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Li C, Shi K, Zhao S, Liu J, Zhai Q, Hou X, Xu J, Wang X, Liu J, Wu X, Fan W. Natural-source payloads used in the conjugated drugs architecture for cancer therapy: Recent advances and future directions. Pharmacol Res 2024; 207:107341. [PMID: 39134188 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Drug conjugates are obtained from tumor-located vectors connected to cytotoxic agents via linkers, which are designed to deliver hyper-toxic payloads directly to targeted cancer cells. These drug conjugates include antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs), small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs), nucleic acid aptamer-drug conjugates (ApDCs), and virus-like drug conjugate (VDCs), which show great therapeutic value in the clinic. Drug conjugates consist of a targeting carrier, a linker, and a payload. Payloads are key therapy components. Cytotoxic molecules and their derivatives derived from natural products are commonly used in the payload portion of conjugates. The ideal payload should have sufficient toxicity, stability, coupling sites, and the ability to be released under specific conditions to kill tumor cells. Microtubule protein inhibitors, DNA damage agents, and RNA inhibitors are common cytotoxic molecules. Among these conjugates, cytotoxic molecules of natural origin are summarized based on their mechanism of action, conformational relationships, and the discovery of new derivatives. This paper also mentions some cytotoxic molecules that have the potential to be payloads. It also summarizes the latest technologies and novel conjugates developed in recent years to overcome the shortcomings of ADCs, PDCs, SMDCs, ApDCs, and VDCs. In addition, this paper summarizes the clinical trials conducted on conjugates of these cytotoxic molecules over the last five years. It provides a reference for designing and developing safer and more efficient conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiping Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
| | - Kourong Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
| | - Siyuan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
| | - Juan Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
| | - Qiaoli Zhai
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
| | - Xiaoli Hou
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201707, China.
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350108, China.
| | - Xin Wu
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350108, China; Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai 201707, China.
| | - Wei Fan
- Department of Pharmacy, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200137, China.
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Zhang X, Yu D, Tang P, Chen F. Insights into the role of mitophagy in lung cancer: current evidence and perspectives. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1420643. [PMID: 38962310 PMCID: PMC11220236 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1420643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer, recognized globally as a leading cause of malignancy-associated morbidity and mortality, is marked by its high prevalence and lethality, garnering extensive attention within the medical community. Mitophagy is a critical cellular process that plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism and ensuring quality control within cells. Its relevance to lung cancer has garnered significant attention among researchers and scientists. Mitophagy's involvement in lung cancer encompasses its initiation, progression, metastatic dissemination and treatment. The regulatory landscape of mitophagy is complex, involving numerous signaling proteins and pathways that may exhibit aberrant alterations or mutations within the tumor environment. In the field of treatment, the regulation of mitophagy is considered key to determining cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, other treatment options, and drug resistance. Contemporary investigations are directed towards harnessing mitophagy modulators, both inhibitors and activators, in therapeutic strategies, with an emphasis on achieving specificity to minimize collateral damage to healthy cellular populations. Furthermore, molecular constituents and pathways affiliated with mitophagy, serving as potential biomarkers, offer promising avenues for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, prognostic assessment, and prediction of therapeutic responses in lung cancer. Future endeavors will also involve investigating the impact of mitophagy on the composition and function of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, aiming to enhance our understanding of how mitophagy modulates the immune response to lung cancer. This review aims to comprehensively overview recent advancements about the role of mitophagy in the tumor genesis, progenesis and metastasis, and the impact of mitophagy on the treatment of lung cancer. We also discussed the future research direction of mitophagy in the field of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Dongzhi Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Peng Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Fengshou Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Toledo B, Zhu Chen L, Paniagua-Sancho M, Marchal JA, Perán M, Giovannetti E. Deciphering the performance of macrophages in tumour microenvironment: a call for precision immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:44. [PMID: 38863020 PMCID: PMC11167803 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01559-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages infiltrating tumour tissues or residing in the microenvironment of solid tumours are known as tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs). These specialized immune cells play crucial roles in tumour growth, angiogenesis, immune regulation, metastasis, and chemoresistance. TAMs encompass various subpopulations, primarily classified into M1 and M2 subtypes based on their differentiation and activities. M1 macrophages, characterized by a pro-inflammatory phenotype, exert anti-tumoural effects, while M2 macrophages, with an anti-inflammatory phenotype, function as protumoural regulators. These highly versatile cells respond to stimuli from tumour cells and other constituents within the tumour microenvironment (TME), such as growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes. These stimuli induce their polarization towards one phenotype or another, leading to complex interactions with TME components and influencing both pro-tumour and anti-tumour processes.This review comprehensively and deeply covers the literature on macrophages, their origin and function as well as the intricate interplay between macrophages and the TME, influencing the dual nature of TAMs in promoting both pro- and anti-tumour processes. Moreover, the review delves into the primary pathways implicated in macrophage polarization, examining the diverse stimuli that regulate this process. These stimuli play a crucial role in shaping the phenotype and functions of macrophages. In addition, the advantages and limitations of current macrophage based clinical interventions are reviewed, including enhancing TAM phagocytosis, inducing TAM exhaustion, inhibiting TAM recruitment, and polarizing TAMs towards an M1-like phenotype. In conclusion, while the treatment strategies targeting macrophages in precision medicine show promise, overcoming several obstacles is still necessary to achieve an accessible and efficient immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Toledo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Campus Lagunillas, Jaén, E-23071, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Linrui Zhu Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - María Paniagua-Sancho
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, E-18100, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria ibs. GRANADA, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Marchal
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, E-18100, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria ibs. GRANADA, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
| | - Macarena Perán
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Campus Lagunillas, Jaén, E-23071, Spain.
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, E-18100, Spain.
- Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain.
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano, Pisa, 56017, Italy.
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Zhang HQ, Sun C, Xu N, Liu W. The current landscape of the antimicrobial peptide melittin and its therapeutic potential. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1326033. [PMID: 38318188 PMCID: PMC10838977 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1326033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Melittin, a main component of bee venom, is a cationic amphiphilic peptide with a linear α-helix structure. It has been reported that melittin can exert pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. In particular, melittin may be beneficial for the treatment of diseases for which no specific clinical therapeutic agents exist. Melittin can effectively enhance the therapeutic properties of some first-line drugs. Elucidating the mechanism underlying melittin-mediated biological function can provide valuable insights for the application of melittin in disease intervention. However, in melittin, the positively charged amino acids enables it to directly punching holes in cell membranes. The hemolysis in red cells and the cytotoxicity triggered by melittin limit its applications. Melittin-based nanomodification, immuno-conjugation, structural regulation and gene technology strategies have been demonstrated to enhance the specificity, reduce the cytotoxicity and limit the off-target cytolysis of melittin, which suggests the potential of melittin to be used clinically. This article summarizes research progress on antiviral, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties of melittin, and discusses the strategies of melittin-modification for its future potential clinical applications in preventing drug resistance, enhancing the selectivity to target cells and alleviating cytotoxic effects to normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Qian Zhang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chengbiao Sun
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Na Xu
- Academic Affairs Office, Jilin Medical University, Jilin, Jilin, China
| | - Wensen Liu
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Li X, Li Z, Meng YQ, Qiao H, Zhai KR, Li ZQ, Wei SL, Li B. Melittin kills A549 cells by targeting mitochondria and blocking mitophagy flux. Redox Rep 2023; 28:2284517. [PMID: 38041592 PMCID: PMC11001274 DOI: 10.1080/13510002.2023.2284517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Melittin, a naturally occurring polypeptide found in bee venom, has been recognized for its potential anti-tumor effects, particularly in the context of lung cancer. Our previous study focused on its impact on human lung adenocarcinoma cells A549, revealing that melittin induces intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst and oxidative damage, resulting in cell death. Considering the significant role of mitochondria in maintaining intracellular redox levels and ROS, we further examined the involvement of mitochondrial damage in melittin-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Our findings demonstrated that melittin caused changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), triggered mitochondrial ROS burst (Figure 1), and activated the mitochondria-related apoptosis pathway Bax/Bcl-2 by directly targeting mitochondria in A549 cells (Figure 2). Further, we infected A549 cells using a lentivirus that can express melittin-Myc and confirmed that melittin can directly target binding to mitochondria, causing the biological effects described above (Figure 2). Notably, melittin induced mitochondrial damage while inhibiting autophagy, resulting in abnormal degradation of damaged mitochondria (Figure 5). To summarize, our study unveils that melittin targets mitochondria, causing mitochondrial damage, and inhibits the autophagy-lysosomal degradation pathway. This process triggers mitoROS burst and ultimately activates the mitochondria-associated Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic signaling pathways in A549 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu-Qi Meng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui Qiao
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ke-Rong Zhai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Qing Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi-Lin Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Yu X, Jia S, Yu S, Chen Y, Zhang C, Chen H, Dai Y. Recent advances in melittin-based nanoparticles for antitumor treatment: from mechanisms to targeted delivery strategies. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:454. [PMID: 38017537 PMCID: PMC10685715 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02223-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
As a naturally occurring cytolytic peptide, melittin (MLT) not only exhibits a potent direct tumor cell-killing effect but also possesses various immunomodulatory functions. MLT shows minimal chances for developing resistance and has been recognized as a promising broad-spectrum antitumor drug because of this unique dual mechanism of action. However, MLT still displays obvious toxic side effects during treatment, such as nonspecific cytolytic activity, hemolytic toxicity, coagulation disorders, and allergic reactions, seriously hampering its broad clinical applications. With thorough research on antitumor mechanisms and the rapid development of nanotechnology, significant effort has been devoted to shielding against toxicity and achieving tumor-directed drug delivery to improve the therapeutic efficacy of MLT. Herein, we mainly summarize the potential antitumor mechanisms of MLT and recent progress in the targeted delivery strategies for tumor therapy, such as passive targeting, active targeting and stimulus-responsive targeting. Additionally, we also highlight the prospects and challenges of realizing the full potential of MLT in the field of tumor therapy. By exploring the antitumor molecular mechanisms and delivery strategies of MLT, this comprehensive review may inspire new ideas for tumor multimechanism synergistic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
| | - Siyu Jia
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
- The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Shi Yu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Yaohui Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Chengwei Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Haidan Chen
- The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China.
| | - Yanfeng Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
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