1
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Giordano G, Tucciarello C, Merlini A, Cutrupi S, Pignochino Y. Targeting the EphA2 pathway: could it be the way for bone sarcomas? Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:433. [PMID: 39252029 PMCID: PMC11382444 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01811-7] [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: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Bone sarcomas are malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. Complete surgical resection is the cornerstone of multidisciplinary treatment. However, advanced, unresectable forms remain incurable. A crucial step towards addressing this challenge involves comprehending the molecular mechanisms underpinning tumor progression and metastasis, laying the groundwork for innovative precision medicine-based interventions. We previously showed that tyrosine kinase receptor Ephrin Type-A Receptor 2 (EphA2) is overexpressed in bone sarcomas. EphA2 is a key oncofetal protein implicated in metastasis, self-renewal, and chemoresistance. Molecular, genetic, biochemical, and pharmacological approaches have been developed to target EphA2 and its signaling pathway aiming to interfere with its tumor-promoting effects or as a carrier for drug delivery. This review synthesizes the main functions of EphA2 and their relevance in bone sarcomas, providing strategies devised to leverage this receptor for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, with a focus on its applicability in the three most common bone sarcoma histotypes: osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Giordano
- Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy
| | - Cristina Tucciarello
- Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy
| | - Alessandra Merlini
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy
| | - Santina Cutrupi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy
| | - Ymera Pignochino
- Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy.
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy.
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2
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Wang L, Zhang H, Huang W, Han Z, Xu H, Gu Y. Development of a novel EphA2-targeting radioligand for SPECT imaging in different tumor models. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116105. [PMID: 38154255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116105] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The erythropoietin-producing hepatoma A2 receptor (EphA2) is a tyrosine kinase, which is overexpressed in tumors while having lower expression in normal tissues, making it an excellent target for tumor diagnosis and treatment. Peptide radiotracers offer unique advantages in tumor diagnosis and therapy and have been approved for clinical use. In this study, a high-affinity EPHA2-targeted radiotracer, 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-EPH-3, was developed and designed based on linear peptides. 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-EPH-3 exhibited superior water solubility and stability. And 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-EPH-3 could specifically target EphA2-expressing tumors, particularly with a tumor-to-non-target (T/NT) ratio >4.7 excluding kidneys. As a result of excellent biodistribution and tumor targeting capability of 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-EPH-3, it might be a promising candidate drug for clinical diagnosis of EphA2-overexpressing tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Gulou District, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Gulou District, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Wenjing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Gulou District, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Zhihao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Gulou District, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Haoran Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Gulou District, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Yueqing Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Gulou District, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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3
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Gan Q, Cui K, Cao Q, Zhang N, Yang MF, Yang X. Development of a 18F-Labeled Bicyclic Peptide Targeting EphA2 for Molecular Imaging of PSMA-Negative Prostate Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:14623-14632. [PMID: 37908059 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01135] [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: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Although PSMA PET/CT imaging has great potential for noninvasively detecting prostate cancer (PCa), limitations exist for patients with low PSMA expression, caused by androgen deprivation treatment or neuroendocrine differentiation. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas Prostate Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-PRAD) data found that erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EphA2), a receptor overexpressed in most PCa could be a potential target for PSMA-negative PCa. A fluorescent ligand ETF and a radiolabeled ligand [18F]AlF-ETN derived from a EphA2-targeting bicyclic peptide were synthesized and investigated. ETF could selectively stain and visualize the EphA2-positive but PSMA-negative PC3 cells, in complementary to the PSMA-targeting probe. PET/CT imaging and biodistribution experiments demonstrated that [18F]AlF-ETN specifically accumulated in PC3 tumors with a high contrast (tumor-to-muscle ratio: 21.29 ± 6.55). In conclusion, we have demonstrated the potential for using EphA2 to detect PSMA-negative PCa and developed a radiolabeled ligand [18F]AlF-ETN to specifically image EphA2 expressing PCa with high contrast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Gan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Kai Cui
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Qi Cao
- Translational Cancer Research Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Translational Cancer Research Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Yunnan Baiyao Group, Kunming 650000, China
| | - Min-Fu Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Yunnan Baiyao Group, Kunming 650000, China
- Laboratorial Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
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4
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Wirth D, Paul MD, Pasquale EB, Hristova K. Direct quantification of ligand-induced lipid and protein microdomains with distinctive signaling properties. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2022; 4:e202200011. [PMID: 36337751 PMCID: PMC9634703 DOI: 10.1002/syst.202200011] [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: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Lipid rafts are ordered lipid domains that are enriched in saturated lipids, such as the ganglioside GM1. While lipid rafts are believed to exist in cells and to serve as signaling platforms through their enrichment in signaling components, they have not been directly observed in the plasma membrane without treatments that artificially cluster GM1 into large lattices. Here, we report that microscopic GM1-enriched domains can form, in the plasma membrane of live mammalian cells expressing the EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase in response to its ligand ephrinA1-Fc. The GM1-enriched microdomains form concomitantly with EphA2-enriched microdomains. To gain insight into how plasma membrane heterogeneity controls signaling, we quantify the degree of EphA2 segregation and study initial EphA2 signaling steps in both EphA2-enriched and EphA2-depleted domains. By measuring dissociation constants, we demonstrate that the propensity of EphA2 to oligomerize is similar in EphA2-enriched and -depleted domains. However, surprisingly, EphA2 interacts preferentially with its downstream effector SRC in EphA2-depleted domains. The ability to induce microscopic GM1-enriched domains in live cells using a ligand for a transmembrane receptor will give us unprecedented opportunities to study the biophysical chemistry of lipid rafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wirth
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | - Michael D. Paul
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | - Elena B. Pasquale
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Road, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
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5
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Wu T, Jiang J, Wang H, He Y, Zhao X, Xue Y, Xu H. Design, synthesis, and in vivo evaluation of GO-SWL-Ahx-K-SWL. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 70:128802. [PMID: 35598792 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128802] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In order to acquire both expanded binding ability with the EphA2 receptor and superior drug delivery capacity, we designed and synthesized the modified GO-SWL-Ahx-K-SWL conjugate as a potential targeted therapeutic drug for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Various characterization methods have confirmed that the conjugate is consistent with the theoretical peptide. The cytotoxicity test results showed that the conjugate was slightly more toxic to A549 cells than in 3 T3 cells, and the toxicity increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) fusion imaging was performed to evaluate the conjugate binding to EphA2 receptor in vivo. The images showed obvious radioactive concentration in tumor tissues and significantly higher ratios of the tumor and muscle in the 125I-GO-SWL-Ahx-K-SWL group (10.78) than in the 125I-SWL-Ahx-K-SWL group (5.21) at all three time points (P < 0.01).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Jinhui Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Yanhui He
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xuefeng Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Yangyang Xue
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Huiqin Xu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
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6
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Qu B, Han Y, Liang T, Zhang C, Hou G, Gao F. Evaluation of a novel EphA2 targeting peptide for triple negative breast cancer based on radionuclide molecular imaging. ARAB J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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7
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Pretze M, Neuber C, Kinski E, Belter B, Köckerling M, Caflisch A, Steinbach J, Pietzsch J, Mamat C. Synthesis, radiolabelling and initial biological characterisation of 18F-labelled xanthine derivatives for PET imaging of Eph receptors. Org Biomol Chem 2020; 18:3104-3116. [PMID: 32253415 DOI: 10.1039/d0ob00391c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, particularly EphA2 and EphB4, represent promising candidates for molecular imaging due to their essential role in cancer progression and therapy resistance. Xanthine derivatives were identified to be potent Eph receptor inhibitors with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range (1-40 nm). These compounds occupy the hydrophobic pocket of the ATP-binding site in the kinase domain. Based on lead compound 1, we designed two fluorine-18-labelled receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors ([18F]2/3) as potential tracers for positron emission tomography (PET). Docking into the ATP-binding site allowed us to find the best position for radiolabelling. The replacement of the methyl group at the uracil residue ([18F]3) rather than the methyl group of the phenoxy moiety ([18F]2) by a fluoropropyl group was predicted to preserve the affinity of the lead compound 1. Herein, we point out a synthesis route to [18F]2 and [18F]3 and the respective tosylate precursors as well as a labelling procedure to insert fluorine-18. After radiolabelling, both radiotracers were obtained in approximately 5% radiochemical yield with high radiochemical purity (>98%) and a molar activity of >10 GBq μmol-1. In line with the docking studies, first cell experiments revealed specific, time-dependent binding and uptake of [18F]3 to EphA2 and EphB4-overexpressing A375 human melanoma cells, whereas [18F]2 did not accumulate at these cells. Since both tracers [18F]3 and [18F]2 are stable in rat blood, the novel radiotracers might be suitable for in vivo molecular imaging of Eph receptors with PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Pretze
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany. and Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Christin Neuber
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Elisa Kinski
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Birgit Belter
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Martin Köckerling
- Universität Rostock, Institut für Chemie - Anorganische Festkörperchemie, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3a, D-18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Amedeo Caflisch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Steinbach
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany. and Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany. and Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Constantin Mamat
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institut für Radiopharmazeutische Krebsforschung, Bautzner Landstraße 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany. and Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
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8
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Neuber C, Belter B, Mamat C, Pietzsch J. Radiopharmacologist's and Radiochemist's View on Targeting the Eph/Ephrin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase System. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:16318-16331. [PMID: 32685795 PMCID: PMC7364440 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, there have been extensive efforts to open up the Eph/ephrin subfamily of the receptor tyrosine kinase family for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Besides classical pharmaceutical developments, which focus either on drugs targeting the extracellular ligand binding domains or on the intracellular tyrosine kinase domains of these receptors, there also have been first radiopharmaceutical approaches. Here the focus is on the development of specific and selective probes for molecular imaging, particularly by means of positron emission tomography, and the functional characterization of the Eph/ephrin subfamily in certain target tissues. The aim of this mini-review is to summarize the different approaches toward Eph-targeting radiotracers by using antibodies, peptides, and small molecules and to discuss their radiopharmacological characterization. With regard to the small molecules, further considerations will focus on the design and synthesis of nonradioactive reference compounds and precursors as well as on radiolabeling strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Neuber
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer
Research, Department of Radiopharmaceutical
and Chemical Biology, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Birgit Belter
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer
Research, Department of Radiopharmaceutical
and Chemical Biology, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Constantin Mamat
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer
Research, Department of Radionuclide Theragnostics, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Technische
Universität Dresden, School of Science,
Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer
Research, Department of Radiopharmaceutical
and Chemical Biology, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Technische
Universität Dresden, School of Science,
Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- E-mail:
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9
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Farzipour S, Hosseinimehr SJ. Correlation between in vitro and in vivo Data of Radiolabeled Peptide for Tumor Targeting. Mini Rev Med Chem 2019; 19:950-960. [DOI: 10.2174/1389557519666190304120011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-targeting peptides have been generally developed for the overexpression of tumor specific receptors in cancer cells. The use of specific radiolabeled peptide allows tumor visualization by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) tools. The high affinity and specific binding of radiolabeled peptide are focusing on tumoral receptors. The character of the peptide itself, in particular, its complex molecular structure and behaviors influence on its specific interaction with receptors which are overexpressed in tumor. This review summarizes various strategies which are applied for the expansion of radiolabeled peptides for tumor targeting based on in vitro and in vivo specific tumor data and then their data were compared to find any correlation between these experiments. With a careful look at previous studies, it can be found that in vitro unblock-block ratio was unable to correlate the tumor to muscle ratio and the success of radiolabeled peptide for in vivo tumor targeting. The introduction of modifiers’ approaches, nature of peptides, and type of chelators and co-ligands have mixed effect on the in vitro and in vivo specificity of radiolabeled peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soghra Farzipour
- Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Seyed Jalal Hosseinimehr
- Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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10
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Möser C, Lorenz JS, Sajfutdinow M, Smith DM. Pinpointed Stimulation of EphA2 Receptors via DNA-Templated Oligovalence. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113482. [PMID: 30404153 PMCID: PMC6274923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA nanostructures enable the attachment of functional molecules to nearly any unique location on their underlying structure. Due to their single-base-pair structural resolution, several ligands can be spatially arranged and closely controlled according to the geometry of their desired target, resulting in optimized binding and/or signaling interactions. Here, the efficacy of SWL, an ephrin-mimicking peptide that binds specifically to EphrinA2 (EphA2) receptors, increased by presenting up to three of these peptides on small DNA nanostructures in an oligovalent manner. Ephrin signaling pathways play crucial roles in tumor development and progression. Moreover, Eph receptors are potential targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, the quantitative impact of SWL valency on binding, phosphorylation (key player for activation) and phenotype regulation in EphA2-expressing prostate cancer cells was demonstrated. EphA2 phosphorylation was significantly increased by DNA trimers carrying three SWL peptides compared to monovalent SWL. In comparison to one of EphA2’s natural ligands ephrin-A1, which is known to bind promiscuously to multiple receptors, pinpointed targeting of EphA2 by oligovalent DNA-SWL constructs showed enhanced cell retraction. Overall, we show that DNA scaffolds can increase the potency of weak signaling peptides through oligovalent presentation and serve as potential tools for examination of complex signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Möser
- DNA Nanodevices Unit, Department Diagnostics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Jessica S Lorenz
- DNA Nanodevices Unit, Department Diagnostics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Martin Sajfutdinow
- DNA Nanodevices Unit, Department Diagnostics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Project Center "Microelectronic and Optical Systems for Biomedicine" (MEOS), 99099 Erfurt, Germany.
| | - David M Smith
- DNA Nanodevices Unit, Department Diagnostics, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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11
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Gambini L, Salem AF, Udompholkul P, Tan XF, Baggio C, Shah N, Aronson A, Song J, Pellecchia M. Structure-Based Design of Novel EphA2 Agonistic Agents with Nanomolar Affinity in Vitro and in Cell. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2633-2644. [PMID: 30110533 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
EphA2 overexpression is invariably associated with poor prognosis and development of aggressive metastatic cancers in pancreatic, prostate, lung, ovarian, and breast cancers and melanoma. Recent efforts from our laboratories identified a number of agonistic peptides targeting the ligand-binding domain of the EphA2 receptor. The individual agents, however, were still relatively weak in affinities (micromolar range) that precluded detailed structural studies on the mode of action. Using a systematic optimization of the 12-mer peptide mimetic 123B9, we were able to first derive an agent that displayed a submicromolar affinity for the receptor. This agent enabled cocrystallization with the EphA2 ligand-binding domain providing for the first time the structural basis for their agonistic mechanism of action. In addition, the atomic coordinates of the complex enabled rapid iterations of structure-based optimizations that resulted in a novel agonistic agent, named 135H11, with a nanomolar affinity for the receptor, as demonstrated by in vitro binding assays (isothermal titration calorimetry measurements), and a biochemical displacement assay. As we have recently demonstrated, the cellular activity of these agents is further increased by synthesizing dimeric versions of the compounds. Hence, we report that a dimeric version of 135H11 is extremely effective at low nanomolar concentrations to induce cellular receptor activation, internalization, and inhibition of cell migration in a pancreatic cancer cell line. Given the pivotal role of EphA2 in tumor growth, angiogenesis, drug resistance, and metastasis, these agents, and the associated structural studies, provide significant advancements in the field for the development of novel EphA2-targeting therapeutics or diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gambini
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Ahmed F. Salem
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Parima Udompholkul
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Xiao-Feng Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Carlo Baggio
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Neh Shah
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Alexander Aronson
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jikui Song
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Maurizio Pellecchia
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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12
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Salem AF, Wang S, Billet S, Chen JF, Udompholkul P, Gambini L, Baggio C, Tseng HR, Posadas EM, Bhowmick NA, Pellecchia M. Reduction of Circulating Cancer Cells and Metastases in Breast-Cancer Models by a Potent EphA2-Agonistic Peptide-Drug Conjugate. J Med Chem 2018; 61:2052-2061. [PMID: 29470068 PMCID: PMC5907794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
![]()
EphA2
overexpression has been associated with metastasis in multiple
cancer types, including melanomas and ovarian, prostate, lung, and
breast cancers. We have recently proposed the development of peptide–drug
conjugates (PDCs) using agonistic EphA2-targeting agents, such as
the YSA peptide or its optimized version, 123B9. Although our studies
indicated that YSA– and 123B9–drug conjugates can selectively
deliver cytotoxic drugs to cancer cells in vivo, the relatively low
cellular agonistic activities (i.e., the high micromolar concentrations
required) of the agents toward the EphA2 receptor remained a limiting
factor to the further development of these PDCs in the clinic. Here,
we report that a dimeric version of 123B9 can induce receptor activation
at nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the
conjugation of dimeric 123B9 with paclitaxel is very effective at
targeting circulating tumor cells and inhibiting lung metastasis in
breast-cancer models. These studies represent an important step toward
the development of effective EphA2-targeting PDCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed F Salem
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine , University of California, Riverside , 900 University Avenue , Riverside , California 92521 , United States
| | - Si Wang
- Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute , 10901 North Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Sandrine Billet
- Department of Medicine , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , 8700 Beverly Boulevard , Los Angeles , California 90048 , United States
| | - Jie-Fu Chen
- Department of Medicine , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , 8700 Beverly Boulevard , Los Angeles , California 90048 , United States
| | - Parima Udompholkul
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine , University of California, Riverside , 900 University Avenue , Riverside , California 92521 , United States
| | - Luca Gambini
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine , University of California, Riverside , 900 University Avenue , Riverside , California 92521 , United States
| | - Carlo Baggio
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine , University of California, Riverside , 900 University Avenue , Riverside , California 92521 , United States
| | - Hsian-Rong Tseng
- Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology , University of California, Los Angeles , 570 Westwood Plaza , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
| | - Edwin M Posadas
- Department of Medicine , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , 8700 Beverly Boulevard , Los Angeles , California 90048 , United States
| | - Neil A Bhowmick
- Department of Medicine , Cedars-Sinai Medical Center , 8700 Beverly Boulevard , Los Angeles , California 90048 , United States.,Department of Research , Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration , Los Angeles , California 90073 , United States
| | - Maurizio Pellecchia
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine , University of California, Riverside , 900 University Avenue , Riverside , California 92521 , United States
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13
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The EphA2 receptor is activated through induction of distinct, ligand-dependent oligomeric structures. Commun Biol 2018; 1:15. [PMID: 30271902 PMCID: PMC6123813 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0017-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is capable of activating multiple diverse signaling pathways with roles in processes such as tissue homeostasis and cancer. EphA2 is known to form activated oligomers in the presence of ephrin-A ligands. Here, we characterize the lateral interactions between full-length EphA2 molecules in the plasma membrane in the presence of three types of ligands (dimeric ephrinA1-Fc, monomeric ephrinA1, and an engineered peptide ligand) as well as in the absence of ligand, using a quantitative FRET technique. The data show that EphA2 forms higher-order oligomers and two different types of dimers that all lead to increased EphA2 tyrosine phosphorylation, which is indicative of increased kinase-dependent signaling. We find that different ligands stabilize conformationally distinct oligomers that are assembled through two different interfaces. Our results suggest that these different oligomeric assemblies could have distinct signaling properties, contributing to the diverse activities of the EphA2 receptor. Deo Singh et al. use Fully Quantified Spectral Imaging-FRET to show that the EphA2 receptor forms dimers or higher order oligomers depending on the type of ligand, and that different ligands stabilize EphA2 dimers through distinct interfaces. These findings may explain how EphA2 activates diverse signaling pathways.
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14
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Singh DR, Ahmed F, Paul MD, Gedam M, Pasquale EB, Hristova K. The SAM domain inhibits EphA2 interactions in the plasma membrane. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2016; 1864:31-38. [PMID: 27776928 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
All members of the Eph receptor family of tyrosine kinases contain a SAM domain near the C terminus, which has been proposed to play a role in receptor homotypic interactions and/or interactions with binding partners. The SAM domain of EphA2 is known to be important for receptor function, but its contribution to EphA2 lateral interactions in the plasma membrane has not been determined. Here we use a FRET-based approach to directly measure the effect of the SAM domain on the stability of EphA2 dimers on the cell surface in the absence of ligand binding. We also investigate the functional consequences of EphA2 SAM domain deletion. Surprisingly, we find that the EphA2 SAM domain inhibits receptor dimerization and decreases EphA2 tyrosine phosphorylation. This role is dramatically different from the role of the SAM domain of the related EphA3 receptor, which we previously found to stabilize EphA3 dimers and increase EphA3 tyrosine phosphorylation in cells in the absence of ligand. Thus, the EphA2 SAM domain likely contributes to a unique mode of EphA2 interaction that leads to distinct signaling outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deo R Singh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Fozia Ahmed
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Michael D Paul
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Manasee Gedam
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Elena B Pasquale
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Road, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037, United States
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States; Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 Charles street, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States.
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15
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Investigation of SP94 Peptide as a Specific Probe for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Imaging and Therapy. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33511. [PMID: 27649935 PMCID: PMC5030711 DOI: 10.1038/srep33511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
SP94 (SFSIIHTPILPL), a novel peptide, has shown specific binding to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. We aimed to investigate the capability of SP94 as a targeting probe for HCC imaging and therapy following labeling with technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) and rhenium-188 ((188)Re). HYNIC-SP94 was prepared by solid phase synthesis and then labeled with (99m)Tc. Cell competitive binding, internalization assay, in vitro and in vivo stability, biodistribution and micro-single photon emission computed tomography /computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging studies were performed to investigate the capability of (99m)Tc tricine-EDDA/HYNIC-SP94 as a specific HCC imaging probe. Initial promising targeting results inspired evaluation of its therapeutic effect when labeled by (188)Re. HYNIC-SP94 was then labeled again with (188)Re to perform cell apoptosis, microSPECT/CT imaging evaluation and immunohistochemistry. Huh-7 cells exhibited typical apoptotic changes after (188)Re irradiation. According to (99m)Tc tricine-EDDA/HYNIC-SP94 microSPECT/CT imaging, tumor uptake was significantly decreased compared with that of pre-treatment with (188)Re-HYNIC-SP94. The immunohistochemistry also displayed obvious necrosis and apoptosis as well as inhibition of proliferation in the (188)Re-HYNIC-SP94 treatment group. The results supported that (99m)Tc tricine-EDDA/HYNIC-SP94 is able to target HCC cells and (188)Re-HYNIC- SP94 holds potential as a therapeutic agent for HCC, making (99m)Tc/(188)Re-HYNIC-SP94 a promising targeting probe for HCC imaging and therapy.
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16
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Singh DR, Ahmed F, King C, Gupta N, Salotto M, Pasquale EB, Hristova K. EphA2 Receptor Unliganded Dimers Suppress EphA2 Pro-tumorigenic Signaling. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:27271-27279. [PMID: 26363067 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.676866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase promotes cell migration and cancer malignancy through a ligand- and kinase-independent distinctive mechanism that has been linked to high Ser-897 phosphorylation and low tyrosine phosphorylation. Here, we demonstrate that EphA2 forms dimers in the plasma membrane of HEK293T cells in the absence of ephrin ligand binding, suggesting that the current seeding mechanism model of EphA2 activation is incomplete. We also characterize a dimerization-deficient EphA2 mutant that shows enhanced ability to promote cell migration, concomitant with increased Ser-897 phosphorylation and decreased tyrosine phosphorylation compared with EphA2 wild type. Our data reveal a correlation between unliganded dimerization and tumorigenic signaling and suggest that EphA2 pro-tumorigenic activity is mediated by the EphA2 monomer. Thus, a therapeutic strategy that aims at the stabilization of EphA2 dimers may be beneficial for the treatment of cancers linked to EphA2 overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deo R Singh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Fozia Ahmed
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Christopher King
- Department of Program in Molecular Biophysics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 and
| | - Nisha Gupta
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Matt Salotto
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
| | - Elena B Pasquale
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92037
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218; Department of Program in Molecular Biophysics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 and.
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17
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Park SH, Park S, Kim DY, Pyo A, Kimura RH, Sathirachinda A, Choy HE, Min JJ, Gambhir SS, Hong Y. Isolation and Characterization of a Monobody with a Fibronectin Domain III Scaffold That Specifically Binds EphA2. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132976. [PMID: 26177208 PMCID: PMC4503726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Monobodies are binding scaffold proteins originating from a human fibronectin domain III (Fn3) scaffold that can be easily engineered with specificity and affinity. Human EphA2 (hEphA2) is an early detection marker protein for various tumors including lung, breast, and colon cancer. In this study, we isolated two hEphA2-specific monobodies (E1 and E10) by screening a yeast surface display library. They showed the same amino acid sequence except in the DE loop and had high affinity (~2 nM Kd) against hEphA2. E1 bound only hEphA2 and mEphA2, although it bound hEphA2 with an affinity 2-fold higher than that of mEphA2. However, E10 also bound the mEphA6 and mEphA8 homologs as well as hEphA2 and mEphA2. Thus, E1 but not E10 was highly specific for hEphA2. E1 specifically bound human cells and xenograft tumor tissues expressing hEphA on the cell surface. In vivo optical imaging showed strong targeting of Cy5.5-labeled E1 to mouse tumor tissue induced by PC3 cells, a human prostate cancer cell line that expresses a high level of hEphA2. In conclusion, the highly specific monobody E1 is useful as a hEphA2 probe candidate for in vivo diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Hwan Park
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sukho Park
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Yeon Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ayoung Pyo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Richard H. Kimura
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Ataya Sathirachinda
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Hyon E. Choy
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanjiv Sam Gambhir
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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18
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Ma C, Li C, Jiang D, Gao X, Han J, Xu N, Wu Q, Nie G, Chen W, Lin F, Hou Y. Screening of a specific peptide binding to esophageal squamous carcinoma cells from phage displayed peptide library. Mol Cell Probes 2015; 29:182-9. [PMID: 25886968 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 04/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
To select a specifically binding peptide for imaging detection of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), a phage-displayed 12-mer peptide library was used to screen the peptide that bind to ESCC cells specifically. After four rounds of bio-panning, the phage recovery rate gradually increased, and specific phage clones were effectively enriched. The 60 randomly selected phage clones were tested using cellular enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and 41 phage clones were identified as positive clones with the over 2.10 ratio of absorbance higher than other clones, IRP and PBS controls. From the sequencing results of the positive clones, 14 peptide sequences were obtained and ESCP9 consensus sequence was identified as the peptide with best affinity to ESCC cells via competitive inhibition, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry. The results indicate that the peptide ESCP9 can bind to ESCC cells specifically and sensitively, and it is a potential candidate to be developed as an useful molecule to the imaging detection and targeting therapy for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caixia Ma
- Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Region's Sustainable Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China
| | - Chunyan Li
- Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Region's Sustainable Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China
| | | | - Xiaojie Gao
- College of Life and Geography Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai 810008, China
| | - Juanjuan Han
- Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Region's Sustainable Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Region's Sustainable Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Region's Sustainable Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China
| | - Guochao Nie
- Center of Medical Nanomaterial, Yulin Normal College, Yulin, Guangxi 537000, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Physics and the SAVANT Center, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Fenghuei Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yingchun Hou
- Co-Innovation Center for Qinba Region's Sustainable Development, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
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19
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Riedl SJ, Pasquale EB. Targeting the Eph System with Peptides and Peptide Conjugates. Curr Drug Targets 2015; 16:1031-47. [PMID: 26212263 PMCID: PMC4861043 DOI: 10.2174/1389450116666150727115934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and ephrin ligands constitute an important cell communication system that controls development, tissue homeostasis and many pathological processes. Various Eph receptors/ephrins are present in essentially all cell types and their expression is often dysregulated by injury and disease. Thus, the 14 Eph receptors are attracting increasing attention as a major class of potential drug targets. In particular, agents that bind to the extracellular ephrin-binding pocket of these receptors show promise for medical applications. This pocket comprises a broad and shallow groove surrounded by several flexible loops, which makes peptides particularly suitable to target it with high affinity and selectivity. Accordingly, a number of peptides that bind to Eph receptors with micromolar affinity have been identified using phage display and other approaches. These peptides are generally antagonists that inhibit ephrin binding and Eph receptor/ ephrin signaling, but some are agonists mimicking ephrin-induced Eph receptor activation. Importantly, some of the peptides are exquisitely selective for single Eph receptors. Most identified peptides are linear, but recently the considerable advantages of cyclic scaffolds have been recognized, particularly in light of potential optimization towards drug leads. To date, peptide improvements have yielded derivatives with low nanomolar Eph receptor binding affinity, high resistance to plasma proteases and/or long in vivo half-life, exemplifying the merits of peptides for Eph receptor targeting. Besides their modulation of Eph receptor/ephrin function, peptides can also serve to deliver conjugated imaging and therapeutic agents or various types of nanoparticles to tumors and other diseased tissues presenting target Eph receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena B Pasquale
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Herington AC, Mertens-Walker I, Lisle JE, Maharaj M, Stephenson SA. Inhibiting Eph kinase activity may not be "Eph"ective for cancer treatment. Growth Factors 2014; 32:207-13. [PMID: 25413947 DOI: 10.3109/08977194.2014.985293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Several Eph receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are commonly over-expressed in epithelial and mesenchymal cancers and are recognized as promising therapeutic targets. Although normal interaction between Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands stimulates kinase activity and is generally tumor suppressive, significant Eph over-expression allows activation of ligand- and/or kinase-independent signaling pathways that promote oncogenesis. Single-agent kinase inhibitors are widely used to target RTK-driven tumors but acquired and de novo resistance to such agents is a major limitation to effective clinical use. Accumulating evidence suggests that Ephs can be inhibited by "leaky" or low-specificity kinase inhibitors targeted at other RTKs. Such off-target effects may therefore inadvertently promote ligand- and/or kinase-independent oncogenic Eph signaling, thereby providing a new mechanism by which resistance to the RTK inhibitors can emerge. We propose that combining specific, non-leaky kinase inhibitors with tumor-suppressive stimulators of Eph signaling may provide more effective treatment options for overcoming treatment-induced resistance and clinical failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Herington
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Queensland , Australia and
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21
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Li F, Cheng T, Dong Q, Wei R, Zhang Z, Luo D, Ma X, Wang S, Gao Q, Ma D, Zhu X, Xi L. Evaluation of (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1 as a tumor-homing imaging agent targeting metastasis with SPECT. Nucl Med Biol 2014; 42:256-62. [PMID: 25516099 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2014] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION TMTP1 (NVVRQ) is a novel tumor-homing peptide, which specifically targets tumor metastases, even at the early stage of occult metastasis foci. Fusing TMTP1 to therapeutic peptides or proteins can increase its anti-cancer efficacy both in vivo and in vitro. Here, we labeled TMTP1 with (99m)Tc to evaluate its targeting properties in an ovarian cancer xenograft tumor mouse model and a gastric cancer xenograft mouse model. METHODS The invasion ability of SKOV3 and highly metastatic SKOV3.ip cell lines were performed by the Transwell Invasion Assays, and then Rhodamine-TMTP1 was used to detect its affinity to these two cells. Using the co-ligand ethylenediamine-N, N'-diacetic acid (EDDA) and the bifunctional chelator 6-hydrazinonicotinic acid (HYNIC), the TMTP1 peptide was labeled with (99m)Tc. A cell-binding assay was performed by incubating cancer cells with (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1 with or without an excess dose of cold HYNIC-TMTP1. To evaluate the probe in vivo, nude mice bearing SKOV3, SKOV3.ip and MNK-45 tumor cells were established and subjected to SPECT imaging after injection with (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1. Ex vivo γ-counting of dissected tissues from the mice was used to evaluate its biodistribution. RESULTS (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1 was successfully synthesized. The radiotracer also exhibited high hydrophilicity and excellent stability in vitro and in vivo. It has strong affinity to highly metastatic cancer cell lines but not to poorly metastatic cell lines. After mice were injected with (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1, non-invasive SPECT imaging detected SKOV3.ip and MNK-45 xenograft tumors but not SKOV3 xenograft tumors. This result can be inhibited by excess HYNIC-TMTP1. The uptake of (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1 in SKOV3.ip xenograft tumors was 0.182±0.017% ID/g at 2h p.i. with high renal uptake (74.32±15.05% ID/g at 2h p.i.). CONCLUSION (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1 biodistribution and SPECT imaging demonstrated its ability to target highly metastatic tumors. Therefore, metastasis can be non-invasively investigated by SPECT imaging using (99m)Tc-HYNIC-TMTP1. Meanwhile, this radiotracer has some shortages in the low % ID/g of tumors and high accumulation in the kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Teng Cheng
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingjian Dong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine,Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Wei
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenzhong Zhang
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Danfeng Luo
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyi Ma
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Shixuan Wang
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinglei Gao
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Ding Ma
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohua Zhu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine,Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ling Xi
- Cancer Biology Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China.
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