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Czapla J, Drzyzga A, Ciepła J, Matuszczak S, Jarosz-Biej M, Pilny E, Cichoń T, Smolarczyk R. Combination of STING agonist with anti-vascular RGD-(KLAKLAK) 2 peptide as a novel anti-tumor therapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:148. [PMID: 38832958 PMCID: PMC11150340 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03732-3] [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: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is one of the most promising anti-cancer treatment. It involves activating the host's own immune system to eliminate cancer cells. Activation of cGAS-STING pathway is promising therapeutic approach for cancer immunotherapy. However, in human clinical trials, targeting cGAS-STING pathway results in insufficient or unsustainable anti-tumor response. To enhance its effectiveness, combination with other anti-cancer therapies seems essential to achieve synergistic systemic anti-tumor response.The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the combination of STING agonist-cGAMP with anti-vascular RGD-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide results in a better anti-tumor response in poorly immunogenic tumors with various STING protein and αvβ3 integrin status.Combination therapy inhibited growth of murine breast carcinoma more effectively than melanoma. In melanoma, the administration of STING agonist alone was sufficient to obtain a satisfactory therapeutic effect. In both tumor models we have noted stimulation of innate immune response following cGAMP administration alone or in combination. The largest population of immune cells infiltrating the TME after therapy were activated NK cells. Increased infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes within the TME was only observed in melanoma tumors. However, they also expressed the "exhaustion" PD-1 receptor. In contrast, in breast carcinoma tumors each therapy caused the drop in the number of infiltrating CD8+ T cells.The obtained results indicate an additional therapeutic benefit from combining STING agonist with an anti-vascular agent. However, this effect depends on the type of tumor, the status of its microenvironment and the expression of specific proteins such as STING and αvβ3 family integrin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Czapla
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland.
| | - Alina Drzyzga
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Joanna Ciepła
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Sybilla Matuszczak
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Magdalena Jarosz-Biej
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Ewelina Pilny
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Tomasz Cichoń
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Ryszard Smolarczyk
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice, Poland.
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2
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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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3
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Ciobanasu C, Pernier J, Le Clainche C. Integrin Facilitates the Internalization of TAT Peptide Conjugated to RGD Motif in Model Lipid Membranes. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300642. [PMID: 37947251 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300642] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, targeted drug delivery has attracted a great interest for enhanced therapeutic efficiency, with diminished side effects, especially in cancer therapy. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) like HIV1-TAT peptides, appear to be the perfect vectors for translocating drugs or other cargoes across the plasma membrane, but their application is limited mostly due to insufficient specificity for intended targets. Although these molecules were successfully used, the mechanism by which the peptides enter the cell interior still needs to be clarified. The tripeptide motif RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartate), found in extracellular matrix proteins has high affinity for integrin receptors overexpressed in cancer and it is involved in different phases of disease progression, including proliferation, invasion and migration. Discovery of new peptides with high binding affinity for disease receptors and permeability of plasma membranes is desirable for both, development of targeted drug delivery systems and early detection and diagnosis. To complement the TAT peptide with specific targeting ability, we conjugated it with an integrin-binding RGD motif. Although the idea of RGD-CPPs conjugates is not entirely new,[1] here we describe the permeability abilities and specificity of integrin receptors of RGD-TAT peptides in model membranes. Our findings reveal that this novel RGD sequence based on TAT peptide maintains its ability to permeate lipid membranes and exhibits specificity for integrin receptors embedded in giant unilamellar vesicles. This promising outcome suggests that the RGD-TAT peptide has significant potential for applications in the field of targeted drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Ciobanasu
- Department of Exact and Natural Sciences Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru I. Cuza University, Bulevardul Carol I, Nr. 11, 700506, Iasi, Romania
| | - Julien Pernier
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Tumor Cell Dynamics Unit Inserm U1279 Gustave Roussy Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, 94800, France
| | - Christophe Le Clainche
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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4
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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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5
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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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6
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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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7
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Shen C, Liang H, Guo Z, Zhang M. Members of the histone-derived antimicrobial peptide family from the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii: Inhibition of bacterial growth. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 132:108439. [PMID: 36423807 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Because it is difficult to isolate standard antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) using traditional biochemical approaches, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated a series of structurally altered histone-derived AMPs (HDAPs) from the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii using molecular cloning approaches. Four histone-homolog genes (PmH2A, PmH2B, PmH3, and PmH4-1) were identified, of which PmH2A and PmH2B had yet to be described. PmH2A and PmH2B were therefore cloned using Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) and characterized. Constitutive PmH2A and PmH2B mRNA expression was detected in all six pearl oyster tissues tested, with comparatively greater transcript abundance in the gonads. Because α-helical content, hydrophilicity index, and the presence of a proline hinge may be the three important factors influencing the antimicrobial efficacy of HDAPs, we synthesized a series of eight N- and C-terminally truncated or amino acid-substituted synthetic candidate HDAP analogs derived from PmH2A, PmH2B, PmH3, and PmH4-1. Only the PmH2A- and PmH4-derived AMPs inhibited bacterial growth. The PmH2A-derived AMPs were α-helical proteins, while the PmH4-derived AMPs were extended strand/random coil proteins. Our results suggested that having an α-helical structure was particularly important for the antibacterial efficacy of the PmH2A-derived peptides; amphipathic structures (hydrophilic index, 0.3 to -0.3) may enhance the antimicrobial function of both the PmH2A- and PmH4-derived peptides. The high antibacterial efficacy of one of the HDAP analogs studied, PmH2A-AMP (5-13) [KLLK]3, indicated that this protein may represent a promising candidate for the treatment of bacterial infections in aquaculture mollusk species. This first study of HDAPs from the pearl oyster P. f. martensii provides new insights into the design and function of highly effective antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Shen
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
| | - Haiying Liang
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China.
| | - Zhijie Guo
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
| | - Meizhen Zhang
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, 524088, PR China
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8
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Moshnikova A, DuPont M, Visca H, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Eradication of tumors and development of anti-cancer immunity using STINGa targeted by pHLIP. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1023959. [PMID: 36330464 PMCID: PMC9622777 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1023959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in the development of novel STING agonists (STINGa), applications appear to be challenged by the low efficiency and poor selectivity of these agents. A pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) extends the lifetime of a STINGa in the blood and targets it to acidic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid derived suppressor cells (mMDSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs). CAFs constitute 25% of all live cells within CT26 tumors, and M2-type TAMs and mMDSCs are the most abundant among the immune cells. The resulting activation of cytokines within the tumor microenvironment (TME) triggers the eradication of small (100 mm3) and large (400-700 mm3) CT26 tumors in mice after a single dose of pHLIP-STINGa. The tumor stroma was destroyed (the number of CAFs was reduced by 98%), intratumoral hemorrhage developed, and the level of acidity within the TME was reduced. Further, no tumors developed in 20 out of 25 tumor-free mice re-challenged by an additional injection of cancer cells. The therapeutic effect on CT26 tumors was insignificant in nude mice, lacking T-cells. Thus, targeted delivery of STINGa to tumor stroma and TAMs induces activation of signaling, potentially resulting in the recruitment and infiltration of T-cells, which gain access to the tumor core. The cytotoxic activity of T-cells is not impaired by an acidic environment and immune memory is developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- *Correspondence: Yana K. Reshetnyak,
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9
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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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10
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Bauer D, Visca H, Weerakkody A, Carter LM, Samuels Z, Kaminsky S, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK, Lewis JS. PET Imaging of Acidic Tumor Environment With 89Zr-labeled pHLIP Probes. Front Oncol 2022; 12:882541. [PMID: 35664740 PMCID: PMC9160799 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.882541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidosis of the tumor microenvironment is a hallmark of tumor progression and has emerged as an essential biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of treatment response. A tool for quantitatively visualizing the acidic tumor environment could significantly advance our understanding of the behavior of aggressive tumors, improving patient management and outcomes. 89Zr-labeled pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIP) are a class of radiopharmaceutical imaging probes for the in vivo analysis of acidic tumor microenvironments via positron emission tomography (PET). Their unique structure allows them to sense and target acidic cancer cells. In contrast to traditional molecular imaging agents, pHLIP’s mechanism of action is pH-dependent and does not rely on the presence of tumor-specific molecular markers. In this study, one promising acidity-imaging PET probe ([89Zr]Zr-DFO-Cys-Var3) was identified as a candidate for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bauer
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Anuradha Weerakkody
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Lukas M. Carter
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zachary Samuels
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Spencer Kaminsky
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Jason S. Lewis
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Jason S. Lewis,
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11
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Yamaguchi K, Yokoi K, Umezawa M, Tsuchiya K, Yamada Y, Aoki S. Design, Synthesis, and Anticancer Activity of Triptycene-Peptide Hybrids that Induce Paraptotic Cell Death in Cancer Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:691-717. [PMID: 35404581 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We report on the design and synthesis of triptycene-peptide hybrids (TPHs), 5, syn-6, and anti-6, which are conjugates of a triptycene core unit with two or three cationic KKKGG peptides (K: lysine and G: glycine) through a C8 alkyl chain. It was discovered that syn-6 and anti-6 induce paraptosis, a type of programmed cell death (PCD), in Jurkat cells (leukemia T-lymphocytes). Mechanistic studies indicate that these TPHs induce the transfer of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to mitochondria, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), tethering of the ER and mitochondria, and cytoplasmic vacuolization in the paraptosis processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Yamaguchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Kenta Yokoi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Masakazu Umezawa
- Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Koji Tsuchiya
- Research Institute for Science and Technology (RIST), Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Yamada
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.,Research Center of Material Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.,JST, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Shin Aoki
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Japan.,Research Institute for Science and Technology (RIST), Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Chiba, Japan.,Research Institute for Biomedical Science (RIBS), Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Chiba, Japan
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12
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Silva ARP, Guimarães M, Rabelo J, Belen L, Perecin C, Farias J, Picado Madalena Santos JH, Rangel-Yagui CO. Recent advances in the design of antimicrobial peptide conjugates. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:3587-3600. [DOI: 10.1039/d1tb02757c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ubiquitous host defense peptides characterized by antibiotic activity and lower propensity for developing resistance compared to classic antibiotics. While several AMPs have shown activity against antibiotic-sensitive...
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13
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Bioactive cationic peptides as potential agents for breast cancer treatment. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:230394. [PMID: 34874400 PMCID: PMC8655503 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20211218c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer continues to affect millions of women worldwide, and the number of new cases dramatically increases every year. The physiological causes behind the disease are still not fully understood. One in every 100 cases can occur in men, and although the frequency is lower than among women, men tend to have a worse prognosis of the disease. Various therapeutic alternatives to combat the disease are available. These depend on the type and progress of the disease, and include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and cancer immunotherapy. However, there are several well-reported side effects of these treatments that have a significant impact on life quality, and patients either relapse or are refractory to treatment. This makes it necessary to develop new therapeutic strategies. One promising initiative are bioactive peptides, which have emerged in recent years as a family of compounds with an enormous number of clinical applications due to their broad spectrum of activity. They are widely distributed in several organisms as part of their immune system. The antitumoral activity of these peptides lies in a nonspecific mechanism of action associated with their interaction with cancer cell membranes, inducing, through several routes, bilayer destabilization and cell death. This review provides an overview of the literature on the evaluation of cationic peptides as potential agents against breast cancer under different study phases. First, physicochemical characteristics such as the primary structure and charge are presented. Secondly, information about dosage, the experimental model used, and the mechanism of action proposed for the peptides are discussed.
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14
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Therapeutic targeting of the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2021; 18:751-772. [PMID: 34326502 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00539-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia is prevalent in human tumours and contributes to microenvironments that shape cancer evolution and adversely affect therapeutic outcomes. Historically, two different tumour microenvironment (TME) research communities have been discernible. One has focused on physicochemical gradients of oxygen, pH and nutrients in the tumour interstitium, motivated in part by the barrier that hypoxia poses to effective radiotherapy. The other has focused on cellular interactions involving tumour and non-tumour cells within the TME. Over the past decade, strong links have been established between these two themes, providing new insights into fundamental aspects of tumour biology and presenting new strategies for addressing the effects of hypoxia and other microenvironmental features that arise from the inefficient microvascular system in solid tumours. This Review provides a perspective on advances at the interface between these two aspects of the TME, with a focus on translational therapeutic opportunities relating to the elimination and/or exploitation of tumour hypoxia.
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15
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Antimicrobial peptides as potential therapeutics for breast cancer. Pharmacol Res 2021; 171:105777. [PMID: 34298112 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common and deadliest cancer in women worldwide. Although notable advances have been achieved in the treatment of breast cancer, the overall survival rate of metastatic breast cancer patients is still considerably low due to the development of resistance to breast cancer chemotherapeutic agents and the non-optimal specificity of the current generation of cancer medications. Hence, there is a growing interest in the search for alternative therapeutics with novel anticancer mechanisms. Recently, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained much attention due to their cost-effectiveness, high specificity of action, and robust efficacy. However, there are no clinical data available about their efficacy. This warrants the increasing need for clinical trials to be conducted to assess the efficacy of this new class of drugs. Here, we will focus on the recent progress in the use of AMPs for breast cancer therapy and will highlight their modes of action. Finally, we will discuss the combination of AMP-based therapeutics with other breast cancer therapy strategies, including nanotherapy and chemotherapy, which may provide a potential avenue for overcoming drug resistance.
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16
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Chen YH, Yu MM, Wang ZG. Inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation by pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP and SPECT imaging of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer-bearing nude mice using 125I-pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP. Nuklearmedizin 2021; 60:240-248. [PMID: 33759146 DOI: 10.1055/a-1307-1923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIM To observe the effect of pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells and the small-animal single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of breast cancer-bearing mice carrying MDA-MB-231 cells. METHODS Peptide pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The binding of fluorescently labeled pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP to MDA-MB-231 cells under various pH conditions and its effect on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation were analyzed. pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP was labeled with 125I, and the biological distribution of 125I-pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP in the breast cancer mouse model carrying MDA-MB-231 cells as well as the outcome of small-animal SPECT imaging were evaluated. RESULTS pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP was successfully synthesized. Under pH 6.0, fluorescently labeled pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP had a higher binding ability to MDA-MB-231 cells and significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells. The labeling efficiency of pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP with 125I was 33.1 ± 2.7 %, and the radiochemical purity was 98.5 ± 1.8 %. 125I-pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP showed a high concentration in tumors. Small-animal SPECT imaging showed clearly visible tumors at 4 h after injection. CONCLUSIONS In the acidic environment, pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP can efficiently target MDA-MB-231 cells and inhibit their growth. Small-animal SPECT of 125I-pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP can clearly image tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hua Chen
- Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ming Ming Yu
- Nuclear Medicine Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhen Guang Wang
- Nuclear Medicine Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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17
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An Experimental Study on [ 125I]I-pHLIP (Var7) for SPECT/CT Imaging of an MDA-MB-231 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Mouse Model by Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment. Mol Imaging 2021; 2021:5565932. [PMID: 33746628 PMCID: PMC7953584 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5565932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer with 125I-labeled pHLIP (Var7) by single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging. Methods The binding fraction of [125I]I-pHLIP (Var7) and MDA-MB-231 cells was measured at pH 7.4 and pH 6.0, and tumor-bearing mice were subjected to small-animal SPECT/CT imaging studies. Results At pH = 6.0, the binding fractions of [125I]I-pHLIP (Var7) and MDA-MB-231 cells at 10 min, 40 min, 1 h, and 2 h were 1.9 ± 0.1%, 3.5 ± 0.1%, 6.3 ± 0.8%, and 6.6 ± 0.3%, respectively. At pH = 7.4, there was no measured binding between [125I]I-pHLIP (Var7) and MDA-MB-231 cells. Small-animal SPECT/CT imaging showed clearly visible tumors at 1 and 2 h after injection. Conclusions [125I]I-pHLIP (Var7) could bind to MDA-MB-231 cells in an acidic environment, and small-animal SPECT/CT imaging showed clear tumors at 1 and 2 h after probe injection.
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18
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Pineda-Castañeda HM, Huertas-Ortiz KA, Leal-Castro AL, Vargas-Casanova Y, Parra-Giraldo CM, García-Castañeda JE, Rivera-Monroy ZJ. Designing Chimeric Peptides: A Powerful Tool for Enhancing Antibacterial Activity. Chem Biodivers 2020; 18:e2000885. [PMID: 33369144 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202000885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric peptides containing short sequences derived from bovine Lactoferricin (LfcinB) and Buforin II (BFII) were synthetized using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and characterized via reversed-phase liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The chimeras were obtained with high purity, demonstrating their synthetic viability. The chimeras' antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains was evaluated. Our results showed that all the chimeras exhibited greater antibacterial activity against the evaluated strains than the individual sequences, suggesting that chemical binding of short sequences derived from AMPs significantly increased the antibacterial activity. For each strain, the chimera with the best antibacterial activity exerted a bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal effect, which was dependent on the concentration. It was found that: (i) the antibacterial activity of a chimera is mainly influenced by the linked sequences, the palindromic motif RLLRRLLR being the most relevant one; (ii) the inclusion of a spacer between the short sequences did not significantly affect the chimera's synthesis process; however, it enhanced its antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains; on the other hand, (iii) the replacement of Arg with Lys in the LfcinB or BFII sequences improved the chimeras' synthesis process without significantly affecting their antibacterial activity. These results illustrate the great importance of the synthesis of chimeric peptides for the generation of promising antibacterial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Manuel Pineda-Castañeda
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409, Bogotá, Zip Code 11321, Colombia
| | - Kevin Andrey Huertas-Ortiz
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409, Bogotá, Zip Code 11321, Colombia
| | - Aura Lucía Leal-Castro
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409, Bogotá, Zip Code 11321, Colombia
| | - Yerly Vargas-Casanova
- Microbiology Department, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40-62, Bogotá, Zip Code 110231, Colombia
| | | | - Javier Eduardo García-Castañeda
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera, 45 No. 26-85, Building 450, Office 213, Bogotá, Zip Code 11321, Colombia
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera-Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409, Bogotá, Zip Code 11321, Colombia
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19
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Permpoon U, Khan F, Vadevoo SMP, Gurung S, Gunassekaran GR, Kim MJ, Kim SH, Thuwajit P, Lee B. Inhibition of Tumor Growth against Chemoresistant Cholangiocarcinoma by a Proapoptotic Peptide Targeting Interleukin-4 Receptor. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:4077-4088. [PMID: 32881535 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has a poor prognosis and high chemoresistance. Interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) is overexpressed in several cancer cells and plays a crucial role in tumor progression and drug resistance. IL4RPep-1, an IL-4R-binding peptide, has been identified by phage display and used for tumor targeting. In this study, we exploited IL4RPep-1 to guide the tumor-specific delivery of a proapoptotic peptide to chemoresistant CCA, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry of human primary CCA tissues showed that IL-4R levels were upregulated in moderately to poorly differentiated types, and higher levels of IL-4R are correlated with lower survival rates in patients with CCA. IL4RPep-1 was observed to preferentially bind with high IL-4R-expressing KKU-213 human CCA cells, whereas it barely bound with low IL-4R-expressing KKU-055 cells. A hybrid of IL4RPep-1 and a proapoptotic peptide (KLAKLAK)2 (named as IL4RPep-1-KLA) induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in KKU-213 cells and increased those levels induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). IL4RPep-1-KLA was internalized in the cells and colocalized with mitochondria. Whole-body fluorescence imaging and immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues showed the homing of IL4RPep-1-KLA as well as IL4RPep-1 to KKU-213 tumor in mice. Systemic administration of IL4RPep-1-KLA efficiently inhibited KKU-213 tumor growth, whereas treatment with 5-FU alone did not significantly inhibit tumor growth in mice. No significant systemic side effects including liver toxicity and immunotoxicity were observed in mice during peptide treatments. These findings suggest that IL4RPep-1-KLA holds potential as a targeted therapeutic agent against chemoresistant CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttapol Permpoon
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Fatima Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Sri Murugan Poonkavithai Vadevoo
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Smriti Gurung
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Gowri Rangaswamy Gunassekaran
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jong Kim
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyun Kim
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Peti Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Byungheon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Cell & Matrix Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosangro, Junggu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
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20
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Baghbeheshti S, Hadadian S, Eidi A, Pishkar L, Rahimi H. Effect of Flexible and Rigid Linkers on Biological Activity of Recombinant Tetramer Variants of S3 Antimicrobial Peptide. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-020-10095-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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21
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Sepahi M, Ahangari Cohan R, Hadadian S, Norouzian D. Effect of glutamic acid elimination/substitution on the biological activities of S3 cationic amphiphilic peptides. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2020; 50:664-672. [PMID: 32508217 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2020.1725772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cationic amphiphilic peptides (CAPs) are usually classified as bacterial membrane targeting molecules. Rational design and modification of cationic and amphiphilic properties of CAPs have made them to be used in new medical and biotechnological applications. However, CAPs modification and development strategies are challenging issues due to the risk of cytotoxicity or hemolytic activity. In this research, modified variants of S3 peptide were introduced. S3 is a linear 34 amino acid peptide derived from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding site of factor C in horseshoe crab's hemolymph. Net positive charges of variants (S3E3 and S3E3A) increased by either eliminating negatively charged residues of the peptides or substituting them with alanine. Different biological activities of new variants including LPS binding affinity, antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity against human breast tumor cell line, and hemolytic property were studied and compared to those of S3 peptide. S3E3 variant showed 68.5% higher LPS binding affinity, 40.4% stronger anti-microbial activity, conserved hemolytic property with the same anti-cancer activity compared to S3peptide. These results revealed that elimination/substitution of negatively charged residues will be a proper strategy for modification of S3 peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Sepahi
- Nanobiotechnology Department, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahangari Cohan
- Nanobiotechnology Department, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Hadadian
- Nanobiotechnology Department, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Dariush Norouzian
- Nanobiotechnology Department, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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22
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Rizvi SFA, Mu S, Wang Y, Li S, Zhang H. Fluorescent RGD-based pro-apoptotic peptide conjugates as mitochondria-targeting probes for enhanced anticancer activities. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 127:110179. [PMID: 32387862 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We have designed 2-domain anticancer peptides with RGD-based KLAK bi-functional short motifs (linear and cyclic analogues). RGD tripeptide acts as tumor blood vessel 'homing' motif while KLAK tetrapeptide internalized in mitochondria and causes cell apoptosis. All three peptides (RGDKLAK; HM, cyclic-RGDKLAK; HMC-1, and RGD-cyclic-KLAK; HMC-2) were conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate isomer-I (5-FITC; F) for in-vivo and in-vitro optical imaging studies. These fluorescent-peptide (FL-peptide) analogues were analyzed to possess αvβ3-integrin targeting affinity, high uptake in in-vitro cell binding assays followed by in-vivo tumor xenograft mice studies. Pharmacological profile reveals that F-HMC-1 analogue exhibited selectively and specifically higher affinity for αvβ3-integrin than other analogues in U87MG cells in comparison with HeLa cells. The subcutaneous U87MG tumor xenograft mice models clearly visualized the uptake of F-HMC-1 in tumor tissue in contrast with normal tissues with tumor-to-normal tissue ratio (T/NT = 15.9 ± 1.1) at 2 h post-injection. These results suggested that F-HMC-1 peptide has potential diagnostic applications for targeting αvβ3-integrin assessed by optical imaging study in U87MG tumor xenograft mice models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Faheem Askari Rizvi
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Shuai Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yaya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Shuangqin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Haixia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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23
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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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24
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Kaplan AR, Pham H, Liu Y, Oyaghire S, Bahal R, Engelman DM, Glazer PM. Ku80-Targeted pH-Sensitive Peptide-PNA Conjugates Are Tumor Selective and Sensitize Cancer Cells to Ionizing Radiation. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 18:873-882. [PMID: 32098827 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of therapeutic agents that specifically target cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue could be used to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy without increasing its toxicity. Specific targeting of cancer cells can be achieved through the use of pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIP), which take advantage of the acidity of the tumor microenvironment to deliver cargoes selectively to tumor cells. We developed a pHLIP-peptide nucleic acid (PNA) conjugate as an antisense reagent to reduce expression of the otherwise undruggable DNA double-strand break repair factor, KU80, and thereby radiosensitize tumor cells. Increased antisense activity of the pHLIP-PNA conjugate was achieved by partial mini-PEG sidechain substitution of the PNA at the gamma position, designated pHLIP-αKu80(γ). We evaluated selective effects of pHLIP-αKu80(γ) in cancer cells in acidic culture conditions as well as in two subcutaneous mouse tumor models. Fluorescently labeled pHLIP-αKu80(γ) delivers specifically to acidic cancer cells and accumulates preferentially in tumors when injected i.v. in mice. Furthermore, pHLIP-αKu80(γ) selectively reduced KU80 expression in cells under acidic conditions and in tumors in vivo. When pHLIP-αKu80(γ) was administered to mice prior to local tumor irradiation, tumor growth was substantially reduced compared with radiation treatment alone. Furthermore, there was no evidence of acute toxicity associated with pHLIP-αKu80(γ) administration to the mice. These results establish pHLIP-αKu80(γ) as a tumor-selective radiosensitizing agent. IMPLICATIONS: This study describes a novel agent, pHLIP-αKu80(γ), which combines PNA antisense and pHLIP technologies to selectively reduce the expression of the DNA repair factor KU80 in tumors and confer tumor-selective radiosensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanna R Kaplan
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ha Pham
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.,University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Stanley Oyaghire
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Raman Bahal
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Peter M Glazer
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. .,Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
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25
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Yu M, Chen Y, Wang Z, Ding X. pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP suppresses tumor cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer by targeting protease activated receptor 1. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2020; 180:379-384. [PMID: 32034579 PMCID: PMC7066270 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-020-05560-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is a signaling protein ubiquitously present on the surface of tumor cells, and its homologous protein fragment, PAR1-activating peptide (P1AP), can inhibit protein signal transduction of PAR1/G in tumor cells. pH (Low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) can target the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) and can be used as an excellent carrier to deliver P1AP to tumor cells for therapeutic purposes. METHODS PAR1 expression on the surface of MDA-MB-231 cells and human MCF10A mammary epithelial cells was observed. The binding between fluorescent-labeled pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP and MDA-MB-231 cells under different pH values was analyzed. The effect of pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells was analyzed under the conditions of pH 7.4 and 6.0. RESULTS PAR1 was highly expressed on the surface of MDA-MB-231 cells. In an acidic environment (pH 6.0 and 5.0), fluorescent-labeled pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP and MDA-MB-231 cells had a high binding ability, and the binding ability increased with the decrease in pH. In an acidic environment (pH 6.0), pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation. With 0.5 μg, 1 μg, 2 μg, 4 μg, and 8 μg of pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP, the cell proliferation inhibition rates were 3.39%, 5.27%, 14.29%, 22.14%, and 35.69%, respectively. CONCLUSION PAR1 was highly expressed on the surface of MDA-MB-231 cells. pHLIP(Var7)-P1AP can effectively target MDA-MB-231 cells in an acidic environment and inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting the signal transduction of PAR1/G protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- MingMing Yu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Rd., Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - YueHua Chen
- Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - ZhenGuang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Rd., Qingdao, 266100, China.
| | - XiaoDong Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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26
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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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Juang V, Chang CH, Wang CS, Wang HE, Lo YL. pH-Responsive PEG-Shedding and Targeting Peptide-Modified Nanoparticles for Dual-Delivery of Irinotecan and microRNA to Enhance Tumor-Specific Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1903296. [PMID: 31709707 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Irinotecan is one of the main chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer (CRC). MicroRNA-200 (miR-200) has been reported to inhibit metastasis in cancer cells. Herein, pH-sensitive and peptide-modified liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are designed for encapsulation of irinotecan and miR-200, respectively. These peptides include one cell-penetrating peptide, one ligand targeted to tumor neovasculature undergoing angiogenesis, and one mitochondria-targeting peptide. The peptide-modified nanoparticles are further coated with a pH-sensitive PEG-lipid derivative with an imine bond. These specially-designed nanoparticles exhibit pH-responsive release, internalization, and intracellular distribution in acidic pH of colon cancer HCT116 cells. These nanoparticles display low toxicity to blood and noncancerous intestinal cells. Delivery of miR-200 by SLN further increases the cytotoxicity of irinotecan-loaded liposomes against CRC cells by triggering apoptosis and suppressing RAS/β-catenin/ZEB/multiple drug resistance (MDR) pathways. Using CRC-bearing mice, the in vivo results further indicate that irinotecan and miR-200 in pH-responsive targeting nanoparticles exhibit positive therapeutic outcomes by inhibiting colorectal tumor growth and reducing systemic toxicity. Overall, successful delivery of miR and chemotherapy by multifunctional nanoparticles may modulate β-catenin/MDR/apoptosis/metastasis signaling pathways and induce programmed cancer cell death. Thus, these pH-responsive targeting nanoparticles may provide a potential regimen for effective treatment of colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Juang
- Department and Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsien Chang
- Department and Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Shen Wang
- Department and Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ell Wang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Li Lo
- Department and Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
- Center for Advanced Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Research, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
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Xu Y, Sun L, Feng S, Chen J, Gao Y, Guo L, An X, Nie Y, Zhang Y, Liu X, Ning X. Smart pH-Sensitive Nanogels for Enhancing Synergistic Anticancer Effects of Integrin α vβ 3 Specific Apoptotic Peptide and Therapeutic Nitric Oxide. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:34663-34675. [PMID: 31490654 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b10830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Apoptotic peptide (kla), which can trigger the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic programmed cell death, has been widely recognized as a potential anticancer agent. However, its therapeutic potential has been significantly impaired by its poor biostability, lack of tumor specificity, and particularly low cellular uptake. Herein, a linear peptide Arg-Trp-d-Arg-Asn-Arg (RWrNR) was identified as an integrin αvβ3 specific ligand with a nanomolar dissociation constant (Kd = 0.95 nM), which can greatly improve kla antitumor activity (IC50 = 8.81 μM) by improving its cellular uptake, compared to the classic integrin-recognition motif c-RGDyK (IC50 = 37.96 μM). Particularly, the RWrNR-kla conjugate can be entrapped in acidic sensitive nanogels (RK/Parg/CMCS-NGs), composed of poly-l-arginine (Parg) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS, pI = 6.8), which can not only carry out controlled release of RWrNR-kla in response to the tumor acidic microenvironment, and consequently enhance its tumor specificity and cell internalization, but also trigger tumor-associated macrophages to generate nitric oxide, leading to enhanced synergistic anticancer efficacy. Importantly, RK/Parg/CMCS-NGs have been proven to effectively activate the apoptosis signaling pathway in vivo and significantly inhibit tumor growth with minimal adverse effects. To summarize, RK/Parg/CMCS-NGs are a promising apoptotic peptide-based therapeutics with enhanced tumor accumulation, cytosolic delivery, and synergistic anticancer effects, thereby holding great potential for the treatment of malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurui Xu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Lei Sun
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Shujun Feng
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Jianmei Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Ya Gao
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Leilei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Drug Discovery, Center of Advanced Pharmaceutics and Biomaterials , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing 210009 , China
| | - Xueying An
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital , The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Yuanyuan Nie
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Yu Zhang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
| | - Xiaoxuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Drug Discovery, Center of Advanced Pharmaceutics and Biomaterials , China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing 210009 , China
| | - Xinghai Ning
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China
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Catalani E, Buonanno F, Lupidi G, Bongiorni S, Belardi R, Zecchini S, Giovarelli M, Coazzoli M, De Palma C, Perrotta C, Clementi E, Prantera G, Marcantoni E, Ortenzi C, Fausto AM, Picchietti S, Cervia D. The Natural Compound Climacostol as a Prodrug Strategy Based on pH Activation for Efficient Delivery of Cytotoxic Small Agents. Front Chem 2019; 7:463. [PMID: 31316972 PMCID: PMC6609918 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We synthesized and characterized MOMO as a new small molecule analog of the cytotoxic natural product climacostol efficiently activated in mild extracellular acidosis. The synthesis of MOMO had a key step in the Wittig olefination for the construction of the carbon-carbon double bond in the alkenyl moiety of climacostol. The possibility of obtaining the target (Z)-alkenyl MOMO derivative in very good yield and without presence of the less active (E)-diastereomer was favored from the methoxymethyl ether (MOM)-protecting group of hydroxyl functions in aromatic ring of climacostol aldehyde intermediate. Of interest, the easy removal of MOM-protecting group in a weakly acidic environment allowed us to obtain a great quantity of climacostol in biologically active (Z)-configuration. Results obtained in free-living ciliates that share the same micro-environment of the climacostol natural producer Climacostomum virens demonstrated that MOMO is well-tolerated in a physiological environment, while its cytotoxicity is rapidly and efficiently triggered at pH 6.3. In addition, the cytostatic vs. cytotoxic effects of acidified-MOMO can be modulated in a dose-dependent manner. In mouse melanoma cells, MOMO displayed a marked pH-sensitivity since its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects become evident only in mild extracellular acidosis. Data also suggested MOMO being preferentially activated in the unique extra-acidic microenvironment that characterizes tumoural cells. Finally, the use of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster fed with an acidic diet supported the efficient activity and oral delivery of MOMO molecule in vivo. MOMO affected oviposition of mating adults and larvae eclosion. Reduced survival of flies was due to lethality during the larval stages while emerging larvae retained their ability to develop into adults. Interestingly, the gut of eclosed larvae exhibited an extended damage (cell death by apoptosis) and the brain tissue was also affected (reduced mitosis), demonstrating that orally activated MOMO efficiently targets different tissues of the developing fly. These results provided a proof-of-concept study on the pH-dependence of MOMO effects. In this respect, MOM-protection emerges as a potential prodrug strategy which deserves to be further investigated for the generation of efficient pH-sensitive small organic molecules as pharmacologically active cytotoxic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Federico Buonanno
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Università degli Studi di Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | - Gabriele Lupidi
- School of Sciences and Technologies, Section of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Silvia Bongiorni
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Riccardo Belardi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvia Zecchini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Giovarelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Coazzoli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara De Palma
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital “Luigi Sacco”-ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiana Perrotta
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilio Clementi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Scientific Institute IRCCS “Eugenio Medea”, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Giorgio Prantera
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Enrico Marcantoni
- School of Sciences and Technologies, Section of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Claudio Ortenzi
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Università degli Studi di Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Fausto
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Simona Picchietti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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Lim C, Kang JK, Won WR, Park JY, Han SM, Le TN, Kim JC, Her J, Shin Y, Oh KT. Co-delivery of D-(KLAKLAK) 2 Peptide and Chlorin e6 using a Liposomal Complex for Synergistic Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:E293. [PMID: 31234389 PMCID: PMC6630662 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11060293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanotechnology-based photo-chemo combination therapy has been extensively investigated to improve therapeutic outcomes in anticancer treatment. Specifically, with the help of a singlet oxygen generated by the photosensitizer, the endocytosed nanoparticles are allowed to escape from the endosomal compartment, which is currently an obstacle in nanotechnology-based anticancer therapy. In this study, a liposomal complex system (Lipo (Pep, Ce6)), composed of a chlorin e6-conjugated di-block copolymer (PEG-PLL(-g-Ce6)) and a D-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide loading liposome (Lipo (Pep)), was developed and evaluated for its anticancer activity. Due to the membrane lytic ability of the D-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide and the membrane disruptive effect of the singlet oxygen generated from chlorin e6, Lipo (Pep, Ce6) accelerated the disruption of the endosomal compartment, and exhibited strong synergistic anticancer activity in vitro. The prepared liposomal complex system could potentially maximize the efficacy of the nanotechnology-based photo-chemo combination therapy, and can be regarded as a novel, versatile strategy in advanced tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaemin Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Jin Kook Kang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Woong Roeck Won
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - June Yong Park
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Sang Myung Han
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Thi Ngoc Le
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Jae Chang Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Jaewon Her
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Yuseon Shin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
| | - Kyung Taek Oh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Korea.
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Vander Linden C, Corbet C. Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells: Integrating and Exploiting the Acidic Niche. Front Oncol 2019; 9:159. [PMID: 30941310 PMCID: PMC6433943 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) or tumor-initiating cells represent a small subpopulation of cells within the tumor bulk that share features with somatic stem cells, such as self-renewal and pluripotency. From a clinical point of view, CSC are thought to be the main drivers of tumor relapse in patients by supporting treatment resistance and dissemination to distant organs. Both genome instability and microenvironment-driven selection support tumor heterogeneity and enable the emergence of resistant cells with stem-like properties, when therapy is applied. Besides hypoxia and nutrient deprivation, acidosis is another selection barrier in the tumor microenvironment (TME) which provides a permissive niche to shape more aggressive and fitter cancer cell phenotypes. This review describes our current knowledge about the influence of the "acidic niche" on the stem-like phenotypic features of cancer cells. In addition, we briefly survey new therapeutic options that may help eradicate CSC by integrating and/or exploiting the acidic niche, and thereby contribute to prevent the occurrence of therapy resistance as well as metastatic dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cyril Corbet
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
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32
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Lim C, Won WR, Moon J, Sim T, Shin Y, Kim JC, Lee ES, Youn YS, Oh KT. Co-delivery of d-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide and doxorubicin using a pH-sensitive nanocarrier for synergistic anticancer treatment. J Mater Chem B 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9tb00741e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Currently, one of the most important challenges in the development of nanotechnology-based anticancer treatments is the failure of nanoparticles to escape from the endo-lysosomal compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaemin Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- Chung-Ang University
- Seoul 06974
- South Korea
| | - Woong Roeck Won
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- Chung-Ang University
- Seoul 06974
- South Korea
| | - Junseong Moon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- Chung-Ang University
- Seoul 06974
- South Korea
| | - Taehoon Sim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- Chung-Ang University
- Seoul 06974
- South Korea
| | - Yuseon Shin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- Chung-Ang University
- Seoul 06974
- South Korea
| | - Jae Chang Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- Chung-Ang University
- Seoul 06974
- South Korea
| | - Eun Seong Lee
- Division of Biotechnology
- The Catholic University of Korea
- Bucheon 14662
- South Korea
| | - Yu Seok Youn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- School of Pharmacy
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Suwon 16419
- South Korea
| | - Kyung Taek Oh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- Chung-Ang University
- Seoul 06974
- South Korea
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33
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The synthetic peptide LyeTxI-b derived from Lycosa erythrognatha spider venom is cytotoxic to U-87 MG glioblastoma cells. Amino Acids 2018; 51:433-449. [PMID: 30449002 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-018-2678-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides present a broad spectrum of therapeutic applications, including their use as anticancer peptides. These peptides have as target microbial, normal, and cancerous cells. The oncological properties of these peptides may occur by membranolytic mechanisms or non-membranolytics. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the cytotoxic effects of the cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide LyeTx I-b on glioblastoma lineage U87-MG. The anticancer property of this peptide was associated with a membranolytic mechanism. Loss of membrane integrity occurred after incubation with the peptide for 15 min, as shown by trypan blue uptake, reduction of calcein-AM conversion, and LDH release. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy demonstrated disruption of the plasma membrane from cells treated with LyeTx I-b, including the formation of holes or pores. Transmission electron microscopy analyses showed swollen nuclei with mild DNA condensation, cell volume increase with an electron-lucent cytoplasm and organelle vacuolization, but without the rupture of nuclear or plasmatic membranes. Morphometric analyses revealed a high percentage of cells in necroptosis stages, followed by necrosis and apoptosis at lower levels. Necrostatin-1, a known inhibitor of necroptosis, partially protected the cells from the toxicity of the peptide in a concentration-dependent manner. Imaging flow cytometry confirmed that 59% of the cells underwent necroptosis after 3-h incubation with the peptide. It is noteworthy that LyeTx I-b showed only mild cytotoxicity against normal fibroblasts of human and monkey cell lines and low hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes. All data together point out the anticancer potential of this peptide.
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pH-dependent thermodynamic intermediates of pHLIP membrane insertion determined by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:12194-12199. [PMID: 30442664 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1809190115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The applications of the pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) in cancer diagnosis and cross-membrane cargo delivery have drawn increasing attention in the past decade. With its origin as the transmembrane (TM) helix C of bacteriorhodopsin, pHLIP is also an important model for understanding how pH can affect the folding and topogenesis of a TM α-helix. Protonations of multiple D/E residues transform pHLIP from an unstructured coil at membrane surface (known as state II, at pH ≥ 7) to a TM α-helix (state III, pH ≤ 5.3). While these initial and end states of pHLIP insertion have been firmly established, what happens at the intervening pH values is less clear. However, the intervening pH range is most relevant to pHLIP-cell interactions in the acidic extracellular tumor environment (and in the endosomes within cells). Here, using advanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy with palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine unilamellar vesicles as the model membrane, we systematically examined the state of pHLIP-membrane interactions (in terms of the membrane locations of D/E residues, as well as lipid dynamics) at the intervening pH values of 6.4, 6.1, and 5.8, along with the known states at pH 7.4 and 5.3. Thermodynamic intermediate states distinct from the initial and end states were discovered to exist at each of the intervening pH examined. They support a multistage model of pHLIP insertion in which the D/E titrations occur in a defined sequence at distinct intermediate pH values. This multistage model has important ramifications in pHLIP applications.
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Faya M, Kalhapure RS, Dhumal D, Agrawal N, Omolo C, Akamanchi KG, Govender T. Antimicrobial cell penetrating peptides with bacterial cell specificity: pharmacophore modelling, quantitative structure activity relationship and molecular dynamics simulation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2018; 37:2370-2380. [PMID: 30047310 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2018.1484814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Current research has shown cell-penetrating peptides and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as probable vectors for use in drug delivery and as novel antibiotics. It has been reported that the higher the therapeutic index (TI) the higher would be the bacterial cell penetrating ability. To the best of our knowledge, no in-silico study has been performed to determine bacterial cell specificity of the antimicrobial cell penetrating peptides (aCPP's) based on their TI. The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model, which can estimate antimicrobial potential and cell-penetrating ability of aCPPs against S. aureus, to confirm the relationship between the TI and aCPPs and to identify specific descriptors responsible for aCPPs penetrating ability. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was also performed to confirm the membrane insertion of the most active aCPPs obtained from the QSAR study. The most appropriate pharmacophore was identified to predict the aCPP's activity. The statistical results confirmed the validity of the model. The QSAR model was successful in identifying the optimal aCPP with high activity prediction and provided insights into the structural requirements to correlate their TI to cell penetrating ability. MD simulation of the best aCPP with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayer confirmed its interaction with the membrane and the C-terminal residues of the aCPP played a key role in membrane penetration. The strategy of combining QSAR and molecular dynamics, allowed for optimal estimation of ligand-target interaction and confirmed the importance of Trp and Lys in interacting with the POPC bilayer. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mbuso Faya
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Private Bag , Durban , South Africa
| | - Rahul S Kalhapure
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Private Bag , Durban , South Africa
| | - Dinesh Dhumal
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology , Institute of Chemical Technology , Mumbai , India
| | - Nikhil Agrawal
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Private Bag , Durban , South Africa
| | - Calvin Omolo
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Private Bag , Durban , South Africa
| | - Krishnacharya G Akamanchi
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology , Institute of Chemical Technology , Mumbai , India
| | - Thirumala Govender
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Private Bag , Durban , South Africa
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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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37
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Toyama K, Nomura W, Kobayakawa T, Tamamura H. Delivery of a Proapoptotic Peptide to EGFR-Positive Cancer Cells by a Cyclic Peptide Mimicking the Dimerization Arm Structure of EGFR. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:2050-2057. [PMID: 29763296 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A cyclic decapeptide, CQTPYYMNTC (1), which mimics the dimerization arm of the EGF receptor (EGFR), was previously found to be captured into cells. We have sought to investigate the promising potential of this peptide as an intracellular delivery vehicle directed to EGFR-positive cells. The selectivity of peptide 1 to the EGFR was confirmed by a positive correlation between the expression level of the receptor and the cellular uptake of peptide 1 as shown by siRNA knockdown of the EGFR. The proapoptotic domain (PAD) peptide ([KLAKLAK]2) has limited use due to a deficiency of cell membrane permeability resulting from cationic sequences and lack of specificity for cancer cells. As a proof-of-concept study, the cellular delivery of the PAD peptide was challenged by conjugation with peptide 1. The cellular uptake of a conjugated peptide 2, which was composed of peptide 1, the PAD peptide, and a linker cleavable with a protease, was evaluated by treatment of an EGFR-positive lung carcinoma cell line, A549. Significant suppression of proliferation by peptide 2 was shown in the results of a cell viability assay. The PAD peptide alone had no effect on the cells. The results suggest that peptide 1 is a promising lead compound as a new intracellular delivery vehicle for therapeutically effective peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Toyama
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering , Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) , 2-3-10 Kandasurugadai , Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 , Japan
| | - Wataru Nomura
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering , Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) , 2-3-10 Kandasurugadai , Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 , Japan
| | - Takuya Kobayakawa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering , Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) , 2-3-10 Kandasurugadai , Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 , Japan
| | - Hirokazu Tamamura
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering , Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) , 2-3-10 Kandasurugadai , Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 , Japan
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38
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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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39
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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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40
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Optimisation of the antifungal potency of the amidated peptide H-Orn-Orn-Trp-Trp-NH2 against food contaminants. Int J Food Microbiol 2018; 265:40-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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41
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Staquicini DI, D'Angelo S, Ferrara F, Karjalainen K, Sharma G, Smith TL, Tarleton CA, Jaalouk DE, Kuniyasu A, Baze WB, Chaffee BK, Hanley PW, Barnhart KF, Koivunen E, Marchiò S, Sidman RL, Cortes JE, Kantarjian HM, Arap W, Pasqualini R. Therapeutic targeting of membrane-associated GRP78 in leukemia and lymphoma: preclinical efficacy in vitro and formal toxicity study of BMTP-78 in rodents and primates. THE PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL 2017; 18:436-443. [PMID: 29205207 DOI: 10.1038/tpj.2017.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Translation of drug candidates into clinical settings requires demonstration of preclinical efficacy and formal toxicology analysis for filling an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here, we investigate the membrane-associated glucose response protein 78 (GRP78) as a therapeutic target in leukemia and lymphoma. We evaluated the efficacy of the GRP78-targeted proapoptotic drug bone metastasis targeting peptidomimetic 78 (BMTP-78), a member of the D(KLAKLAK)2-containing class of agents. BMTP-78 was validated in cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia and in a panel of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, where it induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity in all samples tested. Based on the in vitro efficacy of BMTP-78, we performed formal good laboratory practice toxicology studies in both rodents (mice and rats) and nonhuman primates (cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys). These analyses represent required steps towards an IND application of BMTP-78 for theranostic first-in-human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- D I Staquicini
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - S D'Angelo
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - F Ferrara
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - K Karjalainen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Sharma
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - T L Smith
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - C A Tarleton
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - D E Jaalouk
- Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - A Kuniyasu
- Department of Molecular Cell Pharmacology, Sojo University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - W B Baze
- Department of Veterinary Science and Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - B K Chaffee
- Department of Veterinary Science and Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - P W Hanley
- Department of Veterinary Science and Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - K F Barnhart
- Department of Veterinary Science and Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA.,David H Koch Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - E Koivunen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, The University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Marchiò
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Candiolo, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Center-FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - R L Sidman
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J E Cortes
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - H M Kantarjian
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - W Arap
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
| | - R Pasqualini
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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42
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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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Wang L, Dong C, Li X, Han W, Su X. Anticancer potential of bioactive peptides from animal sources (Review). Oncol Rep 2017; 38:637-651. [PMID: 28677775 DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the most common cause of human death worldwide. Conventional anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation, are associated with severe side effects and toxicities as well as low specificity. Peptides are rapidly being developed as potential anticancer agents that specifically target cancer cells and are less toxic to normal tissues, thus making them a better alternative for the prevention and management of cancer. Recent research has focused on anticancer peptides from natural animal sources, such as terrestrial mammals, marine animals, amphibians, and animal venoms. However, the mode of action by which bioactive peptides inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells remains unclear. In this review, we present the animal sources from which bioactive peptides with anticancer activity are derived and discuss multiple proposed mechanisms by which these peptides exert cytotoxic effects against cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghong Wang
- Clinical Medicine Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huimin, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Chao Dong
- College of Basic Medicine of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huimin, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Xian Li
- Clinical Medicine Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huimin, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Wenyan Han
- Clinical Medicine Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huimin, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
| | - Xiulan Su
- Clinical Medicine Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huimin, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
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pH triggered re-assembly of nanosphere to nanofiber: The role of peptide conformational change for enhanced cancer therapy. J Control Release 2017; 260:22-31. [PMID: 28522193 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
pH-triggered conformational change and subsequent re-assembly of nanostructures provide a new strategy in nanomedicine for controlled drug release and enhanced therapy. Here, we reported the development of a novel pH-responsive nano-assembly as a drug carrier from peptide amphiphile (PA) consisting of mimicking peptide and stearic acid moieties. The mimicking peptide is a basic 17-amino acid peptide derived from antennapedia homeodomain, and undergoes a conformational transition of the secondary structure from β-sheet at pH7.4 to α-helix at pH5.0. Such transition therefore leads to simultaneous evolution of the self-assembled structure of PA from nanosphere to nanofiber, promotes assemblies retention and then release drugs in the cytoplasm of tumor cell. In vitro studies showed that the doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded PA nanoparticle (PA@Dox) could be uptaken efficiently by the cell due to the membrane penetrating capability of the mimicking peptide and subsequently the released Dox further induce apoptosis of murine colon carcinoma CT26 (MCCC) cell. In a mouse xenograft model of MCCC, administration of PA@Dox via lateral tail vein injection could remarkably retard the tumor growth. The overall results suggested that the PA-based nanocarriers adopting the novel strategy of pH-triggered secondary structural change could enhance therapeutic efficacy and be used as a promising platform for potential development of new generation of drug carriers for cancer therapy.
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45
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Applications of pHLIP Technology for Cancer Imaging and Therapy. Trends Biotechnol 2017; 35:653-664. [PMID: 28438340 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acidity is a biomarker of cancer that is not subject to the blunting clonal selection effects that reduce the efficacy of other biomarker technologies, such as antibody targeting. The pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIP®s) provide new opportunities for targeting acidic tissues. Through the physical mechanism of membrane-associated folding, pHLIPs are triggered by the acidic microenvironment to insert and span the membranes of tumor cells. The pHLIP platform can be applied to imaging acidic tissues, delivering cell-permeable and impermeable molecules to the cytoplasm, and promoting the cellular uptake of nanoparticles. Since acidosis is a hallmark of tumor development, progression, and aggressiveness, the pHLIP technology may prove useful in targeting cancer cells and metastases for tumor diagnosis, imaging, and therapy.
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46
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Tian Y, Zhang Y, Teng Z, Tian W, Luo S, Kong X, Su X, Tang Y, Wang S, Lu G. pH-Dependent Transmembrane Activity of Peptide-Functionalized Gold Nanostars for Computed Tomography/Photoacoustic Imaging and Photothermal Therapy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:2114-2122. [PMID: 28058834 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b13237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Progress in multifunctional nanomaterials for tumor therapy mostly depends on the development of tumor-targeting delivery strategies. One approach is to explore a pH-responsive strategy to target the slightly acidic solid tumor microenvironment. A novel class of pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIPs) with pH-dependent transmembrane activity can fold and rapidly insert into the lipid bilayer of tumor cells triggered by acidity, facilitating the cellular internalization of nanomaterials synchronously. Here, we innovatively decorated gold nanostars (GNSs) with pHLIPs (GNS-pHLIP) to improve their targeting ability and photothermal therapeutic (PTT) efficiency. The obtained GNS-pHLIP exhibited the excellent characteristics of uniform size and good biocompatibility. As compared to GNS-mPEG, the cellular internalization of GNS-pHLIP was 1-fold higher after a 2 h incubation with cells in media at pH 6.4 than at pH 7.4. Moreover, the tumor accumulation of the GNS-pHLIP was 3-fold higher than that of GNS-mPEG after intravenous injection into MCF-7 breast tumor animal models for 24 h. Furthermore, GNS-pHLIP exhibited stronger signals than the GNS-mPEG through computed tomography (CT) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Simultaneously, the desirable targeting efficiency significantly improved the PTT efficacy to tumors, with low side effects on normal tissues. The results clearly demonstrate that the GNS-pHLIP successfully took advantage of the tumor-targeting ability of pHLIPs and the good characteristics of GNSs, which may contribute to the study of tumor imaging and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tian
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunlei Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaogang Teng
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Tian
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Song Luo
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Kong
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodan Su
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics & Information Displays and Institute of Advanced Materials, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxia Tang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Shouju Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangming Lu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210002, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China
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47
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Burns KE, Hensley H, Robinson MK, Thévenin D. Therapeutic Efficacy of a Family of pHLIP-MMAF Conjugates in Cancer Cells and Mouse Models. Mol Pharm 2017; 14:415-422. [PMID: 28048942 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.6b00847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The targeting of therapeutics specifically to diseased tissue is crucial for the development of successful cancer treatments. The approach here is based on the pH(low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) for the delivery of a potent mitotic inhibitor monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF). We investigated six pHLIP variants conjugated to MMAF to compare their efficacy in vitro against cultured cancer cells. While all pHLIP-MMAF conjugates exhibit potent pH- and concentration-dependent killing, their cytotoxicity profiles are remarkably different. We also show that the lead conjugate exhibits significant therapeutic efficacy in mouse models without overt toxicities. This study confirms pHLIP-monomethyl auristatin conjugates as possible new therapeutic options for cancer treatment and supports their further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Burns
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University , 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Harvey Hensley
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center , 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, United States
| | - Matthew K Robinson
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center , 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University , 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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48
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Malik E, Dennison SR, Harris F, Phoenix DA. pH Dependent Antimicrobial Peptides and Proteins, Their Mechanisms of Action and Potential as Therapeutic Agents. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2016; 9:ph9040067. [PMID: 27809281 PMCID: PMC5198042 DOI: 10.3390/ph9040067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potent antibiotics of the innate immune system that have been extensively investigated as a potential solution to the global problem of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microbes. A group of AMPs that are increasingly being reported are those that utilise pH dependent antimicrobial mechanisms, and here we review research into this area. This review shows that these antimicrobial molecules are produced by a diverse spectrum of creatures, including vertebrates and invertebrates, and are primarily cationic, although a number of anionic examples are known. Some of these molecules exhibit high pH optima for their antimicrobial activity but in most cases, these AMPs show activity against microbes that present low pH optima, which reflects the acidic pH generally found at their sites of action, particularly the skin. The modes of action used by these molecules are based on a number of major structure/function relationships, which include metal ion binding, changes to net charge and conformational plasticity, and primarily involve the protonation of histidine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid residues at low pH. The pH dependent activity of pore forming antimicrobial proteins involves mechanisms that generally differ fundamentally to those used by pH dependent AMPs, which can be described by the carpet, toroidal pore and barrel-stave pore models of membrane interaction. A number of pH dependent AMPs and antimicrobial proteins have been developed for medical purposes and have successfully completed clinical trials, including kappacins, LL-37, histatins and lactoferrin, along with a number of their derivatives. Major examples of the therapeutic application of these antimicrobial molecules include wound healing as well as the treatment of multiple cancers and infections due to viruses, bacteria and fungi. In general, these applications involve topical administration, such as the use of mouth washes, cream formulations and hydrogel delivery systems. Nonetheless, many pH dependent AMPs and antimicrobial proteins have yet to be fully characterized and these molecules, as a whole, represent an untapped source of novel biologically active agents that could aid fulfillment of the urgent need for alternatives to conventional antibiotics, helping to avert a return to the pre-antibiotic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erum Malik
- School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
| | - Sarah R Dennison
- School of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
| | - Frederick Harris
- School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
| | - David A Phoenix
- Office of the Vice Chancellor, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UK.
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49
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Hanz SZ, Shu NS, Qian J, Christman N, Kranz P, An M, Grewer C, Qiang W. Protonation‐Driven Membrane Insertion of a pH‐Low Insertion Peptide. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:12376-81. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201605203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Z. Hanz
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Nicolas S. Shu
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Jieni Qian
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Nathaniel Christman
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Patrick Kranz
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Ming An
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Christof Grewer
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Wei Qiang
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
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50
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Hanz SZ, Shu NS, Qian J, Christman N, Kranz P, An M, Grewer C, Qiang W. Protonation‐Driven Membrane Insertion of a pH‐Low Insertion Peptide. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201605203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Z. Hanz
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Nicolas S. Shu
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Jieni Qian
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Nathaniel Christman
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Patrick Kranz
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Ming An
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Christof Grewer
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
| | - Wei Qiang
- Department of Chemistry Binghamton University State University of New York New York NY 13902 USA
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