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Luna OF, Perez YV, Ferrari DP, Sayedipour SS, Royo M, Acosta GA, Cruz LJ, Alves F, Agner E, Sydnes MO, Albericio F. Impact of N-Terminal PEGylation on Synthesis and Purification of Peptide-Based Cancer Epitopes for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:34544-34554. [PMID: 39157077 PMCID: PMC11325526 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Peptide-based cancer vaccines have shown promising results in preclinical trials focusing on tumor immunotherapy. However, the presence of hydrophobic amino acid segments within these peptide sequences poses challenges in their synthesis, purification, and solubility, thereby hindering their potential use as cancer vaccines. In this study, we successfully synthesized peptide sequences derived from mesothelin (MSLN), a tumor-associated antigen overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by conjugating them with monodisperse polyethylene glycol (PEG). By PEGylating mesothelin epitopes of varying lengths (ranging from 9 to 38 amino acids) and hydrophobicity (60-90%), we achieved an effective method to improve the peptide yield and facilitate the processes of synthesis and purification. PEGylation significantly enhanced the solubility, facilitating the single-step purification of lengthy hydrophobic peptides. Most importantly, PEGylation did not compromise cell viability and had little to no effect on the immunogenicity of the peptides. In contrast, the addition of a palmitoyl group to increase immunogenicity led to reduced yield and solubility. Overall, PEGylation proves to be an effective technique for enhancing the solubility and broadening the range of utility of diverse long hydrophobic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar F. Luna
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona,
and CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials,
and Nanomedicine, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Yomkippur V. Perez
- Polypure
AS, Martin Linges vei 25, Fornebu 1364, Norway
- Department
of Chemistry, Bioscience, and Environmental Engineering, University of Stavanger, Stavanger 4036, Norway
| | - Daniele P. Ferrari
- Translational
Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute
of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen 37075, Germany
| | - Sana S. Sayedipour
- Department
of Radiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, Leiden 2333, Netherlands
| | - Miriam Royo
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona,
and CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials,
and Nanomedicine, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Institute
for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) of the Spanish Council
for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Gerardo A. Acosta
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona,
and CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials,
and Nanomedicine, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Institute
for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) of the Spanish Council
for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Luis J. Cruz
- Department
of Radiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, Leiden 2333, Netherlands
| | - Frauke Alves
- Translational
Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute
of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen 37075, Germany
| | - Erik Agner
- Polypure
AS, Martin Linges vei 25, Fornebu 1364, Norway
| | - Magne O. Sydnes
- Department
of Chemistry, Bioscience, and Environmental Engineering, University of Stavanger, Stavanger 4036, Norway
| | - Fernando Albericio
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona,
and CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials,
and Nanomedicine, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Peptide
Science Laboratory, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
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2
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de Haas AM, Stolk DA, Schetters STT, Goossens-Kruijssen L, Keuning E, Ambrosini M, Boon L, Kalay H, Storm G, van der Vliet HJ, de Gruijl TD, van Kooyk Y. Vaccination with DC-SIGN-Targeting αGC Liposomes Leads to Tumor Control, Irrespective of Suboptimally Activated T-Cells. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:581. [PMID: 38794243 PMCID: PMC11124829 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050581] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines have emerged as a potent strategy to improve cancer immunity, with or without the combination of checkpoint blockade. In our investigation, liposomal formulations containing synthetic long peptides and α-Galactosylceramide, along with a DC-SIGN-targeting ligand, Lewis Y (LeY), were studied for their anti-tumor potential. The formulated liposomes boosted with anti-CD40 adjuvant demonstrated robust invariant natural killer (iNKT), CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell activation in vivo. The incorporation of LeY facilitated the targeting of antigen-presenting cells expressing DC-SIGN in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly, mice vaccinated with LeY-modified liposomes exhibited comparable tumor reduction and survival rates to those treated with untargeted counterparts despite a decrease in antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. These results suggest that impaired induction of antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells via DC-SIGN targeting does not compromise anti-tumor potential, hinting at alternative immune activation routes beyond CD8+ T-cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aram M. de Haas
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dorian A. Stolk
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd T. T. Schetters
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Goossens-Kruijssen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eelco Keuning
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martino Ambrosini
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- LIPOSOMA BV, Meerpaalweg 5, 1332 BB Almere, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hakan Kalay
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Storm
- LIPOSOMA BV, Meerpaalweg 5, 1332 BB Almere, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Hans J. van der Vliet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- LAVA Therapeutics, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tanja D. de Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yvette van Kooyk
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Huang X, Wang M, Zhang D, Zhang C, Liu P. Advances in Targeted Drug Resistance Associated with Dysregulation of Lipid Metabolism in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:113-129. [PMID: 38250308 PMCID: PMC10799627 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s447578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the prevailing malignant neoplasm affecting the liver, often diagnosed at an advanced stage and associated with an unfavorable overall prognosis. Sorafenib and Lenvatinib have emerged as first-line therapeutic drugs for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, improving the prognosis for these patients. Nevertheless, the issue of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance poses a substantial obstacle in the management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis and advancement of hepatocellular carcinoma exhibit a close association with metabolic reprogramming, yet the attention given to lipid metabolism dysregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma development remains relatively restricted. This review summarizes the potential significance and research progress of lipid metabolism dysfunction in Sorafenib and Lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeting hepatocellular carcinoma lipid metabolism holds promising potential as an effective strategy to overcome hepatocellular carcinoma drug resistance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoju Huang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengmeng Wang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Liver Transplant Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pian Liu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China
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Bellini C, Vergara E, Bencs F, Fodor K, Bősze S, Krivić D, Bacsa B, Surguta SE, Tóvári J, Reljic R, Horváti K. Design and Characterization of a Multistage Peptide-Based Vaccine Platform to Target Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:1738-1753. [PMID: 37606258 PMCID: PMC10587871 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The complex immunopathology ofMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) is one of the main challenges in developing a novel vaccine against this pathogen, particularly regarding eliciting protection against both active and latent stages. Multistage vaccines, which contain antigens expressed in both phases, represent a promising strategy for addressing this issue, as testified by the tuberculosis vaccine clinical pipeline. Given this approach, we designed and characterized a multistage peptide-based vaccine platform containing CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes previously validated for inducing a relevant T cell response against Mtb. After preliminary screening, CFP10 (32-39), GlfT2 (4-12), HBHA (185-194), and PPE15 (1-15) were selected as promising candidates, and we proved that the PM1 pool of these peptides triggered a T cell response in Mtb-sensitized human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Taking advantage of the use of thiol-maleimide chemoselective ligation, we synthesized a multiepitope conjugate (Ac-CGHP). Our results showed a structure-activity relationship between the conjugation and a higher tendency to fold and assume an ordered secondary structure. Moreover, the palmitoylated conjugate (Pal-CGHP) comprising the same peptide antigens was associated with an enhanced cellular uptake in human and murine antigen-presenting cells and a better immunogenicity profile. Immunization study, conducted in BALB/c mice, showed that Pal-CGHP induced a significantly higher T cell proliferation and production of IFNγ and TNFα over PM1 formulated in the Sigma Adjuvant System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bellini
- MTA-TTK
Lendület “Momentum” Peptide-Based Vaccines Research
Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest 1117, Hungary
- Hevesy
György PhD School of Chemistry, Eötvös
Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary
| | - Emil Vergara
- Institute
for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s,
University of London, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
| | - Fruzsina Bencs
- Hevesy
György PhD School of Chemistry, Eötvös
Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary
- Laboratory
of Structural Chemistry and Biology, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary
| | - Kinga Fodor
- Department
of Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Protection, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest 1078, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Bősze
- ELKH-ELTE
Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd
Research Network (ELKH), Eötvös
Loránd University, Budapest 1117, Hungary
| | - Denis Krivić
- Division
of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Bernadett Bacsa
- Division
of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Sára Eszter Surguta
- Department
of Experimental Pharmacology and National Tumor Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - József Tóvári
- Department
of Experimental Pharmacology and National Tumor Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Rajko Reljic
- Institute
for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s,
University of London, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
| | - Kata Horváti
- MTA-TTK
Lendület “Momentum” Peptide-Based Vaccines Research
Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest 1117, Hungary
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5
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Zhou B, Hao Q, Liang Y, Kong E. Protein palmitoylation in cancer: molecular functions and therapeutic potential. Mol Oncol 2022; 17:3-26. [PMID: 36018061 PMCID: PMC9812842 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein S-palmitoylation (hereinafter referred to as protein palmitoylation) is a reversible lipid posttranslational modification catalyzed by the zinc finger DHHC-type containing (ZDHHC) protein family. The reverse reaction, depalmitoylation, is catalyzed by palmitoyl-protein thioesterases (PPTs), including acyl-protein thioesterases (APT1/2), palmitoyl protein thioesterases (PPT1/2), or alpha/beta hydrolase domain-containing protein 17A/B/C (ABHD17A/B/C). Proteins encoded by several oncogenes and tumor suppressors are modified by palmitoylation, which enhances the hydrophobicity of specific protein subdomains, and can confer changes in protein stability, membrane localization, protein-protein interaction, and signal transduction. The importance for protein palmitoylation in tumorigenesis has just started to be elucidated in the past decade; palmitoylation appears to affect key aspects of cancer, including cancer cell proliferation and survival, cell invasion and metastasis, and antitumor immunity. Here we review the current literature on protein palmitoylation in the various cancer types, and discuss the potential of targeting of palmitoylation enzymes or palmitoylated proteins for tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binhui Zhou
- Institute of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceXinxiang Medical UniversityChina,Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory MedicineXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
| | - Qianyun Hao
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Thoracic Oncology IIPeking University Cancer Hospital & InstituteBeijingChina
| | - Yinming Liang
- Institute of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceXinxiang Medical UniversityChina,Laboratory of Genetic Regulators in the Immune System, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory MedicineXinxiang Medical UniversityChina,Henan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Targeted Therapy, School of Laboratory MedicineXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
| | - Eryan Kong
- Institute of Psychiatry and NeuroscienceXinxiang Medical UniversityChina
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