Potent cytotoxic action of the immunotoxin SWA11-ricin A chain against human small cell lung cancer cell lines

Are There Any Other Compounds Isolated From Dermacoccus spp at All?

Microbial-derived natural products have functional and structural diversity and complexity. For several decades, they have provided the basic foundation for most drugs available to modern medicine. Microbial-derived natural products have wide-ranging applications, especially as chemotherapeutics for various diseases and disorders. By exploring distinct microorganisms in different environments, small novel bioactive molecules with unique functionalities and biological or biomedical significance can be identified. Aquatic environments, such as oceans or seas, are considered to be sources of abundant novel bioactive compounds. Studies on marine microorganisms have revealed that several bioactive compounds extracted from marine algae and invertebrates are eventually generated by their associated bacteria. These findings have prompted intense research interest in discovering novel compounds from marine microorganisms. Natural products derived from Dermacoccus exhibit antibacterial, antitumor, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, antiparasitic, and eventually immunosuppressive bioactivities. In this review, we discussed the diversity of secondary metabolites generated by genus Dermacoccus with respect to their chemical structure, biological activity, and origin. This brief review highlights and showcases the pivotal importance of Dermacoccus-derived natural products and sheds light on the potential venues of discovery of new bioactive compounds from marine microorganisms.

Long-circulating monensin nanoparticles for the potentiation of immunotoxin and anticancer drugs

The carboxylic ionophore monensin was formulated into long-circulating nanoparticles with the help of polyethylene glycol/poly (dl-lactide-co-glycolide) diblock copolymers, in an attempt to enhance the cytotoxicity of a ricin-based immunotoxin, anti-My9, and anticancer drugs like adriamycin and tamoxifen. This study looked into various aspects involving the preparation (using a homogenizer and an EmulsiFlex homogenizer-extrusion device) and lyophilization of long-circulating monensin nanoparticles (LMNP) of particle size < 200 nm in diameter. The particle size of LMNP was reduced from 194 nm to 160 nm by passing the nanoparticles through an EmulsiFlex, before freeze-drying. There was a 4.8–83.7% increase in the particle size of LMNP after freeze-drying, which was dependent upon the manufacturing conditions such as use of the EmulsiFlex for size reduction before freeze-drying, the freezing method (rapid/slow) and the concentration of lyoprotectant (mannitol or trehalose) employed for freeze-drying. LMNP freeze-dried with 2.4% of trehalose showed minimal size change (< 9%) after freeze-drying. Further, the freezing method was found to have negligible effect on the particle size of LMNP freeze-dried with trehalose in comparison with mannitol. The entrapment efficiency of monensin in LMNP was found to be 14.2 ± 0.3%. The LMNP were found to be spherical in shape and smooth in surface texture as observed by atomic force microscopy. In-vitro release of monensin from LMNP in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) pH 7.4 or PBS supplemented with 10% human serum indicated that there was an initial rapid release of about 40% in the first 8 h followed by a fairly slow release (about 20%) in the next 88 h. In-vivo studies conducted with Sprague-Dawley rats showed that 20% of monensin remained in circulation 4–8 h after the intravenous administration of LMNP. An in-vitro dye-based cytotoxicity assay (MTS/PMS method) showed that there was 500 times and 5 times potentiation of the cytotoxicity of anti-My9 immunotoxin by LMNP (5 times 10−8  m of monensin) in HL-60 sensitive and resistant human tumour cell lines, respectively. Further, LMNP (5 times 10−8  m of monensin) potentiated the cytotoxicity of adriamycin in MCF 7 and SW 620 cell lines by 100 fold and 10 fold, respectively, and that of tamoxifen by 44 fold in MCF 7 cell line as assessed by crystal violet dye uptake assay. Our results suggest that it is possibleto prepare LMNP possessing appropriate particlesize (< 200 nm), monensin content and in-vitro and in-vivo release characteristics with the help of a homogenizer and an EmulsiFlex homogenizer-extrusion device. LMNP can be freeze-dried with minimal increase in particle size by using a suitable concentration of a lyoprotectant like trehalose. Furthermore, LMNP could potentiate the cytotoxicity of immunotoxin, adriamycin and tamoxifen by 5–500 fold in-vitro, which will be further investigated in-vivo in a suitable animal model.

Effects of monensin liposomes on the cytotoxicity, apoptosis and expression of multidrug resistance genes in doxorubicin-resistant human breast tumour (MCF-7/dox) cell-line

We have evaluated the effects of monensin liposomes on drug resistance reversal, induction of apoptosis and expression of multidrug resistance (MDR) genes in a doxorubicin-resistant human breast tumour (MCF-7/dox) cell line. Monensin liposomes were prepared by the pH-gradient method. MCF-7/dox cells were treated with various anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, paclitaxel and etoposide) alone and in combination with monensin liposomes. The cytotoxicity was assessed using the crystal violet dye uptake method. The induction of apoptosis in MCF-7/dox cells was assessed by established techniques such as TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labelling) staining and caspase-3 assay. The effect of monensin liposomes on doxorubicin accumulation in MCF-7/dox cells was monitored by fluorescent microscopy. Finally, the expression of MDR genes (MDR1 and MRP1) in MCF-7/dox cells following the exposure to doxorubicin alone and in combination with monensin liposomes was evaluated by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results indicated that monensin liposomes overcame drug resistance in MCF-7/dox cells to doxorubicin, etoposide and paclitaxel by 16.5-, 5.6- and 2.8-times, respectively. The combination of doxorubicin (2.5 μg mL−1) with monensin liposomes (20 times 10−8M) induced apoptosis in approximately 40% cells, whereas doxorubicin (2.5 μg mL−1) or monensin liposomes (20 times 10−8M) alone produced minimal apoptosis (<10%) in MCF-7/dox cells. Fluorescent microscopy revealed that monensin liposomes increased the accumulation of doxorubicin in MCF-7/dox cells. RT-PCR studies demonstrated that the expression of MDR1 and MRP1 was increased by 33 and 57%, respectively, in MCF-7/dox cells following treatment with doxorubicin (2.5 μg mL−1) for 72 h as compared with control MCF-7/dox cells. Furthermore, the levels of MDR1 and MRP1 in MCF-7/dox cells exposed to both doxorubicin and monensin liposomes showed a modest decrease as compared with MCF-7/dox cells treated with doxorubicin alone. In conclusion, the delivery of monensin via liposomes provided an opportunity to overcome drug resistance.

Effect of monensin liposomes on the cytotoxicity of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of monensin liposomes in the enhancement of in-vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis and in-vivo antitumour activity of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin. Monensin liposomes were prepared and studied for the enhancement of in-vitro cytotoxicity and apoptotic response of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin against both sensitive and resistant human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells by MTS/PES method and acridine orange staining, respectively. Further, the in-vivo cytotoxicity enhancement of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin by monensin liposomes was studied in a survival model of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice bearing intraperitoneal HL-60 tumours. The in-vitro cytotoxicity of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin was enhanced 580 fold and 4.7 fold against sensitive and resistant HL-60 cells, respectively, by monensin liposomes (5 x 10(-8) M). The combination of anti-My9-bR immunotoxin (50ng mL(-1)) with monensin liposomes (5 x 10(-8) M) produced apoptosis in 40% of cells, whereas the apoptotic response was minimal (< 10%) in anti-My9-bR immunotoxin- or monensin liposome (alone)-treated HL-60 (resistant) cells. In SCID mice bearing HL-60 tumours, anti-My9-bR immunotoxin (75 microg kg(-1) administered intravenously every other day for a total of five courses) showed a median survival time of 20 days, which was no different than that of vehicle control- or monensin liposome-treated mice. However, anti-My9-bR immunotoxin (75 microg kg(-1)) in combination with monensin liposomes (4 microg kg(-1) monensin), administered every other day for a total of five courses, was found to prolong the survival of 20% of mice for more than 46 days. Our results indicate that, despite anti-My9-bR immunotoxin being ineffective in the HL-60 tumour model, its combination with monensin liposomes could improve the antitumour response.

Conjugation of anti-My9 antibody to stealth monensin liposomes and the effect of conjugated liposomes on the cytotoxicity of immunotoxin

The carboxylic ionophore, monensin, was successfully entrapped in stealth liposomes by employing the pH-gradient method (interior pH of liposomes 9.5; exterior pH 5.0-5.9). A maximum of 14% of monensin could be entrapped in stealth liposomes by this method. The stealth liposomes could be successfully freeze-dried having mean particle size varying between 197 and 223 nm. The stealth liposomes were conjugated to anti-My9 monoclonal antibody (targeted against CD 33 antigen) by a disulfide linkage with almost full retention of immunoreactivity. The method of conjugation of liposomes with the antibody did not alter the particle size of liposomes and resulted in only 10% leakage of monensin. In-vitro cytotoxicity studies showed that antibody-conjugated monensin liposomes (3.5x10(-8) M monensin) potentiated the cytotoxicity of anti-My9 immunotoxin by a factor of 2070, in comparison to 360-fold potentiation observed with unconjugated monensin liposomes against human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. These results indicate that it is possible to enhance the in-vitro cytotoxicity of immunotoxin by several folds using antibody-conjugated monensin liposomes.

Immunotoxins for targeted cancer therapy

Immunotoxins constitute a new modality for the treatment of cancer, since they target cells displaying specific surface-receptors or antigens. Immunotoxins contain a ligand such as a growth factor, monoclonal antibody, or fragment of an antibody which is connected to a protein toxin. After the ligand subunit binds to the surface of the target cell, the molecule internalizes and the toxin kills the cell. Bacterial toxins which have been targeted to cancer cells include Pseudomonas exotoxin and diphtheria toxin, which are well suited to forming recombinant single-chain or double-chain fusion toxins. Plant toxins include ricin, abrin, pokeweed antiviral protein, saporin and gelonin, and have generally been connected to ligands by disulfide-bond chemistry. Immunotoxins have been produced to target hematologic malignancies and solid tumors via a wide variety of growth factor receptors and antigens. Challenges facing the clinical application of immunotoxins are discussed.

Generation of Human Monoclonal Anti-idiotypic Antibodies with Specificity to the Murine Monoclonal Anti-CA 125 Antibody B43.13

Two human monoclonal antibodies, HID-7E7 and ROB-6F2, were produced by EBV transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). PBL were obtained from a patient with ovarian cancer who had been exposed several times to a Tc-99m labeled murine monoclonal anti-CA 125 antibody (B43.13, Biomira, Edmonton) for immunoscintigraphy. The HID-7E7 and ROB-6F2 producing B-cells were cloned with a limiting dilution technique and have shown stable immunoglobulin secretion within a period of three years. The human monoclonal antibodies HID-7E7 and ROB-6F2 are of the IgG isotype, and bind with significant affinity to the murine monoclonal antibody B43.13, which was used for immunoscintigraphy. Binding affinity of ROB-6F2 to other murine antibodies could not be detected. Cross reactivity of HID-7E7 to a murine anti-CEA monoclonal antibody was observed. In order to verify the anti-idiotypic character of the generated human antibodies, the ability of HID-7E7 and ROB-6F2, respectively, to inhibit the formation of the CA125/B43.13 complex is demonstrated via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These human anti-idiotypic antibodies are possible candidates for immunotherapy of ovarian cancer in patients with a small tumor burden following surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Vascular targeting--a new approach to the therapy of solid tumors

An attractive approach to the therapy of solid tumors is to attack the endothelial cells of the tumor vascular bed rather than the tumor cells themselves, which circumvents the problem of poor penetration of tumor masses by monoclonal antibodies and other macromolecules. In this review, we will discuss the drawbacks of targeting solid tumors and the advantages of the 'vascular targeting' approach, describe the validation of the concept in a mouse model and summarize the properties of tumor endothelial cell markers, which are candidates for vascular targeting in humans.

Recent developments in immunotoxin therapy

Immunotoxin (IT) research has been ongoing for 15 years. During the past 2 years, work has focused on several areas: on improvements and developments in first- and second-generation ITs; the preparation of new immunotoxin constructs with anti-tumor activity; novel animal models for preclinical evaluation of immunotoxins; and clinical trials, which are now entering Phase II or III in humans.

The selection of antibodies for targeted therapy of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) using a human tumour spheroid model to compare the uptake of cluster 1 and cluster w4 antibodies

Spheroids of a small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line POC were used to evaluate the uptake and penetration of two antibodies recognising different SCLC antigens. Spheroids approximately 300-400 microns in diameter were incubated with 1 microgram ml-1 125I-labelled NY.3D11, an antibody which reacts with the cluster 1 group antigen (neural cell adhesion molecule; NCAM) and [125I]SWA11, which binds to the cluster w4 antigen. The rate of uptake of both antibodies was similar; an initially rapid phase was seen during the first 8 h and maximum uptake occurred by 24 h. The mean uptake per spheroid at 24 h was 0.97 ng for [125I]NY.3D11 and 0.45 ng for [125I]SWA11. An objective measurement of antibody penetration into spheroids was developed using a computerised image analysis of immunostained sections of spheroids. The concentration of antibody and incubation times were varied. Both antibodies penetrated the spheroids to a depth of 50 microns after 30 min. This increased to about 100 microns after 4 h incubation with 1 or 100 micrograms ml-1 SWA11. The results with 1 microgram ml-1 NY.3D11 were similar, but in the presence of 100 micrograms ml-1 NY.3D11 penetration into the spheroid was deep and diffuse. These results demonstrate a major concentration-dependent difference in the uptake and penetration of cluster 1 and cluster w4 antibodies in this spheroid model and they have implications for the selection of antibodies for targeted therapy of SCLC.

Antibodies to the protein core of the small cell lung cancer workshop antigen cluster-w4 and to the leucocyte workshop antigen CD24 recognize the same short protein sequence leucine-alanine-proline

We recently described the identity of the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cluster-w4 antigen and the human B cell differentiation marker CD24, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored, highly glycosylated surface molecule of only 31-35 amino acids [15]. The specificities of three anti-cluster-w4 and of eleven anti-CD24 MoAbs have been investigated with respect to their binding capacity to the protein core of cluster-w4/CD24 antigen. Four overlapping peptides spanning this protein core were synthesized. MoAbs shown to bind to two overlapping peptides by antibody binding inhibition using the cluster-w4/CD24-positive SCLC cell line SW2 and by direct peptide binding detected in an ELISA were investigated in more detail. To determine the exact epitopes recognized by these MoAbs, an epitope mapping assay using peptides synthesized onto polyethylene pins was established. The three anti-cluster-w4 MoAbs SWA11, SWA21 and SWA22 and the anti-CD24 MoAbs OKB2 and ALB9 recognized the same short leucine-alanine-proline (LAP) sequence in an area without potential glycosylation sites close to the GPI anchor of the protein core of the cluster-w4/CD24 antigen.

Refinement of an indirect immunotoxin assay of monoclonal antibodies recognising the human small cell lung cancer cluster 2 antigen

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) from the Second International Workshop on Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Antigens that recognise the cluster 2 SCLC-associated antigen mediated potent and selective cytotoxic effects in an indirect assay of immunotoxin cytotoxicity. In this assay, the NCI-H69 cell line was treated with each Mab at 4 degrees C, washed to remove unbound Mab, and then incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of a fixed concentration, 1 x 10(-8) M, of the screening agent, sheep anti-mouse IgG-ricin A chain. The use of a fixed high concentration of screening agent led to a 300-fold overestimate of the potency of a cluster 2-directed immunotoxin, MOC-31-ricin A chain. In contrast, when the concentration of the screening agent was identical to the Mab concentration, a precise match to immunotoxin potency was obtained. MOC-31-ricin A chain selectivity inhibited the incorporation of [3H]leucine by the NCI-H69, SW2 and GLC-8 SCLC cell lines by 50% at a concentration between 3 x 10(-11) M and 3 x 10(-10) M, and by the NCI-H125 lung adenocarcinoma cell line at 7 x 10(-11) M, but exerted no selective toxic effects upon human lung and non-lung tumour cell lines lacking surface expression of the cluster 2 antigen.

Action of a CD24-specific deglycosylated ricin-A-chain immunotoxin in conventional and novel models of small-cell-lung-cancer xenograft

The therapeutic efficacy of an immunotoxin, SWAII-SPDB-dg.ricin A chain, recognizing the leukocyte-differentiation antigen CD24, was evaluated against SCLC cell lines in tissue culture and in 2 nude-mouse models. The first model used conventional s.c. solid-tumor xenografts. The second used small tumor-cell deposits established in s.c. implanted sponge matrices and allowed us to directly estimate the killing efficiency of the immunotoxin under experimentally defined conditions in vivo. It also mimics the clinical setting of disseminated tumor cells which form the basis of residual disease in SCLC. The cytotoxic potency of SWAII-SPDB-dg.ricin A chain was demonstrated in tissue culture by the inhibition of 3H-leucine incorporation and by the selective elimination of CD24-positive tumor cells in clonogenic assays. In nude mice, SWAII-SPDB-dg.ricin A chain was cleared from the blood circulation with biphasic kinetics: an initial alpha phase of 1 hr and a second beta phase of 20.5 hr. Following i.v. injection of a dose equivalent to 30% of the LD50, the immunotoxin delayed the growth of SW2 solid-tumor xenografts by 16 days. The therapeutic efficacy of SWAII-SPDB-dg.ricin A chain was further demonstrated by the selective elimination of clonogenic SW2 cells from small tumor-cell deposits established in sponge matrices. Regrowth of the solid tumors after the initial response and the clonogenic activity in the sponge-derived cell population were mediated by CD24-positive cells, excluding the selection of CD24-negative mutants during immunotoxin therapy.

Potentiation of a weakly active ricin A chain immunotoxin recognizing the neural cell adhesion molecule

A ricin A chain immunotoxin, SEN36-ricin A chain, directed against the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) had no selective cytotoxic activity against three different small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines in tissue culture despite expression of the target antigen on more than 98% of cells in each line detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Treatment of the SW2 SCLC cell line with suramin and interferons alpha and gamma increased the level of N-CAM expression only slightly and had no significant effect on the cytotoxic activity of the SEN36 immunotoxin. In the presence of the carboxylic ionophore monensin at a concentration of 0.1 microM, the toxicity of SEN36-ricin A chain to the SW2 cell line was enhanced by 12,000-fold. In contrast, lysosomotropic amines showed little or no potentiation of activity, suggesting that lysosomal degradation was not the major factor limiting the action of the anti-N-CAM immunotoxin. The findings of this study indicate that ricin A chain immunotoxins directed against N-CAM on SCLC are unlikely to have sufficient activity to be useful therapeutic agents in the absence of potentiating agents such as monensin, which can interfere with the normal intracellular pathways of antigen routing.

Immunotoxins to human small-cell lung cancer

Ricin A chain ITs directed against a variety of the common cell-surface antigens associated with SCLC exerted selective toxic effects on SCLC cell lines. The potency of the cytotoxic effects matched or exceeded that previously reported for ricin A chain ITs directed against identical or similar antigens on other types of carcinoma, suggesting that SCLC may be uniquely sensitive to this type of IT.

Cytotoxic properties of a ricin A chain immunotoxin recognising the cluster-5A antigen associated with human small-cell lung cancer

The cytotoxic properties of a ricin A chain immunotoxin made with the mouse monoclonal antibody SWA20, recognising a family of sialoglycoprotein antigens selectively expressed by human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), were examined using a panel of tumour cell lines in tissue culture. SWA20-ricin-A-chain was selectively toxic to the SW2, NCI-H69 and GLC-8 SCLC cell lines, inhibiting the incorporation of [3H]leucine by 50% at a concentration of 0.2-2 nM, but had no selective activity against the NCI-H23 and NCI-H125 lung adenocarcinoma or the control CEM T-lymphoblastoid cell lines. The SWA20 immunotoxin intoxicated the SW2 cell line rapidly, inhibiting [3H]leucine incorporation by 50% within 2 h compared with 0.5 h for ricin. Analysis of the effects of SWA20-ricin-A-chain on the growth of SW2 cells using a limiting-dilution clonogenic assay revealed that the immunotoxin could eliminate 95% of clonogenic malignant cells. Although SWA20-ricin-A-chain was found to be rapidly active against the majority of tumour cells, its action was limited by the presence of insensitive cells expressing low levels of the target antigen.