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Wang M, Zheng Z, Zhang Y, Wang G, Liu J, Yu H, Liu A. An ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical impedimetric immunosensor for vascular endothelial growth factor based on specific phage via negative pre-screening. Anal Chim Acta 2022; 1225:340250. [PMID: 36038244 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.340250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
As a vascular growth regulator, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exerts significant biological roles through specific binding to its receptors on the vascular endothelial cells. VEGF165 is generally referenced as a potential therapeutic target of many malignant tumors. In this study, a negative pre-screening strategy with structurally analogous members of VEGF121, VEGFC and VEGFD was first proposed for VEGF165 biopanning, aiming at significantly improving the specificity of the selected phage monoclones. Indirect ELISA experiment showed that the phage monoclone expressing peptide SPFLLRM demonstrates excellent affinity and specificity. Then a VEGF165 electrochemical impedimetric spectroscopy (EIS) immunosensor was constructed by above specific phage modified electrode. After optimizing the experimental conditions, the as-explored EIS immunosensor had a linear range of 0.5-1000 pg/mL with the limit of detection of 0.15 pg/mL VEGF165. In addition, the developed phage-based EIS immunosensor was applied to satisfactorily detect VEGF165 in human serum samples. Considering its ultra-sensitivity, good selectivity, batch reproducibility and stability, the screened selective phage-based EIS sensor is envisioned potential application in diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Wang
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Zongmei Zheng
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yaru Zhang
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Ge Wang
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Junchong Liu
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Haipeng Yu
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Aihua Liu
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China.
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Zhao L, Chen H, Lu L, Wang L, Zhang X, Guo X. New insights into the role of co-receptor neuropilins in tumour angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis and targeted therapy strategies. J Drug Target 2020; 29:155-167. [PMID: 32838575 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2020.1815210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Local tumour sites lead to pathological angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis due to malignant conditions such as hypoxia. Although VEGF and VEGFR are considered to be the main anti-tumour treatment targets, the problems of limited efficacy and observable side effects of some drugs relevant to this target still remain to be solved. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new therapeutic targets for angiogenesis or lymphangiogenesis. The neuropilin family is a class of single transmembrane glycoprotein receptors, including neuropilin1 (NRP1) and neuropilin2 (NRP2), which could act as co-receptors of VEGFA-165 and VEGFC and play a key role in promoting tumour proliferation, invasion and metastasis. In this review, we introduced the schematic diagram to visually reveal the function of NRP1 and NRP2 in enhancing the binding affinity of VEGFR2 to VEGFA-165 and VEGFR3 to VEGFC, respectively. We also discussed the signalling pathways that depend on the co-receptors NRP1 and NRP2 and some existing targeted therapeutic strategies, such as monoclonal antibodies, targeted peptides, microRNAs and small molecule inhibitors. It will contribute a vital foundation for the future research and development of new drugs targeting NRPs. HIGHLIGHTS NRP1 acts as a co-receptor with VEGFR2 and the pro-angiogenic factor VEGFA-165 to up-regulate tumour angiogenesis by promoting endothelial cells proliferation, survival, migration, invasion and by preventing of apoptosis. NRP2 acts as a co-receptor with VEGFR3 and the pro-lymphogenic factor VEGFC to facilitate tumour metastasis by promoting lymphangiogenesis. Although NRP1 and NRP2 do not have enzymatic signalling activity, the affinity of VEGFR2 for VEGFA-165 and VEGFR3 for VEGFC can increase in a co-receptor manner, as detailed in the schematic. The exclusive roles of NRP1 and NRP2 in signalling pathways are specifically described to emphasise the molecular regulatory mechanisms involved in co-receptors. Various studies have shown that the co-receptors NRP1 and NRP2 can be directly or indirectly targeted by different methods to prevent tumour angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Therapeutic strategies targeting NRPs look promising soon as evidenced by preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hongyuan Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong University Affiliated Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xinke Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiuli Guo
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Lazzara F, Fidilio A, Platania CBM, Giurdanella G, Salomone S, Leggio GM, Tarallo V, Cicatiello V, De Falco S, Eandi CM, Drago F, Bucolo C. Aflibercept regulates retinal inflammation elicited by high glucose via the PlGF/ERK pathway. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 168:341-351. [PMID: 31351870 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a secondary complication of diabetes. DR can cause irreversible blindness, and its pathogenesis is considered multifactorial. DR can progress from non-proliferative DR to proliferative DR, characterized by retinal neovascularization. The main cause of vision loss in diabetic patients is diabetic macular edema, caused by vessel leakage and blood retinal barrier breakdown. Currently, aflibercept is an anti-VEGF approved for diabetic macular edema. Aflibercept can bind several members of vascular permeability factors, namely VEGF-A, B, and PlGF. We analyzed the aflibercept-PlGF complex at molecular level, through an in silico approach. In order to explore the role of PlGF in DR, we treated primary human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) and mouse retinal epithelial cells (RPEs) with aflibercept and an anti-PlGF antibody. We explored the hypothesis that aflibercept has anti-inflammatory action through blocking of PlGF signaling and the ERK axis in an in vitro and in vivo model of DR. Both aflibercept and the anti-PlGF antibody exerted protective effects on retinal cells, by inhibition of the ERK pathway. Moreover, aflibercept significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the expression of TNF-α in an in vitro and in vivo model of DR. Therefore, our data suggest that inhibition of PlGF signaling, or a selective blocking, may be useful in the management of early phases of DR when the inflammatory process is largely involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lazzara
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Annamaria Fidilio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Bianca Maria Platania
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Giurdanella
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Salomone
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Center for Research in Ocular Pharmacology-CERFO, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Leggio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Center for Research in Ocular Pharmacology-CERFO, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Valeria Tarallo
- Angiogenesis LAB, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Cicatiello
- Angiogenesis LAB, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Sandro De Falco
- Angiogenesis LAB, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR, Naples, Italy; ANBITION s.r.l, Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Maria Eandi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules-Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Center for Research in Ocular Pharmacology-CERFO, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Claudio Bucolo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Center for Research in Ocular Pharmacology-CERFO, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
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Disrupting VEGF-VEGFR1 Interaction: De Novo Designed Linear Helical Peptides to Mimic the VEGF 13-25 Fragment. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22111846. [PMID: 29143774 PMCID: PMC6150346 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22111846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR) has important implications in angiogenesis and cancer, which moved us to search for peptide derivatives able to block this protein–protein interaction. In a previous work we had described a collection of linear 13-mer peptides specially designed to adopt helical conformations (Ac-SSEEX5ARNX9AAX12N-NH2), as well as the evaluation of seven library components for the inhibition of the interaction of VEGF with its Receptor 1 (VEGFR1). This study led to the discovery of some new, quite potent inhibitors of this protein–protein system. The results we found prompted us to extend the study to other peptides of the library. We describe here the evaluation of a new selection of peptides from the initial library that allow us to identify new VEGF-VEGFR1 inhibitors. Among them, the peptide sequence containing F, W, and I residues at the 5, 9, and 12 positions, show a very significant nanomolar IC50 value, competing with VEGF for its receptor 1, VEGFR1 (Flt-1), which could represent a new tool within the therapeutic arsenal for cancer detection and therapy.
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Minaříková M, Oralová V, Veselá B, Radlanski RJ, Matalová E. Osteogenic Profile of Mesenchymal Cell Populations Contributing to Alveolar Bone Formation. Cells Tissues Organs 2015; 200:339-48. [PMID: 26451912 DOI: 10.1159/000439165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Teeth develop within the surrounding periodontal tissues, involving the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and cementum. The alveolar bone originates through the process of intramembranous ossification involving mesenchymal cells from the tooth germ. As most available data are related to endochondral ossification, we examined the molecular background of alveolar bone development. We investigated the osteogenic profile of mesenchymal cells dissected from mouse mandible slices at the stage of early alveolar bone formation. Relative monitoring of gene expression was undertaken using PCR Arrays; this included the profiles of 84 genes associated with osteogenesis. To examine the tooth-bone interface, stages with detectable changes in bone remodelling during development (E13.0, E14.0 and E15.0) were chosen and compared with each other. These results showed a statistically significant increase in the expression of the genes Fgf3, Ctsk, Icam-1, Mmp9, Itga3 and Tuft1, and of a wide range of collagens (Col1a2, Col3a1, Col7a1, Col12a1, Col14a1). Decreased expression was detected in the case of Col2a1, Sox9, Smad2 and Vegfb. To confirm these changes in gene expression, immunofluorescence analyses of Mmp9 and Sox9 proteins were performed in situ. Our research has identified several candidate genes that may be crucial for the initiation of alveolar bone formation and is the basis for further functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Minaříková
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics CAS, v.v.i., Brno, Czech Republic
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García-Aranda MI, González-López S, Santiveri CM, Gagey-Eilstein N, Reille-Seroussi M, Martín-Martínez M, Inguimbert N, Vidal M, García-López MT, Jiménez MA, González-Muñiz R, Pérez de Vega MJ. Helical peptides from VEGF and Vammin hotspots for modulating the VEGF–VEGFR interaction. Org Biomol Chem 2013; 11:1896-905. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ob27312a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Effect of semax and its C-terminal fragment Pro-Gly-Pro on the expression of VEGF family genes and their receptors in experimental focal ischemia of the rat brain. J Mol Neurosci 2012; 49:328-33. [PMID: 22772900 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-012-9853-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The synthetic peptide Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) is used successfully in acute stroke therapy. In spite of numerous studies on the subject, many aspects of the neuroprotective effects of the peptide remain unknown. We studied the action of Semax and its C-terminal tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro on the expression of the VEGF gene family (Vegf-a, Vegf-b, Vegf-c, Vegf-d, and Plgf) and their receptors (Vegfr-1, Vegfr-2, and Vegfr-3) in the frontoparietal cortex region of the rat brain at 3, 24, and 72 h after permanent left middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). The relative mRNA level of the genes studied was assessed using real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The Vegf-b and Vegf-d genes were most affected by the peptides, which resulted in their most noticeable activation at 3 h after pMCAO. The level of Vegf-d transcripts decreased considerably, whereas the mRNA level of the Vegf-b gene was significantly increased after 72 h of treatment with each of the peptides. In addition, the effects of the peptides on the expression of the Vegf-b and Vegf-d genes were the opposite of the action of ischemia. It is suggested that the identified effects of the peptides diminish the effects of ischemia, thus participating in the positive therapeutic effect of Semax on ischemic stroke.
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García-Aranda MI, Marrero P, Gautier B, Martín-Martínez M, Inguimbert N, Vidal M, García-López MT, Jiménez MA, González-Muñiz R, Vega MJPD. Parallel solid-phase synthesis of a small library of linear and hydrocarbon-bridged analogues of VEGF81–91: Potential biological tools for studying the VEGF/VEGFR-1 interaction. Bioorg Med Chem 2011; 19:1978-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2011.01.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Revised: 01/24/2011] [Accepted: 01/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Li S, Lou S, Lei BUW, Chan TF, Kwan YW, Chan SW, Leung GPH, Tsui SKW, Lee SMY. Transcriptional profiling of angiogenesis activities of calycosin in zebrafish. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2011; 7:3112-21. [DOI: 10.1039/c1mb05206c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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