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Song J, Zhai T, Hahm HS, Li Y, Mao H, Wang X, Jo J, Chang JW. Development of a Dual-Factor Activatable Covalent Targeted Photoacoustic Imaging Probe for Tumor Imaging. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202410645. [PMID: 38935405 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202410645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is an emerging modality in biomedical imaging with superior imaging depth and specificity. However, PAI still has significant limitations, such as the background noise from endogenous chromophores. To overcome these limitations, we developed a covalent activity-based PAI probe, NOx-JS013, targeting NCEH1. NCEH1, a highly expressed and activated serine hydrolase in aggressive cancers, has the potential to be employed for the diagnosis of cancers. We show that NOx-JS013 labels active NCEH1 in live cells with high selectivity relative to other serine hydrolases. NOx-JS013 also presents its efficacy as a hypoxia-responsive imaging probe in live cells. Finally, NOx-JS013 successfully visualizes aggressive prostate cancer tumors in mouse models of PC3, while being negligibly detected in tumors of non-aggressive LNCaP mouse models. These findings show that NOx-JS013 has the potential to be used to develop precision PAI reagents for detecting metastatic progression in various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiho Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
| | - Tianqu Zhai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Heung Sik Hahm
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
| | - Yuancheng Li
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Science, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
| | - Hui Mao
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Science, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
| | - Xueding Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Janggun Jo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jae Won Chang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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2
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Ghaemi B, Tanwar S, Singh A, Arifin DR, McMahon MT, Barman I, Bulte JWM. Cell-Penetrating and Enzyme-Responsive Peptides for Targeted Cancer Therapy: Role of Arginine Residue Length on Cell Penetration and In Vivo Systemic Toxicity. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:11159-11171. [PMID: 38385360 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
For the improved delivery of cancer therapeutics and imaging agents, the conjugation of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) increases the cellular uptake and water solubility of agents. Among the various CPPs, arginine-rich peptides have been the most widely used. Combining CPPs with enzyme-responsive peptides presents an innovative strategy to target specific intracellular enzymes in cancer cells and when combined with the appropriate click chemistry can enhance theranostic drug delivery through the formation of intracellular self-assembled nanostructures. However, one drawback of CPPs is their high positive charge which can cause nonspecific binding, leading to off-target accumulation and potential toxicity. Hence, balancing cell-specific penetration, toxicity, and biocompatibility is essential for future clinical efficacy. We synthesized six cancer-specific, legumain-responsive RnAANCK peptides containing one to six arginine residues, with legumain being an asparaginyl endopeptidase that is overexpressed in aggressive prostate tumors. When conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488, R1-R6AANCK peptides exhibited a concentration- and time-dependent cell penetration in prostate cancer cells, which was higher for peptides with higher R values, reaching a plateau after approximately 120 min. Highly aggressive DU145 prostate tumor cells, but not less aggressive LNCaP cells, self-assembled nanoparticles in the cytosol after the cleavage of the legumain-specific peptide. The in vivo biocompatibility was assessed in mice after the intravenous injection of R1-R6AANCK peptides, with concentrations ranging from 0.0125 to 0.4 mmol/kg. The higher arginine content in R4-6 peptides showed blood and urine indicators for the impairment of bone marrow, liver, and kidney function in a dose-dependent manner, with instant hemolysis and morbidity in extreme cases. These findings underscore the importance of designing peptides with the optimal arginine residue length for a proper balance of cell-specific penetration, toxicity, and in vivo biocompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Ghaemi
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Swati Tanwar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Aruna Singh
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Dian R Arifin
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Michael T McMahon
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ishan Barman
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Jeff W M Bulte
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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Tanwar S, Ghaemi B, Raj P, Singh A, Wu L, Yuan Y, Arifin DR, McMahon MT, Bulte JWM, Barman I. A Smart Intracellular Self-Assembling Bioorthogonal Raman Active Nanoprobe for Targeted Tumor Imaging. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2304164. [PMID: 37715297 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by the principle of in situ self-assembly, the development of enzyme-activated molecular nanoprobes can have a profound impact on targeted tumor detection. However, despite their intrinsic promise, obtaining an optical readout of enzyme activity with high specificity in native milieu has proven to be challenging. Here, a fundamentally new class of Raman-active self-assembling bioorthogonal enzyme recognition (nanoSABER) probes for targeted tumor imaging is reported. This class of Raman probes presents narrow spectral bands reflecting their vibrational fingerprints and offers an attractive solution for optical imaging at different bio-organization levels. The optical beacon harnesses an enzyme-responsive peptide sequence, unique tumor-penetrating properties, and vibrational tags with stretching frequencies in the cell-silent Raman window. The design of nanoSABER is tailored and engineered to transform into a supramolecular structure exhibiting distinct vibrational signatures in presence of target enzyme, creating a direct causality between enzyme activity and Raman signal. Through the integration of substrate-specific for tumor-associated enzyme legumain, unique capabilities of nanoSABER for imaging enzyme activity at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels in combination with machine learning models are shown. These results demonstrate that the nanoSABER probe may serve as a versatile platform for Raman-based recognition of tumor aggressiveness, drug accumulation, and therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Tanwar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Behnaz Ghaemi
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Piyush Raj
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Aruna Singh
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Lintong Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Yue Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Dian R Arifin
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Michael T McMahon
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Jeff W M Bulte
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Ishan Barman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
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4
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Tanwar S, Wu L, Zahn N, Raj P, Ghaemi B, Chatterjee A, Bulte JWM, Barman I. Targeted Enzyme Activity Imaging with Quantitative Phase Microscopy. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:4602-4608. [PMID: 37154678 PMCID: PMC10798004 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is a powerful optical imaging modality for label-free, rapid, and three-dimensional (3D) monitoring of cells and tissues. However, molecular imaging of important intracellular biomolecules such as enzymes remains a largely unexplored area for QPI. Herein, we introduce a fundamentally new approach by designing QPI contrast agents that allow sensitive detection of intracellular biomolecules. We report a new class of bio-orthogonal QPI-nanoprobes for in situ high-contrast refractive index (RI) imaging of enzyme activity. The nanoprobes feature silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) having higher RI than endogenous cellular components and surface-anchored cyanobenzothiazole-cysteine (CBT-Cys) conjugated enzyme-responsive peptide sequences. The nanoprobes specifically aggregated in cells with target enzyme activity, increasing intracellular RI and enabling precise visualization of intracellular enzyme activity. We envision that this general design of QPI-nanoprobes could open doors for spatial-temporal mapping of enzyme activity with direct implications for disease diagnosis and evaluating the therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Tanwar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Lintong Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Noah Zahn
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Piyush Raj
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Behnaz Ghaemi
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Arnab Chatterjee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Jeff W M Bulte
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
| | - Ishan Barman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
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5
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Fluorinated Human Serum Albumin as Potential 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probe. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28041695. [PMID: 36838682 PMCID: PMC9959765 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041695] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorinated human serum albumin conjugates were prepared and tested as potential metal-free probes for 19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each protein molecule was modified by several fluorine-containing compounds via the N-substituted natural acylating reagent homocysteine thiolactone. Albumin conjugates retain the protein's physical and biological properties, such as its 3D dimensional structure, aggregation ability, good solubility, proteolysis efficiency, biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. A dual-labeled with cyanine 7 fluorescence dye and fluorine reporter group albumin were synthesized for simultaneous fluorescence imaging and 19F MRI. The preliminary in vitro studies show the prospects of albumin carriers for multimodal imaging.
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6
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Gruba N, Stachurski L, Lesner A. Chemical tools to monitor bladder cancer progression. Biomarkers 2022; 27:568-578. [PMID: 35532038 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2022.2076153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundBladder cancer (BCa) is the most common cancer of the urinary system. Due to its high incidence and recurrence, as well as limited progress in the effective treatment, BCa is a challenge for today's medicine.Materials and MethodsWe used a set of chromogenic substrates to differentiate between the stages of bladder cancer progression (G1 (n = 10), G2 (n = 10), G3 (n = 10)). The proteolytic activity in individual the urine samples was determined by absorbance measurements. Then inhibitors of particular classes of enzymes were used to determine which enzymes dominate at a given stage of the neoplastic disease.ResultsThe specific activity of enzymes in the urine of patients with confirmed bladder cancer was determined separately for three (G1, G2, G3) stages of the disease development. What is more, no activity was observed in urine of healthy people (n = 10).DiscussionResearch shows that specific enzymes are associated with the development of specific stages of cancer. We suspect that the differences in the proteolytic activity of urine samples are due to the presence of a different set of enzymes, that are directly related to the particular stage of the disease.ConclusionWe obtained three substrates for monitoring individual stages of bladder cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gruba
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lech Stachurski
- City Hospital St. Vincent de Paul, Wójta Radtkiego 1 Street, PL 81-348 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Adam Lesner
- University of Gdansk, Faculty of Chemistry, Wita Stwosza 63 Street, PL 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
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7
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Zhao N, Bardine C, Lourenço AL, Wang YH, Huang Y, Cleary SJ, Wilson DM, Oh DY, Fong L, Looney MR, Evans MJ, Craik CS. In Vivo Measurement of Granzyme Proteolysis from Activated Immune Cells with PET. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2021; 7:1638-1649. [PMID: 34729407 PMCID: PMC8554823 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The biology of human granzymes remains enigmatic in part due to our inability to probe their functions outside of in vitro assays or animal models with divergent granzyme species. We hypothesize that the biology of human granzymes could be better elaborated with a translational imaging technology to reveal the contexts in which granzymes are secreted and biochemically active in vivo. Here, we advance toward this goal by engineering a Granzyme targeting Restricted Interaction Peptide specific to family member B (GRIP B) to measure secreted granzyme B (GZMB) biochemistry with positron emission tomography. A proteolytic cleavage of 64Cu-labeled GRIP B liberates a radiolabeled form of Temporin L, which sequesters the radioisotope by binding to adjacent phospholipid bilayers. Thus, at extended time points postinjection (i.e., hours, not seconds), tissue biodistribution of the radioisotope in vivo reflects relative units of the GZMB activity. As a proof of concept, we show in three syngeneic mouse cancer models that 64Cu-GRIP B detects GZMB from T cells activated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI). Remarkably, the radiotracer detects the proteolysis within tumors but also in lymphoid tissue, where immune cells are activated by a systemic CPI. Control experiments with an uncleavable analogue of 64Cu-GRIP B and tumor imaging studies in germline GZMB knockout mice were applied to show that 64Cu-GRIP B is specific for GZMB proteolysis. Furthermore, we explored a potential noncytotoxic function for GZMB by applying 64Cu-GRIP B to a model of pulmonary inflammation. In summary, we demonstrate that granzyme biochemistry can be assessed in vivo using an imaging modality that can be scaled vertically into human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhao
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Conner Bardine
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - André Luiz Lourenço
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Yung-hua Wang
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Yangjie Huang
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Simon J. Cleary
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - David M. Wilson
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - David Y. Oh
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Mark R. Looney
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Michael J. Evans
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department
of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
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8
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Nagaratnam N, Delker SL, Jernigan R, Edwards TE, Snider J, Thifault D, Williams D, Nannenga BL, Stofega M, Sambucetti L, Hsieh JJ, Flint AJ, Fromme P, Martin-Garcia JM. Structural insights into the function of the catalytically active human Taspase1. Structure 2021; 29:873-885.e5. [PMID: 33784495 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Taspase1 is an Ntn-hydrolase overexpressed in primary human cancers, coordinating cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Loss of Taspase1 activity disrupts proliferation of human cancer cells in vitro and in mouse models of glioblastoma. Taspase1 is synthesized as an inactive proenzyme, becoming active upon intramolecular cleavage. The activation process changes the conformation of a long fragment at the C-terminus of the α subunit, for which no full-length structural information exists and whose function is poorly understood. We present a cloning strategy to generate a circularly permuted form of Taspase1 to determine the crystallographic structure of active Taspase1. We discovered that this region forms a long helix and is indispensable for the catalytic activity of Taspase1. Our study highlights the importance of this element for the enzymatic activity of Ntn-hydrolases, suggesting that it could be a potential target for the design of inhibitors with potential to be developed into anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirupa Nagaratnam
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Silvia L Delker
- Beryllium Discovery Corp., with present address of UCB Biosciences, Bedford, MA 01730, USA
| | - Rebecca Jernigan
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Thomas E Edwards
- Beryllium Discovery Corp., with present address of UCB Biosciences, Bedford, MA 01730, USA
| | - Janey Snider
- Division of Biosciences, SRI International Menlo Park, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Darren Thifault
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Dewight Williams
- Eyring Materials Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85257, USA
| | - Brent L Nannenga
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Mary Stofega
- Division of Biosciences, SRI International Menlo Park, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Lidia Sambucetti
- Division of Biosciences, SRI International Menlo Park, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - James J Hsieh
- Molecular Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Andrew J Flint
- Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Petra Fromme
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
| | - Jose M Martin-Garcia
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute of Physical-Chemistry "Rocasolano", Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid 28006, Spain.
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9
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Vizovisek M, Ristanovic D, Menghini S, Christiansen MG, Schuerle S. The Tumor Proteolytic Landscape: A Challenging Frontier in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052514. [PMID: 33802262 PMCID: PMC7958950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, dysregulation of proteases and atypical proteolysis have become increasingly recognized as important hallmarks of cancer, driving community-wide efforts to explore the proteolytic landscape of oncologic disease. With more than 100 proteases currently associated with different aspects of cancer development and progression, there is a clear impetus to harness their potential in the context of oncology. Advances in the protease field have yielded technologies enabling sensitive protease detection in various settings, paving the way towards diagnostic profiling of disease-related protease activity patterns. Methods including activity-based probes and substrates, antibodies, and various nanosystems that generate reporter signals, i.e., for PET or MRI, after interaction with the target protease have shown potential for clinical translation. Nevertheless, these technologies are costly, not easily multiplexed, and require advanced imaging technologies. While the current clinical applications of protease-responsive technologies in oncologic settings are still limited, emerging technologies and protease sensors are poised to enable comprehensive exploration of the tumor proteolytic landscape as a diagnostic and therapeutic frontier. This review aims to give an overview of the most relevant classes of proteases as indicators for tumor diagnosis, current approaches to detect and monitor their activity in vivo, and associated therapeutic applications.
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10
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The Effect of a Peptide Substrate Containing an Unnatural Branched Amino Acid on Chymotrypsin Activity. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9020242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
7-Amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) is a low molecular weight fluorescent probe that can be attached to a peptide to enable the detection of specific proteases, such as chymotrypsin, expressed in certain diseases. Because this detection depends on the specificity of the protease toward the peptidyl AMC, the development of specific substrates is required. To investigate the specificity of chymotrypsin, peptidyl AMC compounds incorporating four different amino acid residues were prepared by liquid-phase synthesis. Two unnatural amino acids, 2-amino-4-ethylhexanoic acid (AEH) and cyclohexylalanine (Cha), were used to investigate the substrate specificity as these amino acids have structures different from natural amino acids. AEH was synthesized using diethyl acetamidemalonate as a starting material. The substrate containing Cha had high hydrophobicity and showed a high reaction velocity with chymotrypsin. Although the AEH substrate with a branched side chain had high hydrophobicity, it showed a low reaction velocity. The substrate containing the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine was less hydrophobic than the Cha and AEH substrates, but chymotrypsin showed the highest specificity for this compound. These results demonstrated that the substrate specificity of chymotrypsin is not only affected by the hydrophobicity and aromaticity, but also by the structural expanse of amino acid residues in the substrate.
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11
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Abstract
Alternative splicing of precursor mRNA is a key mediator of gene expression regulation leading to greater diversity of the proteome in complex organisms. Systematic sequencing of the human genome and transcriptome has led to our understanding of how alternative splicing of critical genes leads to multiple pathological conditions such as cancer. For many years, proteases were known only for their roles as proteolytic enzymes, acting to regulate/process proteins associated with diverse cellular functions. However, the differential expression and altered function of various protease isoforms, such as (i) anti-apoptotic activities, (ii) mediating intercellular adhesion, and (iii) modifying the extracellular matrix, are evidence of their specific contribution towards shaping the tumor microenvironment. Revealing the alternative splicing of protease genes and characterization of their protein products/isoforms with distinct and opposing functions creates a platform to understand how protease isoforms contribute to specific cancer hallmarks. Here, in this review, we address cancer-specific isoforms produced by the alternative splicing of proteases and their distinctive roles in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chamikara Liyanage
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Achala Fernando
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jyotsna Batra
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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12
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Elvas F, Vanden Berghe T, Adriaenssens Y, Vandenabeele P, Augustyns K, Staelens S, Stroobants S, Van der Veken P, Wyffels L. Caspase-3 probes for PET imaging of apoptotic tumor response to anticancer therapy. Org Biomol Chem 2020; 17:4801-4824. [PMID: 31033991 DOI: 10.1039/c9ob00657e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis is a highly regulated process involved in the normal organism development and homeostasis. In the context of anticancer therapy, apoptosis is also studied intensively in an attempt to induce cell death in cancer cells. Caspase activation is a known key event in the apoptotic process. In particular, active caspase-3 and -7 are the common effectors in several apoptotic pathways, therefore effector caspase activation may be a promising biomarker for response evaluation to anticancer therapy. Quantitative imaging of apoptosis in vivo could provide early assessment of therapeutic effectiveness and could also be used in drug development to evaluate the efficacy as well as potential toxicity of novel treatments. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a highly sensitive molecular imaging modality that allows non-invasive in vivo imaging of biological processes such as apoptosis by using radiolabeled probes. Here we describe the development and evaluation of fluorine-18-labeled caspase-3 activity-based probes (ABPs) for PET imaging of apoptosis. ABPs were selected by screening of a small library of fluorine-19-labeled DEVD peptides containing different electrophilic warhead groups. An acyloxymethyl ketone was identified with low nanomolar affinity for caspase-3 and was radiolabeled with fluorine-18. The resulting radiotracer, [18F]MICA-302, showed good labeling of active caspase-3 in vitro and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. A μPET imaging experiment in colorectal tumor xenografts demonstrated an increased tumor accumulation of [18F]MICA-302 in drug-treated versus control animals. Therefore, our data suggest this radiotracer may be useful for clinical PET imaging of response to anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Elvas
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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13
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Shanmugapriya, Othman N, Sasidharan S. Prediction of genes and protein-protein interaction networking for miR-221-5p using bioinformatics analysis. GENE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2019.100426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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14
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Xu T, Chang D, Cai Y, Min S, Ma Y, Mao H, Ju S. Targeting of an antecedent proteinase by an activatable probe with deep tissue penetration facilitates early visualization and dynamic malignancy evaluation of orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Biomater Sci 2019; 7:3320-3333. [PMID: 31210201 DOI: 10.1039/c9bm00441f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly lethal and most commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage; therefore, early detection with an effective approach is vital. However, due to the anatomical stealthiness and hypovascular features of PDAC, clinically available imaging techniques lack specificity and sensitivity for early detection. As important components of the tumour microenvironment, elevated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels during the early stages of tumour formation lead to tumour invasion and metastases by degrading the extracellular matrix. Thus, in the current study, we hypothesized that MMPs might be promising markers for early visualization and prognosis evaluation of PDAC. An MMP activatable probe, I780BP-PEG12, was synthesized utilizing a long wavelength near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore that could map the dynamic development of orthotopic PDAC in vivo with deep tissue penetration. Elevated MMP activity in tumours was detected as early as 4 days after tumour transplantation. At that time, the tumour diameter was approximately 3 mm, which is much smaller than the size visualized by clinical approaches. Furthermore, much higher levels of MMP activity were detected in PDAC under diabetic conditions, which promote the malignant actions of tumours. By noninvasively monitoring MMP alteration, tumour growth, and prognostic evaluation, we found that malignant actions under diabetic conditions were reversed by inhibition of MMPs. Generally, in addition to earlier visualization of PDAC, a probe targeting MMPs can facilitate dynamic monitoring of tumour progression and inhibitory treatment in vivo, which is beneficial for personal therapeutic strategy planning and optimization of PDAC management, especially for diabetic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Di Chang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yu Cai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shudan Min
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Hui Mao
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Shenghong Ju
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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15
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Sudarikova AV, Vasileva VY, Vassilieva IO, Negulyaev YA, Morachevskaya EA, Chubinskiy-Nadezhdin VI. Extracellular protease trypsin activates amiloride-insensitive sodium channels in human leukemia cells. J Cell Biochem 2018; 120:461-469. [PMID: 30203535 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Sodium influx is tightly regulated in the cells of blood origin. Amiloride-insensitive sodium channels were identified as one of the main sodium-transporting pathways in leukemia cells. To date, all known regulatory pathways of these channels are coupled with intracellular actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Here, to search for physiological mechanisms controlling epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC)-like channels, we utilized leukemia K562 cells as a unique model to examine single channel behavior in a whole-cell patch-clamp experiments. We have shown for the first time that extracellular serine protease trypsin directly activates sodium channels in plasma membrane of K562 cells. The whole-cell single current recordings clearly demonstrate no inhibition of trypsin-activated channels by amiloride or benzamil. Involvement of proteolytic cleavage in channel opening was confirmed in experiments with soybean trypsin inhibitor. More importantly, stabilization of F-actin with intracellular phalloidin did not prevent trypsin-induced channel activation indicating no implication of cytoskeleton rearrangements in stimulatory effect of extracellular protease. Our data reveals a novel mechanism modulating amiloride-insensitive ENaC-like channel activity and integral sodium permeability in leukemia cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valeria Y Vasileva
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina O Vassilieva
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yuri A Negulyaev
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia.,Department of Medical Physics, Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University, St Petersburg, Russia
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16
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Zherdeva V, Kazachkina NI, Shcheslavskiy V, Savitsky AP. Long-term fluorescence lifetime imaging of a genetically encoded sensor for caspase-3 activity in mouse tumor xenografts. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2018; 23:1-11. [PMID: 29500873 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.23.3.035002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Caspase-3 is known for its role in apoptosis and programmed cell death regulation. We detected caspase-3 activation in vivo in tumor xenografts via shift of mean fluorescence lifetimes of a caspase-3 sensor. We used the genetically encoded sensor TR23K based on the red fluorescent protein TagRFP and chromoprotein KFP linked by 23 amino acid residues (TagRFP-23-KFP) containing a specific caspase cleavage DEVD motif to monitor the activity of caspase-3 in tumor xenografts by means of fluorescence lifetime imaging-Forster resonance energy transfer. Apoptosis was induced by injection of paclitaxel for A549 lung adenocarcinoma and etoposide and cisplatin for HEp-2 pharynx adenocarcinoma. We observed a shift in lifetime distribution from 1.6 to 1.9 ns to 2.1 to 2.4 ns, which indicated the activation of caspase-3. Even within the same tumor, the lifetime varied presumably due to the tumor heterogeneity and the different depth of tumor invasion. Thus, processing time-resolved fluorescence images allows detection of both the cleaved and noncleaved states of the TR23K sensor in real-time mode during the course of several weeks noninvasively. This approach can be used in drug screening, facilitating the development of new anticancer agents as well as improvement of chemotherapy efficiency and its adaptation for personal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Zherdeva
- Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bach Institute of Biochemistry,, Russia
| | - Natalia I Kazachkina
- Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bach Institute of Biochemistry,, Russia
| | | | - Alexander P Savitsky
- Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bach Institute of Biochemistry,, Russia
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17
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Sharma A, Bala K, Husain I. Preliminary evaluation of arginine deiminase activity of indigenous bacterial strains for suitable chemotherapeutic applications. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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18
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Zhou Z, Lu ZR. Molecular imaging of the tumor microenvironment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2017; 113:24-48. [PMID: 27497513 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. It is different from normal tissue in the extracellular matrix, vascular and lymphatic networks, as well as physiologic conditions. Molecular imaging of the tumor microenvironment provides a better understanding of its function in cancer biology, and thus allowing for the design of new diagnostics and therapeutics for early cancer diagnosis and treatment. The clinical translation of cancer molecular imaging is often hampered by the high cost of commercialization of targeted imaging agents as well as the limited clinical applications and small market size of some of the agents. Because many different cancer types share similar tumor microenvironment features, the ability to target these biomarkers has the potential to provide clinically translatable molecular imaging technologies for a spectrum of cancers and broad clinical applications. There has been significant progress in targeting the tumor microenvironment for cancer molecular imaging. In this review, we summarize the principles and strategies of recent advances made in molecular imaging of the tumor microenvironment, using various imaging modalities for early detection and diagnosis of cancer.
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19
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Ramamonjisoa N, Ackerstaff E. Characterization of the Tumor Microenvironment and Tumor-Stroma Interaction by Non-invasive Preclinical Imaging. Front Oncol 2017; 7:3. [PMID: 28197395 PMCID: PMC5281579 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors are often characterized by hypoxia, vascular abnormalities, low extracellular pH, increased interstitial fluid pressure, altered choline-phospholipid metabolism, and aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect). The impact of these tumor characteristics has been investigated extensively in the context of tumor development, progression, and treatment response, resulting in a number of non-invasive imaging biomarkers. More recent evidence suggests that cancer cells undergo metabolic reprograming, beyond aerobic glycolysis, in the course of tumor development and progression. The resulting altered metabolic content in tumors has the ability to affect cell signaling and block cellular differentiation. Additional emerging evidence reveals that the interaction between tumor and stroma cells can alter tumor metabolism (leading to metabolic reprograming) as well as tumor growth and vascular features. This review will summarize previous and current preclinical, non-invasive, multimodal imaging efforts to characterize the tumor microenvironment, including its stromal components and understand tumor-stroma interaction in cancer development, progression, and treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirilanto Ramamonjisoa
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ellen Ackerstaff
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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20
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Eatemadi A, Aiyelabegan HT, Negahdari B, Mazlomi MA, Daraee H, Daraee N, Eatemadi R, Sadroddiny E. Role of protease and protease inhibitors in cancer pathogenesis and treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2016; 86:221-231. [PMID: 28006747 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 11/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second cause of death in 2015, and it has been estimated to surpass heart diseases as the leading cause of death in the next few years. Several mechanisms are involved in cancer pathogenesis. Studies have indicated that proteases are also implicated in tumor growth and progression which is highly dependent on nutrient and oxygen supply. On the other hand, protease inhibitors could be considered as a potent strategy in cancer therapy. On the basis of the type of the key amino acid in the active site of the protease and the mechanism of peptide bond cleavage, proteases can be classified into six groups: cysteine, serine, threonine, glutamic acid, aspartate proteases, as well as matrix metalloproteases. In this review, we focus on the role of different types of proteases and protease inhibitors in cancer pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Eatemadi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Lorestan, Iran.
| | - Hammed T Aiyelabegan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Campus (TUMS-IC), Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Negahdari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mazlomi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hadis Daraee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Lorestan, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nasim Daraee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Lorestan, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Esmaeil Sadroddiny
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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21
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Anani T, Panizzi P, David AE. Nanoparticle-based probes to enable noninvasive imaging of proteolytic activity for cancer diagnosis. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2016; 11:2007-22. [PMID: 27465386 PMCID: PMC5941711 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2016-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteases play a key role in tumor biology, with high expression levels often correlating with poor prognosis for cancer patients - making them excellent disease markers for tumor diagnosis. Despite their significance, quantifying proteolytic activity in vivo remains a challenge. Nanoparticles, with their ability to serve as scaffolds having unique chemical, optical and magnetic properties, offer the promise of merging diagnostic medicine with material engineering. Such nanoparticles can interact preferentially with proteases enriched in tumors, providing the ability to assess disease state in a noninvasive and spatiotemporal manner. We review recent advances in the development of nanoparticles for imaging and quantification of proteolytic activity in tumor models, and prognosticate future advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tareq Anani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Peter Panizzi
- Department of Drug Discovery & Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, 4306 Walker Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Allan E. David
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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22
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Jackson SR, Wong AC, Travis AR, Catrina IE, Bratu DP, Wright DW, Jayagopal A. Applications of Hairpin DNA-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles for Imaging mRNA in Living Cells. Methods Enzymol 2016; 572:87-103. [PMID: 27241751 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Molecular imaging agents are useful for imaging molecular processes in living systems in order to elucidate the function of molecular mediators in health and disease. Here, we demonstrate a technique for the synthesis, characterization, and application of hairpin DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (hAuNPs) as fluorescent hybridization probes for imaging mRNA expression and spatiotemporal dynamics in living cells. These imaging probes feature gold colloids linked to fluorophores via engineered oligonucleotides to resemble a molecular beacon in which the gold colloid serves as the fluorescence quencher in a fluorescence resonance energy transfer system. Target-specific hybridization of the hairpin oligonucleotide enables fluorescence de-quenching and subsequent emission with high signal to noise ratios. hAuNPs exhibit high specificity without adverse toxicity or the need for transfection reagents. Furthermore, tunability of hAuNP emission profiles by selection of spectrally distinct fluorophores enables multiplexed mRNA imaging applications. Therefore, hAuNPs are promising tools for imaging gene expression in living cells. As a representative application of this technology, we discuss the design and applications of hAuNP targeted against distinct matrix metalloproteinase enzymes for the multiplexed detection of mRNA expression in live breast cancer cells using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Jackson
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - A C Wong
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - A R Travis
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - I E Catrina
- Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - D P Bratu
- Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States; Program in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - D W Wright
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - A Jayagopal
- Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
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23
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Mahajan A, Goh V, Basu S, Vaish R, Weeks AJ, Thakur MH, Cook GJ. Bench to bedside molecular functional imaging in translational cancer medicine: to image or to imagine? Clin Radiol 2015; 70:1060-82. [PMID: 26187890 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2015.06.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing research on malignant and normal cell biology has substantially enhanced the understanding of the biology of cancer and carcinogenesis. This has led to the development of methods to image the evolution of cancer, target specific biological molecules, and study the anti-tumour effects of novel therapeutic agents. At the same time, there has been a paradigm shift in the field of oncological imaging from purely structural or functional imaging to combined multimodal structure-function approaches that enable the assessment of malignancy from all aspects (including molecular and functional level) in a single examination. The evolving molecular functional imaging using specific molecular targets (especially with combined positron-emission tomography [PET] computed tomography [CT] using 2- [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose [FDG] and other novel PET tracers) has great potential in translational research, giving specific quantitative information with regard to tumour activity, and has been of pivotal importance in diagnoses and therapy tailoring. Furthermore, molecular functional imaging has taken a key place in the present era of translational cancer research, producing an important tool to study and evolve newer receptor-targeted therapies, gene therapies, and in cancer stem cell research, which could form the basis to translate these agents into clinical practice, popularly termed "theranostics". Targeted molecular imaging needs to be developed in close association with biotechnology, information technology, and basic translational scientists for its best utility. This article reviews the current role of molecular functional imaging as one of the main pillars of translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mahajan
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, UK; Department of Radiodiagnosis, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, 400012, India.
| | - V Goh
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, UK
| | - S Basu
- Radiation Medicine Centre, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Tata Memorial Hospital Annexe, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| | - R Vaish
- Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - A J Weeks
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, UK
| | - M H Thakur
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - G J Cook
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, UK; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, London, UK
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24
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In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of tumor protease activity. Sci Rep 2014; 4:6081. [PMID: 25124082 PMCID: PMC4133714 DOI: 10.1038/srep06081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased expression of cathepsins has diagnostic as well as prognostic value in several types of cancer. Here, we demonstrate a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method, which uses poly-L-glutamate (PLG) as an MRI probe to map cathepsin expression in vivo, in a rat brain tumor model. This noninvasive, high-resolution and non-radioactive method exploits the differences in the CEST signals of PLG in the native form and cathepsin mediated cleaved form. The method was validated in phantoms with known physiological concentrations, in tumor cells and in an animal model of brain tumor along with immunohistochemical analysis. Potential applications in tumor diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic response are outlined.
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25
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Alizadeh AM, Shiri S, Farsinejad S. Metastasis review: from bench to bedside. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:8483-523. [PMID: 25104089 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2421-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the final result of uninhibited cell growth that involves an enormous group of associated diseases. One major aspect of cancer is when cells attack adjacent components of the body and spread to other organs, named metastasis, which is the major cause of cancer-related mortality. In developing this process, metastatic cells must successfully negotiate a series of complex steps, including dissociation, invasion, intravasation, extravasation, and dormancy regulated by various signaling pathways. In this review, we will focus on the recent studies and collect a comprehensive encyclopedia in molecular basis of metastasis, and then we will discuss some new potential therapeutics which target the metastasis pathways. Understanding the new aspects on molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways controlling tumor cell metastasis is critical for the development of therapeutic strategies for cancer patients that would be valuable for researchers in both fields of molecular and clinical oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Mohammad Alizadeh
- Cancer Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1419733141, Iran,
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26
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Casalini F, Fugazza L, Esposito G, Cabella C, Brioschi C, Cordaro A, D’Angeli L, Bartoli A, Filannino AM, Gringeri CV, Longo DL, Muzio V, Nuti E, Orlandini E, Figlia G, Quattrini A, Tei L, Digilio G, Rossello A, Maiocchi A. Synthesis and Preliminary Evaluation in Tumor Bearing Mice of New 18F-Labeled Arylsulfone Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors as Tracers for Positron Emission Tomography. J Med Chem 2013; 56:2676-89. [DOI: 10.1021/jm4001743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Casalini
- Department of Science and Technological
Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Viale T. Michel 11,
I-15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Lorenza Fugazza
- Research and Development, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Via Ribes 5, I-10010
Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Giovanna Esposito
- Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, I-10126 Torino,
Italy
| | - Claudia Cabella
- Centro Ricerche Bracco, Bracco Imaging S.p.A., Via Ribes 5, I-10010 Colleretto
Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Chiara Brioschi
- Centro Ricerche Bracco, Bracco Imaging S.p.A., Via Ribes 5, I-10010 Colleretto
Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Alessia Cordaro
- Centro Ricerche Bracco, Bracco Imaging S.p.A., Via Ribes 5, I-10010 Colleretto
Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Luca D’Angeli
- Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, I-10126 Torino,
Italy
| | - Antonietta Bartoli
- Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, I-10126 Torino,
Italy
| | - Azzurra M. Filannino
- Research and Development, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Via Ribes 5, I-10010
Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Concetta V. Gringeri
- Department of Science and Technological
Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Viale T. Michel 11,
I-15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Dario L. Longo
- Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, I-10126 Torino,
Italy
| | - Valeria Muzio
- Research and Development, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Via Ribes 5, I-10010
Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy
| | - Elisa Nuti
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno
6, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Figlia
- Institute of Experimental Neurology,
Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Institute of Experimental Neurology,
Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tei
- Department of Science and Technological
Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Viale T. Michel 11,
I-15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Digilio
- Department of Science and Technological
Innovation, Università del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Viale T. Michel 11,
I-15121 Alessandria, Italy
- Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, I-10126 Torino,
Italy
| | - Armando Rossello
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno
6, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Maiocchi
- Centro Ricerche Bracco, Bracco Imaging S.p.A., Via Ribes 5, I-10010 Colleretto
Giacosa (TO), Italy
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27
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Petersen RC. Free-radical polymer science structural cancer model: a review. SCIENTIFICA 2013; 2013:143589. [PMID: 24278767 PMCID: PMC3820302 DOI: 10.1155/2013/143589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Polymer free-radical lipid alkene chain-growth biological models particularly for hypoxic cellular mitochondrial metabolic waste can be used to better understand abnormal cancer cell morphology and invasive metastasis. Without oxygen as the final electron acceptor for mitochondrial energy synthesis, protons cannot combine to form water and instead mitochondria produce free radicals and acid during hypoxia. Nonuniform bond-length shrinkage of membranes related to erratic free-radical covalent crosslinking can explain cancer-cell pleomorphism with epithelial-mesenchymal transition for irregular membrane borders that "ruffle" and warp over stiff underlying actin fibers. Further, mitochondrial hypoxic conditions produce acid that can cause molecular degradation. Subsequent low pH-activated enzymes then provide paths for invasive cell movement through tissue and eventually blood-born metastasis. Although free-radical crosslinking creates irregularly shaped membranes with structural actin-polymerized fiber extensions as filopodia and lamellipodia, due to rapid cell division the overall cell modulus (approximately stiffness) is lower than normal cells. When combined with low pH-activated enzymes and lower modulus cells, smaller cancer stem cells subsequently have a large advantage to follow molecular destructive pathways and leave the central tumor. In addition, forward structural spike-like lamellipodia protrusions can leverage to force lower-modulus cancer cells through narrow openings. By squeezing and deforming even smaller to allow for easier movement through difficult passageways, cancer cells can travel into adjacent tissues or possibly metastasize through the blood to new tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard C. Petersen
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, SDB 539, 1919 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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28
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Hong H, Goel S, Zhang Y, Cai W. Molecular imaging with nucleic acid aptamers. Curr Med Chem 2012; 18:4195-205. [PMID: 21838686 DOI: 10.2174/092986711797189691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2011] [Revised: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
With many desirable properties such as ease of synthesis, small size, lack of immunogenicity, and versatile chemistry, aptamers represent a class of targeting ligands that possess tremendous potential in molecular imaging applications. Non-invasive imaging of various disease markers with aptamer-based probes has many potential clinical applications such as lesion detection, patient stratification, treatment monitoring, etc. In this review, we will summarize the current status of molecular imaging with aptamer-based probes. First, fluorescence imaging will be described which include both direct targeting and activatable probes. Next, we discuss molecular magnetic resonance imaging and targeted ultrasound investigations using aptamer-based agents. Radionuclide-based imaging techniques (single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography) will be summarized as well. In addition, aptamers have also been labeled with various tags for computed tomography, surface plasmon resonance, dark-field light scattering microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy imaging. Among all molecular imaging modalities, no single modality is perfect and sufficient to obtain all the necessary information for a particular question. Thus, a multimodality probe has also been constructed for concurrent fluorescence, gamma camera, and magnetic resonance imaging in vivo. Although the future of aptamer-based molecular imaging is becoming increasingly bright and many proof-of-principle studies have already been reported, much future effort needs to be directed towards the development of clinically translatable aptamer-based imaging agents which will eventually benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hong
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA
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29
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Chuang CH, Chuang KH, Wang HE, Roffler SR, Shiea JT, Tzou SC, Cheng TC, Kao CH, Wu SY, Tseng WL, Cheng CM, Hou MF, Wang JM, Cheng TL. In vivo positron emission tomography imaging of protease activity by generation of a hydrophobic product from a noninhibitory protease substrate. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 18:238-47. [PMID: 22019516 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-0608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop an imaging technology for protease activities in patients that could help in prognosis prediction and in design of personalized, protease-based inhibitors and prodrugs for targeted therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was covalently attached to the N-terminus of a hydrophilic peptide substrate (GPLGVR) for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) to increase hydrophilicity. PEG-peptide was then linked to a hydrophobic tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) domain and labeled with (18)F to form a PEG-peptide-(18)F-TMR probe. Specific cleavage of the probe by MMP2 was tested in vitro by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). In vivo imaging of MMP2-expressing tumors was evaluated by micro-PET. RESULTS The hydrophobic TMR fragment (948 Da) was specifically generated by MMP2 enzymes and MMP-expressing HT1080 cells but not control MCF-7 cells. MMP-expressing HT1080 cells and tumors selectively accumulated the hydrolyzed, hydrophobic TMR fragment at sites of protease activity. Importantly, we found that (18)F-labeled probe ((18)F-TMR) preferentially localized in HT1080 tumors but not control MCF-7 tumors as shown by micro-PET. Uptake of the probe in HT1080 tumors was 18.4 ± 1.9-fold greater than in the MCF-7 tumors 30 minutes after injection. These results suggest that the PEG-peptide-(18)F-TMR probe displays high selectivity for imaging MMP activity. CONCLUSIONS This strategy successfully images MMP expression in vivo and may be extended to other proteases to predict patient prognosis and to design personalized, protease-based inhibitors and prodrug-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hung Chuang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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30
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Kobayashi H, Longmire MR, Ogawa M, Choyke PL. Rational chemical design of the next generation of molecular imaging probes based on physics and biology: mixing modalities, colors and signals. Chem Soc Rev 2011; 40:4626-48. [PMID: 21607237 PMCID: PMC3417232 DOI: 10.1039/c1cs15077d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, numerous in vivo molecular imaging probes have been developed. As a consequence, much has been published on the design and synthesis of molecular imaging probes focusing on each modality, each type of material, or each target disease. More recently, second generation molecular imaging probes with unique, multi-functional, or multiplexed characteristics have been designed. This critical review focuses on (i) molecular imaging using combinations of modalities and signals that employ the full range of the electromagnetic spectra, (ii) optimized chemical design of molecular imaging probes for in vivo kinetics based on biology and physiology across a range of physical sizes, (iii) practical examples of second generation molecular imaging probes designed to extract complementary data from targets using multiple modalities, color, and comprehensive signals (277 references).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisataka Kobayashi
- Molecular Imaging Program, National Cancer Institute/NIH, Bldg. 10, Room B3B69, MSC 1088, 10 Center Dr Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, USA.
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31
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Abstract
In vivo imaging of apoptosis in a preclinical setting in anticancer drug development could provide remarkable advantages in terms of translational medicine. So far, several imaging technologies with different probes have been used to achieve this goal. Here we describe a bioluminescence imaging approach that uses a new formulation of Z-DEVD-aminoluciferin, a caspase 3/7 substrate, to monitor in vivo apoptosis in tumor cells engineered to express luciferase. Upon apoptosis induction, Z-DEVD-aminoluciferin is cleaved by caspase 3/7 releasing aminoluciferin that is now free to react with luciferase generating measurable light. Thus, the activation of caspase 3/7 can be measured by quantifying the bioluminescent signal. Using this approach, we have been able to monitor caspase-3 activation and subsequent apoptosis induction after camptothecin and temozolomide treatment on xenograft mouse models of colon cancer and glioblastoma, respectively. Treated mice showed more than 2-fold induction of Z-DEVD-aminoluciferin luminescent signal when compared to the untreated group. Combining D: -luciferin that measures the total tumor burden, with Z-DEVD-aminoluciferin that assesses apoptosis induction via caspase activation, we confirmed that it is possible to follow non-invasively tumor growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis after treatment in the same animal over time. Moreover, here we have proved that following early apoptosis induction by caspase 3 activation is a good biomarker that accurately predicts tumor growth inhibition by anti-cancer drugs in engineered colon cancer and glioblastoma cell lines and in their respective mouse xenograft models.
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32
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Hashim AI, Zhang X, Wojtkowiak JW, Martinez GV, Gillies RJ. Imaging pH and metastasis. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2011; 24:582-91. [PMID: 21387439 PMCID: PMC3740268 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.1644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Revised: 09/30/2010] [Accepted: 10/19/2010] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is a multistep process that culminates in the spread of cells from a primary tumor to a distant site or organs. For tumor cells to be able to metastasize, they have to locally invade through basement membrane into the lymphatic and the blood vasculatures. Eventually they extravasate from the blood and colonize in the secondary organ. This process involves multiple interactions between the tumor cells and their microenvironments. The microenvironment surrounding tumors has a significant impact on tumor development and progression. A key factor in the microenvironment is an acidic pH. The extracellular pH of solid tumors is more acidic in comparison to normal tissue as a consequence of high glycolysis and poor perfusion. It plays an important role in almost all steps of metastasis. The past decades have seen development of technologies to non-invasively measure intra- and/or extracellular pH. Most successful measurements are MR-based, and sensitivity and accuracy have dramatically improved. Quantitatively imaging the distribution of acidity helps us understand the role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression. The present review discusses different MR methods in measuring tumor pH along with emphasizing the importance of extracelluar tumor low pH on different steps of metastasis; more specifically focusing on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and anti cancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arig Ibrahim Hashim
- Department of Imaging research, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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33
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Quillard T, Croce K, Jaffer FA, Weissleder R, Libby P. Molecular imaging of macrophage protease activity in cardiovascular inflammation in vivo. Thromb Haemost 2011; 105:828-36. [PMID: 21225096 DOI: 10.1160/th10-09-0589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 11/21/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages contribute pivotally to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), notably to atherosclerosis. Imaging of macrophages in vivo could furnish new tools to advance evaluation of disease and therapies. Proteolytic enzymes serve as key effectors of many macrophage contributions to CVD. Therefore, intravital imaging of protease activity could aid evaluation of the progress and outcome of atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm formation, or rejection of cardiac allografts. Among the large families of proteases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cysteinyl cathepsins have garnered the most interest because of their participation in extracellular matrix remodelling. These considerations have spurred the development of dedicated imaging agents for protease activity detection. Activatable fluorescent probes, radiolabelled inhibitors, and nanoparticles are currently under exploration for this purpose. While some agents and technologies may soon see clinical use, others will require further refinement. Imaging of macrophages and protease activity should provide an important adjunct to understanding pathophysiology in vivo, evaluating the effects of interventions, and ultimately aiding clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Quillard
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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