain injuries. In the clinical development of R18/R18D, their cationic property raises potential safety concerns on their non-specific effects to induce mast cell degranulation and hemolysis. To address this, we first utilised primary human cultured mast cells (HCMCs) to examine anaphylactoid effects. We also included as controls, the well-characterised neuroprotective TAT-NR2B9c peptide and the widely used heparin reversal peptide, protamine. Degranulation assay based on β-hexosaminidase release demonstrated that R18 and R18D did not induce significant mast cell degranulation in both untreated (naïve) and IgE-sensitised HCMCs in a dose-response study to a maximum peptide concentration of 16 μM. Similarly, TAT-NR2B9c and protamine did not induce significant mast cell degranulation. To examine hemolytic effects, red blood cells (RBCs), were incubated with the peptides at a concentration range of 1–16 μM in the absence or presence of 2% plasma. Measurement of hemoglobin absorbance revealed that only R18 induced a modest, but significant degree of hemolysis at the 16 μM concentration, and only in the absence of plasma. This study addressed the potential safety concern of the application of the cationic neuroprotective peptides, especially, R18D, on anaphylactoid responses and hemolysis. The findings indicate that R18, R18D, TAT-NR2B9c and protamine are unlikely to induce histamine mediated anaphylactoid reactions or RBC hemolysis when administered intravenously to patients. Cationic peptides R18, R18D, TAT-NR2B9c and protamine do not stimulate the degranulation of ex vivo untreated (naïve) and IgE-sensitised primary human cultured mast cells (HCMCs). R18, R18D, TAT-NR2B9c and protamine do not induce significant hemolysis of human red blood cells (RBCs). R18, R18D, TAT-NR2B9c and protamine are unlikely to induce histamine mediated anaphylactoid reactions or hemolysis when administered intravenously to patients.
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7
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Morissette P, Li N, Ballard JE, Vavrek M, Adams GL, Regan C, Regan H, Lee KJ, Wang W, Burton A, Chen F, Gerenser P, Li Y, Kraus RL, Tellers D, Palani A, Zhu Y, Sun C, Bianchi E, Colarusso S, De Simone D, Frattarelli T, Pasquini NM, Amin RP. Guiding Chemically Synthesized Peptide Drug Lead Optimization by Derisking Mast Cell Degranulation-Related Toxicities of a NaV1.7 Peptide Inhibitor. Toxicol Sci 2021; 185:170-183. [PMID: 34897513 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that some peptides and small molecules can induce non IgE-mediated anaphylactoid reactions through mast cell activation. Upon activation, mast cells degranulate and release vasoactive and proinflammatory mediators, from cytoplasmic granules into the extracellular environment which can induce a cascade of severe adverse reactions. This study describes a lead optimization strategy to select NaV1.7 inhibitor peptides that minimize acute mast cell degranulation (MCD) toxicities. Various in vitro, in vivo, and PKPD models were used to screen candidates and guide peptide chemical modifications to mitigate this risk. Anesthetized rats dosed with peptides demonstrated treatment-related decreases in blood pressure and increases in plasma histamine concentrations which were reversible with a mast cell stabilizer, supporting the MCD mechanism. In vitro testing in rat mast cells with NaV1.7 peptides demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in histamine. Pharmacodynamic modeling facilitated establishing an in vitro to in vivo correlation for histamine as a biomarker for blood pressure decline via the MCD mechanism. These models enabled assessment of structure-activity relationship (SAR) to identify substructures that contribute to peptide-mediated MCD. Peptides with hydrophobic and cationic characteristics were determined to have an elevated risk for MCD, which could be reduced or avoided by incorporating anionic residues into the protoxin II scaffold. Our analyses support that in vitro MCD assessment in combination with PKPD modeling can guide SAR to improve peptide lead optimization and ensure an acceptable early in vivo tolerability profile with reduced resources, cycle time, and animal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Morissette
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Nianyu Li
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Jeanine E Ballard
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism (PPDM), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Marissa Vavrek
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism (PPDM), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Gregory L Adams
- Discovery Chemistry Peptide, Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Chris Regan
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Hillary Regan
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - K J Lee
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism (PPDM), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Weixun Wang
- Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism (PPDM), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Aimee Burton
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Feifei Chen
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Pamela Gerenser
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Yuxing Li
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Richard L Kraus
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - David Tellers
- Discovery Chemistry Peptide, Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Anand Palani
- Discovery Chemistry Peptide, Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Yuping Zhu
- Discovery Chemistry Peptide, Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Chengzao Sun
- Discovery Chemistry Peptide, Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa , Pomezia, Rome 00071, Italy
| | - Stefania Colarusso
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa , Pomezia, Rome 00071, Italy
| | - Daniele De Simone
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa , Pomezia, Rome 00071, Italy
| | - Tommaso Frattarelli
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa , Pomezia, Rome 00071, Italy
| | | | - Rupesh P Amin
- Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS), Merck & Co., Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
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