1
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Knepper LE, Ankrom ET, Thévenin D. Enhancing Anti-Cancer Immune Response by Acidosis-Sensitive Nanobody Display. J Membr Biol 2024:10.1007/s00232-024-00322-3. [PMID: 39254684 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-024-00322-3] [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: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
One of the main challenges with many cancer immunotherapies is that biomarkers are needed for targeting. These biomarkers are often associated with tumors but are not specific to a particular tumor and can lead to damage in healthy tissues, resistance to treatment, or the need for customization for different types of cancer due to variations in targets. A promising alternative approach is to target the acidic microenvironment found in most solid tumor types. This can be achieved using the pH (Low) Insertion Peptide (pHLIP), which inserts selectively into cell membranes under acidic conditions, sparing healthy tissues. pHLIP has shown potential for imaging, drug delivery, and surface display. For instance, we previously used pHLIP to display epitopes on the surfaces of cancer cells, enabling antibody-mediated immune cell recruitment and selective killing of cancer cells. In this study, we further explored this concept by directly fusing an anti-CD16 nanobody, which activates natural killer (NK) cells, to pHLIP, eliminating the need for antibody recruitment. Our results demonstrated the insertion of pH-sensitive agents into cancer cells, activation of the CD16 receptor on effector cells, and successful targeting and destruction of cancer cells by high-affinity CD16+ NK cells in two cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah E Knepper
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA
| | - Emily T Ankrom
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA.
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2
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Knepper LE, Ankrom ET, Thévenin D. Enhancing Anti-Cancer Immune Response by Acidosis-sensitive Nanobody Display. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4750804. [PMID: 39184093 PMCID: PMC11343302 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4750804/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
One of the main challenges with many cancer immuno-therapies is that they depend on biomarkers for targeting. These biomarkers are often associated with tumors but are not specific to a particular tumor, which can lead to damage in healthy tissues, resistance to treatment, and the need for customization for different types of cancer due to the variations in targets. A promising alternative approach is to target the acidic microenvironment found in most solid tumor types. This can be achieved using the pH (Low) Insertion Peptide (pHLIP), which inserts selectively into cell membranes in acidic conditions, sparing healthy tissues. pHLIP has shown potential for imaging, drug delivery, and surface display. For instance, we previously used pHLIP to display epitopes on the surfaces of cancer cells, enabling antibody-mediated immune cell recruitment and selective killing of cancer cells. In this study, we further this concept by directly fusing an anti-CD16 nanobody, which activates Natural Killer (NK) cells, to pHLIP, eliminating the need for antibody recruitment. Our results demonstrate pH-sensitive insertion into cancer cells, activation of the CD16 receptor on effector cells, and successful targeting and destruction of cancer cells by high-affinity CD16 + NK cells in two cancer cell lines.
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3
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Deskeuvre M, Lan J, Messens J, Riant O, Feron O, Frédérick R. A novel approach to pH-Responsive targeted cancer Therapy: Inhibition of FaDu cancer cell proliferation with a pH low insertion Peptide-Conjugated DGAT1 inhibitor. Int J Pharm 2024; 657:124132. [PMID: 38641019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124132] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Targeting enzymes involved in lipid metabolism is increasingly recognized as a promising anticancer strategy. Efficient inhibition of diacylglycerol O-transferase 1 (DGAT1) can block fatty acid (FA) storage. This, in turn, triggers an increase in free polyunsaturated FA concentration, leading to peroxidation and ferroptosis. In this study, we report the development of a pH-sensitive peptide (pHLIP)-drug conjugate designed to selectively deliver DGAT1 inhibitors to cancer cells nested within the acidic microenvironment of tumors. We utilized two previously established pHLIP sequences for coupling with drugs. The study of DGAT1 conjugates in large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of different compositions did not reveal enhanced pH-dependent insertion compared to POPC LUVs. However, using in vitro 3D tumor spheroids, significant antiproliferative effects were observed upon exposure to pHLIP-T863 (DGAT1 inhibitor) conjugates, surpassing the inhibitory activity of T863 alone. In conclusion, our study provides the first evidence that pHLIP-based conjugates with DGAT1 inhibitors have the potential to specifically target the acidic compartment of tumors. Moreover, it sheds light on the limitations of LUV models in capturing the pH-dependency of such conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Deskeuvre
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium; Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junjie Lan
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Joris Messens
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut Voor Biotechnologie (VIB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Center for Redox Biology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Riant
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Olivier Feron
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and BIOtechnology (WELBIO) Department, WEL Research Institute, B-1300 Wavre, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Frédérick
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium.
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4
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Chirizzi C, Pellegatta S, Gori A, Falco J, Rubiu E, Acerbi F, Bombelli FB. Next-generation agents for fluorescence-guided glioblastoma surgery. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10608. [PMID: 38818124 PMCID: PMC11135154 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a fast-growing and aggressive form of brain cancer. Even with maximal treatment, patients show a low median survival and are often subjected to a high recurrence incidence. The currently available treatments require multimodal management, including maximal safe surgical resection, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Because of the infiltrative glioblastoma nature, intraoperative differentiation of cancer tissue from normal brain parenchyma is very challenging, and this accounts for the low rate of complete tumor resection. For these reasons, clinicians have increasingly used various intraoperative adjuncts to improve surgical results, such as fluorescent agents. However, most of the existing fluorophores show several limitations such as poor selectivity, photostability, photosensitization and high costs. This could limit their application to successfully improve glioblastoma resection. In the present perspective, we highlight the possibility to develop next-generation fluorescent tools able to more selectively label cancer cells during surgical resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Chirizzi
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”Politecnico di MilanoMilanoItaly
| | - Serena Pellegatta
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Brain TumorsFondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMilanItaly
- Unit of NeuroncologyFondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMilanItaly
| | - Alessandro Gori
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC‐CNR)MilanItaly
| | - Jacopo Falco
- Neurosurgical Unit 2, Department of NeurosurgeryFondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMilanItaly
| | - Emanuele Rubiu
- Neurosurgical Unit 2, Department of NeurosurgeryFondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMilanItaly
| | - Francesco Acerbi
- Neurosurgical Unit 2, Department of NeurosurgeryFondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMilanItaly
- Experimental Microsurgical Laboratory, Department of NeurosurgeryFondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMilanoItaly
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5
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Kelly JJ, Ankrom ET, Newkirk SE, Thévenin D, Pires MM. Targeted acidosis mediated delivery of antigenic MHC-binding peptides. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1337973. [PMID: 38665920 PMCID: PMC11043575 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1337973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are the primary effector immune cells responsible for protection against cancer, as they target peptide neoantigens presented through the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on cancer cells, leading to cell death. Targeting peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex offers a promising strategy for immunotherapy due to their specificity and effectiveness against cancer. In this work, we exploit the acidic tumor micro-environment to selectively deliver antigenic peptides to cancer using pH(low) insertion peptides (pHLIP). We demonstrated the delivery of MHC binding peptides directly to the cytoplasm of melanoma cells resulted in the presentation of antigenic peptides on MHC, and activation of T cells. This work highlights the potential of pHLIP as a vehicle for the targeted delivery of antigenic peptides and its presentation via MHC-bound complexes on cancer cell surface for activation of T cells with implications for enhancing anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joey J. Kelly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Emily T. Ankrom
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| | - Sarah E. Newkirk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| | - Marcos M. Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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6
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Zhou L, Lu Y, Liu W, Wang S, Wang L, Zheng P, Zi G, Liu H, Liu W, Wei S. Drug conjugates for the treatment of lung cancer: from drug discovery to clinical practice. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:26. [PMID: 38429828 PMCID: PMC10908151 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00493-8] [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: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
A drug conjugate consists of a cytotoxic drug bound via a linker to a targeted ligand, allowing the targeted delivery of the drug to one or more tumor sites. This approach simultaneously reduces drug toxicity and increases efficacy, with a powerful combination of efficient killing and precise targeting. Antibody‒drug conjugates (ADCs) are the best-known type of drug conjugate, combining the specificity of antibodies with the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs to reduce adverse reactions by preferentially targeting the payload to the tumor. The structure of ADCs has also provided inspiration for the development of additional drug conjugates. In recent years, drug conjugates such as ADCs, peptide‒drug conjugates (PDCs) and radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The scope and application of drug conjugates have been expanding, including combination therapy and precise drug delivery, and a variety of new conjugation technology concepts have emerged. Additionally, new conjugation technology-based drugs have been developed in industry. In addition to chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, drug conjugate therapy has undergone continuous development and made significant progress in treating lung cancer in recent years, offering a promising strategy for the treatment of this disease. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the use of drug conjugates for lung cancer treatment, including structure-based drug design, mechanisms of action, clinical trials, and side effects. Furthermore, challenges, potential approaches and future prospects are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunlong Lu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Key Laboratory of Vascular Aging, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shanglong Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengdou Zheng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guisha Zi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiguo Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wukun Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030000, China.
| | - Shuang Wei
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030000, China.
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7
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Wang Y, Zhang L, Liu C, Luo Y, Chen D. Peptide-Mediated Nanocarriers for Targeted Drug Delivery: Developments and Strategies. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:240. [PMID: 38399294 PMCID: PMC10893007 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020240] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective drug delivery is essential for cancer treatment. Drug delivery systems, which can be tailored to targeted transport and integrated tumor therapy, are vital in improving the efficiency of cancer treatment. Peptides play a significant role in various biological and physiological functions and offer high design flexibility, excellent biocompatibility, adjustable morphology, and biodegradability, making them promising candidates for drug delivery. This paper reviews peptide-mediated drug delivery systems, focusing on self-assembled peptides and peptide-drug conjugates. It discusses the mechanisms and structural control of self-assembled peptides, the varieties and roles of peptide-drug conjugates, and strategies to augment peptide stability. The review concludes by addressing challenges and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Wang
- Medical College, Guangxi University, Da-Xue-Dong Road No. 100, Nanning 530004, China;
| | - Lu Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
| | - Chen Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
| | - Yiming Luo
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, China
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 351002, China
| | - Dengyue Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
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8
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Kelly JJ, Ankrom E, Thévenin D, Pires MM. Targeted Acidosis Mediated Delivery of Antigenic MHC-Binding Peptides. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.18.562409. [PMID: 37904977 PMCID: PMC10614887 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.18.562409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are the primary effector immune cells responsible for protection against cancer, as they target peptide neoantigens presented through the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on cancer cells, leading to cell death. Targeting peptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes offers a promising strategy for immunotherapy due to its specificity and effectiveness against cancer. In this work, we exploit the acidic tumor micro-environment to selectively deliver antigenic peptides to cancer cells using pH(low) insertion peptides (pHLIP). We demonstrated that the delivery of MHC binding peptides directly to the cytoplasm of melanoma cells resulted in the presentation of antigenic peptides on MHC, and subsequent activation of T cells. This work highlights the potential of pHLIP as a vehicle for targeted delivery of antigenic peptides and their presentation via MHC-bound complexes on cancer cell surfaces for activation of T cells with implications for enhancing anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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9
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Wachira FW, Githirwa DC, McPartlon T, Nazarenko V, Gonzales JJC, Gazura MM, Leen C, Clary HR, Alston C, Klees LM, Yao L, An M. D-to-E and T19V Variants of the pH-Low Insertion Peptide and Their Doxorubicin Conjugates Interact with Membrane at Higher pH Ranges Than WT. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2997-3011. [PMID: 37793002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00218] [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] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
To improve targeted cargo delivery to cancer cells, pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) variants were developed to interact with the membrane at pH values higher than those of the WT. The Asp-to-Glu variants aim to increase side chain pKa without disturbing the sequence of protonations that underpin membrane insertion. The Thr19 variants represent efforts to perturb the critical Pro20 residue. To study the effect of cargo on pHLIP insertion, doxorubicin (Dox), a fluorescent antineoplastic drug, was conjugated to selected variants near the inserting C-terminus. Variants and conjugates were characterized on a POPC membrane using Trp and Dox fluorescence methods to define the entire pH range of insertion (pHinitial-pHfinal). Compared to WT with a pHi-pHf range of 6.7-5.6, D25E-D31E-D33E, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E, and T19V-D25E variants demonstrated higher pHi-pHf ranges of 7.3-6.1, 7.3-6.3, and 8.2-5.4, respectively. The addition of Dox expanded the pHi-pHf range, mainly by shifting pHi to higher pH values (e.g., WT pHLIP-Dox has a pHi-pHf range of 7.7-5.2). Despite the low Hill coefficient observed for the conjugates, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E pHLIP-Dox completed insertion by a pHf of 5.7. However, the Dox cargo remained in the hydrophobic membrane interior after pHLIP insertion, which may impede drug release. Finally, a logistic function can describe pHLIP insertion as a peripheral-to-TM (start-to-finish) two-state transition; wherever possible, we discuss data deviating from such sigmoidal fitting in support of the idea that pH-specific intermediate states distinct from the initial peripheral state and the final TM state exist at intervening pH values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith W Wachira
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Dancan C Githirwa
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Thomas McPartlon
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Vladyslav Nazarenko
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Jerel J C Gonzales
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Makenzie M Gazura
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Caitlin Leen
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Hannah R Clary
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Claire Alston
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lukas M Klees
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lan Yao
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
- Department of Physics, SUNY, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Ming An
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
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10
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Rizzo S, Sikorski E, Park S, Im W, Vasquez‐Montes V, Ladokhin AS, Thévenin D. Promoting the activity of a receptor tyrosine phosphatase with a novel pH-responsive transmembrane agonist inhibits cancer-associated phenotypes. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4742. [PMID: 37515426 PMCID: PMC10461461 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4742] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Cell signaling by receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is tightly controlled by the counterbalancing actions of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs). Due to their role in attenuating the signal-initiating potency of RTKs, RPTPs have long been viewed as therapeutic targets. However, the development of activators of RPTPs has remained limited. We previously reported that the homodimerization of a representative member of the RPTP family (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor J or PTPRJ) is regulated by specific transmembrane (TM) residues. Disrupting this interaction by single point mutations promotes PTPRJ access to its RTK substrates (e.g., EGFR and FLT3), reduces RTK's phosphorylation and downstream signaling, and ultimately antagonizes RTK-driven cell phenotypes. Here, we designed and tested a series of first-in-class pH-responsive TM peptide agonists of PTPRJ that are soluble in aqueous solution but insert as a helical TM domain in lipid membranes when the pH is lowered to match that of the acidic microenvironment of tumors. The most promising peptide reduced EGFR's phosphorylation and inhibited cancer cell EGFR-driven migration and proliferation, similar to the PTPRJ's TM point mutations. Developing tumor-selective and TM-targeting peptide binders of critical RPTPs could afford a potentially transformative approach to studying RPTP's selectivity mechanism without requiring less specific inhibitors and represent a novel class of therapeutics against RTK-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Rizzo
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Eden Sikorski
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Soohyung Park
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Wonpil Im
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Victor Vasquez‐Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Alexey S. Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
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11
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Gong L, Zhao H, Liu Y, Wu H, Liu C, Chang S, Chen L, Jin M, Wang Q, Gao Z, Huang W. Research advances in peptide‒drug conjugates. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:3659-3677. [PMID: 37719380 PMCID: PMC10501876 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide‒drug conjugates (PDCs) are drug delivery systems consisting of a drug covalently coupled to a multifunctional peptide via a cleavable linker. As an emerging prodrug strategy, PDCs not only preserve the function and bioactivity of the peptides but also release the drugs responsively with the cleavable property of the linkers. Given the ability to significantly improve the circulation stability and targeting of drugs in vivo and reduce the toxic side effects of drugs, PDCs have already been extensively applied in drug delivery. Herein, we review the types and mechanisms of peptides, linkers and drugs used to construct PDCs, and summarize the clinical applications and challenges of PDC drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Heming Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yanhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Shuangyan Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Liqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Mingji Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Qiming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Zhonggao Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulations, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
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12
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Ghaly G, Tallima H, Dabbish E, Badr ElDin N, Abd El-Rahman MK, Ibrahim MAA, Shoeib T. Anti-Cancer Peptides: Status and Future Prospects. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031148. [PMID: 36770815 PMCID: PMC9920184 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The dramatic rise in cancer incidence, alongside treatment deficiencies, has elevated cancer to the second-leading cause of death globally. The increasing morbidity and mortality of this disease can be traced back to a number of causes, including treatment-related side effects, drug resistance, inadequate curative treatment and tumor relapse. Recently, anti-cancer bioactive peptides (ACPs) have emerged as a potential therapeutic choice within the pharmaceutical arsenal due to their high penetration, specificity and fewer side effects. In this contribution, we present a general overview of the literature concerning the conformational structures, modes of action and membrane interaction mechanisms of ACPs, as well as provide recent examples of their successful employment as targeting ligands in cancer treatment. The use of ACPs as a diagnostic tool is summarized, and their advantages in these applications are highlighted. This review expounds on the main approaches for peptide synthesis along with their reconstruction and modification needed to enhance their therapeutic effect. Computational approaches that could predict therapeutic efficacy and suggest ACP candidates for experimental studies are discussed. Future research prospects in this rapidly expanding area are also offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gehane Ghaly
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Hatem Tallima
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Eslam Dabbish
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Norhan Badr ElDin
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El Aini Street, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Mohamed K. Abd El-Rahman
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El Aini Street, Cairo 11562, Egypt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
- School of Health Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Tamer Shoeib
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Correspondence:
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13
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Deskeuvre M, Lan J, Dierge E, Messens J, Riant O, Corbet C, Feron O, Frédérick R. Targeting cancer cells in acidosis with conjugates between the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 inhibitor etomoxir and pH (low) Insertion Peptides. Int J Pharm 2022; 624:122041. [PMID: 35868479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Targeting enzymes involved in tumor metabolism is a promising way to tackle cancer progression. The inhibition of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) by etomoxir (Eto) efficiently slows down the growth of various cancers. Unfortunately, the clinical use of this drug was abandoned because of hepatotoxic effects. We report the development of pH-sensitive peptide (pHLIP)-drug conjugate to deliver Eto selectively to cancer cells exposed to acidic microenvironmental conditions. A newly designed sequence for the pHLIP peptide, named pHLIPd, was compared with a previously published reference pHLIP peptide, named pHLIPr. We showed that the conjugate between pHLIPd and Eto has a better pH-dependent insertion and structuration than the pHLIPr-based conjugate inside POPC vesicles. We observed antiproliferative effects when applied on acid-adapted cancer cells, reaching a larger inhibitory activity than Eto alone. In conclusion, this study brings the first evidence that pHLIP-based conjugates with a CPT1 inhibitor has the potential to specifically target the tumor acidic compartment and exert anticancer effects while sparing healthy tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Deskeuvre
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium; Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junjie Lan
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Emeline Dierge
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joris Messens
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Center for Redox Biology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Riant
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Cyril Corbet
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Feron
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Frédérick
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium.
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14
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Jin Y, Edalatian Zakeri S, Bahal R, Wiemer AJ. New Technologies Bloom Together for Bettering Cancer Drug Conjugates. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:680-711. [PMID: 35710136 PMCID: PMC9553120 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug conjugates, including antibody-drug conjugates, are a step toward realizing Paul Ehrlich's idea from over 100 years ago of a "magic bullet" for cancer treatment. Through balancing selective targeting molecules with highly potent payloads, drug conjugates can target specific tumor microenvironments and kill tumor cells. A drug conjugate consists of three parts: a targeting agent, a linker, and a payload. In some conjugates, monoclonal antibodies act as the targeting agent, but new strategies for targeting include antibody derivatives, peptides, and even small molecules. Linkers are responsible for connecting the payload to the targeting agent. Payloads impact vital cellular processes to kill tumor cells. At present, there are 12 antibody-drug conjugates on the market for different types of cancers. Research on drug conjugates is increasing year by year to solve problems encountered in conjugate design, such as tumor heterogeneity, poor circulation, low drug loading, low tumor uptake, and heterogenous expression of target antigens. This review highlights some important preclinical research on drug conjugates in recent years. We focus on three significant areas: improvement of antibody-drug conjugates, identification of new conjugate targets, and development of new types of drug conjugates, including nanotechnology. We close by highlighting the critical barriers to clinical translation and the open questions going forward. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The development of anticancer drug conjugates is now focused in three broad areas: improvements to existing antibody drug conjugates, identification of new targets, and development of new conjugate forms. This article focuses on the exciting preclinical studies in these three areas and advances in the technology that improves preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Jin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | | | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Andrew J Wiemer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
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15
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Sikorski EL, Wehr J, Ferraro NJ, Rizzo SM, Pires MM, Thévenin D. Selective Display of a Chemoattractant Agonist on Cancer Cells Activates the Formyl Peptide Receptor 1 on Immune Cells. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202100521. [PMID: 35199442 PMCID: PMC9035110 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100521] [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: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Current immunotherapeutics often work by directing components of the immune system to recognize biomarkers on the surface of cancer cells to generate an immune response. However, variable changes in biomarker distribution and expression can result in inconsistent patient response. The development of a more universal tumor-homing strategy has the potential to improve selectivity and extend therapy to cancers with decreased expression or absence of specific biomarkers. Here, we designed a bifunctional agent that exploits the inherent acidic microenvironment of most solid tumors to selectively graft the surface of cancer cells with a formyl peptide receptor ligand (FPRL). Our approach is based on the pH(Low) insertion peptide (pHLIP), a unique peptide that selectively targets tumors in vivo by anchoring to cancer cells in a pH-dependent manner. We establish that selectively remodeling cancer cells with a pHLIP-based FPRL activates formyl peptide receptors on recruited immune cells, potentially initiating an immune response towards tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden L. Sikorski
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Janessa Wehr
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Noel J. Ferraro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Sophia M. Rizzo
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Marcos M. Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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16
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Targeting the Hypoxic and Acidic Tumor Microenvironment with pH-Sensitive Peptides. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030541. [PMID: 33806273 PMCID: PMC8000199 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The delivery of cancer therapeutics can be limited by pharmacological issues such as poor bioavailability and high toxicity to healthy tissue. pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIPs) represent a promising tool to overcome these limitations. pHLIPs allow for the selective delivery of agents to tumors on the basis of pH, taking advantage of the acidity of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. This review article highlights the various applications in which pHLIPs have been utilized for targeting and treating diseases in hypoxic environments, including delivery of small molecule inhibitors, toxins, nucleic acid analogs, fluorescent dyes, and nanoparticles.
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17
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Discovery of novel cell-penetrating and tumor-targeting peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) for programmable delivery of paclitaxel and cancer treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 213:113050. [PMID: 33280896 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To ameliorate the deficiencies (e.g. solubility, membrane permeability and non-selective cytotoxicity) of paclitaxel (PTX), we synthesized a "smart" PDC (peptide-drug conjugate), by linking PTX with a multifunctional peptide consisting of a tumor targeting peptide (TTP) and a cell penetrating peptide (CPP), to construct the TTP-CPP-PTX conjugate, LTP-1. LTP-1 could intelligently deliver PTX into LHRH receptor-overexpressed MCF-7 cells, showing 2 times higher cellular uptake than PTX, and enhanced cytotoxicity with IC50 of 3.8 nM (vs 6.6 nM for PTX). LTP-1 exhibited less cytotoxicity to normal cells and the ability to overcome PTX-resistance. Furthermore, LTP-1 had higher in vivo antitumor efficacy than PTX (TGI of 83.4% and 65.7% for LTP-1 and PTX, respectively, at 12 mmol/kg) without apparent toxicities. In summary, we proposed and testified the concept of constructing a novel PDC molecule, which can potentially conquer the drawbacks of PTX. LTP-1 represents a new class of antitumor PDC deserving further investigation.
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18
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Reshetnyak YK, Moshnikova A, Andreev OA, Engelman DM. Targeting Acidic Diseased Tissues by pH-Triggered Membrane-Associated Peptide Folding. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:335. [PMID: 32411684 PMCID: PMC7198868 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The advantages of targeted therapy have motivated many efforts to find distinguishing features between the molecular cell surface landscapes of diseased and normal cells. Typically, the features have been proteins, lipids or carbohydrates, but other approaches are emerging. In this discussion, we examine the use of cell surface acidity as a feature that can be exploited by using pH-sensitive peptide folding to target agents to diseased cell surfaces or cytoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana K Reshetnyak
- Department of Physics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Department of Physics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Department of Physics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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19
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Müller E, Sevilla M, Endres P. Evaluation of hydrophobic-interaction chromatography resins for purification of antibody-drug conjugates using a mimetic model with adjustable hydrophobicity. J Sep Sci 2020; 43:2255-2263. [PMID: 32160397 PMCID: PMC7318155 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201900895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Antibody drug conjugates are cytotoxic pharmaceuticals, designed to destroy malignant cells. A cytotoxic molecule is attached to an antibody that binds specific to a cancer‐cell surface. Given the high toxicity of the drugs, strict safety standards have to be kept. For this reason, an antibody drug conjugates model was developed with fluorescein 5‐isothiocyanate as the nontoxic payload surrogate. Due to the similar hydrophobicity, this model is used to establish a suitable purification process and characterization method for antibody drug conjugates. Because of the pH dependent solubility of fluorescein, the hydrophobicity of conjugates can be modulated by the pH value. Based on the complex heterogeneity and hydrophobicity of the conjugates a chromatographic purification is challenging. Hydrophobic interaction chromatography is used for analytical as well as for preparative separation. Because of the increased hydrophobicity of the conjugates compared to native antibody, hydrophobic interaction chromatography often suffer from resolution and recovery problems. Conjugates were separated differing on the number of payloads attached to the antibody. For this matter, the drug–antibody ratio is determined and used as a quantitative term. The conjugates are purified at high recoveries and resolution by step gradients using suitable resins, allowing the separation of the target drug–antibody ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egbert Müller
- Tosoh Bioscience GmbH, Im Leuschnerpark 4, Griesheim, 64347, Germany
| | - Manuela Sevilla
- Tosoh Bioscience GmbH, Im Leuschnerpark 4, Griesheim, 64347, Germany
| | - Patrick Endres
- Tosoh Bioscience GmbH, Im Leuschnerpark 4, Griesheim, 64347, Germany
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20
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Wehr J, Sikorski EL, Bloch E, Feigman MS, Ferraro NJ, Baybutt TR, Snook AE, Pires MM, Thévenin D. pH-Dependent Grafting of Cancer Cells with Antigenic Epitopes Promotes Selective Antibody-Mediated Cytotoxicity. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3713-3722. [PMID: 32196345 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A growing class of immunotherapeutics work by redirecting components of the immune system to recognize markers on the surface of cancer cells. However, such modalities will remain confined to a relatively small subgroup of patients because of the lack of universal targetable tumor biomarkers among all patients. Here, we designed a unique class of agents that exploit the inherent acidity of solid tumors to selectively graft cancer cells with immuno-engager epitopes. Our targeting approach is based on pHLIP, a unique peptide that selectively targets tumors in vivo by anchoring to cancer cell surfaces in a pH-dependent manner. We established that pHLIP-antigen conjugates trigger the recruitment of antibodies to the surface of cancer cells and induce cytotoxicity by peripheral blood mononuclear and engineered NK cells. These results indicate that these agents have the potential to be applicable to treating a wide range of solid tumors and to circumvent problems associated with narrow windows of selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janessa Wehr
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Eden L Sikorski
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Elizabeth Bloch
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Mary S Feigman
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Noel J Ferraro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Trevor R Baybutt
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Adam E Snook
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Marcos M Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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21
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Svoronos AA, Bahal R, Pereira MC, Barrera FN, Deacon JC, Bosenberg M, DiMaio D, Glazer PM, Engelman DM. Tumor-Targeted, Cytoplasmic Delivery of Large, Polar Molecules Using a pH-Low Insertion Peptide. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:461-471. [PMID: 31855437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-targeted drug delivery systems offer not only the advantage of an enhanced therapeutic index, but also the possibility of overcoming the limitations that have largely restricted drug design to small, hydrophobic, "drug-like" molecules. Here, we explore the ability of a tumor-targeted delivery system centered on the use of a pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) to directly deliver moderately polar, multi-kDa molecules into tumor cells. A pHLIP is a short, pH-responsive peptide capable of inserting across a cell membrane to form a transmembrane helix at acidic pH. pHLIPs target the acidic tumor microenvironment with high specificity, and a drug attached to the inserting end of a pHLIP can be translocated across the cell membrane during the insertion process. We investigate the ability of wildtype pHLIP to deliver peptide nucleic acid (PNA) cargoes of varying sizes across lipid membranes. We find that pHLIP effectively delivers PNAs up to ∼7 kDa into cells in a pH-dependent manner. In addition, pHLIP retains its tumor-targeting capabilities when linked to cargoes of this size, although the amount delivered is reduced for PNA cargoes greater than ∼6 kDa. As drug-like molecules are traditionally restricted to sizes of ∼500 Da, this constitutes an order-of-magnitude expansion in the size range of deliverable drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Connecticut , Storrs , Connecticut 06269 , United States
| | - Mohan C Pereira
- Department of Science & Mathematics , Cedarville University , Cedarville , Ohio 45314 , United States
| | - Francisco N Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology , University of Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee 37996 , United States
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22
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Vasquez-Montes V, Gerhart J, Thévenin D, Ladokhin AS. Divalent Cations and Lipid Composition Modulate Membrane Insertion and Cancer-Targeting Action of pHLIP. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:5004-5018. [PMID: 31689432 PMCID: PMC6920566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) has emerged as an important tool for targeting cancer cells; it has been assumed that its targeting mechanism depends solely on the mild acidic environment surrounding tumors. Here, we examine the role of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on pHLIP's insertion, cellular targeting, and drug delivery. We demonstrate that physiologically relevant concentrations of either cation can shift the protonation-dependent transition by up to several pH units toward basic pH and induce substantial protonation-independent transmembrane insertion of pHLIP at pH as high as 10. Consistent with these results, the ability of pHLIP to deliver the cytotoxic compound monomethyl-auristatin-F to HeLa cells is increased several fold in presence of Ca2+. Complementary measurements with model membranes confirmed this Ca2+/Mg2+-dependent membrane-insertion mechanism. The magnitude of this alternative Ca2+/Mg2+-dependent effect is also modulated by lipid composition-specifically by the presence of phosphatidylserine-providing new clues to pHLIP's unique tumor-targeting ability in vivo. These results exemplify the complex coupling between protonation of anionic residues and lipid-selective targeting by divalent cations, which is relevant to the general signaling on membrane interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Vasquez-Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Janessa Gerhart
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA
| | - Alexey S Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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23
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Roberts S, Strome A, Choi C, Andreou C, Kossatz S, Brand C, Williams T, Bradbury M, Kircher MF, Reshetnyak YK, Grimm J, Lewis JS, Reiner T. Acid specific dark quencher QC1 pHLIP for multi-spectral optoacoustic diagnoses of breast cancer. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8550. [PMID: 31189972 PMCID: PMC6561946 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of malignant growth in women. Early detection of breast cancer, as well as the identification of possible metastatic spread poses a significant challenge because of the structural and genetic heterogeneity that occurs during the progression of the disease. Currently, mammographies, biopsies and MRI scans are the standard of care techniques used for breast cancer diagnosis, all of which have their individual shortfalls, especially when it comes to discriminating tumors and benign growths. With this in mind, we have developed a non-invasive optoacoustic imaging strategy that targets the acidic environment of breast cancer. A pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) was conjugated to the dark quencher QC1, yielding a non-fluorescent sonophore with high extinction coefficient in the near infrared that increases signal as a function of increasing amounts of membrane insertion. In an orthotopic murine breast cancer model, pHLIP-targeted optoacoustic imaging allowed us to differentiate between healthy and breast cancer tissues with high signal/noise ratios. In vivo, the sonophore QC1-pHLIP could detect malignancies at higher contrast than its fluorescent analog ICG-pHLIP, which was developed for fluorescence-guided surgical applications. PHLIP-type optoacoustic imaging agents in clinical settings are attractive due to their ability to target breast cancer and a wide variety of other malignant growths for diagnostic purposes. Intuitively, these agents could also be used for visualization during surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl Roberts
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Arianna Strome
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Crystal Choi
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Chrysafis Andreou
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Susanne Kossatz
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Christian Brand
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Travis Williams
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Michelle Bradbury
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Moritz F Kircher
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Center for Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology (CMINT), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yana K Reshetnyak
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Rd, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jan Grimm
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probes Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Reiner
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA. .,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA. .,Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, 10065, United States.
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24
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Gerhart J, Thévenin AF, Bloch E, King KE, Thévenin D. Inhibiting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Dimerization and Signaling Through Targeted Delivery of a Juxtamembrane Domain Peptide Mimic. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2623-2632. [PMID: 30133245 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression and deregulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are implicated in multiple human cancers and therefore are a focus for the development of therapeutics. Current strategies aimed at inhibiting EGFR activity include monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, activating mutations severely limit the efficacy of these therapeutics. There is thus a growing need for novel methods to inhibit EGFR. One promising approach involves blocking the association of the cytoplasmic juxtamembrane (JM) domain of EGFR, which has been shown to be essential for receptor dimerization and kinase function. Here, we aim to improve the selectivity and efficacy of an EGFR JM peptide mimic by utilizing the pH(low) insertion peptide (pHLIP), a unique molecule that can selectively target cancer cells solely based on their extracellular acidity. This delivery strategy potentially allows for more selective targeting to tumors than current methods and for anchoring the peptide mimic to the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane, increasing its local concentration and thus efficacy. We show that the conjugated construct is capable of inhibiting EGFR phosphorylation and downstream signaling and of inducing concentration- and pH-dependent toxicity in cervical cancer cells. We envision that this approach could be expanded to the modulation of other single-span membrane receptors whose activity is mediated by JM domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janessa Gerhart
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Anastasia F. Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Elizabeth Bloch
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Kelly E. King
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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25
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Burns KE, Delehanty JB. Cellular delivery of doxorubicin mediated by disulfide reduction of a peptide-dendrimer bioconjugate. Int J Pharm 2018; 545:64-73. [PMID: 29709616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we developed a peptide-dendrimer-drug conjugate system for the pH-triggered direct cytosolic delivery of the cancer chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX) using the pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP). We synthesized a pHLIP-dendrimer-DOX conjugate in which a single copy of pHLIP displayed a generation three dendrimer bearing multiple copies of DOX via disulfide linkages. Biophysical analysis showed that both the dendrimer and a single DOX conjugate inserted into membrane bilayers in a pH-dependent manner. Time-resolved confocal microscopy indicate the single DOX conjugate may undergo a faster rate of membrane translocation, due to greater nuclear localization of DOX at 24 h and 48 h post delivery. At 72 h, however, the levels of DOX nuclear accumulation for both constructs were identical. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that both constructs mediated ∼80% inhibition of cellular proliferation at 10 µM, the dendrimer complex exhibited a 17% greater cytotoxic effect at lower concentrations and greater than three-fold improvement in IC50 over free DOX. Our findings show proof of concept that the dendrimeric display of DOX on the pHLIP carrier (1) facilitates the pH-dependent and temporally-controlled release of DOX to the cytosol, (2) eliminates the endosomal sequestration of the drug cargo, and (3) augments DOX cytotoxicity relative to the free drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Burns
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6900, Washington DC 20375, United States; National Research Council, Washington DC 20001, United States
| | - James B Delehanty
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Code 6900, Washington DC 20375, United States.
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26
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Wyatt LC, Moshnikova A, Crawford T, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Peptides of pHLIP family for targeted intracellular and extracellular delivery of cargo molecules to tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E2811-E2818. [PMID: 29507241 PMCID: PMC5866553 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715350115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIPs) target acidity at the surfaces of cancer cells and show utility in a wide range of applications, including tumor imaging and intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents. Here we report pHLIP constructs that significantly improve the targeted delivery of agents into tumor cells. The investigated constructs include pHLIP bundles (conjugates consisting of two or four pHLIP peptides linked by polyethylene glycol) and Var3 pHLIPs containing either the nonstandard amino acid, γ-carboxyglutamic acid, or a glycine-leucine-leucine motif. The performance of the constructs in vitro and in vivo was compared with previous pHLIP variants. A wide range of experiments was performed on nine constructs including (i) biophysical measurements using steady-state and kinetic fluorescence, circular dichroism, and oriented circular dichroism to study the pH-dependent insertion of pHLIP variants across the membrane lipid bilayer; (ii) cell viability assays to gauge the pH-dependent potency of peptide-toxin constructs by assessing the intracellular delivery of the polar, cell-impermeable cargo molecule amanitin at physiological and low pH (pH 7.4 and 6.0, respectively); and (iii) tumor targeting and biodistribution measurements using fluorophore-peptide conjugates in a breast cancer mouse model. The main principles of the design of pHLIP variants for a range of medical applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linden C Wyatt
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Troy Crawford
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881;
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27
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Vasquez-Montes V, Gerhart J, King KE, Thévenin D, Ladokhin AS. Comparison of lipid-dependent bilayer insertion of pHLIP and its P20G variant. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1860:534-543. [PMID: 29138065 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ability of the pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) to insert into lipid membranes in a transbilayer conformation makes it an important tool for targeting acidic diseased tissues. pHLIP can also serve as a model template for thermodynamic studies of membrane insertion. We use intrinsic fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy to examine the effect of replacing pHLIP's central proline on the pH-triggered lipid-dependent conformational switching of the peptide. We find that the P20G variant (pHLIP-P20G) has a higher helical propensity than the native pHLIP (pHLIP-WT), in both water:organic solvent mixtures and in the presence of lipid bilayers. Spectral shifts of tryptophan fluorescence reveal that with both pHLIP-WT and pHLIP-P20G, the deeply penetrating interfacial form (traditionally called State II) is populated only in pure phosphocholine bilayers. The presence of either anionic lipids or phosphatidylethanolamine leads to a much shallower penetration of the peptide (referred to here as State IIS, for "shallow"). This novel state can be differentiated from soluble state by a reduction in accessibility of tryptophans to acrylamide and by FRET to vesicles doped with Dansyl-PE, but not by a spectral shift in fluorescence emission. FRET experiments indicate free energies for interfacial partitioning range from 6.2 to 6.8kcal/mol and are marginally more favorable for pHLIP-P20G. The effective pKa for the insertion of both peptides depends on the lipid composition, but is always higher for pHLIP-P20G than for pHLIP-WT by approximately one pH unit, which corresponds to a difference of 1.3kcal/mol in free energy of protonation favoring insertion of pHLIP-P20G.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Vasquez-Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, United States
| | - Janessa Gerhart
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, United States
| | - Kelly E King
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, United States
| | - Alexey S Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, United States.
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Abstract
Peptides have been used as drugs to treat various health conditions, and they are also being developed as diagnostic agents. Due to their receptor selectivity, peptides have recently been utilized for drug delivery to target drug molecules to specific types of cells (i.e. cancer cells, immune cells) to lower the side effects of the drugs. In this case, the drug is conjugated to the carrier peptide for directing the drug to the target cells (e.g. cancer cells) with higher expression of a specific receptor that recognizes the carrier peptide. As a result, the drug is directed to the target diseased cells without affecting the normal cells. Peptides are also being developed for improving drug delivery through the intestinal mucosa barrier (IMB) and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These peptides were derived from intercellular junction proteins such as occludins, claudins, and cadherins and improve drug delivery through the IMB and BBB via the paracellular pathways. It is hypothesized that the peptides modulate protein-protein interactions in the intercellular junctions of the IMB and BBB to increase the porosity of paracellular pathways of the barriers. These modulator peptides have been shown to enhance brain delivery of small molecules and medium-sized peptides as well as a large protein such as 65 kDa albumin. In the future, this method has the potential to improve oral and brain delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic peptides and proteins.
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