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DeFoor MT, Dekker TJ. Injectable therapeutic peptides-an adjunct to regenerative medicine and sports performance? Arthroscopy 2024:S0749-8063(24)00667-4. [PMID: 39265666 DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2024.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2024] [Revised: 09/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
High level athletes and bodybuilders are constantly seeking novel therapies to enhance recovery and expedite return from injury-injectable peptides are a new and trending therapy that may be the wave of the future of in the realm of regenerative medicine research in treating joint injuries and osteoarthritis. Very early in vivo research of the pharmacokinetics suggests the possibility of Body Protection Compound 157 (BPC-157) appears to be at the forefront of therapeutic peptides with early demonstration of these experimental peptides optimizing endurance training, metabolism, recovery and tissue repair. While uUnregulated, yetand readily available for purchase over the internet, there is scarce orthopaedic literature investigating the clinical use and outcomes of these therapeutic peptides in tendon, muscle and cartilage injury. However, this has not slowed the recent exponential growth of the multi-billion-dollar industry in development of therapeutic peptides. As orthopaedic surgeons and team physicians, we should stay up-to-date with the latest pharmacokinetic, safety, ethical, and legal profilesregulations regarding synthetic peptide supplementation for injury recovery and sports performance optimization from our elite athletes to our fitness fanatics as these patients will continue to seek the latest and greatest in treatment options and will be approaching us with questions on their results, risks and benefits..
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2
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Esposito TVF, Rodríguez-Rodríguez C, Blackadar C, Kłodzińska S, Mørck Nielsen H, Saatchi K, Häfeli UO. Biodistribution of the cationic host defense peptide LL-37 using SPECT/CT. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 202:114398. [PMID: 38972467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114398] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Human cathelicidin LL-37, a cationic host defense peptide (CHDP), has several important physiological roles, including antimicrobial activity, immune modulation, and wound healing, and is a being investigated as a therapeutic candidate for several indications. While the effects of endogenously produced LL-37 are well studied, the biodistribution of exogenously administered LL-37 are less known. Here we assess the biodistribution of a gallium-67 labeled variant of LL-37 using nuclear imaging techniques over a 48 h period in healthy mice. When administered as an intravenous bolus just over 20 µg, the LL-37-based radiotracer was rapidly cleared from the blood, largely by the liver, while an appreciable fraction of the dose temporarily distributed to the lungs. When administered subcutaneously at the same dose level, the radiotracer was absorbed systemically following a two-phase kinetic model and was predominately cleared renally. Uptake into sites rich in immune cells, such as the lymph nodes and the spleen, was observed for both routes of administration. Scans of free gallium-67 were also performed as controls. Important preclinical insights into the biodistribution of exogenously administered LL-37 were gained from this study, which can aid in the understanding of this and related cationic host-defense peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tullio V F Esposito
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Cristina Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Colin Blackadar
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sylvia Kłodzińska
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne Mørck Nielsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katayoun Saatchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Urs O Häfeli
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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3
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Chattopadhyay S, Hazra R, Mallick A, Gayen S, Roy S. Small-molecule in cancer immunotherapy: Revolutionizing cancer treatment with transformative, game-changing breakthroughs. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189170. [PMID: 39127244 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189170] [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: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer management, with antibody-based treatments leading the charge due to their superior pharmacodynamics, including enhanced effectiveness and specificity. However, these therapies are hampered by limitations such as prolonged half-lives, poor tissue and tumor penetration, and minimal oral bioavailability. Additionally, their immunogenic nature can cause adverse effects. Consequently, the focus is shifting towards small-molecule-based immunotherapies, which potentially overcome these drawbacks. Emerging as a promising alternative, small molecules offer the benefits of therapeutic antibodies and immunomodulators, often yielding synergistic effects when combined. Recent advancements in small-molecule cancer immunotherapy are notable, featuring inhibitors, agonists, and degraders that act as immunomodulators. This article delves into the current landscape of small-molecule immunotherapy in cancer treatment, highlighting novel agents targeting key pathways such as Toll-like receptors (TLR), PD-1/PD-L1, chemokine receptors, and stimulators of interferon genes (STING). The review emphasizes newly discovered molecular entities and their modulatory roles in tumorigenesis, many of which have progressed to clinical trials, that aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the evolving frontier in cancer treatment, driven by small-molecule immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyadeep Chattopadhyay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Rudradeep Hazra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Arijit Mallick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Sakuntala Gayen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Souvik Roy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India.
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4
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Liu B, Zhou H, Tan L, Siu KTH, Guan XY. Exploring treatment options in cancer: Tumor treatment strategies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:175. [PMID: 39013849 PMCID: PMC11252281 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01856-7] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Traditional therapeutic approaches such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have burdened cancer patients with onerous physical and psychological challenges. Encouragingly, the landscape of tumor treatment has undergone a comprehensive and remarkable transformation. Emerging as fervently pursued modalities are small molecule targeted agents, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), cell-based therapies, and gene therapy. These cutting-edge treatment modalities not only afford personalized and precise tumor targeting, but also provide patients with enhanced therapeutic comfort and the potential to impede disease progression. Nonetheless, it is acknowledged that these therapeutic strategies still harbour untapped potential for further advancement. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the merits and limitations of these treatment modalities holds the promise of offering novel perspectives for clinical practice and foundational research endeavours. In this review, we discussed the different treatment modalities, including small molecule targeted drugs, peptide drugs, antibody drugs, cell therapy, and gene therapy. It will provide a detailed explanation of each method, addressing their status of development, clinical challenges, and potential solutions. The aim is to assist clinicians and researchers in gaining a deeper understanding of these diverse treatment options, enabling them to carry out effective treatment and advance their research more efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beilei Liu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Licheng Tan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kin To Hugo Siu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
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5
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Thapa Magar K, Boucetta H, Zhao Z, Xu Y, Liu Z, He W. Injectable long-acting formulations (ILAFs) and manufacturing techniques. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2024; 21:881-904. [PMID: 38953767 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2024.2374807] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Most therapeutics delivered using short-acting formulations need repeated administration, which can harm patient compliance and raise failure risks related to inconsistent treatment. Injectable long-acting formulations (ILAFs) are controlled/sustained-release formulations fabricated to deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and extend their half-life over days to months. Longer half-lives of ILAFs minimize the necessity for frequent doses, increase patient compliance, and reduce the risk of side effects from intravenous (IV) infusions. Using ILAF technologies, the immediate drug release can also be controlled, thereby minimizing potential adverse effects due to high initial drug blood concentrations. AREA COVERED In this review, we have discussed various ILAFs, their physiochemical properties, fabrication technologies, advantages, and practical issues, as well as address some major challenges in their application. Especially, the approved ILAFs are highlighted. EXPERT OPINION ILAFs are sustained-release formulations with extended activity, which can improve patient compliance. ILAFs are designed to deliver APIs like proteins and peptides and extend their half-life over days to months. The specific properties of each ILAF preparation, such as extended-release and improved drug targeting capabilities, make them an effective approach for precise and focused therapy. Furthermore, this is especially helpful for biopharmaceuticals with short biological half-lives and low stability since most environmental conditions can protect them from sustained-release delivery methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosheli Thapa Magar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Hamza Boucetta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Zongmin Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhengxia Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei He
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Bjørn-Yoshimoto WE, Ramiro IBL, Koch TL, Engholm E, Yeung HY, Sørensen KK, Goddard CM, Jensen KL, Smith NA, Martin LF, Smith BJ, Madsen KL, Jensen KJ, Patwardhan A, Safavi-Hemami H. Venom-inspired somatostatin receptor 4 (SSTR4) agonists as new drug leads for peripheral pain conditions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.591104. [PMID: 38746149 PMCID: PMC11092515 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.591104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Persistent pain affects one in five people worldwide, often with severely debilitating consequences. Current treatment options, which can be effective for mild or acute pain, are ill-suited for moderate-to-severe persistent pain, resulting in an urgent need for new therapeutics. In recent years, the somatostatin receptor 4 (SSTR 4 ), which is expressed in sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system, has emerged as a promising target for pain relief. However, the presence of several closely related receptors with similar ligand-binding surfaces complicates the design of receptor-specific agonists. In this study, we report the discovery of a potent and selective SSTR 4 peptide, consomatin Fj1, derived from extensive venom gene datasets from marine cone snails. Consomatin Fj1 is a mimetic of the endogenous hormone somatostatin and contains a minimized binding motif that provides stability and drives peptide selectivity. Peripheral administration of synthetic consomatin Fj1 provided analgesia in mouse models of postoperative and neuropathic pain. Using structure-activity studies, we designed and functionally evaluated several Fj1 analogs, resulting in compounds with improved potency and selectivity. Our findings present a novel avenue for addressing persistent pain through the design of venom-inspired SSTR 4 -selective pain therapeutics. One Sentence Summary Venom peptides from predatory marine mollusks provide new leads for treating peripheral pain conditions through a non-opioid target.
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Fernández-Carneado J, Vallès-Miret M, Arrastia-Casado S, Almazán-Moga A, Macias MJ, Martin-Malpartida P, Vilaseca M, Díaz-Lobo M, Vazquez M, Sanahuja RM, Gambús G, Ponsati B. First Generic Teriparatide: Structural and Biological Sameness to Its Reference Medicinal Product. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:537. [PMID: 38675198 PMCID: PMC11054030 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040537] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Teriparatide is an anabolic peptide drug indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis. Recombinant teriparatide was first approved in 2002 and has since been followed by patent-free alternatives under biosimilar or hybrid regulatory application. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the essential similarity between synthetic teriparatide BGW and the reference medicinal product (RMP), and thus to ensure the development of the first generic teriparatide drug. Hence, an extensive side-by-side comparative exercise, focusing on structural and biological activity, was performed using a wide range of state-of-the-art orthogonal methods. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS), UV, circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) demonstrated the structural similarity between teriparatide BGW and the RMP. Comparative cell-based bioassays showed that the synthetic and recombinant peptides have identical behaviors. Teriparatide BGW, as a generic drug, provides an available treatment option for patients with osteoporosis and offers clinical benefits identical to those provided by the RMP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariona Vallès-Miret
- BCN Peptides SA, 08777 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.-M.); (S.A.-C.); (A.A.-M.); (B.P.)
| | | | - Ana Almazán-Moga
- BCN Peptides SA, 08777 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.-M.); (S.A.-C.); (A.A.-M.); (B.P.)
| | - Maria J. Macias
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (P.M.-M.); (M.V.); (M.D.-L.)
| | - Pau Martin-Malpartida
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (P.M.-M.); (M.V.); (M.D.-L.)
| | - Marta Vilaseca
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (P.M.-M.); (M.V.); (M.D.-L.)
| | - Mireia Díaz-Lobo
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (P.M.-M.); (M.V.); (M.D.-L.)
| | - Mayte Vazquez
- GP-Pharm SA, 08777 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (R.M.S.); (G.G.)
| | | | - Gemma Gambús
- GP-Pharm SA, 08777 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (R.M.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Berta Ponsati
- BCN Peptides SA, 08777 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.-M.); (S.A.-C.); (A.A.-M.); (B.P.)
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8
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Al Musaimi O. Peptide Therapeutics: Unveiling the Potential against Cancer-A Journey through 1989. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1032. [PMID: 38473389 PMCID: PMC11326481 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051032] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a plethora of peptide-based drugs as effective drugs in cancer therapy. Peptides possess high specificity, permeability, target engagement, and a tolerable safety profile. They exhibit selective binding with cell surface receptors and proteins, functioning as agonists or antagonists. They also serve as imaging agents for diagnostic applications or can serve a dual-purpose as both diagnostic and therapeutic (theragnostic) agents. Therefore, they have been exploited in various forms, including linkers, peptide conjugates, and payloads. In this review, the FDA-approved prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) peptide antagonists, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), somatostatin analogs, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs, and other peptide-based anticancer drugs are analyzed in terms of their chemical structures and properties, therapeutic targets and mechanisms of action, development journey, administration routes, and side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Othman Al Musaimi
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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9
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Narjes F, Edfeldt F, Petersen J, Öster L, Hamblet C, Bird J, Bold P, Rae R, Bäck E, Stomilovic S, Zlatoidsky P, Svensson T, Hidestål L, Kunalingam L, Shamovsky I, De Maria L, Gordon E, Lewis RJ, Watcham S, van Rietschoten K, Mudd GE, Harrison H, Chen L, Skynner MJ. Discovery and Characterization of a Bicyclic Peptide (Bicycle) Binder to Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin. J Med Chem 2024; 67:2220-2235. [PMID: 38284169 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial-derived pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the development of asthma and other atopic diseases. We used Bicycle Therapeutics' proprietary phage display platform to identify bicyclic peptides (Bicycles) with high affinity for TSLP, a target that is difficult to drug with conventional small molecules due to the extended protein-protein interactions it forms with both receptors. The hit series was shown to bind to TSLP in a hotspot, that is also used by IL-7Rα. Guided by the first X-ray crystal structure of a small peptide binding to TSLP and the identification of key metabolites, we were able to improve the proteolytic stability of this series in lung S9 fractions without sacrificing binding affinity. This resulted in the potent Bicycle 46 with nanomolar affinity to TSLP (KD = 13 nM), low plasma clearance of 6.4 mL/min/kg, and an effective half-life of 46 min after intravenous dosing to rats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sophie Watcham
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | | | - Gemma E Mudd
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | - Helen Harrison
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | - Liuhong Chen
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
| | - Michael J Skynner
- BicycleTx Limited, Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K
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10
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Vincenzi M, Mercurio FA, Leone M. Virtual Screening of Peptide Libraries: The Search for Peptide-Based Therapeutics Using Computational Tools. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1798. [PMID: 38339078 PMCID: PMC10855943 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031798] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last few decades, we have witnessed growing interest from both academic and industrial laboratories in peptides as possible therapeutics. Bioactive peptides have a high potential to treat various diseases with specificity and biological safety. Compared to small molecules, peptides represent better candidates as inhibitors (or general modulators) of key protein-protein interactions. In fact, undruggable proteins containing large and smooth surfaces can be more easily targeted with the conformational plasticity of peptides. The discovery of bioactive peptides, working against disease-relevant protein targets, generally requires the high-throughput screening of large libraries, and in silico approaches are highly exploited for their low-cost incidence and efficiency. The present review reports on the potential challenges linked to the employment of peptides as therapeutics and describes computational approaches, mainly structure-based virtual screening (SBVS), to support the identification of novel peptides for therapeutic implementations. Cutting-edge SBVS strategies are reviewed along with examples of applications focused on diverse classes of bioactive peptides (i.e., anticancer, antimicrobial/antiviral peptides, peptides blocking amyloid fiber formation).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marilisa Leone
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.V.); (F.A.M.)
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11
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Ughade S, Rana S, Nadeem M, Kumthekar R, Mahajani S, Bhambure R. Mechanistic Modeling of Size Exclusion Chromatography-Assisted In Vitro Refolding of the Recombinant Biosimilar Teriparatide (PTH-34). ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:3204-3216. [PMID: 38284095 PMCID: PMC10809233 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
In vitro protein refolding is one of the critical unit operations in manufacturing recombinant peptides expressed using Escherichia coli as host cells. This study is focused on designing size exclusion chromatography-assisted in vitro refolding process for biosimilar recombinant parathyroid hormone. Inclusion bodies (IBs) of recombinant parathyroid hormone were solubilized at higher pH, and in vitro refolding was performed using size exclusion chromatography. In the first part of the investigation, DoE-based empirical optimization was performed to achieve a higher refolding yield for a biosimilar recombinant parathyroid hormone. The effect of solubilized inclusion body (IB) feed volume, concentration of IBs, and residence time on in vitro refolding of recombinant teriparatide was studied using the Box-Behnken design. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC)-assisted in vitro refolding was performed at 8 °C at pH 10.5 by using 20 mM Tris buffer. The maximum refolding yield of 98.12% was achieved at feed volume (12.5% of CV) and 20 mg/mL inclusion body (IB) concentration with a residence time of 50 min and a purity of 66.1% based on densitometric analysis using SDS-PAGE. In the latter part of the investigation, the general rate mechanistic model framework for size exclusion chromatography was developed and validated with the experimental results. The developed model helped in the accurate prediction of the elution volumes and product yield. The developed model also helps to predict the elution performance of a scalable column a priori. Post in vitro refolding, the formation of the native peptide structure was examined using various orthogonal analytical tools to study the protein's primary, secondary, and tertiary structures. The developed hybrid process development approach is a valuable tool toachieve high-yield, scalable refolding conditions for recombinant proteins without disulfide bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Ughade
- Chemical
Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sunil Rana
- Chemical
Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Mohd Nadeem
- Chemical
Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Indian
Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Rupali Kumthekar
- Chemical
Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sanjay Mahajani
- Chemical
Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Indian
Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Rahul Bhambure
- Chemical
Engineering and Process Development Division, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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12
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Baker KM, Abt M, Doud EH, Oblak AL, Yeh ES. Mapping the Anti-Cancer Activity of α-Connexin Carboxyl-Terminal (aCT1) Peptide in Resistant HER2+ Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:423. [PMID: 38275864 PMCID: PMC10814893 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a protein encoded by the GJA1 gene and is a component of cell membrane structures called gap junctions, which facilitate intercellular communication. Prior evidence indicates that elevated GJA1 expression in the HER2-positive (HER2+) subtype of breast cancer is associated with poor prognosis. Prior evidence also suggests that HER2+ breast cancers that have become refractory to HER2-targeted agents have a loss of Cx43 gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC). In this study, a Cx43-targeted agent called alpha-connexin carboxyl-terminal peptide (aCT1) is examined to determine whether GJIC can be rescued in refractory HER2+ breast cancer cells. A proposed mechanism of action for aCT1 is binding to the tight junction protein Zonal Occludens-1 (ZO-1). However, the true scope of activity for aCT1 has not been explored. In this study, mass spectrometry proteomic analysis is used to determine the breadth of aCT1-interacting proteins. The NanoString nCounter Breast Cancer 360 panel is also used to examine the effect of aCT1 on cancer signaling in HER2+ breast cancer cells. Findings from this study show a dynamic range of binding partners for aCT1, many of which regulate gene expression and RNA biology. nCounter analysis shows that a number of pathways are significantly impacted by aCT1, including upregulation of apoptotic factors, leading to the prediction and demonstration that aCT1 can boost the cell death effects of cisplatin and lapatinib in HER2+ breast cancer cells that have become resistant to HER2-targeted agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly M. Baker
- Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Melissa Abt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Emma H. Doud
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Adrian L. Oblak
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Elizabeth S. Yeh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
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13
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Bird GH, Patten JJ, Zavadoski W, Barucci N, Godes M, Moyer BM, Owen CD, DaSilva-Jardine P, Neuberg DS, Bowen RA, Davey RA, Walensky LD. A stapled lipopeptide platform for preventing and treating highly pathogenic viruses of pandemic potential. Nat Commun 2024; 15:274. [PMID: 38177138 PMCID: PMC10766962 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The continued emergence of highly pathogenic viruses, which either thwart immune- and small molecule-based therapies or lack interventions entirely, mandates alternative approaches, particularly for prompt and facile pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. Many highly pathogenic viruses, including coronaviruses, employ the six-helix bundle heptad repeat membrane fusion mechanism to achieve infection. Although heptad-repeat-2 decoys can inhibit viral entry by blocking six-helix bundle assembly, the biophysical and pharmacologic liabilities of peptides have hindered their clinical development. Here, we develop a chemically stapled lipopeptide inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 as proof-of-concept for the platform. We show that our lead compound blocks infection by a spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 variants, exhibits mucosal persistence upon nasal administration, demonstrates enhanced stability compared to prior analogs, and mitigates infection in hamsters. We further demonstrate that our stapled lipopeptide platform yields nanomolar inhibitors of respiratory syncytial, Ebola, and Nipah viruses by targeting heptad-repeat-1 domains, which exhibit strikingly low mutation rates, enabling on-demand therapeutic intervention to combat viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory H Bird
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - J J Patten
- Department of Microbiology, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | | | - Marina Godes
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Benjamin M Moyer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Callum D Owen
- Department of Microbiology, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | - Donna S Neuberg
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Richard A Bowen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Robert A Davey
- Department of Microbiology, National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Loren D Walensky
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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14
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Takeuchi N, Taniguchi M, Kato Y, Takata R, Osaka I, Nakajima N, Hamada M, Koyama Y. Synthesis and Conformational Behaviors of Unnatural Peptides Alternating Chiral and Achiral α,α-Disubstituted α-Amino Acid Units. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2300323. [PMID: 37668077 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of peptidomimetics to modulate the conformational profile of peptides has been extensively studied in the fields of biological and medicinal chemistry. However, large-scale synthesis of peptidomimetics with both an ordered sequence and a controlled secondary structure is highly challenging. In this paper, the framework of peptidomimetics has been designed to be alternating an achiral α,α-disubstituted α-amino acid unit and a chiral α-methylphenylalanine unit. The polymers are synthesized via invented Ugi reaction-based polycondensation technique. The chiral higher-order structures of the alternating peptides are evaluated mainly through circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The UV-Vis and CD spectra of the polymers in three solvents are systematically measured at various temperatures. The anisotropic factors of CD (gCD ) values are calculated to know the chiroptical response. The results indicate the characteristic conformational behaviors. In a polar solvent, the hydrogen bonds between the N-H group of MePhe unit and the C=O of α,α-diphenylglycine unit outweigh the intraresidue hydrogen bonds in α,α-diphenylglycine unit, leading to the formation of a prevailing preferred-handed 310 -helical conformation. On the other hand, in a less polar solvent, the intrachain hydrogen bonds switch to intraresidue hydrogen bonds in α,α-diphenylglycine unit, which make the polymer adopting a prevailing extended planar C5 -conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Takeuchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Masataka Taniguchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Yuki Kato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Riko Takata
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Issey Osaka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
- Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nakajima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
- Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hamada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
- Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Koyama
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
- Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
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15
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Flores-Holguín N, Salas-Leiva JS, Glossman-Mitnik D. Computational Discovery of Marine Molecules of the Cyclopeptide Family with Therapeutic Potential. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1377. [PMID: 37895848 PMCID: PMC10610383 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101377] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Stellatolides are natural compounds that have shown promising biological activities, including antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, making them potential candidates for drug development. Chemical Reactivity Theory (CRT) is a branch of chemistry that explains and predicts the behavior of chemical reactions based on the electronic structure of molecules. Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT) and Computational Peptidology (CP) are computational approaches used to study the behavior of atoms, molecules, and peptides. In this study, we present the results of our investigation of the chemical reactivity and ADMET properties of Stellatolides A-H using a novel computational approach called Conceptual DFT-based Computational Peptidology (CDFT-CP). Our study uses CDFT and CP to predict the reactivity and stability of molecules and to understand the behavior of peptides at the molecular level. We also predict the ADMET properties of the Stellatolides A-H to provide insight into their effectiveness, potential side effects, and optimal dosage and route of administration, as well as their biological targets. This study sheds light on the potential of Stellatolides A-H as promising candidates for drug development and highlights the potential of CDFT-CP for the study of other natural compounds and peptides.
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16
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Hafez Ghoran S, Taktaz F, Sousa E, Fernandes C, Kijjoa A. Peptides from Marine-Derived Fungi: Chemistry and Biological Activities. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:510. [PMID: 37888445 PMCID: PMC10608792 DOI: 10.3390/md21100510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine natural products are well-recognized as potential resources to fill the pipeline of drug leads to enter the pharmaceutical industry. In this circumstance, marine-derived fungi are one of the unique sources of bioactive secondary metabolites due to their capacity to produce diverse polyketides and peptides with unique structures and diverse biological activities. The present review covers the peptides from marine-derived fungi reported from the literature published from January 1991 to June 2023, and various scientific databases, including Elsevier, ACS publications, Taylor and Francis, Wiley Online Library, MDPI, Springer, Thieme, Bentham, ProQuest, and the Marine Pharmacology website, are used for a literature search. This review focuses on chemical characteristics, sources, and biological and pharmacological activities of 366 marine fungal peptides belonging to various classes, such as linear, cyclic, and depsipeptides. Among 30 marine-derived fungal genera, isolated from marine macro-organisms such as marine algae, sponges, coral, and mangrove plants, as well as deep sea sediments, species of Aspergillus were found to produce the highest number of peptides (174 peptides), followed by Penicillium (23 peptides), Acremonium (22 peptides), Eurotium (18 peptides), Trichoderma (18 peptides), Simplicillium (17 peptides), and Beauveria (12 peptides). The cytotoxic activity against a broad spectrum of human cancer cell lines was the predominant biological activity of the reported marine peptides (32%), whereas antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and various enzyme inhibition activities ranged from 7% to 20%. In the first part of this review, the chemistry of marine peptides is discussed and followed by their biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Hafez Ghoran
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan;
| | - Fatemeh Taktaz
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto and CIIMAR, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (E.S.); (C.F.)
| | - Carla Fernandes
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto and CIIMAR, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (E.S.); (C.F.)
| | - Anake Kijjoa
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto and CIIMAR, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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17
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Perez Mellor AF, Brazard J, Kozub S, Bürgi T, Szweda R, Adachi TBM. Unveiling the Configurational Landscape of Carbamate: Paving the Way for Designing Functional Sequence-Defined Polymers. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:7309-7322. [PMID: 37624607 PMCID: PMC10493977 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c02442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Carbamate is an emerging class of a polymer backbone for constructing sequence-defined, abiotic polymers. It is expected that new functional materials can be de novo designed by controlling the primary polycarbamate sequence. While amino acids have been actively studied as building blocks for protein folding and peptide self-assembly, carbamates have not been widely investigated from this perspective. Here, we combined infrared (IR), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the conformation of carbamate monomer units in a nonpolar, aprotic environment (chloroform). Compared with amino acid building blocks, carbamates are more rigid, presumably due to the extended delocalization of π-electrons on the backbones. Cis configurations of the amide bond can be energetically stable in carbamates, whereas peptides often assume trans configurations at low energies. This study lays an essential foundation for future developments of carbamate-based sequence-defined polymer material design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel F. Perez Mellor
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Sciences II, University
of Geneva, 30, Quai Ernest Ansermet, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Brazard
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Sciences II, University
of Geneva, 30, Quai Ernest Ansermet, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Sara Kozub
- Łukasiewicz
Research Network − PORT Polish Center for Technology Development, Stabłowicka 147, Wrocław 54-066, Poland
| | - Thomas Bürgi
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Sciences II, University
of Geneva, 30, Quai Ernest Ansermet, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Roza Szweda
- Łukasiewicz
Research Network − PORT Polish Center for Technology Development, Stabłowicka 147, Wrocław 54-066, Poland
| | - Takuji B. M. Adachi
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Sciences II, University
of Geneva, 30, Quai Ernest Ansermet, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
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18
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Costa L, Sousa E, Fernandes C. Cyclic Peptides in Pipeline: What Future for These Great Molecules? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:996. [PMID: 37513908 PMCID: PMC10386233 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic peptides are molecules that are already used as drugs in therapies approved for various pharmacological activities, for example, as antibiotics, antifungals, anticancer, and immunosuppressants. Interest in these molecules has been growing due to the improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the cyclic structure over linear peptides and by the evolution of chemical synthesis, computational, and in vitro methods. To date, 53 cyclic peptides have been approved by different regulatory authorities, and many others are in clinical trials for a wide diversity of conditions. In this review, the potential of cyclic peptides is presented, and general aspects of their synthesis and development are discussed. Furthermore, an overview of already approved cyclic peptides is also given, and the cyclic peptides in clinical trials are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Costa
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Carla Fernandes
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
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19
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Matusevičiūtė R, Ignatavičiūtė E, Mickus R, Bordel S, Skeberdis VA, Raškevičius V. Evaluation of Cx43 Gap Junction Inhibitors Using a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Model. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1972. [PMID: 37509611 PMCID: PMC10377234 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071972] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Gap junctions (GJs) made of connexin-43 (Cx43) are necessary for the conduction of electrical impulses in the heart. Modulation of Cx43 GJ activity may be beneficial in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and other dysfunctions. The search for novel GJ-modulating agents using molecular docking allows for the accurate prediction of binding affinities of ligands, which, unfortunately, often poorly correlate with their potencies. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) model could be used for more precise identification of potent Cx43 GJ inhibitors. Using molecular docking, QSAR, and 3D-QSAR, we evaluated 16 known Cx43 GJ inhibitors, suggested the monocyclic monoterpene d-limonene as a putative Cx43 inhibitor, and tested it experimentally in HeLa cells expressing exogenous Cx43. The predicted concentrations required to produce 50% of the maximal effect (IC50) for each of these compounds were compared with those determined experimentally (pIC50 and eIC50, respectively). The pIC50ies of d-limonene and other Cx43 GJ inhibitors examined by our QSAR and 3D-QSAR models showed a good correlation with their eIC50ies (R = 0.88 and 0.90, respectively) in contrast to pIC50ies obtained from molecular docking (R = 0.78). However, molecular docking suggests that inhibitor potency may depend on their docking conformation on Cx43. Searching for new potent, selective, and specific inhibitors of GJ channels, we propose to perform the primary screening of new putative compounds using the QSAR model, followed by the validation of the most suitable candidates by patch-clamp techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Matusevičiūtė
- Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 03101 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.M.); (E.I.)
| | - Eglė Ignatavičiūtė
- Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 03101 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.M.); (E.I.)
| | - Rokas Mickus
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50162 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.M.); (S.B.); (V.A.S.)
| | - Sergio Bordel
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50162 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.M.); (S.B.); (V.A.S.)
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Vytenis Arvydas Skeberdis
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50162 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.M.); (S.B.); (V.A.S.)
| | - Vytautas Raškevičius
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50162 Kaunas, Lithuania; (R.M.); (S.B.); (V.A.S.)
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20
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Fetse J, Kandel S, Mamani UF, Cheng K. Recent advances in the development of therapeutic peptides. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:425-441. [PMID: 37246037 PMCID: PMC10330351 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Peptides have unique characteristics that make them highly desirable as therapeutic agents. The physicochemical and proteolytic stability profiles determine the therapeutic potential of peptides. Multiple strategies to enhance the therapeutic profile of peptides have emerged. They include chemical modifications, such as cyclization, substitution with d-amino acids, peptoid formation, N-methylation, and side-chain halogenation, and incorporation in delivery systems. There have been recent advances in approaches to discover peptides having these modifications to attain desirable therapeutic properties. We critically review these recent advancements in therapeutic peptide development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Fetse
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Sashi Kandel
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Umar-Farouk Mamani
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Kun Cheng
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
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21
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Chinnadurai RK, Khan N, Meghwanshi GK, Ponne S, Althobiti M, Kumar R. Current research status of anti-cancer peptides: Mechanism of action, production, and clinical applications. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 164:114996. [PMID: 37311281 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The escalating rate of cancer cases, together with treatment deficiencies and long-term side effects of currently used cancer drugs, has made this disease a global burden of the 21st century. The number of breast and lung cancer patients has sharply increased worldwide in the last few years. Presently, surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy strategies are used to cure cancer, which cause severe side effects, toxicities, and drug resistance. In recent years, anti-cancer peptides have become an eminent therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment due to their high specificity and fewer side effects and toxicity. This review presents an updated overview of different anti-cancer peptides, their mechanisms of action and current production strategies employed for their manufacture. In addition, approved and under clinical trials anti-cancer peptides and their applications have been discussed. This review provides updated information on therapeutic anti-cancer peptides that hold great promise for cancer treatment in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Chinnadurai
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical Advanced Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidhyapeeth (Deemed-to-be-University), Pondicherry 607402, India
| | - Nazam Khan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Science, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Saravanaraman Ponne
- Department of Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605014, India
| | - Maryam Althobiti
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Science, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rajender Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden.
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22
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Almeida JR, Gomes A, Mendes B, Aguiar L, Ferreira M, Brioschi MBC, Duarte D, Nogueira F, Cortes S, Salazar-Valenzuela D, Miguel DC, Teixeira C, Gameiro P, Gomes P. Unlocking the potential of snake venom-based molecules against the malaria, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis triad. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 242:124745. [PMID: 37150376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Malaria, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are vector-borne protozoal infections with a disproportionately high impact on the most fragile societies in the world, and despite malaria-focused research gained momentum in the past two decades, both trypanosomiases and leishmaniases remain neglected tropical diseases. Affordable effective drugs remain the mainstay of tackling this burden, but toxicicty, inneficiency against later stage disease, and drug resistance issues are serious shortcomings. One strategy to overcome these hurdles is to get new therapeutics or inspiration in nature. Indeed, snake venoms have been recognized as valuable sources of biomacromolecules, like peptides and proteins, with antiprotozoal activity. This review highlights major snake venom components active against at least one of the three aforementioned diseases, which include phospholipases A2, metalloproteases, L-amino acid oxidases, lectins, and oligopeptides. The relevance of this repertoire of biomacromolecules and the bottlenecks in their clinical translation are discussed considering approaches that should increase the success rate in this arduous task. Overall, this review underlines how venom-derived biomacromolecules could lead to pioneering antiprotozoal treatments and how the drug landscape for neglected diseases may be revolutionized by a closer look at venoms. Further investigations on poorly studied venoms is needed and could add new therapeutics to the pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Rafael Almeida
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena 150150, Ecuador.
| | - Ana Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Bruno Mendes
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena 150150, Ecuador
| | - Luísa Aguiar
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Ferreira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | | | - Denise Duarte
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-862, Brazil.
| | - Fátima Nogueira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua Junqueira 100, P-1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sofia Cortes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua Junqueira 100, P-1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - David Salazar-Valenzuela
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb) e Ingeniería en Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Indoamérica, Quito 170103, Ecuador.
| | - Danilo C Miguel
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb) e Ingeniería en Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Indoamérica, Quito 170103, Ecuador.
| | - Cátia Teixeira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gameiro
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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Ahmed S, Alam W, Aschner M, Filosa R, Cheang WS, Jeandet P, Saso L, Khan H. Marine Cyanobacterial Peptides in Neuroblastoma: Search for Better Therapeutic Options. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092515. [PMID: 37173981 PMCID: PMC10177606 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most prevalent extracranial solid tumor in pediatric patients, originating from sympathetic nervous system cells. Metastasis can be observed in approximately 70% of individuals after diagnosis, and the prognosis is poor. The current care methods used, which include surgical removal as well as radio and chemotherapy, are largely unsuccessful, with high mortality and relapse rates. Therefore, attempts have been made to incorporate natural compounds as new alternative treatments. Marine cyanobacteria are a key source of physiologically active metabolites, which have recently received attention owing to their anticancer potential. This review addresses cyanobacterial peptides' anticancer efficacy against neuroblastoma. Numerous prospective studies have been carried out with marine peptides for pharmaceutical development including in research for anticancer potential. Marine peptides possess several advantages over proteins or antibodies, including small size, simple manufacturing, cell membrane crossing capabilities, minimal drug-drug interactions, minimal changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, selective targeting, chemical and biological diversities, and effects on liver and kidney functions. We discussed the significance of cyanobacterial peptides in generating cytotoxic effects and their potential to prevent cancer cell proliferation via apoptosis, the activation of caspases, cell cycle arrest, sodium channel blocking, autophagy, and anti-metastasis behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Waqas Alam
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine Forchheimer, 209 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rosanna Filosa
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
| | - Wai San Cheang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Philippe Jeandet
- Faculty of Sciences, RIBP-USC INRAe 1488, University of Reims, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Haroon Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
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24
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Markov DD, Dolotov OV, Grivennikov IA. The Melanocortin System: A Promising Target for the Development of New Antidepressant Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076664. [PMID: 37047638 PMCID: PMC10094937 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders, causing significant human suffering and socioeconomic loss. Since conventional antidepressants are not sufficiently effective, there is an urgent need to develop new antidepressant medications. Despite marked advances in the neurobiology of depression, the etiology and pathophysiology of this disease remain poorly understood. Classical and newer hypotheses of depression suggest that an imbalance of brain monoamines, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and immune system, or impaired hippocampal neurogenesis and neurotrophic factors pathways are cause of depression. It is assumed that conventional antidepressants improve these closely related disturbances. The purpose of this review was to discuss the possibility of affecting these disturbances by targeting the melanocortin system, which includes adrenocorticotropic hormone-activated receptors and their peptide ligands (melanocortins). The melanocortin system is involved in the regulation of various processes in the brain and periphery. Melanocortins, including peripherally administered non-corticotropic agonists, regulate HPAA activity, exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, stimulate the levels of neurotrophic factors, and enhance hippocampal neurogenesis and neurotransmission. Therefore, endogenous melanocortins and their analogs are able to complexly affect the functioning of those body’s systems that are closely related to depression and the effects of antidepressants, thereby demonstrating a promising antidepressant potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii D. Markov
- National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq. 2, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Oleg V. Dolotov
- National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq. 2, 123182 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor A. Grivennikov
- National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq. 2, 123182 Moscow, Russia
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25
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Pizarek JA, Fischer NG, Aparicio C. Immunomodulatory IL-23 receptor antagonist peptide nanocoatings for implant soft tissue healing. Dent Mater 2023; 39:204-216. [PMID: 36642687 PMCID: PMC9899321 DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Peri-implantitis, caused by an inflammatory response to pathogens, is the leading cause of dental implant failure. Poor soft tissue healing surrounding implants - caused by inadequate surface properties - leads to infection, inflammation, and dysregulated keratinocyte and macrophage function. One activated inflammatory response, active around peri-implantitis compared to healthy sites, is the IL-23/IL-17A cytokine axis. Implant surfaces can be synthesized with peptide nanocoatings to present immunomodulatory motifs to target peri-implant keratinocytes to control macrophage polarization and regulate inflammatory axises toward enhancing soft tissue healing. METHODS We synthesized an IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) noncompetitive antagonist peptide nanocoating using silanization and evaluated keratinocyte secretome changes and macrophage polarization (M1-like "pro-inflammatory" vs. M2-like "pro-regenerative"). RESULTS IL-23R antagonist peptide nanocoatings were successfully synthesized on titanium, to model dental implant surfaces, and compared to nonfunctional nanocoatings and non-coated titanium. IL-23R antagonist nanocoatings significantly decreased keratinocyte IL-23, and downstream IL-17A, expression compared to controls. This peptide noncompetitive antagonistic function was demonstrated under lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Large scale changes in keratinocyte secretome content, toward a pro-regenerative milieu, were observed from keratinocytes cultured on the IL-23R antagonist nanocoatings compared to controls. Conditioned medium collected from keratinocytes cultured on the IL-23R antagonist nanocoatings polarized macrophages toward a M2-like phenotype, based on increased CD163 and CD206 expression and reduced iNOS expression, compared to controls. SIGNIFICANCE Our results support development of IL-23R noncompetitive antagonist nanocoatings to reduce the pro-inflammatory IL-23/17A pathway and augment macrophage polarization toward a pro-regenerative phenotype. Immunomodulatory implant surface engineering may promote soft tissue healing and thereby reduce rates of peri-implantitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Pizarek
- MDRCBB-Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, University of Minnesota, 16-212 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; United States Navy Dental Corps, Naval Medical Leader and Professional Development Command, 8955 Wood Road Bethesda, MD 20889, USA
| | - Nicholas G Fischer
- MDRCBB-Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, University of Minnesota, 16-212 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Conrado Aparicio
- MDRCBB-Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, University of Minnesota, 16-212 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; UIC Barcelona - Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta s/n, 08195 Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, Spain; IBEC- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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26
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Di Scala C, Armstrong N, Chahinian H, Chabrière E, Fantini J, Yahi N. AmyP53, a Therapeutic Peptide Candidate for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease: Safety, Stability, Pharmacokinetics Parameters and Nose-to Brain Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113383. [PMID: 36362170 PMCID: PMC9654333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are a major public health issue. Despite decades of research efforts, we are still seeking an efficient cure for these pathologies. The initial paradigm of large aggregates of amyloid proteins (amyloid plaques, Lewis bodies) as the root cause of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases has been mostly dismissed. Instead, membrane-bound oligomers forming Ca2+-permeable amyloid pores are now considered appropriate targets for these diseases. Over the last 20 years, our group deciphered the molecular mechanisms of amyloid pore formation, which appeared to involve a common pathway for all amyloid proteins, including Aβ (Alzheimer) and α-synuclein (Parkinson). We then designed a short peptide (AmyP53), which prevents amyloid pore formation by targeting gangliosides, the plasma membrane receptors of amyloid proteins. Herein, we show that aqueous solutions of AmyP53 are remarkably stable upon storage at temperatures up to 45 °C for several months. AmyP53 appeared to be more stable in whole blood than in plasma. Pharmacokinetics studies in rats demonstrated that the peptide can rapidly and safely reach the brain after intranasal administration. The data suggest both the direct transport of AmyP53 via the olfactory bulb (and/or the trigeminal nerve) and an indirect transport via the circulation and the blood–brain barrier. In vitro experiments confirmed that AmyP53 is as active as cargo peptides in crossing the blood–brain barrier, consistent with its amino acid sequence specificities and physicochemical properties. Overall, these data open a route for the use of a nasal spray formulation of AmyP53 for the prevention and/or treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases in future clinical trials in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Di Scala
- Neuroscience Center—HiLIFE, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nicholas Armstrong
- IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Aix Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Henri Chahinian
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix Marseille University, 13015 Marseille, France
| | - Eric Chabrière
- IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Aix Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Jacques Fantini
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix Marseille University, 13015 Marseille, France
| | - Nouara Yahi
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix Marseille University, 13015 Marseille, France
- Correspondence:
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