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Guan L, Wu S, Zhu Q, He X, Li X, Song G, Zhang L, Yin X. GPC3-targeted CAR-M cells exhibit potent antitumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Rep 2024; 39:101741. [PMID: 38881757 PMCID: PMC11176667 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified macrophages are a promising treatment for solid tumor. So far the potential effects of CAR-M cell therapy have rarely been investigated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a biomarker for a variety of malignancies, including liver cancer, which is not expressed in most adult tissues. Thus, it is an ideal target for the treatment of HCC. In this study, we engineered mouse macrophage cells with CAR targeting GPC3 and explored its therapeutic potential in HCC. First, we generated a chimeric adenoviral vector (Ad5f35) delivering an anti-GPC3 CAR, Ad5f35-anti-GPC3-CAR, which using the CAR construct containing the scFv targeting GPC3 and CD3ζ intracellular domain. Phagocytosis and killing effect indicated that macrophages transduced with Ad5f35-anti-GPC3-CAR (GPC3 CAR-Ms) exhibited antigen-specific phagocytosis and tumor cell clearance in vitro, and GPC3 CAR-Ms showed significant tumor-killing effects and promoted expression of pro-inflammatory (M1) cytokines and chemokines. In 3D NACs-origami spheroid model of HCC, CAR-Ms were further demonstrated to have a significant tumor killing effect. Together, our study provides a new strategy for the treatment of HCC through CAR-M cells targeting GPC3, which provides a basis for the research and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Guan
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Qinyao Zhu
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Xiaofang He
- PuHeng Biotechnology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Xuelong Li
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
| | - Guangqi Song
- PuHeng Biotechnology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Luo Zhang
- Research Center of Bioengineering, The Medical Innovation Research Division of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Xiushan Yin
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China
- Suzhou RocRock No.1 Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Suzhou, 215000, China
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2
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Li G, Feng H, Li X, Li S, Liang J, Zhou Z. A dual-signal output electrochemical aptasensor for glypican-3 ultrasensitive detection based on reduced graphene oxide-cuprous oxide nanozyme catalytic amplification strategy. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 158:108709. [PMID: 38621313 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is an essential reference target for hepatocellular carcinoma detection, follow-up and prediction. Herein, a dual-signal electrochemical aptasensor based on reduced graphene oxide-cuprous oxide (RGO-Cu2O) nanozyme was developed for GPC3 detection. The RGO-Cu2O nanoenzyme displayed excellent electron transport effect, large specific surface area and outstanding peroxidase-like ability. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signal of Cu2O oxidation fraction and the chronoamperometry (i-t) signal of H2O2 decomposition catalyzed by RGO-Cu2O nanozyme were used as dual-signal detection. Under optimal conditions, the log-linear response ranges were 0.1 to 500.0 ng/mL with the limit of detection 0.064 ng/mL for DPV technique, and 0.1-50.0 ng/mL for i-t technique (detection limit of 0.0177 ng/mL). The electrochemical aptasensor has remarkably analytical performance with wide response range, low detection limit, excellent repeatability and specificity, good recovery in human serum samples. The two output signals of one sample achieve self-calibration of the results, effectively avoiding the occurrence of possible leakage and misdiagnosis of a single detection signal, suggesting that it will be a promising method in the early biomarker detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiyin Li
- College of Chemistry, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Guandu Road, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, People's Republic of China
| | - Huafu Feng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinhao Li
- College of Chemistry, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Guandu Road, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, People's Republic of China; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengnan Li
- College of Chemistry, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Guandu Road, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, People's Republic of China; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China
| | - Jintao Liang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhide Zhou
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Lin F, Clift R, Ehara T, Yanagida H, Horton S, Noncovich A, Guest M, Kim D, Salvador K, Richardson S, Miller T, Han G, Bhat A, Song K, Li G. Peptide Binder to Glypican-3 as a Theranostic Agent for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Nucl Med 2024; 65:586-592. [PMID: 38423788 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.123.266766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a membrane-associated glycoprotein that is significantly upregulated in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) with minimal to no expression in normal tissues. The differential expression of GPC3 between tumor and normal tissues provides an opportunity for targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy to treat HCC, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Methods: DOTA-RYZ-GPC3 (RAYZ-8009) comprises a novel macrocyclic peptide binder to GPC3, a linker, and a chelator that can be complexed with different radioisotopes. The binding affinity was determined by surface plasma resonance and radioligand binding assays. Target-mediated cellular internalization was radiometrically measured at multiple time points. In vivo biodistribution, monotherapy, and combination treatments with 177Lu or 225Ac were performed on HCC xenografts. Results: RAYZ-8009 showed high binding affinity to GPC3 protein of human, mouse, canine, and cynomolgus monkey origins and no binding to other glypican family members. Potent cellular binding was confirmed in GPC3-positive HepG2 cells and was not affected by isotope switching. RAYZ-8009 achieved efficient internalization on binding to HepG2 cells. Biodistribution study of 177Lu-RAYZ-8009 showed sustained tumor uptake and fast renal clearance, with minimal or no uptake in other normal tissues. Tumor-specific uptake was also demonstrated in orthotopic HCC tumors, with no uptake in surrounding liver tissue. Therapeutically, significant and durable tumor regression and survival benefit were achieved with 177Lu- and 225Ac-labeled RAYZ-8009, as single agents and in combination with lenvatinib, in GPC3-positive HCC xenografts. Conclusion: Preclinical in vitro and in vivo data demonstrate the potential of RAYZ-8009 as a theranostic agent for the treatment of patients with GPC3-positive HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Matt Guest
- RayzeBio, Inc., San Diego, California; and
| | - Daniel Kim
- RayzeBio, Inc., San Diego, California; and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gary Li
- RayzeBio, Inc., San Diego, California; and
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4
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Fang Y, Ma H, Zhang X, Zhang P, Li Y, He S, Sheng C, Dong G. Smart glypican-3-targeting peptide-chlorin e6 conjugates for targeted photodynamic therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:116047. [PMID: 38118394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive and lethal malignancy with poor prognosis, necessitating the urgent development of effective treatments. Targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a promising way to selectively eradicate tumor cells without affecting normal cells. Inspired by promising features of peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) in targeted cancer therapy, herein a novel glypican-3 (GPC3)-targeting PDC-PDT strategy was developed for the precise PDT treatment of HCC. The GPC3-targeting photosensitizer conjugates were developed by attaching GPC3-targeting peptides to chlorin e6. Conjugate 8b demonstrated the ability to penetrate HCC cells via GPC3-mediated entry process, exhibiting remarkable tumor-targeting capacity, superior antitumor efficacy, and minimal toxicity towards normal cells. Notably, conjugate 8b achieved complete tumor elimination upon light illumination in a HepG2 xenograft model without harm to normal tissues. Overall, this innovative GPC3-targeting conjugation strategy demonstrates considerable promise for clinical applications for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Fang
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Haoqian Ma
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xianghua Zhang
- The Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Peifeng Zhang
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China; National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Refining and High-quality Utilization of Biomass, School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, China
| | - Yu Li
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Shipeng He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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5
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Wei Z, Chen M, Lu X, Liu Y, Peng G, Yang J, Tang C, Yu P. A New Advanced Approach: Design and Screening of Affinity Peptide Ligands Using Computer Simulation Techniques. Curr Top Med Chem 2024; 24:667-685. [PMID: 38549525 DOI: 10.2174/0115680266281358240206112605] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Peptides acquire target affinity based on the combination of residues in their sequences and the conformation formed by their flexible folding, an ability that makes them very attractive biomaterials in therapeutic, diagnostic, and assay fields. With the development of computer technology, computer-aided design and screening of affinity peptides has become a more efficient and faster method. This review summarizes successful cases of computer-aided design and screening of affinity peptide ligands in recent years and lists the computer programs and online servers used in the process. In particular, the characteristics of different design and screening methods are summarized and categorized to help researchers choose between different methods. In addition, experimentally validated sequences are listed, and their applications are described, providing directions for the future development and application of computational peptide screening and design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wei
- Xiangya School of Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Meilun Chen
- Xiangya School of Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Xiaoling Lu
- Xiangya School of Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Yijie Liu
- Xiangya School of Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Guangnan Peng
- School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Xiangya School of Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Chunhua Tang
- Xiangya School of Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Peng Yu
- Xiangya School of Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
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6
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Cheng Q, Wang T, Zhang J, Tian L, Zeng C, Meng Z, Zhang C, Meng Q. Multifunctional gene delivery vectors containing different liver-targeting fragments for specifically transfecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:9721-9731. [PMID: 37791430 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01866k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising strategy for HCC treatment, but it commonly faces the problem of low specificity in gene transfection. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of peptide-based gene delivery vectors (H-01 to H-18) containing varied HCC cell-targeting fragments for specifically binding different receptors highly expressed on HCC cell membranes. The physicochemical properties of peptide vectors or peptide/DNA complexes were characterized, and the gene delivery abilities of peptide vectors were evaluated in HepG2 cell lines. The results showed that peptide vectors H-02 and H-09, which contained targeted fragments for ACE2 and c-Met receptors, respectively, could specifically transfect HCC cells in a highly -efficient manner in vitro. Furthermore, the liver-targeting function in vivo of Cy5.5 labeled H-02 (H-17) and H-09 (H-18) was investigated by fluorescence imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Cheng
- State Key laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
- Key laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, China.
| | - Taoran Wang
- State Key laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
- Key laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, China.
| | - Long Tian
- State Key laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of the Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Chunlan Zeng
- State Key laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Zhao Meng
- State Key laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
| | - Changhao Zhang
- Key laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, China.
| | - Qingbin Meng
- State Key laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China.
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery of the Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China.
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7
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Dev Tripathi A, Katiyar S, Mishra A. Glypican1: a potential cancer biomarker for nanotargeted therapy. Drug Discov Today 2023:103660. [PMID: 37301249 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Glypicans (GPCs) are generally involved in cellular signaling, growth and proliferation. Previous studies reported their roles in cancer proliferation. GPC1 is a co-receptor for a variety of growth-related ligands, thereby stimulating the tumor microenvironment by promoting angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This work reviews GPC1-biomarker-assisted drug discovery by the application of nanostructured materials, creating nanotheragnostics for targeted delivery and application in liquid biopsies. The review includes details of GPC1 as a potential biomarker in cancer progression as well as a potential candidate for nano-mediated drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhay Dev Tripathi
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi-221005, India
| | - Soumya Katiyar
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi-221005, India
| | - Abha Mishra
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi-221005, India.
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8
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Ruan Y, Sohail M, Zhao J, Hu F, Li Y, Wang P, Zhang L. Applications of Material-Binding Peptides: A Review. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4738-4750. [PMID: 36229413 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Material-binding peptides (MBPs) are functionalized adhesive materials consisting of a few to several dozen amino acids. This affinity between MBPs and materials is regulated by multiple interactions, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking. They show selective binding and high affinity to a diverse range of inorganic and organic materials, such as silicon-based materials, metals, metal compounds, carbon materials, and polymers. They are used to improve the biocompatibility of materials, increase the efficiency of material synthesis, and guide the controlled synthesis of nanomaterials. In addition, these can be used for precise targeting of proteins by conjugating to target biomolecules. In this review, we summarize the main designs and applications of MBPs in recent years. The discussions focus on more efficient and functional peptides, including evolution and overall design of MBPs. We have also highlighted the recent applications of MBPs, such as functionalization of material surfaces, synthesis of nanomaterials, drug delivery, cancer therapy, and plastic degradation. Besides, we also discussed the development trend of MBPs. This interpretation will accelerate future investigations to bottleneck the drawbacks of available MBPs, promoting their commercial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqiang Ruan
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Muhammad Sohail
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jindi Zhao
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Fanghui Hu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yunhan Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Panlin Wang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Lihui Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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9
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Shin WR, Park DY, Kim JH, Lee JP, Thai NQ, Oh IH, Sekhon SS, Choi W, Kim SY, Cho BK, Kim SC, Min J, Ahn JY, Kim YH. Structure based innovative approach to analyze aptaprobe-GPC3 complexes in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:204. [PMID: 35477501 PMCID: PMC9044640 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01391-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glypican-3 (GPC3), a membrane-bound heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is a biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Aptamers specifically binding to target biomolecules have recently emerged as clinical disease diagnosis targets. Here, we describe 3D structure-based aptaprobe platforms for detecting GPC3, such as aptablotting, aptaprobe-based sandwich assay (ALISA), and aptaprobe-based imaging analysis. Results For preparing the aptaprobe–GPC3 platforms, we obtained 12 high affinity aptamer candidates (GPC3_1 to GPC3_12) that specifically bind to target GPC3 molecules. Structure-based molecular interactions identified distinct aptatopic residues responsible for binding to the paratopic nucleotide sequences (nt-paratope) of GPC3 aptaprobes. Sandwichable and overlapped aptaprobes were selected through structural analysis. The aptaprobe specificity for using in HCC diagnostics were verified through Aptablotting and ALISA. Moreover, aptaprobe-based imaging showed that the binding property of GPC3_3 and their GPC3 specificity were maintained in HCC xenograft models, which may indicate a new HCC imaging diagnosis. Conclusion Aptaprobe has the potential to be used as an affinity reagent to detect the target in vivo and in vitro diagnosing system. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01391-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Ri Shin
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Young Park
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Pyo Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Nguyen Quang Thai
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Hwan Oh
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Simranjeet Singh Sekhon
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooil Choi
- Graduate School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Yeon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Shinyoung-dong 344-2, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 570-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Chang Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiho Min
- Graduate School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ji-Young Ahn
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yang-Hoon Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Liu Q, Huang J, He L, Yang X, Yuan L, Cheng D. Molecular fluorescent probes for liver tumor imaging. Chem Asian J 2022; 17:e202200091. [PMID: 35234359 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202200091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer is a malignant tumor with both high morbidity and mortality. Traditional treatment method is mainly based on hepatectomy for liver tumor. However, it is difficult to accurately distinguish the tumor tissue and its boundary with the naked eye and palpation, leading to an ambiguous resection result, finally causes high recurrence of liver cancer. Molecular fluorescent probes possess lots of advantages, such as non-invasive, high sensitivity, and real-time imaging have been extensively studied in liver cancer imaging and therapy. In this minireview, we briefly introduce the recent developments of always on and activatable fluorescent probes in the liver cancer image and therapy. Future potential challenges of the fluorescent probes for liver tumor are also discussed. We expect that this minireview would improve the fluorescent probes development for real clinical application of liver cancer disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, CHINA
| | - Jia Huang
- University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, CHINA
| | - Longwei He
- University of South China, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, CHINA
| | - Xuefeng Yang
- University of South China Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, CHINA
| | - Lin Yuan
- Hunan University, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, CHINA
| | - Dan Cheng
- University of South China Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, Hengyang 421002, Hunan, China, 421002, Hengyang, CHINA
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11
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Bakrania A, Zheng G, Bhat M. Nanomedicine in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A New Frontier in Targeted Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2021; 14:41. [PMID: 35056937 PMCID: PMC8779722 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death and is associated with a dismal median survival of 2-9 months. The fundamental limitations and ineffectiveness of current HCC treatments have led to the development of a vast range of nanotechnologies with the goal of improving the safety and efficacy of treatment for HCC. Although remarkable success has been achieved in nanomedicine research, there are unique considerations such as molecular heterogeneity and concomitant liver dysfunction that complicate the translation of nanotheranostics in HCC. This review highlights the progress, challenges, and targeting opportunities in HCC nanomedicine based on the growing literature in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Bakrania
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada;
- Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, Canada;
| | - Gang Zheng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, Canada;
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Mamatha Bhat
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada;
- Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
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12
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Han HH, Tian H, Zang Y, Sedgwick AC, Li J, Sessler JL, He XP, James TD. Small-molecule fluorescence-based probes for interrogating major organ diseases. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:9391-9429. [PMID: 34232230 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01183e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chemical tools that allow the real-time monitoring of organ function and the visualisation of organ-related processes at the cellular level are of great importance in biological research. The upregulation/downregulation of specific biomarkers is often associated with the development of organ related diseases. Small-molecule fluorescent probes have the potential to create advances in our understanding of these disorders. Viable probes should be endowed with a number of key features that include high biomarker sensitivity, low limit of detection, fast response times and appropriate in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. In this tutorial review, we discuss the development of probes that allow the targeting of organ related processes in vitro and in vivo. We highlight the design strategy that underlies the preparation of various promising probes, their optical response to key biomarkers, and proof-of-concept biological studies. The inherent drawbacks and limitations are discussed as are the current challenges and opportunities in the field. The hope is that this tutorial review will inspire the further development of small-molecule fluorescent probes that could aid the study of pathogenic conditions that contribute to organ-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Hao Han
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, China.
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13
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Wang M, Ren Y, Hu S, Liu K, Qiu L, Zhang Y. TCF11 Has a Potent Tumor-Repressing Effect Than Its Prototypic Nrf1α by Definition of Both Similar Yet Different Regulatory Profiles, With a Striking Disparity From Nrf2. Front Oncol 2021; 11:707032. [PMID: 34268128 PMCID: PMC8276104 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.707032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Nrf1 and Nrf2, as two principal CNC-bZIP transcription factors, regulate similar but different targets involved in a variety of biological functions for maintaining cell homeostasis and organ integrity. Of note, the unique topobiological behavior of Nrf1 makes its functions more complicated than Nrf2, because it is allowed for alternatively transcribing and selectively splicing to yield multiple isoforms (e.g., TCF11, Nrf1α). In order to gain a better understanding of their similarities and differences in distinct regulatory profiles, all four distinct cell models for stably expressing TCF11, TCF11ΔN , Nrf1α or Nrf2 have been herein established by an Flp-In™ T-REx™-293 system and then identified by transcriptomic sequencing. Further analysis revealed that Nrf1α and TCF11 have similar yet different regulatory profiles, although both contribute basically to positive regulation of their co-targets, which are disparate from those regulated by Nrf2. Such disparity in those gene regulations by Nrf1 and Nrf2 was further corroborated by scrutinizing comprehensive functional annotation of their specific and/or common target genes. Conversely, the mutant TCF11ΔN, resulting from a deletion of the N-terminal amino acids 2-156 from TCF11, resembles Nrf2 with the largely consistent structure and function. Interestingly, our further experimental evidence demonstrates that TCF11 acts as a potent tumor-repressor relative to Nrf1α, albeit both isoforms possess a congruous capability to prevent malignant growth of tumor and upregulate those genes critical for improving the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- The Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Topogenetic Regulation, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yonggang Ren
- The Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Topogenetic Regulation, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Biochemistry, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Shaofan Hu
- The Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Topogenetic Regulation, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Keli Liu
- The Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Topogenetic Regulation, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lu Qiu
- The Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Topogenetic Regulation, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiguo Zhang
- The Laboratory of Cell Biochemistry and Topogenetic Regulation, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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14
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Qin Y, Cheng S, Li Y, Zou S, Chen M, Zhu D, Gao S, Wu H, Zhu L, Zhu X. The development of a Glypican-3-specific binding peptide using in vivo and in vitro two-step phage display screening for the PET imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomater Sci 2021; 8:5656-5665. [PMID: 32896851 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm00943a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a diagnostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although numerous designs targeting GPC3 have been reported, the HCC diagnostic agents with specific tumor accumulation and low background, particularly in normal liver tissue, are still in need. Peptides have attracted considerable attention as an imaging probe due to their low immunogenicity, short in vivo circulation time, and acceptable production cost. Herein, a two-step phage display screening approach was performed against GPC3-high expression tumor xenografts in vivo, followed by human recombinant GPC3 protein in vitro. A GPC3-specific binding peptide, named TJ12P2, with the sequence of Ser-Asn-Asp-Arg-Pro-Pro-Asn-Ile-Leu-Gln-Lys-Arg (SNDRPPNILQKR) was identified. The apparent Kd value between TJ12P2 and the GPC3 protein was measured as 158.2 ± 26.25 nM. After 18F labeling, 18F-AlF-NOTA-TJ12P2 was found accumulated in the tumors by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in two HCC subcutaneous tumor models (HepG2 and SMMC-7721) with high GPC3 expression. Static PET imaging revealed that 18F-AlF-NOTA-TJ12P2 accumulation in the HepG2 and SMMC-7721 tumors reached 1.825 ± 0.296 %ID g-1 and 1.575 ± 0.520 %ID g-1, with tumor-to-muscle ratios of 4.14 ± 0.50 and 4.25 ± 0.25, respectively, at 30 min post-injection (p.i.). Much less accumulation (0.533 ± 0.078 %ID g-1) of the 18F-AlF-NOTA-TJ12P2 was found in the control PC3 tumors with low GPC3 expression. More importantly, no obvious normal liver uptake of TJ12P2 was observed in the abovementioned animal models. As a result, a novel peptide targeting GPC3, TJ12P2, with strong affinity and specificity was identified using a two-step phage display screening technique in the present study. The 18F-AlF-NOTA-TJ12P2 may be a promising PET imaging probe with translational potential for accurate HCC diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yushuang Qin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
| | - Siyuan Cheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
| | - Yesen Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Sijuan Zou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
| | - Minglong Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Dongling Zhu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
| | - Shi Gao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Hua Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Departments of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
| | - Xiaohua Zhu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
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15
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Cao R, Liu H, Cheng Z. Radiolabeled Peptide Probes for Liver Cancer Imaging. Curr Med Chem 2021; 27:6968-6986. [PMID: 32196443 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200320153837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer/Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death and represents an important cause of mortality worldwide. Several biomarkers are overexpressed in liver cancer, such as Glypican 3 (GPC3) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). These biomarkers play important roles in the progression of tumors and could serve as imaging and therapeutic targets for this disease. Peptides with adequate stability, receptor binding properties, and biokinetic behavior have been intensively studied for liver cancer imaging. A great variety of them have been radiolabeled with clinically relevant radionuclides for liver cancer diagnosis, and many are promising imaging and therapeutic candidates for clinical translation. Herein, we summarize the advancement of radiolabeled peptides for the targeted imaging of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Cao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110000, China
| | - Hongguang Liu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110000, China
| | - Zhen Cheng
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Bio-X Program and Stanford Cancer Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
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16
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Wang W, Xu C, Wang H, Jiang C. Identification of nanobodies against hepatocellular carcinoma marker glypican-3. Mol Immunol 2021; 131:13-22. [PMID: 33453658 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a highly specific diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis and a potential target in HCC therapy. Nanobodies (Nbs) are promising targeting molecules due to their high specificity and strong affinities to antigens, high stability, deep tissue penetration, and low immunogenicity. In this study, we isolated Nbs against GPC3 marker protein from a synthetic Nb library by phage display. To characterize these Nbs, we performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoprecipitation assay, and immunofluorescent assay to demonstrate that four (G8, G10, G11, and G64) of them bound specifically to recombinant as well as endogenous GPC3, and epitope mapping showed they all bound to N-terminal subunit of GPC3. Furthermore, we found that G64 exhibited high protein stability and GPC3 binding activity in serum at 37℃ for at least 96 h, and G64 did not affect the proliferation of HEK293T cells and HCC cell line HepG2. Our study provides four anti-GPC3 Nbs as promising targeting molecules for HCC diagnostic and therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyi Wang
- Institute for Medical Biology and Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plants in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China; Precision Medicine R&D Center, Zhuhai Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519080, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
| | - Chang Xu
- Precision Medicine R&D Center, Zhuhai Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519080, China
| | - Huanan Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The 990th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Xinyang, Henan, 464000, China
| | - Changan Jiang
- Precision Medicine R&D Center, Zhuhai Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519080, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
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17
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Han Z, Lian C, Ma Y, Zhang C, Liu Z, Tu Y, Ma Y, Gu Y. A frog-derived bionic peptide with discriminative inhibition of tumors based on integrin αvβ3 identification. Biomater Sci 2020; 8:5920-5930. [PMID: 32959810 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01187h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Aureins, natural active peptides extracted from skin secretions of Australian bell frogs, have become a research focus due to the antitumor effects caused by lysing cell membranes. However, clinical translation of Aureins is still limited by non-selective toxicity between normal and cancer cells. Herein, by structure-activity relationship analysis and rational linker design, a dual-function fusion peptide RA3 is designed by tactically fusing Aurein peptide A1 with strong anticancer activity, with a tri-peptide with integrin αvβ3-binding ability which was screened in our previous work. Rational design and selection of fusion linkers ensures α-helical conformation and active functions of this novel fusion peptide, inducing effective membrane rupture and selective apoptosis of cancer cells. The integrin binding and tumor recognition ability of the fusion peptide is further validated by fluorescence imaging in cell and mouse models, in comparison with the non-selective A1 peptide. Meanwhile, increased stability and superior therapeutic efficacy are achieved in vivo for the RA3 fusion peptide. Our study highlights that aided by computational simulation technologies, the biomimetic fusion RA3 peptide has been successfully designed, surmounting the poor tumor-selectivity of the natural defensive peptide, serving as a promising therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Biomedicine Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, 210009, China.
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18
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Wu Y, Zhang F. Exploiting molecular probes to perform near‐infrared fluorescence‐guided surgery. VIEW 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/viw.20200068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wu
- Department of Chemistry State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials and iChem Fudan University Shanghai China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials and iChem Fudan University Shanghai China
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19
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Zheng R, Zhu HL, Hu BR, Ruan XJ, Cai HJ. Identification of APEX2 as an oncogene in liver cancer. World J Clin Cases 2020; 8:2917-2929. [PMID: 32775374 PMCID: PMC7385600 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i14.2917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA damage is one of the critical contributors to the occurrence and development of some cancers. APEX1 and APEX2 are the most important molecules in the DNA damage, and APEX1 has been identified as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). However, the expression of APEX2 and its functional mechanisms in LIHC are still unclear. AIM To examine the expression of APEX2 and the potential mechanism network in LIHC. METHODS We conducted a pan-cancer analysis of the expression of APEX1 and APEX2 using the interactive TIMER tool. GEO datasets, including GSE14520, GSE22058, and GSE64041, were used to compare the APEX2 expression level in tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Then, we calculated the 5-year survival rate according to the web-based Kaplan-Meier analysis. We included the TCGA liver cancer database in GSEA analysis based on the high and low APEX2 expression, showing the potential mechanisms of APEX2 in LIHC. After that, we conducted Pearson correlation analysis using GEPIA2. Next, we performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay to examine the APEX2 levels in normal liver cell line LO2 and several liver cancer cell lines, including HepG2, Huh7, SMMC7721, and HCCLM3. APEX2 in HCCLM3 cells was knocked down using small interfering RNA. The role of APEX2 in cell viability was confirmed using CCK-8. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to examine the promoter activity of CCNB1 and MYC. RESULTS APEX1 and APEX2 are both highly expressed in the tumor tissues of BLCA, BRCA, CHOL, COAD, ESCA, HNSC, LIHC, LUAD, LUSC, READ, and STAD. APEX2 overexpression in LIHC was validated using GSE14520, GSE22058, and GSE64041 datasets. The survival analysis showed that LIHC patients with high expression of APEX2 had a lower overall survival rate, even in the AJCC T1 patients. High level of APEX2 could indicate a lower overall survival rate in patients with or without viral hepatitis. The GSEA analysis identified that kinetochore and spindle microtubules are the two main cellular components of APEX2 in GO Ontology. APEX2 was also positively associated with molecular function regulation of chromosome segregation and DNA replication. The results of KEGG analysis indicated that APEX2 expression was positively correlated with cell cycle pathway and pro-oncogenic MYC signaling. Pearson correlation analysis showed that APEX2 had a significant positive correlation with CCNB1 and MYC. APEX2 level was higher in liver cancer cell lines than in normal liver LO2 cells. Small interfering RNA could knock down the APEX2 expression in HCCLM3 cells. Knockdown of APEX2 resulted in a decrease in the viability of HCCLM3 cells as well as the expression and promoter activity of CCNB1 and MYC. CONCLUSION APEX2 is overexpressed in LIHC, and the higher APEX2 level is associated with a worse prognosis in overall survival. APEX2 is closely involved in the biological processes of chromosome segregation and DNA replication. APEX2 expression is positively correlated with the pro-oncogenic pathways. Knockdown of APEX2 could inhibit the cell viability and CCNB1 and MYC pathways, suggesting that APEX2 is an oncogene in LIHC, which could be a potential pharmaceutic target in the anti-tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Heng-Liang Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen 518107, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bing-Ren Hu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jiao Ruan
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hua-Jie Cai
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
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20
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Li T, Qin X, Li Y, Shen X, Li S, Yang H, Wu C, Zheng C, Zhu J, You F, Liu Y. Cell Membrane Coated-Biomimetic Nanoplatforms Toward Cancer Theranostics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:371. [PMID: 32411690 PMCID: PMC7202082 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Research of nanotechnology for cancer therapy and diagnosis extends beyond drug delivery into the targeted site or surveillance the distribution of nanodrugs in vivo or distinction tumor tissue from normal tissue. To satisfy the clinic needs, nanotheranostic platform should hide the surveillance by immune system and the sequestration by filtration organs (i.e., liver and spleen). Use of biologically derived cellular components in the fabrication of nanoparticles can hide these barriers. In this review, we update the recent progress on cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for cancer theranostics. We hope this review paper can inspire further innovations in biomimetic nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Li
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Center for Information in Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Qin
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Center for Information in Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yichao Li
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Shen
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shun Li
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Center for Information in Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Center for Information in Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunhui Wu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Center for Information in Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan Zheng
- Department of Cancer Research, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Cancer Research, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fengming You
- Department of Cancer Research, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiyao Liu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Department of Cancer Research, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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21
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Wang W, Wei C. Advances in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Genes Dis 2020; 7:308-319. [PMID: 32884985 PMCID: PMC7452544 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2020.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers globally. In contrast to the declining death rates observed for all other common cancers such as breast, lung, and prostate cancers, the death rates for HCC continue to increase by ~2–3% per year because HCC is frequently diagnosed late and there is no curative therapy for an advanced HCC. The early diagnosis of HCC is truly a big challenge. Over the past years, the early diagnosis of HCC has relied on surveillance with ultrasonography (US) and serological assessments of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). However, the specificity and sensitivity of US/AFP is not satisfactory enough to detect early onset HCC. Recent technological advancements offer hope for early HCC diagnosis. Herein, we review the progress made in HCC diagnostics, with a focus on emerging imaging techniques and biomarkers for early disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyi Wang
- Xiamen Amplly Bio-engineering Co., Ltd, Xiamen, PR China
| | - Chao Wei
- Xiamen Amplly Bio-engineering Co., Ltd, Xiamen, PR China
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22
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Berman RM, Kelada OJ, Gutsche NT, Natarajan R, Swenson RE, Fu Y, Hong J, Ho M, Choyke PL, Escorcia FE. In Vitro Performance of Published Glypican 3-Targeting Peptides TJ12P1 and L5 Indicates Lack of Specificity and Potency. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2019; 34:498-503. [PMID: 31424293 PMCID: PMC6802730 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2019.2888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Glypican 3 (GPC3), a plasma membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is overexpressed on human hepatocellular carcinoma and may represent a promising biomarker. Several studies have reported peptides that selectively bind to GPC3 and could serve as scaffolds for imaging or therapeutic agents. Materials and Methods: We synthesized variants of two previously published peptides, DHLASLWWGTEL (TJ12P1) and RLNVGGTYFLTTRQ (L5), and evaluated their in vitro binding performance in paired isogenic cell lines, A431(GPC3−) and A431-GPC3+ (G1), as well as the liver cancer cell line HepG2. Using flow cytometry and biolayer interferometry (BLI), we compared the binding of the TJ12P1 and L5 peptide variants to the binding of corresponding scrambled peptides having the same amino acid composition, but in random sequence. Results: While both peptides bound to G1 and HepG2, they also bound to A431. The corresponding scrambled peptides demonstrated greater apparent binding to both G1 and A431 than their specific counterparts. BLI confirmed lack of binding at 0.5–1 μM for both peptides. Conclusions: We conclude that neither TJ12P1 nor L5 variant demonstrates selectivity for GPC3 at concentrations near the reported KD, and that the peptides lack potency or are nonspecific, making them inadequate for use as imaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose M Berman
- Molecular Imaging Program, Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Olivia J Kelada
- Molecular Imaging Program, Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,In Vivo Imaging, Discovery and Analytics, PerkinElmer, Inc., Hopkinton, Massachusetts
| | - Nicholas T Gutsche
- Molecular Imaging Program, Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Raju Natarajan
- Imaging Probe Development Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Rolf E Swenson
- Imaging Probe Development Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ying Fu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jessica Hong
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter L Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Program, Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Freddy E Escorcia
- Molecular Imaging Program, Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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