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da Fonseca IIM, Nagamine MK, Gentile LB, Nishiya AT, da Fonseca JM, de Oliveira Massoco C, Ward JM, Liu S, Leppla SH, Dagli MLZ. Targeting canine mammary neoplastic epithelial cells with a reengineered anthrax toxin: first study. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:2407-2428. [PMID: 38805149 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10400-5] [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] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Mammary tumors are the most frequent type of neoplasms in intact female dogs. New therapies that target neoplastic cells without affecting normal cells are highly sought. The Bacillus anthracis toxin has been reengineered to target tumor cells that express urokinase plasminogen activators and metalloproteinases. In previous studies carried out in our laboratory, the reengineered anthrax toxin had inhibitory effects on canine oral mucosal melanoma and canine osteosarcoma cells. In this study, five canine neoplastic epithelial cell lines (four adenocarcinomas and one adenoma) and one non-neoplastic canine mammary epithelial cell line were treated with different concentrations of reengineered anthrax toxin components. Cell viability was quantified using an MTT assay and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. Cell lines were considered sensitive when the IC50 was lower than 5000 ng/ml. One canine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line and one mammary adenoma cell line showed significantly decreased viability after treatment, whereas the non-neoplastic cell line was resistant. We conclude that the reengineered anthrax toxin may be considered a targeted therapy for canine mammary neoplasms while preserving normal canine mammary epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivone Izabel Mackowiak da Fonseca
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Márcia Kazumi Nagamine
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Luciana Boffoni Gentile
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Adriana Tomoko Nishiya
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Jonathan Mackowiak da Fonseca
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Cristina de Oliveira Massoco
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | | | - Shihui Liu
- Aging Institute and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Stephen Howard Leppla
- Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Maria Lucia Zaidan Dagli
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil.
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Metrangolo V, Ploug M, Engelholm LH. The Urokinase Receptor (uPAR) as a "Trojan Horse" in Targeted Cancer Therapy: Challenges and Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215376. [PMID: 34771541 PMCID: PMC8582577 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Discovered more than three decades ago, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has now firmly established itself as a versatile molecular target holding promise for the treatment of aggressive malignancies. The copious abundance of uPAR in virtually all human cancerous tissues versus their healthy counterparts has fostered a gradual shift in the therapeutic landscape targeting this receptor from function inhibition to cytotoxic approaches to selectively eradicate the uPAR-expressing cells by delivering a targeted cytotoxic insult. Multiple avenues are being explored in a preclinical setting, including the more innovative immune- or stroma targeting therapies. This review discusses the current state of these strategies, their potentialities, and challenges, along with future directions in the field of uPAR targeting. Abstract One of the largest challenges to the implementation of precision oncology is identifying and validating selective tumor-driving targets to enhance the therapeutic efficacy while limiting off-target toxicity. In this context, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has progressively emerged as a promising therapeutic target in the management of aggressive malignancies. By focalizing the plasminogen activation cascade and subsequent extracellular proteolysis on the cell surface of migrating cells, uPAR endows malignant cells with a high proteolytic and migratory potential to dissolve the restraining extracellular matrix (ECM) barriers and metastasize to distant sites. uPAR is also assumed to choreograph multiple other neoplastic stages via a complex molecular interplay with distinct cancer-associated signaling pathways. Accordingly, high uPAR expression is observed in virtually all human cancers and is frequently associated with poor patient prognosis and survival. The promising therapeutic potential unveiled by the pleiotropic nature of this receptor has prompted the development of distinct targeted intervention strategies. The present review will focus on recently emerged cytotoxic approaches emphasizing the novel technologies and related limits hindering their application in the clinical setting. Finally, future research directions and emerging opportunities in the field of uPAR targeting are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Metrangolo
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (V.M.); (M.P.)
- Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Ploug
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (V.M.); (M.P.)
- Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars H. Engelholm
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (V.M.); (M.P.)
- Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +45-31-43-20-77
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Leth JM, Ploug M. Targeting the Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (uPAR) in Human Diseases With a View to Non-invasive Imaging and Therapeutic Intervention. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:732015. [PMID: 34490277 PMCID: PMC8417595 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.732015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its glycolipid-anchored receptor (uPAR) focalizes plasminogen activation to cell surfaces, thereby regulating extravascular fibrinolysis, cell adhesion, and migration. uPAR belongs to the Ly6/uPAR (LU) gene superfamily and the high-affinity binding site for uPA is assembled by a dynamic association of its three consecutive LU domains. In most human solid cancers, uPAR is expressed at the invasive areas of the tumor-stromal microenvironment. High levels of uPAR in resected tumors or shed to the plasma of cancer patients are robustly associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of relapse and metastasis. Over the years, a plethora of different strategies to inhibit uPA and uPAR function have been designed and investigated in vitro and in vivo in mouse models, but so far none have been implemented in the clinics. In recent years, uPAR-targeting with the intent of cytotoxic eradication of uPAR-expressing cells have nonetheless gained increasing momentum. Another avenue that is currently being explored is non-invasive imaging with specific uPAR-targeted reporter-molecules containing positron emitting radionuclides or near-infrared (NIR) florescence probes with the overarching aim of being able to: (i) localize disease dissemination using positron emission tomography (PET) and (ii) assist fluorescence guided surgery using optical imaging. In this review, we will discuss these advancements with special emphasis on applications using a small 9-mer peptide antagonist that targets uPAR with high affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Maja Leth
- Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Ploug
- Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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An in vivo selection-derived d-peptide for engineering erythrocyte-binding antigens that promote immune tolerance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2101596118. [PMID: 34417313 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101596118] [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: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
When displayed on erythrocytes, peptides and proteins can drive antigen-specific immune tolerance. Here, we investigated a straightforward approach based on erythrocyte binding to promote antigen-specific tolerance to both peptides and proteins. We first identified a robust erythrocyte-binding ligand. A pool of one million fully d-chiral peptides was injected into mice, blood cells were isolated, and ligands enriched on these cells were identified using nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. One round of selection yielded a murine erythrocyte-binding ligand with an 80 nM apparent dissociation constant, K d We modified an 83-kDa bacterial protein and a peptide antigen derived from ovalbumin (OVA) with the identified erythrocyte-binding ligand. An administration of the engineered bacterial protein led to decreased protein-specific antibodies in mice. Similarly, mice given the engineered OVA-derived peptide had decreased inflammatory anti-OVA CD8+ T cell responses. These findings suggest that our tolerance-induction strategy is applicable to both peptide and protein antigens and that our in vivo selection strategy can be used for de novo discovery of robust erythrocyte-binding ligands.
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RAGE Signaling in Melanoma Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238989. [PMID: 33256110 PMCID: PMC7730603 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent progresses in its treatment, malignant cutaneous melanoma remains a cancer with very poor prognosis. Emerging evidences suggest that the receptor for advance glycation end products (RAGE) plays a key role in melanoma progression through its activation in both cancer and stromal cells. In tumors, RAGE activation is fueled by numerous ligands, S100B and HMGB1 being the most notable, but the role of many other ligands is not well understood and should not be underappreciated. Here, we provide a review of the current role of RAGE in melanoma and conclude that targeting RAGE in melanoma could be an approach to improve the outcomes of melanoma patients.
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Mackowiak da Fonseca J, Mackowiak da Fonseca II, Nagamine MK, Massoco CDO, Nishiya AT, Ward JM, Liu S, Leppla SH, Bugge TH, Dagli MLZ. Inhibitory Effects of a Reengineered Anthrax Toxin on Canine and Human Osteosarcoma Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12100614. [PMID: 32987941 PMCID: PMC7601267 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12100614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine and human osteosarcomas (OSA) share similarities. Novel therapies are necessary for these tumours. The Bacillus anthracis toxin was reengineered to target and kill cells with high expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). Since canine OSA express MMPs and uPA, we assessed whether the reengineered toxin could show efficacy against these tumours. Two OSA cell lines (canine D17 and human MG63) and a non-neoplastic canine osteoblastic cell line (COBS) were used. Cells were treated with different concentrations of the reengineered anthrax toxin and cell viability was quantified using MTT assay. The cell cycle, apoptosis, and necrosis were analysed by flow cytometry. The wound-healing assay was performed to quantify the migration capacity of treated cells. D17 and MG63 cells had significantly decreased viability after 24 h of treatment. Cell cycle analysis revealed that OSA cells underwent apoptosis when treated with the toxin, whereas COBS cells arrested in the G1 phase. The wound-healing assay showed that D17 and MG63 cells had a significantly reduced migration capacity after treatment. These results point for the first time towards the in vitro inhibitory effects of the reengineered anthrax toxin on OSA cells; this reengineered toxin could be further tested as a new therapy for OSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Mackowiak da Fonseca
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (J.M.d.F.); (I.I.M.d.F.); (M.K.N.); (C.d.O.M.); (A.T.N.)
| | - Ivone Izabel Mackowiak da Fonseca
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (J.M.d.F.); (I.I.M.d.F.); (M.K.N.); (C.d.O.M.); (A.T.N.)
| | - Marcia Kazumi Nagamine
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (J.M.d.F.); (I.I.M.d.F.); (M.K.N.); (C.d.O.M.); (A.T.N.)
| | - Cristina de Oliveira Massoco
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (J.M.d.F.); (I.I.M.d.F.); (M.K.N.); (C.d.O.M.); (A.T.N.)
| | - Adriana Tomoko Nishiya
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (J.M.d.F.); (I.I.M.d.F.); (M.K.N.); (C.d.O.M.); (A.T.N.)
| | | | - Shihui Liu
- Aging Institute and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
| | - Stephen Howard Leppla
- Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Thomas Henrik Bugge
- Proteases & Tissue Remodeling Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Maria Lucia Zaidan Dagli
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (J.M.d.F.); (I.I.M.d.F.); (M.K.N.); (C.d.O.M.); (A.T.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-11-30917712
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