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Krishna NK, Cunnion KM, Parker GA. The EPICC Family of Anti-Inflammatory Peptides: Next Generation Peptides, Additional Mechanisms of Action, and In Vivo and Ex Vivo Efficacy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:752315. [PMID: 35222367 PMCID: PMC8863753 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.752315] [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: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The EPICC peptides are a family of peptides that have been developed from the sequence of the capsid protein of human astrovirus type 1 and previously shown to inhibit the classical and lectin pathways of complement. The EPICC peptides have been further optimized to increase aqueous solubility and identify additional mechanisms of action. Our laboratory has developed the lead EPICC molecule, PA-dPEG24 (also known as RLS-0071), which is composed of a 15 amino acid peptide with a C-terminal monodisperse 24-mer PEGylated moiety. RLS-0071 has been demonstrated to possess other mechanisms of action in addition to complement blockade that include the inhibition of neutrophil-driven myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, inhibition of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation as well as intrinsic antioxidant activity mediated by vicinal cysteine residues contained within the peptide sequence. RLS-0071 has been tested in various ex vivo and in vivo systems and has shown promise for the treatment of both immune-mediated hematological diseases where alterations in the classical complement pathway plays an important pathogenic role as well as in models of tissue-based diseases such as acute lung injury and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy driven by both complement and neutrophil-mediated pathways (i.e., MPO activity and NET formation). Next generation EPICC peptides containing a sarcosine residue substitution in various positions within the peptide sequence possess aqueous solubility in the absence of PEGylation and demonstrate enhanced complement and neutrophil inhibitory activity compared to RLS-0071. This review details the development of the EPICC peptides, elucidation of their dual-acting complement and neutrophil inhibitory activities and efficacy in ex vivo systems using human clinical specimens and in vivo efficacy in animal disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neel K Krishna
- Division of Research, ReAlta Life Sciences, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Kenji M Cunnion
- Division of Research, ReAlta Life Sciences, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Children's Specialty Group, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Grace A Parker
- Division of Research, ReAlta Life Sciences, Norfolk, VA, United States
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Enos A, Kumar P, Lassiter B, Sampson A, Hair P, Krishna N, Cunnion K. Peptide inhibition of neutrophil-mediated injury after in vivo challenge with supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and immune-complexes. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254353. [PMID: 34242348 PMCID: PMC8270186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are recognized for their role in host defense against pathogens as well as inflammatory conditions mediated through many mechanisms including neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NETs are increasingly appreciated as a major contributor in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a key neutrophil granule enzyme mediates generation of hypochlorous acid which, when extracellular, can cause host tissue damage. To better understand the role played by neutrophils in inflammatory diseases, we measured and modulated myeloperoxidase activity and NETs in vivo, utilizing a rat peritonitis model. RLS-0071 is a 15 amino acid peptide that has been shown to inhibit myeloperoxidase activity and NET formation in vitro. The rat model of inflammatory peritonitis was induced with intraperitoneal injection of either P. aeruginosa supernatant or immune-complexes. After euthanasia, a peritoneal wash was performed and measured for myeloperoxidase activity and free DNA as a surrogate for measurement of NETs. P. aeruginosa supernatant caused a 2-fold increase in MPO activity and free DNA when injected IP. Immune-complexes injected IP increased myeloperoxidase activity and free DNA 2- fold. RLS-0071 injection decreased myeloperoxidase activity and NETs in the peritoneal fluid generally to baseline levels in the presence of P. aeruginosa supernatant or immune-complexes. Taken together, RLS-0071 demonstrated the ability to inhibit myeloperoxidase activity and NET formation in vivo when initiated by different inflammatory stimuli including shed or secreted bacterial constituents as well as immune-complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne Enos
- ReAlta Life Sciences Inc, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Parvathi Kumar
- ReAlta Life Sciences Inc, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Brittany Lassiter
- ReAlta Life Sciences Inc, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Alana Sampson
- ReAlta Life Sciences Inc, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Pamela Hair
- ReAlta Life Sciences Inc, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Neel Krishna
- ReAlta Life Sciences Inc, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kenji Cunnion
- ReAlta Life Sciences Inc, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Children’s Specialty Group, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
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Hair P, Goldman DW, Li J, Petri M, Krishna N, Cunnion K. Classical complement activation on human erythrocytes in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus and a history of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Lupus 2020; 29:1179-1188. [PMID: 32659155 DOI: 10.1177/0961203320936347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a serious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In order to more fully understand the causative pathways, we utilized sera from subjects with SLE and active AIHA, or a history of AIHA, to evaluate the classical complement pathway, anti-erythrocyte antibodies, and immune complexes. METHODS To evaluate antibody-mediated complement activation on the surface of erythrocytes, as occurs in AIHA, blood type O erythrocytes were incubated with sera from 19 subjects with SLE and a history of AIHA. Circulating anti-erythrocyte antibodies and immune complexes were measured with ELISA-based assays. RESULTS In total, 90% of subjects with SLE and a history of AIHA, but not active clinical hemolysis, had measurable anti-erythrocyte antibodies. Of those with anti-erythrocyte antibody, 53% demonstrated complement opsonization on the erythrocyte surface >twofold above negative control and 29% generated the anaphylatoxin C5a. CONCLUSIONS For subjects with SLE and a history of AIHA, the persistence of circulating anti-erythrocyte antibodies and resultant erythrocyte complement opsonization and anaphylatoxin generation suggests the possibility that these complement effectors contribute to chronic morbidity and risk of AIHA relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Hair
- Eastern Virginia Medical School Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Norfolk, VA
| | - Daniel W Goldman
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jessica Li
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Baltimore, MD
| | - Michelle Petri
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Baltimore, MD
| | - Neel Krishna
- Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Norfolk, VA
| | - Kenji Cunnion
- Eastern Virginia Medical School Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Norfolk, VA
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Hair PS, Enos AI, Krishna NK, Cunnion KM. Inhibition of complement activation, myeloperoxidase, NET formation and oxidant activity by PIC1 peptide variants. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226875. [PMID: 31891617 PMCID: PMC6938345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A product of rational molecular design, PA-dPEG24 is the lead derivative of the PIC1 family of peptides with multiple functional abilities including classical complement pathway inhibition, myeloperoxidase inhibition, NET inhibition and antioxidant activity. PA-dPEG24 is composed of a sequence of 15 amino acid, IALILEPICCQERAA, and contains a monodisperse 24-mer PEGylated moiety at its C terminus to increase aqueous solubility. Here we explore a sarcosine substitution scan of the PA peptide to evaluate impacts on solubility in the absence of PEGylation and functional characteristics. Methods Sixteen sarcosine substitution variants were synthesized and evaluated for solubility in water. Aqueous soluble variants were then tested in standard complement, myeloperoxidase, NET formation and antioxidant capacity assays. Results Six sarcosine substitution variants were aqueous soluble without requiring PEGylation. Substitution with sarcosine of the isoleucine at position eight yielded a soluble peptide that surpassed the parent molecule for complement inhibition and myeloperoxidase inhibition. Substitution with sarcosine of the cysteine at position nine improved solubility, but did not otherwise change the functional characteristics compared with the parent compound. However, replacement of both vicinal cysteine residues at positions 9 and 10 with a single sarcosine residue reduced functional activity in most of the assays tested. Conclusions Several of the sarcosine PIC1 variant substitutions synthesized yielded improved solubility as well as a number of unanticipated structure-function findings that provide new insights. Several sarcosine substitution variants demonstrate increased potency over the parent peptide suggesting enhanced therapeutic potential for inflammatory disease processes involving complement, myeloperoxidase, NETs or oxidant stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S. Hair
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
| | - Adrianne I. Enos
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
| | - Neel K. Krishna
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
| | - Kenji M. Cunnion
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
- Children's Specialty Group, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
- Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Norfolk, VA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Azimipour S, Ghaedi S, Mehrabi Z, Ghasemzadeh SA, Heshmati M, Barikrow N, Attar F, Falahati M. Heme degradation and iron release of hemoglobin and oxidative stress of lymphocyte cells in the presence of silica nanoparticles. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 118:800-807. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.06.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Hair PS, Enos AI, Krishna NK, Cunnion KM. Inhibition of Immune Complex Complement Activation and Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation by Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1. Front Immunol 2018; 9:558. [PMID: 29632531 PMCID: PMC5879100 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Two major aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis that have yet to be targeted therapeutically are immune complex-initiated complement activation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation by neutrophils. Here, we report in vitro testing of peptide inhibitor of complement C1 (PIC1) in assays of immune complex-mediated complement activation in human sera and assays for NET formation by human neutrophils. The lead PIC1 derivative, PA-dPEG24, was able to dose-dependently inhibit complement activation initiated by multiple types of immune complexes (IC), including C1-anti-C1q IC, limiting the generation of pro-inflammatory complement effectors, including C5a and membrane attack complex (sC5b-9). In several instances, PA-dPEG24 achieved complete inhibition with complement effector levels equivalent to background. PA-dPEG24 was also able to dose-dependently inhibit NET formation by human neutrophils stimulated by PMA, MPO, or immune complex activated human sera. In several instances PA-dPEG24 achieved complete inhibition with NETosis with quantitation equivalent to background levels. These results suggest that PA-dPEG24 inhibition of NETs occurs by blocking the MPO pathway of NET formation. Together these results demonstrate that PA-dPEG24 can inhibit immune complex activation of the complement system and NET formation. This provides proof of concept that peptides can potentially be developed to inhibit these two important contributors to rheumatologic pathology that are currently untargeted by available therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S Hair
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | | | - Neel K Krishna
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Kenji M Cunnion
- Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Children's Specialty Group, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States.,Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, VA, United States
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Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1) demonstrates antioxidant activity via single electron transport (SET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193931. [PMID: 29499069 PMCID: PMC5834197 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are natural byproducts of oxidative respiration that are toxic to organs and tissues. To mitigate ROS damage, organisms have evolved a variety of antioxidant systems to counteract these harmful molecules, however in certain pathological conditions these protective mechanisms can be overwhelmed. We have recently demonstrated that Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1) mitigates peroxidase activity of the heme bearing proteins myeloperoxidase, hemoglobin, and myoglobin through a reversible process. To determine if this property of PIC1 was antioxidant in nature, we tested PIC1 in a number of well-established antioxidant assays. PIC1 showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity in a total antioxidant (TAC) assay, hydroxyl radical antioxidant capacity (HORAC) assay, oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) assay as well as the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay to screen for PIC1 antioxidant activity in human plasma. The antioxidant activity of PIC1 in the TAC assay, as well as the HORAC/ORAC assay demonstrated that this peptide acts via the single electron transport (SET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms, respectively. Consistent with this mechanism of action, PIC1 did not show activity in a metal chelating activity (MCA) assay. PIC1 contains two vicinal cysteine residues and displayed similar antioxidant activity to the well characterized cysteine-containing tripeptide antioxidant molecule glutathione (GSH). Consistent with the role of the cysteine residues in the antioxidant activity of PIC1, oxidation of these residues significantly abrogated antioxidant activity. These results demonstrate that in addition to its described complement inhibiting activity, PIC1 displays in vitro antioxidant activity.
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Hair PS, Gregory Rivera M, Enos AI, Pearsall SE, Sharp JA, Yousefieh N, Lattanzio FA, Krishna NK, Cunnion KM. Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1) Inhibits Growth of Pathogenic Bacteria. Int J Pept Res Ther 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-017-9651-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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