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Birmpilis AI, Karachaliou CE, Samara P, Ioannou K, Selemenakis P, Kostopoulos IV, Kavrochorianou N, Kalbacher H, Livaniou E, Haralambous S, Kotsinas A, Farzaneh F, Trougakos IP, Voelter W, Dimopoulos MA, Bamias A, Tsitsilonis O. Antitumor Reactive T-Cell Responses Are Enhanced In Vivo by DAMP Prothymosin Alpha and Its C-Terminal Decapeptide. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111764. [PMID: 31717548 PMCID: PMC6896021 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prothymosin α (proTα) and its C-terminal decapeptide proTα(100-109) were shown to pleiotropically enhance innate and adaptive immune responses. Their activities have been broadly studied in vitro, focusing primarily on the restoration of the deficient immunoreactivity of cancer patients' leukocytes. Previously, we showed that proTα and proTα(100-109) act as danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), ligate Toll-like receptor-4, signal through TRIF- and MyD88-dependent pathways, promote the maturation of dendritic cells and elicit T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses in vitro, leading to the optimal priming of tumor antigen-reactive T-cell functions. Herein, we assessed their activity in a preclinical melanoma model. Immunocompetent mice bearing B16.F1 tumors were treated with two cycles of proTα or proTα(100-109) together with a B16.F1-derived peptide vaccine. Coadministration of proTα or proTα(100-109) and the peptide vaccine suppressed melanoma-cell proliferation, as evidenced by reduced tumor-growth rates. Higher melanoma infiltration by CD3+ T cells was observed, whereas ex vivo analysis of mouse total spleen cells verified the in vivo induction of melanoma-reactive cytotoxic responses. Additionally, increased levels of proinflammatory and Th1-type cytokines were detected in mouse serum. We propose that, in the presence of tumor antigens, DAMPs proTα and proTα(100-109) induce Th1-biased immune responses in vivo. Their adjuvant ability to orchestrate antitumor immunoreactivities can eventually be exploited therapeutically in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios I. Birmpilis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.I.B.); (P.S.); (K.I.); (I.V.K.); (I.P.T.)
| | - Chrysoula-Evangelia Karachaliou
- Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, NCSR “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (C.-E.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Pinelopi Samara
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.I.B.); (P.S.); (K.I.); (I.V.K.); (I.P.T.)
| | - Kyriaki Ioannou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.I.B.); (P.S.); (K.I.); (I.V.K.); (I.P.T.)
- King’s College London, Rayne Institute, 123 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9NU London, UK;
| | - Platon Selemenakis
- Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, 11527 Athens, Greece; (P.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Ioannis V. Kostopoulos
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.I.B.); (P.S.); (K.I.); (I.V.K.); (I.P.T.)
| | - Nadia Kavrochorianou
- Inflammation Research Group, Transgenic Technology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece; (N.K.); (S.H.)
| | - Hubert Kalbacher
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen. Germany; (H.K.); (W.V.)
| | - Evangelia Livaniou
- Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, NCSR “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (C.-E.K.); (E.L.)
| | - Sylva Haralambous
- Inflammation Research Group, Transgenic Technology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece; (N.K.); (S.H.)
| | - Athanasios Kotsinas
- Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, 11527 Athens, Greece; (P.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Farzin Farzaneh
- King’s College London, Rayne Institute, 123 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9NU London, UK;
| | - Ioannis P. Trougakos
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.I.B.); (P.S.); (K.I.); (I.V.K.); (I.P.T.)
| | - Wolfgang Voelter
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen. Germany; (H.K.); (W.V.)
| | - Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece; (M.-A.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Aristotelis Bamias
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece; (M.-A.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Ourania Tsitsilonis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece; (A.I.B.); (P.S.); (K.I.); (I.V.K.); (I.P.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-210-727-4215; Fax: +30-210-727-4635
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Ueda H, Halder SK, Matsunaga H, Sasaki K, Maeda S. Neuroprotective impact of prothymosin alpha-derived hexapeptide against retinal ischemia-reperfusion. Neuroscience 2016; 318:206-18. [PMID: 26779836 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Revised: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Prothymosin alpha (ProTα) has robustness roles against brain and retinal ischemia or serum-starvation stress. In the ProTα sequence, the active core 30-amino acid peptide/P30 (a.a.49-78) is necessary for the original neuroprotective actions against ischemia. Moreover, the 9-amino acid peptide sequence/P9 (a.a.52-60) in P30 still shows neuroprotective activity against brain and retinal ischemia, though P9 is less potent than P30. As the previous structure-activity relationship study for ProTα may not be enough, the possibility still exists that any sequence smaller than P9 retains potent neuroprotective activity. When different P9- and P30-related peptides were intravitreally injected 24h after retinal ischemia in mice, the 6-amino acid peptide/P6 (NEVDEE, a.a.51-56) showed potent protective effects against ischemia-induced retinal functional deficits, which are equipotent to the level of P30 peptide in electroretinography (ERG) and histological damage in Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining. Further studies using ERG and HE staining suggested that intravitreal or intravenous (i.v.) injection with modified P6 peptide/P6Q (NEVDQE) potently inhibited retinal ischemia-induced functional and histological damage. In an immunohistochemical analysis, the ischemia-induced loss of retinal ganglion, bipolar, amacrine and photoreceptor cells were inhibited by a systemic administration with P6Q peptide 24h after the ischemic stress. In addition, systemic post-treatment with P6Q peptide significantly inhibited retinal ischemia-induced microglia and astrocyte activation in terms of increased ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) intensity, respectively, as well as their morphological changes, increased number and migration. Thus, this study demonstrates the therapeutic significance of modified P6 peptide P6Q (NEVDQE) derived from 6-amino acid peptide (P6) in ProTα against ischemic damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ueda
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Innovation, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan.
| | - S K Halder
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Innovation, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - H Matsunaga
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Innovation, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - K Sasaki
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Innovation, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - S Maeda
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Innovation, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
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Ioannou K, Samara P, Livaniou E, Derhovanessian E, Tsitsilonis OE. Prothymosin alpha: a ubiquitous polypeptide with potential use in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2012; 61:599-614. [PMID: 22366887 PMCID: PMC11029552 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-012-1222-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is a central lymphoid organ with crucial role in generating T cells and maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. More than 30 peptides, initially referred to as "thymic hormones," are produced by this gland. Although the majority of them have not been proven to be thymus-specific, thymic peptides comprise an effective group of regulators, mediating important immune functions. Thymosin fraction five (TFV) was the first thymic extract shown to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation. Subsequent fractionation of TFV led to the isolation and characterization of a series of immunoactive peptides/polypeptides, members of the thymosin family. Extensive research on prothymosin α (proTα) and thymosin α1 (Tα1) showed that they are of clinical significance and potential medical use. They may serve as molecular markers for cancer prognosis and/or as therapeutic agents for treating immunodeficiencies, autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying their effect are yet not fully elucidated, proTα and Tα1 could be considered as candidates for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will focus in principle on the eventual clinical utility of proTα, both as a tumor biomarker and in triggering anticancer immune responses. Considering the experience acquired via the use of Tα1 to treat cancer patients, we will also discuss potential approaches for the future introduction of proTα into the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Ioannou
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Pinelopi Samara
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Livaniou
- Immunopeptide Chemistry Lab, Institute of Radioisotopes and Radiodiagnostic Products, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Patriarchou Gregoriou and Neapoleos, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece
| | - Evelyna Derhovanessian
- Tübingen Ageing and Tumour Immunology Group, Center for Medical Research, University of Tübingen Medical School, Waldhörnlestr. 22, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ourania E. Tsitsilonis
- Department of Animal and Human Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
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