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Walter NS, Bhattacharyya S. Mining parasites for their potential as novel therapeutic agents against cancer. Med Oncol 2024; 41:211. [PMID: 39073638 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-024-02458-7] [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: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in the management and therapeutic of cancer, the treatment of the disease is limited by its high cost and severe side effects. In this scenario, there is an unmet need to identify novel treatment alternatives for this dreaded disease. Recently there is growing evidence that parasites may cause anticancer effects because of a negative correlation between parasitic infections and tumour growth despite some parasites that are known to exhibit pro-carcinogenic effects. It has been observed that parasites exert an anticancer effect either by activating the host's immune response or by secreting certain molecules that exhibit anticancer potential. The activation of the immune response by these parasitic organisms results in the inhibition of some of the hallmarks of cancer such as tumour proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This review summarizes the current advances as well as the mechanisms underlying the possible implications of this diverse group of organisms as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Sylvia Walter
- Department of Biophysics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Shalmoli Bhattacharyya
- Department of Biophysics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.
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2
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Bauso LV, La Fauci V, Munaò S, Bonfiglio D, Armeli A, Maimone N, Longo C, Calabrese G. Biological Activity of Natural and Synthetic Peptides as Anticancer Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7264. [PMID: 39000371 PMCID: PMC11242495 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and death worldwide, making it a serious global health concern. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical treatment are the most used conventional therapeutic approaches, although they show several side effects that limit their effectiveness. For these reasons, the discovery of new effective alternative therapies still represents an enormous challenge for the treatment of tumour diseases. Recently, anticancer peptides (ACPs) have gained attention for cancer diagnosis and treatment. ACPs are small bioactive molecules which selectively induce cancer cell death through a variety of mechanisms such as apoptosis, membrane disruption, DNA damage, immunomodulation, as well as inhibition of angiogenesis, cell survival, and proliferation pathways. ACPs can also be employed for the targeted delivery of drugs into cancer cells. With over 1000 clinical trials using ACPs, their potential for application in cancer therapy seems promising. Peptides can also be utilized in conjunction with imaging agents and molecular imaging methods, such as MRI, PET, CT, and NIR, improving the detection and the classification of cancer, and monitoring the treatment response. In this review we will provide an overview of the biological activity of some natural and synthetic peptides for the treatment of the most common and malignant tumours affecting people around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Vittoria Bauso
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Valeria La Fauci
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Serena Munaò
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Desirèe Bonfiglio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandra Armeli
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Noemi Maimone
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Clelia Longo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Giovanna Calabrese
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy
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3
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Schreiber M, Vajs V, Horák P. How tapeworms interact with cancers: a mini-review. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17196. [PMID: 38563013 PMCID: PMC10984186 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020 alone. Approximately 2.2 million cancer cases are attributed to infectious diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite the apparent involvement of some parasitic helminths (especially trematodes) in cancer induction, there are also records of the potential suppressive effects of helminth infections on cancer. Tapeworms such as Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia crassiceps, and more seem to have the potential to suppress malignant cell development, although in a few cases the evidence might be contradictory. Our review aims to summarize known epidemiological data on the cancer-helminth co-occurrence in the human population and the interactions of tapeworms with cancers, i.e., proven or hypothetical effects of tapeworms and their products on cancer cells in vivo (i.e., in experimental animals) or in vitro. The prospect of bioactive tapeworm molecules helping reduce the growth and metastasis of cancer is within the realm of future possibility, although extensive research is yet required due to certain concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Schreiber
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Vajs
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Horák
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
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4
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Fragoso G, Sciutto E. GK1: An Alternative Treatment to Control the Respiratory Complications During COVID19. Arch Med Res 2020; 52:354-355. [PMID: 33168195 PMCID: PMC7605854 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2020.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gladis Fragoso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Edda Sciutto
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México, Ciudad de México, México.
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5
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Montero L, Cervantes-Torres J, Sciutto E, Fragoso G. Helminth-derived peptide GK-1 induces Myd88-dependent pro-inflammatory signaling events in bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells. Mol Immunol 2020; 128:22-32. [PMID: 33049560 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.09.015] [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: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
GK-1 is an immunomodulatory, 18-aa-long peptide that has been proved to promote the activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages and LPS-pulsed mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs). This study is aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the activation of these antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by GK-1. In our study, GK-1 up-regulated in vitro the expression of CD86 and CD40, and it increased the secretion of NO in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). In BM-DCs, GK-1 upregulated the expression of MHC class II and CD86. Additionally, GK-1 was found to be involved in the phosphorylation of MAPK p38, JNK and ERK 1/2 and in Myd88-dependent activation of NF-κB in both antigen-presenting cell types. In vivo, GK-1 increased the secretion of IL-15, CCL2, and IL-6 through a Myd88-dependent mechanism. This study demonstrated that GK-1 promotes the activation and effector activity of APCs through a mechanism dependent on Myd88, probably involving a Toll-like receptor as a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Montero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, 04510, Mexico.
| | | | - Edda Sciutto
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Gladis Fragoso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, 04510, Mexico.
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6
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GK1 Improves the Immune Response Induced by Dendritic Cells of BALB/c Mice Infected with Leishmania mexicana Promastigotes. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:27-35. [PMID: 31571138 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00125-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and their capacity to activate the immune response has been widely used in immunotherapies against different diseases, predominantly cancer. However, they have not been so widely used in immunotherapies against infectious diseases. Leishmania mexicana is the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mexico, which can result in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL). DCL is characterized by the incapability of the immune response to control the parasite, which thus disseminates to all teguments. Treatments against DCL have shown low efficacy, which is a reason why alternative therapies such as immunotherapies are promising. One adjuvant that has proven its effectiveness in immunotherapies against some cancers and infections is GK1, a component of the SPVac vaccine against porcine cysticercosis. GK1 has the capacity to elicit proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines from DCs and macrophages. METHODS We pulsed bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) with GK1 and a lysate obtained from L. mexicana promastigotes and tested the efficacy of this combination against the infection of susceptible mice with L. mexicana. RESULTS We found that BMDCs stimulated with GK1 and a lysate of L. mexicana promastigotes secreted IFN-γ and IL-12, and when they were adoptively transferred to BALB/c mice which were then infected with L. mexicana promastigotes, there was a reduction in the size of the lesion and in the parasite load. CONCLUSIONS The adjuvant properties of GK1 along with parasite antigens may have a protective effect against the infection of BALB/c mice with L. mexicana.
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7
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Rodríguez-Rodríguez N, Madera-Salcedo IK, Bugarin-Estrada E, Sánchez-Miranda E, Torres-García D, Cervantes-Torres J, Fragoso G, Rosetti F, Crispín JC, Sciutto E. The helminth-derived peptide GK-1 induces an anti-tumoral CD8 T cell response associated with downregulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Clin Immunol 2019; 212:108240. [PMID: 31299381 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CD8 T cells can kill malignant cells in an antigen-specific manner. However, anti-tumoral responses are usually limited by suppressive factors that curb the effector responses of tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells. Therapeutic strategies to overcome intra-tumoral T cell suppression, for example immune checkpoint inhibition, have been clinically effective in patients with cancer. Here, we provide data that demonstrates that GK-1, a peptide derived from the parasite Taenia crassiceps, promotes an anti-melanoma CD8 T cell response with heightened effector characteristics that leads to an increased amount of tumor-infiltrating CD44+ IFN-γ-producing CD8 T cells. The response induced by GK-1 was associated with a reduction in the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on tumor-infiltrating CD8 and dendritic cells, respectively, effects that led to a dramatic decrease in tumor burden. Our results suggest that the immunomodulatory properties of GK-1 may promote a CD8 T cell response that may be therapeutically useful in the setting of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noé Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Inmunología y Reumatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico; Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Iris K Madera-Salcedo
- Departamento de Inmunología y Reumatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Emmanuel Bugarin-Estrada
- Departamento de Inmunología y Reumatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Sánchez-Miranda
- Departamento de Inmunología y Reumatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana Torres-García
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jacquelynne Cervantes-Torres
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gladis Fragoso
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Florencia Rosetti
- Departamento de Inmunología y Reumatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José C Crispín
- Departamento de Inmunología y Reumatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Edda Sciutto
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
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8
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Cervantes-Torres J, Gracia-Mora I, Segura-Velazquez R, Montero-Montoya R, Espinosa-Aguirre J, E. Gonsebatt M, Camacho-Carranza R, Rivera-Huerta M, Sanchez-Bartez F, Tinoco-Méndez M, Ostrosky-Wegman P, Fragoso G, Sciutto E. Preclinical evidences of safety of a new synthetic adjuvant to formulate with the influenza human vaccine: absence of subchronic toxicity and mutagenicity. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2019; 41:140-149. [DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2019.1566359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Gracia-Mora
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - René Segura-Velazquez
- Unidad de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Regina Montero-Montoya
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Javier Espinosa-Aguirre
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - María E. Gonsebatt
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rafael Camacho-Carranza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Marisol Rivera-Huerta
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Mabel Tinoco-Méndez
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Patricia Ostrosky-Wegman
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gladis Fragoso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Edda Sciutto
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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9
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Skobowiat C, Oak ASW, Kim TK, Yang CH, Pfeffer LM, Tuckey RC, Slominski AT. Noncalcemic 20-hydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits human melanoma growth in in vitro and in vivo models. Oncotarget 2018; 8:9823-9834. [PMID: 28039464 PMCID: PMC5354773 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel pathway of vitamin D3 (D3) metabolism, initiated by C20-hydroxylation of D3 by CYP11A1, has been confirmed to operate in vivo. Its major product, 20(OH)D3, exhibits antiproliferative activity in vitro comparable to that of 1,25(OH)2D3, but is noncalcemic in mice and rats. To further characterize the antimelanoma activity of 20(OH)D3, we tested its effect on colony formation of human melanoma cells in monolayer culture and anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. The migratory capabilities of the cells and cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions were also evaluated using transwell cell migration and spheroid toxicity assays. To assess the antimelanoma activity of 20(OH)D3in vivo, age-matched immunocompromised mice were subcutaneously implanted with luciferase-labelled SKMel-188 cells and were randomly assigned to be treated with either 20(OH)D3 or vehicle (n=10 per group). Tumor size was measured with caliper and live bioimaging methods, and overall health condition expressed as a total body score scale. The following results were observed: (i) 20(OH)D3 inhibited colony formation both in monolayer and soft agar conditions, (ii) 20(OH)D3 inhibited melanoma cells in both transwell migration and spheroid toxicity assays, and (iii) 20(OH)D3 inhibited melanoma tumor growth in immunocompromised mice without visible signs of toxicity. However, although the survival rate was 90% in both groups, the total body score was higher in the treatment group compared to control group (2.8 vs. 2.55). In conclusion, 20(OH)D3, an endogenously produced secosteroid, is an excellent candidate for further preclinical testing as an antimelanoma agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cezary Skobowiat
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.,Department of Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - Allen S W Oak
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tae-Kang Kim
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Chuan He Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and the Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Lawrence M Pfeffer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and the Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Robert C Tuckey
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Andrzej T Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.,Laboratory Service of the VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Chemoprevention Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.,Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA
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10
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Torres-García D, Pérez-Torres A, Manoutcharian K, Orbe U, Servín-Blanco R, Fragoso G, Sciutto E. GK-1 peptide reduces tumor growth, decreases metastatic burden, and increases survival in a murine breast cancer model. Vaccine 2017; 35:5653-5661. [PMID: 28890195 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.08.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
GK-1 is a parasite-derived peptide adjuvant of 18 amino acid-length that enhances T-cell function and increases survival in B16-F10 melanoma tumor-bearing mice. This study was designed to evaluate in vivo the antitumor efficacy of GK-1 on 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma. BALB/c mice with palpable primary tumors were weekly intravenously injected three times with saline solution or three different concentrations (10, 50, or 100μg per mouse) of GK-1. GK-1 significantly increased lifespan (p<0.0001) and reduced the primary tumor weight (p=0.014) and volume (p<0.0001) with respect to control mice, with no statistically significant differences among GK-1 doses. At the primary tumor, we found increased necrotic areas associated with a reduction in tumor mass, as well as an increase in the antitumor cytokine IL-12. Especially encouraging is the ability of GK-1 to reduce the number of lung metastasis (p=0.006) disregarding the dose used. The participation of IL-6 in metastasis development and the decreased levels of CCL-2, CCL-3, TNF-α, CXCL-9, GM-CSF, and b-FGF found in lungs of GK-1-treated mice is discussed. Our study supports the effectiveness of GK-1 as an antineoplastic agent that merits further exploration in combination with other therapeutic approaches in future translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Torres-García
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - A Pérez-Torres
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - K Manoutcharian
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - U Orbe
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - R Servín-Blanco
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - G Fragoso
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - E Sciutto
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
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11
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Cervantes-Torres J, Segura-Velázquez R, Padilla P, Sciutto E, Fragoso G. High stability of the immunomodulatory GK-1 synthetic peptide measured by a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography method. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2017; 1060:97-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2017.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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12
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Vera-Aguilera J, Perez-Torres A, Beltran D, Villanueva-Ramos C, Wachtel M, Moreno-Aguilera E, Vera-Aguilera C, Ventolini G, Martínez-Zaguilán R, Sennoune SR. Novel Treatment of Melanoma: Combined Parasite-Derived Peptide GK-1 and Anti-Programmed Death Ligand 1 Therapy. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2017; 32:49-56. [DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2016.2123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Vera-Aguilera
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Division of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Internal Medicine, School of Medicine at the Permian Basin, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa, Texas
| | - Armando Perez-Torres
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, Mexico
| | - Diego Beltran
- Internal Medicine, School of Medicine at the Permian Basin, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa, Texas
| | - Cynthia Villanueva-Ramos
- Family Medicine, School of Medicine at the Permian Basin, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa, Texas
| | - Mitchell Wachtel
- Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Eduardo Moreno-Aguilera
- Servicio de Gastrocirugía, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Carlos Vera-Aguilera
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, Mexico
| | - Gary Ventolini
- Internal Medicine, School of Medicine at the Permian Basin, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa, Texas
| | - Raul Martínez-Zaguilán
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Souad R. Sennoune
- Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
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13
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White RR, Ponsford AH, Weekes MP, Rodrigues RB, Ascher DB, Mol M, Selkirk ME, Gygi SP, Sanderson CM, Artavanis-Tsakonas K. Ubiquitin-Dependent Modification of Skeletal Muscle by the Parasitic Nematode, Trichinella spiralis. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005977. [PMID: 27870901 PMCID: PMC5117777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichinella spiralis is a muscle-specific parasitic worm that is uniquely intracellular. T. spiralis reprograms terminally differentiated skeletal muscle cells causing them to de-differentiate and re-enter the cell cycle, a process that cannot occur naturally in mammalian skeletal muscle cells, but one that holds great therapeutic potential. Although the host ubiquitin pathway is a common target for viruses and bacteria during infection, its role in parasite pathogenesis has been largely overlooked. Here we demonstrate that the secreted proteins of T. spiralis contain E2 Ub-conjugating and E3 Ub-ligase activity. The E2 activity is attributed to TsUBE2L3, a novel and conserved T. spiralis enzyme located in the secretory organ of the parasite during the muscle stages of infection. TsUBE2L3 cannot function with any T.spiralis secreted E3, but specifically binds to a panel of human RING E3 ligases, including the RBR E3 ARIH2 with which it interacts with a higher affinity than the mammalian ortholog UbcH7/UBE2L3. Expression of TsUBE2L3 in skeletal muscle cells causes a global downregulation in protein ubiquitination, most predominantly affecting motor, sarcomeric and extracellular matrix proteins, thus mediating their stabilization with regards to proteasomal degradation. This effect is not observed in the presence of the mammalian ortholog, suggesting functional divergence in the evolution of the parasite protein. These findings demonstrate the first example of host-parasite interactions via a parasite-derived Ub conjugating enzyme; an E2 that demonstrates a novel muscle protein stabilization function. Parasitic worms often establish long-lasting infections in their hosts; tightly regulating their surroundings to strike a delicate balance between host cell modulation and protection that will ensure their replication. This is accomplished via the active secretion of parasite glycolipids and glycoproteins into the host. Trichinella spiralis, a parasitic nematode that infects skeletal muscle of mammals, birds and reptiles, is the only parasitic worm with a true intracellular stage. T. spiralis invade terminally differentiated myotubes, reprogramming them to de-differentiate and re-enter the cell cycle, a process that cannot occur naturally in mammalian skeletal muscle cells, but one that holds great therapeutic potential. We have identified and characterized a novel T. spiralis secreted protein that, despite a high level of sequence identity, appears to have evolved a different function to its host ortholog. This protein is an active Ub conjugating enzyme that binds to a panel of human E3 Ub ligases with higher affinity than the host ortholog. Furthermore, when expressed in skeletal muscle cells in culture, its presence uniquely leads to the stabilization of muscle-specific proteins via the downregulation of their ubiquitination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon R. White
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amy H. Ponsford
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Weekes
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America
| | - Rachel B. Rodrigues
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America
| | - David B. Ascher
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Marco Mol
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Murray E. Selkirk
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven P. Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Sanderson
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Katerina Artavanis-Tsakonas
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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14
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Pérez-Torres A, Vera-Aguilera J, Sahaza JH, Vera-Aguilera C, Moreno-Aguilera E, Pulido-Camarillo E, Nuñez-Ochoa L, Jeganathan P. Hematological Effects, Serum, and Pulmonary Cytokine Profiles in a Melanoma Mouse Model Treated with GK1. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2016; 30:247-54. [PMID: 26181852 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2015.1835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In a previous study, we demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of a subcutaneous injection of GK1 peptide in a melanoma mouse model, effectively increasing the mean survival time by 42.58%, delaying tumor growth, and increasing intratumoral necrosis compared with the control. As a first approach to investigate the anti-melanoma effect of GK1, this study was carried out to determine the hematological effects along with both serum and lung cytokine profiles in a melanoma lung metastatic model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirteen C57BL6 female mice were transfected in the lateral tail vein with 2×10(5) B16-F0 melanoma cells. After 7 days, mice were separated in two different groups and treatments were initiated (day 0): The GK1-treated group (seven mice) were injected every 5 days intravenously with GK1 (10 μg) in the lateral tail vein, and the control group (six mice) were injected every 5 days with intravenous saline solution. Blood samples were collected every 5 days from day 0; tumor samples were obtained for cytokine measurements on the day of sacrifice. RESULTS In the peripheral blood, mice treated with GK1 presented a statistically significant decrease in IFN-γ (p<0.05), and lymphocytes tended to be lower compared with the control mice (p=0.06). Lung metastatic analysis demonstrated a significant increase in IFN-γ and IL-12p70 (p<0.05); a significant decrease in IL-17, IL-4, IL-22, IL-23, and IL-12p40 (p<0.05); and a marginal decrease in IL-1β (p=0.07) compared with the control. DISCUSSION Our results suggest that an intratumoral increase of cytokines with antitumor activity along with an intratumoral decrease of cytokines with protumor activity could explain, in part, the anti-melanoma effects of GK1 in a lung metastatic melanoma mouse model. Further studies must be performed to elucidate the precise mechanisms of action for GK1 peptide against melanoma, and their eventual application in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Pérez-Torres
- 1 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , México City, México
| | | | - Jorge H Sahaza
- 3 Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB) , Unidad de Micología Médica y Experimental, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carlos Vera-Aguilera
- 1 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , México City, México
| | - Eduardo Moreno-Aguilera
- 4 Servicio de Gastrocirugía, Hospital de Especialidades , Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México DF, México
| | - Evelyn Pulido-Camarillo
- 1 Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , México City, México
| | - Luis Nuñez-Ochoa
- 5 Departamento de Patología Clínica/Oncología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , México City, México
| | - Pratheepa Jeganathan
- 6 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University , Lubbock, Texas
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