Antimetastatic effect of synthetic Glu-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val peptide derivatives containing D-amino acids

Cholesterol Homeostasis, Mechanisms of Molecular Pathways, and Cardiac Health: A Current Outlook

The metabolism of lipoproteins, which regulate the transit of the lipid to and from tissues, is crucial to maintaining cholesterol homeostasis. Cardiac remodeling is referred to as a set of molecular, cellular, and interstitial changes that, following injury, affect the size, shape, function, mass, and geometry of the heart. Acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA), which can be made from glucose, amino acids, or fatty acids, is the precursor for the synthesis of cholesterol. In this article, the authors explain concepts behind cardiac remodeling, its clinical ramifications, and the pathophysiological roles played by numerous various components, such as cell death, neurohormonal activation, oxidative stress, contractile proteins, energy metabolism, collagen, calcium transport, inflammation, and geometry. The levels of cholesterol are traditionally regulated by 2 biological mechanisms at the transcriptional stage. First, the SREBP transcription factor family regulates the transcription of crucial rate-limiting cholesterogenic and lipogenic proteins, which in turn limits cholesterol production. Immune cells become activated, differentiated, and divided, during an immune response with the objective of eradicating the danger signal. In addition to creating ATP, which is used as energy, this process relies on metabolic reprogramming of both catabolic and anabolic pathways to create metabolites that play a crucial role in regulating the response. Because of changes in signal transduction, malfunction of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma, impairment of calcium handling, increases in cardiac fibrosis, and progressive loss of cardiomyocytes, oxidative stress appears to be the primary mechanism that causes the transition from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure. De novo cholesterol production, intestinal cholesterol absorption, and biliary cholesterol output are consequently crucial processes in cholesterol homeostasis. In the article's final section, the pharmacological management of cardiac remodeling is explored. The route of treatment is explained in different steps: including, promising, and potential strategies. This chapter offers a brief overview of the history of the study of cholesterol absorption as well as the different potential therapeutic targets.

Delivery of Theranostic Nanoparticles to Various Cancers by Means of Integrin-Binding Peptides

Active targeting of tumors is believed to be the key to efficient cancer therapy and accurate, early-stage diagnostics. Active targeting implies minimized off-targeting and associated cytotoxicity towards healthy tissue. One way to acquire active targeting is to employ conjugates of therapeutic agents with ligands known to bind receptors overexpressed onto cancer cells. The integrin receptor family has been studied as a target for cancer treatment for almost fifty years. However, systematic knowledge on their effects on cancer cells, is yet lacking, especially when utilized as an active targeting ligand for particulate formulations. Decoration with various integrin-targeting peptides has been reported to increase nanoparticle accumulation in tumors ≥ 3-fold when compared to passively targeted delivery. In recent years, many newly discovered or rationally designed integrin-binding peptides with excellent specificity towards a single integrin receptor have emerged. Here, we show a comprehensive analysis of previously unreviewed integrin-binding peptides, provide diverse modification routes for nanoparticle conjugation, and showcase the most notable examples of their use for tumor and metastases visualization and eradication to date, as well as possibilities for combined cancer therapies for a synergetic effect. This review aims to highlight the latest advancements in integrin-binding peptide development and is directed to aid transition to the development of novel nanoparticle-based theranostic agents for cancer therapy.

Self-Assembled Peptide Nanostructures for ECM Biomimicry

Proteins are functional building blocks of living organisms that exert a wide variety of functions, but their synthesis and industrial production can be cumbersome and expensive. By contrast, short peptides are very convenient to prepare at a low cost on a large scale, and their self-assembly into nanostructures and gels is a popular avenue for protein biomimicry. In this Review, we will analyze the last 5-year progress on the incorporation of bioactive motifs into self-assembling peptides to mimic functional proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and guide cell fate inside hydrogel scaffolds.

Integrin α4β1/VCAM-1 Interaction Evokes Dynamic Cell Aggregation Between Immune Cells and Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells at Infectious Hemolysis

Bacterial and viral infection is a common cause of pneumonia, respiratory failure, and even acute respiratory distress syndrome. Increasing evidence indicates that red blood cells (RBCs) may contribute to immune response and inflammation. However, the precise molecular mechanisms that link RBC and hemolysis to the development and progression of inflammatory pathologies are not entirely understood. In this study, we used bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to mimic an infectious hemolysis and found that RBCs dynamically regulated cell aggregation between immune cells and human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC). When RBCs were treated with LPS, integrin α4β1 was increased and was accompanied by cytokines and chemokines release (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, CXCL12, CCL5, CCL7 and CCL4). Upon α4β1 elevation, RBCs not only facilitated mature monocyte derived dendritic cell (mo-DCs) adhesion but also promoted HLMVEC aggregation. Furthermore, co-culture of the supernatant of LPS pre-treated RBCs with mo-DCs could promote naïve CD4 T cell proliferation. Notably, the filtered culture from LPS-lysed RBCs further promoted mo-DCs migration in a concentration dependent manner. From a therapeutic perspective, cyclic peptide inhibitor of integrin α4β1 combined with methylprednisolone (α4β1/Methrol) remarkably blocked RBCs aggregation to mo-DCs, HLMVEC, or mo-DCs and HLMVEC mixture. Moreover, α4β1/Methrol dramatically reduced mo-DCs migration up-regulated glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper in mo-DCs, and ultimately reversed immune cell dysfunction induced by hemolysis. Taken together, these results indicate that integrin α4β1 on RBCs could mediate cell-cell interaction for adaptive immunity through influencing cell adhesion, migration, and T cell proliferation.

Bioadhesive supramolecular hydrogel from unprotected, short d,l-peptides with Phe-Phe and Leu-Asp-Val motifs

The uncapped tripeptide DPhe-Phe-Leu acts as self-assembly template to yield supramolecular hydrogel biomaterials. As an example, self-assembling DPhe-Phe-Leu-Asp-Val contains the LDV bioadhesive motif for β1 integrin activation. Hydrogels made of the two peptides successfully mimic fibronectin of the extracellular matrix and lead to high cell viability, adhesion, and spreading.

A novel anti-adhesion peptide (β3) inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma activity in vitro and in vivo

The present study aimed to investigate the blocking of tumor cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix, the prevention of tumor metastasis by the β peptide trimer β3, as well as the influence of β3 on the recurrence and survival time of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nude mice model LCI-D20 after early resection. To this end, the DNA fragment of the β3 peptide (DLYYLMDLSYSMKGGDLYYLMDLSYSMKGGDLYYLMDLSYSMK) was cloned into the expression vector pET-His and the fusion protein His-β3 was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) plysS. The anti-adhesion effect of β3 on the highly metastatic HCC cell line HCCLM6 to fibronectin (FN) was measured by MTT assay. The inhibition of HCCLM6 cell invasion by β3 was analyzed using a Transwell (modified Boyden chamber) system and Matrigel. The influence of β3 on the recurrence of HCC and mouse survival time after early resection was investigated using the HCC metastasis nude mice model LCI-D20. HCCLM6 cells incubated with 10, 20, 50 or 100 µmol/l β3 for 3 h demonstrated a marked reduction in adhesion to FN. The adhesion inhibition rates were 11.8, 21.7, 37.5 and 66.4%, respectively. In addition, cell invasion was reduced by 51.3% in HCCLM6 cells cultured with 100 µmol/l β3. Treatment with β3 also inhibited tumor recurrence at the incisal edge and prolonged the survival time of LCI-D20 mice following early resection. The present study provided evidence that β3 peptide specifically blocked the adhesion and invasion of HCCLM6 cells, inhibited HCC recurrence in vivo and prolonged the survival time of HCC nude mice LCI-D20 following hepatectomy. Therefore, β3 may be further investigated as a novel anti-tumor drug.

EILDV-conjugated, etoposide-loaded biodegradable polymeric micelles directing to tumor metastatic cells overexpressing α4β1 integrin

In the present study, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) micelles loaded with etoposide (ETO) were formulated and further conjugated with pentapeptide Glu-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val (EILDV) to target α4β1 integrin receptor overexpressed on metastatic tumor cell. Using a distinct ratio of carboxyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (HOOC-PEG-b-PCL) to methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone (CH₃O-PEG-b-PCL) polymers, we formulated a series of micellar formulations having different surface densities of EILDV and observed optimum cellular uptake of micelles with 10% EILDV surface density by B16F10 cells. The cytotoxicity of EILDV-conjugated micelles was observed close to 1.5-fold higher than plain ETO after 72 h of drug incubation, demonstrating controlled release of drug inside the cell after enhanced intracellular uptake with the ability to selectively target cancer cells. In addition, EILDV-conjugated micelles inhibited the migration of B16F10 cells effectively compared with plain ETO and non-conjugated micellar formulations when cells were treated with equivalent cytotoxic concentration of the drug, i.e., IC₂₅. B16F10 cells treated with EILDV-conjugated micelles showed a significant reduction in the attachment of cells to the substrate-coated plate compared with non-conjugated micellar formulations, implying retention of the biological activity of EILDV after coupling to micelles. Furthermore, the in vivo experimental metastasis assay conducted on C57BL/6 mice demonstrated significant activity of EIDLV-conjugated micelles in the reduction of pulmonary metastatic nodule formation in both pretreatment and post-treatment methods. In conclusion, EIDLV-conjugated micelles showed higher efficacy in the treatment of metastasis and would be a promising approach in the treatment of metastasis.

Inhibitory effect of dimeric beta peptide on the recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in mice

AIM

To block the adhesion of tumor cells to the extracellular matrix, and prevent tumor metastasis and recurrence, the dimer of the beta peptide (DLYYLMDLSYSMKGGDLYYLMDLSYSMK, beta2) was designed and synthesized and its anti-adhesion and anti-invasion effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells were assessed. Additionally, its influence on the metastasis and recurrence of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma was measured.

METHODS

The anti-adhesion effect of beta2 on the highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCCLM6 cells and fibronectin (FN) was assayed by the MTT assay. The inhibition of invasion of HCCLM6 cells by beta2 was observed using a Transwell (modified Boyden chamber) and matrigel. Using the hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis model and LCI-D20 nude mice, the influence of beta2 on the metastasis and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after early resection was investigated.

RESULTS

HCCLM6 cells co-incubated with 100 mumol/L, 50 micromol/L, 20 micromol/L or 10 micromol/L beta2 for 3 h showed an obvious decrease in adhesion to FN. The adhesion inhibition ratios were 11.8%, 21.7%, 29.6% and 48.7%, respectively. Additionally, HCCLM6 cells cultured with 100 mumol/L beta2 had a dramatic decrease in cell invasion. beta2 was also observed to inhibit the incisal edge recurrence and the distant metastasis of nude mice hepatocellular carcinoma after early resection (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The beta2 peptide can specifically block the adhesion and invasion of HCCLM6 cells, and can inhibit HCC recurrence and metastasis of LCI-D20 model posthepatectomy in vivo. Thus, beta2 should be further studied as a new anti-tumor drug.

[DDS and Me]

With the success of the human genome project, the focus of life science research has shifted to the functional and structural analyses of proteins, such as proteomics and structural genomics. These analyses of proteins including newly identified proteins are expected to contribute to the identification of therapeutically applicable proteins for various diseases. Thus, pharmaco-proteomic-based drug discovery and development for protein therapies, including gene therapy, cell therapy, and vaccine therapy, is attracting current attention. However, there is clinical difficulty in using almost all bioactive proteins, because of their very low stability and pleiotropic actions in vivo. To promote pharmaco-proteomic-based drug discovery and development, we have attempted to develop drug delivery systems (DDSs), such as the protein-drug innovation system and the optimal cell therapeutic system. In this review, we introduce our original DDSs.

Peptides with anticancer use or potential

This review is an attempt to illustrate the diversity of peptides reported for a potential or an established use in cancer therapy. With 612 references, this work aims at covering the patents and publications up to year 2000 with many inroads in years 2001-2002. The peptides are classed according to four categories of effective (or plausible) biological mechanisms of action: receptor-interacting compounds; inhibitors of protein-protein interaction; enzymes inhibitors; nucleic acid-interacting compounds. The fifth group is made of the peptides for which no mechanism of action has been found yet. Incidentally this work provides an overview of many of the modern targets of anticancer research.

Reciprocal effect of optical isomerism of EW-dipeptides on immune response

Dipeptides of the EW-sequence, consisting of D-amino acids, were shown to inhibit spleen colony formation both after in vitro treatment of bone marrow and after the peptide injection to the donor 2-48 h prior to bone marrow taking. The inhibiting effect of D-(EW) peptides can be eliminated by injection of thymic cells to the recipient. L-(EW) peptides have no influence on colony forming activity of intact bone marrow cells but stimulate regeneration of colony formation by irradiated (1 Gy) bone marrow. Unlike L-(EW), the D-(EW) peptides suppress the development of hemopoietic stem cells into the S-phase. Supposedly, D-(EW) represent a new generation of immunoactive peptides possessing of inhibiting activity.

Bioconjugation of laminin peptide YIGSR with poly(styrene co-maleic acid) increases its antimetastatic effect on lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells

A comb-shaped polymeric modifier, SMA [poly(styrene comaleic anhydride)], which binds to plasma albumin in blood was used to modify the synthetic cell-adhesive laminin peptide YIGSR, and its inhibitory effect on experimental lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells was examined. YIGSR was chemically conjugated with SMA via formation of an amide bond between the N-terminal amino group of YIGSR and the carboxyl anhydride of SMA. The antimetastatic effect of SMA-conjugated YIGSR was approximately 50-fold greater than that of native YIGSR. When injected intravenously, SMA-YIGSR showed a 10-fold longer plasma half-life than native YIGSR in vivo. In addition, SMA-YIGSR had the same binding affinity to plasma albumin as SMA, while native YIGSR did not bind to albumin. These findings suggested that the enhanced antimetastatic effect of SMA-YIGSR may be due to its prolonged plasma half-life by binding to plasma albumin, and that bioconjugation of in vivo unstable peptides with SMA may facilitate their therapeutic use.