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Huang Y, Peng H, Zeng A, Song L. The role of peptides in reversing chemoresistance of breast cancer: current facts and future prospects. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1188477. [PMID: 37284316 PMCID: PMC10239817 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1188477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the first malignant tumor in women, and its incidence is also increasing year by year. Chemotherapy is one of the standard therapies for breast cancer, but the resistance of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs is a huge challenge for the effective treatment of breast cancer. At present, in the study of reversing the drug resistance of solid tumors such as breast cancer, peptides have the advantages of high selectivity, high tissue penetration, and good biocompatibility. Some of the peptides that have been studied can overcome the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs in the experiment, and effectively control the growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Here, we describe the mechanism of different peptides in reversing breast cancer resistance, including promoting cancer cell apoptosis; promoting non-apoptotic regulatory cell death of cancer cells; inhibiting the DNA repair mechanism of cancer cells; improving the tumor microenvironment; inhibiting drug efflux mechanism; and enhancing drug uptake. This review focuses on the different mechanisms of peptides in reversing breast cancer drug resistance, and these peptides are also expected to create clinical breakthroughs in promoting the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy drugs in breast cancer patients and improving the survival rate of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxiu Huang
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongyao Peng
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Anqi Zeng
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology and Clinical Application, Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Linjiang Song
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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2
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Role of Defensins in Tumor Biology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065268. [PMID: 36982340 PMCID: PMC10049535 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Defensins have long been considered as merely antimicrobial peptides. Throughout the years, more immune-related functions have been discovered for both the α-defensin and β-defensin subfamily. This review provides insights into the role of defensins in tumor immunity. Since defensins are present and differentially expressed in certain cancer types, researchers started to unravel their role in the tumor microenvironment. The human neutrophil peptides have been demonstrated to be directly oncolytic by permealizing the cell membrane. Further, defensins can inflict DNA damage and induce apoptosis of tumor cells. In the tumor microenvironment, defensins can act as chemoattractants for subsets of immune cells, such as T cells, immature dendritic cells, monocytes and mast cells. Additionally, by activating the targeted leukocytes, defensins generate pro-inflammatory signals. Moreover, immuno-adjuvant effects have been reported in a variety of models. Therefore, the action of defensins reaches beyond their direct antimicrobial effect, i.e., the lysis of microbes invading the mucosal surfaces. By causing an increase in pro-inflammatory signaling events, cell lysis (generating antigens) and attraction and activation of antigen presenting cells, defensins could have a relevant role in activating the adaptive immune system and generating anti-tumor immunity, and could thus contribute to the success of immune therapy.
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3
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Pyrazole-Enriched Cationic Nanoparticles Induced Early- and Late-Stage Apoptosis in Neuroblastoma Cells at Sub-Micromolar Concentrations. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030393. [PMID: 36986492 PMCID: PMC10056113 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a severe form of tumor occurring mainly in young children and originating from nerve cells found in the abdomen or next to the spine. NB needs more effective and safer treatments, as the chance of survival against the aggressive form of this disease are very small. Moreover, when current treatments are successful, they are often responsible for unpleasant health problems which compromise the future and life of surviving children. As reported, cationic macromolecules have previously been found to be active against bacteria as membrane disruptors by interacting with the negative constituents of the surface of cancer cells, analogously inducing depolarization and permeabilization, provoking lethal damage to the cytoplasmic membrane, and cause loss of cytoplasmic content and consequently, cell death. Here, aiming to develop new curative options for counteracting NB cells, pyrazole-loaded cationic nanoparticles (NPs) (BBB4-G4K and CB1H-P7 NPs), recently reported as antibacterial agents, were assayed against IMR 32 and SHSY 5Y NB cell lines. Particularly, while BBB4-G4K NPs demonstrated low cytotoxicity against both NB cell lines, CB1H-P7 NPs were remarkably cytotoxic against both IMR 32 and SHSY 5Y cells (IC50 = 0.43–0.54 µM), causing both early-stage (66–85%) and late-stage apoptosis (52–65%). Interestingly, in the nano-formulation of CB1H using P7 NPs, the anticancer effects of CB1H and P7 were increased by 54–57 and 2.5–4-times, respectively against IMR 32 cells, and by 53–61 and 1.3–2 times against SHSY 5Y cells. Additionally, based on the IC50 values, CB1H-P7 was also 1-12-fold more potent than fenretinide, an experimental retinoid derivative in a phase III clinical trial, with remarkable antineoplastic and chemopreventive properties. Collectively, due to these results and their good selectivity for cancer cells (selectivity indices = 2.8–3.3), CB1H-P7 NPs represent an excellent template material for developing new treatment options against NB.
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Association between Immunologic Markers and Cirrhosis in Individuals from a Prospective Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14215280. [PMID: 36358697 PMCID: PMC9657502 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215280] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can affect immune response and inflammatory pathways, leading to severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In a prospective cohort of chronically HCV-infected individuals, we sampled 68 individuals who developed cirrhosis, 91 controls who did not develop cirrhosis, and 94 individuals who developed HCC. Unconditional odds ratios (ORs) from polytomous logistic regression models and canonical discriminant analyses (CDAs) were used to compare categorical (C) baseline plasma levels for 102 markers in individuals who developed cirrhosis vs. controls and those who developed HCC vs. cirrhosis. Leave-one-out cross validation was used to produce receiver operating characteristic curves to assess predictive ability of markers. Lastly, biological pathways were assessed in association with cirrhotic development compared to controls. Results: After multivariable adjustment, DEFA-1 (OR: C2v.C1 = 7.73; p < 0.0001), ITGAM (OR: C2v.C1 = 4.03; p = 0.0002), SCF (OR: C4v.C1 = 0.19; p-trend = 0.0001), and CCL11 (OR: C4v.C1 = 0.31; p-trend= 0.002) were all associated with development of cirrhosis compared to controls; these markers, together with clinical/demographics variables, improved prediction of cirrhosis from 55.7% (in clinical/demographic-only model) to 74.9% accuracy. A twelve-marker model based on CDA results further increased prediction of cirrhosis to 88.0%. While six biological pathways were found to be associated with cirrhosis, cell adhesion was the only pathway associated with cirrhosis after Bonferroni correction. In contrast to cirrhosis, DEFA-1 and ITGAM levels were inversely associated with HCC risk. Conclusions: Pending validation, these findings highlight the important role of immunological markers in predicting HCV-related cirrhosis even 11 years post-enrollment.
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Parchebafi A, Tamanaee F, Ehteram H, Ahmad E, Nikzad H, Haddad Kashani H. The dual interaction of antimicrobial peptides on bacteria and cancer cells; mechanism of action and therapeutic strategies of nanostructures. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:118. [PMID: 35717207 PMCID: PMC9206340 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01848-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial infection and cancer are two leading causes of global mortality. Discovering and developing new therapeutics with better specificity having minimal side-effects and no drug resistance are of an immense need. In this regard, cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP) with dual antimicrobial and anticancer activities are the ultimate choice. For better efficacy and improved stability, the AMPs available for treatment still required to be modified. There are several strategies in which AMPs can be enhanced through, for instance, nano-carrier application with high selectivity and specificity enables researchers to estimate the rate of drug delivery to a particular tissue. In this review we present the biology and modes of action of AMPs for both anticancer and antimicrobial activities as well as some modification strategies to improve the efficacy and selectivity of these AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Parchebafi
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Tamanaee
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hassan Ehteram
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- Department of Pathology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hossein Nikzad
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hamed Haddad Kashani
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
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Basingab F, Alsaiary A, Almontashri S, Alrofaidi A, Alharbi M, Azhari S, Algothmi K, Alhazmi S. Alterations in Immune-Related Defensin Alpha 4 ( DEFA4) Gene Expression in Health and Disease. Int J Inflam 2022; 2022:9099136. [PMID: 35668817 PMCID: PMC9167129 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9099136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Defensin Alpha 4 (DEFA4) is the fourth member of the Alpha Defensins family known as a part of antimicrobial peptides in the innate immune system. DEFA4 has a strong preference to kill Gram-negative bacteria more than Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, DEFA4 exhibits antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vitro. Moreover, DEFA4 can act as an inhibitor of corticosterone production (Corticostatin). On the other hand, alternations in DEFA4 gene expression have been reported in different disorders such as diseases related to inflammation and immunity dysfunction, brain-related disorders, and various cancers. The up-regulation of DEFA4 appears to be involved in the malignant transformation or aggressive form of cancer. Interestingly, the modified version of DEFA4 fragment (1-11) was potent and efficient against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This review provides a general background abSaudi Arabia out DEFA4 and sheds light on changes in DEFA4 gene expression in different diseases. The paper also discusses other aspects related to DEFA4 as an antimicrobial and antiviral agent. The research was conducted based on available articles obtained from databases starting from 1988 to the present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemah Basingab
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahad for Medical Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abeer Alsaiary
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, College of Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahad Almontashri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Alrofaidi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona Alharbi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sheren Azhari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khloud Algothmi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Safiah Alhazmi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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7
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Humanizing plant-derived snakins and their encrypted antimicrobial peptides. Biochimie 2022; 199:92-111. [PMID: 35472564 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Due to safety restrictions, plant-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) need optimization to be consumed beyond preservatives. Herein, 175 GASA-domain-containing snakins were analyzed. Factors including charge, hydrophobicity, helicity, hydrophobic moment (μH), folding enthalpy, folding heat capacity, folding free energy, therapeutic index, allergenicity, and bitterness were considered. The most optimal snakins for oral consumption as preservatives were from Cajanus cajan, Cucumis melo, Durio zibethinus, Glycine soja, Herrania umbratica, and Ziziphus jujuba. Virtual digestion of snakins predicted ACE1 and DPPIV inhibitory as dominant effects upon oral use with antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties. To be applied as a therapeutic in parenteral administration, snakins were browsed for short 20-mer encrypted fragments that were non-toxic or with eliminated toxicity using directed mutagenesis yet retaining the AMP property. The most promising 20-mer AMPs were Mr-SNK2-1a in Morella rubra with BBB permeation, Na-SNK2-2a(C18W), and Na-SNK2-2b(C16F) from Nicotiana attenuata. These AMPs were cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), with a charge of +6, a μH of about 0.40, and a Boman-index higher than 2.48 Kcalmol-1. Na-SNK2-2a(C18W) had putative activity against gram-negative bacteria with MIC lower than 25 μgml-1, and Na-SNK2-2b(C16F) was a potential anti-HIV with an IC50 of 3.04 μM. Other 20-mer AMPs, such as Cc-SNK1-2a from Cajanus cajan displayed an anti-HCV property with an IC50 of 13.91 μM. While Si-SNK2-3a(C17P) from Sesamum indicum was a cationic anti-angiogenic CPP targeting the acidic microenvironment of tumors, Cme-SNK2-1a(C11F) from Cucumis melo was an immunomodulator CPP applicable as a vaccine adjuvant. Because of combined mechanisms, investigating cysteine-rich peptides can nominate effective biotherapeutics.
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8
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Overview of Host Defense Peptides with Promising Anti-Breast Cancer Activity. SERBIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/sjecr-2021-0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women worldwide. The main limitations of conventional anti-cancer therapy, including breast cancer treatment, are side effects and the development of resistance to chemotherapeutics. Host defense peptides (HDPs) are bioactive compounds of innate immunity isolated from almost all living organisms, which exhibit wide range of biological activities. This review focuses on the anti-cancer effects of HDPs and their therapeutic potential against breast cancer. Numerous HDPs from different sources, including mammalian and amphibian origin, and their chemically modified analogues, exert the spectrum of anti-cancer activities. These effects include direct disruption of cancer cell membrane, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis and cancer cell proliferation, but also the modulation of anti-cancer immune response. Selected examples of HDPs of different origin and their anti-breast cancer capacities have been reviewed. Conclusively, due to their anti-cancer effects accompanied by substantial selectivity for cancer cells and low toxicity for normal cells, HDPs have been widely recognized as possible therapeutic agents.
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Rai A, Ferrão R, Palma P, Patricio T, Parreira P, Anes E, Tonda-Turo C, Martins C, Alves N, Ferreira L. Antimicrobial peptide-based materials: opportunities and challenges. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:2384-2429. [DOI: 10.1039/d1tb02617h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The multifunctional properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) make them attractive candidates for the treatment of various diseases. AMPs are considered alternatives to antibiotics due to the rising number of multidrug-resistant...
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10
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Recent Advances in the Discovery and Function of Antimicrobial Molecules in Platelets. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910230. [PMID: 34638568 PMCID: PMC8508203 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The conventional function described for platelets is maintaining vascular integrity. Nevertheless, increasing evidence reveals that platelets can additionally play a crucial role in responding against microorganisms. Activated platelets release molecules with antimicrobial activity. This ability was first demonstrated in rabbit serum after coagulation and later in rabbit platelets stimulated with thrombin. Currently, multiple discoveries have allowed the identification and characterization of PMPs (platelet microbicidal proteins) and opened the way to identify kinocidins and CHDPs (cationic host defense peptides) in human platelets. These molecules are endowed with microbicidal activity through different mechanisms that broaden the platelet participation in normal and pathologic conditions. Therefore, this review aims to integrate the currently described platelet molecules with antimicrobial properties by summarizing the pathways towards their identification, characterization, and functional evaluation that have promoted new avenues for studying platelets based on kinocidins and CHDPs secretion.
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Zhang QY, Yan ZB, Meng YM, Hong XY, Shao G, Ma JJ, Cheng XR, Liu J, Kang J, Fu CY. Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential. Mil Med Res 2021; 8:48. [PMID: 34496967 PMCID: PMC8425997 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-021-00343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of bacterial infections is becoming a major clinical challenge due to the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. As an excellent candidate to overcome antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are produced from the synthetic and natural sources demonstrate a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with the high specificity and low toxicity. These peptides possess distinctive structures and functions by employing sophisticated mechanisms of action. This comprehensive review provides a broad overview of AMPs from the origin, structural characteristics, mechanisms of action, biological activities to clinical applications. We finally discuss the strategies to optimize and develop AMP-based treatment as the potential antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yu Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Yan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yue-Ming Meng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Hong
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gang Shao
- Department of Oncology, The 903rd Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, 310013, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun-Jie Ma
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xu-Rui Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Blvd. South, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jian Kang
- Oncogenic Signaling and Growth Control Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cai-Yun Fu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China.
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Li D, Guo F, Chen K, Yang X, Wang Y. Preclinical Safety Evaluation of a Recombinant Plasmid Vector Encoding Mature Human Neutrophil Peptide-1 by Repeated Local Administrations in Nonhuman Primates. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1382-1389. [PMID: 33858232 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.289] [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] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In our previous studies, a novel gene therapy approach was developed based on a plasmid vector pSecTag2B in which recombinant HNP1 gene was regulated under a cytomegalovirus promoter to encode a mature human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP1) form. We showed for the first time in various tumor models, including human cancer xenografts, that overexpression of HNP1 in the tumor milieu by intratumoral pSecTag-HNP1 (pHNP1) administration efficiently attenuated in vivo tumor progression, mediated host immune responses to tumors, and produced a synergistic effect when combined with chemotherapeutics. In this study, a preclinical safety investigation of HNP1 gene therapy was conducted in nonhuman primates. Eleven cynomolgus monkeys were divided into three groups of three to four animals each and received either repeated s.c. injections of pHNP1/cationic liposome complexes at a low (0.625 mg/kg) or a high (2.5 mg/kg) dose or glucose as control. Significant HNP1 in vivo accumulation was detected after consecutive administrations. All primates reached the end of the study with good body conditions. Injection site inflammation was the only obvious toxic reaction during observation period. In addition, elevation of monocyte/macrophage and neutrophil as well as decline of lymphocyte were detected in the peripheral blood of pHNP1-treated primates. These alterations were partially alleviated at the end of observation period. Besides, dose-related histopathological changes of the immune organs were observed at necropsy, including a minimal thymic lymphocyte decrease and a minimal-to-mild lymph node erythrocyte increase, but which cannot be excluded from HNP1-induced immune reactions. Together, these data support future clinical studies of pHNP1-based local gene delivery in tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, and Precision Medicine Center, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fuchun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Chen
- WestChina-Frontier Pharma Tech Co., Ltd. (WCFP), National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs (NCCSED), Chengdu, China
| | - Xunning Yang
- WestChina-Frontier Pharma Tech Co., Ltd. (WCFP), National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs (NCCSED), Chengdu, China
| | - Yongsheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Drug Clinical Trial, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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13
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Ciobanasu C. Peptides-based therapy and diagnosis. Strategies for non-invasive therapies in cancer. J Drug Target 2021; 29:1063-1079. [PMID: 33775187 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2021.1906885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, remarkable progress was registered in the field of cancer research. Though, cancer still represents a major cause of death and cancer metastasis a problem seeking for urgent solutions as it is the main reason for therapeutic failure. Unfortunately, the most common chemotherapeutic agents are non-selective and can damage healthy tissues and cause side effects that affect dramatically the quality of life of the patients. Targeted therapy with molecules that act specifically at the tumour sites interacting with overexpressed cancer receptors is a very promising strategy for achieving the specific delivery of anticancer drugs, radioisotopes or imaging agents. This review aims to give an overview on different strategies for targeting cancer cell receptors localised either at the extracellular matrix or at the cell membrane. Molecules like antibodies, aptamers and peptides targeting the cell surface are presented with advantages and disadvantages, with emphasis on peptides. The most representative peptides are described, including cell penetrating peptides, homing and anticancer peptides with particular consideration on recent discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Ciobanasu
- Sciences Department, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru I. Cuza University, Iaşi, Romania
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14
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Vitale I, Yamazaki T, Wennerberg E, Sveinbjørnsson B, Rekdal Ø, Demaria S, Galluzzi L. Targeting Cancer Heterogeneity with Immune Responses Driven by Oncolytic Peptides. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:557-572. [PMID: 33446447 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that high degrees of heterogeneity among malignant cells constitute a considerable obstacle to the success of cancer therapy. This calls for the development of approaches that operate - or enable established treatments to operate - despite such intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH). In this context, oncolytic peptides stand out as promising therapeutic tools based on their ability to drive immunogenic cell death associated with robust anticancer immune responses independently of ITH. We review the main molecular and immunological pathways engaged by oncolytic peptides, and discuss potential approaches to combine these agents with modern immunotherapeutics in support of superior tumor-targeting immunity and efficacy in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilio Vitale
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS) Candiolo, Torino, Italy; Candiolo Cancer Institute, Fondazione del Piemonte per l'Oncologia (FPO)-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Takahiro Yamazaki
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erik Wennerberg
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Baldur Sveinbjørnsson
- Lytix Biopharma, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway; Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Øystein Rekdal
- Lytix Biopharma, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sandra Demaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Université de Paris, Paris, France.
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15
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Tornesello AL, Borrelli A, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM, Tornesello ML. Antimicrobial Peptides as Anticancer Agents: Functional Properties and Biological Activities. Molecules 2020; 25:E2850. [PMID: 32575664 PMCID: PMC7356147 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), or host defense peptides, are small cationic or amphipathic molecules produced by prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that play a key role in the innate immune defense against viruses, bacteria and fungi. AMPs have either antimicrobial or anticancer activities. Indeed, cationic AMPs are able to disrupt microbial cell membranes by interacting with negatively charged phospholipids. Moreover, several peptides are capable to trigger cytotoxicity of human cancer cells by binding to negatively charged phosphatidylserine moieties which are selectively exposed on the outer surface of cancer cell plasma membranes. In addition, some AMPs, such as LTX-315, have shown to induce release of tumor antigens and potent damage associated molecular patterns by causing alterations in the intracellular organelles of cancer cells. Given the recognized medical need of novel anticancer drugs, AMPs could represent a potential source of effective therapeutic agents, either alone or in combination with other small molecules, in oncology. In this review we summarize and describe the properties and the mode of action of AMPs as well as the strategies to increase their selectivity toward specific cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (F.M.B.); (M.L.T.)
| | - Antonella Borrelli
- Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Franco Maria Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (F.M.B.); (M.L.T.)
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (F.M.B.); (M.L.T.)
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Abstract
Defensins are a major family of host defense peptides expressed predominantly in neutrophils and epithelial cells. Their broad antimicrobial activities and multifaceted immunomodulatory functions have been extensively studied, cementing their role in innate immunity as a core host-protective component against bacterial, viral and fungal infections. More recent studies, however, paint defensins in a bad light such that they are "alleged" to promote viral and bacterial infections in certain biological settings. This mini review summarizes the latest findings on the potential pathogenic properties of defensins against the backdrop of their protective roles in antiviral and antibacterial immunity. Further, a succinct description of both tumor-proliferative and -suppressive activities of defensins is also given to highlight their functional and mechanistic complexity in antitumor immunity. We posit that given an enabling environment defensins, widely heralded as the "Swiss army knife," can function as a "double-edged sword" in host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xu
- Institute of Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Institute of Human Virology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Hitchhiking with Nature: Snake Venom Peptides to Fight Cancer and Superbugs. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12040255. [PMID: 32326531 PMCID: PMC7232197 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12040255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract For decades, natural products in general and snake venoms (SV) in particular have been a rich source of bioactive compounds for drug discovery, and they remain a promising substrate for therapeutic development. Currently, a handful of SV-based drugs for diagnosis and treatment of various cardiovascular disorders and blood abnormalities are on the market. Likewise, far more SV compounds and their mimetics are under investigation today for diverse therapeutic applications, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and cancer. In this review, we analyze the state of the art regarding SV-derived compounds with therapeutic potential, focusing on the development of antimicrobial and anticancer drugs. Specifically, information about SV peptides experimentally validated or predicted to act as antimicrobial and anticancer peptides (AMPs and ACPs, respectively) has been collected and analyzed. Their principal activities both in vitro and in vivo, structures, mechanisms of action, and attempts at sequence optimization are discussed in order to highlight their potential as drug leads. Key Contribution This review describes the state of the art in snake venom-derived peptides and their therapeutic applications. This work reinforces the potential of snake venom components as therapeutic agents, particularly in the quest for new antimicrobial and anticancer drugs.
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Berghmans E, Jacobs J, Deben C, Hermans C, Broeckx G, Smits E, Maes E, Raskin J, Pauwels P, Baggerman G. Mass Spectrometry Imaging Reveals Neutrophil Defensins as Additional Biomarkers for Anti-PD-(L)1 Immunotherapy Response in NSCLC Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E863. [PMID: 32252405 PMCID: PMC7225984 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Therapeutic blocking of the interaction between programmed death-1 (PD-1) with its ligand PD-L1, an immune checkpoint, is a promising approach to restore the antitumor immune response. Improved clinical outcomes have been shown in different human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, still a high number of NSCLC patients are treated with immunotherapy without obtaining any clinical benefit, due to the limitations of PD-L1 protein expression as the currently sole predictive biomarker for clinical use; (2) Methods: In this study, we applied mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to discover new protein biomarkers, and to assess the possible correlation between candidate biomarkers and a positive immunotherapy response by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MSI in 25 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) pretreatment tumor biopsies (Biobank@UZA); (3) Results: Using MALDI MSI, we revealed that the addition of neutrophil defensin 1, 2 and 3 as pretreatment biomarkers may more accurately predict the outcome of immunotherapy treatment in NSCLC. These results were verified and confirmed with immunohistochemical analyses. In addition, we provide in-vitro evidence of the immune stimulatory effect of neutrophil defensins towards cancer cells; and (4) Conclusions: With proteomic approaches, we have discovered neutrophil defensins as additional prospective biomarkers for an anti-PD-(L)1 immunotherapy response. Thereby, we also demonstrated that the neutrophil defensins contribute in the activation of the immune response towards cancer cells, which could provide a new lead towards an anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Berghmans
- Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium;
- Health Unit, VITO, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Julie Jacobs
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (J.J.); (C.D.); (C.H.); (G.B.); (E.S.); (P.P.)
- Pathology Department, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Christophe Deben
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (J.J.); (C.D.); (C.H.); (G.B.); (E.S.); (P.P.)
- Pathology Department, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Christophe Hermans
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (J.J.); (C.D.); (C.H.); (G.B.); (E.S.); (P.P.)
- Pathology Department, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Glenn Broeckx
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (J.J.); (C.D.); (C.H.); (G.B.); (E.S.); (P.P.)
- Pathology Department, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Evelien Smits
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (J.J.); (C.D.); (C.H.); (G.B.); (E.S.); (P.P.)
- Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Evelyne Maes
- Food & Bio-Based Products, AgResearch Ltd., Lincoln 7674, New Zealand;
| | - Jo Raskin
- Thoracic Oncology Department, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium;
| | - Patrick Pauwels
- Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (J.J.); (C.D.); (C.H.); (G.B.); (E.S.); (P.P.)
- Pathology Department, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Geert Baggerman
- Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium;
- Health Unit, VITO, 2400 Mol, Belgium
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Skalska J, Oliveira FD, Figueira TN, Mello ÉO, Gomes VM, McNaughton-Smith G, Castanho MARB, Gaspar D. Plant defensin PvD 1 modulates the membrane composition of breast tumour-derived exosomes. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:23366-23381. [PMID: 31793603 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr07843f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
One of the most important causes of failure in tumour treatment is the development of resistance to therapy. Cancer cells can develop the ability to lose sensitivity to anti-neoplastic drugs during reciprocal crosstalk between cells and their interaction with the tumour microenvironment (TME). Cell-to-cell communication regulates a cascade of interdependent events essential for disease development and progression and can be mediated by several signalling pathways. Exosome-mediated communication is one of the pathways regulating these events. Tumour-derived exosomes (TDE) are believed to have the ability to modulate TMEs and participate in multidrug resistance mechanisms. In this work, we studied the effect of the natural defensin from common bean, PvD1, on the formation of exosomes by breast cancer MCF-7 cells, mainly the modulatory effect it has on the level of CD63 and CD9 tetraspanins. Moreover, we followed the interaction of PvD1 with biological and model membranes of selected composition, by biophysical and imaging techniques. Overall, the results show that PvD1 induces a dual effect on MCF-7 derived exosomes: the peptide attenuates the recruitment of CD63 and CD9 to exosomes intracellularly and binds to the mature exosomes in the extracellular environment. This work uncovers the exosome-mediated anticancer action of PvD1, a potential nutraceutical agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Skalska
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Filipa D Oliveira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Tiago N Figueira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Érica O Mello
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos do Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Valdirene M Gomes
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Bioquímica de Microrganismos do Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Grant McNaughton-Smith
- CEAMED - Centro Atlántico del Medicamento, S.A., San Cristobal de La Laguna, S/C Tenerife, Spain
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Diana Gaspar
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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20
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Amerikova M, Pencheva El-Tibi I, Maslarska V, Bozhanov S, Tachkov K. Antimicrobial activity, mechanism of action, and methods for stabilisation of defensins as new therapeutic agents. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2019.1611385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Meri Amerikova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivanka Pencheva El-Tibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Vania Maslarska
- Department of Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stanislav Bozhanov
- Department of Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Konstantin Tachkov
- Department of Social Pharmacy Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
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21
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Ferdowsi S, Pourfathollah AA, Amiri F, Rafiee MH, Aghaei A. Evaluation of anticancer activity of α-defensins purified from neutrophils trapped in leukoreduction filters. Life Sci 2019; 224:249-254. [PMID: 30935951 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.03.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The α-defensins or human neutrophil peptides (HNP 1-3) that exist in azurophilic granules are found to have anticancer activity. The pattern of disulfide bonds in α-defensins is crucial for the functional properties. Therefore, synthesis using the chemical and recombinant approaches is a challenging. A safe source for the production of α-defensins can be the use of leukoreduction filters in blood banks that contain large quantities of neutrophils and are discarded after use. The aim of this study was to purify α-defensins from neutrophils trapped in leukofilters and to investigate its anticancer activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunoprecipitation was performed to purify α-defensins and the presence of protein was confirmed by Western Blot. The Jurkat T-cell line was incubated with different concentrations (5, 10 and 15 μg/ml) of purified HNP1-3 for 16 h. Cell viability was measured using a WST-1 assay and apoptosis was analyzed for Annexin V/PI markers. Caspase-3/7 activity was determined using fluorescence assay. The effects of purified α-defensins were compared to commercial HNP 1-3. KEY FINDINGS Purified HNP 1-3 decreased the viability at 10 and 15 μg/ml and commercial HNP 1-3 at 15 μg/ml concentrations. Following to the purified HNP1-3 treatment, the percentage of Annexin V positive population and caspase-3 activity were significantly increased compared to control (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively) and commercial HNP1-3 (p = 0.034 and p = 0.018, respectively). SIGNIFICANCE Results indicated the anticancer activity of HNP1-3 which can be used as future chemotherapeutic drugs. Furthermore, leukofilters can be considered as economic source for purifying these peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Ferdowsi
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Pourfathollah
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran; Tarbiat Modares University, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Immunology, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fatemeh Amiri
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Para Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hessam Rafiee
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Aghaei
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
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Deslouches B, Di YP. Antimicrobial peptides with selective antitumor mechanisms: prospect for anticancer applications. Oncotarget 2018; 8:46635-46651. [PMID: 28422728 PMCID: PMC5542299 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last several decades, there have been significant advances in anticancer therapy. However, the development of resistance to cancer drugs and the lack of specificity related to actively dividing cells leading to toxic side effects have undermined these achievements. As a result, there is considerable interest in alternative drugs with novel antitumor mechanisms. In addition to the recent approach using immunotherapy, an effective but much cheaper therapeutic option of pharmaceutical drugs would still provide the best choice for cancer patients as the first line treatment. Ribosomally synthesized cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) or host defense peptides (HDP) display broad-spectrum activity against bacteria based on electrostatic interactions with negatively charged lipids on the bacterial surface. Because of increased proportions of phosphatidylserine (negatively charged) on the surface of cancer cells compared to normal cells, cationic amphipathic peptides could be an effective source of anticancer agents that are both selective and refractory to current resistance mechanisms. We reviewed herein the prospect for AMP application to cancer treatment, with a focus on modes of action of cationic AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berthony Deslouches
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Y Peter Di
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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23
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Bosso M, Ständker L, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Exploiting the human peptidome for novel antimicrobial and anticancer agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 26:2719-2726. [PMID: 29122440 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases and cancers are leading causes of death and pose major challenges to public health. The human peptidome encompasses millions of compounds that display an enormous structural and functional diversity and represents an excellent source for the discovery of endogenous agents with antimicrobial and/or anticancer activity. Here, we discuss how to exploit the human peptidome for novel antimicrobial and anticancer agents through the generation of peptide libraries from human body fluids and tissues and stepwise purification of bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Bosso
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ludger Ständker
- Ulm Peptide Pharmaceuticals, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Ulm Peptide Pharmaceuticals, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Ulm Peptide Pharmaceuticals, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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24
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Baxter AA, Lay FT, Poon IKH, Kvansakul M, Hulett MD. Tumor cell membrane-targeting cationic antimicrobial peptides: novel insights into mechanisms of action and therapeutic prospects. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:3809-3825. [PMID: 28770291 PMCID: PMC11107634 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2604-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
There is an ongoing need for effective and targeted cancer treatments that can overcome the detrimental side effects presented by current treatment options. One class of novel anticancer molecules with therapeutic potential currently under investigation are cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs). CAPs are small innate immunity peptides found ubiquitously throughout nature that are typically membrane-active against a wide range of pathogenic microbes. A number of CAPs can also target mammalian cells and often display selective activity towards tumor cells, making them attractive candidates as novel anticancer agents warranting further investigation. This current and comprehensive review describes key examples of naturally occurring membrane-targeting CAPs and their modified derivatives that have demonstrated anticancer activity, across multiple species of origin and structural subfamilies. In addition, we address recent advances made in the field and the ongoing challenges faced in translating experimental findings into clinically relevant treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy A Baxter
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
| | - Fung T Lay
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Ivan K H Poon
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Marc Kvansakul
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Mark D Hulett
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
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Novikova SE, Kurbatov LK, Zavialova MG, Zgoda VG, Archakov AI. [Omics technologies in diagnostics of lung adenocarcinoma]. BIOMEDIT︠S︡INSKAI︠A︡ KHIMII︠A︡ 2017; 63:181-210. [PMID: 28781253 DOI: 10.18097/pbmc20176303181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
To date lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Numerous studies on LAC biology resulted in identification of crucial mutations in protooncogenes and activating neoplastic transformation pathways. Therapeutic approaches that significantly increase the survival rate of patients with LAC of different etiology have been developed and introduced into clinical practice. However, the main problem in the treatment of LAC is early diagnosis, taking into account both factors and mechanisms responsible in tumor initiation and progression. Identification of a wide biomarker repertoire with high specificity and reliability of detection appears to be a solution to this problem. In this context, proteins with differential expression in normal and pathological condition, suitable for detection in biological fluids are the most promising biomarkers. In this review we have analyzed literature data on studies aimed at search of LAC biomarkers. The major attention has been paid to protein biomarkers as the most promising and convenient subject of clinical diagnosis. The review also summarizes existing knowledge on posttranslational modifications, splice variants, isoforms, as well as model systems and transcriptome changes in LAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Novikova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - L K Kurbatov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - V G Zgoda
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - A I Archakov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
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26
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Ibusuki R, Uto H, Oda K, Ohshige A, Tabu K, Mawatari S, Kumagai K, Kanmura S, Tamai T, Moriuchi A, Tsubouchi H, Ido A. Human neutrophil peptide-1 promotes alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis and hepatocyte apoptosis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174913. [PMID: 28403148 PMCID: PMC5389644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Neutrophil infiltration of the liver is a typical feature of alcoholic liver injury. Human neutrophil peptide (HNP)-1 is an antimicrobial peptide secreted by neutrophils. The aim of this study was to determine if HNP-1 affects ethanol-induced liver injury and to examine the mechanism of liver injury induced by HNP-1. METHODS Transgenic (TG) mice expressing HNP-1 under the control of a β-actin-based promoter were established. Ethanol was orally administered to HNP-1 TG or wild-type C57BL/6N (WT) mice. SK-Hep1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells were used to investigate the effect of HNP-1 on hepatocytes in vitro. RESULTS After 24 weeks of ethanol intake, hepatic fibrosis and hepatocyte apoptosis were significantly more severe in TG mice than in WT mice. Levels of CD14, TLR4, and IL-6 in liver tissues were higher in TG mice than in WT mice. Apoptosis was accompanied by higher protein levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, and cleaved PARP in liver tissue. In addition, phosphorylated ASK1, ASK1, phosphorylated JNK, JNK1, JNK2, Bax, Bak and Bim were all more abundant in TG mice than in WT mice. In contrast, the level of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 in the liver was significantly lower in TG mice than in WT mice. Analysis of microRNAs in liver tissue showed that miR-34a-5p expression was significantly higher in TG mice than in WT mice. Furthermore, in the presence of ethanol, HNP-1 increased the apoptosis with the decreased level of Bcl2 in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. CONCLUSIONS HNP-1 secreted by neutrophils may exacerbate alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis and hepatocyte apoptosis with a decrease in Bcl2 expression and an increase in miR-34a-5p expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Ibusuki
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
- Department of International Island and Community Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Uto
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
- Center for Digestive and Liver Diseases, Miyazaki Medical Center Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Kohei Oda
- Department of HGF Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ohshige
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Tabu
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Seiichi Mawatari
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Kotaro Kumagai
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Shuji Kanmura
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Tamai
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Akihiro Moriuchi
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hirohito Tsubouchi
- Department of HGF Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
- Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Akio Ido
- Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
- Department of HGF Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
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Felício MR, Silva ON, Gonçalves S, Santos NC, Franco OL. Peptides with Dual Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities. Front Chem 2017; 5:5. [PMID: 28271058 PMCID: PMC5318463 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2017.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the number of people suffering from cancer and multi-resistant infections has increased, such that both diseases are already seen as current and future major causes of death. Moreover, chronic infections are one of the main causes of cancer, due to the instability in the immune system that allows cancer cells to proliferate. Likewise, the physical debility associated with cancer or with anticancer therapy itself often paves the way for opportunistic infections. It is urgent to develop new therapeutic methods, with higher efficiency and lower side effects. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found in the innate immune system of a wide range of organisms. Identified as the most promising alternative to conventional molecules used nowadays against infections, some of them have been shown to have dual activity, both as antimicrobial and anticancer peptides (ACPs). Highly cationic and amphipathic, they have demonstrated efficacy against both conditions, with the number of nature-driven or synthetically designed peptides increasing year by year. With similar properties, AMPs that can also act as ACPs are viewed as future chemotherapeutic drugs, with the advantage of low propensity to resistance, which started this paradigm in the pharmaceutical market. These peptides have already been described as molecules presenting killing mechanisms at the membrane level, but also acting toward intracellular targets, which increases their success compartively to one-target specific drugs. This review will approach the desirable characteristics of small peptides that demonstrated dual activity against microbial infections and cancer, as well as the peptides engaged in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mário R Felício
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Osmar N Silva
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Sônia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Octávio L Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom BoscoCampo Grande, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de BrasíliaBrasília, Brazil
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28
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Paulin N, Döring Y, Kooijman S, Blanchet X, Viola JR, de Jong R, Mandl M, Hendrikse J, Schiener M, von Hundelshausen P, Vogt A, Weber C, Bdeir K, Hofmann SM, Rensen PCN, Drechsler M, Soehnlein O. Human Neutrophil Peptide 1 Limits Hypercholesterolemia-induced Atherosclerosis by Increasing Hepatic LDL Clearance. EBioMedicine 2017; 16:204-211. [PMID: 28111237 PMCID: PMC5474437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Increases in plasma LDL-cholesterol have unequivocally been established as a causal risk factor for atherosclerosis. Hence, strategies for lowering of LDL-cholesterol may have immediate therapeutic relevance. Here we study the role of human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1) in a mouse model of atherosclerosis and identify its potent atheroprotective effect both upon transgenic overexpression and therapeutic delivery. The effect was found to be due to a reduction of plasma LDL-cholesterol. Mechanistically, HNP1 binds to apolipoproteins enriched in LDL. This interaction facilitates clearance of LDL particles in the liver via LDL receptor. Thus, we here identify a non-redundant mechanism by which HNP1 allows for reduction of LDL-cholesterol, a process that may be therapeutically instructed to lower cardiovascular risk. Mice with transgenic expression of human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1) exhibit lower plasma VLDL/LDL levels and smaller atherosclerotic lesion sizes. Repetitive HNP1 delivery is atheroprotective by reducing hypercholesterolemia. HNP1 binds to apolipoproteins in LDL and facilitates LDL clearance in the liver involving LDL receptor.
Increased plasma lipid levels (i.e. hypercholesterolemia) are a primary risk factor for atherosclerosis, the pathology underlying myocardial infarction and stroke. Here we show that human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1, also known as α-defensin), an antimicrobial protein typically released from activated neutrophils, binds to apolipoproteins within plasma lipoproteins and facilitates the clearance of plasma lipids in the liver. As a consequence, repeated injection of hypercholesterolemic mice with HNP1 reduces atherosclerotic lesion formation. Thus, this study provides an innovative strategy to reduce hypercholesterolemia and hence a way to potentially reduce cardiovascular risk.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apolipoproteins/blood
- Apolipoproteins/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/prevention & control
- Cholesterol, LDL/blood
- Cholesterol, LDL/metabolism
- Female
- Hep G2 Cells
- Humans
- Hypercholesterolemia/genetics
- Hypercholesterolemia/metabolism
- Hypercholesterolemia/prevention & control
- Immunohistochemistry
- Lipoproteins, LDL/blood
- Lipoproteins, LDL/metabolism
- Lipoproteins, LDL/pharmacokinetics
- Liver/drug effects
- Liver/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Protein Binding
- RNA Interference
- Receptors, LDL/genetics
- Receptors, LDL/metabolism
- alpha-Defensins/administration & dosage
- alpha-Defensins/genetics
- alpha-Defensins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Paulin
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany
| | - Yvonne Döring
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany
| | - Sander Kooijman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; Einthoven Laboratory for Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Xavier Blanchet
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany
| | - Joana R Viola
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany; Department of Pathology, AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Renske de Jong
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany; Department of Pathology, AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manuela Mandl
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany
| | - Jeffrey Hendrikse
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany; Department of Pathology, AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maximilian Schiener
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany
| | | | - Anja Vogt
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der LMU München, Munich 80336, Germany
| | - Christian Weber
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany; DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich 80336, Germany
| | - Khalil Bdeir
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Susanna M Hofmann
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der LMU München, Munich 80336, Germany; Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration, Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Patrick C N Rensen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; Einthoven Laboratory for Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maik Drechsler
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany; Department of Pathology, AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich 80336, Germany
| | - Oliver Soehnlein
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich 80336, Germany; Department of Pathology, AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich 80336, Germany.
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29
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Shao JH, Feng GH. Inhibition Mechanism of Novel Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4(5H)-one Derivatives Against Proliferation of A549 and H322 Cancer Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 30:260-5. [DOI: 10.1016/s1001-9294(16)30010-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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30
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Zhan C, Li C, Wei X, Lu W, Lu W. Toxins and derivatives in molecular pharmaceutics: Drug delivery and targeted therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2015; 90:101-18. [PMID: 25959429 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Protein and peptide toxins offer an invaluable source for the development of actively targeted drug delivery systems. They avidly bind to a variety of cognate receptors, some of which are expressed or even up-regulated in diseased tissues and biological barriers. Protein and peptide toxins or their derivatives can act as ligands to facilitate tissue- or organ-specific accumulation of therapeutics. Some toxins have evolved from a relatively small number of structural frameworks that are particularly suitable for addressing the crucial issues of potency and stability, making them an instrumental source of leads and templates for targeted therapy. The focus of this review is on protein and peptide toxins for the development of targeted drug delivery systems and molecular therapies. We summarize disease- and biological barrier-related toxin receptors, as well as targeted drug delivery strategies inspired by those receptors. The design of new therapeutics based on protein and peptide toxins is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyou Zhan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Chong Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University & Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Pharmaceutical Process and Quality Control, Chongqing 400716, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Institute of Human Virology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Weiyue Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
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31
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Adachi T, Matsumoto Y, Inagaki Y, Sekimizu K. Niemann-Pick disease type C2 protein induces autophagy and inhibits growth in FM3A breast cancer cells. Drug Discov Ther 2015; 9:282-8. [PMID: 25843701 DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2015.01014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Some peptides that are highly conserved between insects and mammals have anti-tumor action. Screening for inhibitors of cell growth from animal fluids may provide useful clues to anti-tumor drugs. Inducers of autophagy also have anti-tumor activity. The current authors recently studied a protein found in silkworm hemolymph, Niemann-Pick disease type C2 (NPC2). This protein, which is highly conserved among eukaryotes, was found to have anti-proliferative action on a silkworm cell line. The current study found that the silkworm NPC2 protein also inhibits the growth of FM3A murine breast cancer cells. In FM3A cells, silkworm NPC2 increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase and decreased phosphorylation of Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin, which are regulators of autophagy. This study also found that NPC2 increased the amount of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II, an autophagosome marker, in FM3A cells. Silkworm NPC2 also induced an increase in the number of LC3-dots, a marker of pre-autophagic endosomes, in FM3A cells. When silkworm NPC2 was used to inhibit FM3A cell growth, that inhibition was attenuated by chloroquine, which inhibits autophagic activity by preventing lysosomal acidification. Murine NPC2 also inhibited growth and induced autophagy in FM3A cells. These findings suggest that NPC2 is involved in the induction and/or maintenance of autophagy and may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying other neurodegenerative disorders such as Niemann-Pick disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Adachi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo
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32
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Uraki S, Sugimoto K, Shiraki K, Tameda M, Inagaki Y, Ogura S, Kasai C, Nojiri K, Yoneda M, Yamamoto N, Takei Y, Nobori T, Ito M. Human β-defensin-3 inhibits migration of colon cancer cells via downregulation of metastasis-associated 1 family, member 2 expression. Int J Oncol 2014; 45:1059-64. [PMID: 24969834 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2014.2507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system plays an important role as the first line of defense against many types of microbes. Accumulating reports suggest that human β-defensins (hBDs) are expressed by and have certain roles in some cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the roles of hBD-3 in colon cancer cells. The expression of hBD-3 was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of colon cancer cell lines and immunohistochemical staining of colon cancer tissues. The effect of hBD-3 on proliferation of colon cancer was assessed using the MTT assay and a real-time cell analyzer, and the effect of hBD-3 on the migration of colon cancer cells was also examined. The results showed that hBD-3 is not expressed in colon cancer cells but is produced by tumor-infiltrating monocytes. Migration of colon cancer cells was significantly inhibited by hBD-3 in a dose-dependent manner, although proliferation of colon cancer cells was not affected by administration of hBD-3. Moreover, reduced expression of metastasis-associated 1 family, member 2 (MTA2) mRNA in colon cancer cells was associated with exposure to hBD-3. In conclusion, progression of colon cancer was inhibited by hBD-3 in a paracrine fashion. Therefore, hBD-3 may be a potent new agent for treating colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoko Uraki
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Kazushi Sugimoto
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Katsuya Shiraki
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Masahiko Tameda
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Yuji Inagaki
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Suguru Ogura
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Chika Kasai
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Nojiri
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Misao Yoneda
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Norihiko Yamamoto
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Takei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Nobori
- Department of Molecular and Laboratory Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Masaaki Ito
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
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33
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Zhang S, Yu M, Deng H, Shen G, Wei Y. Polyclonal rabbit anti-human ovarian cancer globulins inhibit tumor growth through apoptosis involving the caspase signaling. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4984. [PMID: 24828460 PMCID: PMC4021334 DOI: 10.1038/srep04984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and there are few therapeutic options. Recently, monoclonal antibody therapies have had limited success, thus more effective antibodies are needed to improve long-term survival. In this report, we prepared polyclonal rabbit anti-ovarian cancer antibody (Poly Ab) by immunizing rabbits with the human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3. The Poly Ab bound to SKOV3 and inhibited the cancer cells proliferation. Western blot analysis was conducted, which indicated that Poly Ab inhibited cancer cells through apoptosis involving the caspase signaling pathway including caspase-3 and caspase-9. Finally, compared with the control antibody, administration of Poly Ab reached 64% and 72% tumor inhibition in the subcutaneous and intraperitoneal xenograft mouse model, respectively. Our findings suggest that Poly Ab is an effective agent for apoptosis induction and may be useful as a safe anticancer agent for ovarian cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhang
- 1] State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China [2]
| | - Min Yu
- 1] Department of thoracic oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China [2]
| | - Hongxin Deng
- 1] State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China [2]
| | - Guobo Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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34
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Wang G. Human antimicrobial peptides and proteins. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2014; 7:545-94. [PMID: 24828484 PMCID: PMC4035769 DOI: 10.3390/ph7050545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 337] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
As the key components of innate immunity, human host defense antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) play a critical role in warding off invading microbial pathogens. In addition, AMPs can possess other biological functions such as apoptosis, wound healing, and immune modulation. This article provides an overview on the identification, activity, 3D structure, and mechanism of action of human AMPs selected from the antimicrobial peptide database. Over 100 such peptides have been identified from a variety of tissues and epithelial surfaces, including skin, eyes, ears, mouths, gut, immune, nervous and urinary systems. These peptides vary from 10 to 150 amino acids with a net charge between -3 and +20 and a hydrophobic content below 60%. The sequence diversity enables human AMPs to adopt various 3D structures and to attack pathogens by different mechanisms. While α-defensin HD-6 can self-assemble on the bacterial surface into nanonets to entangle bacteria, both HNP-1 and β-defensin hBD-3 are able to block cell wall biosynthesis by binding to lipid II. Lysozyme is well-characterized to cleave bacterial cell wall polysaccharides but can also kill bacteria by a non-catalytic mechanism. The two hydrophobic domains in the long amphipathic α-helix of human cathelicidin LL-37 lays the basis for binding and disrupting the curved anionic bacterial membrane surfaces by forming pores or via the carpet model. Furthermore, dermcidin may serve as ion channel by forming a long helix-bundle structure. In addition, the C-type lectin RegIIIα can initially recognize bacterial peptidoglycans followed by pore formation in the membrane. Finally, histatin 5 and GAPDH(2-32) can enter microbial cells to exert their effects. It appears that granulysin enters cells and kills intracellular pathogens with the aid of pore-forming perforin. This arsenal of human defense proteins not only keeps us healthy but also inspires the development of a new generation of personalized medicine to combat drug-resistant superbugs, fungi, viruses, parasites, or cancer. Alternatively, multiple factors (e.g., albumin, arginine, butyrate, calcium, cyclic AMP, isoleucine, short-chain fatty acids, UV B light, vitamin D, and zinc) are able to induce the expression of antimicrobial peptides, opening new avenues to the development of anti-infectious drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986495 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA.
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35
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Wu D, Gao Y, Qi Y, Chen L, Ma Y, Li Y. Peptide-based cancer therapy: opportunity and challenge. Cancer Lett 2014; 351:13-22. [PMID: 24836189 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Revised: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Conventional cancer therapies mainly focus on mass cell killing without high specificity and often cause severe side effects and toxicities. Peptides are a novel class of anticancer agents that could specifically target cancer cells with lower toxicity to normal tissues, which will offer new opportunities for cancer prevention and treatment. Anticancer peptides face several therapeutic challenges. In this review, we present the sources and mechanisms of anticancer peptides and further discuss modification strategies to improve the anticancer effects of bioactive peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Wu
- College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China
| | - Yanfeng Gao
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yuanming Qi
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China.
| | - Lixiang Chen
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Yuanfang Ma
- College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China
| | - Yanzhang Li
- College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China.
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Shao J, Feng G. Selective killing effect of oxytetracycline, propafenone and metamizole on A549 or Hela cells. Chin J Cancer Res 2014; 25:662-70. [PMID: 24385693 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.1000-9604.2013.11.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the selective killing effect of oxytetracycline, propafenone and metamizole on A549 or Hela cells. METHODS Proliferation assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, apoptosis detecting, flow cytometry and western blot were performed. RESULTS It was found that treatment with propafenone at the concentration of 0.014 g/L or higher for 48 h could induce apoptosis in Hela cells greatly, while it was not observed in oxytetracycline and metamizole at the concentration of 0.20 g/L for 48 h. Oxytetracycline, propafenone and metamizole all displayed evident inhibitory effects on the proliferation of A549 cells. The results of LDH assay demonstrated that the drugs at the test range of concentration did not cause necrosis in the cells. Propafenone could elevate the protein level of P53 effectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Oxytetracycline, propafenone and metamizol (dipyrone) all displayed evident inhibitory effects on the proliferation of A549 cells. Propafenone also displayed evident inhibitory effects on the proliferation of Hela cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Shao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Hubei University of Art and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
| | - Guihua Feng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Hubei University of Art and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
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37
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LI DAN, QIN QING, WANG XIAOYI, SHI HUASHAN, LUO MIN, GUO FUCHUN, WANG WEI, WANG YONGSHENG. Intratumoral expression of mature human neutrophil peptide-1 potentiates the therapeutic effect of doxorubicin in a mouse 4T1 breast cancer model. Oncol Rep 2013; 31:1287-95. [DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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38
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Li Y, Wang X, Ao M, Gabrielson E, Askin F, Zhang H, Li QK. Aberrant Mucin5B expression in lung adenocarcinomas detected by iTRAQ labeling quantitative proteomics and immunohistochemistry. Clin Proteomics 2013; 10:15. [PMID: 24176033 PMCID: PMC3826529 DOI: 10.1186/1559-0275-10-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and worldwide. The complex protein changes and/or signature of protein expression in lung cancer, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been well defined. Although several studies have investigated the protein profile in lung cancers, the knowledge is far from complete. Among early studies, mucin5B (MUC5B) has been suggested to play an important role in the tumor progression. MUC5B is the major gel-forming mucin in the airway. In this study, we investigated the overall protein profile and MUC5B expression in lung adenocarcinomas, the most common type of NSCLCs. Methods Lung adenocarcinoma tissue in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks was collected and microdissected. Peptides from 8 tumors and 8 tumor-matched normal lung tissue were extracted and labeled with 8-channel iTRAQ reagents. The labeled peptides were identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS using an LTQ Orbitrap Velos mass spectrometer. MUC5B expression identified by iTRAQ labeling was further validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tumor tissue microarray (TMA). Results A total of 1288 peptides from 210 proteins were identified and quantified in tumor tissues. Twenty-two proteins showed a greater than 1.5-fold differences between tumor and tumor-matched normal lung tissues. Fifteen proteins, including MUC5B, showed significant changes in tumor tissues. The aberrant expression of MUC5B was further identified in 71.1% of lung adenocarcinomas in the TMA. Discussions A subset of tumor-associated proteins was differentially expressed in lung adenocarcinomas. The differential expression of MUC5B in lung adenocarcinomas suggests its role as a potential biomarker in the detection of adenocarcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Qing Kay Li
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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39
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Mulder KCL, Lima LA, Miranda VJ, Dias SC, Franco OL. Current scenario of peptide-based drugs: the key roles of cationic antitumor and antiviral peptides. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:321. [PMID: 24198814 PMCID: PMC3813893 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and host defense peptides (HDPs) show vast potential as peptide-based drugs. Great effort has been made in order to exploit their mechanisms of action, aiming to identify their targets as well as to enhance their activity and bioavailability. In this review, we will focus on both naturally occurring and designed antiviral and antitumor cationic peptides, including those here called promiscuous, in which multiple targets are associated with a single peptide structure. Emphasis will be given to their biochemical features, selectivity against extra targets, and molecular mechanisms. Peptides which possess antitumor activity against different cancer cell lines will be discussed, as well as peptides which inhibit virus replication, focusing on their applications for human health, animal health and agriculture, and their potential as new therapeutic drugs. Moreover, the current scenario for production and the use of nanotechnology as delivery tool for both classes of cationic peptides, as well as the perspectives on improving them is considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly C L Mulder
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília Brasília, Brazil
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Dabirian S, Taslimi Y, Zahedifard F, Gholami E, Doustdari F, Motamedirad M, Khatami S, Azadmanesh K, Nylen S, Rafati S. Human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1): a new anti-leishmanial drug candidate. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2491. [PMID: 24147170 PMCID: PMC3798388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The toxicity of available drugs for treatment of leishmaniasis, coupled with emerging drug resistance, make it urgent to find new therapies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a strong broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with distinctive modes of action and are considered as promising therapeutic agents. The defensins, members of the large family of AMPs, are immunomodulatory molecules and important components of innate immune system. Human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1), which is produced by neutrophils, is one of the most potent defensins. In this study, we described anti-parasitic activity of recombinant HNP-1 (rHNP-1) against Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes. Furthermore, we evaluated the immunomodulatory effect of rHNP-1 on parasite-infected neutrophils and how neutrophil apoptosis was affected. Our result showed that neutrophils isolated from healthy individuals were significantly delayed in the onset of apoptosis following rHNP-1 treatment. Moreover, there was a noteworthy increase in dying cells in rHNP-1- and/or CpG–treated neutrophils in comparison with untreated cells. There is a considerable increase in TNF-α production from rHNP-1-treated neutrophils and decreased level of TGF-β concentration, a response that should potentiate the immune system against parasite invasion. In addition, by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), we showed that in vitro infectivity of Leishmania into neutrophils is significantly reduced following rHNP-1 treatment compared to untreated cells. In Iran, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a widespread and highly endemic disease in young individuals. To date, treatment strategy is based on chemotherapy accompanied with high incidence of toxicity and drug resistance. Distinctive mode of action of defensins (members of antimicrobial peptides) with low susceptibility to resistance and low toxicity to mammalian cells makes them suitable candidates for anti-leishmanial agents. The most active human defensin is human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) produced by neutrophils; the first effector cells during Leishmania infection. In this work, we used recombinant HNP-1 (rHNP-1) against both the promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania (L.) major. Furthermore, immunomodulatory effect of rHNP-1 on Leishmania-infected neutrophils was investigated. Our result showed that rHNP-1 has anti-parasitic effect against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes and also reduces infectivity rate of Leishmania-infected neutrophils. Moreover, assessment of cytokine production from Leishmania-infected neutrophils reveals an increase in TNF-α and a decrease in TGF-β production after rHNP-1 treatment; a cytokine pattern anticipated to facilitate control of parasites. The immunomodulatory effect of rHNP-1 on cytokine production from parasite-infected neutrophils besides its direct effect on free parasites is considered as promising step towards developing new anti-leishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Dabirian
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasaman Taslimi
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farnaz Zahedifard
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Gholami
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Doustdari
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shohreh Khatami
- Biochemistry Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Susanne Nylen
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sima Rafati
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: ,
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Silva ON, Porto WF, Migliolo L, Mandal SM, Gomes DG, Holanda HHS, Silva RSP, Dias SC, Costa MP, Costa CR, Silva MR, Rezende TMB, Franco OL. Cn-AMP1: a new promiscuous peptide with potential for microbial infections treatment. Biopolymers 2013. [PMID: 23193596 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are evolutionarily ancient molecules that act as components of the innate immune system. Recently, it was demonstrated that a single AMP can perform various functions; this ability is known as "peptide promiscuity." However, little is known about promiscuity in plant AMPs without disulfide bonds. This study was carried out to evaluate the promiscuity of Cn-AMP1: a promising disulfide-free plant peptide with reduced size and cationic and hydrophobic properties. Its activity against human pathogenic bacteria and fungal pathogens, as well as its in vitro immunostimulatory activity and effects on cancerous and healthy mammalian cell proliferation were studied here. Cn-AMP1 exerts antimicrobial effects against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Moreover, tumor cell viability activity in Caco-2 cells, as well as immunostimulatory activity by evaluating upregulated inflammatory-cytokine secretion by monocytes was also positively observed. Cn-AMP1 does not exhibit a well-defined conformation in aqueous solution and probably undergoes a 3(10)-helix transition in hydrophobic environments. The experimental results support the promiscuous activity of Cn-AMP1, presenting a wide range of activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and immunostimulatory activity. In the future, Cn-AMP1 should be used in the development of novel biopharmaceuticals, mainly due to its reduced size and broad spectrum of activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmar N Silva
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brazil
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Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Responses of A549 Epithelial Cells to Antimicrobial Peptide Brevinin-2R. Int J Pept Res Ther 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-012-9328-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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43
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Al-Benna S, Shai Y, Jacobsen F, Steinstraesser L. Oncolytic activities of host defense peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2011; 12:8027-51. [PMID: 22174648 PMCID: PMC3233454 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12118027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2011] [Accepted: 11/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer continues to be a leading source of morbidity and mortality worldwide in spite of progress in oncolytic therapies. In addition, the incidence of cancers affecting the breast, kidney, prostate and skin among others continue to rise. Chemotherapeutic drugs are widely used in cancer treatment but have the serious drawback of nonspecific toxicity because these agents target any rapidly dividing cell without discriminating between healthy and malignant cells. In addition, many neoplasms eventually become resistant to conventional chemotherapy due to selection for multidrug-resistant variants. The limitations associated with existing chemotherapeutic drugs have stimulated the search for new oncolytic therapies. Host defense peptides (HDPs) may represent a novel family of oncolytic agents that can avoid the shortcomings of conventional chemotherapy because they exhibit selective cytotoxicity against a broad spectrum of malignant human cells, including multi-drug-resistant neoplastic cells. Oncolytic activity by HDPs is usually via necrosis due to cell membrane lysis, but some HDPs can trigger apoptosis in cancer cells via mitochondrial membrane disruption. In addition, certain HDPs are anti-angiogenic which may inhibit cancer progression. This paper reviews oncolytic HDP studies in order to address the suitability of selected HDPs as oncolytic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sammy Al-Benna
- Laboratory for Molecular Oncology and Wound Healing, Department of Plastic Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany; E-Mails: (S.A.-B.); (F.J.)
| | - Yechiel Shai
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; E-Mail:
| | - Frank Jacobsen
- Laboratory for Molecular Oncology and Wound Healing, Department of Plastic Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany; E-Mails: (S.A.-B.); (F.J.)
| | - Lars Steinstraesser
- Laboratory for Molecular Oncology and Wound Healing, Department of Plastic Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany; E-Mails: (S.A.-B.); (F.J.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +49-234-302-3442; Fax: +49-234-302-6379
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Riedl S, Zweytick D, Lohner K. Membrane-active host defense peptides--challenges and perspectives for the development of novel anticancer drugs. Chem Phys Lipids 2011; 164:766-81. [PMID: 21945565 PMCID: PMC3220766 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2011.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Revised: 09/07/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although much progress has been achieved in the development of cancer therapies in recent decades, problems continue to arise particularly with respect to chemotherapy due to resistance to and low specificity of currently available drugs. Host defense peptides as effector molecules of innate immunity represent a novel strategy for the development of alternative anticancer drug molecules. These cationic amphipathic peptides are able to discriminate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells interacting specifically with negatively charged membrane components such as phosphatidylserine (PS), sialic acid or heparan sulfate, which differ between cancer and non-cancer cells. Furthermore, an increased number of microvilli has been found on cancer cells leading to an increase in cell surface area, which may in turn enhance their susceptibility to anticancer peptides. Thus, part of this review will be devoted to the differences in membrane composition of non-cancer and cancer cells with a focus on the exposure of PS on the outer membrane. Normally, surface exposed PS triggers apoptosis, which can however be circumvented by cancer cells by various means. Host defense peptides, which selectively target differences between cancer and non-cancer cell membranes, have excellent tumor tissue penetration and can thus reach the site of both primary tumor and distant metastasis. Since these molecules kill their target cells rapidly and mainly by perturbing the integrity of the plasma membrane, resistance is less likely to occur. Hence, a chapter will also describe studies related to the molecular mechanisms of membrane damage as well as alternative non-membrane related mechanisms. In vivo studies have demonstrated that host defense peptides display anticancer activity against a number of cancers such as e.g. leukemia, prostate, ascite and ovarian tumors, yet so far none of these peptides has made it on the market. Nevertheless, optimization of host defense peptides using various strategies to enhance further selectivity and serum stability is expected to yield novel anticancer drugs with improved properties in respect of cancer cell toxicity as well as reduced development of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Riedl
- Institute of Biophysics and Nanosystems Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Schmiedlstrasse 6, Graz, Austria
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45
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Gene expression of oncogenes, antimicrobial peptides, and cytokines in the development of oral leukoplakia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 110:351-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2009.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2009] [Revised: 07/17/2009] [Accepted: 08/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Rodrigues EG, Dobroff AS, Taborda CP, Travassos LR. Antifungal and antitumor models of bioactive protective peptides. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2010; 81:503-20. [PMID: 19722020 DOI: 10.1590/s0001-37652009000300015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2008] [Accepted: 03/31/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides are remarkably reactive molecules produced by a great variety of species and able to display a number of functions in uni-and multicellular organisms as mediators, agonists and regulating substances. Some of them exert cytotoxic effects on cells other than those that produced them, and may have a role in controlling subpopulations and protecting certain species or cell types. Presently, we focus on antifungal and antitumor peptides and discuss a few models in which specific sequences and structures exerted direct inhibitory effects or stimulated a protective immune response. The killer peptide, deduced from an antiidiotypic antibody, with several antimicrobial activities and other Ig-derived peptides with cytotoxic activities including antitumor effects, are models studied in vitro and in vivo. Peptide 10 from gp43 of P. brasiliensis (P10) and the vaccine perspective against paracoccidioidomycosis is another topic illustrating the protective effect in vivo against a pathogenic fungus. The cationic antimicrobial peptides with antitumor activities are mostly reviewed here. Local treatment of murine melanoma by the peptide gomesin is another model studied at the Experimental Oncology Unit of UNIFESP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine G Rodrigues
- Unidade de Oncologia Experimental, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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Abstract
Host defence peptides (HDP) produced by almost all species of living organisms and widely recognized as antimicrobial antibiotics have also proved to be capable of killing a wide variety of cancer cells. In this respect they have many advantages over conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. They seem to kill cancer cells by effects on plasma membranes and/or the membranes of mitochondria. They are often effective against multidrug-resistant cells. They have a broad spectrum of activity in that their killing effects are not restricted to particular kinds of cancer. Above all they commonly have few side effects in that they do not have the same detrimental effects on normal cells as they do on cancer cells. It has been demonstrated that HDP can be used as effective adjuvants to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. In addition they have effects on neo-angiogenesis which is important in relation to tumour growth. HDP have been shown to be powerful immunomodulators in a number of circumstances and in this respect they are believed to be instrumental in strengthening immunological host defence against cancer cells. Importantly it has also been shown that certain HDP have the capability to alter the capacity of cells to import Ca ions by affecting the location and thus function of calreticulin. Such changes it has been argued are significant in facilitating the killing of tumour cells by immunogical means. HDP constitute a novel class of anticancer agents for which, as we develop better knowledge of their pharmacokinetic profiles and learn better how to tailor their administration, hold high promise to augment or even replace the currently available cytotoxic anticancer chemotherapeutic agents most of which owe their efficacy to their capacity to bind to and damage target cell DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Károly Lapis
- Semmelweis Egyetem, AOK I. sz. Patológiai és Kísérleti Rákkutató Intézet, 1085 Budapest, Ulloi út 26.
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48
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Abstract
Host defense peptides (HDPs) are relatively small, mostly cationic, amphipathic, and of variable length, sequence, and structure. The majority of these peptides exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and often activity against viruses and some cancer cell lines. In addition, HDPs also provide a range of immunomodulatory activities related to innate immunity defense, inflammation, and wound healing. The development of these multi-faceted molecules and their bioactivities into clinically important therapeutics is being pursued using a number of different approaches. Here we review the role of HDPs in nature and application of this role to the development of novel therapeutics.
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Wang YS, Li D, Shi HS, Wen YJ, Yang L, Xu N, Chen XC, Chen X, Chen P, Li J, Deng HX, Wang CT, Xie G, Huang S, Mao YQ, Chen LJ, Zhao X, Wei YQ. Intratumoral expression of mature human neutrophil peptide-1 mediates antitumor immunity in mice. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:6901-11. [PMID: 19861439 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-0484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Human neutrophil peptides (HNP1-3), small molecular antimicrobial peptides, are expressed within tumors and associated with tumor necrosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. Recent investigations have suggested that HNP1-3 are likely to be involved in the host immune responses to tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used recombinant pSec-HNP1, which expresses a secretable form of HNP1, to obtain expression of HNP1 in the tumor milieu in immunocompetent mice to explore the possible roles of HNP1 in tumor immunity. The antitumor effects were investigated in established CT26 colon cancer and 4T1 breast cancer models. RESULTS HNP1-mediated chemotactic and activating effects on immature dendritic cells were detected both in vitro and in vivo. Intratumoral expression of HNP1 resulted in not only significant tumor growth inhibition but also increased CTL infiltration within tumors. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes and a (51)Cr release assay revealed specific cellular immune responses. Furthermore, increased antibodies were also found in sera from pSec-HNP1-treated mice supporting specific humoral immune responses. Increased apoptosis and decreased angiogenesis were also shown in treated tumors. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that HNP1 can exert multiple antitumor effects through different mechanisms; more importantly, HNP1 mediates host immune responses to tumors in situ through the recruitment and subsequent activation of immature dendritic cells and thus shows promising potential in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Sheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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50
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Held-Kuznetsov V, Rotem S, Assaraf YG, Mor A. Host‐defense peptide mimicry for novel antitumor agents. FASEB J 2009; 23:4299-307. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.09-136358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Held-Kuznetsov
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
| | - Shahar Rotem
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
| | - Yehuda G. Assaraf
- The Fred Wyszkowski Cancer Research Laboratory Faculty of Biology Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
| | - Amram Mor
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
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