1
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Aslam S, Zulfiqar F, Hameed W, Qureshi S, Zaroon, Bashir H. Fusion proteins development strategies and their role as cancer therapeutic agents. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2024; 71:81-95. [PMID: 37822167 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2523] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Cancer continues to be leading cause of morbidity and mortality despite decades of research and advancement in chemotherapy. Most tumors can be reduced via standard oncology treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical resection, and they frequently recur. Significant progress has been made since targeted cancer therapy inception in creation of medications that exhibit improved tumor-selective action. Particularly in preclinical and clinical investigations, fusion proteins have shown strong activity and improved treatment outcomes for a number of human cancers. Synergistically combining many proteins into one complex allows the creation of synthetic fusion proteins with enhanced characteristics or new capabilities. Signal transduction pathways are important for onset, development, and spread of cancer. As result, signaling molecules are desirable targets for cancer therapies, and significant effort has been made into developing fusion proteins that would act as inhibitors of these pathways. A wide range of biotechnological and medicinal applications are made possible by fusion of protein domains that improves bioactivities or creates new functional combinations. Such proteins may function as immune effectors cell recruiters to tumors or as decoy receptors for various ligands. In this review article, we have outlined the standard methods for creating fusion proteins and covered the applications of fusion proteins in treatment of cancer. This article also highlights the role of fusion proteins in targeting the signaling pathways involved in cancer for effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakira Aslam
- Center for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Warda Hameed
- King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Shahnila Qureshi
- Center for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zaroon
- Center for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hamid Bashir
- Center for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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2
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Hosseininejad-Chafi M, Alirahimi E, Ramezani B, Oghalaie A, Sotoudeh N, Ghaderi H, Kazemi-Lomedasht F, Habibi-Anbouhi M, Moazzami R, Behdani M. In vivo solid tumor targeting with recombinant VEGF-diphtheria immunotoxin. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 25:27-31. [PMID: 35656448 PMCID: PMC9118281 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2021.54293.12195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Objectives A variety of signaling molecules have been identified that play a role in angiogenesis, of prime importance, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its resceptor (VEGFR), which is highly expressed in most human solid tumors. Targeting VEGF or/and VEGFR with immunotoxin may be a promising approach to directly affect cancer cells. Immunotoxins are for targeted treatment comprising two functional moieties, an antibody that binds to target cells along with toxin that kills molecules. Materials and Methods In this study, an immunotoxin comprising domain of diphtheria toxin subunit A (DT386) genetically fused to mouse VEGF (mVEGF-DT) was developed. The second construct, which contains the DT386 domain, was made to investigate the action of the DT386 domain on tumor cells. Both gene constructs were cloned, expressed, and were further purified. The biological activity of mVEGF-DT and DT386 proteins was assessed on the TC1 cell line bearing mouse model. Proteins were injected intra-tumoral in mice, in separate groups. Results Tumors in the mVEGF-DT group started to dwindle after six injections, but tumor size in both control groups (DT386 and PBS), continued to grow. Conclusion Successful targeting of solid tumor cells by mVEGF-DT immunotoxin demonstrates the therapeutic potential utility of these conjugates for tumor targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ehsan Alirahimi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Ramezani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akbar Oghalaie
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazli Sotoudeh
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hajarsadat Ghaderi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Kazemi-Lomedasht
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Reza Moazzami
- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Behdani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Hajari Taheri F, Hassani M, Sharifzadeh Z, Behdani M, Arashkia A, Abolhassani M. T cell engineered with a novel nanobody‐based chimeric antigen receptor against VEGFR2 as a candidate for tumor immunotherapy. IUBMB Life 2019; 71:1259-1267. [DOI: 10.1002/iub.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmoud Hassani
- Department of ImmunologyHybridoma Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
- Department of Molecular MedicineTehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Zahra Sharifzadeh
- Department of ImmunologyHybridoma Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
| | - Mehdi Behdani
- Department of Molecular MedicinePasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
| | - Arash Arashkia
- Department of a Molecular VirologyPasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
| | - Mohsen Abolhassani
- Department of ImmunologyHybridoma Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran Iran
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4
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Langari J, Karimipoor M, Golkar M, Khanahmad H, Zeinali S, Omidinia S, Cohan RA, Behdani M, Babaie J, Arezumand R, Moazami R. In Vitro Evaluation of Vegf-Pseudomonas Exotoxin: A Conjugated on Tumor Cells. Adv Biomed Res 2017; 6:144. [PMID: 29226113 PMCID: PMC5719587 DOI: 10.4103/2277-9175.218691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Angiogenesis which occurs mandatory in solid tumors, is a critical step in malignancy progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is mainly responsible for angiogenesis process and facilitates the formation of new vessels. Distribution of monoclonal antibodies against VEGF or VEGF receptor (VEGFR) into the solid tumors is limited because of their huge dimensions. Moreover, many investigations have demonstrated the usefulness of immunotoxins to halt angiogenesis in solid tumors. Materials and Methods: We designed, expressed and evaluated the cytotoxicity of a novel nano-immunotoxin composed of VEGF splice variant containing 121 amino acids (VEGF121) and truncated the exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PE38-KDEL). The fusion protein VEGF121-PE38 was successfully cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, purified by Ni+ 2 affinity chromatography. The fusion protein was subsequently subjected to refolding using the reduced and oxidized glutathione. Results: The expression level of the fusion protein reached to 1 mg/ml. The VEGF121-PE38 immunotoxin showed a 59 KDa MW which had cytotoxic effect on HUVEC and 293/KDR cells as low and high expressing VEGFR2 cells, respectively. But the cytotoxicity on 293/KDR was 100 folds more than that of VEGFR2 low expressing cell HUVEC. Conclusion: The designed immunotoxin showed more selectivity for higher VEGFR2 expressing cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahangir Langari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Karimipoor
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Golkar
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Khanahmad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Pediatric Inherited Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Noncommunicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sirous Zeinali
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Skandar Omidinia
- Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahangari Cohan
- Department of Pilot Nanobiotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Behdani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jalal Babaie
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roghaye Arezumand
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Moazami
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Targeting of Tumor Neovasculature with GrB/VEGF 121, a Novel Cytotoxic Fusion Protein. Biomedicines 2017; 5:biomedicines5030042. [PMID: 28714916 PMCID: PMC5618300 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines5030042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a critical process in numerous diseases, and intervention in neovascularization has therapeutic value in several disease settings, including ocular diseases, arthritis, and in tumor progression and metastatic spread. Various vascular targeting agents have been developed, including those that inhibit growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases, blocking antibodies that interfere with receptor signal transduction, and strategies that trap growth factor ligands. Limited anti-tumor efficacy studies have suggested that the targeted delivery of the human pro-apoptotic molecule Granzyme B to tumor cells has significant potential for cancer treatment. Here, we review biological vascular targeting agents, and describe a unique vascular targeting agent composed of Granzyme B and the VEGF receptor ligand VEGF121. The fusion protein GrB/VEGF121 demonstrates cytotoxicity at nanomolar or sub-nanomolar levels, excellent pharmacokinetic and efficacy profiles, and has significant therapeutic potential targeting tumor vasculature.
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6
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Qasemi M, Behdani M, Shokrgozar MA, Molla-Kazemiha V, Mohseni-Kuchesfahani H, Habibi-Anbouhi M. Construction and expression of an anti-VEGFR2 Nanobody-Fc fusionbody in NS0 host cell. Protein Expr Purif 2016; 123:19-25. [PMID: 26996993 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels which is involved in migration, growth and differentiation of endothelial cells. This process regularly occurs during growth and development in children however, in adults is usually part of a disease process such as cancer. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a vital player in the vascular development and angiogenesis in physiological and pathological processes. Camelid's immune system has unique antibodies which are composed of only a heavy chain homodimer and the variable domain (VHH, Nanobody). Nanobodies are small, around 15 kDa and stable. In this study, we engineered and constructed a new Nanobody-Fc fusion protein (fusionbody) composed of an anti-VEGFR2 Nanobody and an Fc fragment of human IgG1 antibody. The recombinant vector was transfected into NS0 host cells. Stable producer clones were developed and the recombinant fusionbody was expressed and purified. Functional assay showed the anti-VEGFR2 fusionbody could bind to VEGFR2 on cell surface via VHH part and could mediate killing the targeted cells through direct cell death and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Qasemi
- National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Behdani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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7
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Li JJ, Lan KL, Chang SF, Chen YF, Tsai WC, Chiang PH, Lin MH, Fischer WB, Shih YS, Yen SH, Liu RS, Tsay YG, Wang HE, Chang CA. Development and Characterization of the Recombinant Human VEGF-EGF Dual-Targeting Fusion Protein as a Drug Delivery System. Bioconjug Chem 2015; 26:2481-96. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5b00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Je Li
- Program
in Molecular Medicine, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 112
| | | | - Shun-Fu Chang
- Department
of Medical Research and Development, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Chiayi Branch, Chiayi 613, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hsin-Ell Wang
- Program
in Molecular Medicine, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 112
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8
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Behdani M, Zeinali S, Karimipour M, Khanahmad H, Schoonooghe S, Aslemarz A, Seyed N, Moazami-Godarzi R, Baniahmad F, Habibi-Anbouhi M, Hassanzadeh-Ghassabeh G, Muyldermans S. Development of VEGFR2-specific Nanobody Pseudomonas exotoxin A conjugated to provide efficient inhibition of tumor cell growth. N Biotechnol 2013; 30:205-9. [PMID: 23031816 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Revised: 09/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis targeting is an attractive approach for cancer treatment. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is such an important target that is overexpressed in tumor vasculature compared to the endothelium cells of resting blood vessels and blocking of its signaling inhibits neovascularization and tumor metastasis. Immunotoxins represent a promising group of targeted therapeutics to combat tumors. They consist of an antibody linked to a toxin and are designed to kill specifically the tumor cells. In this study, we fused a VEGFR2-specific Nanobody, the antigen-binding single-domain fragment derived from functional Heavy-chain antibody of Camelidae, to the truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A and evaluated its ability to bind the VEGFR2 molecule on the cell surface. We demonstrate that this immunotoxin inhibits the proliferation of VEGFR2-expressing cells in vitro. This finding is considered to be a significant achievement in tumor therapy and it forms a basis for further studies in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Behdani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Vicari D, Foy KC, Liotta EM, Kaumaya PTP. Engineered conformation-dependent VEGF peptide mimics are effective in inhibiting VEGF signaling pathways. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:13612-25. [PMID: 21321115 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.216812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis, or formation of new blood vessels, is crucial to cancer tumor growth. Tumor growth, progression, and metastasis are critically influenced by the production of the pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Promising anti-angiogenic drugs are currently available; however, their susceptibilities to drug resistance and long term toxicity are serious impediments to their use, thus requiring the development of new therapeutic approaches for safe and effective angiogenic inhibitors. In this work, peptides were designed to mimic the VEGF-binding site to its receptor VEGFR-2. The VEGF conformational peptide mimic, VEGF-P3(CYC), included two artificial cysteine residues, which upon cyclization constrained the peptide in a loop native-like conformation to better mimic the anti-parallel structure of VEGF. The engineered cyclic VEGF mimic peptide demonstrated the highest affinity to VEGFR-2 by surface plasmon resonance assay. The VEGF peptide mimics were evaluated as inhibitors in several in vitro assays in which VEGF-dependent signaling pathways were observed. All VEGF mimics inhibited VEGFR-2 phosphorylation with VEGF-P3(CYC) showing the highest inhibitory effects when compared with unstructured peptides. Additionally, we show in several angiogenic in vitro assays that all the VEGF mimics inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and network formation with the conformational VEGF-P3 (CYC) being the best. The VEGF-P3(CYC) also caused a significant delay in tumor development in a transgenic model of VEGF(+/-)Neu2-5(+/-). These results indicate that the structure-based design is important for the development of this peptidomimetic and for its anti-angiogenic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Vicari
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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10
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SLT-VEGF reduces lung metastases, decreases tumor recurrence, and improves survival in an orthotopic melanoma model. Toxins (Basel) 2010; 2:2242-57. [PMID: 22069683 PMCID: PMC3153293 DOI: 10.3390/toxins2092242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Revised: 08/20/2010] [Accepted: 08/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
SLT-VEGF is a recombinant cytotoxin comprised of Shiga-like toxin (SLT) subunit A fused to human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It is highly cytotoxic to tumor endothelial cells overexpressing VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2/KDR/Flk1) and inhibits the growth of primary tumors in subcutaneous models of breast and prostate cancer and inhibits metastatic dissemination in orthotopic models of pancreatic cancer. We examined the efficacy of SLT-VEGF in limiting tumor growth and metastasis in an orthotopic melanoma model, using NCR athymic nude mice inoculated with highly metastatic Line IV Cl 1 cultured human melanoma cells. Twice weekly injections of SLT-VEGF were started when tumors became palpable at one week after intradermal injection of 1 × 106 cells/mouse. Despite selective depletion of VEGFR-2 overexpressing endothelial cells from the tumor vasculature, SLT-VEGF treatment did not affect tumor growth. However, after primary tumors were removed, continued SLT-VEGF treatment led to fewer tumor recurrences (p = 0.007), reduced the incidence of lung metastasis (p = 0.038), and improved survival (p = 0.002). These results suggest that SLT-VEGF is effective at the very early stages of tumor development, when selective killing of VEGFR-2 overexpressing endothelial cells can still prevent further progression. We hypothesize that SLT-VEGF could be a promising adjuvant therapy to inhibit or prevent outgrowth of metastatic foci after excision of aggressive primary melanoma lesions.
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11
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Kim SH, Kiick KL. Cell-mediated Delivery and Targeted Erosion of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Crosslinked Hydrogels. Macromol Rapid Commun 2010; 31:1231-40. [PMID: 21567519 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201000130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2010] [Revised: 04/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported a novel polymeric delivery vehicle that is assembled via interaction between heparin and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Here, the cell-responsiveness of this hydrogel-including the delivery of VEGF in response to VEGFR-2 overexpressing PAE/KDR cells (porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAE) equipped with the transcript for the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR)), consequent erosion of the hydrogel matrix, and cellular response-are highlighted. The release of VEGF and hydrogel erosion reached 100% only in the presence of PAE/KDR. The [PEG-LMWH/VEGF] hydrogel (PEG = poly(ethylene glycol), LMWH = low molecular weight heparin) correspondingly prompted increases in VEGFR-2 phosphorylation and proliferation of PAE/KDR cells. This study proves that growth factor-crosslinked hydrogels can liberate VEGF in response to specific receptors, causing gel erosion and desired cell responses. The promise of these approaches in therapeutic applications, including targeted delivery, is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Hye Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, 201 DuPont Hall, Newark, Delaware, 19716, USA; Current address: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, 607 Charles E Young Dr. S., Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA
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12
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Backer MV, Hamby CV, Backer JM. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling in angiogenic tumor vasculature. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2009; 67:1-27. [PMID: 19914448 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-2660(09)67001-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neovascularization takes place in a large number of pathologies, including cancer. Significant effort has been invested in the development of agents that can inhibit this process, and an increasing number of such agents, known as antiangiogenic drugs, are entering clinical trials or being approved for clinical use. The key players involved in the development and maintenance of tumor neovasculature are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs), and therefore VEGF/VEGFR signaling pathways have been a focus of anticancer therapies for several decades. This review focuses on two main approaches designed to selectively target VEGFRs, inhibiting VEGFR with small molecule inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinase activity and inhibiting the binding of VEGF to VEGFRs with specific antibodies or soluble decoy VEGF receptors. The major problem with these strategies is that they appeared to be effective only in relatively small and unpredictable subsets of patients. An alternative approach would be to subvert VEGFR for intracellular delivery of cytotoxic molecules. We describe here one such molecule, SLT-VEGF, a fusion protein containing VEGF121 and the highly cytotoxic catalytic subunit of Shiga-like toxin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carl V Hamby
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA
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13
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Veenendaal LM, Jin H, Ran S, Cheung L, Navone N, Marks JW, Waltenberger J, Thorpe P, Rosenblum MG. In vitro and in vivo studies of a VEGF121/rGelonin chimeric fusion toxin targeting the neovasculature of solid tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:7866-71. [PMID: 12060733 PMCID: PMC122986 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.122157899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. We generated a fusion protein containing VEGF(121) linked by a flexible G(4)S tether to the toxin gelonin (rGel) and expressed this as a soluble protein in bacteria. Purified VEGF(121)/rGel migrated as an 84-kDa homodimer under nonreducing conditions. VEGF(121)/rGel bound to purified, immobilized Flk-1, and the binding was competed by VEGF(121). Both VEGF(121)/rGel and VEGF(121) stimulated cellular kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) phosphorylation. The VEGF(121)/rGel fusion construct was highly cytotoxic to endothelial cells overexpressing the KDR/Flk-1 receptor. The IC(50) of the construct on dividing endothelial cells expressing 10(5) or more KDR/Flk-1 receptors per cell was 0.5-1 nM, as compared with 300 nM for rGel itself. Dividing endothelial cells overexpressing KDR were approximately 60-fold more sensitive to VEGF(121)/rGel than were nondividing cells. Endothelial cells overexpressing FLT-1 were not sensitive to the fusion protein. Human melanoma (A-375) or human prostate (PC-3) xenografts treated with the fusion construct demonstrated a reduction in tumor volume to 16% of untreated controls. The fusion construct localized selectively to PC-3 tumor vessels and caused thrombotic damage to tumor vessels with extravasation of red blood cells into the tumor bed. These studies demonstrate the successful use of VEGF(121)/rGel fusion construct for the targeted destruction of tumor vasculature in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbeth M Veenendaal
- Immunopharmacology and Targeted Therapy Section, Department of Bioimmunotherapy, Univ. of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
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14
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Niederman TMJ, Ghogawala Z, Carter BS, Tompkins HS, Russell MM, Mulligan RC. Antitumor activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes engineered to target vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:7009-14. [PMID: 11997459 PMCID: PMC124519 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.092562399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The demonstration that angiogenesis is required for the growth of solid tumors has fueled an intense interest in the development of new therapeutic strategies that target the tumor vasculature. Here we report the development of an immune-based antiangiogenic strategy that is based on the generation of T lymphocytes that possess a killing specificity for cells expressing vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs). To target VEGFR-expressing cells, recombinant retroviral vectors were generated that encoded a chimeric T cell receptor comprised of VEGF sequences linked to intracellular signaling sequences derived from the zeta chain of the T cell receptor. After transduction of primary murine CD8 lymphocytes by such vectors, the transduced cells were shown to possess an efficient killing specificity for cells expressing the VEGF receptor, Flk-1, as measured by in vitro cytotoxicity assays. After adoptive transfer into tumor-bearing mice, the genetically modified cytotoxic T lymphocytes strongly inhibited the growth of a variety of syngeneic murine tumors and human tumor xenografts. An increased effect on in vivo tumor growth inhibition was seen when this therapy was combined with the systemic administration of TNP-470, a conventional angiogenesis inhibitor. The utilization of the immune system to target angiogenic markers expressed on tumor vasculature may prove to be a powerful means for controlling tumor growth.
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MESH Headings
- 3T3 Cells
- Animals
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cell Line
- Cell Line, Transformed
- Endothelial Growth Factors/genetics
- Endothelial Growth Factors/immunology
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Lymphokines/genetics
- Lymphokines/immunology
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Growth Factor/immunology
- Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M J Niederman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Division of Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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15
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Backer MV, Backer JM. Targeting endothelial cells overexpressing VEGFR-2: selective toxicity of Shiga-like toxin-VEGF fusion proteins. Bioconjug Chem 2001; 12:1066-73. [PMID: 11716701 DOI: 10.1021/bc015534j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Growing endothelial cells at the sites of angiogenesis express high numbers of VEGF receptors and therefore may be particularly sensitive to VEGF-mediated drug delivery. To test this hypothesis we have constructed a protein containing the catalytic A-subunit of Shiga-like toxin I fused to VEGF121 (SLT-VEGF/L). Wild-type A-subunit is a site-specific N-glycosidase of 28S rRNA that inhibits protein synthesis after being delivered into cells by separate cell-binding B-subunits. SLT-VEGF/L retains functional activities of both SLT and VEGF121 moieties, since it inhibits protein synthesis in a cell-free translation system and induces VEGFR-2 tyrosine autophosphorylation. SLT-VEGF/L selectively inhibits growth of porcine endothelial cells expressing 2.5 x 10(5) VEGFR-2/cell with an IC50 of 0.2 nM and rapidly induces apoptosis at concentrations >1 nM. We found that sensitivity of VEGFR-2 transfected PAE cells to SLT-VEGF/L declined as the cellular VEGFR-2 density decreased; PAE cells expressing 25000 VEGFR-2/cell were as sensitive as parental cells lacking the receptor. Growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis by SLT-VEGF/L require intrinsic N-glycosidase activity of the SLT moiety, but take place without significant inhibition of protein synthesis. Selective cytotoxicity of SLT-VEGF/L against growing endothelial cells overexpressing VEGFR-2 suggests that it may be useful in targeting similar cells at the sites of angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M V Backer
- SibTech, Inc., Newington, Connecticut 06111, USA.
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Abstract
Angiogenesis is stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acting via endothelial cell-specific receptors, such as VEGFR-2, that are overexpressed at the sites of angiogenesis. If VEGF retains activity as a fusion protein with a large N-terminal extension, it would facilitate development of VEGF-based vehicles for receptor-mediated delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents to the sites of angiogenesis. We have constructed, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified VEGF fusion proteins containing a 158-amino acid N-terminal extension fused to human VEGF(121), VEGF(165), and VEGF(189). We report here that VEGF fusion proteins induce tyrosine autophosphorylation of VEGFR-2 and its downstream targets, as well as cell contraction in cells overexpressing VEGFR-2. Although N-terminal extensions decrease the affinity of VEGF fusion proteins to VEGFR-2, at saturating concentrations these proteins are as efficient as correct size VEGF(165). We hypothesize that VEGF fusion proteins may be employed for targeting endothelial cells at the sites of angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M V Backer
- Sib Tech, Incorporated, 705 North Mountain Road, Newington, Connecticut 06111, USA.
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