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From Immunotoxins to Suicide Toxin Delivery Approaches: Is There a Clinical Opportunity? Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14090579. [PMID: 36136517 PMCID: PMC9506092 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14090579] [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: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy is a relatively novel form of cancer therapy in which a gene coding for enzymes or protein toxins is delivered through targeting systems such as vesicles, nanoparticles, peptide or lipidic co-adjuvants. The use of toxin genes is particularly interesting since their catalytic activity can induce cell death, damaging in most cases the translation machinery (ribosomes or protein factors involved in protein synthesis) of quiescent or proliferating cells. Thus, toxin gene delivery appears to be a promising tool in fighting cancer. In this review we will give an overview, describing some of the bacterial and plant enzymes studied so far for their delivery and controlled expression in tumor models.
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Panjideh H, Niesler N, Weng A, Fuchs H. Improved Therapy of B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma by Obinutuzumab-Dianthin Conjugates in Combination with the Endosomal Escape Enhancer SO1861. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14070478. [PMID: 35878216 PMCID: PMC9318199 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14070478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotoxins do not only bind to cancer-specific receptors to mediate the elimination of tumor cells through the innate immune system, but also increase target cytotoxicity by the intrinsic toxin activity. The plant glycoside SO1861 was previously reported to enhance the endolysosomal escape of antibody-toxin conjugates in non-hematopoietic cells, thus increasing their cytotoxicity manifold. Here we tested this technology for the first time in a lymphoma in vivo model. First, the therapeutic CD20 antibody obinutuzumab was chemically conjugated to the ribosome-inactivating protein dianthin. The cytotoxicity of obinutuzumab-dianthin (ObiDi) was evaluated on human B-lymphocyte Burkitt’s lymphoma Raji cells and compared to human T-cell leukemia off-target Jurkat cells. When tested in combination with SO1861, the cytotoxicity for target cells was 131-fold greater than for off-target cells. In vivo imaging in a xenograft model of B-cell lymphoma in mice revealed that ObiDi/SO1861 efficiently prevents tumor growth (51.4% response rate) compared to the monotherapy with ObiDi (25.9%) and non-conjugated obinutuzumab (20.7%). The reduction of tumor volume and overall survival was also improved. Taken together, our results substantially contribute to the development of a combination therapy with SO1861 as a platform technology to enhance the efficacy of therapeutic antibody-toxin conjugates in lymphoma and leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Panjideh
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; (H.P.); (N.N.)
| | - Nicole Niesler
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; (H.P.); (N.N.)
| | - Alexander Weng
- Institut für Pharmazie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 2+4, D-14195 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Hendrik Fuchs
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; (H.P.); (N.N.)
- Correspondence:
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Mitdank H, Tröger M, Sonntag A, Shirazi NA, Woith E, Fuchs H, Kobelt D, Walther W, Weng A. Suicide nanoplasmids coding for ribosome-inactivating proteins. Eur J Pharm Sci 2022; 170:106107. [PMID: 34958884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.106107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Conventional eukaryotic expression plasmids contain a DNA backbone that is dispensable for the cellular expression of the transgene. In order to reduce the vector size, minicircle DNA technology was introduced. A drawback of the minicircle technology are considerable production costs. Nanoplasmids are a relatively new class of mini-DNA constructs that are of tremendous potential for pharmaceutical applications. In this study we have designed novel suicide nanoplasmid constructs coding for plant derived ribosome-inactivating proteins. The suicide-nanoplasmids were formulated with a targeted K16-lysine domain, analyzed for size, and characterized by electron microscopy. The anti-proliferative activity of the suicide-nanoplasmids was investigated in vitro by real time microscopy and the expression kinetic was determined using an enhanced green fluorescent protein nanoplasmid variant. In an aggressive in vivo neuroblastoma tumor model, treated mice showed a reduced tumor growth whereby the therapy was well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hardy Mitdank
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Pharmazie, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Meike Tröger
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Pharmazie, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Sonntag
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Pharmazie, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nima Amini Shirazi
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Pharmazie, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Woith
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Pharmazie, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hendrik Fuchs
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Kobelt
- Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology Berlin-Buch GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str.10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Walther
- Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology Berlin-Buch GmbH, Robert-Rössle-Str.10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Weng
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Pharmazie, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Sonntag A, Mitdank H, Weng A. Construction of Minicircle Suicide Genes Coding for Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2521:157-171. [PMID: 35732997 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2441-8_8] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to the lower risks of adverse effects, nonviral gene therapy is a suitable alternative to transfect cancer cells with a suicide gene to let them kill themselves by expressing toxic ribosome-inactivating proteins. Plasmids are stable and easy-to-produce vectors, but they have some disadvantages due to the bacterial backbone. Applying the minicircle technology, this problem can be solved with manageable effort in a well-equipped laboratory. With the described methodology, minicircle-DNA can be produced at low costs. The cell killing properties are monitored following transfection using the CytoSMART® Omni system-a camera based live cell imaging device.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hardy Mitdank
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Weng
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Abstract
Gene therapy has started in the late 1980s as novel, clinically applicable therapeutic option. It revolutionized the treatment of genetic diseases with the initial intent to repair or replace defective genes. Gene therapy has been adapted for treatment of malignant diseases to improve the outcome of cancer patients. In fact, cancer gene therapy has rapidly gained great interest and evolved into a research field with highest proportion of research activities in gene therapy. In this context, cancer gene therapy has long entered translation into clinical trials and therefore more than two-thirds of all gene therapy trials worldwide are aiming at the treatment of cancer disease using different therapeutic strategies. During the decades in cancer gene therapy, tremendous knowledge has accumulated. This led to significant improvements in vector design, transgene repertoire, more targeted interventions, use of novel gene therapeutic technologies such as CRISPR/Cas, sleeping beauty vectors, and development of effective cancer immunogene therapies. In this chapter, a brief overview of current key developments in cancer gene therapy is provided to gain insights into the recent directions in research as well as in clinical application of cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Kobelt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Deutsches Krebsforschungzentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jessica Pahle
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Walther
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Deutsches Krebsforschungzentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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di Leandro L, Giansanti F, Mei S, Ponziani S, Colasante M, Ardini M, Angelucci F, Pitari G, d'Angelo M, Cimini A, Fabbrini MS, Ippoliti R. Aptamer-Driven Toxin Gene Delivery in U87 Model Glioblastoma Cells. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:588306. [PMID: 33935695 PMCID: PMC8082512 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.588306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel suicide gene therapy approach was tested in U87 MG glioblastoma multiforme cells. A 26nt G-rich double-stranded DNA aptamer (AS1411) was integrated into a vector at the 5' of a mammalian codon-optimized saporin gene, under CMV promoter. With this plasmid termed "APTSAP", the gene encoding ribosome-inactivating protein saporin is driven intracellularly by the glioma-specific aptamer that binds to cell surface-exposed nucleolin and efficiently kills target cells, more effectively as a polyethyleneimine (PEI)-polyplex. Cells that do not expose nucleolin at the cell surface such as 3T3 cells, used as a control, remain unaffected. Suicide gene-induced cell killing was not observed when the inactive saporin mutant SAPKQ DNA was used in the (PEI)-polyplex, indicating that saporin catalytic activity mediates the cytotoxic effect. Rather than apoptosis, cell death has features resembling autophagic or methuosis-like mechanisms. These main findings support the proof-of-concept of using PEI-polyplexed APTSAP for local delivery in rat glioblastoma models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana di Leandro
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesco Giansanti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Sabrina Mei
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Sara Ponziani
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Martina Colasante
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Matteo Ardini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesco Angelucci
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pitari
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Michele d'Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Rodolfo Ippoliti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Clochard J, Jerz G, Schmieder P, Mitdank H, Tröger M, Sama S, Weng A. A new acetylated triterpene saponin from Agrostemma githago L. modulates gene delivery efficiently and shows a high cellular tolerance. Int J Pharm 2020; 589:119822. [PMID: 32861772 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Transfection is the process to deliver nucleic acid into eukaryotic cells. Different transfection techniques already exist. However, they can be expensive and toxic toward subjected cells. Previous research shed light on natural occurring molecules called triterpene saponins that have great potential for the non-viral gene delivery. Using a combination of different chromatographic techniques and in vitro transfection bioassays, a new triterpenoid saponin (agrostemmoside E) from the plant Agrostemma githago L. was isolated. Agrostemmoside E was characterized by mass spectrometry, intense NMR spectroscopy and was identified as 3-{O-ß-D-Galactopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-ß-D-glucuronopyranosyl} quillaic acid 28-O-{[ß-D-4,6-di-(O-acetyl)-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)}-[3,4-di-(O-acetyl)-ß-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1→4)]-ß-D-fucopyranoside ester. Agrostemmoside E has a great potential for delivery of gene loaded nanoplexes and increased the transfection efficiency by 70% compared to 2% without agrostemmoside E. By comparative toxicity studies, we show that agrostemmoside E can be applied at high concentrations without toxicity, justifying its use as a new tool for gene transfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Clochard
- Institut für Pharmazie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerold Jerz
- Institut für Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitz-Str. 20, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Peter Schmieder
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert-Roessle-Str., 1013125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hardy Mitdank
- Institut für Pharmazie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Meike Tröger
- Institut für Pharmazie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simko Sama
- Institut für Pharmazie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Alexander Weng
- Institut für Pharmazie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Salvioni L, Zuppone S, Andreata F, Monieri M, Mazzucchelli S, Di Carlo C, Morelli L, Cordiglieri C, Donnici L, De Francesco R, Corsi F, Prosperi D, Vago R, Colombo M. Nanoparticle‐Mediated Suicide Gene Therapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Salvioni
- NanoBioLabDepartment of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 Milan 20126 Italy
| | - Stefania Zuppone
- Urologic Research InstituteDivision of Experimental OncologyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute via Olgettina 60 Milan 20132 Italy
| | - Francesco Andreata
- Nanomedicine LaboratoryDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”Università degli Studi di Milano via G. B. Grassi, 74 Milan 20157 Italy
| | - Matteo Monieri
- Nanomedicine LaboratoryDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”Università degli Studi di Milano via G. B. Grassi, 74 Milan 20157 Italy
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Nanomedicine LaboratoryDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”Università degli Studi di Milano via G. B. Grassi, 74 Milan 20157 Italy
| | - Caterina Di Carlo
- NanoBioLabDepartment of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 Milan 20126 Italy
| | - Lucia Morelli
- NanoBioLabDepartment of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 Milan 20126 Italy
| | - Chiara Cordiglieri
- INGM – Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare “Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi,” Via Francesco Sforza 35 Milan 20122 Italy
| | - Lorena Donnici
- INGM – Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare “Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi,” Via Francesco Sforza 35 Milan 20122 Italy
| | - Raffaele De Francesco
- INGM – Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare “Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi,” Via Francesco Sforza 35 Milan 20122 Italy
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences via Balzaretti 9 Milano 20133 Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Nanomedicine LaboratoryDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”Università degli Studi di Milano via G. B. Grassi, 74 Milan 20157 Italy
- Breast UnitSurgery DepartmentICS Maugeri IRCCS via S. Maugeri 10 Pavia 27100 Italy
| | - Davide Prosperi
- NanoBioLabDepartment of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 Milan 20126 Italy
- Breast UnitSurgery DepartmentICS Maugeri IRCCS via S. Maugeri 10 Pavia 27100 Italy
| | - Riccardo Vago
- Urologic Research InstituteDivision of Experimental OncologyIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute via Olgettina 60 Milan 20132 Italy
- Università Vita‐Salute San Raffaele via Olgettina, 58 Milan 20132 Italy
| | - Miriam Colombo
- NanoBioLabDepartment of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 Milan 20126 Italy
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Dianthin and Its Potential in Targeted Tumor Therapies. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11100592. [PMID: 31614697 PMCID: PMC6832487 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11100592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Dianthin enzymes belong to ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) of type 1, i.e., they only consist of a catalytic domain and do not have a cell binding moiety. Dianthin-30 is very similar to saporin-S3 and saporin-S6, two RIPs often used to design targeted toxins for tumor therapy and already tested in some clinical trials. Nevertheless, dianthin enzymes also exhibit differences to saporin with regard to structure, efficacy, toxicity, immunogenicity and production by heterologous expression. Some of the distinctions might make dianthin more suitable for targeted tumor therapies than other RIPs. The present review provides an overview of the history of dianthin discovery and illuminates its structure, function and role in targeted toxins. It further discusses the option to increase the efficacy of dianthin by endosomal escape enhancers.
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