Synthesis of glycocluster-tumor antigenic peptide conjugates for dendritic cell targeting

Dendritic cell-targeting polymer nanoparticle-based immunotherapy for cancer: A review

Cancer immunity is dependent on dynamic interactions between T cells and dendritic cells (DCs). Polymer-based nanoparticles target DC receptors to improve anticancer immune responses. In this paper, DC surface receptors and their specific coupling natural ligands and antibodies are reviewed and compared. Moreover, reaction mechanisms are described, and the synergistic effects of immune adjuvants are demonstrated. Also, extracellular-targeting antigen-delivery strategies and intracellular stimulus responses are reviewed to promote the rational design of polymer delivery systems.

Canvassing Prospects of Glyco-Nanovaccines for Developing Cross-Presentation Mediated Anti-Tumor Immunotherapy

In view of the severe downsides of conventional cancer therapies, the quest of developing alternative strategies still remains of critical importance. In this regard, antigen cross-presentation, usually employed by dendritic cells (DCs), has been recognized as a potential solution to overcome the present impasse in anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. It has been established that an elevated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response against cancer cells can be achieved by targeting receptors expressed on DCs with specific ligands. Glycans are known to serve as ligands for C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) expressed on DCs, and are also known to act as a tumor-associated antigen (TAA), and, thus, can be harnessed as a potential immunotherapeutic target. In this scenario, integrating the knowledge of cross-presentation and glycan-conjugated nanovaccines can help us to develop so called 'glyco-nanovaccines' (GNVs) for targeting DCs. Here, we briefly review and analyze the potential of GNVs as the next-generation anti-tumor immunotherapy. We have compared different antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for their ability to cross-present antigens and described the potential nanocarriers for tumor antigen cross-presentation. Further, we discuss the role of glycans in targeting of DCs, the immune response due to pathogens, and imitative approaches, along with parameters, strategies, and challenges involved in cross-presentation-based GNVs for cancer immunotherapy. It is known that the effectiveness of GNVs in eradicating tumors by inducing strong CTL response in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been largely hindered by tumor glycosylation and the expression of different lectin receptors (such as galectins) by cancer cells. Tumor glycan signatures can be sensed by a variety of lectins expressed on immune cells and mediate the immune suppression which, in turn, facilitates immune evasion. Therefore, a sound understanding of the glycan language of cancer cells, and glycan-lectin interaction between the cancer cells and immune cells, would help in strategically designing the next-generation GNVs for anti-tumor immunotherapy.

Unique CLR expression patterns on circulating and tumor-infiltrating DC subsets correlated with clinical outcome in melanoma patients

Subversion of immunity by tumors is a crucial step for their development. Dendritic cells (DCs) are strategic immune cells that orchestrate anti-tumor immune responses but display altered functions in cancer. The bases for such DCs' hijacking are not fully understood. Tumor cells harbor unusual glycosylation patterns of surface glycoproteins and glycolipids. DCs express glycan-binding receptors, named C-type lectin receptors (CLR), allowing them to sense changes in glycan signature of their environment, and subsequently trigger a response. Recognition of tumor glycans by CLRs is crucial for DCs to shape antitumor immunity, and decisive in the orientation of the response. Yet the status of the CLR machinery on DCs in cancer, especially melanoma, remained largely unknown. We explored CLR expression patterns on circulating and tumor-infiltrating cDC1s, cDC2s, and pDCs of melanoma patients, assessed their clinical relevance, and further depicted the correlations between CLR expression profiles and DCs' features. For the first time, we highlighted that the CLR repertoire of circulating and tumor-infiltrating cDC1s, cDC2s, and pDCs was strongly perturbed in melanoma patients, with modulation of DCIR, CLEC-12α and NKp44 on circulating DCs, and perturbation of Dectin-1, CD206, DEC205, DC-SIGN and CLEC-9α on tumor-infiltrating DCs. Furthermore, melanoma tumor cells directly altered CLR expression profiles of healthy DC subsets, and this was associated with specific glycan patterns (Man, Fuc, GlcNAc) that may interact with DCs through CLR molecules. Notably, specific CLR expression profiles on DC subsets correlated with unique DCs' activation status and functionality and were associated with clinical outcome of melanoma patients. Higher proportions of DCIR-, DEC205-, CLEC-12α-expressing cDCs were linked with a better survival, whereas elevated proportions of CD206-, Dectin1-expressing cDCs and NKp44-expressing pDCs were associated with a poor outcome. Thus, melanoma tumor may shape DCs' features by exploiting the plasticity of the CLR machinery. Our study revealed that melanoma manipulates CLR pathways to hijack DC subsets and escape from immune control. It further paved the way to exploit glycan-lectin interactions for the design of innovative therapeutic strategies, which exploit DCs' potentialities while avoiding hijacking by tumor, to properly reshape anti-tumor immunity by manipulating the CLR machinery.

Synthesis of glycopeptides and glycopeptide conjugates

Protein glycosylation is a key post-translational modification important to many facets of biology. Glycosylation can have critical effects on protein conformation, uptake and intracellular routing. In immunology, glycosylation of antigens has been shown to play a role in self/non-self distinction and the effective uptake of antigens. Improperly glycosylated proteins and peptide fragments, for instance those produced by cancerous cells, are also prime candidates for vaccine design. To study these processes, access to peptides bearing well-defined glycans is of critical importance. In this review, the key approaches towards synthetic, well-defined glycopeptides, are described, with a focus on peptides useful for and used in immunological studies. Special attention is given to the glycoconjugation approaches that have been developed in recent years, as these enable rapid synthesis of various (unnatural) glycopeptides, enabling powerful carbohydrate structure/activity studies. These techniques, combined with more traditional total synthesis and chemoenzymatic methods for the production of glycopeptides, should help unravel some of the complexities of glycobiology in the near future.

Rapid and Mild Lactamization Using Highly Electrophilic Triphosgene in a Microflow Reactor

Lactams are cyclic amides that are indispensable as drugs and as drug candidates. Conventional lactamization includes acid-mediated and coupling-agent-mediated approaches that suffer from narrow substrate scope, much waste, and/or high cost. Inexpensive, less-wasteful approaches mediated by highly electrophilic reagents are attractive, but there is an imminent risk of side reactions. Herein, a methods using highly electrophilic triphosgene in a microflow reactor that accomplishes rapid (0.5-10 s), mild, inexpensive, and less-wasteful lactamization are described. Methods A and B, which use N-methylmorpholine and N-methylimidazole, respectively, were developed. Various lactams and a cyclic peptide containing acid- and/or heat-labile functional groups were synthesized in good to high yields without the need for tedious purification. Undesired reactions were successfully suppressed, and the risk of handling triphosgene was minimized by the use of microflow technology.

Dendritic Cells in Anticancer Vaccination: Rationale for Ex Vivo Loading or In Vivo Targeting

Dendritic cells (DCs) have shown great potential as a component or target in the landscape of cancer immunotherapy. Different in vivo and ex vivo strategies of DC vaccine generation with different outcomes have been proposed. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated their efficacy and safety in cancer patients. However, there is no consensus regarding which DC-based vaccine generation method is preferable. A problem of result comparison between trials in which different DC-loading or -targeting approaches have been applied remains. The employment of different DC generation and maturation methods, antigens and administration routes from trial to trial also limits the objective comparison of DC vaccines. In the present review, we discuss different methods of DC vaccine generation. We conclude that standardized trial designs, treatment settings and outcome assessment criteria will help to determine which DC vaccine generation approach should be applied in certain cancer cases. This will result in a reduction in alternatives in the selection of preferable DC-based vaccine tactics in patient. Moreover, it has become clear that the application of a DC vaccine alone is not sufficient and combination immunotherapy with recent advances, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, should be employed to achieve a better clinical response and outcome.

Systematic Dual Targeting of Dendritic Cell C-Type Lectin Receptor DC-SIGN and TLR7 Using a Trifunctional Mannosylated Antigen

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important initiators of adaptive immunity, and they possess a multitude of Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR) to generate an adequate T cell mediated immunity against invading pathogens. PRR ligands are frequently conjugated to tumor-associated antigens in a vaccination strategy to enhance the immune response toward such antigens. One of these PPRs, DC-SIGN, a member of the C-type lectin receptor (CLR) family, has been extensively targeted with Lewis structures and mannose glycans, often presented in multivalent fashion. We synthesized a library of well-defined mannosides (mono-, di-, and tri-mannosides), based on known "high mannose" structures, that we presented in a systematically increasing number of copies (n = 1, 2, 3, or 6), allowing us to simultaneously study the effect of mannoside configuration and multivalency on DC-SIGN binding via Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and flow cytometry. Hexavalent presentation of the clusters showed the highest binding affinity, with the hexa-α1,2-di-mannoside being the most potent ligand. The four highest binding hexavalent mannoside structures were conjugated to a model melanoma gp100-peptide antigen and further equipped with a Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7)-agonist as adjuvant for DC maturation, creating a trifunctional vaccine conjugate. Interestingly, DC-SIGN affinity of the mannoside clusters did not directly correlate with antigen presentation enhancing properties and the α1,2-di-mannoside cluster with the highest binding affinity in our library even hampered T cell activation. Overall, this systematic study has demonstrated that multivalent glycan presentation can improve DC-SIGN binding but enhanced binding cannot be directly translated into enhanced antigen presentation and the sole assessment of binding affinity is thus insufficient to determine further functional biological activity. Furthermore, we show that well-defined antigen conjugates combining two different PRR ligands can be generated in a modular fashion to increase the effectiveness of vaccine constructs.

Targeting C-type lectin receptors: a high-carbohydrate diet for dendritic cells to improve cancer vaccines

There is a growing understanding of why certain patients do or do not respond to checkpoint inhibition therapy. This opens new opportunities to reconsider and redevelop vaccine strategies to prime an anticancer immune response. Combination of such vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors will both provide the fuel and release the brake for an efficient anticancer response. Here, we discuss vaccine strategies that use C-type lectin receptor (CLR) targeting of APCs, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. APCs are a necessity for the priming of antigen-specific cytotoxic and helper T cells. Because CLRs are natural carbohydrate-recognition receptors highly expressed by multiple subsets of APCs and involved in uptake and processing of Ags for presentation, these receptors seem particularly interesting for targeting purposes.

N-Glycosylation of Cholera Toxin B Subunit: Serendipity for Novel Plant-Made Vaccines?

The non-toxic B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) has attracted considerable interests from vaccinologists due to strong mucosal immunomodulatory effects and potential utility as a vaccine scaffold for heterologous antigens. Along with other conventional protein expression systems, various plant species have been used as production hosts for CTB and its fusion proteins. However, it has recently become clear that the protein is N-glycosylated within the endoplasmic reticulum of plant cells-a eukaryotic post-translational modification that is not present in native CTB. While functionally active aglycosylated variants have been successfully engineered to circumvent potential safety and regulatory issues related to glycosylation, this modification may actually provide advantageous characteristics to the protein as a vaccine platform. Based on data from our recent studies, I discuss the unique features of N-glycosylated CTB produced in plants for the development of novel vaccines.

Targeting antigens to dendritic cell receptors for vaccine development

Dendritic cells (DCs) are highly specialized antigen presenting cells of the immune system which play a key role in regulating immune responses. Depending on the method of antigen delivery, DCs stimulate immune responses or induce tolerance. As a consequence of the dual function of DCs, DCs are studied in the context of immunotherapy for both cancer and autoimmune diseases. In vaccine development, a major aim is to induce strong, specific T-cell responses. This is achieved by targeting antigen to cell surface molecules on DCs that efficiently channel the antigen into endocytic compartments for loading onto MHC molecules and stimulation of T-cell responses. The most attractive cell surface receptors, expressed on DCs used as targets for antigen delivery for cancer and other diseases, are discussed.

Targeting C-type lectin receptors with multivalent carbohydrate ligands

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) represent a large receptor family including collectins, selectins, lymphocyte lectins, and proteoglycans. CLRs share a structurally homologous carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) and often bind carbohydrates in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. In innate immunity, CLRs serve as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and bind to the glycan structures of pathogens and also to self-antigens. In nature, the low affinity of CLR/carbohydrate interactions is overcome by multivalent ligand presentation at the surface of cells or pathogens. Thus, multivalency is a promising strategy for targeting CLR-expressing cells and, indeed, carbohydrate-based targeting approaches have been employed for a number of CLRs, including asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) in the liver, or DC-SIGN expressed by dendritic cells. Since CLR engagement not only mediates endocytosis but also influences intracellular signaling pathways, CLR targeting may allow for cell-specific drug delivery and also the modulation of cellular functions. Glyconanoparticles, glycodendrimers, and glycoliposomes were successfully used as tools for CLR-specific targeting. This review will discuss different approaches for multivalent CLR ligand presentation and aims to highlight how CLR targeting has been employed for cell specific drug delivery. Major emphasis is directed towards targeting of CLRs expressed by antigen-presenting cells to modulate immune responses.

Recent advances in developing synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapies

Cancer cells can often be distinguished from healthy cells by the expression of unique carbohydrate sequences decorating the cell surface as a result of aberrant glycosyltransferase activity occurring within the cell; these unusual carbohydrates can be used as valuable immunological targets in modern vaccine designs to raise carbohydrate-specific antibodies. Many tumor antigens (e.g., GM2, Ley, globo H, sialyl Tn and TF) have been identified to date in a variety of cancers. Unfortunately, carbohydrates alone evoke poor immunogenicity, owing to their lack of ability in inducing T-cell-dependent immune responses. In order to enhance their immunogenicity and promote long-lasting immune responses, carbohydrates are often chemically modified to link to an immunogenic protein or peptide fragment for eliciting T-cell-dependent responses. This review will present a summary of efforts and advancements made to date on creating carbohydrate-based anticancer vaccines, and will include novel approaches to overcoming the poor immunogenicity of carbohydrate-based vaccines.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: an update for 2007-2008

This review is the fifth update of the original review, published in 1999, on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2008. The first section of the review covers fundamental studies, fragmentation of carbohydrate ions, use of derivatives and new software developments for analysis of carbohydrate spectra. Among newer areas of method development are glycan arrays, MALDI imaging and the use of ion mobility spectrometry. The second section of the review discusses applications of MALDI MS to the analysis of different types of carbohydrate. Specific compound classes that are covered include carbohydrate polymers from plants, N- and O-linked glycans from glycoproteins, biopharmaceuticals, glycated proteins, glycolipids, glycosides and various other natural products. There is a short section on the use of MALDI mass spectrometry for the study of enzymes involved in glycan processing and a section on the use of MALDI MS to monitor products of the chemical synthesis of carbohydrates with emphasis on carbohydrate-protein complexes and glycodendrimers. Corresponding analyses by electrospray ionization now appear to outnumber those performed by MALDI and the amount of literature makes a comprehensive review on this technique impractical. However, most of the work relating to sample preparation and glycan synthesis is equally relevant to electrospray and, consequently, those proposing analyses by electrospray should also find material in this review of interest.

Gateways for the intracellular access of nanocarriers: a review of receptor-mediated endocytosis mechanisms and of strategies in receptor targeting

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD

The last 10 years have seen a dramatic growth in understanding and controlling how complex, drug-loaded (nano)structures, as well as pathogens, or biopharmaceuticals can gather access to the cytoplasm, which is a key step to increasing the effectiveness of their action.

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW

The review offers an updated overview of the current knowledge of endocytic processes; furthermore, the cell surface receptors most commonly used in drug delivery are here discussed on the basis of their reported internalization mechanisms, with examples of their use as nanocarrier targets taken from the most recent scientific literature.

WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN

Knowledge of molecular biology details is increasingly necessary for a rational design of drug delivery systems. Here, the aim is to provide the reader with an attempt to link a mechanistic knowledge of endocytic mechanisms with the identification of appropriate targets (internalization receptors) for nanocarriers.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Much advance is still needed to create a complete and coherent biological picture of endocytosis, but current knowledge already allows individuation of a good number of targetable groups for a predetermined intracellular fate of nanocarriers.

Synthesis of oligonucleotide glycoconjugates using sequential click and oximation ligations

Oligodeoxyribonucleotide glycoconjugates bearing two trivalent glycoclusters have been synthesized by two alternative methods based on solid-supported oximation of aminooxy functionalized oligonucleotides with glycoclusters constructed by click chemistry. In more detail, the trivalent glycoclusters (5 and 6) bearing three sugar pendants were first assembled by treating a 4-[tri-O-propargylpentaerythrityloxy]benzaldehyde scaffold with methyl 6-azido-6-deoxyglycopyranoside under the click reaction conditions. Two phosphoramidite reagents containing a phthaloyl protected aminooxy function, viz., 2-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidites derived from 3-[3,5-bis(phthalimidoxymethyl)phenoxy]propanol (12) and 5-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-1,2-dideoxy-1-C-(2-phthalimidoxyethyl)-beta-d-erythro-pentofuranose (16), were synthesized and incorporated as branching units in appropriate places of the oligonucleotide chains. On using 12, the phthaloyl protections of the branching unit were removed and two identical glycoclusters were attached via oxime linkage to the 5'-terminus of the support-bound oligonucleotide chain. With branching unit 16, the phosphoramidite coupling and the oximation were carried out alternately, allowing introduction of two dissimilar trivalent glycoclusters close to the 3'-end of the oligonucleotide chain. The products (20, 26) were released and deprotected by ammonolysis and purified by HPLC chromatography.

Carbohydrate-lectin interactions assayed by SPR

Surface plasmon resonance is a valuable tool to determine the affinity between glycoconjugates and sugar-binding proteins such as plant and animal lectins. The main interest of using such an approach is that neither the lectins - which are proteins - nor their ligands - natural compounds such as glycoproteins, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, or synthetic glycoconjugates such as glycoclusters or neoglycoproteins - require any tag. Because lectins bear several binding sites, they behave like immunoglobulin eliciting avidity phenomena. This peculiarity may lead to erroneous results if special conditions are not applied. We obtained best and reproducible results when the lectin was immobilized and its ligands were used as soluble analytes. With heterogeneous glycoconjugates such as neoglycoproteins (which are heterogeneous in terms of nature, number, and position of sugar residues) or a mixture of oligosaccharides, the data may be more accurately gathered by using the Sips approach, which has been used to determine mean binding constants of polyclonal antibodies. With small analytes such as oligosaccharides, we found it convenient to determine binding constants by using an inhibitory approach: a neoglycoprotein (M (r) = approximately 80,000) was allowed to bind to the immobilized lectin and small oligosaccharides were used as inhibitors. With larger glycoconjugates such as peptides substituted with glycoclusters, direct binding measurements gave accurate results. Because of the availability of low-cost simple sugars (mono- or disaccharides) it is very convenient to use large concentrations of such carbohydrates to clean the sensor chips instead of more drastic cleaning solutions such as acids or alkali, in such a way that the immobilized lectin is stable for many experiments.

Solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotide conjugates useful for delivery and targeting of potential nucleic acid therapeutics

Olignucleotide-based drugs show promise as a novel form of chemotherapy. Among the hurdles that have to be overcome on the way of applicable nucleic acid therapeutics, inefficient cellular uptake and subsequent release from endosomes to cytoplasm appear to be the most severe ones. Covalent conjugation of oligonucleotides to molecules that expectedly facilitate the internalization, targets the conjugate to a specific cell-type or improves the parmacokinetics offers a possible way to combat against these shortcomings. Since workable chemistry is a prerequisite for biological studies, development of efficient and reproducible methods for preparation of various types of oligonucleotide conjugates has become a subject of considerable importance. The present review summarizes the advances made in the solid-supported synthesis of oligonucleotide conjugates aimed at facilitating the delivery and targeting of nucleic acid drugs.

Prospects of metal complexes peripherally substituted with sugars in biomedicinal applications

Metal complexes possess unique tunable properties, such as radioactivity, cytotoxicity or photophysical features, enabling them to act as diagnostic tracers or therapeutic agents. In applying them in biological systems, it is often necessary to enhance their solubility and biocompatibility. To achieve such goals, like the targeting of binding domains, transport systems and enzyme activities, the attachment of carbohydrate moieties appears to be suitable. Sugar-substitution in the periphery of metal complexes has therefore become a strongly growing field of research. Outlined herein is a selection of recent examples.

Enhanced immune stimulation by a therapeutic lymphoma tumor antigen vaccine produced in insect cells involves mannose receptor targeting to antigen presenting cells

Therapeutic vaccination of lymphoma patients with tumor-specific immunoglobulin (idiotype, Id) coupled to the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (Id-KLH) is undergoing clinical investigation, and methods to improve the immunogenicity of these and other protein tumor antigen vaccines are being sought. Id proteins can be produced via tumor-myeloma hybridomas or recombinant methods in mammalian, bacteria, or insect cells. We now demonstrate that terminal mannose residues, characteristic of recombinant proteins produced in insect cells, yield Id proteins with significantly enhanced immunostimulatory properties compared to Id proteins derived from mammalian cells. Recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cell-derived Id showed higher binding to and activation of human dendritic cells mediated by mannose receptors. In vivo, insect cell-derived Id elicited higher levels of tumor-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and improved eradication of pre-established murine lymphoma. Insect cell and mammalian Id generated similar levels of tumor-specific antibodies, showing no impairment in antibody responses to native tumor antigen despite the glycoslylation differences in the immunogen. Combining insect cell production and maleimide-based KLH conjugation offered the highest levels of anti-tumor immunity. Our data comparing sources of recombinant Id protein tumor antigens used in therapeutic cancer vaccines demonstrate that insect cell-derived antigens can offer several immunologic advantages over proteins derived from mammalian sources.

Protein/peptide and DNA vaccine delivery by targeting C-type lectin receptors

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are a class of pathogen-recognition receptors that are actively investigated in the field of vaccine delivery. Many of their properties have functions linked to the immune system. These receptors are expressed abundantly on antigen-presenting cells and are considered to be the sentinels of immune surveillance owing to their endocytic nature and the ability to recognize a diverse range of pathogens through recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. CLRs are also involved in the processes of antigen presentation mediated through the induction of dendritic cell maturation and cytokine production. These properties engender CLRs to be ideal for vaccine targeting. Conversely, CLRs also function to recognize glycosylated self-antigens to induce homeostatic control and tolerance. In this review, we will describe the various preclinical/clinical vaccination strategies to target antigens and plasmid DNA to this diverse class of receptors.