1
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Wang X, Wang S. ACP-PDAFF: Pretrained model and dual-channel attentional feature fusion for anticancer peptides prediction. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 112:108141. [PMID: 38996756 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108141] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Anticancer peptides(ACPs) have attracted significant interest as a novel method of treating cancer due to their ability to selectively kill cancer cells without damaging normal cells. Many artificial intelligence-based methods have demonstrated impressive performance in predicting ACPs. Nevertheless, the limitations of existing methods in feature engineering include handcrafted features driven by prior knowledge, insufficient feature extraction, and inefficient feature fusion. In this study, we propose a model based on a pretrained model, and dual-channel attentional feature fusion(DAFF), called ACP-PDAFF. Firstly, to reduce the heavy dependence on expert knowledge-based handcrafted features, binary profile features (BPF) and physicochemical properties features(PCPF) are used as inputs to the transformer model. Secondly, aimed at learning more diverse feature informations of ACPs, a pretrained model ProtBert is utilized. Thirdly, for better fusion of different feature channels, DAFF is employed. Finally, to evaluate the performance of the model, we compare it with other methods on five benchmark datasets, including ACP-Mixed-80 dataset, Main and Alternate datasets of AntiCP 2.0, LEE and Independet dataset, and ACPred-Fuse dataset. And the accuracies obtained by ACP-PDAFF are 0.86, 0.80, 0.94, 0.97 and 0.95 on five datasets, respectively, higher than existing methods by 1% to 12%. Therefore, by learning rich feature informations and effectively fusing different feature channels, ACD-PDAFF achieves outstanding performance. Our code and the datasets are available at https://github.com/wongsing/ACP-PDAFF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Information Science and Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, Yunnan, China
| | - Shunfang Wang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Information Science and Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, Yunnan, China.
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2
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Yao L, Xie P, Guan J, Chung CR, Zhang W, Deng J, Huang Y, Chiang YC, Lee TY. ACP-CapsPred: an explainable computational framework for identification and functional prediction of anticancer peptides based on capsule network. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae460. [PMID: 39293807 PMCID: PMC11410379 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae460] [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: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a severe illness that significantly threatens human life and health. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) represent a promising therapeutic strategy for combating cancer. In silico methods enable rapid and accurate identification of ACPs without extensive human and material resources. This study proposes a two-stage computational framework called ACP-CapsPred, which can accurately identify ACPs and characterize their functional activities across different cancer types. ACP-CapsPred integrates a protein language model with evolutionary information and physicochemical properties of peptides, constructing a comprehensive profile of peptides. ACP-CapsPred employs a next-generation neural network, specifically capsule networks, to construct predictive models. Experimental results demonstrate that ACP-CapsPred exhibits satisfactory predictive capabilities in both stages, reaching state-of-the-art performance. In the first stage, ACP-CapsPred achieves accuracies of 80.25% and 95.71%, as well as F1-scores of 79.86% and 95.90%, on benchmark datasets Set 1 and Set 2, respectively. In the second stage, tasked with characterizing the functional activities of ACPs across five selected cancer types, ACP-CapsPred attains an average accuracy of 90.75% and an F1-score of 91.38%. Furthermore, ACP-CapsPred demonstrates excellent interpretability, revealing regions and residues associated with anticancer activity. Consequently, ACP-CapsPred presents a promising solution to expedite the development of ACPs and offers a novel perspective for other biological sequence analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lantian Yao
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Peilin Xie
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Jiahui Guan
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Chia-Ru Chung
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, 300 Zhongda Road, Taoyuan 320317, Taiwan
| | - Wenyang Zhang
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Junyang Deng
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Yixian Huang
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Ying-Chih Chiang
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Road, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Tzong-Yi Lee
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Daxue Road, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 Daxue Road, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
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3
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Patnaik SK, Ayyamperumal S, Jade D, Palathoti N, Akey KS, Jupudi S, Harrison MA, Ponnambalam S, Mj N, Mjn C. Virtual high throughput screening of natural peptides against ErbB1 and ErbB2 to identify potential inhibitors for cancer chemotherapy. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:5551-5574. [PMID: 37387589 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2226744] [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: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), namely ErbB1/HER1, ErbB2/HER2/neu, ErbB3/HER3, and ErbB4/HER4, the trans-membrane family of tyrosine kinase receptors, are overexpressed in many types of cancers. These receptors play an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis including unregulated activation of cancer cells. Overexpression of ErbB1 and ErbB2 that occurs in several types of cancers is associated with poor prognosis leading to resistance to ErbB1-directed therapies. In this connection, promising strategy to overcome the disadvantages of the existing chemotherapeutic drugs is the use of short peptides as anticancer agents. In the present study, we have performed virtual high throughput screening of natural peptides against ErbB1 and ErbB2 to identify potential dual inhibitors and identified five inhibitors based on their binding affinities, ADMET analysis, MD simulation studies and calculation of free energy of binding. These natural peptides could be further exploited for developing drugs for treating cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Patnaik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Selvaraj Ayyamperumal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dhananjay Jade
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Nagarjuna Palathoti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Krishna Swaroop Akey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Srikanth Jupudi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | | | - Nanjan Mj
- JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Chandrasekar Mjn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
- School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research(Ooty Campus), Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
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4
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Kao HJ, Weng TH, Chen CH, Chen YC, Chi YH, Huang KY, Weng SL. Integrating In Silico and In Vitro Approaches to Identify Natural Peptides with Selective Cytotoxicity against Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6848. [PMID: 38999958 PMCID: PMC11240926 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136848] [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: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Anticancer peptides (ACPs) are bioactive compounds known for their selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells via various mechanisms. Recent studies have demonstrated that in silico machine learning methods are effective in predicting peptides with anticancer activity. In this study, we collected and analyzed over a thousand experimentally verified ACPs, specifically targeting peptides derived from natural sources. We developed a precise prediction model based on their sequence and structural features, and the model's evaluation results suggest its strong predictive ability for anticancer activity. To enhance reliability, we integrated the results of this model with those from other available methods. In total, we identified 176 potential ACPs, some of which were synthesized and further evaluated using the MTT colorimetric assay. All of these putative ACPs exhibited significant anticancer effects and selective cytotoxicity against specific tumor cells. In summary, we present a strategy for identifying and characterizing natural peptides with selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells, which could serve as novel therapeutic agents. Our prediction model can effectively screen new molecules for potential anticancer activity, and the results from in vitro experiments provide compelling evidence of the candidates' anticancer effects and selective cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Kao
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu MacKay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu Municipal MacKay Children's Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Han Weng
- Department of Dermatology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei City 104, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hung Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu MacKay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu Municipal MacKay Children's Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chi Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu MacKay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu Municipal MacKay Children's Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsiang Chi
- National Center for High-Performance Computing, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Yao Huang
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu MacKay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Hsinchu Municipal MacKay Children's Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City 252, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City 252, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Long Weng
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City 252, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hsinchu MacKay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hsinchu Municipal MacKay Children's Hospital, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan
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5
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Alhammadi SHA, Baby B, Antony P, Jobe A, Humaid RSM, Alhammadi FJA, Vijayan R. Modeling the Binding of Anticancer Peptides and Mcl-1. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6529. [PMID: 38928234 PMCID: PMC11203456 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126529] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mcl-1 (myeloid cell leukemia 1), a member of the Bcl-2 family, is upregulated in various types of cancer. Peptides representing the BH3 (Bcl-2 homology 3) region of pro-apoptotic proteins have been demonstrated to bind the hydrophobic groove of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1, and this interaction is responsible for regulating apoptosis. Structural studies have shown that, while there is high overall structural conservation among the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) proteins, differences in the surface groove of these proteins facilitates binding specificity. This binding specificity is crucial for the mechanism of action of the Bcl-2 family in regulating apoptosis. Bim-based peptides bind specifically to the hydrophobic groove of Mcl-1, emphasizing the importance of these interactions in the regulation of cell death. Molecular docking was performed with BH3-like peptides derived from Bim to identify high affinity peptides that bind to Mcl-1 and to understand the molecular mechanism of their interactions. The interactions of three identified peptides, E2gY, E2gI, and XXA1_F3dI, were further evaluated using 250 ns molecular dynamics simulations. Conserved hydrophobic residues of the peptides play an important role in their binding and the structural stability of the complexes. Understanding the molecular basis of interaction of these peptides will assist in the development of more effective Mcl-1 specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamsa Husain Ahmed Alhammadi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bincy Baby
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Priya Antony
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amie Jobe
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raghad Salman Mohammed Humaid
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fatema Jumaa Ahmed Alhammadi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ranjit Vijayan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- The Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
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6
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Zhang T, Bai L, You R, Yang M, Chen Q, Cheng Y, Qian Z, Wang Y, Liu Y. Homologous-targeting biomimetic nanoparticles co-loaded with melittin and a photosensitizer for the combination therapy of triple negative breast cancer. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:5465-5478. [PMID: 38742364 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02919k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Melittin (Mel) is considered a promising candidate drug for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) due to its various antitumor effects. However, its clinical application is hampered by notable limitations, including hemolytic activity, rapid clearance, and a lack of tumor selectivity. Here, we designed novel biomimetic nanoparticles based on homologous tumor cell membranes and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/poly(beta-aminoester) (PBAE), denoted MDM@TPP, which efficiently coloaded the cytolytic peptide Mel and the photosensitizer mTHPC. Both in vitro and in vivo, the MDM@TPP nanoparticles effectively mitigated the acute toxicity of melittin and exhibited strong TNBC targeting ability due to the homologous targeting effect of the tumor cell membrane. Under laser irradiation, the MDM@TPP nanoparticles showed excellent photodynamic performance and thus accelerated the release of Mel by disrupting cell membrane integrity. Moreover, Mel combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) can synergistically kill tumor cells and induce significant immunogenic cell death, thereby stimulating the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). In 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, MDM@TPP nanoparticles effectively inhibited the growth and metastasis of primary tumors and finally prevented tumor recurrence by improving the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Liya Bai
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| | - Ran You
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| | - Meng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| | - Qian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| | - Zhanyin Qian
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| | - Yinsong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy; Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
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7
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Song H, Lin X, Zhang H, Yin H. ACP-ESM2: The prediction of anticancer peptides based on pre-trained classifier. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 110:108091. [PMID: 38735271 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108091] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Anticancer peptides (ACPs) are a type of protein molecule that has anti-cancer activity and can inhibit cancer cell growth and survival. Traditional classification approaches for ACPs are expensive and time-consuming. This paper proposes a pre-trained classifier model, ESM2-GRU, for ACP prediction to make it easier to predict ACPs, gain a better understanding of the structural and functional differences of anti-cancer peptides, and optimize the design for the development of more effective anti-cancer treatment strategies. The model is made up of the ESM2 pre-trained model, a bidirectional GRU recurrent neural network, and a fully connected layer. ACP sequences are first fed into the ESM2 model, which then expands the dimensions before feeding the findings back into the bidirectional GRU recurrent neural network. Finally, the fully connected layer generates the ultimate output. Experimental validation demonstrates that the ESM2-GRU model greatly improves classification performance on the benchmark dataset ACP606, with AUC, ACC, and MCC values of 0.975, 0.852, and 0.738, respectively. This exceptional prediction potential helps to identify specific types of anti-cancer peptides, improving their targeting and selectivity and, therefore, furthering the development of tailored medicine and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijia Song
- School of Information Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China
| | - Xiaozhu Lin
- School of Information Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China.
| | - Huainian Zhang
- School of Information Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China
| | - Huijuan Yin
- School of Information Engineering, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China
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8
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Yan J, Siwakoti P, Shaw S, Bose S, Kokil G, Kumeria T. Porous silicon and silica carriers for delivery of peptide therapeutics. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s13346-024-01609-7. [PMID: 38819767 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01609-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Peptides have gained tremendous popularity as biological therapeutic agents in recent years due to their favourable specificity, diversity of targets, well-established screening methods, ease of production, and lower cost. However, their poor physiological and storage stability, pharmacokinetics, and fast clearance have limited their clinical translation. Novel nanocarrier-based strategies have shown promise in overcoming these issues. In this direction, porous silicon (pSi) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been widely explored as potential carriers for the delivery of peptide therapeutics. These materials possess several advantages, including large surface areas, tunable pore sizes, and adjustable pore architectures, which make them attractive carriers for peptide delivery systems. In this review, we cover pSi and MSNs as drug carriers focusing on their use in peptide delivery. The review provides a brief overview of their fabrication, surface modification, and interesting properties that make them ideal peptide drug carriers. The review provides a systematic account of various studies that have utilised these unique porous carriers for peptide delivery describing significant in vitro and in vivo results. We have also provided a critical comparison of the two carriers in terms of their physicochemical properties and short-term and long-term biocompatibility. Lastly, we have concluded the review with our opinion of this field and identified key areas for future research for clinical translation of pSi and MSN-based peptide therapeutic formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Yan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Prakriti Siwakoti
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Siuli Shaw
- Centre for Medical Biotechnology, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201301, India
| | - Sudeep Bose
- Centre for Medical Biotechnology, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201301, India
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201301, India
| | - Ganesh Kokil
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Tushar Kumeria
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia.
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9
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Chandole PK, Pawar TJ, Olivares-Romero JL, Tivari SR, Garcia Lara B, Patel H, Ahmad I, Delgado-Alvarado E, Kokate SV, Jadeja Y. Exploration of novel cationic amino acid-enriched short peptides: design, SPPS, biological evaluation and in silico study. RSC Adv 2024; 14:17710-17723. [PMID: 38832247 PMCID: PMC11145139 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08313f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical challenge worldwide, necessitating the pursuit of novel approaches to counteract bacterial and fungal pathogens. In this context, we explored the potential of cationic amino acid-enriched short peptides, synthesized via solid-phase methods, as innovative antimicrobial candidates. Our comprehensive evaluation assessed the antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of these peptides against a panel of significant pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Utilizing molecular docking techniques, we delved into the molecular interactions underpinning the peptides' action against these microorganisms. The results revealed a spectrum of inhibitory activities, with certain peptide sequences displaying pronounced effectiveness across various pathogens. These findings underscore the peptides' potential as promising antimicrobial agents, with molecular docking offering valuable insights into their mechanisms of action. This study enriches antimicrobial peptide (AMP) research by identifying promising candidates for further refinement and development toward therapeutic application, highlighting their significance in addressing the urgent issue of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tushar Janardan Pawar
- Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A.C. Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351 Xalapa 91073 Veracruz Mexico
| | - José Luis Olivares-Romero
- Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A.C. Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351 Xalapa 91073 Veracruz Mexico
| | - Sunil R Tivari
- Department of Chemistry, Marwadi University Rajkot-360003 Gujarat India
| | - Bianney Garcia Lara
- Departamento de Química, Universidad de Guanajuato Noria Alta S/N Guanajuato-36050 Guanajuato Mexico
| | - Harun Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Shirpur District Dhule-425405 Maharashtra India
| | - Iqrar Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Shirpur District Dhule-425405 Maharashtra India
| | - Enrique Delgado-Alvarado
- Micro and Nanotechnology Research Center, Universidad Veracruzana Blvd. Av. Ruiz Cortines No. 455 Fracc. Costa Verde Boca del Río 94294 Mexico
| | - Siddhant V Kokate
- Department of Chemistry, S. S. C. College Junnar Pune-410502 Maharashtra India
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Fu XY, Yin H, Chen XT, Yao JF, Ma YN, Song M, Xu H, Yu QY, Du SS, Qi YK, Wang KW. Three Rounds of Stability-Guided Optimization and Systematical Evaluation of Oncolytic Peptide LTX-315. J Med Chem 2024; 67:3885-3908. [PMID: 38278140 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Oncolytic peptides represent promising novel candidates for anticancer treatments. In our efforts to develop oncolytic peptides possessing both high protease stability and durable anticancer efficiency, three rounds of optimization were conducted on the first-in-class oncolytic peptide LTX-315. The robust synthetic method, in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity, and anticancer mechanism were investigated. The D-type peptides represented by FXY-12 possessed significantly improved proteolytic stability and sustained anticancer efficiency. Strikingly, the novel hybrid peptide FXY-30, containing one FXY-12 and two camptothecin moieties, exhibited the most potent in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities. The mechanism explorations indicated that FXY-30 exhibited rapid membranolytic effects and induced severe DNA double-strand breaks to trigger cell apoptosis. Collectively, this study not only established robust strategies to improve the stability and anticancer potential of oncolytic peptides but also provided valuable references for the future development of D-type peptides-based hybrid anticancer chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yan Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Hao Yin
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Xi-Tong Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Jing-Fang Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Yan-Nan Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Min Song
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Huan Xu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Qian-Yao Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Shan-Shan Du
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Yun-Kun Qi
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Ke-Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
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11
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Shanthappa PM, Melethadathil N. In silico investigations and molecular insights for designing tRNA-encoded peptides as potential therapeutics for targeting over-expressed receptors in breast cancer. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38334133 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2314748] [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: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
tRNA- Encoded Peptides (tREPs) have recently been discovered as new functional peptides and hold promise as therapeutics for anti-parasitic applications. In this study, in silico investigations were conducted to design tRNA-encoded peptides with the potential to target over-expressed receptors in breast cancer cells. tRNA genes were translated into corresponding peptides (tREPs) using computational tools. The tREPs, which were predicted as anticancer peptides, were then screened for various ADMET properties. Molecular docking studies were conducted for three cancer target receptors, the Estrogen Receptor (ER), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) and the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Based on the docking results, specific tREPs were screened and molecular dynamics simulations were performed, and the binding energies were further explored using MMPBSA calculations. The peptide Pep1 (DWIAWRHHNDIVSWLTCGPRFKSWS) and Pep2 (GFIAWWSRHLELAQTRFKSWWS) exhibited a good binding affinity against the Estrogen Receptor (ER) and the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha (PPAR) cancer target. The Pep1-ER and Pep1-PPAR complex maintained an average of two hydrogen bonds throughout the simulation and demonstrated a higher negative binding free energy of -72.27 kcal/mol and -65.16 kcal/mol respectively, as calculated by MMPBSA. Therefore, the tREPs designed as anticancer peptides in this study provide novel approaches for potential anticancer therapeutic modalities.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi M Shanthappa
- Department of Computer Science, School of Computing, Mysuru, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India
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12
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Chen Y, Li W, Wang Z, Yu Y, Li J, Ding Y, Hu Z, Liu Q, Yang Z, Gao J. A Transformable Supramolecular Bispecific Cell Engager for Augmenting Natural Killer and T Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2306736. [PMID: 37853568 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Immune cells are pivotal in cancer immunotherapy, yet their therapeutic effectiveness is often hampered by limited tumor infiltration and inhibitory tumor microenvironments. An alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-responsive and transformable supramolecular bis-specific cell engager (Supra-BiCE) to harness natural killer (NK)/T cells for effective cancer immunotherapy is introduced here. The Supra-BiCE, consisting of both SA-P (a phosphorylated peptide targeting and blocking programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)) and SA-T (a phosphorylated peptide targeting and blocking T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT)) is constructed by a simple co-assembling strategy. Upon intravenous administration, Supra-BiCE self-assembles into nanoribbons and interacts with NK/T cells via TIGIT. Notably, these nanoribbons undergo transformation into long nanofibrils within ALP-overexpressing tumor regions, resulting in enhanced binding affinities of Supra-BiCE to both PD-L1 and TIGIT. Consequently, this leads to the accumulation and retention of NK/T cells within tumor regions. Furthermore, the combinatorial blockade of checkpoints by Supra-BiCE activates infiltrating NK/T cells. Moreover, the adjustable peptide ratio in Supra-BiCE enables customization for optimal therapeutic effects against distinct tumor types. Particularly, Supra-BiCE (T:P = 1:3) achieved 98.27% tumor suppression rate against colon carcinoma model. Overall, this study offers a promising tool for engaging NK and T cells for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumiao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Zhongqiu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Yingying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Yinghao Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwen Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, P. R. China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Urology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Zhimou Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, P. R. China
| | - Jie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P. R. China
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13
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Jamshidi M, Keshavarzi F, Amini S, Laher I, Gheysarzadeh A, Davari K. Targeting androgen receptor (AR) with a synthetic peptide increases apoptosis in triple negative breast cancer and AR-expressing prostate cancer cell lines. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e1922. [PMID: 37903548 PMCID: PMC10809188 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1922] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The androgen receptor (AR) has been studied as an approach to cancer therapy. AIMS We used human breast cancer-derived cells with high, low, and very low expression levels of AR, in addition to prostate cancer-derived LNCaP and DU-145 cells as a positive and negative controls to examine apoptosis caused by a synthetic peptide that targets ARs. METHODS AND RESULTS The peptide was produced to inhibit AR transactivation in breast cancer cell lines. We then measured cell viability, caspase-3 activity, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. The findings indicated that the peptide (100-500 nM) in the presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) reduced cell growth in cells with high and low expression level of AR (p < .001), but not in cells with very low levels of AR. Treatment with 100-500 nM of peptide activated caspase-3 and increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in cells with high and low expression levels of AR. Also, increasing concentrations of the peptide (100-500 nM) reduced BrdU incorporation in the presence of DHT and promoted apoptosis in cells with high and low expression levels of AR (p < .001). CONCLUSION The findings indicate the peptide significantly increased apoptosis in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazdak Jamshidi
- Department of Biology, Sanandaj BranchIslamic Azad UniversitySanandajIran
| | - Fatemeh Keshavarzi
- Department of Biology, Sanandaj BranchIslamic Azad UniversitySanandajIran
| | - Sabrieh Amini
- Department of Biology, Sanandaj BranchIslamic Azad UniversitySanandajIran
| | - Ismail Laher
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and TherapeuticsThe University of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Ali Gheysarzadeh
- Department of Clinical BiochemistryIlam University of Medical SciencesIlamIran
| | - Kambiz Davari
- Department of Biology, Sanandaj BranchIslamic Azad UniversitySanandajIran
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14
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Zhou L, Hou Y, Pan X, Wang X, Jin H, Yang X, Wang K, Ding X, Wang K, Zhu M, Pan Y, Wang W, Lu L. Trichosanthin-derived peptide Tk-PQ attenuates immune rejection in mouse tracheal allotransplant model by suppressing PI3K-Akt and inducing type II immune polarization. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111081. [PMID: 37862724 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111081] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is one of the main complications affecting long-term survival of post-lung transplantation patients. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Tk-PQ (a peptide derived from trichosanthin) in alleviating OB in a mouse ectopic tracheal transplant model. We found that post-transplantation treatment of Tk-PQ significant ameliorated OB symptoms including luminal occlusion, epithelial cells loss and fibrosis in the allograft. In addition, Tk-PQ promoted immune suppressive environment by inducing Th2 polarization and increasing Treg population which in turn led to elevated levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-33 and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory IL-1β. Mechanistically, we used transcriptome analysis of splenic T cells from allografted mice to show that Tk-PQ treatment down-regulated the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Indeed, the immune suppression phenotypes of Tk-PQ was recapitulated by a PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Taken together, Tk-PQ regulates post-transplantation immuno-rejection by modulating the balance of T cell response via the PI3K-Akt pathway, making it a promising peptide based immune rejection suppressant for patients receiving allotransplant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yafei Hou
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xufeng Pan
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Haizhen Jin
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Kefan Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xuping Ding
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Minfang Zhu
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yan Pan
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Liming Lu
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Central Laboratory, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
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15
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Kim H, Kim HT, Jung SH, Han JW, Jo S, Kim IG, Kim RK, Kahm YJ, Choi TI, Kim CH, Lee JH. A Novel Anticancer Peptide Derived from Bryopsis plumosa Regulates Proliferation and Invasion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:607. [PMID: 38132928 PMCID: PMC10744475 DOI: 10.3390/md21120607] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of new highly effective anticancer drugs with few side effects is a challenge for drug development research. Natural or synthetic anticancer peptides (ACPs) represent a new generation of anticancer agents with high selectivity and specificity. The rapid emergence of chemoradiation-resistant lung cancer has necessitated the discovery of novel anticancer agents as alternatives to conventional therapeutics. In this study, we synthesized a peptide containing 22 amino acids and characterized it as a novel ACP (MP06) derived from green sea algae, Bryopsis plumosa. Using the ACP database, MP06 was predicted to possess an alpha-helical secondary structure and functionality. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of the MP06, determined using the cytotoxicity assay and Annexin V/propidium iodide staining kit, were significantly higher in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells than in non-cancerous lung cells. We confirmed that MP06 suppressed cellular migration and invasion and inhibited the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, the markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, MP06 effectively reduced the metastasis of tumor xenografts in zebrafish embryos. In conclusion, we suggest considering MP06 as a novel candidate for the development of new anticancer drugs functioning via the ERK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heabin Kim
- Department of Genetic Resources, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (S.-H.J.); (J.W.H.); (S.J.)
| | - Hyun-Taek Kim
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan-si 31151, Republic of Korea;
| | - Seung-Hyun Jung
- Department of Genetic Resources, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (S.-H.J.); (J.W.H.); (S.J.)
| | - Jong Won Han
- Department of Genetic Resources, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (S.-H.J.); (J.W.H.); (S.J.)
| | - Seonmi Jo
- Department of Genetic Resources, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (S.-H.J.); (J.W.H.); (S.J.)
| | - In-Gyu Kim
- Department of Radiation Biology, Environmental Safety Assessment Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon 34057, Republic of Korea; (I.-G.K.); (R.-K.K.); (Y.-J.K.)
| | - Rae-Kwon Kim
- Department of Radiation Biology, Environmental Safety Assessment Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon 34057, Republic of Korea; (I.-G.K.); (R.-K.K.); (Y.-J.K.)
- Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Jee Kahm
- Department of Radiation Biology, Environmental Safety Assessment Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon 34057, Republic of Korea; (I.-G.K.); (R.-K.K.); (Y.-J.K.)
- Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Ik Choi
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (T.-I.C.); (C.-H.K.)
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (T.-I.C.); (C.-H.K.)
| | - Jei Ha Lee
- Department of Genetic Resources, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seocheon 33662, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (S.-H.J.); (J.W.H.); (S.J.)
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16
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Mansur AAP, Carvalho SC, Dorneles EMS, Lage AP, Lobato ZIP, Mansur HS. Bio-functionalized nanocolloids of ZnS quantum dot/amine-rich polypeptides for bioimaging cancer cells with antibacterial activity: " seeing is believing". RSC Adv 2023; 13:34378-34390. [PMID: 38024978 PMCID: PMC10665648 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra06711d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Among almost 200 types of cancers, glioma is considered one of the most common forms of malignant tumors located in the central nervous system (CNS). Glioblastoma (GBM), one of the deadliest types of brain cancer, remains one of the challenges faced by oncologists. Thus, smartly designed nanomaterials biofunctionalized with polypeptides can offer disruptive strategies relying on the earliest possible diagnosis ("seeing is believing") combined with more efficient therapies for fighting cancer cells. To worsen this scenario, bacteria infections very often pose a serious challenge to cancer-immunodeficient patients under chemotherapy. Thus, in this research, we report for the first time the design and synthesis of novel nanoconjugates composed of photoluminescent ZnS quantum dots (ZnS QDs), which were directly surface biofunctionalized with epsilon-poly-l-lysine (εPL), acting as an amine-rich cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) and antimicrobial peptide agent (AMP). These nanoconjugates (named ZnS@CPP-AMP) were produced through a one-step facile, eco-friendly, and biocompatible colloidal aqueous process to be applied as a proof of concept as nanoprobes for bioimaging GBM cancer cells (U87-MG) associated with synergic antibacterial activity. They were characterized regarding their physicochemical and optical properties associated with the biological activity. The results demonstrated that chemically stable aqueous colloidal nanoconjugates were effectively formed, resembling core-shell (inorganic, ZnS, organic, εPL) nanostructures with positively surface-charged features due to the cationic nature of the amine-rich polypeptide. More importantly, they demonstrated photoluminescent activity, cytocompatibility in vitro, and no significant intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These ZnS@CPP-AMP nanocolloids behaved as fluorescent nanoprobes for bioimaging GBM cancer cells, where the polycationic nature of the εPL biomolecule may have enhanced the cellular uptake. Additionally, they displayed mild antibacterial growth inhibition due to electrostatic interactions with bacterial membranes. Thus, it can be envisioned that these novel photoluminescent colloidal nanoconjugates offer novel nanoplatforms that can be specifically targeted with biomolecules for bioimaging to diagnose highly lethal cancers, such as GBM, and as an adjuvant in antibacterial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A P Mansur
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Center of Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, and Innovation-CeNano2I, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Escola de Engenharia, Bloco 2 - Sala 2233 31.270-901 Belo Horizonte MG Brazil +55-31-34091843 +55-31-34091843
| | - Sandhra C Carvalho
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Center of Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, and Innovation-CeNano2I, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Escola de Engenharia, Bloco 2 - Sala 2233 31.270-901 Belo Horizonte MG Brazil +55-31-34091843 +55-31-34091843
| | - Elaine M S Dorneles
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, UFLA Brazil
| | - Andrey P Lage
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG Brazil
| | - Zelia I P Lobato
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG Brazil
| | - Herman S Mansur
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Center of Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, and Innovation-CeNano2I, Federal University of Minas Gerais, UFMG Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 - Escola de Engenharia, Bloco 2 - Sala 2233 31.270-901 Belo Horizonte MG Brazil +55-31-34091843 +55-31-34091843
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17
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Lim C, Lee S, Shin Y, Cho S, Park C, Shin Y, Song EC, Kim WK, Ham C, Kim SB, Kwon YS, Oh KT. Development and application of novel peptide-formulated nanoparticles for treatment of atopic dermatitis. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:10131-10146. [PMID: 37830254 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01202f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that is characterized by skin inflammation, itching, and redness. Although various treatments can alleviate symptoms, they often come with side effects, highlighting the need for new treatments. Here, we discovered a new peptide-based therapy using the intra-dermal delivery technology (IDDT) platform developed by Remedi Co., Ltd (REMEDI). The platform screens and identifies peptides derived from proteins in the human body that possess cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) properties. We screened over 1000-peptides and identified several derived from the Speckled protein (SP) family that have excellent CPP properties and have anti-inflammatory effects. We assessed these peptides for their potential as a treatment for atopic dermatitis. Among them, the RMSP1 peptide showed the most potent anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways while possessing CPP properties. To further improve efficacy and stability, we developed a palmitoylated version called Pal-RMSP1. Formulation studies using liposomes (Pal-RMSP1 LP) and micelles (Pal-RMSP1 DP) demonstrated improved anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and enhanced therapeutic effects in vivo. Our study indicates that nano-formulated Pal-RMSP1 could have the potential to become a new treatment option for atopic dermatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaemin Lim
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
- College of Pharmacy, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, 13488 Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Global Innovative Drugs, The Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuseon Shin
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Global Innovative Drugs, The Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongmin Cho
- Remedi Co., Ltd. Research Center, Songdo 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanho Park
- Remedi Co., Ltd. Research Center, Songdo 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Yungyeong Shin
- Remedi Co., Ltd. Research Center, Songdo 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Ee Chan Song
- Remedi Co., Ltd. Research Center, Songdo 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan Ki Kim
- Remedi Co., Ltd. Research Center, Songdo 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolmin Ham
- Rare Isotope Science Project, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon 34000, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Bum Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Su Kwon
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kyung Taek Oh
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Global Innovative Drugs, The Graduate School of Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
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18
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Niu X, Wu M, Li G, Zhou X, Cao W, Zhai W, Wu A, Zhou X, Jin S, Chen G, Li Y, Du J, Wu Y, Qiu L, Zhao W, Gao Y. Identification and optimization of peptide inhibitors to block VISTA/PSGL-1 interaction for cancer immunotherapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:4511-4522. [PMID: 37969728 PMCID: PMC10638518 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing new therapeutic agents for cancer immunotherapy is highly demanding due to the low response ratio of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in cancer patients. Here, we discovered that the novel immune checkpoint VISTA is highly expressed on a variety of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, especially myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CD8+ T cells. Then, peptide C1 with binding affinity to VISTA was developed by phage displayed bio-panning technique, and its mutant peptide VS3 was obtained by molecular docking based mutation. Peptide VS3 could bind VISTA with high affinity and block its interaction with ligand PSGL-1 under acidic condition, and elicit anti-tumor activity in vivo. The peptide DVS3-Pal was further designed by d-amino acid substitution and fatty acid modification, which exhibited strong proteolytic stability and significant anti-tumor activity through enhancing CD8+ T cell function and decreasing MDSCs infiltration. This is the first study to develop peptides to block VISTA/PSGL-1 interaction, which could act as promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshuang Niu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Menghan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Guodong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiuman Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Wenpeng Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Wenjie Zhai
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- International Joint Laboratory for Protein and Peptide Drugs of Henan Province, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Aijun Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaowen Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Shengzhe Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Guanyu Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Yanying Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jiangfeng Du
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- International Joint Laboratory for Protein and Peptide Drugs of Henan Province, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yahong Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- International Joint Laboratory for Protein and Peptide Drugs of Henan Province, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Lu Qiu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Wenshan Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- International Joint Laboratory for Protein and Peptide Drugs of Henan Province, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yanfeng Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
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Monastero R, Magro D, Venezia M, Pisano C, Balistreri CR. A promising therapeutic peptide and preventive/diagnostic biomarker for age-related diseases: The Elabela/Apela/Toddler peptide. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102076. [PMID: 37776977 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Elabela (ELA), Apela or Toddler peptide is a hormone peptide belonging to the adipokine group and a component of apelinergic system, discovered in 2013-2014. Given its high homology with apelin, the first ligand of APJ receptor, ELA likely mediates similar effects. Increasing evidence shows that ELA has a critical function not only in embryonic development, but also in adulthood, contributing to physiological and pathological conditions, such as the onset of age-related diseases (ARD). However, still little is known about the mechanisms and molecular pathways of ELA, as well as its precise functions in ARD pathophysiology. Here, we report the mechanisms by which ELA/APJ signaling acts in a very complex network of pathways for the maintenance of physiological functions of human tissue and organs, as well as in the onset of some ARD, where it appears to play a central role. Therefore, we describe the possibility to use the ELA/APJ pathway, as novel biomarker (predictive and diagnostic) and target for personalized treatments of ARD. Its potentiality as an optimal peptide candidate for therapeutic ARD treatments is largely described, also detailing potential current limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Monastero
- Section of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Daniele Magro
- Cellular, Molecular and Clinical Pathological Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marika Venezia
- Cellular, Molecular and Clinical Pathological Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Calogera Pisano
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Rita Balistreri
- Cellular, Molecular and Clinical Pathological Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134, Palermo, Italy.
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20
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Hu Z, Li W, Chen S, Chen D, Xu R, Zheng D, Yang X, Li S, Zhou X, Niu X, Xiao Y, He Z, Li H, Liu J, Sui X, Gao Y. Design of a novel chimeric peptide via dual blockade of CD47/SIRPα and PD-1/PD-L1 for cancer immunotherapy. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023; 66:2310-2328. [PMID: 37115491 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2285-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Although immune checkpoint inhibition has been shown to effectively activate antitumor immunity in various tumor types, only a small subset of patients can benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. CD47 expressed on tumor cells protects them from phagocytosis through interaction with SIRPα on macrophages, while PD-L1 dampens T cell-mediated tumor killing. Therefore, dual targeting PD-L1 and CD47 may improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. A chimeric peptide Pal-DMPOP was designed by conjugating the double mutation of CD47/SIRPα blocking peptide (DMP) with the truncation of PD-1/PD-L1 blocking peptide OPBP-1(8-12) and was modified by a palmitic acid tail. Pal-DMPOP can significantly enhance macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells and activate primary T cells to secret IFN-γ in vitro. Due to its superior hydrolysis-resistant activity as well as tumor tissue and lymph node targeting properties, Pal-DMPOP elicited stronger anti-tumor potency than Pal-DMP or OPBP-1(8-12) in immune-competent MC38 tumor-bearing mice. The in vivo anti-tumor activity was further validated in the colorectal CT26 tumor model. Furthermore, Pal-DMPOP mobilized macrophage and T-cell anti-tumor responses with minimal toxicity. Overall, the first bispecific CD47/SIRPα and PD-1/PD-L1 dual-blockade chimeric peptide was designed and exhibited synergistic anti-tumor efficacy via CD8+ T cell activation and macrophage-mediated immune response. The strategy could pave the way for designing effective therapeutic agents for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Wanqiong Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Shaomeng Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Danhong Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Ran Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Danlu Zheng
- School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Xin Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Shuzhen Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Xiuman Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Niu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Youmei Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Zhuoying He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Huihao Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Juan Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Xinghua Sui
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
| | - Yanfeng Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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21
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Zhang X, Zhang M, Huang S, Ohtani K, Xu L, Guo Y. Engineered Polymeric Nanovector for Intracellular Peptide Delivery in Antitumor Therapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:5343-5363. [PMID: 37746048 PMCID: PMC10517702 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s427536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to deliver a polypeptide from the Bax-BH3 domain (BHP) through the synthesis of self-assembled amphiphile nanovectors (NVs) and to assess their potential for cancer therapeutic applications and biological safety in vitro and in vivo. These findings provide valuable options for cancer intervention and a novel approach for the rational design of therapeutics. Methods We studied the antitumor activity of BHP by preparing RGDfK-PHPMA-b-Poly (MMA-alt-(Rhob-MA)) (RPPMMRA) and encapsulating it in BHP-NV. We also performed a series of characterizations and property analyses of RPPMMRA, including its size, stability, and drug-carrying capacity. The biocompatibility of RPPMMRA was evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity and hemolytic effects. The pro-apoptotic capacity of BHP was evaluated in vitro using mitochondrial membrane potential, flow cytometry, and apoptosis visualization techniques. The potential therapeutic effects of BHP on tumors were explored using reverse molecular docking. We also investigated the in vivo proapoptotic effect of BHP-NV in a nude mouse tumor model. Results NVs were successfully prepared with hydrated particle sizes ranging from 189.6 nm to 256.6 nm, spherical overall, and were able to remain stable in different media for 72 h with drug loading up to 15.2%. The NVs were be successfully internalized within 6 h with good biocompatibility. Neither BHP nor NV showed significant toxicity when administered alone, however, BHP-NV demonstrated significant side effects in vitro and in vivo. The apoptosis rate increased significantly from 14.13% to 66.34%. Experiments in vivo showed that BHP-NV exhibited significant apoptotic and tumor-suppressive effects. Conclusion A targeted fluorescent NV with high drug delivery efficiency and sustained release protected the active center of BHP, constituting BHP-NV for targeted delivery. RPPMMRA demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, stability, and drug loading ability, whereas and BHP-NV demonstrated potent antitumor effects in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingming Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sijun Huang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kiyoshi Ohtani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Kwansei Gakuin University, Sanda, Hyogo, 669-1337, Japan
| | - Li Xu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Guo
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, People’s Republic of China
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22
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Lee JY, Park S, Han AR, Hwang HS, Kim HJ. Therapeutic potential of FLT4-targeting peptide in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:2919-2925. [PMID: 36763100 PMCID: PMC10991567 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03385-8] [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: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we found that dysfunctional natural killer (NK) cells with low interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were restored in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by the FLT4 antagonist MAZ51. Here, we developed 12 peptides targeting FLT4 for clinical application and examined whether they restored the frequency of lymphocytes, especially T cells and NK cells, and high IFN-γ expression, as MAZ51 treatment did in our previous study. Although clinical data from using peptides are currently available, peptides targeting FLT4 to modulate immune cells have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we focus on novel peptide 4 (P4) from the intracellular domain of FLT4 because it had dominant negative activity. Similar to MAZ51, high IFN-γ levels were expressed in AML-mononuclear cells exposed to P4. Additionally, T and NK cell levels were restored, as were high IFN-γ levels, in a leukemic environment when P4 was treated. Interestingly, the regulatory T cells were significantly decreased by P4, implying the role of peptide in tumor niche. Overall, we demonstrated the therapeutic value of functionally modulating lymphocytes using a peptide targeting FLT4 and proposed the development of advanced therapeutic approaches against AML by using immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yoon Lee
- CHA Advanced Research Institute, Bundang CHA Hospital, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Soojin Park
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- Catholic Hematology Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - A-Reum Han
- CHA Advanced Research Institute, Bundang CHA Hospital, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hee-Sun Hwang
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- Catholic Hematology Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee-Je Kim
- Catholic Hematology Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
- Department of Hematology, College of Medicine, Leukemia Research Institute, Catholic Hematology Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpo-Daero, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, 06591, Korea.
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23
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Thongchot S, Aksonnam K, Thuwajit P, Yenchitsomanus PT, Thuwajit C. Nucleolin‑based targeting strategies in cancer treatment: Focus on cancer immunotherapy (Review). Int J Mol Med 2023; 52:81. [PMID: 37477132 PMCID: PMC10555485 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2023.5284] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The benefits of treating several types of cancers using immunotherapy have recently been established. The overexpression of nucleolin (NCL) in a number of types of cancer provides an attractive antigen target for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic treatments. NCL is a multifunctional protein abundantly distributed in the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane. It influences carcinogenesis, and the proliferation, survival and metastasis of cancer cells, leading to cancer progression. Additionally, the meta‑analysis of total and cytoplasmic NCL overexpression indicates a poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer. The AS1411 aptamers currently appear to have therapeutic action in the phase II clinical trial. The authors' research group has recently explored the anticancer function of NCL through the activation of T cells by dendritic cell‑based immunotherapy. The present review describes and discusses the mechanisms through which the multiple functions of NCL can participate in the progression of cancer. In addition, the studies that define the utility of NCL‑dependent anticancer therapies are summarized, with specific focus being paid to cancer immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyanee Thongchot
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Krittaya Aksonnam
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Peti Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
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24
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Sweef O, Zaabout E, Bakheet A, Halawa M, Gad I, Akela M, Tousson E, Abdelghany A, Furuta S. Unraveling Therapeutic Opportunities and the Diagnostic Potential of microRNAs for Human Lung Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2061. [PMID: 37631277 PMCID: PMC10459057 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is a major public health problem and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite advances in treatment options, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients remains low, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lung cancer due to their crucial roles in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. For example, miR-34a and miR-150, once delivered to lung cancer via liposomes or nanoparticles, can inhibit tumor growth by downregulating critical cancer promoting genes. Conversely, miR-21 and miR-155, frequently overexpressed in lung cancer, are associated with increased cell proliferation, invasion, and chemotherapy resistance. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the roles of miRNAs in lung carcinogenesis, especially those induced by exposure to environmental pollutants, namely, arsenic and benzopyrene, which account for up to 1/10 of lung cancer cases. We then discuss the recent advances in miRNA-based cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. Such information will provide new insights into lung cancer pathogenesis and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic modalities based on miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama Sweef
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
| | - Elsayed Zaabout
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ahmed Bakheet
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
| | - Mohamed Halawa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ibrahim Gad
- Department of Statistics and Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Akela
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ehab Tousson
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
| | - Ashraf Abdelghany
- Biomedical Research Center of University of Granada, Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Saori Furuta
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
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25
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Sun M, Wu Y, Zhou Z, Liu S, Mao S, Li G. Co-delivery of EGCG and melittin with self-assembled fluoro-nanoparticles for enhanced cancer therapy. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:204769. [PMID: 37277118 PMCID: PMC10292896 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Melittin (MPI) is a potential anticancer peptide due to its abilities of antitumor and immunomodulatory functions. Epigallocatechin-3-Ogallate (EGCG), a major extract of green tea, has shown great affinity for various types of biological molecules, especially for peptide/protein drugs. The aim of this study is to prepare a fluoro- nanoparticle (NP) formed by self-assembly of fluorinated EGCG (FEGCG) and MPI, and evaluate the effect of fluorine modification on MPI delivery and their synergistic antitumor effect. METHODS Characterization of FEGCG@MPI NPs was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Biology functions of FEGCG@MPI NPs were detected by hemolysis effect, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cellular uptake with confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2/Bax, IRF, STATT-1, P-STAT-1, and PD-L1 were determined via western blotting. A transwell assay and wound healing assay were used to detect the cell migration and invasion. The antitumor efficacy of FEGCG@MPI NPs was demonstrated in a subcutaneous tumor model. RESULTS Fluoro-nanoparticles could be formed by self-assembly of FEGCG and MPI, and fluorine modification on EGCG could ameliorate the side effect and delivery of MPI. The promoted therapeutics of FEGCG@MPI NPs could be achieved by regulating PD-L1 and apoptosis signaling, which might involve pathways of IRF, STAT-1/pSTAT-1, PD-L1, Bcl-2, and Bax in vitro. Moreover, FEGCG@MPI NPs could significantly inhibit the growth of tumor in vivo. CONCLUSIONS FEGCG@MPI NPs may offer a potential platform and promising strategy in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliate Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliate Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
| | - Zheyu Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College Nanjing, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Mao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliate Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliate Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
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Abeesh P, Guruvayoorappan C. Umbelliferone loaded PEGylated liposomes: preparation, characterization and its mitigatory effects on Dalton's ascites lymphoma development. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:216. [PMID: 37251730 PMCID: PMC10224889 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03615-x] [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: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Umbelliferone (UB) is a phenylpropanoid-based pharmacologically active agent with promising anti-tumor activities. However, complete elucidation of its therapeutic efficacy remains challenging due to low solubility and bioavailability. The present study aimed to develop a liposomal delivery system for UB to enhance its therapeutic efficacy against Dalton's ascites lymphoma tumor model. Umbelliferone-encapsulated nanoliposomes (nLUB) were prepared using the thin-film hydration method and performed a series of characterizations to confirm successful development. The nLUB showed a particle size of 116 ± 3.2 nm with a negative surface charge and encapsulation efficiency of 78%. In vitro study results showed that nLUB treatment significantly enhanced cellular uptake and apoptosis induction in lymphoma cells compared to free UB. nLUB treatment significantly stabilized body weight, reduced tumor growth, and improved the serum biochemical and hematological parameters of experimental animals, thereby improving their overall survivability compared to an free UB. Our result indicates that nanoencapsulation enhanced the therapeutic potential of UB, which may find its way to clinical application in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prathapan Abeesh
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695 011 India
| | - Chandrasekharan Guruvayoorappan
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695 011 India
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27
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Qi B, Kong L, Lai X, Wang L, Liu F, Ji W, Wei D. Plasma exosome proteomics reveals the pathogenesis mechanism of post-stroke cognitive impairment. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:204738. [PMID: 37211381 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204738] [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: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Exploration and utilization of exosome biomarkers and their related functions provide the possibility for the diagnosis and treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). To identify the new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of plasma exosome were uzed label-free quantitative proteomics and biological information analysis in PSCI patients. Behavioral assessments were performed, including the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Barthel index, the Morse Fall Seale (MFS) between control group (n = 10) and PSCI group (n = 10). The blood samples were collected to analyse the biomarker and differentially expressed proteins of plasma exosome using label-free quantitative proteomics and biological information. The exosomes marker proteins were determined by Western blot. The exosome morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The scores of MMSE and MoCA were significantly decreased in the PSCI group. The PT% and high-density lipoprotein decreased and the INR ratio increased in PSCI group. The mean size of exosome was approximately 71.6 nm and the concentration was approximately 6.8E+7 particles/mL. Exosome proteomics identified 259 differentially expressed proteins. The mechanisms of cognitive impairment are related to regulate the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins, calcium dependent protein binding, cell adhesive protein binding, formation of fibrin clot, lipid metabolism and ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitinated proteins in plasma exosome of PSCI patients. Plasma levels of YWHAZ and BAIAP2 were significantly increased while that of IGHD, ABCB6 and HSPD1 were significantly decreased in PSCI patients. These proteins might be target-related proteins and provide global insights into pathogenesis mechanisms of PSCI at plasma exosome proteins level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoyun Qi
- The Eastern Area, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 101121, China
| | - Lingbo Kong
- The Eastern Area, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 101121, China
| | - Xinxing Lai
- Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China
- Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Linshuang Wang
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurology, Hohhot Mongolian Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Weiwei Ji
- Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Dongfeng Wei
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Deng H, Ding M, Wang Y, Li W, Liu G, Tang Y. ACP-MLC: A two-level prediction engine for identification of anticancer peptides and multi-label classification of their functional types. Comput Biol Med 2023; 158:106844. [PMID: 37058760 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Anticancer peptides (ACPs), a series of short bioactive peptides, are promising candidates in fighting against cancer due to their high activity, low toxicity, and not likely cause drug resistance. The accurate identification of ACPs and classification of their functional types is of great importance for investigating their mechanisms of action and developing peptide-based anticancer therapies. Here, we provided a computational tool, called ACP-MLC, to address binary classification and multi-label classification of ACPs for a given peptide sequence. Briefly, ACP-MLC is a two-level prediction engine, in which the 1st-level model predicts whether a query sequence is an ACP or not by random forest algorithm, and the 2nd-level model predicts which tissue types the sequence might target by the binary relevance algorithm. Development and evaluation by high-quality datasets, our ACP-MLC yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.888 on the independent test set for the 1st-level prediction, and obtained 0.157 hamming loss, 0.577 subset accuracy, 0.802 F1-scoremacro, and 0.826 F1-scoremicro on the independent test set for the 2nd-level prediction. A systematic comparison demonstrated that ACP-MLC outperformed existing binary classifiers and other multi-label learning classifiers for ACP prediction. Finally, we interpreted the important features of ACP-MLC by the SHAP method. User-friendly software and the datasets are available at https://github.com/Nicole-DH/ACP-MLC. We believe that the ACP-MLC would be a powerful tool in ACP discovery.
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A Novel Fibromodulin Antagonist Peptide RP4 Exerts Antitumor Effects on Colorectal Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030944. [PMID: 36986805 PMCID: PMC10053243 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Fibromodulin (FMOD) is the main proteoglycan that contributes to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling by binding to matrix molecules, thereby playing an essential role in tumor growth and metastasis. There are still no useful drugs that target FMOD for CRC treatment in clinics. Here, we first used public whole-genome expression datasets to analyze the expression level of FMOD in CRC and found that FMOD was upregulated in CRC and associated with poor patient prognosis. We then used the Ph.D.-12 phage display peptide library to obtain a novel FMOD antagonist peptide, named RP4, and tested its anti-cancer effects of RP4 in vitro and in vivo. These results showed that RP4 inhibited CRC cell growth and metastasis, and promoted apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo by binding to FMOD. In addition, RP4 treatment affected the CRC-associated immune microenvironment in a tumor model by promoting cytotoxic CD8+ T and NKT (natural killer T) cells and inhibiting CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells. Mechanistically, RP4 exerted anti-tumor effects by blocking the Akt and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. This study implies that FMOD is a potential target for CRC treatment, and the novel FMOD antagonist peptide RP4 can be developed as a clinical drug for CRC treatment.
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Ma L, Niu M, Ji Y, Liu L, Gu X, Luo J, Wei G, Yan M. Development of KLA-RGD integrated lipopeptide with the effect of penetrating membrane which target the α vβ 3 receptor and the application of combined antitumor. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 223:113186. [PMID: 36746066 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113186] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Herein, an amphiphilic cationic anticancer lipopeptide P17 with α-helical structure was synthesized based on the integration of KLA and RGD peptide which could bind with the receptor of integrin αvβ3. P17 could self assemble into stable spherical aggregates in aqueous solution, and which could encapsulate the anticancer drugs (Such as Dox) to form P17 @ Anticancer drug nanomedicine (P17 @ Dox nanomedicine) which could play the combined therapy of P17 and anticancer drugs (Dox). The encapsulation efficiency of P17 aggregates to Dox was 80.4 ± 3.2 %, and the release behavior of P17 @ Dox nanomedicine in vitro had the characteristics of slow-release and pH responsiveness. The experiments in vitro showed that P17 lipopeptide had low cytotoxicity, high serum stability, low hemolysis and strong penetrating membrane ability. The release of Dox from P17 @ Dox in cells was time-dependment, and the P17 @ Dox nanomedicine had a good anticancer effect. The experiments in vivo showed that P17 and P17 @ Dox nanomedicine both had low hemolysis, and P17 @ Dox nanomedicine could effectively inhibit tumor growth and significantly reduce the toxic and side effects of Dox. Molecular docking experiments showed that P17 could effectively interact with the receptor of integrin αvβ3. In conclusion, P17 lipopeptide could be used as an excellent drug carrier and play the combined anticancer effect of P17 and anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhao Ma
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China
| | - Mingcong Niu
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China
| | - Yiping Ji
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China
| | - XiuLian Gu
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China
| | - Junlin Luo
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China
| | - Guangcheng Wei
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China.
| | - Miaomiao Yan
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003,China.
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Qiu J, Anas Tomeh M, Jin Y, Zhang B, Zhao X. Microfluidic fabrication of anticancer peptide loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles for the treatment of breast cancer. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 642:810-819. [PMID: 37043939 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.03.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Anticancer peptides (ACPs) are promising antitumor drugs owning to their great cancer cell targeting and anticancer effects as well as low drug resistance. However, many of the ACPs have non-specific toxicity and can be easily degraded by the enzymes after administration. Therefore, drug delivery systems (DDSs) are required to shield these peptides from degradation and induce targeted delivery. In this paper, a high performance microfluidic device was used to fabricate the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) encapsulating an ACP (At3) recently developed by our group. The microfluidic device allowed for efficient and rapid mixing to generate ACP loaded nanoparticles (NPs) with controllable properties at high production rate (120 mL/min) and high encapsulation efficiency. The ZIF-8 NPs synthesised by microfluidic processing showed lower polydispersity index (PDI) than the conventional method, demonstrating an improved size uniformity. Encapsulating At3 into the ZIF-8 (At3@ZIF-8) significantly reduced the hemolytic effect and provided a pH-controlled release of At3 peptide. At3@ZIF-8 showed higher anticancer effect than the unloaded peptide at the same concentration due to the enhanced cell uptake by the ZIF-8 NPs. The NPs were able to inhibit the growth of the multicellular tumour spheroids (MCTSs) and damage the mitochondrial membrane of the MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the At3@ZIF-8 NPs inhibited the growth of MCF-7 tumours in nude mice without changing the biochemical properties of the blood or the histopathological properties of vital organs. Therefore, the development of At3 loaded NPs provides an alternative approach in ACP delivery which can broaden the application of ACP-based cancer therapy.
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Hassan I, Ebaid H, Alhazza IM, Al-Tamimi J, Rady AM. Disulfiram Enhances the Antineoplastic Activity and Sensitivity of Murine Hepatocellular Carcinoma to 5-FU via Redox Management. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:169. [PMID: 37259318 PMCID: PMC9967644 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of anticancer drug 5-FU is suppressed due to various factors, including severe side effects and decreased insensitivity during prolonged chemotherapy. Elevated endogenous copper (Cu) levels are one of the prominent hallmark features of cancer cells. In the present investigation, this feature was targeted in diethyl nitrosamine-phenobarbital-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a rat model system by an established anticancer drug, 5-FU, co-administered with copper and its chelating agent, disulfiram. After treatment with the test chemicals in HCC-induced rats, blood and liver samples were subjected to biochemical, molecular, and histopathological analyses. The analysis revealed that reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative stress is the crucial etiological reason for the pathogenesis of HCC in rats, as evidenced by the significantly compromised activity of major antioxidant enzymes and elevated levels of oxidative damaged products with major histological alterations compared to the control. However, the combination of 5-FU with DSF demonstrated a significant improvement in most of the parameters, followed by 5-FU-Cu in the combination-treated groups. The combination treatment improved the histological details and triggered apoptosis in the cancer cells to a remarkable extent, as the levels of cleaved PARP and caspase-3 were significantly higher than those in the HCC rats treated with the drug alone. The present study envisages that manipulating the Cu-level greatly enhances the antineoplastic activity of 5-FU and sensitizes cancer cells to the increased efficacy of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ibrahim M. Alhazza
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Ghaly G, Tallima H, Dabbish E, Badr ElDin N, Abd El-Rahman MK, Ibrahim MAA, Shoeib T. Anti-Cancer Peptides: Status and Future Prospects. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031148. [PMID: 36770815 PMCID: PMC9920184 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The dramatic rise in cancer incidence, alongside treatment deficiencies, has elevated cancer to the second-leading cause of death globally. The increasing morbidity and mortality of this disease can be traced back to a number of causes, including treatment-related side effects, drug resistance, inadequate curative treatment and tumor relapse. Recently, anti-cancer bioactive peptides (ACPs) have emerged as a potential therapeutic choice within the pharmaceutical arsenal due to their high penetration, specificity and fewer side effects. In this contribution, we present a general overview of the literature concerning the conformational structures, modes of action and membrane interaction mechanisms of ACPs, as well as provide recent examples of their successful employment as targeting ligands in cancer treatment. The use of ACPs as a diagnostic tool is summarized, and their advantages in these applications are highlighted. This review expounds on the main approaches for peptide synthesis along with their reconstruction and modification needed to enhance their therapeutic effect. Computational approaches that could predict therapeutic efficacy and suggest ACP candidates for experimental studies are discussed. Future research prospects in this rapidly expanding area are also offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gehane Ghaly
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Hatem Tallima
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Eslam Dabbish
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Norhan Badr ElDin
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El Aini Street, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Mohamed K. Abd El-Rahman
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El Aini Street, Cairo 11562, Egypt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
- School of Health Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Tamer Shoeib
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Correspondence:
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Li QZ, Zhou ZR, Hu CY, Li XB, Chang YZ, Liu Y, Wang YL, Zhou XW. Recent advances of bioactive proteins/polypeptides in the treatment of breast cancer. Food Sci Biotechnol 2023; 32:265-282. [PMID: 36619215 PMCID: PMC9808697 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-022-01233-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins do not only serve as nutrients to fulfill the demand for food, but also are used as a source of bioactive proteins/polypeptides for regulating physical functions and promoting physical health. Female breast cancer has the highest incidence in the world and is a serious threat to women's health. Bioactive proteins/polypeptides exert strong anti-tumor effects and exhibit inhibition of multiple breast cancer cells. This review discussed the suppressing effects of bioactive proteins/polypeptides on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, and their mechanisms of migration and invasion inhibition, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle arrest. This may contribute to providing a basis for the development of bioactive proteins/polypeptides for the treatment of breast cancer. Graphical abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Zhang Li
- National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, No.28, Nanli Road, Wuhan, 430068 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- School of Agriculture and Biology, and Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ze-Rong Zhou
- National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, No.28, Nanli Road, Wuhan, 430068 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Cui-Yu Hu
- National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, No.28, Nanli Road, Wuhan, 430068 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Xian-Bin Li
- Institute of Computational Science and Technology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Zhou Chang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Agriculture and Biology, and Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Liang Wang
- School of Agriculture and Biology, and Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuan-Wei Zhou
- School of Agriculture and Biology, and Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
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Wu W, Yin Y, Feng P, Chen G, Pan L, Gu P, Zhou S, Lin F, Ji S, Zheng C, Deng M. Spider venom-derived peptide JZTX-14 prevents migration and invasion of breast cancer cells via inhibition of sodium channels. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1067665. [PMID: 37033662 PMCID: PMC10076671 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1067665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Nav1.5 channel is crucial for the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effect of JZTX-14, a natural peptide considered an effective antagonist of Nav1.5. First, we successfully isolated and purified the 31 amino acid peptide JZTX-14 containing three pairs of disulfide bonds from spider venom and synthesised JZTX-14 by solid phase synthesis. We then predicted their physiochemical properties and structures in the peptide database. Further, we investigated the effects of natural and synthetic JZTX-14 on the proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells via modulation of sodium current through the Nav1.5 channel. The results showed that both synthetic and natural JZTX-14 inhibited Nav1.5 currents, indicating the successful synthesis of JZTX-14. However, JZTX-14 did not affect MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation but inhibited its migration. Transcriptome analysis revealed that JZTX-14 downregulated S100A4 and FBXO2 and upregulated SERPINB2 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated an increased level of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin, and decreased levels of the mesenchymal markers, N-cadherin and vimentin, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2), indicating the possible underlying mechanism of the inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cell migration by JZTX-14. This study provides a new target for inhibiting breast cancer metastasis and identifies a potent natural peptide for treating Triple-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfang Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yuan Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Peihao Feng
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Gong Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Liangyu Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Panyang Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Siqin Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fulong Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Siyu Ji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | | | - Meichun Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Meichun Deng,
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ACPred-BMF: bidirectional LSTM with multiple feature representations for explainable anticancer peptide prediction. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21915. [PMID: 36535969 PMCID: PMC9763336 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24404-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has become a major factor threatening human life and health. Under the circumstance that traditional treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not highly specific and often cause severe side effects and toxicity, new treatment methods are urgently needed. Anticancer peptide drugs have low toxicity, stronger efficacy and specificity, and have emerged as a new type of cancer treatment drugs. However, experimental identification of anticancer peptides is time-consuming and expensive, and difficult to perform in a high-throughput manner. Computational identification of anticancer peptides can make up for the shortcomings of experimental identification. In this study, a deep learning-based predictor named ACPred-BMF is proposed for the prediction of anticancer peptides. This method uses the quantitative and qualitative properties of amino acids, binary profile feature to numerical representation for the peptide sequences. The Bidirectional LSTM network architecture is used in the model, and the attention mechanism is also considered. To alleviate the black-box problem of deep learning model prediction, we visualized the automatically extracted features and used the Shapley additive explanations algorithm to determine the importance of features to further understand the anticancer peptide mechanism. The results show that our method is one of the state-of-the-art anticancer peptide predictors. A web server as the implementation of ACPred-BMF that can be accessed via: http://mialab.ruc.edu.cn/ACPredBMFServer/ .
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Giordani C, Russo S, Torrisi C, Morante S, Castelli F, Sarpietro MG. A Thermodynamic Study on the Interaction between RH-23 Peptide and DMPC-Based Biomembrane Models. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:1282. [PMID: 36557189 PMCID: PMC9781852 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12121282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Investigation of the interaction between drugs and biomembrane models, as a strategy to study and eventually improve drug/substrate interactions, is a crucial factor in preliminary screening. Synthesized peptides represent a source of potential anticancer and theragnostic drugs. In this study, we investigated the interaction of a novel synthesized peptide, called RH-23, with a simplified dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) model of the cellular membrane. The interaction of RH-23 with DMPC, organized either in multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) and in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers, was assessed using thermodynamic techniques, namely differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and LB. The calorimetric evaluations showed that RH-23 inserted into MLVs, causing a stabilization of the phospholipid gel phase that increased with the molar fraction of RH-23. Interplay with LB monolayers revealed that RH-23 interacted with DMPC molecules. This work represents the first experimental thermodynamic study on the interaction between RH-23 and a simplified model of the lipid membrane, thus providing a basis for further evaluations of the effect of RH-23 on biological membranes and its therapeutic/diagnostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Giordani
- Grupo Productos Naturales Marinos, Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y Alimentarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia
- Instituto de Física, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Stefano Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Cristina Torrisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Silvia Morante
- Dipartimento di Fisica, University of Rome Tor Vergata and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Sarpietro
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
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Faraji N, Arab SS, Doustmohammadi A, Daly NL, Khosroushahi AY. ApInAPDB: a database of apoptosis-inducing anticancer peptides. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21341. [PMID: 36494486 PMCID: PMC9734560 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25530-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ApInAPDB (Apoptosis-Inducing Anticancer Peptides Database) consists of 818 apoptosis-inducing anticancer peptides which are manually collected from research articles. The database provides scholars with peptide related information such as function, binding target and affinity, IC50 and etc. In addition, GRAVY (grand average of hydropathy), net charge at pH 7, hydrophobicity and other physicochemical properties are calculated and presented. Another category of information are structural information includes 3D modeling, secondary structure prediction and descriptors for QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) modeling. In order to facilitate the browsing process, three types of user-friendly searching tools are provided: top categories browser, simple search and advanced search. Overall ApInAPDB as the first database presenting apoptosis-inducing anticancer peptides can be useful in the field of peptide design and especially cancer therapy. Researchers can freely access the database at http://bioinf.modares.ac.ir/software/ApInAPDB/ .
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Affiliation(s)
- Naser Faraji
- grid.412888.f0000 0001 2174 8913Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ,grid.412888.f0000 0001 2174 8913Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Seyed Shahriar Arab
- grid.412266.50000 0001 1781 3962Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Doustmohammadi
- grid.412266.50000 0001 1781 3962Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Norelle L. Daly
- grid.1011.10000 0004 0474 1797Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD Australia
| | - Ahmad Yari Khosroushahi
- grid.412888.f0000 0001 2174 8913Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ,grid.412888.f0000 0001 2174 8913Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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De Novo Design of AC-P19M, a Novel Anticancer Peptide with Apoptotic Effects on Lung Cancer Cells and Anti-Angiogenic Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415594. [PMID: 36555235 PMCID: PMC9779372 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the current developments in cancer therapeutics, efforts to excavate new anticancer agents continue rigorously due to obstacles, such as side effects and drug resistance. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) can be utilized to treat cancer because of their effectiveness on a variety of molecular targets, along with high selectivity and specificity for cancer cells. In the present study, a novel ACP was de novo designed using in silico methods, and its functionality and molecular mechanisms of action were explored. AC-P19M was discovered through functional prediction and sequence modification based on peptide sequences currently available in the database. The peptide exhibited anticancer activity against lung cancer cells, A549 and H460, by disrupting cellular membranes and inducing apoptosis while showing low toxicity towards normal and red blood cells. In addition, the peptide inhibited the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells and reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, AC-P19M showed anti-angiogenic activity through the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling. Our findings suggest that AC-P19M is a novel ACP that directly or indirectly targets cancer cells, demonstrating the potential development of an anticancer agent and providing insights into the discovery of functional substances based on an in silico approach.
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Yang W, Choi J, Choi SH, Shin S, Park SM, Lee Y, Seo J. A conjugate of chlorin e6 and cationic amphipathic peptoid: a dual antimicrobial and anticancer photodynamic therapy agent. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2022; 22:655-667. [PMID: 36481980 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-022-00343-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cationic amphipathic structures are often utilized in natural membrane-active host-defense peptides. Negatively charged surface membranes of rapidly proliferating bacterial and cancer cells have been targeted by various synthetic peptides and peptidomimetics adopting the structural motif. Herein, we synthesized a set of conjugates composed of cationic amphipathic peptoids (i.e., oligo-N-substituted glycines) and a chlorin photosensitizer, named chlorin e6 (Ce6)-peptoid conjugates (CPCs). Among the nine CPCs, CPC 7, composed of Ce6, a PEG linker, and guanidine-rich helical amphipathic peptoids, exhibited a distinct photoresponsive inactivation of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Subsequent studies showed that CPC 7 effectively killed various cancer cells after irradiation with red light (655 nm), suggesting the potential of CPC 7 as a dual antimicrobial and anticancer agent. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry data suggested that CPC 7 could induce apoptotic cell death. Our results show the potential of peptoid-based photosensitizer conjugates as a versatile platform for antimicrobial and anticancer photodynamic therapy agents and peptoid therapeutics.
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Ahmad A, Nawaz MI. Molecular mechanism of VEGF and its role in pathological angiogenesis. J Cell Biochem 2022; 123:1938-1965. [PMID: 36288574 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Over the last seven decades, a significant scientific contribution took place in the delineation of the implications of vascular endothelial-derived growth factor (VEGF) in the processes of angiogenesis. Under pathological conditions, mainly in response to hypoxia or ischemia, elevated VEGF levels promote vascular damage and the growth of abnormal blood vessels. Indeed, the development of VEGF biology has revolutionized our understanding of its role in pathological conditions. Hence, targeting VEGF or VEGF-mediated molecular pathways could be an excellent therapeutic strategy for managing cancers and intraocular neovascular disorders. Although anti-VEGF therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have limited clinical efficacy, they can still significantly improve the overall survival rate. This thus demands further investigation through the development of alternative strategies in the management of VEGF-mediated pathological angiogenesis. This review article focuses on the recent developments toward the delineation of the functional biology of VEGF and the role of anti-VEGF strategies in the management of tumor and eye pathologies. Moreover, therapeutic angiogenesis, an exciting frontier for the treatment of ischemic disorders, is highlighted in this review, including wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajmal Ahmad
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Research Chair in Ophthalmology, Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Imtiaz Nawaz
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Research Chair in Ophthalmology, Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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A stabilized CXCL9(74-103)-derived peptide selectively inhibits proliferation, adhesion and metastasis of tumor cells that express high levels of heparan sulfate. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 222:2808-2822. [PMID: 36272565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Zhang Q, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Jing M, Wang D, Wang Y, Khattak S, Qi H, Cai C, Zhang J, Ngowi EE, Khan NH, Li T, Ji A, Jiang Q, Ji X, Li Y, Wu D. Cystathionine γ-lyase mediates cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oncogene 2022; 41:5238-5252. [PMID: 36310322 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelia-derived malignancy with a distinctive geographic distribution. Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) is involved in cancer development and progression. Nevertheless, the role of CSE in the growth of NPC is unknown. In this study, we found that CSE levels in human NPC cells were higher than those in normal nasopharyngeal cells. CSE overexpression enhanced the proliferative, migrative, and invasive abilities of NPC cells and CSE downregulation exerted reverse effects. Overexpression of CSE decreased the expressions of cytochrome C, cleaved caspase (cas)-3, cleaved cas-9, and cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase, whereas CSE knockdown exhibited reverse effects. CSE overexpression decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the expressions of phospho (p)-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p-p38, but promoted the expressions of p-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), p-AKT, and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), whereas CSE knockdown showed oppose effects. In addition, CSE overexpression promoted NPC xenograft tumor growth and CSE knockdown decreased tumor growth by modulating proliferation, angiogenesis, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Furthermore, DL-propargylglycine (an inhibitor of CSE) dose-dependently inhibited NPC cell growth via ROS-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways without significant toxicity. In conclusion, CSE could regulate the growth of NPC cells through ROS-mediated MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascades. CSE might be a novel tumor marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC. Novel donors/drugs that inhibit the expression/activity of CSE can be developed in the treatment of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Yingran Gao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Yanxia Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Mirong Jing
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Di Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Yizhen Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Saadullah Khattak
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Huiwen Qi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Chunbo Cai
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Ebenezeri Erasto Ngowi
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Kaifeng Municipal Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, Henan Provincial Engineering Centre for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, Dar es Salaam, 2329, Tanzania
| | - Nazeer Hussain Khan
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Tao Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Ailing Ji
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Qiying Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Xinying Ji
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China. .,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China. .,Kaifeng Municipal Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, Henan Provincial Engineering Centre for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.
| | - Yanzhang Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China. .,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.
| | - Dongdong Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China. .,Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China. .,School of Stomatology, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.
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Duan SF, Zhang MM, Zhang X, Liu W, Zhang SH, Yang B, Dong Q, Han JG, Yu HL, Li T, Ji XY, Wu DD, Zhang XJ. HA-ADT suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression via apoptosis promotion and autophagy inhibition. Exp Cell Res 2022; 420:113341. [PMID: 36075445 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113341] [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: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths. We have previously connected a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronic acid (HA), with a common hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor, 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiol-3-thione (ADT-OH), to reconstruct a novel conjugate, HA-ADT. In this study, we determined the effect of HA-ADT on the growth of ESCC. Our data suggested that HA-ADT exerted more potent effects than sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, a fast H2S-releasing donor) and morpholin-4-ium (4-methoxyphenyl)-morpholin-4-ylsulfanylidenesulfido-λ5-phosphane (GYY4137, a slow H2S-releasing donor) on inhibiting the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of human ESCC cells. HA-ADT increased apoptosis by suppressing the protein expressions of phospho (p)-Ser473-protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), p-Tyr199/Tyr458-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and p-Ser2448-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), but suppressed autophagy through the inhibition of the protein levels of p-Ser552-β-catenin, p-Ser9-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and Wnt3a in human ESCC cells. In addition, HA-ADT was more effective in terms of the growth inhibition of human ESCC xenograft tumor than NaHS and GYY4137. In conclusion, HA-ADT can suppress ESCC progression via apoptosis promotion and autophagy inhibition. HA-ADT might be efficacious for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Feng Duan
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Meng-Meng Zhang
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Shi-Hui Zhang
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Qian Dong
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Ju-Guo Han
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Hai-Lan Yu
- Institute for Innovative Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Tao Li
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Xin-Ying Ji
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.
| | - Dong-Dong Wu
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China; School of Stomatology, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China.
| | - Xiao-Ju Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China.
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Ramos-Martín F, Herrera-León C, D'Amelio N. Bombyx mori Cecropin D could trigger cancer cell apoptosis by interacting with mitochondrial cardiolipin. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:184003. [PMID: 35850261 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cecropin D is an antimicrobial peptide from Bombyx mori displaying anticancer and pro-apoptotic activities and, together with Cecropin XJ and Cecropin A, one of the very few peptides targeting esophageal cancer. Cecropin D displays poor similarity to other cecropins but a remarkable similarity in the structure and activity spectrum with Cecropin A and Cecropin XJ, offering the possibility to highlight key motifs at the base of the biological activity. In this work we show by NMR and MD simulations that Cecropin D is partially structured in solution and stabilizes its two-helix folding upon interaction with biomimetic membranes. Simulations show that Cecropin D strongly interacts with the surface of cancer cell biomimetic bilayers where it recognises the phosphatidylserine headgroup often exposed in the outer leaflet of cancerous cells by means of specific salt bridges. Cecropin D is also able to penetrate deeply in bilayers containing cardiolipin, a phospholipid found in mitochondria, causing significant destabilization in the lipid packing which might account for its pro-apoptotic activity. In bacterial membranes, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine act synergically by electrostatically attracting cecropin D and providing access to the membrane core, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ramos-Martín
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens 80039, France.
| | - Claudia Herrera-León
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens 80039, France
| | - Nicola D'Amelio
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens 80039, France.
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46
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Anticancer peptides mechanisms, simple and complex. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 368:110194. [PMID: 36195187 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Peptide therapy has started since 1920s with the advent of insulin application, and now it has emerged as a new approach in treatment of diseases including cancer. Using anti-cancer peptides (ACPs) is a promising way of cancer therapy as ACPs are continuing to be approved and arrived at major pharmaceutical markets. Traditional cancer treatments face different problems like intensive adverse effects to patient's body, cell resistance to conventional chemical drugs and in some worse cases the occurrence of cell multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancerous tissues against chemotherapy. On the other hand, there are some benefits conceived for peptides usage in treatment of diseases specifically cancer, as these compounds present favorable characteristics such as smaller size, high activity, low immunogenicity, good biocompatibility in vivo, convenient and rapid way of synthesis, amenable to sequence modification and revision and there is no limitation for the type of cargo they carry. It is possible to achieve an optimum molecular and functional structure of peptides based on previous experience and bank of peptide motif data which may result in novel peptide design. Bioactive peptides are able to form pores in cell membrane and induce necrosis or apoptosis of abnormal cells. Moreover, recent researches have focused on the tumor recognizing peptide motifs with the ability to permeate to cancerous cells with the aim of cancer treatment at earlier stages. In this strategy the most important factors for addressing cancer are choosing peptides with easy accessibility to tumor cell without cytotoxicity effect towards normal cells. The peptides must also meet acceptable pharmacokinetic requirements. In this review, the characteristics of peptides and cancer cells are discussed. The various mechanisms of peptides' action proposed against cancer cells make the next part of discussion. It will be followed by giving information on peptides application, various methods of peptide designing along with introducing various databases. Future aspects of peptides for employing in area of cancer treatment come as conclusion at the end.
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Kumar A, Sharipov M, Turaev A, Azizov S, Azizov I, Makhado E, Rahdar A, Kumar D, Pandey S. Polymer-Based Hybrid Nanoarchitectures for Cancer Therapy Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14153027. [PMID: 35893988 PMCID: PMC9370428 DOI: 10.3390/polym14153027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, cancer is affecting societies and is becoming an important cause of death. Chemotherapy can be highly effective, but it is associated with certain problems, such as undesired targeting and multidrug resistance. The other advanced therapies, such as gene therapy and peptide therapy, do not prove to be effective without a proper delivery medium. Polymer-based hybrid nanoarchitectures have enormous potential in drug delivery. The polymers used in these nanohybrids (NHs) provide them with their distinct properties and also enable the controlled release of the drugs. This review features the recent use of polymers in the preparation of different nanohybrids for cancer therapy published since 2015 in some reputed journals. The polymeric nanohybrids provide an advantage in drug delivery with the controlled and targeted delivery of a payload and the irradiation of cancer by chemotherapeutical and photodynamic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173229, India;
| | - Mirkomil Sharipov
- Department of Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Korea;
| | - Abbaskhan Turaev
- Laboratory of Biological Active Macromolecular Systems, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent 100125, Uzbekistan;
| | - Shavkatjon Azizov
- Laboratory of Biological Active Macromolecular Systems, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent 100125, Uzbekistan;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute, Tashkent 100015, Uzbekistan
- Correspondence: (S.A.); (D.K.); or (S.P.)
| | - Ismatdjan Azizov
- State Center for Expertise and Standardization of Medicines, Medical Devices, and Medical Equipment, State Unitary Enterprise, Tashkent 100002, Uzbekistan;
| | - Edwin Makhado
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mineral Sciences, University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0727, South Africa;
| | - Abbas Rahdar
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zabol, Zabol 538-98615, Iran;
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173229, India;
- Correspondence: (S.A.); (D.K.); or (S.P.)
| | - Sadanand Pandey
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea
- Correspondence: (S.A.); (D.K.); or (S.P.)
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Cystathionine β-Synthase Regulates the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Thyroid Carcinoma Cells. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:8678363. [PMID: 35795862 PMCID: PMC9252770 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8678363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is considered to be one of the most common endocrine tumors worldwide. Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) plays a crucial role in the occurrence of several types of malignancies. And yet, the mechanism of action of CBS in the growth of thyroid carcinoma cells is still unrevealed. We found that CBS level in thyroid carcinoma tissue was higher than that in adjacent normal tissue. The overexpression of CBS enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of thyroid cancer cells, while the downregulation of CBS exerted reverse effects. CBS overexpression reduced the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase in thyroid cancer cells, whereas CBS knockdown showed reverse trends. CBS overexpression decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels but increased the levels of Wnt3a and phosphorylations of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), β-catenin, and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, while CBS knockdown exerted opposite effects. In addition, CBS overexpression promoted the growth of xenografted thyroid carcinoma, whereas CBS knockdown decreased the tumor growth by modulating angiogenesis, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Furthermore, aminooxyacetic acid (an inhibitor of CBS) dose-dependently inhibited thyroid carcinoma cell growth. CBS can regulate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human thyroid cancer cells via ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. CBS can be a potential biomarker for diagnosing or prognosing thyroid carcinoma. Novel donors that inhibit the expression of CBS can be developed in the treatment of thyroid carcinoma.
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49
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Kim SJ, Sun EG, Bae JA, Park S, Hong C, Park Z, Kim H, Kim KK. A peptide interfering with the dimerization of oncogenic KITENIN protein and its stability suppresses colorectal tumour progression. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e871. [PMID: 35853101 PMCID: PMC9296036 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The stability of a protein, as well as its function and versatility, can be enhanced through oligomerization. KITENIN (KAI1 C-terminal interacting tetraspanin) is known to promote the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). How KITENIN maintains its structural integrity and stability are largely unknown, however. Here we investigated the mechanisms regulating the stability of KITENIN with the aim of developing therapeutics blocking its oncogenic functions. We found that KITENIN formed a homo-oligomeric complex and that the intracellular C-terminal domain (KITENIN-CTD) was needed for this oligomerization. Expression of the KITENIN-CTD alone interfered with the formation of the KITENIN homodimer, and the amino acid sequence from 463 to 471 within the KITENIN-CTD was the most effective. This sequence coupled with a cell-penetrating peptide was named a KITENIN dimerization-interfering peptide (KDIP). We next studied the mechanisms by which KDIP affected the stability of KITENIN. The KITENIN-interacting protein myosin-X (Myo10), which has oncogenic activity in several cancers, functioned as an effector to stabilize the KITENIN homodimer in the cis formation. Treatment with KDIP resulted in the disintegration of the homodimer via downregulation of Myo10, which led to increased binding of RACK1 to the exposed RACK1-interacting motif (463-471 aa), and subsequent autophagy-dependent degradation of KITENIN and reduced CRC cell invasion. Intravenous injection of KDIP significantly reduced the tumour burden in a syngeneic mouse tumour model and colorectal liver metastasis in an intrasplenic hepatic metastasis model. Collectively, our present results provide a new cancer therapeutic peptide for blocking colorectal liver metastasis, which acts by inducing the downregulation of Myo10 and specifically targeting the stability of the oncogenic KITENIN protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Jin Kim
- Department of PharmacologyChonnam National University Medical SchoolGwangjuRepublic of Korea
- College of PharmacySunchon National UniversitySuncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Eun Gene Sun
- Department of PharmacologyChonnam National University Medical SchoolGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Jeong A Bae
- Department of PharmacologyChonnam National University Medical SchoolGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Sehoon Park
- School of Life SciencesGwangju Institute of Science and TechnologyGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Chang‐Soo Hong
- Department of PharmacologyChonnam National University Medical SchoolGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Zee‐Yong Park
- School of Life SciencesGwangju Institute of Science and TechnologyGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Hangun Kim
- College of PharmacySunchon National UniversitySuncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Kyung Keun Kim
- Department of PharmacologyChonnam National University Medical SchoolGwangjuRepublic of Korea
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Parchebafi A, Tamanaee F, Ehteram H, Ahmad E, Nikzad H, Haddad Kashani H. The dual interaction of antimicrobial peptides on bacteria and cancer cells; mechanism of action and therapeutic strategies of nanostructures. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:118. [PMID: 35717207 PMCID: PMC9206340 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01848-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial infection and cancer are two leading causes of global mortality. Discovering and developing new therapeutics with better specificity having minimal side-effects and no drug resistance are of an immense need. In this regard, cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP) with dual antimicrobial and anticancer activities are the ultimate choice. For better efficacy and improved stability, the AMPs available for treatment still required to be modified. There are several strategies in which AMPs can be enhanced through, for instance, nano-carrier application with high selectivity and specificity enables researchers to estimate the rate of drug delivery to a particular tissue. In this review we present the biology and modes of action of AMPs for both anticancer and antimicrobial activities as well as some modification strategies to improve the efficacy and selectivity of these AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Parchebafi
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Tamanaee
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hassan Ehteram
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- Department of Pathology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hossein Nikzad
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hamed Haddad Kashani
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
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