Study on anti-metastasis of heparin derivatives as ligand antagonist of p-selectin

Advances in the treatment of atherosclerosis with ligand-modified nanocarriers

Atherosclerosis, a chronic disease associated with metabolism, poses a significant risk to human well-being. Currently, existing treatments for atherosclerosis lack sufficient efficiency, while the utilization of surface-modified nanoparticles holds the potential to deliver highly effective therapeutic outcomes. These nanoparticles can target and bind to specific receptors that are abnormally over-expressed in atherosclerotic conditions. This paper reviews recent research (2018-present) advances in various ligand-modified nanoparticle systems targeting atherosclerosis by specifically targeting signature molecules in the hope of precise treatment at the molecular level and concludes with a discussion of the challenges and prospects in this field. The intention of this review is to inspire novel concepts for the design and advancement of targeted nanomedicines tailored specifically for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Huayu Wan Prevents Lewis Lung Cancer Metastasis in Mice via the Platelet Pathway

Objective

To study the mechanism of Huayu Wan on the metastasis of Lewis lung cancer in mice via the platelet pathway.

Method

Construction of the lung metastasis model by injection of Lewis cells through the tail vein. The next day, 72 mice were randomly divided into the Huayu Wan group (HYW), the aspirin group, the control group, and the normal group . Treatment was given for 5 days per week for a total of 16 days. The size and distribution of lung metastases were observed. Thromboelastography was used to detect platelet function, flow cytometry was used to analyze platelet activation, and ELISA was used to detect platelet tumor metastasis-related factor expression.

Result

Lung weight in the control group was significantly higher than that in the HYW group (P < 0.05). The distribution of lung metastases in the control group was obviously more than that in the HYW group. The thromboelastogram showed that the R value of the control group was significantly lower than the normal group, while the R values of the HYW and aspirin groups were higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry analysis showed that the expression of CD62P in platelet-rich plasma in the control group was significantly higher than that in the normal group, while the expression of CD62P in the HYW and aspirin groups was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, ELISA showed that the expression of VEGF, bFGF, and CD62P in serum of the HYW group was significantly decreased than the control group (P < 0.05), and the expression of VEGF and bFGF in serum of the aspirin group was significantly decreased than the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The mechanism of Huayu Wan inhibiting the metastasis of lung cancer in mice may be related to the improvement of blood hypercoagulability, the inhibition of platelet activation, and the expression of VEGF, bFGF, and CD62P.

Co-delivery of doxorubicin and epacadostat via heparin coated pH-sensitive liposomes to suppress the lung metastasis of melanoma

High metastasis is responsible for the failure in the treatment of melanoma. Chemoimmunotherapy has shown conspicuous inhibition effects not only on the growth of tumor in situ, but also on the metastasis to distant organs. Given that the indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) overexpressed in the microenvironment of tumor leads to the immune escape, the combination of chemotherapeutic drug and IDO inhibitor might be a promising chemoimmunotherapy. Besides, the hematogenous metastasis mediated by platelets was supposed to be blocked by the heparin (HP). Therefore, a drug delivery system with all these elements involved might be a potential treatment for melanoma. Here, we developed a pH-sensitive liposomal dual-delivery system for doxorubicin (DOX) and epacadostat (EPA) with HP coated (HP/LDE). It was confirmed to enhance cytotoxicity and apoptosis, reverse the platelets-activated epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and prevent the invasion and migration in vitro. After systemic administration, HP/LDE provided the optimum anti-metastasis effect on the melanoma. The results of evaluation on DC maturation, CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) activation and T cell mediated cytotoxicity were consistent in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our study established a functional liposomal dual-delivery system with ideal anti-metastasis efficacy on melanoma.

Non-Anticoagulant Heparin Prodrug Loaded Biodegradable and Injectable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels for Enhanced Anti-Metastasis Therapy

Metastasis is a pathogenic spread of cancer cells from the primary site to surrounding tissues and distant organs, making it one of the primary challenges for effective cancer treatment and the major cause of cancer mortality. Heparin-based biomaterials exhibit significant inhibition of cancer cell metastasis. In this study, a non-anticoagulate heparin prodrug is developed for metastasis treatment with a localized treatment system using temperature sensitive, injectable, and biodegradable (poly-(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide) polymeric hydrogel. The drug molecule (heparin) is conjugated with the polymer via esterification, and its sustained release is ensured by hydrolysis and polymeric biodegradation. An aqueous solution of the polymer could be used as an injectable solution at below 25 °C and it achieves gel formation at 37 °C. The anti-metastasis effect of the hydrogels is investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that local administration of injectable heparin-loaded hydrogels effectively promote an inhibitory effect on cancer metastasis.

IQCA-TASS: a nano-scaled P-selectin inhibitor capable of targeting thrombus and releasing IQCA/TARGD(S)S in vivo

Thrombosis is a serious threat to human health worldwide. Tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (IQCA) is an antithrombotic agent, while Thr-Ala-Arg-Gly-Asp(Ser)-Ser (TASS) can target thrombus.

Holothurian glycosaminoglycan inhibits metastasis via inhibition of P-selectin in B16F10 melanoma cells

P-selectin-mediated tumor cell adhesion to platelets is a well-established stage in the process of tumor metastasis. Through computerized structural analysis, we found a marine-derived polysaccharide, holothurian glycosaminoglycan (hGAG), behaved as a ligand-competitive inhibitor of P-selectin, indicating its potential to disrupt the binding of P-selectin to cell surface receptor and activation of downstream regulators of tumor cell migration. Our experimental data demonstrated that hGAG significantly inhibited P-selectin-mediated adhesion of tumor cells to platelets and tumor cell migration in vitro and reduced subsequent pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, abrogation of the P-selectin-mediated adhesion of tumor cells led to down-regulation of protein levels of integrins, FAK and MMP-2/9 in B16F10 cells, which is a crucial molecular mechanism of hGAG to inhibit tumor metastasis. In conclusion, hGAG has emerged as a novel anti-cancer agent via blocking P-selectin-mediated malignant events of tumor metastasis.

Modulating the SDF-1/CXCL12-induced cancer cell growth and adhesion by sulfated K5 polysaccharides in vitro

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/chemokine (CXC motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) is involved in the process of tumor progression. Sulfated K5 polysaccharides have shown anti-cancer activity by acting on multiple targets, though it remains unclear whether sulfated K5 polysaccharides would disrupt SDF-1/CXCL12-stimulated cancer biology. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sulfated K5 polysaccharides on cell growth, adhesion in murine B16 melanoma cells and the underlying mechanism by targeting SDF-1/CXCL12. Results indicated that K5-NS,OS inhibited the proliferation of B16 melanoma cells, induced the cell cycle arrest mainly at the G0/G1 phase, and suppressed cancer cell proliferation or adhesion induced by SDF-1/CXCL12. It was possible that K5-NS,OS appeared to interact with CXCL12 and block the subsequent biological functions. This work suggests that the existence of O- and N-sulfate groups is more effective in targeting CXCL12 and exhibiting anti-cancer activity.

The inhibition of the integrin VLA-4 in MV3 melanoma cell binding by non-anticoagulant heparin derivatives

INTRODUCTION

The integrin VLA-4-mediated binding is important for the metastatic dissemination of melanoma cells. Recently we found that heparin possesses a binding capacity to VLA-4. This could contribute to the heparin function to attenuate metastasis in a selectin-dependent manner. Aiming to a purposive, anti-adhesive heparin application, structural requirements of heparin for VLA-4 recognition have to be elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A series of non-anticoagulant heparin derivatives were investigated concerning their inhibitory capacities for VLA-4 mediated binding of human melanoma MV3 cells to VCAM-1 under physiological flow conditions in vitro. A surface acoustic wave biosensor was applied to detect kinetic constants of selected derivatives binding to both, VLA-4 or P- and L-selectin.

RESULTS

Experimental metastasis of MV3 cells in mice confirmed the relevance of VLA-4 for metastatic dissemination. LMWHs (enoxaparin, tinzaparin) efficiently blocked VLA-4 cell binding, dominantly via the integrin`s α-chain. Desulfation at 2-O-position, N-acetylation or a size smaller than tetradecasaccharide disfavoured VLA-4 inhibition. Glycol-splitting of heparin and thus higher chain flexibility is a tolerable parameter. A derivative with 50% 6-O-desulfation appeared promising and exceeded tinzaparin in VLA-4 inhibition, both compounds displayed binding affinities to VLA-4 in the low micromolar range.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide structure-activity relationships for heparin VLA-4 binding, which partly differ from P- and L-selectin requirements. The data confirm that anti-coagulative and anti-adhesive function of heparin can be distinguished favouring applications of non-anticoagulant heparins in antimetastatic approaches without the risk of bleeding complications. The 50% 6-O-desulfated heparin-derivative appears promising to further evaluate the interference with selectin and VLA-4 binding functions in vivo.