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Ni F, Hu K, Li M, Yang M, Xiao Y, Fu M, Zhu Z, Liu Y, Hu Q. Tat-dependent conditionally replicating adenoviruses expressing diphtheria toxin A for specifically killing HIV-1-infected cells. Mol Ther 2024:S1525-0016(24)00317-4. [PMID: 38734901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.05.015] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection remains a public health problem with no cure. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is effective for suppressing HIV-1 replication, it requires lifelong drug administration due to a stable reservoir of latent proviruses and may cause serious side effects and drive the emergence of drug-resistant HIV-1 variants. Gene therapy represents an alternative approach to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments against HIV-1 infection. In this study, we constructed and investigated the antiviral effects of an HIV-1 Tat-dependent conditionally replicating adenovirus, which selectively replicates and expresses the diphtheria toxin A chain (Tat-CRAds-DTA) in HIV-1-infected cells both in vitro and in vivo. We found that Tat-CRAds-DTA could specifically induce cell death and inhibit virus replication in HIV-1-infected cells mediated by adenovirus proliferation and DTA expression. A low titer of progeny Tat-CRAds-DTA was also detected in HIV-1-infected cells. In addition, Tat-CRAds-DTA showed no apparent cytotoxicity to HIV-1-negative cells and demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy against HIV-1 infection in a humanized mouse model. The findings in this study highlight the potential of Tat-CRAds-DTA as a new gene therapy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengfeng Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Kai Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China
| | - Miaomiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Mengshi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China
| | - Yingying Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China
| | - Ming Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Yalan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan 430200, P.R. China.
| | - Qinxue Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China; Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China.
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2
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Klinnert S, Schenkel CD, Freitag PC, Günthard HF, Plückthun A, Metzner KJ. Targeted shock-and-kill HIV-1 gene therapy approach combining CRISPR activation, suicide gene tBid and retargeted adenovirus delivery. Gene Ther 2024; 31:74-84. [PMID: 37558852 PMCID: PMC10940146 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-023-00413-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Infections with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are incurable due the long-lasting, latent viral reservoir. The shock-and-kill cure approach aims to activate latent proviruses in HIV-1 infected cells and subsequently kill these cells with strategies such as therapeutic vaccines or immune enhancement. Here, we combined the dCas9-VPR CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) system with gRNA-V, the truncated Bid (tBid)-based suicide gene strategy and CD3-retargeted adenovirus (Ad) delivery vectors, in an all-in-one targeted shock-and-kill gene therapy approach to achieve specific elimination of latently HIV-1 infected cells. Simultaneous transduction of latently HIV-1 infected J-Lat 10.6 cells with a CD3-retargeted Ad-CRISPRa-V and Ad-tBid led to a 57.7 ± 17.0% reduction of productively HIV-1 infected cells and 2.4-fold ± 0.25 increase in cell death. The effective activation of latent HIV-1 provirus by Ad-CRISPRa-V was similar to the activation control TNF-α. The strictly HIV-1 dependent and non-leaky killing by tBid could be demonstrated. Furthermore, the high transduction efficiencies of up to 70.8 ± 0.4% by the CD3-retargeting technology in HIV-1 latently infected cell lines was the basis of successful shock-and-kill. This novel targeted shock-and-kill all-in-one gene therapy approach has the potential to safely and effectively eliminate HIV-1 infected cells in a highly HIV-1 and T cell specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Klinnert
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Corinne D Schenkel
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick C Freitag
- Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Huldrych F Günthard
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karin J Metzner
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Balakrishnan P, Sathish S, Saravanan S. HIV-Encoded Gene Therapy as Anti-cancer Therapeutics: A Narrative Review. Cureus 2024; 16:e53431. [PMID: 38435173 PMCID: PMC10909071 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been interest in using viruses as cancer treatments. Oncolytic virology was founded by scientists who noticed that viruses might preferentially lyse cancer cells over healthy ones. Oncolytic virotherapy has similar obstacles as other treatment approaches, gaining entry into the specific tumour cell, encountering antiviral immune responses, off-target infection and many other unfavourable circumstances in the tumour microenvironment, and a lack of unique therapeutic and predictive biomarkers. However, oncolytic viruses have emerged as the main players in the biological treatment for cancer with the use of vectors such as human adenoviruses in oncolytic virotherapy. Recent large-scale research has shown that other viruses, such as the measles virus and the herpes simplex virus (HSV), may potentially be viable options for cancer treatment. The FDA has cleared T-VEC, an HSV-based oncolytic virus, for use in biological cancer treatment after its successful completion of human clinical trials. Furthermore, the measles virus vaccine strain has shown remarkable outcomes in pre-clinical and clinical testing. The use of such modified viruses in biological cancer treatment holds promise for groundbreaking discoveries in the field of cancer research because of their therapeutic effectiveness, fewer side effects, and safety. Several other newer approaches have been used in recent years. HIV-encoded proteins are also hypothesized to promote mitochondrial homeostasis causing bystander-induced apoptosis. We provide an overview of the most recent developments in the clinical use of oncolytic virus-based biological cancer treatment in this study. This evaluation also assesses the advantages and disadvantages of the viral candidates and provides insight into their potential in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pachamuthu Balakrishnan
- Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, IND
| | - Sankar Sathish
- Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, IND
| | - Shanmugam Saravanan
- Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, IND
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Vosough P, Vafadar A, Naderi S, Alashti SK, Karimi S, Irajie C, Savardashtaki A, Taghizadeh S. Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase: Structural and biotechnological aspects. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2024; 71:5-16. [PMID: 37743549 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2516] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy involves introducing viral or bacterial genes into tumor cells, which enables the conversion of a nontoxic prodrug into a toxic-lethal drug. The application of the bacterial cytosine deaminase (bCD)/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) approach has been beneficial and progressive within the current field of cancer therapy because of the enhanced bystander effect. The basis of this method is the preferential deamination of 5-FC to 5-fluorouracil by cancer cells expressing cytosine deaminase (CD), which strongly inhibits DNA synthesis and RNA function, effectively targeting tumor cells. However, the poor binding affinity of toward 5-FC compared to the natural substrate cytosine and/or inappropriate thermostability limits the clinical applications of this gene therapy approach. Nowadays, many genetic engineering studies have been carried out to solve and improve the activity of this enzyme. In the current review, we intend to discuss the biotechnological aspects of Escherichia coli CD, including its structure, functions, molecular cloning, and protein engineering. We will also explore its relevance in cancer clinical trials. By examining these aspects, we hope to provide a thorough understanding of E. coli CD and its potential applications in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Vosough
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Asma Vafadar
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Samaneh Naderi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shayan Khalili Alashti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sara Karimi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Cambyz Irajie
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Science Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amir Savardashtaki
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Infertility Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeed Taghizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Science Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Li XT, Peng SY, Feng SM, Bao TY, Li SZ, Li SY. Recent Progress in Phage-Based Nanoplatforms for Tumor Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307111. [PMID: 37806755 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Nanodrug delivery systems have demonstrated a great potential for tumor therapy with the development of nanotechnology. Nonetheless, traditional drug delivery systems are faced with issues such as complex synthetic procedures, low reproducibility, nonspecific distribution, impenetrability of biological barrier, systemic toxicity, etc. In recent years, phage-based nanoplatforms have attracted increasing attention in tumor treatment for their regular structure, fantastic carrying property, high transduction efficiency and biosafety. Notably, therapeutic or targeting peptides can be expressed on the surface of the phages through phage display technology, enabling the phage vectors to possess multifunctions. As a result, the drug delivery efficiency on tumor will be vastly improved, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy while reducing the side effects on normal tissues. Moreover, phages can overcome the hindrance of biofilm barrier to elicit antitumor effects, which exhibit great advantages compared with traditional synthetic drug delivery systems. Herein, this review not only summarizes the structure and biology of the phages, but also presents their potential as prominent nanoplatforms against tumor in different pathways to inspire the development of effective nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Tong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
| | - Shu-Yi Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
| | - Shao-Mei Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
| | - Ting-Yu Bao
- Department of Clinical Medicine, the Third Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Sheng-Zhang Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Shi-Ying Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target and Clinical Pharmacology, the NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
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Yoon AR, Hong J, Jung BK, Ahn HM, Zhang S, Yun CO. Oncolytic adenovirus as pancreatic cancer-targeted therapy: Where do we go from here? Cancer Lett 2023; 579:216456. [PMID: 37940067 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216456] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers with extremely high mortality rate, and the number of cases is expected to steadily increase with time. Pancreatic cancer is refractory to conventional cancer treatment options, like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and commercialized immunotherapeutics, owing to its immunosuppressive and desmoplastic phenotype. Due to these reasons, development of an innovative treatment option that can overcome these challenges posed by the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) is in an urgent need. The present review aims to summarize the evolution of oncolytic adenovirus (oAd) engineering and usage as therapeutics (either monotherapy or combination therapy) over the last decade to overcome these hurdles to instigate a potent antitumor effect against desmoplastic and immunosuppressive pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Rum Yoon
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - JinWoo Hong
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Kyeong Jung
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Min Ahn
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Songnam Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yanbian University Hospital, Jilin, China
| | - Chae-Ok Yun
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Kumari S, Gupta R, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. Multiple therapeutic approaches of glioblastoma multiforme: From terminal to therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188913. [PMID: 37182666 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188913] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer showing poor prognosis. Currently, treatment methods of GBM are limited with adverse outcomes and low survival rate. Thus, advancements in the treatment of GBM are of utmost importance, which can be achieved in recent decades. However, despite aggressive initial treatment, most patients develop recurrent diseases, and the overall survival rate of patients is impossible to achieve. Currently, researchers across the globe target signaling events along with tumor microenvironment (TME) through different drug molecules to inhibit the progression of GBM, but clinically they failed to demonstrate much success. Herein, we discuss the therapeutic targets and signaling cascades along with the role of the organoids model in GBM research. Moreover, we systematically review the traditional and emerging therapeutic strategies in GBM. In addition, we discuss the implications of nanotechnologies, AI, and combinatorial approach to enhance GBM therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smita Kumari
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, India
| | - Rohan Gupta
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, India
| | - Rashmi K Ambasta
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, India
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, India.
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Saeb S, Wallet C, Rohr O, Schwartz C, Loustau T. Targeting and eradicating latent CNS reservoirs of HIV-1: original strategies and new models. Biochem Pharmacol 2023:115679. [PMID: 37399950 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115679] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is the standard treatment for all people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Although cART is effective in treating productive infection, it does not eliminate latent reservoirs of the virus. This leads to lifelong treatment associated with the occurrence of side effects and the development of drug-resistant HIV-1. Suppression of viral latency is therefore the major hurdle to HIV-1 eradication. Multiple mechanisms exist to regulate viral gene expression and drive the transcriptional and post-transcriptional establishment of latency. Epigenetic processes are amongst the most studied mechanisms influencing both productive and latent infection states. The central nervous system (CNS) represents a key anatomical sanctuary for HIV and is the focal point of considerable research efforts. However, limited and difficult access to CNS compartments makes understanding the HIV-1 infection state in latent brain cells such as microglial cells, astrocytes, and perivascular macrophages challenging. This review examines the latest advances on epigenetic transformations involved in CNS viral latency and targeting of brain reservoirs. Evidence from clinical studies as well as in vivo and in vitro models of HIV-1 persistence in the CNS will be discussed, with a special focus on recent 3D in vitro models such as human brain organoids. Finally, the review will address therapeutic considerations for targeting latent CNS reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Saeb
- Department of Allied Medicine, Qaen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran; Strasbourg University, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Clémentine Wallet
- Strasbourg University, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Olivier Rohr
- Strasbourg University, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Christian Schwartz
- Strasbourg University, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Thomas Loustau
- Strasbourg University, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France.
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Development of WRAP5 Peptide Complexes for Targeted Drug/Gene Co-Delivery toward Glioblastoma Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102213. [PMID: 36297647 PMCID: PMC9607428 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102213] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the great progress over the past few decades in both the diagnosis and treatment of a great variety of human cancers, glioblastoma remains the most lethal brain tumor. In recent years, cancer gene therapy focused on non-viral vectors which emerged as a promising approach to glioblastoma treatment. Transferrin (Tf) easily penetrates brain cells of the blood–brain barrier, and its receptor is highly expressed in this barrier and glioblastoma cells. Therefore, the development of delivery systems containing Tf appears as a reliable strategy to improve their brain cells targeting ability and cellular uptake. In this work, a cell-penetrating peptide (WRAP5), bearing a Tf-targeting sequence, has been exploited to condense tumor suppressor p53-encoding plasmid DNA (pDNA) for the development of nanocomplexes. To increase the functionality of developed nanocomplexes, the drug Temozolomide (TMZ) was also incorporated into the formulations. The physicochemical properties of peptide/pDNA complexes were revealed to be dependent on the nitrogen to phosphate groups ratio and can be optimized to promote efficient cellular internalization. A confocal microscopy study showed the capacity of developed complexes for efficient glioblastoma cell transfection and consequent pDNA delivery into the nucleus, where efficient gene expression took place, followed by p53 protein production. Of promise, these peptide/pDNA complexes induced a significant decrease in the viability of glioblastoma cells. The set of data reported significantly support further in vitro research to evaluate the therapeutic potential of developed complexes against glioblastoma.
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