Cathepsin B in human myometrium and in uterine leiomyomas at various stages of tumour growth

Metabolomic profiling of peripheral plasma by GC-MS and correlation with size of uterine leiomyomas

Background

Uterine leiomyomas are benign monoclonal tumors originating from the myometrium. Little information exists concerning metabolomics and the presence of leiomyomas.

Objective

The present study evaluated circulating metabolites in the plasma and their correlation with the presence and size of leiomyomas.

Study Design

Cross-sectional observational study, including women divided into 3 groups: 37 with leiomyomas and uterus >500 cm³, 17 with leiomyomas and uterus ≤150 cm³, and 21 leiomyoma-free. Patients underwent peripheral blood collection using untargeted metabolic assessment by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer.

Results

There was no statistical difference between patients’ anthropometric and demographic features and laboratory tests. Statistical differences in uterus volume (P < 0.0001) were found. Forty-six metabolites were identified (35% amino acids and derivatives, 22% fatty acids, and 18% carbohydrates). Statistically significant metabolic distinction (P < 0.05, false discovery rate< 0.05) was observed for 14 metabolites. Most amino acids (L-isoleucine, L-valine, and pyroglutamic acid) were significantly reduced in plasma levels of patients with large leiomyomas. The only exception was L-glutamine, with a significant increase. Fatty acids (arachidonic acid, alfa-tocopherol, palmitic acid, and stearic acid) were similarly reduced in large leiomyomas patients, except for alpha-linolenic acid, which increased. For carbohydrates (myo-inositol, D-threitol, and D-ribose), there was a decrease in the plasma of patients with leiomyomas.

Conclusion

There are different plasma metabolites levels of amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates among patients with leiomyomas, most of them reduced, but some significantly increased in large leiomyomas, compared to leiomyoma-free patients.

Smart Nanotransformers with Unique Enzyme-Inducible Structural Changes and Drug Release Properties

We previously reported a high aspect ratio peptide nanofiber that could be effectively delivered to tumors with minimal nonspecific uptake by other organs. The peptidic nature offers the design flexibility of smart formulation with unique responsiveness. Two new formulations that behave congruously as nanotransformers (NTFs) are reported herein. NTF1 and NTF2 could biomechanically remodel upon enzyme activation to generate a degradable and an aggregable effect, respectively, within the lysosomal compartment. These NTFs were further evaluated as carriers of mertansine (DM1), a microtubule inhibitor. DM1-loaded NTF1 could be degraded by cathepsin B (CathB) to release the same active metabolite, as previously described in the lysosomal degradation of antibody-DM1 conjugate. In contrast, CathB only partially digested DM1-loaded NTF2 and induced aggregate formation to become a storage reservoir with slow payload release property. The DM1-loaded NTF1 exhibited a comparable cytotoxicity to the free drug and was more effective than the NTF2 formulation in eradicating triple negative breast cancer. Our data suggested that biological transformers with distinct enzyme-induced structural changes and payload release profiles could be designed for the intracellular delivery of cytotoxic and imaging agents.