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Truex N, Rondon A, Rössler SL, Hanna CC, Cho Y, Wang BY, Backlund CM, Lutz EA, Irvine DJ, Pentelute BL. Enhanced Vaccine Immunogenicity Enabled by Targeted Cytosolic Delivery of Tumor Antigens into Dendritic Cells. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:1835-1845. [PMID: 37780364 PMCID: PMC10540291 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Molecular vaccines comprising antigen peptides and inflammatory cues make up a class of therapeutics that promote immunity against cancer and pathogenic diseases but often exhibit limited efficacy. Here, we engineered an antigen peptide delivery system to enhance vaccine efficacy by targeting dendritic cells and mediating cytosolic delivery. The delivery system consists of the nontoxic anthrax protein, protective antigen (PA), and a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that recognizes the XCR1 receptor on dendritic cells (DCs). Combining these proteins enabled selective delivery of the N-terminus of lethal factor (LFN) into XCR1-positive cross-presenting DCs. Incorporating immunogenic epitope sequences into LFN showed selective protein translocation in vitro and enhanced the priming of antigen-specific T cells in vivo. Administering DC-targeted constructs with tumor antigens (Trp1/gp100) into mice bearing aggressive B16-F10 melanomas improved mouse outcomes when compared to free antigen, including suppressed tumor growth up to 58% at 16 days post tumor induction (P < 0.0001) and increased survival (P = 0.03). These studies demonstrate that harnessing DC-targeting anthrax proteins for cytosolic antigen delivery significantly enhances the immunogenicity and antitumor efficacy of cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas
L. Truex
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of South Carolina, 631
Sumter Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Aurélie Rondon
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Simon L. Rössler
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cameron C. Hanna
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Yehlin Cho
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bin-You Wang
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Coralie M. Backlund
- The
Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Emi A. Lutz
- The
Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Darrell J. Irvine
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The
Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Ragon Institute
of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Harvard University, 400 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, 4000 Jones Bridge Road, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
| | - Bradley L. Pentelute
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The
Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Center
for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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Becker L, Plückthun A. DARPins bind their cytosolic targets after having been translocated through the protective antigen pore of anthrax toxin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8048. [PMID: 37198284 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34647-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular protein-protein interactions in aberrant signaling pathways have emerged as a prime target in several diseases, particularly cancer. Since many protein-protein interactions are mediated by rather flat surfaces, they can typically not be interrupted by small molecules as they require cavities for binding. Therefore, protein drugs might be developed to compete with undesired interactions. However, proteins in general are not able to translocate from the extracellular side to the cytosolic target site by themselves, and thus an efficient protein translocation system, ideally combining efficient translocation with receptor specificity, is in high demand. Anthrax toxin, the tripartite holotoxin of Bacillus anthracis, is one of the best studied bacterial protein toxins and has proven to be a suitable candidate for cell-specific translocation of cargoes in vitro and in vivo. Our group recently developed a retargeted protective antigen (PA) variant fused to different Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) to achieve receptor specificity, and we incorporated a receptor domain to stabilize the prepore and prevent cell lysis. This strategy had been shown to deliver high amounts of cargo DARPins fused behind the N-terminal 254 amino acids of Lethal Factor (LFN). Here, we established a cytosolic binding assay, demonstrating the ability of DARPins to refold in the cytosol and bind their target after been translocated by PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Becker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Margheritis E, Kappelhoff S, Cosentino K. Pore-Forming Proteins: From Pore Assembly to Structure by Quantitative Single-Molecule Imaging. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054528. [PMID: 36901959 PMCID: PMC10003378 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054528] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pore-forming proteins (PFPs) play a central role in many biological processes related to infection, immunity, cancer, and neurodegeneration. A common feature of PFPs is their ability to form pores that disrupt the membrane permeability barrier and ion homeostasis and generally induce cell death. Some PFPs are part of the genetically encoded machinery of eukaryotic cells that are activated against infection by pathogens or in physiological programs to carry out regulated cell death. PFPs organize into supramolecular transmembrane complexes that perforate membranes through a multistep process involving membrane insertion, protein oligomerization, and finally pore formation. However, the exact mechanism of pore formation varies from PFP to PFP, resulting in different pore structures with different functionalities. Here, we review recent insights into the molecular mechanisms by which PFPs permeabilize membranes and recent methodological advances in their characterization in artificial and cellular membranes. In particular, we focus on single-molecule imaging techniques as powerful tools to unravel the molecular mechanistic details of pore assembly that are often obscured by ensemble measurements, and to determine pore structure and functionality. Uncovering the mechanistic elements of pore formation is critical for understanding the physiological role of PFPs and developing therapeutic approaches.
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Site-Specific Antibody Conjugation with Payloads beyond Cytotoxins. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28030917. [PMID: 36770585 PMCID: PMC9921355 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28030917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
As antibody-drug conjugates have become a very important modality for cancer therapy, many site-specific conjugation approaches have been developed for generating homogenous molecules. The selective antibody coupling is achieved through antibody engineering by introducing specific amino acid or unnatural amino acid residues, peptides, and glycans. In addition to the use of synthetic cytotoxins, these novel methods have been applied for the conjugation of other payloads, including non-cytotoxic compounds, proteins/peptides, glycans, lipids, and nucleic acids. The non-cytotoxic compounds include polyethylene glycol, antibiotics, protein degraders (PROTAC and LYTAC), immunomodulating agents, enzyme inhibitors and protein ligands. Different small proteins or peptides have been selectively conjugated through unnatural amino acid using click chemistry, engineered C-terminal formylglycine for oxime or click chemistry, or specific ligation or transpeptidation with or without enzymes. Although the antibody protamine peptide fusions have been extensively used for siRNA coupling during early studies, direct conjugations through engineered cysteine or lysine residues have been demonstrated later. These site-specific antibody conjugates containing these payloads other than cytotoxic compounds can be used in proof-of-concept studies and in developing new therapeutics for unmet medical needs.
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Challenges and approaches to studying pore-forming proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2749-2765. [PMID: 34747994 PMCID: PMC8892993 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pore-forming proteins (PFPs) are a broad class of molecules that comprise various families, structural folds, and assembly pathways. In nature, PFPs are most often deployed by their host organisms to defend against other organisms. In humans, this is apparent in the immune system, where several immune effectors possess pore-forming activity. Furthermore, applications of PFPs are found in next-generation low-cost DNA sequencing, agricultural crop protection, pest control, and biosensing. The advent of cryoEM has propelled the field forward. Nevertheless, significant challenges and knowledge-gaps remain. Overcoming these challenges is particularly important for the development of custom, purpose-engineered PFPs with novel or desired properties. Emerging single-molecule techniques and methods are helping to address these unanswered questions. Here we review the current challenges, problems, and approaches to studying PFPs.
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Yang X, Wang Y, Chen S, Zhang S, Cui C. Cetuximab-Modified Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Co-Loaded with Doxorubicin and MDR1 siRNA for the Treatment of Drug-Resistant Breast Tumors. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:7051-7069. [PMID: 34703227 PMCID: PMC8528549 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s332830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common chemotherapeutic drug used to treat many different cancers. However, multidrug resistance limits the treatment of breast cancer. MDR1 siRNA (siMDR1) combinatorial therapy has attracted significant attention as a breakthrough therapy for multidrug resistance in tumors. However, naked siRNA is easily degraded by enzymatic hydrolysis requiring an siRNA carrier for its protection. Human serum albumin (HSA) was selected as the carrier due to its excellent biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and non-immunogenicity. Cetuximab was used to modify the HSA nanoparticles in order to target the tumor tissues. Methods This study used a central composite design response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) to investigate the optimal formula for HSA NPs preparation. Cex-HSA/DOX/MDR1 siRNA (C-H/D/M) was characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The efficacy of C-H/D/M tumor growth inhibitory activity was investigated in vitro and in vivo using confocal imaging, MTT assay, and an MCF-7/ADR tumor-bearing mice model. RT–qPCR, ELISA analysis, and flow cytometry were used to investigate the in vitro antitumor mechanisms of C-H/D/M. Results The diameter and PDI of the C-H/D/M were 173.57 ± 1.30 nm and 0.027 ± 0.004, respectively. C-H/D/M promoted and maintained the sustained release and the uptake of DOX significantly. After transfection, the MDR1 mRNA and P-gp expression levels were down-regulated by 44.31 ± 3.6% (P < 0.01) and 38.08 ± 2.4% (P < 0.01) in an MCF-7/ADR cell line. The fluorescent images of the treated BALB/c nude mice revealed that C-H/D/M achieved targeted delivery of siMDR1 and DOX into the tumor tissue. The in vivo tumor inhibition results demonstrated that the tumor inhibition rate of the C-H/D/M treated group was 54.05% ± 1.25%. The biosafety results indicated that C-H/D/M did not induce significant damages to the main organs in vivo. Conclusion C-H/D/M can be used as an ideal non-viral tumor-targeting vector to overcome MDR and enhance the antitumor effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifan Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Si Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunying Cui
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing, 100069, People's Republic of China
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